Consuming Passions
Weekly interviews with the best and brightest in entertainment, culture and the arts where Country Life find out our subjects Consuming Passions.
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‘Being a jeweller, you have to keep on top of the news, because you're affected so much by the price of gold': Sheherazade Goldsmith’s consuming passionsThe founder of Loquet on her fashion house inspirations, taking a sabbatical to study investigative journalism, and the trinkets she holds dear.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Sarah Raven: ‘I find nature very inspiring and reassuring, when things are feeling a bit dire in the world and we have world wars’The gardener and writer on her love of Cretan wild flowers, why she quit her job as a doctor, her husband’s grandmother Vita Sackville-West — and her consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Eve Myles: ‘You wouldn't believe how many Emily Blunt pictures get sent to me to sign’The Torchwood actor on meeting Linda Hamilton, being the 'best-kep secret in Wales', the book that inspired her to get into acting — and her consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'My husband gave me a pendant full of melted snow from the top of Everest': Bridgerton's Julia Quinn on romantic gestures and her consuming passionsThe author on series four of the Netflix smash hit, why she feels the need to speak out about America’s politics and meeting Dame Jilly Cooper.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'I do write in and say they should have more about farming': Zandra Rhodes on The Archers, getting arrested and making clothes for Freddie MercuryLotte Brundle meets the 85-year-old fashion designer in her vibrant apartment above the Fashion and Textile Museum in London.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I’m like: “Give me those tights, let me show you”: Ballet superstar Carlos Acosta’s consuming passionsBorn one of 11 children in a Cuban slum, it’s been 36 years since Carlos Acosta’s career as an internationally famous dancer formally began. Lotte Brundle meets him at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he is the director.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I don't consider myself to be a nepo baby at all’: Caroline Avedon on preserving her grandfather's legacy — and her consuming passionsCaroline initially wanted to be a lawyer, but now that she works for Richard Avedon’s foundation, she can’t imagine doing anything else, finds Lotte Brundle.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'The Taylor Swift effect? We've never experienced anything like it': Jeweller Cece Fein-Hughes' consuming passionsCece Jewellery's signature signet rings are beloved by the famous and fabulous — including Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and Taylor Swift. Lotte Brundle meets the woman behind the jewellery.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Actor Jennifer Garner on Diane Keaton, 'collecting women' — and her consuming passionsMatisse, Diane Keaton and her beloved childhood toy. Lotte Brundle finds out Jennifer Garner’s consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I wasn’t really sure that I wanted to be a ballet dancer’: The English National Ballet's prima ballerina on playing Clara in The Nutcracker and her consuming passionsLotte Brundle meets Ivana Bueno, who is dancing the role of Clara in The Nutcracker this year at the London Coliseum.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I have an obsession with having a good time’: Fred Sirieix on his newfound love of gardening, moving to the UK and his consuming passionsLotte Brundle chats to the French Maître d'hôtel, best known for bringing his charming hospitality to Channel 4’s First Dates and for his antics with Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Mark Gatiss: ‘BBC Two turned down The League of Gentlemen six times’The actor and writer tells Lotte Brundle about his latest Christmas ghost story, discovering Benedict Cumberbatch — and his consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I 100% always knew that I was going to do something creative’: Petra Palumbo on her design house, love of Scotland and consuming passionsThe London ‘It Girl’ turned Scotland-based designer makes tiles with men’s torsos and Henry hoovers on them, has a pug called Raisin and is married to the 16th Lord Lovat Simon Fraser. She chats to Lotte Brundle.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘She was absolutely extraordinary. One of my favourite things, photographing her, was the power that came through the door’: Rankin on capturing Elizabeth II, embracing artificial intelligence and almost becoming an accountantThe world-renowned photographer tells Lotte Brundle about his most memorable meal, with Liam Gallagher, Patsy Kensit, Elvis Costello and the bass player in The Pogues — along with the rest of his consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'People always think that, working on The Telegraph, I'll be told that things aren't right wing enough. But in 37 years, I've never, ever been told that’: The Telegraph’s cartoonist Matt on his consuming passionsThe Daily Telegraph cartoonist Matt — AKA Matthew Pritchett — talks to Lotte Brundle about his career as a cartoonist, his love of Snoopy and how he ‘stole’ his wife from Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘So many of us look at the world through our screens and forget to pay attention to the world outside’: Katy Hessel on the world’s great female artists, why free entry to museums matters and her consuming passionsThe author of ‘The Story of Art Without Men’ speaks to Lotte Brundle about the dangers of AI, how she fell in love with the art world and why it’s okay that her favourite painting is by a male artist.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘I’m not impressed by an Oxbridge education’: Author Jessie Burton on her acting ambitions, writing ‘The Miniaturist’ and her consuming passionsThe Sunday and New York Times bestselling author wrote her debut novel under her desk while temping as a PA for private equity companies. Lotte Brundle meets her.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Dire Straits' bassist John Illsley reveals why he swapped the recording studio for the art studio — and his consuming passionsJohn Illsley rose to fame as the bassist of the Dire Straits, but nowadays you're more likely to find him in an art studio.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Martin Brudnizki, the face behind almost every five-star hotel interior, on his consuming passionsGrilled feta with honey, The Rest is History and a bit of Bossa Nova on a Friday night — Lotte Brundle asks what drives the Swedish designer.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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‘Lots of books, Scrabble, a pack of cards and James Norton. Oh, and some wine’: Alison Weir’s consuming passionsThe Sunday Times bestselling author, 74, on her literary hero, her collection of jigsaw puzzles that she never has time to do and her celebrity crush.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Maria de la Orden’s consuming passions: Dark chocolate, Hockney and the diamond accessories that remind her of her familyThe Paris-based designer of sophisticated clothing gives Country Life a peek into the things she loves the most.
By Lotte Brundle Published


