Eileen Atkins in 'Will She Do?': An Exploration of Character and Identity

Carol Wilson: Ones of the best biographies I have come across. On reaching the end I went back to the beginning and read it all over again. A beautifully written story of the ups and downs of an interesting life.

United Kingdom on Oct 01, 2023

K P.: I had the priviledge of meeting this talented lady in Port Isaac whilst filming Doc Martin so I had to buy the book. Not disappointed it is as interesting as the lady herself.

United Kingdom on Jun 14, 2023

FictionLover: A wonderful read, the story of the poor Tottenham girl who made it to the stage and became a star. It’s well written, and I felt as if she were sitting talking to me. I am 15 years younger than her, but Will She Do is still recognisable as a slice of working class London life where poverty butts up against classic British class divisions – when her mother for instance describes something as ‘common’ I can hear my own mother’s voice (particular venom was reserved by her mother for Butlins holiday camps).

Her childhood, her ambitious mother, her slow and frequently painful progress to ‘the stage’ and slice-of-life accounts of underpaid repertory theatre in grotty digs are vivid and compelling. And this is only the First Act – ending in 1965 with Eileen Atkins recognised as a great actress - a star of The Killing OF Sister George on stage on London and on Broadway. The book is sprinkled with many luvvie stage stories; names are named, and all of the stories delivered without rancour, no scores being settled though conflicts were many and jealousies apparent.

So when do we get Act 2? There was that song: ‘Come On Eileen!’ and that’s what I am...

United Kingdom on Apr 04, 2023

Jacqualine G. Couch: Interesting remembrances of an incredible actor.

United States on Nov 13, 2022

Deborah Z. Shaw: What a lovely woman! Totally honest and nearly perfect recall about her early life. Very easy to read. She faced many harsh circumstances as a child with a stiff upper lip and just got on with her life and career. Very entertaining. I couldn't put it down.

United States on Jul 09, 2022

Pamela Goodrich-Yohe: Highly recommend! Dame E is a phenomenal storyteller! An open and honest account of her life, on and off the stage. I hope that she continues to publish!

United States on May 17, 2022

Joseph S.: A very good read for a snowy afternoon. You’ll laugh out loud like an idiot, and these days we all need more laughter.

United States on Mar 02, 2022

jean: Did not expect it to be only about Eileen's early life. I was more interested in her later life so was a bit disappointed. Hope she plans on a follow up about her life up until now. It was mostly a boring list of play after play she acted in. Very lacking in personal information. Mostly dry career facts. Wanted to know more about the person and less about the career.

United States on Nov 30, 2021

Martynb: An interesting read, although some of the editing is poor and I can't help feeling her memory let her down on a few occasions (e.g. she couldn't have heard "who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler" at the Stage Door Canteen during WW2 as it was written especially for Dad's Army over 20 years later). Norwich to Euston via East Dulwich on what appeared to be one train? Those minor grumblings aside I really enjoyed reading it and Eileen is a very competent author compared to so many other acting memoirs I've read in the past few years. When Eileen was interviewed on R4 Woman's Hour recently she said she was not planning to write a sequel about her later life. A good decision and that's not a reflection on her writing at all; she's was right in saying that so many stage autobiographies become a boring list of achievements and anecdotes once the initial discovery and rise to stardom is achieved.

United Kingdom on Oct 30, 2021

Lady Fancifull: Eileen Atkins, born in 1934, did not come from a theatrical family, and at the time she was determined to make her way as an actor, her class (working) was still very much against her.

Her father was a meter reader, her aspirational, quite snobbish, rather cold mother, was the one who pushed little Eileen into performance, as the result of a gypsy fortune teller saying she would be a famous dancer. At a very young age Eileen was performing rather risqué, suggestive song-and-dance numbers in Working Men’s Clubs. Almost Child Porn, though the times were perhaps a bit more innocent.

Dame Eileen Atkins, as she is now, is a multi gifted person, not only as a performer, but also, as a writer. This is a wonderfully direct account, from her childhood, up till her launch into stardom from The Killing of Sister George, and the breakdown of her first marriage, in 1966.

She is clearly a woman with a wonderful talent for strong friendships, and one with quite a fierce temper – particularly when younger, before she had any ‘clout’ at all. I relished the account of her, as a lowly ASM, shouting at the enormously up and coming Peter Hall for his rudeness to the...

United Kingdom on Oct 11, 2021