Barbara Roisman Cooper

Great Britons of Stage and Screen, Volume II: Directors in Conversation examines the artistic processes of a dozen creators of some of the most important films and stage productions over the last seventy-five years, many of which have received Oscars, BAFTAs, Oliviers, and Tonys. The book provides insights into the lives and works of these professionals: what they do, how they do it, and who inspired them to create some of the greatest works of film and theatre. Great Britons of Stage and Screen, Volume II: Directors in Conversation is Roisman Cooper's fourth book; her others are Straight from the Horse's Mouth with Ronald Neame (2003); Anna Lee: A Memoir (2007), and Great Britons of Stage and Screen: Volume I: In Conversation (2015), a collection of twenty-two interviews with British actors. "Barbara Roisman Cooper has, over many years, been having in-depth conversations with an extraordinary range of distinguished British film and theatre directors. The result is this remarkable collection, which is not only a welcome source book, it is also a terrific read." - Sir Christopher Frayling, former Rector of the Royal College of Art and Chair of Arts Council England"Great Britons of Stage and Screen: Directors in Conversation provides surprising insights into the lives of working directors, past and present, an invaluable contribution that transcends scholarship and enriches our cultural knowledge." - Nicholas Meyer, writer-director"With her talent and inside knowledge as author and teacher of film, Barbara Roisman Cooper commands and coaxes her directors to performance pitch. This is an inspiring book." - John Minoprio, The Old Vicarage Picture House"These insightful and entertaining conversations with twelve successful British directors will add immensely to the hands-on work in film schools in particular and students of film and theatre at large. If this fine publication by Barbara Roisman Cooper had been available when I was at UCLA, I might have become a director myself instead of a novelist." - Tim Symonds, author; UK member: Society of Authors, Historical Novel Society, and Chartered Institute of Journalists

Barbara Roisman Cooper is an acknowledged expert on British cinema and theatre. Her many credits on those topics include articles in publications such as British Heritage, Modern Maturity, Biblio, and The Baker Street Journal. She has interviewed more than one hundred leading members of the British stage and screen communities. Great Britons of Stage and Screen, Volume II: Directors in Conversation examines the artistic processes of a dozen creators of some of the most important films and stage productions over the last seventy-five years, many of which have received Oscars, BAFTAs, Oliviers, and Tonys. The book provides insights into the lives and works of these professionals: what they do, how they do it, and who inspired them to create some of the greatest works of film and theatre. Great Britons of Stage and Screen, Volume II: Directors in Conversation is Roisman Cooper's fourth book; her others are Straight from the Horse's Mouth with Ronald Neame (2003); Anna Lee: A Memoir (2007), and Great Britons of Stage and Screen: Volume I: In Conversation (2015), a collection of twenty-two interviews with British actors. "Barbara Roisman Cooper has, over many years, been having in-depth conversations with an extraordinary range of distinguished British film and theatre directors. The result is this remarkable collection, which is not only a welcome source book, it is also a terrific read." - Sir Christopher Frayling, former Rector of the Royal College of Art and Chair of Arts Council England"Great Britons of Stage and Screen: Directors in Conversation provides surprising insights into the lives of working directors, past and present, an invaluable contribution that transcends scholarship and enriches our cultural knowledge." - Nicholas Meyer, writer-director"With her talent and inside knowledge as author and teacher of film, Barbara Roisman Cooper commands and coaxes her directors to performance pitch. This is an inspiring book." - John Minoprio, The Old Vicarage Picture House"These insightful and entertaining conversations with twelve successful British directors will add immensely to the hands-on work in film schools in particular and students of film and theatre at large. If this fine publication by Barbara Roisman Cooper had been available when I was at UCLA, I might have become a director myself instead of a novelist." - Tim Symonds, author; UK member: Society of Authors, Historical Novel Society, and Chartered Institute of Journalists

Although there are encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries of contemporary British film and theatre actors, most lack the intimacy of face-to-face interviews. Typically drawn from secondary sources, collections of interviews often repeat tired anecdotes about an actor’s film or stage roles, with very little nuance or fresh insights. Great Britons of Stage and Screen: In Conversation features interviews with some of the leading actors of the last fifty years and more. In this collection, Barbara Roisman Cooper presents interviews she personally conducted with more than twenty stars of film, television, and theatre. Held in intimate surroundings—including the actors’ private homes and theatre dressing rooms between performances—these interviews provide readers with a rounded understanding of the creative process and the dedication required to develop a performance. Including many well-known Oscar, Tony, Olivier, and BAFTA winners, each interview is preceded by a short introduction and followed by the performer’s most significant credits, both on the stage and screen. The actors and actresses who shared their stories in this volume include ·Dame Eileen Atkins ·Isla Blair ·Simon Callow ·Dame Joan Collins ·Peggy Cummins ·Sinéad Cusack ·Samantha Eggar ·Stephen Fry ·Julian Glover ·Stephen Greif ·Jeremy Irons ·Sir Derek Jacobi ·Felicity Kendal ·Sir Ben Kingsley ·Dame Angela Lansbury ·Sir John Mills ·Alfred Molina ·Lynn Redgrave ·Jean Simmons ·David Suchet ·Richard Todd ·Michael York Designed to serve as a resource for those studying or writing about the worlds of theatre and film in general—and the art and craft of acting, specifically—Great Britons of Stage and Screen will also appeal to the many fans of the artists who have entertained audiences for decades.

"Anna Lee played Lila Quartermaine on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Anna Lee's children supplied memories of what it was like to live with an actress. John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Boris Karloff are a few of the actorswith whom Anna Lee shared the screen. Her remarkable career spanned over 70 years."--Provided by publisher.