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ingebjorg9: (Champ)
Sunday, July 14th, 2013 10:11 pm
In my last post I wrote about how Kurt Wallander is my hero.  However, I have another, real-life, hero, and exactly a week ago today he walked out on Centre Court at Wimbledon and won the men's singles - the first time a British man has done this since 1936.  He is of course Andy Murray.

2012 2013
From tears to triumph: what a difference a year makes

Probably everyone remembers Andy's tears on losing the 2012 final to Roger Federer.  It was a moment that was hard to take, both for Andy and for those watching him, but it was a major turning point.  Up until 2012, the Andy Murray we saw out there on the court still had something of the look of a boy to him: very talented and hardworking, but prone to adolescent moments where he would make mistakes or lose heart.  Since last year's Wimbledon final, all that has changed.  This year it was the man Andy Murray who took to the court.

In every game he played during this year's tournament, he came out looking like he belonged there.  He was determined, he was strong and he never lost heart, even during some difficult games during the second week.  His performance in the final itself was immense, battling against a resilient Novak Djokovic in stiflingly hot conditions.  Even though Djokovic kept coming back at him, Andy outplayed him, displaying the skill, courage and strength of a true champion.

Things I will never get tired of, no.1

There's so much to like and admire about Andy.  As well as having the raw talent to be a great tennis player, he works so hard to maintain his skills and fitness.  He's one of the most determined people I've ever seen, and his coach Ivan Lendl has helped him channel the immense reserves of mental strength and courage that have always been there.  With his big heart and will to succeed he shows what you can achieve, even though life may kick you in the teeth, and this year he was ready for whatever got thrown at him.  As a fellow Scot, but more importantly as a fan, I'm so proud of everything that he's achieved.

AndyMurrayMontage


Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and that man's name is Andy Murray.
ingebjorg9: (The bad dreams all go away with you)
Monday, May 13th, 2013 09:17 pm
I may have posted previously here and on Tumblr (rather profusely) about Krister Henriksson's performance of Doktor Glas in London.  In total, I went to see it three times, including opening night, one evening sometime in the middle of the run, and closing night two days ago.  And I have loved it every time.

Each time I saw it, I was hugely impressed with Krister's acting range and his ability to create different characters with subtlety and sensitivity.  He's magnificent on stage, and has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand.  He's also really good at comedy. Doktor Glas is a pretty dark work, but it nevertheless has a lot of humour in it, and Krister knows exactly how to get a laugh out of the audience at the right time.  He really is a joy to watch, and his voice... if it's possible to fall in love with somebody's voice, then I'm definitely in love with Krister's :)

I'm really going to miss this show, because it's been a joy having it - and its star - in London.  I do hope that it gets another run sometime.  It would also be really great to see Krister in something else in the West End.  I believe he's expressed an interest in King Lear.  Now that would be interesting!  I was also lucky enough to see the Nordic Noir Film Club's screening of the The Troubled Man, at which Krister did a very interesting Q & A session.  It was fascinating to hear what he had to say.  In person he's very funny and charming, and speaks very movingly about Johanna Sällström as well.  Altogether, I think London loved him.  It would be lovely to see more of him in the future!

After the final performance of Doktor Glas, I did the fangirl at the stage door thing again and waited for a final chance to see him.  While a few of us were waiting, watching the Ben Whishaw fangirls waiting at the Coward Theatre opposite, a couple of ladies, who I think were American tourists, passed us.  One asked the other who we were waiting for, so her friend asked me.
"Krister Henriksson," I said.
"Who?"
"Krister Henriksson."
"Kris-ter Hen-riks-son?  Sorry, I've never heard of him.  Or her."
As they walked away I tried not to burst out laughing.  What got me wasn't just the way she pronounced Krister's name like Mr Burns saying "re-cy-cling?" (from the Simpsons The Old Man and the Lisa, very funny episode!) but also the "or her" bit.  I suppose I could have said "Wallander", but I'm not sure they would have heard of him either.  Oh well.

Anyway, I got to meet Krister again.  Definitely worth waiting for (I have to say I would wait all day for Krister!) as once again he was lovely in person.  He spent a long time talking to the people who waited for him and having photos taken, and was just friendly and funny and awesome.  What a guy ♥




I almost never post pictures of myself on the internet, but I couldn't resist this one of me with Krister.  I'm giggling like a loon, which is probably why he's smiling at me :-D

*Happy sigh*
As we Scots say, Haste ye back, Krister! :)