An interview with Simon Furness
Who are you and what are your passionate about?
I'm an actor and an acting teacher. Craft excites me; human injustice saddens me.
How has your pandemic been?
I've had moments of numb immobility, feverish activity and lately, more stillness. I have discovered you have to work at the latter.
How would you describe what you do at a dinner party?
I don’t go to dinner parties.
How did you first discover acting?
At school, as a refuge from shame, sadness and certain kinds of team sports.
What misconceptions do you hear about your industry or area of expertise?
That acting and teaching it are forms of therapy. Though their effects are therapeutic, that's not the intention. Teaching a craft enables someone to uncover and pursue their own standards of excellence.
You're able to watch one single movie or TV show that you love again, as if for the first time, what do you pick?
Brief Encounter.
How do you define success?
Doing something you love for a few hours, then resting.
Is there a particular book you find yourself recommending? Or one that you gift most often?
The Leopard by Lampedusa.
What’s the best purchase you've made in the past year?
A webcam.
If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
'Every little thing's gonna be alright'.
And, what’s the best piece of advice someone ever gave you?
Don’t lead a trivial life. My old acting teacher, Tom Radcliffe, told me that.
What is an unusual habit that you have?
I try and learn 5 lines of blank verse every day.
Are there any recent projects you'd like to mention?
I keep thinking up ways of meeting people who share my love of Chekhov and in particular his play Uncle Vanya. I worked recently on some scenes from it and the sessions were filmed: all quite unexpectedly beautiful.
Where can people find you?