Will She Do?

Act One of a Life on Stage

By: Eileen Atkins

Narrated by: Eileen Atkins

Short-listed, Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize, 2022

Short-listed, Theatre Book Prize, 2022

Will She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, who was determined to be an actress. Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing 'Baby Eileen', through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at 32 on Broadway with The Killing of Sister George, for which she received the first of four Tony Award nominations. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and at age 86, this is her first autobiographical work.

Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, class, youthful ambition and big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes. Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner; her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry, All that Fall and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford to The Crown.

©2021 Eileen Atkins (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Yes, she will: this vivid, honest memoir by a great actress and a natural writer goes down a treat." (Tom Stoppard)

Passion for the Craft of Acting

The story of having the passion to act and finding pure joy in her craft. She is one of my favorite actresses and I adore her even more after hearing her story.

Eileen is sexy

I loved it. I didn’t want it to end. I just wish there was a part 2

Utterly fabulous

A must listen for anybody who enjoys the theater and enjoys Eileen Atkins I just wish there was more

Just wonderful

If you are a fan of Eileen Atkins, you would love this. But even if you are not familiar with her work, listen anyway. Fascinating account of life in London during World War II and great insight into the working lives of actors. Highly recommended.