If you are "of a certain age", as I am, and are English (or British), the chances are that Julie Christie is your favourite actress. As a young person (too young, but I was good at sneaking) , I watched her uncomprehendingly in movies such as Darling and Farenheit 451. I didn't understand them, but knew I wanted to be there. Later, I adored her in The Go-Between, Dr Zhivago and Far from the Madding Crowd. Then there was Don't Look Now, and "that" scene in addition to her usual brilliant, empathetic performance. In her Warren Beatty phase I saw awful movies like Shampoo, or "flawed masterpieces" like McCabe and Mrs Miller, just for her. And in later years, it was great to catch a glimpse of her in gems like The Railway Station Man (BBC Screen 2), as she came out of "retirement" the odd time to make the occasional film that appealed to her. Wonderfully, she revealed herself recently as a Harry Potter person, even though the role she took was the relatively uninspiring one of Madame Rosmerta in "Goblet of Fire". (Wonder if she will reprise the role for "Half Blood Prince"?) But even more wonderfully, she's a blogger! See Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog - theatre: Cries from the heart: the role I just couldn't refuse.
Marvellous. There are many film actresses I've admired since: Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Pfeiffer, Francesca Annis, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightley and more, but who can hold a candle to the peerless Julie Christie? Nobody.
Lord, if you consider "Shampoo" awful, you're seriously clueless.
Posted by: Priscilla | 15 June 2007 at 22:59
"you're seriously clueless"
I was a bit clueless when I watched "Clueless". It took me a while to realise I was watching Jane Austen's Emma moved to LA.
I was going to make a more intelligent comment, but the thought of Julie Christie, Francesca Annis and Michelle Pfeiffer has overexcited me. It is my age!
Posted by: Norm | 16 June 2007 at 09:56
Know what you mean, Norm!
Posted by: Maxine | 16 June 2007 at 16:40