Showing posts with label the lion in winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the lion in winter. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Anthony Hopkins: He’s one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, but superstar Sir Anthony insists: I’m too lazy to chase roles by Robin Turner, Western MailJul 17 2012 WALES ON LINE



And at the end of this year Welsh film star Sir Anthony Hopkins will be celebrating his 75th birthday.

But that has not stopped in-demand Port Talbot born actor Hopkins claiming he is “too lazy” to go off in pursuit of interesting film roles.

The veteran actor, now based in sun-baked Los Angeles, will next be seen playing legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in the eagerly awaited biopic Hitchcock, based on the making of the 1960 shock horror flick Psycho.


Alongside him will be fellow Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren as the director’s wife Alma Reville and Scarlet Johansson as Psycho’s damsel in distress Janet Leigh.

Jessica Biel will play Vera Miles who was film’s heroine.

On-set photographs of Hopkins looking a dead ringer for Hitchcock seem to suggest he was made for the role.

But in an interview with Total Film Magazine, Hopkins insists though the part was initially offered to him several years ago, he never set out to land the role.

He explained: “It came along about seven or eight years ago with one director attached and then that fell apart.

“Then about a year ago my agent called and said ‘Hitchcock is back’.

“I met the director, Sacha Gervasi, and he seemed to have such unbridled enthusiasm about it that I said: ‘OK, let’s give it a whirl.’

“I guess my saying: ‘Let’s have a go’ gave it the green light.

“But I never pursue anything – I’m too lazy.”



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/07/17/he-s-one-of-the-busiest-actors-in-hollywood-but-superstar-sir-anthony-insists-i-m-too-lazy-to-chase-roles-91466-31408655/

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Peter O'Toole to retire from stage, screen (REUTERS)

Actor Peter O' Toole was awarded an honorary Oscar for lifetime acheivement during the 75th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, March 23, 2003. OSCARSPLUS REUTERS/Lucy Nichols REUTERS BS/AS

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Veteran British actor Peter O'Toole, praised for esteemed roles in classic films such as "Lawrence of Arabia," announced on Tuesday he is retiring from acting in films and stage.

"It is time for me to chuck in the sponge. To retire from films and stage. The heart for it has gone out of me: it won't come back," O'Toole, who is 79 and lives in London, said in a statement released by New York publicist Bill Augustin.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsojL-MhZB8&feature=related

((PETER O'TOOLE and KATHERINE HEPBURN IN THE LION IN WINTER - JUST TO REMEMBER FOR A MOMENT WHAT REALLY GREAT ACTING IS LIKE WITHOUT COMIC BOOKS AND COMPUTER TRICKS - Karen))

O'Toole said that his career, which has included eight Academy Award nominations without a win, "has brought me public support, emotional fulfillment and material comfort. It has brought me together with fine people, good companions with whom I've shared the inevitable lot of all actors: flops and hits."

"However," he added. "It's my belief that one should decide for oneself when it is time to end one's stay."
Early in his career, O'Toole made waves on stage in several key Shakespearean roles, including an acclaimed turn as "Hamlet," before gaining fame in films such as "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "The Ruling Class", "The Stunt Man" and "My Favorite Year."

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Magnificent Peter O’Toole Takes Center Stage In New TCM Special, Premiering April 1 & Live From Classic Film Festival (WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS)



Posted by Michelle McCue
 in General TCM Classic Film Festival

As a prelude to the opening of the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will air a special on-air tribute to eight-time Oscar® nominee and honorary Academy Award® recipient Peter O’Toole, who took center stage at last year’s festival.

OnWednesday, April 11, TCM will premiere Peter O’Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival, a one-hour special taped at the 2011 festival in which TCM host Robert Osborne interviews the legendary actor in front of an audience of festival attendees.

Peter O’Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival is set to premiere at 8 p.m. (ET). The special will be followed by three O’Toole classics.


The following is the complete schedule for the evening (all times Eastern):

8 p.m. – Peter O’Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival(2012) – Premiere
9 p.m. – The Lion in Winter (1968)
11:30 p.m. – Peter O’Toole: Live from the TCM Film Festival (2012) – Encore
12:30 a.m. – Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
4:30 a.m. – The Day They Robbed The Bank of England (1960)

“We all have our favorite actors, and when people ask me about mine, one name I always mention is Peter O’Toole,” Osborne says in his introduction to the special.

“He’s not only a favorite actor but a great actor.”


READ MORE OF WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS:  http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2012/03/peter-otoole-takes-center-stage-in-new-tcm-special-premiering-april-1-live-from-classic-film-festival/


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

'You were Ab Fab darling!' Jennifer Saunders supports Joanna Lumley at The Lion In Winter opening night

By Holly Thomas

Last updated at 12:16 PM on 16th November 2011

Her role as Patsy in the BBC's ionic sitcom Absolutely Fabulous secured her position as a national treasure.

But just because the show is over doesn't mean Joanna Lumley's best friend Jennifer Saunder's isn't still by her side at times of celebration.

Jennifer turned up to support her erstwhile cast mate for the opening night of The Lion In Winter at the Haymarket.

Partners-in-crime: Joanna Lumley posed with cast-mate Robert Lindsey and Ab Fab star Jennifer Saunders at The Lion In Winter opening night at The Haymarket last night
Partners-in-crime: Joanna Lumley posed with cast-mate Robert Lindsey and Ab Fab star Jennifer Saunders at The Lion In Winter opening night at The Haymarket last night

Joanna plays Elanor of Aquitane in the James Goldman production, directed now at the Haymarket by Trevor Nunn.

Looking elegant in a long black dress and purple cardigan, 65-year-old Joanna greeted her old partner-in-crime with a warm hug.

The pair looked like they hadn't spent a day apart since the end of the series.

And indeed they have enjoyed some quality time in recent months, filming three special episodes of Absolutely Fabulous..

Still best friends: Joanna greeted her old co-star with a warm hug
Still best friends: Joanna greeted her old co-star with a warm hug

Old habits die hard: Jennifer wasted no time in chatting to Robert, who plays Henry II
Old habits die hard: Jennifer wasted no time in chatting to silver fox Robert, who plays Henry II

The first two will air as part of BBC One's Christmas schedule, with the third, an Olympics special, due to air around July or August next year.

Thankfully both have developed a sense of style far superior to that of their Ab Fb alter-egos.

Jennifer was smart but comfortable in a grey dress accessorised with a purple and white leopard print scarf, keeping warm in the November chill with a pair of black leather boots.


Proud husband: Joanna's other half, opera director Stephen Barlow, looked thrilled for her
Proud husband: Joanna's other half, opera director Stephen Barlow, looked thrilled for her




The cast: Rory Fleck-Byrne, Tom Bateman, Sonya Cassidy, Joanna , Joseph Drake, Robert and James Norton seem to get on better than their on-stage persona
The cast: Rory Fleck-Byrne, Tom Bateman, Sonya Cassidy, Joanna , Joseph Drake, Robert and James Norton seem to get on better than their on-stage persona

Joanna was also accompanied by her husband, opera director Stephen Barlow.

The play covers the struggle over the throne between Henry II and his wife Elanor of Aquitane at Chinon in 1183.

Henry favours the younger son, John, while Elanor supports the elder, more regal Richard.

On-stage chemistry: Robert and Joanna play husband and wife Henry II and Elanor of Aquitane
On-stage chemistry: Robert and Joanna play husband and wife Henry II and Elanor of Aquitane
Star attractions: While the play has garnered mixed reviews, Joann and Robert have been praised for their confident performances
Star attractions: While the play has garnered mixed reviews, Joann and Robert have been praised for their confident performances


Meanwhile the middle son Geoffrey schemes at the sidelines.

Robert Lindsey has won favourable reviews for his confident portrayal of Henry, while Joanna's capacity to deliver spicy one-liners appears to have stood her in good stead.

'I am excited to be directing the London premiere of a famous play about a power struggle full of sexual politics and political sex, with two such brilliant actors as Robert Lindsay and Joanna Lumley,' said director Trevor Nunn.

 
The Lion In Winter: Bookings for the Haymarket play are being taken up to 28 January
The Lion In Winter: Bookings for the Haymarket play are being taken up to 28 January
National treasures: Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Sauders' iconic sitcom Absolutely Fabulous cemented their place in comedy history


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2062105/Jennifer-Saunders-supports-Joanna-Lumley-The-Lion-In-Winter-opening-night.html#ixzz1dsgCEmKx