Born in 1992 in West Sussex and brought up in London, Kaya Scodelario, a Brazilian-British actress, gained fame for her portrayal of Effy Stonem in E4’s series Skins. In 2011, she took on the role of Cathy in Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Her filmography also includes entries like the Maze Runner trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and This Is Christmas. Recently, she appeared in two Netflix series: Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen and the bilingual biographical miniseries Senna. She will make her stage debut in East Is South, a play centered on artificial intelligence, running at Hampstead Theatre from February 7 to March 15. Scodelario resides in North London with her two children.
She’s a remarkable songwriter, and it’s astonishing to realize she’s only 26. Her lyrics and voice carry a soulful quality that feels timeless. She defies the norms that many contemporary artists follow, which I find very inspiring. I believe she’s fostering a constructive dialogue between fans and their idols about the implications and limits of that relationship. My three-year-old daughter adores “Pink Pony Club” and sings it daily on our way to nursery, creating a sweet memory for me every time I hear it.
I discovered this book at the Science Museum gift shop while searching for materials to inform my research on AI for the play. Supremacy explores the competition between two influential figures in the AI sector: Sam Altman from OpenAI and Demis Hassabis from Google DeepMind, highlighting their differing ethical perspectives. I’m eager to cling to the notion that there’s an irreplaceable aspect of humanity: our capacity for creativity, love, hate, and pain. I hope this is an intrinsic human quality.
As a child of the 90s, I grew up watching Gladiators during the era of limited TV channels—sometimes requiring a thump on the TV to tune in to Channel 5. I adored the compelling narratives, the melodrama, and the fierce competition; the powerful, stunning female competitors particularly captivated me. I’m utterly thrilled by the recent reboot. They’ve modernized it while preserving its nostalgic charm and entertainment value. Now, I watch it with my kids as they mimic the Gladiators during the opening credits. Plus, I have to admit I have a crush on Legend!
Braseef Brazilian Butcher, Turnpike Lane, north London
London is home to many fantastic eateries, but nothing restores me after a lengthy shoot abroad like cooking the Brazilian dishes of my childhood. Every week, I prepare feijoada, a hearty black bean stew with various cuts of pork, as well as brigadeiro, a decadent chocolate fudge treat. Braseef serves as a cultural hub for Brazilians in north London, offering exquisite cuts of Brazilian beef and other meats. Their hot counter is stocked with savory snacks like coxinhas and pastéis, which are utterly scrumptious.
This former railway line has been transformed into a nature reserve, allowing wildlife to flourish in its surroundings. When I feel trapped in a character and need to recenter myself, I enjoy taking a long stroll from Finsbury Park to Highgate Woods, ending up at The Woodman pub for a Sunday roast. There’s a notable sculpture known as Spriggan, a creature from north London folklore, along the way. Additionally, a bat cave can be found at the trail’s end, making it a little oasis of nature in the heart of London.
Really Good Exposure, Soho theatre (17-18 Feb)
This one-woman performance by Megan Prescott delves into our treatment of those in the performing arts—contrasting actors and sex workers, as well as less established actors and “nepo babies.” I starred alongside Megan in Skins, and she has woven our experiences as teenagers navigating a hyper-sexualized show with her own unique journey into sex work. The show poses an intriguing question: when an actress takes control of her sexuality and profits from it directly, why is that often viewed negatively? I had the opportunity to see it at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and I couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments.
