My favourite author or book
Zadie Smith. I love White Teeth — it means so much to me because it’s a book I really bonded about with my father, who has now sadly passed away.
The book I’m reading
Samantha Irby’s Quietly Hostile. It’s a bunch of essays, thoughts and observations. One of my favourite parts is her explaining how to respond to people who try and make you feel shame for things you like. If you tell someone you like Beyoncé’s latest song, for example, and they say she’s overrated, you just reply: “Well, I like her.” What can anyone say to that?
The book I wish I had written
Luster by Raven Leilani. I want to know how it feels to have every other woman on the Tube reading your book while internally screaming.
• Luster by Raven Leilani review — a caustic, candid and convincing debut
The book I couldn’t finish
Educated by Tara Westover. It’s a tricky read, but I will definitely return to it.
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• Educated by Tara Westover review — from the Mormon boondocks to a Cambridge PhD
The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read
The Catcher in the Rye. There are references everywhere, but I’ve never read it and I really feel like I should.
My favourite film
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. It’s a classic, I think the songs are better than the original. Lauryn Hill is sensational — she’s one of my personal icons. I remember looking at her and thinking, “Wow, the dark-skinned black girl can be the hero.” Colourism is still very prevalent in our society, and in my community and industry, and so to see her be the centrepiece altered the chemistry in my brain a little bit. I also saw the Sister Act stage show on Broadway and in the UK. I’m a massive theatre nerd, particularly musical theatre — I will defend musicals to the very end.
My favourite play
I don’t know what my favourite of all time is, but I went with Ncuti Gatwa to see The Witches on the closing night at the National Theatre and it was so cleverly done. I think we were cackling louder than the children in the audience.
• The Witches review — a dazzling show that’s even wittier than Dahl
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The box set that I’m currently hooked on
Like everyone and their mother I watched One Day literally in one day. I thought it was charming and lovely. I also love Abbott Elementary.
• The 11 reasons we are all falling for One Day — and Dexter
My favourite TV series
I am such a cliché, but I will have Sex and the City on in the background as a comfort show. I’ll hazard a guess that I’ve watched it more than a hundred times.
My favourite piece of music
Clair de lune by Debussy. It’s one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever hear. One of my favourite films is Frankie and Johnny with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer and this plays in a closing scene. It’s just stunning.
The last film that made me cry
I sobbed while watching Ken Loach’s The Old Oak. It has such a simple message without being sanctimonious. That’s really difficult to do, but he’s always had a gift for that.
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The lyric I wish I’d written
Megan Thee Stallion’s latest song Hiss. Her punchlines are sensational. It’s an excellent example of the art form of hip-hop.
The song that saved me
Back to Life by Sunday Service Choir helped me a lot during the first throes of lockdown. The blend of their voices is truly transcendent and healing.
The instrument I played
Piano, and I regret giving it up because I was fairly decent. I’m going to pick it up again this year. As Prince famously told Beyoncé: “You’ve got to know your scales.” She learnt how to play the piano because of him.
The instrument I wish I’d learnt
Bass guitar. I love the sound of it with everything. I follow quite a few TikTok accounts of these amazing girls who are just shredding, playing anything.
The music that cheers me up
Motown. I’m always going to be here for Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.
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If I could own one painting it would be
Chris Ofili’s No Woman, No Cry, which is in the Tate.
The place I feel happiest
My sofa on a Saturday morning, feeling like anything can happen. I love the possibility of having no plans.
I’m having a fantasy dinner party, I’ll invite these artists and authors
André 3000, Prince, Jenifer Lewis, Reneé Rapp, Nick Grimshaw, Ncuti Gatwa, Claudia Winkleman and Cardi B.
And I’ll put on this music
Classic hip-hop, R&B and show tunes.
The book that I’m looking forward to
Whoopi Goldberg’s memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother and Me.
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I wasted an evening watching
Love Is Blind. This is my guilty pleasure as well. It’s completely unhinged, but I will always watch it. I wouldn’t say I’m wasting time because I do enjoy it, but after I watch it I have to look up all the couples on Instagram to see if they’re still together and that’s when I’m wasting time.
The film I walked out on
I’m proud to say I sat through Cats. I think there were maybe 12 of us in the screening and all of us were pissing ourselves with laughter. Some people left but I stayed until the bitter end.
Clara Amfo is co-hosting the Brit Awards 2024 on March 2 on ITV1
