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 You read it between the lines: Alan Bates could
be a tough interview. Though never less than polite, he seldom
volunteered information. He often said that he felt he had nothing
very interesting to say about his craft, and he certainly never
told anecdotes about his fellow actors. This could lead to long
pauses in the conversation.
 Still, when the interviewer had good -- or unexpected
-- questions, Bates responded with wit and spontaneous candor,
sometimes finishing Dick Cavett's sentences, dredging up memories
about long-ago filming for Brian McFarlane, talking about controversial
aspects of a production with Michael Owen.
Out of respect for his strongly-held feelings about
personal privacy, this section of the Bates Archive contains
only major interviews, such as the 1995 conversation about film
for the Autobiography of British Cinema, and the 1972
Show profile, articles which are written with considerable
insight and sensitivity, and reflect benchmarks in his career.
Other work-related interviews are archived with the
play or film they deal with.
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