Why write a biography? It only pins you down. Suffice to say I was born in Africa. And already that’s seeing the world without its skin. My father was the local gynaecologist. My mother was born in Strasbourg. My grandmother lived with us. In many ways I loved my childhood, but not in others. I would have been cheating myself if I hadn’t left to study English literature in Britain. That was my feat of daring that altered the landscape of my life. Before the term started, I went to Paris, like all would-be artists and authors. It was spring. I was full of day-dreams, imagining myself capable of extraordinary insights and creativity. It was a time when everything seemed possible. I could laugh at it now, but it propelled me to develop some of those qualities. In Paris, I fell in love and got engaged, but in the bleak, cold winter of my first term at Edinburgh, I broke it off. I got a First class MA Honours and the Janet Christie Bequest to study abroad. So, I drove to Florence with a friend and lived in an old farmhouse for 8 months, learning Italian, studying at the British Institute. In the slipstream of my life I imagined that I would be a great writer, another Virginia Woolf, have the perfect family, be the best mother. My path was a journalism, a single mother of one daughter. My writing included campaigns to save a brutalised lioness in northern Italy, Hebridean seals at risk, endangered and slaughtered leatherback turtles in Tobago, and premature babies at Dulwich hospital in dire need of incubators. I covered news, travel, and then big interviews with iconic figures in the public eye. Freddie Mercury, Angelina Jolie, Amy Winehouse, George Michael, Bono, and literally hundreds more. I walked away from journalism to live in Venice and write my first novel, Behind the Mirror. My second, All the People We Are, is set on the Cycladic island of Folegandros. The third, The Shed, is set in Berlin through WW2, and Southern Rhodesia in the 60’s. My literary agent is Jason Bartholomew of The Bks Agency.
Angelina Jolie talked with estranged husband Brad Pitt before going public over Harvey Weinstein propositioning her. A source close to the star said the couple discussed the impact it could have on their family. Jolie, 42, said the producer made an approach in a hotel room after 1998’s Playing By Heart. She said: “I had a … Continued
‘Futuristic’ 25th instalment aims to propel 007 into the heavens The next 007 movie will be out of this world – literally. Rumours are that Bond 25 will take the franchise to a whole new level – namely the stratosphere – with a giant space rocket in the mix. And the idea to boldly go futuristic is said … Continued
Daniel Craig wants italian screen goddess Monica Bellucci back for the next 007 film. The actress caused a stir as the oldest ever Bond girl when she appeared, aged 51, as Lucia Sciarra in 2015’s Spectre. Now planning is under way for the next film in the series that has produced thrillers such as Dr … Continued
Friends of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are hopeful the pair could reunite. Two weeks ago the Sunday People reported they were “getting on better than ever” since their split. And, in an interview, the superstar actress admitted she was struggling to cope with life as a singleton. Now, a source has revealed their separation … Continued
Look out, Matt – you don’t have a Cloo who’s behind you! George Clooney photobombs Hollywood pal Matt Damon and their waiter on a big night out. The stars and their wives were at George’s favourite restaurant Da Ivo to toast the premiere of their new movie Suburbicon at the Venice Film Festival. He … Continued
Yoo-hoo, peekaboo, it’s only me… you-know-Cloo! Superstar George Clooney delights in photobombing Hollywood pal Matt Damon during a night out in Italy. The pals and their wives were at Da Ivo restaurant to mark the Venice Film Festival premiere of crime drama Suburbicon, which stars Damon, 46, and is directed by Clooney, 56. Joker George and wife Amal, … Continued
Son to follow mate Brooklyn to the US Madonna is set to be reunited with estranged son Rocco, who plans to move from Britain to the US to study. Rocco, 17, wants to follow best pal Brooklyn Beckham, 18, who has enrolled to study photography at Parsons School of Design in New York, where … Continued
Brakes on Hollywood pair’s divorce Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting on better than ever since their shock split, according to their friends. The Hollywood superstars have put their break-up behind them for the sake of their six children. And divorce proceedings have slowed down. Brad, 53, who says he has stopped boozing, is regularly in contact … Continued
