Love's Labour's Lost UK premiere articles
March 16 2000
Love's Labour's Lost ... (and
found?) for Ken and Helena
(Evening Standard)
*thanks to Catherine K
Helena Bonham Carter was an enthusiastic
supporter at last night's charity premiere of Kenneth Branagh's
latest Shakespearean adventure, a song-and-dance version of Love's
Labour's Lost.
Despite their much-publicised
split last September, the couple were patently in harmony at
the party at the Waldorf which followed the screening at the
Odeon West End in aid of RADA, Britain's flagship acting school.
Miss Bonham Carter's name does not appear on the credits but
she offered advice and support during the making of the movie
and can claim responsibility for suggesting an innovative tap-dance
sequence.
But neither wanted to talk about
their personal relationship. When asked about Miss Bonham Carter's
presence at the movie, Branagh replied in mock innocence: "I
think she has come to see the film." The transformation
of the comedy into a daft 1930s Hollywood-style musical gives
Branagh had his fellow-actors Alicia Silverstone, Natascha McElhone,
Emily Mortimer, Matthew Lillard and Adrian Lester the chance
to display song-and-dance talents even they were not sure they
had.
The film impressed Shakespearean
actress Sinead Cusack: "It's a beautiful confection but
Shakespeare allows you to do things like that."
Sir Tim Rice agreed. "I
loved it."
The Londoner's Diary (Evening Standard):
Helena Bonham Carter offered
her support to former beau Kenneth Branagh by attending last
night's gala premiere of Love's Labour's Lost at the Odeon West
End. However, the greatest praise for the great man came from
his co-star in the film, Alicia Silverstone, who revealed she
was made to wait a month after her audition before Branagh gave
her the role. "Working on set with him was like having a
really good acting lesson," she purred. Timothy Spall, meanwhile,
said his role in the film, which fuses Hollywood 1930s musical
numbers with the Shakespeare play, was not a complete departure
from his previous work. "I do have some dancing experience
from my days as RADA," he said. "But I do draw the
line at naked dancing - I won't do that."
Branagh's labour premieres (BBC
News)
Kenneth Branagh had two surprise
guests for the London launch of his Shakespeare adaptation Love's
Labour's Lost - his former partner Helena Bonham Carter and Hollywood
legend Esther Williams.
The film which sees the play
transformed into a 1930s musical, received its UK premiere at
the Odeon West End in Leicester Square, London.
Bonham Carter, 33, arrived to
lend her support to her former partner - while Branagh, 39, insisted
they were just friends.
He told reporters: "She's
a friend, she's come to see the film. I'm here with lots of friends
and that's very nice."
Also there was 77-year-old Esther
Williams, whose synchronised swimming routines made her a Hollywood
legend.
The film includes a sequence
which pays tribute to her performances.
Branagh said it was a challenge
to work on what he admitted was an unusual project.
"Many people said I was
mad - the musical genre hasn't worked with one or two notable
exceptions for some time now," he explained.
Star Alicia Silverstone also
attended the premiere. She said the film seemed like a natural
idea when it was first put to her.
"When I read the script
the first time it was like it was born that way," the 23-year-old
actress said.
"Ken told me about how lots
of Shakespeare's plays had songs in them and the script was just
so organic it was perfect.
"I do think a lot of people
have a misunderstanding of Shakespeare - I did - and they think
that it's it's so far above you."
She added: "I think it is
such an original film, the best word I can use is refreshing.
It's the kind of movie that is so full of energy."
Other stars of the film who attended
the screening included Natascha McElhone, Carmen Ejogo, Adrian
Lester, Emily Mortimer and Timothy Spall. The film opens across
the UK on 31 March.
Branagh confesses to days of despair (Daily
Telegraph)
THE actor and director Kenneth
Branagh cast a shadow over the premiere of his latest film, the
Shakespearean comedy Love's Labour's Lost, by confessing that
his own "deep, deep, deep" depression had left him
more in tune with the Bard's tragedies.
He said there were times when
"everything is grey" and he resorted to exercise to
stop the depression "torturing" him. "It's hard
to get out of. Hamlet sums up clinical depression, which is possibly
why I'm so obsessed with the play."
Although Branagh said the condition
was not connected with work or events in his personal life, and
that it had not resurfaced since he worked on his latest project,
his admission may fuel speculation that it might be linked with
the end of his five-year relationship with Helena Bonham Carter.
The actress, who met Branagh
while he was married to Emma Thompson, was recently pictured
leaving an alternative therapy clinic that specialises in healing
and relationship counselling.
Branagh's film, which he directed,
co-produced and in which he appeared, is about the impossibility
of denying the power of true love. Shakespeare's play has been
turned into a Thirties-style Hollywood musical with songs by
Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
The actor was joined at the premiere
in Leicester Square, central London, by the film's Anglo-American
cast, including Alicia Silverstone, Natascha McElhone, Emily
Mortimer and Carmen Ejogo. Of his decision to act, sing, dance
and direct, Branagh said: "It was more exhausting than I
had imagined. But I'm glad I hadn't imagined just how exhausting,
or I wouldn't have done it."
The film is fun, but Branagh's depressed
(Express)
Kenneth Branagh has admitted
that he is tortured by depression.
The 40-year-old actor and director
said of his recurring periods of mental turmoil: "It's hard
to get out of. It's deep, deep, deep and wide-ranging. Hamlet
sums up clinical depression which is possibly why I'm obsessed
with the play.
"There is no sense to it
either. It doesn't seem to be connected with work or events in
your life. You just wake up one morning and everything is grey.
Nothing makes sense. Reality is tilted downwards.
"So many people I know are
prone to it. I try not to let it torture me. I rarely admit or
talk about it. Why should I bother with all the blessings in
my life?" Branagh was speaking on the eve of the premiere
of his new movie, a radical interpretation of Shakespeare's comedy
Love's Labour's Lost which also stars American starlet Alicia
Silverstone and British actress Emily Mortimer. Based on classic
Hollywood musicals, it is filled with well-known songs by George
Gershwin and Cole Porter.
The cast had to learn complex
dance routines - as well as synchronised swimming - and also
had to sing all their own numbers including such classics as,
I Get A Kick Out Of You and Let's Face The Music And Dance."It's
really about giving people some fun," Branagh said of his
latest project. "Putting a smile on the face of the audience
with the cast giving it their all."
Branagh Says Films are Fun But He's Depressed
(Sky News)
Kenneth Branagh has admitted
that he suffers from depression. He said that Shakespeares
Hamlet summed up clinical depression and speculated on whether
that was the reason for his obsession with the play.
His comments came as he attended
the premiere of his latest film, an unusual adaptation of Loves
Labours Lost, at a London cinema. Branagh said of his bouts
of depression: Its hard to get out of. Its
deep, deep, deep and wide-ranging. There is no sense to it either.
It doesnt seem to be connected with work or events in your
life. You just wake up one morning and everything is grey. Nothing
makes sense. I try not to let it torture me.
But the 40-year-old actor and
director was on sparkling form at the premiere. Surrounded by
friends, including former girlfriend Helena Bonham-Carter, he
said of making films: Its really about giving people
some fun, putting a smile on the face of the audience with the
cast giving it their all
His new version of Loves
Labours Lost is based on classic Hollywood musicals and
contains well-known songs by George Gershwin and Cole Porter.
The cast, including 23 year old Alicia Silverstone with whom
Branagh has been romantically linked, had to learn complicated
dance routines and synchronised swimming as well as singing all
their own songs.
Branagh said he knew many people
were prone to depression but that he tried to counter it with
exercise where possible as Getting the old endorphins busy
seems to help.
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