Elizabeth McGovern: Why I turned down marriage to Sean Penn and begged on my knees to play Downton's mistress

MAIL ON LINE
By LOUISE GANNON
PUBLISHED: 16:00 EST, 14 September 2013 | UPDATED: 21:20 EST, 14 September 2013

Are you ready for the return of Downton-mania? The frenzied craze for the costume drama to end all costume dramas is set to shoot right off the scale when series four launches next weekend.

And even the normally unflappable Royals are getting in a lather over the imminent return of Lady Mary, Carson, the Earl of Grantham and his porcelain-skinned wife, Lady Cora, the Countess, played by the stunning American actress Elizabeth McGovern.

Except, unlike normal Downton fans, when the Royals crave a hit of their favourite show, they can simply turn up at Highclere Castle – the stately home where it is filmed – to meet the stars.

‘Pippa Middleton came with her mum and her brother,’ McGovern reveals, as she whisks Event on a whirlwind tour.

‘They were lovely. They asked lots of questions, stayed to watch some of the filming.

‘Pippa was very pretty and polite and I’d definitely say the cast were probably more excited than the guests. I had a big chat with her mum, too.’

The massive success of the show is not something McGovern, 52, imagined.

It’s ITV’s most successful period drama ever, winning Emmys in America, spawning a Hollywood career for Dan Stevens who – as Matthew Crawley – was killed in a car crash in the last series.

‘We miss him,’ she says. The Downton cast are extremely close.

‘It is incredibly hard work, long days, late shoots, but we are a real team. It’s an amazing thing to work on a show that is so successful; that has an unbelievable effect on the cast.

‘There’s definitely a split between the young ones and the older ones. But on set we have ways of keeping ourselves amused.

'Michelle (Dockery, Lady Mary) and Allen (Leech, the chauffeur-turned-gentleman) are brilliant mimics. He does a flamboyant fashion designer act, Michelle does a great LA actress on the red carpet. Then Maggie (Smith) has all her anecdotes, which are amazing.’

I meet McGovern in the restaurant of a West London studio, and over cappuccino she casually gives me a great Downton scoop: as the Grantham family move into the Roaring Twenties, the women are finally granted their freedom .  .  . from their clothes.

‘That’s right, no corsets this time, a big bonus. We can breathe again! The dresses are a lot more comfortable.’

I push McGovern for more revelations, but she remains cagey about what we can expect – Downton stars are kept on a famously tight leash when it comes to revealing forthcoming script details.



Like Cora – whom she loves (‘She’s a really good, decent woman. She doesn’t make dramas, she just tries to make everything right for everyone else’) – McGovern is an American in England married to film director and producer Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice).

Her eldest daughter, Matilda, is reading English at Oxford and her youngest, Grace, is 15. Her life has been about gently breaking rules. Her parents are American academics. Her mother was a teacher, her father a professor, her great-grandfather a famous diplomat.

As revealed in the Mail on Sunday last month, McGovern plays and sings ‘mum music’ in her band Sadie And The Hot Heads, but she never went to a rock concert as a teenager.

‘In my family it was classical or maybe jazz,’ she says.

She grew up in LA and became an actress contrary to family expectations. Success was instant, overwhelming and huge.

Her first film, at 19, was Ordinary People, with Donald Sutherland and Timothy Hutton. It won four Oscars. Her second, Ragtime, earned her an Oscar nomination. Her third, Once Upon A Time In America, pitched her against Robert De Niro as the object of his sexual obsession.

The same year – 1984 – she starred in Racing With The Moon with Sean Penn. Penn fell madly in love with her, they got engaged – everything was pointing to a Hollywood superstar future. So she split from Penn and left LA to study theatre in New York.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2418897/Downton-Abbeys-Elizabeth-McGovern-Why-I-turned-marriage-Sean-Penn-begged-knees-play-Downtons-mistress.html#ixzz2evTi53oz 
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Christian Bale Steals Art, Robert De Niro's Accent, and Dances with Jennifer Lawrence in First American Hustle Trailer

VANITY FAIR

by Julie Miller

Contrary to what the first image from American Hustle told us yesterday, the star of the upcoming David O. Russell drama is not Bradley Cooper's immaculate tight curls. (Although they do get an intimate scene with the hundreds of tiny pink sponge rollers we previously mentioned.) Judging by the trailer, available below, the true star of the film is Christian Bale, a Bronx con man who sounds like Robert De Niro, specializes in stolen art, and is two-timing his loose-cannon wife (Jennifer Lawrence) with the most subtly coiffed woman in the entire movie (Amy Adams)—until, it appears, she gets her hands on Cooper's rollers.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2013/07/american-hustle-trailer-christian-bale

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is a man in a world of boys (NOW MAGAZINE) LIZ HAMPTON

Benedict Cumberbatch was a slow burner for me. 

Without the obvious chocolate-box looks of a Bradley Cooper, or the action man credentials of a Jason Statham, I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. 

But I have to say I am now tentatively applying for membership of the Cumberbitches.

Around about the mid-nineties, Hollywood hunks went from being real men with an underlying sense of menace and shedloads of life experience, to pampered, preened teens with no idea how to change a wheel or start a fire.

In other words, the men turned into boys.

I think it can be dated to around the time Robert De Niro started getting embarrassing dad roles, and Leonardo DiCaprio, with his little cutesy baby face, starred in Titanic and melted the hearts of a million teenage girls. 

It is fair to say that Benedict is a return to the good old days of Hollywood. 

The Sherlock star has had his fair share of adventures and has talked about hallucinating after getting lost for several days whilst trekking across Nepal.

He also had a brush with death after being carjacked in South Africa.

Read more at http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/blogs/now-says/545341/sherlock-star-benedict-cumberbatch-is-a-man-in-a-world-of-boys#o0jLqCAHqYsBmxeI.99  

Henry Cavill and Nina Dobrev present Critics Choice awards

Don't Fall in love...

15 Stars to Watch in 2013 - Benedict Cumberbatch, Henry Cavill, Ben Barnes, Luke Evans (Xfinity Entertainment)

Will 2013 be the Year of Cumberbatch? The 36-year-old star of the critically acclaimed BBC series "Sherlock" is poised to become a megastar in the U.S. In May, Cumberbatch will star as the villain in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek Into Darkness," in which he is rumored to be portraying the infamous "Trek" baddie Khan. In December, the actor will play the dragon Smaug and a character called The Necromancer in the second and third installments of "The Hobbit" series. In between, Benedict will appear in the films "August: Osage County," which co-stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, and "Twelve Years a Slave," which co-stars Brad Pitt.—XFINITY Entertainment Staff (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) 

Henry Cavill

Superman makes his grand return to theaters in 2013, and the man wearing the American hero's cape is 29-year-old Englishman Henry Cavill. "Man of Steel" is a reboot of the iconic comic book hero's life on film, and will have no attachment to the previous films starring Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh.—XFINITY Entertainment Staff (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) 

Luke Evans

Cumberbatch isn't the only star grabbing on to "The Hobbit" franchise. Actor Luke Evans, 33, will also appear in the final installments of the Peter Jackson adaptation. To boot, Evans will reportedly star as the villain in "The Fast and the Furious 6," which is due out in May. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) 

Ben Barnes

English actor Ben Barnes, 31, was brought to our attention as Prince Caspian in the less-than-satisfying "Chronicles of Narnia" sequels. In 2013, Barnes returns to the big screen alongside Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams and Amanda Seyfried in "The Big Wedding" (April), and follows up with the lead role in "The Seventh Son" (October), the first in a reported series of fantasy films based on "The Wardstone Chronicles" books.—XFINITY Entertainment Staff (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok) 

READ MORE: http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-starwatch2013/6/

Will Daniel Day-Lewis or Maggie Smith join exclusive Oscar 3-timers club? (GOLD DERBY)

By Chris Beachum Sep 19 2012 | 18:25 pm

When Meryl Streep earned her third Oscar in February, she joined an exclusive club. Only four other people have ever won at least three Academy Awards for acting in the 84-year history of the ceremony.


It had been a long 14 years since Jack Nicholson picked up his third trophy by the time Streep received hers. It might only take one year for another person to join the ranks. Two-timers Daniel Day-Lewis ("Lincoln"), Maggie Smith ("Quartet"), and Robert De Niro ("The Silver Linings Playbook") are on the radar of Oscar voters this year.

According to Gold Derby statistics, Day-Lewis might be in the best position to prevail for his role as President Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming Steven Spielberg film. He is currently listed in first place at 7/5 as Best Actor. His previous wins were both for lead performances in "My Left Foot" (1989) and "There Will Be Blood" (2007) out of four overall nods.

Smith actually has two shots at Oscar glory this time around. In "Quartet," she has a lead role as Jean, a former opera star who disrupts her quartet's annual concert. For "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," she plays the supporting role of Muriel, a retired housekeeper who needs hip replacement surgery in India. She won a lead Oscar for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) and one for supporting in "California Suite" (1978). Her career total is six nominations. Smith is listed at 100/1 odds for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, but the recent acclaim in Toronto for "Quartet" and the DVD release of the popular "Exotic" should begin her ascent up the predictions charts.

READ MORE: http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/3391/academy-awards-oscars-daniel-day-lewis-news-entertainment-47283195.html

Jeremy Irons: Bradley Cooper finds the right ‘Words’ (METRO WEST DAILY NEWS)

By Ed Symkus
For The Patriot Ledger

“I’m definitely a victim of the magical essence of movies,” he said. “I still to this day feel like I did when I was 10 years old going to the movies. I love when the lights go down and the movie’s about to start.”

He was very candid about the fact that he was totally star struck when he met Jeremy Irons, who plays the character that actually wrote the manuscript found by Cooper’s character.

“The first time I met Jeremy and heard his voice it was incredible,” he said. “But then very quickly what starts to happen is they become human. Robert De Niro is the best example of that for me. I love him, and he’s really just ‘Bob,’ and I never thought that that would be possible! But in many ways, he’s the reason I became an actor, and now we’ve done two movies (“Limitless” and the upcoming “Silver Linings Playbook”).

“That process is so fascinating. I think it happened for all of us with Jeremy, and it’s because these guys – like Liam Neeson and Christopher Walken – are so present and down to earth and make you feel at ease. In terms of acting with them, it’s just effortless because they are so good and you are in such great hands. When you’re acting with a great actor, it’s not as if you’re playing against them in a sport. I don’t want to be playing against Jeremy Irons; I want to be playing with him. Acting is a collaborative sport, and what you’re up against is telling the story. So you’re all on the same team.”

“The Words” opens on Friday.


Read more http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/entertainment/x1885023940/Bradley-Cooper-finds-the-right-Words

Better than De Niro! McAvoy performance in Filth hailed by Irvine Welsh SCOTS actor James McAvoy plays a psychotic junkie cop, Bruce Robertson, in the movie adaptation of Welsh's best-selling novel Filth. (DAILY RECORD)

Irvine Welsh claims McAvoy's performance in Filth is better than Robert De Niro at his best

AUTHOR Irvine Welsh reckons his actor pal James McAvoy’s performance in his latest film is as good as Robert De Niro at his best.

Fellow Scot McAvoy, 33, plays a psychotic junkie policeman, detective sergeant Bruce Robertston, in a big-screen adaptation of Welsh’s best-selling novel Filth.

Welsh, 53, said: “He is absolutely amazing.


READ MORE: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/irvine-welsh-hails-james-mcavoy-1269643

James McAvoy 'amazing' in Filth (PRESS ASSOCIATION)

James McAvoy is "absolutely amazing" in Filth, author Irvine Welsh has revealed.

The Scottish star plays drug-addicted and misogynistic detective sergeant Bruce Robertson in Jon S Baird's big-screen adaptation of Irvine's best-seller, alongside Jamie Bell, Alan Cumming and Imogen Poots.

"He is absolutely amazing. It's just one of the greatest acting performances I have ever seen," Irvine said.
"I think he's better than Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. He is absolutely electric and is right into the character. It's a fantastic emotional performance."

Irvine - who is promoting the release of Ecstasy on DVD and Blu-ray on August 20 - said film fans will be surprised by James' transformation.

"This is a totally different thing from anything he has ever done before. I've never seen him in that kind of role.

When you meet him in real-life, he's such a nice guy but he plays this monster, which he humanises too," the writer explained.

READ MORE: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h3cOItyD1Xc0Zfv5ZWdg7JHFrhaA?docId=N0386901344605796732A

CLIVE OWEN: 'I never wanted to be a movie star. And I didn't become an actor to become famous': Clive Owen on fame, football and fatherhood By MARTYN PALMER (DAILY MAIL)

'I've always been a great believer that almost anybody on this planet can sit in the back of a pub, quietly in the corner, have a few drinks and walk out pretty much unbothered,' said Clive Owen

After 20 years in the business, Clive Owen admits that he still experiences spine-tingling moments.

Surprisingly, they are not from sharing film scenes with legends such as Robert De Niro (who inspired him to become an actor) or Angelina Jolie (one of a litany of leading ladies with whom he’s starred) – they are from meeting footballers.

The self-confessed Liverpool fanatic recently crossed paths with Thierry Henry on a street in Manhattan, where the French striker is based while playing for New York Red Bulls.

‘I literally bumped into him,’ says Owen. ‘I had never met him before and we discovered we were staying on the same street. We went out to dinner a few times and hung out.’

Clive with Gillian Anderson in Shadow Dancer. A tense drama set in Northern Ireland during the early Nineties, the film is based on a novel and screenplay by ITN's political editor Tom Bradby

As well as Jolie, Owen has co-starred with Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston, Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts.


Indeed, his list of leading ladies reads like a Who’s Who. But when asked about his ‘pinch me’ moments, he admits, ‘I never think of meeting actors. I think of the times I’ve met footballers.’

Scratch the surface, and the 47-year-old from Coventry is a man of contradictions: a quintessentially cool style icon with a boyish love of sport; a Hollywood leading man who lives a quiet life in London with his family; an intensely private person, who at 6ft 2in with chiselled good looks, attracts attention wherever he goes.



Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2185994/Clive-Owen-I-wanted-movie-star-And-I-didnt-actor-famous.html

Who needs alcohol when you have friends like those? Teetotal Gerard Butler cosies up to Karolina Kurkova and Petra Nemcova in Cannes By SARAH BULL PUBLISHED: 10:10 EST, 22 May 2012 | UPDATED: 11:28 EST, 22 May 2012 (MAIL ON LINE)

He might be teetotal now, but that isn't stopping Gerard Butler sticking to a fun-filled nightlife.

The 300 actor was seen cosying up to models Karolina Kurkova and Petra Nemcova at the The IWC and Finch's Quarterly Review Annual Filmmakers Dinner, held at Hotel Du Cap-Eden Roc in Antibes last night.

Looking dapper in grey suit and white shirt with light grey tie, Butler smiled widely for the waiting photographers as he posed with some of the world's most beautiful women.

Former Victoria's Secret Angel Kurkova looked stunning in a backless black dress for the occasion, while Nemcova opted for a plunging red gown to show off her enviable curves.

And Gerard wasn't the only Hollywood heartthrob at the event, as he was also joined for dinner by stars including Ewan McGregor, Adrien Brody and esteemed actor Robert De Niro.

But while the champagne was flowing at the star-studded event, Gerard, who has only recently come out of rehab after seeking treatment for addiction to prescription painkillers, stuck to the soft drinks.

READ MORE:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2148191/Cannes-2012-Teetotal-Gerard-Butler-cosies-Karolina-Kurkova-Petra-Nemcova.html

Sean Bean: The Changing Roles Of Sean Bean (FEMALE FIRST)

6th March 2012 1Comments |


Deep undercover in London’s criminal under belly, hot on the heels of a deadly terrorist cell is Ewan (Sean Bean) - a Secret Service Agent. His mission: to terminate extremism. Directed, written, edited and produced by Hadi Hajaig Cleanskin is an explosive thriller, set across the dramatic backdrop of London under terrorist siege.

Sean Bean in fine form as the gritty agent on a mission - to celebrate the film’s release check out this round of Sean Bean’s film and TV performances from Middle Earth to the 21st century.

 - Sharpe (TV Movies) - from 1993 There can be no retrospective of Bean’s work without mentioning Richard Sharpe. Thanks to a freak accident to Paul McGann, Sean took over the role as the Napoleonic hero that was to make his name. Many TV movies on this theme followed leaving swooning female fans in his wake. - GoldenEye

 - 1995 Sean cemented his rep as a dastardly villain when he played Agent 006, Alec Trevelyan, opposite Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond. Could Bond prevent Bean from unleashing a nuclear hell in London? Well of course he could.

 - When Saturday Comes - 1996 Lifelong Sheffield Utd fan Sean, couldn’t resist this football drama where a nobody goes on to play in the Cup Final for United. Full of every footie cliché under the sun, it’s a good intentioned flick or die-hard football fans.

 - Ronin - 1998 It was a mark of his growing reputation that he was cast alongside Robert De Niro as a weapons expert in the thriller Ronin. The fact that he is still remembered to have been in the popular film despite the presence of De Niro says something more!

 - The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - 2001-2003 Sean will be fondly remembered as Boromir the goodie/baddie/goodie who was slain at the hands of the Orcs while bravely trying to fend them off. It was here that he caught the eye of the future producers of the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.


Read further:  http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/Sean+Bean-230524.html

Anna Karenina, The Great Gatsby: On list for (likely) Best Picture 2012 (HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE)

On January 1st I presented a list of the likeliest leading Best Picture contenders for 2012. Today Rope of Silicon's Brad Brevet came up with a list of 25 potential Best Picture contenders. I'm using his list to refine mine and to separate the highly favored or half-likelies from the outright kills.

HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE 2013 BEST PICTURE FINALISTS (for now):

1. Lincoln (mid to late December), d: Steven Spielberg, cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones. Why: The usual Spielberg-kowtow instinct (i.e., to show obeisance before power) plus the impact of Daniel Day Lewis's lead performance plus the instinct to show respect and allegiance for the legend of Abraham Lincoln. Classic historical chops. Will Spielberg try to hold back on his usual instincts? He may, I think, because of the Lewis influence.

2. The Master, d: Paul Thomas Anderson; cast: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern. Why: This project has felt chilly from the get-go, but if it's halfway focused and well-shaped it'll offer a chance for Hollywood to deliver a big "eff you" to Scientology, which, we've all been told, The Master is absolutely not about. Plus it's hard to imagine Hoffman's L. Ron...sorry, charismatic leader performance not emerging as a Best Actor standout.

3. The Great Gatsby (12.25), d: Baz Luhrman, cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher. Why: The usual instinct to honor an adaptation of a classic novel. As long as Luhrman doesn't screw it up, that is, by going all crazy and wackjobby like he did on Australia.

4. This is Forty (12.21), d: Judd Apatow. Why: Apatow has been getting better and better. One of these years he;s going to hit a long triple or a homer. Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, Melissa McCarthy, Albert Brooks, Ryan Lee, John Lithgow and Charlyne Yi.

5. The Silver Linings Playbook (11.21), d: David O. Russell, cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles. Why: No clue, but Russell always delivers so I'm guessing/presuming here.

6. Gravity (11.21), d: Alfonso Cuaron; cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney. Why: The technical audacity of this film alone, described by Clooney as sort of 2001-ish, will surely attract respect and huzzahs.

7. Les Miserables (12.7), d: Tom Hooper, cast: Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway. Why: Classic musical in grand sweeping historical tradition plus direction by Hooper (The King's Speech) plus Crowe, Jackman, etc. And Hathaway finally sings.

 8. Anna Karenina (November/early December), d: Joe Wright., w: Tom Stoppard. Cast: Keira Knightley.


To read the rest of this list and all the others:  http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2012/03/2012_best_pictu.php

Eddie Murphy, Robert de Niro, Absolutely Fabulous

Independent ie

Saturday November 19 2011

The Academy Awards are three months away but already preparations are in tatters after compere Eddie Murphy resigned in solidarity with his friend, director Brett Ratner. Ratner had been due to produce next year's TV broadcast of the Academy Awards, but was forced to step down after a series of unfortunate homophobic gaffes.

de niro to take on madoff

Robert De Niro is set to play disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff in a new film being made by HBO. Madoff, who's 73, was jailed for 150 years for swindling his wealthy clients out of an estimated $50bn. The film will be based on a book called Truth and Consequences, which was written with the help of Madoff's family.

Ab Fab set for the big screen

Jennifer Saunders has revealed that she's writing a screenplay for a movie based on her hit 1990s TV show Absolutely Fabulous. She and Joanna Lumley will reprise their roles as ageing reprobates Edina and Patsy, and Saunders said: "We'd have so much fun, and I've thought of a really nice idea."

Clive Owen - Killer Elite

October 24 2011 at 09:22pm

---

Jason Statham in Killer Elite

FILM: KILLER ELITE

DIRECTOR: Gary McKendry

CAST: Jason Statham, Robert de Niro, Clive Owen, Dominic Purcell, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje,

CLASSIFICATION: 16 LV

RUNNING TIME: 115 minutes

RATING: 2 stars

Theresa Smith

Jason Statham and Clive Owen in a low down, dirty showdown. Great news for action fans, though, to be honest, it is only in two scenes.

Still, it’s great fun when they do start pummelling each other, because they spend a good part of the film dancing around each other as shadowy assassin (Statham’s Danny) and master spy (Owen’s Spike).

Inspired by Ranulph Fiennes’ book, The Feather Men, Killer Elite, the film draws on events in Oman in the Middle East in the 1980s, to put forward a story about four SAS soldiers pursued and killed by a hit man hired by a sheikh for revenge.

The deaths are supposed to look accidental, and the sheikh kidnaps Danny’s mentor Hunter (de Niro) to force him to take the job.

Spike works for the Feather Men of the book’s title, which refers to a shadowy group of spies within the SAS who figure out what is going on and try to stop the assassinations.

Danny is trying to get out of the assassination game, but values Hunter’s life enough to try to do a good job.

He is aided and abetted by Dominic Purcell, hiding behind an astounding moustache, straight out of a 1980s B-grade cop action flick. Owen’s bushy Magnum-look has nothing on Purcell’s scene-stealing Fu Manchu.

Everyone sticks to their natural accents, so it’s a great mix-up – about as much of a mix-up as the plot, which is rather muddled. The scriptwriter presupposed the audience knows a lot about Oman in the early 1980s and won’t mind a film with no real storyline because let’s face it, this is all about the action.

It’s about Statham kicking ass despite being tied down in a chair and 1980s action film high jinks because that’s what this is. Cheesy, filled with bad guys with accents, moustaches and cool jackets and good guys who can’t shoot straight, even when their lives depend on it. The music rocks out in suitably 1980s style and there’s nothing elegant about the car chase sequences.

Guys, as long as you can stay awake between the reasonably well choreographed action sequences, you’ll be good to go. Girls, only if you’re really a huge Statham or Owen fan.

Once you’ve walked out of the cinema, all you really remember is that chair sequence.

If you liked ... ‘Assassins’ and ‘True Lies’ ... you may like this

What I have learned: Clive Owen

Times Live

The actor on his looks, having a life outside movies, and getting heckled

THE smoothly virile and devilishly handsome actor Clive Owen, 47, is known for his broody, smouldering glances and way of manning a gun onscreen. He made his name in British TV prime-time crime drama Chancer playing the waggish Stephen Crane.

It wasn't until eight years later that he finally came to Hollywood's attention, following his performance in Croupier, in which he played an aspiring South African writer turned blackjack dealer. His CV is littered with elegant performances on both screen and stage.

He was born in Coventry but lives in London with his two daughters and wife, actress Sarah-Jane Fenton, whom he met while she was playing Juliet on stage to his star-cross'd Romeo.
His latest film is the SAS thriller, Killer Elite.

I'm not known for my light and charming roles. I have an appetite for dark roles such as Spike in Killer Elite. I don't find going to uncomfortable places to be uncomfortable. It is important I stay interested in my work and don't cop out.

I don't want to do work that shows family life in a warm, cosy bubble. Real families are volatile. I know mine is. Parenting is a huge part of my life.

I've always enjoyed being a hands-on father and own up to doing the washing up when I'm home.
Actors can make a huge mistake by wanting to play heroic roles. I'd much rather people relate to me in a role rather than like me as a screen hero.

I never worry about missed opportunities. As I get older, I've been having a better and better time.
You can carry yourself in a certain way and be pretty much able to carry on your life as normally as you can. I don't get recognised, but when I do, they just come up to me and say: "I saw that film you were in. I really didn't like it."

Stardom dismays me. I seek to get better at my job, not better known. I have always done theatre and I think it is a very healthy thing to stop film and go back into the theatre, back to learning lines, doing eight performances a week and getting heckled.

The eyes are the sexiest part of the body. They are what connect us as human beings.
I'm no heart-throb. No amount of moisturiser will soften me up, I don't think.
When I was 10 or 11, I played the Artful Dodger in a school production of Oliver. I feel like I've been playing a variation on the same role ever since.

I was very uncomfortable being prime-time TV fodder in Chancer. Suddenly there were posters of my face on the tube. I was young and I handled it badly. I've never wanted fame, as such.
I'm a real Armani fan. I really love their clothes. In the old days I was the kind of guy who blew whatever I had on Armani clothes. Now they send me stuff for free.

I need to keep my life intact. Whatever I'm doing, my real life is my wife and our two daughters, Hannah and Eve. I have a very settled family life, doing things like gardening and laughing and tasting cheeses. To have a life outside the industry is the most important thing in the world.

My childhood was old-fashioned working-class "rough". I know how good my life is now. -

©Marianne Gray

l Killer Elite opens on October 21.

Clive Owen: 'Playing Ernest Hemingway for HBO was fantastic'

Thursday, September 29 2011, 12:26pm EDT 1

By Justin Harp, Entertainment Reporter

 

 

© PA Images / RE

Clive Owen has said that he relished the chance to play For Whom the Bell Tolls writer Ernest Hemingway in an upcoming HBO film.

Hemingway & Gellhorn tells the story of the writer's stormy relationship with wife Martha (Nicole Kidman), set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War.

Owen explained that researching Hemingway's intriguing life story was one of the major perks in signing on for the movie.

"It was fantastic. It was an opportunity to immerse myself in everything. I visited everywhere [he went]," the actor told Parade. "I went to Paris, Cuba. I just loved it and had the most fantastic time. And I obviously had a great time with Nicole Kidman and working with her. And the script was written beautifully."

Owen was also asked whether it was intimidating to play an iconic figure like Hemingway.

He answered: "If you stop to think about it too much, of course, but the script is so good. Just as an actor responding to the material... You're never going to please everybody.

"The minute you say Clive Owen is going to play Hemingway, you've lost some of them. That's just going to happen. I loved the project so much and I had the most fantastic time."

Hemingway & Gellhorn is expected to air next spring on HBO.

Owen previously admitted that he has considered retiring from acting.

> Clive Owen sought Killer Elite inspiration from former SAS officers
> Clive Owen: 'It's important to do my own film stunts'

Watch Clive Owen in the Killer Elite trailer below:

More: Clive Owen, Nicole Kidman, Ernest Hemingway, Celebrity

 

 

 

Clive Owen does his own stunts

Saturday 24 September 2011

Clive Owen has revealed that he does his own stunt work in films.

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Owen - Think stunt work is important

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The 46-year-old actor whose most recent film, Killer Elite, opened in Ireland yesterday, said that he does his own stunt work because it ultimately looks more authentic on screen.
"I think it's important because it's acting," Owen told Parade magazine. "I don't want someone else doing that for me. The intent and intensity, the stakes of something like that is an acting thing and you want to do that.
"That's the beauty of doing those fight scenes with [co-star Jason Statham]. He's so technically good and gifted in that area. I feel I'm pretty technical too and approach those scenes like any other. You want to make them believable and make sense."
Owen was one time touted as the next James Bond and previously played the title role in the action epic King Arthur which was shot on location in Ireland.

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Clive Owen refuses to read the books which his moves are based on as they are often different and he finds it ''frustrating''.

Clive Owen's novel frustration

stv

24 September 2011 09:30 GM

Clive Owen finds it "frustrating" reading the books his movies are based on.

The British actor has a rule for himself that if he is starring in a film based on a novel, he won't read the original story as it may be radically different from the role he is working on.

He said: "I'm a great believer that once you start shooting you have to go with the script.

"If you are making a script based on a book it can be frustrating going back to the source novel, because you're turning the story into a totally different thing; the narrative of film is different from that of a book."

Clive's latest movie, 'Killer Elite', is based on the 1991 novel 'The Feather Men' but he insists there is only a loose link between the two.

He said: "This is one of those movies where when they say it's based on the book, it's meant in the broadest terms.

"It really is just taking the original premise - the original central storyline of gthose guys getting killed and a group of ex-SAS people trying to find out who is behind the killings."

Clive Owen Talks KILLER ELITE, CHILDREN OF MEN, HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN and CITIES at TIFF

Exclusive: Clive Owen Talks KILLER ELITE, CHILDREN OF MEN, HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN and CITIES at TIFF

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Posted:September 20th, 2011 at 11:49 am

At this year’s Toronto Film Festival, I was able to land an exclusive interview with Clive Owen for his new action-thriller Killer Elite. Also starring Robert De Niro, Jason Statham and Yvonne Strahovski, the flick centers on a retired special ops agent (Statham) who is tasked with rescuing his mentor (De Niro). I caught the film at TIFF and if you’re a fan Statham and the rest of the cast, it’s definitely worth seeing. Here’s the trailer.
During the interview, Owen talked about being at TIFF, how he get involved with Killer Elite, how he prepares for action scenes and how many takes does he like to do, and what’s the typical amount of time to get ready for a role. In addition, we talked about Philip Kaufman’s Hemingway & Gellhorn with Nicole Kidman (it airs in 2012), Alfonso Cuarón’s amazing Children of Men, upcoming projects like Cities, and a lot more. Hit the jump for the audio and transcript.

As usual, I’m offering two ways to get the interview: you can either click here for the audio or the full transcript is below. Killer Elite opens this weekend.

Collider: How are you enjoying your TIFF experience this year?
Clive Owen: I’m having a really good time. I have been here for what seems like the last 5 years. I also know it very well because I have shot a film here and I have made friends here. I’ve always loved coming here.
I have come around to thinking that this is my favorite film festival. I love the city, people, and the atmosphere.
Owen: It is true. What I think separates it from a lot of the other festivals is that it is very much about the people who live here going to the movies. Everywhere you go it’s. “Clive! I got a ticket for your movie!” They really embrace it here. It is part of the city. It is not just for the film industry people.
I totally agree. Were you surprised when Killer Elite got into TIFF or did you think that it belonged here?
Owen: It didn’t really surprise me because it really isn’t an action film. I think it is more than that and I think that is why they did pick it. It is always good news because I like coming here.
I’m going to ask two fun questions that I ask everyone. First of all, what is your go to karaoke song?
Owen: I dread karaoke. I hate karaoke. I can’t sing – that is why.
What is the last video game you played?
Owen: I don’t play video games.
Never? Not even Galaga or Space Invaders?
Owen: No. I’m trying to think I have ever…no.
I’ve learned two things from you: no karaoke and no video games.
Owen: [laughs]
I have to ask, how did you get involved with Killer Elite?
Owen: It was the usual thing. The script came to me and I really liked it. I then had a look at Gary’s [McKendry] short that he did, which he won the Oscar for. I really liked that and I talked to him about the film and what he wanted to make and what he wanted to do.

Who had signed on when you got involved or was it coming together at the same time?
Owen: It was kind of coming together at the same time. Jason [Statham] was definitely on and then De Niro came on just after I signed on.
You have done a number of action scenes before in films like Shoot Em Up. What do you do to prepare for action scenes or have you been trained so much before for other films that it is just a quick refresher?
Owen: I don’t have to know anything new or take any new training. It is a bit like a refresher. I’m pretty good technically at that kind of stuff. It is always about breaking those big fight scenes down, and we have two big fight scenes in this. I am pretty decent technically. I know how to make it look really bad, fully commit, but still be safe. It is really just about putting the work in practically, rehearsing, choreographing, and making sure that it is timed. I approach it like how I approach dialogue scenes – it has to be believable. If there is some part during a fight where someone could do something if you were in the same situation, like, there is a bit in the first fight where I bite Jason’s arm. That comes from me being in the headlock and in that situation. We were going to do something else and I was like, “Guys, I am not trying to be funny, but if I was here I would do this.” I developed it out of that. I approach the fight scenes like that.
Clint Eastwood is known for doing two takes and he is out. Meanwhile, David Fincher is known for doing 90. Where is your comfort zone when it comes to doing takes when you are doing a typical dialogue scene?
Owen: Not too many. For me, I find that I like to do a few. I don’t just like to have 1 take, but not too many. I think it is good to keep it alive. When we did Closer with Mike Nichols, he didn’t like doing a lot of takes. Some of those dialogue scenes were really long and in one take. You come ready to work when you know that you are going to get a couple of gos and it. It kind of galvanizes everything and there is something about it that keeps it very alive. I find sometimes that if you do too many takes, it starts to become meaningless to me. It is hard to sustain it for me. I don’t want to do too many.
What is the typical amount of time that you take to prepare for one of your roles and what is the most amount of time you have taken to prepare for any of your roles?
Owen: It varies completely from film to film. Sometimes, it is very little. I feel like it is all there on the script and I don’t need to do too much. I feel comfortable playing it. Sometimes, I feel like I need a lot. Probably the most I have ever done and I took a bit few months out was that I just played Hemingway in Hemingway & Gellhorn I was going to do a film before it and then I realized that I couldn’t. I was like, “I just have to take this time and take some months. I really have to immerse myself. This is not a part that I can do a couple of weeks prep on and then start doing it.” So I took some serious amount of time to get ready for it.
I was going to ask you about that. How did you get approached for that material and did you feel daunted when you are playing someone like that? It is a big project and a lot of people are going to watch it. Does that influence you?
Owen: Of course, but the material was fantastic. I read the script and I was like, “Wow. What a great script.” And then you get a call from Philip Kaufman, who I am a huge fan of from The Right Stuff and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. He is one of the greats for me. How can you not take that home? Of course, it is daunting and, of course, you are not going to keep everybody happy. The minute probably when someone blurt that I was cast said, “Well, that is fucked. What is he doing playing Hemmingway?” But, you know, it was such great material. Nicole Kidman was playing Martha Gellhorn and that is what you are in the game for – you take it on.
What was the one piece of literature that you really gravitated towards for helping you to prepare to play Hemmingway?
Owen: I read everything. I spent days in Paris with an expert, who took me everywhere that he ever mentioned, lived in, or hung out in. I went to Cuba and visited his house there. I went inside the house, which was incredible because of all of his record collection, clothes, and books are still there.
Now that you are looking back on the process of doing it, how happy are you with your performance in it?
Owen: It is hard to say, but I had one of the best times. I think that Phil Kaufman is one of the best directors that I have come across.
He is fantastic. Another fun question, when people meet you at Starbucks, what is the one thing that they typically always want to talk to you about?
Owen: It varies. It really depends. I think it is probably because I have had quite a wide variety of movies. So it depends on what you are kind of into. It ranges everywhere from Closer to Children of Men to Shoot Em Up.
Children of Men is another thing that I wanted to address with you. That is in my top two of that year. I love that movie like how a fat kid loves cakes. I really think the longer it goes on it will be one of those Blade Runner kind of movies where people come back to it and realize how special it was. I also really think that people are going to come back to it after Gravity. I think there is going to be a reemergence. It didn’t really connect with a wide audience. Do you have any idea why it didn’t because it is fucking awesome?
Owen: [laughs] I think that it was…I don’t know. I don’t know why. It was a hugely ambitious movie and I think…when you say that it didn’t connect with the audiences, I have met so many people who talk about it like how you do. They are such fans and it is one of their favorite ever films. I think [Alfonso Cuarón] is a visionary director. I think that it was maybe a difficult film to market and place because it was so original in a way. There wasn’t a template for it. How do you put out a film like that now? I think it was quite a radical film and I think that he is a really special director. All I know is the same as you. When I saw it…I think of all the films I have done and I know that that one, even when I look back on it more, will be one I am very proud of. But I have also had so many people come up to me telling me, “That film is my favorite.”
I looked on the always accurate IMDb and I saw that you are attached to a few different things. What is coming up for you and what is the next thing you want to tackle?
Owen: I’m not sure yet. I am waiting and having a bit of time off. I just did a couple back to back. I did the Hemmingway film and I did this film with James Marsh, Shadow Dancer. Now I am taking a bit of a break and trying to figure out what to do next.
You are attached to a film called Cities. Is that something that you might be doing?
Owen: Yes. That is still not definitely confirmed, but it is something that I am interested in doing.
That is an interesting concept.
Owen: It is. I play a very serious hedge funder, who gets a bit over confident.
For more coverage on Killer Elite, here’s my interview with Yvonne Strahovski.