
Rachel Weisz
Image by: Paramount Pictures
Win that first Oscar and the
opportunity to work with more prestigious directors turns into a commonplace
occurrence. Not squandering her moment is Rachel Weisz, whose increasingly
interesting career finds her shooting a new film with acclaimed gay Brit
director Terence Davies. The Deep Blue Sea, adapted from the play by Terence
Rattigan, tells the story of a rich woman in 1950s London who leaves her high
court judge husband to go live with a hot, young pilot. Davis often directs
autobiographical stories like the critic’s favorites Distant Voices, Still
Lives and The Long Day Closes. A notable exception to this was his
adaptation of The House of Mirth starring Gillian Anderson. Now, thanks to
A-lister Weisz, the filmmaker may wind up with his most high-profile success to
date. Production is underway now in London; look for it in arthouse theaters
sometime in 2011.
The second – or is it
third? – coming of Ab Fab
Edina and Patsy would like
another drink; care to join them? Absolutely Fabulous, the British sitcom
that made Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley household names in the U.S., is
returning for another go-round. The first incarnation aired from 1992 to 1996
and was then reprised from 2001 to 2004. Six years later, the
champagne-guzzling fashionistas are back and ready for more. Recently, Saunders
began long-term treatment for breast cancer, so the comic actor’s readiness to
step back into Eddi’s outrageous shoes is a very good news for the show and its
millions of fans around the world. Lumley, meanwhile, has been starring on
Broadway in La Bete. And at 52 (Saunders) and 64 (Lumley), both women are
still in prime shape to be devilish in Prada. Ideally, it won’t stop until
they’re in their 90s.
From porn to real estate to
reality TV?
As "Tag Eriksson," he starred
in The Hole, a gay porn parody of The Ring, not to mention several other
high-profile adult films. But since leaving that industry several years ago,
Frederik Eklund hasn’t quietly gone back into private life. Instead, the young,
good-looking man from a wealthy Swedish family wrote a book about his
experiences (titled Lord of the Fruit Flies) and then became a real estate
mogul in New York City, one recently profiled in The New York Times and whose
multi-million dollar portfolio and celebrity clients like Cameron Diaz make him
something of a rising star all over again. Obviously, with a history like that,
it was only a matter of time before Bravo TV came calling. And that’s what’s
happening to Eklund, who’s in talks to be cast as part of a reality series
about real estate brokers. Not bad for a guy who used to bare it all, and proof
that there really is life after a porn career.
Richard Hatch hatches a
comeback plan
He defined the concept of the
reality show villain, the ultimate "not here to make friends" player. And he
won Survivor’s landmark first season. And then he lost in a big way when he
was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to prison (a charge he still
refutes). But Richard Hatch is back and ready to play again. This time around
the naked bear will keep his clothes on – a suit to be precise – on the
upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice. He was supposed to have been on
Survivor: Heroes and Villains but his passport is on lockdown thanks to that
prison time. Celebrity Apprentice is a cooler show to win anyway and given
his reputation, he’s going to be tough competition. Watch out, Carrot Top!
Romeo San Vicente loves a man in a suit. Not just Hazmat either.