Not all Brits in LA Members live in Los Angeles: in fact a fair number are scattered around the globe. This week’s Meet a Member is actor/writer Sophie Olivia who lives in London.
Since you don’t live in Los Angeles how did you end up joining Brits in LA?
I know Eileen Lee, one of the founders who started BiLA many years ago with Craig and have watched with great admiration and affection as it has grown with over 14,000 members. I always recommend Brits in L.A to any friends and colleagues traveling to L.A and have attended some of their meet and greets in London. They are a lovely bunch of people from all walks of lives, careers and backgrounds.
Have you ever visited Los Angeles – if so we would love to hear what your impression of LA?
Unfortunately I haven’t been to this part of America yet but have many actor friends who have worked and lived out there. It seems to me despite the reputation L.A can have for being a superficial place to live, people form great friendships and allegiances there, especially in the Brits in L.A community.
Do you think you could ever see yourself moving to LA, if not tell us what keeps you in London?
Currently my work in theatre is U.K and mostly London based. I also have three little girls who go to school in London and we love London. BUT never say never. I need to visit first!
Do you have a hidden gem in London that you want to share with us?
So many… but right now I would say all the beautiful parks from Green Park and St James Park in central London to Richmond Park in West London and Dulwich park in south London (I could go on all day) we are really blessed with the most stunning parks and lakes in every town in our wonderful city. Not to mention just walking along the river Thames, taking in the skyline of old and new London. It never gets boring. It really is one of the best cities in the world and I am incredibly lucky to be here.
Why would you recommend other overseas readers joining Brits in LA?
For me it is a wonderful way to connect with fellow creatives and to support friends and colleagues working overseas. Brits in L.A has been a vital way for friends of mine to connect to a welcoming community when working or moving out there from practical things such as finding somewhere to live, buying a car to meeting fellow Brits for a breakfast and a reassuring chat as they settle in. All vital things as we all know how lonely it can be in a big city.
We hear you have been working on an exciting project. Care to tell us more about it?
I am working with @Fireraisers theatre company on a very timely play in view of this year’s #Timesup #MeToo campaigns and the 100 years celebrations of women getting the vote. Entitled ‘Femme Fatale’ (@FemmeFataleplay’) it is a black comedy about fame, failure and firearms featuring Super 8 film and live music. and written by Polly Wiseman (whose work has been seen at Soho Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre Studio and the Birmingham Rep). I play writer Valerie Solanas, a new Jersey radical feminist and Andy Warhol’s muse. She shot him in 1968 for stealing her script.
One hundred years since women got the vote, and thirty years since Valerie and Nico died, Fireraisers present a reimagining of two female pop culture icons at the epicentre of ‘60s cool battling for control of their own destinies.”
Following on from our performance at the Cockpit Theatre last month Femme Fatale will run at Latitude Festival in July and is coming to the wonderful Wiltons Music Hall in London for ONE night only on Tuesday 17th July. Wilton’s is a gem in the heart of London and the oldest grand music hall in the world. We would love to see some of you London-based Brits in L.A at this gorgeous venue.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
It’s a marathon not a sprint.
Lastly , how can we find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @SophieOliviaAli
