Corner Gas and Robson Arms star Gabrielle Miller chatted with Georgia Straight Living by telephone from Winnipeg, where she’s finishing up filming her most recent project: Elijah, based on the story of Elijah Harper (the first treaty native to be elected as a provincial politician, and the aboriginal leader who stymied Meech Lake). This November, Miller is planning endeavours of a more philanthropic nature, with an appearance at an Inclusion International conference in Acapulco, a gathering of representatives from 115 countries in the hopes of assisting people with developmental disabilities. Her latest film, entitled Love and Other Dilemmas, just premiered at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. But on top of all these acting gigs, she still finds time for furniture shopping, juice-making, and the odd vodka martini.

How do you describe your home style?

“Well, I bought a house in Regina [where Corner Gas is shot] and I’m moving into a loft in Vancouver. With the house, I brought all the furniture that I’ve had for quite a while. It’s kind of comfortable and cozy. And the loft we are starting from scratch. It has an exposed brick wall and the building itself is 100 years old and has exposed beams, so I want to keep it pretty clean and I want to mix modern pieces and warm colours with Asian antiques.”

Where’s your favourite place to cocoon?

“That would probably be our couch, with a big duvet or something. When you work crazy hours it’s nice to watch a movie and hang out on the couch with the dog.”

Where do you entertain?

“In Regina it’s been nice because my sister and mom came and we had a few barbecues, and that was outside in my back yard. We made friends with the neighbours and they came over.”

What’s your most extravagant purchase?

“I love art so much, and I’m coming back to Vancouver and there is a painting at the Bau-Xi [Gallery] on South Granville by Natalie Waldburger.”

What’s your best budget find?

“I went to this new store in Regina that has real funky kind of 1950s and ’60s stuff, and we went in the back and found this cool bench for $135, and we’ll use it in the entry of our loft.”

What’s your most sentimental piece?

“For me, I have these three menus from Hawaii, and they are 1950s diner menus signed by the artist. They are beautiful images of Hawaiian people on the beach. I found them in this little town I was in, at my mom’s friend Helen’s vintage store. There are also my boyfriend’s grandfather’s sketches. He was a jazz musician and he had sketches of his bandmates that he personally drew, and we had them framed.”

What’s your drink?

“Vodka martini or white wine.”

What’s on your bedside table?

“A couple books covered up by my scripts: Snow by Orhan Pamuk and A History of God by Karen Armstrong.”

What’s in your CD player?

“Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Show Your Bones album.”

What’s your favourite electronic gadget?

“My Mac laptop.”

What’s your favourite kitchen tool?

“It’s a toss-up: my juicer or my toaster.”

What’s your colour scheme?

“Kind of warm and pretty neutral so the colour pops from our art and accents.”

What’s your proudest gardening achievement?

“My only gardening achievement is my house in Regina. My whole life, I’ve wanted a back yard. I’ve spent a lot of time at the Dutch Growers [garden store in Regina] and I have a weeping birch and I have a fire pit and benches and a lot of low shrubs, and it’s really nice out there.”

What’s your favourite…

Bath soap?

“My godmother was just in town and she brought me Crabtree & Evelyn almond soap.”

Candle?

“I love candles, and I used to go to Caban all the time but right now I have a Laura Mercier candle.”

Flower?

“Casablanca lilies.”

Wine?

“Banrock Station.”