playing a ghost,over 400 yearsold,looking
dishevelledandfullofcobwebs,ina comedykindof
way.I lovea challenge.Youhavetopullyourselfout
ofyourcomfortzone-- I’vedonethata lotlately.”
Yourubshoulderswitha lotoftheA-list– whodo
youthinkhandlestheirfamewithpanache?
“RalphFiennes.He’ssodeep.Hedoesn’tput
himselfinthepubliceye,he’sa rawcharacter;a true
actor.TheEnglishPatientreallyblewmymind– I was
transfixedbythecharactersandstory.
“AndSamuelL Jackson...It wasexcitingtomeet
him.I admirepeoplewhodotheirjobbecauseof
theirpassionforacting,notthecelebrityelement
thatcomeswithit.That’swhatI aspireto.Youare
doingwhatyouloveforthesolereasonofplaying
thatroleandchallengingyourself.It isn’tabouthow
muchyouearn.Youdoit tofeedyoursoul.”
YoualwaysseemtobeinthepubliceyeinDubai
becauseofyourprofile– doyouenjoythat?
“Ideclinea lotofinvitationsbecauseI’mnot
naturallya socialclimber.I liketogotointeresting
eventsbutI doit whenI feelit’srightforme.I’mall
aboutbalance.Myfamilylifeis moreimportant
thananything.I dolovetheglamourbutI’llbalance
it outbythenputtingonmypyjamas.I willbalancea
redcarpetandpaparazziwitha longdogwalk.Or
goingoutwiththegirlswithhangingoutathome
withmychildren.Thatkeepsmealive.I couldn’tbe
allofoneoralloftheother.I feellikeI amnatural,
homey,down-to-earth– butI likethatspark.”
HowdoyoufeelaboutShantilly-Rosebeinginthe
spotlight?
“Shefollowsme.ShehasthefamilysupportthatI
didn’thaveasa child.If I hadbeennurturedinthat
wayit wouldhavebeendifferent.Butsheknowsshe
canalwayscometome.I’malwaysthere.I hada
morenormallifeclimbingtreesandridingponies.
Thesechildrengrowupa lotquicker;lifeis different
withsocialmedia.
“She’sverycapable.Aslongasyoucanbalanceit
witheducation,you’reokay.I showherhowto
begroundedtokeepsaneinthisworld.”Neutral tones bring a calm, restful vibe to one of the bedrooms (above). Suzie loves her spacious, immaculately organised walk-in dressing room,
which she designed herself. Although her daughters Shantilly-Rose, 14, and Savannah, 12, aren’t yet old enough to wear shoes from her colourful
collection, they are already helping themselves to their stylish mum’s bags, swimsuits and accessoriess
10