Last year, Nadia Parkes won plaudits in Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, playing the glamour model who was abducted in bizarre circumstances. Now she's hitting the Donmar Warehouse in Mike Bartlett's anticipated new play Juniper Blood.
It's typical from an actress whose career has been defined by an eagerness to move between mediums and genres. "I want to step into so many different roles and explore so many variations in the worlds I visit and the characters I play," says Parkes. "I hope I never get pigeon-holed."
Boldness in life should always be celebrated. However when it comes to style, less is often more – as Parkes discovered when she misjudged the dress code to a party at London Fashion Week (we've all been there). "It was in a skate park," she recalls, "and I wore an outfit that looked like I was going for afternoon tea with the queen."
Book your tickets to Juniper Blood here – and enjoy this exclusive insight into Parkes's life and style. (Top tip for fashion events: "It is always best to be underdressed.")
Life
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
I’m in a play at the Donmar Warehouse; which is a real bucket list moment for me. I am so excited by this project. It’s written by one of the best playwrights or our time (Mike Bartlett) and directed by the brilliant James McDonald who’s work I’ve followed for years. I keep pinching myself in the rehearsal room.
The play is called Juniper Blood, and it brings together so many different opinions set at a farm in Oxford. It looks at idealism versus pragmatism and asks us to question how much we have to give up on our dreams. As well as this, it’s a play about relationships, love, and loss.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
My proudest professional accomplishment so far was playing a real life person (Chloe Ayling) in last years’ BBC series ‘Kidnapped’. It’s about to come out stateside! And she’s also recently done a documentary on the real-life events.
But being on at the Donmar feels pretty mega – definitely up there in the big moments.
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
More please! I think I’d just do what I love (the acting) a lot more and maybe never have a day without it. The world often leaves you questioning what’s next and when. So either, a constant stream of work, or just the ability to put my feet up and switch off properly when I’m not on a job.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
Woah big question! It takes time to do what I want to achieve. Ultimately, I want to step into so many different roles and explore so many variations in the worlds I visit and the characters I play. I hope I never get pigeon-holed.
Acting that inspires me is when I witness transformation. I was lucky enough to do that with Chloe and I’d love to take that challenge further with so many totally different characters. I feel like there are so many roles and people out there I’d love to embody.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
I’m really inspired by people who create their own work because that is something I really want to do. I like storytelling which feels raw and relatable and depicts the messy reality of living. In TV, Lena Dunham’s Girls and Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper’s I Hate Suzie do this so well. They put lovable but deeply flawed people at the centre of their stories. It’s really refreshing.
And in the film world I feel so inspired by the way that Sean Baker makes movies. I like the way he likes to collaborate and let the actors improv. He has such a minimalist approach to film making that makes for an impactful watch.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
I'm a condiment obsessive. I put Frank’s hot sauce on pretty much everything I eat. And there are always at least four different types of mustard in my fridge.
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Style
What’s your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?
I’ve got a talent for looking at vintage items and knowing exactly how they’ll fit. I have a black dress that a few years ago, I took a look at it on the hanger and thought “that’s made to measure for me,” (it did). I wore it to my best friends’ wedding and I always feel great in it.
Favourite accessory – watch / jewellery / etc – and why is it special to you?
My gold chain, I wear it everyday around my neck, my boyfriend James [Smith] bought it for me. We have matching ones. It says ‘made in Italy’ which is where my family are from, and is a special place to me.
What's your biggest style disaster?
I once turned up to a Reformation party during London Fashion Week and I didn’t really know what the vibe of the event was going to be. It was in a skate park, and I wore an outfit that looked like I was going for afternoon tea with the queen.
From that moment on, I’ve changed my approach to fashion events. It is always best to be underdressed.
Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss?
I lost five of my mum’s vintage gold rings when I was 18. I think about them all the time and am riddled with guilt.
What’s next on your shopping list?
Season’s gonna change soon. So, probably a really good jumper that is delicious to wear and looks the part as well for when those beer gardens get a bit nippy!
What would you buy if money was no object?
I’m sunglasses obsessed. If money was no object, then I’d buy every pair of nice sunglasses I came across, designer, vintage or not!
