Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
An actress best known for stage roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre: Hedda Gabbler, Cleopatra, Lady Macbeth.
On the island
Eight records
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica"
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein
I just love Beethoven. He's deep, he's complicated, he's delicate, he's inspiring. And um I sometimes sort of played him on my headphones before going onstage to sort of root myself in in something bigger than the ordinary and he inspires me
it was something my parents brought home. They must have gone to see the musical in the fifties and brought the record home. And it had something of the glamour of my parents, you know. They were very handsome couple.
Ian Charlson, who's this exceptionally good actor who was in my year at Drama School at Lambda. And he had the most fantastic voice. And he was an adorable man. He died aged 40 from AIDS.
Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by André Previn
Rudolf Nureev was the mentor of my life, really. I think around about the time he came over, my grandmother took me to Cotton Garden and I saw Fontaine and Nureev for several years. And I would go back to this boarding school I've been talking about, and then I'd sneak off to the music wing and play Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, and I would act out every single part.
Jackson Scott and Mano de Dios
my nephew, Jackson Scott, he learnt from Enco guitar from the authentic Andalusian hitanos. And has now developed quite a following with his band Mano de Dios.
Let's Face the Music and Dance
In my forties I met Peter Blyth, who became my partner for eight years until he died, sadly... somehow this piece of music sort of symbolized for us a sort of um we don't know what's happening, we don't know what's going to happen, but let's face the music and dance.
Fantasia in F Minor for Piano Four-Hands, D. 940
Yevgeny Kissin and James Levine
this next one is just this has no particular connections, I just love it. And it's um a piece for two pianos. I don't even know when I came across it, but it sort of epitomizes what I love about Schubert and I think on my desert island it would calm me down no end.
My Baby Just Cares for MeFavourite
I can't imagine spending any length of time without hearing her voice. It's just indescribable, her voice, and it just gets me on every level.
In conversation
Presenter asks
5:12Where did [Natalie Chandler's] voice come from?
God knows, I just felt she couldn't sound like me... Which is a stupid prejudice really, where I thought someone who sounded like me wouldn't get things done and wouldn't have authority. And also I reckon she came up through the ranks. I dunno, I developed a slightly hard-boiled, almost tomboy voice.
Presenter asks
6:20What was the point at which you thought, 'Oh, I like wearing other people's shoes'?
Deep, deep, deep, dark, you know, nine years old. I think kids can very quick you look at child actors, they've they seem to effortlessly go into this strange human activity of pretending to be somebody else... it's um An essential aspect of being alive is sort of being able to empathize, and what would it be like if I was somebody else?
Presenter asks
14:37How aware were you of [your parents' divorce]?
Well, I sensed something was wrong before I knew anything was wrong... But there was a summer holiday when I knew my mother was very much altered and it threw me into quite a bad state of mind. Um I thought life was whirling into chaos, actually. I sort of went to pieces, really.
The keepsakes
The book
The Complete Works of Isabella Bird
Isabella Bird
I think I would just need to identify with someone else who had been in a strange Challenging situation. and braved it out and toughed it out and um I just think her example would be rather inspirational and I haven't read them all so I could sort of travel with her to different places.
The luxury
Well, I thought long and hard about this, and I think in the end, because I'm rather a gregarious person, I don't really like being alone. And I'm not a very good spectator or listener. I always want to get up and join in. And I taught myself the flute when I was about twenty and I've sort of played it on and off. And I thought if I had my flute, I could sort of karaoke along with some of these records and feel I was part of Andre Previn's orchestra and, you know. Have a good time.
Presenter asks
16:08Did you use that [churning tumble-dryer of nerves and anxiety]?
Absolutely, I would say that's quite a good description. And I can remember it very vividly. I can remember that feeling of chaos. I was diagnosed as having had a nervous breakdown... The good thing about it was I don't think I've ever been there again.
Presenter asks
29:21Had your work been your life?
Yes, I think it's a bit of a vicious circle, isn't it? You f you follow the strand that pays you back, you know. And work had always paid me back, and love had been quite complicated. And so, um... work filled the gap and then it's quite hard to extricate yourself from all that work and give enough time to your partner.
Presenter asks
32:41You have never had children. Is that a source of regret?
I don't think it is really. I mean, I think if it was, I'd feel it much more strongly. I mean, I occasionally, just on the level, the actress who's curious about other people's shoes, you know, to have not done it and not been there... is such a huge life experience that I have not had. But, um... You know, I think if I'd really, really longed for children I'd know about it, and so I don't feel regret.
“I think being able to play and be silly is an essential part of [life].”
“I was not showing my emotions because I was protecting him [my father] from the fact that he'd hurt me.”
“I feel that I am five, fifty five, twenty five, and sixty, all in one go. I can remember very vividly what it's like to be at different stages in my life. And so they all come along with me. They're all part of the package.”