FIRST IMPRESSIONS: MICHAEL YORK
What are you working on at the moment?
I'm actually finding myself at home, which is unusual as both my wife and I have travelled for 44 years. I've also been preparing for the Warner Bros reprint of Cabaret in New York at the theatre it was fi rst shown 40 years ago, with Liza M and everyone.
When were you at your happiest?
Oh, I think this morning, waking up and realising another beautiful day lies ahead. There is a wonderful san script quotation “look well into this day, for this day well lived will make every yesterday a memory of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.” Isn’t it sweet.
What is your greatest fear?
Wasting this gift of life.
What is your earliest memory?
My memory isn't very good. I grew up in an Oxfordshire village and I remember the cornfields and the wartime barrage balloons hanging in the air.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My wife; she has taught me a lot, and hopefully it's been mutual. There are obviously professional role models, but nothing compares to sharing your life with someone all that time. It's a huge influence.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I'm a bit reluctant to be confrontational (but thank God my wife is – she has to be). It's very English, I think.
What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring because it symbolises so much. It sounds a bit soppy but honestly, material possessions are nice to have, but nothing is as important as this symbol.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Extremism, in religion or otherwise.
Do you have a fantasy address?
I'd love to live in the centre of London in an historic building.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I don't think I should complain because I seem to have got by, certainly professionally, on the appearance I have, so I think it would be rather ungrateful.
What is your favourite book?
I'm still trying to read them all. I am reading The Catcher In The Rye again, having last put it down as a teenager. It certainly holds up – it's still wonderful.
What is your favourite film?
It's a black-and-white French film by Jean Renoir, The Rules Of The Game.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
I just well up every time I hear Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart. It's short and exquisite; just a jewel.
What is your favourite meal?
That's a tough one because I love my food. I have memories of filming in England where, first thing in the morning when it was cold and dark and you needed to get going, they used to have bacon sandwiches. They are probably condemned now for being unhealthy.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Barack Obama. I think he is the most extraordinary man – he is going to be one of the great presidents.
Which historical character do you most admire?
I've lived in the US for a long time and I think George Washington was one of those miracles that came along, like Nelson Mandela. He clung to the idea of democracy and steered his country to its future.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
You have to get used to it in my business. Someone once said that I look like a blond Nazi rat, which I was rather proud of because how do you work someone up to that kind of fury?
What is your secret vice?
Apart from bacon sandwiches, the absolute egotism involved in answering questions about myself.
Do you write thank you notes?
Yes, of course, although email thank-you notes have become very acceptable. They should be handwritten, really, but
there is something to be said for the instant reply.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
It's either 'umm' or 'you know'. I wish I could stop it, but you know... oh, there I go again! That was genuine.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Perhaps clairvoyance. But maybe that's not good – it might be more exciting not to know what lies ahead.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
Just the dates might be enough, or maybe if they could afford some letters it'd say, 'The End?'.
British Legends Of Stage And Screen DVD, featuring Michael York, is out now, priced £19.99.
I'm actually finding myself at home, which is unusual as both my wife and I have travelled for 44 years. I've also been preparing for the Warner Bros reprint of Cabaret in New York at the theatre it was fi rst shown 40 years ago, with Liza M and everyone.
When were you at your happiest?
Oh, I think this morning, waking up and realising another beautiful day lies ahead. There is a wonderful san script quotation “look well into this day, for this day well lived will make every yesterday a memory of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.” Isn’t it sweet.
What is your greatest fear?
Wasting this gift of life.
What is your earliest memory?
My memory isn't very good. I grew up in an Oxfordshire village and I remember the cornfields and the wartime barrage balloons hanging in the air.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My wife; she has taught me a lot, and hopefully it's been mutual. There are obviously professional role models, but nothing compares to sharing your life with someone all that time. It's a huge influence.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I'm a bit reluctant to be confrontational (but thank God my wife is – she has to be). It's very English, I think.
What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring because it symbolises so much. It sounds a bit soppy but honestly, material possessions are nice to have, but nothing is as important as this symbol.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Extremism, in religion or otherwise.
Do you have a fantasy address?
I'd love to live in the centre of London in an historic building.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I don't think I should complain because I seem to have got by, certainly professionally, on the appearance I have, so I think it would be rather ungrateful.
What is your favourite book?
I'm still trying to read them all. I am reading The Catcher In The Rye again, having last put it down as a teenager. It certainly holds up – it's still wonderful.
What is your favourite film?
It's a black-and-white French film by Jean Renoir, The Rules Of The Game.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
I just well up every time I hear Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart. It's short and exquisite; just a jewel.
What is your favourite meal?
That's a tough one because I love my food. I have memories of filming in England where, first thing in the morning when it was cold and dark and you needed to get going, they used to have bacon sandwiches. They are probably condemned now for being unhealthy.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Barack Obama. I think he is the most extraordinary man – he is going to be one of the great presidents.
Which historical character do you most admire?
I've lived in the US for a long time and I think George Washington was one of those miracles that came along, like Nelson Mandela. He clung to the idea of democracy and steered his country to its future.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
You have to get used to it in my business. Someone once said that I look like a blond Nazi rat, which I was rather proud of because how do you work someone up to that kind of fury?
What is your secret vice?
Apart from bacon sandwiches, the absolute egotism involved in answering questions about myself.
Do you write thank you notes?
Yes, of course, although email thank-you notes have become very acceptable. They should be handwritten, really, but
there is something to be said for the instant reply.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
It's either 'umm' or 'you know'. I wish I could stop it, but you know... oh, there I go again! That was genuine.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Perhaps clairvoyance. But maybe that's not good – it might be more exciting not to know what lies ahead.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
Just the dates might be enough, or maybe if they could afford some letters it'd say, 'The End?'.
British Legends Of Stage And Screen DVD, featuring Michael York, is out now, priced £19.99.