Actress Claire Bloom will give a series of readings focusing on female characters in literature at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, April 2-5.

She will read from Jane Eyre, April 2 at 7:30 PM; The Turn of the Screw, April 3 at 7:30 PM; and Anna Karenina, April 4 at 3:30 PM (Part I) and at 7:30 PM (Part II). In addition, Bloom will perform Women of Shakespeare, which includes readings from works of the Bard, April 5 at 5 PM.

Born in England in 1931, Bloom made her initial stage appearance at the age of 16 and first came to the public's attention in Fry's The Lady's Not for Burning (1949) and Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon (1950), after which she joined the Old Vic Company; it was with that company that she made her American debut as Juliet on Oct. 24, 1956.

Over the years she has played many roles onstage in New York and London, from Sasha in Ivanov (opposite Gielgud) to Nora in A Doll's House, Rebecca West in Rosmersholm and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (for which, in 1974, she won most of London's top theatre awards).

Bloom's film career began in 1952, when she played opposite Charlie Chaplin in Limelight; in 1955 Olivier cast her as Lady Anne in his film version of Richard III. More recently, she has been seen in Woody Allen films including Crimes and Misdemeanors. Bloom appeared recently at American Repertory Theatre as Mary Tyrone in Long Day's Journey into Night, as Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard and in her two previous one-woman shows.

Last year the actress's autobiography, Leaving a Doll's House (published by Little Brown), in which she wrote about her career and her disastrous marriage to novelist Philip Roth, was praised by the critics for its frankness and its poignancy.

For tickets, $25 ($40 for the two-part Anna Karenina reading), call (202) 467-4600.

-- By Rebecca Paller