Simon Callow

Simon Callow was born in London in 1949, and was educated at the Oratory Grammar School, London, Queen's University, Belfast, and trained at the Drama Centre.

His many theatre, television and film appearances include: Theatre: Arturo Ui (Half Moon), Mary Barnes (Royal Court), Amadeus (National Theatre), Total Eclipse (Lyric Hammersmith), Restoration (Royal Court), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Bush), Faust (Lyric Hammersmith) and Single Spies (National Theatre and Queens Theatre); Television: La Ronde (BBC), Chance in a Million (Thames), Handel (Channel 4), Mr Micawber in David Copperfield (BBC), Old Flames (BBC) and Femme Fatale (BBC); Film: Amadeus, A Room with a View, The Good Father, Maurice, Mr and Mrs Bridge and Postcards From the Edge.

He has directed plays, operas and musicals, including: Loving Reno (Bush), The Infernal Machine (Lyric Hammersmith), Cosi Fan Tutte (Lucerne), Jacques and His Master (LATC, LA), Shirley Valentine (Vaudeville & Booth Theatre, New York), Die Fledermaus (Scottish Opera), Single Spies (National Theatre and Queens Theatre), Carmen Jones (Old Vic), My Fair Lady (National Tour) and the film, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (Merchant-Ivory Productions). He has also written a TV documentary, Charles Laughton, for Yorkshire TV, and radio documentaries for the BBC of Charles Laughton and Michael MacLiammoir.

His books include A Difficult Actor: Charles Laughton, Shooting the Actor and Acting in Restoration Comedy. He has also translated Jacques and His Master by Milan Kundera.