Jenna Russell's London

Q: Do you still live in London?

A: No, I've moved out to Whitstable, but I was born and brought up in London.

Q: Where did you last eat out in London? When?

A: At a lovely Thai restaurant in Aldgate East. I love Thai food, and there are so many great Thai restaurants in London. There aren't so many in Whitstable.

Q: What's the best play, gig, comedy act you've been to in London recently?

A: I've had a baby recently, so I've not seen as much as I'd like. But I saw a production of Assassins at the Union Theatre in Southwark, which was just brilliant. I haven't been to the Union before. And before that, I saw Women Beware Women at the National, which my husband [Raymond Coulthard] was in. We were able to get a babysitter late in the run. And I thought it was just brilliant.

Q: Where do you think's the most romantic place in London?

A: I love Waterloo Bridge. I can't walk across it without getting a tear in my eye and wanting to start singing Waterloo Sunset. It's a nightmare when you're driving, trying to concentrate on the cars and snatch a look at the view. But walking across is just perfect, in either direction! One way, you're headed to the National, and all that excitement; the other way, you're headed to all the wonderful restaurants in Covent Garden. I think if I was back in my romantic days, I'd love to stand in the middle and have a snog.

Q: What's your favourite shop in London?

A: Selfridges. I love it. I just like hanging out in there.

Q: What are your top tips for visitors?

A: Go to the theatre. London really does have the best theatre in the world. I've worked on Broadway, and seen shows in New York, and it doesn't hold a candle to the theatre in London. We just have so much diversity here. The National Theatre is a must: I'd recommend all visitors just go and hang out there and enjoy all the free things they have on.

Q: If you were Mayor for the day what would you do/change?

A: Now I'm a mum, I would introduce more wheelchair access at train and Tube stations. Before I had a baby I had no idea how difficult it was to deal with the Tube when you have a buggy. I look at people with babies and wheelchairs and think "Bravo" to them for getting out and about. I'm sure it's being worked on, but that's what I'd insist happened if I was Mayor.

Q: If you could go back to any period in London's history when would it be?

A: I'd go back to Victorian times, to the era of that book, The Fingersmith. It'd be extraordinary to see how London was back then. It'd probably be hard too: I wouldn't want to stay there! We're rehearsing near Aldgate East at the moment, and it's all still there – the bits that haven't been "trendified". You feel like if you just took the people out of some of those streets and alleyways, you'd have a picture that looked just as it did back in Victorian times.

Q: If you could take one piece from a London museum /gallery, what would it be?

A: I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a gorgeous modern blue painting in Tate Modern. It's just a blue square [by Yves Klein, sadly now at Tate Liverpool] and the colour is so wonderful. I just want to jump into it.

Q: What do you miss most when you're away from London?

A: Everything! I really miss the Evening Standard. It always used to be the first thing I'd buy when I got home from travelling. And I miss the diversity of people. London really is like a little bubble. A great advert for how people of different cultures can all get on. It's not the same when you get out of London. And of course, all these different cultures lead to different restaurants, different food. London is a brilliantly diverse place.