Michelle Gayle: ‘They said don’t leave EastEnders – I never regretted it’

From Grange Hill to the West End, via Eurovision and the Brit awards, the star has built multiple careers. She talks about stage-school pressure, TV diversity and playing Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildMichelle Gayle was 10 months into her role as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last March – and in such full swing that she was in “total denial” of the pandemic – when the West End closed its doors. Sitting in a chintzy backroom of the Palace theatre now, she talks in athletic terms about 12-hour rehearsal days and re-building her stamina. The whole cast is ecstatic to be back, she says, but they are also whispering about how tired they feel.Exhaustion aside, she speaks of her debt to Noma Dumezweni, whose casting in 2016 sparked online outrage from some at the prospect of a Black Hermione. JK Rowling piled in to the furore to defend the casting and call out the complaints as racist. Dumezweni won an Olivier award for the part. “I owe her a lot of gratitude – I’m standing on her shoulders,” says Gayle. “She got through that [time] with incredible grace and proved she was there on merit because she’s a bloody good actress but she had to take a big hit online to do that. When someone of the quality of Noma steps up, no one’s got anything more to say and then the conversation’s dead. It’s a shame that you have to be brilliant to end that conversation, but there are enough brilliant black actors out there.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-13 08:41:05 UTC ]
News tagged with: #hermione granger #cursed child #full swing #palace theatre #harry potter

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Michelle Gayle: ‘They said don’t leave EastEnders – I never regretted it’'


European Publishers Federation ‘Regrets’ Parliament’s Copyright Directive Rejection

Shortly after the Federation of European Publishers met to hold its officers' elections, the European Parliament has rejected a copyright framework measure the federation has supported. Another vote will occur in September. The post European Publishers Federation ‘Regrets’ Parliament’s Copyright... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-07-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #european parliament


Literary fiction and Michelle Obama top Super Thursday picks

Super Thursday will fall on 4th October this year, The Bookseller can reveal, when a whopping 544 new hardbacks will be hitting shelves—40 more than on last year’s equivalent day—all vying for a slice of the lucrative Christmas book market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fiction #super thursday


ALA 2018: In Opening Session, Michelle Obama Gets Personal

In her highly anticipated appearance, the former First Lady reflected on her life as a woman, parent, First Lady—and the time a kid named Lin-Manuel Miranda first rapped about Alexander Hamilton in the East Room. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #opening session #michelle obama #alexander hamilton


Symons leaves Parragon as publisher winds down

Mike Symons, c.e.o. of Parragon, has left the company as it prepares for closure, with only 19 of 140 employees still working at the UK site in Bath, owner DC Thomson has confirmed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mike symons #uk site


ALA 2018 Spotlight: Michelle Obama, Doris Kearns Goodwin Headline 2018 ALA Annual Conference

A star-studded main speaker program awaits attendees, June 21-26, in New Orleans. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michelle obama


Scottish pupils compete for place at Michelle Obama dinner

Scottish schoolchildren are being offered the chance to attend a dinner with Michelle Obama via an essay competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michelle obama


Oneworld's James Jones leaves to go freelance

James Jones, art director at Oneworld, is leaving the company after three years to pursue a freelance design career. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #art director


Parker to leave Bonnier Publishing after 20 years

Sharon Parker, Bonnier Publishing's group chief operating officer, is stepping down from her role after 20 years with the company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bonnier publishing


Michelle Obama shares intimate family photos to promote forthcoming memoir

Michelle Obama is sharing never-before-seen photos of herself growing up to promote her forthcoming memoir Becoming (Penguin).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michelle obama


Young to leave Transworld amid non-fiction restructure

Publishing director Doug Young is leaving Transworld at the end of May, after more than 17 years with the company, following a restructure. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Jessop to leave Vintage following restructure

Editor for Yellow Jersey Press and Vintage, Frances Jessop, is being made redundant this month after nine years with the imprint. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #made redundant


Crime buyer Knobbs leaves Waterstones to pursue writing career

Waterstones' crime buyer and noir novelist Joseph Knobbs is leaving the company after almost a decade to become a full-time writer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #crime buyer #full-time writer


Michelle Obama to Deliver Opening Keynote at 2018 ALA Conference

Her appearance at the conference is sponsored by Penguin Random House, which will publish her much-anticipated memoir, 'Becoming,' on November 13, 2018 via its Crown division. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michelle obama


Bradshaw leaves Bloomsbury for BA

Emma Bradshaw is leaving Bloomsbury Children’s Books to become the Bookseller Association’s new head of campaigns. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookseller association


John Blake and Rosie Virgo leave John Blake Publishing

Founder John Blake and m.d. Rosie Virgo are stepping down from their roles at John Blake Publishing.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john blake


How Did Police Find the Golden State Killer Suspect? Michelle McNamara’s Researcher Has a Hunch.

On Tuesday night, Paul Haynes joined Patton Oswalt and Billy Jenkins for an event in Naperville, Ill., celebrating I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, the bestselling book by Oswalt’s late wife, Michelle McNamara, that the three men had assembled from her unfinished manuscript after her death. The book,... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2018-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #late wife #unfinished manuscript #late 1970s


Strong winds down Southland trees and leave thousands without power

About 18,000 customers were without power Thursday evening as powerful winds caused outages and downed trees, officials said. Crews were working to restore power in 34 neighborhoods, including Fairfax, Los Feliz, Exposition Park, Brentwood and Hyde Park, said Deborah Hong, a spokeswoman for the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #los feliz #hyde park


Justin Adams leaves Bertrams Group

Justin Adams, managing director of Connect Books (now Bertrams Group, following its purchase by investment company Aurelius in February), is to leave the company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #justin adams #connect books #bertrams group


Jo Henry to leave Nielsen Book after 20 years

Jo Henry, v.p. insight & analytics at Nielsen Book, is leaving the company after more than 20 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jo henry #nielsen book


Andersen promotes White as Pakenham leaves

Liz White has taken on the role of senior rights manager at Andersen Press following the resignation of rights director Sarah Pakenham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andersen press