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Celia Johnson
Biography of Brief Encounter star Celia Johnson.
- GenresBiography
248 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 29, 2025
Exquisite book about one of the very great actresses of the 20th century. She was incredible in my all-time favourite film - Brief Encounter. I wish I’d seen her onstage.
Well worth a read……
Well worth a read……
January 21, 2015
I love this about British acting families, especially those in the pre and immediately post-WWII years. They all seem to have known each other, and everyone worked with everyone else at one time or another. This is why, I suppose, that every time I look at a film made in Britain during the 40s, it's a who's who of familiar faces.
Celia Johnson had, even independent of her acting career, a very interesting life. She married the travel writer Peter Fleming, and stayed married to him for the rest of his life. They had three children together, one of whom wrote this book and another of whom grew up to be an actress herself (and who married another of my favorites, Simon Williams). Her two daughters now manage their uncle Ian Fleming's Estate and its vast holdings. See what I mean? In one paragraph we have Brief Encounter, Upstairs Downstairs and James Bond.
Kate Fleming's story of her mother starts very slowly, with a long description of her parents and grandparents that frankly didn't matter to me. It matters to her, I'm sure, as this is her family. I'm not sure it's of interest to many outside the Johnson clan, however. Once we get into Celia's career, and especially her own diaries and letters, the story really begins to sparkle.
There is a typically, and sometimes frustratingly, British thing about underplaying one's own efforts, and even underplaying the efforts of the people you love. Celia never gave herself any credit. Kate is sometimes unnecessarily harsh on her mother's performances, but I see that she comes by it naturally. Celia's husband is quoted as saying about Celia, in a West End triumph, that she was "quite an adequate performer." This was intended as a compliment. Eesh.
What is most enchanting about this slim volume is when Celia gets to speak for herself. Her letters to Peter during the War are warm, witty and often a masterclass in wordplay. This is also true of her diary of the trip she and Peter took on the Burma Road. She was often pigeonholed as the sad-eyed (and usually wronged) wife in a domestic drama, so it's nice to see this side of her.
Celia Johnson had, even independent of her acting career, a very interesting life. She married the travel writer Peter Fleming, and stayed married to him for the rest of his life. They had three children together, one of whom wrote this book and another of whom grew up to be an actress herself (and who married another of my favorites, Simon Williams). Her two daughters now manage their uncle Ian Fleming's Estate and its vast holdings. See what I mean? In one paragraph we have Brief Encounter, Upstairs Downstairs and James Bond.
Kate Fleming's story of her mother starts very slowly, with a long description of her parents and grandparents that frankly didn't matter to me. It matters to her, I'm sure, as this is her family. I'm not sure it's of interest to many outside the Johnson clan, however. Once we get into Celia's career, and especially her own diaries and letters, the story really begins to sparkle.
There is a typically, and sometimes frustratingly, British thing about underplaying one's own efforts, and even underplaying the efforts of the people you love. Celia never gave herself any credit. Kate is sometimes unnecessarily harsh on her mother's performances, but I see that she comes by it naturally. Celia's husband is quoted as saying about Celia, in a West End triumph, that she was "quite an adequate performer." This was intended as a compliment. Eesh.
What is most enchanting about this slim volume is when Celia gets to speak for herself. Her letters to Peter during the War are warm, witty and often a masterclass in wordplay. This is also true of her diary of the trip she and Peter took on the Burma Road. She was often pigeonholed as the sad-eyed (and usually wronged) wife in a domestic drama, so it's nice to see this side of her.
April 29, 2009
A very warm and wonderfully written biography of one of my favourite actresses.
February 27, 2014
Loved it. A fascinating look at the life of one of my favourite actors.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews