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PopSugarUK Meets the Me & Orson Welles Cast: Zac Talks Footloose & Finding Seclusion, and Claire Talks Flirting!

PopSugarUK — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:53:19 -0800

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend an hour with Zac Efron! He and his castmates in Me and Orson Welles, Claire Danes and Christian McKay, talked about their new movie in a Q&A session with UK journalists alongside their director Richard Linklater. Zac looked handsome and casual in a blue t-shirt and jeans, and fiddled with a bottle top on the table while talking, he was pretty self-deprecating, as was Claire who looked gorgeous and was really funny. Look out for more from this session right here next week, but without further ado - here's part one!

Richard, finding Orson must have been the key to the movie?

And once you found your Orson, it was time to find your “Me”?
R – "I was just really lucky that Zac had read the script and liked it and wanted to meet me. You know, Zac was being offered every film in town."
Z - (deadpans) "You were so lucky."
R – "It’s true! It’s never a given, and we sat down, and I was convinced about fifteen seconds in and I felt like I’d found Richard. Like I did when I found Christian. Even though Richard’s only 17 you see it through his eyes, he needed to be a leading man, he needed to go toe to toe with Welles. I just needed that quality that Zac has, that charisma and that kinda presence."

Zac, were you trying to break out from High School Musical box?
Z - "I recognised almost immediately that this was a pretty unique opportunity. I got the phone call that Rick had a script that he’d like me to read, and he wanted to have a conversation about it. And I was… so excited, I remember running home to read the script. And I read it and was pleasantly surprised that the role was pretty big. That’s not exactly what I expected. I was the “Me”, that was pretty cool. I was looking for that opportunity. Not necessarily to change my image or anything. But for a new role, that was a new challenge, and something interesting – and this was it."

To hear why Zac dropped out of Footloose, find out how his efforts to find seclusion on the Isle of Man went, and Claire's opinions on having to flirt with him, just read more.

Claire, your character hovers on the outside of things, organising things…

What was it like to flirt with Zac Efron?
C – (sighs) "Tough. Going." (Zac nods) "I don’t know... it was amazing. First of all the dialogue was very special. It’s very rare to find writing of this quality, very witty and engaging and I had a lot of fun with the flirty slang words and goofy vernacular. And the scenes, I thought, were very tender. And you know, Zac’s amazing."
Z (laughing) – "Yeah, the dialogue made me look really good."
C – "I was delighted to discover how fine an actor he is. And he can move very well. We took some dancing lessons for a brief scene in a dance hall, and that was very humbling. Zac was a much quicker study than I was, my god. A very coordinated guy."
Z – "It was the first time I actually led! It was great!"

Zac on dropping out of Footloose:
Z - "Footloose didn’t happen for a number of reasons, but...you know, I think it just felt like territory that I’d already explored. I felt like I’d already been there before. As opposed to trying something brand new, which is a bit riskier and it was a whole lot scarier, but so much more interesting, I think."

The cast on filming on the Isle of Man:
R – "We had a good time on the Isle of Man, we spent about three weeks working, we were just in the theatre the whole time."
Z – "It was great. No, I didn’t know where it was. I was looking forward to that seclusion. From what I’d heard it was a pretty quiet place, and there weren’t a lot of people there. You know? I can’t tell you how appealing that sounded."
R – "The girls did find out Zac was there and they showed up,"
Z – "Yeah… anyways… I found out there was a whole lot of people there. And we met… most of them. I mean, I felt pretty welcome."
C – "I don’t think anybody has been better received there."
Z – "It was funny, we couldn’t really go outside that much. We couldn’t really leave the theatre… we were there a whole lot. Day and night."
C – "Plus the theatre was literally next door, adjacent to the hotel we were staying in."
Z – "There was a tunnel from the hotel to the theatre."
C – "You didn’t have to go outside from your room to the set."
Z – "I didn’t. Didn’t go outside. It was great."

For more from the interview keep an eye on PopSugarUK next week, where you'll hear more from director and stars, including Brit newcomer Christian McKay.

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Zac and Claire Are UK Red Carpet Ready for Orson Welles

PopSugarUK — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0800

British fans have certainly had their screaming capabilities tested lately, as we got a visit from Robert Pattinson last week, and last night Zac Efron walked the red carpet in London! We caught him arriving at Heathrow yesterday, but last night was the big UK premiere of his new movie Me and Orson Welles, which is based on a fantastic book. Director Richard Linklater looked pretty casual at the premiere, while Zac was smart in his suit and costar Claire Danes looked stunning in her black dress. Claire's husband Hugh Dancy was also on hand looking handsome at the event, and other guests included Ali Bastian and Ben Chaplin.

I'm heading to a press conference with Zac, Claire and Richard today to find out all about the making of the movie. Stay tuned to PopSugarUK here and on twitter to find out how it goes!

To see more photos from the red carpet, just read more

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Zac Efron Takes Orson Welles to the UK

PopSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:15 -0800

Zac Efron was on the go this morning as he made his way out of London's Heathrow Airport. He was in his signature shades on his way to a waiting car, before getting red carpet ready for the London premiere of Me and Orson Welles with costar Claire Danes. Zac was able to enjoy a little downtime in LA after recently wrapping up The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, but now it's time for him to get right back to work with a press conference tomorrow - PopSugar UK will be Twittering the whole thing, so make sure to check them out!

There's lots more Zac when you read more.

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Zac Efron and Claire Danes Arrive in London!

PopSugarUK — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:18:45 -0800

Zac Efron and Claire Danes arrived in London today as they start their UK promotion for new movie Me and Orson Welles, which comes out on Dec 4. Zac's definitely bringing some manjoyment to London in his grey blazer and cool shades, while Claire wrapped up warm for the cold weather. I'm heading to a press conference with them tomorrow, so I'll bring you all the gossip from that and let you know what the movie is like very soon - check out the trailer now and decide if you think you'll see it or skip it!

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Who Was Most Fab at the 18th Annual Britannia Awards?

FabSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:33:22 -0800

The 18th Annual Britannia awards brought out a gaggle of classy ladies. From fitted to voluminous, the following ladies radiated in their red carpet looks. Amy Adams (in Azzaro) and Minnie Driver went down the noir path, Freida Pinto showed sheer Valentino love, Emily Blunt dazzled in burgundy Basil Soda, and Claire Danes worked a classy black-and-white Oscar de la Renta number. All of them are spotlight-worthy, but who's most Fab?

Emily and Dev Bring Their Britannia to LA For Freida and Amy

PopSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:27 -0800

Stars from the UK and beyond hit the red carpet in LA last night for the annual British Academy of Film and Television Arts Britannia Awards. Emily Blunt represented her homeland as she was named Artist of the Year. Her fiance John Krasinski is usually by her side, but he was in NYC getting ready for his appearance on The View this morning where he talked about the proposal. Emily was joined, though, by her Sunshine Cleaning costar Amy Adams. Slumdog Millionaire couple Dev Patel and Freida Pinto smiled for the cameras before heading inside to see the film's director, Danny Boyle, pick up a filmmaking award.

To see more from the event, just read more.

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Images include: Freida Pinto, Dev Patel, Amy Adams, Minnie Driver, Emily Blunt, Robert de Niro, Colin Firth, Claire Danes, Benicio Del Toro, Anil Kapoor

Brits and Americans Honoured at BAFTA LA Britannia Awards

PopSugarUK — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:59:42 -0800

Several Brits were honoured at the BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards in California last night. Actors who received awards included Colin Firth, who picked up the Humanitarian Award, and Emily Blunt who was named British Artist Of The Year. Robert De Niro received the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence In Film, Kirk Douglas was awarded for his Worldwide Contribution To Filmed Entertainment and Danny Boyle received Artistic Excellence In Directing. Danny was joined by his Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Anil Kapoor.

Other stars at the ceremony included Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Lucy Davis and Stephen Fry, who hosted the ceremony and said: "(In London) as the evening progresses, a larger and larger percentage of the audience gets really annoyed, by the end of the evening three quarters of the entire room are angry because they got passed over for an award. The beauty of the Britannias is that everyone knows who has won, five winners - and it's short."

To see more pictures of all the stars, including Lady Victoria Hervey, Danny Boyle, Benicio Del Toro, Anil Kapoor and Amy Adams, just read more.

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Images include: Dev Patel, Minnie Driver, Robert De Niro, Stephen Fry, Lady Victoria Hervey, Kirk Douglas, Freida Pinto, Emily Blunt, Danny Boyle, Colin Firth, Claire Danes, Benicio Del Toro, Anil Kapoor, Lucy Davis, Amy Adams

Sienna Has Plenty of Company After the Show and Miss Julie

PopSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:46 -0700

Sienna Miller joined her After Miss Julie costars Jonny Lee Miller and Marin Ireland onstage in NYC last night as they officially opened their Broadway show. The trio had a great deal of support for their big evening, with Anna Wintour, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes and her new husband Hugh Dancy turning out to attend both the premiere and afterparty. True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard also made an appearance, though his rumored lady friend Kate Bosworth wasn't by his side. Sienna beamed in her shimmery short dress at the bash, but she might not be so smiley if she braves reading her reviews.

Fans of Alexander Skarsgard, check out our Community group! And to see more from Sienna's big night, just read more.

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Images include: Sienna Miller, Marin Ireland, Jonny Lee Miller, Michelle Hicks, Anna Wintour, Rachel McAdams, Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes, Alexander Skarsgard, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Justin Kirk

Sienna Sparkles at After Miss Julie Opening Night

PopSugarUK — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:09:00 -0700

Sienna Miller looked stunning last night at the afterparty following the opening night of After Miss Julie on Broadway, in which she stars alongside Jonny Lee Miller. Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams and Anna Wintour were among those in the audience, and Sienna beamed during the curtain call. Reviews have been mixed so far for her Broadway debut, but Sienna looked relaxed and happy at the afterparty in a gorgeous Balmain dress. Stunning!

To see photos of Sienna on stage during After Miss Julie's opening night and more from the after party, just read more.

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Friday Fab News Roundup!

FabSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:00:22 -0700

Claire Danes for BlackBook September 2009 - Red Carpet Fashion Awards
Jil Sanders Uniqlo line available now! - The Budget Fashionista
Nina Ricci's very small relaunch - FWD
Did the Project judges run away? - NY Post
Eva Mendes's look for less - Frugal-Fashionista
Lacroix optimism - Vogue UK
Brian Atwood leaving Bally? - FWD
Danish shoes delight: Camilla Skovgaard - Grazia Daily
Christy Brinkley to appear on Ugly Betty - Vogue UK
Balmain versus Balenciaga - New York Times
Shoes to rock with wide-leg jeans - Flypaper
Private icon: Brigitte Bardot - Nylon