I think you're spot on with this. As well as the diaries, there have been interviews with long-standing family friends who will speak quite openly of how his father almost despised him, and how he formed an unhealthily close bond with his mother - probably out of self-defence.
He desperately wanted to be recognised as a "serious" actor, but was dominated by an overarching desire for approval. In the end this is what forced him down the comedy and farce route - which he grew to loathe: he was a very good comic actor and couldn't help ad-libbing serious roles with comic asides, if he felt that the audience didn't like his performance. This led to him being passed over for any significant serious roles, because the producers of those plays couldn't risk him turning them into a farce. He knew this to be the case, and wrote about it in his diaries - both his bitterness about being passed over and his anger with himself for always falling back on comedy for approval.
Even Barbara Windsor and Dame Maggie Smith, who were among his closest friends, talk about how towards the end of his life his impish personality became progressively more venomous and even malicious.
I don't know whether his death was an intentional suicide or not; perhaps, like Alan Turing, it was intentional but carefully arranged so that his mother could believe it to be an accident. Whatever the cause, it's clear that in his last few days and months, he had been worn out by self-hatred and by continuous pain from a chronic stomach ulcer.
Poor man.
He had the misfortune to be born at the wrong time too possibly - these days it's possible that the culture would have allowed him to feel that he could express his own sexuality more freely and ergo he might have had a much more forfilling romantic life.
I saw her at Edinburgh Airport about 15 years ago, barking at her toyboy hubby like a little chihuahua. He looked quite nice, God knows what he sees in her.
apparently the royals are stuck up though, what a surprise. my dad said prince charles turned up in a rolls once to a school he worked at in deptford. but his son, apparently, i've heard from several sources is a thoroughly unpleasant chap. will turn up to bars and demand they clear an area for him and his friends- all the hoi polloi can leave.
What did you expect him to turn up in? A Cortina?
Through working for a charity I've met most of the royal family and they were exactly what I expected. Phillip was just a bit dottery and said some silly (but harmless) things. Reminded me of my dad actually! Princess Anne is just as the media portray her, forthright and no nonsense. Not a warm gentle character but still kind and sensible.
Charles and the Princes I met at a function where they were literally meant to sweep through after a quick meet and greet with our beneficiaries. They stayed for over an hour, chatted with pretty much everyone, took loads of photos with people and although Charles (politely and subtly) declined, the boys even signed things which I found quite surprising.
Now as for the Queen... to me she's Anne with a learned smile. She does always smile and I wasn't sure it was genuine but I think she's a thoroughly nice lady. We had an incident at a function where a certain government department refused to let her talk to some people. When the Palace found out they responded not only would she meet them but she would do so in private without any media or government officials in the room. Thoroughly impressed.
PS. I'm not a monarchist but I'm just saying what I've seen.
I haven't met any horrible celebs but two people who have reputations of being grumpy but were lovely
are Sir Alex Ferguson and Will Young.
Sir Alex chatted to my son and daughter (then aged 3 and 8) my daughter was a bit star struck but he was fab with her.
Will Young was amazing. My son loves him so my eldest daughter and I took him to see him and got front row seats. (it was last year and my son was 6)
My son made a banner saying he loved Will and put his name on it. Will saw it and waved at him. Then during a different song, Will sat on the stage in front of my son and sang then he jumped off the stage and shook his hand!
During the last song Will picked up some tissue love hearts that fell from the stage and came down to hand them to my son.
And if that wasn't enough, after the show I took my boy to the stage door in an attempt to meet Will. He was surrounded by fans but as soon as he saw my son he shouted him over, talked to him, signed his banner and posed for photos. THEN he asked if he wanted to have a wee look round his tour bus - he asked me on too and spent a good while giving him a guided tour whilst disgruntled fans tutted outside!
When we were leaving he gave me a big hug, I thanked him for what he did for my son and said it was lovely to meet him to which he replied he was honoured to meet us!
Phillip was just a bit dottery and said some silly (but harmless) things. Reminded me of my dad actually!
...took loads of photos with people and although Charles (politely and subtly) declined, the boys even signed things which I found quite surprising.
I heard David Berglas ('mentalist-style magician who Derren Brown has cited as a huge influence) talk about when Prince Charles was going to be inducted into the 'outer' Magic Circle - I think this is done for 'well-known' people who don;t do magic - a sort of honorary thing. Charles actual learnt a cups and ball routine to do and when the Magic Circle heard this they quickly made up a new certificate enrolling him in the Inner Magic Circle (a sort of thank you for actually taking the time to learn some magic.)
Phillip is also a 'normal' member and Berglas said he could be the life and soul of an evening or just not be that interested sometimes.
As with everyone in the public eye you can't always be turned on and smiley.
Len Goodman. I was having breakfast with my mum and I knew his son so I waved and we went over to talk to him and all my mum said was "How's breakfast Len?" And he grunted and just turned his head. However his son is a lovely man
Well, he was having breakfast. Mum saw him at a Celebrity golf match ad he was very pleasant.
I think one has to pick one's time and place, and when people are eating one has to be careful...especially in the morning!
People I've found to be quite hard work and sometimes arsey - Dave Gorman.
Yes, I think I upset him recently on Facebook...half my fault/half his...but we won't go there.
I did see him live a few weeks before at The National History Museum doing a 'Museum of Natural Curiosities' a take on the Radio 4 show 'Museum of Curiosities' and he was full of energy and really worked on the panel.
He's one of my favourite comedians having seen him way back in 1996 when he was unknown.
I've met lots of lovely people, the following stick out as extra lovely though - Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Amy Acker, Alyson Hannigan & Alexis Denisof, Danny Wallace, Felicia Day. Jorge Garcia & Maggie Grace. Joss Whedon. Christina Hendricks & Vincent Kartheiser (though Vinnie is a nutter, he's a lovely nutter). George Takei. Michael Muhney.
So basically you are saying anyone in the Whedon Repertory Company are lovely...I'm not surprised...
Terry Blasamo. Evanescence guitarist. Met him at the bands gig in Glasgow. Rather rude and just looked at me as if I was dirt. Singer Amy Lee was lovely though. Other guys where nice.
i have limited experience myself with celebs. once walked past des lynam near charing cross station at the height of his fame and looked like a right moody git.
slapped garry kasparov (former world chess champion, famous in russia) on the back at a function, trying to be nice, he acted as if I wasn't there. nasty piece of work.
my mate has met pixie lott and harry redknapp and says they are lovely, really down to earth.
apparently the royals are stuck up though, what a surprise. my dad said prince charles turned up in a rolls once to a school he worked at in deptford. but his son, apparently, i've heard from several sources is a thoroughly unpleasant chap. will turn up to bars and demand they clear an area for him and his friends- all the hoi polloi can leave.
Lol! Nasty piece of work because he didn't appreciate being slapped on the back by some random stranger. Bit harsh.
He was allegedly asked to open the Bolton branch of M&S for a shedload of cash and wanted the store to open an hour early just so he could do some shopping without hassle from fans.
Marks told him to do one.
Thats nothing unusual....Lots of `Celebs` have being doing just that for years...they do like their Freebies
I haven't met any horrible celebs but two people who have reputations of being grumpy but were lovely
are Sir Alex Ferguson and Will Young.
Sir Alex chatted to my son and daughter (then aged 3 and 8) my daughter was a bit star struck but he was fab with her.
Will Young was amazing. My son loves him so my eldest daughter and I took him to see him and got front row seats. (it was last year and my son was 6)
My son made a banner saying he loved Will and put his name on it. Will saw it and waved at him. Then during a different song, Will sat on the stage in front of my son and sang then he jumped off the stage and shook his hand!
During the last song Will picked up some tissue love hearts that fell from the stage and came down to hand them to my son.
And if that wasn't enough, after the show I took my boy to the stage door in an attempt to meet Will. He was surrounded by fans but as soon as he saw my son he shouted him over, talked to him, signed his banner and posed for photos. THEN he asked if he wanted to have a wee look round his tour bus - he asked me on too and spent a good while giving him a guided tour whilst disgruntled fans tutted outside!
When we were leaving he gave me a big hug, I thanked him for what he did for my son and said it was lovely to meet him to which he replied he was honoured to meet us!
I was very impressed!
Great to hear about Sir Alex, I'm a huge Man United fan
New Years Eve I accidentally knocked over Clive Owen's pint at the bar .
He was a total gent and when I offered to buy another, he just grinned and assured me it was fine.
Total gent and completely non-filmstarry !
I have a lot of friends who live in and around Brentwood and all of them who have crossed paths with Joey Essex say he is nothing like the sweet harmless simpleton act, he's rude, up his own backside and obnoxious
Comments
He had the misfortune to be born at the wrong time too possibly - these days it's possible that the culture would have allowed him to feel that he could express his own sexuality more freely and ergo he might have had a much more forfilling romantic life.
He totally sets off my gaydar
What did you expect him to turn up in? A Cortina?
Through working for a charity I've met most of the royal family and they were exactly what I expected. Phillip was just a bit dottery and said some silly (but harmless) things. Reminded me of my dad actually! Princess Anne is just as the media portray her, forthright and no nonsense. Not a warm gentle character but still kind and sensible.
Charles and the Princes I met at a function where they were literally meant to sweep through after a quick meet and greet with our beneficiaries. They stayed for over an hour, chatted with pretty much everyone, took loads of photos with people and although Charles (politely and subtly) declined, the boys even signed things which I found quite surprising.
Now as for the Queen... to me she's Anne with a learned smile. She does always smile and I wasn't sure it was genuine but I think she's a thoroughly nice lady. We had an incident at a function where a certain government department refused to let her talk to some people. When the Palace found out they responded not only would she meet them but she would do so in private without any media or government officials in the room. Thoroughly impressed.
PS. I'm not a monarchist but I'm just saying what I've seen.
are Sir Alex Ferguson and Will Young.
Sir Alex chatted to my son and daughter (then aged 3 and 8) my daughter was a bit star struck but he was fab with her.
Will Young was amazing. My son loves him so my eldest daughter and I took him to see him and got front row seats. (it was last year and my son was 6)
My son made a banner saying he loved Will and put his name on it. Will saw it and waved at him. Then during a different song, Will sat on the stage in front of my son and sang then he jumped off the stage and shook his hand!
During the last song Will picked up some tissue love hearts that fell from the stage and came down to hand them to my son.
And if that wasn't enough, after the show I took my boy to the stage door in an attempt to meet Will. He was surrounded by fans but as soon as he saw my son he shouted him over, talked to him, signed his banner and posed for photos. THEN he asked if he wanted to have a wee look round his tour bus - he asked me on too and spent a good while giving him a guided tour whilst disgruntled fans tutted outside!
When we were leaving he gave me a big hug, I thanked him for what he did for my son and said it was lovely to meet him to which he replied he was honoured to meet us!
I was very impressed!
I heard David Berglas ('mentalist-style magician who Derren Brown has cited as a huge influence) talk about when Prince Charles was going to be inducted into the 'outer' Magic Circle - I think this is done for 'well-known' people who don;t do magic - a sort of honorary thing. Charles actual learnt a cups and ball routine to do and when the Magic Circle heard this they quickly made up a new certificate enrolling him in the Inner Magic Circle (a sort of thank you for actually taking the time to learn some magic.)
Phillip is also a 'normal' member and Berglas said he could be the life and soul of an evening or just not be that interested sometimes.
As with everyone in the public eye you can't always be turned on and smiley.
Well, he was having breakfast. Mum saw him at a Celebrity golf match ad he was very pleasant.
I think one has to pick one's time and place, and when people are eating one has to be careful...especially in the morning!
Yes, I think I upset him recently on Facebook...half my fault/half his...but we won't go there.
I did see him live a few weeks before at The National History Museum doing a 'Museum of Natural Curiosities' a take on the Radio 4 show 'Museum of Curiosities' and he was full of energy and really worked on the panel.
He's one of my favourite comedians having seen him way back in 1996 when he was unknown.
So basically you are saying anyone in the Whedon Repertory Company are lovely...I'm not surprised...
Oh and...deep jealousy...:p
Met Jonathan Wilkes a couple of times and he's so chatty, funny and down to earth - Really nice!
Lol! Nasty piece of work because he didn't appreciate being slapped on the back by some random stranger. Bit harsh.
Dave Gorman... a man whose friend ended up more famous and probably more successful than him. No wonder he can be arsey!
Never really seen the attraction to his books or his comedy
You mean Danny Wallace? Wouldn;t have thought he was mroe famous or more successful than Gorman at all.
Dave Gorman read my tweet out on his show once. I liked him even more after that. I can imagine him being a little moody, though.
Thats nothing unusual....Lots of `Celebs` have being doing just that for years...they do like their Freebies
Great to hear about Sir Alex, I'm a huge Man United fan
Will sounds lovely, what a gentleman!
Yeah, I'd say Wallace was more of a well-known name than Gorman, although both seem to be more low profile these days.
Danny Wallace was alright in the beginning, but then seemed to be everywhere and suddenly an expert on everything, which always puts me right off
He was a total gent and when I offered to buy another, he just grinned and assured me it was fine.
Total gent and completely non-filmstarry !
He read out my 'Existential Moment of Self-doubt' and I also have a place on pun-street: Mutlins.
You can tell from the tasks he sets himself that he is driven and a tad focussed sometimes so I'd say a hint of moodiness goes with that.
I though Wallace only got well-known due to being Gorman's housemate.
I have acquaintances in the adult education sector who have had some, erm, interesting experiences with Susan Boyle.