lifestyle MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015

GOSSIP

Gandy not confident he could pull off Fifty Shades role

avid Gandy didn’t think he was a good enough lenge, but you have to be a very good actor to pull off that ‘First Love’ and says the experience was “a real laugh”. He Dactor for ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The British model role. It’s a big, big part.” While he didn’t want the ‘Fifty added to Red magazine: “It was never part of a plan to do a confirmed he was approached to play Christian Shades’ role, the 35-year-old hunk would like to venture music video, but I knew her. She called me up and asked Grey - a role which went to Jamie Dornan - in the adapta- into acting at some point. He said: “I’ve been offered parts me personally.” tion of E.L. James’ raunchy novel but chose not to audition other guys would say yes to, but I just didn’t fancy as he felt it was too big a part. He said: “I was sent the them.”But I’ve read a couple of scripts I love, and if the script but didn’t go along.”I know there are a lot of guys right team came along I’d love to see them made.” Last who really wanted that role, and I love the idea of a chal- year, David appeared in Jennifer Lopez’s music video for

Monica Bellucci thought she was M Madonna onica Bellucci thought she was going to be the new not be judged by one standard of beauty. “Older women determined to work MM in ‘Spectre’. The 50-year-old actress was surprised deserve as much respect and attention for being just as inter- when she was asked to be in the forthcoming James esting and sensual as younger women, maybe even more so. Bond movie because of her age but was delighted to learn she True sexiness is in the mind, not the age of the body.” And the with ‘remarkable’ Tyson will be a love interest for Daniel Craig’s suave spy character. brunette beauty is delighted to be entering film history with a She said: “I think of myself as a Bond woman. I did wonder role in the iconic franchise. She told Britain’s HELLO! magazine: adonna wanted Mike Tyson on her new album why they asked me to be in the film. Did they want me to take “I feel like I’m entering into a chapter of film history that is part Mbecause he’s a “remarkable human being”. The pop over from Judi Dench [as Bond’s boss M]? “But then director of our collective imagination. It makes me really happy. superstar was determined to have the former Sam Mendes explained James Bond was going to have a story “Especially when I think of some of the women in the more world heavyweight champion boxer on the track ‘Iconic’ - with a mature woman.” Monica - who is the oldest actress to recent Bond movies - Olga Kurylenko, Eva Green, Halle Berry, taken from her 13th studio LP ‘Rebel Heart’ - despite facing ever be cast as a Bond girl - hopes her casting will prove that Rosamund Pike. These women all combined beauty and tal- criticism because of his troubled past, which includes a older women are just as sexy as younger starlets. She said: “I ent.” conviction for rape. Madonna, 56, has revealed wanted to think it is important to show a woman at 50 can be just as work with ‘Iron’ Mike because epitomizes what it means to attractive and interesting as a woman at 30. Women should turn your life around. In an exclusive interview with The Sun newspaper, she said: “He’s gone through a lot. I think his evolution is quite interesting. I knew him when he was married to Robin Givens. I’ve seen all the trials and tribula- tions he’s been through. He’s a changed man. He’s been through a lot. He’s suffered a lot. “He’s made other people suffer. But I think he’s a truly remarkable human being. I think he’s a role model. He’s the perfect example of how you can come from a very bleak upbringing, with no edu- cation, make mistakes and turn your life around.” The thing that convinced Madonna to work with Mike was the one man show, ‘Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth’, he developed with Spike Lee in which he bared his soul. She explained: “I saw his one-man show that Spike Lee directed for HBO. I was really impressed with his honesty, his wit and charm. He seemed to be very remorseful. I thought, ‘That’s a man.’ “Mike, 48, recently recalled a double date he went on with his ex-wife Robin and Madonna her first husband Sean Penn in the 1980s that resulted in the two men falling asleep. The revered ex-pugilist said: “We saw Pee Wee Herman’s ‘Big Top’ ... We were with both of our significant others at the time, of course. It was in the 80s. She was married to Sean, I was married as well. Me and Sean fell Arterton asleep in the movie.” ‘couldn’t resist playing Neeson a talking head’ iam Neeson is planning to quit action films. The 62-year- old actor has become famous for starring in action- emma Arterton couldn’t resist playing a “talking head L in the fridge” in ‘The Voices’. The 29-year-old English thrillers such as the ‘Taken’ trilogy despite having starred G quitting action films in films such as ‘Schindler’s List’ and ‘Star Wars’ in the past, but actress - who’s previously starred in ‘Quantum of he’s now confessed he wants to move on from the genre in Solace’ and ‘Clash of the Titans’ - says she was drawn to the the next couple of years. He said: “Maybe two more years - if unusual role of Fiona in the Marjane Satrapi-directed black God spares me, and I’m healthy. But after that, I’ll stop [the comedy movie because it marked a stark contrast to the films action], I think.” Neeson reprised his role as former secret she’d previously been making. She explained: “I’d been doing agent and security expert Bryan Mills in ‘Taken 3’ earlier this all of these big Hollywood movies and I hadn’t really been year and admits the success of the action franchise has seen feeling them.”I like things that are a bit strange, a bit dark, that him inundated with offers for other movies but that he’s well make you think. I read this script and just loved it. “My charac- aware it can’t go on forever. According to the Guardian news- ter, I get to play just a talking head in the fridge. And that for paper, he explained: “I’m in a very, career-wise, great place. The me, was something I thought that I’ve got to do it.” Arterton success certainly of the Taken films, Hollywood seems to see explained that although there are some dark themes explored me in a different light. I get sent quite a few action-orientated in the movie - which also features Ryan Reynolds and Anna scripts, which is great. I’m not knocking it. It’s very flattering. Kendrick - it triggered lots of laughter, too. She told BBC Radio But there is a limit of course.” In addition to his success in the 1: “[Alfred] Hitchcock said that when people would laugh at action genre, however, Neeson also starred in ‘Family Guy’ cre- his horrors it was the biggest compliment.”This film is a horror ator Seth MacFarlane’s comedy-western ‘A Million Ways to Die in some aspects, because when you’re so awkward and you’ve In The West’ last year and is set to work with him again on ‘Ted got too much emotion, often it comes out in laughter.” 2’ this summer. Meanwhile, he will next star in ‘Run All Night’, recently wrapped filming on ‘A Monster Calls’ and is currently filming for his role as Father Ferreira in ‘Silence’. Jones Portman cast in Star wants Coppola’s calmness Wars spin-off Rogue One atalie Portman “channels Sofia Coppola” when directing. The elicity Jones has been confirmed to star in the first stand- ‘Black Swan’ actress has taken the helm on ‘A Tale of Love and alone ‘Star Wars’ movie. The ‘Theory of Everything’ actress NDarkness’ and admits she finds it quite stressful, so tries to con- F will appear in ‘Rogue One’ - which ‘Godzilla’ filmmaker duct herself in the same way as the ‘Virgin Suicides’ director, who she Gareth Edwards will direct - though the exact nature of her has previously worked with on Miss Dior campaigns. She said: “Sofia is role wasn’t discussed when Disney confirmed the news yester- so talented and so calm and she really has a vision.”I thought about day. A statement about the movie, which will be released on her a lot when I was directing because she is just unflappable, so cool December 16, 2016, read: “‘Rogue One’ is the first film in a in any situation. “So whenever I would feel myself getting stressed, I’d unique series of big-screen stories that explores the characters try and channel Sofia.” Natalie is relishing life behind the camera and events beyond the core ‘Star Wars’ saga.”The idea for the because it gives her so much more control. She said: “It’s a lot of story of ‘Rogue One’ came from John Knoll, an Academy responsibility, but a wonderful opportunity to own your work at the Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative end.”When you make a film as an actor, whether it turns out good or officer at Industrial Light & Magic... The film starts shooting bad, I always have to either credit or blame the director. It’s a director’s this summer in London.” Though the plot hasn’t been medium.” The 33-year-old beauty believes there needs to be more announced, it is expected the movie will be connected the opportunities for female directors in film. She told Red magazine: “I Rogue Squadron, an elite Rebel Alliance starfighter squadron. love male stories, they help me see the world in different ways.”But we It was also announced that ‘Star Wars Episode VIII’ will be need more opportunities for women. I don’t think it’s that fewer released on May 26, 2017 - 40 years and a day after the origi- women want to direct, because in film school there are equal numbers nal movie was released in 1977 and just a year and a half after of men and women. “I think there are institutional biases against ‘Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens’, which is out on women that don’t allow them to have as many opportunities, or as December 18, 2015. The release date marks the shortest gap comfortable with them being in leadership roles.” between two ‘Star Wars’ movies.

Sir Michael Caine ‘failed Reynolds previews to follow his own advice’ fan-friendly Deadpool yan Reynolds says ‘Deadpool’ will be made in a way that “the most critical of fanboys could erence Stamp says Sir Michael Caine has failed to soon as he got away he did exactly the opposite. Went Rembrace”. The much-anticipated sci-fi movie has been 11 years in the making - having Tfollow his own career advice. The 76-year-old actor, from one movie to another.” Stamp enjoyed incredible encountered various obstacles along the way - and Reynolds says it won’t disappoint fans of who’s started in more than 60 films during his career success when he first broke into the industry, but the Marvel character. He told ShortList magazine: “I’m incredibly happy about it, we’ve got a direc- career - including ‘Billy Budd’, ‘Star Wars Episode I: The found work opportunities harder to come by as he got tor that understands that world, and writers with a lavish devotion to the canon of that character. Phantom Menace’ and the ‘Superman’ franchise - once older. He reflected: “It’s a mystery to me. I was in my “That’s the most important aspect: it’s made in a way the most critical of fanboys could embrace. shared a flat with the Oscar-winning star, but has prime. When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it. I Well, that’s the hope.” This comes shortly after Reynolds said ‘Deadpool’ will be the “movie we want revealed they haven’t spoken in 40 years. London-born remember my agent telling me: ‘They are all looking for a to make”. He said: “It’s been a long time, but it’s happened in the right way and that’s all that mat- Stamp recalled: “We just went different ways. I can under- young Terence Stamp.’ And I thought: ‘I am young.’ I was ters.”We don’t have the kind of money that most superhero movies do, but that’s great, actually. stand it: in many ways he was much more mature than 31, 32. I couldn’t believe it. “It was tough to wake up in Necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s why we get to make the movie we want to make.” me.” Stamp said that although Sir Michael, 81, tried to the morning, and the phone not ringing. I thought: this What’s more, the actor - who starred in the ‘Green Lantern’ movie in 2011 - said he isn’t feeling any instil good values in him, his former friend betrayed his can’t be happening now, it’s only just started. The day-to- more pressure to make ‘Deadpool’ a success. He added: “You gotta have faith in the people you’re own advice. He told the Guardian newspaper: “Caine day thing was awful, and I couldn’t live with it. So I working with, and have faith in the prep, and that’s all I’m doing. On this one, the prep’s been 11 gave me all my early values, like making sure you were bought a round-the-world ticket and left.” years. You’d like to think you’re putting your best foot forward, but we’ll see.”— Bang Showbiz doing good stuff, waiting for the right things - then as