Movies
Movies
Octavia Spencer is happy there are roles for "sexy" and "chubby" actresses in Hollywood.
The 44-year-old 'Get On Up' actress claims that her role as Aunt Honey in the James Brown biopic proves there is a place for plus-sized women in the film industry.
Recalling a conversation she had with the film's director Tate Taylor, she said: "He suggested I play Honey, saying that she was kinda sexy with an edge. I told him: 'You had me at sexy!'
"It also felt good to know that there's still a few interesting roles out there for a chubby, hot [actress]."
Octavia - who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Minny in the 2011 film 'The Help' - also revealed that she has found it easier to find work since turning 40.
She told The Independent newspaper: "It took me 15 years to become an overnight success. I think for a lot of character actors, a lot of us hit our stride when we turn 40 and, if you're an ingenue, well there's only a small window when you can [be an] ingenue, after that you can't fake it. The shelf life of a character actor is much longer and you do have the ability to be a late bloomer."
Octavia Spencer says Hollywood has roles for ‘chubby’ actresses
Octavia Spencer is happy there are roles for "sexy" and "chubby" actresses in Hollywood.
The 44-year-old 'Get On Up' actress claims that her role as Aunt Honey in the James Brown biopic proves there is a place for plus-sized women in the film industry.
Recalling a conversation she had with the film's director Tate Taylor, she said: "He suggested I play Honey, saying that she was kinda sexy with an edge. I told him: 'You had me at sexy!'
"It also felt good to know that there's still a few interesting roles out there for a chubby, hot [actress]."
Octavia - who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Minny in the 2011 film 'The Help' - also revealed that she has found it easier to find work since turning 40.
She told The Independent newspaper: "It took me 15 years to become an overnight success. I think for a lot of character actors, a lot of us hit our stride when we turn 40 and, if you're an ingenue, well there's only a small window when you can [be an] ingenue, after that you can't fake it. The shelf life of a character actor is much longer and you do have the ability to be a late bloomer."
Movies
Carey Mulligan gained weight while on a "hunger-strike diet".
The 29-year-old actress wanted her portrayal of suffragette Maud in 'Suffragette' to seem realistic so cut out sugar and other fatty foods - but realised the eating plan she made for herself was "complete b*****s" as some of her snacks were still calorific.
Speaking to the film's writer, Abi Morgan, she said: "You remember my whole 'hunger-strike diet' on 'Suffragette?'
"The idea was to make me look kind of malnourished, but not in a serious way, it was more of a psychological thing. Actually, it did make me feel more stoic.
"But it turned out to be complete b*****s. I gained weight. Even though I had no sugar or fruit or any of those things, I was told I could have nuts. So I ate massive packets of nuts every day.
"I never weigh myself, but I did weigh myself before and after, just to see, and I gained three kilos and all of my trousers didn't fit."
Carey always tries to be in the right physical shape for the characters she plays, and even though she stripped for her role in 'Shame', she admits she "actively" ate whatever she wanted and "drank loads" of alcohol.
She added to Harper's Bazaar magazine: "For 'Far From the Madding Crowd', the character is a country lass, so I wanted to be pretty strong, and I spent the entire film running up and down hills. I've got a farm, so I'm used to that. But I wanted to be someone who could lift a hay bale. And they're very heavy. So I liked going to the gym for that.
"But for 'Shame' I actively ate whatever I wanted to, drank loads and looked like hell. And that was the film I decided to take all my clothes off in."
Carey Mulligan gained weight on diet
Carey Mulligan gained weight while on a "hunger-strike diet".
The 29-year-old actress wanted her portrayal of suffragette Maud in 'Suffragette' to seem realistic so cut out sugar and other fatty foods - but realised the eating plan she made for herself was "complete b*****s" as some of her snacks were still calorific.
Speaking to the film's writer, Abi Morgan, she said: "You remember my whole 'hunger-strike diet' on 'Suffragette?'
"The idea was to make me look kind of malnourished, but not in a serious way, it was more of a psychological thing. Actually, it did make me feel more stoic.
"But it turned out to be complete b*****s. I gained weight. Even though I had no sugar or fruit or any of those things, I was told I could have nuts. So I ate massive packets of nuts every day.
"I never weigh myself, but I did weigh myself before and after, just to see, and I gained three kilos and all of my trousers didn't fit."
Carey always tries to be in the right physical shape for the characters she plays, and even though she stripped for her role in 'Shame', she admits she "actively" ate whatever she wanted and "drank loads" of alcohol.
She added to Harper's Bazaar magazine: "For 'Far From the Madding Crowd', the character is a country lass, so I wanted to be pretty strong, and I spent the entire film running up and down hills. I've got a farm, so I'm used to that. But I wanted to be someone who could lift a hay bale. And they're very heavy. So I liked going to the gym for that.
"But for 'Shame' I actively ate whatever I wanted to, drank loads and looked like hell. And that was the film I decided to take all my clothes off in."
Movies
Gemma Arterton found it "weird" playing Idris Elba's wife.
The 28-year-old beauty stars alongside the 42-year-old actor in 'A Hundred Streets' and admits their friendship made playing a married couple raising children seem a bit peculiar.
She said: "Idris and I are good mates - so it was weird to play husband and wife, especially when he'd play husband and wife, especially when he'd point to the young actors playing our children and say, 'That's what our kids would look like, Gem.' "
Away from her acting work, the 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' actress has set up a production company with her friend and they are hoping to create more opportunities for women through the new venture.
Explaining how they want to establish strong, complex female roles, she told Britain's Glamour magazine: "Not just in films - but in TV and theatre too. And we want to work with female writers, directors, camera operators - there are just so few.
"It's early days, but watch this space."
Gemma recently made her stage musical debut as Rita O'Grady in 'Made in Dagenham' on London's West End and recently admitted she took on the singing role in a new production so she wouldn't be compared with anyone who had had the role before.
She said: "I've always wanted to do a musical. Always. I sang when I was younger and that went out of the window when I went to drama school.
"I've been offered a few musicals before but it just didn't feel right. I wanted to do something that nobody else had sung yet. I just don't want to be compared to somebody who has sung it better. I've not got the most amazing voice but I don't think Rita would have either."
Gemma Arterton found screen marriage weird
Gemma Arterton found it "weird" playing Idris Elba's wife.
The 28-year-old beauty stars alongside the 42-year-old actor in 'A Hundred Streets' and admits their friendship made playing a married couple raising children seem a bit peculiar.
She said: "Idris and I are good mates - so it was weird to play husband and wife, especially when he'd play husband and wife, especially when he'd point to the young actors playing our children and say, 'That's what our kids would look like, Gem.' "
Away from her acting work, the 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' actress has set up a production company with her friend and they are hoping to create more opportunities for women through the new venture.
Explaining how they want to establish strong, complex female roles, she told Britain's Glamour magazine: "Not just in films - but in TV and theatre too. And we want to work with female writers, directors, camera operators - there are just so few.
"It's early days, but watch this space."
Gemma recently made her stage musical debut as Rita O'Grady in 'Made in Dagenham' on London's West End and recently admitted she took on the singing role in a new production so she wouldn't be compared with anyone who had had the role before.
She said: "I've always wanted to do a musical. Always. I sang when I was younger and that went out of the window when I went to drama school.
"I've been offered a few musicals before but it just didn't feel right. I wanted to do something that nobody else had sung yet. I just don't want to be compared to somebody who has sung it better. I've not got the most amazing voice but I don't think Rita would have either."
Movies
Keira Knightley "didn't realise" her new movie's title had changed in the UK.
The 29-year-old actress was left embarrassed when quizzed in interviews about 'Say When' and kept denying she was in the film because she was unaware it had had its US title 'Laggies' altered to suit a British audience.
She explained: "I didn't even realise it had had a name change here, it's called 'Laggies' in America because that's a term for people who are being a bit lazy. But the guys over here went, 'But in England nobody knows what that is' and they don't it's true, because I didn't know either, so they changed it.
"They didn't tell me until really late so I was doing all these interviews and being asked about this film called 'Say When' and I had no idea what it was and was going, 'I think you've got the wrong person, I wasn't in that.' But I am!"
Keira enjoyed shooting the movie in Seattle because it was a "celebration of the suburbs".
She added: "It was great [in Seattle], it's very very deeply indie, very low budget. It was originally written for LA but Lynn Shelton, the director, is Seattle born and bred and loves making films there, it was a great city. It's definitely a celebration of the suburbs, which I quite liked about it."
Keira Knightley didn’t know movie title changed
Keira Knightley "didn't realise" her new movie's title had changed in the UK.
The 29-year-old actress was left embarrassed when quizzed in interviews about 'Say When' and kept denying she was in the film because she was unaware it had had its US title 'Laggies' altered to suit a British audience.
She explained: "I didn't even realise it had had a name change here, it's called 'Laggies' in America because that's a term for people who are being a bit lazy. But the guys over here went, 'But in England nobody knows what that is' and they don't it's true, because I didn't know either, so they changed it.
"They didn't tell me until really late so I was doing all these interviews and being asked about this film called 'Say When' and I had no idea what it was and was going, 'I think you've got the wrong person, I wasn't in that.' But I am!"
Keira enjoyed shooting the movie in Seattle because it was a "celebration of the suburbs".
She added: "It was great [in Seattle], it's very very deeply indie, very low budget. It was originally written for LA but Lynn Shelton, the director, is Seattle born and bred and loves making films there, it was a great city. It's definitely a celebration of the suburbs, which I quite liked about it."
Movies
Natalie Dormer thinks Jennifer Lawrence is "the coolest girl".
The 32-year-old actress - who stars in 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I' as Cressida - is in awe of her co-star and thinks the 23-year-old beauty is wise beyond her years.
She said: "Jennifer Lawrence is just the coolest girl. Everyone forgets how young she is because she's so together, such an old soul. She just gets it. She's one savvy chick."
Natalie admits it was a "thrill" to be cast in the latest instalment of the movie series because she is such a fan of the franchise.
She said: "I went to the world premiere of 'Catching Fire' last year and it was amazing. To be joining 'The Hunger Games' family is such a thrill. It deserves the hype because it's well written, handles really big subject matter, but doesn't talk down to its audience. And then there's the romance element. 'The Hunger Games' has something for everyone."
The role forced Natalie to undergo a radical transformation, but she was relieved she didn't have to change her appearance in as extreme a way as was originally planned.
She told Britain's Glamour magazine: "When they offered me the role they asked me if I would consider shaving my entire head.
"Ultimately the director and I decided Cressida would look funkier, more Capitol, which is where she comes from, if she rocked the half-shaved head look instead. So I got away lightly."
Natalie Dormer: Jennifer Lawrence is ‘cool’
Natalie Dormer thinks Jennifer Lawrence is "the coolest girl".
The 32-year-old actress - who stars in 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I' as Cressida - is in awe of her co-star and thinks the 23-year-old beauty is wise beyond her years.
She said: "Jennifer Lawrence is just the coolest girl. Everyone forgets how young she is because she's so together, such an old soul. She just gets it. She's one savvy chick."
Natalie admits it was a "thrill" to be cast in the latest instalment of the movie series because she is such a fan of the franchise.
She said: "I went to the world premiere of 'Catching Fire' last year and it was amazing. To be joining 'The Hunger Games' family is such a thrill. It deserves the hype because it's well written, handles really big subject matter, but doesn't talk down to its audience. And then there's the romance element. 'The Hunger Games' has something for everyone."
The role forced Natalie to undergo a radical transformation, but she was relieved she didn't have to change her appearance in as extreme a way as was originally planned.
She told Britain's Glamour magazine: "When they offered me the role they asked me if I would consider shaving my entire head.
"Ultimately the director and I decided Cressida would look funkier, more Capitol, which is where she comes from, if she rocked the half-shaved head look instead. So I got away lightly."
Movies
Sir Ian McKellen and Sylvester Stallone have been cast in 'Animal Crackers'.
Blue Dream Studios has confirmed the animated film will also feature the voices of Danny DeVito, Patrick Warburton, Gilbert Gottfried, Raven-Symoné and Harvey Fierstein.
Animator Scott Christian Sava said: "When I was writing Animal Crackers I had specific voices in my head.
"Certain characters I wrote with actors in mind.
"Horatio was always Sir Ian McKellen. Brock was totally Patrick Warburton. Bullet-Man could be no one else but Stallone. To find out that each and every one of these actors have agreed to come on board this film and bring these characters to life ... I'm flipping out."
The film follows a family that inherits a run-down circus and a box of old Animal Crackers, which they discover can be transformed into different animals.
'Animal Crackers' is set to be completed by the summer of 2016.
Meanwhile, Sir Ian admitted recently that luck has played a major part in his recent career success.
The actor - who was knighted in 1991 for services to the performing arts - said a number of his contemporaries would have fared as well in the iconic role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings', including John Hurt.
Speaking at TimesTalks London, Sir Ian - who was sat beside his 'Vicious' co-star Sir Derek Jacobi - reflected: "We're no better than a whole lot of people. But genuinely, being quite honest about it all, it's luck. John Hurt could've played Gandalf."
Sir Ian McKellen and Sylvester Stallone cast in Animal Crackers
Sir Ian McKellen and Sylvester Stallone have been cast in 'Animal Crackers'.
Blue Dream Studios has confirmed the animated film will also feature the voices of Danny DeVito, Patrick Warburton, Gilbert Gottfried, Raven-Symoné and Harvey Fierstein.
Animator Scott Christian Sava said: "When I was writing Animal Crackers I had specific voices in my head.
"Certain characters I wrote with actors in mind.
"Horatio was always Sir Ian McKellen. Brock was totally Patrick Warburton. Bullet-Man could be no one else but Stallone. To find out that each and every one of these actors have agreed to come on board this film and bring these characters to life ... I'm flipping out."
The film follows a family that inherits a run-down circus and a box of old Animal Crackers, which they discover can be transformed into different animals.
'Animal Crackers' is set to be completed by the summer of 2016.
Meanwhile, Sir Ian admitted recently that luck has played a major part in his recent career success.
The actor - who was knighted in 1991 for services to the performing arts - said a number of his contemporaries would have fared as well in the iconic role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings', including John Hurt.
Speaking at TimesTalks London, Sir Ian - who was sat beside his 'Vicious' co-star Sir Derek Jacobi - reflected: "We're no better than a whole lot of people. But genuinely, being quite honest about it all, it's luck. John Hurt could've played Gandalf."
Movies
Harvey Wenstein has dubbed "sensational" Rita Ora his "biggest discovery".
The Hollywood veteran - who produced the Academy Award-winning film 'Shakespeare in Love' - has given the 23-year-old 'Hot Right Now' singer his seal of approval after they worked together on his new film 'Southpaw', which also stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
He said: "Rita Ora did a sensational job.
"Her scene is breathtaking, because she's a very glamorous, beautiful woman.
"But we did the opposite, we made her up to look like a tough junkie.
"She is heartbreakingly real and wonderful and acting opposite Jake - who is riveting in this movie - she holds her own and then some."
Clearly smitten with the singer, Harvey told MailOnline: "I will work with Rita again and again and again. Personally, I think she's my biggest discovery as an actress this year."
'Southpaw' has an all-star cast, featuring Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris and Forest Whitaker.
Rita has already made a name for herself in the industry after she finished filming scenes for the highly-anticipated movie 'Fifty Shades of Grey', which stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, and is scheduled for release in February 2015.
Rita Ora dubbed ‘sensational’ by Hollywood big wig
Harvey Wenstein has dubbed "sensational" Rita Ora his "biggest discovery".
The Hollywood veteran - who produced the Academy Award-winning film 'Shakespeare in Love' - has given the 23-year-old 'Hot Right Now' singer his seal of approval after they worked together on his new film 'Southpaw', which also stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
He said: "Rita Ora did a sensational job.
"Her scene is breathtaking, because she's a very glamorous, beautiful woman.
"But we did the opposite, we made her up to look like a tough junkie.
"She is heartbreakingly real and wonderful and acting opposite Jake - who is riveting in this movie - she holds her own and then some."
Clearly smitten with the singer, Harvey told MailOnline: "I will work with Rita again and again and again. Personally, I think she's my biggest discovery as an actress this year."
'Southpaw' has an all-star cast, featuring Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris and Forest Whitaker.
Rita has already made a name for herself in the industry after she finished filming scenes for the highly-anticipated movie 'Fifty Shades of Grey', which stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, and is scheduled for release in February 2015.