Meet Nigel Daly OBE from Primrose Hill, London, who moved to LA 17 years ago……”in search of something new”.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I was given the opportunity to move here with the film journal Screen International. At the time my wife and I were also making films, (so) it seemed a good opportunity to try out Hollywood. There was an option to return after a year if it didn’t work out. We put our entire life in a storage unit, packed a few boxes and boarded a plane with our two toddlers. It was all about adventure. We had no idea what we were really doing! I opened that storage unit two years ago and pretty much got rid of everything!
What do you miss most from home?
My family, friends and the British sense of humor. I miss the diversity of culture in London, the theatre and the arts, the history. I also miss the seasons would you believe!
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since?
I was excited. It had a real sense of energy and youthful vitality…it was also very sexy!
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Primrose Hill?
I miss walking. I miss bumping into people literally. I miss the pub culture, I love the moment you walk into a place like The French House in Soho and there is a momentary pause as you survey the crowd and the crowd surveys you and then the adventure begins.
The weekends feel more precious there, as do bank holidays. Friday night for example everyone heads to the pubs and clubs in celebration of their freedom! You don’t get that here, the working culture is completely different. I miss that weird feeling of excitement weekends and holidays bring.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
Martinis at Musso and Franks although since “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ it’s impossible to get a seat. I love a martini in the Sunset Towers too. Walking around the lake at the Self Realization Fellowship Lake…the gardens are exceptional and it’s so peaceful. Although impossible to get a martini.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
Be sure to get a credit card and build credit. You need it for everything, apartments, cars, etc. Have someone explain how healthcare works and if you find out let me know. But above all dig in deep, LA has so much to offer. Love it and it will love you back, hate it and it will spit you out!
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Fortune favors the bold. I live by this mantra.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you?
Buy me a martini at Sunset Towers and I will tell you everything. But for now, check out BRITWEEK at www.britweek.org. We go online April 25th with a week of amazing events. Pour yourself a cocktail (we will be showing you some recipes with a few fun short films) sit back and enjoy amazing ballet, theatre, conversations, libations and more…we have three world premieres and lots of wonderful surprises. It’s such a diverse program and as BRITWEEK’s new chairman I am really excited and grateful to all who have helped make it happen. Especially Nigel Lythgoe the founder of BRITWEEK and my darling wife Louise Salter, who through her arts organization The Laboratory has really been a massive help in shaping the program. I also help her run The Laboratory Arts Collective which is a wonderful enterprise that creates events, films and two beautiful collectible magazines a year, along with weekly offerings and surprises for its 6000 members across the world. Go to www.thelabmag.com And then there is my day job of course, as President of Screen International. There’s so much more to tell you…we need to pull up a stool and order!
