Tag: news

Olivia Colman to play ‘femme fatal’ in an episode of The Simpsons

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
Credit to source

She’s flying high in her career after winning a Best Actress Oscar in February, but Olivia Colmanhas taken an unexpected turn after signing up to star in one of TV’s longest-running shows – The Simpsons! That’s right, Olivia is branching into animation and will lend her voice to a “femme fatal” who only has eyes for the one-and-only Homer Simpson. Her guest-starring role has been lauded as “one of the best guest appearances in Simpson’s history”, and considering the long list of celebrity cameos that have appeared before her, that is no easy feat.

The actress’ role in the American sitcom’s 31st series was announced on Twitter by the show’s executive producer James L. Brooks on Friday. He excitedly wrote: “Just this second came from recording one of the best guest appearances in Simpson’s history. No kidding, I am flying. Olivia Coleman playing the most down-home femme fatal ever who attracts every man she’s ever met but falls hard, harder than she ever imagined, for Homer Simpson.” How amazing does this sound?

But Olivia is not the only big-name show bosses have brought on board – although it seems the others have a lot to live up to judging by James’ reaction to Olivia. John Legend, Chrissy Teigan, and Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa are all set to make an appearance. “He is the celebrity that shows up and talks about this legend of this saint who was ground up and martyred and became the origin of modern-day pistachio ice cream.” Producer Al Jean said of Jason’s cameo. “He tells this very gruesome story – and then Patty and Selma want him to sign their boobs and he runs away.”

Aside from seducing Homer Simpson, Olivia has been busy portraying Queen Elizabeth in hit Netflix show The Crown, taking over from Claire Foy, which she recently revealed was “horrendous”. She said: “Everyone loves Claire Foy, so I have got the worst job in the world at the moment.”

Source: hellomagazine.com – Olivia Colman to play ‘femme fatal’ in an episode of The Simpsons

Olivia Colman to receive inaugural Raindance Film Festival Icon Award

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
Credit to source

Olivia Colman will be the first recipient of the Raindance Icon Award, ahead of this year’s Raindance Film Festival (September 18-29).

Colman, whose role as Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite won her best actress prizes at the Oscars, Baftas, Golden Globes and Bifasamong others, will accept the award in person at a reception in London on August 20 at the May Fair Hotel.

The Icon award is adapted from the Raindance Auteur award, a honourary prize previously given by the festival to directors Terry Gilliam, Guy Ritchie and Ken Loach.

The award has been renamed to provide a broader mandate to honour and celebrate icons of independent film.

Colman’s history with Raindance includes being a jury member in 2016, and record total of four acting awards at the Bifas, the ceremony set up by Raindance in 1998.

The full Raindance programme for 2019 will be announced in the morning on August 20, prior to the presentation in the evening.

Source: screendaily.com – Olivia Colman to receive inaugural Raindance Film Festival Icon Award (exclusive)

Olivia Colman and Suranne Jones turn popstar for special Children In Need covers album Got It Covered

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
credit to source

Olivia Colman, Suranne Jones and Helena Bonham Carter are just some of the A-list actors who will appear on a Children In Need covers album.

The album, Children In Need: Got It Covered, will see the stars put their own spin on their popular songs for a good cause.

A 60-minute programme will follow the recording process as the stars get vocal training from renowned coach Mark De-Lisser, who will help the stars perfectly put their spin on their bespoke tracks.

The documentary will also shine a light on the projects funded by Children In Need, and see some of the actors involved visiting projects to see first-hand how they are making a difference to young lives just by lending their voice.

British actors David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Adrian Lester, Luke Evans, Jim Broadbent, Shaun Dooley and Himesh Patel will also make appearances on the album.

Children In Need: Got It Covered is set to be released later in the year.

Tommy Nagra, Director of Content at BBC Children in Need, said: ‘We are thrilled that this amazing line-up of acting talent are giving up their time to come together and create something quite unique for this year’s BBC Children in Need appeal.

‘Their musical efforts will help make a difference to the thousands of disadvantaged children and young people we support across the UK and leave a lasting impact beyond this TV special. A huge thanks to everyone involved.’

Bonham Carter has previously shown her vocal skills in the Oscar-winning big screen musical Les Miserables in 2012, while Evans recently starred in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast as Gaston.

Source: metro.co.uk –

Olivia Colman and Suranne Jones turn popstar for special Children In Need covers album Got It Covered

source: metro.co.uk – children in need covers album



Olivia Colman and Griff Rhys Jones among those from the Anglia region named in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
Credit to source

Actor Olivia Colman and comedian-campaigner Griff Rhys Jones are among those from the Anglia region named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Olivia Colman, who was born in Norwich, said she was “totally thrilled” and “humbled” to be made a CBE for services to drama.

The Oscar-winner first found fame as Sophie, the girlfriend of David Mitchell’s neurotic Mark, in the British comedy Peep Show.

She said in a statement: “I’m totally thrilled, delighted and humbled to be in the company of these incredible people, most of whom have been nowhere near as visible as I have, but should be – and hopefully now will be. It’s such an honour.”

Her most anticipated role is yet to come, when she steps into the shoes of Queen Elizabeth II in the third series of The Crown as the lavish Netflix drama moves into the 1970s.

She will take over the part from Claire Foy and has said how difficult she has found it.

Born in Norwich in 1974, she studied at Cambridge and at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

She has been married to the actor and writer Ed Sinclair since 2001 and the couple have three children.

Source: itv.com – Olivia Colman and Griff Rhys Jones among those from the Anglia region named in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke and Olivia Colman to share stories in Last Christmas book

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly

We imagine Christmas with Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke and Olivia Colman would be a heartwarming riot of laughter, plenty of food and drink, and lots of excellent stories.

And now, thanks to a new book, we don’t have to imagine it anymore.

The trio, plus a host of other stars including Caitlin Moran, Sue Perkinsand Deborah Frances-White, are all contributing essays to Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases past – and hopes for future ones, a collection edited by Thompson and Greg Wise.

The book will tie in with the film Last Christmas, which has been inspired by Wham’s Christmas anthem of the same name, and is a love story combined with a message of tolerance and acceptance.

In the film, Kate (Clarke) takes on a job as an elf in a year-round Christmas Shop in London, one of a series of bad decisions in her life. However, when she meets Tom (Henry Golding), things start to change. The film is directed by Paul Feig, and the story was written by Thompson and Wise, with Thompson and artist Bryony Kimmings collaborating on the screenplay. The film will feature previously unreleased music by George Michael, who collaborated on the concept for the film before his death.

The book will be released just ahead of the film, and to warm your hearts even further, Thompson and Wise’s proceeds from its sale will go to two charities: Crisis and The Refugee Council.

Essays in the book will see actors, politicians, singers, charity workers, refugees and homeless people writing about what Christmas means to them, what past Christmases have been like, what they’d change, and what they feel Christmas should be, away from the consumerism, the John Lewis advert, and the Instagram posts.

Also contributing an essay are Andy Serkis, Bill Bailey, Kimmings, Emily Watson, Fergal Keane, Lyse Doucet, Feig, Phyllida Law, Richard Ayoade, Sophie Thompson, Stanley Tucci and Twiggy.

In one of the essays a Syrian refugee writes about his experiences and learning the customs of Christmases in a refugee camp and then in England living with an English couple. Ayoade’s essay is described by publisher Quercus as a “funny and poignant” piece about Christmas when he was a child.

Thompson and Wise will also write an essay each as well as the introduction to the book. They said: “We are witnessing a rise in homelessness in our country, as well as in the demonisation of migrants and refugees.

“There is a suspicion and fear of ‘The Other’ creeping into our nation’s dialogue, which has become front-and-centre during Brexit.

“Our hope is that the movie will strike a chord with everyone who watches it, and that the book will remind people of the importance of values such as kindness and generosity.”

The book will be published on 31 October, with the film released on 15 November.

Source: stylist.co.uk – Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke and Olivia Colman to share stories in Last Christmas book

FX Is Remaking Peep Show With Women

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly

If you’re unfamiliar with the long-running British comedy Peep Show, I’m sorry to say that you are living very wrongly. The show ran for an astounding nine seasons and launched the career of Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. Starz, Fox, and Spike have all attempted to re-create the magical inner-monologues of Mark and Jez for American audiences to no avail. But now, according to an essay in The Guardian by Sam Bain (one of the show’s original creators) we may finally be getting an American version. It won’t just be a straight remake, though. Bain’s essay was on the importance of diversity in comedy, and he’s announced that the American version will feature female losers in the lead roles instead of male ones “What would Peep Show have been like with women as the two leads?” he wrote. “It’s a great question – and it’s one I’ll shortly have the answer to, because there is a script in development for a US Peep Show with two female leads. It’s at FX Networks and it will be written by top comedy brain Karey Dornetto (Portlandia, Community).” This is so exciting, we might have to order four naan to celebrate.

Source: vulture.com – FX Is Remaking Peep Show With Women

Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman to star in film version of Florian Zeller’s The Father

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
Credit to source

Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman will star in the film adaptation of Florian Zeller’s award-winning play The Father, it is being reported.

The tragi-comic piece is about a man experiencing dementia, and is part of Zeller’s trilogy of plays about family (alongside The Mother and The Son). Hopkins will play the titular father, Andre, while Colman will play his daughter Anne.

The film version is expected to start shooting in the UK later this year, with Zeller himself on board to direct the piece (in what will be his directorial debut) with Christopher Hampton adapting the screenplay.

First running in France in 2012, the English adaptation of Zeller’s play first premiered at the Ustinov Studio in 2014, with the role of the father played by Kenneth Cranham. The show went on to transfer to the West End, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award and Cranham won the award for Best Actor in a Play.

It later had its American premiere in 2016, where it was nominated for Best New Play and star Frank Langella won the Tony Award for Best Actor.

A release date for the film version of The Father is to be confirmed.

Source: whatsonstage.com – Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman to star in film version of Florian Zeller’s The Father

Olivia Colman in talks to play chain-smoking kleptomaniac in new film Gypsy Boy

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly
Credit to source

Olivia Colman is in talks to play a chain-smoking kleptomaniac in new film Gypsy Boy.

Colman, 54, who won an Oscar for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, may play shoplifter Aunt Minnie in an adaptation of Mikey Walsh’s bestselling memoir.

Film producer Kevin Loader said: “There definitely have been conversations and we would be ­absolutely thrilled if Olivia was available.”

The book follows Mikey’s life in a Romany community and his struggles with his abusive, bare-knuckle boxer father, who cannot accept that his son is gay.

Filming is due to start in autumn, but there are scheduling conflicts with the fourth season of The Crown, in which Colman is to play the Queen.

In February the Mirror reported how Olivia Colman melted hearts when she gave an adorable Oscars speech after she bagged the award for Best Actress for her role in The Favourite.

But amid all the hilarity of sticking her tongue out at the Academy when they tried to hurry her up and describing her win as “hilarious” there was a very inspirational message at the heart of Olivia’s speech.

The 45-year-old revealed how she never gave up hope, even when she had to work as a cleaner to make ends meet.

Olivia told the Oscars audience: “Any little girl who’s practising her speech on the telly, you never know!

“I used to work as a cleaner, I loved that job but I did spend quite a lot of time imagining this.”

Source: mirror.co.uk – Olivia Colman in talks to play chain-smoking kleptomaniac in new film Gypsy Boy

Olivia Colman among alumni celebrated at Gresham’s School exhibition

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly

Credit to source

The Inventing the Future Exhibition runs from Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, October 14 and is a free exhibition celebrating the accomplishments of its 20th century students.

The school, located in Holt, North Norfolk, was founded in 1555 and after beginning life as a small grammar school underwent a cultural revolution in the early 1900s, tripling the pupils it sent to Oxbridge and championing modern languages, literature and science.

Perhaps most notable of the alumni is the inventor James Dyson who attended the school from 1956 to 1965 and some of his early vacuums will be on display.

Other artefacts include the 1934 original manuscript The Liberal Fascist from the poet WH Auden about his thoughts on education at Gresham’s and actress Olivia Colman’s Golden Globe statuette which she won for her role in The Night Manager in 2017.

Works from Greshamians such as poet Stephen Spender and his artist brother Humphrey, composer Benjamin Britten and Gerald Holtom, the artist who created the famous symbol of international peace, will also be on display.

Gresham’s educated Christopher Cockerell, who invented the hovercraft using two empty coffee tins and a vacuum cleaner fan, is represented in the exhibition alongside Frank Perkins who developed the diesel engine.

In the field of arts and culture the school provided the springboard for Auden, Spender, Britten and Nicholson.

More than 15 key artworks by the leading British painter Ben Nicholson are also on show.

Douglas Robb, headmaster of Gresham’s School, said: “Gresham’s is an historic and vibrant co-educational school.

“We pride ourselves that a Gresham’s education enables young people to develop in a huge variety of areas, the school has a tradition of producing outstanding achievers in all walks of life, including architects, diplomats, engineers, musicians, actors and sports men and women and much more.

“We believe that this celebration of some of our greatest alumni will inspire future generations to come to study and thrive here.”

In 1903 Gresham’s School moved from its ageing premises at the Old School House in the centre of Holt to a greenfield location on the outskirts with state-of-the-art science labs and purpose-built boarding houses.

Over two decades the school roll went from 40 pupils to 240 and a ‘cultural revolution’ occurred, though more than 100 pupils and staff lost their lives in World War I.

Simon Kinder, Gresham’s School’s head of history, said: “The small provincial grammar school emerged at the dawn of the Twentieth Century as one of the most progressive, creative and innovative public schools in Britain and it was within this vibrant educational crucible that the pupils who were to go on to invent the future were to be shaped.”

In the world of journalism and broadcasting the school boasts the BBC’s first Director General, Lord Reith, Cecil Graves, another Director General, and Philip Pembroke-Stevens who was foreign correspondent for the Express and Telegraph.

Pembroke-Stevens was expelled from Germany for his critical reporting of Nazism in 1934 and later shot reporting on Japanese invasion of China in 1937.

Inventing The Future (Cromer Road, Holt, NR25 6EA) runs from Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, October 14 from 9am to 5pm with free entry.

To find out more information on the exhibition and to attend one of the free talks visit the website.

Source: edp24.co.uk – Olivia Colman among the alumni celebrated at Gresham’s School exhibition

 

Olivia Colman Named Best Actress At Venice Film Festival For Role In ‘The Favourite’

Posted on by BeverleyButterfly

Picture shows Olivia Colman with short hair, stood in front of a red background holding her best actress trophy
(Photo by Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage)

Olivia Colman has won one of the highest accolades of her career so far, after being named best actress at the Venice Film Festival.

The British actress bagged the award for her performance as an ailing Queen Anne in the upcoming period drama ‘The Favourite’ in which she stars opposite Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.

The film tells the story of the rivalry between two of Queen Anne’s cousins, both bidding to be considered her “favourite”, and also stars British actors Nicholas Hoult and Mark Gatiss.

So far, critics have lauded ‘The Favourite’, particularly Olivia’s performance, as well as director Yorgos Lanthimos, who previously worked with the actress in ‘The Lobster’.

Olivia had stiff competition for the best actress award, particularly from Lady Gaga, whose performance in ‘A Star Is Born’ – which also debuted at the festival– has also won near-unanimous praise from critics.

It was a big night for ‘The Favourite’, which also scored the Grand Jury Prize, one of the Venice Film Festival’s biggest honours, though the top award went to Alfonso Cuarón’s family drama ‘Roma’.

Olivia is currently gearing up for another regal role, picking up where Claire Foy left off in the Netflix drama ‘The Crown’, in which she’s to play Queen Elizabeth II in middle age, opposite Tobias Menzies’ Prince Philip.

Initially making a name for herself in roles in British comedies like ‘The Office’, ‘Peep Show’ and ‘Black Books’, Olivia is now better known for her drama performances including ‘Broadchurch’, ‘The Night Manager’ and the upcoming ‘Les Misérables’ remake, in which she’ll play Madame Thénardier.

Last year, she also joined the all-star cast of Kenneth Branagh’s new take on ‘Murder On The Orient Express’, which also featured the likes of Dame Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Derek Jacobi and Branagh himself.

‘The Favourite’ is due for release in the UK in January 2019, but will be showcased at the upcoming BFI London Film Festival.

Source: huffingtonpost.co.uk – Olivia Colman Named Best Actress At Venice Film Festival For Role In ‘The Favourite’