Born and raised in Didsbury, south Manchester, Holliday Grainger is one of Britain’s brightest and most versatile screen actors. Her CV spans everything from big budget movies (Great Expectations, Cinderella, My Cousin Rachel) to popular TV dramas such as the BBC’s recent series Strike and The Capture. For her acclaimed role in 2019 film Animals – an adaptation of Emma Jane Unsworth’s novel of the same name – the 32-year-old earned a BIFA (Best Independent Film Award) Best Actress nomination. Here, she speaks to New Sounds about the music that has shaped her life….
The first album I ever bought was….
After watching Titanic, I asked my uncle to buy me Celine Dion… but I think the first album I bought with my own money was Hanson. I was building a really tasteful collection.
The song which reminds me of my first romance…
Elbow has been the soundtrack to my love life. I think ‘Starlings’ (from their 2008 album The Seldom Seen Kid) is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written.
The song which always reminds me of home…
Whenever I’ve been away from Manchester too long, I find myself listening to Oasis and The Stone Roses a lot (I never do when I’m home). ‘She’s Electric’ gets played a lot.
The first gig I ever attended was….
The Flaming Lips at Manchester Academy with my mum. I still have a visual memory of it. Lots of inflatable balls, glitter and furry animal costumes.
The song which always gets me up on the dancefloor….
Anything. I’ll be up there already.
The one album I would want if I was stranded on a desert island….
Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill. I reckon it’d be a great antidote to loneliness.
