MY TV LIFE Mica Paris
THE London-born soul star, 51, found fame with hits My One Temptation and Where Is The Love. She recently played villainous Ellie Nixon on Eastenders.
What was your first TV memory?
I was obsessed with Tony Hart because I was really into art at school. I’d probably have become an artist if I hadn’t become a singer. I loved The Jacksons cartoon – I wanted to marry Michael and become a Jackson. I loved comedy too – Mork & Mindy, and On The Buses. Lenny Henry! So many.
What was your first TV appearance?
On Top Of The Pops in 1986 as a backing singer with Hollywood Beyond when they had a hit with What’s The Colour Of Money? I was 15 or 16.
Who was your first TV crush?
Billy Dee Williams who played Brad Lloyd in Dynasty, and Paul Newman. Clint Eastwood. I was totally in love with Prince, but I had to hide his albums because my grandparents were ministers. Years later I worked with him and he was great. He flew me to Minneapolis and wrote If I Love U 2 Nite for me.
What is your favourite current show?
I like things like Ancient Aliens on Sky History. Of course I believe in them – I’m one of them! I also like the archaeological shows they have on Discovery like Unearthed and Digging For Truth.
Which TV show would you take to a desert island?
I would take Eddie Murphy’s Raw – or anything by Eddie. He was the funniest man of the 1990s. He has me crying with laughter. I would also smuggle in a Blackadder box-set.
What TV show would you like to put out of its misery?
It’s already on the way out – Keeping Up With The Kardashians. I’m happy it’s going because as a mother I don’t like the way it encourages young women to be so vacuous. It’s so superficial – your work should define you, not your image. This kind of TV is so negative.
Guiltiest TV pleasure?
I love sci-fi, especially Star Wars, so I can’t wait to see The Mandalorian. I’m obsessed with space travel but I prefer films like Alien and Terminator. I liked the last Star
Trek but I’m Star Wars all the way.
What are you up to at the moment?