Jenny Agutter

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer All questions posted by 8am next Friday will be included and she will answer as and when she can.

1) Did she enjoy working with Patrick McGoohan on "Man in the Iron Mask"? He has a media reputation as being a bit stern and yet most 'personal' anecdotes I come across, remark how pleasant he is.

2) Did/Does she retain any contact with David Gulpilil and what was her experience of working with him? I've seen the guy pop up over the years in things like 'Boney' and 'Crocodile Dundee' and even star in 'The Last Wave'. He is apparently due to feature in Baz Luhrman's 'Australia' next year.

Many thanks.

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by 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.

I've copied this one over from the British Films and Chat forum so that I don't miss it.

[David Challinor]

I'd like to also ask Jenny about Walkabout. Did she draw on any personal experiences to act as the 'older sister' in the film to the boy - I was very close to an older sister and I consider her restrained performance as 'the leader' to the boy after the father dies is excellent.

Are there any novels/stories currently unfilmed that she would like to star in?

What was the last time she saw a new film or tv drama and thought 'wow, that was brilliant'

What is her favourite film [Jenny, thanks a million for all your work]

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by David Challinor What is her favourite film [Jenny, thanks a million for all your work]

David - can you confirm you mean favourite film Jenny has appeared in, please?

I intend putting questions with the questioner's name in the format:

David Challinor

or

Philip [Fellwanderer] if no obvious forename is given by the username.

If it is not obvious from a questioner's username, would they please let me know here or by PM what their preferred forename would be.

[Number2]

One thing you really have to respect about Jenny is her decision and steadfastness in keeping her private life private. We may be curious but you can see in the quality of the questions that Jenny enjoys a level of personal respect from her fans that other stars don't have.

As a side benefit of keeping her appearances mostly within the UK the last few years I would guess that Jenny and family can escape at will and and travel ouside the UK anonymously. That would be a healthy mental relief unavailable to most other stars of her caliber.

BTW to the UK - Thanks for keeping Madonna all these years for us. We'll be sending Beckham and Posh packing back home soon. No trades, except for Jenny.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Number2 BTW to the UK - Thanks for keeping Madonna all these years for us. We'll be sending Beckham and Posh packing back home soon. No trades, except for Jenny.

Oh no you don't. You got Becks & Posh as your cost for us keeping Madonna away. We've locked her away in the countryside and she doesn't give anyone much trouble now - not compared to how much she used to cause

Steve

[Dame Starry]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Oh no you don't. You got Becks & Posh as your cost for us keeping Madonna away. We've locked her away in the countryside and she doesn't give anyone much trouble now - not compared to how much she used to cause Steve

Hear! Hear! Well said, Steve.

YDSL x.

[Freddy]

Questions for Jenny:

Freddy
Have you ever considered becoming an author or screenwriter?

Who was your inspiration when you first started out?

What makes you laugh?

If you were the leading lady and Fell your leading man which film would you choose to headline in?

Many many thanks

Freddy

[David Challinor]

I actually meant her favourite film per se ...but that could be one her own. ...And , yes, if additionally it would be good to know what film she is most proud of appearing in

[Number2]

The link to all 24 pages of this article is:

Vocal Sincerity, Liminality and Bonding in The Railway Children (Jeffries, 1970) | Literature Film Quarterly

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer; The Railway Children[/b] - if you haven't seen it, you really should. No better family film and the most emotionally charged line uttered in any British film [any film at all in my opinion]. There was an excellent article published a few months ago: Vocal Sincerity, Liminality and Bonding in The Railway Children (Jeffries, 1970) Literature Film Quarterly, 2007 by Dr Susan Smith - I'll try to dig out the online reference. .

[Number2]

Here are the books that I am aware of that have significant discussion about Jenny and her work (beyond film reviews, interview articles and standard bio).
Anyone know of others?

The Last Great American Picture Show: New Hollywood Cinema in the 1970s by Alexander Horwath (2004) - About China 9 Liberty 37. Challenging commentary on Jenny on p.189.

Nicolas Roeg, Film by Film by Scott Salwolke (1993) - In depth analysis of Walkabout. Similar to Railway Children article.

Snap: Observations of Los Angeles and London by Jenny Agutter (1983) - Jenny's photos and commentary on her two homes.

Nicolas Roeg by Neil Feineman (1978) - In depth analysis of Walkabout. Similar to Railway Children article.

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer I've copied this one over from the British Films and Chat forum so that I don't miss it.

Yo Fell

A question for the great lady:

Given that many film, TV and stage actors from the 60s and 70s such as Susan George, Brigit Forsyth, Susan Penhaligon, Linda Thorsen, Patrick Mower, Michael Jayston, Freddie Jones, Sir Ian McKellen, Ray Brooks etc have found new homes and careers as soapsters (some permanent some temporary), would she consider a return to the English soap scene (I think she started out in The Newcomers)? If so which one would be the most bearable?

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by Freddy Questions for Jenny: Freddy If you were the leading lady and Fell your leading man which film would you choose to headline in? Many many thanks Freddy

I suspect the above is the only one I daren't send her - I think she'd probably opt for 4.50 from Paddington so she could escape from my clutches both quickly and permanently

Many thanks for all the questions so far. I've copied them all for now and will be adding any others received by tomorrow morning to email off to Jenny.

A great variety - some of which I know Jenny's answers from the past but it will be interesting to see if her views have changed.

It is an excellent in-depth article that Number2 has provided the link for - although a bit of a hassle in actually reading it. I'm intending contacting Susan Smith to see if there is any chance of putting it on Jenny's website in some form. Incidentally, Susan Smith is a lecturer in the faculty my daughter graduated from in June - though my daughter didn't come across her as she did ceramics and glass architecture.

I'll be away most of the time from tomorrow morning until Sunday evening but may be able to get some internet access if I can find a BTOpen zone.

[Number2]

What timing! My copy of Jenny's book Snap arrived just now in the mail. Nice picture of Jenny on the cover. I'll have to read through it today and see if brings up any worthwhile questions before Fell's deadline.

[Number2]

After reading Snap, I recommend it to her fans who haven't got ahold of a copy yet. The pictures help the story for those who may have never been to these places (I have in general) but its the writing that's most worthwhile. Jenny gives a sometimes amusing, observational take on London and Los Angeles. Its a more personal tone then we usually hear about from this period including her parents, Beryl Bainbridge (the writer of the book that the movie Sweet Williams is based on) and her then boyfriend in the ancedotes. It also gives you a sense of how well her career, opportunities and her finances (Hollywood Hills home) were doing at this peak time in her film career.

It also opens the question, how did it happen that her Hollywood career stalled so soon after? I've seen a few one-liners as to why but I don't fully buy them as complete.

Jenny has been quoted as saying that she finds having the patience to be a writer difficult but this book proves that she can write very well at least about herself and her life (or a least she could 25 years ago). Maybe she could write another personal book about place she loves if she's not up for an autobiography.

Questions for Jenny:

1 - Why spurred you to write Snap? How did it do at the time (sales/reviews)?

2 - Who is "John" that the book is dedicated too?

3 - Is Snap - p. 107 (Yucca plants) a view from your house's garden?