Nº 43: Betsey Brown
The actor and filmmaker talks bell hooks, intimate gatherings, and her directorial debut.
We’re back with Betsey Brown. Read on to find out what she’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations once a week.
Betsey Brown is an actor and filmmaker born, raised, and based in Manhattan. She stars in THE SCARY OF 61ST (dir. Dasha Nekrasova) which won the GWFF Best First Feature Award at Berlinale. She also stars in ASSHOLES (dir. Peter Vack) which won the inaugural Adam Yauch Hornblower Award at SXSW. Her feature directorial debut, ACTORS, sold out six out of six screenings at the Roxy Cinema in Tribeca and won the 2022 Audience Award at the Fantastic Film Festival in Australia. It is currently being shown at underground film venues internationally. ACTORS will screen in London on 28th November.
☞ LETTERBOXD: As a filmmaker and actor, I have been told to fear Letterboxd, since that’s the place people can be the cruelest about our work and snooping those reviews is deliciously tempting. But ever since I said “fuck it” to caring about if someone likes or doesn’t like my work (sort of), I have found a true film haven in my Letterboxd activity. Finding a film to watch has never been easier. Logging my films and looking at them later is so fun!! And now I am following a group of people who’s film taste I love and I’m simply copying their every move. It’s so cute. Join Letterboxd and your movie-watching game will increase exponentially.
☞ EXERCISING REGULARLY*, *at a pace that you can keep consistent!!: Whenever anyone has given me this advice when I’m not in the habit, I scoff at it. I don’t WANT to exercise regularly!! But guess what, I NEED to. Not because I need that toned and firm bod that it gives me (although that’s pretty cool too) but because exercising at a pace that I can keep consistent makes a huge difference in my mental outlook. I feel the most real when I’m moving my body. When I’ve tried to get into the habit of exercising in the past, I have failed to keep it consistent because I overdo it. I think, “okay I will now be someone who goes to the gym every day,” and every time I burn out. This time around, however, I am considering twice a week a success, and three times a week a triumph. This is a realistic goal, y’all! I am in my third month of consistently working out and I have never felt better.
☞ ALL ABOUT LOVE by BELL HOOKS: This is another thing I resisted entering into my life for a long time, but one night this year (after ending a five year relationship) I opened up the book to a random chapter and my mind was blown. bell hooks defines love in a way that actually makes sense. My filter of perspective was changed after reading this, and I know I have many more re-reads of this gem ahead of me.
☞ SHAVING AND MOISTURISING: I, like lots of women my age, took a leave of absence from shaving (legs, armpits, nether region..) regularly around 2018 until this year. I thought that having hair on my body was empowering and sexy, but like a dime my perspective shifted and I realised I wanted to be a hairless, moisturised queen. Well damn, there’s almost nothing like getting out of the shower after shaving the tiny bit of hair that has come in, taking a huge glob of moisturiser, and lathering my whole entire body to make it as smooth as humanly possible. The ritual of it all is beautiful, and it makes me feel beautiful.
☞ INTIMATE GATHERINGS/DINNER PARTIES: I want more of these in my life. So actually this is more of a suggestion to whoever reads this to invite me to your intimate gatherings and dinner parties. I enjoy the level of connection possible at these gatherings much more than the kind you are likely to achieve at huge parties, and I think my personality is better suited for them. So I know this is a London-based publication but I am putting my desires into words and maybe some NYC folks will read and get the right idea… :)
♪ LISTENING TO: Baby, I’m Yours by Barbara Lewis
☠︎ HATES: The fact that TAMPONS COST MONEY. I often get myself into big trouble protesting this fact, so let’s change it AMERICA. And yes I have tried the one-time-purchase option (DIVA CUP) and no it is NOT FOR ME!!
TY Betsey! Follow Betsey here. Londoners: catch ACTORS at Bush Hall on Monday 28 Nov, 7:30 pm. Tickets here.