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’'


Finding Hope When Grief Leaves ‘A Hole in the World’

In her debut book, Amanda Held Opelt reflects on loss, including the death of her sister Rachel Held Evans, and looks at different cultures to argue for why Americans must learn to normalize difficult emotions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair Director Andy Ventris Is Reported Leaving

Said to be stepping away from London Book Fair's producer RX, Andy Ventris saw only one iteration of the fair under his management. The post London Book Fair Director Andy Ventris Is Reported Leaving appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-05-18 17:34:07 UTC ]
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Michelle Huneven’s ‘Search’ offers spiritual wisdom — and cookies

Michelle Huneven's novel "Search" follows a food writer's efforts to help her church find a new minister. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-03 12:37:35 UTC ]
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Tracy Sherrod to Leave Amistad

Sherrod, the v-p and editorial director of Amistad, will leave the HarperCollins imprint after nearly a decade to "pursue a new endeavor." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tracy sherrod #harpercollins imprint #harpercollins


Why Authors Love You When You Leave a Book Review Online

Why do authors always ask for readers to leave reviews? Do reviews really help sell their books? Bottom line: yes. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-03-30 10:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bottom line #book review


Daniel Pink: Foundational regrets are the reason for dissatisfaction later in life

In this excerpt from his new book, Daniel Pink writes about choices that seem irresistible at first, but morph into powerful regrets later in life. For a guy whom antiquity scholars say might never have existed, Aesop has enjoyed a pretty good run as an author. The fables that bear his name (but... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2022-02-18 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #remain popular #streaming services #talking animals #bookstore


Books overboard! Supply chain headaches leave publishing all at sea

Containers full of books at the bottom of the ocean are just one problem for an industry facing a host of shortagesThe supply chain crisis over the last year has caused quite a splash for the book publishing industry – literally.In early January, a large shipping vessel coming from Taiwan was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-02-07 07:00:04 UTC ]
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'Exceptional' Newport leaves Scholastic for Hachette Children's Group

Scholastic’s Kate Newport is joining Hachette Children’s Group in the newly created role of publisher for non-fiction.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-09 18:55:54 UTC ]
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Waiting list for LBF as rollovers and reduced space leave some firms struggling

Some agents and publishers who chose not to roll over their London Book Fair bookings from 2020 have reported struggling to get tables at next year’s event, with organisers admitting there is now a waiting list amid high demand and construction works at the Olympia venue. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-20 16:42:18 UTC ]
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Anvari leaves Quarto for DK Life

DK has appointed Zara Anvari in the new role of senior acquisitions editor for the Life division. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-14 05:03:05 UTC ]
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Lake leaves Profile for W&N non-fiction role

Ed Lake is moving to Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the newly created role of publishing director for non-fiction after five years at Profile.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-01 10:49:33 UTC ]
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World Literature Today’s 75—Make That 100—Notable Translations of 2021, by Michelle Johnson

Lit Lists 2021 was a robust year for literary translations. This list kept growing, and we didn’t resist. As always, though, we recognize there are, thankfully, many more and hope you’ll add them in the comments, along with those you’re eagerly... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-11-29 19:56:31 UTC ]
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Gina Gagliano to Leave Random House Graphic

Gina Gagliano, the founder and publishing director of Random House Graphic, Random House Children's Books’ graphic novel imprint, is leaving the company effective December 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Crossey leaves PRH for Little, Brown

Little, Brown has appointed Matthew Crossey from Penguin Random House as head of lifestyle non-fiction campaigns. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-22 00:37:51 UTC ]
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Mayhew leaves Welbeck for The Book Publicist

Lyndsey Mayhew is leaving Welbeck to join non-fiction book publicity agency The Book Publicist as associate director. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-11 14:15:36 UTC ]
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Hodder & Stoughton restructure sees Dickinson step up and Howard leave

Hodder & Stoughton has announced a restructure to the fiction editorial team with Jo Dickinson stepping up and Kate Howard leaving the company after 16 years.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 12:31:59 UTC ]
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For His Father and His Son, Ai Weiwei Is Determined to Leave a Trace

The Chinese dissident artist writes a memoir of family, exile and the inseparability of art and politics. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-10-30 09:00:03 UTC ]
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Pearson joins DK as Brown leaves after nearly 24 years

Amy Pearson is joining DK as global brand and communications director, succeeding Louise Brown when she leaves the company at the end of November. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-25 13:28:25 UTC ]
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Frankfurt organisers 'regret' authors cancelling over presence of New Right publisher

Organisers of the Frankfurt Book Fair say they "regret" that some authors have decided to cancel their appearances at this year's event owing to the presence of New Right publisher Jungeuropa. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-19 23:36:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #frankfurt organisers #frankfurt book fair