Cultural Life: Elisabeth Hopper, Actress

Theatre I love fringe theatre and managed to sneak in a matinee of a three hander called 'The Aliens', which was on at the Trafalgar Studios. It was absolutely incredible. I really want to see 'Wittenberg' at The Gate, and plan to catch 'Jerusalem' when it comes back. I fell in love with the show when it was last on and queued from half six in the morning to get tickets.

Film The last film I saw at the cinema was 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2', which I really enjoyed. I've grown up with the books and love them, so it was great to see it on the big screen. I can't wait to see 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and 'Wuthering Heights' looks pretty good as well. A friend recently persuaded me to watch a film called 'If....', starring Malcolm McDowell (above), about a boys' boarding school in the 1960s. I agreed to watch it on the basis that Arthur Lowe was in it, as I'm a bit of a 'Dad's Army' fan. It's taken me a while, but I think I quite enjoyed it!

Books I've just started reading 'Anna Karenina', but have realised that I need to do one of two things before I continue with it; either buy a different translation or learn Russian. I usually have a couple of books on the go at once all in different places, so I'm also reading 'Submarine', 'The Remains of the Day' and Stephen Fry's autobiography 'The Fry Chronicles' in the vain hope I will someday be as witty as he is.

Television 'The Hour' was brilliant; Ben Whishaw and Dominic West were amazing. I can't wait to catch up on 'Appropriate Adult'. I'm glad 'Downton Abbey' is back on, and 'Spooks' as well. It's great that there are so many good British dramas on at the moment.

Elisabeth Hopper is appearing as Miranda in 'The Tempest' at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London SW1 (0845 481 1870; www.trh.co.uk) to 29 October