Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography [Hardcover]

 

 

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I'm pleased to say that this is a great read. To be honest, if I hadn't enjoyed it, then I probably wouldn't have bothered with a review. I would have felt bad writing a negative one but fortunately I don't have to consider that.
Like all good autobiographies, it's got a good conversational style which the afterword by her family comfirms very much has her turn of phrase etc to it. It's the kind of book best enjoyed on train & bus journeys to & from work, when you can pretend your having a chat with her.
Dr Who is covered in some detail but that doesn't mean the rest is not interesting.

The early portion on her family history suggests enough material existed for a good "Who do you think you are. & similarly the period on her early life (find how she came to vommit on Edwina Currie)& a fascinating and varied stage career will easily prevent you skipping onto the Who section. She clearly loved acting and mixing with people such as actor Robert Morley & playwright Alan Ayckbourn but that's not to say it's a luvvie's bore of a book. Where there were famous names she had problems with she explains why she thought badly of them and in hindsight whether she was right.

Naturally the Who section is of prime interest & even though there will be anecdotes & stories heard before in interviews, commentaries & so on, she still does the fans proud. We learn who were the directors who were difficult to work with were ( some names there will surprise you) and best of all what it was like to work with Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker & more recently David Tennant.

She found Pertwee initially difficult to work with because their styles & approaches clashed but does acknowledge that some of his apparently insensitive acts were just the opposite e.g. he thought it was supportive to watch her film her 1st scene & to introduce her to fans who had at that point no idea who she was. He had no idea that it made her feel more daunted. The 2 worked better toward the end of his time and later became good friends.

She clearly hit it off and gelled with Tom Baker from the off & found he was happy to listen to her, was full of mad ideas himself & quick to champion her suggestions. She jokes that she didn't want to watch him with other companions likening it to seeing your husband with another woman.

There are in this section and (in the rest of the book but I noticed them here most) some great insights. She believes when he had resigned because the Beeb refused to give him a raise (this has been questioned more recently but she seem certain it's true) Jon Pertwee regretted his decision. He didn't really want to leave the show but it had only hit him once it was too late to stop. She believes this and a form of jealousy over Tom's apparently greater success & longer tenure in the role, coloured the bad relationship between the 2.

Her account of the making of the 5 Doctors is similarly interesting e.g. all Doctors going off with their own cliques at breaks.

She recalls her initial reluctance to return to Sarah Jane Smith, the false start with K9 and Company all leading to a triumphant return in "School Reunion" and then her own show "The Sarah Jane Adventures." She speaks about the role attending conventions with Jon Pertwee played i bringing her back to Who & her affection for her fans shines through.

Acting jobs between Who are covered well too as is her decision to retire from acting(fortunately temporarily).

There's plenty of humour e.g. she jokes that Yasmin Page who left Sarah Jane Adventures early on to avoid typecasting will probably manage her career better than she did & compares acting opposite Alpha Centauri to playing Shakespeare with a tellytubby! She's also very amused most papers etc. knocked 2 years of her date of birth.

Whatever work her family and co-author Jeff Hudson did to get the book ready for publication, I commend them because it does not read as rushed or unfinished.

There's an introduction from David Tennant and some material form her husband & daughter.

A fine tribute to Elisabeth Sladen which I recommend to anyone who enjoyed her work.

Utterly spellbinding! I literally couldn't put this book down... kids late for school? dinner burning? Nevermind, I need to get to the end of this chapter...
Honestly, my face hurt from smiling while I read - I never laugh out loud reading books, but I did with this one. (I mean, if you're gonna throw up on stage at age 11, you have to make sure it's all over a future Tory Minister, right?)
This book is written with such wisdom and humility - the only person who didn't realise the extent of her following was Elisabeth herself!!
From her childhood, through the days of working in Repertory theatre in Liverpool and Scarborough, to the early 'Doctor Who' with Jon Pertwee, and on through Tom baker and up to the present day 'Sarah Jane Adventures', this book conjures up pictures and scenes so perfectly, that you feel like you were privileged to be there yourself... (Jon pertwee reversing his car into the props truck is just great...)
And of course, amidst the humour, there is the poignancy of reading first hand accounts from such a vivacious woman who had such a fascinating life to write about, whilst knowing that that life was so suddenly and so shockingly cut short last April. This is a fitting tribute, with foreword by David Tennant, and a moving Post script by Sadie and Brian Miller, whose love for her, and pride in her acheivements is heartbreakingly clear.
An absolute must for any Dr Who or Sarah Jane fan, whether from 1973 or 2011, and all points inbetween. Goodbye Elisabeth/Sarah Jane, we will miss you!

I'm not & never have been a great reader but this book was very hard to put down. For any Dr Who Fan it is a must read & if like me you were a Sarah Jane Smith fan then its just excellent!!
Its written so well & the first comments by David Tennant & then the last section by Liz Sladens husband & Daughter brough tears to my eyes!!!............I was so shocked & sad when she died hearing & reading it on the Internet back in April & the last part of the book brought it all back!!!........I recommend this highly & even though it might make you miss her more it also reminds you of her & just how much of a fun person & great actress she clearly was!!!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Precious Doctor Who memories from a National Treasure.
My very first Doctor Who memory, somewhere around 1973 had me peeking around the side of the settee as Jon Pertwee and Elisabeth Sladen drove Bessie through a dinosaur ravaged... Read more

Published 22 hours ago by M. P. Sammut

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply_Wonderful.
A must have for any fan or Whovian who has enjoyed the acting talent of the late Elisabeth Sladen. The book is insightful, emotive and witty, a great read. 5 star*

Published 3 days ago by ScarlettSonic

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarah Jane....A memoir
In 2011 there was one 'celebrity' death which touched me more than others. Elisabeth Sladen was more than just a companion to the Doctor, she was a companion to many of us through... Read more

Published 7 days ago by Grr

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for fans of Dr Who
The story of Elisabeth Sladen is of course the story of Dr Who's greatest companion, and the bulk of the 12 CDs are taken up with her time on the set making the longest running... Read more

Published 7 days ago by J. Lyne

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarah Jane without the boring bits
Sadly, Elisabeth Sladen could not have timed her autobiography better as, due to her untimely death, it covers the period of her whole life. Read more

Published 9 days ago by Mr. Dk Hamm

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for 'Who' fans
A great read, well written a relaxed jaunty style so reminiscent of Elzabeth's own voice. The book takes the reader from her early life and career and then of course yhe Doctor... Read more

Published 13 days ago by A. Bear

5.0 out of 5 stars Goodbye, My Sarah Jane Smith
The loss of Elisabeth Sladen in April 2011 was a devastating blow to so many people, especially as it came completely out of the blue. Read more

Published 14 days ago by L. A. Hardy

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely lady where part of her life was "out of this world"
I looked so forward to the autobiography and now reading it is so bitter sweet. I was very lucky to have meet her once and noticed how gentle and kind she was towards people and... Read more

Published 16 days ago by deedee

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable autobiography to a much loved and greatly missed star ...well read on cd
Like many people I was greatly shocked and saddened by the passing of Elisabeth Sladen in 2011 and was overjoyed that her autobiography was being published. Read more

Published 20 days ago by David

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories of a popular lady
This is an interesting and entertaining autobiography of Elisabeth Sladen. She takes us through her life and career from walk on parts to playing a 'body' on stage. Read more

Published 22 days ago by P. A. Pendrey

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