Cinema of the United Kingdom

Is Penelope Cruz the next Bond Girl?

Agencia EFEJune 5, 2013 16:40

Entertainment Desk, Jun 3 (EFE).- Penelope Cruz will be the oldest actress to play a "Bond Girl," according to Britain's Daily Mail, but the Spanish beauty's representatives in Madrid refused to either confirm or deny the rumors. The 39-year-old Cruz, who is pregnant with her second child, will co-star with Daniel Craig in the 24th Bond film, which will be directed by Sam Mendes. "The producers have tried to get Penelope before, but she has never been available because of other commitments," a source told the British newspaper.

Forest Whitaker in talks to play Martin Luther King Jr. in Paul Greengrass' 'Memphis'

Thomson ReutersMay 30, 2013 21:59

By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - With a long awards season on the horizon, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker may be adding another prestige project to his plate, as he's in talks to play Martin Luther King Jr. in writer-director Paul Greengrass' drama "Memphis," an individual familiar with the long-gestating project has told TheWrap.

Behind Cannes glamour, tougher times for European movies

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 09:05

Europe's top film festival opens in Cannes on Wednesday to its annual show of glitz and popping champagne corks, but for many in the continent's movie business, times are tough and likely to get tougher still. The financial crisis that erupted in 2008 is now biting hard into state and regional subsidies and TV programming budgets that are a key support for film-making. Added to that in some countries is the problem of rampant piracy, as people snub a trip to the cinema and instead download their films off the Internet.

Keira Knightley marries in south of France

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 12:45

British actress Keira Knightley married singer James Righton in a discreet ceremony in the southern French village of Mazan on Saturday, according to the mayor. Mayor Aime Navello told AFP the small civil ceremony was attended by "about 15 people", mostly family. The parents of the 28-year-old actress, known for her role in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, own a house in Mazan, a town of about 5,000 people near the medieval town of Avignon in Provence. Her husband is part of the band The Klaxons.

Star Wars actor Richard LeParmentier dies at 66

Thomson ReutersApril 17, 2013 07:15

LONDON (Reuters) - Actor Richard LeParmentier, best known as the commander in "Star Wars" who Darth Vader nearly choked to death for his "lack of faith" in the Force, has died aged 66, his family said. LeParmentier appeared in more than 50 films and TV shows but is remembered for playing Death Star commander Admiral Motti in the 1977 film "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" in which Darth Vader chokes him using the invisible "Force".

Queen honoured with Bafta, and Bond accolade

Agence France-PresseApril 4, 2013 17:15

British actor Kenneth Branagh on Thursday presented Queen Elizabeth II with an honorary Bafta in recognition her support of British film and television. The Harry Potter star handed over the award at a reception held in Windsor Castle, the Queen's west London home. Chairman of Bafta John Willis paid tribute to the monarch in front of a star-studded audience.

Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies aged 65

Agence France-PresseMarch 29, 2013 10:00

British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for his roles as Harry Potter's uncle and in the cult film "Withnail & I", has died aged 65, his agent said on Friday. The portly star of stage and screen, one of Britain's best loved character actors, died on Thursday from complications following heart surgery, Simon Beresford said. Griffiths will be forever remembered as Uncle Monty by fans of cult classic "Withnail & I", although he reached his biggest audience as Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films.

Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies after surgery

Thomson ReutersMarch 29, 2013 09:30

LONDON (Reuters) - British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for his roles in 'Withnail and I' and the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 65 after complications following heart surgery, his agent said on Friday. Griffiths spent almost four decades in radio, film, on television and on stage, and received some of his industry's top awards for his role in Alan Bennett's play "The History Boys". The portly actor filled the screen as the lascivious Uncle Monty in the cult 1987 film 'Withnail and I'.

Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies aged 65

Agence France-PresseMarch 29, 2013 08:45

From London with love: Bond show in Shanghai

Agence France-PresseMarch 28, 2013 05:30

An exhibition on fictional British spy James Bond opened in Shanghai Thursday, just weeks after the Communist government's censors cut parts of the latest film in the franchise, "Skyfall". But Neil McConnon, lead curator of "Designing 007 -- Fifty Years of Bond Style" said there had been no censorship of the show, organised by London's Barbican. "We certainly didn't edit at all for a Chinese audience," he told AFP. "We have encountered censorship before in some exhibitions, but not in this exhibition."