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FIRST&LAST ELAINE C SMITH The actress and social campaigner is dominating Scottish stages over the summer and is on TV in a new sitcom. Here, she ponders over Bute House, Burdz Eye View and Brussels in our Q&A
First record you ever bought The first single I ever bought was by the 5th Dimension: (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All which I bought from Mills Record Shop in Brandon Street, Motherwell.
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Last extravagant purchase you made I suppose my car, a Mercedes B Class.
First film you saw that really moved you When I was a child it was probably something like Lassie or Old Yeller. As I got older it was probably One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. That film stayed with me for days. Last lie you told That’s hard as actors lie all the time: we’ve got to pretend to be someone else for a living.
First movie you ever went on a date to Believe it or not, it was A Clockwork Orange at the Rex cinema in Motherwell with my first real boyfriend Stephen! Last time you cried Watching the events unfold in Brussels and listening to a grandmother talk about being in the airport with her young grandson: her words were so moving and full of sadness but had a desire to understand.
First crush Marc Bolan: no question!
Last book you read Just finished Andrew
O’Hagan’s The Illuminations which was beautiful and wonderful and I’m now reading
Christopher Brookmyre’s Black
Widow.
First great piece of advice you were given I’ve had tons of great advice from lots of different people. The trick is to try and listen.
Last time you were star- struck I did the Ryder Cup concert at the Hydro a couple of years ago and was completely star-struck by Nile Rodgers, a fabulous musician and performer. I’m a disco queen at heart and he was so kind and generous.
First thing you’d do if you ran the country Eradicate poverty. But first I’d probably redecorate Bute House! Though I’d pay for it myself! Last meal on earth Chocolate.
First time you realised you were famous I still don’t feel famous. I had a woman come up to me the other day and say, ‘oh, you’re that actress, you’re famous: what’s your name again?’ I said, ‘well, if you don’t know my name I cannae be that famous!!’
Last time someone criticised your work My New Year show of Burdz Eye View drew 137 complaints to Ofcom for political bias because I had the First Minister and her family on as guests. We didn’t speak about politics and it was a fun, light chat about Hogmanay but it drew very bitter responses: even in the bloody Parliament! I was a bit floored by it initially because I didn’t see it coming. I had Nicola on because all my guests were women, but all unionists saw was bias. First three words your friends would use to describe you I think real friends would say: loyal, kind, generous.
Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it I do it all the time, especially with online shopping. I’m never out of the post office returning stuff that looked great when I ordered it and terrible when I received it.
First job Saturday girl in Curtess shoe shop in Motherwell. Last person you fantasized about I’m too old for that now. If I have, then I can’t remember . . .
First word you spoke I think it was ‘dad’.
NEXT ISSUE WED 1 JUN
T IN THE PARK Time to get your sun hats AND umbrellas looked out as Scotland’s premier blockbuster music festival prepares to hit Strathallan Castle again. Among the many highlights are the Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Calvin Harris, Faithless, LCD Soundsystem and Craig David. Now, is he playing on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday . . . ?
Last song at your funeral ‘A Case of You’ by Joni Mitchell. First person you’d thank in an award acceptance speech My husband would be in there somewhere. I’ve never won an award so can’t think of anything.
Last thing you think of before you go to sleep I’m knackered! First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning How long have I slept? I’m menopausal, so that means a lot given my sleep patterns. And then usually the list of stuff to do kicks off in my brain as ‘the chimp’ starts chattering in my head though I try and calm it with a bit of meditation.
Last crime you committed Probably speeding or driving in a bus lane! First book you read for a second time Beloved by Toni Morrison.
Elaine C Smith appears in Annie, Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 16–Sat 21 May; That’s Entertainment, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 7–Sat 11 Jun; Two Doors Down, BBC Two, Fri, 10pm. See list.co.uk for more of this Q&A.