When R S Thomas met Liz Taylor

Why poets should never attempt small talk with beautiful actresses…

If I hadn’t happened to read a review of a  biography of Richard Burton – and I wouldn’t have happened to read it had I not noticed that it (the review) was by the excellent Byron Rogers – I would never have known that the craggy and fabulously austere poet R.S. Thomas once came face to face with Mrs Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor.

Gwydion Thomas, R.S.’s son, was a talented actor at Oxford – and according to Rogers …

 …was recruited by Burton to appear in his film of Faustus. On set, when served tea, Burton, he recalled with awe, had to have the cup glued to the saucer, because his hands shook so much the rattle was picked up on sound. Then there was an extraordinary lunch after the actor had asked to meet Gwydion’s father. In the course of this, R.S. Thomas tried to interest Elizabeth Taylor in small talk. The poet did this by broaching the subject of flatfish. “And have you tried plaice?” he asked the Most Beautiful Woman in the World.

And have you tried plaice?… I pass this on purely because it made me laugh. But I’ve made a mental note of the line – you never know when it might come in handy.

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About Author Profile: Nige

Cravat-Wearer of the Year Nige, who, like Mr Kenneth Horne, prefers to remain anonymous, is a founder blogger of The Dabbler and has been a co-blogger on the Bryan Appleyard Thought Experiments blog. He is the sole blogger on Nigeness, and (for now) a wholly owned subsidiary of NigeCorp. His principal aim is to share various of life's pleasures.

2 thoughts on “When R S Thomas met Liz Taylor

  1. johngjobling@googlemail.com'
    malty
    June 29, 2012 at 16:11

    The minimalist approach, always the best Nige, otherwise you give ’em an opener, to talk about themselves, she could however have taken offence, remembering the Fisher debacle.
    The daughter, sitting with her agent outside of a well known Edinburgh hotel at Festival time when a well known but medium strength luvvie hove into view, the agent greeted her, appearing to be on first name terms. They chatted for an hour, luvvie stuff and off she went into the sunset. “I didn’t realise that you knew her”, said the daughter, “I don’t” said the agent.

  2. philipwilk@googlemail.com'
    Philip Wilkinson
    June 29, 2012 at 21:26

    For the first time, R S Thomas brings to mind Dylan Thomas:
    “CAPTAIN CAT: Who’s that talking by the pump? Mrs Floyd and Boyo, talking flatfish. What can you talk about flatfish?” (Under Milk Wood)
    I think RST and Boyo must have been on to something.

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