Michael York comes to UCLA for book signing
By Daily Bruin Staff
March 6, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 Lori De Waal & Associates Actor Michael
York from "Austin Powers" and "Omega Code" is coming to
UCLA to sign his new book, "A Shakespearean Actor Prepares."
By Chris Clark
Daily Bruin Contributor
In the last four days Michael York has been to his wife’s
photography exhibition in Washington, D.C., done a book signing in
Austin and spent quality time at home in Los Angeles.
Today he comes to UCLA’s BookZone to sign his new book,
“A Shakespearean Actor Prepares.”
“I just want to do everything,” the actor said in an
interview.
His credits speak to his versatility. A trained Shakespearean
actor who often quotes the Bard in everyday conversation, York is
equally at ease in classic tales (“Romeo and Juliet”),
science fiction (“Logan’s Run”) and even comedies
(“Austin Powers”). In addition, York was nominated for
a Grammy for his voice work in several books on tape.
York’s third book, “A Shakespearean Actor
Prepares” is the result of a 40-year friendship and
correspondence with co-author Adrian Brine.
“A Shakespearean Actor Prepares” focuses on the
subjectivity of Shakespeare’s scripts, showing how individual
actors can come up with different interpretations of the
Bard’s famous characters. In Shakespearean plays, actors are
not just mouthpieces for the writer’s opinions but are able
to inject their own thoughts into the story.
“He’s a very generous author,” York said.
“It’s as if Shakespeare says to his actors,
“˜I’m going to give you these situations and these
pretty good words to speak, but I also need your help and
we’ll see where we end up together.’ That’s why
every performance is different and there’s no such thing as a
definitive performance.”
York said that the excitement of doing a book signing lies not
in sitting around and autographing books, but in interacting with
his audience.
Richard MacBriar from BookZone is optimistic about York’s
appearance.
“He’s very forthcoming for someone who’s a
movie star,” MacBriar said. “Q & A is very high on
this campus and we’re really looking forward to
it.”
Bringing York to UCLA was a joint effort by MacBriar and Daniel
Neuman, Dean of the School of Arts and Architecture.
“I got a letter from Daniel Neuman mentioning that he had
met York and thought it would be great for our author
series,” MacBriar said.
York was eager to accept the invitation.
“I’ve been very lucky to work consistently,”
York said. “It’s very nice to be asked to do
something.”
Diverse film and theater pursuits have given York a unique
perspective on acting.
“It’s all subjective,” York said. “I
regard it as establishing one’s self. Most jobs have a linear
progression; you join on in the mail room and see your way up to
the board room. If you work hard enough, you see your way up to the
top. This job is a sort of anarchy.”
York’s celebrity status has not calmed this chaos.
Instead, he finds that being the star in films increases his
workload.
“Movies are hard work,” York said.
“That’s the great illusion. The movies are like going
down a coal mine. It’s unsocial hours. It’s totally
unglamorous.”
York is eager to challenge himself with esoteric roles. Despite
his rigorous schedule and grueling hours, York is pleasantly
surprised with the hidden perks that come with an acting
career.
“You get to travel to beautiful exotic places or meet some
extraordinary people so it gives another value to the work,”
York said. “It’s a wonderful way to make friends, you
sort of go to war with your colleagues.”
Coming to terms with the madness of his profession was difficult
yet exciting for York, who found his experience with Shakespeare
helpful.
“If you’ve played Hamlet, he haunts the rest of your
life and you just long to do him again because you realize
you’ve only scratched the surface,” York said.
York has only played Hamlet once but considers the experience to
be relevant to his other film roles, such as his role as Basil
Exposition in “Austin Powers.”
“I think Shakespeare would have loved Austin Powers. It
was the sort of wit he could appreciate. I think the reason why it
worked so well was that Mike Meyers is essentially naughty but
nice.”
This idea echoes York’s own beliefs about Shakespeare.
“In a way he’s always been this rather beguiling
mystery,” York said. “He’s there and yet he
withdraws himself. He has this extraordinary habit of seeing things
from everybody’s point of view.”
Like Shakespeare, York has the ability to see issues from
multiple points of view, a skill that has served him well as an
actor. After years of work, York is happy to be acting.
“To do something you enjoy and get paid for it is the true
secret of life,” York said.
York remains hopeful about the future of his career.
“I don’t like to look back, I always look to the
future,” York said. “You’ve got everything in
front of you, all you have to remember is to thine own self be
true.”
BOOK: Michael York will be at the Charles Young
Grand Salon in Kerckhoff Hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more
information contact UCLA BookZone at (310) 206-4041.
