Rebecca Night – Favourite Things

Rebecca Night is a British actress best known for her starring role in the BBC production of Fanny Hill. Night has played Catherine Linton in ITV’s Wuthering Heights alongside Tom Hardy and appeared in Suspension of Disbelief and Maigret. On stage, her roles have included Queen Elizabeth in the North American Premiere of The King’s Speech, Cecily Cardew in Peter Gill’s The Importance of Being Earnest in London’s West End and Rose of Sharon in Chichester Festival Theatre’s Grapes of Wrath. Her current play, Night, Mother is on at the Hampstead Theatre until December 4. 

These are a few of Rebecca Night’s favourite things…

Almond croissants

Almond croissants are best eaten, in my opinion, with a hot, long, black coffee. Once I’ve found a good one, I’ll keep being drawn back to that coffee shop or bakery. I first discovered them when I was breastfeeding my middle daughter at a wonderful, ramshackle French cafe on Clapham Common. I then rediscovered them in New York on the way to a barre class (not the recommended pre-workout fuel). Most recently, on a very grey Sunday, after a rather tiring but very satisfying 8-show-week, I took my three daughter’s and mother on a morning ramble, safe in the knowledge this walk would lead us towards a quiet London coffee shop and a mean almond croissant. It was a perfect start to the beginning of my weekend.

Childhood films

It’s probably the feeling of nostalgia that comes with watching your favourite “old” movies, but they’re inescapably good. I could watch Mrs Doubtfire or recite Mrs Doubtfire over and over again. My husband could reel off the whole of The Lion King at speed. Back then, your VHS got worn out, and you had couldn’t help but learn them off by heart. I’d happily watch Hook, Cool Runnings, Shakespeare in Love – the list goes on – until the cows come home and I love rediscovering them with our kids. I recently treated myself to the latter, in the middle of the day, whilst overdue with my third daughter, and I laughed and wept all over again. Whenever I’m on a vast, empty beach, for a moment, I’m Viola De Lesseps from the closing frame of the film. “What country, friends, is this?”

The sea

I love the ocean. I grew up in a small town a ten-minute drive from the beach, and whenever I need a reset, it’s my happy place. If I’m far away from home, looking out across the sea connects me to everyone there. The minute I get to my childhood home, I pretty much head straight for the beach, kick off my shoes and get my feet in the water. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to go home with slightly soggy jeans because the wave suddenly came in a bit far, but I just can’t resist. My husband and I got married in Cornwall too.

Dancing around the kitchen

Whenever I find myself getting too in my head, or it’s turning into one of those days, I pop on a favourite song or, even better, a show-tune, and the kitchen becomes a dancefloor. I’ll throw myself around and sing along, shake it out. It’s guaranteed to lift me up. Music is a real tonic in our house and someones always singing a made-up song, or we have a silly dance together. Put on some Sondheim, and I turn into Barbra Streisand…

Walking

In the city, I love to walk everywhere. You spot something new each time, get to know the side-streets and how it all joins up, and there’s plenty of time for a good podcast or catching up with people on the phone. In the countryside, even if it’s the same walk you’ve done a hundred times (thanks lockdown), you notice the changes of the seasons, and no two days ever look the same. One minute there’s frost on the trees, and the next, you can hardly get through the long grass, and lambs are being born. It’s also a reminder of the wonder of nature and how much I want us to preserve our planet for those who come next.

Enjoyed Rebecca Night’s favourites? Explore the full Favourite Things archive here.