Emilia's Diary
Part 1


By Emilia Fox
People Magazine
People News
November, 2000





Wednesday 20th September



Last night after the show (Shakespeare's Coriolanus, which I am acting in opposite Ralph Fiennes and Linus Roache) I joined Charles Saatchi and Damien Hirst for a drink. I talked to Larry Gagosian, who owns the gallery where Damien is exhibiting, and suggested that he comes to see some Shakespeare with Steve Martin, who arrives in town today. He politely agreed to see if he
could fit it in his schedule, but I got the feeling that he thought there may not be enough laughs in Coriolanus for Steve. Joined fellow cast members Ralph, Dannie King and Ralph's PA, Kelly, for a drink at the Blue Note - a jazz club in SoHo - before going on for some serious drinking and fun in TriBeCa. You can see how much I enjoyed posing for the camera, much to the
embarrassment of my poor co-star!


Thursday 21st September

Feeling SO virtuous today - Dannie and I rose at a noble hour to go swimming! Well, we practised holding our breath and being mushrooms in the water, but just having made it to a gym-like establishment was enough to make me feel as though I'd done some exercise. Having instantly worked up an appetite at the
sight of a swimming pool, we met a friend from London, Jocelyn, and she took us for a delicious lunch at Spring Street Natural Restaurant, followed by some superb shopping in the East Village. I bought a 1930s cloche hat because I'm certain hats are going to be big this winter.


Friday 22nd September

Two friends of mine from England were in town today, coincidentally - Julian Rhind-Tutt and Jonathan Slinger - so I waddled down to West 24th Street and met them at Follenico's. Julian is currently filming Tombraider with Angelina Jolie (now there's a jackpot job for a red-blooded male actor). I prayed for
an equivalent, possibly Indiana Jones for the older generation, starring Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones and Emilia Fox, filming on a small island with a beautiful beach, clear blue sea and as much horizontal action as possible.


Saturday 23rd September

I'm writing this with a thick and thudding head, which is the most irritating thing about having an amazing night. After two shows Ralph took us all to Lotus, the latest nightclub to-be-seen-at in New York. Being a nightclub virgin (I've never understood going somewhere where you can't speak, can't eat and come out partially deaf) I was slightly apprehensive, as you can
imagine. However, contrary to all my prudish fears there was delicious food to greet us, quiet areas where only we could go and some splendid Cosmopolitans, which may explain my lack of lucidity in writing this entry. What more can I say?


Sunday 24th September

Doing a show with a brain that rattles around in your head whenever you open your mouth is not only painful, it's frustrating too - especially when you find out at the end of the show that Gary Sinise (one of my all-time favourite actors) was in the audience. I've sworn never to be so stupid again. We've had a great week for exciting people coming to see the play,
including the iconic Paul Newman and the unbeatable Lauren Bacall. Spent the evening at da Silvano's, where the owner, Silvano, was so rude I was almost put off my oysters and calamari.


Monday 25th September

A party was given in our honour this evening by the Brooklyn Academy chiefs - producers, investors etc. Only a few of the cast were invited and I was lucky enough to be on the guest list. I say lucky because we were made very welcome and there was excellent food, all in an apartment that overlooked the river,
with the most incredible collection of art belonging to our hostess, Beth Rudin De Woody. The main bit of luck all evening, though, was walking in and seeing the devastating Willem Dafoe. He came and ate supper with Kelly and me, proving even more handsome close-up. He was very witty, and one of the nicest men I have ever met. That made my trip to New York worth it.


Tuesday 26th September

A miserable, rainy day in New York - one that makes you want to stay in and curl up. It is our last week in New York though, and we simply can't waste the day. To cheer ourselves up, Dannie and I went for a swim to improve our bodies, shopped in Tiffany's to improve our mental well-being and we are planning lunch and some light SoHo boutique shopping for this afternoon. Tonight is one of our last free evenings - Richard Johnson is coming to see the play, and we must meet the lovely Brian McNally before we leave. The big decision as to how to spend the evening will be made later - who knows?


Week Two, Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, NY


Wednesday 27th September

After the show last night, four of us girls trotted off to Balthazar to eat - three blondes and a brunette went down quite well and seemed to guarantee attentive service. An excessively handsome man stopped me on the way to the loo, said he'd seen the plays in London and could he take me for a coffee. I
was hardly likely to say no, was I? And he lives near me, so I won't have to walk far to meet him. We had two shows today, one of them was to high school kids who, we were told, potentially, might riot. Simon Russell-Beale said performing for them was like going into combat. Surprisingly they loved the
play, and the only noise they made was whistling at Ralph and I kissing, and gasping when he dies.


Thursday 28th September

Got a card from the Brooklyn Academy education department saying that an audience member from the schools yesterday was overheard to say Richard II, 'was like a rock concert, only better'. Went to an interview at Miramax today. When I got there I went to the loo. As I was sitting there with my knickers around my ankles, the door (which hadn't locked) flew open, and the
studio executive I was there to meet, Laura, appeared in the cubicle. Without missing a beat she simply said 'You're Emilia Fox' - I blushingly had to reply 'Yes', and wished that I was actually someone else. Nothing like trying to break the ice in an interview.


Friday 29th September

It's getting desperate when one has to rise at an early hour to get enough shopping done in a day. I'm getting in a panic about presents for people at home - I seem to be following a formula which involves finding a present for a friend and then one or two for myself, the mission encompassed scouring the East Village, Lower East Side, with lunch at the Mercer Kitchen. Jocelyn
joined us later in the day, which set New York male heads a'turning. Tonight a party is being held for us all at Lot 61. Jonathan Kent, our director, is back in town so we're all trying to be on our best performance behaviour!


Saturday 30th September

That's two nightclubs I've been to in the last week; Lotus and Lot 61 - definitely making up for previous abstinence. I was very aware of the matinee and hangover combination though, and stayed well away from tempting Cosmopolitans. Linus brought Jerome Flynn and Ralph turned up with Julianne Moore, but it was loud in there, so everyone seemed to disperse quite quickly. Richard Gere is in the audience this afternoon - Kelly says he's gorgeous so I expect there'll be lots of running past Ralph's dressing room after the show. Jonathan's taking us all to a restaurant in the village for our penultimate night - why do we have to do Sunday matinees here?


Sunday 1st October

We arrived at the restaurant - the Village - last night, to be greeted by the most thoughtfully decorated tables, with roses for each of us, toy taxis and NYPD cars. (Perfect - that saves a few children's presents) We then had a delicious supper, with Ralph and Jonathan making playful speeches, and the fantastic Ian McDiarmid over to support us in our last show as well. I was
very pleased to get a photograph of Oliver Ford-Davies and Ian, our Star Wars representatives - not bad for a Shakespeare production. Our last full day in NYC has arrived - I am already having premonitions that there is going to be a 'your bag is overweight' warning at the airline desk. I think I should invest in luggage rather than shoes next time.


Monday 2nd October

There's a whole day to kill before being taken to the airport tonight. I want to go and tell the Salisbury Hotel staff what I think of their manners and efficiency, let alone my heart-sinking bill. I am told not to do this, however, by our production manager, who obviously thinks other actors might end up there and would be treated badly as a consequence. I think I'd be doing them a favour. I must say I'm looking forward to touching base in
London now, before scooting off to Tokyo - if only to get the heel of my boots repaired at Jimmy Choo.




Tuesday 3rd October



Still sitting on a plane - we're hours behind having been delayed at JFK
while they decided whether our aircraft was fit to fly or not. Obviously it
wasn't, because we were packed into another. Thank God - I've never fancied
sliding down those blow-up ramps in heels, while trying to hold onto my
belongings (there's no way they'd leave them behind). Fellow cast-member Stephen
Finegold, hates flying, and Dannie's shoulder practically has bite marks in
it from his fear. I'm being picked up from the airport to go straight into
rehearsal for 'Randall and Hopkirk' - Vic (aka Jim), Bob and jetlag will be
an interesting combination.

 

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