Book Club Meets: Women speaking their minds, with Dame Harriet Walter
Jan 3, 2025
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Dame Harriet Walter, a celebrated Shakespearean actor known for her compelling roles in 'Succession' and 'Killing Eve', discusses her book 'She Speaks'. She unveils the hidden voices of Shakespeare's female characters, exploring their modern relevance and issues around aging women. The conversation delves into the nature of art reflecting society versus challenging it. Harriet shares her insights on embodying these iconic roles and reimagining their complexities, highlighting the need for nuanced interpretations in today's world.
Dame Harriet Walter emphasizes the importance of amplifying Shakespeare's female characters' voices to reflect modern societal issues on gender inequality.
Walter shares her immersive approach as an actress to connect with Shakespearean characters, highlighting the emotional complexities they embody.
Deep dives
Reimagining Shakespeare's Women
The podcast highlights Dame Harriet Walter's exploration of Shakespeare's female characters in her book 'She Speaks.' Walter reinterprets the thoughts and emotions of these women, filling gaps where they traditionally lacked voice in Shakespeare's narratives. She draws upon her extensive experience as an actress who has played 21 Shakespearean roles, using her insights to articulate what these characters might have really been thinking. This innovative approach provides a fresh perspective on how these women navigated their patriarchal society, allowing modern readers to connect with their struggles and inner lives.
The Challenges of Female Representation
A key discussion point includes the historical context of female representation in Shakespeare's plays, where women's voices were often minimized or silenced. Walter emphasizes that although Shakespeare's female characters are rich and varied, they are frequently overshadowed by male characters who dominate the stage. She also reflects on her frustrations as a performer, noting the limited opportunities for expressing the full depth of these female roles. Through her writing, Walter seeks to reclaim and amplify the voices of these women, suggesting that their experiences resonate with contemporary issues of gender inequality.
The Influence of Performance on Interpretation
Walter elaborates on her personal journey of understanding Shakespearean characters through the lens of her performances, particularly her role as Lady Macbeth. She describes the process of connecting emotionally with characters who might initially seem foreign, using immersive techniques to embody their perspectives. This experience led her to believe that interpreting Shakespeare requires actors to juggle multiple layers of emotional complexity while remaining true to the text. By sharing her insights, Walter invites a deeper appreciation for the artistic challenges and the rich tapestry of human experience depicted in Shakespeare's works.
Do you find yourself keeping quiet when you have plenty to say? Dame Harriet Walter – who has played 21 of Shakespeare’s female characters – has written She Speaks, which goes between the lines and imagines what Shakespeare’s women might really have wanted to say.
She Speaks was our Happy Place Book Club read for December. In this chat with Fearne, Harriet explains why she felt it was so important to finally let these female characters speak their minds. Harriet also expands on the characters in order to comment on modern day issues like the way ageing women are treated.
Fearne and Harriet chat about whether art mirrors the social hierarchy of its day, or perhaps offers an alternative worldview. Plus, Harriet reveals how female actors keep themselves in character when they’re waiting (often a long time) to speak on stage...
Thank you to Little Brown Audio for the use of She Speaks audiobook, narrated by Harriet Walter.