The Happy Hoofer by Celia Imrie

 

The Happy Hoofer by Celia Imrie.

Published 14th April 2011 by Hodder Books.

Audio book narrated by Celia Imrie.

From the cover of the book:

One of our best-loved actresses, Celia Imrie would rather have been a dancer. As a child she planned to join the Royal Ballet and marry Rudolf Nureyev. Now she has become one of our finest and funniest performers, on stage, TV and screen - adored for her roles in 'Acorn Antiques' and 'dinnerladies', as well as films including 'Calendar Girls' and 'Nanny McPhee'.

In her hugely entertaining autobiography, Celia Imrie recounts a life hurtling (not always intentionally) into adventures both on stage and off. Whether it's finding herself on stage with half the scenery stuck to her cardigan, or being kidnapped on her way to location, she somehow emerges from the chaos that can lie in her wake almost unscathed.

Acting, she admits, is a mad, chaotic profession and it is her refreshing honesty, sense of mischief, fun and almost unruffled determination in the face of it all that makes this autobiography a never-ending delight.

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I anticipated Celia Imrie's book to be a light hearted listen, but how wrong I was. The narration may be delightfully gentle, but, my goodness, what a life!

Imrie holds nothing back about her experiences (except the odd real name here and there), going into depth about her background, family, dark and sunny times, romantic attachments, and every role up to her part in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

There are many shocking and salacious moments, alongside lovely anecdotes about her personal life, and as an actor on stage, tv, and the big screen. There are fabulous travelogue sections too that had me laughing out loud.

She is a marvellous narrator, full of wit, and I hung on her every word. I was sad to reach the end of this one.

The Happy Hoofer is available now in hardcover, paperback and audio formats.

About the author:

Celia Imrie is an Olivier Award-winning and Screen Actors Guild-nominated actress. She is known for her film roles in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Calendar Girls, Nanny McPhee, Bridget Jones, Absolutely Fabulous, Finding Your Feet, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Good Grief. 

Celia Imrie is also the author of her autobiography, The Happy Hoofer, and the top ten Sunday Times bestselling novels in the Nice Trilogy – Not Quite Nice, Nice Work (If You Can Get It) and A Nice Cup of Tea – Sail Away and Orphans of the Storm.