Turning 90 may sound like something to celebrate, but veteran actress Susan Hampshire, who will reach the milestone in May next year, sees longevity very differently.
Hampshire believes her generation is taking up valuable space that should be reserved for young people.
At the VIP evening of Abigail’s Party at the Harold Pinter Theater in London, she tells me, “I hope I won’t stick around too long, that’s all I can say.”
Hampshire, who played in the 1960s BBC Classic drama The Forsyte Saga and Monarch Of The Glen also believe its counterparts are taking vital resources from younger generations.
She explains: ‘Unfortunately my age group hangs out too much and we take the oxygen out of the young people.’
The actress adds, “We have to leave. We’ve had our day in the sun and we need to leave room for the young people. I think we live in an overpopulated world and that makes it very difficult.’
And wisdom doesn’t automatically come with age, says the three-time Emmy Award-winning star, who never tried drugs or drank alcohol until she was 30.
Susan Hampshire, 89, is still acting and will reprise her role as aristocrat Lady Carteret in the second season of Channel 5’s The Forsytes
“Well, many of us may not be so wise. We may think we are wise, but we may be talking a lot of nonsense,” she says.
Hampshire has had a tumultuous time over the past decade, caring for her second husband, Sir Eddie Kulukundis, during his 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2021. She was married to the theater impresario for 40 years.
“I never even thought about remarrying,” she admits. “He only died five years ago, and I love every minute of his memory. He was so sweet and very kind.”
The actress has one son, film producer Christopher Granier-Deferre, from her first marriage to French director Pierre Granier-Deferre.
Despite her pessimistic views on longevity, Hampshire is still acting and will reprise her role as aristocrat Lady Carteret in the second season of Channel 5’s remake The Forsytes. “I mean, if something comes along and I’m offered it, it’s a nice surprise,” she says. “But of course most people think I’m dead.”
It was truly no laughing matter for stand-up comedian Mark Steel when an old banger he had put up for sale was brazenly stolen by a ‘notorious’ criminal. Recalling the bizarre incident, the 66-year-old Kent-born prankster reveals: ‘[He] came by, I thought he was going to use it [the car] for an ill-fated burglary or something. He asked, “Can I come in?” I said ‘Yes’ and he got in and just drove away.” Shocking.
Bold Bookish makes no bones about it
Is Bookish about to shock viewers with scenes of ‘gay bashing’ and derogatory language?
I only ask because the show’s creator and star, Mark Gatiss, 59, insists such moments belong in the second series of the detective show, which is set in post-war London and returns to the
U&Alibi channel this week. “It’s really important to show that it’s not all roses and sunshine,” Gatiss, who is married to actor Ian Hallard, 51, said during a Q&A at London’s BFI Southbank.
He added, “You can say these things and you can educate people sometimes, but without being too didactic about it.”
It’s wine over wedding for Lady Eliza
Lady Eliza Spencer and her fiancé Channing Millerd recently marked the launch of their £27-a-bottle wine, Lala V Rosé, at luxury drinks store Hackstons in Knightsbridge
Earl Spencer’s 34-year-old daughter admits winemaking has taken priority over vows
As the Sussexes settled into their new home in the countryside on Wednesday evening, Harry’s cousin Lady Eliza Spencer shared a toast with her fiancé Channing Millerd. They marked the launch of their £27-a-bottle wine, Lala V Rosé, at luxury drinks store Hackstons in Knightsbridge.
The couple in the photo, who got engaged last August, admit that making wine has taken priority over exchanging vows. Earl Spencer’s daughter, 34, tells me: ‘We’ve been together for almost 11 years, so what difference does getting married make?’ She adds, “It was nice to do something just the two of us. One day when we start planning our wedding, we will celebrate wine with all the people we love.”
Summer isn’t over yet, but Dawn O’Porter, 47, is already dreading its end. The TV presenter turned author and mother of two, who is married to actor Chris O’Dowd, explains: ‘After not writing all summer, I am now terrified of returning to my desk. No amount of free time, clearing your mind, finding yourself, or parenting gets books written.”
Kaya’s Ritchie pub rap is not so Gentlemanly!
Director Guy Ritchie’s Fitzrovia pub has a vocal critic in the form of actress Kaya Scodelario. The two in the photo together
Lore of the Land, director Guy Ritchie’s Fitzrovia pub, which has gone up in flames twice, has a vocal critic.
Surprisingly, it’s Kaya Scodelario, 34, who reprises her role as crime boss Susie Glass in the upcoming series of his Netflix hit The Gentlemen next month.
She wasn’t exactly thrilled about the boozer during her interview on the Off Menu podcast. ‘It’s small, it’s a bit – I don’t want to complain about it – it’s a bit ‘Mayfair’. It’s a bit poncy,” she said.
But Kaya, pictured with Guy, quickly softened the blow, adding: “But that’s okay. We need places like that too. She [the staff] were very generous and friendly. We had fantastic food and great wine.’
Broadcaster Nick Grimshaw has taken aim at the ‘fake babies’ who descended on Reading Festival, which kicked off yesterday.
“Some people call this Canopy Stage the Nepo Baby stage because of the list of artists that will be performing,” says the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, 42.
“They include Cruz Beckham, Violet Grohl, Chris Martin’s son Moses and Liam Gallagher’s son Gene.”
Nick adds: ‘So you have the descendants of Coldplay, Oasis, Foo Fighters and the Beckhams. Nepotism goes far. You can still make good music. But can you also make great music? Can you have the same hunger for it?’
Other artists at the festival include Charli xcx and Florence & The Machine.
- Edited by Stephanie Takyi
