As a boy, Michael Simkins always wanted to be someone. While his friends were out getting laid and stoned, he was tucked up at home dreaming of his name in lights, of holding an audience rapt, of perhaps becoming a TV heart-throb, or having someone, anyone, ask for his autograph in the supermarket. This is the true story of an obsessive pursuit of acting fame. It is a life marked by occasional hard-fought successes and routine helpings of ritual humiliation: scout hut Gilbert and Sullivan, dodgy rock operas, sewage farm theatre workshop, Christmas panto hell, straight-to-video film flops, leading roles in Crimewatch reconstructions and dressing up as a chicken to advertise TV dinners. It is a hilarious tale of turgid theatre, tights, trusses and tonsil tennis with Timothy Spall. (20040624)
What's My Motivation?
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Review
"Funny, engaging, perceptive and hugely entertaining" (Stephen Fry )
"Screamingly funny - set to become a classic" (Craig Brown Mail on Sunday )
"A real page-turner and a genuinely funny and honest book about the actor's life" (Michael Billington Guardian )
"Michael writes about disaster, humiliation, rejection and ridicule - the hilarious truth" (Nicholas Hytner )
"Casts an objective eye on the crazy world of the actor with an accuracy that is both chilling and charming" (Mike Leigh )
"Screamingly funny - set to become a classic" (Craig Brown Mail on Sunday )
"A real page-turner and a genuinely funny and honest book about the actor's life" (Michael Billington Guardian )
"Michael writes about disaster, humiliation, rejection and ridicule - the hilarious truth" (Nicholas Hytner )
"Casts an objective eye on the crazy world of the actor with an accuracy that is both chilling and charming" (Mike Leigh )
Book Description
One actor's search for love, happiness and adulation, rewarded with rejection, ridicule, bad costumes and worse scripts (20040624)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Overhearing my wife listening to Mike Simkins reading an extract from "What's My Motivation?' on BBC Radio 4's 'Book of the Week' programme, I was so overcome by the sound of laughter coming from the living room that I was spurred into buying the book! The greatest compliment I can pay 'What's My Motivation?' is that you really don't have to be a 'luvvie' to enjoy it. It's full of humour and marvellously dry observations on the vagaries of the acting profession. For anyone who enjoys a witty read I can heartily recommend it, and for stage-struck adolescents and aspiring actors it has to be one of the best self-help books available! Encore!!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a really really funny book, takes the reader through
Michael's early life, his 'obsession' with Am-Dram, particularly
Gilbert and Sullivan, through his time at RADA and then the agonising waits for parts and latterly TV appearances, always hoping for the well-known advertisement in order to become a household name.I confess that I started this book with a small amount of bias as my family and I know the author well, Simmo as he is affectionally known is a lovely bloke, and this comes through in his writing, at which he could become even better at than acting ! All in all, this will make you laugh out loud
many times, a real bonus these days !!
Michael's early life, his 'obsession' with Am-Dram, particularly
Gilbert and Sullivan, through his time at RADA and then the agonising waits for parts and latterly TV appearances, always hoping for the well-known advertisement in order to become a household name.I confess that I started this book with a small amount of bias as my family and I know the author well, Simmo as he is affectionally known is a lovely bloke, and this comes through in his writing, at which he could become even better at than acting ! All in all, this will make you laugh out loud
many times, a real bonus these days !!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By "basch150"
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful read, a gloriously charming and funny account of a jobbing actor's life. Don't expect high-brow 'I, An Actor' style pontificating - this actor/author doesn't take himself that seriously and is hilariously expert at pricking his own pomposities, if they dare try to rear their head. But he'll still teach you as much about being a professional actor as any Stanislavski book. It's a delightful celebration of Englishness and a triumphant celebration of failure, which should become a set text at every drama school. There are too many laugh out loud moments to list here, but my personal favourite involved the actress girlfriend, the unwitting landlord, and the unfortunate attempt at weaving a sexual fantasy. Plus there are cameos by everyone from Anthony Perkins through John Malkovich to Pierce Brosnan. Don't put your daughter on the stage without making her read this book first.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By S. Boyd
Format:Paperback
The funniest book I've read for 20 years. I keep the household awake late at night giggling aloud on every page. The agony is when you come to the end of it. Michael Simkins has a genius for comic writing. A must for anyone who is interested in the theatre and/or has a great sense of humour.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I rarely laugh out loud when reading but this book had me laughing out loud on many occasions and at times my eyes were streaming with tears it was so funny.
I would recommend it to anyone and I do....
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Wonderfully funny and perceptive. I am now going to read his book about cricket... and I hate cricket.
He appeared in Minder recently as the wedding singer.
He appeared in Minder recently as the wedding singer.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Read "Motivation" after reading Fatty Batter and having loved the cricket book so much I was prepared to be not so enthusiastic, yet I need not have worried. The style is self-deprecation at its finest and having read it on a long plane journey, I am sure the passenger in 17E was heartily sick of my giggles. It was difficult, after Fatty Batter, not to be able to second guess some of his ineptitude but it is written with such warmth and with a keen eye for detail, that I would heartily recommend it to anyone.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By L. Croft
Format:Paperback
I read this after loving 'Fatty Batter'. Michael Simkins has an extraordinary gift for comic writing. It doesn't matter if you haven't the slightest interest in acting (or cricket), this book is hilarious. Perfect holiday reading and guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Thank you Mr Simkins - you deserve a standing ovation.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Funny
Love this book, as an ex theatre pro I recognised so many of those situations that Simkins describes. It's a book I couldn't put down.
Published 3 months ago by Mandal
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's my motivation - very funny
My husband wanted this for Christmas he loved it. Just finished it myself and it is a thoroughly good read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by pha
3.0 out of 5 stars
Whats my Motivation by Michael Simkins.
Bought as a christmas present for my actor son. As I know Michael is a keen cricketer Hope he passes it toi me when he has read it.
Published 5 months ago by Nancy
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
Definitely worth a read. Very funny and well written insight into a jobbing actor's life - including the twilight years of regional rep.
Published 6 months ago by Mr. John Hutchinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
I'm always interested how actors, artists and suchlike manage to make a real living. This book tells one of those stories in an interesting and humorous way.
Published 6 months ago by Ransen Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read.
I could not put this book down, I found it interesting and amusing. The author has an excellent style that keeps the stories bubbling along. I was sorry when I finished it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by thutthut
5.0 out of 5 stars
Warts and All
Michael Simkins' 'What's My Motivation', reminiscences of his first thirty or so years in 'the business', is the best book about being an actor that I have read since, well, Simon... Read more
Published 8 months ago by gilesy1949
5.0 out of 5 stars
laugh out loud
Whether you are involved in the world of theatre or not, I'm sure you will find this book really funny. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful gem of a book
This book is captivating. It's a really funny, entertaining read and would make a perfect present for: any would-be actor, any amateur actor, anyone who has a dream they yearn to... Read more
Published 22 months ago by J0n G
5.0 out of 5 stars
An actors life to be
Fun, imformative and a very amusing read. Written with a light touch and no slouch at self deprecation. Would recommend it to any one who is seeking the lighter side of life.
Published on 25 Nov 2010 by Modeller
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