Old Rage: 'One of our best-loved actor's powerful riposte to a world driving her mad' - DAILY MAIL

Product Information

In Old Rage, one of Britain's best-loved actors opens up about her tenth decade. Funny, feisty, honest, she makes for brilliant company as she talks about her life and takes an uncompromising look at a world so different from the one of her wartime childhood. And yet – despite age, despite rage – she finds there are always reasons for joy. Sheila has also been made a dame (a proper one), an accolade she took in her stride while reflecting on the type of society that created such things, which leads me to mention that her political views are expanded upon here. Let’s just say that Boris Johnson and some of his cronies, along with Trump, were not, and never will be, on her Christmas card list.

That she is a caring human being with an innate sense of fair play there can be no doubt. That there aren’t more like her in the world is sad. Ever dipping into her lengthy career is another frequent thing in this book. Names familiar and less familiar all get mentions into how their paths crossed and the impact those others have had on the arts.

This item contains adult content

The journal starts in 2016 and carries through into 2022. In her introduction she writes that she hoped the book would be "a gentle record of a fulfilled old age. An inspirational journey. It hasn't turned out like that. As I wrote it, my own and the wider world descended into chaos." I right away looked up the movie "Edie" which gutted me in the first few minutes (if you watch nothing else see Edie's confrontation with her midlife daughter) and what came after was awfully sweet. In my opinion, I did feel there was too much ranting about politics and Brexit for my taste, but it’s clearly a passionate topic for her. I would have preferred more about her as a person and her life and career, but maybe she’s done that in her previous books. It’s very much a rambling, like we’re being invited into her world for a chat.

When Sheila went to the hospital the next day her ninety three Aunt Billie quietly had let go of her grasp on 18th December. Sheila remembered she had spent the most happiest days of her childhood in her Auntie Bill and Uncle Roy’s minuscule flat on the Rue d’Amsterdam. Was really looking forward to this book as I love Sheila's straight talking and not phaffing and this didn't disappoint! Loveable and forthright character that she is, Sheila lays it on the line and it’s all from the heart, which is why her prose is passionate and interesting. The fact that I agree with her sentiments adds to my pleasure here.Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.