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INTERVIEW BY JONWILDE
Inside the head of... Emilia Fox
When Jack Nicholson is just someone who pops in for tea and your parents are always on
the box, its no wonder the Silent Witness actress is not easily star-struck. So what DOES
get her hot under the collar? Health and safety obsessives... and gardener Monty Don

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What is your earliest memory?

I remember being given two canaries, Samson and Delilah, on my
fourthbirthday. Samsonusedto sing very loudly whenthe washing
machine was on. Delilah used to lay eggs continuously and even-
tually died from overlaying. After her death, Samson never sang
another note. That was my first introduction to true love.
What sort of child were you?
I was extremely quiet and shy. My godmother would always com-
ment on how serious I looked as a baby. I just enjoyed observ-
ing other people and that habit intensified into adulthood when
I became an actress. I didnt think of it as an unusual childhood,
but with my father [Edward Fox] and mother [Joanna David] both
being actors, wed often have famous people around for dinner. I
distinctly remember Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston sitting in
my living roomwhen I was 11. Only later did I realise this wasnt a
normal family scenario.
What lawwould you change?
Id introduce a law that would stop health
and safety obsessives interfering with kids
sports days. Imsick of hearing that the egg
and spoon race is too dangerous for chil-
dren. Whats the worst that can happen?
A kid might get a bit of eggshell in his eye.
Big deal.
Who would your dream
dinner date be?
The gardeners Monty Don and Andy
Sturgeon. Immad about gardening. There
are few things in life that make me as
excited as growing sweet peas or watch-
ing my roses bloom. I could happily talk to
these two men all night. My ambition is to
be able to name every flower in England.
Which person do you
most despise?
The person who burgled my parents home a few years ago. They
took a lot of sentimental items that wouldnt have meant much to
thembut meant the world to my mumand dad.
Who would you like to say sorry to?
Years agoI promisedtoopena donkeysanctuaryinDerbybut hadto
pull out at the last minute. I never even wrote a letter to apologise.
Who or what do you dreamabout?
My recurring dreaminvolves following the white rabbit in Alice In
Wonderland. I end up in a roomwhere Imlooking for a jewel that
turns out to be a bug, then I open the curtains where the white rab-
bit is hiding. At that point the roombegins to spin and I run off to
save a princess. It happens that way every time.
Whats your worst character trait?
I always insist on paying for everything. It comes from a simple
urge to give pleasure to others.
Tell us a secret about yourself.
Imincredibly superstitious. Seeing a single magpie can throw me
into a panic as it is written that ones for sorrow, twos for joy. Im
constantly touching wood and trying to avoid walking under lad-
ders. It can get very tiring inside my head.
What would you like to be better at?
Im a hopeless cook. Until recently I could barely cope with an
omelette.
Whats your most embarrassing
moment?
Last Christmas I had to turn on the fes-
tive lights at a London hotel. Id borrowed
a beautiful, beaded dress for the occasion.
As I was changing into the dress, the zip
wouldnt budge, which meant I could nei-
ther get into or out of it. My friend had to
stand behind me all night to conceal the
fact it was entirely open at the back.
What do you believe in?
In the 2011 film A Thousand Kisses Deep
I played an alcoholic mother. My charac-
ter was told by her doctor to enjoy what
she had rather than have what she wants.
Thats something to believe in.
Who do you most admire?
Ive got a huge amount of admiration for
my mumfor overcoming all the difficulties
shes been through. After being diagnosed with Mnires disease,
she suffered with anxiety and depression. She climbed a mountain
to be in a position where she could return to the stage. Shes the
bravest woman I know.
When were you last really happy?
Yesterday I went to a party for friends and family. We all ended up
doing the hokey-cokey around the kitchen.
Howwould you like to be remembered?
If I was remembered as someone who was a good laugh to be
around, Id settle for that.
The Secrets, with Emilia Fox, starts next Sunday at 10.40pmBBC1
THE LAST WORD
LAST FILMYOU SAW?
I adore all Wes Andersons films.
Grand Budapest Hotel was the sharpest
comedy in years. Beautifully shot.
LAST BOOK YOU READ?
Ive just finished The Silent Wife
by ASAHarrison, a very dark novel
about a disintegrating marriage. If they
ever made it into a filmor TVseries Id
love to play the lead character.

LAST GIG YOU WENT TO?
Two Kaiser Chiefs gigs in London
they were simply fantastic both times.
LAST TV SHOWYOU LOVED?
Working on Silent Witness I
like checking out other crime
shows and seeing howthey
compare. The Bridge is a stand-out
series in terms of its innovative
storytelling and its well-
rounded characters.
Joanne
Froggatt
andEmilia
Fox inThe
Secrets
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