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7 Questions with Zoe Bourdin

6 September 2019

This week we meet UCL Summer School student Zoe, who shares with us the best moment of her experience studying at UCL, where students should head to for London's most Instagrammable brunch and her career aspirations as an actor.

7 Questions with Zoe Bourdin

What are you studying, why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

I study Drama at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. I plan to go on acting in film, television and theatre. Through the projects I choose and create on my own, my wish is to reach as many people as possible and to tell as diverse stories as possible, by acting in English, French and Spanish. My goal through my storytelling is to disrupt, shake, heal and empower others in order to bring about questioning and change in our lives. 

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

I most enjoyed attending the Boat Party and celebrating the end of the session with all the friends I’d made at the UCL Summer School, some of whom I’m certain I’ll stay friends with for a very long time.

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL?

Word on the Water. It’s a 1920s Dutch barge that’s been transformed into a floating bookshop. It sells new and second-hand books, has live jazz performances and a super cute dog too! 

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London:

  1. Having a sunset picnic on the grass in front of the canal by Granary Square
  2. Brunch at Farm Girl in Notting Hill, plus exploring Portobello Road Market 
  3. Getting some food at Borough Market and walking through South Bank

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

If I were Provost for a day, I think I would place more importance on funding mental health services and free sanitary products. 

Who inspires you and why?

Lately, the person who’s been inspiring me the most is Phoebe Waller-Bridge because she’s the kind of artist I seek to become. She’s extremely intelligent and witty. She writes and acts in her own work and hires her friends to work with her too. She tries to address complicated issues while acknowledging that she doesn’t have all the answers. And she attempts to offer up the complexity of human nature, in all its contradictions, in all of the tragedy and comedy it may contain. And she’s just so, so funny.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

People may be surprised to know that I’ve done about 13 sports in my life, and am in no way sporty. At all.