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Will She Do?
- Act One of a Life on Stage
- Narrated by: Eileen Atkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
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Will She Do?
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Publisher's summary
Short-listed, Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize, 2022
Short-listed, Theatre Book Prize, 2022
Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, who was determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing 'Baby Eileen', through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway with The Killing of Sister George, for which she received the first of four Tony Award nominations. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and at age 86, this is her first autobiographical work.
Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, class, youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner; her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry, All that Fall and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford to The Crown.
Critic reviews
"Yes, she will: this vivid, honest memoir by a great actress and a natural writer goes down a treat." (Tom Stoppard)
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What listeners say about Will She Do?
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Virginia
- 01-24-24
Just wonderful
If you are a fan of Eileen Atkins, you would love this. But even if you are not familiar with her work, listen anyway. Fascinating account of life in London during World War II and great insight into the working lives of actors. Highly recommended.
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