Letter To My Younger Self
Actor Ashley Walters: ‘There’s no way you cannot be political as a young black man in London’

Actor Ashley Walters: ‘There’s no way you cannot be political as a young black man in London’
He had the acting bug even before he was Asher D. Then he made peace with his dad, built a solid career on screen, and has now directed his first full-length feature film
‘What’s done to animals is so incredibly cruel, all I did was invade Anna Wintour’s office’

‘What’s done to animals is so incredibly cruel, all I did was invade Anna Wintour’s office’
A tiny rescued pig was the catalyst for the PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk to stop eating meat. Before long, she was disrupting the fashion industry and making friends with a Beatle
Chase & Status: ‘We were vinyl-collecting kids obsessed with smashing up a rave’

Chase & Status: ‘We were vinyl-collecting kids obsessed with smashing up a rave’
The superstar DJs look back on their determination to make it big that overshadowed everything else
Lush co-founder Mark Constantine: ‘I was homeless. I spent a lot of my time scared’
Lush co-founder Mark Constantine: ‘I was homeless. I spent a lot of my time scared’
Hairy Biker Si King: ‘We were both into motorcycles and food. We got on like a house on fire’
Hairy Biker Si King: ‘We were both into motorcycles and food. We got on like a house on fire’
Screenwriter Andrew Davies: ‘I didn’t mind people saying I sexed up Pride & Prejudice’

Screenwriter Andrew Davies: ‘I didn’t mind people saying I sexed up Pride & Prejudice’
Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard: ‘I realised I could work on behalf of marginalised people’

Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard: ‘I realised I could work on behalf of marginalised people’
Lisa Maffia: ‘To talk about music in the 90s you had to strip to your underwear. I wish I hadn’t’

Lisa Maffia: ‘To talk about music in the 90s you had to strip to your underwear. I wish I hadn’t’
Kelly Macdonald: ‘We went to militant demonstrations. I still know all my anti-poll tax songs’

Kelly Macdonald: ‘We went to militant demonstrations. I still know all my anti-poll tax songs’
Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’

Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’
Wrestling legend Mick Foley: ‘You need to tell people you love them before it’s too late’

Wrestling legend Mick Foley: ‘You need to tell people you love them before it’s too late’
The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue: ‘I needed spiritual guidance when Mark died’

The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue: ‘I needed spiritual guidance when Mark died’
Beth Orton: ‘Women are reinventing what it means to exist in the world’

Beth Orton: ‘Women are reinventing what it means to exist in the world’
Dame Elaine Paige: ‘The pandemic awakened me to the idea that I was on a treadmill with my work’

Dame Elaine Paige: ‘The pandemic awakened me to the idea that I was on a treadmill with my work’
Dan Smith: ‘Bastille’s mainstream success came through sleeping on floors and sofas’

Dan Smith: ‘Bastille’s mainstream success came through sleeping on floors and sofas’
Opera singer Danielle de Niese: ‘I lost my singing voice when I was pregnant. I was in a panic’

Opera singer Danielle de Niese: ‘I lost my singing voice when I was pregnant. I was in a panic’
Shirley Manson: ‘If we solve misogyny, we solve so many other problems in our society’

Shirley Manson: ‘If we solve misogyny, we solve so many other problems in our society’
Terry Butcher: ‘I feel sorry for homeless veterans’

Terry Butcher: ‘I feel sorry for homeless veterans’
Victoria Pendleton: ‘I thought beating boys at sport would impress them. Now I realise it doesn’t’

Victoria Pendleton: ‘I thought beating boys at sport would impress them. Now I realise it doesn’t’
Dr Ranj Singh: ‘I would tell my younger self, you don’t have to fit into a box of any sort’

Dr Ranj Singh: ‘I would tell my younger self, you don’t have to fit into a box of any sort’
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Sadiq Khan: ‘Maybe Trump fancies me, I don’t know. I’m happily married! I’m not interested’

Sadiq Khan: ‘Maybe Trump fancies me, I don’t know. I’m happily married! I’m not interested’
Cush Jumbo: ‘I didn’t come from a place where we could afford to pay for anything’

Cush Jumbo: ‘I didn’t come from a place where we could afford to pay for anything’
Rita Wilson: ‘I’m proud I started songwriting in my 50s. There is no clock on creativity’

Rita Wilson: ‘I’m proud I started songwriting in my 50s. There is no clock on creativity’
The Testaments star Ann Dowd: ‘How privileged can you get playing a character like Aunt Lydia?’
