SIXTY
SECOND
THERAPIST
STYLIST ’S�LIFE�COACH��
LISA�MERRICK-LAWLESS��
SCRUTINISES�
ONE�CELEBRITY�
PSYCHE�
What makes
Anna Friel
tick?
The 33-year-old actress on
motherhood, marriage and being
more than just a pretty face
What’s the best thing about being
a mother to four-year-old Gracie to
partner of nine years, actor
David Thewlis?
Having Gracie totally changed me,
everything else is just not as important.
It puts the rest of your life into
perspective. Especially now we can
have conversations and I know what
she’s actually thinking.
Does your daughter take after you?
She does, totally. She dresses up
constantly, she’ll eat her breakfast in
a princess dress, so we may have an
actress in the making. I try to keep her
grounded but whenever she comes
to visit me on set she loves it.
What’s your parenting style?
I think you should try to surround a child
Anna talks about how she has constantly tried
to challenge herself when it comes to acting,
taking different roles and pushing herself – even
if it terrifies her. But many people find it hard
to go against what is expected of them or
what they know, preferring to do things ‘by
the book.’ If you find it hard to challenge
yourself, follow these tips:
EMBRACE�YOUR�NERVES
Feeling anxious about a new project can be
a good thing – confusion often comes before
����WWW�STYLIST�CO�UK
with love and give them the confidence
to go and get what they want from life.
My parents did that for me. I’ve been an
actress since I was 13, I moved to
London at 16 and Mum and Dad were
always supportive. They’re incredibly
loving, so I try to do that for Gracie.
Has your career changed as
you’ve got older?
I try to mix it up. I always choose
something that’s going to terrify me
a bit and I’ve always played dramatic
roles because there is a shelf life
for every actress. So I thought the
best thing I can do is give myself
longevity by being a character actress
and not just a pretty face.
Do you like living in Hollywood?
When I was younger I didn’t really
know anybody and I was scared of my
roots disappearing and becoming
someone else. Now I really like it and
I know all the English actors there.
I miss my friends and family but it
means everyone comes out to see me.
How did you meet David?
I thought he needed a big hug and
hugged him. He came back to my
house that night and we woke up to
the house on fire. It made such a mess
of the living room we closed the door
LIFE�COACH��HOW�TO�CHALLENGE�CONVENTION
enlightenment. Everyone feels nervous but
don’t let this stop you from making the
change. Try to give yourself as much positive
internal reinforcement as possible: act ‘as if’
you are up to the challenge.
DON’T�CONFUSE�THE�
FEELING�WITH�THE�LABEL
Find out what you actually want. For example,
marriage is not the same as commitment. The
security and love of a committed relationship
can be found in many different ways. Work
ANNA FRIEL LIVES IN LA WITH
PARTNER DAVID THEWLIS AND
DAUGHTER GRACIE
and went into the bedroom for the
next three days – he moved in two days
later and never left.
That’s a whirlwind romance – do you
believe in love at first sight?
Well we had met a couple of years
before on a plane to Cannes and I didn’t
think he’d ever like me. Everyone was in
awe of him because he’s a famous actor
but we’re both northern, so I said (in a
northern accent) “Oh, ’ello David, ’ow
you doing?” We didn’t stay in touch
because he had a girlfriend and I had
someone as well. Then two years later
I was out for dinner and there he was
and that was that.
And you’re not married?
We’ve been together for nine years,
but no. When I was younger I thought
I’d get engaged, then married, then
have a baby, but I’ve done things
differently. David thinks it’s romantic
that we’ve never married, but it’s
a committed relationship; we have
a child together.
How do you feel about your body now
you spend so much time in Hollywood?
I’m never going to get really skinny.
I can’t bear going to the gym. But I do
use a Power Plate. When I was getting
in shape for Land Of The Lost in which
I had to run around in shorts, I did it
every day and I swear to God it works.
How do you relax?
I love to garden and I love to cook.
And obviously I shop like every other
girl. I prefer the old Hollywood look.
Give me a vintage store and I’m
as happy as a pig in muck.
Lisa Merrick-
Lawless is
Stylist’s therapist
and founder
of Headspace
(thehead
space.co.uk).
out what the end goal is and then see how
you can get there – the end path may be very
different to what you had imagined – be open
to different routes.
MAKE�A�SMALL�CHANGE
If you make a small change it can often lead
to a bigger one. Take a different route to
work or sit in the park at lunchtime instead
of in a cafe and you can often come up with
new ways of doing things. The mind needs
stimulation to be challenged.
WORDS��LISA�MERRICK-LAWLESS��HEADSPACE���PHOTOGRAPHY��CORBIS�OUTLINE
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