In the Company of Actors: Reflections on the Craft of Acting

In the Company of Actors is a wonderful ensemble of entertaining and illuminating discussions with sixteen of the most celebrated and prestigious actors in contemporary theatre, film and television: Eileen Atkins, Alan Bates, Simon Callow, Judi Dench, Brenda Fricker, Nigel Hawthorne, Jane Lapotaire, Janet McTeer, Ian Richardson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Rea, Fiona Shaw, Antony Sher, Janet Suzman, David Suchet, and Penelope Wilton. The book provides a lively dialogue among the very different personalities of the participants. The actors are vital characters -- by turns witty, analytical and intuitive, and all offer frank and telling anecdotes about their life and work. Carole Zucker covers a wide range of topics including the actors' main childhood influences, their actor training, early acting experience, preparation for roles and sound advice for coping with actors' problems such as creative differences with other actors or directors. Each actor also talks about the current state of theatre and film as well as their often appalling but amusing experiences w