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AUSSIE NEWS ALERT!
As far as movies are concerned..Cate's latest flick - "Pushing Tin" will debut at theatres July 22nd. 5-17-99 CATE TO GET COVETED FILM ROLE??? There is some HUGE news on the Cate front today!! It appears as if Cate is THE choice to play the lead in the film version of the phenomenally popular novel, "Bridget Jones's Diary". Here is the news as reported by the Melbourne Herald-Sun: Mon, 17 May 1999. AUSSIE STAR JUST RIGHT. Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett is hotly tipped to play the lead in the film version of the best selling novel "Bridget Jones's Diary". After failing to find a British actress to fit the bill, Working Title, the company responsible for "Four Weddings And A Funeral", is hoping to cast the Australian star of "Elizabeth" in the new role. "There are actually not very many suitable actresses of the right age in Britain," a source involved in the project said, "Emma Thompson is too old and Kate Winslet is too young.
"The two characters are even rather similar, in the way both convince themselves that men are superfluous while desperate for them all the same." The company plans to begin production in the next few months with Blanchett, 30, playing the chain smoking, calorie obsessed 30-something heroine of Helen Fielding's book. Stuart Till, president of Universal Pictures, which owns Working Title, said "Cate was brilliant as the English queen and is very, very good in David Hare's play "Plenty". She may not be English but she's an actress with an English sensibility. "The character will still be British even if the actress isn't. We're not going to transport the story anywhere abroad. It will remain very true to the book." So, that's EXTREMELY exciting. This book was just about the biggest thing since "Ally McBeal". Sounds like a plum role for our Cate. Working Title purchased the rights in early 1998, and it would certainly be nice to see Cate get another go around with Working Title, particularly now that they have deep-pocketed Universal behind them rather than anemic Polygram. That should make all the difference should Cate secure another Oscar nomination. If you missed all the excitement regarding, "Bridget Jones's Diary", here's a bit of a critical retrospective: "It's hard to imagine a funnier book appearing anywhere this year." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review "Bridget Jones's Diary has made her the best friend of hundreds of thousands of women..." --The New York Times |
"Newspaper columnist Fielding's first effort, a bestseller in Britain,
lives up to the hype: This year in the life of a single woman is closely
observed and laugh-out-loud funny...Fielding's diarist raises prickly
insecurities to an art form, turns bad men into good anecdotes, and
shows that it is possible to have both a keen eye for irony and a
generous heart." --Kirkus Reviews "Helen Fielding is one of the funniest writers alive and Bridget Jones is a creation of comic genius." --Nick Hornby "Even men will laugh." --Salman Rushdie "In New York and beyond, women are lending purloined proofs of Viking's American edition and British copies to friends with "you've got to read this" notes attached...Ally McBeal better watch her scrawny little back--in June, Bridget Jones is coming to America." --Newsweek
So, there you go, And, although everyone always suspects me of being
such a dag, I did NOT throw in that Salman Rushdie review as a gag. BIRTHDAY GIRL Cate celebrated her 30th birthday on the 14th, and we trust it was as much fun as it can be when you're enduring the grind of a theatrical production, what, eight times a week? Sally was kind enough to provide us with a beautiful "Plenty" ad from the Sunday Times in London, which may be viewed in the "Plenty" Image Gallery. Sally's wonderful review of the play may be found with the "Plenty" reviews. Speaking of Cate's stage reviews, Dean has been doing wonderful work in tracking down reviews for Cate's earlier stage performances. You may find them in the Stage Reviews Room, but, be forewarned. As pleased as one may be to see how well received Cate's work is, one can't helped but feel a little wistful at having missed what were, obviously, sensational theatre experiences. MTV MOVIE AWARDS There is still time to vote for Cate in honor of her nomination as Best Female Breakthrough Performance in the 1999 MTV Movie Awards. Cate's competition consists of Katie Holmes, Rachel Leigh Cook, Brandy and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Seems sorta like Cate and the little children, doesn't it. You may vote between now and May 22 at Vote For Cate
HUSBAND TO CLOSE CANNES Until next time, remember, when all else fails, "PLAY A VOLTA!". |
"The star has got to have international appeal while being a very
talented actress. "Blanchett is the right age and proved she can play
an English woman superbly thanks to her performance in "Elizabeth".
And, we'll close with a reminder that Cate is still scheduled to attend
the closing night screening of An Ideal Husband on May 23 at the
Cannes Film Festival. The evening is being hosted by the lovely Kristen
Scott Thomas. All the grumbling about the lack of "star power" at this
year's festival should be laid to rest THAT night.