Baroness Philippine de Rothschild dies

What a shock to learn that Baroness Philippine de Rothschild died aged 80 last night. She always seemed so vital, such a life force. As owner of Chx Mouton Rothschild, Clerc Milon and d'Armailhac and the extensive wine business built around the cheekily successful brand Mouton Cadet, she was someone I met frequently over the decades.

She was first and foremost an actress and my role model as far as performance was concerned. I interviewed her for television several times and was always struck by the contrast between her off- and on-camera demeanour.  I was once in the office at...