Hawthorne writes both seriously and amusingly about the two men being outed in 1994 (note his book’s title) just before the Oscar ceremony at the time of his “King George” nomination. Around 1978 he fell “sensibly in love” for the first time in his life and settled into a highly successful relationship with Trevor Bentham who wrote this autobiography’s touching epilogue (as well as the screenplay for the 1995 Miramax movie “A Month By The Lake”‘). This led to his invaluable relationship with Littlewood and his career blossomed, leading to highly rewarding work on stage, screen and television.Īlong the way Hawthorne was coping with his inability to find a suitable life partner (for many years he lived with a man who depended upon him for emotional support but was not a lover). Hawthorne’s luck changed magnificently when he downed six bottles of Guiness before auditioning for a role in a production of Littlewood’s hit “Oh! What a Lovely War” planned for a tour of England and Europe, and was cast. Among his roles back there was one in the English revue “Beyond the Fringe,” at the end of the highly successful run of which he returned to London in 1962 for a second try. But he didn’t have much, and after six years of provincial rep and other less than starry jobs (including house-cleaning) he returned to South Africa in 1957. He was 22 when he left Cape Town to try his luck in London. Those were formative years that Hawthorne evokes affectionately, just as he does his doctor father, mother and siblings. He was educated and began his acting career there, a local producer telling him that “I was a character actor and that it would be many years before I would make my mark.”Īnd so it was. Probably best known worldwide through his performances in the 10-year TV series “Yes, Minister”‘ and “Yes, Prime Minister” as well as the “Mapp and Lucia” series, Hawthorne was born in Coventry, England, in 1929 and moved to Cape Town, South Africa with his family when he was four.
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