Description

Actor Tom Courtenay discusses how he became an actor starting with performing in school plays as a child and his determination to study at RADA, where he eventually trained. From RADA he went straight to the Old Vic and did a season on the stage. He was then cast in the play Billy Fury with whom he took over from Albert Finney. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner 1962 was his first film, he admits to feeling terrified. He then went on to star in the film version of Billy Liar 1963 where his film career took off before he found his feet as an actor, at the time he felt more comfortable in the theatre than on the stage. Doctor Zhivago 1965 he played Pasha Antipov, Courtenay talks of working with the great director David Lean and his approach to film making. He longed to be back on the stage and felt a career in film wouldn't last as long as it would in the theatre - he admits he was wrong. Hollywood then beckoned where he filmed King Rat 1965 but he didn't like Hollywood and got very homesick, he couldn't wait to come home and get back to the theatre. Courtenay respects the theatre and the training, he loves the written word and speeches, learning rhythms and training his voice for the stage. Now he is older Courtenay says he enjoys the camaraderie of a film set and not having to perform 8 shows a week. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 1970 directed by Casper Wrede, he discusses his fond memories of filming in Norway finding it invigorating and exciting. The Dresser 1983 written by Ronald Harwood and starring Albert Finney. Finney's character was based on the actor Donald Wolfit who Courtenay had previously worked with, he recounts a funny story of working with the eccentric thespian. Last Orders 2001 directed by Fred Schepisi - he recalls the cast including Bob Hoskins and Ray Winstone falling around on set and being told off by the director. Courtenay wrote a book called Dear Tom - Letters from Home about his extraordinary life as a successful young actor along with letters his late mother wrote to him before she died in 1962. Courtenay reflects on his career now he is an older actor and playing his best role as Mr Doritt in the famous Charles Dickens adaptation of Little Doritt TV series 2008. He has no idea how it happens but as an actor you have to keep on hoping you occasionally get lucky.

tags

collections