Sheridan Smith's My London

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10 April 2012

The Legally Blonde actress on Louboutins, treasure hunts and why she's a cheap date

Home is
Doncaster, with my mum, dad, brother and three dogs Enid, Barry and Trish. Bonkers names, I know.

Where do you live in London?
I've lived in Crouch End for 14 years. It's very villagey which is what attracted me to it; it reminds me of home.

What was the last play you saw in London?
I've been to see my friend Richard Fleeshman, who plays Sam, in Ghost the Musical twice already. It's phenomenal.

What advice would you give to a tourist coming to London?
Go on the London Eye. I'm saying that even though I've never been on it because apparently it's brilliant and I really want to do it.

What's the first thing you do when you arrive back in London?
I take my dogs out for a big walk around Highgate woods, it clears my head and it eases me back into city life.

Which London shops do you rely on?
I live in Selfridges because it has everything under one roof. Liberty's is great for the same reason - I'm so lazy, I hate walking from shop to shop. Powder in Crouch End always has great designer labels in, so when I walk past I have to put my blinkers on because every time I nip in I come out with too much stuff, it's dangerous. I go to Dunns bakery in Crouch End to get all my cakes.

What's the best meal you've had in London?
I went to J Sheekey's the other night with Sienna Miller and her mum and they got me my first oysters. They're amazing and I think I'm a bit addicted which is so posh for me. I'm normally a burger and chips girl - such a cheap date.

What's the most romantic thing someone's done for you in London?
On Valentine's Day a few years ago, an ex did a treasure hunt for me all across London. I started in my favourite shop, Powder, and there was a handbag with a note in it which took me to somewhere else, and so on. Then at Paramount Bar there was a note and a CD which I had to play while I was in the car, and I ended up at the Sanderson hotel in a beautiful suite with rose petals everywhere. It was so romantic, I was totally swept off my feet.

What's your earliest London memory?
When I was 16 I played Tallulah in Bugsy Malone at the Queen's Theatre. Me and five others shared a flat together in Blackheath. It was brilliant being 16 and living in London with my mates.

Do you have a recurring dream?
I often wake myself up crying with laughter, I haven't a clue what I'm laughing at but I love it.

How would you like the opening line of your obituary to read?
'She had a laugh, always chasing a party.'

What's your biggest extravagance?
I do love Louboutin shoes but I need to stop buying them because I don't go to many 'dos' so they just line up. I'm normally in my trainers.

If you could live in any building in London, which would it be?
The Royal Albert Hall, it's amazing.

What would you do as Mayor of London for the day?
The CCTV cameras in London make me feel like I'm on Big Brother, so I'd be a cheeky mayor and get rid of them, mainly so I could drive in the bus lanes.

What's the best advice you've been given?
Always be nice to people on the way up because you never know when you'll be coming back down again.

What animal would you like to be?
A chimp. I'm a patron of a chimp sanctuary in Wales and I get to go and see them and make friends with them, which sounds bonkers but they are so intelligent. I'm a bit of a cheeky monkey too.

What was the last album you bought?
Adele's 21, even though that was ages ago. I haven't been listening to a lot of music recently. I need to get with the times.

What are you up to at the moment?
I'm filming Quartet which is directed by Dustin Hoffman and I am totally in awe of him. Maggie Smith is in it along with all the acting royalty and I feel like curtseying; little old me from Doncaster acting with all these amazing people.

Which is your favourite London street for shopping?
Oxford Street is manic and bonkers and you have to try not to get stressed, but it has everything on it. If you can be bothered to walk the length of Oxford Street, do it.

Who's your hero?
I grew up watching Kathy Burke, and I loved how she didn't care what she looked like as long as it was funny, she could take the mickey out of herself.

What do you most like wearing?
My stylist Gerard has to glam me up; 'polishing a turd' I call it. When I turn up I look like a tramp in my joggers and biker boots.

Which is your favourite London club?
I know it sounds quite poncy but I go to the Groucho a lot. When I got mugged recently I didn't know where to go, so I just ran straight there and cried at them 'I've just been mugged and lost everything!' They sorted me out.

What are your favourite London discoveries?
I've done a couple of Shakespeare plays in Regents Park Open Air Theatre and it's so special and romantic. As it gets darker all the lights come on in the trees and it's stunning. You have to take a blanket though because it gets really cold.

Have you ever had a run-in with a London policeman?
I was sat in traffic once and looked down at my phone and immediately heard a 'tap tap tap' at the window, and there was a policeman shaking his finger at me. I felt just like a naughty schoolgirl.

Tell me something I don't know about London...
There's a nose sticking out of Admiralty Arch. Nobody nose why it's there... I'm ashamed of that pun.

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