I went to the theatre a couple of times this week, and on both occasions I was quite astonished, as I usually am, at the skill and artistry the performers. Professional stage actors have sometimes seemed to me to be almost supernatural beings - their ability to combine speaking with movement so precisely and creatively and for such a duration never ceases to amaze me.
I’m sure they are perfectly normal if you met them for a cup of tea. As it happens I went to a film premiere last week in which the Oscar winning actress Jessie Buckley made an appearance. She was so charming and down to earth and , well, normal. She just happens to be an astonishing actor. Nothing to see here.
And yet, I can’t help but thinking these exceptional human beings live in a slightly different universe from the rest of us. I’m not only talking about actors here, but great thinkers, artists, chefs, ballet dancers, musicians even footballers or athletes. This people who live - at least some of the time - at a level above the reality or ordinariness most of us are required to endure.
