Zoë supports Theatre Artists Fund to help struggling freelancers

20 March 2021 00:29

16 March 2021 marked exactly a year since the UK's theatres, including Shakespeare's Globe, were forced to close due to the pandemic. They're not expected to re-open until late spring or summer.

A survey by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre Association reveals that venues have lost millions of pounds and freelance workers in the theatre industry are struggling to support themselves.

With the industry in crisis, Zoë has joined a host of other well-known actors, including Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Michaela Coel and Hugh Jackman, in highlighting the plight of freelancers and raising awareness of the Theatre Artists Fund, which provides emergency financial aid. As you can see from Zoe's photo, they're using the hashtags #TheatreArtistsFund, #FirstInLastOut (theatre workers were first into lockdown and will be among the last able to return to work) and #16March or #March16 to spread the word.

You can apply for support (current deadline: 30 March) or donate to the Theatre Artists Fund on the organisation's website.

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First look at Netflix's Shadow and Bone plus more news

27 February 2021 18:01

Netflix's Shadow and Bone trailer

Just over a year after filming finished, Netflix has unveiled the highly anticipated trailer for Shadow and Bone, a big-budget adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's gripping Grishaverse novels. Judging by the jaw-dropping visual effects and cinematic style, the wait has certainly been worthwhile! The trailer only appeared yesterday but has already garnered well over a million views on YouTube.

We're still waiting for a glimpse of Zoë as Baghra, but there is a release date, at least. The epic fantasy series comes to Netflix on 23 April, so not long to wait now!

Radio 4 charity appeal for LSN

On Twitter, Zoë and her PA, Vanessa, have drawn attention to a forthcoming Radio 4 appeal for a charity close to Zoë's heart.

The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN), of which she's a patron, helps people affected by the condition across the UK. You can find out more about the LSN's work and how to donate on Radio 4's website during what is, of course, a challenging time for charities. The appeal itself will air on 7 March, just before 8 am.

'Gonzoë' on House of Games

If you watch BBC Two's popular teatime quiz, Richard Osman's House of Games, you may have seen Zoë make an appearance (of sorts) recently...

The Answer Smash round involves joining two words together, often with amusing or quirky results. In the episode shown on 22 February, the contestants were asked to combine the name Zoë Wanamaker with the name of one of the Muppets (The Great Gonzo, no less!) to create a new word: Gonzoë Wanamaker!

Thanks to Karoline for making me aware of the trailer.

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News round-up: watch The Cherry Orchard, Piaf and a Shadow and Bone teaser...

25 January 2021 17:19

The Cherry Orchard from National Theatre at Home

We're all missing live performances, but now the UK's National Theatre has come up with a wonderful way to help us relive the magic at home.

The NT's beautiful 2011 production of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (in a version by Andrew Upton), starring Zoë as beleaguered Russian aristocrat Ranyevskaya, is available to watch worldwide via NTatHome.com.

You can rent the production or, if you fancy watching lots of other shows from the theatre's back catalogue too, you may prefer to subscribe to this new streaming service.

The Cherry Orchard was directed by the highly respected Howard Davies and filmed for the 2011 NT Live season, which saw it broadcast in cinemas around the world. Being a pretty enthusiastic fan (!), I watched the production at the theatre and later in a cinema, and remember well the excitement of both events.

Fellow fan Robertta watched The Cherry Orchard with friends and recalls how the cast and staging of the play 'moved us so much!'

'Zoë Wanamaker is magnificent as Ranyevskaya, suggesting, to an unprecedented extent, the acuteness of this woman's emotional intelligence,' wrote Paul Taylor in the Independent during the play's run.

Whether you're watching this production of The Cherry Orchard for the first time or rediscovering it after ten years, enjoy!

Piaf on Broadway

For another cultural treat in these theatre-starved times, head to YouTube. There you'll find the TV adaptation of the Broadway production of Pam Gems' Piaf - an unflinching exploration of the legendary French singer's private and public life - originally broadcast in 1982.

This acclaimed production was also directed by Howard Davies. Playing Edith Piaf is Jane Lapotaire, with Zoe in the role of her half-sister, Toine.

Zoe credits Piaf with helping her become 'a braver actor'. Her performance led to her being nominated for Tony and Drama Desk awards. Some time ago, Zoë kindly provided a photo for the website of herself with Jane Lapotaire, Elizabeth Taylor and Glenda Jackson as they celebrated their Tony nominations.

Shadow and Bone teaser

Here's the suitably intriguing teaser for Netflix's Shadow and Bone, the eagerly anticipated fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s incredibly successful Grishaverse novels.

No glimpse of Zoë as Baghra yet, but we shouldn't have too much longer to wait. Netflix has announced that the series will be released in April.

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News round-up: Britannia series three; Shadow and Bone praise; voicing the Oliviers 2020; reading Peter Pan for charity

4 November 2020 19:05

Britannia series three resumes filming

Filming came to a halt earlier this year for obvious reasons, but Sky’s historical epic Britannia is now back in production. What will the third series have in store for Queen Antedia, who was last seen being sold at an extremely unregal auction in series two? Surely the only way is up!

No official word yet on when the new episodes will air, but the Radio Times suggests ‘we could see the show back on our screens early next year’.

In addition, the magazine reports that Zoë and her co-stars from the previous series, who include David Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook and Annabel Scholey, will be joined by another brilliant actor, Sophie Okonedo.

Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo is a fan of Zoë

The release date for Netflix’s fantasy series, Shadow and Bone, which is based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels, still hasn’t been confirmed.

However, Bardugo did make clear during Metaverse, a recent online convention, that she’s excited to see Zoë play teacher Baghra. The author remarked that her ‘brain sort of short-circuited’ when she saw Zoë and one of her co-stars, Ben Barnes (who plays the mysterious Darkling), acting together.

Sounds very promising!

Voicing the Olivier Awards 2020

For the fifth year in a row, Zoë is the voice of the prestigious Olivier Awards ceremony. Celebrating the best of British theatre feels particularly important during one of the most challenging ever years for the industry. If you missed the Oliviers on 25 October, you’ll be pleased to hear you can catch up on the ITV Hub any time over the next few weeks.

Fellow actor Dale Evans tweeted, ‘I ADORE Zoë Wanamaker’s voice, it really makes the Oliviers.’ Couldn’t agree more!

Zoë didn’t appear on screen, but here she is in a show-stopping dress at the 2017 Oliviers.

Star-studded Peter Pan audiobook

Zoë has leant her vocal talents to a star-studded new recording of JM Barrie’s classic, Peter Pan, published by Penguin. Due for release on 5 November, Peter Pan: Brought to Life by Magical Storytellers also features Michael Morpurgo, Kit Harrington, Martin Jarvis, Alex Jennings, Alex Kingston, Joanna Lumley, Helen McCrory, Jennifer Saunders, Juliet Stevenson and David Walliams.

The recording, which is available as an audio download and CD, will raise money for two very deserving charities: The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

It’d make a lovely Christmas gift for the young and young at heart.

With thanks to Karoline for her help.

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Happy 18th birthday, zoewanamaker.com!

30 July 2020 01:45

Happy birthday, zoewanamaker.com! I can hardly believe it, but the official website for Zoë Wanamaker fans is now 18 years old.

Sincere thanks to everyone who visits the site, connects with me by email or on Twitter and shares my enthusiasm for Zoë's wonderful acting work.

A special shoutout to Zoë herself and her PA, Vanessa, for their support and kindness.

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