UK: TEXAN BEAUTY JERRY HALL STEPS INTO KATHLEEN TURNER'S SHOES TO PLAY MRS ROBINSON IN THE WEST END PLAY THE GRADUATE
Record ID:
647333
UK: TEXAN BEAUTY JERRY HALL STEPS INTO KATHLEEN TURNER'S SHOES TO PLAY MRS ROBINSON IN THE WEST END PLAY THE GRADUATE
- Title: UK: TEXAN BEAUTY JERRY HALL STEPS INTO KATHLEEN TURNER'S SHOES TO PLAY MRS ROBINSON IN THE WEST END PLAY THE GRADUATE
- Date: 4th August 2000
- Summary: LONDON, UK (AUGUST 4, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS JERRY HALL AND JOSH COHEN PERFORMING SCENE FROM "THE GRADUATE" 0.41 LONDON, UK (JUNE 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 2. SV (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY HALL SAYING, "It's fantastic for an actress to walk into a hit play which has already got great reviews, and which is so beautifully written, it's got fantastic beats, its very very funny, it's very rewarding to get laughs, there is is nothing I'd rather be doing, no place I'd rather be, than right here, as long as I can stay, it's great!" QUESTION - YOU ARE PRACTICALLY GUARANTEED FANTASTIC TICKET SALES, DOES THAT MAKE IT LESS OF A CHALLENGE IN A WAY? "Oh no, I think it's wonderful, I want the people to be there. You need an audience, it doesn't matter how good you are if no-one sees you." 1.21 LONDON, UK (RECENT) (REUTERS) 3. VARIOUS KATHLEEN TURNER AND MATTHEW RHYS PERFORMING SCENE FROM "THE GRADUATE" 1.38 LONDON, UK (JUNE 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 4. SV (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY HALL SAYING "It's a fantastic part, Mrs. Robinson, when you say Mrs. Robinson people know what you are talking about so it's wonderful to play a character like that, people know you are playing the older seductress, it's a play about, it's a sexual power play, she is totally in control, she wants this young boy and she gets him." 2.08 LONDON, UK (AUGUST 4, 2000) (REUTERS) 5. VARIOUS JERRY HALL AND JOSH COHEN PERFORMING SCENE FROM "THE GRADUATE" 2.52 LONDON, UK (JUNE 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 6. SV (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY HALL ANSWERING QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER SHE WILL BE DOING A NUDE SCENE SAYING " Oh yeah, it's an integral part of the play, she has to go all the way, he's not making it easy for her. So it would be very odd if I didn't do it, and it's also a very beautiful moment because it's when she say to the other actor, she says to Benjamin, I am available to you, so she has opened herself emotionally, at the same time exposing yourself physically tot he entire audience, it's quite a powerful, moving moment." QUESTION - IS IT A LIBERATING EXPERIENCE? "You have to be liberated to do it, I am just going to go with it, just be in the moment." 3.42 DARTFORD, KENT, UK (RECENT) (REUTERS) 7. MV JERRY HALL AND MICK JAGGER ARRIVING WITH THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS AT THE OPENING OF A PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE AT JAGGER'S FORMER SCHOOL. 4.11 LONDON, UK (JUNE 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 8. SV (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY HALL SAYING, "He's very supportive, he's very proud of me, he thinks I have a fabulous body, he's like oh yeah, he's a little worried everyone else is going to see it. He's been great, it's amazing, we still love each other, we are great friends, our marriage didn't work, it wasn't good for me, but we haven't copped out on being good parents which I think is wonderful, we are very very proud of the way we have handled it, this past year was a very difficult year for me, my twin sister had breast cancer, I was getting a divorce, life couldn't have seemed worse and now I feel like I have started on a new chapter, I was thinking maybe it was too late for me, for acting, I had small children, I put it aside I was quite depressed, and now I am thinking yes, a miracle's happened, it can all start again, I can continue to be creative, to do something I love. " QUESTION - WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN THINK? "They were quite amazed, like, Mum! You're going to take off your clothes? But I said, it's acting darling!" 5.35 LONDON, UK (AUGUST 4, 2000) (REUTERS) 9. VARIOUS JERRY HALL AND JOSH COHEN PERFORMING SCENE FROM "THE GRADUATE" 6.17 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 19th August 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA90H3XQWGBHN49ZHP1OOO0D6KJ
- Story Text: Texan beauty Jerry Hall may be most famous for being
the former Mrs. Mick Jagger, but soon she may be more well
known for being Mrs. Robinson. Miss Hall has stepped into
Kathleen Turner's scantily clad footsteps to play the
middle-aged seductress in the West-end stage play of "The
Graduate". Reuters got a sneak preview of her performance
before the play opens to the public on August 8.
Billed as "the hottest ticket in London", The Graduate
has been playing to packed houses since it opened in April.
Sales were certainly boosted by Kathleen Turner's subtle, if
well publicised, nude scene.
But now Turner's contract has come to an end, and the
new cast have begun preview performances before the official
first night on August 8th.
Cast in the leading role of Mrs. Robinson is Jerry Hall,
who seems undaunted by stepping into Turners shoe's:
"It's fantastic for an actress to walk into a hit play
which has already got great reviews, and which is so
beautifully written, it's got fantastic beats, its very very
funny, it's very rewarding to get laughs, there is is nothing
I'd rather be doing, no place I'd rather be, than right here,
as long as I can stay, it's great!.... Oh no, I think it's
wonderful, I want the people to be there. You need an
audience, it doesn't matter how good you are if no-one sees
you."
Immortalised on film in 1967 by Anne Bancroft
playing opposite Dustin Hoffman's Benjamin, Mrs. Robinson is
the ultimate older women, who sets her sights on a naive young
man. Although compared to Turner, Hall is an inexperienced
actress, she is relishing the chance to take on such a great
role:
"It's a fantastic part, Mrs. Robinson, when you
say Mrs. Robinson people know what you are talking about so
it's wonderful to play a character like that, people know you
are playing the older seductress, it's a play about, it's a
sexual power play, she is totally in control, she wants this
young boy and she gets him."
Before The Graduate opened to the public three
months ago, the will-she/won't she debate over Turner's
possible disrobing reached almost fever pitch in the British
media.
In the end, much to the delight of many a male fan, she
did, and so does her successor, after taking up yoga to ensure
she is in perfect form:
"Oh yeah, it's an integral part of the play, she
has to go all the way, he's not making it easy for her. So it
would be very odd if I didn't do it, and it's also a very
beautiful moment because it's when she says to the other
actor, she says to Benjamin, I am available to you, so she has
opened herself emotionally, at the same time exposing yourself
physically to the entire audience, it's quite a powerful,
moving moment...You have to be liberated to do it, I am just
going to go with it, just be in the moment."
Although recent publicity has mainly concentrated
on Hall's split from Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger,
after he allegedly enjoyed a string of high profile affairs,
Hall now feels she has reached a new chapter in her life, and
is confident of her former husband's support.
Jagger was in the audience at the first preview and is
expected to attend the opening night performance on Tuesday.
"He's very supportive, he's very proud of me, he
thinks I have a fabulous body, he's like oh yeah, he's a
little worried everyone else is going to see it. He's been
great, it's amazing, we still love each other, we are great
friends, our marriage didn't work, it wasn't good for me, but
we haven't copped out on being good parents which I think is
wonderful, we are very very proud of the way we have handled
it, this past year was a very difficult year for me, my twin
sister had breast cancer, I was getting a divorce, life
couldn't have seemed worse and now I feel like I have started
on a new chapter, I was thinking maybe it was too late for me,
for acting, I had small children, I put it aside I was quite
depressed, and now I am thinking yes, a miracle's happened, it
can all start again, I can continue to be creative, to do
something I love. " QUESTION - WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN THINK?
"They were quite amazed, like, Mum! "You're going to take off
your clothes? But I said, it's acting darling!"
Although much praise has been bestowed on Hall's
stunning appearance, critics have given a more lukewarm
reaction to her acting skills. Whether this will affect public
interest in the play - for which Hall is reportedly being paid
10,000 pounds sterling per week and a 5% of box office taking
- will remain to be seen.
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