USA: Emma Thompson toasts her co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Will Ferrell at the 'Stranger Than Fiction' Los Angeles premiere

Record ID: 218637

  • Title: USA: Emma Thompson toasts her co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Will Ferrell at the 'Stranger Than Fiction' Los Angeles premiere
  • Date: 2nd November 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR DUSTIN HOFFMAN, WHO PORTRAYS DR. JULES HILBERT IN THE FILM, SAYING: "He (Will Ferrell) acted this part I mean it took in order to not fall back on the comedic gifts you know that he has but I think you will see for yourself."
  • Embargoed: 17th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAEHYUMZNI3TBZJRFV2GPGYK99E
  • Story Text: The "Stranger than Fiction" A-list cast, including Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman, Will Ferrell and Oscar winner Emma Thompson premiered the film in Los Angeles, California on Monday (October 30).
    Thompson looking very glamourous in a Robert Cavalli ensemble said she couldn't quite get her breasts to stay in her low cut dress.
    "They keep wanting to pop out. I am absolutely hopeless really I am always fiddling with myself and if you are actually if you are really going to be a fashion icon you can't do that. You have to just wander around and not mind and let things you know... It's is very nice getting glammed up occasionally its good fun and you know I enjoy it," Thompson told Reuters.
    In the dark comedy Ferrell takes on a bit more of serious tone playing Harold Crick, an IRS (Internal Revenue Service) agent, whose monotonous life is interrupted by a voice that seems to know all his thoughts, feelings and actions.
    The voice belongs to celebrated novelist Key Eiffel (Emma Thompson), who is blissfully unaware that the subject of her latest book is actually alive. Eiffel - who is famed for her tragedies - is struck with a bad case of writer's block and struggles with depression as she tries to find the best way to kill off Crick to complete her novel. When Crick hears his life is coming to an end, he seeks out the help of literary expert Dr Jules Herbert (Dustin Hoffman) to track down the voice before it's too late.
    The co-stars had nothing but accolades for each other including a nod from Hoffman for Ferrell setting aside his usual slapstick comedy for some real acting chops
    "He acted this part I mean it took in order to not fall back on the comedic gifts you know that he has but I think you will see for yourself," Hoffman said of Ferrell.
    Ferrell also had a few things say about working the popular screen legend Hoffman.
    "The day he showed up on set with a handgun and just started firing it wildly and he said, 'Relax those are just blanks' but turns out those were real bullets and Chicago police came in and shut the set down and said 'Oh it's Dustin Hoffman that's cool don't worry about it.' That's crazy Dustin for you," he joked on the arrival line.
    'Stranger Than Fiction' is written by first time screenwriter Zach Helm and directed by German director Marc Forster. The film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as Harold Crick's liberal love interest and Queen Latifah, who is recruited to help Eiffel get over her writer's block.
    Thompson said that working with both men, although both obviously talented, was very different.
    "With Dustin it's different because he is sort of legend and I have grown up with him. So that was kind of surreal in a way and with Will it was revelatory I just had seen his comedy and it was so wide, and big, and broad and yet very sophisticated I think that he just turns out to be this extraordinary actor and he is so brilliant in it," Thompson said.
    The film will open nationwide in the United States on November 10. ENDS.
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