An actor's life
Michael Simkins on the business of treading the boards
An actor's life
It was one of my sillier roles. Yet it gave me the chance to work with someone I'd always looked up to: Darth Vader.
An actor's life
Our mimed Merchant of Venice was sure to rock the fringe. If only that anorak hadn't got in the way...
An actor's life
Two hours of loafing and you still get paid - being an understudy is a great job. Until you're asked to go on stage.
An actor's life
Michael Simkins: Recently I have been wondering whether to ditch my make-up box. It is a large plastic contraption, the sort of thing a plumber would turn up with to fix a radiator, and its interior compartments are a museum of my early years in the business.
An actor's life
Michael Simkins: I had less than a minute to change into a full suit of armour. It would have been fine - but for the moustache.
An actor's life
No matter how hard I worked, the director never looked up from his lunch. How could I compete with a pizza?
An actor's life
Barry adored acting and had played everything from Father Christmas to Othello. So why was he packing it in?
An actor's life
I was playing a noble lord, a sea captain and a doctor in a single evening. Each character had just one short, simple line. So why couldn't I get it right?
An actor's life
How John Malkovich helped me through the misery of being on stage during a World Cup penalty shoot-out.
An actor's life
We were filming Heidi and the co-star was name-dropping. Did he really know Lauren Bacall and Bobby Kennedy?
An actor's life
'Prime chunks of tender chicken, juicy kidney, all in a thick, thick gravy'... Why don't I get lines like that?
An actor's life
I knew Anthony Perkins had a lot to teach me. But I didn't expect a crash course in the proper use of cutlery.
An actor's life
Could I ride a horse, the director asked. If I said no, I'd lose the job. If I said yes, I might actually have to do it.
An actor's life
They asked for a Devon accent. That's what I gave them. But what they really wanted was the Wurzels.
An actor's life
Jimmy Edwards ripped up the script and climbed into the royal box. Was this really how to keep a long run fresh?
An actor's life
A neckerchief, fawn slacks, a gin and tonic and a pair of scissors... ah, now I'm ready to murder my wife.
An actor's life
It was my shot at the big bucks: I was to play a severed head alongside Rik Mayall. What could possibly go wrong?
An actor's life
The greatest dramas are played out in a Soho tea room, between the cream cakes and custard pies.
An actor's life
A friend wants to quit acting. She is 26 and sick of sitting around waiting for the phone to ring. Then the phone rings...
An actor's life
I have finally accepted that I will never play Bond. But I would still make a world-class simpering fop.
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