Showing posts with label Belle. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Shailene Woodley and Margot Robbie lead the nominations for 2015 BAFTA Rising Star Award

Shailene Woodley and Margot Robbie lead the nominations for 2015 BAFTA Rising Star Award... as British actor Jack O'Connell is also revealed to be in the running

PUBLISHED: 10:36, 7 January 2015 | UPDATED: 14:49, 7 January 2015

It's one of the hottest awards an up-and-coming young actor or actress can win.

The hopefuls for the 2015 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award have been revealed, with the likes of Hollywood stars Shailene Woodley and Margot Robbie leading the way.

British stars Jack O'Connell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are also in the running for the top prize, as well as American actor Miles Teller.

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Rising Star hopefuls: Shailene Woodley (left) and Margot Robbie have both received nominations for the prestigious BAFTA Award

The award is given every year at the BAFTAs for outstanding actors and actresses who have demonstrated a promising talent, and it serves as a good indicator for those who will go on to have illustrious careers.

This year's hopefuls were revealed by Stephen Fry and are a mixed bag, but each with with critical acclaim and strong performances under their belt.

US star Shailene Woodley, 23, has impressed audiences and critics with her appearances in hit films such as The Fault In Our Stars and Divergent.

Brit star: Jack O'Connell, pictured at the BAFTA announcement on Wednesday, is already an acclaimed actor, and is now up for the 2015 EE Rising Star Award

Stiff competition: Hopefuls Miles Teller (left) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (right) have also been chosen by the jury for the accolade

Stephen Fry announces the EE Rising Star Nominees 2015

Her breakthrough role was in the Oscar-winning The Descendants alongside George Clooney, but it was her role in teen adventure film Divergent that really put her on the map.

She has already been praised by the industry and has won a few top accolades, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress, an MTV Movie gong and a handful of Film critic awards, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award.

The busy star is currently also working on Divergent sequels Insurgent and Allegient, and she'll also be starring alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in new flick Snowden.

A job well done: Shailene Woodley has been praised for her role in films such as The Descendants, Divergent and The Fault In Our Stars (above)

Gun-toting Shailene Woodley in action-packed Insurgent trailer

Australian actress Margot Robbie, 24, made audiences sit up and take notice when she starred in Martin Scorse's critically acclaimed The Wolf Of Wall Street, as the female lead alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

However, she was first known for her role as Donna Freedman in TV soap Neighbours for which she received two Logie Award nominations.

After holding her own in the big-hitting Hollywood movie last year, she is set to appear as an up-and-coming artist alongside Will Smith in new flick Focus.

British actor Jack O'Connell, 24, has also received the nod and is one of the hopefuls for this year's Rising Star Award.

Promising star: Margot Robbie wowed as her portrayal of the wronged wife in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf Of Wall Street alongside Leonardo DiCapri

Will Smith and Margot Robbie get intimate in raunchy 'Focus'...

He has been known in the UK for some time after appearing on gritty teen series Skins back in 2007, but he has achieved international status after being cast in Unbroken by the film's director Angelina Jolie.

The young actor has also appeared in - and been praised for - Belfast-based thriller '71, and British indie film Starred Up, for which he also received several top award nominations.

Speaking of being nominated, Jack said: 'Thank you to BAFTA and the jury. I'm honoured to be considered for the EE Rising Star Award amongst such a talented field; especially for films which I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of.'

As well as the BAFTA nod, Jack has also recently been given the Breakthrough Performance award by the National Board of Review for his roles in Starred Up and Unbroken, and is also nominated for the Best British Actor of the Year prize by the London Critic's Circle.

True potential: Jack O'Connell was handpicked by Angelina Jolie to appear in her latest directorial effort, Unbroken

Watch the new trailer for Angelina Jolie directed movie Unbroken

Another Brit on the list is Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who has been on the movie scene since 2011 when she appeared in Larry Crowne alongside Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, which garnered her a place on BAFTA's Brits to Watch list.

Since then, she has appeared in movies Odd Thomas and period drama Belle, which earned her the Best Actress award and a nomination for Most Promising Newcomer at last year's British Independent Film Awards.

The 31-year-old hopeful's most recent appearance is in Beyond The Lights opposite Minnie Driver, and she also has a credible TV career under her belt, after having appeared on shows such as Spooks, Dr Who and Marple - Ordeal By Innocence.

'I am delighted to be nominated for the EE Rising Star Award,' she said of the BAFTA nod. 'It is such an honour to be recognised for a growing body of work and I am proud and excited to be included.'

Brit hopeful: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (right) has appeared in several TV shows and movies so far in her career, including 2013's critical success Belle (above)

Minnie Driver stars as pushy Mum in film Beyond The Lights

Finishing up the list of talented young actors is American star Miles Teller who has made waves in the industry following roles in movies such as Divergent, Project X and 21 & Over.

But it's his latest performance in the acclaimed Whiplash that has put him firmly on the movie star map: the drama received the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and he also got a Best Actor nomination at the 2014 Gotham Awards.

Overwhelmed upon receipt of the BAFTA nomination, he said: 'Thank you BAFTA for the nomination! I'm very proud to represent Whiplash and all those who worked incredibly hard on such a wonderfully fulfilling gem of a film. The ovation it received at the London Film Festival remains one of my proudest moments as a young actor.'

This will be the 10th year of the EE Rising Star Award, which has previously been won by the likes of now-successful Hollywood heavyweights Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy, Eva Green, Shia LeBeouf and James McAvoy. Last year's winner was British actor Will Poulter, who has achieved success in films such as We're The Millers, Son Of Rambow and The Maze Runner.

The five potential Rising Stars were chosen by a jury of BAFTA members and industry experts, but the winner can now be voted for by the public.

The result will be revealed at the EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony on February 8.

Proud star: Miles Teller - pictured in Whiplash - has revealed how honoured he is at being nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award

Miles Teller stars in upcoming jazz drama Whiplash

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Alesha Dixon, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jade Ewen look stunning at UK premiere of Belle

Doesn’t she get a day off? Alesha Dixon shows off her super flat stomach as she dresses up again for UK premiere of Belle

By FAY STRANG

PUBLISHED: 19:40, 5 June 2014 | UPDATED: 20:48, 5 June 2014

She is used to dressing up to the nines when she appears on Britain’s Got Talent every week.

But Alesha Dixon clearly doesn’t get bored of it as she proved when she attended the UK premiere of Belle on Thursday evening at the BFI Southbank.

The 35-year-old looked sensational as per usual wearing a long red skirt and a stomach baring black top.

Elegant: Alesha Dixon looked stunning as she arrived at the premiere of Belle at the BFI Southbank

While many would shy away from wearing red on the red carpet, Alesha clearly had no qualms which paid off as the skirt looked stunning.

In keeping with her sleek look she wore her hair loose and straight falling down her back.

The mother-of-one has had a busy week after attending the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on Tuesday evening, where she presented an award alongside Amanda Holden.

Flat: Alesha revealed her incredibly flat abs in her skirt and top combination

Leading lady: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who plays Belle in the film, turned heads in her tiny black number

This weekend she will once again have to pull out all the stops as BGT live shows continue.

Belle is British drama directed Amma Asante, which stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Sam Reid, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Sarah Gadon, Tom Felton, and James Norton.

The film is inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray.

Commissioned by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, then Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the portrait of his two nieces hung in England's Kenwood House, until 1922. Very little is known about Dido Belle's life in the Mansfield home.

What a babe: Jade Ewen showed off her toned legs in her short skirt

Ethereal: Miranda Richardson who also stars in the film opted for a floaty gown

The film centers on Dido's relationship with an aspiring young lawyer and is set at a time of legal significance as the potential ramifications of the Zong massacre become apparent.

Lord Mansfield's ruling on this infamous case, in England's Court of King's Bench, became an important step in bringing an end to slavery in England.

The premiere was also attended by film’s leading lady Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who wowed in a short black dress.

Former Sugababe Jade Ewan was also in attendance, wearing a patterned miniskirt and white cropped T-shirt.

Belle is due for release in the UK on June 13.

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Gugu Mbatha-Raw stands out in a green satin gown as she joins co-star Sam Reid at New York premiere of Belle

The Belle of the ball! Gugu Mbatha-Raw stands out in a green satin gown as she joins co-star Sam Reid at the New York premiere of slavery epic

By HANNA FLINT

PUBLISHED: 11:34, 29 April 2014 | UPDATED: 14:30, 29 April 2014

She’s been a supportive actress to Tom Hanks, Kiefer Sutherland and David Tennant, but on Monday night, it was Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s turn to step into the limelight.

The British star takes on the lead role in period drama Belle, and she certainly looked the belle of the ball in her green satin Grecian-style gown, by Lanvin, at the New York premiere of the new film.

Gugu was joined by her co-star and onscreen love interest Sam Reid, at the screening of the movie that tells the tale of a mixed race woman who could well have been one of the catalysts in stopping the slave trade in Britain.

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Historic love: Onscreen lovers Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Reid attend an intimate dinner after the Belle premiere in New York

The actress - whose previous credits include Larry Crowne and TV shows Touch and Doctor Who - enhanced her glamorous look with gold and yellow jewellery while styling her curls into a chic updo.

Sam - who will feature in the upcoming films Posh and Serena, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper - went for a modern red carpet look by foregoing a tie with his white shirt and blue suit.

Mbatha-Raw brings Dido's story to light, one that is filled with racial prejudice, social standing and idealistic endeavours in in the 18th century.

Epic: The British stars bring a tale of slavery and social change to light in the period drama based on the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle

Stunning: Gugu wore a green Grecian-style dress by Lanvin to the event held at Clement in The Peninsula Hotel

Premiere: A screening was held at The Paris Theatre in New York earlier in the evening

"Belle": Film Trailer

Dido was the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay, but raised by her aristocratic great-uncle, the Lord Chief Justice and 1st Earl of Mansfield, William Murray and his wife alongside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray.

Being part of such a noble family, Belle was accustomed to the finer things in life, but was still prevented from engaging in traditional social activities with her white family and acquaintances because of the colour of her skin.

But after meeting a young abolitionist John Davinier, played by Sam Reid, they together work to persuade Lord Mansfield to make a ruling in a slavery case that would become a significant step in recognising the illegality of slavery, and towards the abolition of it in the British Empire in 1834.

Women in film: Gugu Mbatha-Raw poses with Belle director Amma Asante

Co-star: Miranda Richardson also attended the screening, and plays Lady Ashford in the film

The film is considered a historical fiction, and was inspired by a 1779 portrait of Belle and Elizabeth, which currently hangs at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland.

Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson play Dido’s aunt and uncle Lord William and Lady Mary Murray, while Miranda Richardson plays Lady Ashford, the mother of potential suitors with their two nieces.

Tom Felton, Penelope Wilton, Matthew Goode and Sarah Gadon make up the supporting cast.

Guests: TV host Star Jones and actress Yaya DaCosta attended in colourful fashion

Historic fiction: The film is based on the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle who was taken in by her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Mansfield, along with her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murral (played by Sarah Gadon) in 18th century Britain

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Amma Asante, the director of Belle, said: 'I think it would be disingenuous to believe her presence in the house didn't have some impact on him. It makes or a fascinating story to think that his love for this child opened his eyes.'

Miranda Richardson joined her co-stars at the New York premiere, wearing a brown puffball dress, while guests Yaya DaCosta and Star Jones opted for more colourful frocks.

Belle is released in the US on 2 May 2014 and in the UK on 13 June

Inspired: The film takes inspiration from a 1779 portrait of Dido and Lady Elizabeth

Monday, 4 November 2013

First Trailer & Poster For Lavish Slave Drama ‘Belle’ Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw

First Trailer & Poster For Lavish

Slave Drama ‘Belle’ Starring

Gugu Mbatha-Raw-Hollywoodnews

By Craig Hunter on October 16, 2013@TheCraigHunter

With the likes of Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED and Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE reminding us of America’s shameful history of slavery (albeit in very different ways), we’ve another effort on the way with BELLE. Rising British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw leads in title role centred on the illegitimate, bi-racial daughter born of Royal Navy admiral Sir John Lindsay and his black mistress slave. The film explores how she fits into her Aristocratic ancestry, while being looked as an embarrassing shame.

In late eighteenth century England, Dido Elizabeth Belle is born to a white British admiral and a black Caribbean slave. The admiral’s well-bred family is appalled, but when he returns to sea, custom dictates that they raise his child as an aristocrat. Britain’s imposing Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson) is both Dido’s uncle and the family patriarch, and instructs this bi-racial woman (Mbatha-Raw) to respect both the law and the social codes of her station. She is a lady, but she is an embarrassment. How is she ever to marry?

We have the first trailer and poster from the Fox Searchlight film directed by Amma Asante from a screenplay written by Misan Sagay. The outstanding supporting cast includes Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Penelope Wilton, Matthew Goode, Tom Felton, Sarah Gadon and Miranda Richardson.

BELLE is released in the US 2nd May 2014 No word yet on a UK date.

More photos of the beautiful Gugu Mbatha-Raw can be found by clicking here

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Belle Official Trailer starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Belle Official Trailer (HD) Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Published on 15 Oct 2013

http://www.joblo.com - "Belle" Official Trailer (HD) Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Belle is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizebeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar's son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.

Director: Amma Asante

Writers: Misan Sagay

Actors: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Sara Gadon, Penelope Wilton, Miranda Richardson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid, Matthew Goode

Website: http://www.belle-themovie.com/

© 2012 Fox Searchlight Pictures

Director Amma AsanteYear 2013Genre(s) Dramas

Dido Elizabeth Belle is the mixed race daughter of Royal Navy officer Captain John Lindsay resulting from his affair with an African woman. Desperate for his only child to receive a comfortable upbringing, he takes her back to England and begs his uncle, Lord Mansfield, to take her in and care for her as their own. As much as she is treated well and enjoys the company of her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray, she finds herself an outcast with no specified social status and disallowed from dining with her family

on social occasions all because of her colour. While she is shunned by almost everybody, one man takes an interest in her; John Davinier, the apprentice of Lord Mansfield. However, both her great-uncle and John's parents are averse to the idea of their marriage - though their shocking love story forces Mansfield to re-think his own feelings about race and family.

'Belle' is a period drama loosely based on a true story, directed by Amma Asante ('A Way of Life') and written by Misan Sagay ('The Secret Laughter of Women'). It is inspired by a painting of Dido and her cousin from 1779 which was commissioned by Mansfield and hung in Kenwood House, London for many years. It made its premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival

and is set to hit cinemas on May 2nd 2014.

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Matthew Goode, Miranda Richardson,Penelope Wilton, Sam Reid, Sarah Gadon, Tom Felton, James Norton

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