Source: Sunday Mirror

 

 

INTERROGATION: SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 28, talks guilty pleasures, going on tour with a three-year-old and her husband, and not being hung-up about her looks.

by Louise Burke 05/08/2007

 

You’re on a UK tour this summer, with husband Richard and baby Sonny in tow. How does that work?

Sophie Ellis Bextor: Sonny coming with me has always been the idea. Although it’s harder to take him to interviews now he’s three and much bigger. When he was a baby it was easier, as he’d sleep in the corner. Now, he gets bored easily. He’s like, ‘This is really dull.’ But the touring should work out, because during the day we’re rehearsing in empty venues and he can kick a ball around. By the time I go on stage, he’ll be in bed.

 

Will the whole family be staying on the tour bus?

SEB: I’m not sure if we’re going to have a tour bus, dressing room or hotel. Whatever we do, we’ll have to have CBeebies!

 

That’s not so rock ’n’ roll…

SEB: I know. But I still go out. Funnily enough, I’ve been out a lot more since having Sonny. I seem to have more energy. But I don’t drink much when I’m performing. It’s really boring, but alcohol isn’t very good for your vocal chords. But after the show it’s really nice to have a glass of wine. During the day I avoid drink, dairy and spicy foods. I have plenty of hot water, lemon, honey and fresh ginger.

 

When were you last drunk?

SEB: Tipsy? Probably Friday night. I was doing shots of tequila with my brother and sister. We also drank white wine and cava. I get giggly when I’m drunk and think I’m very funny. My mum had a karaoke party. There were about 30 of us. No matter who you are or what you do, everyone loves karaoke. Everybody starts off going ‘No, no’, but by the end we’re all wrestling each other for the mic. Sonny had a go too – he sang Never Be Lonely (by his dad’s band The Feeling) and he was great. He’s a good singer. It was the first time he got on stage and sang by himself. He wouldn’t let me near him.

 

Would you and Richard like to have more children?

SEB: Absolutely.

 

What keeps you awake at night?

SEB: I’m a bit of a kid, I find it hard to wind down. I do that ‘but I’m not tired…’ thing. So I play my Gameboy Advance. Passion killer, eh? Noooo, I do it when Sonny and Richard are asleep. I know, it’s pathetic. What else is really sad is that I’ve really got into Sudoku. I’m a bit of a square. I’ve got that Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training game too, it’s good.

 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

SEB: Reading celebrity magazines. I don’t want to see myself in them, just other people. Some celebs are so keen to be famous they share really intimate stuff, and I find that really strange. I find those photo shoots in celebrity’s homes really odd too. Although the last laugh is definitely on me – because I buy it.

 

When are you at your happiest?

SEB: Every time I’m at home with my husband and son in the same place. We dress up in fancy dress. Sonny’s obsessed with Buzz Lightyear at the moment – he’s gone to nursery today dressed up as him. Or we jump on the sofa pretending we can fly. It’s a good stress buster.

 

Do you ever leave the house without make-up?

SEB: Yes, but it’s not something I can recommend. I’m not that fussed about beauty products, although I wear a lot of make-up when I’m performing. When you’ve got to get your kid to nursery, you haven’t really got time to do make-up. I’d hardly be like, ‘In a minute darling, mummy’s just finishing her foundation.’ Like any woman, I want to look alright and not scare small children, but I’m not obsessed about it.

 

How would you rate your looks on a scale of 1-10?

SEB: When I’m all done up in my professional world, maybe an eight, because I have fantastic hair and make-up girls and wear great clothes and shoes. As far as pop stars go, I think I really push my look and I’m proud of that. As a real person, I’m more like a five or six. Sometimes I look OK, sometimes a bit rough.

 

Would you ever have plastic surgery?

SEB: It’s not something I’m interested in. But if you’re looking in the mirror and you’re not happy with something and know of a way of making it better, I’m not going to talk you out of it. One of my friends just had a boob job and she had the implants put underneath the muscle, which I think is supposed to be a better way of doing it. They look so good, I forget she’s had them done. But personally, I’m too scared to have anything.

 

You’re looking super-slim after having Sonny – is it true you’ve never dieted?

SEB: Yes. I don’t believe in them. That’s not to say I eat junk food all the time, because you can’t do that and stay in shape. But I don’t think there’s anything more unsexy than going out for a meal with someone and them saying, ‘Oh, I can’t eat that, I’m on such-and-such a diet.’ Also, I have a lot of friends who are on constant diets and none of them seem to work, and they don’t have a very good relationship with food. I don’t own scales, so if my clothes don’t fit so well or my energy is low, then I may cut out a bit of cheese. But then if I’ve been working hard I just think sod it, I’m going to have an Indian take-away or something.

 

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with?

SEB: Apart from my husband? It would have to be someone funny, like Ricky Gervais or Eddie Izzard. Stephen Fry would be quite nice. Hang on, that’s all boys, I need a girl. Perhaps Julie Andrews. I’ve always wanted to meet her. We could talk The Sound Of Music and Mary Poppins.

 

What was your first ever job?

SEB: I worked in a hairdresser’s, washing people’s hair. That was pretty grim. It was a really long day and I was on my feet all the time. I got £20 a day. It really wasn’t worth it. I should have picked a better one.

 

Baths or showers?

SEB: I would have said baths, but I’m much more impatient than I used to be, so I now do showers.

 

If you could jump in a time machine, where would you go?

SEB: It would be fun to go back in time to the 50s. It was the birth of the teenager, rock ’n’ roll and drive-thrus. It would be exciting to have seen Elvis on stage. Did you know they only ever filmed his head and shoulders back then? Apparently, the hip-gyrating was seen as too scandalous.

 

Do you have any phobias?

SEB: Door hinges. I saw a girl once get her fingers caught in a science door hinge at school. She screamed and I just froze. It was horrible. I’m always careful when I hold doors.

 

Have you ever stolen anything?

SEB: Whenever I’ve flown business class on British Airways they have these nice mugs with pictures on. I’ve got a full set of those. I’m not sure you’re supposed to take them, though…

 

What’s been your biggest splurge?

SEB: Our wedding in Italy two years ago. It was beautiful. It wasn’t ostentatious, it was just lovely to do it abroad.

 

What would you do if you were invisible for the day?

SEB: I’d create mishaps or make it seem like there are ghosts in the room by moving stuff around. Just to freak everyone out.

 

 

SOPHIE'S REALITY CHECK

 

Do you take public transport?

Not often. I used to adore the tube, but not any more. I don’t mind trains. I drive and walk whenever I can. Cabs are my indulgence. I don’t feel guilty, because I see it as a luxury at the end of the night.

 

Who is the new Home Secretary?

Is that one half of the couple in the Cabinet? I can’t remember. It’s Jacqui Smith

 

Have you ever worn sunglasses indoors?

Absolutely not. That’s so naff.

 

How many tattoos do you have?

Just the one. I’m happy with it, but I don’t want any more. I don’t regret it. It didn’t hurt that much. It’s a bit like falling off your bike, it’s a scrape that soon heals.

 

:rofl: funny...