Born in Oldham, Shobna Gulati, 59, studied Arabic and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Manchester. She appeared in Dinnerladies before taking a long-running role in Coronation Street in 2001. Her stage work includes the National Theatre’s A Tupperware of Ashes, and she played Ray in UK and US productions of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and the 2021 film version. In 2020, she published Remember Me? Discovering My Mother As She Lost Her Memory. Gulati has a son and is based in London where she is appearing in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Noël Coward theatre until 10 January.
When were you happiest?
In recent times, when I was looking after my mum. She would take me on journeys in her mind and I’d travel with her wherever she went. I felt happy that I had the opportunity to have that time despite her illness.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
That I don’t give myself enough credit.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Ignorance and unwillingness to learn.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
If you’re a mother, you are embarrassing. Is that not just the way?
Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
A car.
What is your most treasured possession?
My mum’s wedding bangle. I wear it all the time. She had four and gave one to each of her children.
Describe yourself in three words
Curious, kind and frustrating – because I ask too many questions.
What would your superpower be?
The ability to not give a fuck. I hope I’ve got it.
What makes you unhappy?
Seeing somebody give up on themselves.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I don’t care enough to dislike it.
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
A 1970s disco.
What scares you about getting older?
Nothing. I’m curious how things will evolve.
Who is your celebrity crush?
I have two: Keanu Reeves and Emily Blunt.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Love Island.
What does love feel like?
Intense.
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What is the worst job you’ve done?
When I was younger, I signed up to a job agency and thought I would be doing secretarial work, but they assigned me to clean toilets in a factory in Oldham.
If not yourself, who would you most like to be?
A tree, because they are rooted and quietly powerful.
When did you last cry, and why?
I cry every day. Sometimes out of frustration. I do grieve my mum, so I allow the grief to sit until it’s not there any more.
What is the closest you’ve come to death?
A piece of scenery fell on my head during Richard II at the Globe theatre in 2019. I was very badly hurt.
What has been your closest brush with the law?
I did a lot of protesting and marching when I was younger. I used to protest outside the South African embassy and be moved on; and I used to push porn off the shelves and was chased out of WH Smith.
How would you like to be remembered?
I tried my best.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
If somebody doesn’t want to understand or see you that’s on them. You don’t have to carry that with you.
What happens when we die?
I think we live on in people’s memories until those memories go.
Tell us a joke
I’m really keen on the Hokey Cokey but I’ve turned around.
