Reality on a Plate with Ada Galeș
reality on a plate is a new publishing feature series that, in response to member requests, allows individuals to dive deeper into the experiences of others before attending our events, fostering a sense of familiarity and connection.
Actress and Substack writer, Ada gives us a glimpse into her everyday life, from memories of her grandmother’s cooking to coffee-fuelled mornings, crosswords with her boyfriend, and everything in between.
tell us about your background — where you grew up, what food looked like in your home, and the memories that shaped who you are today
So, I grew up in Brașov, with my amazing grandmother, who took care of me, and her wonderful cooking. To this day I try to cook my way back to the taste of her food. Her beef soup is still what I want whenever I need a pick-me-up. Her fried potatoes, her salads, her pies, her baklava. She was from Constanța and had lived in a Turkish neighborhood, so I had the privilege of growing up on food shaped by that culture, and I loved it.
what does your morning routine look like from the moment you wake up until you leave the house
I drink coffee, at least two cups. Breakfast only if Andrei, my boyfriend, insists on sharing his yogurt and granola with me. Usually, I skip it. Then it depends. If I have time, I like to meditate and do crosswords with Andrei. If not, I drink my coffee, get lost on social media for too many minutes, and then run.
Lately, I've been taking the metro more and more, and I love just listening to music and watching people go about their lives.
what's always in your fridge and cupboard
Milk and coffee. And when I'm rehearsing intensely and sweating a lot, electrolytes to put in my juice (I know, I know, but I can't do it in water).
what's your food shopping strategy — list, instinct, or whatever looks good that day
I loooove food. Cooking it, eating it. I even write about it on Substack, because I keep hearing "what are we eating today?" and I want to give people a hand with some inspiration. It's called ce mâncăm ce mâncăm ce mâncăm, and I write it whenever I have time.
a meal that stayed with you for the company as much as the food
Date nights with my boyfriend. Moussaka made by my mom (the best). And right now I can't wait to bake babkas for Christmas.
when you cook, what's usually on — music, a podcast, something playing in the background, or silence
It depends. Lately I've been listening to this: mi-au placut lately. But since the first leaves started falling, I love cooking with this album, to make the most of this Indian summer we're having.
what do you serve when you have people over
This summer we bought a smokeless barbecue grill and we loved making burgers and mici, honestly, on my mother's terrace. She lives right below us.
a table you always go back to
We always go back to Balls, Mosafir and Yoshi Sushi.
what's something you're very particular about when it comes to food
I get furious when I eat badly. I just hate feeling deceived by food. Don't get me wrong, I love simple food, I love street food. I love any plate made by someone who truly loves food, because you can taste that love in every bite.
what does the day before starting a new role look like
It's like the night before meeting a new lover. You want to play it cool, but you're fizzing inside.
is there something you always do before going on stage
I sit calmly with myself and do some tongue twisters.
what's in your bag on a theatre day
A lot. Makeup, the script of the play I'm rehearsing, sometimes my laptop and charger, maybe some protein bars, chewing gum, a change of clothes, perfume, a book.
which character has been the hardest to leave behind
It depends. Sometimes I get home so satisfied because I laughed and, let's be honest, cried so hard, and I loved it. Sometimes I feel it's not enough. But I'm always happy to go back to my characters and to the theatre. For me, the National Theatre smells like home.
has a character ever changed something about the way you live your own life
Of course. I learn so much about myself and about the world. Years ago I played in a show called UFO, directed by Bobi Pricop, and Emily taught me that vulnerability also means love and joy, and that it's even harder (for me, at least) to let the world see me like that than to let it see me when I'm down.
And recently, Sofia from Secundar, directed by Alexandra Badea, taught me that we are just as wrong when we think we're right.
what makes you say yes to a role today
I usually don't turn roles down. I'm very curious about every new encounter, and I'm also a workaholic, so something would have to be really off for me to say no.
what do people romanticize about being an actress that is actually not romantic at all
That we lie, when all we're doing is trying to be truthful. And the glam, when there's so much precarity in art and culture and so little investment.
what are you working on right now that you're excited about
I just finished working on Orlando at Teatrul Metropolis,
and now I'm really excited to try new things online and see how far I can take Dragă Amor, my column on Substack where people write to me about love and I write back. What I'd love next is to take it out in the open: conversations about love without shame, where we read people's real stories together with guests and debate them, the way you'd talk to your closest friends, only in public.
for someone who wants to see you on stage this year — where can we find you, and which plays are especially close to you right now
Honestly, I'm so privileged and lucky to say I love all the shows I play in. You can see most of them at the National Theatre, and one at Teatrul Metropolis.
who are the people who have stayed close to you throughout your acting career — the ones who shaped you, supported you, challenged you, or simply made the journey better
Ioana Anastasia Anton, one of my closest friends, who always supports me and tells me the truth, or at least her truth. I love debating with her, because we rarely have the same opinions or tastes, but we always meet in our values and in how we see things. And Ana Ciontea, who has always been there when I was struggling. It's crazy: recently, when I was full of doubt, I ran into her by chance in front of the theatre and we went for lunch. She has this gift for saying the wisest things. I really believe we should spend more time across generations, because that's where the wisdom is. We tend to think we know it all, and we should know that's not the case.
what does Ada wear when nobody is expecting her to look like Ada Galeș
Pyjamas on the street.
what's the most worn thing in your wardrobe
I have some nightgowns that I wear as dresses, and all summer they're almost the only thing I wear.
a film you wish you could watch again for the first time
Harry Potter. But I can't wait to watch it with my future children (no pun intended).
a performance by another actor that you still think about
Dans la mesure de l'impossible by Tiago Rodrigues, in Avignon. But here at home, I'm a very good audience. I love my colleagues, and with time, doing this job and understanding it, I've learned to see the good things first and to cherish the failures, because I know everyone is trying.
what's a tiny ritual in your life you hope never disappears
The conversations I have with my boyfriend. And the meals we have with my mom, when the three of us sit down together, eat and talk.
what's something slightly questionable that you secretly love
Dakota Johnson. Haha, true story.
what have you changed your mind about recently
A friend of mine recently deceived me, and it made me question my loyalty versus my own best interest. Sometimes I wish I didn't only see the best in people, but the truth. Seeing only the best is a way of protecting yourself from suffering. People are who they are, and you have to act accordingly. It's a bit of a paradox, but I believe it: sometimes my naivety tries to protect me from reality.
describe your lock screen
Plain black, with the weather widget.
last photo you took
A photo from the show “Pasagerul clandestin” at Teatrul Masca, which I really recommend. Andrei did the set design and costumes.
last thing you bought
A coffee and a HiWater coconut drink.
last thing you saved on Instagram
A funny reel to do with Andrei later.
last Google search
Why AI vertical dramas are so successful. Not this exact search, but I'm really interested in the subject.
what are you a beginner at these days
Relearning how to stop after a sprint. And I want to start a new hobby.
what are you looking forward to right now
Our date night with Dakota and the cinema audience, whoever they'll be. Can't wait to meet them. Sooo excited.
last question: What If Things Go Well?
They already are. I'm enjoying myself in the world, and the world enjoys me being in it.
cover photo Alex Gâlmeanu
all images provided by Ada Galeș
editor Alinz
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