Emma Mackey’s Travel Inspirations

Where was the last place you visited?

‘Corsica. I stayed in France during the pandemic – I’m half French and my parents live in the countryside here; it’s where I was born and raised so I was legally allowed to travel to the island. As soon as I arrived I felt this emboldening force coming from the ground. It’s rocky, with stunning beaches, and the locals are extremely proud of their land so they really protect it.’

Spending Lockdown in France

‘Gorgeous. I was originally only supposed to be in Paris for three days in March, but I had the misfortune of having my bag stolen, with my passport and everything in it. Then the lockdown was announced, so I remained in the country. It was totally meant to be – I haven’t spent that much time with my parents or at home for a long while.’

Feeling Happiest Around the World

‘When I was about 14 or 15, I went to Scout camp in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, just below Gap, where we would hike through the mountains. I’m deeply moved by peaks; they make me emotional. Even though I was young, I remember feeling fulfilled there. The past few months have entirely changed my perspective on how I want to live my life: focusing on meaningful, essential things. For me, that’s family and being in nature. I’m doing the best I can to be surrounded by greenery as much as possible.’

A Destination That Lived Up to the Hype

‘Amsterdam. I was only here for a couple days, but I had saved all my pennies to go. I enjoyed the bustle of it, the bikes, and how clean and safe it seemed to be. I liked that people would leave their doors open and not worry about getting broken into. Also, New York is exactly how you imagine it. I felt as if I was in a film – the steam coming up from the pavements, all the yellow taxis… The city is so vast and has many pockets, so everyone can find their own area.’

Favorite Views

‘At the southern tip of Corsica, looking out across the Mediterranean Sea and northern Sardinia, and heading through its regional parks – breathtaking. I found a secret creek in the mountains, with no one else around, and couldn’t believe it was real.’

Essentials to Pack

‘I’ll say headphones, because I listen to music all the time. What am I playing now? Before this, it was classical, because I was writing emails – whenever I’m doing admin I need to be focused, so I thought a sonata would help. And I always take my perfumes. I have a few different ones that I layer – it’s my thing.’

Most Travelled Road

‘The train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central to film Sex Education is my most-used route for four months of the year. And London to Paris on the Eurostar – I still get butterflies when I arrive at either end. I find travelling anywhere exciting; it’s not a business transaction for me, even if it’s for work. I relish being in motion and using my freedom to go to a new destination.’

The Smartest Hotel Experience

‘Lacoste took me to Paris for the Roland-Garros tennis open last year and put me up in the Brach for a night. I cried when I got into the room because I had never seen anything like it. It had a 360-degree panorama of the city – from the Eiffel Tower, which was wonderful as I was starting prep for the film Eiffel, to the Sacré-Cœur.’

Interesting Encounters Abroad

‘I wish I had been to Peru and spoken to a shaman in the hills, but I haven’t. I love the in-between moments when you get talking to people – a driver with the most incredible life story or someone in a market who has a great energy – and you feel truly connected to them for that instant. Those experiences are enriching and nourishing.’

Childhood Holiday Memory

‘I used to visit Devon every year with my British family on my mum’s side. We’d go to Budleigh Salterton in Sidmouth; some of my earliest memories are of being on the pebble beach with my parents and brothers. Cornish pasties come to mind – and pine trees, drives along the coast, caravans and a lot of camping.’

Favorite Local Spot

‘There’s a restaurant in Belleville, Paris, called Le Grand Bain, which literally means the big bath. It’s one of my favorite spots. I’m vegan now, so I need to return and see if there are any options for me, but it serves great vegetarian food. It’s French tapas – seasonal, local and fresh – with natural, organic wines and a lovely atmosphere.’

Commonly Used Foreign Phrase

‘Can it be an expletive? I say joder, which is just an average Spanish swear word, all the time because one of my best friends is from Spain. And there is a French phrase, mêler l’utile à l’agréable, which means to mix the useful and the pleasant, and I think sums me up quite well. It’s the two sides of me: the practical, pragmatic and problem-solving side, and the agreeable, curious, hungry one.’

Mini-Bar Wish List

‘I’m not drinking at the moment, but if I was I would want ginger beer and vodka to make some kind of Moscow Mule. If they come in glass, I’m happy. Anything that’s not plastic.’

How I Relax

‘I’ve just started properly reading again, because university killed it for me for a while. I’m rereading Wuthering Heights; it isn’t very relaxing, but I’m about to play Emily Brontë in a biopic and want to get back into that Gothic, northern, gritty world. And I recently finished 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, which is beautifully written. I also watch documentaries such as Chef’s Table. You must see the Jeong Kwan episode in South Korea. She’s this amazing Buddhist monk; her cooking is so soothing.’

Emma Mackey stars in Death on the Nile, in cinemas 11 February 2022