Mad Hatter Q&A: Demi Isaac Oviawe - "First person I'd invite to my birthday party? Lizzo. We'd be best friends"

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party? 
My German teacher. We strongly disliked each other very much.

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party? 
My nana. She’s great craic! But celebrity, Lizzo. Think we could be the best of friends!

Favourite saying? 
‘You know yourself’ or ‘This life is unbalanced’.

Favourite record? 
‘Night Nurse’ by Gregory Isaacs. This song reminds me of my Dad. It’s my comfort song.

Favourite book? 
I don’t read unless I have to, ie. for work. The last book I read because I wanted to was The Hunger Games Trilogy. I was 12/13, I read them in like two weeks, which was fast for me.

Favourite film? 
I have favourite movies for different genres and reasons, but off the top of my head it would Bridesmaids, Now You See Me 1 and 2 and The Batman.

Favourite actor/actress? 
I have too many. Viola Davis, Samuel L Jackson, Will Smith, Jonathan Majors, Seth Rogen, Melissa McCarthy and there’s so many more.

Favourite musician? 
I have too many to choose from, but it would have to be Kendrick Lamar if I were to pick one – his new album is unreal!

Most embarrassing moment of your life? 
I have too many to share, I would need the whole magazine for that...

Favourite food/drink/stimulant? I
I want to start off by saying I am a massive foodie. I dislike very few things, but when I’m away from home I crave home-cooked meals. I love traditional Nigerian food like stew and white rice, and pounded yam with spicy peanut soup.

TV programme? 
I’m currently watching Mindhunter on Netflix - if you like true crime documentaries, it’s defo worth the watch.

Favourite item of clothing?
I love a good pair of tracksuit pants! I mean bury me in one. And a good hoodie.

Favourite method of relaxation? 
Going for a shower. Hear me out, you have a moment to yourself especially after a busy day, you have a chance to process your thoughts, and personally, I feel like I get most of my ideas in the shower. I learn lines in the shower, especially for an audition.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen? 
I wanted to be one of those cool secondary school teachers. I have no idea what subject I would have taught, though.

Biggest thrill? 
Entertaining people - making them enjoy the show you put on on-screen or in person.

Biggest disappointment? 
Becoming an adult. You want to be an adult, but no one tells you the stress of it all.

Your concept of heaven? 
Surrounded by my loved ones and favourite dinners.

Your concept of hell? 
The ocean. Surrounded by the unknown.

Greatest ambition? 
I want to own my first house before the age of 25. To give my family whatever they want. And to keep doing what makes me happy, which is acting.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why? 
Nineties or the early ‘00s. I mean, do I really need to explain?

If you weren’t a human being, which animal would you have chosen to be? 
A wolf. Everyone thinks they’re cute, but you don’t wanna go up to one and pet them, therefore you leave them alone and just watch them. They live a peaceful life.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do? 
‘Rah they were right this time, that’s crazy.’

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person? 
Apart from myself, my brother Obrian.

Favourite term of abuse? 
KMT. ‘Kissing My Teeth’

Biggest fear? 
Dying, nature, open water and heights.

Humanity’s most useful invention? 
Plus size clothing, though most brands still have to be inclusive.

Humanity’s most useless invention? 
Scented markers. My teachers were scared when they saw us smelling markers in third class.

Read more in the new issue of Hot Press, out now.