Daggers at Downton as Maggie Smith raps sleepy co-star

MAIL ON LINE
By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 17:50 EST, 11 October 2014 | UPDATED: 03:56 EST, 12 October 2014

The withering put-downs she delivers portraying the Dowager Countess of Grantham have become the stuff of Downton Abbey legend. 

And in real life, it seems, Dame Maggie Smith can be just as formidable as her on-screen persona.

According to a cast member on the ITV drama, 79-year-old Maggie took a dislike to Richard E. Grant, who plays art expert Simon Bricker, when he was filming the current series – and gave him a cutting nickname, which has re-ignited a secret 20-year feud between the two great stars.

An source tells me: ‘Maggie called him “Richard E. Can’t” on set. It’s a nickname she originally gave him years ago when they acted together in The Importance of Being Earnest, but she resurrected it when she caught him nodding off during a scene.

‘She told him sternly: “If I can stay awake, you should be able to too.” To be fair to Richard, it was a dinner scene being filmed on a hot day and the lights were boiling.’

Richard and Maggie first worked together in 1993 on a BBC adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play Suddenly Last Summer with Rob Lowe and Natasha Richardson, which was considered a flop.

Later that year they went on to work together again on a theatrical production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest at the Aldwych Theatre, and it was there that Richard claims their bitter feud first began. As the 57-year-old actor explains on his website: ‘I was tortured by Maggie Smith the entire time.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2789564/girl-town-s-daggers-downton-maggie-raps-sleepy-star.html#ixzz3FwPPZ0gR 
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Jeremy Northam to play Charles II in Devil's Whore sequel New Worlds

The Tudors star will play a ruthless and unpleasant version of the Merry Monarch in the Channel 4 historical drama

RADIO TIMES

Ben Dowell

10:30 PM, 29 July 2013

New Worlds, Channel 4’s follow up to its acclaimed 2008 period drama The Devil’s Whore, will feature a very unpleasant, tyrannical and brutal Charles II who will be played by The Tudors’ Jeremy Northam, RadioTimes.com can reveal.

“In New Worlds, the restored King Charles II has betrayed his promise of tolerance and is now exerting a tyrannical and brutal rule over his people with torture, hangings, show trials and state terror being commonplace across England,” said Channel 4 of its four-part drama.

Also starring is The Fall’s Jamie Dornan and Games of Thrones’ Joe Dempsie.

Dornan, who played the handsome killer in The Fall, takes on the part of idealistic outlaw Abe in the drama set in England and America in the 1680s.

Dempsie, who stars as heroic blacksmith Gendry in GoT, plays an American colonist opposing the English crown.

The piece has been co-written by Peter Flannery with Martine Brant and is being seen by the boradcaster as a companion drama to Flannery's hit 2008 period piece The Devil’s Whore.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-07-29/jeremy-northam-to-play-charles-ii-in-devils-whore-sequel-new-worlds

Kristin Scott Thomas gets nasty at Cannes (USA TODAY)

CANNES, France — Kristin Scott Thomas is known for her cool, aristocratic demeanor in classic films such as 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral and 1996's The English Patient.

But now it's time for her to get nasty. Real nasty.

The English-French actress, who turns 53 on Friday, takes on a very different role as the bloodthirsty head of a drug-running family hell-bent on revenge in Only God Forgives (out July 19). The film from writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn saw its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.

Thomas will shock — and delight — her fans as she chews her way through anyone in her path onscreen while inhaling long, thin cigarettes. The role has thrust her into the spotlight, a place usually reserved for her marquee co-star Ryan Gosling, who was pulled out of the festival because of last-minute film commitments.

"She had no problem turning on the bitch switch," said Refn as the film was introduced to the international press.


READ MORE: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/05/22/kristin-scott-thomas-cannes-film/2350343/

Kristin Scott Thomas - Happy Birthday!!!

Kristin Scott Thomas

Actress

Kristin A. Scott Thomas, OBE is an English-French actress. She gained international recognition in the 1990s for her roles in Bitter Moon, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient, Gosford Park and Nowhere Boy.

  

Born: May 24, 1960 (age 53), Redruth

Height: 5' 6" (1.68 m)

Spouse: François Olivennes (m. 1987–2005)

Children: Hannah Olivennes, Joseph Olivennes, George Olivennes

Siblings: Serena Scott Thomas

Scarlett1897

Pierce Brosnan takes role as sex-obsessed professor WITH Kristen Scott Thomas

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan has taken a new role to play a college professor sexaholic in a movie titled How To Make Love Like An Englishman.

Brosnan will play opposite Jessica Alba and Kristin Scott Thomas in Tom Vaughan's film, according to Collider.com. He'll also co-produce through his Irish DreamTime company.



Brosnan's character, a Cambridge University professor, is forced to re-evaluate his life when a girlfriend (Alba) falls pregnant with his baby. Scott Thomas will play the Fantastic Four star's sister


READ MORE: http://www.9wsyr.com/entertainment/story/Pierce-Brosnan-takes-role-as-sex-obsessed-professo/3Zs4Z6W7h0eAH-lgiCp2QQ.cspx

Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served) in classic comedy dies aged 92 (MAIL ON LINE)

By MARK DUELL
PUBLISHED: 06:56 EST, 18 March 2013 | UPDATED: 09:37 EST, 18 March 2013

Are You Being Served? actor Frank Thornton has died aged 92, it emerged today.

Thornton, who played Captain Peacock in the BBC comedy and also starred as Truly in Last Of The Summer Wine, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, his agent David Daly said.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Beryl, his daughter Jane and their three grandchildren.


He specialised in comedy and took roles in many popular TV shows including Hancock's Half-Hour, Sykes and Steptoe And Son, as well as movie spin-off Steptoe And Son Ride Again.

Thornton also appeared in a number of saucy British movie romps including No Sex Please, We're British and Up The Chastity Belt.

In 2001 he was among the cast for the Julian Fellowes-scripted period drama Gosford Park. His last credit was in the poorly-received film Run For Your Wife, with Richard Briers, who died last month.

Mr Daly said: 'Ninety-two-year-old Frank Thornton died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295194/Are-You-Being-Served-actor-Frank-Thornton-played-Captain-Peacock-dies-aged-92.html#ixzz2Nu9ifG4z 
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Clive Owen, Pippa Middleton attend Shadow Dancer Premiere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFeJqwx4XE

BARNES ATHENA

Clive Owen bags lead role in Richard Levine's Blue Angel! (BOLEGAINDIA)

No one is unbeknownst to the fact that Britain has been drooping all over in the education department; however cinema rarely talks about the real-life scenario.  May be because, it reveals something about everyone from the student to the government funding it.

However, one of Hollywood’s next novel adaptations will be a good step in the scandalous direction. Sources say that the international sales are going on for Richard Levine’s Blue Angel adapted from Francine Prose’s wicked novel of the same name, which stars Clive Owen in the leading role.

READ MORE: http://www.bolegaindia.com/gossips/Clive_Owen_bags_lead_role_in_Richard_Levines_Blue_Angel-gid-25400-gc-15.html

Clive Owen Will Lust For Younger Student In Novel Adaptation Blue Angel 2013-02-09 11:00:58 Author: Nick Venable (CINEMA BLEND)

According to Variety, international sales are going on for Richard Levine’s Blue Angel adapted from Francine Prose’s wicked novel of the same name, which stars Clive Owen in the leading role. Owen’s career has been steady, with the action Killer Elite and the creepy Spanish horror Intruders as two of his more recent efforts. He’ll soon be seen in the brotherly Brooklyn crime drama Blood Ties. None of that sounds anything like what his Blue Angel character is in for.

Owen will play Swenson, a New England college’s creative writing professor brought down by jadedness and dead-end students. Then someone with writing skill joins his class, and she happens to be attractive, tattooed, and everything Swenson needs in his life. And then they develop a completely platonic relationship and go about their separate lives. Or maybe something a little more controversial actually happens.


READ MORE: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Clive-Owen-Lust-Younger-Student-Novel-Adaptation-Blue-Angel-35654.html

Clive Owen discusses "Shadow Dancer"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L84YoADFqNo

Happy Birthday to the wonderful, beautiful, magical Maggie Smith!

Maggie Smith

Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith, DBE, is an English film, stage and television actress. She has had an extensive career both on screen and in live theatre, and is known as one of Britain's pre-eminent actors.

Born: December 28, 1934 (age 78), Ilford

Awards: Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role, More

Spouse: Beverley Cross (m. 1975–1998), Robert Stephens (m. 1967–1974)

Children: Toby Stephens, Chris Larkin

Parents: Nathaniel Smith, Margaret Hutton-Smith


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btuGt_ENgPg


Mirrenfan2

Clive Owen on the "Today Show"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ue9EAwpASEA

Clive Owen & Juliette Binoche Locked For ‘Words & Pictures’ By DOMINIC PATTEN | Wednesday November 7, 2012 @ 11:13am (DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD)

After months of rumors, Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche have signed on to play the leads in the romantic drama Words And Pictures. Fred Schepisi is directing from a screenplay by Gerald DiPego. The film follows the uneasy relationship between two very different teachers at a New England prep school.

READ MORE: http://www.deadline.com/tag/clive-owen/

Morgan Freeman And Clive Owen Are the Last Knights (FEMALE FIRST)

The 'Invictus' actor and the 'Inside Man' star have signed up for the forthcoming adventure drama, which is to be helmed by Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya from a screenplay by 'Barney's Version' writer Michael Konyves.


Clive is currently filming 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' - which sees him reprise his role of Dwight McCarthy from the original movie in 2005 - with Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson and Mickey Rourke.

He is then due to star in forthcoming thriller 'Blood Ties' alongside Mila Kunis, Marion Cotillard and Zoe Saldana.

READ MORE: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/movie-news/Morgan+Freeman-264645.html

Clive Owen for “King Of The Castle” comedy (PANARMENIAN)

PanARMENIAN.Net - Establishing himself as an actor capable of both dramatic heavy lifting and action movie flexibility, one thing Clive Owen hasn't done very often is comedy. Sure, there was "Duplicity" and "Shoot 'Em Up" (not to mention a cameo role in "The Pink Panther" redo), but Owen is not a guy you would typically expect to lead a big screen laffer. But in a nice change from the everyday, Owen is going to give it a shot, Indie Wire reported.

The actor is set to star in "The King Of The Castle," written by "The Sitter" scribes Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood, in a project that will also serve as their directorial debut. According to the LA Times, the script has been earning some attention in Hollywood circles, and Owen will take the lead role a philanderer who is blackmailed by a teenager.

READ MORE: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/129546/ 

Happy Birthday Clive Owen - 3 October, 1964

Oops - almost forgot the big guy's birthday.

Clive Owen is an English actor, who has worked on television, stage and film. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for portraying the lead in the ITV series Chancer from 1990 to 1991. 

Born: October 3, 1964 (age 48), Keresley

Height: 6' 2" (1.89 m)

Spouse: Sarah-Jane Fenton (m. 1995)

Siblings: Lee Owen, Alan Owen

Children: Hannah Owen, Eve Owen

One of my all time favorite movies - the trailer for GOSFORD PARK (written my Julian Fellowes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfokH6v4aOM

Will Maggie Smith win third Oscar for Dustin Hoffman's 'Quartet'? (GOLD DERBY)

Oscar winnerRonald Harwood ("The Pianist") adapted his play about a group of retired opera singers who reunite for one final performance. The Weinstein Co. is rolling out this performance piece, which could appeal to the academy's aging demographic, as a Christmas treat.

Hoffman handled helming duties with aplomb, helped along by the stellar cast. Two-time Oscar winner Maggie Smith ("The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," 1969; "California Suite," 1978) plays the diva at the center of the action. Oscar nominees Pauline Collins ("Shirley Valentine") and Tom Courtenay ("The Dresser") and Billy Connolly round out the foursome.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SETH203X-A&feature=player_embedded

Funny to see how young everyone looks, Maggie Smith, Brooke Shields

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbvk7__-kR0&feature=player_embedded#!

Smith, who has racked up six Oscar bids dating back to 1966, has not contended since her 2001 scene-stealing turn in "Gosford Park." That role was written by Julian Fellowes who went on to create for her the part of the doubtable Duchess in "Downton Abbey."

READ MORE:  http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/3351/dustin-hoffman-maggie-smith-quartet-downton-abbey-tiff-oscars-academy-awards-film-news-13579086.html 

Clive Owen - Clive Owen's Childhood Fears Over Terrorist Attacks 18 August 2012 14:02 (contact music)

British actor Clive Owen grew up fearing he'd fall victim to a terrorist attack after seeing horrific news reports of conflict in Northern Ireland.

The Sin City star, who grew up in Coventry, England, became terrified he would be embroiled in an attack by the Irish Republican Army (Ira).

Owen, whose new espionage thriller Shadow Dancer is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles, once lived in the city when he was starring in a local play.

He tells Britain's Independent newspaper, "I grew up with it being part of our lives and every night hearing some report on the news about the Troubles. (It was) rough... It was a war zone.

READ MORE: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/clive-owens-childhood-fears-over-terrorist-attacks_1395019

Clive Owen won't let daughters see Closer (THE PRESS ASSOCIATION)

Clive Owen doesn't want his daughters to ever see his film Closer, no matter how old they are.

The Sin City star played a misogynistic womaniser in the racy film, co-starring Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman, and wouldn't want his children with actress Sarah-Jane Fenton - Hannah, 15, and Eve, 13 - to see him like that.

"I don't care if they're 35, I don't want them to see that one," quotes the Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old Children Of Men star has confessed he hates fame.

Clive complained to the Daily Mail's Live magazine: "I never wanted to be a movie star. And I didn't become an actor to become famous. I genuinely didn't. It was always theatre for me.

"Chancer (the 90s TV show in which he made his name) was a baptism of fire. It's very weird to go from obscurity to suddenly being in newspapers.



READ MORE: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hZ3cmbKMZp5hrvSJ_q2MdxoOJnVw?docId=N0439501344861149033A

Clive Owen, actor and star of Shadow Dancer (SCOTSMAN)

Clive Owen. Picture: Carlo Allegri/AP

By JAMES MOTTRAM
Published on Sunday 12 August 2012 11:14


WHEN fame first came knocking for Clive Owen, he was ill-prepared for the unwanted attention it brought to his private life. This time round, the laid-back star is taking it in his stride

There’s something very reassuring about Clive Owen. Such is the aura of quiet confidence he carries, you can imagine him being very calm in a crisis, unflappable even. It’s just after 2pm when he arrives in the hotel room for interview, dressed in a navy suit and white shirt, unbuttoned to reveal a silver chain nestling around his neck. He has a pot of tea delivered. And he speaks in such a warm baritone voice, you can’t help but be instantly soothed. Ridiculously, ruggedly handsome, his features make a mockery of the fact he turns 48 in October.

Owen also seems remarkably together for a man who has glided in and out of Hollywood with ease, in films like Sin City, The Bourne Identity and King Arthur (in which he played the round-table legend). Owen doesn’t really do scandal, doesn’t do tittle-tattle and doesn’t seem to carry an inflated idea of his own image. The Times called him “the first male movie star this country has produced since Cary Grant” (with, presumably, apologies to Jude Law). Others have pegged him as a pin-up. “If I went around thinking I was a sex symbol,” Owen purrs, “I’d be on very dodgy ground.”

It took Julia Roberts to nail it, though. The two starred in Closer, Mike Nichols’ searing take on Patrick Marber’s play of sexual misadventure, before reuniting for espionage romance Duplicity. “George Clooney is obsessed with Clive,” she explained. “Every good-guy actor talks about Clive as one of their favourites. Because he’s English, because his successes have stood on the shoulders of his talents alone, and because he hasn’t been carried away by popular culture.” Playing an arrogant version of himself on Ricky Gervais’s comedy show Extras is about as far as Owen has got when it comes to getting carried away by popular culture.

His latest film, Shadow Dancer, is arguably his best role since 2006’s apocalyptic Children of Men. Directed by James Marsh, who made the Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire, it’s a taut drama based on true events. Set in 1990s Belfast, it tells the story of Colette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough), an active member of the IRA who is forced to turn informant in order to protect her son. “I just think it’s a great predicament to start a movie with,” says Owen. “She’s given an option: you never see your kid again and spend a long time in prison, or you come and work for us.”

READ MORE: http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/scotland/interview-clive-owen-actor-and-star-of-shadow-dancer-1-2463917