The British actor and star of ‘Victoria’ says the forests of Scotland are in her blood, and dawn cycling in Provence brings her joy
10 October 2023
Where have you just come back from?
“Venice. I went without any plans, so we just wandered about and discovered things ourselves, such as Harry’s Bar, where Giuseppe Cipriani came up with the bellini in 1948. I took my old Rolleiflex, the camera that street photographer Vivian Maier used to shoot with. Every corner of Venice is like a painting. I love the way it is all cracked at the edges, in the best way.”
Where in the world have you felt happiest?
“I went to Provence before shooting my most recent series, Wilderness. We’d cycle at 5am to towns such as Baux-de-Provence – with its ruined castle on a rocky outcrop jutting out of the plains – and Saint-Rémy, for the beautiful pastel houses and vineyards, and then be back ready to work by 9am. My partner was working too, so we’d break to have lunch together. The other place is Scotland, where I shot Victoria. We stayed in Pitlochry, close to the Cairngorms. There was something grounding and calming about breathing that air, and being surrounded by the Scots pine and Douglas fir forests in Tay Forest Park. Maybe having a Scottish grandfather had something to do with it.”
Name the place that most lived up to the hype.
“The Amalfi Coast. Even though you’ve seen it all over Instagram, it’s just so breathtaking. Everywhere you eat is amazing, but my favourite restaurant was Lo Scoglio at the Marina del Cantone. It’s built on a large rock on a jetty that extends over the sea.”
And the place that least lived up to the hype.
“Marrakech. I was decorating my home at the time and obsessing over rugs, tiles, flea markets and antiques. Somehow, it ended up being quite stressful.”
Which is your favourite city?
“I’m torn between New York and Florence. Last year we shot Wilderness in New York. It just has its own rhythm, which means you come back feeling exhausted but invigorated. I celebrated my last birthday in different dive bars on a hot balmy night. I love that there is a village feeling in a city, and an ease to being social. And then Florence. I love just walking without a plan, and discovering places such as the Boboli Gardens, and all those grottoes and Renaissance statues.”
Have you experienced a holiday disaster?
“When we finished Wilderness, many of the flights were down. Ollie and I had to get back home from the middle of the Grand Canyon, so we drove six hours to Phoenix. On the way, we passed through Sedona and this stunning, red-rock landscape that I had never seen before. Stopping for lunch, we were like, How has this ended up being the best day ever?”
Which is your road most travelled?
“Back up to the North of England. I’m from Blackpool, so I’ll drive up the M1 for Christmas, or to the Lake District, which is the antidote to Blackpool’s city centre.”
Describe your favourite view.
“We were filming in Thailand for The Serpent, on a lake near the border with Myanmar. Tahar Rahim and I were on a boat, surrounded by the crew. We had this amazing golden hour. The sun was absolutely huge, and it felt like we were right next to it, en masse, in these boats together.”
What do you pack first?
“My camera. I love capturing memories and landscapes from each destination that brings joy and inspires others.”
What memories do you have from your childhood holidays?
“Fish markets. My dad always wanted to eat prawns with garlic, so a massive bowl of them in any location is my earliest holiday memory.”
Where did you go on your first holiday without your parents?
“I started doing the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when I was about 15 and spent three weeks in a house with my fellow actors. It was during my baggy jeans phase, and the bottoms were constantly soaked with Edinburgh rain.”
Which is the smartest hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
“I like places that are stylish without ostentation or formality, such as Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany. It grows all its own food and makes its own skincare range. Every detail is so considered that you feel completely at home, which I think is quite a skill.”
Sightseeing or sunlounger?
“If I’m in a city, I’m definitely a sightseer. But if I’ve just finished a job, I’ll be face down on a sunlounger, not talking to anyone. In the Maldives, I read five books. I love to properly switch off.”
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met on your travels?
“I once went to Bali on my own. My driver spoke multiple languages, had worked in tech, and had been an electrician. His phrase for life was ‘Make it easy.’ I had the best day exploring the island through him.”
Which foreign phrase do you use the most?
“Any French swearword: merde or putain.”
What would you most like to find in your minibar?
“Dark chocolate and salted nuts. Simple.”
Jenna Coleman stars in “Wilderness”, which will be released on Amazon Prime this year. She was speaking to Francesca Babb. This interview took place before the Sag-Aftra strike.
