Culture
Michael Gambon: the authorised biography review – a brilliant actor, and a master deceiver
Source: The Guardian · Published

From the National Theatre to Harry Potter, Gambon’s shapeshifting life leaves many questions still unanswered Michael Gambon began his acting career with a preposterous bluff. Applying for a job at Dublin’s Gate theatre, the young toolmaker from the south-east London suburbs embellished his CV with entirely fabricated theatrical experience. It was a gamble, but it worked. In 1962 he made his…
Key points
- From the National Theatre to Harry Potter, Gambon’s shapeshifting life leaves many questions still unanswered Michael Gambon began his acting career with a preposterous bluff.
- Applying for a job at Dublin’s Gate theatre, the young toolmaker from the south-east London suburbs embellished his CV with entirely fabricated theatrical experience.
- It was a gamble, but it worked.
Related stories
- ‘We did everything wrong!’ The tragedy of the hit-free band behind Blondie’s Hanging on the Telephone
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 15:25

- Jon Stewart on the midterms: ‘Republicans running for Congress can’t defend Trump’s reckless record’
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 15:04

- Elizabeth Holmes mania: how the buzziest film of the year has resurrected a gut-twisting TV drama
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 14:34

- Elon Musk’s AI Odyssey review – the dullest, most pointless riposte possible to Christopher Nolan’s brilliant epic
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 13:01

- ‘Approaching desire with curiosity’: the many facets of Black masculinity – in pictures
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 13:00

- Neil Young files second lawsuit against Trump for unauthorised use of Rockin’ in the Free World at rallies
The Guardian · 27 Oct 2026, 10:58

We are a news aggregator: we show the headline and a short excerpt with a link to the original source. We never republish full articles.