Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn. (via Empire)
Branagh told us, of the role, “I was incredibly impressed by the screenplay and wanted to play this man – who just happened to be Sir Laurence Olivier – but who was a fascinating human being to play at this point in his life. He was a great actor and director wrestling with the phenomenon that was Marilyn. He was in awe of her screen persona and her sexuality and at the same time infuriated by her off screen behaviour. The script was a fascinating study of a very fine artist coming up against an equally fine one and the fireworks that result.”
The resemblance is almost too spooky. Full-length view after the cut.
I agree with Keifer what am amazing likeness of Olivier by Branagh, i can’t wait to see this production as i am a great fan of the late great Laurence Olivier and have read many books on both his life and his two wives Vivien Leigh and Joan Plowright. Olivier introduced me to Shakespeare through his film version of Richard 111 what a brilliant performance that was by Olivier i think. I am reading at the moment a book written by Susan Strasberg the daughter of Paula Strasberg, Paula was Marilyn’s drama coach when Monroe came over to film the Prince and the showgirl with Olivier in the 1950’s. Lee Strasberg was Paula’s husband and he was known as the method teacher at the actor’s studio in New York i think it was in those days. Laurence Olivier was not a method acting fan and i am afraid that did not help the situation regarding the problem between Marilyn and himself etc. But when Olivier wrote his book confessions of an actor when he was alive he did mention the tensions between himself and Monroe regarding the making of the film the prince and the showgirl. Olivier had much trouble in his own personal relationship with Vivien Leigh as she was sadly bi-polar and suffered from it for much of her life. But he did say that Marilyn played a good part and sometimes he Olivier looked wooden compared with her. I think Branagh is a good actor and i am sure i will enjoy seeing the production.
I agree with Keifer what am amazing likeness of Olivier by Branagh, i can’t wait to see this production as i am a great fan of the late great Laurence Olivier and have read many books on both his life and his two wives Vivien Leigh and Joan Plowright. Olivier introduced me to Shakespeare through his film version of Richard 111 what a brilliant performance that was by Olivier i think. I am reading at the moment a book written by Susan Strasberg the daughter of Paula Strasberg, Paula was Marilyn’s drama coach when Monroe came over to film the Prince and the showgirl with Olivier in the 1950’s. Lee Strasberg was Paula’s husband and he was known as the method teacher at the actor’s studio in New York i think it was in those days. Laurence Olivier was not a method acting fan and i am afraid that did not help the situation regarding the problem between Marilyn and himself etc. But when Olivier wrote his book confessions of an actor when he was alive he did mention the tensions between himself and Monroe regarding the making of the film the prince and the showgirl. Olivier had much trouble in his own personal relationship with Vivien Leigh as she was sadly bi-polar and suffered from it for much of her life. But he did say that Marilyn played a good part and sometimes he Olivier looked wooden compared with her. I think Branagh is a good actor and i am sure i will enjoy seeing the production.
The best movies currently being made are made outside the U.S. and probably outside of Europe.
Hands down.
Australia and South Korea head the list for me.
The best movies currently being made are made outside the U.S. and probably outside of Europe.
Hands down.
Australia and South Korea head the list for me.
Is it safe?
^
ha!
eez eet safe?
Is it safe?
^
ha!
eez eet safe?
WOW. First DiCaprio as J. Edgar, now this. Make-up artists alone are not responsible.
WOW. First DiCaprio as J. Edgar, now this. Make-up artists alone are not responsible.
I hope he’s nomed for this . . . my God, what an Olivier likeness.
I hope he’s nomed for this . . . my God, what an Olivier likeness.
Damn he looks much better than I expected, I can’t wait to see his performance and as a comment pointed before, this project does ring bells for Me and Orson Welles but if Branagh is as good and uncanny playing Olivier as McKay was playing Welles, he won’t get snubbed because you know, he’s Kenneth Branagh he already has 4 noms in different categories, he played a part in last year Oscars with the short films, has had a successful year with Thor, beloved veteran, so if he’s good he’ll get nommed.
Damn he looks much better than I expected, I can’t wait to see his performance and as a comment pointed before, this project does ring bells for Me and Orson Welles but if Branagh is as good and uncanny playing Olivier as McKay was playing Welles, he won’t get snubbed because you know, he’s Kenneth Branagh he already has 4 noms in different categories, he played a part in last year Oscars with the short films, has had a successful year with Thor, beloved veteran, so if he’s good he’ll get nommed.
If Cate Blanchett can win for playing Katherine Hepburn, Kenneth Branagh should be a lock for playing Sir Lawrence….
If Cate Blanchett can win for playing Katherine Hepburn, Kenneth Branagh should be a lock for playing Sir Lawrence….
It’s totally off-topic, but I must ask – has anyone heard anything about a release date change for Coriolanus? Box Office Mojo is reporting that it has been moved to January 2012, but will it still receive its qualifying run this year? I can’t find any other info regarding a change in release date. Just a question.
For a little relevance, I think Branagh is this film’s best shot at a nomination, even more so than Williams.
It’s totally off-topic, but I must ask – has anyone heard anything about a release date change for Coriolanus? Box Office Mojo is reporting that it has been moved to January 2012, but will it still receive its qualifying run this year? I can’t find any other info regarding a change in release date. Just a question.
For a little relevance, I think Branagh is this film’s best shot at a nomination, even more so than Williams.
Branagh is way over-due for an Oscar in any category. A high profile character (and academy award winner) like Olivier is a sure bet at a nomination and likely a win, depending on how well the movie does. Heck, they might even try to pass it off as their bi-decade charity to Shakespearian films since Branagh will be playing a man who contributed about as much Shakespeare to cinema as a person can in one lifetime.
Branagh is way over-due for an Oscar in any category. A high profile character (and academy award winner) like Olivier is a sure bet at a nomination and likely a win, depending on how well the movie does. Heck, they might even try to pass it off as their bi-decade charity to Shakespearian films since Branagh will be playing a man who contributed about as much Shakespeare to cinema as a person can in one lifetime.
I hope he gets nominated for this. I love me some Branagh and have since I saw his version of Hamlet. For some reason the project reminds me of Me and Orson Welles, although this is probably a more high-profile of a movie than that was. I was crushed when Christian McKay fell through the cracks.
I hope he gets nominated for this. I love me some Branagh and have since I saw his version of Hamlet. For some reason the project reminds me of Me and Orson Welles, although this is probably a more high-profile of a movie than that was. I was crushed when Christian McKay fell through the cracks.
I have some sort of weird “man crush” for Branagh, so you can definetely understand how excited I am for this film, his role in particular 😀
Is he still considered the frontrunner for Supporting Actor? I would LOVE to see him winning an Oscar.
I have some sort of weird “man crush” for Branagh, so you can definetely understand how excited I am for this film, his role in particular 😀
Is he still considered the frontrunner for Supporting Actor? I would LOVE to see him winning an Oscar.
I never thought I’d see the day when the best Shakespearean film director played the second best Shakespearean film director. I’m intrigued, but both Olivier and Monroe aren’t favorites of mine. Branagh is.
I never thought I’d see the day when the best Shakespearean film director played the second best Shakespearean film director. I’m intrigued, but both Olivier and Monroe aren’t favorites of mine. Branagh is.