I’d seen Joan on stage earlier than I joined her within the Nationwide Theatre firm on the Previous Vic within the Nineteen Sixties. So I had admired her from afar: that type of performing, these sorts of performs, when she was on the Royal Courtroom. The realism was a soar ahead quite than fantasy-land. I’d come from weekly rep, the place there wasn’t a lot time to delve into your character, the elements weren’t deeply emotional and also you have been fortunate for those who might keep in mind the traces of that week’s play. So it was fairly a gear change.
How fortunate I used to be to be part of all of it on the Vic with Derek Jacobi, Louise Purnell and different shut mates who got here from that point. We went by way of a variety of fantastic issues collectively. Joan was enjoyable and humorous, pretty to behave with. And Laurence Olivier was this nice chief of the British theatre who introduced us all collectively and instilled the proper of feeling amongst us. In fact, happening tour you bought to know one another even higher since you have been all thrown collectively.
There was no starriness with Joan, who was completely approachable. She could possibly be impish, with a depraved sense of humour, and she or he kind of glowed with this large heat. She was by no means grand.
I admired her vastly as a lady and as an actor. Her absolute honesty was exceptional. She hit the nail proper within the centre of its head as a result of she was such a really trustworthy particular person. You could possibly by no means level a finger and say, “That wasn’t truthful.” I cherished that about her. It’s fairly straightforward to get carried away once you’re performing – you possibly can lose sight of the reality for those who’re not cautious. However watching her on the Royal Courtroom, I used to be swept away by this wonderful lady. I checked out her and thought: that’s the type of actor I wish to be. In any other case, what’s the purpose? You’ve obtained to offer it all of your fact, and Joan did.
I miss her so much already and lots of others will too – individuals who have watched her in addition to labored along with her through the years. A unprecedented lady with wonderful spirit.
