Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Actress who has been a film star for over 20 years, also a producer, songwriter, and author of a book of poems.
On the island
Eight records
My first choice of record is from a film... that I saw many, many moons ago, called Five Pennies.
Ev'ry Time We Say GoodbyeFavourite
Ella Fitzgerald and the song Would Be Every Time We Say Goodbye.
Well, my choice would be following that thought, the sound of music.
So I would like to hear Violetta's Aria from Act One.
Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage
And this song that I love so very, very much was written, in actual fact, about Liza's mother, about Judy Garland.
This song was first introduced to me as I'm sure it was introduced to most people as an instrumental piece, Cavatina... and Daddy came out into the garden... and said to me, I want you to share something with me. And he had a tape... of Clear Lane singing... now adapted because she had put words to, which is and is now entitled You Are Beautiful.
This is the Vienna Boys' Choir and my favorite song. Of them singing is the carol Silent Night.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:40Given that you started this career at such an early age, can we assume that you came from a showbiz background?
Yes, you can. I mean, in terms of my mother was certainly showbiz orientated. My father much more music background because he was a jazz musician. They had a a club, my parents, when I was very, very young, called the Starboard Club at Twickenham... and Daddy used to go out gigging all the time... and mummy was sort of running the club, and so music was a greater part of my life.
Presenter asks
4:45What did you want to be in those days when you're coming up through the early acting experiences?
Oh, I think they all were because of the glamour of it all. It was so beautiful. However, I think my ambition grew... within me the same way as it took over when I was eleven years of age and made up my mind I was going to do this. I think it's growing still. I still don't really know what I want to be. I just want to be... Better. And do more and more challenge all the time, and I know that I'm capable of... of great things and I just want want to be able to accomplish what I know I'm capable of.
Presenter asks
10:52Why do you think people always cast you as the victim?
I suppose it it is, or at least it was, and there's no question about it, obviously, you do get stuck with an image and a situation and once you have done something, if you've done it indeed... Rather well hopefully rather well. Then you are perhaps hired to do that over and over again, and it does become a bit... Boring and a bit repetitive, and one does search for other things in life, but I'm... not so up to now. I mean, I'm I'm pleased with the things that I've done up to now. It's nothing that I really have any regrets about in terms of work. It's all been a learning process and knowledge to go on.
The keepsakes
The book
James Kavanaugh
He has a great sense of humour. But he has this wonderful vision of life.
Presenter asks
14:17What kind of memories do you have of Sam Peckinpah and of making Straw Dogs?
Well, enormous. A genius in his time. I mean, I have enormously strong memories of him. One couldn't have weak memories of him, that's for sure... It was extraordinary for me because there was obviously a lot of friction... A lot of painful experiences... because of the way he was... an extraordinarily intelligent man, and in his own way incredibly genteel, which is a side I think don't people didn't know about him. Although he was very, very violent, he also had an incredible violent side to his nature. He was also incredibly genteel.
Presenter asks
18:06Which of your leading men gave you the greatest thrill in working?
Well, initially the greatest thrill, of course, was James Mason, whom I had the enormous honour of working with twice, who played my father on two separate occasions, one which was Spring and Port Wine. He was a great experience in my life. I would have sadly missed not knowing him, and I'm very sad he's not with us any longer. But I have to say that... Absolute chills and fear were in the sight of Lord Olivier. That was just only two and a half years ago, so it's obviously very much on my mind. And um... One of the best thrills of my life.
Presenter asks
25:59Is the future in America or back here in England?
No, no. The future is very much back here in England, I'm glad to say. I am now home... Gladly. Yes, very, very gladly. Not that I don't think I mean, I was I'm very, very grateful for the opportunity that I was given in Los Angeles and in Hollywood and the acceptance and hopefully the continuing acceptance... Um it's just that Los Angeles itself is just not the place for me.
“I still don't really know what I want to be. I just want to be... Better. And do more and more challenge all the time, and I know that I'm capable of... of great things and I just want want to be able to accomplish what I know I'm capable of.”
“I love this world and this industry so much. I want to be a part of it. I want to be a creator.”
“I want to be, as I say, a creator, and I want to be a great part of the British film industry above all. I know how much we're capable of. We have the greatest technicians in the world. Some of the greatest actors.”