Stephen Fry Gets Confidence From Leonard Cohen's Writing

Screenshot: George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight  (CBC TV)

From August 25, 2011  leonardcohenforum

I am a Twitter follower of  Stephen Fry which is where I learned about his two recent CBC interviews in Toronto.  In both interviews, Leonard Cohen was referenced, once directly and once obliquely.

Stephen Fry was in Toronto in the Spring of 2011 as a member of the international jury for the Glenn Gould Award, which ultimately was awarded to Leonard Cohen.  The two CBC TV interview programs were:

• The Hour with George S Stroumboulopoulos
• Studio Q with Jian Ghomeshi.

The Hour

 British Actor Stephen Fry talks with George Stroumboulopoulos about uncertainty and the value of being vulnerable

In the interview about his book (unnamed), Stephen Fry talks about struggling with his insecurities and unhappiness as a gay teenager back in scary times.  He felt he was the only person who felt that way.  He yearned for a writer, songwriter, it could be Leonard Cohen...somebody who touches you, makes you feel you are not alone.  We're all scared inside...

The short clip (1.46) is very uplifting.

The Hour (CBC TV)

Studio Q on QTV  

Renaissance man, Stephen Fry speaks to his influential role on Twitter - and how social media/new technology are affecting our language and culture

Jian Ghomeshi asked about the rigors of the eight hours of the jury's deliberation the previous day.  Stephen Fry responded:

We were considering some remarkable people and we came up with a winner ...that will be announced in less than an hour, who is simply  I think a brilliant ornament. Everyone will smile and nod and say of course.

Of course, the brilliant ornament turned out to be Leonard Cohen.

QTV (CBC TV)