National Theatre To Invite Biggest Stars Back For 50th Anniversary PA | Posted: 31/01/2013 09:24 GMT | Updated: 31/01/2013 09:32 GMT (HUFF POST)

Some of the biggest stars to ever tread the boards at the National Theatre will be invited back for a special 50th anniversary show.

The theatre's director Nicholas Hytner said the "one-off performance", which he will direct, is to be broadcast on BBC2.

He said: "That will be a celebration of 50 years of the National Theatre.

"It will tell the story of those 50 years through a montage of highlights from those 50 years.

"It will be largely live but there will be a small amount of filmed or archived material in it and I hope it would involve as many as possible of the great performers of the last 50 years who are still with us."

Among the stars that have performed at the theatre on London's Southbank are Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and James Corden but Hytner refused to confirm any names, telling reporters: "We've started the asking but I can't tell you yet because it's nine months in the future and inevitably people are saying, 'Yes of course, if we're available'."

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/31/national-theatre-50th-anniversary_n_2588279.html

WATCH: 'Judi Dench Was A Police Officer': Will Ferrell And Kristen Wiig Go Crazy At Golden Globes. Comedians leave audience in stitches in joke filled presentation (E.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c9OxMmVJKFQ#!

BlakeElijah youtube


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SPOILER ALERT: Dame Judi Dench creates stylish 007 souvenir by turning brass bullets from final Skyfall scene in to cufflinks PUBLISHED: 08:01 EST, 15 January 2013 | UPDATED: 08:01 EST, 15 January 2013 (MAIL ON LINE)

After shooting her final James Bond scenes as M in Skyfall Dame Judi Dench kept the casings of the four bullets she fired and had them turned into cufflinks as Christmas presents

IT was the moment she finally got out from behind her London desk and in amongst the action – and it cost James Bond’s M, played by Dame Judi Dench, her life.

The matriarchal MI6 spy chief went out in a blaze of glory in her dramatic last ever scenes for the blockbuster franchise, fatally injured in a gunfight with Javier Bardem’s flamboyant villain and his henchmen in the latest Bond outing, Skyfall.

But while clearly emotional at bowing out of the series, the acting dame was clearly thrilled that she got to fire off a few shots at the baddies before she went down, the only time throughout her seven-film tenure as M she got to show her credentials in the field.

She gave one pair to her 15-year-old grandson, Sammy, and another to her daughter Finty’s boyfriend for Christmas.

Designer jeweler Roger Elliott, 63, gold-plated the cartridges and studded their tips with rubies.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2262728/SPOILER-ALERT-Dame-Judi-Dench-creates-stylish-007-souvenir-turning-brass-bullets-final-Skyfall-scene-cufflinks.html#ixzz2I3dEXEWm 
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Dame Judi Dench: Skyfall Oscar omission 'a pity' (BBC NEWS)

Dame Judi, who plays spy chief M, told BBC Radio 4 it was a "great pity" the movie did not feature in the best film, director or acting categories.

"I'm very, very sorry that nothing has been recognised," she told Eddie Mair.

"That's a great pity. I thought Sam Mendes directed it absolutely beautifully. It was a terrific film.

Skyfall featured five times in the 2013 nominations list, announced in Los Angeles on Thursday.

But most of the nods were for the film's production, including cinematography, sound editing and sound mixing.

The film also scooped a nomination for its theme song, sung by Adele, which went to number two in the UK singles chart in October.

Asked by the PM programme if she thought there was a bias against Bond movies when it came to awards, Dame Judi said she "hoped not".

"There may be. I don't know. I hope not. I just think that all round it was really wonderfully directed and presented and filmed and lit and shot," she said.

"But I've got a Bafta nomination and that's terrific.

"I think it's good luck if you get an Oscar nomination and bad luck if you don't."

READ MORE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20976116

Baftas: Lincoln leads but Spielberg snubbed (BBC NEWS)

US civil war drama, Lincoln has led this year's Baftas with 10 nominations including best film and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.

Day-Lewis's co-stars Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field have been shortlisted for best supporting actor and actress.

However, the film's award-winning director Steven Spielberg missed out in the best director category.

Musical adaptation Les Miserables and Ang Lee's Life of Pi have both received nine nominations.

Speaking to the BBC's Lizo Mzimba at the announcement, film critic Mark Kermode said: "As far as Lincoln was concerned, all the attention was on Daniel Day-Lewis.

"Whatever anybody thinks about the film - and the critics have been somewhat divided, everybody thought his performance was captivating and completely believable."


Best of British
Following closely behind the leaders pack was Bond film Skyfall with eight nominations, including best British film and best supporting actor and actress for Javier Bardem and Judi Dench.

It will battle it out with four other titles to be named outstanding British film at the awards ceremony on 10 February.

They were The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, and Seven Psychopaths.

The nominations were announced by Alice Eve and Jeremy Irvine at the The British Academy of Film and Television Arts headquarters in London on Wednesday.

Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman have been recognized in the lead actor and supporting actress categories in Tom Hooper's big-screen adaptation of Les Miserables.


READ MORE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20950883

Bafta 2013: Dame Judi Dench finally recognised for James Bond role Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench has finally been recognised by the Bafta awards for her role as M in James Bond, as Skyfall receives eight nominations this year. (TELEGRAPH)

By Hannah Furness9:14AM GMT 09 Jan 2013

Dame Judi Dench has been nominated as best supporting actress for her role as M in James Bond, receiving one of the eight nominations for Skyfall announced at a ceremony this morning.

It is the first time she has been recognized by Bafta for playing M, and comes as she finally finishes her 17 year stint in the role. Skyfall will be her final appearance in the James Bond franchise.

Her nomination is one of eight received by the film this year, including Outstanding British Film and Cinematography.

Javier Bardem was announced as a contender for best supporting actor, with potential accolades also including prizes for original music, editing, production design and sound.


Casino Royale has previously received nine nominations; a record high.

This year, Skyfall was narrowly pipped to the most nominations by Lincoln, which received ten, Les Miserables and Life of Pi which both received nine.

The award for best film will come from a short list of Argo, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty.

Judi Dench was first recognised by Bafta in1966 as "most promising newcomer", and has gone on to receive and impressive 26 nominations.

She has already won ten times, including best leading actress for Iris and Mrs Brown.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/baftas/9789811/Bafta-2013-Dame-Judi-Dench-finally-recognised-for-James-Bond-role.html

Skyfall becomes the first billion dollar Bond film (YAHOO MOVIES)

Skyfall has become the first Bond film to make $1 billion at the box office.

Bond 23, which was released in October in the UK and November in the US, breached the record-breaking barrier over the Christmas holidays.

So far, the film – directed by Sam Mendes and the third film to star Daniel Craig as 007 –  has made $289,600,000 (£179,274,563) in the US, and then a sturdy $710,600,000 (£439,891,245) around the world – a total of $1,000,200,000.

It's the first Bond film ever to amass the sum, though it should add another substantial figure to that once it opens in China in the New Year.

READ MORE: http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/skyfall-becomes-the-first-billion-dollar-bond-film-091406070.html

Dame Judi Dench - Judi Dench Favourite For New Sherlock Holmes Show (CONTACT MUSIC)

Dame Judi Dench is in line to play Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper in a new Tv adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories.

The Oscar winner is in talks to portray the super snoop's loyal employee Mrs. Hudson in a new show based on her journals, called A View From The Landing At 221B Baker Street.

The script has been penned by British comedy writer Barry Cryer and his son, Bob, and the pair is adamant the Bond actress is the perfect person for the job.

READ MORE: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/judi-dench-favourite-for-new-sherlock-holmes-show_3431744?_tmc=rv8HXjSz0UqbJUZA0T_SaeHW8DfI2fsvXrTkZghyGOs


Scooped by Tee Poulson
onto Benedict Cumberbatch Scoop.It

Scots comedy legend Billy Connolly in tears as he accepts BAFTA award

Kevin Bridges and Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly sobbed as he received a Scottish Bafta award last night (10 Dec)

He was presented with a gong for an Outstanding Contribution in Television and Film by stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges. Kevin thanked Billy for being a inspiration to generations of Scots comics and Billy replied: “This is a delightful thing, especially coming from Scotland. “I’ve been nominated for loads of things and got b***** all. I occasionally get these good attendance things, like the guy in remedial class getting a prize for being kind. “Genuinely, to get this from Scotland, I almost say it breaks my heart. It just hits me somewhere where I live.”

As Billy burst into tears, the crowd in Glasgow’s Fruitmarket applauded wildly. He continued: “I don’t know what to do now. It’s been a real pleasure to talk to you. I guess you only get these things once … but could we meet every second week?”

The presentation came at the end of a 90-minute discussion about Billy’s Life In Pictures alongside a few dodgy jokes about thalidomide and the Gorbals. The Big Yin talked about his roles in films such as 1978’s Absolution with Richard Burton and Mrs Brown with Judi Dench. Of Burton, he said: “The funny thing was, I was drunk and he was sober. “They shot the graveyard scene from the back and what you couldn’t see was him singing I Belong to Glasgow. “He was a priest and I showed him where the pocket was in the cassock for his fags.”

Mrs Brown also left a big impression. Billy said: “At one point, I thought that Judi Dench fancied me. She kept giving me the eye in one scene and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I danced about more and she started doing it again. “It was getting worse and then it dawned on me that she was being Queen Victoria, so I fancied her back.”

Billy admitted he was disappointed to miss out on a Bafta for Mrs Brown – instead it went to Ewan McGregor for Trainspotting. He said: “Ewan beat me with that filth about drugs in Edinburgh – and that language, too. “I hate Ewan for beating me. When you get beaten by somebody you like, it’s worse.

READ MORE: http://scottishactors.blogspot.com/2012/12/billy-connolly-bafta-award.html 

Dames Helen Mirren and Judi Dench battle for best actress award (TELEGRAPH)

Dame Helen Mirren will battle with Dame Judi Dench for best British actress at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards, as Daniel Craig gets nod for best actor for 007 role

Dame Helen Mirren will vie with Dame Judi Dench and Emily Blunt for best British actress at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.

Actress Dame Helen is nominated for her role as the filmmaker's wife in the movie Hitchcock, while Dame Judi is up for two films, as MI5 boss in Skyfall and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Blunt is also shortlisted for two films, Looper and Your Sister's Sister, while the other nominees are Andrea Riseborough (Shadow Dancer) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).

Bond star Daniel Craig is up for British actor of the year, competing against Daniel Day-Lewis for his role as the former US president in the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln.

Skyfall has been nominated for five awards, including British film, supporting actor (Javier Bardem), and supporting actress (Dame Judi).

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9753308/Dames-Helen-Mirren-and-Judi-Dench-battle-for-best-actress-award.html