work. I was nearly bankrupted over Mrs Dalloway, and if you are nearly bankrupted, you are in trouble for the rest of your life. I don't have a pension. In any case, it doesn't hurt me to work. I think it's quite good, actually." "All through my career, I have tried to do new work, but there is a problem in the West End as far as new work is concerned. As a theatregoer, I get bored with seeing the same old plays again and again. I felt terrible the other night because I bumped into Greta Scacchi and she asked me if I was coming to see her in The Deep Blue Sea. I said, 'Greta, I'm so old, I've seen it so many times. I've seen it with Peggy Ashcroft, with Vivien Leigh, with Googie Withers, with Penelope Wilton and I played it myself when I was 19. I can't bring myself to see it again.' She was very sweet about it." In 1995, Atkins was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated for the condition. She has recovered. Living alone in widowhood during the COVID lockdown, Atkins (at age 87) completed her autobiography Will She Do?. She read an abridged version on BBC Radio 4. Filmography Film Television Theatre Honours Atkins was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1990. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on her 67th birthday, 16 June 2001. On 23 June 2010, she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, by Oxford University. On 5 December 2005 she received the degree of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa, from City University London. She is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame; she was inducted in 1998. Awards and nominations Theatre Awards Tony Awards Drama Desk Awards Olivier Awards Film and Television Awards Notes References External links Eileen Atkins at tcm.com Eileen Atkins interviewed by Beth Stevens about performing in Doubt on Broadway Eileen Atkins interviewed on Theater Talk about performing in Doubt on Broadway Performance details listed at the Theatre Collection archive, University of Bristol 1934 births Living people Actresses awarded damehoods Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Best Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Drama Desk Award winners English film actresses English stage actresses