Latest news with #AndreaRiseborough
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brenda Blethyn is unrecognisable in new thriller Dragonfly - as she ditches Vera's signature red hair and trenchcoat for VERY different look
Brenda Blethyn looked almost unrecognisable in the upcoming movie, Dragonfly, which is set to be shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August. In the new movie, the actress, 79, looks worlds away from her iconic Vera role as she ditched the character's signature red hairdo and trenchcoat for short grey locks and a more laidback fit. The drama tells the story of a woman named Colleen (Andrea Riseborough) who takes over the care for her elderly neighbour Elise (Brenda). She believes the professionals aren't doing a good enough job, but could it be that Colleen has a hidden agenda? Or are those around them judging her without knowing the facts? The synopsis for Dragonfly reads: 'Disgusted with the state of care that her elderly neighbor Elsie is receiving, Colleen offers to help for free. 'Over tea and through trying moments, the pair become trusted confidants despite their differences. 'But Colleen's intentions may not be exactly as they seem. As suspicions grow, a shocking act triggers a violent chain reaction that threatens to irreparably alter the lives of both women.' The upcoming movie also stars Jason Watkins as John, Sandra Huggett as Mary, and Lolly Jones as Jane. Following positive reviews from critics at Tribeca, the thriller already boasts an impressive 92% approval rating. Since stepping down from her role as DCI Vera Stanhope, the star has taken on several exciting TV projects, including the upcoming historical comedy, Fools. The actress's latest venture, which was directed by Paul Andrew Williams, was described by The Guardian as a 'stark, fierce and wonderfully acted film'. The Film Stage shared: 'Williams and his brilliant cast create a film that is equal-parts tender and shocking, turning horror tropes on their head.' Fans were left feeling devastated when ITV announced last year that the popular detective drama would end in 2025, after a successful 14-year run (pictured Kenneth Colley, Rebecca Benson, Matilda Ziegler, Brenda, and David in 2013) Meanwhile, NYC Movie Guru described Brenda's performance as worthy of an award. They said: 'What begins as a slow-burning and tender drama with shades of Mike Leigh turns into a dark and gripping Hitchcockian thriller. 'Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough give powerful and Oscar-worthy performances that ground the film in raw authenticity.' Her latest role comes nearly a year after Brenda was seen in Newcastle, filming her final scenes for Vera. Fans were left feeling devastated when ITV announced last year that the popular detective drama would end in 2025, after a successful 14-year run. Dragonfly will be shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Susan Sarandon 'terrified but excited' to make London stage debut
The Thelma & Louise actress is set to star in Tracy Letts' drama Mary Page Marlowe at The Old Vic theatre in September. She and Andrea Riseborough will play the titular character at different ages alongside other actresses in the production, which spans 70 years in the life of an accountant and mother of two in Ohio. "I'm so honoured to be asked to be in a play during Matthew Warchus' final season at The Old Vic. Terrified but excited," the Oscar winner said in a statement.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Full set of Sean Connery Bond movies heads up Edinburgh film festival programme
Andrea Riseborough, Peter Dinklage, Renée Zellweger and – inevitably – the late Sean Connery will be among the big names on show at the Edinburgh international film festival, which announced its programme today. A clutch of world premieres at the festival includes a remake of trash classic The Toxic Avenger, starring Dinklage alongside Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood and Julia Davis, while Riseborough appears opposite Brenda Blethyn in Paul Andrew Williams's Tribeca festival hit Dragonfly. Zellweger appears in a behind-the-scenes role, with the world premiere of her directorial debut, an animated short film called They. And in what appears something of a coup, the festival will screen 4K restorations of Connery's six 'official' James Bond films: Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. Connery's name is now firmly imprinted on the festival, with its main feature-film prize named after him and screenings of short films developed through the Sean Connery Talent Lab, an offshoot of the actor's foundation and the National Film and Television School Scotland. Festival director and CEO Paul Ridd said: 'The legacy of Scotland's biggest global star is central to what we're trying to do, connecting it with the future generation of film talent and all the philanthropic work the Connery Foundation do across film and various other causes is of vital importance to us. To have access to those six wonderful James Bond films and showing them on the big screen is very special.' The 2025 edition marks the third event since the dramatic collapse of the Centre of the Moving Image, the festival's then parent organisation, in October 2022, which also resulted in the closure of Edinburgh's celebrated Filmhouse cinema and its sister cinema in Aberdeen. Helped by the wider international festival that takes over the city every August, a short-notice scratch event was put together for the summer of 2023, while Ridd was installed as the head of a new organisation for 2024, which returned the festival to something comparable to its former status. And in a piece of good news for both the festival and the city itself, the Filmhouse in Edinburgh reopened in June after a high-profile campaign. Ridd says the festival is looking to consolidate its revival. 'We are thinking about this as year one with last year being year zero. We were really pleased with what we brought together last year, so for 2025 we are looking at what worked previously and not deviating really away from that. What's different, I guess, this year is that we've had a significantly higher volume of submissions sent to us, which is fantastic.' This year the festival's competition (for the 'Sean Connery prize for feature film-making excellence') comprises 10 world premieres, including Campbell X's 'queer road movie' Low Rider, Swedish documentary Once You Shall Be One of Those Who Lived Long Ago about a physically collapsing mining town, and In Transit, a drama about an artist and her model starring Jennifer Ehle. An Out of Competition section includes high-profile films such as the Dardenne brothers' Young Mothers, a study of a centre for pregnant teenagers, Jan-Ole Gerster's Islands, with Sam Riley as a washed-up tennis coach, and The Memory Blocks, a new film from experimental documentary-maker Andrew Kötting. The festival is also leaning into a resurgence of interest in archive and back catalogue films; alongside a retrospective of westerns by famed genre director Budd Boetticher (including 1957 classic The Tall T), Edinburgh is staging a series of screenings of films nominated by their in-person guests, all of whom will introduce their picks as well as taking part in an In Conversation event. The Last King of Scotland director Kevin Macdonald, who will appear alongside his brother, Trainspotting producer Andrew Macdonald, has chosen Soviet war classic The Cranes Are Flying; Candyman's Nia DaCosta will talk about Doug Liman's 90s drug deal comedy thriller Go; and Ben Wheatley, whose new film Bulk is leading the festival's Midnight Madness strand, has gone for Ealing comedy classic The Man in the White Suit. Equally as important as the programme was the decision to move the festival back to its August time slot, having been shifted to June in 2008 as a strategic decision by the UK Film Council, then in charge of industry policy, as a way of giving space between the Edinburgh and London film festivals (with the latter taking place in early October). This has reunited the film festival with the energy of the international and fringe festivals, as well as potentially adding some purchase in the autumn awards season. Ridd says: 'I'm very conscious that August is a strategic position for a lot of film distributors to launch their films going into that awards period. So I think August is a pure positive for us.' He adds: 'This is a beautiful city, and you've got all of this other art going on all around you. It's a unique feeling and I know what a big opportunity that represents to us, to emulate that spirit of discovery.' Sign up to Film Weekly Take a front seat at the cinema with our weekly email filled with all the latest news and all the movie action that matters after newsletter promotion Ridd says he is particularly pleased with the reopening of the Filmhouse, even if the umbilical connection between the festival and venue is no longer there. 'We're a completely new organisation, which has emerged Phoenix-like from a difficult situation. But it's obviously had a significant impact on the city, and I think everyone's very, very excited to see it back.' The Edinburgh international film festival, which previously announced Sundance hit Sorry, Baby and Irvine Welsh documentary Reality Is Not Enough as its opening and closing films, runs from 14-20 August.
BreakingNews.ie
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Susan Sarandon ‘terrified but excited' to star on London stage
Susan Sarandon has said she is 'terrified but excited' to make her UK theatre debut in the play Mary Page Marlowe at London's Old Vic. Sarandon will star opposite acclaimed actor Andrea Riseborough in Pulitzer Prize-winning Tracy Letts' play this autumn. Advertisement Described as a 'vivid, time-jumping mosaic of one woman's life', Sarandon and Riseborough will both play Mary at different ages over 70 years, with further casting to be announced. Sarandon, who won the best actress Oscar for Atlantic City, has performed on Broadway – but has never trod the boards in the UK before. Oscar-nominated Riseborough, who has starred in films including The Long Walk To Finchley and To Leslie, is returning to the stage after 15 years. Sarandon said: 'I'm so honoured to be asked to be in a play during Matthew Warchus' final season at The Old Vic. Terrified but excited.' Advertisement The production will take place completely in-the-round, with the 200-year-old auditorium transformed to create a new seating configuration that will surround the stage. Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus said: 'I'm delighted to be kicking off my final season at this wonderful theatre with this sensational new play from one of America's greatest living writers. 'And what a privilege to be featuring two such superlative actresses, Susan and Andrea, on the Old Vic stage – along with a large cast and creative team abounding with exceptional talent. 'I'm also really excited to be returning The Old Vic auditorium to perhaps my favourite configuration, and look forward to welcoming audiences to an unforgettable year of fully in-the-round, immersive, 360 degree performances.' Advertisement Riseborough said: 'It's an honour to be taking on the role of Mary – amongst others – in Tracy Letts' poignant play, alongside the extraordinary Susan Sarandon. 'I'm so very grateful to be working with Matthew again and thrilled to finally work at The Old Vic, a beautiful space. I look forward to us all bringing life to Matthew's remarkable vision for the play.' Mary Page Marlowe premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 2016 and opened off Broadway in 2018. It will run at the Old Vic from September 23 to November 1. Advertisement Tickets are now on sale for members and will go on general sale from midday on Friday.
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Susan Sarandon ‘terrified but excited' to make UK theatrical debut in September
Susan Sarandon is to make her UK theatre debut alongside Andrea Riseborough, when the pair portray the same woman at different ages, in Tracy Letts' drama Mary Page Marlowe. The play will be staged this autumn at the Old Vic in London by Matthew Warchus, in his final season as artistic director. Several actors portray the title character, which is described as a 'time-jumping mosaic' spanning 70 years in the life of an accountant and mother of two in Ohio. It marks a high-profile return to the stage for Sarandon, who made her Broadway debut in 1972 in An Evening with Richard Nixon and … by Gore Vidal before her breakout film role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. By the time she was next on Broadway, in Exit the King in 2009, she was a household name and five-time Oscar nominee (who won for Dead Man Walking). Sarandon said: 'I'm so honoured to be asked to be in a play during Matthew Warchus's final season at the Old Vic,' adding that she was 'terrified but excited'. Riseborough, similarly better known as a film star, has not acted on stage for 15 years. Her last major London role was in Ivanov opposite Kenneth Branagh at the Donmar Warehouse in 2008. She recently appeared in Warchus's screen version of Matilda the Musical. Riseborough said: 'It's an honour to be taking on the role of Mary – amongst others – in Tracy Letts' poignant play, alongside the extraordinary Susan Sarandon. I'm so very grateful to be working with Matthew again and thrilled to finally work at the Old Vic, a beautiful space.' Warchus called Letts 'one of America's greatest living writers' and said the play would be staged in-the-round – as will all the productions in his final season. Mary Page Marlowe will run from 23 September to 1 November. Letts is best known for his Pulitzer winner August: Osage County, which was directed by Anna D Shapiro in a Chicago Steppenwolf production that played at London's National Theatre in 2008. Shapiro directed the premiere of Mary Page Marlowe for the Steppenwolf theatre in 2016. In his review, the New York Times critic Charles Isherwood wrote: 'Some may find the play's form frustrating; I found it beautiful and affecting, like flipping through a friend's photo album in no particular order, finding some faces familiar, others unexpected. And then you come upon someone entirely unknown – who obviously meant much to your friend – and you realize, with a pang of sadness, that your knowledge of even those closest to you will always be fragmentary and incomplete.' This will be the play's UK premiere. Letts said: 'From my first experiences as a playwright here 30 years ago, to the run of August: Osage County at the National, London is an integral part of my development as an artist. I'm deeply gratified to have Mary Page Marlowe at the Old Vic, directed by Matthew, featuring these remarkable actresses. A genuine thrill.' Warchus will step down from the Old Vic in September next year, when he will be succeeded by Rupert Goold, who in turn will be replaced in the top job at the Almeida theatre by Dominic Cooke.
