HELEN MIRREN: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN ACTORS
For forty years the HFPA has audio- taped famous and celebrated actors and actresses. The world’s largest collection of its kind — over 10,000 Star Speaks — is now in the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences Library. The audios are fascinating. To veteran stars, our HFPA journalists are family; they banter with them incessantly, and they speak openly and frankly about themselves and their artistry.
” I think of actors as those who have taken a certain imaginative leap. English and American actors do have a common cord, but there are big differences: American actors are much more outward, much less afraid of being emotional.
For example, at an audition, English actors won’t read. If they’re given a script they’ll hold it close up, mumble, read stage directions, pretend they can’t read. American actors thump on the table, throw themselves on the ground. English actors find that very embarrassing.
Another difference is that British actors work much more. We move easily between television, theatre, films; American actors tend to sit and wait for the big part. We like to work more often.
And we’re paid much less.
In the first part of my career, I was extremely driven to become a great classical actress. In my early twenties I was offered many film roles. I had opportunities to come to America, but I wanted to become the great classical actress, so I pursued that.
It involved things such as leaving the classical theatre for a while and working with Peter Brook–who I believe is the greatest creative genius in the theater today–because I thought it wouldfurther my abilities. I didn’t pursue money or fame; I pursued artistic ability.
But doing classical theatre is like riding on an incredibly powerful, potentially uncontrollable horse. At first you try to control it, but then it is running away with you. But bit by bit, you learn to manage it.
I was doing a performance as Cleopatra about four years ago and I suddenly realized I could ride this horse. Not only that, I could make it jump and stop and make it go backward, sideways, whatever. I could make it do anything!
I had learned my craft. It was an interesting moment and so I thought, what shall I do next?
And that happened just as I fell in love with someone who lived in America.”
—–Edited by Jack Tewkesbury
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER ERNEST BORGNINE DIES AT 95
Go
lden Globe winner Ernest Borgnine, whose most recent film was the 2010 action comedy Red, has died aged 95. He was the oldest living winner of a best actor Golden Globe, which he received in 1956 for his role in Marty. He was nominated again in 2008 for the TV movie A Grandpa for Christmas.
Borgnine, who starred on television as Lt. Commander Quinton McHale in the comedy series McHale’s Navy which ran from 1962-66, and in a feature film based on the series in 1964, worked consistently and in a wide variety of films, with some 200-odd screen appearances during his 66-year acting career. Apart from Marty, one of his best-known film roles was as Fatso in From Here to Eternity.
In 2011, the Screen Actors Guild lauded him with the life achievement award during the 17th annual SAG Awards.
Borgnine’s fifth wife, the former Tova Newman, is known for a successful line of cosmetic products. In addition to her, he is survived by a daughter by his first wife, and three children from his fourth marriage, including Cris, an actor-cinematographer.
A TASTE OF HIGHLAND HOSPITALITY
Fighter
HFPA members sampled a taste of Highland hospitality in between interviews and movie screenings during a recent trip to the U.K.
After seeing Prometheus and interviewing the main cast in London, members flew to Edinburgh for a screening of Pixar’s new animated movie Brave followed by a cellidh—-a traditional Scottish celebration featuring a pipe band, demonstrations of swordfighting, archery and falconry, at which birdman Adrian showed his training skills with owls, falcons and a bald eagle (pictured with a falcon).
Afterwards journalists from around the world attended a banquet at which most had their first taste of haggis and MacAdam whiskey while hearing songs from Brave performed by Scottish singer Julie Fowlis.
birdman
The trip included a rail journey to the Highland village of Dunkeld where some journalists visited the 160-year-old Dewars distillery while others toured the Loch of the Lowes nature preserve.
Read More »HFPA PLAQUE FOR JEONJU FESTIVAL
HFPA members attend film festivals around the world to keep up to date with film production, select candidates for the Golden Globes and promote knowledge of the HFPA.
Board member Yoram Kahana was the first HFPA member to attend the Jeonju International Film Festival [JIFF] in Jeonju, South Korea, and he presented Jinna Lee, chief programmer of the festival, with a plaque on behalf of the association.
The festival featured an international and Korean film award competitions, as well as screenings of animated digital, short and feature movies from all over the world.
HFPA SEE WEINSTEIN PREVIEWS
HFPA members attending the film festival were among the international press invited to the Majestic Hotel in Cannes to see previews of three of Harvey Weinstein’s movies he hopes will be Oscar contenders.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, David O. Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook and Quentin Tarantino’s Western throwback Django Unchained are not yet completed but are all due for release before Christmas.
About four minutes each of the first two were shown and a never-before-seen 10 minutes was unveiled from Django which is still is in production for another month and may be adding a couple of co-stars. At one time Sacha Baron Cohen was slated to participate but had to drop out as did Kurt Russell because he was committed elsewhere.GOLDEN GLOBE TICKETS FETCH 100,000 EUROS AT CANNES AUCTION
Gerard Butler
A bidder who splashed out 100,000 Euros for a pair of Golden Globe tickets also won a date with Gerard Butler as part of the package at a star-studded charity auction at the Cannes Film Festival. The Scottish actor, prompted by writer-director Paul Haggis, had offered himself as a bonus to boost the bidding price on the tickets.
The auction, which included the chance to spend time with Lady Gaga, buy Bono’s autographed guitar or a take a three-day trip to Haiti with Sean Penn, was part of a charity fundraiser for earthquake-ravaged Haiti and other causes.
“A film festival is not simply about films, ever,” Sean Penn told the audience. “This isn’t a film, what we’re doing now. It’s not a film when we stand outside and we take pictures for magazines. What it all has to do with is an expression and a shared experience.”
Guests included actor-comedians Chris Rock and Ben Stiller _ at Cannes to plug the latest installment of animated trilogy Madagascar _ musicians Lyle Lovett and Sean “Diddy” Combs, Scottish actors Butler and Ewan McGregor, German actress Diane Kruger, and Jessica Chastain _ starring in the John Hillcoat-directed “Lawless,” while also offering her voice to “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”
Read More »HFPA PLAQUE FOR LONDON GAY FILM FESTIVAL
HFPA member Scott Orlin (left) presented Brian Robinson, director of this year’s London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, with a plaque from the association at this year’s 26th festival which showcased 53 features and 67 shorts as well as a strong selection of documentaries from all around the world.
The LLGFF features films from countries not normally seen on the London circuit, such as Circumstance, set in Iran against the background of the youth subcultures that exist in spite of the Islamic Republic; 365 without 377, an Italian film exploring the experiences of three Indian activists in the year since Section 377 of the Indian Penal code was abolished, thereby legalising homosexuality and the Australian film, Ballroom Rules, an account of a year spent in the company of same-sex ballroom dancers who are forbidden to compete in their native Australia, as they prepare to compete in the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne.
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