Strike star Holliday Grainger: ‘What did the world get right this year? Not enough’

For many Brits, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a competitive game of charades, and actress Holliday Grainger’s celebrations are no different.

From keeping her fingers crossed for Oasis tickets to her “tedious” browsing history, Grainger, star of Strike: The Ink Black Heart, has told the Big Issue her highs and lows of 2024 and staying hopeful for 2025.

As part of our My Big Year series, here’s everything Holliday Grainger has been up to this year.

BIG ISSUE: Are you more or less hopeful than at the start of 2024?

HOLLIDAY GRAINGER: I’m always hopeful. 

What do you think the world got right this year?

Not enough.  

What do you think the world got wrong this year?

Way too much.  

Did you get Oasis tickets?

Sadly not. They’re playing my mum’s hometown on her birthday. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for an in.  

What would your browsing history say about you this year?

I just flicked back through… it’s tediously domestic. I hope that’s because I do all my interesting reading in analogue.  

What’s your biggest failure this year?

Not managing to fit it all in.  

What’s the one conversation you wish you were able to have in 2024?

There are many conversations I wish I could have had better! Things always seem clearer in retrospect. 

What is the oddest family Christmas tradition you keep?

Christmas isn’t complete without charades and the Rizla game… which is what we always called the Name Game… although now there are more kids than smokers we’ve moved on to Post-its on foreheads.

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