Latest news with #BillyZane
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Hollywood star Billy Zane is in Perth for Supanova
From playing the dastardly antagonist in Titanic to an unforgettable cameo in Zoolander, Billy Zane enjoys cult status in Hollywood, and has brought that star power to Perth this weekend for Supanova. Zane is one of the headliners of the annual celebration of all things pop culture, and told The West Australian the opportunity to share his many notable characters with West Aussie fans felt like 'a strange dream that has a Rip Van Winkle quality to it'. 'When you think of the Back to the Futures, Memphis Belle, Titanic and The Phantom, you just go, 'Wow', although, mind you, there's 100 turkeys that really are the shoulders that those movies stand upon,' he laughed. Impeccably dressed, the 59-year-old expounded on his disparate interests, from a decades-long career as an abstract expressionist artist, science and, of course, the film industry. The movie "Titanic", written and directed by James Cameron. Seen here from left, Billy Zane as Caledon 'Cal' Hockley and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater. Credit: CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images Weirdly, despite all the attempted murdering, evidence planting and using a random kid to get on a lifeboat, the narrative around Cal has evolved over the years to the point some pundits question if Rose made the wrong choice by hooking up with Jack. 'From my point of view, I always try to find dimension for my most questionable of characters, to bring them beyond just being an entertaining obstacle for our protagonists to overcome,' Zane said. Arguably none of his characters are more memorably questionable than his first major big-screen role, the terrifyingly psychopathic Hughie, in the 1989 Phillip Noyce classic, Dead Calm. Billy Zane and Ben Stiller in Zoolander. Credit: Supplied 'I owe my entire career (to that production) ... it was so significant for me as a 21-year-old actor,' he admitted. 'Nicole was two years younger than me, but had a formidable capacity and grasp on her sense of self as a young woman and actress, and we were both punching above our weight and together really helped reinforce and support each other.' Support was also what Zane offered Derek Zoolander in a 'walk-off' against Owen Wilson's Hansel, when Zane played himself in Ben Stiller's iconic 2001 comedy. Those few minutes of screen time launched a thousand Zane memes, which the actor certainly didn't see coming. 'Never in a million years,' Zane said. Supanova runs today and tomorrow at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
West Australian
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Billy Zane: Titanic star opens up on being the bad guy and Zoolander cameos during Perth visit for Supanova
Billy Zane: Titanic star opens up on being the bad guy and Zoolander cameos during Perth visit for Supanova
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hollywood star unrecognisable as he returns to Australia 35 years after starring in iconic Nicole Kidman film
Titanic 'villain' Billy Zane has returned Down Under more than 35 years after he starred in the Nicole Kidman hit Dead Calm. Zane appeared alongside the Aussie Oscar winner and Sam Neill in the Australian-made thriller, which was filmed in Sydney and on Queensland 's Great Barrier Reef in 1987. On Tuesday the 59-year-old, who looks unrecognisable from his days as a heart throb, was sightseeing around the Rock's and Sydney Harbour. Sharing a post to his Instagram, the actor recalled his time making his Aussie movie after spotting a vintage sailing yacht, the Southern Swan, docked in Sydney Harbour. In the movie, Zane plays a crazed drifter, who has been sailing the Pacific in a schooner and later kidnaps Nicole's character. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'So great to be back on the Rocks in Sydney, ' Zane said in his post. 'Sure looks like my Square Rigged, double masted Brig from Dead Calm, doesn't it,' he added. Billy was referring to the three-masted Southern Swan, which currently operates on Sydney Harbour as a pleasure cruiser. The schooner that was used in the film was an old Merchant Marine vessel was a that had been damaged in a storm and later reconditioned for use in the production. A replica was used for a scene in which the boat is enveloped by flames. Zane shared a photo of the ship, as well as a another photo of himself standing by the international terminal. Rugged up for the chilly Winter weather, Zane, wearing designer eye wear, looked stylish in a flat cap and grey scarf. He also shared shared a photo of himself enjoying a drink in a bathrobe. It comes after the star attended the Supanova fan convention in Sydney on Sunday. The American actor graciously signed autographs for his admirers while appearing at the event as one of the key celebrities that drew in the crowds. He appeared in his element as he mingled with his fans. The Titanic star became a household name in 1997, after appearing alongside Kate Winslet as the film's villain, Caledon Hockley. He is also known for his impressive turns in the The Phantom in 1996, lDead Calm in 1989 and Zoolander in 2001. Last year, Zane was again unrecognisable after transforming into Marlon Brando for the new biopic, Waltzing With Brando. The biopic is based on a memoir penned by the acclaimed actor's architect, Bernard Judge. It tells the story of how Brando discovered Judge and convinced him to build the world's first ecologically perfect retreat on the tiny, uninhabitable Tahitian island of Tetiaroa.
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
1990s heartthrob unrecognisable from his Titanic days as he attends Supanova fan event Sydney
Billy Zane was one of the most beloved heartthrobs of the 1990s. Now 59, the distinguished actor proved he's still genetically blessed - albeit almost unrecognisable from his heyday - as he attended the Supanova fan convention in Sydney on Sunday. The American star graciously signed autographs for his admirers while appearing at the event as one of the key celebrities that drew in the crowds. Billy opted for a pair of yellow tinted glasses and covered his shaved head with a grey cap for the occasion. He added a pale grey suit for a dapper look and appeared in his element as he mingled with his fans. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Titanic star became a household name in 1997, after appearing alongside Kate Winslet as the film's villain, Caledon Hockley. He is also known for his impressive turns in the The Phantom in 1996, Dead Calm in 1989 and Zoolander in 2001. Last year, Zane was again unrecognisable after transforming into Marlon Brando for the new biopic, Waltzing With Brando. The actor could be seen portraying the silver screen legend Brando when he was preparing to star in one of his most iconic roles of all time. Fans praised the casting choice for the new movie, which will premiere at the Torino Film Festival in Italy, and said Zane's transformation into Brando was 'astonishing.' Zane - who went shirtless while filming a beach scene for the biopic - went viral on X for his uncanny portrayal of the iconic actor, and fans also took to social media to share their excitement for Zane's comeback. Just after seeing one still from the movie, several social media users are already saying he deserves to win an Oscar for his portrayal of Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather. In Waltzing With Brando, which is directed by Bill Fishman, Zane portrays the late actor during the period he was preparing for some of his most iconic roles - The Godfather as well as Last Tango in Paris. The biopic is based on a memoir penned by the acclaimed actor's architect, Bernard Judge. It tells the story of how Brando discovered Judge and convinced him to build the world's first ecologically perfect retreat on the tiny, uninhabitable Tahitian island of Tetiaroa. The film festival's new artistic director Giulio Base also gushed about Zane's performance in the role and his attendance at the event to promote the biopic. 'You won't believe it: he is possessed by Brando,' he told Variety about Zane playing the iconic star — who died at age 80 from respiratory and heart difficulties in July 2004. Following the big reveal as Brando, Zane started trending on X, formerly Twitter, as many social media users reacted to his transformation. Many fans gushed over the decision to cast Zane in the role of portraying Marlon Brando. One social media user wrote: 'Billy Zane is such a good casting choice!' Another person tweeted that they were 'already' looking forward to Zane receiving his first Academy Award nomination. 'I'm already rooting for Billy Zane to get his first Oscar nomination,' one X user said. 'The hair and makeup alone has already won the Oscar.' One X user said that Zane portraying Brando is 'pitch-perfect casting.' 'I hope the film is good, because this is pitch-perfect casting, and I'd personally love to see a Billy Zane comeback.' Another person said that the actor looked identical to Brando when in costume and jokingly insisted that they did not believe the photo was Zane. 'Well, I am still waiting for the picture of Billy Zane. This is clearly Marlon Brando,' the tweet read. One X user shared their shock at Zane's similarities to Brando. 'Apparently, these are pictures of Billy Zane, in an upcoming Brando biopic. Astonishing,' they wrote. Similarly, another person, a self-proclaimed fan of Brando's movies, said they had to do a 'triple take' after seeing the still of Zane as Brando in The Godfather.
Sydney Morning Herald
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘He was like my little brother': Billy Zane on Heath Ledger, Leonardo DiCaprio, and 40 years in Hollywood
As Hansel (Owen Wilson) says in Zoolander: 'Listen to your friend Billy Zane. He's a cool dude.' Billy Zane, 59, is a cool dude. I know this firsthand now. There he is on my laptop screen, sitting in his lounge room in Los Angeles, a guitar and a set of bongo drums along the wall behind him. Los Angeles' anti-ICE protests might be escalating outside his doors, but he's unflappably suave in black-rimmed glasses and a black shirt unbuttoned to his chest hair, as we discuss his 40-year acting career, ahead of his appearance at Sydney's Supanova pop culture festival this weekend. I hear you're flying out to Europe today. That's tomorrow. What for? The film festival in Taormina in Sicily. They're playing a film I directed called an existentialist comedy set behind the scenes of a dysfunctional B-movie set. It's funny, quite European in its flair, a little bit Truffaut and Fellini but with a Curb Your Enthusiasm tone. We're screening it at this lovely festival, where apparently Martin Scorsese will be screening a 4K version of Taxi Driver in a 6000-seat amphitheatre or something. Is this the first film you've directed? Technically. It's the first I've directed to be released. I have one that was caught up in the French courts for a bit. It's a quagmire, this trade, I have to tell you. But we've resuscitated it and that will see the light of day. That project was something I made many years ago, so it's going to be like corking a bottle of wine when it comes out. What was the issue with it? We don't have the time. Fair enough. You have a long relationship with Australia, going back to Dead Calm (1989), your breakout film with a young Nicole Kidman. Is it true your sister dated Heath Ledger for a while, too? Yeah, they met on the set of Roar which they shot there for some years. Then he came back with her to LA and they were living together. There was a groovy kind of happening called The Masses that we all contributed to. The Masses. Nice. It was an art collective, young filmmakers and video directors and musicians feeding each other's interests. I'd give [Heath] my Super 8 camera to play with or introduce him to the wheels of steel, my ones and twos. He enjoyed DJing quite a bit. It was fun. He was like my little brother. Wait, you used to DJ? Not publicly, just for my own parties. I'd always come back from London with boxes of records. I liked mashing up the bpm of drum and bass against, like, anything – even spoken word and weird little stories. I remember finding a nice pocket with an early PJ Harvey track and some Metalheadz, which kind of bent your brain in the best way possible. So Heath was basically part of your family for a while. Did he go over for, like, Greek family dinners? (laughs) Well, we would always bust out the Greek if there was a meal to be had, but it was more my sister threw these great Steak + Cake parties, which was maybe Spartan in its minimalism, but they were very binary and quite efficient. Great wine, filet mignon, fabulous cake, and good music. Your film career's been going 40 years now, ever since your first role in Back to the Future. What's the thing people mostly want to talk to you about? The Phantom (1996) always comes up and Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), which were two of my favourite films. I always liked the sweetness of The Phantom and the idea that he doesn't kill, which I think is an important message today in the spate of first-person body counts and movies that are just a series of bludgeonings. He's a white hat hero, which is hard to find today. There's so much trauma drama and origin stories supporting vengeance play. I want to talk about my favourite show: Twin Peaks. In Season Two, you had a role as John Justice Wheeler, playboy love interest to Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn). It was a very short-lived storyline. Your character was suddenly rushed off to South America. It felt incomplete, then I read into it and it sounds like there was a whole other plan for it. Tell me, I have no idea. Sherilyn Fenn said you were supposed to whisk Audrey away from Twin Peaks and then she was gonna get her own spin-off set in LA. What? Is this fan fiction? No, this is Sherilyn Fenn speaking in an interview, like, a decade ago. [She also said Zane was only brought into the show because Lara Flynn Boyle, who was dating Kyle MacLachlan at the time, was getting jealous of the love story the show was spinning between Agent Cooper and Audrey.] Oh God, if only. I would have loved that. That was a pinch-me moment when they called me up. Leave it to [David] Lynch to cast against type. At that time, I was known as 'bad boy on a boat'. Got a boat? I'm your guy, just add water. Then he goes, I know, I'll hire the most tweaked out psycho to be the Gary Cooper, straight-laced guy here. Those are the kind of roles I wanted to play. What was David Lynch like at the time? Generous. Cool. Sweet. Just like he always sounded, rest his lovely soul. Collaborative. Open. Brilliant. Kind. Inclusive. He was a bit of a DJ, too. His sound cart always had music playing; that was him creating a unifying field for his crew. I'd witnessed that while visiting the set of Lost Highway. He was filming in my neighbourhood and I knew some of the cast – Natasha Wagner, Balthazar Getty – and I was watching him just play this drone that wasn't so much music but more a soundscape. It brought people into a zone right before it was time to shoot. I thought that was really smart, and I kept it in my kit bag. It keeps everyone in the same mindset and tone of what you're trying to achieve, not looking for the next job or thinking about lunch. Another movie I always loved is Only You (1994). You played the fake Damon Bradley. Everyone knows your cameo in Zoolander, but even back then you were taking the piss out of your pretty boy, suave persona. Absolutely. Self-deprecation and a well-timed prat fall, that's the thing. I love Chaplin and Peter Sellers, the economy of a physical gag. I can't help but infuse that in my work, or at least a glimmer of it. You'll see it in Titanic even. If you watch Cal in terms of his reactions to information as it comes in, he doesn't really care. He knows he's getting off the boat. It's that confidence of like, sinking-schminking. The arrogance is hysterical. It feeds the narrative and the hubris of the age he carries, but there's such an absurdity that it would make [James] Cameron and I giggle. He'd yell 'Cut!' and we'd laugh our asses off because the character was such a tool. Speaking of Titanic (1997), there's a famous New York Magazine article titled Leo, Prince of the City, written by Nancy Jo Sales and published back in 1998, right after Titanic blew up and Leonardo DiCaprio became the biggest star on the planet. Do you remember experiencing that phenomenon of Leo? You were like 10 years older than him. Were you concerned for him or excited? Oh, excited. He was a lovely guy, still is. We were pals, but there was also a mutual appreciation for each other's work. We'd see each other socially before Titanic, so when we both got the gig, it was like, 'Oh, this is gonna be a hoot.' But watching that unfold… I remember when we were filming Titanic, we drove breakneck to the Chinese Theatre one night for the premiere of Romeo + Juliet (1996) and then drove back in the early hours to be on set again. And it was nice seeing him blowing up in real time, even before Titanic. Romeo + Juliet was really the start of it. We were like, 'Oh, so it begins. Just wait till they see you running around with your little suspenders!' Were you partying with him at that time? I mean, yeah, I was living in New York in the late '90s and we were like neighbours. I lived next door to The Mercer and I knew his crew, they were all young actors. But I was not part of... the pack. The 'Pussy Posse'. 'Welcome elder statesman…' Like the old man who'd roll in with sage advice for the young bucks having their day. No. But it was fun to watch. He did just fine. That kid didn't need much help. Your audition tape for Dirty Dancing (1987) that came to light a few years ago: is it true you were cast in that film, but then they saw you dance and changed their minds? No, no. I auditioned for it, and I had made the short list. But there were two couples shortlisted in the end: Sarah Jessica Parker and I, and Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. I danced, but he was a trained dancer. I could move, but I wasn't a Broadway star. He was born into a dancing family. His mum was a choreographer! He was a perfect Johnny Castle. I was coming at it a little more like an Elvis movie. Loading Do you ever go down the pathway of, like, what would have happened if you got that? I tend to subscribe to the notion that everything is perfect, so I don't know. A whole different kind of vibe. I don't think I would have done Dead Calm. I probably would've ended up posing on movie posters with a gun and the word 'cop' in the title. Carwash Cop! Kickboxer Cop!
