63336 celebrity answers with Zara Martin

A round of applause for our latest 63336 fan, the talented, funny, and long–haired Zara Martin.

After graduating in economics Zara worked in LA before coming back to London to start at MTV Base. It didn't take too long before producers noticed her writing, editing and presenting skills, and Zara then wrote and presented segments on Trevor Nelson's The Lick.

She's since written, produced and presented a series of films, including Future Superpowers, Britishness, Between the Sheets and Skin Deep.

Thankfully, she's taken a few minutes out from her hectic schedule to answer a few of our questions. And boys, if you're passionate and ambitious you should definitely read on. But you've got to stop pulling hair in the playground.

Got a question you want answered? We'll answer your first for free.

Who is Zara Martin?

Zara is a girl who loves to laugh (even though she has a loud/horrendous one this makes going to the cinema with friends who embarrass easily problematic) and eat. She also finds people tugging on her long hair quite a lot thinking it's extensions it's not. But either way, isn't that a bit weird? (Kind of like referring to yourself in the third person.)

What profession did you want to go into while you were growing up?

I can't live without music and always wanted to be a singer, so I joined the choir (it seemed logical at the time). Big mistake. While I can hold a tune, sadly I am no Leona Lewis (which I found out on stage at the Royal Albert Hall aged 12). Then I wanted to be a fashion designer (because I'm really into clothes and all that). Then I wanted to be an artist (I did art as one of my A Levels). And then I wanted to be a racecar driver (no reasoning behind that one). But throughout all the confusion I secretly harbored ambitions for a career in front of the camera so I guess I always knew I wanted to do what I'm doing!

Do you get recognized a lot?

As myself – not a lot. As Holly Valance or Kim Kardashian (because those two look so much alike?) – yes.

Who's the most down to earth celebrity you've met?

P. Diddy. (Joke!)

What do you prefer, presenting, acting or modeling?

Presenting. You get to be yourself and out of that list it seems the most like a 'proper job'.

Who would win in a mud fight between Trevor Nelson and Jack Garfein?

Um, unfair Jack is 80 years old! Actually he could probably still beat Trevor down.

What made you go from a degree in Economics and Business with Eastern European Studies to a career in presenting etc?

The idea of doing anything else morbidly depressed me. Literally.

What's the most memorable fact you learnt during your time at university?

That the definition of the term 'cognitive dissonance' is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. Something I seem to experience quite often.

Would you rather date someone famous or someone with a 9–5?

I would date anyone who was ambitious and passionate about what they do, regardless of that stuff. I'm all about my career so I couldn't imagine being with someone who wasn't.

What would you write about yourself to impress someone, if you could only do it in one text message?

I am crap at text flirting. My humour doesn't translate well and I end up going off on some weird tangent. I should work on that. But whatever I'd say, I would make sure my spelling (and grammar) was impeccable because that's impressive in its own right. Right 63336?

What is your most memorable TV experience?

It's totally random, but it was when I was doing a pilot for a show called MTV Iggy in New York. I had flown in from London that morning, filmed in the scorching heat all day, make–up sliding down the face, exhausted – it was the last shot of the day on the Brooklyn Bridge as the sun was setting and I just remember saying to myself "F*** I love this."

If you had the chance to present any show, what would it be?

I think Simon Cowell is a genius and would jump at the chance of presenting anything he's involved with. I'm completely obsessed with the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent so I would love to present those, or their spin–offs, one day. I would also really like to do something fashion–based like a Project Catwalk, and definitely a TRL type show for MTV because that is what made me want to be a presenter in the first place.

So, have you actually met the former Vice President, Al Gore? What's he like?

Yup, many times and what a man he is. I have the utmost respect for Al. The first time we met was at a press conference for the launch of Current TV in the UK, he wore cowboy boots for the occasion so I knew we'd get on well.

Which country has captured your heart, England or America?

It's easy to say America on a grim day here but for me there is no place like England. It truly has my heart. Plus it's freaking annoying when no one understands you when all you want is a glass of water; sorry, I mean "waaaatuurr". Having said that, I'm not opposed to spending time in the States if work takes me back there in the future, but I am, and always will be a Londoner through and through.