My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) During 2022, Ireland-born Sam Neill began making a few notes which eventually became a book. This is the story of his life from doing odd jobs on farms to working with the likes of Meryl Streep, Isabel Adjani, Sean Connery, Steven Spielberg and Jane Campion. Sam Neill…
Category: Actors
‘Forever Young’ by Hayley Mills
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Actress Hayley Mills recounts her journey from an untroubled childhood in post-war Britain, to worldwide fame as a child actor. Coming from a well-known theatrical family (John Mills, Juliette Mills etc), she got to know a host of famous actors, writers and directors, including Walt Disney, Bryan…
‘The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man’ by Paul Newman
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In 1986, together with close friend and screenwriter Stewart Stern, Paul Newman began to tape an oral history. His aim was to provide a biographical record, including comments from family members, friends, actors and movie directors. The idea focused on everyone being entirely truthful – a no-hold-barred account…
‘Playing Under the Piano’ by Hugh Bonneville
My Review (5 stars out of 5) British actor Hugh Bonneville is a familiar face to audiences all over the word for his roles in Notting Hill, the Paddington films and Downton Abbey. Charting his rise to stardom from nativity play to the heights of Hollywood, he recounts the highs, lows and day-to-day life of…
‘A Pocketful of Happiness’ by Richard E Grant
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…
‘Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli’ by Mark Seal
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Charting the story of how the hit movie The Godfather came to be made, Mark Seal’s book is as exciting as the film itself. From Mario Puzo’s early struggles as a writer, to his creation of a novel that would become one of the greatest movies of all…
‘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…
Colin Garrow 