My London: Kelly Macdonald

Where do you live and why? Hampstead. It's quiet, leafy and near the city.

If you could change one thing about your street, what would it be? The schools. Hampstead's got loads of posh primary schools and the traffic is horrible. Parents drive their kids the five minutes to school.

What was the last book/CD you bought? The book was Naked by David Sedaris. I bought it for Dougie [Payne, of Travis, with whom Kelly lives]. As for the CD, I'm rubbish: I buy really bad compilations - things like The Best Country Album in the World... Ever. I'm only allowed to play them when Dougie's out of town

Do you have a local (restaurant/pub)? Wakaba on Finchley Road. It's the best Japanese - delicious.

Where would you most like to spend a 'lost weekend' in London? In summer, I'd get a big suite in the Dorchester and then play chess in Hyde Park.

What keeps you awake at night? Making lists.

What's your earliest memory of London? Coming down for the Trainspotting poster shoot in 1995. I can't remember which hotel I stayed in - it was on Edgware Road, I think. My room was facing a wall, and the hotel air-conditioning system was right in front of it, and I thought: 'Oh, this is lovely...'

When did you last lose something valuable and what was it? I don't really lose things. I break things. Dougie had a really valuable Damien Hirst plate. Honestly, it looked as if I'd grabbed it and thrown it on the floor, but I was just trying to hang it in a different place. Dougie took it really well. Then he got another painting in Germany and I chipped that, so I'm not allowed to touch his art any more.

What is the most beautiful London landmark? St Paul's.

And the ugliest? Trafalgar Square. It's like a car park.

What's the last film you saw in London? Did you enjoy it? Serendipity. If I was the kind of person who could leave a cinema, I would have left.

When and where did you last get drunk? The other night when my friend Kate came round. It started off civilised, and went horribly wrong when she appeared with a bottle of tequila that was at the back of some cupboard. We were both sick the next day.

Where is the most intimidating place in London? New Bond Street, where all the posh shops are. Dougie and I went to Burberry and, when we finally got someone to pay us attention, I asked for something in my size and she went off. Dougie said: 'Come on, let's go,' and we made a quick getaway.

What don't you leave London without? Nurofen.

What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done? I was asked to present an award at the Independent Film Awards. All the presenters were sitting in Caf? Royal and, because I was nervous, I laughed too loud at something that wasn't even really funny - and I farted at the same time. It was the loudest... I thought: 'Please make that one of those things only I could hear.' But a distinguished lady next to me was creasing up.

Where did you last blow £2,000 and what was it on? I don't really blow money, but I spent half that on a vintage film poster for The Apartment.

What's the first piece of advice you'd give a London tourist? Walk or take the bus rather than the Tube - you'll find your way around better.

What was the last conversation you had with a London cabbie? I always have the same ones. It's either 'What do you do, then?' - because it's usually a weird time of day when other people are working - or we talk about the traffic in Hampstead.

When was the last time you broke the law? My poor wee car was towed. I thought it had been stolen and rang the police. I really thought it was in a car space.

What's the most overrated thing in London? Buckingham Palace.

What do you miss most when you're out of London? My own bed.

Name a song/tune that you associate with London? [sings] My old man said, 'Follow the van and don't dilly dally on the way.'

If you were invisible for a day, where would you go in London and what would you do? I would love to go round various casting directors' offices and watch people auditioning, embarrassing themselves.

Which shop could you not live without? In Old Street, it was Fags & Fings, but now I've gone a bit upmarket - I like Selfridges.

Have you ever been refused entry anywhere? After the premiere of Gosford Park at the London Film Festival there was a dinner and I'd mislaid my ticket. They weren't going to let me in. I was saying, 'No, but really... I'm in the film.' I was rescued by a PR.

What is the most expensive meal you've had in London and who did you eat with? I took my mum, who lives up in Skye, to Rules. But most of my expensive meals are work-related, so other people pay.

What's your favourite meal to cook at home? A Cooking For One recipe for a Cajun dish of spicy salmon - very bad for you as it's fried in butter.

What's your most memorable night out? The wrap party for Gosford Park, on a boat going up and down the Thames.

What is your favourite view? From a paddle boat on the Serpentine, the sky seems really big.

What and where is your favourite painting or work of art? It's a neon sign in my house by the conceptual artist Gary Rough. It says 'Very Interesting', and 'Very' flashes on and off.

What last made you cry? Saying goodbye to Dougie's mum in Glasgow. She gets so weepy.

Where in London would you have your ashes scattered? I don't think I would in London. I'm hoping to get out of here at some point...

If your house were on fire, which three things would you rescue? I'm not too materialistic. I'd save Archie, Dougie's goldfish. He's got a lot of character. There's nothing else really irreplaceable.

Gosford Park is released on 1 February

White vest man