Kenneth Williams shares some thoughts from his diaries and reflects on his Welsh roots.
Kenneth Williams in an actor well known from his television, film and radio work down through the years.
He's always a very funny man.
Best known for his roles in the Carry On films, he has recently taken to writing. He is in Dublin to promote his latest book 'Kenneth Williams Back Drops, Pages From A Private Diary' which takes the form of a daily account of a year in his life.
He tells anecdotes and stories and reminisces of people he knows on a very amusing level.
Kenneth William describes diary entries as therapeutic. Writing things down gives him the opportunity to reflect and do better allowing him to remedy his shortcomings. His Puritan streak comes from his background. His father grew up in the depression and was frightened to death of a job that did not have a skill. He was somewhat unapproving when Kenneth William decided to go into the theatre.
He though theatre was the worst kind of profession.
He was brought up to never borrow money and to only buy what you can afford. As a result, he lives quite frugally. He says that whenever he is surrounded by opulence, he feels does not truly deserve it.
If everyone just used what they needed, the world would be a lot better.
Kenneth William was born to Welsh parents, but was brought up in London. He recalls working alongside Welsh actor Richard Burton as his understudy in a production of 'The Seagull' and his gratitude that he never had to take to the stage as he had not learnt his lines.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 12 March 1983. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
