Talking Style with TV producer Lucy Evans
Say hello to Lucy Evans, who’s taken time out to chat about making it behind the cameras as an award-winning TV producer, writer and director, her love of music, art and film – and her collection of Ops&Ops. Lucy is in Pink Frost, above.
Following a dream
From a child, Lucy was enthralled by a “glamourous starry world” that was “out of reach” to people like her. A self-confessed geeky nerd, she was in thrall to the movie and TV world. She got her first taste after an audacious fax and long-distance call to the casting director of X-Files – “I was obsessed” – led to 16-year-old Lucy landing a part as an extra. The Sunday Times Culture got wind of it and paid for her and a friend to go and write it up afterwards – see them below having fun with X-Files props.
“On our return we had our 15 minutes of fame – cover stars on Just Seventeen, interviewed on the Big Breakfast, even fanmail. The ST were clearly surprised by the attention and it wasn’t long before they asked what we wanted to do next. Clueless had just come out and so we were enrolled in Tori Spelling’s old high school in Beverly Hills – a far cry from our state sixth form college.”
Lucy’s experiences gave her a “real taste for immersing myself in fascinating, gatekept worlds and telling great stories, and I’m very lucky that in my career I still get to hold on to some of that.”
“It was crazy hanging out with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny at the height of X-Files mania.”
Back in the real world, Lucy started out as a runner for the company that televised parliament for broadcast before moving to Panorama and on into history and arts documentaries where she honed her craft as a documentary researcher and director. Her last project at the BBC remains an all-time favourite: a follow-up film to Death on The Staircase – the first true crime TV series.
Return to Hollywood
Now a senior producer, she works primarily on unscripted series for the big-hitting streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Apple TV, seeing a project through from story development and scripting – “unscripted TV does have scripts” – to shaping the structure and tone of each episode. She also decides who to interview and where, “all the while staying on schedule and on budget”.
I specialised in arts documentaries for a long time, but over the past few years I’ve returned to the world of Hollywood. producing talent-led travelogues such as The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy and No Taste Like Home with Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski. We took Hollywood actors back to the land of their ancestors and discovered elements of their family history told through the lens of food.”
Away from the studio
Lucy lives with her family in north-east London – ”louder, dirtier, more buzzy” than the capital’s quiet leafy south-west of her childhood. “I love living in such a creative and diverse community, where we all know each other. I hate it when people say London is such an anonymous and cold place. London is brilliant for finding your tribe, you just have to make the effort.
“I don’t drive so I’ve got everything I need here in Walthamstow – I’m close to the forest, great pubs, restaurants, a brand-new, brilliant theatre– and 20 minutes into central London, which is a necessity as I’m freelance so move around a lot. Plus it’s super easy to get to gigs; music is still one of my deepest passions.”
Lucy on Ops&Ops
How would you describe them? Sleek, elegant (unusual for a flat shoe!), stylish and playful.
What makes them unique? They’re so versatile and comfortable, they look fabulous in any season with trousers, skirts, bare legs or colourful tights. I’ve been wearing them since 2014 and they’re perfect for work, the dancefloor, school run and the best shoe for airports! Light and quick to take on and off through security. People always notice and comment on them.
How do you style them? I love seeing them peek out of the bottom of my jeans but equally with dresses headed for the dancefloor.
What’s your personal style? I didn’t really find my style until I got into music and the cosmic sound of Gram Parsons, which opened up a world of vintage sounds, clubs, gigs, and a style to match. I fell in love with the silhouettes and patterns of the late 60s and early 70s – exactly where my music tastes lie – and lean towards that. If I’m not in Ops&Ops, I’m in one of my many pairs of cowboy boots, flared jeans, wide-collared shirts or balloon-sleeved maxi dresses.
Lucy on the go in Ops&Ops at work in New Orleans, Kentucky and Memphis, and at home in Walthamstow.
What’s your favourite
Record Grevious Angel by Gram Parsons – it opened so many doors for me. I met the father of my two kids through a shared love this and a world of friendships. And, as a one-off piece of music I never tire of listening to, Elizabeth Fraser’s version of Song to the Siren.
Book It changes with he seasons! Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, anything by Richard Yates, The Expendable Man by Dorothy B. Hughes, Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz, John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces…
Work of art One of my absolute favourite artists is Swedish painter Hilma Af Klimt, I’ve got at least five prints of hers around the house. Fave original artworkd I own are Wood Spirit by artist and DJ Justin Roberston and a limited-edition poster print by Babak Ganjei from his film idea series.
Decade Can I say 1963 – 73? The counter-culture, art, music, style, sense of optimism and hope.
Film I’m just going to say those I’ve watched more than any others: The Wizard of Oz, Jaws and The Poseidon Adventure. They never get old!
Night out Dancing to my favourite music. If I could go back in time for one night, I’d go to Tapestry in Euston, Heavy Load at the Phoenix, and a nightcap downstairs at The Hideout (aka Trisha’s) in Soho.
City Mexico City for its vibrancy, food and art. Followed by Nashville and New Orleans where I’ve made a lot of friends through a shared love of music.
Holiday destination In Europe, Deia in Mallorca, I had a magical time there a few years ago and hope to return.
Next move? I’m not allowed to talk about my current project – it’s under NDA – but I can say it may involve the fashion world… And I’m still trying to finish my book, a psychological suspense novel. Though the biggest element of suspense is whether I’ll ever do it.
