Amy Lennox is best known for her work in musical theatre and is currently treading he boards at the Kit Kat Club as the irrepressible Sally Bowles in the award-winning revival of Cabaret. In this week’s My London, she shares her favourite things about the capital.
First venue you performed at?
The Palladium in 2008 – I was Liesl in The Sound Of Music with Connie Fisher. It was my first job out of drama school. It was a lot of fun and I’m still in touch with quite a few of the kids.
What are your favourite venues to perform at?
The Palladium – it’s used for events now more than shows so it feels special. I got to do one of the classics there. I love although, in the summer, because of the Victorian plumbing around the Strand, you come off stage and get hit by a phantom sewage smell because the pipes in the area are so old. And I like The Adelphi where I did Kinky Boots. I had a lovely big dressing room – it felt like a studio flat and I’d hang out there in the daytime.
Your favourite places to eat and drink?
After shows I like going to The Ivy for a late night dinner as most other places are closing by the time we finish. They do an amazing cheese soufflé as a starter. And I do love the afternoon tea at Sketch if I have visitor coming to .
What’s your favourite area of London?
Covent Garden and Soho – all around the theatres. It feels like I’m in a little village. When I walk across Covent Garden I often bump into someone I know which is nice since London is such a big city, but that’s just because I’ve worked in the area for so long. When I first moved down from Aberdeen I went to drama school in Guildford and then moved to Acton and then to Chiswick so I also like west London. I used to like going to Richmond Park in the middle of the day if I didn’t have anything to do.
Where would you take a visitor?
We’d go on an open-top bus tour. I do that with every city I go to. It’s fun to do it even if you live there – you get a nice summary of everything and think, ‘Oh I’ll go there tomorrow.’ Then we’d go for cocktails somewhere along Maiden Lane, have a walk along the river, and go to Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. It has some beautiful coffee shops and restaurants and you can walk along the canal to Camden.
What changes would you make if you were mayor?
There are lots of beautiful Regency houses in Regent’s Park which are empty as they’re owned by people who already have another ten houses all around the world. I’d make that illegal and say if you’re going to keep the house you need to rent it out at an affordable rate to artists who would enhance the area and community.
Where do you spend too much money?
I’m a fan of organic skin care brand Caudalie – they have a branch in Covent Garden. I had the best facial there recently and I’m going back as my face is getting battered by the make-up I’m wearing in Cabaret.
What’s the most unexpected place you have seen a celebrity?
When I see someone famous I think I know them and talk to them as if they know me. I was at an audition recently and saw who was in This Time With Alan Partridge. I came out of the room, saw her, and said ‘Oh hi!’ and started talking to her. It was only later I realised I didn’t know her but she was very gracious about it and we had a nice chat anyway.
Amy stars in Cabaret until October 1,
