Geraldine James
Sue Lawley's castaway is actress Geraldine James.
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is one of Britain's best known actresses - Geraldine James.
Geraldine James became a household name 20 years ago for her performance as Sarah Layton in the epic, lavish series The Jewel in the Crown. But she is also used to far more earthy roles - one of her first television performances was portraying the real-life story of a deaf/mute prostitute from Bradford for which she won a TV Critics' award. The TV role she took after Jewel in the Crown was as the redoubtable and beefy Lady Maud in Blott on the Landscape and, later, more northern prostitutes in Band of Gold.
She is a well respected stage actress - key roles include Portia in the Merchant of Venice opposite Dustin Hoffman and When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout. Her most recent screen work was as the prim and disapproving Women's Institute leader in the hugely successful film Calendar Girls. After school she studied drama at the Drama Centre, London, and spent three years in repertory theatre and school theatre before embarking on her television career; most recently as Lady Rowley in Trollope's He Knew He was Right. She was made an OBE in 2003.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: In Tears of Grief, Dear Lord We Leave Thee by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
Luxury: iPod
Last on
Music Played
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Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni
Adagio from Concerto opus 9 No.2
Soloist: Fran Berger and Hans Dieter Weber
- Christmas Meditation - Vol 1.
- Laser Night.
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Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren
Goodness Gracious Me
- All Aboard.
- EMI.
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Nina Simone
Love Me Or Leave Me
- Mood Indigo - the 60s.
- Mercury.
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Nick Drake
Man in a Shed
- Five Leaves Left.
- Hannibal.
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Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'
- The Best of Bob Dylan.
- Columbia.
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Pablo (Pau) Casals
Nana
- Song of the Birds.
- CBS.
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Sade
By Your Side
- Sade Loves Rock.
- Sony.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Johann Sebastian Bach
St Matthew Passion - Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
Choirs: Monteverdi Choir, London Oratory Junior Choir
- St Matthew Passion.
- Archiv.
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Book Choice
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The Fatal Shore - Robert Hughes
Luxury Choice
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iPod
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sue Lawley |
| Interviewed Guest | Geraldine James |
Broadcasts
- Sun 30 May 2004 11:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Fri 11 Jun 2004 09:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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