What baffles me about London is how can so many people live here without more conflict. It’s just astonishing.
London’s best-kept secret is the outdoor swimming pool at the Oasis Sports Centre in Covent Garden, followed by a panini at Diana’s Cate on Eldon St, east London, If you’re feeling like carbs. If you’re all about the protein, try a steak salad at Sophie’s Steakhouse in Convent Garden.
When I want to chill out I visit London Hypnosis, in London Bridge and Edgware. Twenty minutes of hypnosis is the equivalent of a good four-hour kip (allegedly).
The most interesting person I’ve met is Judi Dench. I did a play with her at the RSC and night after night I watched from the wings and was bowled over. She used to smuggle me back to her house in Hampshire in the back seat so the other actors didn’t get jealous.
My favourite place for a drink is The Ivy Club, in the West End.
When I’m hungover in London I don my mukluk boots, with faux fur and massive heels, a huge pair of sunnies and brunch at the Wolseley, Mayfair.
What gets me up in the morning? My four-year-old son William, and, for the last three months, him dressed in nothing but a cowboy hat and a pair of Wellington boots jumping on the bed asking me to read Peter Rabbit. Again.
My perfect weekend would feature pre-theatre dinner on Friday at Rules in Covent Garden followed by Tim Minchin’s Matilda. Saturday morning zumba class with Claire Cordell (Google her!), lunch at Victoria Stakes, in Muswell Hill, while the children get raucous at Priory Park with the dads, then get dressed up for some ballet at the Royal Opera House. Sunday afternoon on the south bank.
The biggest faux pas I’ve made was spending 10 minutes with this lovely lady slagging off some guy I’d just been working with on Doctor Who, only for her to tell me I was talking about her husband. Why didn’t she stop me?!
Five words that sum up London … unique, fast, tolerant, pulsating, green.
Ella stars in Sky Living’s comedy Gates on Tuesdays at 8.30pm.
