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Hilary's membership of awl
inspired her to write and perform the bawdy monologue Coming
of Age, the popular winner at the awl
Competition Night in July 2001, which she performed again as
part of awl's
first public showcase at Bullion Room
Theatre, Hackney Empire, in November 2003.
Other recent awl credits include Queen
Elizabeth in Christmas
Crackers by Carolyn
Eden.
Why
I love ... being old
by Hilary Sesta
The Guardian, Tuesday October 26,
2004
Worried about ageism? Not me. Unlike you retired-at-60
lot, I'm still working in my 70s and will go on until - well,
whenever.
And not because the government tells me I have to.
You see, I'm an actor and, despite bleatings from
50-60 year-olds about there being no parts for older women, I'm
living proof
that they just have to be patient and keep at least fit enough
to hobble to castings. At an audition I attended recently with
a 90-year old, I think her Zimmer Frame helped to get her the
part instead of me.
My husband sometimes lets his age get to him.
Standing in a crowded train not long ago, he looked casually,
almost admiringly, through
the lower part of his bi-focals at an earring in a provocative
navel. To his dismay, the owner immediately got up and offered
him her seat. But he still gets an occasional availability check.
I take that as a compliment.
On the tube, my five-foot-two height makes me
more nervous than my age. Everyone seems to carry large things
on their backs these
days. Warding them off can be a problem, but before they get
too near, I shove them away as hard as I can. My age stops them
from retaliating. I don't worry about travelling in the rush
hour. I'm quite content to let my unbleached white hair and un-lasered,
un-Botoxed lines work for me. Sometimes women who I'm sure are
much the same age as me, radiant in their hair-dyes, try to prove
a point, and take my arm as I mount a step.
I'll admit I'm a little sad that, when young men
practically fight to give me a seat, they don't notice my admiring
glances.
It's restful not having to compete, though. To be honest, I never
could have flaunted my midriff, but my legs are still in good
nick. When I did a commercial with Kylie Minogue, she said, "You've
got them, you ought to show them." I'm not too sure. At
my age? |
