Will She Do? By Eileen Atkins

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20211011

Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway.

She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work.

Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes.

Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown.

Read by Eileen Atkins

Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

20211012

Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work.

Read by Eileen Atkins

Dame Eileen Atkins recalls two extraordinary and influential teachers.

Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

20211013

Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work.

Read by Eileen Atkins

At Oxford Playhouse, Eileen Atkins crosses swords with the new director Peter Hall.

Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

20211014

Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work.

Read by Eileen Atkins

Eileen Atkins gets her first parts at the RSC in Stratford on Avon.

Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

20211015

Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work.

Read by Eileen Atkins

Eileen Atkins insists on auditioning for Arnold Wesker's Roots.

Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20211011	Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career. Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work. Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown. Read by Eileen Atkins Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.
02	20211012	Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career. Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work. Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown. Read by Eileen Atkins Dame Eileen Atkins recalls two extraordinary and influential teachers. Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.
03	20211013	Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career. Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work. Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown. Read by Eileen Atkins At Oxford Playhouse, Eileen Atkins crosses swords with the new director Peter Hall. Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.
04	20211014	Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career. Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work. Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown. Read by Eileen Atkins Eileen Atkins gets her first parts at the RSC in Stratford on Avon. Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.
05	20211015	Actress Dame Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career. Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, and determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing Baby Eileen, through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and, at age 86,, this is her first autobiographical work. Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, about class, about youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry and All that Fall, and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford and The Crown. Read by Eileen Atkins Eileen Atkins insists on auditioning for Arnold Wesker's Roots. Actress Eileen Atkins' memoir of her childhood and early career.