The actor on making mistakes in the public eye, finding happiness in a lido, and his famous footballer crush. Born in London, Douglas Booth, 32, was cast in the film From Time to Time at 16. In 2010, he played Boy George in the television film Worried About the Boy and the following year he was Pip in a BBC adaptation of Great Expectations. In 2013, he starred as Romeo in Carlo Carlei’s version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; his other films include Noah, The Riot Club, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mary Shelley, Shoshana and I’ve Never Wanted Anyone More, which is now available on digital platforms. He is married to the actor Bel Powley and lives in London.
When were you happiest?. Whenever I’m swimming in the lido at London Fields. What is your earliest memory?. Pretending to cry when I was put to bed by licking my finger and wiping my eyes to make it look like tears. Drama queen from day one. Which living person do you most admire, and why?. My friend Josie Naughton, the co‑founder and CEO of the charity Choose Love, which supports refugees and displaced people. She left her job working for Coldplay to dedicate her life to this cause.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?. Whenever I walk past an ice-cream shop, I just can’t not buy an ice-cream. What is the trait you most deplore in others?. When people are rude to their waiter. Describe yourself in three words. Clumsy, kind and excitable. What would your superpower be?. To be able to eat and eat and eat without facing the consequences. What makes you unhappy?. Overthinking. What is your most unappealing habit?.
My wife says I chew my food loudly. What scares you about getting older?. Loneliness. Who is your celebrity crush?. Bukayo Saka. Would you choose fame or anonymity?. Anonymity. It will bring you more peace than fame. What was the last lie that you told?. I didn’t fart!. Sign up to Inside Saturday. The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend.
after newsletter promotion. What is your guiltiest pleasure?. Mixing a whole bag of Maltesers and Minstrels into popcorn and finishing it all before the movie trailers are even over. What does love feel like?. I’ve learned that true love shouldn’t be complicated. It’s the safety and freedom to be seen and celebrated for who you truly are. If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?.
Anthony Bourdain. Which living person do you most despise?. I try to not waste energy despising anyone. Which phrases do you most overuse?. I’m hungry. If you could edit your past, what would you change?. I’d give my younger self the lessons I’ve learned over the years, sparing myself the need to figure everything out so publicly. If not yourself, who would you most like to be?. Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
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