Monday 13 October 2014

Sorry, Vanessa


I'm plucking up the courage to leave the house - it's filthy out there.

Last night we watched 'A Man For All Seasons' again and - also again - I wonder why I want to abuse Vanessa Redgrave every time I see her. Actually, I feel the same way about all of the Redgrave dynasty, but Vanessa would be my first attack before moving on to the rest of her family.

I don't remember her speaking a word as Ann Boleyn in the 1966 film, so she packed as many fleeting and meaningless expressions into her face as she could in the short time allowed for her appearance - mouth opening and closing, head first one way then the other, eyes running from Henry's chin to his hair and then back down again, moving forward then back, making sure she was never out of shot or focus... 'The look of love'.

During the 1960s, she made up for the lack of lines in the film by standing in Trafalgar Square and shouting revolutionary bollocks at an adoring crowd through a Tannoy system. I didn't believe her even when I was 16 and believed everyone else.

She is/was a hard-working actor who makes/made it look hard as well. Like him or not, Laurence Olivier made it look easy, simply because - by his own admission - he had sold his soul to the Devil.

All you had to do was look into his eyes to see how empty he was, and how easy it was for the character to invade him, when it is supposed to be the other way round. Plenty of space for everyone.

This sounds very personal, and I dread the thought of upsetting V.R. if she actually read it, but I don't think there is much chance of that (!), and I'm sure she has improved vastly with age.

Maybe she will get a part in The Archers?

21 comments:

  1. At least her voice narrating "Call The Midwife" series is just right although I doubt the series itself has the same appeal for everyone. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw one episode, but was star-struck by that comedic woman - forgotten her name...

      Delete
    2. Miranda Hart...she's stunning in her part as Chummy as it's so far from her natural persona both on stage and off. Can't say I "get" her comedy sometimes but she is outstanding in this part. In real life she's a great supporter of charities for which I admire her.

      Delete
    3. Ah yes. She is really good, I think.

      Delete
  2. You rang a bell in my memory of Miss Redgrave's scenery chewing. However, thanks, Leslie - I had no idea she was the narrator of my beloved 'Call the Midwife'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I knew a girl called Vanessa when I was growing up. We called her the Big V. No idea why.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have an idea, but it's too rude to mention here.

      Delete
    2. You could be right. It was a nickname given to her by the boys....

      Delete
  4. Oh dear Tom, and she has always been one of my icons.
    Sorry

    ReplyDelete
  5. You wouldn't upset her. She wouldn't give a toss about what you have said. There are many people who do not like her around the world, like in Russia and Romania to name but two but she doesn't like Tony Blair so that's one up for her.

    I do not see her in the Archers although having just listened to it I haven't a clue what it is about ( is it farming?) and it couldn't be get much worse and perhaps a Socialist Worker seller arriving in Ambridge might liven it up and she could always have another affair to keep her happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking of a lesbian love triangle between her, Eleanor Bron and Jill Archer.

      Delete
    2. They decide to give it try in late life in the cow shed.

      Delete
    3. I often wish they would let me write just one episode...

      Delete
    4. I was thinking that last night for you. How strange.

      Delete
  6. There are some actors I hear many crow over, and I wonder what i'm missing, because they just don't seem all that special to me. And sometimes, the actors themselves are fine, but they're miscast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's great when a good writer gets paired with good actors - I'm thinking of 'On Mardle Fen' in particular.

      Delete
  7. She is also devoid of all sexuality. That and her loony politics makes her persona non grata in my book too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought about the sexuality, but now you mention it... no, that would be too personal.

      Delete