FLAVIA BRILLI: Michael Nyman

'Beadles About'

One of the most popular TV shows on British television. Had loads of fun performing in the series. Both cast and crew were wonderful to work with.

HOW A HAIRCUT GETS ME A CONTRACT WITH BEADLE'S ABOUT

Since I was a child of the 1960s, when I hit my 20s, haircut trends had taken a very strange turn for the worse. A quick glance at the 1980s pop bands should give you a fair understanding of the diabolical hairdos we were sporting: mullets, jheri curls, flattops, mohawks, and hi-top fades, as well, of course, a perm to achieve maximum volume were all the popular choices of rock stars and the guys and girls on the street at that time. Television shows, such as Dynasty, unfortunately, helped popularise the desired high volume bouffant so many of us associated with a glamorous image. Never mind if the haircut of your choice was entirely unsuitable and unflattering, as with all things connected to trends, just being trendy was the aim.

My choice, as an art student at that time, was to copy Captain Sensible's peroxide blonde cut. But after discovering all blonde was not a good look for me, I rashly converted to two tones, leaving the blonde bit in the center. Was it flattering? Perhaps not. But it caught the attention of the director of a 'Beadles About' show which revolved around a hairdressing theme. So, there you have it! My diabolically awful haircut gets me summoned by the director for a private chinwag and confirmation from me that I had an Actor's Equity card. Which I did. And so begins my life as a bonafide tv actress.

'Beadle's About' revolved around practical jokes played on unsuspecting members of the public, using hidden cameras to record their often hilarious reactions. Everyone else involved in the joke was of course an actor. At its peak, the show attracted 15 million viewers, making it one of the most popular Saturday night programmes during that time.

Beadles About Videos

'Beadle's About' The Dodgy Plumber ITV, featuring Jeremy Beadle and actress Flavia Brilli

'Beadle's About' featuring singer and actress Flavia Brilli playing ' Obnoxious neighbour', ' Dating agency owner' and ' Unhappy car owner'

Screenshots of actress Flavia Brilli playing ' Obnoxious neighbour', ' Dating agency owner', ' Unhappy car owner', and ' Restaurant waitress'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beadle%27s_About

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109385/

FILM

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover

by Peter Greenaway

Flavia Brilli walking through the restaurant scene in the film 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover'

before performing the song 'Something Sometime Soon' by composer Michael Nyman.

Flavia Brilli performing the song 'Something Sometime Soon'

by Michael Nyman

HOW A RAINY NIGHT IN AND A LUNCH DATE LANDS ME A FILM PART

On a dull rainy evening, I found myself glued to the television watching Peter Greenaway's film 'The Draughtsman's Contract'. Engaged as I was by the sumptuous visuals and eccentric narrative, it was the music that caught my attention and stayed with me long after the film ended. Checking the credits, I saw that the composer responsible was Michael Nyman, so I hastily got on the phone to my music manager Don Mousseau, and asked him if he could set up a meeting. At that point, my only desire was to meet the man behind the wonderful compositions. So, simply a fan wanting to meet the talent. But over lunch something clicked, and Nyman invited me to his home for a chat. Eventually, this led to me landing the part of the cabaret singer who walks across the restaurant scene and sings the song 'Something Sometime Soon' written by Michael.

VOGUE MAGAZINE

Stills from the film 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover'

by photographer Michel Haddi for Vogue magazine