With her first major role in a feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets about to debut in NZ (on March 17 2011), we caught up with gorgeous ex-pat Michelle Ang to find out her favourite things right now.
Now based in NYC (and working on projects with the likes of Martin Lawrence, Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson), Ang will be a familiar face to fans of The Tribe, Outrageous Fortune and No 2.
In her own words: “I’m a regular kiwi girl, although my Asian heritage combined with our “exotic” accent causes confusion to many in the United States; where I currently live. I have been a professional television and film actress for over half my life and also like to dabble in jewelry making and art directing photoshoots. I’m quite the geek and probably not that up-to-date with all things cool.”
Michelle Ang’s Favourite Things
EAT:
- Banana Cake from the trusty Edmonds Cookbook! But I always double the banana content! Love any recipe out of this kiwi staple. I even got my mum to send me a book for my birthday last year!
- Absolutely ANYTHING with feijoa’s. Especially the Feijoa Crumble from Ripe Deli- I used to love treating myself to that for breakfast with a giant dollop of yogurt… mmm.
- Fresh picked tamarillos from my old Grey Lynn flat’s backyard. You can’t find them here even in the “fancy” supermarkets”!
BUY:
- I love flea markets, garage sales and places to collect strange, odd little collectibles. Brooklyn Flea market has some of the most amazing treasures! I bought 3 gorgeous botanical lithographs from an old german science journal there.
- Trilogy rosehip oil, Hema Oil, Aesop products, Dr Hauschka. Basically I’m a dead fan for anything natural and luxurious, skincare wise. Oils and rich moisturizers, and herbal smelling products. It’s a vice of mine.
- Comme de Garcon perfume is a favourite of mine. Oh who am I kidding?! I love tons of offbeat perfumery houses: Diptyque, Miller et Bertaux, Le Labo and of course CB I hate Perfume- a wonderful olfactory playground in my neighbourhood of Brooklyn.
KNOW:
- “living simply makes loving simple” – Bell Hooks. Couldn’t agree more. Modern life makes things complicated, both physically and mentally. It’s important to remind yourself it doesn’t have to be that way.
- “There is light in darkness you just have to find it”. Even in the hardest of times, there will be a way through it.
- “People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest” – Hermann Hesse. I guess this means, don’t be scared to have conviction in your path.
- “We are all made of stardust”- my very astronomy-infatuated BF told me that in the early stages of getting to know one another. I thought it was cute and he earnestly explained the science in it. And guess what? We are! We are all made from chemicals left over from star collisions, its true and romantic isn’t it?
ENTERTAIN:
- Matthew Santos. He is the voice on Lupe Fiasco’s track ‘Superstar’. But after being an ill fit for Lupe’s label, he has returned to his own unique sound. He reminds me of Jeff Buckley. Soulful and melodic.
- Little Dragon. Great sounding voice, and the cutest music videos!
- Blue Valentine. Just saw it and it made me die a little inside; from both its beauty and love and also its realism and sadness.
- I love me some fashion editorial browsing. Fashiongonerogue.com is a good one stop shop.
PEOPLE:
- My friends that are sprinkled all over the world. Love them and miss them.
- My family are unbeatable. And I totally admire my sis who recently conducted environmental studies in Sri Lanka for her Masters thesis at a Swedish University. Yep – she is amazing.
- Dean Cianfrance, Darren Aronofsky, Christopher Nolan. Directors who have incredible vision and believe in their actors.
- Natalie Portman and Ryan Gosling for choosing interesting choices that aren’t dictated by commerciability. And accepting smaller paychecks to work on jobs that they want to lend therir credibility to.
PLACES:
- New Chums beach in the Coromandel. I’ve been there during many different summers with my dearest friends in Auckland. Great memories.
- On top of any hill in Wellington where you can look out and see the city or harbour. And feel the whip of that Welly wind. Love that wild feeling.
- My living area in my grungy loft style apartment in New York. There will always be a flattie or two around to share a hilarious anecdote with, or a cuppa tea, or a craft project! Plus it’s surrounded by all my houseplants (which I am terrible at keeping alive, but my flatmate lends them her green fingers).
Image credit: Michelle Ang profile image by Sam Nixon
Add your comment below: