News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 23:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Dustin Hoffman was furious when he realised he couldn't improvise Shakespeare

    The 84-year-old actor played Shylock in a London production of William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' in 1989 and co-star Geraldine James revealed Hoffman was enraged when he discovered that he could not alter the Bard's words


    Speaking on the 'Who I Am This Time' podcast, she said: "He was furious he couldn't improvise. But Dustin worked incredibly hard and came in one day and said, 'I've just realised you can't improvise this s***."

    Geraldine played Portia in Sir Peter Hall's production of 'The Merchant of Venice' but admitted she wasn't initially keen on the role.

    She previously told Den of Geek: "I said 'Oh no, she's such a stuck-up.... I don't think I want to play her'. Then I said 'Who's playing Shylock?' and he said 'Dustin Hoffman' so...

    "There are lots of big American actors coming over to do theatre now but Dustin was one of the first. He came to Peter Hall and said 'I want to do Shakespeare, will you direct me as Hamlet?' and Peter Hall said 'Er, possibly? I'd suggest you do something else before you attempt Hamlet' and he said to have a look at Shylock so he had a look and he did it."

    And Geraldine loved working with Dustin.

    She said: "Dustin was brilliant. He was very, very popular. Slightly more popular in New York than here I suppose. No, that's not true. People loved it and critics just... I don't know, I'm afraid I don't read them.

    "I'd love to do more Shakespeare but Shakespeare didn't write parts for older women. He had nobody to act them I suppose. I love playing Shakespeare. I haven't done any for years."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Heidi Klum would've "loved" a role in 'Griselda'
     29 Mar: Tom Schwartz "made out" with Scheana Shay 12 years ago
     29 Mar: Mel B vowed she would never marry again following her split from Stephen Belafonte
     29 Mar: Eva Mendes has branded her mum "incredible" for retaining her sense of humour during her battle with cancer
     29 Mar: Katie Maloney doesn't "hang out" with her 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars
     29 Mar: Jessica Chastain found it "difficult" to film 'Mothers' Instinct' with her showbiz pal Anne Hathaway
     29 Mar: Queen Camilla hosted authors and actors at a star-studded event in London to celebrate reading
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Matakana Smokehouse in its recall of a specific batch of two of its salmon products because of the possible presence of Listeria More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos renew rivalry with Cowboys 23:07

    Law and Order:
    Gisborne Police have charged three people with graffiti vandalism and have identified a fourth suspect after the city's rainbow crossing was defaced with white paint earlier this week 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Heidi Klum would've "loved" a role in 'Griselda' 21:53

    Law and Order:
    Police have left the scene of a party that erupted into a disturbance on Auckland's Princes Wharf 21:37

    Entertainment:
    Tom Schwartz "made out" with Scheana Shay 12 years ago 21:23

    Entertainment:
    Mel B vowed she would never marry again following her split from Stephen Belafonte 20:53

    Entertainment:
    Eva Mendes has branded her mum "incredible" for retaining her sense of humour during her battle with cancer 20:23

    Entertainment:
    Katie Maloney doesn't "hang out" with her 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars 19:53

    Entertainment:
    Jessica Chastain found it "difficult" to film 'Mothers' Instinct' with her showbiz pal Anne Hathaway 19:23

    Rugby:
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd