French beauty, Gaia Weiss’ most memorable films include Mary Queen of Scots, The Legend of Hercules, Vikings, Serial Teachers 2 and Outlander. “I’ve been acting for several years and that’s led me to have a nomadic lifestyle,” she says. Born in Paris to a French father and a Polish mother, the young actress was raised between Paris and London. As a child, Gaia went to the prestigious, private, French drama school Cours Florent and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. The 27-year-old says, “I started performing on stage at seven years old and I decided to make a career out of it ten years later.” Being in front of the camera at a young age came very natural to Gaia, “I was also modelling as a teenager, which was a good way for me to pay for my studies at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts,” she adds.
Q. What do you love about your home city?
A. After spending the last six years in London, I decided to move back to Paris. I love the fact that you can walk pretty much everywhere in Paris. One of my favourite things to do here is to eat a croissant and read a book by Canal St Martin or L’île Saint-Louis in the morning.
Q. Your favourite city in the world?
A.It would be very difficult for me to name only one city. I equally enjoy Paris, London and Tel Aviv. In Paris, you can still lead a bohemian lifestyle and express your creativity; in London, people know what it means to work hard to make their dreams come true.Tel Aviv has the warmest, kindest people and the best food. I lived by the beach there and that was priceless.
Q. What about the best country you’ve been to?
A.I love Italy, but again every country has loads of beautiful things to offer. I think for me it comes down to the food and people, and I guess I have a special connection with Italians. There are so many countries I have yet to discover though.
Q. Favourite top three restaurants all time?
A.Abie in Tel Aviv, Cafe Gratitude in Los Angeles and Balagan in Paris.
Q. What is your favourite dish?
A.I’m a real food lover. What I enjoy the most is fish – raw, cooked and grilled – hence my love for Japanese cuisine. I also love a good bowl of hummus, which I can eat all the time.
Q. Best place you’ve ever stayed at and why?
A.When I travel, I like to have my own space and be able to cook. My favourite place to stay in London is The London Street Apartments @londonstreetapartments. They have the best flats and the best service.
Q. Do you consider yourself a city dweller or an outdoors explorer?
A.I feel best when I’m close to nature, and even better when I’m close to water – like a lake, or river, or if I’m by the sea or ocean.
Q. What do you find inspires you most when you travel?
A.Travelling teaches you tolerance and humility. You often have to rely on others to teach you the ways and the cultural codes of the place you’re in. It’s humbling.
Q. What new work projects are coming up next?
A.I worked with director James Bird on a lovely film called We Are Boats, out now on Amazon and iTunes. I will be part of season three of Medici: the Magnificent coming out this fall. And I’m currently finishing working on Shepherd directed by Russell Owen.
Q. Top three travel items you can’t live without and why?
A.The Organic Defence Hand Spray by Neal’s Yard Remedies, Bose headphones and a little Moleskine notebook.
Q. Favourite travel fashion item at the moment and why?
A.I really like the Slip Silk Sleep Mask, I’d love to get one with my zodiac sign written on it.
Q. Favourite beauty travel item that you can’t live without at the moment?
A.La Mer The Moisturising Gel Creme, Bobbi Brown Lip Balm and Galénic Beauté de Nuit Chrono-Active Aqua Gel for long flights. Anything to keep my skin hydrated.
Q. Any travel health/beauty tips?
A.Be careful with the meat and tap water in some places you travel to. This includes watching out for ice cubes in cocktails, water when brushing your teeth and raw vegetables and salads washed with tap water. Trust me I talk from experience!
Q. Do you travel alone and do you recommend it?
A.I mostly travel alone for work, or because I don’t have the same schedule as the rest of my friends. It’s the best way to truly experience the vibe of a place and meet locals. The downside is when you wish you could share all your beautiful adventures with the people you love, so I take pictures and I write to preserve the moments.
Q. What book are you reading at the moment and what is it about?
A.I’m reading Conversations with God by Neal Donald Walsch. The title says it all. I strongly recommend it!
Q. What does travelling mean to you?
A.Travelling is part of my daily life and it has been so for as long as I can remember. I have family everywhere so I have always travelled. My boyfriend and I have always been nomads and couldn’t imagine living differently. I love being able to enjoy different lifestyles and see my friends all over the world. I’m deeply saddened by the fact that a lot of countries wish to close their borders.
