Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – In the Public Eye

1 F   2 T   3 F   4 T   5 T   6 T

Audioscript

Daryl Hannah

The pretty mermaid looked up from the golden sand and the world fell in love with her. The film was Splash, and the mermaid was the famous actress, Daryl Hannah, who has also starred in such films as Roxanne and Blade Runner.

Daryl is tall and slender. She has got long blond hair, large blue eyes and stunning features. She looks fantastic in expensive clothes, but she prefers casual clothes which show off her natural beauty.

She is more than just another pretty face, however. She is a complicated person whose character has many sides. She is often in the public eye, but she is actually a very shy person who dislikes the crowds and noise of Hollywood parties. Her shyness is a problem which she is trying to overcome with her friends’ help. She is not the sort of person who expects help without giving anything back, however. Daryl is an extremely caring person, and she says that she forgets her own problems when she is helping others. She is also a romantic who believes in true love, so she wants to find someone very special before she starts a family.

Daryl’s lifestyle is quite simple. When she is not working, her favourite activities are gardening, playing the piano and making pottery, all of which reveal the creative side of her character.

Daryl may prefer to sit in the shadows at parties, but when it comes to her beliefs she is not afraid to speak her mind. She has strong views on the environment. She believes that our modern lifestyle is destroying the environment. For this reason, she is currently looking for a place in the countryside where she can build an environmentally-friendly house. She says that she feels most relaxed when she is close to nature.

Underneath the success, shyness and simple lifestyle are Daryl’s very strong views on life. As she says, “Find out what is important to you – and don’t be afraid to live it!”

It is a pleasure to meet an actress who remains down-to-earth and sincere in a world where fame and success can often harm one’s character.

Audioscript

Presenter:   Hello, I’m Jenny Thompson and this is “Eye on Entertainment”. We have the delightful Daryl Hannah with us tonight. Welcome to the show, Daryl.

Daryl:   Thanks. It’s good to be here.

Presenter:   Daryl, we’ve seen you in your films and read about your career, but tonight we want to know a little about the other side of you – the side the cameras never show us. First of all, how do you spend your free time?

Daryl:   I enjoy doing creative things, so I usually play the piano or make pottery.

Presenter:   So you have more talents than acting. How about travelling? Your work must involve flying to a lot of places.

Daryl:   Well, actually, I sometimes travel by plane, but it scares me so much that I try no to do it very often.

Presenter:   So you’re not really a jet-seller, are you?

Daryl:   No, not at all.

Presenter:   I know that a lot of Hollywood stars often go to parties. How about you?

Daryl:   No, no, I rarely go to parties. I’m rather shy, you see, so I don’t feel comfortable around lots of people.

Presenter:   Really? That’s interesting. Since you don’t go to parties, I don’t suppose you often sleep late either?

Daryl:   No, I always get up early. I’m really a morning person.

Presenter:   I see. Now, one more question – how do you manage to stay so slim?

Daryl:   Well, that’s easy to answer – I never eat fattening food.

Presenter:   Not even on special occasions?

Daryl:   No, not really. I love fresh fruit and vegetables, so that’s what I always eat.

Presenter:   Daryl, thank you very much for being with us, and I wish you all the best with your career …

Audioscript

Presenter:   Good morning and welcome to ‘Guess Who?’ Today’s mystery guest is one of Hollywood’s most successful actors, famous for starring as Han Solo in the film Star Wars, and as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Born in Chicago, he wanted to be an actor from an early age. Fans love this tall, well-built man. At 55 he has hardly any wrinkles on his tanned, square face. His brown eyes have a serious look about them and his brown hair is only just starting to turn grey. He’s with us today to answer a few questions. You’ve been described as a very private character. Is that how you see yourself?

Harrison Ford:   Yeah, I don’t like talking about my personal life in public. I’d rather talk about my work which is, of course, why I’m here.

Presenter:   Yes, of course. Now, people also say that there is a very serious and caring side to your character – what do they mean by that?

Harrison Ford:   Ah, that’s probably from my work with environmental groups when I’m not filming.

Presenter:   And, what do you do in your free time?

Harrison Ford:   I like working with my hands – doing repairs and building things on my ranch.

Presenter:   Now, before we start talking about your latest film, I’d just like to remind our listeners of the number to call if you think you know who our mystery guest is – that’s 0782 …