Steven chats over coffee with art sensation Pedro Sousa Louro
Pedro Sousa Louro is one of the most talked-about LGBTQ artists at the moment. The Portuguese born painter is exciting the art world with his blend of styles and fresh take on painting.
Educated at the Chelsea College of Arts in London, Pedro’s work caught the attention of many at the prestigious Kunstmesse art fair in Germany last year. He is also among the headliners at the START art show this autumn at the Saatchi Gallery. Our very own art connoisseur, Steven Smith, catches up with him at his studio in Wimbledon.
Do you remember the first painting you ever did and what made you want to become an artist?
I was fascinated by Greek and Roman statues, especially the beauty of the naked form and the stillness from an early age. It caused quite a stir when my first drawing at school was a statue, and some teachers were not impressed, though others thought it was great. Of course, my style at the time was hardly refined, and to some eyes, it may have looked like mischief-making.
Either way, art captured my imagination from an early age and creating images was something that excited me. So, becoming an artist was something that has always been at the forefront of my life.
Who in the art world influences you?
Francis Bacon and Picasso, as well as Dame Rachel Whiteread and Robert Rauschenberg. Art is always a personal thing, and these artists really speak to me. When I am looking at their work, it moves me and inspires me to create.
What training did you do to become an artist?
I graduated with an Arts degree from the Chelsea College of Arts in 1998. Two decades later, I graduated from the Kensington and Chelsea Art College in Abstract Expressionism and Abstract Vision.
Your work has been shown all over Europe, and you are appearing later this year at START in the Saatchi Gallery London. Can you tell us a little about START and do your audiences differ from country to country?
It is my first time exhibiting at the Saatchi Gallery and START Art Fair in London. The timing could not be better. It is an honour to be a part of this prestigious event and a chance to network with new artists as well as established ones. The fair is a global gathering of artists and gives new talent a chance to show their work.
Last year my work was shown at the fifth Kunstmesse art fair in Leipzig, Germany. I do not think that the audiences differ. In every show that I have been a part of, people have been enthusiastic and inspiring.
What advice would you give to a young artist starting out?
It is not easy at all to be an artist seeking recognition, especially in these modern ages, where social media platforms are making a colossal and gigantic difference in the careers of artists. I’m one of them! I want to be recognised by the public and by the established art scene. I want my artwork and my abstract visual language on our new modern living expressionism to be taken seriously as another important artist legacy and statement. The advice is only one. Don’t stop working even in times when it seems you aren’t going anywhere. If we don’t stop working, we’ll arrive somewhere, and that is inevitable. If you don’t stop creating you will arrive somewhere – a good place or a not-so-good place – but you’ll arrive somewhere!
How do you think COVID has affected the arts and LGBTQ community in general?
I have seen artists, where I have my studio, for instance, leaving their studios because they cannot afford the rent or because they have lost their other jobs, the direct income support of their lives. It is unfortunately sad, but on the other side, I have seen so many artists making sales over the internet and on social media platforms. Some of them did exceptionally well.
Do you think that with apps like Grindr and Scruff being so popular, romance is dying?
Inevitably, yes. The technology of these sex and social apps on our phones completely eradicate so many vital personal elements of each one of us. From educational factors to responsible factors and so on, this new way of interaction between us has changed so profoundly that romance has become an old-fashioned item, not even vintage!
Some of our best British artists have been LGBTQ, from Francis Bacon, David Hockney to sculptress Maggie Hambling. How much does your sexuality influence your artwork?
I have heard so many different views and opinions about my work being too connected with my sexuality. There are people from galleries from the art world itself, saying that it is 100% related to and influenced by my sexuality. I just let them talk and say what they want.
I would say between 50% to 70% is undoubtedly associated with my sexuality. But there are quite significant elements which come from my art studies and the art research that I attach to my creativity.
How does your family feel about your work?
My parents still live in Portugal. My dad is the silent type, and my mum is vocal about her love of my art. They are both proud. My sister lives in Oxford, and she is a huge fan, I am hoping she will be at START. I am one of six children, and we are all proud of one another.
What would you like to see happening in the art world in the future?
I would like to see myself happening more, actually. I would like to see myself coming out as a more established artist, flourishing and gaining recognition worldwide. Yes, it’s all about me! Well, why not?
QUICKFIRE ROUND
Your favourite restaurant in London?
Right now, Sexy Fish in Mayfair. Amazing Asiatic food.
The one thing you find to be a turn off in others?
Their selfish, cynical side that makes them think they can always get away without doing the work.
The most romantic place in London?
I think London is a very romantic city, but for me, Chelsea Embankment is a more private environment. It is so romantic.
What is one thing you would change about London if you were the mayor for a day?
As Mayor of London for just one day, I think I would want to make all galleries and transport free .
What is your favourite film?
Well, I used to have a favourite film, The Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Streep, but now I have so many. So, now anything with Cate Blanchett for me is a good movie. She is my new obsession!
My viewz and not of 2Shades brought to you bi -monthly a column that does not hold back
“Where to pee or not to pee, is that really a question?”
Trans. Trans, dear God has there ever been a topic that will have you cancelled simply for not agreeing and get so many hot under the collar?
Now let us get this straight and to help the right-wing God squad: if your apparent higher power allowed a child to be born with bone cancer or deformed, is there not a chance he popped one or two in the wrong body too?
For me, if a man or woman feels they have been born in the wrong body and have undergone two years of therapy and gender reassignment, as far as I am concerned, they are now the sex of their choice.
People who have had gender-affirming surgery have been in my life since I was 16. The Famous Julia / George dropped coffee all over my Fiorucci white jump suit at “Scandals” night club when she ran the coffee shop there. Strangely we became friends. From April Ashley to Tallulah, famous sex changes have been in the news. Many have played under the radar and of course with some there was the odd whisper, but all for most part got on with their new lives. Wonderful India Willoughby, whom I admire, campaigns for
Transvestites who enjoy popping a frock on are not in that transgender category, however.
Nor is drag. Drag has been around since time began and in the theatrical sense it is a performance. So many people seem to be labelling drag artists as trans which, for the most part, they are not. Men that suddenly announce they are trans and pop on a frock, an acrylic wig and some false nails are not women.
Sure, some might be starting a journey towards being a woman. Others never will make that trip and must appreciate it is a dream and not expect rights as a woman.
Tim Curry in the incredible The Rocky Horror show is a sweet Transvestite not to be confused with gender reassignment https://rockyhorror.co.uk
Much as mixed toilets have been in many venues for years, the right for a woman or, when it comes to it, a man to go the toilet that is used by their own sex should be enforced. What many forget is some women are coping with trauma, having been raped or abused badly by men. They will find the idea of sharing a bathroom (where they are in a vulnerable state) with anyone with a penis utterly terrifying. Simply put, if you have a penis stay out of the ladies loo.
What is bizarre to me and many of the trans is this “Dead Life”, i.e. if you are now identify as woman, your prior life is “Dead Life” and you can suddenly create a whole past as girl. One (who we all know)
described how she slept with a variety of celebrities as a beautiful young girl – the issue here is she was a 17-year-old spotty boy at the time she claims it happened. It is just a lie, a “Fantasy Life” that to my mind is closer to criminal fraud.
I certainly would have been trans back in my school years. I used to pray that I would wake as a girl because being a boy was pure misery for me. Today I love being a man, in fact after about 14 that desire to be a girl eventually passed. For many it does not, and they have my
empathy and support to be who they want to be after a certain age.
Forcing kids into boxes i.e. boys like football and action and
girls like Barbie and cooking is one of the unhealthiest things I can think of. It is responsible for so many mental health issues in those kids who do not fit into society’s false expectations. But please do not let kids undergo surgery till they are fully matured and can decide if it is still what they really want.
Personally there would be no way I would even want a child of mine to have a piercing or tattoo until they were in their late teens. There are support groups such as Mermaids that help young people who feel they are struggling with gender
Finally, practise what you preach. A lovely trans woman who I respected and addressed as a woman (even though they had not had surgery, or any work done), berated me for not eating what I was given at a dinner table (I do not eat red meat or pork).
“In my day you ate what you were given!” she chastised me.
Thank God for you it is not “your days” as you would be running for the hills dressed as woman. The problem is, if we expect people to accept us for who we are, it has to be reciprocal, not one-sided.
Colin Farrell – a real man of action
As if we could not love Colin Farrell enough already, the actor and his son James have melted our hearts this month. Colin has been talking about his 20-year-old son James who lives with Angel Syndrome.
“I want the world to be kind to James. I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”
Angelman syndrome is genetic disorder that mainly affects the nervous system. Symptoms include a small head and a specific facial appearance, severe intellectual disability, developmental disability, limited to no functional speech, balance and movement problems, seizures, and sleep problems.
Farrell has started a foundation in honour of his son in the US. The Colin Farrell Foundation will provide support for adult children who have an intellectual disability through advocacy, education and innovative programs.
As for the foundation, for years Farrell has wanted to do something in the realm of providing greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve and the assistance in all areas of life.
“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” Farrell says. “All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and often is left behind.”
This is mirrored in the UK. Last year Dr Anna Kennedy OBE petitioned Number 10 Downing Street to help those living with autism to be aided after the age of 24 where government aid stops. “Who will look after my sons when I am gone?” is a question Anna has raised along with many parents of children with special needs.
Dr Anna Kennedy OBE and me delivering a petition to Number 10 downing street picture Terry Scott ,
Colin and Anna are real heroes and we need more of the likes of these two in this world.
Yet more bad news for the BBC as their top-rated show “Strictly Come Dancing” comes under fire for apparent bullying as previous contestants have been complaining.
Oh do get a grip. You go into a reality show and you are really expecting it to be plain sailing?
These people complaining of bad treatment have agents and a
right to walk out at any time. Stop, enough already. Do not go into a
show like “Strictly” or “I’m a Celebrity” and expect back rubs and hugs.
Dance is a highly disciplined practice and anyone who has properly
trained at the ballet or dance school will tell you it is not for the faint
hearted.
To conclude .
When your bear friend has been taking Ozempic and asks if
you have noticed any visible side effects on them…
Michelle said, “You know as a police officer, you always have this sort of authoritative nature about you. Every job you go to, you have to be a different person. Delivering a death message, or making an arrest, my voice will have to change, it’s a different persona.
A lot of it is listening and communication. The listening part is also in acting because you’re reacting to what is being said to you. It’s kind of transferable skills that way”
After facing a tragic incident whilst making an arrest resulting in 5 knee surgeries, Michelle was forced to end her career as a copper.
She continued as a consultant with the police after her recovery but she had an inkling that she had more to life than this.
Michelle decided to relive her childhood dream of becoming an actress. Urging her to train herself through acting classes online during the pandemic.
After a year and a half, she secured the role of DS Simone ‘Monty’ Montrose on BBC’s Granite Harbour as an investigator in the series.
While this was a breakthrough moment for her acting career, she enlightened us on the conditions faced in the acting industry.
Michelle said, “As an actor, we audition for way more than we ever get. It’s just ridiculous the amount of no’s and or the amount of you don’t hear anythings. You can audition for 20 roles and just get one and I think coming into the industry later in life, I can handle that.
If I was 18 or in my 20s, I’d probably find the constant rejection really difficult. It’s very competitive, not everyone can afford a ticket to London for an audition, put a day aside just for that. I do this full time now but there are so many people who have other jobs and have to take time off for this.”
I could feel the amount of empathy she holds for people. Having been a police officer and now an actress, she wishes to do her job with conviction and not for any kind of recognition.
Michelle Jeram the set of Granite Harbour
I imagine being a police officer is far from easy and the unpredictability requires a lot of courage to deal with every day.
I sensed a grimness as she said the words, “There are some things you should never see.”
It transported me briefly to the times she might’ve had to go back home and process the horror she witnessed.
The mental health of police officers is frequently overshadowed by the government’s control over them. There are a handful who seem to exploit their powers to fulfil a demonic agenda.
But for the good ones who are human beings just like the rest of us, they have to play a role that provides a thankless service to others and hardly for themselves.
Michelle said, “When I joined in 1991, there wasn’t any counselling support. You’d sort of have this dark humour, not demeaning but to sort of cope with it yourself. There is counselling and things like that now but I think it’s the numbers in policing that are so few that they’re being single-crewed it shouldn’t be like that.
It’s a sorry state of affairs unfortunately but, I loved my 23 years and I’m very proud of it.”
Her enthusiasm as a police officer reflects greatly on screen as she now takes on detective roles to structure her brand as a newbie in the industry.
She dives into research and curates a background story for each of her characters to bring them to life.
She draws inspiration from her experience as a copper to understand the depth of her character. Which helps her react to her coworkers cues and mediate the necessary emotion.
Her personal experience also helped with roles where she was required to improvise and be as authentic as she could be.
She said, “Granite Harbour allowed us to do that for example, and I’m like, I don’t think Monty would actually say it like that so I might change it slightly. Similarly with Queen At Sea, the director wanted me to be as authentic as possible. He didn’t care if the person had acting experience, he preferred someone who knew the procedure.
For instance a rape incident, if you’ve never dealt with that, you don’t know the process and what’s being said, it would be quite difficult.”
We both agreed that it’s not to say that actors don’t have the capability to tap into those raw emotions required for a scene, but a past experience could definitely provide an edge.
As we continue to speak, I was curious to know how being autistic blended with such contrasting careers.
However, Michelle is a doer and for her the process of creation and the contribution of each soul towards the art mesmerised her.
Michelle explained, “You know that’s what fascinates me I think, the whole process of how a show is really put together. The set design, sound, electricians, the runners, everything. I remember on my first week in Granite Harbour in series one, when it was appropriate, I went around to everyone and asked them what they did. To tell me exactly what they did.
I remember watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Bugsy Malone, you know the original one with Jodie Foster. I was fascinated, it stayed with me. And I think what it is about acting for me is the whole creative process. And you see the finished product, you’re like, cool!”
The creation of art can sometimes be viewed from a superficial lens, I personally forget that it takes a collective of talent to put together a refined piece of work.
The creative choices, the artistic direction, the lines, the emotions everyone face through the day in the process of making it.
Michelle said it perfectly when she said to me that a good crew can always help make the process easier. She added, “You have better chances if you’re nice to the people you work with and it helps if you’re not a d*ck.”
She adores the cast of Granite Harbour and whoever she has worked with so far. Sharing a bond beyond the set aided in finding a flow for a seamless production and on screen chemistry.
We delved a little deeper into the networking and socialising aspect of being a neurodivergent actor and former police officer.
She said, “As a police officer, I realised after a while that nothing really bothered me. I’d see horrific things and go okay, then on to the next job. I felt quite unfazed by things. I’m still unfazed, I don’t particularly get emotional. I don’t remember the last time I cried, I’m quite a black and white person. There are no grey areas with me and that obviously served me well as a police officer.”
Neurodiverse individuals are often misunderstood as emotionless or apathetic. Or that they’re rude and unappreciative of the world around them.
It’s quite an unfair assumption that seems to be getting a lot more attention now, to reeducate people on their innate ability to feel.
As someone who struggled with social anxiety, I did feel like I played a role to feel accepted. Social gatherings can be overwhelming, you either love it, learn how to love it or hate it.
I’ve felt disconnected on multiple occasions whilst trying to build meaningful connections spontaneously. It takes time for me to truly connect but it can often be misunderstood as aloofness.
Michelle said, “When it comes to social gatherings, I never really love it. I’m quite a solitary person, I find the social side of it quite difficult but I understand the necessity of it because we need to work together and when we hang out, we learn a lot more about each other and that shows on screen. There’s a shorthand when it comes to who you’re acting with because they’re your friend.”
It makes me wonder if we’ve followed a society that depends on instant gratification and phrases to fit in. And how it’s often a recycle and reuse behaviour that keeps us afloat.
It’s hard to find connections that sustain in the world we live in where the walls within us are higher than a tower.
Attempting to narrow an infinite spectrum of neurodiverse people and urging them to be ‘normal’ only pushes them further away from their truth.
Michelle said, “A friend of mine called Sam Grieson wrote and directed a short film called “The Programme” to smash down barriers to say that it’s actually just a different way of processing. It’s a film about Drum, my character being interviewed by this robot in order to train the future AI on how to respond to human emotions. It’s about identity grief and how one deals with an autistic mind because we’re always told that we don’t feel, which is not true.”
I’ve had the opportunity to watch The Programme before it’s launch in October and it worries me for the future.
Emotions are such an individual and private journey- it’s not shaped to be predictable, it’s meant to be unique.
The AI robot in the film in many ways reflects the mentality of some people who box neurodivergent individuals as “odd”.
But have we as human beings wondered if the system of normalcy provided to us has perhaps limited the expansive view of our species?
Pushing us towards judgement of the other for their inability to match up to the standards of what is expected?
Michelle Jeram at the premiere night of The Programme
We arrived at an intriguing discussion soon after that reaffirmed my spirituality. We talked about how spiritual language can help us cope and focus on our vision towards our dreams.
In the age of spirituality where everyone seems to be talking about growth, we find ourselves using manifestations to align us to a vision. Michelle confidently said, “The weird think about Granite Harbour was, I knew I was going to get it. I read a lot about manifestations and it’s not just about visualising it, I also put it into action.”
Awareness of ones presence and potential can help structure a foundation to start with but there’s a certain amount of hard work and determination that needs to support it.
Michelle agreed and added, “I do hear people give advice to actors, they say ‘Stick with it! Your time will come!’ But I don’t think that’s entirely true. You have to know how to act as well, And there are a lot of people that I’ve done acting classes with or seen. And you know, it’s almost like I’m sure that they can act with the right guidance.
Telling somebody, keep going, keep going. Well, if nothing changes, nothing changes. You know, there’s got to be a change if you’re not getting anywhere.”
We do require a system upgrade even as human beings. Adding new skills, renewing a resume, whatever it may be, it gives us an opportunity to present ourselves as proactive and seeking growth in our reality.
Michelle continued, “They might be new headshots. Do you still look like your headshots? It might be a new show. It might be creating your own work. It might be getting some acting coaching. And a lot of these things cost money. But you know, one job will pay for that.You can reinvest and then go, right, I’m going to get some more acting coaching and get a job, reinvest.
And I think that just telling somebody to keep going on the same line that they’re on, if they’re getting anywhere, I’m not entirely sure that that’s the best advice to give. It’s no good your nan telling you she thinks you’re fantastic. Because my mum loves everything that I’ve done. And I’m like, mum, it was rubbish. Mums and dads, they just see you as this beautiful child. And they’ll say everything is amazing. But it’s not always helpful. It’s not constructive.”
At the end of the day, everyone deals with life in a way that makes sense to them. We are habituated to function from a place of safety and protection of our energy to identify the roles we play in our lives that feels most fullfilling.
The reality is that change is constant, the methods of achieving it are endless and the inspiration is subjective. Resistance to change breeds contempt and embracing all kinds of change can open pathways that achievers like Michelle have openly invited into their existence.
Mike Edde with one of the many celebrity clients Eammon Holmes
When it comes to woman’s hair if you need a brand new hair style it really is worth paying top dollar to get the best attention and idea’s to create a new you.
But often with a trim round the bottom you can get the same result with out robbing the bank at your local salon just do not expect a cappuccino , five minute head rub at the back wash and latest recommendations to the top spots in town you would get in the really high-end Salons.
However, when it comes to men’s hair, I gave up years ago getting my friends to cut my locks. It took too long and they never really did what I wanted except for the brilliant Martyne Fletcher who used to tend the late Joanne Rivers.
I gravitated to going to Sassoon’s who really never once made me happy and other high end Salon often leaving feeling robbed at £50 -£80 for a trim. One day I was just about to give up when saw a man in the gym who’s hair I liked so following my own advise I asked where he had it cut. “Mike the Barbers ” he replied. A local men’s shop that I had seen but would never dream of trusting my blond do to a shop a barbers.
I actually stood outside for three or four minutes to get up the nerve to go in, before asking for Mike, a dashing bubbly local legend in Earl’s Court. For sure there was not cappuccino in sight and no head rub, in fact unless you request it they do not wash your hair, as I more than often had to take the brush off the stylists in the high end salons and dry it myself so it was no loss to me.
Mike in his shop in Earl’s Court is legendary
Unlike many Sassoon people I noticed they where experts with razor’s and thinning scissors. I told Mike what i wanted and he asked if I would like the harsh line softened a bit, it had always bugged me that they could not soften it. Always ended up with a server wedge or fire fly. With in 15 minutes for the first time in years I loved my hair and did not need to grow a bit back or wish it had been cut shorter.
Even better it was £11, I get it cut every two weeks now to keep it neat and I go with out worrying it will be yet another disappointment . Mike has been doing my hair for six years and every fella I recommend goes again and again and one or two short hair ladies love him too. You never know who you will bump into Wayne Sleep might just come pirouetting by or one of the many celeb clients that know the secret.
Now colouring is another thing only to go high-end.
Doctor Giles Gyer is a British trained specialist musculoskeletal Osteopath who has worked within health and fitness for over 12 years; he combines a variety of articulation and manipulation techniques alongside a variety of rehabilitation exercises within his treatments, and works with patients from office workers to professional strength and international sports athletes at his central London clinic.
Giles is a senior lecturer at www.omttraining.co.uk and teaches grade 5 / HVT Spinal Manipulation, Osteopathic Articulation and Manual Therapy techniques throughout UK and internationally to professional therapists from all over Europe, he has lectured at national conferences and has lecturered and run MasterClass training events for groups such as the NHS, MK Dons FC and Liverpool Football Club physiotherapy department.
Giles has authored two books within manual therapy, first a specialist book on dry needling and secondly on spinal articulation techniques.
Eight tips for looking after your body.
We are now in an age where more people are desk bound for most of the week, working long hours, glued to their iphones, laptops with a blur of thumbs as they swipe left and right and tap away, and with all this inactivity, increased postural problems, fast paced lifestyle, it can have an impact on health and well being.
Staying fit and healthy is everyone’s top priority. But, because of our busy work schedules and poor lifestyle choices, we often make it the biggest challenge of our lives. If you’re here to overcome this barrier, the first thing you have to understand that the path to being healthy and fit is an ongoing process and includes many elements. However, it’s not something that is impossible to achieve. With a little focus on nutrition, being a bit health-conscious and doing a few exercises each day, you can easily win this challenge.
Here is how you can do this.
1. Adopt a Healthy Eating Style
The key to a healthy lifestyle is adopting a well-balanced diet that has all the nutrients for the optimal functioning of your body. According to NHS, a balanced diet means eating a wide range of foods in the right proportions, so that you can maintain a healthy body weight. However, it is also important that you are making realistic changes to your diet; otherwise, you won’t be able to stick with it. Use these tips to make the right changes:
· Get as many low calorie, nutrient dense, and antioxidant rich foods into your diet as possible. These include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fibre, milk, nuts, and lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, egg, tofu and beans.
· Drink plenty of water, as it keeps your body hydrated.
· Cut back on unhealthy foods and replace them with healthier alternatives.
· Eat less or avoid foods that are highly processed and contain unhealthy ingredients, such as saturated fats, hidden sugars, salts and artificial sweeteners.
· Try avoiding red meat or eat it only once in a week.
· Skip milk if you’re lactose intolerant.
· Try cooking meals at your home.
· Do not overeat and enjoy balanced meals at regular intervals.
· Do not skip breakfast, as it helps maintain a stable blood sugar level.
2. Take Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements are not essential for everyone. If you are already following a balanced diet, you do not need them. You can get all the nutrients you need from you diet. However, some people may need to take supplements.
According UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), supplements are advised to the following groups of people:
· Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you are suggested to eat folate rich foods and a daily supplement containing 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. This recommendation is applicable until the week 12 of pregnancy. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also advised to take 10mcg of vitamin D per day.
· Older adults. With age, our bodies become less effective in absorbing certain nutrients from our daily diets. These include calcium, potassium, folic acid, omega-3, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Therefore, if you are over age 50, you are advised to take a supplement containing these nutrients.
· Children below the age of 5. If your child is not a good eater, the FSA suggests that he/she may need to take a supplement containing vitamins A, D and C. However, this advice is not applicable for those who eat a wide range of foods and have a good appetite.
· People who are vegetarian or eat no meat or fish. People in this group often lack nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, from animal sources. If you are in this category, you are advised to take a supplement containing these elements.
· People who do not receive sufficient sunlight. Insufficient exposure to sunlight causes vitamin D deficiency. If you rarely get outdoors or spend most of your time indoors, you may need to take an additional 10mcg of vitamin D per day.
I really do believe “Movement is medicine” and consistent regular exercise is essential for being healthy and fit, as it prevents fat gain, improves muscle strength and tone, helps with the cardiovascular system, and more importantly helps to improve mood and boosts energy. It also helps combat against a number of diseases and conditions that can be caused through inactivity or dietary issues, the NHS states that a lack of exercise can contribute significantly to issues such as,
· Coronary heart disease
· High blood pressure
· Stroke
· Metabolic syndrome (including obesity and abnormal blood cholesterol levels)
· Type 2 diabetes
Therefore, you should get rid of all the excuses for not exercising regularly and try making it a daily habit. No matter you have only 20 minutes form your hectic daily schedules, you should do it.
However, if you are really unable to manage time for an actual workout, you can use these simple tips to keep yourself physically active:
· Practice light yoga or stretching moves while watching TV or talking on the phone.
· Take regular breaks from your work and go for a short walk.
· Make fidgeting a habit while you work.
· Use the stairs instead of the lift.
· Walk or run to the nearby shops instead of driving.
· Take your kids or dog for a walk.
· Get off one bus or tube stop early and walk to your destination.
· Go out for a 10-minute walk before breakfast and after dinner.
4. Get Your Health Checkups
Regular health checkups are required, even if you are healthy and fit, because these tests help you find risk factors and problems before they start. Ultimately, this helps you to get better treatment, and in the end “prevention is better than cure”, when you are diagnosed early with a disease. So visit your doctor for routine health exams and tests to make sure you are not susceptible to any diseases and everything is fine and normal.
Depending on your age, ethnicity, lifestyle choices, physical activity, family medical history and smoking status, your doctor will suggest which exams and screenings you need. Although these advices vary from person to person, there are some common exams and tests that are often performed during a routine health checkup. These include:
· Total blood count (TBC) and urine tests
· Hearing and vision tests
· Tests for cholesterol level and blood pressure
· Measurement of body mass index (BMI)
· Risk assessment for diabetes (if high blood pressure or high cholesterol is already present)
· Screening for colorectal cancer (if there is a family history or age is over 50)
· Tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
· Screening for breast and cervical cancer
· Screening for prostate cancer
· Checking of immunisation schedules
5. Monitor Your Weight
It’s always a good practice to track your progress regularly, because this will help you to keep yourself motivated about your goals. However, do not check your weight excessively, as this may cause the opposite. So try checking your weight only once in a day.
In addition, there are many weight loss apps are now available on both Android and iOS. Check the reviews of these apps, and download the most suitable one according to your needs, so that you can track your food, connect with like-minded people and stay focused on your goals.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep has a profound effect on your life. It benefits your health both physically and mentally. Studies suggest that getting enough sleep can strengthen memories, improve mood, enhance cognitive functions, boost sex drive and improve overall quality of life. In fact, adequate sleep allows your body the time it needs to repair and rejuvenate.
On the other hand, insufficient sleep is linked to a number of health problems, including lower testosterone levels, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, poor cognitive functions, chronic pain and obesity. So if you are not getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, this can adversely affect your health, mood, motor skills, weight and even sex life.
7. Do Not Ignore Pain
Pain is a common condition that needs no further description. We all know what it is and how it affects our overall quality of life. What you need to know that pain is usually caused by an underlying disease or injury. In fact, it is you body’s red alert, a mechanism of telling you that something is wrong. So even if your pain is mild, do not ignore or get used to it.
Pain is not inevitable; it is actually a condition that can be treated. However, if you do not want to go for the conventional treatments, you can also manage it without taking any painkillers or NSAIDs. There are a number of drug-free alternative treatments, such as osteopathy, available today that can effectively help manage your pain, injury or other issues and get you back fighting fit.
Doctor Giles Gyer on a resent trip to China -Shanghai with leading personal trainer friend and client Denise Couprie www.osteon.co.uk
8. Visit an Osteopath
Osteopathy is a whole body approach to help your nervous, circulatory and immune systems. Although it is still considered as an alternative medicine, it is by far one of the most effective ways of identifying, treating and preventing health problems related to musculoskeletal issues. Also, osteopathy is a more natural approach than conventional medicine, because it doesn’t use drugs or surgical procedures.
Osteopaths focus on restoring the normal function and stability of the musculoskeletal framework, so that the body can heal by itself. In doing so, they use a variety of drug-free, non-invasive techniques to relieve muscle tension, increase joint mobility and encourage blood flow to tissues. These techniques include:
· Spinal manipulation / High-velocity thrusts
· Medical Acupuncture / Dry Needling
· Message techniques
· Stretching
· Joint Articulation
· Exercise Rehabilitation
Therefore, if you are struggling with persistent pain due to an injury or other issue, you should visit a registered osteopath. An osteopath can not only help detect and treat your problem but also give you advice on self-help, posture, stretching and other activities, in order to aid your recovery.
Steven Smith and Adishri Chengappa from 2Shades Magazine strike a pose in their first professional photoshoot with celebrity photographer Anne-Marie Bickerton at The Camera Club in Kennington
Yes, two crowns met as Celebrity Photographer Anne-Marie Bickerton takes 2Shades Magazine’s first photoshoot.
Anne-Marie Bickerton known for her many glossy magazine covers raised her camera and snapped iconic Adishri Chengappa.
Of course, we just had to have someone known for help lift a crown or two involved Steven Smith the other half of 2 shades jumped in . The results are amazing
Adishri said, “This was the most fun experience I’ve ever had! Anne-Marie is such a lovely soul and we got on so well. I could talk to her for ages but more importantly, she made the whole photoshoot such enjoyable experience for us. It’s been a dream of mine to be in a photoshoot and I am so glad I got to have my first experience with my gorgeous partner in crime and love, Steven Smith.”
With allegations of sexual abuse against pop stars, actors and high-profile business people at an all-time high, Steven Smith looks back at his own experiences as a 16-year-old on the celebrity party circuit in the late 70s.
He asks whether society at the time was just as much to blame for the exploitation of teenagers as those that are having the finger pointed at them.
Wanna buy it? Link at the bottom of this article.
It’s a Monday morning. I’m working out. My book It Shouldn’t Happen to a Hairdresserhas been out for a month now. It’s my autobiography and follows my journey from coming out at 16 to tending to the hair of the rich and famous around the world. Though now I work mainly in the media, I still keep my scissors handy.
The book has caused quite a stir and there’s been a lot of press. Many are asking who the pop star was that seduced me when I was 16.
I decline to answer. It was not something I wanted to talk about further, plus, having worked for the tabloids for over a decade, I knew exactly where that conversation would lead. Having been harmlessly misquoted in some of the papers (one claimed that I hung out with Madonna), I still knew that interviews were a road that needed to be trodden carefully.
My phone goes. It’s a lady agent friend of mine who has been quite supportive in promoting the book.
“Hello darling. I simply couldn’t put the book down, it’s marvellous.”
She goes on to ask how the book is doing and who could imagine how difficult Katie Price could be. We both laugh, but then we get to the reason for the call.
“Darling, who was that awful pop star that seduced an innocent 16-year-old you?”
Back in the late 70s, 16 was more like 20. Now, it’s not something that I felt was integral to my life and I won’t be naming him. But it was important to my story in the book. The gist of the call is she thinks that I should chat with one of her clients, a gorgeous police officer called Dan Neal. It could be beneficial to us both – he had read the book and was branching into showbiz.
My agent friend had always been good to me, so I agreed. Almost immediately, Dan called. He was involved with the Jimmy Saville inquiry and was making quite a name for himself (he later went on to marry Rylan Clark). Charming and full of life. He said how much he had enjoyed the book. But then came the cough!
“The pop star who seduced you when you were sixteen, would you name him?”
“No”, I replied quickly.
Dan asked if he could hazard a guess. Judging by the tennis courts in my description, was it —– ? I had heard that they were after this particular person, and funnily enough, I had met him. And a more asexual but charming person you could not want to meet. (Although rumours of his early years hold that he was rampant – but not with young men.)
“No, it was not.”
He went on about his duty to uncover these people.
Cutting Dan off, I pointed out that I was not about to be induced to join a witch hunt. There was a big difference between boys and girls who had been groomed (or been downright taken advantage of) and the youths who attended parties and venues dressed like they were in their twenties, who were desperate to bag a pop star or anyone in the limelight. Back in the 70s, 16-years-olds were very independent, with some passing themselves off as 20-something.
Many of them only seem to have decided they were taken advantage of after the star has died or when they’re in their late 50’s, when many (I’ve found, having done research) have money problems.
In the late 70s no-one asked for ID or carried it. We grew up in an era when, as soon as you could carry a bag of newspapers, you had a job as a paperboy. I was working at ten.
Benny Hill chasing a woman dressed as a schoolgirl around the garden and Barbara Windsor being sexually harassed dressed as a nurse in the “Carry On” films was acceptable in comedy, and for many in the UK (and the US) it still is.
Your correspondent 40 years ago.
When I was 16 the club to go to was BANGS! On Tottenham Court Road on Monday nights, Donna Summer blasted from the speakers and we dressed to impress. We danced on the stage as the beautiful, gay, stylish and soon-to-be famous mingled in an electric atmosphere.
There was a whole group of lads and lasses aged 15-16 who lived for Monday night. It was not unusual to be approached, asked to come to other parties or asked out.
A young air steward invited me to a party one night. It was being held the following Sunday and he said that a car would be sent for me. He wouldn’t tell me whose home it was but said it would be great fun. He was very cute, and Sundays were boring.
I slipped out on the Sunday from my parents’ home and picked up the car at the end of the road, where the steward was waiting with the driver. As we reached the destination, I was stunned by what I saw – it was the most magnificent house, more of a mansion really, with fake butler and maid statues to greet you in the huge entrance hall. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
Not such a rocket man and for sure should not be a reference to anyones morals .
We parked the car around the back of the house and went to meet our host on the tennis court. I was shocked when I saw who he was – he had played with one of my favourite bands when I was growing up and here he was, greeting me on his tennis court! He was down to earth and seemed genuinely interested in me. Before long we ended up in his disco, where the cocktails flowed. And so did some other things. Some of the other guests offered me cocaine and laughed when I refused.
Not changed a bit
“Hey, have you brought a good kid to the party?” they asked.
Nevertheless, one too many gin and tonics and as Dorothy Parker said, I ended up under the host. Still, it was a great day, and I went home with my host’s autograph. That was enough excitement for me.
As he brought me home, the steward suggested I might like to meet other friends of his and intimated that it could be quite profitable for me. But I was streetwise beyond my 16 years and said no, thanks.
So, I was somewhat surprised when I received a call from the star’s right-hand man asking me to come down again, which I did. I found myself liking the guy, who even played a song for me on his piano, across from his statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Really, I preferred T-Rex. He sent cars for me several times and we even watched a movie in his cinema room.
He only stopped sending for me after I told him that I’d mentioned the visits to my family. He almost passed out! After all, I was still only 16. This, despite me pointing out that I’d been in the theatre and it wouldn’t seem unusual that I was hanging out with the likes of him.
Still, much as his interest in me waned once he discovered that, he still invited me to the parties. They were great fun and he always got me home safely.
All these years later, though, whenever I smell Opium perfume, I think of him. The fragrance filled the bathrooms in his fabulous house and I even bought some for my mother that Christmas.
One of the most wonderful moments was when a famous pop manager held a boat party along the Thames for his birthday and Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett were among the many celebrity guests. It was a dream come true and all I did was dance the afternoon away.
I was even hired briefly at the Embassy Club (in shorts).
With no age check.
Other parties were not so innocent. (Let’s not get started on the famous journalist with the three-way mirror whose parties hosted many a squaddie, some of whom went on to appear in the work of Mike Arlen (a gay photographer).
But I was lucky there was always an out. So, I never felt trapped or taken advantage of.
Of course, if I felt like playing victim I could rewrite this story in a different colour.
Many of the boys at the parties have passed on with HIV or disappeared. One or two I still bump into, and they talk of the good old times.
I’m sure that some may have regretted the follies of youth and even feel like they had been taken advantage of. But we can’t just blame the celebrities. The ’70s was a time that allowed freedom for the young and sexually promiscuous behaviour was rife.
Luckily, we have ID now and people check. I feel great empathy with those that have been hurt. But regarding those who, in their teens, labelled themselves groupies, only to say many decades later they were victims, responsibility must lie with more than one party.
There is a difference between the casting couch, grooming – and dressing up, passing yourself off as older and consenting to things.
Otherwise, it does turn into a witch hunt. It only really sunk in to what had been done to me all those years later , When I looked at my 16 year old Nephew . The thought I would kill anyone who touched him.
Bobby wants his story to be heard after facing an unfair side of the society that mishandled his autism.
He brushes it off with 2Shades as he shares how his artistic expression gave him life.
Bobby Latheron’s book, “My World In My Words”
Bobby said, “I have written a book called ‘My world, in my words’. It’s a book which explains my life growing up with autism before asking people about their thoughts on autism, then at the end I have a crazy script which shows the audience my imagination through a crazy love story.
It is important for me to share my experience of living with autism to support people to understand my thinking processes and the difficulties individuals with autism can face in mainstream society.”
For me personally, as a journalist and more importantly, a human being, I felt a bit sad hearing about the struggles Bobby had to face in school.
Not all teachers in the education sector are equipped to understand neurodiverse children. In Bobby’s experience, he was forced to move schools quite often from feeling threatened to just learn everybody else.
Bobby said, “When I went to my first secondary school I had to go to a hall and do an exam for a week in front of everyone, I had panic attacks and I used to run out crying. None of the teachers understood, they just thought I was a naughty child, they moved me from year 4 work to year 7 work so no one read anything about me in my reports from school.
I felt like I was getting bullied by more staff than students and I used to come home crying like I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
As Bobby was narrating his life to me, I could see how much the people in his life have rushed him to adjust to a world that apparently knows what “normal behaviour” means.
I wanted to reach into my laptop and give him a big hug for the kind of injustices he had to endure as a child.
It’s not about being sympathetic towards his hard life, I felt his pain of being treated as a misfit for being different in a controlled education system.
Bobby said, “I used to get detention for not doing my own shoelace you know? Back then I couldn’t even do my own shoelace, so how could I even tie it? And the homework as well, it was all so hard, I had no support and I wasn’t happy with myself.
However, when I was in year 8, I got diagnosed with autism and didn’t really understand what it meant till I went to an autism school.”
Bobby Latheron
He raised an important point here, he said that autism schools are lovely to feel supported but they felt a bit laidback to him.
The difficulty isn’t about learning the subjects sometimes, it just takes a good teacher to make a difference. To feel included and safe.
Every child has a few subjects they’re either really good at or fail in, but that doesn’t mean they need to tagged as an outcast.
Bobby said, “Why can’t there be a room just for autistic children in secondary school so they can study on their own?” and I agreed because all it takes is a compassionate teacher who understands different learning capabilities.
Bobby had a few more disappointments in his college life but he met an angel in disguise in the form of a music teacher called Carl Pemberton.
Bobby Latheron with Carl Pemberton and Beth Miller
Carl encouraged Bobby to write a book about his life story and also explore songwriting as a way to express his emotions.
They’ve collaborated on a few songs together and published videos on YouTube, hoping to reach a wider audience as time passes.
He also performed with his friend, Beth Miller, in the Autism’s Got Talent show 2023, which took place in the north east of England. The show was organised by superwoman/autism activist, Dr. Anna Kennedy OBE who relentlessly advocates for autism awareness and rights.
Bobby said, “Music has always been a big part of my life. When my dear friend Ziggy passed away, I didn’t know how to process those emotions. For people with autism processing emotions is difficult, one way that I could express mine, and that of the autism matters group was through music.
In my mind as I was walking one day and thinking of Ziggy song verses started to form. I then worked with Carl to get those emotions out to form the tribute song. I wrote the lyrics but the wonderful Karl Pemberton and Beth Miller sang it.”
This is a story that proves how important it is to find good people who accept you for who you are along the way. The right people can bring out the best in you.
Bobby’s life has taken a turn for the better and he will continue to express his art and feel like he finally belongs.
His book is available to purchase at Waterstones in Middlesbrough or online as well as Amazon.
Here are a few of his songs with his lovely companions:
This song is about moving on from a bad relationship or a bad friendship
Carl Pemberton featuring Beth Miller missing you this song is about my friend who passed away a year ago.
This is my dance song called ex sang by Beth Miller
This song is called Nobody Knows by Carl Pemberton. This is about his mental health and that he didn’t want to reach out to people
This song is called One, sung by Carl Pemberton and it’s about the Manchester bombing
Actors and celebrities joined film makers and writers at this sold-out red-carpet event held at the “Old George Inn” Sykehouse.
Award winning actress Nina Wadia OBE with Champion charity ambassador Pink Ribbons Lisa Allen
There was great excitement as Nina Wadia OBE (Eastenders), Gary Webster straight from starring in the action thriller ‘Bermondsey Tales, his wife presenter turned author Wendy Turner Webster, acting legend Frazer Hines (celebrating 70 years in show business), local royalty rugby ace turned Hollywood actor Keith Mason, and presenter Danielle Broadbent and actress Michelle Jeram (Granite Harbour BBC ) were amongst the celebrity guest.
One of the surprises of the festival was a guest appearance by zoom from Tom Hank’s brother Jim Hanks.
Acting Legend Frazer Hines receives a life time achievement award
There were tears in the room as the evening was dedicated to the Irish song bird Rose-Marie who was meant to presenting but sadly passed on a few weeks before the event.
Acting King Gary Webster, with Pet-rescue presenter Wendy Turner Webster Join author Samantha Lee Howe on the red carpet .
The entry films were shown during the day. This included a selection of short and feature films submitted to the festival which had all been commended by the judges.
The festival was the brainchild of USA Today bestselling author and multiple-award winning screenwriter Samantha Lee Howe.
Rugby legend turned Hollywood actor Keith Mason with his partner Nicole Hudson
“I wanted to create an event which celebrated the art of film, and which rewarded filmmakers by getting their work in front of an appreciative audience”, she explained.
The evening was presented by David Howe and winner of the night were Taunya Gren from the USA, who had submitted three of her films to the festival: two shorts and one feature.
She ended up scooping seven awards in total, including the Best Director, Best Horror Feature and Best Short Film, while Seanna Ladd, Gren’s daughter, who appeared in all three films, was awarded Best Actress.
Celebrity hairdresser turned author Steven Smith Joins presenter Danielle Broadbent as they rock the red carpet
Comedy was provided by top comedians George Coppen and Alex Leam, while Linzi Gold sang three of her own songs to an appreciative audience.
There was a raffle in aid of the Yorkshire charity IDAS with some amazing prizes. Award-winning winery Nyetimber provided Champagne for the guests as they arrived.
The whole event was an incredible success with people coming from all over the UK, and even from America, to attend.
As it has appeared in the Channel 5 Documentary, ‘Life of Riley: Head Lesbian Of The World’. It seems like a great time to re-share.
Two years ago with the help Graham Martin’s brilliant photography, I created this iconic shoot and interview’s with two legends Denise Welch and Linda Riley.
“Never Judge a book by its cover ” Steven Smith meets Linda Riley and Denise Welch.
Decades ago, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead and Frida Kahlo blazed a trail with gender neutrality, taking what’s perceived as a masculine style, redefining it and making it their own, despite the outrage that often greeted them.
Today diversity is the buzzword everyone is talking about, reshaping not only the world of fashion but, increasingly, the workplace.
Great gains against bigotry and prejudice have been made in recent years but there have been signs recently of a backlash, which is being felt around the world by the LGBTQ community, minorities and those with disabilities.
Two of the leaders of the drive for diversity in the UK are Linda Riley, who runs the European Diversity awards and educates in schools across the UK, and her friend Denise Welch, the actress, presenter and author. Denise is an ambassador for MIND and was named “Ally of the Year” by Diva, Britain’s most popular magazine for lesbian and bi-sexual woman and their friends.
The two struck up what might be seen as an unlikely friendship two years ago and, to celebrate Diversity ithey got together for a photo shoot in which they return to the Berlin of the 1920s – and the woman who was the first to ‘strike a pose’.
Here they talk to Steven Smith about their friendship and how they see their roles in promoting and protecting diversity today.
It is two o’clock on a sunny Tuesday and Linda has just arrived at the location for our shoot, an art-themed apartment off the Tottenham Court road. Dressed in a white shirt, black suit and masculine black shoes, Linda has a reputation as a formidable woman who not only knows what she wants, but gets what she wants.
Having met Linda several times, the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” springs to mind. She may be sporting a traditionally masculine look, but she has a sensitive, almost girlish aura about her.
She tells me that people see what they want to see and many presume that if you appear as a stereotyped butch lesbian then you must be as hard as nails. She’s working class too, which she says makes some people assume that she’s not very bright when in fact she’s highly intelligent.
Exploding the assumptions that people so often make is one of the reasons she wanted to do the photo shoot: she is keen for people to look beneath the covers.
No, she doesn’t wear make-up, but that’s her own choice – “I just can’t be bothered,” she says. But there’s no reason why she shouldn’t wear it if she wanted to. You can be as butch as you like and still wear make-up; it’s your own choice. Linda wants people to see the person not a label.
Linda is happy to have her make-up done on this occasion and sits down quietly as she lets our make-up artist paint her magic.
One of the many things she loved about Denise Welch was that on one of their first meetings they were asked to do a picture together and Denise asked whether she had any lipstick on her.
“I could have just snapped, ‘No, judge your audience Denise!” Linda says, with a laugh. “But actually, it was great that she asked, because it meant she had not judged me and not put me in a pigeonhole based on how I looked. It was one of the things that made us gel.”
Linda stands out as someone who made a huge difference to attitudes about diversity and the LGBTQ community, where she is spreading her message across the Atlantic and to Australia, where she is in partnership with the publisher Silke Bade.
In the UK, she publishes Diva magazine and is executive producer of the hit online show, Different for Girls. She is also a patron of Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity that helps homeless LGBTQ youth in the UK. Linda created the Diversity in Media Awards and is founder and director of the European Diversity Award.
In her personal life, Linda has twin girls, Sophie and Phoenix, with her former partner of eight years, Sarah Garrett. Sophie made her acting debut this year in Different for Girls.
“For me diversity is about equality in life and the workplace. We should not see others as different but instead recognise their individual talents,” Linda says. “I am not suggesting that we should have quotas, but we must not discriminate.”
Linda left home at 15 after she came out as gay to her mother and was given the stark choice of undergoing electric shock therapy to “cure” her or get out of the house. She chose the latter and built an empire against all odds.
“There are so many inspirations that I draw from,” she tells me. “Nelson Mandela had a huge impact on society. Then there are people like the beautiful actress Sophie Ward, who gave enormous hope to many gay women when she came out publicly. It wasn’t long ago that being gay would have meant the kiss of death to a career in the film and television world; Sophie helped so many.”
Linda credits Martina Navratilova as a front-runner in the drive for acceptance of diversity. One of the greatest tennis players of all time, she was, however, the only female player not to receive sponsorship. “Today Ellen Degeneres and Cara Delevingne have plenty of sponsorships, so things are moving, but let’s not forget women like Martina who led the way.”
Linda met Denise two years ago. Denise had been nominated as Ally of the Year at the Diva Awards and Linda wanted to see if she was the real deal. Linda has a reputation for taking instant likes or dislikes to people, but it’s not like that, she explains. “No, it’s just that I’ve been about a bit and I know those who are just cashing in, or who have nothing more to them than their celebrity.”
“For me diversity is about equality in life and the workplace. We should not see others as different but instead recognise their individual talents,”
But they clicked immediately and since that first meeting have struck up a great friendship.
“You just feel relaxed with her. She is funny, real and not show-bizzy, although she is professional. She is interested in you and among gay women she has become a hero. The gay men love her too, but they have Kylie, Madonna and the likes, whom we love too. There is something about Denise – you feel you have been on her journey and that she gets you.”
Denise is up for Ally of the Year again, along with Jemma Redgrave of the Redgrave acting dynasty and Catherine Russell from the BBC’s Holby, whose character in the show is lesbian, as well as Sinitta, whose hit song So Macho has become a gay anthem.
“Sinitta is a huge hit among gay men, maybe because she iconic and camp and because of the song. But she does an incredible amount to aid diversity and in general among the LGBTQ community, not just for the boys.”
“It is obvious that from an early age Denise just did not see labels. She has so many gay friends and is open and funny. She has raised her boys not to judge and her son Matthew, from the band 1975, talks about diversity and gay rights like a chip off the old block.
“It was not so long ago that eyebrows would lift if a gay woman had a platonic relationship with a heterosexual woman. In my own experience women have often presumed instantly that I am coming on when we are just chatting.” This is one of the things Linda is trying to stomp out when she goes into schools to talk to the kids about diversity.
“For many kids the idea of kissing someone of the same sex is something they are uncomfortable with and I’m greeted with nervous coughs and shuffling about. I asked at one all-girls school ‘if this were a mixed school, would you presume that every boy would fancy you?’ It is the same with gay women – not every gay woman will fancy you either. It is quite amazing how you can make kids see things in a different light just by talking about it.”
Linda lets her two daughters make their own choices in clothes and one tends to go for the prettier side of fashion while the other opts for a more traditionally masculine look.
“Recently they were both attending a wedding and I actually encouraged the tomboy daughter to wear a dress like her sister. She came right back at me: ‘I will wear a dress mum when you do.’ Fair point! I thought back to the day I was forced into a dress and cringed.
“That’s not to say I won’t put my foot down. I am quite a traditional parent and for a time Nicki Minaj [the American-Trinidadian rapper] was banned from the house as it was far too provocative. I want them to make sensible choices and, as mum, it’s my job to guide them there.”
The shoot is nearly over, and Denise is trying to force more lipstick on Linda for a laugh. Linda has loved dressing up and says she may wear the black tie to an event again – but not the make-up.
A few days later some of the pictures are leaked online to applause from many of Linda’s friends and followers. “You look even more gorgeous with make-up,” many posted, although others were not so enthused, saying that a butch, strong woman does not need make-up.
Linda laughs. “Who’s to say? It’s what we need at the moment. It did take me aback when I arrived at the school gates to pick up the kids and the other mums were telling me how it suited me and how good I looked. It made me wonder just what I look like normally! But what I would tell the 15-year-old me is ‘just be you, and be proud, it will be alright, the future is bright, and you do need make-up to get there.’
Denise’s story
It is twelve thirty and Denise has arrived early at the shoot straight from an appearance on Channel 5’s Matthew Wright show. She’s thirsty and hungry and in need of sparkling water and snack.
The actress looks stunning but is not feeling good about herself today. However, she takes a deep breath and bustles around making the crew and her friends feel special. She’s enthusiastic about the project and can’t wait for Linda to arrive and get made up.
Denise tries on some of the clothes and makes up for the lack of a full-length mirror in the apartment by standing on the toilet seat so she can see herself in the bathroom mirror.
She can’t believe there’s not a proper mirror – “I am not being a pain, it’s just I want to get into a character and can’t if I can’t see myself,” she laughs.
Since the birth of her son Matthew, Denise has been battling anxiety and mental health issues and takes each day as it comes. She can’t predict how she will feel but has learnt to cope.
She is an advocate for mental health and a spokesperson for MIND, one of the many charities she supports. Denise hosts an annual ball in Manchester for The Gem Appeal, a research facility set up by her friend Karen Sutherland, which is developing lifesaving treatments for genetic diseases.
Denise’s work with the LBGTQ community has won her awards and her short film, Black Eyed Susan, which portrays a woman struggling with depression, has been widely acclaimed.
Soon she’s in make-up and the crew are in fits of laughter as she regales them with funny stories.
Denise received her Diva Ally of the Year award last year at a glittering ceremony at London’s Cafe De Paris and she confesses her biggest shock was when one of her heroines, Jennifer Saunders, handed over the trophy with the words: “This is a woman I would want on my team!”
Saunders presented the awards along with fellow Ab Fab veteran Harriet Thorpe. Says Denise: “The fact they had even heard of me left me speechless. It was all so surreal and friendly, and I could have bathed in the crowd, there was so much love. I was totally in awe of all these remarkable women.”
She admits it would be a dream to appear in Ab Fab – “some of my friends already call me June Whitfield so maybe I could be her long-lost daughter!”
Asked how it feels to have been so taken to heart by the lesbian community, Denise tells me that she regards it as a real honour.
“Honestly, I am grateful anyone has taken to me, but it maybe we have empathy for each other. I was lucky and raised not label or judge people. My dad’s a drag queen called Raquel and my mum, bless her soul, had many diverse friends. Being gay was nothing unusual and I have always just had friends. Their sexuality is not the important thing to me. They are my pals.
“It would be great if we could raise all kids like that. My son Matthew, who’s in the band 1975, jokes with me “when are you coming out mum?’ as yet again I am featured in a gay magazine. Matt is all about diversity and would defend to the end people’s rights to be themselves, as would my youngest, Louie, who’s 16. It makes me very proud.
Among the many causes she supports, Denise is a huge advocate for the transgender community and starred in Boy Meets Girl, the first BBC comedy series to feature transgender issues prominently.
“It is totally bizarre to me – any kind of homophobia, racism or discrimination – what are people frightened of? Many of my leading men have been gay, as are my friends. It’s just normal for me.”
For Denise, the word diversity means inclusion and equality. But she worries that for some it may just be a trendy word that they use as a box tick. She is hugely against that – and against certain groups claiming the word diversity as their own. She says tv and the media generally should do more to promote diversity – “It’s insulting to any minority group to be included just because they are a box tick. It should be whoever is best for the job.”
“It is totally bizarre to me – any kind of homophobia, racism or discrimination – what are people frightened of? Many of my leading men have been gay, as are my friends. It’s just normal for me.”
Denise loves the fact that she’s become an “honorary lesbian” since she and Linda became friends. “I didn’t have many female gay friends – no idea why not – but since meeting Linda I’ve come to know so many. I adore them, they make me feel so comfortable and happy. ”
She met Linda at the LGBTQ awards through a friend of hers, Dan Hughes. “When Dan said Linda Riley, who created the LGBTQ awards, wants to meet you, I was a little nervous as she is a powerful figure and has a formidable reputation.
“When I walked in she was sitting with Bobby Norris from TOWIE and we just instantly clicked and got on like a house on fire. Then I started to learn about all the wonderful work she has done. She’s a trail blazer is Linda, and she puts her money where her mouth is, and champions causes all over the world. I think I bring out the girly, fun side of her and in turn she has made me more of a warrior.”
Denise is about to appear in the second series of Different for Girls and Linda is the executive producer of the show. The lesbian drama sees Denise come out in her fifties, much to the amusement of her screen sister, played by long-term friend Charlie Hardwick.
Denise is a huge fan of the first series, which is based on the book by Jackie Lawrence. She loved the show, as it showed women in a different light without the stereotypes. So often lesbian women, like a lot of transgender people, are portrayed either as prostitutes or victims.
“Jackie wanted to write something where it says, ‘no lesbians were killed during the writing of this book.’ My character is called Maeve and she comes out when she realises she fancies Theresa May.
“Jackie is talking about writing a spin off for Charlie and me in the genre of Grace and Frankie but set in Newcastle. She has also created a forum called Lesbian Box Office, which is not just for lesbians but for everyone in the community and their allies. There is talk of me fronting a lesbian dating series and I would love that.”
Denise also has her first lesbian screen kiss in the show. “It was quite daunting – it always is when you have to kiss someone you’re not romantically involved with. My love interest is Sophie Ottley, who is the director’s girlfriend. It was funny after doing it and I did think this is a little too familiar!”
After a great shoot, she kisses good-bye to Linda – but not before trying to add even more lipstick to her and take a selfie. You have the feeling that this is friendship for life.
2Shades Magazine 
