An Actor's Life

Joan Collins

17 May 2008

Joan Collins lives an actor's life

As one who has spent most of their adult life on a sound stage, I was feeling quite blasé about visiting the set of Dr Who. The thought amused me because of the intense excitement of nine-year-old Miel and Weston, four, my daughter Tara’s children, who had barely slept the previous night in breathless anticipation of not only seeing the shooting but of meeting their idol, David Tennant. Percy had printed out a dozen photographs of the good Doctor from the internet, so armed with those we hit the set on Monday morning, a nondescript studio in Cardiff. Beth and Edward, from the production team, greeted the five of us warmly and immediately escorted us to the set, where the Christmas special was being filmed. Dozens of children in Dickensian costume were toiling away in the Dr Who version of a Victorian sweatshop factory, and the atmosphere looked totally sinister and threatening. ‘When’s David Tennant coming?’ asked Weston, impatiently waving his 8x10 glossies. ‘He’s on his way, let’s go meet him,’ said Beth. Then, without any fanfare or entourage, there was the fabulous Time Lord in person, resplendent in his trademark brown suit, with hair well spiked.

I have seldom met an actor more gracious and charming to visitors to a film set, particularly when he is soon needed to be on it and has masses of dialogue to spout, but for 15 minutes David Tennant patiently answered all the children’s questions about the show, even showing Weston where the key to the Tardis was hidden. He signed all their pictures and was just about to leave when Weston piped up with, ‘Doctor! Doctor! When’s David Tennant going to be here?’ The children were then shown the prop rooms, all over the costume department and the magic room, where all the creepy alien heads are stored, then on to the make-up department, where they had mysterious tattoos applied to their hands and Weston’s hair was gelled and spiked into a facsimile of Dr Who’s. Frankly they had one of the best days of their lives, as did I. Can’t wait now to see David Tennant give us his Hamlet this summer at Stratford.

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laurie macdonell-sanchez

May 16th, 2008 6:34pm Report this comment

Joan Collins's articles are SO readable & enjoyable.

David Short

May 17th, 2008 1:46am Report this comment

I agree with laurie. And I am happy to note that I also watched that movie (guiltily, as we older people do when watching a film during the day - I noticed Miss Collins had to say it was 'rainy', thereby assuaging her guilt.

It was a great film, and yes I looked it up on imdb also, as any movie fan does, and I thought the comments about Laurence Harvey were unfair.

It was a great portrayal of a womaniser who knows his time is up.

I've met a lot of actresses, including movie 'stars', but Joan Collins is the only living one who I view with awe.

Even when I was once within three feet of her at a small press thing in Cannes, I didn't feel I could speak to her. Even tho at similar events I've had no problems.

Great lady.

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