Stripping naked and walking across the vast stage of the Royal Opera House has won acclaim for model, artist and writer Rose Knox-Peebles after she was cast in a staging of Wagner’s opera Das Rheingold.

Knox-Peebles portrays Erda, an Earth goddess, and is on stage for much of the production, sometimes given a voice from offstage by singer Wiebke Lehmkuhl. 

It’s a challenge that few of us would be prepared to undertake, and Knox-Peebles has won plaudits for her extraordinary performance.  The lesson of being comfortable in one’s skin can take time, and at 81 she has had time, demonstrating a confidence we can all learn from.

And if the “extraordinary performance” described in the Times may hinge upon Rose’s age and her willingness to expose herself to scrutiny in this way, Knox-Peebles provides a masterclass in tackling taboos while embracing freedom of expression.

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