Hamlet is a daunting role for any actor, even if that’s the only part you have. Eddie Izzard, in a new solo show, tackles not just Shakespeare’s melancholy Dane but also Ophelia, Claudius, Polonius, Gertrude… right down to the first and second gravedigger.
were very cross, that, you know, that the national had chosen somebody who wasn t known and a newcomer to play ophelia. but i learned because it wasn t just six weeks, it was a year. so if you don t learn something in that time, you ve had it, really. give up. as ophelia descends into madness, she sings to herself, and although you re not known primarily as a singer, it was about ten years after you made your debut in hamlet that you were cast as sally bowles in the very first london production of cabaret, directed by hal prince. were you surprised to get that part? you bet i was surprised! i thought it was a joke. and i can remember going in and auditioning for him and singing from the wings, because i wouldn t come out onstage for a bit. but he lured me out. what were you singing? can you remember? i think i sang happy birthday to you.
six of us, i think, were angels in the first load of mystery plays. you made your professional debut soon after leaving drama school. yes, just after i left central, just before i was going to the vic. and i knew that i d been cast as ophelia and i wasn t allowed to tell anybody. in hamlet, in 1957, at the old vic. do you have memories of yourfirst night, of opening night, in hamlet? fear. fear. uh, no. i remember. ..memories of my second night, because the critics weren t kind to me! but what was so wonderful is that michael benthall, who ran the vic, said to me, i m going to keep you in the company, he said. and he said, you ll play other parts and you ll understudy all the time, and that way you ll learn. what did you learn from that experience? you said that the critics were pretty harsh. they were, because they
ophelia in hamlet. and i said, what was that like? you said, fear, fear. think back a few years to 2015. does experience.? what does experience do for first night nerves? well, it doesn t do anything. you re still nervous. you still feel you have an enormous responsibility. but i suppose experience has taught me that there s more to worry about. everybody s nervous, and it s not yourjob to transmit it, nerves, to anybody, to your.the rest of the company, in any way. so just get on and do it properly, or better. and the next night, do it better than that. and kenneth branagh, onstage with you, playing. leontes. so how was it, being directed by your co star? oh, ken, i know him so well. when we did ghosts, first thing we did together. ibsen. we were sent out of the studio for laughing. that was mike gambon s fault.
baby ezequiel, 40 minutes later, 12:28, just after midnight. i just know they re going to be world changers. seeing them in person and seeing their faces, i was like, they re so cute. i m so glad they re healthy. david: and in boston, three babies born when the clock struck midnight. parents margarita and roberto rosa holding their newborn selena. we went in with an original plan, god bless any woman that thinks they re going to stick with their plan. david: just a half mile away, this couple welcoming their first child, ophelia. six pounds, eight ounces. mom and the newborn wearing their happy new year headbands. and just down the hall, baby emily bound at seven pounds, 15 ounces, with proud parents and big sisters, and, of course, the medical team, too. and right here tonight thank you, david. please meet emily margaret. david: mom, baby, and nurses