- Title: USA: Helen Mirren and Russell Brand talk Shakespeare at "The Tempest" premiere
- Date: 8th December 2010
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 6, 2010) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EL CAPITAN THEATRE MARQUEE AND TILT-DOWN TO RED CARPET HELEN MIRREN POSING FOR PHOTOS VARIOUS OF KATY PERRY AND RUSSELL BRAND POSING FOR PHOTOS CUTAWAY OF TELEVISION CAMERA OPERATOR KATY PERRY AND RUSSELL BRAND POSING FOR PHOTOS DJIMON HOUNSOU AND WIFE KIMORA LEE SIMMONS POSING FOR PHOTOS ACTOR CHRIS COOPER TALKING TO MEDIA MOVIE POSTER AND PAN TO HELEN MIRREN TALKING TO A REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) HELEN MIRREN ON EXPERIENCING SHAKESPEARE, SAYING: "I don't think you want to learn anything from Shakespeare, because that makes it seem like school, you know. But the fact is Shakespeare is, eternally brilliant and moving, and exciting. And once you kind of hook into that, then nothing will hold you back and you'll love Shakespeare for the rest of your life. And it's tough. Yes, it's tough. It's a challenge. But, you know, life can't all be easy. You know. You've got to challenge yourself." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSELL BRAND ON ACTING IN A FILM BASED ON A SHAKESPEAREAN PLAY, SAYING: "There's a brilliant director, and I got like tips off Alfred Molina, who's in the film. He's a proper good actor and acting teacher. So, you're surrounded--the people that are around you raises your game. You can't be in a film with Helen Mirren and act badly. It just wouldn't happen. They'd kick you out." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DJIMON HOUNSOU ON ACTING IN A FILM BASED ON A SHAKESPEAREAN PLAY, SAYING: "I, you know, I fought my fear, and I went through it and I dived into it, and learned, and it became very, you know--it, you know I think the initial dive into a project like that is always intimidating. But once you do it once, you're okay." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALAN CUMMING ON HIS CHARACTER IN THE FILM, SAYING: "I just thought, he must be a bit dim, to not grasp that this man is constantly trying to get him to do this thing, and he doesn't realize, so. I based it on Prince Andrew. Who I think is a bit dim. And maybe he's not. But that has been my impression." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSELL BRAND ON BEING ALLOWED TO IMPROVISE IN THE FILM, SAYING: "They let me improvise a little bit, because Julie is a very innovative director, and she also believes correctly in my view that in Shakespearean times, the comedic parts would have latitude for improvisation, cause then they could like say stuff to the audience, you know, and say things that were current. Like comedy these days." (SOUNDBITE) (English) HELEN MIRREN ON PLAYING A ROLE WRITTEN FOR A MALE, SAYING: "It fits beautifully, as a woman. I think it fits beautifully. Of course, it was a challenge for me personally, because it is one of the great Shakespearean roles, and you're very conscious of all the great actors that played it before you, all the great actors who are going to play it after you. So, you know, you at least want to be as good as they are." CHRIS COOPER AND DJIMON HOUNSOU TALKING TO REPORTERS HELEN MIRREN POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH DIRECTOR JULIE TAYMOR
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAD91SMBYC8F55UWDZ4JPISJT0V
- Story Text: Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren led cast members from her new film "The Tempest" down the red carpet Monday (December 6, 2010) night at the Hollywood premiere.
Mirren and Russell Brand were among the primarily British ensemble cast assembled by American director Julie Taymor for this big screen adaptation of a classic play by William Shakespeare.
In this version of "The Tempest," Mirren portrays the main character, Prospera, a part which was originally written for a male. The movie marks the first time the gender of the lead role has been changed in four centuries.
The story follows the banishment of Prospera to a deserted island with her young daughter, and her ultimately achieving victory over those who wronged her by using her sharp intellect.
Mirren talked about experiencing the great English poet and playwright both as a spectator and in speaking his language.
"I don't think you want to learn anything from Shakespeare, because that makes it seem like school, you know," explained the renowned actress. "But the fact is Shakespeare is, eternally brilliant and moving, and exciting. And once you kind of hook into that, then nothing will hold you back and you'll love Shakespeare for the rest of your life. And it's tough. Yes, it's tough. It's a challenge. But, you know, life can't all be easy. You know. You've got to challenge yourself."
Mirren, 65, took home the Oscar for best leading actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2007 film "The Queen."
Brand credited Taymor, Mirren and his fellow cast members for helping him learn the role of Trinculo, the comic buffoon.
"There's a brilliant director, and I got like tips off Alfred Molina, who's in the film," shared Brand, 35.. He's a proper good actor and acting teacher. So, you're surrounded--the people that are around you raises your game. You can't be in a film with Helen Mirren and act badly. It just wouldn't happen. They'd kick you out."
Brand also talked about being allowed the freedom to shape the role in part.
"They let me improvise a little bit, because Julie is a very innovative director, and she also believes correctly in my view that in Shakespearean times, the comedic parts would have latitude for improvisation, cause then they could like say stuff to the audience, you know, and say things that were current. Like comedy these days."
Brand was joined on the red carpet by his new wife, singer Katy Perry. The two wed in October of this year.
Meanwhile, Mirren noted why the embracing this new twist on the centuries-old production intrigued her.
"It fits beautifully, as a woman. I think it fits beautifully. Of course, it was a challenge for me personally, because it is one of the great Shakespearean roles, and you're very conscious of all the great actors that played it before you, all the great actors who are going to play it after you. So, you know, you at least want to be as good as they are."
Co-stars Djimon Hounsou, Alan Cumming, and Chris Cooper, and director Julie Taymor, also attended the screening.
2010 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's "The Tempest."
"The Tempest" will be released in theatres in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on Friday, December 10, 2010, with a limited expansion following on December 17th. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
