This is the first book devoted to the actor who has created a judicious blend of high-definition performances on the British stage and a wide range of award-winning television and film roles. New York Times writer Mel Gussow interviewed Gambon on many occasions, and those conversations comprise the majority of this book. Gussow also draws insights from some of the people who have worked with Gambon including the playwrights Dennis Potter, Alan Ayckbourn and Harold Pinter, directors Peter Hall and Deborah Warner, and the highly acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale. Gambon's breakthrough came in 1980 in Brecht's Galileo, followed by a daring King Lear at the Royal Shakespeare Company. More recently he has taken the leads in David Hare's Skylight, Caryl Churchill's A Number, and in a notable revival of Pinter's The Caretaker. He is still celebrated for his role in television's The Singing Detective musical mini-series. Gambon was named the successor to the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, making his debut in 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and he will be featured more prominently in the June 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He can also be seen in Mike Nichols' Emmy Award-winning HBO film of Tony Kushner's Angels in America and a growing number of films including the recent Being Julia, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou with Bill Murray.

This volume presents more than a dozen interviews with British stage and screen actor Michael Gambon. Conducted between 1990 and 2003, these interviews reflect on Gambon's career from his early work with Sir Laurence Olivier in the National Theater through his portrayal of Professor Dumbledore in recent Harry Potter movies. Gussow (a drama critic for the New York Times) also draws insights from some of the people who have worked with Gambon, including playwright Harold Pinter and director Deborah Warner.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This is the first book devoted to the actor who has created a judicious blend of high-definition performances on the British stage and a wide range of award-winning television and film roles. New York Times writer Mel Gussow interviewed Gambon on m

This is the first book devoted to the actor who has created a judicious blend of high-definition performances on the British stage and a wide range of award-winning television and film roles. New York Times writer Mel Gussow interviewed Gambon on many occasions, and those conversations comprise the majority of this book. Gussow also draws insights from some of the people who have worked with Gambon. Gambon was named the successor to the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, making his debut in 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and he will be featured more prominently in the June 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He can also be seen in Mike Nichols' Emmy Award-winning HBO film of Tony Kushner's Angels in America and a growing number of films, including the recent Being Julia with Annette Bening, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou with Bill Murray.