If you regularly watch Nigella Lawson on screen, whether adding the finishing touches to her mouth-watering mince pies or icing her impeccable looking Yule log, you’ll be familiar with her unflappable nature. When we catch up with her, we see it in full effect: she arrives well prepared with her own packed lunch, a flask of hot tea and some lemon sherbets “in case of a sugar low”.
When she’s quizzed on Christmas dinner advice, Nigella has all the answers. Dry turkey? Soak it overnight, she advises. Perfect potatoes? Add semolina and use goose fat. Fussy eaters? She ignores them… unless they’re staying for two weeks, of course!
But when we catch up on Zoom a few weeks later, we discover a more vulnerable side to Nigella.
The celebrity chef has had many losses to overcome – she was a young woman when her mother and younger sister both died of cancer. Later, she had to deal with the loss of her husband, British journalist John Diamond, to throat cancer when their children were aged seven and four.
Daughter Cosima, now 26, and son Bruno, 24, have both left home, and Nigella lives alone in West London.
Nigella’s reflective about those she’s lost – “they’re always in your head and in your bloodstream”, she says – but also looks to the future with passion and energy, and says that turning 60 this year has been a positive milestone in so many ways.
Nigella has begun her new decade by writing another book, Cook, Eat, Repeat, an enticing collection of recipes combined with essays about food, and has filmed a tie-in TV series for the BBC.
Denne historien er fra December 14, 2020-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 14, 2020-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills