My name is Jane Merrow and I am an actor! I love to act…acting has been my life for over 50 years. I wanted to be an actor since the age of about 5. I was a real show-off.
After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, my first job, actually making a salary, was as an Assistant Stage Manager and understudy in the Lillian Hellman play TOYS IN THE ATTIC in London’s West End Theatre. The play was directed by the wonderful John Dexter. John told me that the only reason he hired me, was because I was the only young actor he could hear! It was a very large theatre and there were no mics in those days!
I was good as an understudy, not so good as an ASM. But I went on to act in so many wonderful jobs. I appeared in films, in television and on stage…THE LION IN WINTER (I was nominated for Golden Globe), THE PRISONER, NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT, SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, 1984…the list goes on.
It’s that time of the year, when the great and the good come out to praise and award their colleagues for the films they like. Loving my industry as I do, I try to see most of the films. In all honesty I think this year has been rather disappointing from the story point of…
Filmmaking today is a complicated business with more opportunities than ever for independent filmmakers, which means even more competition. Our market is saturated with productions…big budget, low budget, action, drama…it’s all out there and with the aftermath of Covid, there is a huge back log of films in line for distribution. Covid threatened and…
Historic – because this is the year we lost Queen Elizabeth II who, we thought, would live forever! At least I did. But all good things come to an end and so her extraordinary reign is over. I am sure that Charles III will do a fine job, maybe have as magical a reign as…
The BBC ie: The British Broadcasting Corporation was my first employer – I can’t remember much about it, I had one line, I think, in a show I can’t remember, but I do remember it was live television, which meant that hundreds, if not thousands of people had their eyes locked onto me, for about…
“Mummy….did you see the Queen today”, words uttered by my young self, aged about 7 or 8.I was a fanatical fan of the Royal Family, fed by numerous publications and my mother’s professional connection. Mum worked for Kemsley newspapers, as a full time graphic artist in the world of fashion. This included keeping up with…
Places and people ….aren’t they what makes life interesting and new places and people expand our horizons and keep us engaged. We seem to have lost our way a bit in the world recently and for many of us, me included, life is overwhelming and depressing…people don’t live up to expectations, relationships disappoint and world…
