Rachael Stirling, 29, who starred in "Tipping the Velvet", is performing in the 24-Hour Plays at the Old Vic on 8 October. In flu gala, introduced by Kevin Spacey, the Old Vic's artistic director, theatre professionals write, rehearse ana perform six l0-minute plays within 24 hours. Stirling is the daughter of Dame Diana Rigg.
On performing in the 24-Hour Plays…
I'm looking forward to doing it. The kick bollock scramble of it all appeals to me greatly.
The character I'd most like to play is…
Cleopatra. The fervour, the passion, the drama and the glory of the language!
If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be…
Reading a script or playing with my pals.
A phrase I use far too often is…
"Ooh, heaven".
A common misperception of me is…
That I'm Martine McCutcheon. Don't ask me why.
I wish people would take more notice of…
The fact that politicians are trying to turn the population of this country into opinionless hamsters treading the wheel of the nanny state.
The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was…
Being offered 20 chickens for my hand in marriage by a stallholder in Cairo when I was 11.
I'm not a politician but…
The broadening of the congestion charge zone is the stupidest idea I've ever come across.
I'm good at…
Backgammon.
But I'm very bad at…
Networking.
The ideal night out is…
Dinner at J Sheekey's with friends after having done a good show and discovered something new about the character in the performance that night.
In moments of weakness I…
Reach for a Silk Cut Ultra Light.
You know me as an actor, but in a truer life I might have been…
An art historian. It's what I studied at university.
On performing…
Be brave, take chances and let it all hang out. Get it really right or get it really wrong, but for God's sake don't dip a toe in, just take the plunge.
The best age to be is…
I like them all the older I get so I couldn't tell you. Next year is probably the best age to be.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:
It is better to be the person who tries, falls arse over tits in the process, than the person who sits back and observes. Grab life by the balls.
