Where for most of us it is almost time to kick back with our feet in the air and a drink in hand, for Anna Drijver a series of intensely busy days begins. But tonight a quick trip to the food and film halls for a raclette toast and a gin and tonic. “That’s my Thank God It’s Friday Moment.”
Normally, we always interview someone here who has had a special week. With you, it all still has to happen.
“Yeah, well. Tomorrow I’ll be filming in a greenhouse for the series ‘Zwarte Tulp’. Very nice together with Gijs Naber and Benja (Bruijning, Anna’s boyfriend, MM) who plays my brother in the series. Very awkward yes, but also funny. On Sunday I’ll present my second novel Ei, on Monday Pak van mijn Hart premieres where Benja plays one of the lead roles and on Tuesday it’s Benja’s birthday.”
Is a book presentation scarier than a film premiere?
“Not really. I’ve worked on it for so long and spent months in a not-so-glamorous tracksuit behind my computer that I’m also quite happy it’s done and that my friends can now read and see what I’ve been working on all this time. The reviews will only come out next week. I have a subscription to De Volkskrant so when it arrives, I’ll take it to bed and then very carefully read the review under the covers. But you know, sometimes I don’t like a book either. I’m very happy with it myself so I hope that, if the review is bad, I can let it slide off me.”
Did you write that in a romantic garden shed?
“I wrote the beginning of the book in Trastevere, a neighborhood in Rome. That was amazing. There are also many Italian passages in the novel. I absolutely love Italy and feel like I could have come from there. That’s not the case, though. That has been thoroughly investigated for the program Verborgen Verleden which will be broadcast on November 8.
I wrote the rest of the book in a very nice flexible workspace. Not as romantic as a farm in Ireland that I sometimes fantasize about but very cozy with all kinds of hip creatives. Moreover, it was also a good motivator; I just went to my workplace to write there.”
Have you thought about what you’ll wear to your presentation?
“On Sunday morning, Sonny Groo my stylist will come with a lot of dresses that we will all try on. Then I’ll immediately pick something out for Benja’s premiere. During that fitting session, I’ll send a little photo to Floor from Salon B who will then come up with a nice hairstyle to go with it. I like having these people around me. I’m quite messy myself and tend to just throw on a dress and not do much with my hair, but they really know how to make me look my best and I’m very happy about that later.‘
And the presentation itself?
“That’s at Razmataz, a place I really like to go. I’ve chosen Viognier wine that I really enjoy
drinking, serving bitterballen but also a lot of healthy, tasty snacks. Annemaaike Bakker, an old classmate from drama school, will sing an Italian opera and I will recite an Italian piece from my novel. Afterwards, we’ll have a lovely meal with whoever remains. We’ll stay in the Italian vibe with long tables and lots of wine.”
And then it’s Benja’s turn.
“Definitely. I like being there for him on such a premiere day. Catching his parents when we walk the red carpet for example while all the press dives on Benja. Or getting beer for him because he’s of course being approached the whole time and it can easily happen that you’re dry the whole evening. That can’t happen. At midnight Benja turns a year older so I also need to buy a nice gift for him.”
And do you get a little rest then?
“Not really, on Tuesday I’m going to RTL Late Night but that’s of course just fun. And on Thursday I’ll be at your amayzine party. So it’s busy but very fun.”
Ei by Anna Drijver will be available for purchase from Tuesday and costs €19.9
