Jeremy Irons: How I approach reading poetry | 5x15

Jeremy Irons talks about his method in approaching poetry.
Jeremy Irons won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Claus von Bülow in 1990’s Reversal of Fortune. He is also a Golden Globe, Emmy, Tony, and Screen Actors Guild award winner. His film highlights include The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), The Mission (1986), Dead Ringers (1988), Damage (1992), M. Butterfly (1993), and Lolita (1997). Jeremy Irons received a Tony for his performance in Tom Stoppard’s play The Real Thing (1983), and appeared on the London stage in the National Theatre’s Never So Good (2008) and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Gods Weep (2010). In 2016 he portrayed James Tyron in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night as part of the Bristol Old Vic’s 250th anniversary.
Recorded at The Tabernacle on 20th Jan 2020.
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[@TheJohnpandy]

Jeremy is a wonderful speaker because he has a good brain, values and intentions. John

[@yl5757]

Most poets are bad at reading their own work.

[@simonbailey8814]

I bought the audiobook of Jeremy Irons reading Eliott’s poems a couple of years ago and was swept away by his readings. Extraordinary achievement!

[@Canyoudigityesyoucan]

Yes I now want to hear the poems too…, I’ll have a look at audible

[@chonyg7200]

Jeremy God bless I wish u always good health and safe🙏🙏

[@nurulhanan.]

That speech is so beautiful. Thank you for the wisdom, good sir. I’ll appreciate it always since I’ve only just begun to go into poetry, and this words motivates me more than I can express.

[@ThienNguyen-xy7uq]

I love you Jeremy! I hope you take care of your health. Wish i can meet you

[@bbenjoe]

In all honesty I am just here to listen to his voice, while working. Also some wisdom about art don't hurt either.

[@RwakaendanaMambo]

Brilliant Jeremy. The quarters are indeed felt in the gut. A divine meditation. I’m also spiritually drawn towards Ash Wednesday.

[@davidatkinson6436]

Missed Brideshead Revisited in the list of accomplishments.

[@kimberley2796]

Jeremy irons is so wise ☁️

[@jetipre1839]

Wonderfully said. Mr. Irons succeeds at what he does. Fortunate us.

[@ThomasSimmons-u5x]

Brilliant. An actor's Actor speaking of the Master!

[@yl5757]

omg I'm so in love with your voice!

[@theponderingpilgrim4342]

Amazing speech delivered by Mr Irons. He may say he isn't a poet, but listening to it, makes one feel otherwise.

[@Canyoudigityesyoucan]

He paraphrases poems cleverly.

[@yl5757]

You are an excellent performer!

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

15:22 I always tell people the same with Shakespeare - often audiences strain to understand every single word, when they should let it _wash_ over them, the full meaning being understand wholely after seeing it play out

[@ВиталийКоролев-б5у]

I agree. Shakespeare doesn't mean much

[@stephenwinter5958]

I love Jeremy Iron's recording of The Four Quartets. My favourite. And he is right. It is the longing that the poem awakens within me through Iron's reading that keeps me coming back.

[@benreadspoetry7958]

I’m so glad I stumbled across this. It would be such a pleasure to pick Jeremy’s brain a bit more on this subject.

[@davidatkinson6436]

13:50 I totally agree with that assessment of Elliot reading his own poetry.

[@harryjones84]

soi saw this comment and skipped to this bit...i heard a story that as a child future Queen Elizabeth & her sister were given sort of private reading by TS Eliot & were battling to supress fits of giggles at his stuffy & pompous sounding delivery...so i kind of agree with what'e he's saying too and you BUT As much as I LOVE Jeremy Ironsin any role i've seen and noone can deny the richness & aesthetic beauty of his voice and even before seeing this vid; if you listen to his reading of Prufrock you wouldn't doubt his emotional connection to the piece BUT in that reading at least i think the same criticism that we're applying toEliot's reading applies to Irons' Now Tom Hiddleston as an actor & public figure on the other hand i really DISlike (not in a deep way just find him reallyannoying) but that being said i think HIS reading of Prufrock is by far the best I have heard... I feel Iron's OVER performs it...i thinkhe is right when saying poetry is best appreciated outloud and especially certain worksBUT i feel before you know a work you should do this yourself FIRST...because poetry is sooo subjective,so unconscious, so personal right? In fact i am writing this comment while listening t the vid and just got to 9.50 where he has said 'any 1 reading a poem willreadit differently' which is JUST the point i wasabout to make...and Iron's reading really imposes his own interpretation which in some ways is good asshows his love but i feel is a barrier for people especially newcomers having potential for full appreciation

[@fredstella1814]

Quite inspiring. I recite poetry and narrate audiobooks. This should be required listening.

[@anthonygibson5561]

Beautifully put 15:00 onwards. Though of all the speech was insightful.

[@irenaresman5138]

Nervous.

[@theculturedbumpkin]

Wow, this was outstanding !!

[@MiguelSanchez-vw7hw]

is there a link to the whole speech or is this it?

[@eponinecuervomoll4223]

Just beatiful

[@abonner7086]

Fabulous!