AD6 Reading Task - SEP 2020

AD6 - READING TASK – SEPTEMBER 2020
You are going to read an article in which four actors talk about their professions. For questions 1-10,
choose from people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.
A. Emily Montgomery C. Jean Wentwork

“My parents have always been interested in the arts and I “I have a terrible problem reading through scripts”
remember being taken to the cinema and the theatre at a admits Jack. “I find most of them very boring, although
very early age. When I said that I wanted to go to drama once in a while a script will really appeal to me and I am
school they were horrified. In fact, my father refused to immediately attracted to the character.” Jack was
agree but he eventually gave in because I threatened to always going to end up doing something dramatic. His
go off around the world on my own at 17 doing any old job father and mother are both actors, and although neither
just to pay my way.” of them pushed him into the profession, he feels his
Emily was determined to succeed and although it has not career path was inevitable and he saw so much theatre
been an easy ride to stardom she has finally achieved the when he was a child. “I would wait backstage until it
kind of recognition that most actors can only dream about.
was time to go home. I met the most fantastic people.
“My big break came quite by accident. I was an
understudy at the National Theatre for months on end. It
As a child, you don’t appreciate fame and thought all
was such hard work, learning the lines and yet knowing these people were really normal. Unlike my parents,
that you were unlikely ever to say them in front of an however, I am more interested in film work. The thing
audience. Don’t get me wrong, though. I was glad to be about filming is that you hang around for hours chatting
earning some money and at least I got to see the famous away to people, then suddenly you’ve got to turn it on.
names each night. Anyway, one day the leading lady I had to learn very quickly how to tone down for the
came down with flu and in the afternoon, I was told I would camera, not overreact, whereas on stage in the theatre,
be on stage that evening. There wasn’t time to be it’s the exact opposite.”
frightened. I had sat through the rehearsals so I knew the
moves by heart. And that was it. The critics loved my D. Linda Dickson
performance and I’ve never been out of work since.” “I think I’m very lucky to have been noticed so early in
my career. When I was at drama school I used to feel
B. Sean Dixon quite desperate meeting up with friends who had
“I guess I ended up acting by accident. I wanted to go already graduated and who were out of work. I would
to university but couldn’t decide what to study. So, I listen to them talking about the temporary jobs they
thought I’d take a year out, do different things and give had, working in restaurants, supermarkets – whatever
myself some breathing space before applying. But they could find, and going to one audition after the
during that year I got involved with a local theatre other. And they were only auditioning for really small
group and suddenly realised I was happier that I’d ever parts in theatre or film and getting absolutely nowhere.”
been.” Sean has never looked back. Unusual in this Linda is just 21 and already a box office name. She was
day and age, he didn’t go to drama school and has spotted whilst on stage in London and offered a film role
had no formal training. Instead he found himself an by one of Hollywood’s leading directors. “It was
agent who was willing to put him forward for auditions. unbelievable. I’d had hardly any experience and the
“To begin with I was mostly doing advertisements for play I was in was a walk-on role only. I didn’t have to
TV and film, which was fine but not serious acting. say a single word! Apparently, the director was looking
Then one day my agent got a call from a film studio for someone who could play a 16-year-old schoolgirl,
and the next day I was on the film set. There hadn’t so I suppose I’m fortunate in that I don’t look my age.
even been time to send me the script. Looking back, I The irony is that I used to spend hours making up my
don’t think I even asked what the film was about, but it face so that I’d look older. I used to get so fed up with
didn’t matter. But I’m quite choosy now and turn down people refusing me entry to adult films because
more scripts that I accept.” nobody believed me when I said I was over 18.”
Which actor...
refuses quite a lot of jobs? 1. _________
didn’t say anything and was selected for a part? 2. _________
had little warning before going on stage? 3. _________
took a job immediately when he/she started? 4. _________
talks about the difference between acting in a film and in a play? 5. _________
had a difficult time at home when he/she decided to be an actor/actress? 6. _________
has become successful at a young age? 7. _________
tried to change their appearance? 8. _________
used to worry about being unemployed? 9. _________
was strongly influenced by his/ her parents’ professions? 10. ________

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AD6 - READING TASK – SEPTEMBER 2020

A. Emily Montgomery C. Jean Wentwork

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