Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The 5-minute Interview: Sophie Winkleman, Actress

'I've no sense of direction, and I've no self-discipline'

Monday 17 March 2008 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sophie Winkleman, 27, has appeared in films and television series including 'The Chronicles of Narnia', 'Peep Show' and 'The Trial of Tony Blair'. She plays Princess Eleanor in ITV's 'The Palace' – available on DVD from today.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Baking a cake, probably a walnut coffee one.

A phrase I use too often ...

"Chicken". No one really likes it, but I can't stop saying it. I don't know why it keeps coming out of my mouth.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

Older people. I get quite upset over how neglected they are in Britain.

The most surprising thing that happened to me is ...

Being mistaken for the characters I play. The other day in Waitrose, a woman told me "you shouldn't be so horrible to your brother". I realised she thought I really was the evil princess in The Palace. My role must have been quite convincing!

I am not a politician but ...

If I were, I would never have entered the completely illegal and utterly unfounded Iraq war.

I'm good at ...

Drawing. And singing songs from musicals. I'm obsessed with them. Sometimes I think I'm a gay man.

I'm very bad at ...

Having a sense of direction. And I've no self-discipline. I can't diet.

The ideal night out is ...

A night in at my home with my friend Coggie.

In moments of weakness I ...

Smoke cigarettes.

You know me as an actress, but in truer life, I'd have been ...

A baker who wrote children's books about magic cakes. When I try to concentrate, I really enjoy writing.

The best age to be is ...

18 to 19 is definitely a brilliant age. Equally, 50 or 60 should be good. Everything is done, you can relax a bit.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ...

Try to exercise gentleness, kindness and humour and you cannot go far wrong.

Susannah Peter

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in