Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
132nd out of 249 books
—
111 voters
Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography
Aunique, insider's view of the world's longest running science fiction series, from one of the fans' favorite companions. David Tennant's foreword caps this warm, wittymemoir—a fitting tribute to a woman who will be sadly missed by legions of fans.
When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in 1973 Doctor Who story "The Time Warrior," little...more
When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in 1973 Doctor Who story "The Time Warrior," little...more
Hardcover, 346 pages
Published
December 2nd 2011
by Aurum Press Ltd
(first published 2011)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
527)
I finished reading Lis's autobiography yesterday. It was very much a career autobiography, as Lis was very much a private person it pretty much focused on her acting career, all the plays she did before who, her other tv roles and of course Doctor who. It was a wonderful mixture of very sweet and sarcastic comments. I managed to read it through without crying too much before the end. The old Who stuff was lovely to read but it wasn't until she sat down with RTD that I found myself tearing up. I...more
Review from Badelynge.
Ninety-nine out of every hundred people reading this book are going to be dyed in the wool Doctor Who fans. Lis knew this quite well. Which is probably one of the reasons the bulk of the book is taken up documenting the short period of her life working on the show. She's giving the target audience what they want. I'm a hardcore Doctor Who fan myself. I love all her insights and observations about the show. But I would also have liked to read more about the real Elisabeth Sl...more
Ninety-nine out of every hundred people reading this book are going to be dyed in the wool Doctor Who fans. Lis knew this quite well. Which is probably one of the reasons the bulk of the book is taken up documenting the short period of her life working on the show. She's giving the target audience what they want. I'm a hardcore Doctor Who fan myself. I love all her insights and observations about the show. But I would also have liked to read more about the real Elisabeth Sl...more
A Tear Sarah-Jane?
So why did I give this book five stars? Well to be honest I wish Goodreads did half stars.
To me this is a 4.5 star, mainly due to the later part of Elisabeth’s life jumping forward too much.
That very minor annoyance apart, this is a great read.
Elisabeth’s personality really shines and her humour and occasional ‘naughty’ word always bring a smile. The Doctor Who fan will find a lot here and the little insights, especially about Jon Pertwee are fascinating. It has been said Elisa...more
So why did I give this book five stars? Well to be honest I wish Goodreads did half stars.
To me this is a 4.5 star, mainly due to the later part of Elisabeth’s life jumping forward too much.
That very minor annoyance apart, this is a great read.
Elisabeth’s personality really shines and her humour and occasional ‘naughty’ word always bring a smile. The Doctor Who fan will find a lot here and the little insights, especially about Jon Pertwee are fascinating. It has been said Elisa...more
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1857495...
I liked it very much; Sladen comes across as a modest person, driven by her instinctive desire to be an actor, prepared to tell of her own bad experiences as well as the good - a run of difficult directors in the Pertwee era, health problems while filming both The Five Doctors and School Reunion - but generally enjoying the process of recounting her career highlights and making the reader/listener enjoy the process as well. I have noted one particular poin...more
I liked it very much; Sladen comes across as a modest person, driven by her instinctive desire to be an actor, prepared to tell of her own bad experiences as well as the good - a run of difficult directors in the Pertwee era, health problems while filming both The Five Doctors and School Reunion - but generally enjoying the process of recounting her career highlights and making the reader/listener enjoy the process as well. I have noted one particular poin...more
One thing I always look for in a celebrity bio is copious background info about the show or movie that made the person famous in the first place. For example, as much as I adore Carrie Fisher in all her eccentric insanity, she doesn't talk much at all about the making of the Star Wars movies in her memoirs...and that's what I want most to read about! To my delight, Elisabeth Sladen's posthumously published autobiography really delivers on the Doctor Who backstage tales. It's like when she sat do...more
This is a must have for any Who fan, or really, just if you had any love at all for Sarah Jane Smith and the actress who played her - the seemingly immortal Elisabeth Sladen.
Only finished months before she died, it is hard to read this autobiography without a sense of sadness at knowing she is gone. Her book is very in the moment, with a sense of now, as if she is reading it to you while making corrections. It is possible she may have had a ghostwriter helping her, as so many actor and celebrity...more
Only finished months before she died, it is hard to read this autobiography without a sense of sadness at knowing she is gone. Her book is very in the moment, with a sense of now, as if she is reading it to you while making corrections. It is possible she may have had a ghostwriter helping her, as so many actor and celebrity...more
I have no words for how I am feeling after reading this. My heart feels both broken and lighter at the same time.
RIP Elisabeth, Sarah-Jane will stay in the hearts and minds of all Whovians forever.
This song made me cry "Goodnight Sarah Jane" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnmui...
RIP Elisabeth, Sarah-Jane will stay in the hearts and minds of all Whovians forever.
This song made me cry "Goodnight Sarah Jane" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnmui...
Elisabeth Sladen, the “S” is for Star. And truly she was.
I’ve never read any sort of biographies before, mainly because no one that I actually cared for to know more than simply the “celebrity façade” ever wrote one. However, when Elisabeth died and we knew the autobiography would come out, I knew I couldn’t miss it. Moreover, as you can see, this rating can be a bit biased but do you think I care? Not one iota. The lovely Elisabeth deserves it all.
I’ve never met Lis and thanks to cancer that ch...more
I’ve never read any sort of biographies before, mainly because no one that I actually cared for to know more than simply the “celebrity façade” ever wrote one. However, when Elisabeth died and we knew the autobiography would come out, I knew I couldn’t miss it. Moreover, as you can see, this rating can be a bit biased but do you think I care? Not one iota. The lovely Elisabeth deserves it all.
I’ve never met Lis and thanks to cancer that ch...more
Lots of behind-the-scenes Who stories, written with grace and liveliness. The early sections described her theater career in great detail; clearly work and memories she loved. When she gets to Doctor Who, it's clear she and Jon Pertwee had a bit of trouble adjusting to each other's very different styles, and she immediately loved working with Tom Baker, but then after they all left the show, Tom Baker pretty much disappears from the book, while she and Pertwee become much better friends on the c...more
Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography was written during the last couple of years of the actress’s life and was published shortly after her death in 2011 to much acclaim.
The book isn't just about her time working in Doctor Who but also talks about her early life growing up in Liverpool and her early years as an actress in the theatre working with all sorts of people included Dame Helen Mirren and was tipped more like to make it than she was, and her early television career which included appearan...more
The book isn't just about her time working in Doctor Who but also talks about her early life growing up in Liverpool and her early years as an actress in the theatre working with all sorts of people included Dame Helen Mirren and was tipped more like to make it than she was, and her early television career which included appearan...more
I picked this book up in December, just before Christmas. Since 2005, when I started watching Doctor Who, I have been a massive fan. The modern Who series provoked my father into nostalgia, and so he went around and bough many classic DVDs. Most of these happened to be Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen episodes. I was also a huge fan of The Sarah Jane Adventures, which I'd watch with my younger siblings whenever they aired.
So when she died, there was obviously distress in my household. My father, o...more
So when she died, there was obviously distress in my household. My father, o...more
Fans of Doctor Who were saddened last year to hear of the death of Elisabeth Sladen, one of its most popular actresses, who had been playing companion Sarah Jane Smith on and off since 1973, appeared in the modern revival of the programme, and had recently been given her own spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures. Before she passed away, she completed writing her life story. It paints a picture of a smart, witty, and amiable woman, who was modest about her abilities, yet talented enough to enj...more
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Elisabeth Sladen – the seemingly immortal Sarah Jane Smith -- has died. She is hilariously and wickedly alive in the pages of her autobiography, finished just before she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Lis Sladen was "my" companion on Doctor Who. When I started watching the show on PBS back in the 80s, Tom Baker was the Doctor and Lis was his feisty companion Sarah Jane. When she returned to the show in 2006 for the School Reunion episode...more
I finished this book some time ago and have been so busy that I've not posted...
Elisabeth Sladen, for all that she enjoyed a strong stage career in the UK prior to "retiring" to motherhood, is universally remembered as Sarah Jane Smith, companion to the Third and Fourth Doctors on Doctor Who. Sarah Jane is perhaps the most beloved of the Doctor's many companions. She was the first of the Doctor's "assistants" to be an effectively strong female character (Dr. Liz Shaw was conceived in that manner...more
Elisabeth Sladen, for all that she enjoyed a strong stage career in the UK prior to "retiring" to motherhood, is universally remembered as Sarah Jane Smith, companion to the Third and Fourth Doctors on Doctor Who. Sarah Jane is perhaps the most beloved of the Doctor's many companions. She was the first of the Doctor's "assistants" to be an effectively strong female character (Dr. Liz Shaw was conceived in that manner...more
Jan 08, 2013
Kris
added it
Fantastic book- The foreword from David Tennant summed up many people's feelings when Liz Sladen passed away... She was part of your childhood- a friendly face on teatime tv. The book tells of her beginnings on the stage and then her audition for Doctor Who when Jon Pertwee was the time lord, through her "wilderness years" after the show and her eventual return along side a giddy David Tennant (who worshipped her as a kid!). Upon completing the book you are left with a feeling of loss, but also...more
I think this is my first time reading an autobiography, so it was hard as a genre to get into, but I was very quickly immersed in this book. Not only did it remind me of my favourite Doctor Who memories, it also shattered some others, such as the controlling behaviour of Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor and his 'bitchy' attitude towards his successor, Tom Baker.
The epilogue was truly emotionally devastating, having been written by Lis' husband and daughter after she died and I have to admit I did...more
The epilogue was truly emotionally devastating, having been written by Lis' husband and daughter after she died and I have to admit I did...more
What a great book! Lis shares so many funny stories and special memories that only she could tell. The very beginning as she breaks into the business as a teenager is a bit slow as I recognized none of the names she mentions (except Helen Mirren, great little story there!) but the book quickly moves into her time in the classic Doctor Who series. It's fantastic to learn about how they made it happen and her perspective as an actor on their stage and screen work. "School Reunion" is one if my ver...more
This was a great (and sad) read! Sladen reveals what it was like to be on the set of Doctor Who and tells some very interesting stories about her time on the show. If you love Sarah Jane Smith, you'll really enjoy her thoughts on the show and her character. She completed the final draft only months before she died, which puts a layer of melancholy over the whole book. That doesn't mean it's not funny, though. The only thing I felt missing was a few chapters on The Sarah Jane Adventures. She does...more
I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this autobiography, but I have to say I really enjoyed it.
I found the writing style so easy and friendly as if she was just telling you a story face to face.
I zoomed throught this book within a couple of days as I just found it so interesting. even though I read it due to being a fan of Doctor Who, I discovered I was more interested in her work in the theatre and starting out in the world she wanted to be a part of. though I understand why she dedicated...more
I found the writing style so easy and friendly as if she was just telling you a story face to face.
I zoomed throught this book within a couple of days as I just found it so interesting. even though I read it due to being a fan of Doctor Who, I discovered I was more interested in her work in the theatre and starting out in the world she wanted to be a part of. though I understand why she dedicated...more
Reading about Elisabeth Sladen has brought back the tears I forgot I still had for her. I learned a lot more about her, not just from her times on Doctor Who, but before and after that, and even some times in between. What I absolutely love about this book is that Lis did NOT omit her association with Doctor Who, and that's the part of the book I was itching to get to when I first cracked it open. Lis is quite hilarious, and her jokes written throughout made me ache with endless laughter. And my...more
A light and somewhat entertaining read, especially for fans of old-school Doctor Who. As Sarah Jane Smith, Sladen won the hearts of a generation of Whovians; her return in The Sarah Jane Adventures was even more of a triumph, one which sadly gets short shrift in this volume.
My full review is at http://ed-rex.com/reviews/books/sladen_autobio.
My full review is at http://ed-rex.com/reviews/books/sladen_autobio.
A highly recommended read especially for fans of Dr Who a real insight in what it's like to act in both the classic and new series of the show. Liz starred alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker in the 70s, returned for The Five Doctors with Peter Davison in the 80s. Then in 2006 starred alongside David Tennent in the episode School Reunion which was so successful it led to the spin off show The Sarah Jane Adventures.
The book is an eye opener to the differences between working on the show in the 7...more
The book is an eye opener to the differences between working on the show in the 7...more
MAGNIFICENT. Even though I knew very little about her work prior to 2006, that didn't matter. Every page was engaging, intriguing, informative. A wonderful walkthrough of her career, while at the same time infused with warm personal commentary that made it seem like a more intimate reveal(frequent side references to her present-day work helped - a better introduction, they could not have written). I learned so much about her, and all of it good. Now I miss her even more.
This is an instant favorite. My only wish is that she would have told more about her personal life and not focused so much on Who, but I think that shows both how private she was and also how she genuinely didn't feel like a celebrity. Makes me want to go back and watch through the more recent episodes with her, now that I know what was going through her mind at the time and everything that led up to those moments. I am grateful to her family for publishing this and to her for taking the time to...more
Jul 06, 2012
H3dakota
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Doctor Who fans
An autobiography that no self-respecting Who fan would skip. Elisabeth Sladen is not my all time favorite companion, though she does come close, as she was the first one I ever saw. I loved hearing all about my favorite Doctors (10 & 3) from Elisabeth's perspective. What a wonderful, warm & funny woman she was. I laughed and cried while reading this one & cannot recommend it enough!
I loved reading this. It was like she was sitting across from me with a cup of tea sharing stories about her life and career. She is kind, funny, and open about her time on Doctor Who and never mentions names of anyone who messed up - no bad-mouthing from Lis. Of course, I cried at the end. I have images of Sarah Jane in my mind from childhood and her passing touched my heart.
What an absolutely charming book. Sladen's Sarah Jane was always my favorite Doctor Who companion and while this book goes into great detail on her years in the series, it also shows us Lis Sladen or Miller. We see how Sarah Jane was somewhat an extension of Lis. There's an even greater connection as I read how her cancer was diagnosed too late and she passed two months later. My father was in a similar situation. A great story of a great life of a great person.
I almost made it through the introduction without crying. A well written book, lots of great stories, with a heartbreaking epilogue. It made me miss her all over again. Loved it.
Great book. Elisabeth Sladen comes across as a likeable, engaging and modest actress. I found it fascinating to read her insights into television making in the 1970s and 80s, and to find out more about her as a person. If you're a fan of Doctor Who, I'd say this is a must-have. But then if you are a Doctor Who fan, I'm sure you have it already.
I didn't grow up with Sarah Jane as the Doctor's companion. I just missed her. But I've enjoyed her stuff on DVD, and the actress's sad untimely death mad...more
I didn't grow up with Sarah Jane as the Doctor's companion. I just missed her. But I've enjoyed her stuff on DVD, and the actress's sad untimely death mad...more
A great read for any Doctor Who fan, but also for anyone who works in or loves live theatre. Wonderful insight of the life of a woman who was intensely private and always humble. Now added to the very short list of books that have made me cry.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Mar 09, 2012 07:40am