Liz Carr, actor and activist
Liz Carr, actor and activist, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item she would take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.
Liz Carr is most widely known for her role as the forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery in the long-running ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV drama Silent Witness. She appeared in more than 70 episodes, from 2013 until 2020. Last year she won the Olivier award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the National Theatre production of The Normal Heart. Her role was inspired by Dr Linda Laubenstein, a pioneer in the treatment of AIDS and a wheelchair user: Liz was the first wheelchair user to play the part, almost four decades after the premiere.
Liz was brought up in Bebington, Merseyside. One of her early stage roles was as the Cowardly Lion in a primary school production of The Wizard of Oz. She became a wheelchair user at the age of 11, after a protracted illness.
She studied Law at Nottingham University and after graduation worked as a disability rights adviser. She also became a disability rights activist, and more recently has been a campaigner against the legalisation of assisted dying.
When she was 30, Liz decided on a career change after taking part in a drama course with the Graeae Theatre Company. She became a stand-up comedian and a member of various comedy groups, and moved on to theatre and television work, including recent roles in the TV dramas The Witcher and Good Omens.
Liz lives in London with her wife.
DISC ONE: Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
DISC TWO: Beautiful Dreamer - Sheryl Crow
DISC THREE: Sit Down - James
DISC FOUR: Rollin’ Thunder - Ian Stanton
DISC FIVE: 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
DISC SIX: Something Good - Julie Andrews
DISC SEVEN: Palliative Clare (from Assisted Suicide The Musical) - Claire Willoughby
DISC EIGHT: I Feel Love - Donna Summer
BOOK CHOICE: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
LUXURY ITEM: A pair of ruby slippers
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Sit Down – James
Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Sarah Taylor
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Seven things we learned from Liz Carr's Desert Island Discs
Liz Carr, actor and activist, shares the stories behind her musical choices
Music Played
-
Judy Garland
Over the Rainbow
- Judy Garland Sings Harold Arlen.
- JSP Records.
- 2.
-
Sheryl Crow
Beautiful Dreamer
- Mark Twain: Words & Music.
- Mailboat Records.
- 14.
-
James
Sit Down
- James: The Best Of.
- EMI.
- 2.
-
Ian Stanton
Rollin' Thunder
- Piss On Pity Complete by Johnny Crescendo & Ian Stanton.
- 32.
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Dolly Parton
9 to 5
- The Essential Dolly Parton.
- Columbia Nashville Legacy.
- 8.
-
Julie Andrews
Something Good
- The Sound of Music.
- Craft Recordings.
- 20.
-
Claire Willoughby
Palliative Clare
-
Donna Summer
I Feel Love
- On The Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II.
- Island Def Jam.
- 4.
Broadcasts
- Sun 19 Mar 2023 11:15³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
- Fri 24 Mar 2023 09:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
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