Portrait of the artist
Leading cultural lights open up on what gets them up, what pulls them down and what keeps them going
Savion Glover, tap dancer – portrait of the artist
On being part of a living heritage of dance and why John Coltrane's music should be wallpaper
Roger Allam, actor – portrait of the artist
On a peculiarly British approach to acting, arts sponsorship, and shaving his body with a beard trimmer
Sally Potter, film director – portrait of the artist
'When you push through your limits, it gets painful – it's like a scab coming off'
Michael Boyd, theatre director – portrait of the artist
The former Royal Shakespeare Company chief talks about the joy of creating worlds he wants to live in, getting bad reviews, and why theatre must not become a plaything of the wealthy
Sheryl Crow, musician
Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow talks about doing a jingle for McDonald's, throwing herself into country music – and sacrificing her love life for her career
Niamh Cusack, actor – portrait of the artist
The TV and theatre actor talks about turning away from her musical training, getting insomnia during rehearsals and the luxury of being able to live so many different lives
Omid Djalili, comedian and actor – portrait of the artist
The stage star reveals how comedy cost him his athletic figure, why he struggles to be taken seriously as an actor – and why doing a 10-metre dive on Splash! changed his life
Vadim Repin, violinist – portrait of the artist
Violinist Vadim Repin talks about giving his first concert aged nine, how special things happen on stage – and why he's promiscuous with his artistic affections
Una Stubbs, actor – portrait of the artist
The actor talks about getting the rhythm of Shakespeare, why parts for older women are opening up, and resembling a chicken
Julian Lloyd Webber, cellist – portrait of the artist
The cellist talks about the Kandinsky that got away, why he doesn't think about his famous brother, and why the future of English music should be Venezuelan
Cornelia Parker, artist – portrait of the artist
Artist Cornelia Parker talks about growing up on a smallholding, stringing up Rodin, and why Michael Gove should heed her words
Natalia Osipova, ballet dancer – portrait of the artist
The Russian ballet star talks about her formative years with the Bolshoi, the troubled times it has faced – and why life on stage is nothing like Black Swan
Martin Shaw, actor – portrait of the artist
Actor Martin Shaw talks about working with Polanski, the dumbing-down of his profession, and the death of his fellow Professional Lewis Collins
Isaac Julien, artist – portrait of the artist
The film-maker and installation artist on bridging the gap between art and cinema, and what he learned from the Baader-Meinhof gang
Penelope Wilton, actor – portrait of the artist
Penelope Wilton talks about the effect Downton Abbey's success has had on her career, the importance of actors listening to each other and why dressing up for premieres is her idea of hell
Tarell Alvin McCraney, playwright – portrait of the artist
The playwright – who is directing Antony and Cleopatra for the RSC – on being told he had no talent, and theatre with colour
Margaret Drabble, author – portrait of the artist
The novelist talks to Laura Barnett about the death of feminism, her first novel and the worst thing anyone ever said about her
David Baddiel, comedian and writer – portrait of the artist
The comic talks about the mundanity of fame, the difficulty of doing alternative comedy when you went to Cambridge, and how Andrew Lloyd Webber keeps mistaking him for Ben Elton
Howard Blake, composer – portrait of the artist
'No one ever says: "You're a composer? Wonderful! Why don't I give you lots of money?"'
Simon Munnery, comedian – portrait of the artist
Preparing for his new show Fylm, the comic talks to Laura Barnett about stress, Ginsters sandwiches, crayons and punching boxers
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