"When I started drama school, I had a flat in the center of London
under the British Telecom Tower, and I always used to think of the
tower as my back garden. It was like a beacon for home, because
it's so tall and I could always see it flashing. I lived on Hanson
Street, and there was a fantastic little greasy spoon there. In the
summer, we'd sit outside under the BT Tower eating eggs and bacon,
tea and toast. On the other end of my street is a restaurant called
Back to Basics. It's a small fish place with really lovely
waitresses from Sweden or Stockholm or somewhere. The food is
fantastic, the fish fresh, really well cooked. My good friend whom
I lived with in the flat was Swedish, and he loved the food there
and recognized the cooking as a taste from home. There was a
restaurant next to it called Silks & Spice. They have one in
Camden, as well. It's got great Thai food."
Tale #3: The Kid From The Country Gets Big-City Style
"I worked at Paul Smith when I first moved to London. It was a
great place to work. I got a lot of great clothes from there, and I
still do. But back then I got a great discount. It kept clothes on
my back the whole way through school. Now I'll dress in one of his
suits or I'll wear his shirts. Paul Smith's got great British
style. There are little details and things that make his stuff
stand out. I think what I learned about style from there is to be
individual and not to feel like you have to conform. Just wear what
feels good and be a little eccentric if you feel like it."
Tale #4: A Young Man On The Prowl
"I normally lay low when I get to London these days. But I used to
go to a pub, the Old Ship, that has beautiful views of the River
Thames. There's also the Cow, a pub near the Portobello Road
market, which is a great place to go on the weekend. The Cow was
always good for a pint of prawns or some oysters and a Guinness.
It's got character. When I was younger, I used to go to pubs and
bars and hang out with friends and do Soho. But it's been awhile.
That was before I broke my back."