Benedict Cumberbatch: Judging role an honour (INDEPENDENT)

 Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed he's "thrilled" to be on the judging panel for this year's Bafta Rising Star Award.

The Hobbit actor has joined movie industry figures to pick five nominees for the prize, which honours up-and-coming film talent.

Previous recipients include The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy, Twilight's Kristen Stewart, and The Last King Of Scotland's James McAvoy

Benedict said of the gong, officially named the EE Rising Star Award: "Judging by the quality of previous nominees and winners it's often the beginning of an exciting step-up of profile and opportunity."

He added: "It's a great platform for young actors and actresses to shine and I'm thrilled to be on board."


READ MORE: http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/film-cinema/cumberbatch-judging-role-an-honour-3311038.html

Robert Pattinson to play Lawrence of Arabia (THE INDEPENDENT)

Robert Pattinson is to follow in the footsteps of great British actor Peter O'Toole, by playing Lawrence Of Arabia.

The young heart-throb - currently nursing a broken heart after his break-up from Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart - will star as British army officer TE Lawrence in Werner Herzog's new film, Queen Of The Desert, opposite Naomi Watts, Variety reports.

Watts will play Gertrude Bell in the film, which will focus on the English writer's life.

Bell, one of the first female graduates from Oxford University, travelled through the Middle East, working as an archaeologist, explorer, cartographer and political officer for the British Empire, defining the borders of Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.


READ MORE:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/robert-pattinson-to-play-lawrence-of-arabia-8049876.html