Camilla Long Bio, Career, and Everything You Need to Know

Camilla Long is one of the most recognisable names in British journalism today, known for a writing style that is sharp, funny, and never afraid to ruffle feathers. As a longtime columnist at The Sunday Times, she has built a reputation as one of the boldest voices in the UK press, tackling everything from television and film to politics and celebrity culture. This article takes a closer look at who Camilla Long is, her career path, and the milestones that have shaped her journey so far.
Who Is Camilla Long?
Camilla Long is a British newspaper columnist, interviewer, and critic best known for her work with The Times and The Sunday Times. Over the past two decades, she has become a household name among readers who follow British media and cultural commentary, thanks to her witty, no-nonsense approach to writing.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Camilla Elizabeth Long |
| Born | 18 June 1978 |
| Birthplace | Winchester, England |
| Education | Oxford High School; Corpus Christi College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Journalist, Columnist, Critic |
| Known For | The Sunday Times columns, film and restaurant criticism, celebrity interviews |
| Current Publications | The Times, The Sunday Times, Style Magazine |
| Notable Awards | British Press Awards’ Interviewer of the Year (2010, 2016); Hatchet Job of the Year (2013); British Journalism Awards’ Comment Writer of the Year (2022) |
Early Life and Education
Camilla Long was born in Winchester and grew up with an academic family background that initially had little to do with journalism — in fact, her parents were reportedly taken aback when she chose to pursue writing as a career. She attended Oxford High School before going on to study at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where she developed the sharp analytical eye that would later define her columns and interviews.
Getting into journalism wasn’t instant or easy for her. She is said to have sent out dozens of job applications before landing her first media role as an assistant at Vogue, a modest starting point for someone who would go on to become one of Fleet Street’s most talked-about writers.
Career Journey
Starting Out at Vogue and Tatler
Camilla Long’s career began at Vogue, where she worked in an entry-level features role before moving into writing. She later joined Tatler magazine, an experience she has spoken about with characteristic humour, describing the world of aristocrats and society pages she found herself navigating as a young journalist still finding her footing.
Joining The Times and The Sunday Times
Camilla Long the Times connection actually predates her time at The Sunday Times — she began her career there before eventually moving over to The Sunday Times in 2007, initially as deputy editor of Style magazine. It was here that she found her voice, working alongside legendary writers and building the reputation for fearless, unfiltered commentary that readers now associate with her name.
Film Critic Years
In July 2013, Camilla Long took over as The Sunday Times’ film critic, succeeding Cosmo Landesman. During this period, she became known for reviews that pulled no punches, often generating just as much conversation as the films themselves. Her interview style also drew attention during this time, most notably a widely discussed 2012 conversation with actor Michael Fassbender that became something of a media talking point.
A New Chapter: Restaurant Critic Role
There’s been some online chatter — including a “camilla long leaves sunday times” search trend — suggesting she may have exited the publication altogether. That simply isn’t the case. In reality, Camilla Long was appointed The Sunday Times’ restaurant critic in early 2026, expanding on her already extensive role at the paper rather than stepping away from it. She continues to write her regular weekly column on top of this new critic position, so readers who feared she’d disappeared can rest easy — she’s very much still there, just with an expanded plate (quite literally).
Awards and Recognition
Camilla Long’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed by her peers. She has picked up the British Press Awards’ Interviewer of the Year title on two separate occasions, in 2010 and again in 2016. In 2013, she won the Hatchet Job of the Year prize for a particularly incisive review of a memoir by author Rachel Cusk. Nearly a decade later, in 2022, she was named Comment Writer of the Year at the British Journalism Awards, cementing her place among the UK’s most respected opinion writers.
Camilla Long and Ricky Gervais
One notable moment in Camilla Long’s career came from her review of Ricky Gervais’s series After Life for The Times. Her candid take on the show sparked a wave of reactions online, with some fans of the comedian pushing back against her critique. It’s a fairly typical example of what makes her writing stand out — she isn’t shy about offering an honest opinion, even when it means facing backlash from a passionate fanbase.
Writing Style and Reputation
What sets Camilla Long apart in a crowded media landscape is her distinctive voice. Colleagues and fellow writers have described her as clever, waspish, and fearless — someone who says what she actually thinks rather than softening her opinions for the sake of comfort. This has occasionally landed her in hot water, including a widely reported comment about a UK constituency that drew criticism from politicians. But it’s also exactly why readers keep coming back. Her columns are consistently described as entertaining, sharp, and impossible to predict.
Personal Life
Camilla Long tends to keep her personal life largely out of the public eye, focusing her public presence on her professional work rather than private details. While there has been online curiosity around her personal relationships, there’s no reliable, publicly confirmed information available on this front, so we’re not going to speculate here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Camilla Long known for? She’s best known for her columns, film and restaurant criticism, and candid celebrity interviews at The Sunday Times.
Where does Camilla Long currently write? She writes for The Sunday Times, where she recently took on the restaurant critic role, and has also contributed to The Times.
Did Camilla Long leave The Sunday Times? No — despite online speculation, she remains a Sunday Times columnist and was recently given an expanded role as restaurant critic in 2026.
What awards has Camilla Long won? She has won the British Press Awards’ Interviewer of the Year twice, the Hatchet Job of the Year, and Comment Writer of the Year at the British Journalism Awards.
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