I have long admired the creative genius of David Wood. Both as a writer and a performer. His long contribution to British film, TV and stage production is phenomenal. He may not be a household name but every theatre producer and casting director in the UK knows his worth. And now he treats us to some entertaining memoirs.
This is a gloriously 'happy' book. Written by a man who has enjoyed refining his creative talents across a wide spectrum. He's survived all the ups and downs of an often moribund entertainment business in this country and is obviously still smiling. I must say reading this book made me smile too. I can't wait to read David's next book.

A really interesting read. In this memoir, actor and writer David Wood recalls his ‘brushes with Hollywood’, notably being kissed on the lips by Elizabeth Taylor as midnight struck on his 22nd birthday; playing Richard Burton’s servant on stage in Dr Faustus; being seduced by Shelley Winters in The Vamp, a television two-hander play; hanging upside down from a chandelier and being rescued by David Hemmings in the West End musical Jeeves; singing songs and being shot down in flames as a Royal Flying Corps officer in the film Aces High, in which he was reunited with Malcolm McDowell (his fellow rebel schoolboy in the film If….) and acted alongside Christopher Plummer and Simon Ward; sharing the screen at sea in an oil rig supply vessel with Roger Moore, Anthony Perkins and James Mason in North Sea Hijack; penning the daytime Emmy-nominated Back Home, starring Hayley Mills, thereby becoming a Disney-approved writer; and writing The Queen’s Handbag to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday, performed in Buckingham Palace Gardens and seen live by 8,000,000 BBC TV viewers.

An inside scoop into the lives and lifestyles of old Hollywood. This memoir regales stories of dinners and galas and working alongside the legends.

This was a highly entertaining account of some of David Wood's brushes with stardom, including filming with such stars as David Hemming, Roger Moore and Hayley Mills. I especially liked his amusing anecdotes about Shelley Winters, who took to lying on top of him for her role, making the buttons of his shirt come off much of the time! She also announced in a sing-song voice that 'David's made a mistaake' when he made an error with his lines. However, she sounds much more likeable than I thought.

I also liked his story about playing in Back Home with Hayley Mills. This sounds like such a good book and film for young people. Unfortunately, the DVD is very expensive but I hope to read the book. I'd like to read more books by David Wood.

I received this free book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a sweet book that reminds me of opening up pages of a scrapbook and reminiscing about memorable moments -- in the author's case it is acting with Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, Anthony Perkins, David Hemmings, Hayley Mills, Malcolm McDowell and many more. Not only does Wood convey in detail what he observed and felt, he includes photos from the plays, TV shows and movies. His vivid memories and descriptions helped make me feel I was there with him. A wonderful walk down memory lane with some of the acting greats! An enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Guild for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A lovely books book of vignettes a book of stars and the authors acting connection with them.Through his parts in different acting venues he met many esteemed actors.Really enjoyed following his career.#netgalley #matador

I loved this book
It was an amazing ride through the world of David Wood

The book is like an A-Z of Hollywood up til the 1980's.
It is wonderfully written .and a book I will definitely buy this and read it again
Highly recommended

This book shows how loving and knowing Hollywood can change your life and how David Wood life was changed after being kissed by Elizabeth Taylor. It different than what I thought it was going to be about but it is worth the read. If anything you will learn how it is to be in the world of Hollywood and how as the title says brushes with it can change your life.

This was an enjoyable read of vignettes. Short but delightfully entertaining.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

David Wood who was who was the supporting actor in many films in theater plays his head brushes with Hollywood since his college days at Oxford. There he met Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton later on in his career he met Shelley Winters in backstage while with Shelley Winters he seen Michael Douglas and his wife into Kurt exchange with Miss Winters it goes on from there the stories are interesting in there all of this book. Not only did he have a plentiful career in London but met those with legendary careers in Hollywood. He’s also gone to some place with some pretty famous people. I really love books like this and thought David Ward was humble, likable and knows how to tell a good story. From his days on the set with famous actresses to those who just met in passing a truly great book. I received this book from net galley and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Book Guild for an honest review of “Elizabeth Taylor’s Kiss And Other Brushes With Hollywood “ for an honest review.

This is an entertaining, if short, book from David Wood, an actor , whose face I remember from several tv programs I watched as a child.
I’d hoped the book would have covered more of his acting career , but it only covered a handful of encounters with well known actors, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton . There was a quite a lot of critics reviews on the plays and films mentioned.
An interesting read, but I felt it could have had more substance .

Lovely little book - a series of vignettes about a life on the edge of stardom - from a role in a play with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, to a lifelong friendship with Malcolm McDowell.
Wood is clearly a skilled writer - these are fond, moving remembrances that are perfectly pitched - this is a lovely little read.