John Gielgud, aged 76, working harder than ever

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 17

John Gielgud, aged 76, working harder than ever

From

KEN COATES

in Loudon

At the age of 76, 11 years past the normal age of retirement, and after half a century as a leading actor. Sir John Gielgud is more in demand than even, and is known to a wider world audience. In the last year, he has worked more consistently than most actors, with eight films and five major TV appearances. Last week, he flew to New York for 10 weeks to star with Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli in a new film. Sir John says that it has been the most extraordinary period in his entire career. He has just finished playing a clergyman con-man in the series “TV Tales of the Unexpected.”

He used to think that films were “an irrlevant risk and “was scared of making them.” Now he has made eight, one after the other, without a break, in six different countries. Sir John recalls that when “Larry (Olivier) and Ralph (Richardson) and Alec (Gpinness)” were busy filming, he hung back. He says that the real reason was because he lacked confidence. Now he does not feel frightened and “goes over the top in the soldier’s sense” without knowing what lies ahead. The veteran actor maintains he does not know anything about the techniques of making films, and does not even know where the camera is.

As to why he has taken ot; so much work, Sir John says he did not consciously decide to make all the films. It is just that for the first time in his career, nothing came along in the theatre that he wanted to do. It is rather ironical that a man who avoided films

for so long is likely to hrcmem'oered by a n--generation mere for hi

screen appearances than for his great contribution to live theatre. The odd thing is that as the films and TV have followed one another, he has become dubious about returning to the theatre. He was to have played King Lear at the National Theatre in London later this year, but decided to turn the part down. The truth is, he admits, he funked it, and he is now “rather ashamed.” . Many times now. Sir John finds that his directors are less than half his age; he says the problem is to put them at their ease. He sees a danger that young directors will not criticise his acting, although he finds it stimulating to take direction. “I obey — that was the training we all had,” he says. For a man of 76. Sir John is surprisingly youthful in both style and attitudes, he watches “Dallas” and soccer on TV.