My Review (5 stars out of 5) Swaziland-born actor Richard E. Grant has been a firm favourite with cinemagoers since his debut in Withnail and I in 1987. When his wife Joan was diagnosed with cancer, he was faced with a challenge that would end in her death in 2021. I’ve long been a fan…
Category: Acting
‘Actress’ by Keith Dixon
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Following her success in a long-running TV show, young actress Mai Rose is in rehearsal on a new stage play, but when the opportunity to star in a major fantasy movie comes up it seems the role is made for her. Trouble is, Mai will be in competition…
‘Let’s Do It’ by Jasper Rees
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) In this authorised biography, the life and work of entertainer, writer, actor, comedienne and – in all likelihood – the funniest woman on TV, Victoria Wood, is laid bare in all its hysterical, heart-warming and often poignant detail. The audiobook version includes VW’s hilarious classic, the Ballad…
‘Blowing the Bloody Doors Off’ by Michael Caine
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Written in his 85th year veteran British actor Michael Caine looks back on his life with a view to highlighting what he’s learned. Although primarily aimed at those with a yen for performance, his advice is useful for anyone wanting to better themselves. With stories and anecdotes from…
‘This Much is True’ by Miriam Margolyes
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Known for memorable characters including Lady Whiteadder and Professor Sprout, roles in Little Dorrit and Oliver Twist, and a host of voice-overs for TV adverts, Miriam Margolyes is a national treasure. From her childhood in Oxford and posing naked for artist Augustus John to working with Martin…
‘The Last Conception’ (Movie Review)
My Review (4 stars out of 5) It’s unusual to see a movie representing Indian culture coming out of Hollywood, but The Last Conception has a lot going for it. Savarna Sikand (Nazanin Mandi), and her girlfriend (played by Callie Schuttera) have been dating for a couple of years but so far Savarana hasn’t got…
‘Apropos of Nothing’ by Woody Allen
***** (Audiobook) Director, comedian, writer, and actor Woody Allen relates how a love of movies during his childhood in Brooklyn eventually took him down the path to making movies of his own. From his early work as a writer and stand-up comic, Allen talks about his career, his friends and his relationships. There didn’t seem…
‘Home Work’ by Julie Andrews
Home Work (Audiobook) This is the second volume of the actor’s memoirs, beginning with the story of Julie’s arrival in Hollywood and the movies that made her famous: Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. It details the ups and downs of her marriages, the growth of her family as well as her work as…
‘Do You Mind If I Smoke?’ by Fenella Fielding
Do You Mind if I Smoke? Best known for her appearances in the Carry-On films, this book dips into the life and career of Fenella Fielding. Highlighting her work in radio, TV and film, it also looks at her more serious roles on the stage, such as Hedda Gabler and Colette. I’ve been a fan…
Colin Garrow 