Fellwanderer

And... there is no finer lady than Jenny and I am nothing but a gentleman in her company

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Number2

1 - Near misses. What significant films/TV shows did we almost get to see you in? Ones were close to being selected but someone else got the part. I'm thinking especially of the Hollywood years.

2 - Any films/shows that you would have particulary enjoyed being in but didn't get asked or selected for the part?

3 - Have you considered having a biography written about yourself? Still many years to go in your career but it would promote you now and be a treat for your numerous fans.

4 - I corresponded with Tony Earnshaw today about the Bradford Film Festival interview - "Jenny Agutter: A Charmed Career". He says its only for showing at their Film Festivals. Any way to shake that loose so it can be made available (DVD) or American television (A&E) or internet? Otherwise its lost to viewers until the next Jenny Agutter film festival at Bradford.

batman

I am sure Jenny has declined many offers of film roles over the years, I was wondering if there was one that sticks in her mind as being particularly unsuitable or bad.

Bats.

I'm the cutest bottom judge!

Number2

Having just viewed The Buccaneers (1995), I had these thoughts...

- we found it be one of the most enjoyable period dramas we've seen in awhile
- Cherie Linghi (plays Laura Testvalley) has a fair amount of physical resemblence to Jenny. It was easy to consider how would have been more enjoyable it would have been to see Jenny in that role instead of as Idina Hatton (mistress). Certainly the increased screen time would have been a plus and Jenny's more perfect voice would have fit the Governess better. Cherie did do very well in the role but this is a forum for Jenny fans so I have my preferences.

- Question for Jenny:
Had she originally been offered the Laura Testvalley (Governess) role in The Buccaneeers but declined due to having a young child at the time and not wanting to both travel to America and the bigger time commitment of that role?

Number2

Expanding upon that - some more questions for Jenny:

1 - Fellwanderer and I had a brief discussion on this forum about which films he considered exploitative roles. I felt that probably the one that crossed the line was China 9 Liberty 37. Can you give us your thoughts on China 9 Liberty 37 and your role in it and whether you felt it was exploitative?

2 - Some nudity is essential to a movie being true to the book (Logan's Run), play (Equus) or director's vision (Walkabout) but did you ever request scenes be rewritten in these or other movies to remove or tone down some scenes or did you just play it as written?

lawrence710654

I agree with everything you say Jenny is one of the classic english roses of acting, a very sexy lady with the voice tones to match.

I had just visited the seal sanctuary at Gweek several years ago and as I drove away from the village I was lucky enough to see Jenny getting into her car, I was in heaven for the rest of the day.

Congrats on the photo one of the best I have seen.

Lawrence

Number2

Even more questions for Jenny:

1 - In Walkabout (DVD commentary), you had read the book, it was mostly shot in sequence and Nicolas Roeg had given you his vision for the film and characters. You knew what it was about and were prepared.

Looking at the Logan's Run shooting schedule, it is completely cut up (see index).
Did you read the book beforehand? Did you have a sense of the whole film before finally seeing it or was it just disconnected scenes until then?

Also, The Logan's Run DVD would be so much better if had your commentary.
Please consider offering to add that to a future DVD release of the movie.

2 - In Red Dwarf VI-1 you play Prof. Mamet.
- How did that role come about? Did you ask them (being a fan?) or did they ask you (being fans)?
- It is noted that Prof. Mamet doesn't move at all. Did the script call for that or just didn't feel like moving about that day?

3 - Its amusing in An American Werewolf in London and in the Red Dwarf DVD commentaries to hear the other actors in awe of you. Please mention some names where you had a similar awe of other actors in the films/shows you've been in.

4 - Now that your son is soon to go off to university you should be a bit more free to travel for long periods. Are you considering non-UK productions for that future? Maybe even the occasional Hollywood film/show again?

5 - Living in LA and immersed in the acting community there would provide a very odd view of America and Americans. Did you have have a chance to travel elsewhere in the US (where?) and get to know Americans outside the entertainment industry (besides your work in Watts)?

stevie boy

Do you fancy buying me a pint Jenny???

julian_craster

For Jenny......Would you like to return to the London/West End stage ?

I recall making a special trip to London to see you in SPRING AWAKENING at the Old Vic in 1974, and it was very exciting to see my favourite actress performing only a few feet away from my seat in the stalls ! Quite wonderful .....

From Julian Craster

Fellwanderer

I better get my questions in before I decide there might be too many!

For Jenny:

1 Do you feel indebted to any particular actor/director for advice/encouragement that enabled your career to develop?

2 You have performed on stage, television and film in a variety of genres. Is there any one that you feel especially suits you or one that you would like to do more of?

From PP

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Fellwanderer

When Mrs Fell and Miss Fell were down there a couple of years ago, everyone else was taking photos of seals and they were photographing the plaque commemorating the opening for me!

Hope you've seen:

Jenny Agutter's Official Website Home Page

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Number2

Questions for Jenny:

1 - As a teenager, a motivation for agreeing to do Walkabout was a desire to meet The Beatles. Have you managed to meet any of The Beatles?

2 - Your wonderful voice and Received Pronunciation have gotten you many roles and readings. Somehow you've managed to maintain it despite being surrounded by Californians earlier and Estuary English today. Is speaking so wonderfully in RP something you have to keep at daily to maintain and concentrate when acting/reading or is it unassailable and naturally how you talk when off with family?

3 - RP may have had a limiting affect on your career within Hollywood if you got typecast for only English accent roles but an actor can do other accents. Can you give me the names of some films/shows where you neutralized the RP accent or used an American (or other) accent?

4 - I have heard that Sweet William is one of your favorite films. I hope to see it next month when it comes out on DVD. But I've also heard negative reviews of the film and of the plot - ("why is she such a fool?"). Why do you like this film so much? Do you have any commentary on your character that might explain her motivations better?

A note of thanks for Jenny.
After (re)discovering Logan's Run a month ago, myself and the family have gone through your catalog of films/shows and seen these films for the first time. Its been quite enjoyable and we've seen you in many gems (Walkabout, Spooks/MI-5, Equus, Buccaneers, Eagle Has Landed, AAWIL, Amy). We will be seeing The Railway Children (1970) for the first time this weekend.
Thanks for your work and thanks for agreeing to answer some of our questions on this forum.

Fellwanderer

I've just spoken with Jenny and agreed that I'll forward all questions to her next Friday morning so if you want to ask one, you've still got time. All questions posted by 8am next Friday will be included and she will answer as and when she can.

We actually discussed something related to one of the questions, but I won't give any clues.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

hankoler

I would like to ask Jenny if she has any theatre work lined up in the future,and also, has she ever considered doing any directing theatrewise.

Number2

I've just finished my first viewing of the classic The Railway Children (1970). Having seen the 2000 version first a few weeks ago and not brought up with it as part of my Christmas viewing I bring a different perspective seeing them newly and in reverse order.

First of all to choose, without a doubt I prefer the 1970 version. All 3 children are better acted and livelier. Jenny plays the iconic Bobbie and with the perfect voice and beauty. The mother is played with more spirit and doesn't spend the whole time suffering. The tone of the movie is quirkier and produced laughter from my children. The odd part is everytime I saw Dinah Sheridan as Mother I had a hard time with the face not being the 2000 Jenny Agutter mother. I love the ending where Jenny holds up the blackboard for The End and says Bye.

That said, I think the 2000 version told the story better and it helped in viewing the 1970 version having seen it first. Also I thought the Russian and Daddy looked too much alike in 1970. Richard Attenborough was a better choice for the Old Gentleman in 2000. The poverty and the selling of furnishings in 2000 add more punch to the story line. Did anyone else think Peter (1970) bore a resemblence to a mini-Keith Moon and the injured boy (1970) to a young Mick Jagger?

Maybe the wonders of computers will have Jenny Agutter as both Bobbie and the Mother together in a future remake, then it will be perfect.