FIRST IMPRESSIONS:DIANA QUICK
What are you working on?
The part of Eva at the Theatre Royal Bath. She’s a German-Jewish fugitive who escapes from Germany on the last boat out of Europe and then meets up with her daughter one summer in the late 1950s/early 1960s. It’s part of the theatre’s plan to stage three American plays each season.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m out walking in the countryside.
What is your greatest fear?
I have a really strong fear of drowning.
What is your earliest memory?
My father coming home from work at lunchtime and playing a game with my two siblings and me, on all fours, racing up the carpet in the hall.
Who has been your greatest influence?
I don’t think I can pick one person. I’ve had some great teachers in my life.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I think a certain implausibility, which is the downside of being an actor.
What is your most treasured possession?
There isn’t any single object that is a totem for me.
What trait do you most abhor in others?
Selfaggrandisement; when people big themselves up.
Do you have a fantasy address?
No, I like where I reside in London and Suffolk.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The tiny lines around my mouth.
What is your all-time favourite book?
Penelope Fitzgerald’s The Beginning Of Spring is wonderful. And I love The Anatomy Of Melancholy by Robert Burton.
What is your favourite film?
Searching For Sugar Man.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
Schubert’s Death And The Maiden or any Schubert really. Or Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing. It’s a great song sexually, but it’s also a great dancing number.
What is your favourite meal?
Breakfast.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Penelope Fitzgerald and Elvis.
Which historical character do you most admire?
A Moroccan traveller called Ibn Battuta. He was a sailor who lived in the 14th century and he travelled huge distances fearlessly.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
Well, this isn’t something that was said to me, but I was in the same room at the time. I’d gone out looking like an absolute town scarecrow from my country place to go on an errand and that night I went to a restaurant in the same little village. There was hardly anybody in the restaurant, except for one other table and I suddenly heard this voice say: ‘Oh, we had that Diane Quick come in this morning. I wouldn’t look at her twice, I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’ It was very rude, but of course, he didn’t know I was listening.
Do you believe in aliens?
I certainly keep an open mind. I’m not sure if I believe in little Martians coming down and holding us to ransom.
What is your secret vice?
Dark chocolate – and lots of it.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, I do. I so appreciate it when people take the time to write to me so I do make the effort to write them.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Darling. I said I’d never do that because it’s so actory, even though I only use it when I mean it. It’s become such a hackneyed thing for an actor to say. It confi rms everybody’s worst prejudice about them.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Being disciplined about going to Pilates classes. My New Year’s resolution was to go regularly to a proper place and not just muck around at home.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
I think I’d like it to say something like – this sounds a bit pompous – ‘She knew how to give and receive love’.
Diana Quick stars in The American Plan at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, 7 March to 6 April. Box office: 01225-448844, www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov
The part of Eva at the Theatre Royal Bath. She’s a German-Jewish fugitive who escapes from Germany on the last boat out of Europe and then meets up with her daughter one summer in the late 1950s/early 1960s. It’s part of the theatre’s plan to stage three American plays each season.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m out walking in the countryside.
What is your greatest fear?
I have a really strong fear of drowning.
What is your earliest memory?
My father coming home from work at lunchtime and playing a game with my two siblings and me, on all fours, racing up the carpet in the hall.
Who has been your greatest influence?
I don’t think I can pick one person. I’ve had some great teachers in my life.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I think a certain implausibility, which is the downside of being an actor.
What is your most treasured possession?
There isn’t any single object that is a totem for me.
What trait do you most abhor in others?
Selfaggrandisement; when people big themselves up.
Do you have a fantasy address?
No, I like where I reside in London and Suffolk.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The tiny lines around my mouth.
What is your all-time favourite book?
Penelope Fitzgerald’s The Beginning Of Spring is wonderful. And I love The Anatomy Of Melancholy by Robert Burton.
What is your favourite film?
Searching For Sugar Man.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
Schubert’s Death And The Maiden or any Schubert really. Or Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing. It’s a great song sexually, but it’s also a great dancing number.
What is your favourite meal?
Breakfast.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Penelope Fitzgerald and Elvis.
Which historical character do you most admire?
A Moroccan traveller called Ibn Battuta. He was a sailor who lived in the 14th century and he travelled huge distances fearlessly.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
Well, this isn’t something that was said to me, but I was in the same room at the time. I’d gone out looking like an absolute town scarecrow from my country place to go on an errand and that night I went to a restaurant in the same little village. There was hardly anybody in the restaurant, except for one other table and I suddenly heard this voice say: ‘Oh, we had that Diane Quick come in this morning. I wouldn’t look at her twice, I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’ It was very rude, but of course, he didn’t know I was listening.
Do you believe in aliens?
I certainly keep an open mind. I’m not sure if I believe in little Martians coming down and holding us to ransom.
What is your secret vice?
Dark chocolate – and lots of it.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, I do. I so appreciate it when people take the time to write to me so I do make the effort to write them.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Darling. I said I’d never do that because it’s so actory, even though I only use it when I mean it. It’s become such a hackneyed thing for an actor to say. It confi rms everybody’s worst prejudice about them.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Being disciplined about going to Pilates classes. My New Year’s resolution was to go regularly to a proper place and not just muck around at home.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
I think I’d like it to say something like – this sounds a bit pompous – ‘She knew how to give and receive love’.
Diana Quick stars in The American Plan at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, 7 March to 6 April. Box office: 01225-448844, www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov