Loves of My Life: Alexandra Roach

The best interviews are often the most personal. In Loves of My Life, we get to know the person behind their craft, asking them the important questions we're desperate to know—the restaurants and date-night spots, what's in their Saved folder on Instagram, the piece of jewellery they're most attached to and what's lurking at the bottom of their handbag. In short, these are the true loves of their life.

Actor Alexandra Roach is best known for her standout roles in Utopia, Nightsleeper, No Offence, The Iron Lady, Killing Eve, Black Mirror, Hunderby and The Light in the Hall, and is fast becoming one of the most quietly powerful actors on screen. Her next project is Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming high-octane thriller series Lazarus, in which she plays the leading role of Jenna Lazarus. Lazarus is released today, exclusively on Amazon Prime. We caught up with her ahead of the release and asked her all of our burning questions.

What’s your #1 restaurant to visit in the whole world? And what would you order?

I live in Bristol but I’m away a lot for work, so when I get back, one of the very first things I do is gather a group of my friends, book a table at Pazzo, and order their carbonara. It’s absolutely delicious!! The restaurant has such a lovely, family feel, and we end up staying for cocktails and catching up on everything I’ve missed while I’ve been away.

Is there anything in your home that you're particularly sentimental about?

I’m quite a sentimental person and have kept all sorts of things over the years. I have boxes filled with old journals and diaries from my teenage years, which I love rereading whenever I stumble across them. My grandfather, who had been a miner since he was a teenager, took up watercolour painting in his eighties, and I have one of his paintings. I love that it reminds me it’s never too late to try something new!

What would we always find lurking in the bottom of your handbag?

I always pop a lipstick in my bag - even if I’m not wearing much make-up, I find a pop of colour can give me that little pick-me-up. It also doubles as a great blush if you end up staying out. I love Chanel Rouge Coco Flash 176 Escapade.

Who is the person or people who fill up your cup?

I’ve met some of the best people in my life on different dance floors over the years. There’s something so freeing about dancing, and sharing that passion has really helped me find my people. My friends in Bristol are exactly that—being on a dance floor with these excellent people is truly my happy place.

What is your ideal holiday? Something by the beach, pool, city-break or intrepid?

I went on a food retreat to Athens with my best friend. We knew we needed some quality catch-up time, and three days of eating and drinking our way across the city, discovering spots only the locals know, was the perfect way to do it. Hidden tavernas, buzzy wine bars, and cool coffee shops – pure magic!