Shelf Life: Perdita Weeks

The actress Perdita Weeks has answered our impertinent questions this week. Those who imagine her to be a romantic will be disappointed: she’s very practical when it comes to love and books. She recently starred in Julian Fellowes’ Titanic on ITV.

1) What are you reading at the moment?

I am reading The Return of The Native by Thomas Hardy (in an attempt to make up for not doing English A-Level) and The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin: as I am playing Maria Ternan in the screen adaptation of the tale of Dickens’ love for eighteen year old actress Nelly Ternan.

2) As a child, what did you read under the covers?

I was obsessed with the Adventures Series by Willard Price — I think Amazon Adventure and South Sea Adventure were my faves. I loved learning about the animals that the brothers Hal (total dreamboat) and Roger Hunt captured for their father’s zoo.