My London - Joe Wright

Joe Wright won a BAFTA for his film Pride & Prejudice

The director, 37, is dyslexic and left school with no GCSEs, but in 2006 he won a BAFTA for his film Pride & Prejudice

Home is
London. I live in Spitalfields, and my house was built in 1726 by the French. I live with my girlfriend and my little dog, Kansas Brown. She's a Morkie (half Maltese and half Yorkshire terrier).

Where did you grow up?
In Islington. Both my parents are originally from South Africa: my dad came over in 1933 and my mother in 1959. My great-grandfather was also from Islington.

What advice would you give a tourist?
Buy an Oyster card.

What was the last play you saw?
The last theatre I saw was part of a festival at Sadler's Wells called Svapnagata, which was a season of Indian music and dance. It was a collaboration between the choreographer Akram Khan and the composer Nitin Sawhney. It was absolutely beautiful. I like going to see dance, it's a good way to escape.

Which London shops do you rely on?
My local Sainsbury's for food, Kiehl's for toiletries, Margaret Howell for clothes, and I love Church Street in Marylebone. I always go to James Worrall Antiques and Alfies Antique Market for furniture.

What's the best meal you've had in London?
I'm a big fan of Moro on Exmouth Market, it's always a bit of a treat and I love the harissa chicken. I'm often at St John Bread & Wine on Commercial Street, too; this morning I had yoghurt with poached quince and toasted brioche for breakfast.

What's your earliest London memory?
I'd been to see some friends of my parents who were Irish republicans and they taught me a
phrase which I shouted over and over as I walked down Upper Street: Up the IRA.' When I got home my parents suggested that at the age of five it wasn't the best thing to be doing.

What would be on your tombstone?
'It's a rum thing.' It's what the artist Joseph Turner is claimed to have once said. I was named after him.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Pudding. Especially at The Wolseley.

What are you most afraid of?
Mental illness.

What would you do as Mayor for the day?
I would get rid of speed bumps. I don't drive, I get taxis everywhere, but when you're not feeling very well they make you feel even worse.

What's your life philosophy?
Do unto others as they would do unto you.

What animal would you most like to be?
My dog Kansas because it must be wonderful to
be loved like she is.

What was the last album you bought?
An album by the American band Beirut. My assistant recommended it and it's really good.

What would you save from a fire?
My Bill Brand print, which I have in my bedroom.

What makes you cry?
Beauty.

What are you up to at the moment?
I'm hopefully going to be making a film in the spring called Hanna, starring Saoirse Ronan who was in Atonement. The script showed me the
world in a way I hadn't seen it before.

Which is your favourite London street?
I love the ghosts that haunt the city and Charing Cross Road is full of them. I like walking around
and feeling the presence of past lives.

Who's your hero?
Kathy Burke, because she's navigated a career while maintaining her integrity.

What are you wearing?
Sheepskin slippers and a Brora stripey sweater.

What's the most romantic place in London?
Hungerford Bridge, because when I'm standing on it I feel like London is presenting itself to be admired.

What is your favourite London discovery?
City airport, because it's really close to my house.

Where did you last go on holiday?
I went to the Tbilisi International Film Festival in Georgia. It was incredible. I also went to Yemen, and I always go to a friend's house in Tuscany to relax.

Have you ever stolen anything?
When I was a kid my parents ran a puppet theatre in Islington, called the Little Angel Theatre, and I used to steal chocolate biscuits from the coffee shop there. I still feel terrible guilt about it. I only recently admitted it to my mother.

The Soloist is out now on DVD

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in