Born in Forest Hill, London in 1988, actor Hayley Squires’s breakthrough role was in Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and best British film at the 2017 Baftas, where Squires was nominated for best supporting actress. Since then she has starred in TV shows including Lucy Kirkwood’s Bafta-nominated Adult Material and films such as Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid. She is also a playwright; her first play was Vera, Vera, Vera at London’s Royal Court in 2012. Next, Squires stars in Death of England: Closing Time at the National Theatre from 13 September to 11 November.
1. Book
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This book was recommended to me by my agent. It spans a few decades and is about the three-way friendship between a group of game designers – it’s a world I know nothing about but I was totally invested. It’s about love and identity and dreams. The storytelling is really tight, not a word wasted. I normally get through a good book in a couple of days, but this took me a few months, mainly because I wanted to give it complete concentration. It broke my heart a bit, but also felt life-affirming.
2. Gig
Me and my mate Bill were lucky enough to be at the first night of Sam Fender’s homecoming gigs at St James’s Park in Newcastle. This was back in June and we’re still not over it. We shot I, Daniel Blake in Newcastle and it’s a special city to me. A lot of Sam’s songs are about the intricacies and brilliance of being working class, they tell stories that I recognise. Being among 50,000 Geordies belting their hearts out in recognition was incredible. That gig was one big shot of adrenaline – it felt like a huge celebration of class.
3. TV
I loved the first season of The Bear but I think season two really felt as if they’d found the formula to an excellent show. The character work was so concentrated and intense; it made me want to be in the kitchen being shouted at by Richie. I love Ayo Edebiri’s performance as Sydney. The Christmas dinner episode is a particularly brilliant feat of TV making: claustrophobic and everyone acting their hearts out. I’ve never been so stressed about a fork.
4. Artist
I first came across Dirtee Murfee’s work (real name Cerys Murphy) in Laz Emporium in Soho, then hunted her down on Instagram. She’s based out of her studio in east London and most of her paintings are text based: she paints her thoughts on womanhood, sexuality, mental health, the state of the nation. She takes these secret thoughts and smashes them out in bold art, making you proud of all those weird emotions. I have a painting of Dirtee’s in my bedroom that reads “Arty Lover Girls Are Satanic”. I love it.
5. Film
The Kitchen (dir Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, 2023)
This has been chosen for the closing night gala at this year’s London film festival. It’s set in London in the very near future, and it’s a kind of anti love letter to the city. It addresses major social issues that are plaguing the UK, but does so with really ambitious, elevated film-making. The cinematography, the soundtrack, the story make it rebellious and galvanising. In the middle of it all is a gorgeous relationship between Kane Robinson and Jedaiah Bannerman, who both give deep, complex performances. I was lucky enough to see an early cut and can’t wait to see it again.
6. Music
Self Esteem has been my No 1 musician for the past year, and I can’t see it changing any time soon. It’s been wonderful to watch her rise. Prioritise Pleasure is the album that is with me every day. Rebecca [Lucy Taylor] is a truth teller: she has taken all those beautiful, complicated, horrible, brilliant things about being a woman and made real art out of them. It’s like someone needed to say these things, to reclaim them. Her work is full of fight and love and freedom. And guts. Her voice, her energy live… it’s unreal. She’s a modern-day icon to me.
