Royal sculptor to carve out likeness of Sir Derek Jacobi in just two hours

He is renowned for tackling some of theatre’s toughest roles, but tonight Sir Derek Jacobi will make one of his less taxing appearances in front of an audience.

Sir Derek Jacobi at Burgh House last week, where he was the special guest in the Lifelines series of talks. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant

The celebrated actor, from Belsize Park, merely has to sit still as royal sculptor Frances Segelman works around him at a charity event at the Film Museum in Covent Garden.

Ms Segelman, though, has quite the challenge on her hands.

She will attempt to create a sculpture of Sir Derek in just two hours, in front of a celebrity audience no less, to raise money for the Islington Arts Factory, a community centre in Holloway.

Ms Segelman, who used to have a studio in Highgate, has captured countless celebrities and is best known for her busts of the Queen.

She says a life-size piece usually takes months to finish, although she has plenty of practise working at lightning speed on live TV programmes such as The One Show, This Morning and The Big Breakfast.