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Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Hi, Come in. Welcome to Fashion Neurosis. Amelia de Moldenberg.
Mia Freedman
Hello.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Can I ask you what you're wearing and why you chose these particular clothes?
Mia Freedman
Yes. I am wearing a peachy den shirt. I love this brand and I think it's cute. And I just did my own collection with them as well. I just love wearing them always. And Levi's jeans because they're the comfiest. And then shoes. I don't know where they're from, but my stylist Chloe pulled them for me. But I was gonna wear something different. I was gonna wear a Gucci black dress that was incredibly tight and like, pencil skirt, and I looked amazing. And then I just thought, oh, it's a bit too dressed up and maybe I want to feel a bit more comfortable. And then I was just re watching the Kate Moss episode and I was like, oh, God, she's also wearing all black. And I was like, I don't want to look too much like Kate Moss. That'll be really just, you know, probably, you know what I mean? And so, you know, I'm just basically wearing this because I didn't want to look like Kate Moss. See if you squint a bit. So, yeah, I just thought this would be a bit more relaxing.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Oh, it looks good on the sofa.
Mia Freedman
But also kind of still tailoring, you know, so, yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Is that one of your Peachy Den designs?
Mia Freedman
No, it's not, actually. I thought it'd be too on the nose to wear my own collection, but I just really love this piece And I think it's like casual, but also nice tailoring as well.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
You're the creator and host of Chicken Shop Date, which is a hugely successful chat show. YouTube series, which was too oddball to get commissioned. And the aesthetic of the show is instantly recognizable. And I wondered how you decided on your own look for the identity of this role.
Mia Freedman
Ooh, like as in the show? Well, me, everything about it. The identity of it. Well, it's in a chicken shop, which is a lot of the identity. And that idea came about. I was in a youth club in northwest London, near where we're here today, actually. And everyone there was. We made a magazine and it was a youth run publication and everyone at the magazine was really into UK rap and grime music. And at the time I was listening to, like, Michael Buble and Katy Perry and I really wanted to interview the artist that everyone was listening to. Thought a great way to do that would be a date. And I'd also never been on a date before, so Killing two birds with one stone. And someone said, oh, you should go on a date where no one would ever go on a first date. And that is how the chicken shop element happened. And yeah, I love it as a date location. And I love the aesthetic of a chicken shop. The white, the red. I mean, the overhead lighting isn't always very flattering, but I think it adds to the vibe of the show and I think it humbles the A Listers when they come into the shop. Now more than ever, location is always very important in anything and especially in storytelling. And I think it really makes the show what it is. It's not in a studio. Some people think it's a green screen. And then my personality in the show is quite deadpan, sarcastic, awkward, but in a charming way, I would say. And I think it's also grown as I've grown. I've been doing it for 10 years now, and the kind of Persona kind of happened when I was writing it for the column in the magazine and just thought, I'm gonna heighten the awkwardness that I already have and as a way to make this more entertaining and to make it more comedic.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And what about what you decided to wear? Because going on a date in a chicken shop is like, I would imagine it has certain constraints for glamour. But did you. Did you kind of factor that or have a conundrum or.
Mia Freedman
I mean, at first I was just wearing, you know, my everyday clothes I would wear, but maybe like a little bit more dressed up. But when I look back and I see What I was wearing for the early episode of Chicken Shop Date. I just think, why were you wearing that? One of my friends came up to me, I remember, like, on the early days, and said, do you mean to dress frumpy on the date? I said, frumpy. This is my wardrobe. And I also. One of you were mentioning about, like, trying to get this commissioned for television, which I did try to. When it first. First had the idea, and everyone said no. And one of the commissioners said, maybe let's do a screen test for you. And I thought, okay, we're leading. We're going somewhere with this. I think you should dress in a tight dress and a mini skirt and heels and glam it up. And I remember thinking, no, that would be totally wrong for me and for the show. And my style has evolved, actually, over the course of the show. But as a rule, I don't wear black. So I don't think I've worn black in any of the over 100 episodes. And I always try and wear. I'm very specific with what I wear actually on the show, because I want to wear things that are bright, colorful, fun, playful, cute. Because I think it's a great contrast to my deadpan, dry humor when I roll my eyes. I think an eye roll looks better in a pink cardigan.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Don't you think that's really good? I'm probably the opposite. I dress dark. I want to sort of melt away.
Mia Freedman
I always want to dress in black more, actually, because I think it's very chic. But then something happens, and I just. You know, it's like two paths, and I think I'll take the dark side, and then I always just take the.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
You've got plenty of time to dress dark.
Mia Freedman
My mum, though, she dresses. She dresses all her life dressed in color, so maybe that's where I get it from. But she's in her 70s now, and she will be head to toe in a multitude of different colors and prints. So.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
So nice. You cite the Devil Wears Prada as an early influence, and you have such original style, and I wondered why you wanted to be like those caricatures, and was it a control or a beauty thing?
Mia Freedman
That's funny. Dev Wears Prada is a. Is a really meaningful movie for me because it's kind of. When I watched that, I remember so vividly. I was 12 years old, and I already was interested in fashion magazines, but I kind of didn't really understand how it all worked. And watching the Devil West, Prada, to me, was like watching a documentary. And I really just thought, I need to be there. I need to be working at Vogue. Like, I need to be doing what Andy's doing and running around grabbing coffee. Like, I just wanted to be in that world so much, and I just really just fell in love with it. Which to many people might sound crazy because, you know, lots of people would. Wouldn't want to be in that world at all. It's. There's lots of. So superficial in many ways. But I really related to Andy's character and how she really wanted to do something that was meaningful. And I think Miranda Priestly actually is just such a fantastic character. And I think she also is incredibly principled. And I love her. I just love that movie. I love Emily Blunt as well. And so, yeah, I. I just find that film very. It's just impacted me in a great way because then it honestly then led me down the path where I was like, okay, I want to work in fashion magazines. And my mum said, well, if you want to work in fashion, you got to go to Central St. Martin's and so that's why I went. And I honestly think it's all because of the Devil Wears Prada.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
God, I'm glad it had some value. Did you see the Elton John musical? I saw that.
Mia Freedman
I did.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It was fantastic, wasn't it?
Mia Freedman
Was it?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I loved it. I loved it much more than the film.
Mia Freedman
Are you kidding me? I don't really like it. I think maybe you're in the minority there.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
In the majority, everyone was freaking out.
Mia Freedman
Okay, I. I feel like the film is stronger, but I love a musical, so I'm never gonna knock down a musical. But I would say that the. The film is. Is. Is better in my eyes.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I suppose. For me, the film seem to be the worst. The most facile kind of depiction of fashion, which isn't my experience. And so, anyway, I'm glad it produced your brilliant. Kind of your brilliant idea, because I think it's much better than Devil Wears Prada.
Mia Freedman
Well, yeah. I mean, Chicken chop Date, I guess, wasn't kind of born from Devil Wears Prada. I guess it was like two things were going on in my adolescence was this want to kind of work in fashion magazines. And then through actually going to a youth club where we made a magazine that wasn't fashion specific. It was pop culture specific. I kind of fell in love with pop culture as a whole. I've always loved fashion, but to me, I've kind of loved all elements of pop culture, and that's how the music came through. And, yeah, I mean. I mean, journalism has been a big interest of mine. I love the idea of being able to uncover and capture different stories and different people's perspectives on things and specifically around culture. I think it's fascinating and has always interested me.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Hello, Daisy speaking.
Adobe Acrobat Studio Narrator
Hello, Daisy. This is Phoebe Judge from the irs.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Oh, bless, that does sound serious. I wouldn't want to end up in any sort of trouble.
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Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Did you have any obsession with certain pieces of clothing as a child?
Mia Freedman
Clothing as a child? I feel like I was always begging my mum to, like, buy me things and go to different shops and she was. My parents have never been the type to let me have the things that I wanted as a child. Like, yeah, I was allowed, but I was like, I never had anything designer or anything like that. And I would always just be like, I think it was just this fashion magazine thing. I'd be reading the fashion magazine, like, why can't I have a Prada coat and a Versace handbag? And they're like, mia, relax. You obviously can't give you those things. But yeah, I remember just going to Tammy Girl or Next or New look and, you know, buying certain things. But I don't remember being obsessed with clothes in that way. Me and my sister used to dress the same a lot.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Was that an agreement between you both or.
Mia Freedman
I'm not sure.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Your parents.
Mia Freedman
I think that my sister. I think it sort of changed. I think at first my sister wanted to replicate everything I was doing, so would ask to wear the same clothes as me. And then I think that it then shifted and she just couldn't think of anything worse than wearing the same clothes as me. And, you know, and now it's kind of we're back to. I don't know, I think maybe I copy her style a bit more at the moment, but she raids my wardrobe and I'm not allowed to raid hers, which is so unfair, isn't it? Yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And you said a lot of your drive comes from wanting to impress your parents. I wondered if it. Is it both of them or is it one more than the other?
Mia Freedman
I think it's both. Of them, but maybe my dad is a bit harder to impress.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
What kind of things do you try.
Mia Freedman
To impress them with? Yeah, well, I think that's why I'm so ambitious, is because I wouldn't always want the validation of my parents. Maybe that other people can relate to that, but I don't know. I think as long as I can remember, I've always been like, hello, hello, look at me, look at me, look at me. And now I'm like, hello, I'm famous. Look at me, look at me. Has it worked? Has it worked yet? Can you see me? So I'm still figuring that out, yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Do you notice whether it is affected where, you know, are you sensing a kind of. That you're getting what you want? That they are impressed?
Mia Freedman
Yeah, they are. Yeah, they are. They're probably. They are my biggest fans, so they are impressed by me for sure. And yeah, I think that it's just I've always cared about their opinion and I've always valued their opinion too. I think they have great taste and I think that they're great people, obviously. And so I've always wanted to do right by them. But I think sometimes it can go into. Maybe it's too far and it's like, what do I actually want? What do I actually want for myself? But funny you say this, I am working on this in therapy at the moment.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
So, yeah, I had that a lot with my father. I felt like I need to know what he thinks before I can really trust that I'm doing the right thing. Even though I did loads of things that he didn't necessarily approve of. But his opinion was so important to me, I almost restrained my own instinct about things and I think got in the way. I suppose it got in the way of my confidence. But you said you found it difficult to make friends at a certain time. And do you think becoming such a brilliant interviewer made you feel more needed by people?
Mia Freedman
I guess it's like that feeling of, like, entertaining people or making people laugh is a way to connect with others. And I really felt that when I was in secondary school, the beginning of school, I like when I started, I didn't really have any friends at all. And I then kind of made it made a considered effort to, like, try and befriend people. And I found that through using my humor was a way that I was able to connect with people and to make friends and to be noticed. I think that so often when you're young and I even find it, you know, so many ways as an Adult, you're wanting to be noticed, you're wanting to have a seat at the table and you're wanting people to listen to you and to take what you say seriously. And so often that it's really hard. And I think I found that making people laugh is a shortcut to that. And it's also a way to figure out who your friends are. Is, I think when you. When I think about making friends, I think really great way to make friends is through a shared sense of humor. I think that's always the way that you can say, okay, why are we friends? It's like, oh, because we have the same interests a lot of the time and we also have the same sense of humor. So I think it's a very powerful thing is humour.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It's very endearing as well, I must say. And does your technique of odd questioning come from a way of managing self consciousness, like a deflecting technique? So I always remember trying to be as inscrutable as possible because I thought like that they won't be able to place me and they won't be able to negatively compare me.
Mia Freedman
I feel like I've never thought about it in that way. I think that like, to me the kind of questions that I ask are kind of based in a lot of research. I do a lot of research on my guests and then I kind of use that research to try and think of questions that maybe people haven't been asked before that maybe often have a joke within them themselves. And I think that like the oddballness of it kind of comes as well from like, yeah, wanting to catch people off guard. But that again comes from this idea that when you catch people off guard, it's. You're able to create this energy between people that is like really unique and special and like not everyone can do that in a conversation. And I think it's capturing those moments of like someone being like, what's happening or awkwardness that I think people really like with what I do and is what I love with what I do as well. So yeah. And I think the sarcasm within myself and my work has come from a place of, yeah, protecting yourself. I think that sarcasm is a great shield and especially against boys.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, it's very confident and insightful though, I think to use language the way you do and also to hold it back. I always remember meeting someone who I had a long relationship with and sitting there at this table with him and there being silence for ages and thinking, oh well, he doesn't like me. Later on when we got Together. He said, that's when I knew that you liked me because we had this silence and it was really exciting thing to know. And that's cool.
Mia Freedman
I love that.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, it was good.
Mia Freedman
Yeah. I feel like I've. I'm comfortable in the silence, but I also use it strategically in my work. Like, I. I'm like, it's the rhythm of comedy, I think, is what I'm so interested in. And I think that so often silences allow for that break that is needed to punctuate a punchline or like, you know, when I'm in the edit for an episode and even on. In everything I do in my red carpet interviews. And when I'm there, I'm like, okay, this is gonna sing better. It's gonna, it's gonna be better if there's a pause here because of the melody of the comedy of it. So it's actually kind of. I'm using it on purpose. There's a game plan.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, that's really good. And you designed a T shirt with flirt written on it.
Mia Freedman
Yes.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And in your Oscars chicken shop date, you told Mikey Madison that you're a professional flirter, but you find being sexy embarrassing. And I wondered why sexy is embarrassing.
Mia Freedman
Okay. This is something I'm trying to work on. I actually had an idea while I was on holiday last week that I want to do burlesque lessons because I actually just find it embarrassing. Yeah. Being sexy. And I don't know, it's like a self conscious thing, isn't it? That, like, I just feel like I'm like, oh, God. Because, like to be judged, being sexy. Like, for me, okay, this is my idea of how for me to think I'm being sexy and for someone to go, oh my God, what the hell are you doing? Like, that is worst case scenario. Like, I couldn't think of anything worse. So it's much safer, really, to be awkward and funny because then if someone says that's really weird, you're like, yeah, I was meant to be weird.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
So you can't get caught out. Whereas I actually have so much respect for people that are sexy because I'm too self conscious to be sexy. And I kind of, I am obviously behind closed doors. Like, I can do that, but like, where their eyes on you. Like, oh, God, I want to work on that. I think it would be a good thing for me to work on. So I thought it would be fun to do some burlesque lessons because I think that that, that is an amazing way to get in touch with your Sensuality and your confidence. And I also love dancing and I was doing dance lessons for a while and I think that it would just be another fun thing, like a hobby to do where you can feel yourself getting better at something.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, it's so true. I totally know what you mean. I think I kind of dressed as much as I could like a boy. So for the similar reasons, like, don't get me wrong, I don't think, you know, I'm more than just in this narrow container. But then when you do get into your body, it's so much fun. And doing dancing is a. Is a great idea.
Mia Freedman
Yeah, I. I find like dressing sexy, I can do like, I feel like a lot of my red carpet looks and things like that. I'm very comfortable being wearing something sexy. It's just when it comes to the performative aspect of it, like if someone's like, okay, now pose and be sexy or like walk over there and be sexy. Or like, can you do this interview and like, be sexy?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Oh, God, yeah.
Mia Freedman
God, no, thanks.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
But I suppose it sounds as though you're supposed to be absenting another part of yourself if you're. But does anyone ever say to you, do this and be sexy?
Mia Freedman
No, they don't. But like, as in. Yeah, maybe like in photos. Yeah. Photographers or. Or like in certain things. But you know, I also think it's why people like my interview style, for example, is because it's. It's its own thing. It's me. And it's not necessarily so. I don't know, it's quirky in a way.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
And that's quite, quite fun. It's fun.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And you've acknowledged beauties is considered a currency for women. And what about men? What's their currency?
Mia Freedman
What is their currency? Well, like everything. They have a very wide range of currency. They can pull from literally pretty much anything. But I think with women it's a lot more narrow and I think. Yeah, I think obviously thing is not just your beauty, that's your currency, but I do think that it, in the grand scheme of things in society and it's definitely up there with what's most valued in, in women.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And if you fancy someone don't like something they're wearing, does it kill your attraction?
Mia Freedman
Probably, yeah. I think clothes are so important. I think that, you know, you. There's a guy can just transform with clothes and so can a woman. Like, you know that program Trini and Susannah from back in the day? Yes. I mean, I haven't watched it obviously since I was a Child. But it was obviously so it was flawed in many ways and it was mean and lots of things. Probably if you look back now you couldn't, you would dream of saying. But what I liked about the show is the idea that you, you're maybe just wearing the wrong shape clothes for your body and that if you just wore you know, a top that wasn't such a low neck or wasn't such a high neck or it was fitted here, it transforms you. And I really think that and I think so often like people especially now, you know, so obsessed with plastic surgery, I think why don't you just get pay your stylist for a day and get, get them to tell you how to what shapes would suit your body. And I think that you will look completely different and you won't need to cut up your face.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, there was a brilliant episode on Trini and Susannah where she makes her the person change their bra.
Mia Freedman
Yeah, I remember this episode.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It was just a masterstroke and it was so kind of sympathetic and caring of this woman. I can't remember much about her except for having this good bra changed everything. And it's like the kind of things you're mother supposed to do. But my mother never did anything like that.
Mia Freedman
But I also think it's so hard to know like yeah for yourself like what clothes. Like not everyone is has the eye to do that. And that's why I myself and so many other people in the industry are so lucky to have to work with such amazing stylists who really are those other eyes for you that can see because you know we're so self critical as humans and you see yourself in a way that other people don't. The amount of times that like I always think this like when I'm trying, when I'm feeling self conscious I think okay, every time I look in the mirror I feel like I look completely different. Like each day depending on my outfit, my hair, the way I've done my makeup, I think I look amazing sometimes and oh God, what are you doing this day?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
But when I think about my friends coming to meet me for whatever every day they look the same. Every time I see them, like they literally look the same and when they maybe look a bit better it's because of their outfit. And I think I try and remember that, that like honestly you look the same every day. Like so you probably have a good day every day.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And that's a really good approach having a good day every day. I suppose it's true. I mean I always tend to choose things that are like, the other things I like. And every now and then I'll push myself slightly out of my normal constraints, and then it feels really exciting. But I mean, to me, there's nothing sexier than an awkward silence. And you're brilliant at that. And do you allow those on an actual date?
Mia Freedman
Yeah, I think so. It's funny because I, like, was on, like, met someone recently, and we were just talking the whole time. Talking the whole time. And it was amazing to be talking the whole time with someone. I felt like that was an amazing connection to the point where he said, we never have any silences. Should we just stop talking for a bit? And so we were walking down the street and we just didn't say anything. But it was really funny because we realized we just couldn't stop talking to each other. But I think that is a good thing in a way as well. I think it's romantic to be nonstop talking with someone as well. And a silence, I think, is when you know you're comfortable with someone and when you don't want to fill it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
And I've had situations with people where I feel. I can really feel the silence, you know, and it's a weight and it's. And it is really awkward because. And that's when you know something's not right. But when a silence is just. You don't feel it, you know, you don't even acknowledge it, then in a romantic sense, I think that something. You're on the right track there.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It's quite sexy to be told not to speak for a while.
Mia Freedman
100%.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah. And you said you become weirder to put people at their ease. And I wondered if you ever kind of lose yourself in that moment and forget what you're trying to ask them.
Mia Freedman
Oh, 100% all the time. That's actually all I do. All I do is forget my questions. Like, some people think, oh, oh. Like when I'm up, I, like, ask. I suddenly go, okay, so, like, what's your favorite airplane? And they're like, oh, my God, she's so random. It's such a kooky, weird question to ask. Like, no, I've literally forgotten my actual question. And I. I had to pluck something out of thin air. I saw an airplane and I just said that. Like, it's actually not.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It's actually.
Mia Freedman
I forget things all the time. I have the worst memory ever. And, yeah, definitely being weird and going on a tangent, I'll forget it even more.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Ma. It's very enjoyable to watch. Anyway, I'm studying your strange questions. I just.
Mia Freedman
Thank you. I love your interview style. It's like, because your interview style is so specific, because it has a purpose. It's kind of referencing psychoanalysis. And I think it's got a theme of fashion. And I think that when anything, when it's got, like a theme and it's got a purpose and it's got a point of difference, I feel like that always stands out, which is why when I first saw this series, I thought, oh, wow, that's brilliant. Because even the way it's shot, you know, hello. It's got its own identity and I think that that really stands out, especially now when everything is so oversaturated with the amount of content that we have to consume.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Well, that means a lot coming from you. In fact, I wanted to ask you what chat shows you like watching. And I like Parky. And did you ever see Fishing with John?
Mia Freedman
No.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
God, it's talk of weird. It's really weird, really. But my favourite is Hot Ones and you've been on Hot Ones. I watched your interview and I don't know how you managed to cope with. How did you keep your makeup? Everything was perfect. And how did you manage your body when you were consuming that stuff, which you said that you can't handle spice. And I think I'd have a. I'd have a sort of internal organ failure if I had to eat those things.
Mia Freedman
Well, that's what I thought would happen to me too. But I take everything I do incredibly seriously. So I did training this. I did training for the Hot Ones. I met with my friend and he owns like a. Like a wings company, like chicken wings company. And we did training where we did hot, spicy wings. And I did it and the training was worse than the real thing. And I did it about two days before. Oh, my God, it was. It was so intense. And then when I came to the studio with Sean to film Hot Ones, I was so excited because I love that show too. And Sean's a really good friend of mine. I think he's such a fantastic host and I love the show and I was just honored to be there and to get to talk to. To him. And I think you have to see it as a competition, really. You know, it's not like you're eating dinner with this kind of food. It's like you're having a bite and you're trying to get to the finish lines. And I'm quite competitive in some ways, so I think that was why I was Able to keep my cool. But I was very impressed with myself because I don't eat spice, like, at all. And, you know, I've watched episodes where, like, Cardi B, you know, drinking milk and ice cream, like, funneling ice cream down her throat. And I thought that would be me, but I bossed it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
So, yeah, it's cool. What else? Is there anything that you've watched and you've thought, I love. I can do that. I can do better than that, in fact.
Mia Freedman
Well, I definitely grew up also, like, watching Parkinson, like, at home, like, my parents would have it on. Graham Norton, I think is the best to ever do it. I actually saw him at a screening. He was hosting a screening. And I sometimes get asked if I have ever got Starstruck. And I 100% got Starstruck with him, more than anyone I've ever met. And I. So to the point where I couldn't go up to him and introduce myself. My friends were like, go and say hello. Like, go and say something. And I was like, I actually can't because I. This moment means too much to me. And I can't talk to him right now. So I'm yet to meet Graham Norton, but I know one day we might. And Mrs. Merton, I watched that. Yeah, not when it was on, but, like, not recently. But, like, I watched clips of it and on YouTube. I love Caroline Hearn. I more recently, I love Z Way and her show that she does, chat show that she does. That's very specific as well. Comedy leaning. And I think she's a fantastic comedian and host. Between two ferns. Zach California was a big inspiration for Chicken Shop Date. Again, I love the humor and his line of questioning and how it's kind of half interview, half comedy skit, which I think is definitely something I've always tried Chicken Shop Date to be. I kind of see Chicken Shop Day as a performance, really, between two people more than a just an interview. Is there any. I've never thought, oh, I can be better than them. I've actually always thought of all these people, I've thought, wow, I'd love to. To be as good as you. And I'm gonna do it in my own way.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I don't know why I asked you that, because it's an unlikely question from one woman to another, yeah, I'm gonna.
Mia Freedman
Be better than that. There's people who don't do it very well that I think, well, I'm better than you. But they've never really made it that far.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And you've done the Oscars. Red carpet interviews, and you're so witty, and when most people ask such boring questions to the stars, and you also wear these dazzling dresses and with cutouts and things. And I wondered if you ever get distracted by your dress when you're interviewing someone.
Mia Freedman
No, but people get distracted by my dress when I'm interviewing them, and that's the point. I definitely have been in lots of fittings with my stylist, Chloe Griffin, where she brings some amazing outfits, and then we have to veto them because they're not appropriate to interview someone in. And they would be great if I was just attending as a guest and I was just there for my photo moment. But when I'm there and I'm interviewing someone, and I have to, like, be able to. My body has to turn to them, and I have to be understanding what they're saying. I've tried on things, for example, like feathers coming out of my shoulders, you know, and that's not gonna work. Or massive long arms or bubble dresses, where I'm gonna be at odds with the person. I'm gonna get in the way. We have to start kind of really think about that. And also, a lot of the time, I actually don't want to be too wow. Like, I want to be wow, but I don't want it to be too much that it's distracting. Like, there's definitely outfits we've tried on that are like, oh, my God, that's unbelievable. But it's actually too much because it's not for me to be that, like, take up that much of the limelight. Even though I 100% think that the work that I do is slightly different to your usual journalists, where, like, I put myself. I insert myself into the scenario more than others would, but I definitely still want it to feel like the dynamic is correct. And also, you got to think about things like, are you too cold? Are you too hot? Like, I hosted the premiere for Dune Part two in New York, and it was, like, zero degrees, and I was shivering in my outfit, and it affected my performance for sure. It was one of my least favorite performances that I had done. And I definitely think it's because I was, like, freezing, and I was. I could have worn something else.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, I was watching, you know, you talking to these different men, and they were. I mean, your wit was part of your brilliant outfit because they were so disarmed by you. And it was so enjoyable to watch you raising the game and them raising up with you instead of some of the other stuff, which is. Is the opposite.
Mia Freedman
So, yeah, I think it's quite not. It's like catches. It's true. It catches men off guard. I think when there's a woman there and she's wearing a. She looks glamorous and then she's got this wit as well and this sarcasm and maybe she's putting them in their place or she's not fawning over them. It's there, like, what's happening. And I love that. I love it. I feel very powerful in those moments.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, you seem it in a really, like, agile way. And when you were talking to Willem Dafoe, who. God, that was very good. It was very. That was. I could. You could feel the chemistry, you know, the chemistry of brain power and just how attractive the whole thing is.
Mia Freedman
It's so great when you. You can sense immediately when you meet someone and you're. You're like, okay, this is going to be great. This is going to be a great conversation. Or they're going to understand. They're going to play ball here. But yeah, I think that the outfits that I wear and one wears, it's all a part of the story that you're telling and the character, you know, that you're playing. And I think that it's very. It's really important to me to be very considered with what I wear and. But then sometimes I go too far and I get too obsessed with what I'm wearing and how I'm looking at it, needing to be outstanding and I can get too in my head with it and it can actually take the fun out of it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah. It needs to kind of have your back, the outfit, rather than be preoccupying.
Mia Freedman
Doesn't it? I agree. I still have. It's a work in progress with that because some days I'm feeling really chilled about everything. Yeah. It doesn't matter what I wear or like. Yeah, this is great. People say it's good, I'll wear it. And then sometimes I'm like, controlling to the max and like being like, this is average. This is not going to be like, interesting enough. And like, you could just drive yourself insane.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I think it's important to do that, though. You're doing a good job of it. And you've talked about directing and your genius around romantic comedy, which you enact in your chicken shop date. And whose work as a director do you admire? And I feel like you may have some dark, arty secrets somewhere.
Mia Freedman
That's a good question. I love Paul Thomas Anderson.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
Magnolia, Boogie Nights.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Incredible.
Mia Freedman
What else? I love licorice peach Licorice pizza as well.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I love that.
Mia Freedman
I love. Oh, God. You know, this is one of those questions where like you, you know all these things and then suddenly they all.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Like, they just vanish.
Mia Freedman
Vanish.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
Oh. Oh, no. Noah Baumbach. I love Noah Baumbach and the Mumble Corps. Frances. Ha. Mistress America. A Marriage Story. Squid and the Whale. I think I love him. I love Spike Lee. I just watched Malcolm X for the first time the other day because I had just watched this, this film called K Pop Demon Hunters. Have you heard about it?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
No.
Mia Freedman
Okay. Neither had I. It's the number one movie on Netflix ever came out this summer. It's, it's cartoon and right now in the charts, we're filming this in September, beginning of September. Three of the songs are in the top 10. And the number one song in the UK right now is from this movie. And I thought, okay, well, I have to watch it because I need to have my finger on the pulse. And I watched it and it was, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. For a movie called K Pop Demon Hunters, it was quite frozen esque. But after watching that, I thought I could have watched something that's a bit more. With a bit more gravitas. So I watched Malcolm X by Spike Lee.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Do you like anyone? Like. I mean, my favorite director is Boonwell because they're so sort of surrealist and weird and also very sexy and sort.
Mia Freedman
Of, I don't know.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
He did Belle de Jour.
Mia Freedman
No, I've not seen it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
He did all sorts of eccentric film. I mean, he was a genius, but I like him. And in fact, there's this new film coming out in, in late October called Messy and it's directed, written and stars this young woman called Alexi Wasser. And it was voted by John Waters as the top film of 2024.
Mia Freedman
Wow. Okay, I need to watch that.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yes, I love John Waters. So, so ingenious. And it's like a sexual rom com.
Mia Freedman
No way.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And it's very funny and entertaining.
Mia Freedman
So yeah, I, I also have got quite obsessed with, with Ryan Coogler who did Sinners and Black Panther. And I just think he's an amazing storyteller and I think that I just really love his point of view and I think he's fantastic. God, there's so many others that I'm missing.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
But how did you decide on the briefness of Chicken Shop Date? Because that's something. Originally I wanted to make this as a very, very short chat show and you know, it didn't work out, I couldn't find anyone to commission. I couldn't find a platform, all those things. But then when it came to making. Making it, it just sort of took over and ended up being longer, much longer. And I think it's a masterstroke to do something that's brief and leaves people wanting more.
Mia Freedman
Well, I think it's just that. Well, first of all, I've had that conversation with so many people in terms of people with ideas, people with ideas that have pitched it to other places, had an idea for a show or whatever it is, and never been able to find a home for it. And then I've always said to them, make it yourself. Don't wait. Make it yourself. And I think that always works. That's what you have to do. That's what I did. That's what you've done. And. And I think so many other people now are doing that. And now we have the platforms like YouTube, and you can just make it yourself. In terms of the brevity and the shortness of the show and what I do, I just don't have the patience for it. I watch the edits back and I film for about 40 minutes, 50 minutes, and I think, God, this boring. This boring sporing. It's not funny. It's not funny. Like, cut it out. I just think I'm just, like, ruthless with it. I think if it's not, like, if it's not gonna make you laugh, for me, I'm not putting it in. And that's just my show and everyone is different. But with Chicken Chop Day, it's like, if it's not gonna make you laugh and. Or it doesn't tackle one of the themes of the show, which is, like, around dating or it's not an awkward moment or, you know, something like that, then I just won't put it in. And I've tried. I've tried to be sincere in the show. Sometimes I go, I'm gonna switch it up. I'm gonna, like, ask a serious question. And I do. And then I'm in the edit and I think, oh, this is weird. I cut it out. So, you know, I think you gotta be ruthless with what speaks to you. And then that creates your own genre of something.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
And, you know, I think I was. Yeah, just inspired maybe by, like, things I was watching. Like, you know, I spoke about, like, two between two fans or, you know, even comedy shows like the Office or just sketch comedy where, you know, you don't have long. You got to make your point. I think that so much of comedy is in the timing of things and often in the briefness of something is where comedy really thrives. So I think that's why my show is the way it is.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Have you ever tried recording for 10 minutes and that's that, or do you.
Mia Freedman
Always go for Chicken Shop Date? We can't, but I recently just filmed a series, a new series, sports series, and I had 15 minutes with each sports person and I was. Had to make something out of that. And we have. So I was pretty impressed with that. And with a red carpet, I have two minutes. So I am well versed with not having much time. For me, I think it would be harder to do something that was longer because I feel like, again, I'd be self conscious because there's so much more to judge. I also think that probably when other people watch, if someone were to watch what I did in full, they'd think, oh, this is interesting, this is interesting.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
Why don't you put this in? This is great. And I'm just like, ugh, no, that's.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
So good to be so certain. Well, I suppose connected really to your instinct. Instinct about what works. Yeah, that seems really clear. And you don't have any music on Chicken Shop Date, apart from you have the noise of frying and.
Mia Freedman
No, we've got this. We got the. The theme song.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah. But in the. I like. Again, it's brilliant. You create this kind of tension with the sound of the.
Mia Freedman
Oh, yeah, chips and the.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And have you become a superstar in the chicken shop fraternity?
Mia Freedman
Maybe. I do get free chicken quite a lot. Really? Yeah. And when I'm at restaurants, chicken will come over unprovoked to me and I will have to eat it, no matter if I've already hung already full or not. Yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And do you get solicited by different chains or branches of chicken shops and asked if they really.
Mia Freedman
We've got certain ones we like to go to, we're friends with them and I like the aesthetics and I like the people who work there and they're in good locations for. Because again, it's a location, it's a shooting location. So for me, I have to think about if it's in a good location for the talent to arrive to.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
You don't do any kind of West End chicken shops.
Mia Freedman
They don't exist, trust me.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Really?
Mia Freedman
I have tried. I would love if there was like an authentic local chicken shop to be opened in Soho, please. Because the amount of publicists that want their talent to be filmed in Soho and we Can't. So I would have really like that. Could someone open one?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
There's loads around Lairbrook Grove area. Do you actually eat it?
Mia Freedman
Yeah. Really love chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets and chips. That's my, that's my go to. But I don't like chicken on the bone. But. So I just eat chicken nuggets. But yeah. But I kind of nibble them because I'm thinking about my questions.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
And then I look down. I've just got like a box of nibbled nuggets and chips. But I think it's nice to have food when you're interviewing someone because it kind of again, it kind of breaks the ice in a way and it kind of makes it more familiar, the setting.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And you don't get too nervous to even nibble those chicken nuggets.
Mia Freedman
I don't get too nervous anymore. And you know, you got to eat.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah. I always find it really hard to eat when I'm nervous. But deep fried is quite good actually because it kind of opens up your appetite and makes you able to absorb something and then you can. Does it. Yeah. When I'm really, really nervous and I, I find it hard to eat when I'm nervous.
Mia Freedman
Deep fried.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Deep fried with mayonnaise.
Mia Freedman
Wow.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
It's like just.
Mia Freedman
Are you sure that's less someone says when they're trying to say why they need to have more deep fried food. There's actually a health benefit to it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Well, yeah, there is. There's a mental health benefit for me. So I do enjoy it.
Mia Freedman
It's fun.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I know it's a, you know, the show is going on a date. But I, I wondered how you get people to feel close to you when you're not sparring.
Mia Freedman
I guess it's just like again like that idea of me being weird in my own way is a way that disarms them because I think they think, okay, well she's. Something's going on there. So I can like feel at ease because I'm not as weird as you. And I think being quirky in that way and you know, often filling the silence actually can make you feel close to someone.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
But I don't know. I honestly have just always had a knack for it. Like when like everyone's probably got a knack for something and I've just always had that. I've just been able to like connect with people.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Now I wondered sometimes being sort of quick witted and clever and brilliant. It's. People don't know how to comfort one. I mean Sometimes I feel like I don't know how to get comfort because I'm very good at closing down the shutters. It's just the habit of reflex almost. Do you have that or not really? Is it one of my old warped.
Mia Freedman
I feel like I definitely, probably could be warmer maybe. Maybe people would have that, like friends even might say that about me. But I also am very open person and I feel like I wear my heart on my sleeve. And I definitely am definitely say most things that come to my thoughts. I think I'm quite self aware, but I definitely also feel like maybe I have a tendency to not let people in as much as others do or show love in the way that maybe people do that. Show it quite like just giving it, giving it out everywhere.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah.
Mia Freedman
But, yeah, I don't know. I feel like it's hard to say of yourself. I feel like other people would be a better judge of that.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Yeah, I'm always interested in that.
Mia Freedman
Let's phone them up.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And someone once asked me, what's the best compliment I ever received? And I thought it was such a good question. And I wondered, what the best compliment you've ever received?
Mia Freedman
Oh, my God, that is such a good question. And I definitely feel like I've remembered a moment when someone said something to me and I've thought, oh, that's so nice, a great compliment. I mean, I always blush when someone says I'm good at dancing because I love to dance. And I think then most time they're joking, but I still take it as for real. But I think, I just think if someone says you're a good friend, like, I think that's such a great compliment. And I think that would mean. Always means so much to me when someone has said that. Because I try so hard to be a good friend and my friends are everything to me. And I really work on my friendships and I have such great friendships. And so if someone says I'm a good friend, then I can sleep easy at night.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I mean, being a good friend is almost like a service. But being a good dancer, that can top it.
Mia Freedman
Nothing can top it.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
That's really something.
Mia Freedman
Yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Because sometimes you do a little shoulder movement on your show and it's like, ooh, that's good.
Mia Freedman
Yeah.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
And you always seem to get a great response to that too.
Mia Freedman
I do. I give the people what they want. Yeah. They're easy to please.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I don't know. I think you're very good at your dancing, so. Well, thank you so much for coming on. Fashion Neurosis.
Mia Freedman
Amelia Is that it?
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
I mean, I could talk to you for, like, 10 hours or whatever, but.
Mia Freedman
Been a pleasure. Thank you for having me on this very comfortable sofa.
Interviewer Amelia de Moldenberg
Well, anytime. Come back.
Mia Freedman
I'll now gracefully get out.
Guest: Amelia Dimoldenberg (creator & host of Chicken Shop Date)
Host: Bella Freud
Date: September 10, 2025
This episode of Fashion Neurosis features the irreverent and sharply witty Amelia Dimoldenberg, well known for her YouTube series Chicken Shop Date. Host Bella Freud navigates the intersection of fashion, identity, humor, and vulnerability as they discuss personal style, the power of clothing choices, and the ways fashion is woven into self-expression and connection. The conversation delves into childhood influences, the performative aspect of style and interviewing, and how awkwardness, comedy, and color can be powerful tools for both self-protection and communication.
Outfit Decision for the Show
“I just thought, oh, it's a bit too dressed up and maybe I want to feel a bit more comfortable... I was re-watching the Kate Moss episode and she's also wearing all black and I was like, I don't want to look too much like Kate Moss.” – Amelia ([01:21])
Approach to Style on Chicken Shop Date
“As a rule, I don't wear black. I always try and wear... things that are bright, colorful, fun, playful, cute. Because I think it's a great contrast to my deadpan, dry humor when I roll my eyes. I think an eye roll looks better in a pink cardigan.” – Amelia ([05:26])
Aesthetic and Location
“It humbles the A-Listers when they come into the shop... Some people think it’s a green screen.” – Amelia ([03:09])
Persona & Interview Technique
“I just thought, I’m gonna heighten the awkwardness that I already have as a way to make this more entertaining and to make it more comedic.” – Amelia ([03:09])
“Watching The Devil Wears Prada, to me, was like watching a documentary. And I really just thought, I need to be there. I need to be working at Vogue.” – Amelia ([07:57])
Desire for Parental Approval
“I think that’s why I’m so ambitious, is because I would always want the validation of my parents... Now I’m like, hello, I’m famous. Look at me, look at me. Has it worked yet? Can you see me?” – Amelia ([13:56])
Making Friends & Humor as Connection
“I found that through using my humor was a way that I was able to connect with people and to make friends and to be noticed...” ([15:52])
On Awkwardness and Defensive Humor
“Sarcasm is a great shield and especially against boys.” ([17:42])
Navigating “Sexy”
“To be judged being sexy... for me… for someone to go, 'Oh my god, what the hell are you doing?'—that is [the] worst-case scenario... it’s much safer, really, to be awkward and funny.” ([20:56])
Clothing as Empowerment & Distraction
“People get distracted by my dress when I’m interviewing them and that’s the point.” ([35:44])
“I think an eye roll looks better in a pink cardigan.” – Amelia Dimoldenberg, describing her distinctive, color-forward style ([05:26])
“Sarcasm is a great shield, and especially against boys.” – Amelia ([17:42])
“To be judged being sexy... for someone to go, ‘Oh my god, what the hell are you doing?’ That is [the] worst-case scenario.” – Amelia ([20:56])
“You can sense immediately when you meet someone... this is gonna be great. They're going to play ball here.” – Amelia, on interview chemistry ([39:07])
“All I do is forget my questions... some people think it's so random—no, I've literally forgotten my actual question and just plucked something out of thin air.” – Amelia ([29:40])
“If someone says you’re a good friend, then I can sleep easy at night.” – Amelia ([54:27])
The episode is marked by a playful, candid, and thoughtful tone, with both guest and host freely exchanging personal anecdotes, self-deprecating humor, and shared vulnerabilities. Warmth, laughter, and a gently ironic sensibility define the conversation—turning fashion into a lens for discussing much broader themes of belonging, validation, and self-confidence.
Bella Freud’s conversation with Amelia Dimoldenberg offers rare insight into the craft of televised awkwardness, how fashion serves as personal armor and performance, and the subtle art of making others comfortable in their discomfort. The episode is a rich tapestry—colorful, sharp, and resonant for anyone interested in the deeper stories behind style, humor, and self-expression.