Reina James

Reina James

1. When were you happiest?

Now, every day.

2. What is your principal defect?

Turning into a sergeant-major, usually because I’m anxious.

3. What makes you depressed?

If I think of being depressed as pessimism about my own life then nothing makes me feel that way. If I think of it as a state of impotent rage at humanity’s doings – where do I start?

4. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My legs. That said, they keep me up, for which I’m grateful.

5. What is your favourite word?

Moon. Or possibly blood.

6. What is your most unappealing habit?

It’s so unappealing that I’m keeping it to myself.

7. What is your favourite smell?

Libraries, toast, sandalwood, the sea, dogs, everything in the garden including manure.

8. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

They’re all guilt-free.

9. Who are your favourite writers?

Too many to list. This year so far: Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Hamilton, Gerald Kersh, Peter Ackroyd.

10. What is the worst job you've done?

Cleaning – utterly incompetent. Life model – agony.

11. When did you last cry, and why?

Yesterday, listening to a recording I’d made of a play on Radio 3: ‘Black Watch’ by Gregory Burke, based on interviews with soldiers in the regiment who’d served in Iraq.

12. What do you most value in you friends?

That feeling of uplift that comes from a good exchange. Interest, each in the other, laughter, empathy.

13. What gift would you most like to possess?

Peace of mind. I’m working on it.

14. What was your most embarrassing moment?

Oh God, so many. Last week, having lunch with my lovely agent and not being able to control the rocket salad so that every time he looked up it was sticking out of my teeth like some hideous garnish.

And the snot that hung between us when I pulled away from kissing my first boyfriend. I was 9. Whose was it?

15. What is your most treasured possession?

I can’t really describe his little spirit as a possession, but in a crisis, it has to be the cat.

16. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

My latest version of this fantasy: dozens of short stops to watch all my favourite English and American musicians and performers from Max Wall to Aretha Franklin.

17. What is your greatest fear?

Heaving black water.

18. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

If you're doing something that's doing you no good, you have to understand why you're doing it in order to stop and do something different.

And never, ever give up.