Marie Claire UK - 11.2019

162

Final word

WORDS

BY SOPHIE GODDARD.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

ASTRID

LINDGREN

‘Astridis responsible for some of

the best female protagonists in

children’s fiction. She was such an

interesting, uncompromising woman –

a humanist fighting for children’s rights and

women’s rights, and the most amazing writer.

She wove light and dark into her books in

a way that was not at all patronising. I think

the best heroines are fierce and vulnerable,

like Pippi Longstocking [who Lindgren

created]. Often in children’s books,

you don’t get shades of grey

• you just get black
  and white.’

Sophie Dahl’s bookMadame

Badobedah(£12.99, Walker

Books) is out now

KATENICHOLLS

‘Kate wrote the brilliant memoirUnder

The Camelthorn Treeand is an unstoppable

woman. She was an actress who took her five

kids to live in Botswana after becoming

interested in anthropology. Kate ended up doing

research in a lion camp, and writes incredibly

potently about how she was raped by three men

while living there – the book is about PTSD

and its effects. She is fearless, brave and

writes in such an elegant way about how

PTSD transcends ethnicity, social

status, wealth, gender

and race.’

MY

GRANDMOTHER,

PATRICIA NEAL

‘She was an American movie star who met

my grandfather [Roald Dahl] and moved to

England. Her eldest daughter died when she

was seven, and my uncle suffered brain damage

when he was baby after his pram was hit by

a taxi. Pat had three strokes when she was

pregnant with my aunt – she had to learn to

walk, talk, read and write all over again. Not

only did she manage it, but she was

nominated for an Oscar two years later.

She was an extraordinary person;

so funny and incredibly

generous in spirit.’

S

H

A P E

D M

E

T

H

E

W O M

E N

W H

O

MY GRANDMOTHER,

VIOLET LANE

‘I called Violet ‘Gigi’ and she was like a storybook

grandmother.Because I was her only grandchild,

I was spoilt. She was born to a straight Victorian

family and ran off to become a chorus girl dancer,

beforeeloping with my [paternal] grandfather. Gigi

was a great painter, and one of my strongest

childhoodmemories is that evocative smell

of turps. The enigmatic old lady in my book

has a magical dressing table like hers,

whichnow lives in my bedroom –

I thinkof her when I see

it every day.’

Hergrandfather may be her most

famous relative, but it’s her

grandmothers who have most

inspired Sophie Dahl in life

ALIWONG

‘She is the most irreverent,

subversive,funny-as-shit comedian.

Her Netflix stand-up show,Baby

Cobra, which she performed when she

waseight months pregnant, is brilliant.

Ali touches on some of the most surprising

subjects in a razor-sharp way. If you’re ever in

a bad mood, watch Ali Wong. You know how

people say, “What would Beyoncé do?” Well,

I say, “What would Ali do?” She will make

youlaugh about the absurdity of

life and being human.’