Thanks for all your lovely questions last week. Answers below!
What’s your favourite under-appreciated romcom or easy-watching film — the kind of thing you might turn to when you’re after a reliably enjoyable, nothing-else-going-on night in? - Emily C
This is an old rom com that I have watched so many times over the years and is just lovely. One Fine Day from 1996 with Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney in which “the lives of two strangers and their young children unexpectedly intersect on one hectic, stressful day in New York City”. Er, yes, please. Clooney is peak Clooney, charming, annoying, handsome. Pfeiffer is so incredibly gorgeous that if the film was just looking at her face for 90 minutes, I’d be gripped. Just delightful.
What 90s things would you bring back? - Julia White
My youthful skin (pre puberty), my phone-free existence, the Friday night viewing schedule of Happy Days and Blossom, KOOKAÏ (and the purple bouclet suit I once bought there which I wore to many a Batmitzvah), Morgan, my old landline candlestick telephone which I thought was the coolest, the calmer political climate (at least as it seemed to my naive teenage self).
Which films do you watch over and over? - Charlotte
When I was younger, Back to the Future. I must have watched it hundreds of times because I fancied Michael J Fox, love time travel and really enjoy seeing the 1950s and 1980s being depicted on screen. What else? The obvious ones I suppose - Pretty Woman, The Breakfast Club, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally. I’ll always watch Minority Report if it’s on. I love a Nicholas Cage film - Con Air, Face Off. Wonderful stuff.
I need a rom-com in my life, but not terrible. You know what I mean. What should I watch next? I need a top three. At least - Anna Sbuttoni
Very demanding, Anna. Ok. This is quite a random, off the top of my head list and I’m sure I’ll kick myself when I remember the films I’m not telling you about but let’s go.
1 - Set It Up on Netflix. A perfectly serviceable rom com that hits all the beats you’d want from the genre. It’s not terribly yearning or hot but the dialogue is sparky, the leads are good and it’s just very easy and comforting. Tick.
2 - Groundhog Day. It’s ironic that this film withstands multiple re-watches. Overlooked in the rom com genre but so good!
3 - Rachel McAdams. Ok, Rachel McAdams is not a film but I have to say that she is one of my favourite rom com actresses. With that in mind, I’m going to recommend The Vow, a really ridiculous film about a woman (McAdams) who wakes up from a coma with no memory and her husband, played by Channing Tatum haaa haa haaa, has to remind her she loves him. Dross all the way.
Of the male-authored books you've read, who has written the best female character and why? - Sarah C
Jesus, that’s a good question. And a tough one! You’ve made me realise that I overwhelmingly read female authors as I’m struggling to think. I loved Emma in David Nicholl’s One Day. I don’t know if she’s the best though. Answers on a postcard from anyone who can help with this one.
You always seem so organised. What are your top three tips (or hacks as my daughter would say making me throw up) for making my house and life a bit more orderly? - debbie fine
I am pathologically organised, thank you for noticing. Order makes me feel calm and content and allows me to be lazy. I often think of this quote from an interview with Nigella that really resonated with me:
“I’m generally quite a lazy person. Lazy people work the hardest, I’ve always said, to make time to make themselves happy just lying on the sofa, eating chocolate, and reading novels.”
I’m not saying that I work the hardest but I do work very hard to carve out space to be lazy.
Some tips:
1 - Lists, obviously. Transfer the zillions of To Do’s and thoughts in your head onto lots of handy lists, thereby breaking the endlessness of it all into manageable component parts. One job at a time.
2 - Have an actual physical calendar (not your iPhone) and stare at it a few times a day. I love my wall calendar so much and strike through each little box at the end of the day with smug satisfaction. I am so familiar with who has what on when that I very rarely forget a swimming lesson, birthday or dinner. If I’m sounding a bit deranged then I’m sorry but you did ask.
3 - Do as much stuff in advance as possible. I try to have cards and presents in stock, I lay out the kids’ uniform the night before and I fill the kettle and leave mugs with tea bags ready for the next morning (I know). Yes, it’s a bit mad but the way I see it, I’m banking time for when things are inevitably chaotic and busy and that helps to make the chaos and busyness more tolerable. It also means I’m quite calm all the time.
Ooh I’d love to know about your best and worst ever celeb encounters! - L Stock
Worst: When Harvey Weinstein shoulder-barged me out of the way when I was manning the door for the press room at the ELLE Style Awards many years ago.
Best: Being flown by Moet to Shanghai to interview Scarlett Johansson and drinking lots of champagne at a fancy rooftop dinner. ScarJo liked my dress and even stole my style!
Best: Speaking to Orlando Bloom and knowing while it was happening that it was interview gold.
Best: Sitting on a table next to Beyoncé and Jay Z at dinner once in New York. Scream.
Best: Talking on the phone with fashion legend Iris Apfel for nearly two hours.
Worst: Realising my dictaphone didn’t record my phone call with Iris Apfel.
Best: Interviewing Lady Gaga just before she became mega famous. There were barely any Google results when I was researching her beforehand and yet on the call, she was already talking about herself like she was Madonna (or Jesus).
That’s all for now. Thank you for reading.
See you next time!
Hannah