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Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master
Although known to an audience of millions the world over for his portrayal of The Doctor's arch nemesis The Master in Doctor Who during the 1980's, Anthony Ainley had a prolific career which encompassed starring roles in Spyders Web and It's Dark Outside, as well as appearances in renowned dramas such as The Pallisers, Elizabeth R, Nicholas Nickleby, Upstairs, Downstairs, and cult films including Blood On Satan's Claw and The Land That Time Forgot.
But the dramas in Anthony's real life were far more fascinating than any of the many parts he played on screen. Born the illegitimate son of actor Henry Ainley, and taken into care at the Actors' Orphanage at the age of four, the hidden story behind one of Doctor Who's most enigmatic characters is brought to life by author Karen Louise Hollis.
Using exhaustive interviews with friends and colleagues from every aspect of Anthony's life, including his best friend from school, fellow children from the Actors' Orphanage, cricketing friends, colleagues, and those who remained close to him until his death in 2004, this book aims to uncover the real Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master.
But the dramas in Anthony's real life were far more fascinating than any of the many parts he played on screen. Born the illegitimate son of actor Henry Ainley, and taken into care at the Actors' Orphanage at the age of four, the hidden story behind one of Doctor Who's most enigmatic characters is brought to life by author Karen Louise Hollis.
Using exhaustive interviews with friends and colleagues from every aspect of Anthony's life, including his best friend from school, fellow children from the Actors' Orphanage, cricketing friends, colleagues, and those who remained close to him until his death in 2004, this book aims to uncover the real Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master.
241 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Karen Louise Hollis
41 books67 followersKaren Louise Hollis was born in Lincoln in 1969 and has written several books including ones on gymnastics, motherhood and Doctor Who, as well as a short story collection and two poetry collections.
In May 2015, her biography of the actor Anthony Ainley (1932-2004) was published. It is called Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master and is published by Fantom Films. http://fantomfilms.co.uk/books/karenl...
In 2018, her second book on gymnastics was published - Gymnastics : A Golden Era 1985-89 and in August, Decades came out - a collection of short stories and poetry written over four decades.
Over the last few years, she has been concentrating on her new series of interviews with famous gymnasts - Gymnasts In Conversation.
In 2022, her first novel Welcome to Whitlock Close was published.
In 2023, her second novel Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay - a second chance romance set in a seaside town - was published.
In November 2023, her third novel came out - Over The Garden Fence - about two neighbours in their seventies, realising they want to do a lot more yet...
In May 2015, her biography of the actor Anthony Ainley (1932-2004) was published. It is called Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master and is published by Fantom Films. http://fantomfilms.co.uk/books/karenl...
In 2018, her second book on gymnastics was published - Gymnastics : A Golden Era 1985-89 and in August, Decades came out - a collection of short stories and poetry written over four decades.
Over the last few years, she has been concentrating on her new series of interviews with famous gymnasts - Gymnasts In Conversation.
In 2022, her first novel Welcome to Whitlock Close was published.
In 2023, her second novel Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay - a second chance romance set in a seaside town - was published.
In November 2023, her third novel came out - Over The Garden Fence - about two neighbours in their seventies, realising they want to do a lot more yet...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2018
This great book about sad man who hide his past, he hide that he was bald,that he came from an orphanage & that he was the ',bastard' son of Henry Ainley a famous actor he was lonely man who was funny & loved playing the Master.But had odd since of humour but lived playing cricket
February 1, 2021
It’s hardly an enviable task to write a biography for an intensely private man who seemed just as likely to rub people the wrong way as endear himself to them, but Karen Louise Hollis does an admirable job here, chronicling the life and career of Anthony Ainley. As she notes in her introduction it’s like putting together a puzzle; at times it’s more about describing the world around him than the man himself. In any case, the research is impressively thorough.
Particularly vivid are the chapters about his early life in (or rather, describing the world of) an actor’s orphanage, placed there because his parents were a famous actor who didn’t want to know and a single mother who couldn’t look after two young boys. Since we don’t know how he reacted to things like this (although his refusal decades later to attend a reunion suggests volumes) and he doesn’t seem “present” through all of it, the book unavoidably suggests a rather lonely man, off in the wings of his own life story. His eccentricities and temper were such that it seems almost strange that someone should want to chronicle his life, but the author - who had several interactions with him as a fan - communicates a real enthusiasm for his work, diligently describing his appearances in film and TV.
A man who ultimately loved the part that made him famous, even if it wasn’t mega-stardom in films, why shouldn’t someone gather what is known about him? A fair chunk of it is a preference for playing cricket rather than taking acting gigs, and no one knows where he got his money from or if he was gay or straight - yes, he was private and sometimes difficult, but people loved him anyway. It’s a nice tribute.
Particularly vivid are the chapters about his early life in (or rather, describing the world of) an actor’s orphanage, placed there because his parents were a famous actor who didn’t want to know and a single mother who couldn’t look after two young boys. Since we don’t know how he reacted to things like this (although his refusal decades later to attend a reunion suggests volumes) and he doesn’t seem “present” through all of it, the book unavoidably suggests a rather lonely man, off in the wings of his own life story. His eccentricities and temper were such that it seems almost strange that someone should want to chronicle his life, but the author - who had several interactions with him as a fan - communicates a real enthusiasm for his work, diligently describing his appearances in film and TV.
A man who ultimately loved the part that made him famous, even if it wasn’t mega-stardom in films, why shouldn’t someone gather what is known about him? A fair chunk of it is a preference for playing cricket rather than taking acting gigs, and no one knows where he got his money from or if he was gay or straight - yes, he was private and sometimes difficult, but people loved him anyway. It’s a nice tribute.
May 8, 2024
This is an odd choice for a biography. Anthony Ainley was mostly a TV actor, busy in the 1970s before his long run in Doctor Who, playing the Master throughout the 1980s and opposite Davison, McCoy, and both Bakers. He was intensely private as well. However, I found his background fascinating. My father too was abandoned and placed in an orphanage, although Anthony Ainley was the son of an acclaimed stage actor and who, despite having nothing to do with him, Anthony took his last name. Considered by many a wasted talent, Ainley nevertheless rarely lacked for work or money and enjoyed what pleasures he could. He also had a dry wit and a gentleman's demeanor, and even gave fans a ride home on many occasions. He will always be an enigma, but one few will ever try to understand. This sympathetic book makes a stab at it. The writing is uneven, but Hollis is to be commended by giving Ainley a fair hearing, important considering he had few close friends and seemed to never even have a girlfriend.
March 20, 2016
This is not a conventional biography. Anyone expecting a deep, microscopic book will be disappointed. No, it's definitely a life through a dark lens, with the vague shape of Ainley's life rather than a clear cut vision.
However anyone who considers themselves a fan is likely to be aware of how private Ainley was. He rarely did interviews and his convention appearances are all very stage managed. I did hesitate over buying this book, wanting to respect that privacy, but on the other hand I'm a writer intrigued by what makes people tick. The latter obviously won out.
It's not a polished book, as mentioned in other reviews. The writing could definitely be smoother, though I doubt even that would make the earlier chapters any easier to read. To a point, I'm rather glad intimate details aren't given, because the rough facts are devastating enough. But as a fan-written tribute, it more than fits the bill, and I do feel as if I understand Ainley a little better.
We never met. It is my greatest regret, but where Ainley's personality resonates with me - that he preferred to write than speak in person (as opposed to from a script) because he could edit - was the thing that kept me from conventions when I was younger. Actually it was only after the reboot of Doctor Who when I made connections and braved the circuit, and Ainley had been gone a year.
However anyone who considers themselves a fan is likely to be aware of how private Ainley was. He rarely did interviews and his convention appearances are all very stage managed. I did hesitate over buying this book, wanting to respect that privacy, but on the other hand I'm a writer intrigued by what makes people tick. The latter obviously won out.
It's not a polished book, as mentioned in other reviews. The writing could definitely be smoother, though I doubt even that would make the earlier chapters any easier to read. To a point, I'm rather glad intimate details aren't given, because the rough facts are devastating enough. But as a fan-written tribute, it more than fits the bill, and I do feel as if I understand Ainley a little better.
We never met. It is my greatest regret, but where Ainley's personality resonates with me - that he preferred to write than speak in person (as opposed to from a script) because he could edit - was the thing that kept me from conventions when I was younger. Actually it was only after the reboot of Doctor Who when I made connections and braved the circuit, and Ainley had been gone a year.
July 26, 2023
A well researched and fascinating biography of Anthony Ainley, the man who played the Master on Doctor Who in the 1980s. I was quite surprised by The story of his life from his lonely childhood to his rise to fame. Highly recommended read to any fans of Doctor Who!!
January 31, 2018
I love The Master, and Ainely turns out to be just as mysterious. I well researched book with lots and lots of references.
September 21, 2016
The master of his own destiny.
I have always loved watching Anthony Ainley play the role of the villainous Master. However, as much as I wanted to read this book I was also worried that my opinion of him might be swayed by any new information unearthed about him. Fortunately, this biography was a joy to read. In years gone by the general consensus about Ainley's life was that he kept himself to himself and he was a very private man. Only by reading about his early days and the unfortunate absence of both his parents in his formative years can you truly relate to why Ainley may have behaved in such a manner. It is quite evident that in later life he liked to do things on his terms to make sure that he always had the power to make his own decisions and control his own life. There is no doubt that he absolutely loved playing the Master as much as he loved the game of cricket. In his life he did what he loved and avoided what he could and if that made him happy, then so be it.
I have always loved watching Anthony Ainley play the role of the villainous Master. However, as much as I wanted to read this book I was also worried that my opinion of him might be swayed by any new information unearthed about him. Fortunately, this biography was a joy to read. In years gone by the general consensus about Ainley's life was that he kept himself to himself and he was a very private man. Only by reading about his early days and the unfortunate absence of both his parents in his formative years can you truly relate to why Ainley may have behaved in such a manner. It is quite evident that in later life he liked to do things on his terms to make sure that he always had the power to make his own decisions and control his own life. There is no doubt that he absolutely loved playing the Master as much as he loved the game of cricket. In his life he did what he loved and avoided what he could and if that made him happy, then so be it.
August 24, 2016
Quite enjoyed reading this biography of Anthony Ainley.
August 31, 2024
This biography - which works nicely as a companion to Marcus K. Harme's biography of Roger Delgado, the first actor to play the role of The Master on Doctor Who - differs significantly to Delgado's biography in that it talks less about Ainley's upbringing and professional life (the man having been notoriously private), and focuses more on what he was like as a person (which admittedly provides some sensational reading, as Ainley was known for his lack of patience with certain people, and his often heated temper). A great read that should please most fans of Ainley, The Master, or of Doctor Who in general.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews