German Actress Award Given to Winslet

Gina Wilhelm Actress - German Actress Award Given to Winslet

Kate Winslet received the best international actress award at this year's Bambi Awards in Germany. She won the award for her work in "The Reader."

In that movie she plays a woman with a secret Nazi past.

The Bambi Awards celebrate achievements in film, television, music, and sports. The panel said the actress "doesn't just slip into her roles but rather puts herself into the soul of her roles."

Congratulations!

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Good Actress Streep Makes True A List

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Good Actress Streep Makes True A List

Forbes magazine has compiled a "True A List" of actors and actresses in Hollywood today.

To do so, they looked at the actors and actresses who had been nominated for Oscars in the past five years. They then tallied their box office draws for the same types of roles.

The list of Oscar-winning women was topped by Cate Blanchett, who has received four nominations in the past five years.

However, when box office draw was figured in, Meryl Streep was the clear leading lady, with two Oscar nominations in the last five years and $1.3 billion in ticket sales.

Streep ranked fifth overall, behind Will Smith. Blanchett doesn't even make the top 10 overall, due to critically acclaimed but under-attended films like "I'm Not There" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Bollywood Hot Actress Gets Married

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Bollywood Hot Actress Gets Married

Actress Shilpa Shetty got married over the weekend to her businessman boyfriend Raj Kundra in Khandala, a resort near Mumbai.

The Bollywood star wore a red sari, emeralds, and diamonds, while the groom arrived at the lavish ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage.

Shetty didn't share her wedding plans with the press ahead of time beyond stating that this was her "dream wedding."

"We plan to shuttle between Mumbai and London after marriage. I shall strive to be as successful at home as I am outside. I want to excel as a homemaker," she said.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress Richardson Supports Climate Conference

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Richardson Supports Climate Conference

The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be happening December 7-December 18, and a number of celebrities support the cause to stop global warming.

No doubt you know about Leonardo DiCaprio, but there are others who care about the environment, too.

Miranda Richardson participated in protests against climate change. Miley Cyrus wrote a song called "Wake Up, America."

Additionally, Cate Blanchett, who works with the lobby group whoonearthcares, has already appeared in Copenhagen once this year.

She addressed leaders at the World Business Summit on Climate Change, explaining that political failure in December "is quite simply unacceptable ."

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DVD Celebrates Gone with the Wind, Actress Search

Gina Wilhelm Actress - DVD Celebrates Gone with the Wind, Actress Search

Gone With The Wind was first released 70 years ago. A new Ultimate Collector's Edition has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray, and it's a celebration and penance at the same time.

Even when the movie was released, there was some criticism of the movie's stereotyping of black characters, such as Prissy, played by Butterfly McQueen, and the way the movie seemed to glorify slavery.

The movie won the Oscar for best picture, and Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel both won Oscars for their performances.

Hattie McDaniel's Oscar was the first to be awarded to an African American.

The new DVD/Blu-Ray set includes three featurettes. One is "Movieola: The Scarlett O'Hara War," featuring Tony Curtis playing producer David O. Selznick searching for an actress to play Scarlett.

Other featurettes are "Gone With the Wind: The Legend Lives On," which praises the movie, but does present some of the criticisms of the film.

Finally, there is a featurette called "1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year," highlighting the year that brought us "Gone with the Wind," "The Wizard of Oz," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and many, many more.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Good Actress Harden Comes Home

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Good Actress Harden Comes Home

Marcia Gay Harden is set to return to her alma mater, University of Texas at Austin, to deliver the commencement address this May.

Harden is described by the school as their first graduate to win an Oscar. She received that award for her performance in 2000's "Pollock."

She also received a Tony this year for her work in the play "God of Carnage."

Harden graduated from the college in December of 1980 with honors. She says she is "thrilled and honored to speak to these bright young minds, ready to go out and improve our world."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Lauren Bacall Honored for Being a Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Lauren Bacall Honored for Being a Good Actress

Lauren Bacall finally received an Oscar this weekend. The actress debuted in 1944, but it wasn't until this weekend that she finally received a statuette.

"I can't believe it - a man at last," she said on receiving the honor. She was given the prize at this weekend's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards.

Anjelica Huston presented the Oscar to the legendary actress, saying that Bacall "defines what it means to be a great actress and also a huge movie star."

Portions of the ceremony will be shown during the Oscars telecast on March 7, 2010.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress Miles From China

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Miles From China

If you've ever been tempted to think your acting career was tough, consider actress Tang Wei.

The Chinese actress had a big breakthrough with Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution," in which she plays a spy during World War II.

However, now the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) has banned her because of her role in that movie.

Reports as to the reason behind the ban are in part because of graphic sex scenes in the movie. However, the main reason is that the movie is supposedly a “glorification of traitors and insulting to patriots.”

In the movie, Tang's character seduces a Chinese intelligence official collaborating with the occupying Japanese forces in Shanghai during World War II.

Instead of setting him up for execution, Tang's character allows the official to escape.

Chinese authorities censured officials for allowing the movie's release. Several officials were believed to have been fired or disciplined over the incident.

Online discussions about the movie and Tang herself have been deleted from the Internet in China, and her name no longer appears in Chinese Google searches.

Additionally, Chinese awards shows have been advised to exclude Tang and the movie's producers.

Ang Lee, who directed the movie and cast Tang himself, was dismayed by the crackdown. Lee had personally cut seven minutes of sex scenes from the film to ensure it could be shown in Chinese theaters.

“I am very disappointed that Tang Wei is being hurt by this decision. She gave one of the greatest performances in a movie that was properly produced and distributed. We will do everything to support her.”

Just something to think about the next time you don't land that big role you wanted. At least you haven't been banned and blacklisted in your home country.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress Images at Museum of Contemporary Art Gala

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Images at Museum of Contemporary Art Gala

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the Museum of Contemporary Art had its 30th anniversary gala in Los Angeles, California.

The party was attended by such actresses as Christina Ricci, Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei, and Carey Mulligan as well as Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale.

Also present were Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, and Eva Mendes. There were also musicians and Guy Ritchie.

The gallery of picures are available at the West Virginia Herald-Dispatch.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Broadway Actress Comes Home

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Broadway Actress Comes Home

Sarah Jane Nelson got her start acting at the Strauss Theatre in Monroe, Louisiana. She was one of the original members of the Strauss's Young Troupe.

Since then, she's moved on to Broadway. She made her debut on The Great White Way in "The Green Bird" and appeared in "SWING."

She returns to the Strauss November 19 and 20 for two concerts. Tickets cost $15. Her husband and daughter will join her on stage, her daughter singing "Castle on a Cloud" from "Les Misérables."

However, the star, of course, is Nelson and her voice. She's excited to return home. "It's where I got my start," she says.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Gabourey Sidibe is a Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Gabourey Sidibe is a Good Actress

Gabourey Sidibe is the breakout star of the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire," which was a hit at film festivals and opened in limited release in the US November 6.

She nearly didn't audition. "I didn't decide to go to the audition. I just ended up on that side of the street."

Director Lee Daniels nearly didn't cast her, either. At first he had been looking for actresses who were just like the character in the movie.

Precious is an illiterate high schooler who's been abused by both her parents.

"I realized I needed someone to act that, not be that," Daniels said. "I knew she was the girl. She brought a sense of confidence and smarts (to the role). She got it."

Costar Paula Patton was equally enthusiastic. "I was blown away by her performance. I think actors can work their whole lives and not turn out a performance like she has done."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress Search Finds a 10-Year-Old Disney Star

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Search Finds a 10-Year-Old Disney Star

Straight-A student Elizabeth Dampier has always had talent, her parents say. After almost three years of auditions, she landed the role of the young Tiana in Disney's latest animated movie.

"Well, I had many open call auditions and they called me, and I came out to L.A." to try out for her role in "The Princess and the Frog."

This is the first animated Disney movie to feature an African Americn princess. Dampier had to develop a New Orleans accent in order to land the role.

Her movie parents are voiced by Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard, and her adult self is voiced by Anika Noni Rose.

"I was excited and I am blessed and privileged that God would give me such an opportunity and that this movie will go down in history," Dampier said.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Angela Lansbury, Good Actress With Sondheim

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Angela Lansbury, Good Actress With Sondheim

Angela Lansbury, who received her fifth Tony earlier this year, is set to receive Signature Theatre's Stephen Sondheim Award next spring.

After her first stage performance, in 1964's "Anyone Can Whistle," with a score by Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim himself called her performance "a gift to the musical theater."

"Anyone Can Whistle" only ran nine performances, but Lansbury was just getting started.

She's won Tonys for a revival of "Gypsy" and in the original production of "Sweeney Todd" and provided the voice of the Giant in the 2007 production of "Into the Woods" at Signature.

She is set to return to Broadway in December for a revival of Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Signature Theatre has produced 18 works related to Sondheim, which is the most of any U.S. regional theater. They inaugurated the award this year by giving it to its namesake.

The award is given to "individuals who have achieved success interpreting, supporting and collaborating on Sondheim’s music works."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Amy Adams Actress Moves to Townhouse

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Amy Adams Actress Moves to Townhouse

Amy Adams is set to star in "Townhouse" opposite "The Hangover" star Zach Galifianakis. The movie is base on the book by Tish Cohen.

Adams will play a "friendly call girl," while Galifianakis is an agoraphobic man whose life alters dramatically when his financial situation changes.

Adams is currently working on "The Ten Best Days of My Life" and "Daughter of the Queen of Sheba," and as wrapped "Leap Year" and "The Fighter."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Is Spanish Actress Cruz An Oscar Front-Runner?

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Is Spanish Actress Cruz An Oscar Front-Runner?

With two months left until awards season, Maryann Johnson of film.com is already handicapping Best Actress contenders.

One of her top picks is Spanish-born Penélope Cruz for "Broken Embraces," her latest film with Pedro Almodóvar.

In the movie, she plays an actress and gets to "morph between characters within characters," which Johnson says the motion picture academy loves.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Entourage Actress Georgia Bound

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Entourage Actress Georgia Bound

Emmanuelle Chriqui, who costars on "Entourage," has been cast as the female lead in the new movie "Georgia."

The war movie will star Val Kilmer as a journalist covering last year's brief military conflict between Russia and Georgia, which used to be a Soviet state.

Chriqui will play a Georgian doctoral student, while Andy Garcia will play Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Emmy Rossum Declared a Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Emmy Rossum Declared a Good Actress

Emmy Rossum was given the Young Hollywood Award at the Savannah Film Festival in Georgia on Monday.

President of Savannah College of Art and Design Paula Wallace presented the award, pointing out Rossum's range.

Wallace said that Rossum could go from playing a "knife-throwing ninja warrior goddess in 'Dragonball Evolution'" to the art-house movie "Dare," which was shown at the film festval.

A video montage showed highlights from Rossum's career, from which Rossum said she learned a lot about herself.

"Dare" was shot in six weeks, and Rossum thought it might never "see the light of day." Instead, it opens November 13.

Previously, Rossum had earned a Golden Globe Award nomination and the National Board of Review's Best Female Breakthrough Performance Award for her performance in "The Phantom of the Opera."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actress Search on for Coen Brothers Movie

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Search on for Coen Brothers Movie

Auditions are being held next Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, for an actress age 12 to 16 to play the role of Mattie Ross in the remake of "True Grit" being made by the Coen Brothers.

They are looking to make a movie truer to the original Charles Portis book than the John Wayne picture. Filming is set to begin in 2010.

The story will be told from Mattie's point of view, and this is likely part of a nationwide audition.

Casting director Rachel Tenner wants a photo to keep of the actress and only wants one parent or guardian. It is advisable that potential actresses read the book; it's very differen from the 1969 movie.

Gina Wilhelm Actress