BOriginally from Hong Kong, Romola Garai (42) joined the National Youth Theatre as a teenager. She was nominated for a BAFTA in 2012 for her role in the BBC drama Scarlet and White, and her TV credits include The Hour and Vigil. She wrote and directed the 2020 film Amulet, and her film credits include I Capture the Castle, Atonement, Scoop, and the currently showing The Critic. She recently appeared in The Years at London's Almeida Theatre. Garai lives in London and has two children with her husband, actor Sam Hoare.
What is your biggest fear?
A kidnapping case that resulted in someone being locked in an underground bunker for 30 years.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
Anyone working on the frontline in NHS mental health services.
What trait do you most dislike about yourself?
I can't handle any level of stress.
What trait do you dislike most in others?
Cruelty.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I'm terrified of getting in trouble. Once, my husband and I tried to sneak into the back of a photography exhibit while one of our kids was in a stroller. We arrived late, so my husband suggested we enter through the gift shop and see the last room. As we peered around the door, a security guard saw us. I yelled, “That guy's trying to get in!” and ran away.
Besides real estate, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? Did you buy it?
My short film, Scrubber, came out in 2011. At the time, I thought it would be easier to fund it myself than to apply for funding.
Describe yourself in three words
Overconfident, overstressed, greedy.
What is your superpower?
To cure insomnia.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I have acne.
Who would play you in a movie based on your life?
Amy Schumer.
What is your most unattractive habit?
Smoking. Nobody smokes anymore. I am the last smoker.
What book are you embarrassed to have not read?
I have never read Proust.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
horse.
Would you choose fame or obscurity?
Anonymity – Fame is boring.
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What was the last lie you told?
I told someone I had quit smoking.
What was the best kiss of your life?
My first kiss with my husband.
What words or phrases do you overuse the most?
“It's okay” is because most of the time it isn't okay.
What's the worst job you've ever had? end?
Some of the acting jobs I've done have involved everyone going out of their way to make the cast feel annoying and easily replaceable.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
You probably remember a lot of times in your 20s when you were rude, annoying, and cocky.
If not yourself, who would you like to be?
I dream of “the good life” and watch YouTube videos of people living in the countryside and in touch with nature, but I'm too physically lazy to ever do that.
What legacy do you want to leave for your children?
A sense of optimism.
Do you want sex, money or fame?
Can I sleep?
