Spectrum - Eligible

The
Women
18
2
SARAH PLAYFAIR
RACING DRIVER, 22
Lives Northampton
Who is she? Sarah began
her career aged 12 on
the circuit racing karts,
with extra practice
driving cars around
the family farm in
North Berwick. She
stormed up the British Formula Ford
Championship this year, finishing
seventh (despite gearbox and engine
failures), and is destined for Australia’s
Formula Three Championship next year.
“It doesn’t matter if you are male or
female if you want to be a racing driver,”
she says, “you just need to have the right
frame of mind.” When she’s not racing
at the Knockhill track, she earns a crust
as an instructor in Northampton, and is
a huge fan of live music.
Plus Sarah has a creative streak, too –
she gave up a degree in graphic design
to pursue her dream of racing.
Minus With a top speed of 140mph, do
you have the nerve to be her passenger?
Do Woo her with some good oldfashioned
romance.
Don’t Expect her to tidy up – she’s a selfconfessed
mess-maker – or hurry her in
the shower, which she keeps “turned up
too hot for at least 30 minutes”.
THE ELIGIBLES
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
1 KATIE LEUNG
ACTRESS, 20
Lives London
Who is she? Best known as Harry Potter’s
love interest, Katie’s on-screen kiss with
Daniel Radcliffe in The Goblet of Fire
made her the envy of millions of young
viewers across the globe. Having seen
off 4,000 other 16-year-olds for the role
of Cho Chang, she spent the summer
attending European premières of the
fifth film in the series. Dressing for
the red carpet helped develop her
own fashion sense, winning her Most
Stylish Female at this year’s Scottish
Style Awards.
Having grown up in Motherwell, Katie
left Scotland in May to do a foundation
course in photography in London, where
she keeps her camera close to hand and
spends “lots of time in the darkroom”.
But she will make time for the next
Harry Potter movie, which starts filming
in January. “I wasn’t expecting to be
back – and it’s not a big part – but I’m
really glad to be doing it.”
Violinist Nicola Benedetti (No 3)
PORTRAIT DONALD MACLEOD
Plus “I’m not hard to please. I like people
who are creative and who think outside
the box – not pretty boys who spend too
long getting ready.”
Minus How’s your hygiene? She describes
herself as “obsessively clean”.
Do Be a Sofia Coppola fan. “I’ve seen Lost
in Translation a million times.”
Don’t Shower her with roses, candlelit
dinners or other romantic gestures.
“I would prefer someone just to draw
me a picture.”
3
NICOLA BENEDETTI
2
VIOLINIST, 20
Lives London and
West Kilbride
Who is she? Nicola
started learning the
violin at the age of
four in her native
Ayrshire and enrolled
herself in the Yehudi
Menuhin School at 15. The BBC Young
Musician of the Year 2004 released her
first album to huge acclaim – it was the
fastest-selling violin debut in history –
while her second entered the classical
album charts at number two and her
third, Vaughan Williams – Tavener, was
released in September. Despite rumours
she has been practising duets, Nicola is
still officially playing solo…
Plus With her £1 million six-album deal,
you know she’ll be happy to go dutch.
Minus Nicola is constantly on the road
and her schedule for next year is just as
hectic, so anyone looking for a musical
collaboration had better be willing to
play second fiddle to her Stradivarius.
Do Offer to do a little DIY around her new
flat, as Nicola’s daily six hours’ practice
don’t leave her much spare time.
Don’t Say “Have you thought about
showing a little more midriff on your
album covers like Vanessa Mae?”
November 18, 2007 ♦ SCOTLANDonSUNDAY