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Anneke Wills' biography #1
Self Portrait: My Journey as an Actress, Wife and Mother in the Swinging Sixties
First volume of a planned two-part autobiography of Anneke Wills, best known of course for playing Polly, companion to the First and Second Doctors between 1966-1967. This volume covers her childhood, early acting career and comprehensive coverage of her time on Doctor Who, featuring many previously-unpublished photos.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 21, 2021
Although written by a one-time DOCTOR WHO companion, the DOCTOR WHO stuff is over in a chapter, so if that’s your primary interest you probably want to look elsewhere.
What you get instead is life as a Sixties happening chick; life adjacent to real fame (really famous people do pop into the narrative for cameos); family dramas and some unpleasant domestic abuse.
There’s a lot here, and although the chatty - almost flippant - prose style might not be the best vehicle for it, it’s entertaining once you get on its wavelength.
What you get instead is life as a Sixties happening chick; life adjacent to real fame (really famous people do pop into the narrative for cameos); family dramas and some unpleasant domestic abuse.
There’s a lot here, and although the chatty - almost flippant - prose style might not be the best vehicle for it, it’s entertaining once you get on its wavelength.
July 12, 2015
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2491006.html
Anneke Wills was probably the most glamorous actor ever cast as a companion in Old Who. In Self-Portrait, the first volume of her autobiography, she gives what seems like a pretty frank account of her life as a young actress in the late 1950s and early 1960s; she was in with celebrity from a young age, being more or less adopted by the Craxton family when she first moved to London and then circulating among the bright young things - her first serious boyfriend was Edward Fox, another boyfriend dumped her for Joan Collins while she was pregnant. But she then skipped up a generation and found stability, if not complete happiness, with Michael Gough.
It would be easy for such a book to be a series of name-droppings and anecdotes, and such books have been often done before (David Niven's are probably classics of the art). But Aneeke Wills took a long time out of acting and public life, and she has clearly taken the time and space to reflect on and absorb her own experiences, making Self-Portrait a much better and slightly quirkier book than most celebrity autobiogs are. The only chapter that feels a bit out of place, oddly enough, is the account of her time on Doctor Who, possibly based too closely on her prepared remarks for conventions which are aimed at a different audience in a different style. Otherwise, I really enjoyed dipping into her stream of consciousness, and learning all kinds of things about how the British theatrical community turned the corner from the 1950s to the 1960s. (Quite apart from anything else, I had never heard of The Alberts.)
Anneke Wills was probably the most glamorous actor ever cast as a companion in Old Who. In Self-Portrait, the first volume of her autobiography, she gives what seems like a pretty frank account of her life as a young actress in the late 1950s and early 1960s; she was in with celebrity from a young age, being more or less adopted by the Craxton family when she first moved to London and then circulating among the bright young things - her first serious boyfriend was Edward Fox, another boyfriend dumped her for Joan Collins while she was pregnant. But she then skipped up a generation and found stability, if not complete happiness, with Michael Gough.
It would be easy for such a book to be a series of name-droppings and anecdotes, and such books have been often done before (David Niven's are probably classics of the art). But Aneeke Wills took a long time out of acting and public life, and she has clearly taken the time and space to reflect on and absorb her own experiences, making Self-Portrait a much better and slightly quirkier book than most celebrity autobiogs are. The only chapter that feels a bit out of place, oddly enough, is the account of her time on Doctor Who, possibly based too closely on her prepared remarks for conventions which are aimed at a different audience in a different style. Otherwise, I really enjoyed dipping into her stream of consciousness, and learning all kinds of things about how the British theatrical community turned the corner from the 1950s to the 1960s. (Quite apart from anything else, I had never heard of The Alberts.)
May 8, 2013
I'm not normally a fan of autobiographies but the past year or so I've been reading quite a few written by people who've been on Doctor Who. Anneke Wills I've met a few times and she seemed really nice so I bought a copy of this at the weekend. At first I found her style a little odd, writing a lot in the present tense for things that happened in the past. But I soon got sucked in. Her life story was fascinating. And odd mixture of riches and poverty. It was anything other than typical. Unfortuantely I'm not very familiar with the 60s so there were a lot of people that she talked about that I hadn't heard of. But I still found it fascinating. Even though the 60s were supposed to be liberated, there was so much discrimination that she faced as a woman, lack of birth control, as well as a huge stigma of being an unmarried mother. Reading the book gave me a much better idea of what the 60s were like, and what Anneke's life had been like. When I was nearly to the end I ordered the second volume which is availble via her website www.annekewills.com (and for much cheaper than on amazon)
December 7, 2016
Anneke Wills is probably still best known for her role in "Doctor Who" in the 1960s, but that was, of course, only a small part of her life. This book covers her first 30 years of a rather unconventional and madcap life, mixing her with famous, semi-famous and some just plain eccentric people. She loved pretty much every minute of it, and this shines through in her stories. It's an entertaining read, flying in many different directions (sometimes at the same time), and giving you a feel for her loving and fun personality. I've had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with her several times, and this book will give you some idea of what a whirlwind she can be!
November 20, 2020
The first half of Anneke Wills’ autobiography seems like a grand project for someone most of you will know, if at all, from a short stint on Doctor Who. However this book is packed with story and the life of a young actor in the 1960s, covering her often tumultuous upbringing and turbulent relationships. It paints a vivid picture of life in the ‘60s, and of the decade in general, making it as much a thrilling time capsule as it is a bracingly written, honest, funny memoir. Doctor Who wasn’t her whole life and nor was acting; it’s a rewarding journey to find out about the rest.
September 14, 2008
My interest in this book stems from being a fan of "Doctor Who" and I found out about it when it was being writen. The book was self published, and Anneke (who played William Hartnell's assistant Polly in the late 60's) was in need of funds to get the book published - so she was looking for people to pre-order the book to fund its publication. I paid the £10, which not only got me a signed copy of the book on it's release, but also a name check in the acknowledgement section (there are a lot of us listed in this section, lol).
Anyway, a few months later the book dropped though my letter box, and because I have so many books waiting to be read, it then sat on my "to read" shelf until I finally got round to reading it just over a week ago.
And what a fantastic read it is! Anneke really capures the feel of the sixties. Her story is moving, dramatic, sad and wonderful. The actual "Doctor Who" content is minimal (a chapter about her time on the show and a selection of her lovely portraits of the other actors during her time as Polly), but this matters not a jot.
She writes in an easily accessable style, sometimes flashing forward to future events. The most moving chapter is the shortest (just over a page long). It recounts her hearing of her beloved brothers death - a very emotional piece of writing.
The text is interspersed with photographs, illustrations and Anneke's own artwork.
This book is apparently only part one of her two part autobiography (it comes to a close at the end of the 60's) - I look forward eagerly to part two. The epilogue suggest that there will be more "Doctor Who" links in the next instalment (presumably focusing on Anneke's work for Big Finish and on the DVD commentaries).
I came to this book as a fan of "Doctor Who", and leave it as a massive fan of Anneke Wills. She is a true star.
Anyway, a few months later the book dropped though my letter box, and because I have so many books waiting to be read, it then sat on my "to read" shelf until I finally got round to reading it just over a week ago.
And what a fantastic read it is! Anneke really capures the feel of the sixties. Her story is moving, dramatic, sad and wonderful. The actual "Doctor Who" content is minimal (a chapter about her time on the show and a selection of her lovely portraits of the other actors during her time as Polly), but this matters not a jot.
She writes in an easily accessable style, sometimes flashing forward to future events. The most moving chapter is the shortest (just over a page long). It recounts her hearing of her beloved brothers death - a very emotional piece of writing.
The text is interspersed with photographs, illustrations and Anneke's own artwork.
This book is apparently only part one of her two part autobiography (it comes to a close at the end of the 60's) - I look forward eagerly to part two. The epilogue suggest that there will be more "Doctor Who" links in the next instalment (presumably focusing on Anneke's work for Big Finish and on the DVD commentaries).
I came to this book as a fan of "Doctor Who", and leave it as a massive fan of Anneke Wills. She is a true star.
March 3, 2010
If you get this book just for details on Anneke Wills time on Doctor Who, you might be disappointed - there are some nice anecdotes about her time on the show, but nothing that will be a revelation if you're an aficionado of conventions, behind-the-scenes documentaries, or programme guides. (There are some nice Doctor Who photos included in the book, along with scores of other photos and drawings.)
However, there's plenty of other reasons to read this book. Wills had an unconventional childhood, a bohemian life as a young actress in swinging sixties London, and some very complicated relationships. All related in a very readable and conversational style, and with remarkable honesty. (Wills's account of her difficult marriage to actor Michael Gough is a bit painful to read, but I think it's very illuminating about why apparently strong and confident women stay in abusive relationships.)
I read through this book quite quickly, and am glad to have the second volume on hand to dive into straight away.
However, there's plenty of other reasons to read this book. Wills had an unconventional childhood, a bohemian life as a young actress in swinging sixties London, and some very complicated relationships. All related in a very readable and conversational style, and with remarkable honesty. (Wills's account of her difficult marriage to actor Michael Gough is a bit painful to read, but I think it's very illuminating about why apparently strong and confident women stay in abusive relationships.)
I read through this book quite quickly, and am glad to have the second volume on hand to dive into straight away.
October 26, 2015
This is a charming book written by Anneke herself. It has it's own unique style - much of the text is small chunks and anecdotes and at first I thought I would find it hard to read.
But actually, the style enables Anneke to compress a lot of time into a relatively short amount of space without it seeming at all rushed. It's like you are a spectator on a tour of her life, and it really works.
Given that a lot of the readers of the book will be Doctor Who fans, it the part when she is on Doctor Who is only seventeen pages long. But it enforces the point that this was just one job in an acting career, which in turn was just part of a very varied and interesting life.
The only grips is the end, there is a second volume but in my opinion it should have been published in one. But I'm not moaning as I own the next volume and I am going to read it now!
But actually, the style enables Anneke to compress a lot of time into a relatively short amount of space without it seeming at all rushed. It's like you are a spectator on a tour of her life, and it really works.
Given that a lot of the readers of the book will be Doctor Who fans, it the part when she is on Doctor Who is only seventeen pages long. But it enforces the point that this was just one job in an acting career, which in turn was just part of a very varied and interesting life.
The only grips is the end, there is a second volume but in my opinion it should have been published in one. But I'm not moaning as I own the next volume and I am going to read it now!
October 16, 2008
Having helped to write this, piblished it, promoted it and designed it I am slightly biased - it's superb. The second volume is due out in 2009 and is even better. Both can be ordered at www.annekewills.com.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews