lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014

GOSSIP Warwick Davis: Star Wars will be amazing ngelina Jolie “didn’t eat much” on the set of ‘Unbroken’. The 39-year- old actress - who directed the biographical drama about World War II arwick Davis thinks ‘Star Wars: The Force Ahero, Louis Zamperini - ate like the cast members who played prison- Awakens’ is going to be an “amazing ers of war, according to Japanese pop star Miyavi, who plays prison guard, Wmoment” for cinema. The 44-year-old The Bird, in the film. The 33-year-old singer-turned-actor said: “She came to actor - who starred in ‘Return of the Jedi’ as Ewok the set every day, giving advice to the actors, and she actually didn’t eat Wicket - has been cast in the much-hyped sci-fi much [either]. “She was so thin because most of the actors were not able to sequel and he’s revealed he can barely contain eat because they’re prisoners in the prison camp.” Miyavi praised his direc- his excitement for its release. Warwick told BANG tor’s “determination” and “professionalism”, revealing that her attitude Showbiz: “What I’m most excited by is chance to throughout the filming process was the reason for its success. He explained: see members of the old cast in the poster.”I’ve “She was so determined. I was also surprised how skinny she got. You know, been a fan of ‘Star Wars’ ever since the first film she was not eating much. I felt so bad I was the only one who got fat during [‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’] came out in filming. “I really respect her professionalism, her attitude towards the cre- 1977. This just feels like an amazing moment.” ation - she’s so determined and passionate. It was intense on set but with Warwick also played several parts in ‘Star Wars her motivation and attitude we were on the same page.” Jack O’Connell, 24, Jolie’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace’, including who plays the title character also revealed how Angelina would help him Greedo the Elder. He recently confirmed he will and try out all of his stunts first - including a scene where he supports the star alongside returning cast members Harrison

Unbroken diet weight of a heavy wooden plank above his head for hours. He told Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, as well as RadioTimes.com: “She did test out all of my stunts before I had to do them. new faces John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar The plank - I’m not sure if that can be regarded as a stunt - but, in any case, Isaac, in the eagerly-awaited seventh film in the she was under it before I turned up on set.” franchise. Warwick revealed the news via the official ‘Star Wars’ YouTube account by posting a spoof video - titled “Will Warwick Davis Appear in Star Wars Episode VII?” - showing him sat by his phone waiting for a call from director J.J. Abrahams. When he finally gets the call, the actor is heard saying on the line: “Hello Warwick Davis. Yes J.J. hi. Would I like to appear in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’? Let me think about it. Just got to check the diary, yep good.”

Serkis wants Quasimodo role

ndy Serkis wants to play Quasimodo. The 50-year-old actor is known for portraying Caesar the ape in the A‘Planet of the Apes’ franchise and would love to use the same motion-capture technology to take on the role of Hunchback of Notre Dame after being inspired by Charles Laughton’s performance in the 1939 film of the same name. He said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Charles Lawton’s perform- ance in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ so somewhere along the line I’ve always wanted to play that character.” However, the star - who portrayed late singer Ian Dury in 2010 biopic ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ - insists he doesn’t ever usually set his sights on a particular role unless he has signed up for that spe- cific part. He added: “I only really think about things like that if they present themselves to me. Unlike films I want to make as a won’t kiss music to own won’t director, with The Imaginarium Studios I’m very clear about the The Vamps The he Vamps’ James McVey would never kiss a Kissing to them might be weird.” The heartthrobs story I want to tell as a director. girl to one of his own songs. The ‘Somebody also confessed that while they appreciate their “Ian Dury is an example of a role I sought and we put that Tto You’ hitmaker has revealed he thinks it fans’ passion, they find it slightly strange that together because I was a huge fan of him and he really meant a would be far too “cringe” to lock lips with a girl some girls get emotional to their music. When lot to me, the process of working with his family was amazing.” while listening to one of his and his bandmates’ - asked if they find it weird knowing their songs Brad Simpson, Connor Ball and Tristan Evans - make girls cry, James said: “Kind of. It’s nice that songs. Quizzed on whether he’d ever had a kiss to people can feel the emotion that was originally one of his own songs, he said: “No way. I would put in the song though.” Brad added: “Most of the never want to. It would be cringe.” Tristan agreed songs we’ve released are upbeat so maybe it’s a and said: “We’re very involved in the sound of our little weird.” songs so we have to listen to them quite a lot.

Scherzinger apologizes to former bandmates icole Scherzinger wants to apologize to her former The Pussycat Dolls bandmates. The ‘Boomerang’ hitmaker fea- Ntured in the band alongside fellow members Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton and Kimberly Wyatt for five years, but admits she was often “distant and stand-offish” because of an eating disorder. When asked who she would like to say sorry to, she said: “The other members of the Pussycat Dolls. There were a lot of moments when I was with them that I was dis- tant and stand-offish. I never opened up to them to talk about my problems and I would shut myself away - and push them away - because I was battling this horrible secret illness, bulimia.” The singer - who has since enjoyed a prosperous solo career - joined the Coyle teases ‘vulnerable’ band as the lead vocalist in 2005 and enjoyed chart success with the band with their hit singles ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Jai new album Ho! (You Are My Destiny)’, before their split in 2010. The 36-year-old Ian McKellen adores star - who is currently dating Formula One champion Lewis adine Coyle is feeling “vulnerable” on her second solo album. Hamilton - recently admitted the disease had a huge impact on her Gandalf role The 29-year-old singer is working on the follow up to her debut life for over a decade but has since overcome the problem. She told solo LP ‘Insatiable’ which was released in 2010, and admits the ir Ian McKellen feels “lucky” to portray Gandalf. The veteran actor has por- N Event magazine: “Between 18 right up to my mid-30s I suffered album’s content will be risky because she will be singing about so trayed the wizard in both the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ movie series and from bulimia. It was all wrapped up with my low self-esteem and a many personal things. She said: “I’m really laying it all out there, which thinks it is rare for such an interesting part to come along that is not a villain. crippling lack of confidence. It’s taken me a long time to deal with S is scary. I’m making myself vulnerable.” The musician - who is dating He said: “I love Gandalf. Aren’t I lucky? “The best parts are usually the villains but these issues and I feel so annoyed that I let that disease take over.” former American football player Jason Bell - gave birth to her daugh- not this.”Gandalf’s a good guy and it’s a good part. He says the right things, he ter, Ana?ya, in February, and explained the newborn has helped her to believes the right things. An actor can have fun with it.” Ian believes if the fantasy reflect on life in a more truthful way. Speaking about the unguarded tales - which are based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s 1930s novels - were presented to studios nature of her music, she continued: “But having a baby forces you to as new now they would never go into production because they are so much “of live a bit more honestly.” Despite planning on returning to music fol- their time”. He said: “There’s lots of Tolkein that must be confusing to people. lowing an extended hiatus, the former Girls Aloud star confessed she Where are the women? Have you noticed that all the main characters smoke? “If feels completely different to the woman she was when she was in the you’d written this story from scratch, there’s no way a studio would have allowed band, and confessed she has no wish to reunite with her bandmates, it. They are of their time. “But they are about the end of the world, when cultures Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and clash and changes occur, and about something as important as the world wars.”I Kimberley Walsh. She told HELLO! magazine: “I can barely remember think that might be why they endure. Of course, they’re extremely well written. my old life. I think, ‘How did I get through 24 hours without a baby to Tolkein is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.” look after?’ “It was a wonderful thing to spend my teens and early 20s doing, but I don’t miss anything.” The comments come just a month after the star said she would be up for getting back together with the group at some point in the distant future. When asked if she would ever reunite with her former bandmates, she said: “Why not! 10 years down the line. I would never rule [reuniting] out.”—Bang Showbiz Christmas LP on Jessie J’s ‘wish list’

essie J wants to release Christmas album. The ‘Keep Us Together’ singer says it’s on her “wish list” to record a festive LP but she wouldn’t want to just record a col- Jlection of covers, she wants to write new Yuletide classics. She told BANG Showbiz: “I would love to do a Christmas album it’s one of the things on my wish list. But I want to write some new classic Christmas songs, I don’t want to just sing ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’.” Jessie insists one of the best things about having a big Christmas hit is that you make lots of money from it every single year. She explained: “During the Christmas period, if you wrote ‘Winter Wonderland’, its bril- liant. That’s where the money is, songwriting.” Although not a Festive smash, Jessie banks a sizeable sum from Miley Cyrus’ 2009 hit ‘Party in the U.S.A.’, which she co- wrote with Lukasz Gottwald and Claude Kelly and is played all the time at Disney theme parks. She said: “I get paid something every time that track is played in a pub- lic domain, all the writers get money.”