Almanack: Bearing up to the questions

THE American magazine Interview sends celebrities to grill their celebrity friends. The encounter between the Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez and her chum the singer Sophie B Hawkins was typically gripping. An excerpt: SBH: OK, this might throw you for a loop. I've seen you off the court, out for dinner and such, and I would say that you hold yourself like a very confident and dignified woman. You also - CM: That you? SBH: That you - CM: Yeah, that I'm what? SBH: You hold yourself very confidently. CM: What does it mean, 'hold myself'? SBH: How you carry yourself. You seem confident and dignified off the court. CM: Confident? SBH: Confident. CM: Really? SBH: Yes. CM: OK, go on. SBH: And you also have a very unique style of dressing. To me, it looks like a cross between Katharine Hepburn and Sean Penn. Are you aware that you have your own style? When you get dressed, do you feel like, Oh yeah, this is my style, I feel comfortable in it? CM: Yeah. Mmm-hmm. SBH: Are you aware of the effect that this has on other people? CM: Yeah. SBH: Wow.