Eve Best to return to Old Vic in The Duchess of Malfi
Story by Jack Foley
EVE Best will return to The Old Vic in London in March 2012, in John Webster’s great Jacobean tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, directed by Jamie Lloyd.
She last appeared at The Old Vic in London and on Broadway opposite Kevin Spacey in A Moon for the Misbegotten in the 2006/2007 Season.
The Duchess of Malfi will open on March 28, 2012, previewing from March 17.
Commenting on Eve’s return, Kevin Spacey, artistic director of The Old Vic, said: “It will be thrilling to see Eve Best on The Old Vic stage again in this momentous classic role. Jamie Lloyd is certain to bring a contemporary perspective to this great play and create a memorable Old Vic event.
“I have long admired Jamie’s work and am delighted to welcome him to The Old Vic for the first time.”
Jamie Lloyd said: “I’m delighted to be making my Old Vic debut with Webster’s dark and atmospheric masterpiece. I am very excited to be directing Eve Best, who is, unquestionably, one of the very finest actors of her generation.”
The Duchess of Malfi is set in the Italian Renaissance court of Amalfi and tells the dark, bloody story of the recently widowed Duchess (Eve Best) who secretly marries her lover and steward against the wishes of her powerful brothers.
As jealousy, madness and bloodshed surround her, the Duchess retains a calm strength and dignity, even in the face of death.
Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi was written for and performed by The King’s Men in London between 1612 and 1614, and was published in 1623 under the title The Tragedy of the Duchesse of Malfy.
Eve Best’s most recent theatre credits include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe, directed by Jeremy Herrin, The Homecoming on Broadway (Tony nomination for Best Actress), A Moon for the Misbegotten, which earned her a Best Actress Olivier nomination at The Old Vic and a Tony nomination on Broadway, in addition to winning The Drama Desk & Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Actress.
She won the Olivier Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Hedda Gabler at the Almeida and subsequently at the Duke of York’s.
Credits at the National Theatre include Mourning Becomes Electra, Three Sisters, The Coast of Utopia, The Cherry Orchard and The Heiress.
Recent screen credits include her portrayal of the Duchess of Windsor in the Oscar-winning film, The King’s Speech and Dr Eleanor O’Hara in the hit American television drama, Nurse Jackie.