News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 5:19
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
     28 Mar: Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was
     28 Mar: Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her
     28 Mar: Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money
     28 Mar: Halle Berry's perimenopause symptoms were mistaken for herpes
     28 Mar: Keke Palmer wants 10 kids
     28 Mar: Taylor Swift's father won't face legal action after allegedly punching a paparazzo
     28 Mar: Joey King's relationship "hasn't changed much" since she got married
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Crusaders' struggles to start Super Rugby have drawn concern from Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Another pay offer is on the table for Police - after union members labelled the last one insulting More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    Another pay offer is on the table for Police - after union members labelled the last one insulting 5:17

    Law and Order:
    A person's dead and another in hospital after a violent incident at a sushi shop in Auckland's Browns Bay 5:07

    Entertainment:
    Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was 21:53

    Entertainment:
    Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her 21:23

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway 6 is blocked by a serious crash, South of Lake Paringa in the South Island's Tasman region 21:17

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway One is has now reopened between Kaikoura and Riverlands - after a two-vehicle collision at Kekerengu, north of Kaikoura, this morning 21:17

    International:
    Shopper swallowed as shopping mall floor collapses in eastern China 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money 20:53

    Entertainment:
    Halle Berry's perimenopause symptoms were mistaken for herpes 20:23

    Entertainment:
    Keke Palmer wants 10 kids 19:53


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd