Catfish

I finally watched this the other day. I didn't know much about it before seeing it which was perfect. I found it really engaging and felt it raised some very interesting points about our modern day cyber social world.

I recommend it. Watch it if you can but then don't spoil it for others.

"And there are those people who are catfish in life. They keep you on your toes. They keep you guessin’. They keep you thinkin’. They keep you fresh. And I thank God for the catfish, because we would be dull and boring if we didn’t have somebody nipping at our fin." 

- Vince Pierce

Home Delights

I went home this weekend to see The Big One and the Tabbies. 

I had a delivery of 'Pinks' from Crocus waiting for me to plant in the garden, a package of baby wool for the baby blanket I am knitting for the bump known as Herbert and I felt so happy to be home I baked a batch of blueberry muffins. The Big One had made me delicious short stack blueberry pancakes the previous morning so it seemed only fair.

Before

After

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."

- Maya Angelou

Sold Out!

Second week of rehearsals this week, so far I have been struggling a bit. The language is so different, almost like Shakespeare and I've found it hard to sight read and be able to play and explore the scenes whilst still relying on the script. I need to learn them so I can get on with it but it had kind of knocked my confidence a touch, plus the material is so dense. I'll get there but I hope it's sooner rather then later!

Last week we were taken to see the venue. This is a site specific production and it's taking place in an old Victorian Mill. The space is incredible and I feel really excited to be a part of what looks like potentially a truly amazing production. Other people must think so too as we found out on the first day of rehearsals that the entire run is sold out!

Here a few sneak peek pics I took last week.

The play will take place in real time as the sun goes down which means it'll be mainly naturally lit but also means it'll be cold! I have already requested thermals...

Costume fitting tomorrow!

"It takes very little fire to make a great deal of smoke nowadays, and notoriety is not real glory"

- Louisa May Alcott

Frock Watch!

 A very belated post on the annual Costume Institute Gala aka The Met Ball. There were some fabulous outfits, the ball served as the opening for the Alexander McQueen exhibition, 'Savage Beauty'. 


'Glamour' was definitely in attendance...

Madonna in Stella McCartney

Yup, Madonna. She has not made my best dressed list for a w-h-i-l-e but this is a stunning dress, I love the colour and the elegant embroidery down the sides and the nod to a train. It's a stunner.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu...with Jason Wu

Sexy, glamorous and chic, plus with the designer on her arm for bonus fashion points.

Kate Winslet in Stella McCartney

Ah Kate, when does she ever get it wrong? So effortless!

Lea Michele in Escada

I normally find red dresses quite dull, they are generally a contrived attempt to show off your 'wild side' on the red carpet. However there are exceptions and this is one of them for me, I'm not sure why but I like the structure and the styling. She looks confident and contemporary in it. Shame about lady casual behind her ruining her shot and the fantasy that it's all glamour glamour down at the Met...

Anna Dello Russo in Alexander McQueen

Ok so I'm not a huge fan of the egg/nest hat but I love the fun of the outfit, the tailoring is beautiful, the embellishment and it's chic dress up. Plus I always appreciate when a gal chooses a great alternative to a traditional red carpet dress...although having said that, somewhat controversially I am NOT a fan of short dresses on the red carpet, don't ask me why - I guess I'm just old fashioned like that.

Christina Ricci in Zac Posen

Talk of dress up drama! This is amazing, so contemporary yet so Gothic Victoriana. I do think her hair should have been more 'up' to compete with the drama of the dress. This is a pure indulgent dress up dress and where else can you do that if not the Costume Institute Gala?! I really love the exo-skeleton structuring.

Ok this is my favourite of all I saw....

Michelle Williams in Miu Miu

I just LOVE it. It's a beautiful matt black, contemporary and yet classic, signature Miu Miu and the embellished swallows are so beautiful. The belted waist, the gathered dropped sleeves. Contemporary elegance. I could wear this all day, every day. Divine.

In a last nod to Alexander McQueen's genius -

Florence Welch performed in Alexander McQueen

She looks like an ethereal fire nymph, it's incredible.

All photos c/o Style.com

"Clothes and jewellery should be startling, individual. When you see a woman in my clothes, you want to know more about them. To me, that is what distinguishes good designers from bad designers."

.- Alexander McQueen

Manchester: P-R-S has Arrived.

So I am here, in Manchester, for my next acting job which starts tomorrow. I arrived in my digs today and luckily they are lovely, the girl I am renting from, a fellow actress, has been really warm and welcoming. I am unpacked and my groceries been delivered.

Top digs tip: pre-order your groceries online, delivered to your door so no need to traipse about trying to find a supermarket not too far away so you can still lug back enough food to last you.

The older I get the harder I find it to relocate, set up a temporary home in someone else's and walk into a room of new people on the first day. I am spending the evening working on my script trying to prepare for tomorrow. First days are always like the first day of school except you have to read in front of everyone and hope no one thinks 'how the hell did she get cast?'.

This time in order to feel at home while away I have brought my knitting and my cross stitch and of course my trusty laptop. I have to say being able to blog helps, makes you feel less far away.

Another thing that is helping is my brand new delicious Diptyque Mimosa candle - an incredibly generous and wonderful present from my temp job boss and friend who I shall blog name Barbarella. She knows of my love for scented candles so got me the Ferrari of them all as a good luck present. It is lit and emitting it's gorgeous scent. What a treat!

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

“We're supposed to be perfect our first day on the job and then show constant improvement.”

-Ed Vargo

You may have heard about a Little Wedding last Friday...

How could I possibly not blog about the wedding. Very last minute (Thursday evening), I started to get swept up in the national hysteria and excitement in anticipation of watching Prince Wills marry his long term 'commoner' girlfriend Kate Middleton on Friday.

Somehow the historic significance, the romance and the social progress of The Royal Family all sunk in and I had no intention of missing it. I am of the age where I remember Diana, I remember her death and the backlash against the Royal Family very clearly. The images of those boys being made to walk behind their mother's coffin in front of millions of people lining the streets and billions watching it worldwide really seared itself into my emotional memory.

There were so many questions, so much shock and sympathy towards these two boys (I am the same age as William and I remember thinking I couldn't cope with what they are being asked to cope with). I applauded the way the mistakes were learnt, their privacy was protected and they were able to grow up somewhat shielded from the world's eyes.

When William met and fell in love with an essentially ordinary girl from University I couldn't help but think it was a huge success on the part of the people protecting his world. When they announced their engagement I was happy for them, who wouldn't be - they were two people very much in love and everyone likes to see that.

As the wedding fever increased here in London I felt somewhat out of touch, aware it was a piece of history but otherwise not particularly connected to it.

Then something happened, maybe I got worn down by the media, the streets lined with Union Jacks, the wedding parties being organised. Maybe I just seized the opportunity to celebrate something good, as a country we were, in general, happy that William had not only found happiness but he had found it his way.

For the last few years there hasn't been much cause to feel proud to be British and maybe the pageantry, the pomp, the tradition and the romance seduced me. Either way I watched the wedding in my pyjamas and hot pink fascinator (it was a wedding after all) and I felt just that, enormous pride to be part of a country with such a rich heritage. Mainly though I felt incredibly happy for a couple who despite so much pressure had successfully managed to make the day theirs, they were happy, they were in love and they were a team.

The dress was d-i-v-i-n-e, the designer choice a big fashionista delight, the trees, the music, the guests, the kiss x2, the 'just wed' car ride down the mall. I loved it, every second. They were so generous to share it with the world but I loved that throughout it all they seemed to be safely in their very own world together.

''I pray that everyone present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today will do everything in their power to support and uphold you in your new life'' 

- Bishop of London Dr Richard Chartres