My Secret Life: Poppy de Villeneuve, photographer

Poppy de Villeneuve was born in London on 22 May 1979. Her father is Justin de Villeneuve, the Sixties fashion photographer who discovered Twiggy, and her mother is the model Jan de Villeneuve. Poppy herself began modelling at the age of 17 but found it "boring" so took up photography instead. She studied at the London College of Printing, and since graduating has worked for publications including Vogue and Dazed & Confused. She also exhibits regularly and her new show opened yesterday at Paradise Row in Shoreditch, London E2 (visit
www.paradiserow.com). Poppy lives in New York.

I drive/ride...In New York, I ride the subway everywhere or I walk, as much as 30 blocks if the sun is out!

If I have time to myself...I go to the movies, look at photography books, imagine weird and wonderful places I could visit. Or I watch episodes of Lost on DVD!

You wouldn't know it but I'm very good at...gymnastics and driving in the desert (though not at the same time).

You may not know it but I'm no good at...speaking any language except for English (but I do try...).

A book that changed me...Nine Stories by J D Salinger.

Movie heaven...Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Comfort eating...is blue cheese or popcorn (sweet or salty).

When I was a child I wanted to be...an opera singer, an astronaut, an archaeologist or a trapeze artist.

I wish I'd never worn...hyper-colour, heat-sensitive neon T-shirts...and snoods (even if they are having a bit of a comeback).

All my money goes on...books and curiosities and 1950s furniture.

At night I dream of...rooms I never knew existed in my home. Quite fun!

My favourite building ... is the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, especially when it's lit up at night.

My greatest regret...is that I can't live in two places at the same time.

It's not fashionable but I like...Middle America, and being a nerd.

If I wasn't me I'd like to be ... a professional surfer, or David Lynch.

The shop I can't walk past...In London, it's Foyles bookstore. In New York, it's a place called Opening Ceremony which sells amazing clothes.

My favourite works of art...Pierre Bonnard's great series of portraits of his wife, Marthe, in the bath.

The soundtrack to my life...is ever-changing!

The best invention ever...is the Apple iMac. It's amazing: I can actually be a brainiac on this thing!