Friendship. In this special friendship. In this special episode, new years day with michael portillo, my interview with leslie caron is shown in. Full its a minute past two. Good afternoon to you. Im out. Armstrong Emergency Services in japan are responding multiple japan are responding to multiple fires up to 30 collapsed fires and up to 30 collapsed buildings after a major earthquake. A 7. 6 magnitude earthquake. A 7. 6 magnitude quake hit the noto region in the centre of the country at approximately 7 am. Uk time. Centre of the country at approximately 7 am. Uk time. No approximately 7 am. Uk time. No casualties have yet been reported , but a government reported, but a Government Spokesperson says its understood people are trapped understood people are trapped under the rubble. Under the rubble. As of today at 6 pm. Local time, there have been numerous calls to the Emergency Services and we have confirmed several incidents of collapsed homes following the earlier earthquake. We will continue to make all efforts to gather information in order to identify all injured persons. The specific details are currently unclear, but we have received reports of six individuals trapped by collapsed buildings in ishikawa prefecture. We do in ishikawa prefecture. We do not have information on whether these injuries are related to these injuries are related to the tsunami, but the details are currently being confirmed with tens of thousands of people have been left without power and evacuation orders remain in place coastal areas. Place for coastal areas. Although a major tsunami warning has since been downgraded and that has eased fears of five metre high waves. Smaller tsunami waves have hit the coastline , but no damage has the coastline, but no damage has been reported from Nuclear Power plants along the sea of japan , plants along the sea of japan, an official the countrys an official from the countrys Meteorological Agency more Meteorological Agency says. More earthquakes expected. A earthquakes are expected. A teenage boy has died after being stabbed on new years eve in london. The 16 year old was pronounced dead shortly before midnight in Primrose Hill, a popular viewpoint where families had gathered to watch the fireworks. A male has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody. Officers have said Primrose Hill was particularly busy at the time of the incident. The was particularly busy at the time of the incident. The number of Channel Crossings in 2023 has fallen by more than a third, compared with last year. The final crossings of the year took place on the 16th of december, when 55 people made the journey from france in one small boat. A bad weather conditions have prevented further attempts. The provisional annual total for the yearis provisional annual total for the year is more than 29,000, bar. Anis, monas husband, says their families being treated like a punchbag and hung out to dry. Doug barrowman says it suits the agenda of the government to scapegoat him and his wife. Now theyre being investigated for their involvement in supplying ppe during the pandemic. Lady mone has admitted she lied when denying connections to medpro , denying connections to medpro, which made profits of £60 million. Labour has called for lady mone to be expelled from the house of lords. The government comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Caseomment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Case eye1ent on an ongoing legal. Case eye tests may be required for drivers over the age of 70. The Automobile Association is calling for the mandatory screening after the number of license holders, license Holding Drivers over the age of 90 doubled in the last decade. A doubled in the last decade. A record 153,000 britons in that age group held a full licence in november , with no requirements november, with no requirements for additional qualifying or screening. The aa wants drivers to be required to show evidence of regular eye tests once they reach 70, to improve road safety. Meanwhile the Party Continues in the capital as brass bands and dancers celebrate the new yeah and dancers celebrate the new year. Along with this. Going year. Along with this. Going away , kwarteng get away from me i away, kwarteng get away from me yeah, thats the one and only p0p yeah, thats the one and only pop legend Chesney Hawkes greeting thousands of spectators along the two mile route through Central London and families even witnessed a brief invasion. Faux witnessed a brief invasion. Faux pas gundam star. Witnessed a brief invasion. Faux pas gundam star. Whoa whoa whoa pas gundam star. Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Yeah, the 2024 parade, whoa. Yeah, the 2024 parade, which started in 1987, makes its way from green park to the palace of westminster. And, im palace of westminster. And, im told, a 20 foot high Balloon Police officer will also be bobbing along the route. This is bobbing along the route. This is gb news. Were on tv, on Digital Radio and on your smart. Speaker radio and on your smart. Speaker two i hope youre enjoying the new year now. Now it is time for new year now. Now it is time for michael i leslie caron, tell me a little bit about your childhood, please. Where you were born. My grandparents were natural born builders. Builders. They loved to build houses. It was very fashionable in the 20s and 30s. Was so they built an estate in perry busk and a beautiful little villa. In beautiful little villa. In louis, which is on the rich outskirts of paris by the river. And it was the grand life like in the 19th century. But but the cook , chauffeur , everybody had cook, chauffeur, everybody had a private car, even cetera. I mean, and then we used to go in procession to the south of france , to the petit busk. And france, to the petit busk. And thats where i was born, with my brother emery. When were you first aware that you wanted to dance or to entertain. 7 entertain . Well, my mother used to be on the stage when she was a bit older than my father , and during older than my father, and during a holiday , she came to paris. Le a holiday, she came to paris. Le grand vie , and met my grand vie, and met my grandparents family , who also grandparents family, who also loved lagrange. They gave lots of receptions and so on, and so forth, and she she used my father , who was five years father, who was five years younger. My family disapproved. Younger. My family disapproved. In obviously because she smoked and she was she had shown her thighs on the stage. Shed been thighs on the stage. Shed been a dancer on broadway. So that was a no no. However, they had was a no no. However, they had to lump it and she married my father and we were very happy. Father and we were very happy. When was it you first thought that you wanted to dance or to entertain . Well, my mother never stopped talking about pavlova and nijinsky. Les ballets russes, she talked about nothing but what was your relationship like with your mother . Well, she was with your mother . Well, she was more interested in books and playing bridge. She used to give me the money she earned at bridge to buy toe shoes during the. War. For apart from that, the. War. For apart from that, she said children bought her. She said, when youre a star, ill be there. So is that why you became a star . Of course. Yes. Star . Of course. Yes. Of course. She found the best of course. She found the best school for me. And she said, school for me. And she said, well , get on with it. School for me. And she said, well, get on with it. Im not going to come like those mothers every day. And watch you , you every day. And watch you, you know, just get on with it. And i did , and shed come once a year did, and shed come once a year and she said, im not quite good enough. So when you became a star, did you regain your mothers affection . Do you think she refused the first contra pact that was offered to me because by then i was in roland petits company , was in roland petits company, and that was very, very glamorous. It was the best company in europe , maybe in the world in europe, maybe in the world in those days. But she turned down the contract, so she turned down the first contract. Second one was gene kelly, mgm , the leading part. Second one was gene kelly, mgm , the leading part. So she mgm, the leading part. So she said, okay, okay, thatll be thatll be good. And she said, but you know , youve got to look but you know, youve got to look at fred astaire. Fred astaire has the best timing of any dancer. And has the best timing of any dancer. And when i met fred astaire and he wanted to work with me , i made a point of not with me, i made a point of not telling him that as a little girl. My mother said , watch fred girl. My mother said, watch fred astaire for timing. Hes the best. Lets go back a little in time. How was your lifestyle, your grand lifestyle affected by the nazi invasion of paris . Oh ho. 110. No. Food and no heat. No no. Food and no heat. No water. Food and no heat. No water. Most of the day there was electricity and water. Certain time of the day , you had to time of the day, you had to quickly fill up. I remember going to bed completely dressed up. Except for the shoes , the up. Except for the shoes, the coat, the scarf , the bonnet , coat, the scarf, the bonnet, everything. It was so cold dunng everything. It was so cold during that first winter. The germans entered paris drama history. The day of hitlers greatest triumph, the day when all the world except the British Empire thought it must be london. Next in paris, it was desperately difficult. Difficult. We ate fodder for the animals. What was it like amongst french people during the nazi occupation . How did you relate to each other . Did you . Other . Did you . Nasty. Nasty. Nasty . Yes nasty . Yes why . I think the french felt why . I think the french felt guilty. I why . I think the french felt guilty. I think the french. No they didnt. They didnt have they didnt. They didnt have they didnt. They didnt have the courage to say no to the invader. The courage to say no to the invader. They waited much too invader. They waited much too long to start preparations for the war. As soon as hitler was building up rose rhodes and tanks. Building up rose rhodes and tanks. Thats when you have to tanks. Thats when you have to build up. If only to show that you are going to be ready in case. But the french life was too good and people were bitter with each other. Rude. You couldnt ask the time of day. You couldnt ask how to get here and there where such and such a street was. People wouldnt street was. People wouldnt answer you. It was unbelievable. Answer you. It was unbelievable. Really hostile. Really hostile. Were you aware of the holocaust . Holocaust . No , i did notice the stars. No, i did notice the stars. On the left side that jewish people were forced to wear yellow. Yellow. Yes. Yes. Yes. And little by little you saw less and less stars. People people with stars. And then people with stars. And then finally me. You saw none. And we finally me. You saw none. And we had a dressmaker who was called rosa , and she , of course, rosa, and she, of course, i suppose was jewish. And one day i said to my father , papa, why i said to my father, papa, why doesnt rosa come and do our clothes anymore . And he said, oh, no, she had a problem with her passport. And thats all i was told as children took a war. War as a joke. It was another game for us. We used to make nasty phone calls to people taking german accent. Then one taking german accent. Then one day at Ballet School , there was day at Ballet School, there was a girl with big numbers tattooed on her arm and. And one day i said something in front of this girl and she opened her sweater and showed us her arm. And never and showed us her arm. And never did that again. You understood what it meant . You understood what it meant . You understood what it meant . Yes. I think by then we knew what the numbers meant. What the numbers meant. Youve mentioned Ballet School when did you start Ballet School when did you start Ballet School . School . I was about 11, very undernourished, skinny little shrimp. It was extremely hot. I went, my mother said to my family, listen , if shes going family, listen, if shes going to be a ballet dancer , she has to be a ballet dancer, she has to be a ballet dancer, she has to learn every day. You dont take that up once a week like young ladies of a good society , young ladies of a good society, do. You do it every day. If youre going to be anything good. Do you remember the liberation . Liberation . Oh, boy, yes, i do , emery and oh, boy, yes, i do, emery and l, oh, boy, yes, i do, emery and i, we said we were going out in the streets. Everybody was. I the streets. Everybody was. I mean, millions of people in paris , each one holding a bottle paris, each one holding a bottle , kissing, hugging. It just was , kissing, hugging. It just was insanely joyous. Insanely joyous. What was your first starring role in paris . Role in paris . Well , role in paris . Well, immediately all ombati when he saw me, he came to the same class i was going to. Same class i was going to. Thats one thing about ballet. Thats one thing about ballet. Everybody goes to the same class. When youre a beginner, you stand in the back and try to do as good as the ones in the front. So i was in the same front. So i was in the same class and one day there was this miraculous , this god like young miraculous, this god like young man with, you know, attitude and grand attitudes. And madame grand attitudes. And madame kissed him and hugged him and he was all party. And after the bar he came to me. He said, you whats your name . And i had decided to call myself corona, the russian name, because of course, all dancers my mother used to talk about with russian. Used to talk about with russian. So i told the truth. I said, leslie caron , and he said, okay, leslie caron, and he said, okay, come and see me in my office at 10 00 tomorrow morning. I want you in my company. I came rushing home and said to my mother, she said, oh, go, good, good. And she said, you go there by yourself. So i went and he by yourself. So i went and he hired me on the spot to do a little solo as a clown dressed by christian dior. It was orange with puffed out thighs. Here in satin, glittered. And here was satin, glittered. And here was a son. And in the back was a moon. In tinsel. And so the number, in tinsel. And so the number, the ballet was called dance. 13 the ballet was called dance. 13 dancers and so i went through my little number. I did my two turns, and i had this to do, and i thought , oh, god, ive ruined i thought, oh, god, ive ruined it, ive ruined it. I wobbled, gosh , id better go home. This gosh, id better go home. This is it. Ive ruined the ballet. Ive ruined all of. And i nearly ive ruined all of. And i nearly went and i thought, well, the music is continuing. Maybe id better continue. So i finished the number and then there was a song kind of applause. I couldnt understand. And this couldnt understand. And this really like rain was beating on the theatre. Oh, the first time the theatre. Oh, the first time id heard that , it was so id heard that, it was so thrilling. There we are. That thrilling. There we are. That was the first. That i knew had dewbs co weeknights from six. Leslie, what age were you when you first came to the attention of gene kelly . By then i was 17 when he saw a probably the next year , and my a probably the next year, and my leading man was jean babilee , leading man was jean babilee, and gene kelly was in the auditorium that night, opening night, tried to come backstage to meet me , and id gone home to meet me, and id gone home like a good little girl. Like a good little girl. Somebody said , gene kelly was somebody said, gene kelly was looking for you to say hello and to congratulate you. Oh. Who. To congratulate you. Oh. Who. And away. A few days before. And away. A few days before. After i got a phone call. Gene kelly wants to meet you and do you a little , uh, test with you . You a little, uh, test with you . Well, as i was quite polite, i said , oh, okay. So i met him and said, oh, okay. So i met him and he gave me a few steps. I thought, well, thats infantile , thought, well, thats infantile, you know, there were no fortes. And none of this difficult stuff. It was all quite charming. I did it and forgot all about it. Anyway, we received a phone call from mgm saying she is coming to hollywood in three days. You yeah. Amazing. Yeah days. You yeah. Amazing. Yeah did you fly to hollywood . Yeah and they said , well, mother and they said, well, mother has to come with you and mother was quite bored at the idea of going to hollywood. Oh but she going to hollywood. Oh but she came and we had to change planes. We stopped in london and then newfoundland and then new york. Every time changing planes. Something or, you know , it was something or, you know, it was a longest journey in the. World longest journey in the. World 1950. And finally hollywood. We were terribly. Gay. Gaze days. Were terribly. Gay. Gaze days. And by then they put us up. My mother and myself in the Beverly Hills hotel. Well, my mother hills hotel. Well, my mother looked at the bill. It was Something Like. 75 a night. The Something Like. 75 a night. The next morning she woke me up at six and said , honey, were six and said, honey, were leaving. This is too expensive. You we had Something Like 250 between the two of us for the week. So so we left. She took a week. So so we left. She took a hailed a taxi , and we arrived in hailed a taxi, and we arrived in culver city , which is nothing culver city, which is nothing but crew guys and their family very nice gardeners. Also lots very nice gardeners. Also lots of mexicans. And it was by the of mexicans. And it was by the workers entrance to the mgm. She said that to be just fine. Dont have to pay for a taxi. Have to pay for a taxi. This resulted in you getting a part in an american in paris. Is that right . It it didnt result. It resulted it starting to work on the film immediately. Oh, right. Yeah, i was hired from paris. Fr