Life as I know it
Gloria, 61, lives in Miami with her husband Emilio. They have two children, Nayib, 38, and Emily, 24
With singing legend Gloria Estefan
Not a lot of people know this but I’m very good at... piloting a boat. I passed three courses – in navigation, seamanship and piloting – and sometimes I’ll just hop on my boat at home in Miami and go for a cruise around the bay.
My best friend is… my personal assistant, Heather. She started as an intern in our recording studio when she was 18 and now she’s in her thirties. We spend a lot of time together and she’s wonderful.
My nickname is… Missy. It was given to me by my Scottish bodyguard when I toured Europe because he wanted to be low-key and not let everyone know I was in town, and I really liked it. The bravest thing I’ve ever done is… sing for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican in 1995. I grew up in a Catholic school, so looking out into the audience performing for nuns, bishops, cardinals and the Pope, who was on stage with me, was pretty nerve-racking.
My favourite TV show is... I Love Lucy, if you’re talking about a classic, because it was just so funny and clever. More recently it was Game Of Thrones because of the incredible storylines and how risqué and sexy it was. And I want a dragon, please.
My perfect evening is... going out to dinner with friends, having some drinks and great conversation. Lately our daughter Emily has been taking us to clubs I’ve never been to before. Bar-hopping with my daughter – that’s the best night I can think of.
I’d like to say sorry to... my grandmother for never really expressing how important she was to me and not telling her I loved her dearly. But I was a very shy kid and only learned later in life the importance of expressing yourself.
My first kiss was... with this boy who lived across the street from my grandma, when I was 13, and who I had a massive crush on. We were just playing, then he leaned over and kissed me. I quite liked it. The one thing I’d change about
myself is... I’d like to be taller so I wouldn’t have to wear high heels. Plus I lost two inches after the bus crash [in 1990] because my spine was fused. I want those back. The best thing my parents taught me was... to appreciate freedom, which I learned from the sacrifices my dad made to get us to the United States. And from my mum I learned there’s nothing a woman can’t do. She raised us, took care of my dad when he became ill and worked hard so she could send us to a good school.
The last time I cried was… I’ve cried way too much in the last five years putting together the musical On Your Feet! because Emilio and myself have had to delve into some very emotional moments in our lives. I’m usually very stoic, but not in the past few years. The first record I ever bought was… Ferry Cross The Mersey by Gerry And The Pacemakers. I was six years old and my mum took me to the store to buy it because I’d heard it on the radio and loved it. It’s not good for my image but I like... hanging out in sweats all day. My favourite clothing is sweatpants and a T-shirt. My greatest weakness is... chocolate. It’s hard for me to say no to it. Ooh, Belgian chocolate… Is there anything nicer? If I could pass any law I would... make “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” legal – that you have to treat everyone as you like to be treated because that would solve a lot of problems.
I drive... a Range Rover and have done for the last 25 years. It’s an SUV, which you need in Miami because everyone and their mother has one. It drives like a dream. Believe it or not, I also love the heated seat, even when driving in Florida, because it’s great for my back. The shop I can’t walk past is… any kitchen or linen shop. I love to cook so I’m always after new
“The first record I ever bought was Ferry Cross The Mersey”
implements and gadgets, and I love fresh, nice linen. The most expensive thing I’ve ever splashed out on is… my boat. It cost $250,000 but now it would be way more expensive, so it was a good investment. The person who’d play me in a film is… definitely Christie Prades, who’s playing me in On Your Feet!. She’s been doing it for three years now. Anybody who can play me for that long deserves to be in the film.
The worst job I’ve done is… being an interpreter in customs and immigration in the late 70s at Miami International Airport, although it was interesting as well as gruelling. I once had to ask a nun to surrender the salami she was hiding under her habit.
My perfect Sunday is... sleeping late, having breakfast in bed, then getting together with the family for an early dinner and maybe going to a movie afterwards. My favourite place in Britain is... I’d probably choose Bath. I love the history – being in Roman baths from centuries ago. It’s beautiful.
My last holiday was… on a friend’s yacht in Ibiza last summer. There were five couples on the boat and she spoiled us all rotten.
I’m currently reading... The Boy In The Suitcase by Sheryl Needle Cohn, which tells the stories of Holocaust survivors. Their brave tales are inspiring and fascinating.
The best day of my life was… other than the day I married Emilio or the day each of my kids was born, it was March 1, 1991, when I got back on stage 20 days shy of a year since I broke my back in the bus crash. It was a big, euphoric blur. If I had half an hour left on Earth I’d… get my family together, hug them, kiss them and tell them how much I love them.
On Your Feet! The Story Of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is at the London Coliseum until August 31, then tours the UK from September 3. Visit onyourfeetmusical.co.uk.