‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Wolf Hall’ have led the British nominations at this year's Emmy Awards, with both dramas picking up three nods each. While HBO series ‘Game Of Thrones’ might have dominated this year’s nominations with 24 nods, British stars have also flourished with actors Joanne Froggatt, Emma Thompson and Ricky Gervais among the nominees.

‘Downton Abbey’s’ Joanne Froggatt has picked up an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama

ITV drama ‘Downton Abbey’ received three nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama for Jim Carter and Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama for Joanne Froggatt, who plays maid Anna Bates. Froggatt was nominated in the same category last year, but lost out to ‘Breaking Bad’s’ Anna Gunn.

Continue reading: 'Downton Abbey', Emma Thompson And 'Wolf Hall' Lead A Very British Year At The Emmy Awards

A Walk in The Woods Trailer

Bill Bryson has been living in the UK with his English wife for a long time but now feels his retirement is wasted on the luxury of home comforts. Now after moving back to the US, he wants adventure, and what better way to get it than by hiking the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. It's a glorious woodland walk for anyone, but it's rarely finished by even the most experienced hikers and the thought of this ageing man taking on the dangers of the trail frightens his kids and his wife. It seems Bill is deadset on this challenge, and while his wife can't stop him doing it, she can at least insist he be accompanied by a friend. Unfortunately, the only person crazy enough to join him is his fat, former alcoholic buddy Katz, whose probably going to be more of a hindrance than a help, but will at least be exposed to some much needed reflection... and a few hungry bears.

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The First Picture Of Emma Watson And The Rest Of The 'Beauty And The Beast' Cast Has Arrived

By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 15 April 2015

Emma Watson Josh Gad Dan Stevens Emma Thompson Ian McKellen

The live action remake is headed to cinemas in 2017.

Thanks Josh Gad for making our day! Yes the Frozen actor has just put a mid-week smile on many a face as he’s shared the first cast picture from the upcoming live action remake of Beauty and the Beast. The real life Olaf shared the image on Instagram, captioning the snap, “Can't wait for you to be our guest.”

Watson will star as Belle in the live action remake.

Posing with Gad in the pic is Emma Watson who will of course be playing Belle, former ‘Downton Abbey’ star Dan Stevens who’ll star as the Beast, Luke Evans who is his love rival Gaston and Kevin Kline who plays Belle’s father Maurice. Gad will star as Gaston’s sidekick Le Fou in the remake, which is due to begin filming later next month.

Continue reading: The First Picture Of Emma Watson And The Rest Of The 'Beauty And The Beast' Cast Has Arrived

Survivor Trailer

The world of counter-intelligence has gotten an awful lot more dangerous. When a visa security officer (Milla Jovovich) is posted in the US Embassy in the United Kingdom, she is tasked with ensuring that known or suspected terrorists are unable to make their way to the United States. But when she come under fire from a deadly assassin known only as "The Watchmaker" (Pierce Brosnan), she ends up framed for various crimes she didn't commit and is forced on the run. Now, she must do her best to keep doing her job while being hunted and tracked by not only The Watchmaker, but US Security Services and Marines.

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Emma Thompson To Play Mrs Potts In 'Beauty And The Beast'

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 17 March 2015

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson has joined the star-studded cast of 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has joined the cast of Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast and will play Mrs Potts, the housekeeper who was transformed into a teapot in the magical 1991 animated version.

Emma Thompson will play Mrs Potts in Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast

Dame Angela Lansbury voiced the character in the original movie, which was the first animated movie to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture.

Continue reading: Emma Thompson To Play Mrs Potts In 'Beauty And The Beast'

'Beauty And The Beast' Remake Confirmed For March 2017, Adds Emma Thompson And Kevin Kline

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 17 March 2015

Emma Thompson Kevin Kline Josh Gad Emma Watson Dan Stevens Luke Evans

The pair will join the existing cast Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Josh Gad in the live action re-make, set for March 17th, 2017.

More Disney casting news! The forthcoming live action re-make of the classic Beauty and the Beast will feature Emma Thompson as Mrs Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle’s father Maurice, it was announced on Monday.

A statement released to People by Disney confirmed the addition of yet more high profile names to an already star-studded cast, for what is shaping up to be the most anticipated Disney release in years.

Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson will become an anthropomorphised teapot in the 'Beauty and the Beast' remake

Continue reading: 'Beauty And The Beast' Remake Confirmed For March 2017, Adds Emma Thompson And Kevin Kline

Josh Gad To Join Emma Watson And Dan Stevens In Disney's Live Action 'Beauty And The Beast'

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 14 March 2015

Josh Gad Emma Thompson Timothy Spall Emma Watson Dan Stevens Luke Evans Disney Kevin Hart Kaley Cuoco

Josh Gad will join Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans in the live-action adaptation of 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Josh Gad has become the latest actor to join the cast of the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. 34-year-old Gad has been cast as Le Fou, the villain Gaston's minion. Gad is best known for voicing Olaf in Disney's Frozen and for his roles in such films as The Internship and Jobs. Emma Watson (Harry Potter) has been cast as Belle, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as the Beast and Luke Evans (Dracula Untold) as Gaston. Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) and Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner) are also rumoured to be in talks with the film's producers.

Josh Gad is set to play Le Fou in the upcoming live-action film of Beauty and the Beast.

Continue reading: Josh Gad To Join Emma Watson And Dan Stevens In Disney's Live Action 'Beauty And The Beast'

Men, Women & Children Review

By Rich Cline

There's a fundamental flaw to this multi-strand social media-themed drama: it's told completely from the perspective of older people who are fearful about the possibilities, rather than the generation for whom electronic communication is the norm. It's well-made by director Jason Reitman (age 36) and his cowriter Erin Cressida Wilson (50) from the novel by Chad Kultgen (38), but it kind of misses the point that this is the future of human interaction. So younger (or more switched-on) viewers won't buy the cautionary message.

IR's set in Austin, Texas, where Rachel and Don (Rosemarie DeWitt and Adam Sandler) are each so focussed on finding space outside their marriage that they don't notice that their teen son Chris (Travis Tope) is hanging out with self-proclaimed slutty cheerleader Hannah (Olivia Crocicchia). Her best friend Allison (Elena Kamporis) is starving herself to be like her, spurred on by her mother (Judy Greer), who is doing everything she can to make Allison a star. Meanwhile, Patricia (Jennifer Garner) is desperate to control how her daughter Brandy (Kaitkyn Dever) uses small-screens, especially worried about her growing friendship with Tim (Ansel Elgort), whose father (Dean Norris) is annoyed that he has quit the school football team.

Oddly, the film seems to adopt the adults' fears as its central tone: the internet and mobile phone communications are potentially dangerous, addictive and isolating. But this makes the film feel more like a sermon than a set of intertwined stories. A far more interesting approach would be to explore how communication and relationships are shifting due to the influence of online media. Indeed, the generational aspects to the films various plotlines are the most compelling elements, with clashing points of view between grown-ups and kids. But audience members who believe that mobile phones and social media sites are the future will struggle with the way Reitman presents them as inherently troublesome.

Continue reading: Men, Women & Children Review

Effie Gray Review

By Rich Cline

Very Good

Based on a notorious true story, this film takes a muted approach that matches the Victorian period and attitudes, which somewhat undermines the vivid emotions of the characters. It's a fascinating story about a woman caught in her society's harshly restrictive rules about women, and the script by Emma Thompson captures some strong observations, interaction and personal feelings, but the film is so dark and repressed that it ultimately feels a bit dull.

In the mid 19th century, Effie Gray (Dakota Fanning) has been courted by noted art critic John Ruskin (Greg Wise) since she was only 12 years old, and he has waited for her to come of age to marry her. But as she moves in with his suffocating parents (Julie Walters and David Suchet) in London, Effie soon realises that she's trapped in a hopeless situation. While he's loving, John simply refuses to touch her, which makes her doubt her own intellect and femininity. She's befriended by Lady Eastlake (Thompson), who knows a thing or two about cold marriages and helps her make a plan. Then Effie and John travel to Scotland with John's protege, the painter Everett Millais (Tom Sturridge), and Effie begins to understand that there might be other possibilities out there.

Since the film is made in Victorian style, it leaves all of the heaving passion far beneath the surface. It's obvious that Effie (and the audience) are craving a bit of lusty bodice-ripping, but any action remains behind closed doors, only hinted at in the clever dialogue. This makes the film realistic and intriguing, but difficult to get a grip on. And instead of the scandalous love triangle of historical record, the film plays out more as a drama about a young woman working out a complex escape from male-dominated society. Even so, it's a compelling journey, with some remarkable twists and turns along the way, and the complex characters add plenty of detail.

Continue reading: Effie Gray Review

Audiences Get A Glimpse Of Effie Gray

By Charlotte Court in Movies / TV / Theatre on 15 September 2014

Dakota Fanning Emma Thompson Greg Wise Tom Sturridge

The trailer is released for Emma Thompson's new film starring Dakota Fanning in the title role

The first trailer for Dakota Fanning’s new film, Effie Gray, has hit appliances with video playing abilities everywhere and showcases Emma Thompson’s fourth scripted venture in which she also co-stars. The film is a British biographical production directed by Richard Laxton and charts one of history’s oddest Victorian love triangles between art critic John Ruskin (Greg Wise), his once childhood friend and subsequent wife, Effie Gray (Dakota Fanning) and her eventual lover, painter John Everett Mallais (Tom Sturridge).

Dakota Fanning takes on the title role in Effie Gray

Ruskin was a hugely influential figure, particularly in the latter half of the 19th Century: scholarly; brilliant; but socially awkward. In 1848, he married flirtatious and beautiful Effie but their love story started badly when, on their wedding night, they failed to consummate their union.

Continue reading: Audiences Get A Glimpse Of Effie Gray

Effie Gray Trailer

When young Effie Grey (Dakota Fanning) is married to John Ruskin (Greg Wise), a man ten years older than her, she feels no pleasure whatsoever. She is soon whisked away from her native Scotland and follows her husband as he travels to Venice in order to work on his book, 'The Stones of Venice'. People often notice that there is no love between the pair, and they drift apart during their time in Italy, with Effie spending her time walking the streets of Venice and spending more and more time with her husband's protégée John Everett Millais (Tom Sturridge). With the two steadily falling in love, the struggle between right and wrong rages within Effie, as she is forced to make the choice between what she is told, and what she wants.

Continue: Effie Gray Trailer

The Love Punch Review

By Rich Cline

Good

An old-school caper comedy, this goofy romp struggles to surmount its badly contrived screenplay. Fortunately writer-director Joel Hopkins also has gorgeous locations and a cast of pros who are unafraid to make complete idiots of themselves. They keep us chuckling even when things turn far too silly.

It starts with a hostile corporate takeover in Britain that costs Richard (Pierce Brosnan) and his ex-wife Kate (Emma Thompson) their income and pensions. Still feuding years after their marriage fell apart, they decide to team up, head to Paris and confront new owner Vincent (Laurent Lafitte) about their predicament, as well as the sudden poverty of all of Richard's employees. But Vincent cruelly dismisses them, noting that he liquidated Richard's company to help pay for his extravagant wedding to trophy wide Manon (Louise Bourgoin), who now sports a $10m diamond. So Richard and Kate impulsively decide to crash the marriage and steal the diamond with some help from their old pals Penelope and Jerry (Celia Imrie and Timothy Spall) and their computer-expert son Matt (Jack Wilkinson) back in Britain.

The idea is so preposterous that we just have to go with it, but Hopkins' script never bothers to fill in the gaping plot holes, merely charging into each corny set-piece with gusto. Thomson gets all the needed information about the wedding by joining in on the hen weekend. Spall has a series of dark-horse skills up his sleeve. Wilkinson seems able to do all manner of technical wizardry except the one thing that forces our four heroes to scuba-dive across the bay and scale a cliff, James Bond-style.

Continue reading: The Love Punch Review

It's A Hard Knock Life This Christmas With 'Annie' - [Trailer + Pictures]

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 15 April 2014

Quvenzhane Wallis Jamie Foxx Cameron Diaz Will Gluck Emma Thompson

Quvenzhane Wallis stars in the new trailer

The youngest ever Oscar nominee, Quvenzhane Wallis – with a touch of autotune thrown in for good measure - plays the iconic and titular role of Annie in Columbia Pictures’ upcoming modernisation of the classic, 1977 Broadway smash, 1982 film and 1999 TV-movie.

Annie movie 2014 Quvenzhane Wallis plays the plucky orphen, Annie, upon whom the film centres

The new trailer gives us a glimpse Will Stacks’ (Jamie Foxx) and Annie’s relationship as they move from life-saving encounter, to mutually beneficial work buddies to father & daughter dynamic, all told via the medium of cute dogs, hip-hop infused dancing and Harlem.

Continue reading: It's A Hard Knock Life This Christmas With 'Annie' - [Trailer + Pictures]

Emma Thompson & Pierce Brosnan Are Amateur Jewel Thieves In 'The Love Punch' [Trailer & Pictures]

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 07 April 2014

Emma Thompson Pierce Brosnan Timothy Spall Celia Imrie Tuppence Middleton

'The Love Punch' is due out in UK cinemas on 18th April. Starring Emma Thompson, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall, Pierce Brosnan the film follows two couples as they travel to the French Riviera to reclaim their stolen pension funds.

The Love Punch is due out in UK cinemas next week so what are we in for from Last Chance Harvey writer and director Joel Hopkins?

From L-R: Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie, Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan star in The Love Punch.

The Love Punch promises a stellar cast including British acting powerhouses Emma Thompson, Celia Imrie and Timothy Spall, whilst Irish actor Pierce Brosnan completes the comedic foursome. The film follows Thompson and Brosnan, as Kate and Richard, a divorced couple who find they have been conned out of their retirement funds after Richard's company suffers a hostile takeover. Furious at the injustice, they set out on a mission accompanied by friends Imrie and Spall to recover their stolen savings. Their quest leads them to the Côte d'Azur, via Paris, where they embark on a jewellery heist. We see the relationship between Kate and Richard blossom after their years apart and we're definitely in with a few laughs along the way.

Continue reading: Emma Thompson & Pierce Brosnan Are Amateur Jewel Thieves In 'The Love Punch' [Trailer & Pictures]

The Love Punch Trailer

Richard and Kate are middle-class and middle-aged parents who have come to the end of their marriage, finding it hardly possible to bear being in the same room together. However, as their daughter Sophie moves to university, they find themselves alone together and their lives are about to change dramatically. Richard has discovered that his investment firm has been the subject of a fraud scheme, stripping him of any assets including his and Kate's retirement fund. They decide to travel to Paris to target the man responsible and on the way discover that he has given his fiancée a diamond necklace worth $10 million. The couple must re-unite once again if they want to get their nest egg back, which they plan on doing by stealing the diamond with their best friends Jerry and Penelope. Meanwhile, it seems the animosity between Richard and Kate is beginning to wane.

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Emma Thompson, Annie Lennox, Rita Ora Unveiled As M&S "Leading Ladies" In Ad Campaign

By Lauren James in Fashion / Beauty on 24 March 2014

Emma Thompson Rita Ora Annie Lennox Rachel Khoo

A new ad campaign features the actress alongside other inspirational women.

Emma Thompson has been unveiled as one of the leading faces in a new campaign by Marks & Spencer. The actress was selected alongside a host of other accomplished women to front new advertisements for the British retailer, set to launch on the 31st March.

Emma Thompson Features In A New M&S Ad Campaign.

In the latest promo shot from the campaign, the Saving Mr. Banks actress joins pop star Rita Ora, singer and human rights campaigner Annie Lennox, chef, food writer and broadcaster Rachel Khoo, campaigner and life peer Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, supermodel, activist and artist Alek Wek, designer Lulu Kennedy, and structural engineer and advocate for Technical Careers, Roma Agrawal.

Continue reading: Emma Thompson, Annie Lennox, Rita Ora Unveiled As M&S "Leading Ladies" In Ad Campaign

What Would 'Harry Potter' Have Been Like With This Alternative Cast?

By Sophie Miskiw in Movies / TV / Theatre on 19 February 2014

Ian McKellen Daniel Radcliffe Tilda Swinton Emma Thompson Hugh Grant Liam Aiken

What would the Harry Potter films have been like if these other actors had nabbed the roles first?

There’s a generation out there who have been practically weened on Harry Potter. The books and the films have become a religion for devout fans of the series, but would it have been the same if different actors had been cast in the leading roles? You may be surprised to hear that before the perfect cast was set in stone, there were some strange alternate actors vying for the parts!

ian mckellen harry potter Ian McKellen turned down the role of Dumbledore

Sir. Ian McKellen was once thought in the running to play Hogwarts’ headmaster, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. He was, in fact, offered the role after original Dumbledore actor, Richard Harris, passed away just after filming the first Harry Potter film. However, Sir. Ian turned down the role, citing the reason that Richard Harris had once publicly declared what a dreadful actor he thought McKellen was! Eventually, Michael Gambon took on the role and the rest is Harry Potter history.

Continue reading: What Would 'Harry Potter' Have Been Like With This Alternative Cast?

Bryan Cranston Owns SAG Awards With Singing Acceptance Speech [Video]

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 20 January 2014

Bryan Cranston Emma Thompson Vince Gilligan Steve Buscemi Kevin Spacey Peter Dinklage Jeff Daniels

The 'Breaking Bad' actor was humble...and musical!

If there was ever any doubt over whether Bryan Cranston was rightfully awarded the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama award at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, those doubts will have surely been quashed by his amazing, and some might say tuneful, acceptance speech.

A True Dude: Bryan Cranston Was Humbled By His Second Individual SAG Award.

The gleeful actor bounded up on to the stage after his win had been announced and gripping the trophy tightly in his hands, he began to show Breaking Bad fans a side of Heisenberg that that they would have never expected. "IIII won a SAG awaaard," sang Cranston operatically to laughter from the audience.

Continue reading: Bryan Cranston Owns SAG Awards With Singing Acceptance Speech [Video]

Emma Thompson and Gaia Wise - The 19th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at The Barker Hangar - Santa Monica, California, United States - Thursday 16th January 2014

Video - Saving Mr Banks' Emma Thompson Hits The 2014 National Board Of Review Awards - Part 3

'Saving Mr Banks' star Emma Thompson was snapped by paparazzi as she walked the black carpet at the 2014 National Board Of Review Awards Gala in New York.

Continue: Video - Saving Mr Banks' Emma Thompson Hits The 2014 National Board Of Review Awards - Part 3

Baftas 2014: 'Gravity' Pulls In The Nominations While Chiwetel Ejiofor Stands A Great Chance

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 08 January 2014

Sandra Bullock Chiwetel Ejiofor Tom Hanks Leonardo Dicaprio Martin Scorsese Emma Thompson Judi Dench Jennifer Lawrence Bradley Cooper David O Russell Steve McQueen Amy Adams Bruce Dern Cate Blanchett Woody Allen Julia Roberts Oprah Winfrey Christian Bale Sally Hawkins Paul Greengrass

See below for a full list of nominations

The Bafta nominations didn’t really throw up any surprises, with many of the year’s top actors, directors and films being recognised. The constant metronome of: ‘Gravity,’ ’12 Years a Slave’ and ‘American Hustle’ still chimes away; the Oscar favourites are set to do battle.

Gravity Gravity is leading the way with 11 Bafta nominations

So 'Gravity' leads the way with 11 nominations; it’ll go up against '12 Years a Slave' in the Best Film Category as well as 'American Hustle', 'Captain Phillips' and 'Philomena', a film the Alfonso Cuaron space thriller must also beat to win Outstanding British Film gong. 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', 'Rush', 'Saving Mr. Banks' and 'The Selfish Giant' make up that category.

Continue reading: Baftas 2014: 'Gravity' Pulls In The Nominations While Chiwetel Ejiofor Stands A Great Chance

Greg Wise, Emma Thompson and Odeon Leicester Square - Greg Wise, Emma Thompson, Gaia Romiily Wednesday 16th May 2012 Men in Black 3 - UK film premiere held at the Odeon Leicester Square - Arrivals.

Greg Wise, Gaia Romilly Wise and Emma Thompson - Greg Wise, Gaia Romilly Wise and Emma Thompson Wednesday 24th March 2010 at Odeon West End London, England

Emma Thompson and Rhys Ifans - Emma Thompson gives Rhys Ifans the 2 fingers. London, England - 'Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang' World film premiere held at the Odeon West End. Wednesday 24th March 2010

Emma Thompson - Friday 8th February 2008 at BAFTA London, England

Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Celia Imrie, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton, Judi Dench and Robbie Coltrane - Kenneth Branagh, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Rickman, Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton, Richard E Grant, Robbie Coltrane, Patrick Doyle and daughters, Emma Thompson, Scott Davies, Sir Derek Jacobi, Jannis Kelly, Anatolij Fokanov, Adrian Lester, Mike Newell, Dan Hill Sunday 28th October 2007 at Royal Albert Hall London, England