BWW Interviews: WAITING LIKE A MAN's Daniel Benoliel

When were you happiest?
My wedding day. In the taxi back to our hotel afterwards, our cab driver said we looked so happy he wanted to take our photo. Actually, that was a bit weird.

What is your greatest fear?
Cows. I was once charged by a herd of cows and I've been terrified of them ever since. I think they're a much more logical thing to be scared of than spiders - there aren't any dangerous spiders in this country, but a cow can crush you anywhere.

What is your earliest memory?
I have a vague memory of standing at a gate, looking at a house opposite with a red door. I asked my mum about it and she said that was at our first house, so I must have been about eight months old!

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?
I love a good costume! My favourite that I own is my pvc nurse's outfit with matching 5 inch heel boots, which I ended up with because I told a friend of mine we were at a fancy dress party and she should come along. She turned up in the nurse's outfit, and was so angry when she found out we were just drinking in a normal pub that she made me switch clothes with her in the toilet and went home!

Which living person do you most admire, and why?
My friend Ben , who went off straight from school to run a children's project in Romania called Nightingales - telling people jokes for a living feels pretty paltry by comparison.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Indolence - I can put work off for weeks at a time.

Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?
Probably my laptop, which was meant to make me work harder, but actually means I just have more varied ways of wasting time.

What is your most treasured possession?
The first hospital scan of my son in the womb.

Where would you like to live?
I fantasise about living in all sorts of places, but I can honestly say I can't think of a better place to live than London.

What makes you unhappy?
The continuing career of Piers Morgan.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I sometimes feel like I'm too skinny, but then I think "When I'm fifty, I'll really wish I was that skinny again," so most of the time I'm actually very happy about my appearance.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
The movies of Pierce Brosnan. I'm actually a member of his official fan club.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"What? No, I didn't manage to get that done. I'll do it tomorrow." I wheel that out with upsetting regularity.

What is the best job you've done?
I did some filming for ‘Sex Researchers' (Ch4 documentary series), which basically involved spending three days wearing fake genitals and pretending to have Benny Hill style comedy sex. It was hilarious.

Cat or dog?
Dog, no contest.

To whom would you most like to say sorry?
When I was at nursery school, I got a full spade of sand, balanced it on the side of the sand-pit and jumped on the handle, firing the sand smack into the face of another little boy. I feel I owe him an apology, to Make Up For my response at the time, which was to find it hilarious.

Who is your best friend in theatre?
Jonathan Donahoe, who taught me everything I know about writing and being funny.

Which living person do you most despise?
George Osborne. He used to live quite near me and we once jogged past each other along the canal - I have always regretted not shoving him in.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I'd like to have made less dubious sexual decisions in my single years.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I'd go back and ask my dad all the questions I never had the chance to ask him before he died. Then I'd go and see The Who play at the Marquee Club in 1965.

When did you last cry?
Yesterday, at a birthing class. I think pregnancy is making me quite emotional.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Well, another cup of tea would be good if you're asking.

Where would you most like to be right now?
Through in my living room, reading the papers on the sofa with my wife.

Tell us a secret.
No no no, I'm no mug! You'll have to pay me if you want secrets!

Waiting like a Man opens at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington on 28th June http://www.redliontheatres.co.uk/waiting-like-a-man.htm

 

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