Sebastian Stan praises Daisy Edgar Jones

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Sebastian Stan signed up to ‘Fresh’ because of Daisy Edgar Jones.
‘Normal People’ actress Daisy was already attached to the project when Sebastian was approached and he had no hesitation in joining the cast because he wanted to work with Daisy.
He told Variety: “I said, ‘I have to be a part of this because I love ‘Normal People’. And then I read the script and I was like, ‘Oh, god.’ But I thought, Daisy is going to be a part of this, she’s f****** amazing and she’s going to ground this thing. We kind of connected over that from the very beginning, even over Zoom.”
And Daisy, 23, revealed that although the movie deals with cannibalism and toxic masculinity, they had a lot of fun on set.
She said: “We really had a laugh making the film, despite the darker aspects. On the whole, it was very fun to make. I think that translates on screen when everyone is having fun with it. I think ‘Fresh’ treads that line very well. Just when you think it takes you too deeply, it takes you out with something weirdly funny and you find yourself laughing — but then also feeling guilty about it.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Love Island star Zara Holland gets engaged

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Zara Holland is engaged to Elliott Love.
The 26-year-old star – who appeared on ‘Love Island’ in 2016 – is set to marry Elliott, 31, after he popped the question in Dubai.
A source told MailOnline: “Zara is over the moon to be engaged to Elliott.
“She went on ‘Love Island’ years ago to find the man of her dreams – and meeting Elliott came just at the right time.”
The loved-up duo met shortly after her stint on the ITV show.
And they’re both now excited to start planning their wedding day.
The insider explained: “Elliott proposed in the most perfect way in Dubai, and they couldn’t be happier, now they’re just excited to start planning their big day.”
Zara previously opened up about their romance, describing Elliott as “the one”.
The former Miss Great Britain shared: “We’re very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he’s definitely the one.
“When I did just come out the villa and I was on nights out or at public appearances guys would be like, ‘Can I buy Zara from ‘Love Island’ a drink?’ But he just likes me for me, which was so refreshing.”
Meanwhile, Zara previously likened her time on ‘Love Island’ to being in a “posh prison”.
Asked about her time in the villa, Zara explained: “It was just like been in a posh prison, really.
“You have two producers that do live in the villa with you 24/7. So every day we would have talks with them. And they would ask how you’re feeling, sort of who you think are the best couples.
“And then they might say to you, ‘Right, Zara, so now can you go sit by the pool, we’re going to send so and so over and this is what we want you to talk about’.
“It was so controlled in there that you got told when to go to bed, when to wake up, when dinner was.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

BBC rejected new Goodnight Sweetheart, writer claims

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — The BBC rejected a new series of ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’.
The time-travelling sitcom – which starred Nicholas Lyndhurst as Gary Sparrow – ran for six years until 1999 and returned for a one-off episode in 2016, but creator Laurence Marks has revealed fans could have enjoyed another set of episodes.
However, he claimed his offer to write a new series was rejected because the BBC wanted to focus on new ideas, something he thinks was a mistake.
He told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: “We could have done another series of Goodnight Sweetheart, but the BBC pulled back from that.
“They got frightened that they were putting on too many old shows — shows that had already been seen. So instead they put on shows that nobody wanted to watch. And that’s their choice.”
The ‘Birds of a Feather’ writer fears TV comedy has grown too safe and “nice” because people are so concerned about cancel culture.
He said: “You can’t be vicious to people anymore. Everyone has to be nice. And everyone has to be spoon-fed by the hand to safe places.
“You can’t talk about the things that you find funny because of what I believe is called cancel culture. So you avoid them. And if you avoid them, you lose your humour.”
But Laurence insisted he’d rather be funny than play it safe.
He added: “My entire career was made on not going to safe places.
“Now I wouldn’t avoid things that are supposed to be off-limits. I’d say, ‘Oh f*** it, cancel me’. Who gives a toss? It doesn’t matter. What matters is being funny.”
And the writer is sure the tide will turn again in the future.
He said: “But everything changes. Everything is cyclical. I’m sure it will change back.
“A head of comedy will come into ITV or a controller will come into ITV and say let’s be dangerous.
“They might not keep their job for very long but they would produce some bloody good programmes.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Martin Compston needed a break after Our House

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Martin Compston “needed a break” after filming ‘Our House’.
The 37-year-old actor portrays Bram Lawson, whose marriage ends when he cheats on his wife Fi (Tuppence Middleton) with a neighbour, in the new drama series and he admitted it was one of the most “intense” shoots he had been involved in and the emotional material left him feeling drained.
He told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “’Our House’ by far, acting-wise, took the most out of me.
“It was unique to see a drama based around family and marriage that was exciting on those terms. There were a couple of proper cliffhangers there.
“I came straight from filming ‘The Rig’. I’d read the scripts and loved them – you realise this guy’s life is falling apart. It was a tough role. He’s a guy with a self-destruct button but he also has some redeeming features.
“In essence he is a good guy, loves his kids. But I don’t think he appreciates what he’s got until it’s too late. He seems like somebody who wants to inject a bit of chaos into his life as soon as things are going too well.
“It was such an emotional ride, just when you see what Bram goes through. That made it so intense.
“When we finished I said I needed a bit of a break, so we wrapped in October and just went away and were a family for a while. I’m under no illusions how lucky I am to have been able to do that, but it was what I needed.”
Martin is “so grateful” for his success and is “really proud” when things go well, but admitted he used to fear his breakthrough role as Liam in ‘Sweet Sixteen’ 20 years ago was a “weight around his] neck” because he was always associated with the character.
He said: “I feel massively nostalgic. I owe those guys absolutely everything for taking a chance on me and giving me that opportunity.
“It was a weight around my neck at the time. Everyone thought I was that kid. Doing ‘Monarch of the Glen’ was a very conscious choice because it was so different to ‘Sweet Sixteen’.
“Now I’ve grown older, where things go well, like Line of Duty, I’m just really proud. When you see the sort of numbers [viewing figures] involved in that kind of stuff it can’t not make you proud. I am so grateful for it. I’ve been very lucky over last 20 years to dip my toe into the independent cinema and TV world and it’s gratifying when you do stuff that goes to a big audience.
“Especially in these times, it’s great to give people a bit of escapism to take their mind off what seems like a never-ending miserable news cycle.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Benedict Cumberbatch ‘did dream therapy’ for Power of the Dog role

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Benedict Cumberbatch “did dream therapy” as part of his preparation for ‘The Power of the Dog’.
The 45-year-old actor – who portrays rancher Phil Burbank in the movie – admitted it was a “very new experience” to try and delve into his subconscious to find inspiration for his performance in the movie but enjoyed the “trip” when he was eventually able to let his mind drift in a certain way when he fell asleep.
Speaking during the Leading Actor virtual discussion at the ‘EE Bafta Film Awards: The Sessions 2022’, he said: “We did dream therapy! We did dream analysis, which is a real trip, the idea that you can just drop a tiny suggestion on a notepad or in a mantra or some kind of thought process before you sleep and then let your subconscious do some of that work.
“So as if having a book wasn’t easy, I then fell back on dreaming for inspiration, but boy is it there after the first few dry spells of worrying about did I lock the door, or is the oven on?
“And Jane [Campion] was dreaming of flowers exploding with blood. I exaggerate but not far off and then eventually that silt from the bottom of the well kind of gets a little bit more interesting and stuff comes up, which I never would have thought of looking there for before. So that was a very new experience for me.”
Ahead of filming, Benedict had an “endless” list of skills he had to master for the role so stayed with a real-life rancher and his wife to pick up necessary abilities such as riding and treating hide.
He said: “The horse riding and the roping and the cattle ranching, it’s pretty daunting for a man as far away from my character’s lived experience as I was at the beginning.
“But Jane [Campion] and Tanya [Seghatchian] and everyone in the production were very secure that I get there, but said, anything you feel insecure about we’ll help you with and so I gave them a list which was endless.
“I went to a place in Montana, I went to stay with the real deal, a man and his wife, Randy and Jen, who live on the Prairie not far from the Rocky Mountains and I learned to braid, I learned to treat hide, I learned to cut it and bevel it and just get it straightened, soak it and stretch it and then braid it and he’s a master at that and he starts for rope all around the world, from all around the world.
“He also flies around the world doing horse clinics, so he’s a masterful rider and he’s lived the life of a cowboy his entire existence, so that was an amazing person to be with”
The EE BAFTA Film Awards will take place on 13 March at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Source: IconInsider.com

Zoe Kravitz reflects on ‘easy’ Catwoman decision

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Zoe Kravitz’s decision to play Catwoman was “very easy”.
The 33-year-old actress appears opposite Robert Pattinson – who is taking on the role of the Caped Crusader himself – in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ blockbuster, and the ‘Big Little Lies’ star admitted she didn’t hesitate to sign on to portray the iconic comic book character..
On ‘The Kyle and Jackie O Show’ podcast, she said: “It’s Catwoman. They call, they say, ‘Catwoman?’ You say yes. It’s really quite an easy choice.”
The actress also revealed that she was “blown away” by Matt Reeves’ vision for the film.
She added: “I met Matt, the director, and was blown away by his vision, and I read the script and was really impressed by that, and it really felt different than other superhero movies or Batman films that I’d seen. It was a very easy decision.”
And Zoe explained her love for the script goes far beyond the well-known superhero characters.
She explained: “I think you could take away the Batman/Catwoman idea and the movie still works on its own. That’s huge.”
Meanwhile, the actress previously admitted she felt that taking on the role was appropriate as she has always “identified” with felines in real life.
She said: “I’ve always identified with cats. I am a dog person because they’re easier to deal with but I am a cat myself in terms of my personality.”
However, she did confess that she was disappointed not to get the chance to ride in the Batmobile.
Zoe explained: “I had no scenes in the Batmobile, so hopefully next time.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Susanna Reid: Piers Morgan is ‘really important’ to me

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Susanna Reid has insisted Piers Morgan is still a “really important person” in her life.
The presenters’ ‘Good Morning Britain’ partnership ended a year ago when Piers left the show following a row over comments he’d made about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but the pair have remained good friends and Susanna thinks her pal played a huge part in making the show what it is today.
She told Fabulous magazine: “We stay in touch and he’s a really important person in my life. We had such an amazing time and that was an incredible dynamic.
“He really put his imprint on the programme and it was very powerful. I remember early on, the rows about the role of women and feminism, and those arguments felt like the big issue at the time, and then, of course, we moved on to Brexit and Trump.
“We went through some really difficult times together as a team and those were very powerful moments. And when it came to the lockdown, the pandemic and holding the government to account, he was just unrivalled at holding their feet to the fire, but then it ended. All presenting gigs come to an end at some point, don’t they? As they will for all of us. He’s a friend of mine and that won’t change.”
And the 51-year-old star thinks Piers has been an “influence” on her own work.
She explained: “I think it’s definitely the case [that I learnt from him]. Yes, I do feel that I am thicker skinned, more resilient, bolder, but with sensitivity.
“You grow as a presenter and whatever job you’re doing, and whoever you’re working with, you’ll probably pick up some of their things but also develop your own skills as well. You’re constantly looking around at the way that other people are doing interviews. Piers is one of the influences on the way that I operate, but there are many influences.”
Susanna thinks she has a huge “responsibility” as a female presenter and there are many other women on television that she thinks are impressive.
She said: “I do reflect on my responsibility as a woman on screen, and being strong but also embracing your femininity. When you’re in television news, you want to make television that matters.
“For a female presenter, that’s one of those things – that you can be strong enough and do the tough interviews.
“I was watching [BBC journalist] Sophie Raworth with the prime minister, being firm and pressing and not taking any of his deflection, just politely pressing on and showing her strength.
“And I was talking to a friend about Emily Maitlis’ interview with Prince Andrew, which is absolutely iconic in making news that mattered. There’s also Fiona Bruce who is on Question Time.
“Currently we have Kate [Garraway], who is playing the role of a carer as well as a loving wife in the toughest of circumstances, and reflecting the experience of huge numbers of women – and men –over the course of Covid. There are many topics that are being discussed in a way that didn’t used to be.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Oti Mabuse’s parents thought she’d made ‘worst decision’ in pursuing dance dream

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Oti Mabuse’s parents thought her decision to become a dancer was the “worst ever”.
The ‘Dancing On Ice’ judge admitted her mother and father were “absolutely against” her plans to quit her job to pursue her passion as they felt she should use her civil engineering degree to earn a solid living.
Appearing on Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’, Oti said: “They [my parents] were against it, absolutely against it.
“They were like, this is the worst decision ever. But I really, really wasn’t happy because being an engineer full time meant that I couldn’t dance.
“I didn’t feel like that was something that I was ready to give up at that point… it just didn’t sit right with my soul, and it didn’t sit right with my heart.”
The31-year-old dancer had been enrolled on the civil engineering course by her parents, who had applied without telling her, and although she loved “the maths and the science side of it and the idea of building something from scratch”, soon after graduation the South African beauty knew it wasn’t the path she wanted to take.
She remembered thinking: “I can’t do this, I can’t live my life unhappy… this can’t be it. This can’t be the journey that I have chosen for myself. I want more out of life.”
While Oti’s parents were against her pursuing her dreams, it was actually the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional’s mother, Dudu, who had introduced her daughter to dance by setting up a makeshift studio for her daughters and their friends.
Oti said: “She always loved it [dance]… she always wanted to wear those big ballroom dresses and have her hair done, but also in those years black people weren’t allowed to, they weren’t allowed to even be in the same room or the same dancefloor as white people.
“If she had lived in the UK, she probably would have been a West End star.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Matt Reeves plans to release bonus Batman scene

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Matt Reeves cut a scene from ‘The Batman’ of the titular character meeting Joker – but intends to release it soon.
The director shot footage where Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader snuck into Arkham Asylum to speak with one of the inmates but ultimately felt the ideas behind the moment were accomplished elsewhere so dropped the scene.
Matt explained how Batman went to Arkham in a bid to better understand the Riddler (Paul Dano) by meeting with Joker (Barry Keoghan).
He told The Hollywood Reporter: “And this guy says, ‘It’s almost our anniversary, isn’t it?’ You realise that they have a relationship, and that this guy obviously did something, and Batman somehow got him into Arkham.”
Batman tells Joker he wants to know how Riddler thinks, and Matt said his foe replied: “What do you mean, you want to know how he thinks? You guys think the same.”
He added: “What he’s really doing is getting into Batman’s head. And [Batman] is resisting this idea violently. And so that’s what that scene was. It was a scene to unsettle him.
“It wasn’t necessary, It was one of those scenes where, given how complex the narrative was, by taking it out, it kept the story moving in a way it needed to.”
Matt loved the “creepy, cool” scene and plans to share it with fans once enough people have seen ‘The Batman’.
He said: “It’s a really creepy, cool scene. That was the scene that was meant to introduce this guy and just to tease the audience to go like, ‘Oh my god, he’s here too? And he’s not yet the Joker — what’s this going to be?’ And then it seems so delicious in the story, since we’d already set him up, to have the end of the story, the completion of the Riddler arc, be that he was in a cell next to this guy.”
Although Barry appears as Joker in a brief scene towards the end of the movie, the director insisted that isn’t a tease for a sequel.
He said: “I never was trying to say like, ‘Hey, guess what, here’s the Joker. Next movie!’
“The idea was more to say, ‘Hey, look, if you think that trouble is going to go away in Gotham, you can forget it. It’s already here. And it’s already delicious.’
“It’s not an Easter egg scene. t’s not one of those end credits Marvel or DC scenes where it’s going, like, ‘Hey, here’s the next movie!’ In fact, I have no idea when or if we would return to that character in the movies.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Uma Thurman ‘fascinated’ by Arianna Huffington

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Uma Thurman is “fascinated” by Arianna Huffington.
The 51-year-old actress plays the Huffington Post founder in ‘Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber’ and she’s met Arianna herself a few times, while she’s always had a lot of respect for her.
She said: “I don’t know her well, but I know her enough to like her. I met her back when she was starting the Huff Post with some friends who were journalists and I had dinner at her house — that’s the first time I remember meeting her.”
The ‘Kill Bill’ star also revealed how deeply she studied Arianna’s mannerisms, in addition to her accent, in order to portray her in the show.
She added: “I spent many hundreds of hours listening to her audio, listening to her being interviewed, listening to her speak both when she was being presentational … and also in discourse to try to get a sense of how her wit and how her mind attacked a topic, and I found her to be absolutely fascinating…
“She’s been parodied by some of the most brilliant comedians who also got the accent right. So it was kind of a matter of wanting to keep her thought process and her sense of humor. She was a masterful debater. She attacks every subject the way a debater can.”
When asked about the sexual chemistry between her character and Travis Kalanick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), she referred to both characters as “unicorns”.
On ‘The Jess Cagle Podcast,’ Uma said: “I think they’re both highly charismatic brilliant people, and that makes them unicorns … When you see two unicorns, you’d think that they’d like each other.
“But they’re both unique, charismatic, dynamic, brilliant, different people. I don’t know [Travis], but I know [Arianna] a little bit, and I have a lot of respect for her.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Stef Reid exits Dancing On Ice

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Stef Reid has been voted off ‘Dancing On Ice’.
The 37-year-old Paralympian has become the seventh celebrity to leave the ITV show, after she found herself in the skate-off against Kye Whyte and his partner Tippy Packard.
After her exit was announced, Stef said: “I’ve loved every moment. It’s not something that I ever thought I’d be able to do.”
Stef also thanked her professional partner, Andy Buchanan, for his efforts over the last few weeks.
She told him: “I can’t thank you enough.”
The result means Kye progresses to the semi-final stage, where he’ll compete against Brendan Cole, Kimberly Wyatt, Connor Ball and Regan Gascoigne.
Phillip Schofield also confirmed there will be a double elimination on next week’s show, with three celebrities advancing to the final later this month.
Meanwhile, Stef previously revealed she felt grateful for the opportunity to appear on ‘Dancing On Ice’.
The Paralympian lost her right foot in a boating accident at the age of 16, and despite having her right leg amputated below the knee, it hasn’t stopped her from following her dreams.
She previously said: “It’s been amazing. I’m so fortunate that my whole life, I have had access and funds … prosthetic technology is amazing.
“I mean, I have woken up every day and always felt like I could do anything I wanted to do because I have legs to do it. I have a walking leg, a running leg, a high-heel leg, I have a skating leg.
“I know that’s not everyone’s scenario around the world. That, I feel really grateful for.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Ray Quinn is set to become a dad again

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Ray Quinn and his fiancee Emily Ashleigh are having a baby.
The former ‘Hollyoaks’ star and his soon-to-be-wife made a theatrical video to announce the pregnancy news.
The pair filmed the clip at St. Helens Theatre Royal in Warrington.
The blonde beauty is seen strutting towards Ray, 33, down the aisle in a white slip dress before the pair reach out to hold hands and the actor twirls his partner on stage. He then cradles her bonny bump and shows off the scan.
The clip ends with the words “coming soon” appearing on the screen.
He captioned the post: “Time to tell the world..”
The loved-up pair – who already have children from previous relationships – got engaged in January 2020.
Ray took to Instagram to reveal his significant other accepted his proposal after he popped the question.
He wrote at the time: “Welcome to the family my Queen #shesaidyes (sic)”
Emily admitted it has been an “indescribable” experience falling in love with Ray – who portrayed Jonny Baxter on the Channel 4 soap from November 2018 to November 2019.
She wrote: “The most beautiful things are not seen or heard, but felt …. Falling in love with you is just indescribable…..Forever it is (sic)”
Ray has nine-year-old son Harry with his ex-wife Emma Stephens, while Emily has a son called Lucien.
The former ‘Brookside’ star previously admitted he believes the pair’s romance was “fate”.
Speaking of finding love again in 2017, the former ‘X Factor’ star said: “She’s a school teacher and we made it official last June. It was fate.
“I believe whatever’s meant for you won’t pass you by. I can’t stand dating apps. A text message or a picture on Tinder is absolutely pointless.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Gregg Wallace wants to go on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Gregg Wallace wants to take part in ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’.
The ‘MasterChef’ judge is open to the idea of taking part in the tough reality show now that it is set to return to Australia following a two-year stint in Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic and sees eating insects as a small price to pay for getting to spend time in the sun and picking up a fee for doing so.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: “I would do ‘I’m A Celebrity’ but they’d have to pay me enough.
“I’d have to talk to my agent, but we can come up with a number.
“I haven’t been anywhere for two years. I’d love to go somewhere, even if I do have to eat locusts.
“Sleeping bag out in the forest? I would love it.”
This week is Food Waste Action Week, which aims to highlight the fact UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food a year, and the former greengrocer urged people to think more about their meals to help the environment, as well as calling for better food education in schools.
He said: “We all want to stop damaging the environment and none of us are aware how much wasting food is impacting on the environment.
“When I talk to people, many believe it’s the responsibility of multinational corporations, but actually it’s us.
“We want people power and we can save the planet. Properly take time to plan your meals for the week.
“We’ve deliberately de-skilled the population since the end of World War Two.
“Have you heard we’re all cash rich but time poor? Are we b*******. I am giving you and everybody else a blueprint for saving the planet but you don’t have time? Does that suit someone who used to sell you a carrot for a ha’penny, who now sells you a chopped-up ­carrot for £2.50?
“We need to reintroduce cookery back into schools for an hour a week for the ages between five to 16.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Kristen Stewart was ‘astounded’ to receive Oscar nomination

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Kristen Stewart was “truly astounded” to be nominated for an Oscar this year.
The 31-year-old actress’ portrayal of the late Princess Diana in ‘Spencer’ has earned her a place on the Best Actress shortlist alongside Olivia Colman (‘The Lost Daughter’), Nicole Kidman (‘Being the Ricardos’), Jessica Chastain (‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’), and Penelope Cruz (‘Parallel Mothers’) at the upcoming Academy Awards, and she admitted the news came as a big surprise.
Speaking at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Sunday (06.03.22), Kristen – who was honorary chair of the gala – told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “I am truly astounded and unbelievably moved and touched and just stunned. I love this movie.
“I just saw the director of ‘Spencer’ [Pablo Larraín] for the first time since we found out about the nomination, and just seeing the look on his face, seeing all the work we’ve put into this just evident in his smile, it made me so happy.”
But even if she hadn’t received her first Oscar nomination, Kristen has still had a “really stunning” experience during awards season because the movie, and her performance in particular, has received a lot of praise.
She said: “I’ve never even gotten kinda close. So this experience alone, even without the nomination, would have been really stunning.”
The ‘Twilight’ actress hailed attending the Film Independent Spirit Awards a “true honour”.
She said: ‘I love independent movies, I’ve made them my whole life, so I find it a true, true honour to be here.”
When the Oscar nominations were first announced last month, Kristen admitted she was “bowled over” to be recognised alongside her “incredible” fellow actresses.
She said in a statement: “WOW I wish Pablo and I were in the same country today. I wish I could see his face.
“I am speechless and humbled this morning. I am bowled over by this. I never thought in a thousand years I’d be in the company of these four incredible women.
“I would pay to make movies. I would make them if it was illegal. This is dream state, to share on this level.”
The Academy Awards take place on 27 March.

Source: IconInsider.com

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter wins big at Independent Spirit Awards 2022

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Lost Daughter’ was among the big winners at the Film Independent Spirit Awards 2022.
The 44-year-old star’s directional debut, an adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel of the same name, took home Best Feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the prestigious ceremony at Santa Monica Pier on Sunday night (06.03.22).
A teary Maggie said in her speech: “You were the first people to tell me I was a director.
“Thank you to Netflix – I can’t even believe this – for your support. Nobody ever makes their first movie and comes out loving their financiers.
“I love independent film.
“I grew up making independent film.”
Japanese drama ‘Drive My Car’, co-written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, scooped Best International Film.
Best Female Lead went to Taylour Paige for her titular role as a Detroit waitress in the American black comedy crime film ‘Zola’, while the flick also won Best Editing.
Simon Rex won the Male Lead accolade for his turn as washed-up porn star Mikey Saber in the comedy-drama ‘Red Rocket’.
Andrew Garfield presented the special honour of the night, the Robert Altman Award, to pal Fran Kranz for his directional debut ‘Mass’.
The 38-year-old actor – who starred alongside Fran in the Broadway show ‘Death of a Salesman’ in 2012 – said: “The Robert Altman Award is named after a legendary filmmaker held in the highest esteem by actors because of the rich performances that populated in his movies. Every ensemble piece that follows owes him a great debt.”
The ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ star said he was “incredibly impressed with what he’s done with this film, which happens to be his directorial debut, which is insane.”
Fran began his speech by sharing how inspired he was by Andrew.
He said: “I thought about that time often while making this movie.”
Receiving the honour – which is awarded to the director, casting director, and ensemble cast of films each year in memory of the legendary late filmmaker – is a full-circle moment for Fran, who as a boy was “kicked out” of the premiere of Altman’s ‘Shortcuts’ movie by his parents.
The 40-year-old filmmaker continued: “I was kicked out of the Venice Film Festival’s premiere of Robert Altman’s ‘Shortcuts’. I was 12 years old, and my family was on vacation in Italy … and right before the lights went down they were like, ‘This is a kid, he can’t watch this.’
“I always wondered, who is this Robert Altman guy and what could’ve possibly been in that movie? … I saw it and I know exactly why they kicked me out of there. I saw new definition and depth to the ideas behind acting and ensemble. I saw how different experiences can somehow still be shared human experience.
“I confirmed my suspicion that Robert Altman and his films were among the gold standard of what we were all trying to do here.”
On what he hoped to achieve with the moving flick about grief, he added: “It’s not an easy film to celebrate. I wanted to demand a new kind of attention on the pain grief built around this country but also the need to heal and present a new way of looking at one another, seeing one another, speaking to another and maybe find some state of grace in one another.”
Husband-and-wife comedy duo Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally hosted the ceremony.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards Film winners:

Robert Altman Award
‘Mass’

Best Supporting Female
Ruth Negga, ‘Passing’

Best Screenplay
Maggie Gyllenhaal, ‘The Lost Daughter’

Best Editing
Joi McMillon, ‘Zola’

Best First Feature
‘7 Days’

Best First Screenplay
Michael Sarnoski, ‘Pig’

Best Documentary
‘Summer of Soul’

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
‘Shiva Baby’

Best Supporting Male
Troy Kotsur, ‘CODA’

Best Feature
‘A Chiara’

Best Director
Maggie Gyllenhaal, ‘The Lost Daughter’

Best Male Lead
Simon Rex, ‘Red Rocket’

Best Female Lead
Taylour Paige, ‘Zola’

Best Cinematography
Eduard Grau, ‘Passing’

Best International Film
‘Drive My Car’

Producers Award
Lizzie Shapiro

Someone to Watch Award
Alex Camilleri, ‘Luzzu’

The Truer Than Fiction Award
Jessica Beshir, ‘Faya Dayi’

Source: IconInsider.com

Barry Jenkins is relaxed about directing Lion King prequel

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

OHMYGOSSIP — Barry Jenkins has described ‘The Lion King’ prequel as a passion project.
The 42-year-old director is helming a prequel to the CGI remake of the classic Disney movie, which will tell the story of the origins of the character Mufasa, and admits the project is special as he grew up as a fan of the film.
Barry told Variety: “I grew up with these characters, they mean so much to me.
“I think the work that Jeff Nathanson, the writer, did and going back into really helping children and anyone who ever loved this property understand what it takes. Kings aren’t just born, they aren’t just made. They have to become who they are through a series of events that a lot of people can relate to.
“So, in that standpoint, it fits very well with everything else I’ve done. So I feel no pressure, I just want to do a good job.”
The ‘Moonlight’ filmmaker previously revealed that he made the decision to helm the family flick after being blown away by the quality of Nathanson’s script.
Barry recalled: “I read the script and about 40 pages in, I turned to Lulu (Wang) and I said, ‘Holy s***, this is good.’
“And as I kept reading, I got further away from the side of my brain that said, ‘Oh, a filmmaker like you doesn’t make a film like this,’ and allowed myself to get to the place where these characters, this story, is amazing.”
Jenkins also revealed that he was prepared to make a dramatic shift from his previous movies to helm the project.
He explained: “What really pushed me across the line was James (Laxton), my DP, said, ‘You know what? There’s something really interesting in this mode of filmmaking that we haven’t done and that not many people have done.’
“That was when I went back to the powers that be and said, ‘I would love to do this, but I’ve got to be able to do what I do.’ And they said yes!”

Source: IconInsider.com

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