I’d had a challenging experience in the West End with my Hollywood hero, Yaphet Kotto in August Wilson’s Fences. Knowing this Giant had also played the role made famous by Denzel Washington, it was with great trepidation that I went to interview James Earl Jones. Along with Sydney Poitier, one of the first Black actors I had ever seen. The man with the golden voice, the Lion King.
He came along with his wife and we had a ball and a bawl. I remember, we went deep!!
He was appearing in Cat On A Hot Tinned Roof with a largely British cast.
Mr Jones was so kind , generous and complimentary. He told me, I was not a failed actor but a skilled interviewer. 😝
I tell you this because I cannot remember a single line from our chats but I do remember the way he made me feel.
The circle of life is now complete and Mufasa is in Wakanda looking down on us singing Hakuna Matata.
