A Moving Moment
Sad that after years of service in virtually every position Lord Richard Attenborough has had to resign as President of BAFTA due to ill health. HRH Prince William –his replacement was present last night to give the most prestigious award of Academy Fellowship to Vanessa Redgrave.
We had just seen the pictures of all who had died during the last year including Vanessa’s daughter Natasha Richardson who died in a skiing accident. Vanessa just 73 – a lifelong Republican - walked up onto the stage and, balancing her left arm on Prince William’s right arm gave the deepest, most beautiful curtsy with head bowed that I have ever seen, which blurred my vision somewhat.
She told William how she admired his father for the great work he did and that she had received an award from his mother Princess Diana.
Previously Uma Thurman had given a eulogy to Vanessa and both she and William stood on stage whilst Vanessa expressed her appreciation
‘You’ve done for
18 comments:
She spoke beautifully. It was such a complete turn-around from all she has stood for all these years that I was unable to decide whether she was acting or speaking from the heart - and in either event, how come?
Beautiful as she looked, I'm sorry to see her so aged and so thin. A sad year it's been for her.
Z: I suppose some of us mellow with age. Who would ever have thunk. I'm sure she believed she was speaking from the heart
Oh, you have it on the nose, Pat. Well put.
I did think it was charmingly polite of her to say something personal to Prince William about the Queen and Prince Philip. Maybe she had a kind letter from someone in the Royal family when her daughter died. I thought the vast curtsey was a tad OTT though!
Z: I didn't notice her mention the Queen but his mother - Princess Diana. I think there was a universal gasp at the curtsy. Normally you only see them done so deeply by Royalty. But you would expect something theatrical - I mean she's a Redgrave:)
I'm sure you're right - I was only half-listening as I was reading at the same time!
Carol completely adores Vanessa Redgrave.
Terrible tragedy with Natasha but there you go. Some get lucky some don't I guess.
Big big fan of Richard Attenborough.
Funnily enough I watched Jurrasic Park the other day. Hadn't seen it for ages. He really was the only genuine actor in it in many ways (with respect to Sam Neill et al who tried manfully to compete with the dinosaurs).
Four.D: I wrote to him when I was about 18. Had to put on a play with the student nurses and asked his advice. He was so helpful and then years later I bumped into him in Cambridge Circus when he was in the Mouse Trap and I was modelling. Such a sweet man.
You were right, my dear...I did write that before the text was up. I was very deeply moved by Uma Thurman's introduction of V.R. and then by every move and word she said....I wasn't sure if they edited anything out for "time" and commercials---I hope not..But what I saw was everything you described in your very eloquent words....
She is quite something, isn't she?
And it is very sad about Attenborough....Such a soaring talent! Life is just so not fair.
This getting old-er (I have to add the "er"....lol) really stinks!
Naomi; but then I think of Alice Sommer Hertz and am inspired to pull myself up out of it and carry on.
I want to see this now, off to find them on the internet somewhere, X
Eryl: if you do find Vanessa's speech, what did she say about Eileen Atkins - just in passing - or did I imagine it?
She said Eileen Atkins got to join a dance company – the name of which escapes me – and she envied her that. Does that ring a bell?
I thought everything about her was fabulous; especially her jawline, it's still so sharp.
Eryl: thank you for that. I always prick my ears up at Eileen's name but missed the context.
The only thing I'm sad about her appearance is what we used to call dowagers hump and I feel a cow for mentioning it.
Nothing wrong with making an observation. I have to say I didn't notice it but I see a bit of a curve now you mention it. What causes that, is it the spine collapsing? The way I sit at this desk day in day out, hunched over the keyboard, I reckon I'm in for a hump myself. Yikes!
Eryl: I noticed it sometime ago. Because she is very tall its only really noticeable from the side and behind. It could be osteoporosis.
Good diet , fresh air and exercise - all the usual subjects protect one from it - one of the reasons I stopped smoking at 47 and cut down on drinking.
I'm a huge fan of Vanessa Redgrave: seeing her in Ibsen's Ghosts in London West End theatre was an unforgettable experience.
How I long to see movies with her, I've read so much about her and admire the way she carries herself, the way she talks, the way she has chosen to grow older with style!
GG: she has grown old gracefully. I wonder if she can write? Her story would make interesting reading after all the phoney celeb books.
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