Happy Feet premiere - Film - Entertainment - smh.com.au 12/15/2006 05:05 PM
Happy Feet premiere
Australian director George Miller, left, and American actress Brittany Murphy at the Sydney premiere. Photo: Reuters
December 11, 2006
Antarctica came to Sydney on Sunday as film fans were given their first sneak peek of Australian director George Miller's animated movie hit, Happy Feet.
As fake snow gently fell outside Fox Studio's main theatre in Sydney's eastern suburbs, six baby penguins delighted the huge crowd eager to catch a glimpse of one of the movie's stars, Brittany Murphy.
A 15-metre inflatable penguin also hovered overhead as Murphy, who lent her voice to Gloria the penguin in the movie, strutted down an arctic blue carpet.
Murphy, who was wearing a floor-length velvet-trimmed gown, said working on the animated feature was "overwhelmingly wonderful".
"There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed working on it other than it was extraordinarily incredible," Murphy told AAP.
"I was incredibly fortunate to be able to work in the studio with Elijah Wood from the first day and ... getting to work with all the other actors was very unique."
The film tells the story of a troupe of singing, dancing penguins voiced by Elijah Wood, Robin Williams and Australian actors Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving and Magda Szubanski.
Director George Miller, who was at the premiere, said working with Australian actors guaranteed good work.
"Australian stars and crew don't get to where they are unless they're very very good at what they do," Miller said. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/12/10/1165685548347.html?sssdmh=dm16.235830 Page 1 of 2 Happy Feet premiere - Film - Entertainment - smh.com.au 12/15/2006 05:05 PM
do," Miller said.
"So, it's always a wise move to use them."
Kath and Kim star Szubanski, also at the premiere, said she was well prepared to use her voice for laughs instead of her usual physical comedy.
"I grew up around accents and languages ... that is how I fell into this role," Szubanski said.
"If my nuances fail me, if my language fails, then I do something stupid - that's the secret."
Happy Feet opens nationally on December 26.
AAP
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