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Timothy Spall

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Timothy Spall.

Timothy Spall grew up in Battersea, South London. He found school pretty uninspiring and left with art as his only qualification. However, when he played the part of the Cowardly Lion in the school production of The Wizard of Oz, aged 16, he felt he had found his niche. He says "it had a good big audience and they just laughed, and when I came out to do my bow they gave me a big cheer. Something went off in my head then." He had a natural talent, and soon found a place at RADA. Within a year he was snapped up by the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he played key roles such as Andre in Chekhov's The Three Sisters, a role which he was amazed to take over from Ian McKellan. It was a huge learning period and the critics weren't going to cut him any slack just because he was straight out of drama school. He says, "you're up there playing with the big boys so you learn pretty quick!"

His first TV part was as the Brummie builder, Barry, in Auf Weidersehen Pet in 1983 and he has had many TV roles since: Our Mutual Friend and Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise both earned him Best Actor nominations at the Baftas. His role in the Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies won him critical acclaim, as well as two best actor nominations, at the Baftas and at the London Film Critic Circle. He has also been sought by Hollywood, recently appearing in the blockbuster Vanilla Sky. He won best actor at Prix d'Italia and Cinema Tout Ecran awards for the television drama Shooting the Past and was awarded the OBE in 2000.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson
Book: The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Luxury: A drum kit

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Sep 2002 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Lena Horne

    A New Fangled Tango

    • Lena Horne at the Waldorf Astoria.
    • RCA.

  • Al Jolson

    When You Were Sweet Sixteen

    • 20 More Golden Greats: Al Jolson.
    • MCA.

  • David Bowie

    Ziggy Stardust

    • The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
    • EMI.

  • George Frideric Handel

    For unto us a child is born (from Messiah)

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner

    • Messiah.
    • Philips.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Danny Wilson

      Mary's Prayer

      • Meet Danny Wilson.
      • Virgin.

  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) (from Dido and Aeneas)

    Soloist: Victoria de Los Angeles Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra

    • Dido and Aenas.
    • EMI.

  • Jimmy Nail

    Cowboys Dreams

    • Cowboy Dreams.
    • East West Records.

  • Crash Test Dummies

    Swimming in Your Ocean

    • The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.
    • RCA.

  • Book Choice

    • The Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens

  • Luxury Choice

    • A drum kit

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Timothy Spall

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Sep 2002 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 27 Sep 2002 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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