I’d guess that the majority of Hollywood stars, especially ones who have won an Academy Award would be shocked if they were to visit reclusive Julie Christie’s home in Powys, Wales, or for that matter her simple “room” in London’s east end where she gets about town by bus.
The British actress, nominated for an Oscar in 2008 for her role as a woman with Alzheimer’s disease, keeps out of the usual celebrity circus, having always preferred to do things her way.
Her sheep breeding home in Wales, which she has owned since the 1970’s, with it’s corrugated roof and ramshackle doors, is a far cry from the extravagance and decadent lifestyle of Hollywood.
On a visit to her farm in an attempt persuade Julie to do a reprise of their famous movie, Don’t Look Now, Donald Sutherland was so cold he slept in his overcoat., and he came away amazed at finding a yard filled with chickens, ducks and cats.
The main problem, as far as Sutherland was concerned, was not the absence of toilet paper - Julie rips up newspapers for use instead - didn’t put him off, it was the lack of central heating. Julie wore heavy sweaters and huddled next to the Aga for warmth, then went to bed as soon as night fell to avoid the diving temperature.
Donald high-tailed it back into town after just one night: “It was so cold in that house that I had to sleep in all my clothes including my overcoat, and I still wasn’t warm.”
Julie rents out her farm in Powys, Wales, and stays instead in one of the barns on her land, adapted into a home. “I always hang my washing up outside, or even on a pulley thing,” she volunteers. “It is a complete waste of energy to use dryers.”
No dryers and using torn up newspaper for toilet paper - this is going too far. She may be one of favorite mature women, but it sounds like the rumors of her being eccentric and reclusive to the point of being weird just might be true!
Technorati Tags: Hollywood, Academy Award, Julie Christie, British, actress, Don’t Look Now, Donald Sutherland, mature women
