Dame Judi Dench: Benedict Cumberbatch is a true gentleman

TELEGRAPH
Tim Walker. Edited by Katy Balls
7:30AM BST 18 Sep 2014




Dame Judi Dench agreed to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC's Richard III after the Sherlock actor propositioned her during a Shakespeare masterclass at the Hay Festival. However, Mandrake can disclose that the pair are in fact old friends.

“I knew him when he was a little boy at prep school before he went on to Harrow," Dame Judi tells me. "His mother, Wanda Ventham, was at the Royal Central School of Drama a year ahead of me.”

“He is a true gentleman and a thoroughly good actor, which helps,” she says. “We start on Monday and it’s a huge project, six months in filming.”

Meanwhile, the actress says it is unlikely she will attend the Oscars next year. Despite being nominated for the Best Actress award, Dame Judi Dench was notably absent at this year’s awards after filming in India for the sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel clashed with the ceremony. Now, the actress, who turns 80 this year, confides that she is in no hurry to make an appearance.

“No, I don’t think I’ll attend,” she tells me. “I don’t imagine so.”


READ MORE HERE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11102811/Dame-Judi-Dench-says-Sherlock-actor-Benedict-Cumberbatch-is-a-true-gentleman.html

Judi Dench to star with Benedict Cumberbatch in Shakespeare

THE TELEGRAPH
By Anita Singh, Arts and Entertainment Editor7:59PM BST 01 Jun 2014




Dame Judi Dench is to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Richard III after the Sherlock actor ambushed her during a Shakespeare masterclass.

The veteran actress will play Queen Margaret to Cumberbatch's hunchbacked monarch in a BBC production this autumn.

Appearing before an audience on the final day of the Hay Festival, in conversation with Sir Richard Eyre, Dame Judi was initially coy about whether she would take the part.

Cumberbatch approached her several months ago, it emerged, and has been trying to persuade her to take the role.

But she was put on the spot when the audience were invited to participate in the discussion and Cumberbatch, from his seat in the front row, seized his opportunity.

Dame Judi Dench is to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Richard III after the Sherlock actor ambushed her during a Shakespeare masterclass.

The veteran actress will play Queen Margaret to Cumberbatch's hunchbacked monarch in a BBC production this autumn.

Appearing before an audience on the final day of the Hay Festival, in conversation with Sir Richard Eyre, Dame Judi was initially coy about whether she would take the part.

Cumberbatch approached her several months ago, it emerged, and has been trying to persuade her to take the role.

But she was put on the spot when the audience were invited to participate in the discussion and Cumberbatch, from his seat in the front row, seized his opportunity.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/10868771/Judi-Dench-to-star-with-Benedict-Cumberbatch-in-Shakespeare.html

Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy: Weinstein sets awards season dates for 'Big Eyes,' 'Imitation Game' and 'Eleanor Rigby

HITFIX
By Kristopher Tapley   Friday, May 2, 2014 3:56 PM



The Weinstein Company has a pretty tight slate of prestige titles this year, a number of them likely set for the upcoming Oscar circuit. And indeed, today we're getting word that three of them are all lined up for prime awards season real estate on the release calendar, setting the stage for another slew of months in the trenches for Harvey and his team.

Still, even a packed slate bursting with potential can be a bit of a burden. After all, the indie distributor is coming off a pretty busy but still skin-of-their-teeth Oscar season where a lack of overall campaign focus nearly cost them; for a while there, it was looking like none of TWC's many baity 2013 contenders was going to land a Best Picture nomination. But "Philomena" pulled it out, and I couldn't help but to congratulate Harvey at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards on the night of the Oscar nominations back in January for dodging that bullet.

"Big Eyes" has secured a release date of Christmas Day, which puts it toe-to-toe with Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken," Rob Marshall's big Disney musical "Into the Woods" and Cameron Crowe's still-untitled latest. However, recent history proves that December releases just don't gain the traction to win Best Picture at the Oscars: Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" 10 years ago was the last to do so.

I imagine studios eager to be in the awards game this year may be looking to last season for a few cues, though. The two last films to drop on press and public last time around, "American Hustle" and "The Wolf of Wall Street," landed a bunch of nominations before the hangover eventually wore off (neither won an Oscar). Sometimes the goal is just the monetary boost of being in that conversation; that's long been part of Weinstein's overall strategy with his films.

The bigger play for Harvey this year might be Morten Tyldum's "The Imitation Game," starring Benedict Cumberbatch as early computer technology pioneer Alan Turing. I read this script, which was raved up one side and down the other when it was making the rounds a few years back, and it's a fantastic role for Cumberbatch that will likely find him in the thick of the Best Actor race. Plus, it has a much more Academy-friendly release date: Nov. 21.

When you look back over TWC's recent Oscar successes, the Thanksgiving corridor has paid dividends. "The King's Speech," "The Artist," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Philomena" all hit theaters in late-November before marching on to Best Picture nominations. I would expect this to be pretty good bet, depending on how the "Headhunters" director navigates the material in his first English-language gig. Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode and Mark Strong also star.

Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/weinstein-sets-awards-season-dates-for-big-eyes-imitation-game-and-eleanor-rigby#8bcYbMx25VfAKC4b.99

Judi Dench:‘Philomena’ Box Office Surprise: Heading to $45M Worldwide; Could It Be This Year’s Oscar Sleeper?

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
By ANITA BUSCH
Friday January 3, 2014 @ 9:47am PST

 

Philomena is heading to become one of the most successful independent films winding into awards season this year, and having compiled the box office for four weeks now, I have watched this film — based on true events and starring Judi Dench — steadily climb both domestically and internationally.

Curious, I ventured out to see it last night and found a theater almost full to capacity on a Thursday night (the only seats left were a smattering of neck-benders in the front). After the picture ended, the audience erupted into applause. Strong, positive word-of-mouth is why. It was, simply put, a sweet surprise.

“Our exit polls were as high as anything we’ve had, including The Artist and The King’s Speech,” said Erik Lomis, president of distribution and home entertainment for The Weinstein Company. Exit polls are showing a very high 85% definite recommend, with 95% ranking it “excellent” or “very good,” and its CinemaScore is an A. After seeing the film, that is not a surprise. But its box office numbers might open readers’ eyes a bit.

So, domestically, Philomena has grossed over $18M in 6 weeks. Compare that to other Oscar contenders: Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features) is at $16M after 9 weeks and is pretty much gone, Nebraska (Paramount) is at $6.3M after 7 weeks has lost its steam, Inside Llewyn Davis is around $5.8M after 4 weeks and still playing for CBS Films; and Warner Bros.’ Her – another strong word-of-mouther — has taken in $2.2M in two weeks time. The only other serious contender for a Best Picture Oscar is 12 Years A Slave (Fox Searchlight), which has grossed $38M in 11 weeks of release and has virtually come to a standstill. Her, the wonderfully original film from Spike Jonze, will expand on January 10, and Philomena will expand to 1,250-1,500 theaters on January 24. Those are the two to watch now. Stay tuned.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/philomena-box-office-judi-dench-oscar-sleeper/

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS: Downton Abbey nominated for a Golden Globe

HELLO DAILY NEWS

Downton Abbey is in the running for a prestigious Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series.

Nominations for the Golden Globes, one of Hollywood's annual highlights, were announced on Thursday morning.

Leading lights from the industry will gather for the 71st annual ceremony on 12 January 2014 which will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the second year running.

FILMS

Best Motion Picture – Drama
12 Years A Slave
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
American Hustle
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
The Wolf Of Wall Street

Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave
Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All Is Lost

Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her

Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Kate Winslet, Labor Day

Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle

Best Screenplay
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years A Slave
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle

Best Original Score
All Is Lost
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Gravity
The Book Thief
12 Years A Slave

Best Original Song
Atlas, Coldplay (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Let It Go, Idina Menzel (Frozen)
Ordinary Love, U2 (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
Please Mr. Kennedy, Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver (Inside Llewyn Davis)
Sweet Than Fiction, Taylor Swift (One Chance)

Best Foreign Language Film
Blue is the Warmest Color
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Past
The Wind Rises

Best Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Frozen

TV

Best Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Masters of Sex

Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
James Spader, The Black List

Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn 99
Girls
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn 99

Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
American Horror Story: Coven
Behind the Candelabra
Dancing on the Edge
Top of the Lake
White Queen

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Al Pacino, Phil Spector

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Corey Stoll, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge
Janet McTeer, White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family


READ MORE HERE: http://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2013121216126/golden-globe-2014-nominations-downton-abbey/

Judi Dench, Steve Coogan: Critics Agree, 'Philomena' Is A "Serious" Comedy That Needs To Be Seen

CONTACT MUSIC
by Joe Wilde | 01 November 2013

The Judi Dench and Steve Coogan-starrer is being roundly praised as a wonderful piece of British cinema
Philomena stars Judi Dench as Philomena Lee in the movie adaptation of Martin Sixsmith's 2009 novel The Lost Children of Philomena Lee. Co-starring Steve Coogan as Sixsmith, the film is an emotionally moving and shocking true story that follows Sixsmith's journey to help find Philomena's lost children. Handled masterfully by The Queen director Stephen Frears, the film has been universally praised for its sensitive tone and lighthearted comic relief, with the performances from the two stars also being singled out for wide praise.

Having just been sacked from his job as a government spin doctor, Sixsmith is sent by his editor to do a "human interest story," an idea he at first resents, until he comes across the elderly Philomena Lee. We and Sixsmith soon discover that Lee was sent to a Catholic home for unmarried mothers in the 1950's, where she gave birth to her son, who she was forced to give up for adoption by the zealous nuns running the home.

Fifty years of searching for her son has culminated in no success, until Martin ends up taking her to America to find the truth about her son, in what is a heart wrenching story celebrating the lengths of human love, loss and life.

Read our review of Philomena

"A terrific, sophisticated comedy that tackles serious issues with a lightness of touch and a spirit of steel, Philomena is the British film to beat come BAFTA time," said Empire critic Damon Wise. The film is also praised as being like a "definition of good British cinema" by Nigel Andrews of the Financial Times and although the interest in the film is largely seeded in the British Isles, the film has garnered healthy appraisal from film buffs across the pond too.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.contactmusic.com/round-up/philomena-review-round-up-judi-dench_3931963

Dame Judi Dench Admits To Being An 'Avid Fan' Of Downton Abbey

E.
BY DEEPIKA RAJANI ON OCTOBER 30, 2013

She's a seasoned actress of the screen and stage and now Judi Dench has revealed that she is an "avid fan" of the hit ITV drama Downton Abbey. Revealing that she likes to watch the show which stars her friend and fellow actress Dame Maggie Smith, Dench told the Metro in an interview: "I am an avid fan of Downton Abbey [featuring her fellow dame and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel co-star Maggie Smith]".

Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan bring glamour on the London Film Festival red carpet for Philomena Premiere 

Meanwhile, the 78 year-old also admitted that her family were "uncool" on the red carpet of the Oscars one year.

Recalling the experience of rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood's greatest stars who were also walking the red carpet, Dench said:

"We had a wonderful time at it, my husband, when he was alive, and my daughter Finty, who nearly fainted when she met Antonio Banderas. We were all like children going: “Oh look, who’s there?” We were very, very uncool."


READ MORE HERE: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/130973/Dame-Judi-Dench-Admits-To-Being-An-Avid-Fan-Of-Downton-Abbey

Firefighters serenade Judi Dench in London at Philomena premiere

LONDON (AP) — Judi Dench has been serenaded by firefighters as she arrived for the London premiere of her latest film.

Dench walked the red carpet in Leicester Square Wednesday for the London Film Festival screening of "Philomena."

The movie tells the true story of Irishwoman Philomena Lee's quest to track down the son she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years earlier.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union, drinking at a pub after a protest march against pension cuts, spotted the 78-year-old star, chanted "We love you Judi" and broke into a rendition of Beatles song "Hey Jude."

READ MORE HERE: http://news.yahoo.com/firefighters-serenade-judi-dench-london-194452510.html

Judi Dench had to watch Philomena clip with the woman she portrays

STAR PULSE
October 17th, 2013 3:11am EDT | By: Dave Simpson

She explains, "The most traumatic thing for me was when we had the wrap party. We were all sitting around and I was talking to Philomena and then they suddenly said, 'Here's a bit of the film'. And Philomena was sitting next to me with her hand on my shoulder and we were watching this thing.

"I can't remember anything about that bit of film, all I remember is when the little boy came on I heard her say, 'Ah, God love him, look at him'. And I was terribly aware of her hand on my shoulder because this is somebody's personal story and you don't want to under-dramatise it and you don't want to over-dramatise it; you just want to be true to it. So that is the responsibility I felt."

READ MORE HERE: http://www.starpulse.com/news/Dave_Simpson/2013/10/17/judi_dench_had_to_watch_philomena_clip

An Interview with the wonderful Judi Dench, from the Venice Film Festival

Dame Judi Dench - Dame Judi Dench To Undergo Knee Surgery - Report

CONTACT MUSIC

By WENN

8 September, 2013

Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench is preparing to undergo knee replacement surgery after struggling with chronic joint pain, according to a U.K. report.

The 78-year-old Bond star is set to have surgery on both her knees, reports the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

A source tells the publication, "She'll have the first knee done this month, with the second operation scheduled for the new year to build in plenty of recovery time."

READ MORE HERE:http://www.contactmusic.com/story/dame-judi-dench-to-undergo-knee-surgeryreport_3855490 

Judi Dench Sparks Oscar Talk For ‘Philomena’

THE INQUISITOR
 September 2, 2013

Judi Dench has already been nominated for six Academy Awards (she won once) and she could soon find herself on another ballot. Her new movie, Philomena, has won great reviews and several critics have placed Dench at the front of the Oscar race.

In a piece called “Reserve An Oscar For Judi Dench,” Time Magazine author Mary Corliss writes: “Judi Dench gives a performance of grace, nuance and cinematic heroism. You might say it’s f—ing brilliant.”

Philomena recently made its debut at the Venice Film Festival and critics have been raving about it ever since. The movie focuses on the true story of Philomena Lee, a woman who had her son taken away by the church after she became pregnant as a teenager. Lee spent nearly 50 years looking for her son and was eventually able to find him with the help of journalist Martin Sixsmith. The movie is equal parts comedy and drama and most critics agree that Dench gives her character a perfect blend of dignity and humor.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/933119/judi-dench-sparks-oscar-talk-for-philomena/#FgJfkftDZP4DakXD.99

Oscar Contender Judi Dench in First 'Philomena' Trailer - Is Judi Dench looking at an eighth Oscar nomination?

Judi Dench in Philomena Photo: The Weinstein Co.

ROPE OF SILICON

BY: BRAD BREVET 

PUBLISHED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH 2013 AT 7:30 AM

One film playing a little under the radar is Stephen Frears' Philomena, primarily because Frears has been on something of a cold streak, which is why star Judi Dench is the main reason the film is being discussed at all in Oscar terms. Having already won an Oscar-winner and been nominated seven times, Dench may be exactly what Frears has been missing as of late.

The film is based on the true story of Philomena Lee (Dench), an Irish woman seeking the illegitimate son she was forced to put up for adoption in the U.S. in 1952. Philomena co-stars Steve Coogan as Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary journalist who helps Philomena on her way in a film described as "a bitter-sweet comedy", which may pose a little of a problem in Oscar's eyes, but we'll have to wait and see.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/philomena-trailer-judi-dench-oscar-contender/

First Look At Philomena – A Rather Surprising True Story With Judi Dench And Steve Coogan Posted on July 12, 2013 (BLEEDING COOL) by Brendon Connelly

I already danced around anything like “spoilers” when describing Stephen Frears‘ new film Philomena, just ahead of it going into production.

This afternoon, we’ve been sent the first image from the film, and I suppose I better get my dancing shoes on again.

The image at the head of this post shows Judi Dench in the title role and Steve Coogan as Marin Sixsmith, the sometime Labour government advisor turned journalist, and in this case, no pun intended, pretty much a detective.

Don’t expect grimy pulp fiction style detection, this is more the shocking, upsetting true story sort of thing, an indictment of corruption and the unravelling of a tragedy.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/12/philomena-draft/

Montgomery sees Judi Dench’s star turn in ‘Philomena’ (WASHINGTON POST) By St. John Barned-Smith | The Gazette, Published: November 12

The British have come to Montgomery County, and this time they’ve brought their cameras.

British Broadcasting Corp. film crews were on hand in Poolesville and Potomac this week filming “Philomena,” directed by Stephen Frears and starring British actors Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.


The movie, based on a true story, tells the tale of an unmarried Irish woman who gives birth to a son, Anthony, in 1952. According to Martin Sixsmith, who wrote the book the movie is based on, Catholic nuns “whisked away” the baby and sold it to an American couple. Philomena spent decades trying to find the son, who was renamed Michael Hess and served as chief legal counsel to former president George H.W. Bush.

The BBC spent two days filming scenes in St. Paul’s Community Church on Sugarland Road in Poolesville.

Caroline Taylor, a consultant who helped the church coordinate with the film producers, said, “I thought it might be Cable Montgomery,” when she first heard a film company wanted to use the site in a movie. She said she thought that perhaps the church, which has a rich history as the center of a freed slave community whose descendants still live nearby, would be part of a documentary.

Then she heard it was the BBC, and thought, “Holy cow, they’re making a full motion picture,” she said.

For the filming in Poolesville, the crew had to transform the historically Protestant St. Paul’s church into Catholic St. Anthony’s.

Gaithersburg resident Gwen Hebron Reese, trustee of St. Paul’s and an extra in the movie, said that she didn’t realize how big a production the whole thing would be at first.

“I’d heard of [Judi Dench], but I’m not a movie person. … I’m more of a book person,” said Reese, who grew up in Poolesville and now lives in Gaithersburg.

READ MORE:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/montgomery-sees-judi-denchs-star-turn-in-philomena/2012/11/12/f1a523bc-2cf0-11e2-a99d-5c4203af7b7a_story.html

Steve Coogan, Judi Dench to star in 'Philomena' Published Saturday, Sep 29 2012, 11:58am EDT | By Paul MartinoviC (DIGITAL SPY)

Variety reports that Dench will play the title character of Philomena Lee, with Coogan starring as journalist Martin Sixsmith. Coogan also co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pope.

The film is adapted from Sixsmith's book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee: A Mother, Her Son and a 50 Year Search, which details how Lee was forced by nuns to give up her son Anthony when he was 3.

Anthony was sold for adoption in America, where he grew up to be a successful lawyer and politician. In the 1980s, after he contracted AIDS, he visited Ireland in an attempt to find his mother.

Coogan said of the project: "The film is a comic tragedy or a tragic comedy. It's about two very different people, at different stages of their lives, who help each other and show that there is laughter even in the darkest places."

READ MORE: http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a409115/steve-coogan-judi-dench-to-star-in-philomena.html