Braintree Arts Theatre, Friday, February 3, 7.30pm; tickets £17.50, concessions £16.50, students £15, 01376 556354, www.braintreearts theatre.com

RECENTLY seen on the big screen in David Fincher's version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Steven Berkoff is one of our most distinctive and enduring acting talents and he's heading to Braintree for a very special night at the Arts Theatre.

Steven was born in the East End two years before the outbreak of the Second World War when life for the Berkoff family was tough. Their home was destroyed in the Blitz, but relief came when his mother took him to New York to live in the Bronx for a while.

However, when Berkoff returned to London he began to misbehave at school, became involved with unpalatable characters, and eventually ended up in a terrifying remand home for stealing a bicycle.

After several years of drifting from one short term job to another, and with no qualifications, he auditioned for drama school, and was granted a scholarship.

An iconic film, TV and stage actor and director, as well as an author and photographer, Steven will take to the stage to talk about his professional life and answer questions from the audience.

Make sure you're there for what promises to be a fascinating evening.