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Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Miranda Richardson was born in Southport, Lancashire, England on March 3, 1958, to Marian Georgina (Townsend) and William Alan Richardson, a marketing executive. She has one sister, eight years her senior. Her parents and sister are not involved in the performing arts. At an early age she performed in school plays, having shown a talent and desire to "turn herself into" other people. She has referred to it as "an emotional fusion; you think yourself into them". This mimicry could be of school friends or film stars.

She left school (Southport High School for Girls) at the age of 17, and originally intended becoming a vet. She also considered studying English literature in college, but decided to concentrate on drama and enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (as did many well-known British actors). After three years she graduated and moved into repertory theatre. She became affiliated with the Library Theatre in Manchester in 1979, where she became an assistant stage manager. She obtained her Equity card, and after several regional productions, first appeared on the London stage (Moving at Queens Theatre) in 1981. British television roles soon followed, and then film.

Since then, Miranda has moved into the international arena, and has made films in America, France and Spain. Television work (on both sides of the Atlantic) continues, as does some stage work. Her roles are diverse, but powerful and engaging. She has been quoted as stating "what I basically like is doing things I haven't done before" and this continually comes through in the variety of roles she has played in her career. She is also selective in the roles she takes, being uninterested in performing in the standard Hollywood fare, and preferring more offbeat roles. She was approached to play the Glenn Close role in Fatal Attraction (1987), but found it "regressive in its attitudes". Her attitude is summed up by a quote from an interview that appeared in the New York Times (Dec 27 1992): "I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting. And if that's the choice I have to make, I think I've already made it".

According to "1994 Current Biography Yearbook", she resides in South London with her two Siamese cats, Otis and Waldo. She has now moved to West London. Her hobbies include drawing, walking, gardening, fashion, falconry, and music. She, by her own admission, is a loner and lives rather modestly. An actor who studied with Ms Richardson at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in the late 1970s described her as "a strong minded, specially gifted, rather pretty young woman who enjoys wearing jewelry. She wore toe rings, which in the late 1970s and especially in England, were a rarity and considered rather racy." He also remarked on her drive, even then, to be an actress of the highest caliber.

I like people to be surprised by the turn of events. I don&#39;t want things just to be pat and formulaic. If there&#39;s some sort of internal combustion in the character or a desire to change the way things are going, that makes for conflict, which is the essence of drama.

Why did I not stop to have children? I suppose because the opportunity didn&#39;t present itself. Yes, many women feel they are not complete without having children, but I have different creative outlets.

I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting.

Somebody referred to me as a ringleader, which I wouldn&#39;t have classed myself as, but anyway, there you go.

You can have a laugh in Los Angeles, or you can weep in Los Angeles, depending on your attitude towards it.

&quot;Once the vodka gets flowing, you never know quite what&#39;s going to
happen really.&quot; (on the Golden Globes)

Insecurity, commonly regarded as a weakness in normal people, is the basic tool of the actor&#39;s trade.

[on why she turned down the role of Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987)] I genuinely can&#39;t do crap. If I don&#39;t believe in a role, I can&#39;t pull it off. There have been people who have wondered why on earth I would not do that role, but I felt so strongly that it was demonizing women. It was a case of, &#39;Let&#39;s present the female character not as a person but as a representation of what women are capable of.&#39; I thought it was hideous and didn&#39;t want to have anything to do with it.

Quotes

Miranda Richardson

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