Carol Drinkwater, 73, in her writing room in the South of France

June 2024 · 3 minute read
Carol Drinkwater, 73, (pictured) shares items of personal significance in her writing room in the South of France

Carol Drinkwater, 73, (pictured) shares items of personal significance in her writing room in the South of France

1. LOVES OF MY LIFE 

My husband, the film producer Michel Noll, and I have lived on this olive farm in the hills near Cannes on the French Riviera for more than 33 years. We renovated the property extensively, doing much of the work ourselves. I love the climate, swimming in my pool and being surrounded by nature. Some people come here to reinvent themselves, possibly I’ve done the same.

2. ALL THAT GLITTERS 

I’m wearing a diamond ring my father, Peter, gave to my Irish mother Phyllis, a nurse. I grew up in Kent but my happiest times as a child were spent on holiday on her family farm in Ireland. My first acting job was a tiny part in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, then Laurence Olivier took me under his wing at the National Theatre. But my big break was as Helen in All Creatures Great And Small.

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3. SOFT HEARTED 

Michel and I met in 1984 in Sydney – I was in a mini-series that he was producing. We were in the same hotel and he invited me to dinner. He asked me to marry him on our first date – before the first course had even been served! I thought he was kidding, so I ignored it. 

But he kept trying and we married in 1988. Years later when we were working in Australia again, he had to leave early and so bought me this bear, saying, ‘He’ll keep you warm until we’re together again.’

4. CHEERS TO THAT 

Carol cherishes this bee brooch as a reminder of a talk at a university in Chicago

Carol cherishes this bee brooch as a reminder of a talk at a university in Chicago

When I was a young and struggling actress my father gave me £200 as a birthday present, advising me to spend it wisely – on rent or electricity, for example. I was living in London and, one day, in a Primrose Hill antiques shop I saw these beautiful Georgian Champagne glasses costing exactly £200.

I couldn’t resist and bought them as a hopeful nod to my future! I couldn’t celebrate paying my electricity bill in the same way. We only get them out for special occasions – so thank you Daddy. They are lovely.

5. MISTER MUSIC 

My handsome and very charming father Peter was a well-known band leader and musical agent who looked after more than 120 dance bands. He began his career in the RAF Gang Show with, among others, Peter Sellers and Tony Hancock. This photo was taken on a family holiday in Devon. Here he is standing outside the chalet playing his banjo, which I’ve kept.

6. BEE-EAUTIFUL 

I was on a book tour in America a few years ago and was due to give a talk at a university in Chicago. A reader knew it would be my birthday that day and wanted to organise a party for me. 

She flew up from the Deep South and I found she’d contacted my readers all across America. The place was packed and on every table was a little olive tree. Knowing my passion for protecting our diminishing honeybees, she gave me this beautiful bee brooch. I treasure it as a reminder of an absolutely wonderful evening.

As told to Yvonne Swann. Carol’s latest novel An Act of Love, published by Michael Joseph, is out now. Carol’s series, retitled Carol Drinkwater’s Secret Provence, is coming soon to My5. 

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