Gabriella Cugno been referred to as the real-life Willy Wonka before, but now she can fully lay claim to that title. The Welsh chocolatier is the mastermind behind the sweets in Wonka, the new film starring Timothée Chalamet that imagines the origin story of the beloved storybook candy wizard.
Unlike previous Willy Wonka films, all the chocolates the actors put in their mouths were edible. Cugno ended up crafting some 2,000 pieces throughout the production—everything from tree bark to flowers, mushrooms, teacups, and Wonka’s new invention, Hoverchocs, all handmade with natural ingredients and accommodating dietary restrictions. And she made sure they were delicious to boot. “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to unleash your creativity and link it with chocolate,” she tells Vogue via video call from her production kitchen in her hometown of Cardiff.