Welsh actor and director Michael Sheen is making waves with the highly anticipated BBC drama series The Way, which he co-created and stars in. Filmed in Port Talbot, the series features an all-star Welsh cast and follows an ordinary family caught up in extraordinary events. Sheen's background in theatre has paved the way for his success, with numerous stage productions under his belt.
At the age of 12, Sheen was scouted by Arsenal FC's youth team, but he turned down the offer due to his family's reluctance to relocate to London. Growing up in a theatrical family, Sheen's father even worked as a part-time professional Jack Nicholson lookalike.
Sheen's personal life has also been in the spotlight. He was in a relationship with actress Kate Beckinsale from 1995 to 2003, and they share a daughter together. The split was described as 'difficult' by Sheen.
Currently, Sheen resides in Baglan, Wales, with his partner Anna Lundberg and their two daughters. He is actively involved in charitable work and serves as the honorary President of Wales Council for Voluntary Action. In recognition of his contributions to drama, Sheen was awarded an OBE in 2009.
Producer Peter Spears has optioned the biography 'Mike Nichols: A Life' by Mark Harris for development as a dramatic feature film. The film will focus on a young Nichols as he makes his first film, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' in 1966, and his collaboration with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Spears will develop the film for his production company Cor Cordium. Mark Harris, the author of the biography, expressed his admiration for Spears' work and is pleased to place this crucial moment in the lives of Nichols, Taylor, and Burton in his hands.
The family of Chris Farley, a Madison native and late actor, is supporting a film biography about his life. The film will be based on the 2008 biography 'The Chris Farley Story: A Biography in Three Acts' written by Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby. The project has the backing of 'Saturday Night Live' producer Lorne Michaels. The film is set to be directed by Josh Gad and will star Paul Walter Hauser as Chris Farley. The screenplay will be written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Chris Farley rose to fame as a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' and went on to star in films such as 'Tommy Boy' and 'Black Sheep.' He passed away in 1997 at the age of 33. The film project has received immediate interest from Hollywood.
In other news, Hollywood star Mike Myers made a rare public appearance at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute on Saturday. The 60-year-old actor surprised fans with his new look, sporting a silver buzzcut and grey stubble. He attended the event in a black tuxedo and was seen on the red carpet alongside celebrities like Meryl Streep and Miles Teller. Myers flaunted his new appearance on stage, wearing a black cloak and Venetian mask, before revealing himself ahead of a speech. Fans on social media praised his changed look, noting that he still resembled his younger self. Myers' last on-screen role was in 2022, and he has since created and starred in the series 'The Pentaverate'. He has also hinted at the possibility of a fourth installment of the 'Austin Powers' franchise. Myers leads a low-key life with his wife Kelly Tisdale and their three children. While his fans are eager to see him back on the silver screen, his family is 'remarkably unexcited' about his upcoming projects.
During an appearance on Fitzy & Wippa, Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli surprised Chris Hemsworth and Kate Ritchie by playing a throwback scene from their Home and Away days. The clip featured Hemsworth and Ritchie in their younger years on the show. Hemsworth and Ritchie jokingly reacted to the clip, with Ritchie playfully jabbing at Hemsworth's acting skills. Hemsworth and Ritchie both appeared on Home and Away, with Ritchie playing the character Sally Fletcher from seasons one to 21, and Hemsworth playing the character Kim Hyde. Hemsworth left the show in 2007 and went on to achieve international fame with his role as Thor in the Avengers film franchises. Hemsworth and his co-star Anya Taylor-Joy were on the show to promote their new film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Former Emmerdale stars Katherine Dow Blyton and Asan N'Jie have joined Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan in a new film. Katherine, who played Harriet Finch in Emmerdale, was killed off in the soap's 50th anniversary storyline in 2022. She is now working on the film 'Giant' alongside Brosnan, who plays boxing trainer Brendan Ingle's wife Alma in a biopic of sports hero Prince Naseem Hamed. Asan, known for his role as Ellis Chapman on Emmerdale, left the soap after a controversial altercation with Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas at the 2019 TV Choice Awards. He is also part of the cast of 'Giant', playing the role of Tom. More details about the film will be revealed in the future.
Home and Away star Tim Franklin, who played Colby Thorne from 2018 to 2021, had a small speaking role in a Hollywood blockbuster film. The film, which also stars Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, was shot in Sydney and had its Aussie premiere. Franklin's cameo was spotted by an eagle-eyed fan who shared their excitement on social media. Since leaving Home and Away, Franklin has continued his acting career, appearing in films such as Last King of the Cross and The Moth Effect.
Myles Petford, a former pupil from Bridgnorth Endowed school, currently directs soaps such as Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. His debut feature film, 'I Was A Soldier', which tells the story of a homeless veteran battling to save his dog, was released worldwide last month. Inspired by the work of Steven Spielberg, Petford hopes the film's success will lead to a career in Hollywood. He initially wanted to pursue animation but opted for directing due to the high cost of animation courses. Petford's passion for storytelling was ignited while studying at university in West London.
Viewers of BBC's The One Show were distracted as they confused guest Harlan Coben, a best-selling author, for Hollywood star Stanley Tucci. Coben, known for his popular thrillers, joined Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse on the show to discuss his books. Fans took to social media to point out the resemblance between Coben and Tucci, with one viewer tweeting, 'I thought this guy was Stanley Tucci.' Coben also discussed the challenge of casting a well-known actor in the leading role of his Myron Bolitar series of thrillers.
The 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival was opened by Prince Albert II of Monaco, accompanied by Morgan Freeman, David Boreanaz, and Simone Ashley. The opening ceremony featured the world premiere of the limited series 'The Gray House,' with stars such as Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head, Amethyst Davis, and Ben Vereen in attendance. David Boreanaz serves as the president of the festival's fiction jury, joined by other jury members. Morgan Freeman was honored with the Crystal Nymph award for his body of work. Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma in Season 2 of 'Bridgerton,' received the International Golden Nymph for most promising talent. 'Weiss & Morales' is a new light crime drama procedural co-produced between Spain and Germany. It has received considerable industry attention as it represents an evolution in how pan-European series are developed and produced at an affordable cost without sacrificing quality. The series is co-produced by ZDF and RTVE, alongside ZDF Studios, Nadcon, and Portocabo. RTVE has exclusive rights to the series in Spain, while ZDF handles international sales outside Spanish-speaking territories. The show stars Miguel Ángel Silvestre from Spain and Katia Fellin from Germany, who must work together to solve four cases over four 90-minute episodes. The Canary Islands, known for their aesthetic diversity and competitive fiscal incentives, served as the filming location for the series. The shoot incentives in the Canary Islands are capped at 50% of the total production investment or spend and €18 million ($19.3 million) per TV episode. Germany's ZDF and Spain's RTVE are European public broadcasting powerhouses and have teamed up on the show to create a cross-cultural storyline that feels both exotic and familiar in each market. The success of 'Weiss & Morales' has led to discussions about the potential for similar co-productions in other parts of Spain and other territories. The panelists at Conecta Fiction & Entertainment agreed that co-productions can offer new possibilities for modern storytelling and serve as a financial solution for the industry in crisis.
Australian actor Samara Weaving recently discussed her career in Hollywood and the challenges she faces. She admits to feeling uncertain about when she will work again and acknowledges that the fear of not knowing if a movie will be successful never goes away. Weaving emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and not relying on the success of a film for self-worth. She mentions her friendship with Margot Robbie and their close group of girlfriends in LA. Weaving also talks about her latest project, voicing a character in the Australian animated movie 200% Wolf. She reflects on her experience working in the horror genre and mentions her admiration for actors she has worked with, including Nicole Kidman and Michael Shannon. Weaving is currently shooting a film called Eenie Meanie in Cleveland. Despite the challenges of the industry, she feels more confident in her ability to consistently find work and reminds herself to enjoy the downtime between projects.
Hailey Welch, also known as the Hawk Tuah Girl, has become an internet sensation and has received lucrative offers from various companies and even Hollywood. However, she turned down a film career as she is not a professional actress. Despite her growing popularity, her manager has turned down offers from companies like OnlyFans and Hollywood, stating that she is not a fit for that world. A producer even wanted to reshoot a movie's ending to include her, but her manager insisted on hiring a professional actress. Welch does not want to be known only as the Hawk Tuah Girl and is exploring other opportunities, including the possibility of launching a podcast. A reality show about her life is also in development.
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