‘Nothing beats noodling on my guitar’: Adeel Akhtar on calm, coffee and chords

Describe your perfect hour
My wife and I, sitting on two green chairs that look out on to our garden. The space used to be our bedroom, where our son was born, so it has lots of memories. We sip coffee and chat about a film project we’re working on, or not chat and silently acknowledge the stresses of the day.

Which era in history would you like to have lived through?
The 1960s, because there were so many beautiful movements happening: civil rights, women’s lib, music and art. People were discovering their power and developing an understanding of how to effect radical change together.

What is your favourite time of day?
First thing in the morning, before the world gets going and everything is calm. Getting up early is something I’ve had to learn since having kids, but having a routine makes you realise we have more time than we think.

What period of your life do you daydream about the most?
My mum took me to speech and drama classes when I was eight. As an immigrant who was all about education and work, it was quite antithetical to her world, but she wanted me to be confident and to speak properly. She saw I enjoyed it and encouraged me, even though my dad wanted me to be a lawyer.

If you could spend five minutes with somebody famous, who would it be?
It’s already happened. When I met Mark Rylance, I told him how much his performance in Jerusalem meant to me. We talked, then I asked if I could hug him, but when he tried to leave the hug I maybe held on for a bit longer than was necessary.

When was the last time you cried?
Yesterday, on stage. The play I’m in, Mass, deals with a tragic event, and sometimes the tears are there and sometimes they’re not. Our director encourages us not to push our emotions, so I sit with them, not make them front and centre, listen and respond in that moment.

What do you never have enough time for?
Noodling on my guitar. I’ve been doing it on and off since I was 15, but I wouldn’t say I can play. I like to find this strange tuning called DADGAD, where you put your finger anywhere on the fretboard and everything sounds like something. It’s beautiful and meditative and the time flies by.

When was the last time you stole something?
Sweets from a shop when I was a kid. My mum made me tell the owner what I’d done. I was very ashamed. She still lives in the village, so every time I walk past it brings the memory back.

When did you last check the internet?
I try to be the actor that doesn’t want to see reviews, but I did have a cursory read when I heard they were out. They were good, but I felt terrible for a while afterwards. Why did I look? It doesn’t matter what anyone says, and I really believe in the play. You have to go easy on yourself.

When was the last time you danced?
With my kids. One is learning ballet and the other does breakdancing, so we’ll put on a playlist and have a mad, improvisational dance together in the kitchen.

If you make it to your 100th birthday, what would be the reason?
Finding balance in everything I did, as best I could. I’m still in pursuit of it.