The gloves are off — for now.
Louise Linton defended her infamous “Bond villain” photo with husband and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a new interview, saying she modeled herself after a former first lady.
The wealthy Scottish actress, who appeared in the widely mocked photo holding up a sheet of newly printed money while wearing long black leather gloves and a steely glare, says it was an effort to look “more elegant” “like Jackie O” — and because it was just cold at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing plant.
“I look at amazing fashion icons like Jackie O and I’m like, why can’t I wear gloves?” she said in the new profile for Elle, which includes a photo of Linton lounging around in a white cashmere sweater and no pants.
“I just didn’t bother taking the gloves off because it was kind of cold in the bureau. And I didn’t expect that I would be pulled into a picture!”
The November snap went viral, drawing comparisons to Cruella de Vil and Darth Vader as well as Bond villains.
It came just months after Linton came under fire for bragging about her designer clothes on Instagram while on a taxpayer-funded flight to Fort Knox — and went on a snobby tirade against a citizen who criticized her.
A contrite Linton described her post as a “knee-jerk reaction” to the criticism she has endured on social media since her investment-banker husband took a position in the Trump administration — but says she is “super duper” sorry and wishes she could take it back.
“I was feeling like a regular person. And regular people, when someone says something mean to you on social media, regular people are allowed to respond.”
Linton says she has now hired an expert on Washington protocol to prevent future facepalms.
“For example, gift giving. You’re not allowed to give gifts, and people aren’t allowed to give us gifts,” she marvels.
Still, she is yearning to wear the leather gloves again.
“I really hope someday I can wear that outfit again,” she told the magazine. “Because I really liked it.”