drawings from popular and reality television by Jenny Robins. Suggestions welcome - use hashtag

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

BAFTA special - Helen Mirren


I've never understood where the T comes from in BAFTA. I could google it now couldn't I? Ah right it is from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Which I guess means it exists as an institution for the other 364 days of the year when Stephen Fry isn't being blown kisses by Leonardo DiCaprio. 

But obviously it's the awards we care about. Dame Helen Mirren got a fellowship award. Which is not meant in the way that the hippie cult youth organisation I attended as a child meant it. It just means she's like, really good, and really famous, and has been for a while now. 

She took the opportunity to talk about how great teachers are. Which is of course a very important point. She asked the audience of successful performers how many of them had a teacher who believed in them and inspired them to pursue their dreams. Everyone raised their hands of course. Because when teachers are awesome it makes a difference. But more it made me think about how all famous people (except creepy child stars and royalty) were once on the other end of that, just students with a creative bent that needed encouragement and inspiration. One among hundreds or thousands passing through a school, a course, a classroom, being encouraged and inspired.