My London: Daniela Nardini

Where do you live and why? I've lived in Ladbroke Grove for the past two-and-a-half years. I sometimes think about moving to somewhere posher like Hampstead but always end up dropping the idea. I love spending lost, unemployed days on Portobello Road too much.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? I went to Thailand with my brother Aldo about a year ago. He knows Thailand really well, so was an excellent guide. I recently went to Arizona for a few weeks to visit some friends and spent New Year on the Scottish island of Mull. There were 15 of us and we rented a huge house. It was fantastic.

What advice would you give to a tourist? Try not to look like one and get a Tube map.

Who's in your secret address book? There's a Spanish deli on Portobello Road called Garcia's. They sell everything from salami to Spanish soap.

What have been your most memorable London meals? I actually like my own meals best. My dad's a really good cook so I suppose I get it from him. I think a dinner party of about six is enough for me. One of my most memorable meals was a bouillabaisse-based soup that I cooked recently for a few friends. The recipe was one of Jamie Oliver's.

What do you miss most when you're out of London? The smog, the traffic, the anonymity and the sheer bigness of London. All the things that usually irritate me when I'm here.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? I'd cancel a few football matches just to get a reaction. I'd also offer free public transport. I think it would be nice to ban cars for a day so cyclists could feel safe on the roads.

What is your life philosophy? Shake everyone's hand and say hello.

Do you have a favourite pub? I prefer cafés to pubs in London. Oporto on Golborne Road is my favourite. It's Portuguese so they sell lots of lovely custard tarts and it's always noisy. All my favourite pubs are in Scotland.

What is in your spring wardrobe? The fisherman's pants that I picked up for £1.50 in Thailand and my brown suede boots by Dolce & Gabbana from Harrods. I can't wait to shed all those winter layers, I'm much more of a T-shirt person.

What perfume do you wear? Mitsouko by Guerlain.

What were the last books you bought? The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama. It's not the kind of book you plough through all at once but I do try to read a little each day. Also The Soup Bible because I love making soups. Last time I was in Scotland, I collected enough nettles to make a good soup.

What was the last play you saw in London? A Passage to India at the Riverside Studios. I saw it a couple of weeks ago, it's a really beautiful production.

What are your favourite home comforts? Pillows, bubble bath and central heating. I could buy a cushion every week - they are literally everywhere in my home. My favourite cushions are made from Japanese kimono material. I picked them up in Portobello Market.

What was the last CD you bought? I was given Eminem's latest album. It's a good one to listen to while doing the housework.

What is your earliest London memory? Going to Madame Tussaud's with my cousin Paula and my Uncle Ricky. I was only nine years old and all I remember is the horrific stuff like the Chamber of Horrors. I haven't been back since - the queues are really off-putting.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Harrods, actually. The food hall is amazing and it's just so glamorous. It's the only department store I go to.

What are your favourite shops? I have a serious shoe addiction so all my favourite shops are shoe shops. I always try to nip into Office on the Portobello Road and Camper in Knightsbridge. I buy lots of shoes from Harrods, too. It all depends on how rich I feel at the time.
Actress Daniela Nardini loves spending unemployed days on the Portobello Road, feeding her shoe addiction and tucking into the delights of her local Spanish deli. Chioma Nnadi finds out what, apart from the Dalai Lama, makes her happy.

What are your extravagances? Good wine. There's a South African wine called Mulderbosch that I sometimes splash out £9.99 on. It's a Sauvignon Blanc and tastes like melons and apricots. I also like to treat myself to a £45 massage twice a month at a salon called Bliss on the Portobello Road.

Daniela Nardini will be appearing in Camille at the Lyric Hammersmith from 6 March to 12 April. For tickets, call 08700 500 511