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Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rosamund Pike recalls being asked to 'drop her dress' and ‘stand there in underwear' during James Bond audition
For Rosamund Pike, playing Miranda Frost in the James Bond film Die Another Day was her breakthrough. The 2002 hit gave Rosamund the much-needed boost early in her career, allowing the then 23-year-old to attract diverse roles. However, landing the role wasn't easy for the actor. In a recent interview, she revealed she was asked to strip in her audition. (Also read: Rosamund Pike has a question about Bollywood, asks, 'has any Hollywood actor been cast in an Indian film') In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Rosamund recalled the audition process for Die Another Day. 'In the Bond audition, I was asked to unzip and drop the dress I was wearing, to just stand there in underwear. And I thought, 'Well, no, I'll be doing that if I get the part. I won't be doing that now.' I don't know what possessed me.' Fortunately, Rosamund did get the part. Die Another Day starred Pierce Brosnan in his final film as 007. The film also starred Halle Berry and Toby Stephens. It was a massive box office success, minting $432 million, and paving the way for more roles for Rosamund. Rosamund Pike has appeared in successful films like Wrath of the Titans, Jack Reacher, and The World's End. She received critical acclaim for playing the lead in David Fincher's Gone Girl. In the recent years, the actor has appeared in shows like State of the Union (which won her an Emmy) and The Wheel of Time. In 2025, the actor will be seen in two films - the thriller Hallow Road and the threequel Now You See Me: Now You Don't. The latter sees her share the screen with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, and Morgan Freeman.
Tom's Guide
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix just added a zany sci-fi comedy — and it's instantly rocketed into the top 10
Britain is well-known for producing beloved comedy partnerships, and there are very few finer than the pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The duo starred together in the fan-favorite Cornetto trilogy (comprising 'Shaun of the Dead, ' 'Hot Fuzz' and 'The World's End'), and in between making three absurdly brillaint movies with director Edger Wright, Pegg and Frost also found the time to star in a screwball sci-fi comedy called… 'Paul.' It's not exactly the most mysterious name for a high-concept comedy about a pair of English nerds stumbling upon an alien in the American desert, but it fits the movie's silly tone. This 2011 comedy has recently resurfaced via Netflix U.S., and after just a few days on the streaming service, it's already found its way into the platform's top 10 most-watched list. You may like I'm glad to see this movie getting some love almost 15 years later. While it's not up to the quality of Pegg and Frost's collaborations with Wright ('Paul' was instead helmed by 'Superbad' director Greg Mottola), it's a crude but charming sci-fi adventure, and worth watching on Netflix. 'Paul' sees two British geeks, Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost), jet over to North America for the nerdy trip of a lifetime. Starting at San Diego's legendary Comic-Con, followed by taking in several historic UFO sites across the Southwest, including Area 51 and Roswell, New Mexico. But while they've always dreamed of making first contact, they get a lot more than they bargained for when they stumble upon Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), an otherworldly alien visitor with a slacker attitude and a penchant for smoking pot. He's not exactly a fearsome extraterrestrial. Befriending the big-eyed intergalactic traveller, they set off on a madcap adventure to return Paul to his mothership, but with U.S. federal agents in pursuit, including the comically evil Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman), getting this alien home proves to be an out-of-this-world ordeal. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Paul' also stars Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, John Carroll Lynch, Jesse Plemons, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, David Koechner and sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver. Plus, Steven Spielberg even makes a voice cameo. Should you stream 'Paul' on Netflix this week? (Image credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Universal Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo) 'Paul' certainly has enough enjoyable moments to make streaming it worthwhile. While it lacks the craftsmanship or the clever twists on genre found in Pegg/Frost's acclaimed work with Edgar Wright, it's an entertaining road trip comedy with plenty of playful nods to classic sci-fi. The interplay and chemistry between Pegg and Frost is 'Paul's' best weapon, and the pair have a real blast playing in such a nerdy sandbox. I especially enjoyed Graeme's first reaction to meeting Paul, which sees the character lose his nerves. Meanwhile, Clive faints and pees himself. The comedy follows a classic zero-to-hero structure. Graeme and Clive start as loveable losers, but over the course of the movie's trim 100-minute runtime, they become increasingly confident and grow to be dependable heroes, even taking on a shadowy government organization. Funnily enough, the eponymous Paul is probably my least favorite character in the movie. Rogan (who voices the CGI alien) does his usual 2010s stoner comedy shtick, which has its comedic charms, but also some serious limitations. And the alien's emotional arc doesn't land for me. (Image credit: AJ Pics / Universal Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo) Overall, 'Paul' is a funny, but not exactly groundbreaking sci-fi comedy. It's loving tributes to the genre will delight self-declared nerds. And even those who can't tell 'Star Wars' from 'Star Trek' will enjoy the chuckleworthy comedy and the grand nature of the adventure. 'Paul' enjoyed solid reviews. The movie holds a 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its audience score falls into roughly the same ballpark at 62%. These ratings feel about accurate. 'Paul' is entertaining, but lacking in enough key areas to make it truly remarkable. If you're looking for a silly sci-fi comedy this week, give 'Paul' a shot on Netflix. But if you want some alternative streaming options, here's a roundup of all the top new movies you can stream this week, including the intense 'Warfare,' which currently tops my best of 2025 list. Stream "Paul" on Netflix now More from Tom's Guide
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic 500-year-old pub in UK's ‘poshest' town loved by Premier League stars REOPENS
AN ICONIC pub in Britain's "poshest town" has finally re-opened after locals slammed its sky high prices. The historic Windmill Inn of Linton re-opened its doors vowing to offer punters good value drinks with pints costing as little as £4.80. 6 6 6 The watering hole, which dates back to 1564, suddenly closed it doors in late January when the previous landlady left. Some locals blasted the high prices for snubbing the hostelry which is in an area renowned for having many wealthy residents and with house prices in one street averaging £1.7million. Former celebrity residents include ex soccer star Rio Ferdinand and Del Boy actor David Jason. Now new leaseholders Sharon, 58, and Simon Colgan, 59, have reopened its doors and the residents are "over the moon". Sharon said: "Just because you are in a posh area doesn't mean you should have to pay the expensive marked up prices. "For those who want to pay extra they can - but it isn't necessary if they don't want to. "We want to return the pub to it's former days being somewhere the local residents can enjoy and call their own." She added that locals had been "so supportive" and that she was "thrilled to be able to give something back to them". The shock closure of the beloved pub came on January 24 after it hit financial difficulty. But three months on, veteran pub landlords Sharon, 58, and Simon Colgan, 59, have signed an agreement to take on the joint. Locals Heartbroken as Auchenmalg's Only Pub, The Cock Inn, Closes Down They were approached by its owners Bars and Stars - who are owned by Heineken - to see if they would like to take on the historic venue. The duo who run 12 pubs in partnership all across the UK agreed, singing the documents on April 22. Since then they have pumped £80,000 into refurbishments which include new carpets, a full re-paint, French polished tables and chairs, and updated outdoor benches. The duo have also invested in new glass washers and a coffee machine. They have even hired a new head chef and upgraded parts of the kitchen - purchasing new equipment like a cooker, new utensils, and microwaves. Sharon said the boozer is "worth every penny". She said: "The pubs we are used to are what you would call old man pubs with proper ale and proper pub grub to fill customers' belly. "This is a new adventure for us - a little above our pay grade - but we are very excited to see where it takes us." 6 6 The Windmill Inn sits in Linton which is Yorkshire 's most exclusive village. One of it Streets - Linton Lane - was found to have an average house price an eye-watering £1,791,000. It was also rumoured that James Bond star Daniel Craig lived in the area. Sharon appointed Michelle Landers, 49, and Rob Lamb, 55, as landlords to run its day to day business. The couple have worked with Sharan and Simon before running one of their earliest projects, The World's End in Knaresborough, North Yorks, five years ago. Michelle said: "The community feel of this pub is second to none." "Whilst we have been cleaning and preparing for it's reopening residents have been popping by telling us how thankful they are it is returning. "We are really pleased with how it has come out so far - we are chuffed about the whole project." Sharon and Simon will pay £4,250 a month - £51,000 a year - to keep the doors open. She said: "It's not cheap but we know it will be worth it. "We weren't planning on taking on another location, but it is such a historic place in such a stunning location, we found it hard to say no." The duo are keen on keeping prices low but offering upgrades for those who are willing to pay. Pints will cost range from £4.80 to £5 with the average meal setting customers back around £18. The pub also sells sharing platters including steak and shrimp priced at £65. The most expensive spirit is a single malt whisky which cost £7 for a single. Sharon says the couple will pump all profits back into the pub to keep it going for a "couple hundred more years". 6
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Limerick author's twist-filled new novel unfolds on Treaty City streets
'I was having these nightmares all the time,' Karen says, reflecting on the early days of COVID-19. 'Planes crashing, trains crashing, the world blowing up, because we just didn't know what was happening. 'One night I dreamt my daughter, who lived in Madrid at the time, wasn't communicating with me, so I showed up at her door and there was a baby in her arms. I brought them both to the airport to go home, and she just vanished in the crowd, leaving me alone with her daughter,' Karen recalls. That eerie visual became the heart of her upcoming novel, which centres on the mysterious disappearance of a young mother at Limerick's Colbert Station and marks the return of Private Investigator Lana Bowen to solve the case. A Limerick resident for nearly three decades, Karen grounds her fiction firmly in the streets she knows so well. 'I've been living in the city for almost 30 years, walking it, running it, I know all the little side streets,' she explains. 'It was important to me to capture that.' This authenticity is something readers have come to appreciate, particularly for those who call Limerick home. Her writing process, by contrast, is far from methodical. 'In every other part of my life, I plan everything. But when I write, there's no plan at all,' she chuckles. 'I just sit and make myself write a certain number of words, four days a week.' That freedom fuels her creativity, even if the plot often unravels into chaos that needs careful stitching together. The development of Never Look Back, the second instalment of a three-part series, was no exception. 'Twists, I love them,' she smiles, 'but you've got to untwist them,' she adds. 'I think I drove my editor nuts last summer. We had to untangle everything. It took weeks!' ADVERTISEMENT That editor is Gaye Shortland, a veteran in the industry since 1998, who Karen describes as 'the biggest gift of all' from her publishing journey. 'She won't let anything go if it doesn't make sense. I've learned so much from her,' Karen states. The novel itself took four months to draft, just like her first, but the road to publication was far longer. 'I started writing it in September 2021,' she explains. 'I'd already had rejections for my premiere novel, The World's End, and I became kind of cross. I thought to myself, 'You think it'll be easier than it is', but it's not.' And yet, the Casteconnell native persevered. 'There's always a solution to writer's block. Even if you're walking the dog or out shopping. Something clicks and you go, 'That's it.'' Her storytelling is layered with shadowy clues and red herrings that leaves the reader 'guessing all the time.' The Limerick arts scene has been a rock of support to Karen during her writing journey. Deeply involved in local theatre, including with Northside Misfits, Southill Community Drama Group, St Saviour's, Thomond Studio, and more, Karen says: 'They've all been amazing. So many of them were at the launch last year, and they're excited again this year. Working with them, creating plays, characters and fixing plot holes, it taught me I could write a book.' Never Look Back is set to hit the shelves of O'Mahony's Booksellers on May 8, 2025.
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The ‘Harry Potter' HBO Show Finally Makes A Slam-Dunk Casting Choice
Harry Potter WB The Harry Potter HBO series has been all over the place when it comes to casting choices from the decent Dumbledore pick, John Lithgow, to the baffling Snape pick, the too-handsome Paapa Essiedu. Now? It's about to cast an actor who is a slam-dunk for the role he's heading toward. That would be Nick Frost as the new Hagrid, the famed groundskeeper and key player in especially the early parts of the series. Frost is best-known for his roles in the Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg comedies Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End. Even though that last one was over a decade ago now, Frost has been in loads of projects since then, including doing a lot of voicework for animated endeavors. Arriving as Hagrid would be his biggest role possibly ever, given the attention that this controversial, but no doubt widely-watched series will have on Max/HBO when it does arrive. Unlike Lithgow, potentially, if the show runs a decade Frost, currently 52, will not age out of it. The original actor in the role of Hagrid for all the films was Robbie Coltrane, who sadly passed away in 2022, albeit no doubt he would not have returned, given that this looks to be a 100% new cast. But he did an excellent job and was a beloved part of those films. We'll see if Frost can live up, as perfect as his casting may seem. The biggest question, of course, is who will play the central trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron, though like the original movies, the goal is to find unknown, young actors for those parts, so it's not going to be anyone you've ever heard of. It's an immense amount of pressure, so hopefully they will be okay, whoever is cast. The other big part yet to be cast will be that of Voldemort, previously played by Ralph Fiennes, who has endorsed Cillian Murphy for the role, albeit there is nothing to indicate that is actually happening, or if he's interested in being locked into that part for the next decade of his career, recent Oscar-winner and all. I would not expect this show to release before 2027, nor do I expect it to take any less than seven seasons, maybe more, given how long the books get. This is an era where at best, it usually takes 1.5-2 years in between seasons of even not big shows, so this? I don't think it's unreasonable to say we'll be seeing this air into the late 2030s if it doesn't end up cancelled. But I think WB is going to be pot-committed to this one no matter what. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
