Samantha Barks accentuates her slimline frame in skintight black catsuit at Vogue dinner

Super svelte! Samantha Barks accentuates her slimline frame in skintight black catsuit at Vogue dinner

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 07:07, 26 April 2013 | UPDATED: 11:56, 26 April 2013

She's one of this years most talked about breakthrough stars, after bagging a role in the Oscar-winning Les Misérables.

But Samantha Barks proved that there's more to her than just acting talent, as she showcased her style credentials at Vogue's dinner to celebrate designer Michael Kors on Thursday night.

Accentuating her super slimline frame, the 22-year-old wore a daring skintight black catsuit, clinched in at the waist with a chunky snakeskin belt.

Slimline frame: Les Mis star Samantha Barks showed off her svelte figure in a skintight black catsuit at the Vogue dinner for Michael Kors at Cafe Royal on Thursday

The star, who recently picked up an Empire award for best female newcomer, seemed to slot in with London's fashion set with ease, posing for photos at the Cafe Royal.

Ditching her girl-next-door image and going for a sultry style, the young actress showed off her incredibly svelte shape in the figure-hugging outfit.

Without a lump or bump in sight, the sporty star seemed confident about her appearance, even accentuating her slimline look by clinching herself in with a chunky belt.

Clinched in: The rising star accentuated her tony frame in the tight outfit, clinching her waist in with a chunky belt

Dramatic effect: Samantha kept her entire outfit black, accessorising with a black clutch and wearing heavy dark eye make-up

Continuing with her all-black theme, Samantha added a pair of towering ankle strap stilettos and held a clutch bag in one hand.

She wore her dark hair loose and tousled while going heavy on her dark eyeshadow, creating a slightly theatrical look with large flicks of kohl.

Clearly knowing how to make an impact, the one time talent show star let her jet black look offset her pale complexion, creating a dramatic overall look.

Breakthrough: The actress is being tipped as one of the UK's next big acting talents, after wowing Hollywood with her recent performance

Style credentials: The 22-year-old proved that she can hold her own in the fashion stakes as she partied with London's most style-conscious 

The actress was joined by a host of other style-conscious stars including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Daisy Lowe, rubbing shoulders with London's style elite.

Samantha has come a long way from the start of her career in 2008 when she appeared on the BBC singing show I'd Do Anything at just 17, in a bid to be crowned Andrew Lloyd Webber's Nancy.

Since being snapped up by director Tom Hooper to star in his adaptation of Les Mis, after her saw her as in the West End production, the actress has seen her star rise.

Floral tribute: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley poses in a dress by Michael Kors at the Vogue dinner

The actress, who is currently dating This Morning presenter Matt Johnson, returned to the stage production of Oliver! during the early months of 2013.

But after her run finished in February she started filming her second feature film, The Christmas Candle, which co-stars Lesley Manville and Susan Boyle.

'I felt like James Bond,' she told Empire magazine about shooting the new film. 'I wore a Union Jack parachute, I drank a martini - all while putting on my dress and fixing my lashes.'

Acclaimed performance: Samantha impressed directer Tom Hooper so much that he cast her as Éponine in the Oscar-winning Les Mis last year

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Isla Fisher on juggling family and career

'You can't have it all...  it's a total myth': Isla Fisher on juggling family and career   

By JENNIFER PEARSON

PUBLISHED: 17:51, 3 April 2013 | UPDATED: 12:38, 4 April 2013

She seems to lead a charmed life, but Isla Fisher insists she doesn't 'have it all'. 

The Australian-born actress is a realist when it comes to her life with quirky comedian Sacha Baron Cohen with whom she has two young daughters, Olive and Elula.

The 37-year-old admits it's not always easy juggling her movie career and family at the same time - suggesting she has made sacrifices when it comes to acting to focus on her home life.

Lucky: Isla Fisher, who shows off her curves in the new issue of FASHION magazine, reveals she feels lucky to have a career and a home life

'You can’t "have it all" – it’s a total myth,' Isla says in the new issue of Canadian magazine FASHION. 'Whatever you are lucky enough to get should be fabulous enough.'

She continues: 'I have never met anyone with the perfect career and the perfect family life. Something always has to suffer.'

Isla met the English star of Borat in 2002 and wed him eight years later after converting to Judaism.

Alluring: Isla told the magazine she doesn't have much time to get ready for a red carpet event and usually picks the first dress she tries on

Now they are the parents of two girls, Olive, five, and Elula, two.

Isla employs stylist Rachel Zoe to dress her for red carpet events, but admits she's can't compete with bigger Hollywood names when it comes to scoring dresses. 

'I have a stylist [Rachel Zoe] who styles Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway and whoever else,' she confesses.

'So they get all the dresses first, and then whatever they refuse – there are few, since they hang on to all the dresses until the very end – the couple left to choose that no one wants, I get that rack. 

Cover girl: Isla fairly sparkles in this emerald-green gown by Burberry Prorsum and necklace by Shourouk

'Way down on the food chain is me, so I pick on those crumbs and usually it is the first dress that I try on that wins because I’m always in a rush. I’m happy to wear anything.'

She added: 'When you look at my red carpet fashion choices, I’m always staying within my comfort zone – which is the opposite attitude I have to taking a role.'

Myth: Isla, seen here with husband Sacha Baron Cohen at London premiere of Les Miserables on December 5, confessed that you can't have it all

For her latest cover shoot, Isla flaunts her fair figure in an emerald-green gown by Burberry Prorsum and a $1,095 necklace by Shourouk.

She wears a dazzling multi-patterned hourglass-shaped frock in another picture, and another shot shows the stunning redhead in a midnight blue outfit and huge dangling earrings.

The Wedding Crashers star will next be seen as Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby, based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald and due to hit theatres on May 10.

'Everyone can be a bit guilty of being a Myrtle,' Isla told the magazine. 'We have all loved a bad boy.

Pivotal role: Isla stars in the upcoming movie The Great Gatsby opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire

'I have never been with a married man, but in my younger days I wanted to be in a relationship with someone who was not all honest or emotionally available.

'Research-wise, this is the most thorough movie I’ve been on. We had a three-week rehearsal period in New York, when we got really immersed in the ’20s, studied flapper girls and read Fitzgerald’s letters to Zelda. 

'We had access to so much more information than [on] a regular film because Baz is such a wonderful director. We had all the music for that period playing, and we were introduced to loads of visuals. It was like a Jazz Age bootcamp!'

The new issue of FASHION goes on sale in Canada on April 8.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2303472/Isla-Fisher-juggling-family-career-You-all.html#ixzz2PWahQAih
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Hugh Jackman flexes his ample muscles and unleashes his rage in new Wolverine posters

He's getting angry! Hugh Jackman flexes his ample muscles and unleashes his rage in new Wolverine posters 

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 16:08, 25 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:13, 25 March 2013

His character has a fiery temperament and Hugh Jackman is unleashing his anger as Wolverine in the latest poster for the new film.

The actor is pictured kneeling on the floor in an alley way with his shirt off and his muscles flexed.

Hugh is letting out a scream and throwing his head back with his arms stretched out and his claws on show. 

Ripped and toned: Hugh Jackman flexes his muscles as she screams out in anger as Wolverine in a poster for the new film

The actor shows off his gym-honed shape and has his impressive biceps, abdominal muscles and pectorals on display.

In another picture Hugh is seen with his arms crossed over his torso and his claws take centre stage.

The 44-year-old sports is raging and the veins are popping out of his neck as he screams. 

Eye-popping: The 44-year-old actor has veins popping out of his neck in another new poster for the film

Arty: A previous poster for the movie shows a Japanese-inspired image

It might be more than 12 years since Hugh first took on the role of the enraged superhero but he is looking in the shape of his life. 

The new posters come after a series of the film's stills were released earlier this month.

The film bosses are teasing fans with imagery from the flick ahead of its release in July.

Ready for action: New film stills show Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in what appears to be a Japanese garden

Other new stills from the forthcoming picture promise a similar dose of action to the franchise, with Jackman photographed soaked to the skin in the rain on a ship, looking at what appears to be a robot.

Another picture shows him in the snow against a backdrop of Japanese houses and red lanterns.

The plot to the hotly anticipated film has been kept closely under wraps but is believed to follow Logan travelling to Japan where he engages in a fight from a character from his past.

As well as training with a samurai warrior, Logan will fight against the Yakuza, a corrupt minister of justice, and he will watch his fiancé fall into the arms of his enemy.

Robotic: One still shows Jackman's Wolverinme coming across a mysterious entity on a ship

Snow bound: Hugh is seen in his superhero guise investigating a snowy Japanese town

With a reported budget of $100million, director James Mangold has opted to begin the film where 2006 movie X-Men: The Last Stand ended.

X Men: Origins Wolverine was released back in 2009 and followed the beginnings of the character, as well as introduce Marvel comic favourites The Deadpool and Gambit.

And Jackman was interested in setting the film in Japan, even before the 2009 film was released.

'There are so many areas of that Japanese story,' he told MTV that year, referring to a story originally told in the comic.

Back with a vengeance: Hugh Jackman looks super ripped as Logan in an official photograph from The Wolverine

Between a rock and a hard place: Hugh Jackman shows off his bulky pectorals in one shot where he appears to be in a cave

Six pack: The role gives Hugh the chance to show off his muscly figure and toned torso 

'I love the idea of this kind of anarchic character, the outsider, being in this world - I can see it aesthetically, too - full of honour and tradition and customs and someone who's really anti-all of that, and trying to negotiate his way,' he mused.

'The idea of the samurai, too -- and the tradition there. It's really great. In the comic book he gets his ass kicked by a couple of samurai -- not even mutants. He's shocked by that at first.'

Jackman has been steadily building his fitness levels up in order to prepare for the role, and spoke to Dwayne Johnson for advice on how to bulk up.

The former professional wrestler advised him to eat six meals a day and gain a pound a week for six months by consuming 6,000 calories a day which consisted mainly of chicken, steak and brown rice.

'It’s not easy for me,' Jackman told Entertainment Weekly. 'Because I’m actually quite long and lean.'

Body mass: Hugh lost weight to play the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, but has bulked up massively for The Wolverine

Here we go again: Hugh, pictured in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, has played the role of Wolverine seven times now

Jackman has also said that the tone of the new film will be different from the first Wolverine instalment. 

'I'm thrilled the studio called it The Wolverine instead of Wolverine 2, because we're trying to set it up as a standalone picture,' he told Total Film magazine.

'Tonally, it's different from the other X-Men movies. It's got massive action sequences, as people would expect, and it'll be great fun.

'But it is a character-driven movie. It's about a guy completely out of his element, in this world that's foreign to him, and how he copes with that. I feel like we have the opportunity to deliver that badass, kick-ass Wolverine I know everybody wants to see.'

The Wolverine will arrive in UK and US cinemas on July 26.

Must try harder: X-Men Origins: Wolverine failed to gain critical acclaim but did well at the box office

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Is Russell Crowe, 48, dating his 22-year-old Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks?

Is Russell Crowe, 48, dating his 22-year-old co-star? Gladiator star 'linked to Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks'

• Australian magazine claims the pairs have a 'special relationship'
• Miss Barks has been working out with Crowe and singing with his band
• Her father Richard says the co-stars are 'simply friends'

By PAUL REVOIR

PUBLISHED: 23:22, 3 March 2013 | UPDATED: 07:51, 4 March 2013

She's come a long way from finishing third on the BBC’s Saturday night talent show I’d Do Anything.

Five years later, Samantha Barks is well on the road to becoming a Hollywood star – with, perhaps, a Hollywood superstar on her arm to boot.

Miss Barks, 22, has been linked romantically with 48-year-old Russell Crowe, her co-star in the film Les Miserables. 

Just friends? Samantha Barks with Russell Crowe at the Oscars last month

An Australian magazine claims that Miss Barks, from the Isle of Man, has developed  a ‘special relationship’ with the Gladiator actor.

An insider told New Idea magazine that at the Oscars after-party: ‘She was continually touching his sleeve, giggling and sitting in awe of his every word, and he was lapping up every moment.’

Miss Barks has also been working out with the actor, and singing with his band at gigs in New York.

But her father, Richard, said the pair were ‘simply friends’.

Workout buddies: Russell and Samantha spent time together in the run up to the Oscars

Pictures in the magazine showed the co-stars out together last week in fitness attire and dining at a Beverly Hills café.

The pair were also together at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles where Les Mis won three of the coveted statuettes.

An insider said they were clearly on very close terms at the after-show party, the Governor's Ball.

The onlooker at the told the magazine: ‘Russell and Sam greeted each other like the oldest of friends and no one could get a word in.

The Les Miserables co-stars, who performed at the Oscars ceremony last month, were 'close' at the after-party

‘It was electric watching them flirt, it was the buzz of the ball.'

Miss Barks missed out playing Nancy in the West End production of Oliver! after coming third in the BBC series I’d Do Anything, won by Jodie Prenger. 

Rocky: Russell split from wife Danielle Spencer last year

But despite not winning the coveted stage role she went on to star as Eponine in the big screen adaptation of Les Miserables.

Miss Barks has previously spoken about how she hit it off with Mr Crowe during filming of the musical.

She said in one interview: ‘We had the best time hanging out. It was awesome.’

Mr Crowe has also written about the actress and singer on his Twitter account revealing he had been ‘working out’ with her including a ‘4km walk, 30 mins elliptical, 4 mins prone hold, shoulder routine, lats, bench, Turkish stand’.

He also complimented her before her appearance at the Oscars on the social networking site.

He wrote: ‘Last tech rehearsals for the Big O done...next up...showtime..@SamanthaBarks will be looking amazing tonight, worth tuning in just for that.’

Miss Barks shared one of her own moments with Crowe on Instagram which showed the pair ‘having boxing lessons’ on set.

In January she also revealed told how the the pair have performed together. She said ‘Russell and I actually do gigs - I gig with his band so I speak him a lot.’

She added: ‘It’s very cool. We’ve done a few gigs in New York so far but whenever we’re all free, we all just love to have a little jam...it’s wicked.’

Despite the couple’s obvious closeness her family last night denied they are romantically involved.

Speaking from his home in Laxey, Isle of Man, Richard Barks said the pair were friendly but not in a relationship together.

Mr Crowe split up with his wife of nine years Danielle Spencer, 43, in October. The couple have two children.

Friendly: Samantha posted an Instagram photo of her and Russell 10 weeks ago, saying 'one of my favourite on set pictures'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2287587/Is-Russell-Crowe-48-dating-22-year-old-star-Gladiator-star-linked-Les-Miserables-actress-Samantha-Barks.html#ixzz2MahgyXIL
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BAFTAs weekend film special: Maria Realf rounds up some of the key contenders 

By MARIA REALF

PUBLISHED: 18:00, 8 February 2013 | UPDATED: 22:57, 9 February 2013

As we look forward to the EE British Academy Film Awards this Sunday, Maria Realf rounds up some of the big contenders...

Lincoln

Number of nominations: 10

YOU view: Set during the American Civil War, Steven Spielberg's political drama about former US President Abraham Lincoln is thoughtful, ambitious and full of powerful performances. In many ways, it's reminiscent of 2010's The King's Speech: based on a true story, driven by drama and dialogue - and rolling in awards nominations. 

Contenders, ready... If Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't win best leading actor, I'll eat a Lincoln-style top hat. Co-star Tommy Lee Jones is in with a good shout for supporting actor too, while Sally Field faces stiff competition from Les Misérables star Anne Hathaway in the supporting actress category. 

Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis are both BAFTA nominated for their performances in Lincoln

Les Misérables

Number of nominations: 9

YOU view: Do you hear the people sing/cheer/sniffle into their hankies? Tom Hooper's rousing musical masterpiece has proved a huge hit with cinema audiences, topping the UK box office for the fourth week running. Packed with memorable songs and more A-listers than a front row in fashion week, it's one weepie you won't want to miss.

Contenders, ready... Tom Hooper's last movie (The King's Speech) won a whopping seven BAFTAs, so he's certainly got a good track record - though surprisingly he didn't bag a best director nod for Les Mis. Anne Hathaway looks to be the frontrunner for supporting actress, while Hugh Jackman is nominated for leading actor. The movie's also up for best film and outstanding British film, and I predict it'll go home with at least one of those, plus perhaps something for its brilliant costume design or make-up and hair.

 

Will Les Miserables emerge victorious on Sunday?

 

Les Miserables BRAND NEW Second release trailer

Life of Pi

Number of nominations: 9

YOU view: Not only has director Ang Lee brought Yann Martel's supposedly 'unfilmable' bestseller to the big screen, but he's also created one of the year's cinematic highlights. Think Titanic meets Slumdog Millionaire meets Avatar. With a tiger.

Contenders, ready... While it's not nominated in any of the four main acting categories (hardly surprising, given that there are so few actors in it), the film's star Suraj Sharma is shortlisted for the EE Rising Star award, and I'd expect it to scoop some of the more technical gongs. If you haven't seen this yet, make sure you do before it leaves cinemas - the incredible visuals demand to be admired in all their full glory.

Suraj Sharma's up for the Rising Star award, but sadly there isn't a category for best supporting tiger...

 

Life Of Pi - Official Trailer

Skyfall

Number of nominations: 8

YOU view: Sam Mendes’s take on 007 is nothing short of spectacular – breathing new life into what was threatening to become a formulaic franchise and putting the ‘super’ firmly back into super-spy. Though this 23rd instalment still contains plenty of nods to the conventions of old – the high-speed chases (including a spine-tingling segment on top of a moving train), the glamorous women, the Aston Martin – this latest offering is surprisingly character-driven.

Contenders, ready... If it can beat off Les Misérables, Skyfall could be a hot contender for outstanding British film. And despite being overlooked in the acting nominations at the Oscars, it's got two nods in the supporting categories here for Javier Bardem and Dame Judi Dench.

It's already been a runaway box-office success - will Skyfall be an equally big hit at the BAFTAs?

 

Skyfall official trailer Imax Branded

Other ones to watch...

Argo (7 nominations): Not just a pretty face, Ben Affleck is proving to be a director of real substance. He's already won two Golden Globes (for best director and best motion picture - drama) as well as a Directors Guild of America award for this hostage drama based on a true story - can he add BAFTAs for best director and film to his haul? Oh, and he's up for leading actor, too, as if we  weren't impressed enough.

Anna Karenina (6 nominations): Joe Wright's adaptation of the Tolstoy classic - starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law - may have missed out in the acting categories, but it's still in the running for make-up and hair, costume design, original film music, production design, cinematography and outstanding British film.

Django Unchained (5 nominations): Quentin Tarantino's ninth directorial effort is as stylised, compelling and controversial as we've come to expect from the auteur, and he's nominated for best director and original screenplay. Christoph Waltz is deservedly up for supporting actor too, having previously scooped the award for Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

Zero Dark Thirty (5 nominations): Director Kathryn Bigelow was named best director at the 2010 BAFTAs with The Hurt Locker, which also took best film, and she's back in the running in both categories with this picture about the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Jessica Chastain is a major contender for leading actress too, while Mark Boal will be hoping for another original screenplay BAFTA to go with his one for The Hurt Locker.  

Silver Linings Playbook (3 nominations): This romantic comedy drama might have picked up more nominations at the Oscars than the BAFTAs (8 versus 3) but I don't expect it will be going home empty handed. Jennifer Lawrence is many people's top tip for leading actress (having already bagged a Golden Globe) while director David O. Russell could nab best adapted screenplay - plus the gorgeous Bradley Cooper is in the race for leading actor.

The EE British Academy Film Awards will be shown on Sunday night on BBC1. Check back here on the night for more BAFTAs news, and follow me on Twitter @Mariaonmovies

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