theartsdesk Q&A: Actor Simon Callow

At last, an interview that does more than scrape the surface, getting to the heart of Simon Callow's attitude and outlook on his life and work. Simon Callow is a man of extraordinary talents, not only an respected actor and director, but an extremely accomplished biographer and writer. Indeed, I too am reading his book Being An Actor 'for the second time'. His writing encompasses much wit together with an honesty and truthfulness which is admirable and heartwarming and rather hard to find in today's celebrity culture of ghost written tomes. His book Love is Where It Falls, an interesting and, for me, profoundly moving account of his relationships with both Aziz Yehia and Peggy Ramsay is another in my collection which will be read 'for a second time'. For me, Callow represents the last in a generation of a special breed of 'old school' actor, one who worked hard for many years to learn his craft in every field of theatre. His performance in his current one man show about Shakespeare's life is colourful and passionate and it is clear to see his own love of the Bard's life and works shine through. Long may his success continue!