- Title: USA: Madonna steps out with her daughter and boyfriend at the W.E. premiere.
- Date: 25th January 2012
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) MADONNA ARRIVES TO THE RED CARPET PREMIERE FOR W.E. MADONNA POSING FOR PICTURES ON RED CARPET MADONNA'S DAUGHTER LOURDES AND MADONNA'S BOYFRIEND BRAHIM ZAIBA WALKING DOWN RED CARPET MADONNA ON RED CARPET WITH THE CAST OF FILM MADONNA SPEAKING TO REPORTERS MORE OF MADONNA WITH REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADONNA, DIRECTOR, SAYING, SAYING: "Yeah, the thing is there is so much happening right now, in a way it's sort of neutralizing everything that's going on, like I don't know what to be nervous about, the Super Bowl, my record, my movie, you know, everything." MADONNA TALKING TO DESIGNER CALVIN KLEIN ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADONNA, DIRECTOR, SAYING, SAYING: "I think the thing that - when people say that it stays with them and they think about it afterwards and it haunts them. And they get swept up in them and they get lost in the world - that's a compliment." MADONNA SPEAKING TO REPORTER CLOSE UP OF MADONNA'S JEWELRY ACTRESS ANDREA RISEBOROUGH POSING FOR PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDREA RISEBOROUGH, ACTRESS, SAYING: "Well everything, every element of it. Our director, the script, the cast and crew, the story, the unique way we were looking at a women's life historically, really." ACTOR JAMES D'ARCY SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES D'ARCY, ACTOR, SAYING: "What I like about the film is that it tells it from the eyes of modern day character which hopefully makes it much more of a question about what is it that you would be prepared to sacrifice for love. And not quite so alienating, you know, if it's just a period drama and it's set in 1936 and it's about the royal family, I don't feel like I have anything - I can't identify with that at all. But if it's about love, well, yeah, I can go there." ACTORS JAMES D'ARCY AND DAVID HARBOUR TALKING ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES D'ARCY, ACTOR, SAYING: "I actually met her over Skype. I met her through the internet and it was very surreal and then her face sort of froze, like it does on Skype. And I was uncertain whether to say anything about it - and then I thought, well I've obviously frozen as well and I'm sure I've frozen looking like a gargoyle, so this will be the last time that we ever discuss this project, I won't be talking to her again, but happily it didn't go that way." ACTOR OSCAR ISAAC SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSCAR ISAAC, ACTOR, SAYING: "Very demanding, but an incredible sense of humor as well. A workaholic, just a non-stop energy - really impressive, really impressive." ACTOR DAVID HARBOUR SPEAKING TO REPORTER EXTERIORS OF MOVIE THEATER
- Embargoed: 9th February 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA6JRVP30R48A9J4N98VLG2EBQ4
- Story Text: Madonna hits the red carpet in New York for the premiere of her new film "W.E."
Madonna, the material girl-turned-director, hit the red carpet in New York on Monday (January 23) night to celebrate the opening of her film "W.E." The outing also marked a rare and brief appearance with her boyfriend, Brahim Zaiba, and daughter Lourdes.
The veteran singer dug deep into history and stepped behind the camera to tell the love story of King Edward VIII's and American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Madonna put a modern day twist on the film by intertwining fictional characters played by Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac, whose lives loosely mimic that of the King and Simpson. Actor James D'Arcy said the spin on the history helps make the story relatable.
"What I like about the film is that it tells it from the eyes of modern day character which hopefully makes it much more of a question about, what is it that you would be prepared to sacrifice for love. And not quite so alienating, you know, if it's just a period drama and it's set in 1936 and it's about the royal family, I don't feel like I have anything - I can't identify with that at all. But if it's about love, well, yeah, I can go there," D'Arcy told Reuters, who thought he had lost the part after an awkward first meeting.
"I met her through the internet and it was very surreal and then her face sort of froze, like it does on Skype. And I was uncertain whether to say anything about it - and then I thought, well I've obviously frozen as well and I'm sure I've frozen looking like a gargoyle, so this will be the last time that we ever discuss this project, I won't be talking to her again, but happily it didn't go that way," said D'Arcy.
Madonna's win at the Golden Globes for best original song created a bit a friction with fellow nominee Elton John. After earning the trophy, John's husband, David Furnish, used Facebook to say her win "truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit." Furnish has since retracted his words, while Madonna continues to decline to comment on the controversy.
The making of this film has been a multi-year process for Madonna, as she took her time researching and co-writing before stepping behind the camera. As she prepares for her historic half-time Super Bowl performance, a new CD and a tour, the singer took a sigh of relief over the fact the movie is finally set to open.
"The thing is there is so much happening right now, in a way it's sort of neutralizing everything that's going on, like I don't know what to be nervous about, the Super Bowl, my record, my movie, you know, everything," said Madonna.
Thinking back on all the comments regarding her film, the 53-year-old said the best compliments she has received so far has come from close friends who are also artists.
"When people say that it stays with them and they think about it afterwards and it haunts them. And they get swept up in them and they get lost in the world - that's a compliment," explained Madonna.
On the red carpet her cast offered up praise for her directing skills, calling her passionate and devoted.
"Very demanding, but an incredible sense of humor as well. A workaholic, just a non-stop energy - really impressive, really impressive," said actor Oscar Isaac.
"W.E." will theaters across the U.S. on February 3rd. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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