Saturday 7 July 2012

Filming Wraps On 'The Hobbit'


Director Peter Jackson has wrapped filming on The Hobbit. The shoot, which lasted 266 days, saw the two-part fantasy being made back-to-back in New Zealand.

Image courtesy of Peter Jackson

Based on the bestselling fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There And Back Again are the long-awaited prequels to the Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Also directed by Jackson, the film series had banked $2.91 billion at the box office by the time the final instalment was released in 2003.

Jackson took to his Facebook page to proclaim his delight on completion of filming: "We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal photography on The Hobbit. Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this far, and to all of you for your support! Next stop, the cutting room."

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Image courtesy of Peter Jackson, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.

The films star Martin Freeman in the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Actors reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings include Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett and Ian Holm.

The Hobbit Comic-Con 2012 Poster
Image courtesy of Peter Jackson

Jackson, producer and co-writer Philippa Boyens and Second Unit Director Andy Serkis, as well as cast members Freeman, McKellen and Armitage, will attend Warner Brothers' Comic Con International in San Diego on Saturday July 14th.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be in cinemas on December 14, 2012 while The Hobbit: There And Back Again is scheduled for release on December 13, 2013.


Friday 23 March 2012

LANCÔME LOVE


21-year-old Emma Watson is best known for her decade-long run as the character of Hermione Granger in the multi-million dollar film saga, Harry Potter. Her influence in the fashion world has only come to the fore in the last few years, but her status as a style icon is quickly being cemented.

Emma Watson in Marie Claire
Image from barnorama.com
Cast at age nine in one of the most coveted roles in film history with no professional acting experience to speak of, Watson was clearly someone to watch. Growing up in front of the cameras, she was soon fronting Burberry campaigns, modelling collections for People Tree and Alberta Ferretti – both of which she helped to design – and gracing magazine covers all over the world, including Teen Vogue at just 15. She even earned a place at top Ivy League college, Brown, in the United States to study literature as she wrapped up her time on the Potter set.

Emma modelling for Teen Vogue
Image from popcrunch.com
The down-to-earth star is now balancing her year abroad studies at Oxford University with her soaring acting career. In March of 2011, the leading lady became the face of French cosmetics brand Lancôme, following in the footsteps of renowned actresses Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway.

She is the youngest woman to ever front a campaign for the brand. Lancôme’s president, Youcef Nabi, said that the team was thrilled to have her on board: “Thanks to her charm, romanticism and her incredible modernity, Emma Watson has become the icon of her generation. We are delighted by this new collaboration with Emma, who brings a fresh spirit to Lancôme.”

Emma Watson at Oxford
Image from hellomagazine.com

Her first campaign was for a new perfume called Trésor Midnight Rose. Last month, British beauty launched her new makeup range of Rouge in Love lipsticks and Vernis in Love nail polish in Oxford Street’s Selfridges. The lipsticks last for up to six hours and are noted for their hydrating quality. They were “probably the product[s] I was most excited about when I came on board,” Watson said. “I actually chose the colour that I wore in the [promotional] shoot, which is a really bright red.”

Emma Watson: Lancôme Rouge in Love Campaign
Image from karlasugar.net
At the unveiling, the actress spoke about why she chose to work with the beauty giant. “I’ve always loved Lancôme as a brand. It’s based in the [city where] I was born, which is Paris, France. It’s very classic but also very modern. It’s always on the edge of technology, [with] new developments and new discoveries, but it has this kind of eternal elegance and beauty. It’s just a brand that I really identified with.”

When asked how involved she was in the collection, she replied: “Luckily for me, I’m someone who loves makeup. Lancôme have been very collaborative with me on all the projects that I’ve done and, in particular, this one. I’ve made no secret of the fact that [the lipstick] is actually my favourite product that we’ve done together.” She raved about the creation, describing it as “a beautiful thing in itself, other than the fact that it’s a gorgeous piece of makeup. The actual casing is just beautiful and it’s the kind of thing that you want to carry around for your life. […] It’s a naturally beautiful object." 

Image from iheartwatson.net
Of the 24 lipstick hues, Watson mentioned her favourite shades for daytime are the soft pinks of Corail in Love and Rose Boudoir. In the evening, she turns to a sheer red called Miss Coquelicot. Each lipstick retails at £21. The nail varnish is £12 per bottle, coming in a variety of striking nude to bright tones. The bright colours of the range are perfect for spring.

Speaking to Selfridge’s Buying Director, David Walker Smith, she smiled: “Oh, I’ve always loved makeup, even more than clothes. It has such a transformative nature. [If you] wake up feeling a bit grey and tired, [then] you can put it on and just feel completely different about yourself and about your day.”

Emma Watson speaking at her Lancôme makeup launch, February 2012
Image from omg.yahoo.com

The range is available at all good beauty outlets nationwide.

First published by Sin Newspaper, Volume 13 Issue 11.

Monday 27 February 2012

Hollywood Charm: Michelle Williams, Emma Watson, Carey Mulligan, Ellen Page and Kate Winslet


Inspired by last weekend's glitz and glamour at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in the Hollywood and Highland Center, Los Angeles, California (not that I'm at all biased that Gary Oldman should have got an Oscar), I'd like to mention a few ladies who, to me, exemplify the spirit of what Hollywood should be about.

1. Michelle Williams. 

Michelle Williams
People.com
She made her name in films such as 2005's Brokeback Mountain and 2010's Blue Valentine. But since the release of My Week With Marilyn last year, Michelle's fame has simply skyrocketed.

Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine
Image courtesy of IMDB




Nominated for an Oscar for her lead role as the dazzling yet vulnerable Monroe at only 31 years old, she has maintained her natural grace and elegance, despite the L.A. hype that she could so easily have let take over her life.

Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn.
Image courtesy of www.michelle-williams.net
Walking the Red Carpet in Hollywood on February 26, 2012, looking every inch the glamourous goddess, Michelle - nominated in the Best Leading Actress category against Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) and Viola Davis (The Help) - wore a strapless Louis Vuitton dress, in a very distinctive coral shade, with a small ribbon on the side. She accessorised with a combination of Forevermark and Fred Leighton jewellery, along with Christian Louboutin heels. She carried a Bottega Venetta crocodile clutch.

Michelle Williams at the 2012 Oscars
Image from bellasugar.com.au

Image from gossipcenter.com
Image from instyle.com




















Michelle won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role as Marilyn in January 2012. She said: "I consider myself a mother first and an actress second, and so the person I most want to thank is my daughter, my little girl, whose bravery and exuberance is the example that I take with me in my work and in my life."

2. Emma Watson

Vogue Italia

The Parisian-born 21 year old hit the big time with her first ever film role as Hermione Granger, the heroine of the Harry Potter saga. The eight films were first adapted from the bestselling novels by J.K. Rowling in 2001, beginning with Christopher Columbus' Philosopher's Stone.

Emma as Hermione in 2002's Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets

Emma as Hermione in 2011's Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows: Part One
Growing up in the spotlight, Emma (who was cast in Harry Potter at just nine years of age) remained focused on her education, receiving top marks in her final school exams (English Literature, Art and Geography).

Emma's first day at Oxford University
Image: Grazia Daily
She then chose to attend the Ivy League's Brown University, in the United States, to study Liberal Arts (including Women's History and English Literature). She is currently spending her third year in Oxford University in her hometown, before returning to America for her final year. She is balancing her studies with her work as an Ambassadress for Lancôme (which I will discuss in my next post) and her acting; her next film will be released this year, entitled The Perks of Being a Wallflower. She is starring opposite Logan Lerman as the character of Sam.


Emma Watson in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Image: mtv.com
She is already a familiar face at Fashion Weeks worldwide, having modelled with Burberry two years ago. She first collaborated with fashion label People Tree in 2009/2010 as a Creative Advisor for their teenage spring line, Love from Emma. She has also worked with designer Alberta Ferretti in March 2011 on a collection called Pure Threads. "I'm happy to encourage anyone interested in making conscientious clothing from raw, sustainable materials, so much so that I'll work for free," Emma said at the time.

Emma Watson modelling for Burberry's Spring/Summer 2010 collection,
alongside brother Alex (left) and musician George Craig
Image from justjared.com

Emma's photoshoot for Vogue

Emma modelling for People Tree, Spring/Summer 2010
Emma for People Tree


Video: Emma's Photoshoot for People Tree


Emma Watson and Alberta Ferretti's 'Pure Threads' Collection
Image: ecouterre.com

This time last year, Emma received the Style Icon Award from Elle Magazine and was presented with it by Dame Vivienne Westwood.

Her premiere outfits in recent years have gained a lot of media scrutiny. Personally, I think her style at the London premieres is much more suited to her than what she has chosen to wear at the U.S. premieres. However, she's got plenty more success lying ahead in her future!


Emma at the UK Premiere of Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows: Part One,
November 2010
Rafael Lopez black lace and feathered dress
Image: zimbio.com
At the New York Premiere of
Deathly Hallows: Part One,
November 2010
Wearing a Calvin Klein Collection dress
Image: Daily Mail






















Emma Watson at the London Premiere of
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
July 2011
Wearing chiffon dress by Oscar de la Renta,
jacket (not seen here) by Antonio Berardi
Image: Daily Mail

The Trio: Rupert Grint, Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson at the
New York Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
July 2011
Emma is wearing Bottega Veneta.
Image: MTV

3. Carey Mulligan

The stunning Carey Mulligan is only twenty-six, but her remarkable ability as an actress has already made her a household name. Making her debut in 2005's Pride and Prejudice alongside Kiera Knightley, the young Englishwoman starred in 2009's An Education as Jenny, which won her a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She was also nominated for an Oscar.

Carey Mulligan as Jenny in An Education
Image: newsday.com
She has been cast as Daisy in Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby, now in post-production. She stars opposite Leonardo di Caprio (Jay Gatsby) and Tobey Maguire (Nick Carraway).

Carey Mulligan as Daisy in The Great Gatsby
My favourite role of hers thus far has been in 2007's World War One television drama My Boy Jack, where she played Elsie Kipling, daughter of renowned author Rudyard Kipling.

She has thrown herself into every role she has had, no matter what era the production is set in. She has consistently challenged herself with new characters and situations, and brought an added layer of complexity to them with her interpretation.

Carey Mulligan as Elsie, with the rest of the Kipling family:
Daniel Radcliffe as Jack, David Haig as Rudyard and Kim Cattrall as Caroline

4. Ellen Page



25 year old Canadian actress Ellen started in the industry at a young age, first performing at age four in school productions. Gaining recognition in the 2005 films Mouth to Mouth and Hard Candy, she was offered the role of Kitty Pryde - or 'Shadowcat' - in X Men: The Last Stand




Ellen (second from right) as X Men 3's Kitty Pryde
She then gained critical acclaim for her lead role as a pregnant teen in Juno. She has since appeared in Whip It with Drew Barrymore and Inception with Leonardo di Caprio.
Image: fanpop.com


Ellen Page with her Whip It co-star and director Drew Barrymore
Image: forum.comingsoon.it

5. Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet
Image: getreading.co.uk
The 36 year old Englishwoman was catapulted to worldwide fame when she starred as Rose DeWitt Bukater in 1997's Titanic, directed by James Cameron, which at that time was the highest grossing film ever made, but before that she was cast in Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures and Emma Thompson's 1995 adaptation of Sense and SensibilityTitanic is being re-released in 3D this April to mark the centenary since the sinking of the ship.

Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures
Image: telegraph.co.uk
Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet
in Sense and Sensibility
Image: sensibility.com

                                                      'I'm Flying' Video: Titanic

She has undertaken a vast amount of characters since her career began in television in 1991. Her love for acting demonstrates itself with the pure passion she puts in to her work. Her sheer elegance and vivacious nature have made her one of the most respected women in the industry.
Kate Winslet with her co-star
in The Holiday, Cameron Diaz, in 2006

Below: Kate Winslet accepting the 2009 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, presented by Cameron Diaz and Mark Walberg.




These five ladies all have had great successes in their careers but keep their feet firmly on the ground. They are nothing but passionate about their craft and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for them all.


First Post

Welcome to my Marése Martha Blog! Here I'm going to talk about fashion, beauty, lifestyle and the latest news from red carpet events.


Hope you enjoy reading it!


Don't forget, you can still check out my blog at mareseosullivan.wordpress.com, where I chat about writing, travelling and life. :)

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