actors

Michael Sheen and Richard III’s “radial dysplasia”….

Oct 10, 2023

anniversaries, archaeology, Science, The play’s the thing

“Tudor” propaganda, “withered arm”, actors, Arthur Hughes, Brian Clough, Chris Tarrant, disability, Harry Lloyd, Kenneth Williams, Michael Sheen, radial dysplasia, Richard III, roles, scoliosis, Sir David Frost, The Lost King, Tony Blair, Wales

Well, this only such-and-such actors can play such-and-such roles has reared its silly head again. I thought the whole point of being an actor was to play (and immerse yourself in) numerous different roles, but now we have Michael Sheen pronouncing that only Welsh actors should play Welsh roles, see here. Eh? Why, pray? Aren’t…
How to cast a “Richard III”

Mar 3, 2023

buildings, law, religion, Science, The play’s the thing

actors, Arthur Hughes, Daily Mail, disability, reviews, Richard III, Royal Shakespeare Company, scoliosis, Stratford, The Guardian, Three Estates, William Shakespeare

Here is a Guardian article about Arthur Hughes, who qualifies for the role in that he is male, disabled (in a subtle way) and was only thirty when chosen by the Royal Shakespeare Company, as was Richard III in June 1483 when chosen by the Three Estates. He isn’t an octogenarian, a woman or pretending…
More of the interminable list of celebs descended from royalty….!

Aug 6, 2021

genealogy

actors, Alexander Spotswood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colombia, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Edward III, explica, Gascoignes, Henri IV, Henry VII, Hilary Duff, Hugh Grant, Robert II, Thomas Fairfax

Perhaps the author of this Colombian article would have benefited from a good editor, but I think I’ve interpreted the gist of it. Three in the list of celebs leapt out at me, so to speak. Firstly Hilary Duff. Can someone tell me how Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army could be the…
R.I.P. Paul Darrow….

Dec 8, 2019

The play’s the thing

actors, Blake’s 7, Dr. Who, obituaries, Paul Darrow

Paul Darrow was an excellent actor, and often on our screens a few decades back. He died on 3rd June 2019 after a short illness, and I am sad he has gone. I don’t remember him playing a part in Dr Who as if he were Richard III, but I remember him particularly in…
Shakespeare, Burbage, Richard III and William the Conqueror….

Mar 12, 2019

anniversaries, humour, The play’s the thing

actors, anecdotes, John Manningham, Richard Burbage, Shakespeare

Here’s an amusing little tale, that I think is factual. It is taken from here . “William Shakespeare was very much alive above the ears and below the waist. A surprisingly high proportion of the documentary trail concerns his racy and bawdy exploits. “An important anecdote, from John Manningham’s 1601 diary, concerns a performance of…
Is Annette Bening descended from Edward IV’s daughter Cecily/Cicely….?

Dec 13, 2017

genealogy, The play’s the thing

actors, Annette Bening, Cecilia, Elizabeth Wydeville, Richard III

Has anyone else heard that the film actress Annette Bening is descended from Edward IV’s daughter, Cecily/Cicely? That is, according to the Wikipedia entry for Elizabeth Woodville, which cites “Cecily Plantagenet – Family tree Tim Dowling Geneanet” Geneanet.org. It seems Annette Bening played Elizabeth Woodville in the 1995 film of Richard III. (3rd from right…
A Defense of Olivier’s Richard the Third

Sep 8, 2014

The play’s the thing

actors, drama, Laurence Olivier, Richard III

Laurence Olivier once took a bullet for Richard. Well, not a bullet, exactly, but an actual arrow shot into his unprotected calf from a professional archer during the making of his 1954 film “Richard the Third.” Sir Laurence would go on to take many more arrows in his career – from being pilloried for “The…