Home is…
My flat in north London, I live with my boyfriend and a lot of spiders and have been there for a couple of years. I sometimes stay back at my parents’ who are still in south London. My mum leaves out old OK magazines from the 1990s and a small tea set. Lovely.
Where was your first flat in London?
I shared flat with friends in Mile End. I loved it there so much, I would cycle round Stepney on my bike and wiggle through all the old back streets. Good pubs and the Genesis cinema is brilliant.
What was your first job in London?
My first paid job in London was probably singing in the vocal harmony group I joined when I was 17. Fun fact – my unpaid work experience aged 15 was in London at a casting agents and I had to shred actors headshots. I think they were just moving everything online but it held a bleak symbolism for the industry I was hoping to be a part of.
Where in London would you recommend for a first date?
If you drink and it’s autumn or winter, I would do a little journey visiting the old pubs in east London – The Prospect of Whitby, the Bunch of Grapes and all that. And if you’re at The Prospect at low tide go down and stand on the pebbles on the banks of the Thames, ideally at dusk. Get prepped with some good facts, for example that Rotherhithe is named after Vikings docking there. If you don’t drink, maybe those bungee trampoline things in town – are they still there? Bit of fun. And there’s nothing wrong with a good art gallery visit! Worked for me!
Which five London shops do you rely on ?
I love the Harvest shops across north London for TOP quality food bits, I go to Cex for second had electronics all the time. Mainly headphones/lost chargers. I go to Rokit for clothes and Nordic Poetry in Shoreditch is my go to if I need something for a special occasion – both are vintage shops the latter expensive designer vintage. If I get the chance I get sourdough and pain au chocolates from Dusty Knuckle Bakery.
What’s the best meal you’ve had in London?
I really loved Kiln in Soho, I sat at the bar with my boyfriend. So many delicious dishes and a nice feel. Its good sitting at the bar (I just went to America and did it as often as I could) Sitting side by side is better sometimes, you can have a little watch of the chef, talk about the big things in life with the ease that comes from not being face to face.
What would you do if you were Mayor of London for the day?
Since I was a kid I’ve wanted to have a day where the floor is a trampoline. So maybe do that? Or open up all the vacant buildings in London and put an act on music, comedy or theatre in every single one, give anyone not performing the day off and do a mini festival. The owners of those spaces then have a really good time, feel really happy and joyfully give their properties over to anyone that needs a place to live. Lovely.
Who is the most iconic Londoner in history?
The man who rode down the bus lane on Clapham High Street on a giant white horse.
Where in London do you go to let your hair down?
I used to love Corsica Studios in Elephant and Castle, but haven’t visited recently. The Shacklewell Arms is great. And the last time I properly danced was seeing Goldie at Koko.
Who do you call when you want to have fun in London?
I have recently started playing football. I play at my local Better Gym, and then have a beer afterwards and it’s something I never knew I was missing.
What's your biggest extravagance?
I buy really nice expensive sourdough bread from the aforementioned Dusty Knuckle. And it’s the best. And I own five Ferraris.
What are you up to at the moment for work?
I’ve just finished a job in New York and I’ve got a potential filming job in the not too distant future but otherwise doing really fun creative things like play readings and voicing an animation (by an artist called Anna Ginsburg – look her up) and audiobooks. Very glad to be doing it all.
Who’s your hero or professional hero?
I recently started seeing an acting coach – Sandra Jennings Guskin. She’s insightful, full of life and so inspiring. I have learned a lot from her this summer. An hour with her and you’re left feeling like everything in life is shimmering with potential. And leaves me saying things like “shimmering with potential”.
What do you collect?
I’m on the road to becoming a hoarder. I find it really hard to throw things away, so it feels like I collect everything.
The podcast you are currently obsessed with?
People who knew me on BBC Sounds was excellent. Currently I’m listening to The Gatekeepers also on BBC Sounds, about big tech companies, social media and our brains.
What’s your favourite work of art in London?
I know it’s not there anymore but I think really often about when David Blaine was in a box at Trafalgar Square. I still can’t believe it really.
What was the last thing you googled?
I’ve checked and the last search is “red things”. I think that was my small niece trying to describe her favourite shade of red.
What apps can you not live without in the city and why?
Spotify and City Mapper and the Lime Bike app. If I’ve got those running I’m in for a good day.
