We’re back with actor Brooke Henzell. Read on to find out what she’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations once a week.
Brooke Henzell is an Australian actor and writer. She’s based between Brooklyn, London, and every airport Pret.
☞ CINÉ LUMIÈRE AT THE FRENCH INSTITUTE: Whenever I have an in-person audition, I make a plan for afterwards so that I don’t fall to pieces. Earlier this year I took myself straight from a callback to Ciné Lumière inside the French Institute, and I saw Pauline à la plage. It was pretty much the only film playing near the audition spot, but nothing could have been better for my nerves (I went on a Rohmer binge while I awaited the outcome). The audience was kind of charming as well. It was maybe a 16-seat theatre, packed on a weekday afternoon, and everyone seemed genuinely excited to be at the movies. And! The audition went my way! So on top of its concrete charms, it is also lucky.
☞ IMPARFAITE: I’m ashamed to say, I found this website through an Instagram ad. Zuckerberg has identified my weakness for little gingham dresses. It’s a French vintage shop with a particularly good collection of 70s-90s frocks and denim. I like that you can filter by material type, too. I’m sick of falling in love with viscose garments! They’re too hard to clean.
☞ DA VINCI’S NOTEBOOKS: I’ve had a lifelong, sort of reverential relationship with da Vinci that I trace back to a viewing of Ever After (1998). There’s a photo of me and my little sister taken at his supposed burial spot in Amboise. I’m six years old and smiling. My sister looks disturbed. I remember being so excited that his body might actually be there. Macabre! Given that, I’m not sure why it took me this long to read his notebooks but I heartily recommend them. I suppose, like his tomb, the notebooks are evidence of his humanity. He worried about paying rent. He contradicted himself. He was very snarky about his peers! And then, of course, his thoughts are often casually brilliant and wise on so many subjects that I think anyone would benefit from perusing the collection.
☞ (SECRET) ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL: I would say, for an atheist, I spend a weird amount of time in churches. A wonderful and free reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city — go into St. Paul’s and then instead of paying for a ticket, just duck into the tiny chapel on the lefthand side, next to the queue. There is art to gaze at, there’s rarely more than one other person in there, and if you’re in crisis, you can go over to the pamphlets section and select the card that best reflects your dilemma. I picked up “ANGER” last time I was in there and it told me I would feel better once I had decided to practice forgiveness. Admittedly wise but incredibly unappealing!
☠︎ HATES: Beacon’s Closet, raw capsicum, betrayal
♪ LISTENING TO: Dry Cleaning’s new album, Stumpwork
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