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Playing With Fire
Urbane. Brilliant. Brave. Funny. Famous. Handsome. Nigel Havers is the real-life charmer you might expect.
In a career that has taken him from a schoolboy production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to the red carpet on Oscar Night with Chariots of Fire , via starring roles in the West End stage, classic television series like Don't Wait Up and a cameo in Little Britain , the Hollywood blockbusters that made him a household name are only the beginning.
With characteristic modesty and a captivating eye for the absurd, he treats us to the highlights and lowlights of a life like no other; a life in which chilling reality (watching his father Michael - later the Attorney General - begin his prosecution of the Yorkshire Ripper) and beguiling fantasy (sleeping with 'Elizabeth Taylor') continuously and arrestingly collide.
In a career that has taken him from a schoolboy production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to the red carpet on Oscar Night with Chariots of Fire , via starring roles in the West End stage, classic television series like Don't Wait Up and a cameo in Little Britain , the Hollywood blockbusters that made him a household name are only the beginning.
With characteristic modesty and a captivating eye for the absurd, he treats us to the highlights and lowlights of a life like no other; a life in which chilling reality (watching his father Michael - later the Attorney General - begin his prosecution of the Yorkshire Ripper) and beguiling fantasy (sleeping with 'Elizabeth Taylor') continuously and arrestingly collide.
- GenresBiography
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 12, 2011
His escapades at the theatre, like appearing naked behind the wings to make a fellow actor laugh, are quite funny! Felt a bit sorry for his frst wife tho!
August 8, 2024
Brought this in a Charity shop for £1.
It was an ok read but he metions a lot of old actors ect that his family knew that were before My time.
but non the less a good book. Always Liked Nigel Havers.
It was an ok read but he metions a lot of old actors ect that his family knew that were before My time.
but non the less a good book. Always Liked Nigel Havers.
January 23, 2022
I made a point of ignoring the dated language in order to enjoy the stories.
September 8, 2014
There used to be a man at our stables who only ever rode during the hunting season. He spoke with a very, very posh accent. And the funniest thing ever was when he lost his cool and started swearing. This book was like then. There is a lot of swearing throughout and having only known Havers portraying posh, charming men on TV and film, this sort of made this read a giggle-fest!
But apart from that, this was an interesting read. There were some funny moments, but a not a hell of lot that were tragic, sad or harrowing, which on one hand is a refreshing change, but on the other made the tale a bit one-dimensional. Even the break-up of his marriage, which is entirely his fault, is sort of glossed over with a jolly-holly-sticks kind of veneer. In fact, there was something a bit episodic about the whole thing as well.
However, I did enjoy reading it. Light, happy reading though and I can't say that I came away knowing anything meaningful about the actor at all.
But apart from that, this was an interesting read. There were some funny moments, but a not a hell of lot that were tragic, sad or harrowing, which on one hand is a refreshing change, but on the other made the tale a bit one-dimensional. Even the break-up of his marriage, which is entirely his fault, is sort of glossed over with a jolly-holly-sticks kind of veneer. In fact, there was something a bit episodic about the whole thing as well.
However, I did enjoy reading it. Light, happy reading though and I can't say that I came away knowing anything meaningful about the actor at all.
October 16, 2013
What a cracking read! A very witty man and a great talent.
Well done, Nige.
Well done, Nige.
January 23, 2014
Loved it! Can't wait for the sequel ;)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews