Miranda Richardson(I)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Miranda Richardson was born in Southport, Lancashire, England on March
3, 1958, to Marian Georgina (Townsend) and William Alan Richardson, a
marketing executive. She has one sister, eight years her senior. Her
parents and sister are not involved in the performing arts. At an early
age she performed in school plays, having shown a talent and desire to
"turn herself into" other people. She has referred to it as "an
emotional fusion; you think yourself into them". This mimicry could be
of school friends or film stars.
She left school (Southport High School
for Girls) at the age of 17, and originally intended becoming a vet.
She also considered studying English literature in college, but decided
to concentrate on drama and enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
School (as did many well-known British actors). After three years she
graduated and moved into repertory theatre. She became affiliated with
the Library Theatre in Manchester in 1979, where she became an
assistant stage manager. She obtained her Equity card, and after
several regional productions, first appeared on the London stage
(Moving at Queens Theatre) in 1981. British television roles soon
followed, and then film.
Since then, Miranda has moved into the
international arena, and has made films in America, France and Spain.
Television work (on both sides of the Atlantic) continues, as does some
stage work. Her roles are diverse, but powerful and engaging. She has
been quoted as stating "what I basically like is doing things I haven't
done before" and this continually comes through in the variety of roles
she has played in her career. She is also selective in the roles she
takes, being uninterested in performing in the standard Hollywood fare,
and preferring more offbeat roles. She was approached to play the
Glenn Close role in
Fatal Attraction (1987), but
found it "regressive in its attitudes". Her attitude is summed up by a
quote from an interview that appeared in the New York Times (Dec 27
1992): "I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than
one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting. And if that's the
choice I have to make, I think I've already made it".
According to
"1994 Current Biography Yearbook", she resides in South London with her
two Siamese cats, Otis and Waldo. She has now moved to West London. Her
hobbies include drawing, walking, gardening, fashion, falconry, and
music. She, by her own admission, is a loner and lives rather modestly.
An actor who studied with Ms Richardson at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
in the late 1970s described her as "a strong minded, specially gifted,
rather pretty young woman who enjoys wearing jewelry. She wore toe
rings, which in the late 1970s and especially in England, were a rarity
and considered rather racy." He also remarked on her drive, even then,
to be an actress of the highest caliber.
3, 1958, to Marian Georgina (Townsend) and William Alan Richardson, a
marketing executive. She has one sister, eight years her senior. Her
parents and sister are not involved in the performing arts. At an early
age she performed in school plays, having shown a talent and desire to
"turn herself into" other people. She has referred to it as "an
emotional fusion; you think yourself into them". This mimicry could be
of school friends or film stars.
She left school (Southport High School
for Girls) at the age of 17, and originally intended becoming a vet.
She also considered studying English literature in college, but decided
to concentrate on drama and enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
School (as did many well-known British actors). After three years she
graduated and moved into repertory theatre. She became affiliated with
the Library Theatre in Manchester in 1979, where she became an
assistant stage manager. She obtained her Equity card, and after
several regional productions, first appeared on the London stage
(Moving at Queens Theatre) in 1981. British television roles soon
followed, and then film.
Since then, Miranda has moved into the
international arena, and has made films in America, France and Spain.
Television work (on both sides of the Atlantic) continues, as does some
stage work. Her roles are diverse, but powerful and engaging. She has
been quoted as stating "what I basically like is doing things I haven't
done before" and this continually comes through in the variety of roles
she has played in her career. She is also selective in the roles she
takes, being uninterested in performing in the standard Hollywood fare,
and preferring more offbeat roles. She was approached to play the
Glenn Close role in
Fatal Attraction (1987), but
found it "regressive in its attitudes". Her attitude is summed up by a
quote from an interview that appeared in the New York Times (Dec 27
1992): "I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than
one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting. And if that's the
choice I have to make, I think I've already made it".
According to
"1994 Current Biography Yearbook", she resides in South London with her
two Siamese cats, Otis and Waldo. She has now moved to West London. Her
hobbies include drawing, walking, gardening, fashion, falconry, and
music. She, by her own admission, is a loner and lives rather modestly.
An actor who studied with Ms Richardson at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
in the late 1970s described her as "a strong minded, specially gifted,
rather pretty young woman who enjoys wearing jewelry. She wore toe
rings, which in the late 1970s and especially in England, were a rarity
and considered rather racy." He also remarked on her drive, even then,
to be an actress of the highest caliber.