Ruth Gemmell
The actress talks to Harry Mckinley about her favourite pubs and getting into character inside the National Portrait Gallery
You don’t actually live in London anymore, do you?
No, we moved out of the city to Rutland in 2015. I got married and my husband has a business out here, so I went from the East End to a village with only a pub. Clearly, I had reached the age where that was fine!
Is there anything you miss about full-time life in the capital?
When you open your front door in London, creativity is right in your face, whereas I find in the country I have to go in search of it a bit. It’s absolutely there, but I have to make more of an effort.
What would coax you back?
To be able to buy in my old neighbourhood, just off Columbia Road [in Bethnal Green]. I loved my house and my neighbours. I’m still very much in touch with them. Another thing that I love about London is the markets and Columbia Road Flower Market is my favourite.
What drew you to the capital originally? I grew up in Co Durham, but I wanted to pursue acting and drama schools were mainly in London. I was 19 and lived in South Kensington, sharing a room with two other women right at the top of the building.
‘You get young, trendy people going there and old couples, too. I just love that pub’
When you’re back in town, what do you make a beeline for?
I know that I should be going to the theatre or galleries more, but I simply like walking around the city. There’s something about London, with Brutalist buildings next to the tiniest alleyways with little pubs. I adore that juxtaposition. One of my favourite memories is when Antony Gormley had his statues everywhere, which encouraged you to look up and see the skyline of the city. I always head back to the East End. The last time I was there, I walked along the canal and we ended up down by the river at The Grapes (76, Narrow Street, E14), which is part-owned by Ian Mckellen. It’s a really narrow little pub and, at the back, there’s a balcony above the river. I clearly just walk and go to pubs!
As an actress, you must enjoy getting under the skin of people; observing.
Do you have any favourite peoplewatching spots?
Absolutely. At cafés, sitting by a window and watching the world go by. When I was a student, we would go to the National Portrait Gallery, find a picture and base our own character on the person within it. I’m not nearly that inventive now.
Do you have a lesser-discovered spot? There’s a fantastic pub called The Palm Tree (127, Grove Road, E3), near Mile End. It’s almost a time capsule. Inside, it’s all tungsten lighting, dark furniture and there’s a bandstand in the corner. They play jazz and, above the bar, there are photographs of all the musicians and singers. You get young, trendy people going there and old couples, too. I just love that pub.
With cultural destinations, do you still have a soft spot for the National Portrait
Gallery or is there another favourite? Tate Modern, without a doubt, particularly the Turbine Hall. I find that place inspirational and the installations are basically free for all. You can breathe in that space. I remember Olafur Eliasson’s artificial sun and thinking they should bring it back every year, because people would lie down as if they were on the grass watching the sunset. That was beautiful.
What does London do better than any other city?
The things I would pick could probably be attributed to any city: it’s diverse and cultural, with the parks, the markets, the old and the new together and the community. I wouldn’t say other cities don’t have those things, but they’re so intrinsic to my London.
Ruth Gemmell portrays Lady Violet Bridgerton in ‘Bridgerton’. The second season is now on Netflix