2 days ago
11
Born in West Sussex, Erin Doherty, 32, studied at the Guildford School of Acting and Bristol Old Vic theatre school. She played Princess Anne in The Crown and the lead in Amazon Prime’s thriller Chloe. In 2022, she starred in The Crucible at the National Theatre and, in 2024, she was in Death of England: Closing Time at @sohoplace theatre, London. She has leading roles in the Disney series A Thousand Blows and Netflix’s hit drama Adolescence. She lives in Surrey.
When were you happiest?
Mornings. Playing music, fresh coffee, dippy eggs and soldiers, my girlfriend – what’s not to love?
What is your greatest fear?
Regrets. That’s no way to live.
What is your earliest memory?
Sneaking downstairs for midnight feasts with my sister and cousins.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
My sister. She is the most loving, positive and generous person I know.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I overthink everything.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Meanness.
What is your most treasured possession?
A letter from my grandma after she saw me on TV for the first time.
Describe yourself in three words:
The three things I strive for are authenticity, presence and empathy. You’d have to ask my loved ones if I’m pulling them off.
What would your superpower be?
Invisibility. I love observing people – I could watch them all day (in a non-creepy way, of course).
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
There was a chocolate bar that I got every day on my walk home after school called Mars Delight – I think about that quite a lot.
What scares you about getting older?
I am genuinely buzzed about it! I think we just keep getting better, smarter, wiser, truer, happier.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Sounds cliched, but I always wanted to be an actor.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
The Kardashians – I know.
What does love feel like?
Having music for limbs.
after newsletter promotion
What did you dream about last night?
I vaguely remember Kate Winslet being there, so I reckon it was a good one.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Happy days” tends to be my response to a lot of things.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
I was the PE technician at my old secondary school, so I had to pump up all the balls, wash all the kits and get the form notes in before morning registration every day.
If not yourself, who would you most like to be?
I’d love to be a therapist for a month or so. I don’t think I could sustain it, but I’d love to know what that feels like.
When did you last cry, and why?
Oh when was the last time I didn’t?! I’m a crier. I cry. All the time.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Learning to get back up.
How would you like to be remembered?
A good listener.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Offer kindness always.
