'I am very happy to make this website, designed by Liz, official.'
Zoë Wanamaker CBE.
(Find out more about this website.)

Zoë is not on Twitter or Facebook - the best way to contact her is to write to the fanmail address.

Guestbook - To sign the guestbook, please click the picture below. Your comments are much appreciated.
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Welcome to the official website for Zoë Wanamaker!

Shakespeare's Globe fundraising video for indoor theatre

22 January 2012 15:46

Zoë, who is the Honorary President of Shakespeare's Globe, appears in a fundraising video for the Globe's indoor Jacobean theatre project.

In the video Zoe emphasises that the creation of an indoor theatre was part of her father Sam Wanamaker's original vision when he founded Shakespeare's Globe.  When complete, the indoor theatre will complement the open-air stage at the Globe, as well as contribute to our understanding of Shakespearean theatre in performance.

Shakespeare's Globe needs to raise a total of £7 million in order to fund the indoor theatre project.  You can find out how to donate to this very good cause by visiting the Shakespeare's Globe website.

Seated in the Globe, Zoe remarks at the end of the video, 'You've seen how this theatre has worked, now let's try something new'.

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Zoë's first TV appearance

22 January 2012 15:16

I've added details to the website about Zoe's first TV acting role.  She played a troubled teenager in the short drama 'Sally for Keeps'.

The programme was broadcast in 1971, shortly after Zoe had completed her studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

As the TV Times commented at the time, 'The role of Sally provides 21-year-old Zoe Wanamaker - daughter of American actor-director Sam - with her first television appearance'.

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Zoë attends My Week with Marilyn screening

10 January 2012 20:11

Yesterday evening Zoë attended a private screening of My Week with Marilyn - the recently released film in which she plays Marilyn Monroe's acting coach - at the Covent Garden Hotel in London.

You can see photos and an article about the event, which was hosted by Colin Firth, on the Daily Mail website.

Among the other guests were My Week with Marilyn's director Simon Curtis, Elizabeth McGovern, and Helena Bonham-Carter.

The screening came hot on the heels of the news that the film has received considerable attention in the BAFTA awards longlist.  With the awards season underway, let's hope that My Week with Marilyn will have a great deal to celebrate.

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Zoë named in BAFTA 2012 longlist

7 January 2012 13:49

Zoë has been named in the Best Supporting Actress category of this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards longlist, in recognition of her excellent portrayal of acting coach Paula Strasberg in the film My Week with Marilyn.  Zoe's performance is among the top six choices (out of 15) in the category, and so has a good chance of being nominated for the prestigious award.

The highly successful My Week with Marilyn makes a total of 16 appearances in the various categories on the longlist (which was produced by BAFTA members), suggesting that it is likely to be a strong contender for the awards.  It appears on the longlist more often than any other film, except Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which also appears 16 times.

My Week with Marilyn is recognised in the following longlist categories:

- Best Film
- Outstanding British Film
- Best Director (Simon Curtis)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Adrian Hodges)
- Best Leading Actor (Eddie Redmayne)
- Best Leading Actress (Michelle Williams)
- Best Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)
- Best Supporting Actress (Zoë Wanamaker)
- Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench)
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Original Music
- Best Sound
- Best Production Design
- Best Costume Design
- Best Make-up and Hair

As a reminder of Zoe's performance, here is a clip from the film, which focuses on the behind-the-scenes drama between Marilyn Monroe (who was mentored by Paula Strasberg) and Laurence Olivier during the making of The Prince and the Showgirl.

BAFTA members are now voting to decide the shortlist of nominees, which will be announced on 17 January.  The winners of the BAFTA awards will then be revealed at a glamorous awards ceremony in London on 12 February. 

Let's wish Zoe and My Week with Marilyn every success!

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Zoë narrates BBC documentary

26 December 2011 00:41

Zoe is the narrator of The John Craven Years, a BBC documentary celebrating the career of the popular journalist, who is perhaps best known for presenting the children's current affairs programme Newsround.

The John Craven Years was first broadcast on 24 December, but will be repeated on 30 December (BBC2, 12.30am).  You can also watch it on the BBC iPlayer until 6 January.

Updated 4 January: Here is a photo of Zoe's father, Sam Wanamaker, with a young John Craven.

As The John Craven Years explains, the actor and director gave the aspiring broadcaster advice and encouragement when recording a programme called The Sunday Break, which was Craven's first TV appearance.

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