Annette Kingwill 

In this short autobiographical memoir, the British actor James Fox, perhaps best known for his role in "Performance," sketches the details of his upbringing and of his becoming an actor. Although his maternal grandfather was a playwright, and his father, Robin Fox, a theatrical agent for MCA, his becoming an actor was a matter of serendipity. He had accompanied his father to the set of a film one of his clients was involved in. They felt he had the look for a part that had not yet been cast, so he ended up playing the son in "The Miniver Story," with Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson. After attending the elite public school, Harrow, he enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His most notable roles in the following years, aside from Performance, were in The Servant and The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. Even prior to Performance, he had become a bit too caught up in the excesses of the '60s. While in Blackpool for a brief theatrical engagement towards the end of 1969, he found himself drawn to the New Testament. He became involved with an American evangelical group called the Navigators. He left acting for a number of years, but had little difficulty in acquiring roles upon deciding to relaunch his career. This book was published in 1983. In the years since, James Fox has established himself as a first rate actor in a variety of settings. I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in British film or theatre. Although plainly written, and lacking in detail, particularly in the section detailing his acceptance of Christ, it's a quick and entertaining read.