An hour with… Nikki Amuka-Bird

Describe your perfect hour…

An early morning in Antigua, watching the sunrise over the water with a coffee. I get that lovely feeling of knowing I can relax and everything feels right with the world.

If you could live in any era, which would it be?

I have a fascination with the late 1960s. I’d love to have seen Nina Simone perform at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969.

What’s your favourite time of day?

That last hour of sunshine in a long summer day, particularly in the buzz of London when everyone’s finished work and is standing outside the pub having drinks.

Which period of your life do you daydream about the most?

I lived in Nigeria until I was five. Lots of my memories from that period seem dreamlike, but I went back for the first time last year, which brought back lots of nostalgia.

If you could spend an hour with someone famous, who would it be?

Michelle Obama. I’m endlessly impressed with her grace, strength, integrity and humour. I’d love to know how she juggles it all and stays true to herself.

When was the last time you stole something?

I feel really square because I don’t think I ever have – apart from other people’s chips. I’m one of those friends who orders the salad, then steals off other people’s plates.

When was the last time you cried?

At a play called Mass, directed by Carrie Cracknell, about two sets of parents grieving the loss of their children after a school shooting. The entire audience became a chorus of snivels; this weird, spiritual catharsis.

When did you last check social media?

I stayed off social media until recently. Then I did Clarissa, an amazing film in Nigeria, and had the most beautiful, life-changing experience that I wanted to share with people. So far I’ve been pretty good about not checking it too much.

What do you never have enough time for?

Calling people. I’ll happily text or leave voice notes, but there isn’t enough time to sit down and chat for an hour.

When was the last time someone mistook you for someone else?

People have stopped me, convinced they know me. I think: “Maybe it’s from my work”, but it’ll be because they think we went to school together and I’m too shy to correct them.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

It’s true that the older you get, the less you worry what people think about you. It’s so liberating when you realise that you can’t please everybody all the time. I’d tell my younger self, in the words of RuPaul: “What other people think about you is none of your business.”

If you make it to your 100th birthday, what would be the reason?

Believing in something bigger than myself. I’ve always had a spiritual practice and faith. It’s something I’ve always returned to, to ground myself and make me think about the bigger picture. The key to a long life is to find whatever you need that stops you stressing.