For several years in a row I have been lucky enough to film in Florence. What a joy to sneak away from the set to visit the Uffizi galleries, Pitti Palace and, best of all, the ice cream seller at Ponte Vecchio...

Gloves are a must-buy in Florence. I buy some red ones each time I go there. The streets are peppered with trattorias where you can devour Linguine al pesto or, for dedicated meat eaters, a Florentina.

There's nothing better than browsing the little market stalls on a summer's day where you can buy coconut slices chilled by the running water of portable fountains.

In the evening, take a ride to the hills on a Vespa TM, the wind blowing through your hair, to enjoy the view over Florence at sunset.

The hotels of the MGallery collection are like these characters. A collection of strong personalities and sharp, strong styling but still elegant, like invitations to discover the new and the unexpected.

A day of shooting is often long and sometimes emotionally exhausting, so I need to be in these soulful places, both soothing and rejuvenating. Within the intimacy of these familiar surroundings, protected by beautiful and kindly spirits, I find I can gather the strength to take on the next day.

For me, Bangkok is the epitome of the meeting between Asia’s past and its future…

It’s something to do with the way the traditional architecture lives side by side with unusually shaped modern buildings in this fascinating city.

Bangkok is indeed a city of contrasts, but also an incredibly welcoming place, with an amazing energy. One of my greatest pleasures is to wander round the city’s many markets which come to life as soon as the sun rises in the morning…

Pat Khlong Talat and Bang Rak are, for me, a real treat for all the senses, with all the fruit and flowers and their mind-blowing array of colours and fragrances… As for Chatuchak, the country’s biggest market, it has become the place to come for anyone interested in exquisite fabrics and local craftsmanship.

After all of this hustle and bustle, I like to take some time out in one of the city’s many temples. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, right in the heart of the Royal Palace, is without a doubt one of the most sumptuous and revered.

Then when the evening falls, a trip to the business district of Silom is a must… That’s where the nightlife is at. Boutiques and shops are the main attraction here, and it’s quite an experience to wander through the streets trying a fragrant noodle soup here, a sweet banana there, not forgetting the "Miang kham," the traditional little spicy mouthfuls wrapped up to order.

For me, Geneva is the perfect destination when all I want is some peace and tranquillity… From the banks of Lake Geneva to the vast parks full of flowers, the whole city is conducive to happy daydreaming.

A former military patrol, the Promenade de la Treille has now been pacified and is the ideal setting for a delightful romantic stroll. In the shade of two rows of centenarian chestnut trees, an immense wooden bench, more than 120m long, offers a fantastic vantage point… and it’s the perfect refuge for anyone who wants to take a break and enjoy a good book.

After spending the morning strolling round the Plaine Plainpalais market, a popular haunt for anyone interested in antiques and bric-a-brac, I tend to head to the Place du Bourg-de-Four, right in the heart of the old town, where I like to catch some rays on the terrace of one of its picturesque cafés.

No trip to Geneva would be complete without a visit to the mouth-watering Rue de Rives or Rue de la Confédération. I’m never disappointed there, thanks to the divine concoctions dreamt up by the master Swiss "chocolatiers." Creations that I can devour with my eyes… without holding back!

Marseille contains the entire history of the Mediterranean.

I came to appreciate it while playing the role of Bérénice at the wonderful Gymnase theatre. Every night after the show, we would go down along the Canebière to get together at one of the many pubs that welcome you all night long.

At the heart of the city there’s the Vieux Port, its joyful hustle and bustle and its must-see fi sh market, where the fisherwomen call out to the passers-by with their inimitable and cheeky banter.

Far from the bustling city centre, the Panier quarter is a peaceful haven that invites you to stroll about at your leisure. With its small squares, its colourful allies and winding staircases, it remains the favourite haunt of local artists and artisans, located around Lenche Square.

There’s the Estaque quarter at the city limits to be explored, whose name comes from the Provencal "estaco," the attachment. Between the sea and the hills, this small port was the source of inspiration for many artists such as Paul Cézanne or Auguste Renoir, who declared it "the most beautiful in the world,"and has provided the setting for many films, including Marius and Jeannette.

People come here with friends, to enjoy its "panisses," slices of fried mashed chickpeas and the famous, or "chichi-frégis," donuts sprinkled with sugar.

Stroll through the streets of Hanoi, dare to try a bowl of Pho at a tiny pavement café and breathe in 3,000 years of history in the heart of a still authentic Asia. I like this rhythm which is both frantic and slow, where people take the time to live and exchange a smile.

On the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake, said to be inhabited by a mythical turtle, I open my imagination to this unexpected city. A city which is hard to categorise, animated with puppet shows and yet strangely calm in the shade of its flamboyants.

I like to lose myself in its old quarter, known as the 36 Streets, each named after a trade. I let myself be tempted by its silks in unexpected colours, its mysterious religious objects and its painted wooden, articulated toys, all so exotic by virtue of their simplicity. Leaving a shop where I bought embroidered tablecloths which reminded me of my childhood in England, I find myself face-to-face with a ‘Gothic’ church darkened by the years and strangely European.

And as the taxi takes me back to my hotel, I sit back and enjoy the commotion of the city, the piercing sound of the horns, mopeds and scooters. At nightfall I wander round the Opera district where the architecture was inspired by the Palais Garnier in Paris. Neither completely yin, nor completely yang, Hanoi reflects the beautiful alchemy between Asian traditions and western influences.