Australian Bio/Cilento
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AUSTRALIAN BIOGRAPHY DIANE STUDY GUIDE RIE NATALENKO AND JACQUI STONE CILENTO SERIES 8 (1932 - ) Actor INTRODUCTION his program is an episode of Australian Biography (Series 8) produced by the Na- ...she went to New tional Interest Program of Film Australia. This well-established series profi les some Tof the most extraordinary Australians of our time. Many have had a major impact York with her father, on the nation’s cultural, political and social life. All are remarkable and inspiring people who have reached a stage in their lives where they can look back and refl ect. Through where she secretly ISSUE 29 revealing in-depth interviews, they share their stories - of beginnings and challenges, landmarks and turning points. In so doing, they provide us with an invaluable archival spent her days at AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION record and a unique perspective on the roads we, as a country, have travelled. the museum and SYNOPSIS and an Academy Award nomination for the movies instead Tom Jones in 1963. That was also the Diane Cilento achieved international ac- year her celebrity reached its height, with claim as a stage and screen actor in the her husband Sean Connery as James of in the classroom, 1950s and 60s. A graduate of the Royal Bond attracting feverish attention the Academy of Dramatic Art in London, world over. and where she dis- she won a Critics Choice Award for her 1 theatre role in Tiger at the Gates in 1956 It was far removed from her days growing covered acting. ABOVE: DIANE CILENTO IN 2001 8 AUSTRALIAN BIOGRAPHY DIANE CILENTO CURRICULUM LINKS son, Jason, who is now a famous actor in his own right. Diane left Sean Connery in Australian Biography: Diane Cilento will 1970 and divorced him the following year. have interest and relevance for students In 1985, Diane married English playwright at upper secondary and tertiary levels. Anthony Shaffer (1926 – 2001). Curriculum links include English, Drama, Media Studies, Society and Culture, • The fi rst image we see of Diane’s fi rst Personal Development, Philosophy and husband is a painting. How would you Studies of Religion. describe it? What effect is produced by using this image? Why was this BEFORE WATCHING image selected, do you think? • What were some of the issues that Construct a timeline showing the major Diane faced in her marriage to Andrea historical events in Australia in the 20th Volpe? What does she mean by the century. reference to Romeo and Juliet? • What was the effect of Sean Con- Research news making the headlines in nery’s success on Diane Cilento’s Australia in the 1930s and on the date Di- life and on their marriage? ane Cilento was born: 5 October 1932. • What were some of the challenges that Diane experienced in trying to Find some statistics about her birthplace, raise children in a ‘normal’ family Brisbane, from that year, eg. population, environment? main industries, etc. • If you were the child of two famous people, what privileges and what Discuss some reasons a person may problems might you experience? up in Queensland as one of six children have for wanting to become an actor to Lady Phyllis and Sir Raphael Cilento, and the skills that are required. ROLE: ACTOR both eminent doctors. But not necessar- ily surprising. Diane had been a rebel- AFTER WATCHING LEARNING TO ACT lious child. Expelled from her school in Australia, she went to New York with her FORMATIVE YEARS The best part of learning any profession father, where she secretly spent her days is when you’re really going through those at the museum and the movies instead of Diane Cilento doesn’t believe that her huge stretching escalated times of learn- in the classroom, and where she discov- childhood years were ‘normal’, in that ing and energy, when you want to do it ered acting. her home was always full of visitors and so much. she was given a lot of freedom by her Young Diane was impetuous, passion- parents. • Do you agree with Diane Cilento’s ate, dramatic. Her early life was marked statement? To what extent can the by intense peaks of emotion: her elope- She says that she became rebellious during power of a burning ambition help ment with a romantic Italian at the age her time at boarding school, where she was someone to achieve their goals? Do of 23, a nervous breakdown and suicide sent after her father was posted overseas. you think there is also a downside? attempt, and twice fleeing marriages When she joined her father in New York she without warning. says her behaviour did not improve and she Instead of going to school while in New became a chronic truant. York, Diane fuelled her passion for per- These days, Diane talks about balance. formance and the arts. Cilento’s acting She has a happy marriage, spiritual con- • Do you think that there is such a thing career began when she stumbled into an tentment and a magnifi cent Queensland as ‘too much freedom’ for a child? audition session at Carnegie Hall where property where she runs a theatre amidst • What attitudes are revealed by the she took dance lessons and instantly the rainforest. It’s a place she has reached statement Diane uses, ‘You’re not won a part. She then studied at the Royal after turning her back on stardom in the the boss of me’? Academy of Dramatic Art in London and 1970s and beginning a journey of self- in New York. discovery. ROLE: WIFE AND MOTHER Diane’s stage and screen careers seemed In a very candid interview, Diane talks Diane Cilento married three times. When to fall into place when director Alexander AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION about what she has learnt from her roles: she was 23 she eloped to marry Andrea Korda saw her work and signed her on a as an actor, as wife and mother, and as Volpe, an Italian, with whom she had her long-term contract. In 1963, she played ISSUE 29 someone seeking spiritual fulfi lment. fi rst child, Giovanna. She married fellow Tom’s promiscuous, mud-stained lady actor Sean Connery in 1962. They had a friend Molly Seagrim in Tom Jones, and 2 DIANE CILENTO AT 17 YEARS OF AGE was nominated for an Oscar for the role. ance fees actors who have ‘made A NEW DIRECTION – THE SUFI As well as acting, Diane has directed and it’ receive are justifi able? Why/why EXPERIENCE worked as a crew member on a number not? of fi lms. Diane began going to philosophical and ROLE: SEEKING SPIRITUAL meditation classes with a group of people • What does Diane say she learned at FULFILMENT whom she described as ‘bizarre’. While the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art? open to new ideas, she initially didn’t think • Where does she say she really learned LIFE CRISES IN REVIEW that she’d continue attending, but after a to act? Why were movement studies short while felt that she was interested in and observation so important to her What I realise is that I probably am a pursuing the pathway. development as an actor? person who skips off when things get a bit diffi cult and I can’t hope to get them For a year she studied under John Godol- CELEBRITY in order. phin (J.G.) Bennett, an English Mystic and teacher (1897-1974). Bennett utilized For some actors, fame and fortune seem In the program Diane reveals several ideas from Sufi sm in his teachings. to go hand in hand. By the time she was occasions when she literally ran away about 18, Diane says she was earning from the challenges that she was facing Mysticism is described as the search more than her parents, which was a great in life. During her fi rst marriage she also for direct personal experience of the surprise to them. attempted suicide. divine. A mystic may use prayer, medita- tion, invocation, chanting, recitation or • What is celebrity? What lifestyle In the wake of her break-up with Sean various ascetic practices as part of the changes do you think it might bring Connery, Diane Cilento asked herself discipline. Sufi sm is generally understood to someone who becomes famous at ‘Who am I?’ and ‘What am I doing by scholars and Sufi s to be the inner, a young age? here?’ mystical dimension of Islam. Tradition- • How did Diane Cilento help Sean ally, it is regarded as the esoteric aspect Connery break into acting? • Why did she ask these questions? What of Islam, rather than a separate religion. • How did Diane Cilento cope with the was it that she wanted from life? Today, however, many Muslims and non- pressure of her celebrity status? Muslims regard Sufi sm as being outside the sphere of Islam. THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA When talking about the media attention she received, Diane emphasizes the word ‘huge’. • The image of Diane Cilento on the cover of the magazine Picture Post was not glamorous. Was this an ap- propriate image for the accompanying story? • View the piece of news footage about Diane’s return to Australia. The cov- erage mentions her hair but not her pregnancy. Why is this? How might this be reported differently today? • Why does she say that living with the press attention was ‘worse than living ISSUE 29 in a fi shbowl’? AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION CAREER • Why was Sean Connery not accept- able to the fi lm and theatre world of the time? • Is a career something that you have for your whole life? • What transferable skills do you think actors in general would have? • Do you think that the large perform- 3 DIANE CILENTO IN A STILL FROM HITLER: THE LAST TEN DAYS 8 AUSTRALIAN BIOGRAPHY DIANE CILENTO In Sufi sm, ascetic practices commonly visual form? 6 Sufi sm include standing, sitting or night vigils.