UK/FILE: Dame Judi Dench and Dev Patel lead star cast at World Premiere of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Record ID: 220759

  • Title: UK/FILE: Dame Judi Dench and Dev Patel lead star cast at World Premiere of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
  • Date: 8th February 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FEBRUARY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF CURZON MAYFAIR CROWD WAITING FOR STARS TO ARRIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAST AND DIRECTOR PHOTOCALL (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE PEOPLE YOU CAN SEE) ACTOR DEV PATEL, ACTRESS CELIA IMRIE, ACTOR TOM WILKINSON, ACTRESS DIANA HARDCASTLE, ACTRESS DAME JUDI DENCH, DIRECTOR JOHN MADDEN, ACTOR RONALD PICKUP CAST AND DIRECTOR PHOTOCALL (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE PEOPLE YOU CAN SEE) ACTOR DEV PATEL, ACTRESS CELIA IMRIE, ACTOR TOM WILKINSON, ACTRESS DIANA HARDCASTLE, ACTOR BILL NIGHY, ACTRESS DAME JUDI DENCH, ACTRESS PENELOPE WILTON, DIRECTOR JOHN MADDEN, ACTOR RONALD PICKUP DAME JUDI DENCH POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS DENCH TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) English DAME JUDI DENCH ASKED IF SHE WILL EVER RETIRE, SAYING: ''No I don't want to retire and I don't like the word 'old' either. I just think you ought to go on if you've got the energy, if you have the energy anything is possible I think if you give up, then nothing presents itself to you any more.'' VARIOUS TOM WILKINSON AND DIANA HARDCASTLE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) English, TOM WILKINSON ASKED AT WHAT AGE HE CONSIDERS TO BE 'OLD', SAYING ''I think 100 plus you've got to start slowing down a little bit, I think my age now, I think of it as the new 35, so you know.'' DIRECTOR JOHN MADDEN AND SCREENWRITER OL PARKER HUGGING AND TALKING TO MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2012 12:00
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  • Location: Usa, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8R4D0BQNO0CYPG94RALQ6S3FE
  • Story Text: 77-year-old actress Dame Judi Dench braved the cold in London on Tuesday (February 7) for the World Premiere of her new movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and said she has no intention of retiring.
    The Oscar winner is one of host of established British actors, including Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie and Penelope Wilson, who play English pensioners in the film. The disparate group each have their own story as to why they decide to head to a hotel for the elderly, based in India.
    For Dame Judi though, the idea of quitting her job as an actress is out of the question: ''I don't want to retire, and I don't like the word 'old' either. I just think you ought to go on if you've got the energy, if you have the energy anything is possible, I think if you give up, then nothing presents itself to you any more.'' She said.
    Sentiments echoed by her co-star Tom Wilkinson, who jokingly said: ''I think 100 plus you've got to start slowing down a little bit.'' Directed by John Madden, the light hearted film sees a group of Brits head to Jaipur to what they think will be a luxurious sanctuary. But when they get there they realise that young optimistic hotel owner Sonny, played by Dev Patel, and hasn't got his place quite ready for guests yet.
    After making his name in Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, Patel has become a star in his own right, but looking full of energy at the premiere he said getting to work alongside so many experienced actors in one go was incredible: ''I just had to be a sponge on set and it really has been one of my most amazing experiences in my life, to have them all in this package deal has been amazing.'' Bollywood model and rising star Tena Desae plays Patel's love interest in the film. In the past art has imitated life for Patel, after he fell for his Slumdog co-star Freida Pinto.
    That has not happened this time though, Patel is happy with Pinto, confirming his 'heart is reserved for her (Pinto).' Patel and Desae became good friends though: ''He's great fun, how can you not be friends with him, he's such a mad person full of fun, so yeah, he's great.'' Desae said.
    As well as making new friends, the whole team got to experience life in India. Actor Bill Nighy found he had his own challenge: ''I had to ride a motorcycle for the first time and I had to have Judi Dench on the back, sitting side saddle and I used to wake up every morning thinking - don't kill Judi Dench, because if you kill Judi Dench you can't go home any more, I mean if you killed The Queen you can probably sneak back into the country, but kill Judi Dench and it's over and I did 16 takes through the streets of Jaipur and it's quite hard when they sit side saddle but she pretended to be ok about it, she's a star.'' Dench survived the experience and is not only busy promoting this film, she's also preparing for the Baftas. Nominated in the best supporting actress category for her performance in My Week With Marilyn, she faces competition from the likes of Carey Mulligan and Jessica Spencer. Despite winning several of the accolades in the past she said she said hasn't planned an acceptance speech yet ahead of the award show on Sunday (February 12).
    The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is due to open in the UK and Ireland on February 24, and in the US in May.
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