Tag Archives: Diana

Neon Offers First Look at Pablo Larrain’s Princess Diana-Biopic “Spencer” Starring Kristen Stewart

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Pablo Larraín’s latest project is earning royal raves…

Neon has released the first trailer and extended clip for the 45-year-old Chilean Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s latest film Spencer, the biopic about Princess Diana that stars Kristen Stewart.

Kristen Stewart, Princess Diana, Spencer

The film will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, then move on to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

There’s been a lot of attention on the prospect of Stewart’s portrayal of the iconic Lady Di (she was last in Venice playing another real-life woman in 2019’s Seberg).

The trailer footage begins with the arrival at Sandringham for the Christmas weekend and takes us through preparations for dinner while Diana is clearly stressed in a bathroom as she’s called to the table. Other images show her strutting down a long hallway dressed to the nines in a silver gown, sitting for a family portrait, paparazzi snapping cameras, and Diana also in moments of letting loose dancing and running across the estate grounds.

In the extended footage clip, Diana and Prince Charles discuss the scrutiny that’s placed on them by the media. She says, “If they’re circling, it seems they’re circling just me.” To which Charles retorts, “Perhaps that’s because I always take care to close my curtains.”

In the tense exchange, he adds, “There has to be two of you. There’s two of me… The real one and the one they take pictures of… We are given a task… But you have to be able to make your body do things you hate.” Diana: “That you hate?” Charles: “Yes… For the country, the people. They don’t want us to be people. That’s how it is. I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”

They have their tiff across a distanced snooker table and also nip about the son’s taking up shooting outside, and her wardrobe. The scene culminates in Stewart’s Diana having a measured display of irritation at her husband who is railing on her, but with such a placid tone.

Directed by Larrain and written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the film takes place during the Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, when Diana decides to leave the marriage.

Jack Farthing is playing Charles, with further cast including Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, Olga Hellsing and Thomas Douglas.

Prior to filming, Stewart admitted to nerves and excitement ahead of taking on the biopic. “The accent is intimidating as all hell because people know that voice, and it’s so, so distinct and particular,” she told InStyle. She continued, “It’s one of the saddest stories to exist ever, and I don’t want to just play Diana — I want to know her implicitly. I haven’t been this excited about playing a part, by the way, in so long.”

Neon and Topic Studios recently set a November 5 domestic release.

Eden Espinosa to Take Part in Broadway Cares’ “Broadway Does Mother’s Day” Digital Fundraising Special

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Eden Espinosais celebrating mothers everywhere…

The 42-year-old Mexican American actress and Broadway star, best known for her performances as Elphaba for the Broadway, Los Angeles, and San Francisco productions of the musical Wicked, will take part in Sunday’s Broadway Does Mother’s Day, a digital variety benefitting Broadway Cares’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.

Eden Espinosa

Cast members from Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Jagged Little Pill, Company,Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Chicago, Diana, Mean Girls, Girl from the North Country, Six, andMrs. Doubtfirewill take part. 

The show is designed to replace some of the money usually raised by Broadway’s annual Easter Bonnet Competition, an event that was canceled this year due to the coronaviruspandemic.

The digital sketch show will include Broadway stars, their children and their mothers, with musical numbers, comedy and special guests planned. 

In addition to Espinosa, scheduled guests so far includeJill Abramovitz, Kate Baldwin, Jenni Barber, Laura Benanti,Betty Buckley, Carolee Carmello, Victoria Clark, Chuck Cooper, Claybourne Elder, Beanie Feldstein, Harvey Fierstein, In The Heights’ Mandy Gonzalez, Celia Rose Gooding, Molly Griggs, James Monroe Iglehart, Judy Kaye, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Raymond J. Lee, Lesli Margherita, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Alexis Michelle, Vanessa Williams, Betsy Wolfeand LaChanze.

Sketches from Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Jagged Little Pill, Company, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Chicago, Diana, Mean Girls, Girl from the North Country, Six, andMrs. Doubtfire will also be included.

“We’re delighted to see the theatercommunity come together for Broadway Does Mother’s Day and honored to be a beneficiary of what promises to be such a special show,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “When crises hit, the Broadway community and theatre fans everywhere have always responded with generosity, compassion and action. We launched the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund on behalf of and for those onstage, backstage and behind the scenes who need a helping hand during this pandemic.”

The broadcast will be streamed on Sunday, May 10 at 3:00 pm ET at BroadwayDoesMothersDay.com.

Bardem’s Gold Medal Moment…

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It may not be an Olympic medal, but Javier Bardem is still a gold medalist.

At a special gala event in New York City last night, Spain’s Queen Sofía presented the 42-year-old Oscar-winning actor with the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute’s Gold Medal, which is presented each year to Americans and Spaniards who contribute to the betterment of relations between the United States and Spain.

Javier Bardem receives gold medal from Spain's Queen Sofia

During the ceremony, Queen Sofía emphasized the importance of presenting the awards in New York, “a city that is the crucible of cultures, and that represents the force and the wealth of the ties that unite Spain and the United States.”

“I thank the queen of Spain for this recognition,” said Bardem during the special ceremony attended by distinguished guests, including former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Barbara Walters and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, adding that he felt “proud of being of a country with so many places and different colors.”

This year’s other medal recipients: Spanish chef and restaurateur Ferran Adrià and noted Peruvian photographer Mario Testino.

Testino, an artist from Lima who divides his time between London and New York, was recognized for his “exceptional talent that has made him a global star.”

“I dedicate this award to the thousands of Latin Americans who each year leave their countries to come to America,” said Testino, the man behind the lens of numerous magazine covers and portraits, including photos of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

In addition, Queen Sofia presented Oscar de la Renta, the president of the New York Institute, with the Great Order of Civil Merit award that King Juan Carlos awarded him in February.