News | Entertainment
6 Dec 2025 5:27
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Bill Nighy led tributes to Sir Martin Amis at a memorial service for the late author

    The world-renowned writer, who was behind novels such as 'Time's Arrow' - which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1991 - passed away last year aged 73, and several stars attended a special remembrance service for the late novelist on Monday (10.06.24) at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields, a Church of England parish church


    'Love Actually' star Bill - who is a huge fan of the author's work - gave readings from Martin's writings at the event, which was also attended by Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson.

    According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Martin's widow, author Isabel Fonseca, gave an emotional speech at the service, and she was joined by the likes of fellow novelists Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan, and poet James Fenton.

    Sir Salman Rushdie, a friend of Martin, was unable to attend the service, but he penned a written tribute to his late pal.

    He said: "Only Martin sounded like Martin Amis, and it was unwise to try and imitate him.

    "He used to say that what he wanted to do was leave behind a shelf of books - to be able to say 'from here to here, it's me'.

    "His voice is silent now. His friends will miss him terribly. But at least we have the shelf."

    Following his death, Martin was posthumously knighted for services to literature.

    He passed away from oesophageal cancer in May 2023 at his home in Florida.

    Martin published 15 novels over the course of his career and was best known for his so-called London trilogy of novels, comprised of 'Money: A Suicide Note', 'London Fields', and 'The Information'.

    Speaking about his works in a 1985 interview, Martin said: "What I've tried to do is to create a high style to describe low things: the whole world of fast food, sex shows, nude mags.

    "I'm often accused of concentrating on the pungent, rebarbative side of life in my books, but I feel I'm rather sentimental about it. Anyone who reads the tabloid papers will rub up against much greater horrors than I describe."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     05 Dec: Alicia Silverstone has offered a $50,000 reward for the return of two missing giraffes
     05 Dec: Tracy Morgan has fed 19,000 families through his charity work
     05 Dec: Ethan Hawke's wife Ryan Shawhughes fled the set of his new movie Blue Moon after seeing his "combover"
     05 Dec: Sydney Sweeney is "handling" fame "incredibly well", according to her Christy co-star Ben Foster
     05 Dec: Ray J has been arrested over allegations he pulled a gun on his ex-wife Princess Love during a Thanksgiving day livestream
     04 Dec: The Prince and Princess of Wales have congratulated Robert Irwin on his Dancing With the Stars win
     04 Dec: Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were allegedly present during a confrontation between Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Black Caps are trying to wrap up the first cricket test against the West Indies, on day four in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Chris Luxon admits many Kiwis still haven't felt the economy turn a corner More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Coach Darren Bazeley is relatively blasé over who joins the All Whites' 20-26 football World Cup pool 21:57

    Cricket:
    West Indies batter Shai Hope has reached his century, late on day four of the first cricket test against New Zealand in Christchurch 21:17

    International:
    'Cloud Dancer' named as Pantone colour of the year for 2026 21:07

    Health & Safety:
    Warnings not to collect and eat shellfish along the Bay of Plenty coast - with unsafe levels of toxins that could cause paralysis, respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death 18:57

    Law and Order:
    A South Korean man's been sentenced to 14 months prison time for attempting to buy a rare native gecko 18:37

    International:
    Israel's continued participation in Eurovision the latest in a string of contentious moments 18:17

    Law and Order:
    A man's died after turning up at an Auckland medical centre with stab injuries - plunging Police into a homicide inquiry 18:07

    Health & Safety:
    Kindercare says it's shocked by the incident and harm to children 18:07

    Christchurch:
    A fun activity at a Christchurch daycare went horrifically wrong today - after a misidentified corrosive substance ended up on a water slide 17:37

    Rugby League:
    Australian boxing promoter George Rose is relieved Nelson Asofa-Solomona can finally be rewarded for belting opponents 17:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd