02 September 2013

Chris Hemsworth has likened playing Formula One champion James Hunt in Rush to playing superhero Thor.

The Australian heartthrob was joined in London’s Leicester Square by co-stars Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Mari Lara and director Ron Howard for the premiere of the gripping real-life drama.

The film charts the rivalry between racers James Hunt (played by Chris) and Niki Lauda for the Formula One World Championship in 1976.

Lauda survived a catastrophic crash in Germany in the middle of the season, which almost killed him. But just weeks later he was back on the track challenging English rival Hunt again.

Chris said of comparing the role to that of comic book hero Thor: “It’s a little different and little similar in odd ways.

“I guess, playing a real-life character, there’s a huge responsibility and weight on your shoulders to do that person justice and memory of that person.

“And then I guess Thor, he’s not a real person as such, but he had a huge following of people for 60 years who knew much more about him than I did. So in a way they were both daunting.”

Lauda, portrayed by Daniel in the film, and writer Peter Morgan were also on the red carpet.

Daniel revealed that making the movie got him addicted to the thrill of driving fast cars. The German actor said: “After one lap, I totally got the addiction because it’s pure addiction. The whole car vibrates through your body. I see totally why young guys want to become a race driver.”

Other stars on the red carpet included racers Jenson Button, Sergio Perez and David Coulthard, as well as Bernie Ecclestone and David Hasselhoff. Rush is due to be released in the UK on September 13.

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31 August 2013

Niall Horan will be the first to settle down in One Direction, claims Liam Payne.

Even though fellow One Directioner Zayn Malik has popped the question to Perrie Edwards, the boys think it will be sneaky Niall who wins the marriage and kids’ race.

“Niall – he’ll surprise us,” Liam Payne told British magazine Heat when asked who will be the first to start a family.

“Niall often makes decisions and regrets them and tries to weave his way out of them,” chimed in Louis Tomlinson.

“We can imagine in ten years, him being like, ‘Well, I married this woman, I don’t really know what happened,” he laughed.

The boys were in London last week for the premiere of their first movie This Is Us. The glitzy event attracted thousands of screaming fans, with some even flying in from Australia to be there.

It was on the Leicester Square red carpet that Perrie showed off the impressive rock on her wedding finger.

Wearing a triple-diamond ring, the rumours of an engagement weren’t confirmed until the next day by Zayn.

“This is just the latest in a series of grand gestures,” a source revealed.

“The tattoo, flying across the world to see her, expensive gifts now proposing before the biggest red carpet of his life. It’s all Zayn’s way of proving how much he loves her.”

Looking relaxed and at ease despite the fan frenzy, the boys have come a long way since they were put together on the British X Factor in 2010.

Liam confessed that he, Louis and Zayn had confidence issues in the early days, but that’s no longer a problem for the world’s biggest boyband.

“We do find it easier to talk to people, it’s cool,” Zayn admitted to Heat.

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31 August 2013

Zayn Malik doesn’t feel “haunted” by his inability to dance as One Direction are so popular now.

The handsome One Direction star and bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan send teenage girls into hysterics wherever they go.

Currently they are busy promoting their movie This Is Us and 20-year-old Zayn admits things can get intense.

“It’s always interesting. Normally they scream and there’s a bit of a shake,” he revealed to British magazine Star.

“They kinda jump on you, but it’s cool either way. It gets overwhelming. Too much? No, definitely not.”

One Direction was formed on the British version of The X Factor and took third place in the 2010 talent competition.

Zayn originally had doubts about staying in the band as he isn’t very coordinated when it comes to dance moves.

“It doesn’t haunt me, it makes me laugh when I look back, and that might have been the case and I could have blown it. I’m glad I went back and we did it – and that we decided we were a band that wouldn’t do too much dancing,” he smiled.

Liam recently revealed that Zayn finds it tough to get out of bed for rehearsals.

Initially this caused some problems for the band.

“No, literally when we first got together it was all a bit strange, trying to get everyone together for rehearsals. And still to this day it’s a struggle to get Zayn out of bed, so…” Liam laughed.

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01 September 2013

Mark Wahlberg has revealed his body has been through a gruelling regime of bulking up and slimming down for movie parts.

The Ted actor plays a bodybuilder in new film Pain Gain, which was sandwiched between two other projects that needed a less hulking physique.

Mark confessed: “Last year was crazy because I did four movies in the span of 12 months, and they were all extremely different. I got down to 165lb for [his previous film] Broken City and then I got up to 212lb for Pain Gain.”

After Pain Gain, Mark had to lose weight again to appear alongside Denzel Washington in 2 Guns.

Mark, 42, also revealed that his former bandmates from 80s group Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch had been in touch, but that he had no plans to get back into music.

He said: “I had the Funky Bunches call me on set and I was like, ‘I can’t go and sing because I’m shooting a movie.’

“I can’t tell the director Michael Bay, ‘I’ve gotta go sing Good Vibrations!’ Maybe if it was the right time, or for a good cause, but I don’t miss singing that much.”

:: Pain Gain is released in cinemas on Friday, August 30

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30 August 2013

Richard Gere is set to star in a new indie drama about a man who invades the lives of a newlywed couple.

The Pretty Woman star has signed up for the role in filmmaker Andrew Renzi’s movie Franny, according to Deadline.

His character is described as a “hedonistic philanthropist” who gets involved in the young couple’s life in order to recreate his former life.

So far it isn’t known who else will star in the film.

Richard, 63, has not been seen on the big screen since last year’s Arbitrage.

Production on Franny is due to start in October.

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30 August 2013

Niall Horan sometimes strips off in the studio if he’s feeling the heat.

The cheeky Irish singer makes up one fifth of One Direction, alongside bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne.

Niall, 19, is sure to set teenage hearts racing after revealing he likes to belt out tunes in the buff.

“I’ve been doing it for a while. I recorded What Makes You Beautiful in my boxers.

“What Makes You Beautiful was the first time I did it because it was really warm in the studio, and I’ve done it ever since,” he teased Heat World.

“I sing better naked.”

One Direction are currently promoting their behind-the-scenes movie This Is Us and are also working on their upcoming third album.

Liam – who turns 20 today – revealed what fans can expect from their new music.

“[It’s a] very rock direction,” he told MTV.

“We actually spent a lot of time writing this album. We’re very proud of it, so we can’t wait for it to come out.

“It’s very live sounding, very rock-y. [It’s] quite retro, but it’s very different so we are hoping people will kind of adjust to the music with us.”

This Is Us hit cinemas this month and is already delighting fans with never before seen footage.

Niall will have to be sure to put on some clothes if he wants to go and see himself on the big screen.

“The movie is out today! Wohooooo ! night go sneak into a cinema somewhere tonight and watch! Hahahah (sic)” he tweeted.

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30 August 2013

Downton Abbey’s Allen Leech is to star alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley in a biopic about Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing.

The 32-year-old actor, who plays estate manager Tom Branson in the ITV period drama, will play a Scottish spy for the Soviets who plots against Turing in The Imitation Game, reported Variety.

Sherlock star Benedict is already attached to play the British mathematician, who helped crack the German Enigma code during the final years of World War II, in the film based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigma.

Turing was prosecuted and convicted by the UK government in 1952 for having a sexual relationship with a man and had to undergo hormone treatment, which left him impotent. The genius mathematician and computer scientist committed suicide by eating an apple laced with cyanide in June 1954.

Keira has been in talks to play a woman from a very conservative background who formed a complicated relationship with Turing and was a close friend to him up until his death.

The movie, which has been written by Graham Moore, was top of the film’s industry Black List of hotly tipped unproduced scripts in 2011.

Matthew Goode is also attached to the project, which will be directed by Headhunters filmmaker Morten Tyldum.

Leonardo DiCaprio was previously linked to the role of Turing, while Ron Howard was said to be interested in directing the film.

The Imitation Game is expected to be released in 2014.

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28 August 2013

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have allegedly been living separate lives since May.

Speculation has been rife that their marriage is on the rocks, with the couple not seen out together since April. It has now been alleged that Michael and Catherine have decided to spend time apart to consider their future.

“They’re taking a break,” a source told PEOPLE.

The magazine claims that divorce papers have not been filed and there hasn’t yet been a move to legally separate.

It has been suggested that health battles have put a strain on the relationship.

In 2010 Michael was diagnosed with throat cancer, while Catherine has sought treatment for bipolar II disorder.

“The stress has taken a toll on their marriage,” a friend explained.

According to PEOPLE, the pair decided to take a break after Michael returned from the Cannes Film Festival in May. This coincided with 43-year-old Catherine completing another stint in a mental health facility.

There is still hope the stars can find a way to save their marriage. Sources close to the couple believe they can still resolve their issues and remain together for the sake of their two children, Dylan, 13, and Carys, ten.

“They want the best for their kids, no matter what happens,” a source added.

Catherine and Michael married in November 2000, and the brunette previously revealed she found divorces “repulsive” and insisted it was “in her genes” to remain married for life.

Michael, 68, is currently holidaying in Sardinia, while Catherine is in New York with the kids.

Catherine recently admitted she wasn’t spending much time with her husband, fuelling rumours about their marriage.

“Michael’s doing a movie on the East Coast with Diane Keaton, so he’s working,” Catherine told ET Online. “My children are actually at sleep-away camp, so I’m missing them desperately.”

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28 August 2013

Matt Damon has laughed off rumours that he would play Robin to Ben Affleck‘s Batman in the Man Of Steel sequel.

With Ben already on board to portray the caped crusader in Zack Snyder‘s follow-up, there had been speculation that his best friend Matt could be joining him on screen.

But the Elysium star told the Times Of India: “I am a little older than Ben. I never saw Robin as older than Batman. But it’s safe to say I won’t be Robin.”

Matt – who next stars in Terry Gilliam‘s The Zero Theorem and George Clooney‘s World War II film The Monuments Men – reckoned his Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting co-star would be “terrific” in the role.

“I think it will be great. It will be terrific,” he said.

“I know there are a lot of people grousing on the internet. I think it’s kind of funny. You know, he’s not playing King Lear. It’s Batman! Certainly within his skill set. If anybody saw Argo or The Town, and all the work he’s been doing lately, it’s way more nuanced and interesting and way more difficult than Batman.”

The 42-year-old added: “Batman just sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people. Bruce Wayne is the more challenging part of the role, and Ben will be great at that.”

Matt, who’s rumoured to return to the Bourne franchise with director Paul Greengrass, also revealed he bears no ill will towards Jeremy Renner, who starred in fourth film The Bourne Legacy.

“They were just trying to revitalise that franchise and I didn’t mind at all. I am a huge fan of Jeremy. I don’t equate my Bourne movie with his. He didn’t play the part of Jason Bourne. It’s a totally different thing,” he said.

Man Of Steel 2, which sees Superman face off with Batman, will be released in 2015.

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28 August 2013

Olivia Wilde couldn’t rap so thought acting was a natural career choice.

The 29-year-old actress stars in comedy film Drinking Buddies. This is the latest high profile role she’s landed since getting her big break playing a bisexual bartender on The O.C.

Acting has pretty much always been her ambition, although occasionally she considered other career paths.

“Well, there was a brief flirtation with wanting to be Albert Einstein, and then a rapper,” she laughed to Splash magazine. “But then I came back to acting.”

Olivia has eight movies in various stages of production, including Rush, a Ron Howard movie which also stars Chris Hemsworth.

The brunette actress will never get used to the way success in Hollywood comes hand-in-hand with tabloid exposure.

“When people look p**sed off in paparazzi pictures, they’re not feeling glum that day. They’re being stalked!” she says. “It’s like, if you were in your friend’s backyard at a barbecue and there was a lens peeking through the fence, you’d look p**sed off too. I really am grateful that I get to do this for a living, and that’s what gets me through the fact that I’m followed every day by really creepy dudes with big lenses.”

Olivia got into character for Drinking Buddies by uprooting to Chicago, where the story was located and the movie shot. The star decided to rent a house with her comedy actor fiancé Jason Sudeikis.

“I lived in a house in Wicker Park, I had a little veggie garden and I rode my bike around everywhere,” she smiled. “And I loved learning about the craft beer community.”

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