PASSED/FAILED: Richard Briers
Interview with Richard Briers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Richard Briers, 62, plays Scrooge in the new adaptation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, which opens today at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. He is Polonius in the forthcoming Kenneth Branagh film of Hamlet.
Act I: primary school trophies? Nothing.
Act II: examination successes? I took the Common Entrance to King's College, Wimbledon. I failed.
Act III: For two years I went to Ridgeways, a co-ed school, and paid more attention to the girls than the teachers. I didn't like school. I don't blame the teachers; I wasn't very good. I left at 16 with nothing. I was a total failure.
Extracurricular activities? I belonged to a dramatic club .
Interval? I did my National Service and became a clerk in the RAF at Coastal Command in Northolt, Middlesex. I left as a leading aircraftman, which you got automatically after 18 months.
Extracurricular activities? Twice a week I commuted to an amateur dramatic society at the Elephant and Castle.
Act IV: demob happy? At 20 I got into RADA. I had to take a proper exam, an audition. I did a speech from Hamlet, of course, and something more modern, I think a Chekhov. I scraped in; I don't think I'd have got in now.
Act V: stealing the scene? On your last day you put on excerpts from different plays. I was at Her Majesty's and the stalls were full of agents and relatives. Albert Finney and Peter O'Toole, who were also at RADA, had already been offered jobs, but I was one hour and 10 minutes away from the streets.
Act V, Scene V: the denouement? I'd been given a couple of good parts, which caused me to get the Silver Medal and a scholarship to the Liverpool Playhouse. The wonderful thing about this was that I got, at 22, to play all the leading parts.
Epilogue: subsequent thespian awards? I have never got a prize for acting. I got the OBE, and also the honorary doctorate of letters from London University, which I think was something to do with my local connections - the Elephant and Castle. I think I got a nomination for Ratty in the Alan Bennett adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. What for? I played the Water Rat in ... No, which award? It was a comedy award; I think the Olivier.
What award would you give yourself? If you survive in this business for 40 years - and I have - you should have an automatic prize
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments