I mean Alisa Freindlich and Judy Dench who celebrate their birthdays on December, 8 and 9. Russian and English actresses, born in the same year, with one day difference, they have more than that in common.
Both are incredibly talented, capable to make each new role an event, a sensation! Both are petite, about a metre and a half, and majestic at that.
Both are primarily theatre actresses, who have contributed a lot to Shakesperiana. Both, at a certain period of their career appeared as Juliet and Lady Macbeth.
To be honest, Dench is more prolific here, she has played practically all of Shakesperian repertoire: Ophelia (her debut), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Isabella in Measure for Measure and many more. Freindlich's list is shorter, yet she created a really memorable Katharina.
Both Freindlich and Dench have more than once been named number one of Russia and Britain’s best actresses, both certainly deserved it. The list of similarities might go on and on, but that’s not the point. The point is that each of them is singular and unique, and they are not afraid to experiment! Alisa Freindlich, for instance, appeared as Lillebror, Karlson’s little friend, and lots of adults went to the performance to enjoy her acting. And Judy Dench astonished the public, when after academic repertoire she took over the role of M, James Bond’s boss, adding, in my view, a good touch of irony to 007 series.
For me their participation guarantees special delight, no matter if they are starring or appear in supporting roles. Judy Dench is superb Iris Murdoch in “Iris” and Freindlich is inimitable in “California Suite”, I love them! And you? Which of their roles impressed you?
Don't remember "Iris", never saw it. But her Lady Bracknell in "The importance of being earnest"! WONDERFUL ACTRESS!
ОтветитьУдалитьПо-моему даже не зная языка, поражаешься ее игре. Тихим голосом она уговаривает мужа пойти на преступление. даже не уговаривает - гипнотизирует!
ОтветитьУдалитьExcuse me for this,Irina, but I’m almost ignorant of Russian Actors. From now on, I’ll remember Alisa Freindlich when I see Judi Dench. Judi Dench is larger than life but what I can remember right now is minor roles of the recent like Lady Catharine de Bourg in Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, and M in James Bond series.
ОтветитьУдалитьMy blog started as an assignment of an online writing course offered by a university of Nara. One of the subjects was “comparison” writing and I wrote “Billy Joel and Elton John”. This post of comparison of yours is so superb! (Sorry if this sounds rude, since you are a teacher.) If you are interested in the contents of the course, click “EWII” of the Labels on the sidebar. The course ended about two years ago and I’ve kept blogging personally by transforming it into photography blog.
I’ll spend more time with my family and in a few days I’ll go away from this laptop till January. Thanks for stimulating my heart and mind with your posts this year which are a little difficult to me but interesting. Wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2013.
Yoko
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family, Yoko! Here’s one of my favourite Basho’s haikus for you. In Russian, sorry, as I’ve never seen it in English version:
УдалитьЛюбуюсь прекрасным,
Я жил, как хотел.
Вот так и кончаю год…