Oh, Lord Grantham, patriarch of Downton Abbey! We really feel as if we already know you, with these twinkling eyes and deep, reassuring voice. In Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru, stage and display screen actor Hugh Bonneville shares what he calls “a series of snapshots I’ve taken along the way,” permitting us to know him extra really. As you would possibly count on, his account is intriguing, breezy and full of mind and humor. It’s additionally a scrumptious stroll down a pink carpet lined with large names, together with Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Laurence Olivier, Celia Imrie, Leonardo DiCaprio and plenty of extra.
The memoir is split into sections discussing Bonneville’s childhood, theater years and movie roles. His father was a urologist and his mom a nurse—or so he thought earlier than studying after her dying that her second job was with MI6, the British Secret Service. “I may not have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth but I realised I had a nice set of crockery compared to so many others,” he writes. Early on, he started considering of the theater as a “magic toybox,” though he initially thought he would grow to be a lawyer and likewise contemplated theology till drama college beckoned.
There’s no mean-spirited gossip on this memoir, simply loads of humorous self-deprecation and a few laugh-out-loud anecdotes—like the time an actor in a dwell theater efficiency was popping peanuts whereas making a confession and ended up choking and passing out. Or the time Judi Dench dropped a be aware that mentioned “Fancy a shag?” in the lap of an viewers member she thought was a buddy. Turns out, the man was not her pal.
Bonneville’s years of wealthy stage, tv and movie performances are properly detailed, together with amusing audition mishaps and disappointments. Although he affords a quantity of anecdotes about his dad and mom, siblings, spouse and son, he stays largely personal about his private life. But the “Downton Abbey” tales are great, even when rabid followers like myself will want for extra. We shouldn’t complain although, given tidbits like Shirley MacLaine’s remark, “I had lovers all over the world. Overseas was fun. This one time, three in a day.” To which Maggie Smith responded, “Oh darling, you have been busy.”
Playing Under the Piano is a must-read for Bonneville followers, in addition to a superb have a look at the ups and downs of being an actor. Now excuse me whereas I’m going watch Paddington once more.
Discussion about this post