Diary of a Diva - Food, Footlights and Facials

Hayley with La Brasserie owner Peter Godwin and friend Anouska Hartley

This week I got a surprise invite to the re-launch of top Knightsbridge restaurant, La Brasserie, and I have to say it was the most fun I’ve had at a celebrity event so far. I’d not finished my first glass of champagne when in walked Joan Collins.

 It was quite surreal when I was placed at the table next to hers for dinner. But I was amazed to find the seemingly cool Knightsbridge crowd wouldn’t leave her to eat in peace and kept asking for photos.
 Not surprisingly, she left after the first course.

But we still had Nigel Havers and Louise and Jamie Redknapp at the next table keeping up the celeb headcount.

Azzy Asghar, the event’s PR guru, kept introducing me to people all night, including the director of London’s famous Cuckoo Club, who went on to invite me to the club’s birthday party next week. Talk about schmoozing.

Then I was just about to order a chocolate fondue for desert when my friend and I were invited to join the owner, Peter Godwin’s table.

 We had such fun and I spent the rest of the night talking to Joan Collin’s agent, who was asking all about my career. He gave me his card and told me he was going to look me up in acting directory, Spotlight, the next day.
 Just imagine having the same agent as Joan Collins!
Oh it was just a wonderful night.
 Great ambience, gorgeous food and glamorous company.

OK, shameless name dropping to one side, I did actually do some work since I last wrote.
My tutor from RADA, Paul Sirett, who famously was dramaturg of the RSC, has been helping me try and get a literary agent.
Even though he’s ridiculously busy himself, he has been reading my plays and I’ve been re-writing them in an attempt to decide which would be the best to, as he puts it, ‘grab a prospective agent by the throat.’

Oh and good news. I’ve been accepted on a part time writing course at Cambridge University in January.
So I’ve already started working on sketches I can audition for Cambridge Footlights with.

In the meantime though, there’s a whole festive season of star-studded parties I need to prepare for – and you won’t believe the companies who have been helping glamorize me.
 Babyliss sent me their incredible new You Curl to try out –  straightening irons that curl your hair…strange but true.
B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful also sent me some amazing make up, each product in a stunning bejewelled pot - I’m already thinking Christmas presents.

 Then, all natural Covent Garden company, Neal’s Yard, gave me an interesting package of things like Seaweed Shampoo and White Tea Facial Mist.
 They may sound bizarre but they are actually more effective than any other products I’ve tried. So now I don’t just eat organic – I smear it on my face too.

Ah, it’s not a bad life, this one I’m making.
Now if only I could blag me the bank balance of a star, I’d be sorted.

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