Emma Thompson Page 6

Emma Thompson has spoken out about the “evil” pressures that Hollywood puts on actresses to lose weight and stay thin on movies, revealing she almost quit Brideshead Revisited because another female star was asked to do so.

The 57 year old star made the comments during an interview with Swedish chat show ‘Skavlan’ earlier this week, when another guest brought up the subject in an interview. She didn’t reveal the name of the actress who was the subject of the request by the producers of Brideshead, but confirmed that she did confront them over it, and that she threatened to walk.

Emma Thompson spoke about the pressure female actors are under to be thin

Continue reading: Emma Thompson Attacks Hollywood Pressure On Female Actors To Be Thin

It might be 14 years since the original romantic comedy, Love Actually, hit our screens but for some actors the death of one of the film’s pivotal stars has meant this year's reprisal has come "too soon".

The hit film is due to get a long-awaited sequel for Comic Relief this year but Emma Thompson won’t be taking part after the death of her on-screen husband, Alan Rickman, last year.

Emma Thompson won't be reprising her Love Actually role without Alan Rickman

Continue reading: Emma Thompson Won't Be Reprising Love Actually Role As It's "Too Sad And Too Soon"

Love Actually director Richard Curtis has confirmed that the upcoming mini-sequel for Red Nose Day will not feature a tribute to the late Alan Rickman.

Rickman died aged 69 in January of last year, after a short, private battle with pancreatic cancer.

In the original 2003 film Rickman starred as a married man, tempted by his young, attractive co-worker, who he eventually buys an expensive necklace for as a Christmas present.

Continue reading: 'Love Actually' Mini-Sequel Will Not Include A Tribute To Alan Rickman

An angry farmer has sprayed raw sewage Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson and her sister Sophie after they violated a court injunction protecting a proposed fracking site in Lancashire.

The 57 year old actress and her younger sibling joined in with a Greenpeace protest near Fylde, Lancashire on Wednesday afternoon (April 27th) against the controversial energy extraction process known as fracking, and filmed a ‘Great British Bake Off’ parody short while baking renewable energy-themed cakes in a bespoke kitchen powered by solar panels underneath a marquee.

Emma Thompson took part in the Greenpeace anti-fracking protest in Fylde, Lancashire today

Continue reading: Angry Farmer Sprays Manure At Emma Thompson And Greenpeace Protestors On Proposed Fracking Site

Christmas must be soon approaching if we’re talking about Love Actually again. Richard Curtis’ 2003 rom-com has become a Christmas staple over the past decade and has been responsible for more than a few tears over a festive turkey. But a recently rediscovered deleted scene from the film has revealed another heartbreaking storyline which failed to make the final cut.

Emma Thompson stars in Love Actually.

The storyline involves a stern headmistress, played by Anne Reid, who returns home from work to care for her terminally ill partner Geraldine, played by Frances de la Tour. The two were linked to the wider plot in the film through Emma Thompson's character, whose son was a pupil at Reid's school.

Continue reading: Deleted Scenes From 'Love Actually' Reveals Heartbreaking Storyline Cut From Final Film

Critics have been divided about the latest British period drama to hit cinemas. Effie Gray is based on a notorious true scandal from the mid-19th century, and most reviews have commented that the buttoned-up approach leaves the film feeling more than a little dull.

Dakota Fanning stars in 'Effie Gray'

Indeed, for a film about a torrid love triangle, the movie only barely hints that there's any sex going on beyond lots of aching glances. Director Richard Laxton was clearly channelling Victorian timidity about these things, but there are spicier hints laced through Emma Thompson's script and the layered performances of the strong cast, including Dakota Fanning, Greg Wise, Tom Sturridge, Julie Walters, David Suchet, Derek Jacobi and Thompson herself.

Continue reading: Effie Gray: Does It Take Victorian Repression Too Far?

Emma Thompson has stepped forward to say that she's all for taking a year out of a marriage in what's known as a "sabbatical" if it is "done properly." The 54 year-old film star and mother-of-two, who is currently promoting her new comedy, The Love Punch, revealed to The Telegraph that she is a form advocate of "taking a break from each other" though not complicating things by not being with other people.

Emma Thompson Has No Qualms About Taking Time Off From A Relationship.

"I wonder whether this isn't the way forward for a lot of married couples? You look at it and think that maybe every marriage should have a kind of a sabbatical, that couples should be forced to take a break from each other every so often, if just for a year or so," Thompson revealed, adding "It's actually not a bad idea."

Continue reading: Emma Thompson Says 'Love Punch' Marriage Sabbatical Is "Not A Bad Idea"

Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie is a pretty good cast. It just is. And there The Love Punch - a Great Marigold Hotel style movie set in the Cote d'Azur probably should work - but it hasn't really. 

Pierce Brosnan [L] and Emma Thompson [R] in 'The Love Punch'

It stars ex-husband and wife Richard and Kate (Brosnan and Thompson) whose biting banter suggests the flames of their former relationship have not been fully extinguished. When their retirement nest egg is wiped out when Richard's investment firm is defrauded, the divorced duo travel to France to steal a $10 million diamond ring from the financier behind the scheme. Of course, Spall and Imrie play the couple's former neighbours who are roped in to assist the heist. 

Continue reading: Brosnan, Thompson Are Far, Far Better Than 'The Love Punch'

Nice Work, 'Noah': Darren Aronofsky's latest epic, Noah, was released last weekend and managed to triumph at its debut box office with $44 million, despite all the negative publicity regarding religious condemnation and middling reviews. Starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson, Noah is based on the well-known Genesis tale but is given a pump of testosterone with the Black Swan director's dramatic CGI marvel. Check out the trailer.

Empire Film Awards: Emma Thompson and James McAvoy were the big winners at this year's Empire Film Awards, taking home trophies in their respective acting categories for Saving Mr. Banks and Filth. Space thriller Gravity and the fantasy sequel The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug were the evening's most-awarded movies with Simon Pegg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sally Hawkins, Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman, Steve Coogan and Margot Robbie also honoured for a smashing year in film. Find the full list of winners here.

Continue reading: A Week In News: 'Noah' Conjures A Box Office Miracle, Glastonbury Line-Up Revealed, And 'How I Met Your Mother' Bids Farewell

Some of the biggest names in film were out last night for the Jameson Empire Film Awards, which saw the year's biggest and best movies awarded for a storming year in filmmaking. Voted for by the public, the awards presented a somewhat different picture of the last year in film than most of the other big awards ceremonies have done so far.

It Was An Evening Of Triump For Emma Thompson, Who Was Awarded Best Actress.

Space thriller Gravity and the fantasy sequel The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug were the evening's biggest winners with the former winning Best Film and Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón whilst the latter picked up Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Best Male Newcomer for Aiden Turner, AKA Kili. Saving Mr, Banks star Emma Thompson and Filth actor James McAvoy took home the respective male and female acting awards, according to the movie magazine.

Continue reading: Empire Film Awards: James McAvoy, Emma Thompson, 'Gravity,' And 'The Hobbit' Take Home The Silver

Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about his London habits, what it means to be awarded the lifetime achievement award from Empire and the next Terminator when quizzed by The Telegraph last night. The Austrian star said he was honoured to be the recipient of Empire’s honour, and explained why directors are hired to make film.

Arnie works out, then eats desserts

“The first thing I did (upon arriving in London) was work out. And then the second was have some good British desserts, so that I gain the weight back that I just burned off when I was working out,” explained Arnie, ignoring the reporters follow up questions.

Continue reading: Arnie Talks Working Out, Desserts And 'Terminator' Ahead Of Lifetime Achievement Award

As the British equivalent to the Oscars, last night’s BAFTAs were obviously a glamorous affair. In between bouts of Stephen Fry’s self deprecating humor (“[Oprah’s] performance in The Butler was so moving, I almost gave mine the afternoon off.”) and jabs at all of his colleagues (Fry introduced the flawless Emma Thompson as “In the film world, a goddess. In real life, a ghastly piece of sickly shrieking awful.”) there were also some awards given out.

Stephen Fry always makes for an entertaining awards show.

The big winners of the night were somewhat surprising. Predictions pegged Gravity and 12 Years A Slave – the two award show favorites so far – for the majority of BAFTAs as well. Instead, the Steve McQueen directed 12 Years only took two awards out of 8 nods total. Granted, they were the big ones - best film and leading actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – but that was it.

Continue reading: The 2014 BAFTAs Run Like The Oscars' Older, Funnier Sister

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt haven’t really been a staple at award shows recently, but when they do attend, they make it memorable. After spending Valentine’s apart, Hollywood’s power couple reunited in London on Saturday to attend tonight’s BAFTA ceremony. The couple showed up in matching tuxedos and walked the slightly terrifying red carpet in style and with big smiles on their faces, so kudos for surviving.

After Angelina's ordeal, the power couple pulled off another flawless red carpet.

And they weren’t the only one. Leonardo Dicaprio – an ever-present fixture at award show red carpets was also there, slightly scruffier than usual. And thank goodness he was – his absence might have resulted in some confusion, given that Leo is one of the most reliable attendees at most award shows these days Emma Thompson gave one last glorious bow at her final award show of the season.

Continue reading: BAFTA Honors Mid-Point Report: Brangelina, Emma Thompson Own The Red Carpet And Our Hearts

Ok, so the Oscar nominations pretty much played out as we expected on Thursday morning (January 16, 2013) with a minimal amount of surprise nominations and plenty for the big boys, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club and The Wolf of Wall Street. However, it was the Oscar snubs that really made the headlines, with the Coen Brothers Inside Llewyn Davis - described by critics as the filmmakers' best work - ignored completely.

Inside Llewyn Davis. The folksy Greenwich Village-set movie was the Grand Prix winner at last year's Cannes Film Festival and certainly warranted one of the ten best picture spots. It was one of the Top 10 movies of the year. It just was. The Academy didn't think so. It didn't receive a single nomination in the major acting categories. Not for Isaacs, not for Timberlake, not for Mulligan, not for the Coens, not for makeup, not for costumes. Nothing. 

Continue reading: Inside Llewyn Davis, Anybody? The 5 Biggest Oscar Nomination Snubs

Meryl Streep has been a self-professed feminist throughout her career and she walked the walk on during Tuesday night’s National Board of Review gala in New York. The August: Osage County actress took the stage to present her colleague and friend Emma Thompson with the Best Actress award for her role in Saving Mr. Banks and in the process ripped into Walt Disney for his sexist and racist tendencies.

Streep used the National Board of Review platform to express some controversial opinions.

A transcript of her speech has been obtained by Entertainment Weekly. In her ten minute address, Streep said: "Some of his associates reported that Walt Disney didn't really like women... Disney, who brought joy arguably to billions of people was, perhaps, or had some racist proclivities. He formed and supported an anti-Semitic industry lobbying group and he was certainly, on the evidence of his company's policies, a gender bigot...”

Continue reading: Meryl Streep Toasts Emma Thompson And Roasts Walt Disney

Meryl Streep has called out the late animator and business magnate Walt Disney for the views he allegedly that that would nowadays be considered highly offensive. The August: Osage County star made the comments at the National Board of Review awards gala where she was presenting fellow actress Emma Thompson with an award for her portrayal of P.L. Travers, the writer of the Mary Poppins books, in the new Disney film Saving Mr Banks.

Meryl Streep Called Out Walt Disney At The National Board Of Review Awards Gala.

"Disney, who brought joy, arguably, to billions of people, was perhaps, or had some racist proclivities," said Streep, according to Vanity Fair magazine. "He formed and supported an anti-Semitic industry lobby. And he was certainly, on the evidence of his company's policies, a gender bigot."

Continue reading: Meryl Streep Blasts "Racist" And "Anti-Semitic" Walt Disney, Recites Emma Thompson Poem In NY Awards Speech

Anchorman 2: The Lengend Continues has been lighting up cinema screens since Wednesday (18 December) this week and looks set to continue its impressive run into next week and emerge as the top grossing film of the weekend. Having opened strongly mid-week, the reunited Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner have maintained their steady rise to the top.

All the gang, plus a secretary and some other guy, are back for the new Anchorman

In just five days since it was released, the film is estimated to have made $61.3 million already (via Box Office Mojo), with a massive $40.1 million coming in over the weekend period alone. Clearly people have recognised that Anchorman 2 is kind of a big deal, and they responded as expected.

Continue reading: 'Anchorman 2' Staying Classy To Top US Box Office This Weekend

The new Disney movie Saving Mr Banks opened in America on Friday (Dec 13), and audiences are enjoying the story of how Walt Disney courted P.L Travers to get her to sign over the rights for Mary Poppins.

Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks in Saving Mr. Banks

But they also can't help but wonder if the characters have been softened to sell the story. Writer Kelly Marcel insists that she wrote the script (with Sue Smith) long before the studio was involved, and that they allowed the filmmakers artistic freedom in how they portrayed Mr Disney, who is played by Tom Hanks as a man who can identify with Emma Thompson's Travers about having a dark past and a fictional creation that needs protecting.

Continue reading: Is 'Saving Mr Banks' Too 'Disneyfied'?

Saving Mr. Banks may just be the most charming and inspiring movie you see this year, telling the story of how the story of Mary Poppins was transformed into a Disney movie and the real-life people behind the 1964 animated and live action marvel.

Emma Thompson Brings 'Mary Poppins' Author P.L Travers To Life.

With such a lot of different works referenced, getting the go-ahead for Saving Mr. Banks could have been a minefield but it looks like a few fairies cast their magic upon the movie makers, meaning that getting green lights was seemingly easier than expected.

Continue reading: All Onboard For Saving Mr. Banks: The Remarkable Story Of How The Movie Came To Pass [Trailer]

Disney's new animated musical, Frozen has had a merry time at the top of the box office, charming both small children, parents and critics alike across the Thanksgiving weekend and rustling up some genuine Oscars talk at the start of the awards season.

'Frozen' Has Charmed Its Way Up The Box Office Rankings, For How Much Longer Though?

The sweet and festive kids' movie managed to topple the former box office leviathan, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, from the top perch with $134,278,000 grossed to date, according to Box Office Mojo. The film, which tells the story of a fearless princess on an epic journey, did manage to sneak in at a prime time, capitalising on Catching Fire's waning interest and scooping up the family vote over the holiday.

Continue reading: Will 'The Hobbit 2' Make 'Frozen' Loosen Its Ice-Like Box Office Grip? [Trailer]

Angelina Jolie, Steve Martin and Angela Lansbury were honoured on Saturday, 16 November, night at the Academy’s Governors Awards, in a night where emotions ran high and the awards circuit got off to a start. Jolie was perhaps the biggest celebrity name on the awards sheet, but it was Martin and Lansbury who stole the show with their heartfelt gratitude towards being honoured by the Academy for a career in front of the camera.

Angelina Jolie was honoured for her humanitarian work

Jolie received the first standing ovation of the night though, picking up the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her continued, dedicated service to aid work across the globe. Attending the event with her hubby Brad Pitt and their son Maddox, Jolie accepted the award from George Lucas after being toasted in a video presentation featuring clips from her in the movies and in refuge camps and care-giving scenarios found across the globe. Receiving thank you's from four stars of her upcoming Bosnian war film In the Land of Blood and Honey, Gena Rowlands then toasted the star before she took to the stage, asking, “How does she have the time to do all this? She acts and directs, she has a large family… and she has to keep that smile on Brad’s face.”

Continue reading: Angelina Jolie, Steve Martin & Angela Lansbury Earn Honorary Recognition From The Academy’s Governors Awards

Last night saw the “practically perfect” opening of the AFI Film Fest at Hollywood’s infamous Chinese Theatre, newly kitted out for IMAX. Most importantly, however, the festival also hosted the North American premiere of the highly anticipated Saving Mr. Banks, during the opening night. The film, which chronicles he turbulent relationship of Walt Disney and Mary Poppins creator P.L. Travers during the making of the musical, is an almost certain Oscar contender.

Hanks and Thompson make excellent screen partners in this film about rediscovering childhood wonder.

It was a perfect fit for both Disney and AFI to launch the Tom Hanks starrer during the festival and in particular at the Chinese Theatre, where the musical classic itself saw its premiere almost exactly half a century ago, in 1964. Director John Lee Hancock noted that in his opening remarks: “My life just keeps folding around. Just like in Mary Poppins it seems what happened has happened before. Fifty years ago there was a premiere here for Mary Poppins. About a year ago we were here filming the re-creation of that premiere, and now here we are again so it all just feels right,” he said, via Deadline.

Continue reading: AFI Film Festival Launch Hosts "Saving Mr. Banks" Premiere At The Historical Chinese Theater

Saving Mr Banks has been marketed, or at least interpreted, as a film about Walt Disney. But the crux of the film can be found in Pamela Lyndon Travers’ struggle to keep her story true while Disney and his corporation turn Mary Poppins into a film.

Thompson portrays a disgruntled Travers

All talk has surrounded Hanks, possibly because he plays one of the most controversial figures in the history of entertainment, possibly because his turn in Captain Phillips has been lauded as Oscar worthy, but it’s Emma Thompson’s P.L Travers – the author of Mary Poppins – who steals the show.

Continue reading: It's Emma Thompson, Not Tom Hanks, Taking The Plaudits For 'Saving Mr Banks'

Walt Disney Studios have a host of exciting new movies in store for fans of action, comedy and adventure in this next year. Details of new and upcoming movies were announced at the Disney Comic-Con equivalent. Fans in attendance were treated to thrilling new film news, including a sneak-peek from Kenneth Branagh's live action Cinderella, clips from Marvel movies Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, and Angelina Jolie's appearance to talk about her first movie since Kung Fu Panda 2, Malificent, but there was sadly no new Star Wars: Episode VII gossip.

Disgruntled Fans Received No New Star Wars Info From Jj Abrams.

Fans booed as it became evident that nothing new would be given away regarding the forthcoming JJ Abrams-directed Star Wars sequel. The crowd were told a series of already known announcements, according to Digital Spy. The movie, due for release in 2015, has reportedly recruited some of the original cast, including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

Continue reading: Disney Reveal New Movie Details At D23 Expo: 'Malificent,' 'Saving Mr. Banks,' And 'Tomorrowland'

The highly anticipated movie Saving Mr. Banks, in which Tom Hanks stars as the controversial Walt Disney, attempting to work with Pamela Travers (Emma Thompson) on a film adaptation of Mary Poppins, is set to provide the curtain call for the BFI London Film Festival.

Tom Hanks in Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr Banks producer Alison Owen, thinks closing the prestigious London festival is a nice touch, given the film’s connection with the English Capital. "Saving Mr Banks is very much about British manners versus American values, as Pamela Travers and Walt Disney battle over the rights to Mary Poppins, so it feels absolutely fitting that the LFF Closing Night should be our European Premiere, and we feel very honoured,” she said.

Continue reading: Back To The Film's Roots: Tom Hanks' 'Saving Mr Banks' To Close BFI London Film Festival

Sony have confirmed Cameron Diaz will be starring in Will Smith and Jay Z's musical re-envisioning of the hit Broadway musical Annie. Diaz has landed the role of Miss Hannigan, the cruel manager of the orphanage Annie initially lives in. Sandra Bullock was previously linked to the role and was involved in talks with Annie producers. However, it has been confirmed Diaz has the part.

Annie, initially a comic strip, was turned into a musical, opened on Broadway in 1977. The musical was turned into a film just five years later (1982). Carol Burnett played Miss Hannigan in this version, although her performance was slated by critics (as was the film in general which is still considered one of the worst in film history).  

Cameron Diaz at the 2013 Met Gala, New York

Continue reading: Cameron Diaz Is Miss Hannigan In Will Smith And Jay Z's 'Annie'

Pixar added yet another Academy Award to the pile last night as the Disney-owned studio's fantasy blast from the past Brave picked up the top prize for animation at the star-studded event.

The film, inspired by Gaelic folklore and the landscape of the Scottish Highlands, had already won the BAFTA and Golden Globe for the same category - following in the footsteps of the six Pixar films that have also won the award since it's inaugural year in 2001. The film battled off competition from Wreck-it Ralph, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! to take home the award.

In addition to being set in a pre-historic Scotland, the film also incorporated a wealth of Scottish talent including Kelly MacDonald, Robbie Coltrane, Billy Connolly and Craig Ferguson, with Brits Emma Thompson and Julie Walters also voicing parts in the film. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond praised the film and it's continued success - and what it means to Scotland too - telling the BBC, "To win the Oscar for best animated film is a massive achievement. It is absolutely fantastic to see Merida and the gang continue to fly the flag for Scotland in Hollywood."

Continue reading: Brave Takes Home The Oscar For Best Animated Film Academy Awards Ceremony

Ah, Valentine’s Weekend. That thing that doesn’t actually exist because there’s only actually one day that’s officially attributed to Valentine’s Day but it does exist in the world of the movie box office. It’s the weekend for people who were too stingy to take their partners out of actual Valentine’s Day, because all of the prices are inflated, to schlep over to the local movie theatre, with a rose between their teeth for no good reason and treat their loved one to a terrible, terrible movie.

That’s right. Normally, we like to give our readers a few tips and pointers with regards to the upcoming box office releases for the forthcoming weekend, make a few recommendations, etc etc. Well, this week, can we simply suggest that you stay home? What we appear to have on our hands this week is the biggest collection of cinematic flops since as far back as we can remember. Or at least since last Valentine’s Weekend.

First up, if you’re still interested in learning which films you should not go to see this weekend, is Safe Haven. A woozy adaptation of yet another Nicholas Sparks novel. Yes, we loved The Notebook. Yes, OK, we admit, what we mean is we loved Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. And yes, we suppose that Zac Efron did a pretty good job in The Lucky One. But it takes more than a pretty couple (Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough) to make a successful adaptation of one of Sparks’ ever-popular tear-jerk romance novels.

Continue reading: Hot Tickets! US Movie Releases: 'Safe Haven' And 'A Good Day To Die Hard' Battle It Out For Worst Valentine's Weekend Movie

PGA's And SAG Awards Both Favour Affleck While Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens And Ashley Benson Spring Break And Lindsay Lohan's The Canyons Bombs Out

The Oscar race was thrown into a spin last weekend by two guilds, professional groups that make movies and vote for the Academy Awards. First, the Producers Guild of America (PGA) gave its Best Picture award to Ben Affleck's Argo, a surprise because Affleck isn't even nominated for a directing Oscar. Then the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) named Argo for Best Ensemble, which is considered their Best Picture prize. Films only rarely win the Best Picture Oscar if their director isn't nominated. But Affleck is nominated for a Directors Guild of America (DGA) award on Saturday, which will no doubt further muddy the waters leading to Bafta night February 10th and the Oscars two weeks later.

Meanwhile, Oscar contenders dominate the box office, with Les Miserables, Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty in the Top 10 both in America and Britain. In addition, Life of Pi and Lincoln are in the UK chart, while Silver Linings Playbook is holding firm in the US. These are the most money-making Best Picture nominees in years.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Argo Keeps On Coming, Spring Breakers Looks Unhinged And Carell, Buscemi And Carrey Appear In Incredible Burt Wonderstone Trailer