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Helen McCrory was an actress in film, television and on stage. During her extraordinary career she played Lady Macbeth at the Globe, appeared in Harry Potter and James Bond films, and won countless awards, including an OBE. She died in 2021.

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Ian McKellen is a legendary theatre and screen actor, who has appeared several times at Letters Live.

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Ian McShane has been acting for nearly 60 years, and is instantly recognisable from his astonishing turns in Deadwood, American Gods and John Wick among many others.

Archive event

14 September 2019

As part of Southbank Centre’s Africa Utopia Festival, in collaboration with Indaba X, a stellar cast read powerful letters with Black history taking centre stage.

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Jake Gyllenhaal has cemented his reputation as one of the most brilliant actors working today with captivating performances in Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, Donnie Darko, Prisoners and many more films.

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James Rhodes is a concert pianist and author. He is also a campaigner: successfully leading an attempt to overhaul Spain’s laws regarding child sexual abuse. He has performed at Letters Live as both a pianist and reader.

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Frontman of Pulp, solo musician and radio DJ, Jarvis Cocker is a genuine British icon. He has read at Letters Live several times, including from letters by fellow musicians Iggy Pop and Tom Waits.

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Jason Isaacs is an actor known for his roles in The Patriot, Harry Potter and Peter Pan.

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Jennifer Saunders is a national treasure: a comedian and actress, she became famous as a member of The Comic Strip and for her work with longtime collaborator Dawn French, then for writing and starring in her sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

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Joanna Lumley is an actress, former model and activist, perhaps best known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous, which she starred in alongside fellow Letters Live reader Jennifer Saunders.