Celebrating Zoë’s birthday!

13 May 2021 04:15

I’m sure you’ll want to join me today, 13 May, in wishing Zoë a magical birthday and many happy returns! She’s talented, kind, compassionate and wise with an unmistakable laugh. The world needs more people like her; now more so than ever.

The next 12 months look set to be particularly exciting for Zoë and her fans alike. She’s currently preparing to star alongside Peter Capaldi in Constellations, which opens in London’s West End next month, and will also soon be seen in Britannia series three on Sky Atlantic.

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Shadow and Bone: new clip featuring Zoë, online premiere event and first reviews

22 April 2021 14:17

In anticipation of tomorrow's release of the Netflix Shadow and Bone fantasy series, we're being treated to another compelling look at formidable Baghra's training sessions with Alina. Head over to Twitter, where spoken and written word app Scribd has shared the exclusive video, featuring Zoe and Jessie Mei Li.

For even more Shadow and Bone content, you can watch the Sneak Peak Premiere Event on YouTube. It starts at midnight tonight (UK time) and will be broadcast simultaneously in other countries too. The event will feature cast members, behind-the-scenes moments, exclusive clips and a 10-minute preview of episode one.

The epic show has already garnered a number of encouraging reviews. For example, Variety emphasises that Shadow and Bone 'creates a smart, immersive world', and Den of Geek says it 'brings the magic'.

The Hollywood Reporter's review, while less enamoured with the series overall, remarks that Jessie Mei Li enjoys 'great scenes with Zoë Wanamaker as her strict tutor, and having an actress of Wanamaker's stature even in a minor role offers a big boost of credibility to the entire series'.

Roll on 23 April!

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BBC Radio 2 interview: Zoë and Peter Capaldi to discuss Constellations on 23 April

21 April 2021 19:01

Set your alarm clocks for Friday morning, folks!

Zoë and her Constellations co-star, Peter Capaldi, will be special guests on the 23 April edition of BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. They’ll chat about preparing for this summer’s West End revival of Nick Payne’s cosmology-inspired, smash-hit play (for which tickets are on sale from Nimax Theatres).

So that’s Zoë-with-dots-over-the-‘e’ being interviewed by Zoe-without-dots-over-the-‘e’ at some point between 6:30 and 9:30 am (the exact time isn’t specified in the programme information, so we’ll just have to play it by ear).

Incidentally, the Netflix Shadow and Bone fantasy series Zoë filmed just over 12 months ago will be released on Friday. Perhaps that’ll be discussed too.

If you miss the interview or want to listen again, it’ll be available on the BBC website shortly after it airs.

Thanks to @Tempus_Fugit0, via Twitter, for the link to the programme information.

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News round-up: BBC and Independent interview Zoë; reasons to be a fan; special event for drama students

21 April 2021 18:40

Zoë’s insights into Prince Philip’s Globe patronage

On the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, Zoë appeared on a special BBC One programme, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered, to discuss his decades-long involvement with Shakespeare’s Globe as royal patron.

Speaking to presenter Huw Edwards, Zoë shed light on Prince Philip’s friendship with her dad, who founded the extraordinary theatre on London’s South Bank. ‘I think the reason Sam Wanamaker, my father, got on so well with him is because they were tenacious people’.

Like its founder, Prince Philip ‘was very, very passionate about the Globe,’ Zoë emphasised.

As a result, the Queen’s late husband certainly wasn’t a patron in name only. In Zoe’s words, ‘he was always enthusiastic and always there’.

The brief interview, which begins about 49 minutes into the programme, is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Zoë discusses ‘extraordinary’ arts in the Independent

‘The sciences and the arts are the lifeblood of a country,’ Zoë emphasises in an excellent interview with the Independent newspaper, published on 18 April.

With live performances thin on the ground for much of the pandemic, the arts sector has really struggled (hence Zoë’s support for the Theatre Artists Fund). Thankfully, there are plans to reopen venues, with Zoe herself set to star in Constellations in the West End.

‘She lights up when we discuss theatre’s return’, the interviewer, Isobel Lewis (who has said on Twitter that speaking to Zoë ‘was a joy’), points out. For Zoë, the arts are ‘extraordinary’ and should be celebrated.

The interview covers much more besides, from appearing in Netflix’s ‘intriguing’ Shadow and Bone fantasy series to having the courage to speak out ‘if something’s not comfortable’ when you’re working.

You can read it in full on the Independent’s website.

BBC America’s 10 Reasons to Celebrate Zoë

In anticipation of Zoë appearing in the Netflix Shadow and Bone fantasy series being released on 23 April, BBC America has drawn up a rather wonderful list ‘to celebrate this award-winning and prolific actress’.

‘10 Reasons We’re Huge Fans of Zoë Wanamaker’ highlights some of her most famous TV shows (My Family, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Doctor Who, Killing Eve), acclaimed stage work (such as The Cherry Orchard), the fact her father, Sam Wanamaker, founded Shakespeare’s Globe, and more.

One of my favourite reasons in the article is that ‘She has a magnificent actor’s voice’. Absolutely!

Zoë offers advice to Central drama students

As you may know, Zoë trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, graduating in 1970.

On 14 April, she was invited to take part in a special online event for the Class of 2020 and 2021, as part of Central’s support programme for emerging graduates.

Zoë discussed her career on stage and screen, answered students’ questions and offered advice. No doubt her input is particularly welcome at the moment; this is clearly a very challenging time for drama students and the acting industry in general.

As the event was run exclusively for Central’s emerging graduates, there’s no video or transcript available to the public. However, Central’s blog features a lovely message from Zoë to the students who were involved:

‘It was a pleasure to speak with Central’s students and graduates, look back on my time at Central in 1970, and offer some words of advice to help them address some of the new challenges being faced in 2021, and beyond. I have no doubt that they’ll go far!’

In his own message, Central’s Dr Joshua Abrams highlights Zoë’s ‘fabulous storytelling’ and emphasises that everyone was ‘utterly charmed by her presence’.

With thanks to @Lost_In_Films_ for the heads-up about the TV interview

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Shadow and Bone author Leigh Bardugo praises Zoë's 'exceptional' performance

14 April 2021 10:02

There are fewer than ten days left to wait until the Netflix Shadow and Bone adaptation is released. Recent comments by Leigh Bardugo, who wrote the hugely successful Grishaverse fantasy novels the series is based on, are bound to make you even more excited to stream it.

In an interview published by the Daily Mail, the best-selling author discusses her excitement at seeing key cast members work together. 'I think [Ben Barnes'] chemistry with Jessie [Mei Li, as the mysterious Darkling and mapmaker heroine Alina Starkov, respectively] and with many of the actors is just off the charts, and I can't tell you how much I loved watching him and Zoë [Wanamaker], who plays Baghra.'

Bardugo adds: 'Their scenes are some of my favourite, because it's just these two exceptional actors who are constantly pushing each other.'

Thankfully, we only need to wait until 23 April to see Zoë in action alongside her co-stars. In the meantime, we can enjoy the epic trailer.

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