'The half, the half, it all takes place in the half. It's the countdown quality of the half that calls forth Simon Annand's urgency as a photographer. He is shooting from the hip - he's the action painter of these performance artists. - Michael Kustow

For twenty-five years actors have given Simon Annand unprecedented access to photograph them in the intimacy of their dressing-rooms during the 30 minutes before curtain up - 'the half'. This magnificent book offers not only a dazzling gallery of actors - including Anthony Hopkins, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, Vanessa Redgrave, Jim Broadbent, Jeremy Irons, Jude Law, Charlotte Rampling, Maggie Smith, Martin Sheen, Felicity Kendal, Kevin Spacey and Ralph Fiennes - but also a meditation on the mystery of the final stage of an actor's journey.