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In this candid and empowering A to Z of being an actor, Julie
Hesmondhalgh draws on her decades of experience on stage and screen
- including in massively popular television shows such as
Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street - to lift the lid
on the realities of life in today's industry, and show you how to
navigate it. She shares practical advice on preparing for roles
(don't be afraid of looking like a dick), managing the ups and
downs of your career (and how to be out of work without losing your
mind), dealing with failure (and success), not constantly comparing
yourself to others (bloody hard, but try), looking after your
mental health, and the power of knowing when to say 'no'.
Passionate about the arts, she makes a compelling case for their
importance to society, but also calls out the industry on where it
continues to fall short - including a clear-eyed assessment of what
needs to change to make it safer and healthier, more accessible and
inclusive. Written with refreshing honesty and self-deprecating
humour, An Actor's Alphabet is a book for anyone who dreams of
becoming an actor, wants to be a better one, or just wants to learn
what being one is really like. 'Endearingly honest, funny and
eye-opening. I loved it!' Francesca Martinez 'Like its author, this
book is brimming with wisdom, intelligence, empathy and humanity...
An absolute must!' Maxine Peake 'This is the best book on acting
and being an actor I've read... Julie Hesmondhalgh is the
mentor/best friend/guide we all need in these troubled times' Paul
Chahidi 'Wonderful... not just a book about acting, but also about
life. Us. The world. Humanity. Battling through this shit and
finding time for a hug. I adore it.' Russell T Davies 'A must-read,
whether you've been on the artist's journey for years or are just
starting out' Shobna Gulati 'This book is bold, brash, sincere and
angry. It regrets nothing and questions everything... Treasure it
like we should treasure Julie' Jack Thorne 'A generous gift to
actors, full of honesty, hope and wit. There is loads of tangible
advice, not just for acting but for life' Anna Jordan 'Julie's book
is honest, challenging and helpful. A great read' Andy Nyman
Julie Hesmondhalgh read this new novelisation of the TV adventure
featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and friends. Kerblam! is the
biggest online retailer in the galaxy - but how did it become so
big? When the Doctor's Kerblam! package includes a mysterious
request for help, she heads straight to the company's warehouse
moon to investigate. Going undercover as Kerblam! workers, the
TARDIS fam find that several human employees have vanished in
sinister circumstances. Could the automated workforce be to blame?
Or has the whole operation been compromised by forces unknown? The
Doctor soon learns that when it comes to wrapping things up, she
has nothing on Kerblam!... Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Judy in
the BBC TV episode, reads Pete McTighe's novelisation of his 2018
TV episode. ? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios
Distribution Ltd Reading produced by Audio Always. Sound design by
David Darlington. Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael
Stevens.
Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh's working diary begins in November 2016 at
the end of a full and exciting year of theatre-making with her
company, Take Back. The company is a northern-based collective
creating immediate script-in-hand responses to social and political
events (of which there were many in 2016). Her work with Take Back
fell between filming the third series of Broadchurch for ITV and
starring in the award-winning play Wit at the Royal Exchange
Theatre in Manchester. She kicks off as she prepares to start
rehearsals for Mike Leigh's epic film about the Peterloo Massacre
of 1819; visits schools and colleges representing Arts Emergency -
an organisation set up to promote opportunities for young
working-class actors; and awaits news of a possible London transfer
of Wit. The book takes in Hesmondhalgh's unique experiences of
working in film, theatre, TV and radio drama, and through the ups
and downs of life as a working actor and producer, while balancing
family life. The events described throughout take place against the
backdrop of the huge political change and upheaval as Britain votes
in favour of Brexit and Donald Trump is elected as US president.
Throughout, Julie Hesmondhalgh considers the impact and challenges
of starting a brand new chapter of her career after 16 years in
Coronation Street; growing older as a woman in an industry
preoccupied by youth and appearance; working with a legend of
British film making; running a company; being a parent;
experiencing first-hand the huge changes and pressures in the
creative industries and arts education; and the lesser-known
aspects of an actor's life post-production and publicity. All the
while, she attempts to pass on any knowledge or experiences she
might have accrued to people starting out in the business in this
fascinating year-long journal.
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