Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank,

Hilary Ann Swank,(born July 30, 1974) is an American actress. Her film career began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid (1994), where she played Julie Pierce, the first female protégé of sensei Mr. Miyagi. She has become known for her two Academy Award-winning performances: first as Brandon Teena, a transgender man (FTM) in the movie Boys Don't Cry (1999), and a struggling waitress-turned-boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald, in Million Dollar Baby (2004).

Early life

Swank was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Judy Kay (née Clough), a secretary and former dancer, and Stephen Michael Swank, who was an officer in the Air National Guard and later a traveling salesman. She has a brother, Daniel. Swank's surname is of German origin. Her maternal grandmother was of Spanish and Shoshone Native American ancestry, and many of Swank's family members hail from Ringgold County, Iowa. Swank came from humble beginnings, particularly as a child growing up in a trailer park near Lake Samish in Bellingham, Washington, to which she moved at age six, after having lived in Spokane, Washington. Swank has described her younger self as an "outsider" who felt that she belonged "only when [reading] a book or [seeing] a movie, and could get involved with a character," and was thus inspired to become an actress.

When Swank was nine years old, she made her first appearance on stage, starring in The Jungle Book. She became involved in school and community theater programs, including those of the Bellingham Theatre Guild, and attended Sehome High School in Bellingham until she was sixteen. Swank also competed in the Junior Olympics and the Washington state championships in swimming; she ranked fifth in the state in all-around gymnastics. Swank's parents separated when she was thirteen, and her mother, supportive of her daughter's desire to act, moved to Los Angeles, where they lived out of their car until Swank's mother saved enough money to rent an apartment. Swank has described her mother as the inspiration for her acting career and her life.In California, Swank enrolled in South Pasadena High School (although she later dropped out of school) and started acting professionally. She helped pay the rent with the money she earned appearing in television programs such as Evening Shade and Growing Pains.

Career

Swank's first leading film role was in The Next Karate Kid (1994), which utilized her gymnastics background and paired her with Pat Morita. It was the fourth movie in the Karate Kid series. In September 1997, Swank was cast as single mother Carly Reynolds on Beverly Hills, 90210. She was initially promised it would be a two-year role, but saw her character written out after 16 episodes in January 1998. Swank later stated that she was devastated at being cut from the show, thinking, "If I'm not good enough for 90210, I'm not good enough for anything."

The firing freed her to audition for the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. Swank reduced her body fat to seven percent in preparation for the role. Many critics hailed hers as the best female performance of 1999, and Swank's work ultimately won her the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actress. Swank had earned only $75 per day for her work on Boys Don't Cry, culminating in a total of $3,000. Her earnings were so low, that she had not even earned enough to qualify for health insurance.

Swank subsequently again won the Best Actress Oscar, and another Golden Globe, for playing a boxer in Clint Eastwood's 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, a role for which she underwent training in the ring and gained 19 pounds of muscle. Swank's success meant that she had joined the ranks of Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field, and Luise Rainer as the only actresses to have been nominated for Academy Awards twice and win both times. After winning her second Oscar, she said, "I don't know what I did in this life to deserve this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."

Swank at the 2008 Academy Awards

In early 2006, Swank signed a three-year contract as spokesperson for Guerlain (a women's fragrance). She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 8, 2007. Hers was the 2,325th star presented.

In 2007, Swank starred in and executive produced Freedom Writers, a drama about a real-life teacher, Erin Gruwell, who inspired a California high school class. Many reviews of Swank's performance were positive, with one critic noting that she "brings credibility" to the role, and another stating that her performance reaches a "singular lack of artifice, stripping herself back to the bare essentials". Swank next starred in The Reaping, a horror film released on April 5, 2007, in which she played a debunker of religious phenomena. Swank convinced the producers to move the film's setting from New England to the Deep South, and the movie was being filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina struck. The same year, she also appeared in the romantic comedy P.S. I Love You alongside Gerard Butler.

Swank portrayed Amelia Earhart in the biopic Amelia, a film she also co-executive produced. Filming occurred in the summer of 2008 in a number of international locations. Swank is also attached to star in the Hollywood remake of Intimate Strangers. In addition, it was reported that Swank would play a lead role in, and produce, a film adaptation of the John Marks novel Fangland.

Personal life

Swank has said that she is "an actor, not a celebrity" and has described herself as a "homebody." Swank considers herself a spiritual person, though not a member of an organized religion. She has said that she is "athletically inclined" and that she "love sports."

Swank developed potential health problems, including elevated mercury levels in her body, through certain preparations for her roles, including weight gain and loss for Boys Don't Cry and The Black Dahlia. She has stated that she would "do what [she] need to make [the role] believable and to make it work" and that her "battle scars are a reminder that you're alive and human and that you bleed." In 2007, Swank noted that she "feel like in the last couple of years, I’ve really come into my own and a lot of that has come from figuring out who I really am and what I want in life."

Swank married actor Chad Lowe on September 28, 1997. The two met in 1992, on the set of Quiet Days in Hollywood, a direct-to-video film. Swank infamously forgot to thank Lowe during her acceptance speech after winning her first Oscar in 2000, and she spent nearly every public appearance afterward making up for it. Upon winning her second Oscar in 2005, Lowe was the first person she thanked. However, in January 2006, the couple separated. In subsequent interviews, Swank expressed hope that they could reconcile, but they announced in May 2006 that they were divorcing. In December 2006, Swank confirmed that she was dating John Campisi, her agent.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes

1991 Evening Shade Aimee #1 (1991–1992) TV series

Harry and the Hendersons Guest star TV series

Growing Pains Sasha Serotsky (1991–1992) TV series

1992 Camp Wilder Danielle TV series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kimberly Hannah

1994 The Next Karate Kid Julie Pierce

Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story Patty TV movie

1996 Sometimes They Come Back... Again Michelle Porter

Terror in the Family Deena Martin TV movie

Kounterfeit Colleen

1997 Quiet Days in Hollywood Lolita

The Sleepwalker Killing Lauren Schall Lifetime TV movie

Leaving L.A. Tiffany Roebuck TV series

Dying to Belong Lisa Connors TV movie

Beverly Hills, 90210 Carly Reynolds (1997–1998) TV series

1998 Heartwood Sylvia Orsini

1999 Boys Don't Cry Brandon Teena Academy Award for Best Actress

Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress

Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Chicago International Film Festival, Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress

Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress

Gijón International Film Festival Award for Best Actress

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama

Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress

Santa Fe Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress

Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama

Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress

Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss

Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance

Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

2000 The Gift Valerie Barksdale Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress

Scary Movie Girl in car

The Audition Short subject

2001 The Affair of the Necklace Jeanne St. Rémy de Valois

2002 The Space Between Short subject

Insomnia Detective Ellie Burr Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress

2003 11:14 Buzzy Also executive producer

The Core Major Rebecca Childs

2004 Million Dollar Baby Maggie Fitzgerald Academy Award for Best Actress

Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress

Central Ohio Film Critics Association For Best Actress

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress

National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress

Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama

Sant Jordi Awards for Best Actress

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress

Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance

Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Red Dust Sarah Barcant

Iron Jawed Angels Alice Paul TV movie

Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film

Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie

2006 The Black Dahlia Madeleine Linscott

2007 Freedom Writers Erin Gruwell Also executive producer

The Reaping Professor Katherine Winter

P. S. I Love You Holly Kennedy Irish Film & Television Audience Award for Best International Actress

2008 Birds of America Laura

2009 Amelia Amelia Earhart Hollywood film festival Best Actress

2010 The Resident Dr. Juliet Dermer in post-production

Conviction Betty Anne Waters completed

2011 Falling Out of Fashion in development

Fangland Evangeline Harker in development

(source:wikipedia)

Pussycat Dolls

The Pussycat Dolls (abbreviated to PCD) are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe based in Los Angeles. After attracting national attention, Antin eventually negotiated a record deal with Interscope Records in 2003 turning the group into a music franchise, comprising Nicole Scherzinger alongside Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt and Carmit Bachar. Since then the group has developed a global image and commercial brand overseen by Antin, Interscope and various partners. They have diversified into reality television programs, a Las Vegas and product endorsements amongst other things.
Success as a music group came in 2005 with their first album PCD which debuted at number five in the US producing three successful singles "Don't Cha", "Buttons", and "Stickwitu"; the latter earned the group a Grammy Award nomination. Following the departure of Carmit Bachar in March 2008, the group continued as a quintet and in September of that year they released their second album, Doll Domination, spawning singles "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part" and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)".
Throughout their rise to fame, the group has been criticized for its overtly sexual image and explicit dance routines. The group has also been scrutinized for the over-emphasis on lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, who sings all lead vocals in the group. In late 2009 / early 2010 the group went on hiatus to record their third album and prepare their next world tour. It has since been confirmed that Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts and Melody Thornton have all left the group to persue solo careers.
In May 2010 it was announced that Scherzinger will remain lead singer of the group along with the new recruits: Vanessa Curry, Kherington Payne, Rino Nakasone-Razalan and Jamie Lee Ruiz whom together will produce a new studio album for 2010 and accompanying world tour.



Career as dance troupe

Burlesque dancing: 1995–2003
Antin began exploring the idea of a modern burlesque troupe during 1990 with Christina Applegate and Carla Kama. The dance troupe's first performance was in 1995. During this period which have seen many members in its evolving lineup since debuting in 1995, they performed with numerous guest vocalists, with a repertoire of 1950s and 1960s popular music standards while dressed in lingerie or old-fashioned pin-up costumes. They secured a Thursday night residency at a Los Angeles nightclub, The Viper Room, where they stayed from 1995 to 2001.
The troupe received wider press coverage during June 1999, when Playboy featured a Pussycat Dolls pictorial, featuring at least seven contemporary members posing semi-nude (Kasey Campbell, Kiva Dawson, Antonietta Macri, Erica Breckels, Katie Bergold, Erica Gudis and Lindsley Allen). Three years later, the Dolls moved to The Roxy. The group became internationally popular and was featured in magazines, television specials for MTV and VH1, ad campaigns, and movies. Some of the Pussycat Dolls appeared in the 2003 film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, dancing to "The Pink Panther Theme". They were also featured in Pink's "Trouble" music video. Along with Christina Applegate, Christina Aguilera and Carmen Electra (who was the group's lead performer for many of their shows) the troupe was featured in a Maxim magazine shoot in 2002, which increased public interest in them.
Following their growing popularity, music producers Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair became involved with the group helping them to transform into a franchise. The former dance troupe evolved into a popular music recording group and became employees of Iovine's label Interscope Records. The only troupe members who remained after the re-casting process were Antin (taking on the creative, executive and managerial roles), Carmit Bachar, Cyia Batten, Kasey Campbell, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt. Later in 2003, Scherzinger, Kaya Jones and Melody Thornton were cast as vocalists through an audition to complete the transition into a music group.
Electra, when asked about her lack of involvement with the group's evolution into a popular music group, said:
“ I was part of [The Dolls] for over two years and did every show with them... but financially, I couldn't become part of their new music project... It was a sacrifice I couldn't make.”



Lounge act: 2005–present
In parallel with the Pussycat Dolls franchise as a recording act, during April 2005 a resident live show commenced at the "Pussycat Dolls Lounge" adjacent to Pure Nightclub in Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. This show contains "cast members" who continue the burlesque-style show which began in Los Angeles during 1995.
At least one early member of the L.A. dance troupe, Rachel Sterling, made the move to the Las Vegas show. The cast includes vocalist Jamie Preston, Hayley Zelniker. Amanda Nowak, Colby Amanda and Alicia. Former dolls include Meredith, Jessica Lea, Rachel Sterling, Laurel, Laura Diane, Cindy, Ashley Gates, Bridget Nicole, Jennifer Affronti, Sheila Joy and Jamie Ruiz from Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious.
During February 2007, Caesars Palace opened the Pussycat Dolls Casino just across the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. It features "Dolls-style" decor and attire for the gaming staff, waitresses and dancers. The Dolls returned to Los Angeles and the Viper Room from November 2008 for regular Friday and Saturday nights performances billed as the "Pussycat Dolls Lounge".
Recording career



2003–2005: Formation
During 2003, Scherzinger, a former member of Popstars winners Eden's Crush, became the recording group's lead singer. In the same year, vocalist Thornton and Jones were also recruited in order to add vocal strength to the group. The musical group's initial line-up consisted of Scherzinger, Thornton, Jones, Antin, Bachar, Batten, Campbell, Wyatt, Roberts, and Sutta. The group appeared in two soundtracks during 2004, for the films Shark Tale and Shall We Dance?. The newly formed recording group's first single was "Sway" from Shall We Dance?, with a music video inspired by the movie.
In 2004, just before the group's debut, Batten and Campbell left the group to pursue their solo dancing careers. Later in 2005, Jones left the group after recording their debut album, to pursue modeling and a solo musical career. Antin remained with the group as founder, manager and business associate to Interscope. By the time the recording group was launched the musical lineup was a sextet composed of Scherzinger, Thornton, Bachar, Sutta, Roberts and Wyatt.




2005–2008: First album PCD and commercial success

Main article: PCD (album)

On September 13, 2005, they released their debut album, PCD, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. Their first single, "Don't Cha" was a success, reaching number one in multiple countries including UK, Australia and Canada and scored a maximum of number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was originally sung by Tori Alamaze and featured rapper Busta Rhymes. The ballad "Stickwitu" was another top five in the US, and was their second number one in the UK. It was later nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group. "Beep", featuring will.i.am, was less successful but did reach number one in some international markets.[citation needed] "Buttons" (with rapper Snoop Dogg) scored number three on the UK Singles Chart;[citation needed] the next single, "I Don't Need a Man" was not as successful, although it scored the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and UK. The group's sixth single from the album was "Wait a Minute" featuring Timbaland released in the US in August 2006, becoming a top 40 success worldwide.The group was selected to perform for the introduction for ABC's coverage of the NBA. During 2007, a version of "Right Now" was used as a theme song for the NBA, though the lyrics had been altered.



Line-up change
In 2007, Asia Nitollano nominally became the group's seventh member after winning in the reality show Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll, giving her the opportunity to sing on the next album and on tour. It was rumored that the Dolls would record a version of "Lady Marmalade", which Nitollano sang during the show's finale. This was never confirmed by the management nor the group. Nitollano performed for the first time with the Dolls during the show's finale, singing their Number 1 Hit "Don't Cha". She later performed again with the Dolls during the The CW Upfronts Party. Her place in the group was questioned due to her only seen performing with the group twice, and was intensified by her non-appearance most notably during the group's Live Earth performances.
2008–09: The Doll Domination era
While the Pussycat Dolls were on break between the recording of the two albums Scherzinger worked on her own debut album titled Her Name is Nicole. She released four singles, none of which matched the commercial success of her work with the Dolls. The album was scheduled for a late 2007 release, then rescheduled for October 2008, and but the project was then shelved in late 2008 and some of the songs appeared on the group's second album titled Doll Domination. Just before the album's release longstanding member of the group Carmit Bachar announced she was departing the group for a solo career. The group performed for the first time after their break and as a quintet for US troops in Kuwait for Operation Myspace.



Main article: Doll Domination
The group returned to the Music scene on May 27, 2008 with the new single "When I Grow Up" which reached number nine on the U.S. Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play. The song topped several European charts and became a worldwide top ten hit. The follow-up single "Whatcha Think About That" with Missy Elliott failed to enter the U.S. charts only managing number 8 on the Bubbling Under chart but managed to reach top 20 in several other countries including the UK with a limited release.
After a slight delay and with two singles released the album, Doll Domination was finally released as a standard and deluxe edition. The latter featured a disc with a solo song by each of the girls. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, with 79,000 copies sold in its first week beating their debut album by one chart position but selling 20,000 less copies. It only spent seven weeks in the top 100, compared with their debut album which sat in the top 100 for nearly one year. In January 2009 it re-entered the top 100 following several more successful singles. The album in original form spawned two other singles, worldwide top 20 hit "I Hate This Part" and the number-one club song "Bottle Pop" which only received a limited release in the US and Oceania. A world tour titled The Doll Domination Tour accompanied the album and began in Aberdeen, Scotland on January 18, 2009.
In April 2009 Scherzinger confirmed to Billboard that the album would be re-released to give more people a chance to get their music. In Europe the album was re-released with three or four new songs. In Australia a compilation called Doll Domination 2.0 was released with six songs from the original version plus four new songs whereas the UK received a six-song EP called Doll Domination: The Mini Collection, released on April 27, 2009 and featuring four of the original songs plus a remix and a new song. In August 2009 the album was repackaged once more, this time as Doll Domination 3.0 to include all of the previously released bonus songs on one CD with the original album. Its release was limited to Europe and the UK where the group's singles had all reached top 20.
The repackaged versions spawned two more singles: the worldwide number one "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" (featured on the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire) and euro-pop remix of "Hush Hush" (retitled "Hush Hush; Hush Hush") which reached top 20 internationally. Following Scherzinger's over-emphasis in the release of these two singles there several emotional outbursts to the media including one by Thornton during one of the group's appearances on tour. This led to media speculation about the future of the group.
2009–10: Hiatus and line up change
Following repeated media speculation and growing tension within the group their founder and manager Robin Antin broke her silence on August 2, 2009 on her official Twitter page to say that the group was not splitting up. She explicitly said "The Pussycat Dolls r NOT breaking up.... & IF they ever were, u would hear it from ME 1st, NOT GOSSIP...Album #3 on the way!" Thorton further clarified the situation to MTV, "Right now the Pussycat Dolls are on a break. It's actually a much-needed break. It's like when you're with your sisters for 24 hours a day and you need to take your own shower." Thornton said that the Dolls will eventually find their way back to one another.
Since then Wyatt has been very vocal about the actual reality of the group and gave a long series of interviews about the status of the dolls. In October 2009 She told the Daily Star that her "role in group was a job at the end of the day and that they all had individual lives to live". She went on to explain that the group had been put together not bonded naturally therefore she saw Scherzinger as a business associate rather than a friend.The comments highlighted the group's position that the band would continue regardless of who returned to the band or who was part of it. It is also reaffirmed that the group all played a role in developing the franchise and music. On October 12 she told the Daily Record that Antin could bring in whoever she liked and the group would still continue just like a broadway show that she is still part of the group. In December Wyatt once again spoke about the group and what was currently happening to entertainment website Digital Spy. She confirmed earlier reports that she had been in the recording studios working on her own Electronica-influenced debut solo album. Crucially she revealed that she did not know what was currently happening with the group's third album as she was not the driving force behind it. It was also mentioned that "fans should expect new faces". She described her role in the group as irreplaceable saying that "she will always be involved with the [Pussycat Dolls] whether its helping with the choreography or the creative direction."This amongst many other interviews and appearances by the group separately led to rumors and media speculation that the group were about to split up over the group's strained relationship with lead singer Scherzinger. However Antin responded quickly with a statement to the press and media stating that
“ The Pussycat Dolls are very much alive and there is no truth to the silent treatment statements. Nicole and the Dolls have ALWAYS been close. Nicole is and always has been a strong creative force within this group and I cherish the way we collaborate. ”
In January 2010 the News of the World claimed that both Wyatt and Thorton were to be "sacked from the group for clashing with Scherzinger" with the possibility of more dolls following.[24] Wyatt stated that she was unhappy about Scherzinger's preferential treatment including arranging private transport instead of joining the girls on the tour bus and requesting her own dressing room whilst the rest of the girls shared one during their recent tours. The final straw came when it was announced that changes were being made to group, Wyatt revealed in response that she had spoken to Thornton, Roberts and Sutta about a rival project to the Pussycat Dolls. Although an official statement detailing the changes is not due until Scherzinger's solo project is due. Wyatt stated that "[Me and the other girls except Nicole] are looking at ways to keep working together. We all want to. But when we do that we're not allowed to call ourselves the Pussycat Dolls. Right now there is a lot of controversy. I haven't spoken to Nicole about it. She's full speed ahead with her career."
Finally from January 29, 2010 the true fate of the group came to light. It began with Jessica Sutta revealing to E!Online had been ousted from the group following the broken rib she sustained whilst on tour with the group. The news put her under financial strain and at one point she nearly ended up homeless. Similar to Wyatt's earlier interviews Sutta spoke at length about Scherzinger's preferential treatment. Whilst the group toured with Britney Spears the other dolls had to undergo regular drugs tests but Scherzinger was exempt. According to Sutta, Scherzinger has more involvement than just singing lead vocals, she apparently controls the amount of camera time each of the dolls receives in their music videos. Sutta told In Style magazine that although being a doll was a joyful experience even after seven years, she doesn't want to be just a glorified back-up dancer.
Less than a month later on February 26 Wyatt confirmed what was widely expected: she was also leaving the group and officially revealed the news in Loaded magazine. She left the group because she wasn't happy of her position in the group stating: "I wish that it was different because I love what we do on stage. I love being a Doll, but as far as variables off-stage are concerned - I just couldn't do it anymore ... when I came out on stage, I knew what my job was and I did it to the best of my ability. I feel like I can relate to anybody in a corporate job - because it's just a job, nothing more!" She stated that her happiness no longer rested with the group because she wanted more than money and fame. Just one day later Ashley Roberts also announced her departure from the group via her website. In a simple message she said "Yes, I have left the Pussycat Dolls..I love you all sooo much!!! I am so grateful to have the love and support of all of you. It was an amazing ride and I learned so much!" Meanwhile Wyatt would later go on to confirm that all of the Dolls had left the group including Thornton.
2010–present: New line-up and third studio album
Antin appeared on the The Wendy Williams show to promote her new fitness DVD. Williams took the opportunity to ask Antin about the rumours surrounding the group's alleged break up. Antin responded by saying that "The [Pussycat Dolls] have not broken up. In fact we're preparing to make new music. She confirmed that Scherzinger was here to stay. However Antin did state that she will be bringing in a few new faces and several of the exisitng members will be leaving to pursue solo projects. She said "the brand is about female empowerment. Inside every woman is a pussycat doll waiting to get out. There are millions of women out there who wants to know what it feels like. I want to bring in new faces."
Reaffirming the group's position, on March 4 Scherzinger told MTV that her position with the group is secure though it will consist of a new line-up with hopes of releasing a new album near the end of 2010. She also stated that she is in the studio recording music. But when asked about the nature of the recordings she wasn't sure if they would be for her own album or for the doll's third album but the latter will definitely be released for the fans. Speaking of the music she said "I don't know if I'm gonna put [the new music out] under my name yet or if it's going to be perfect for the Dolls, It doesn't matter. I just want to make great music for the fans". Thus, the new Dolls album will have popular music but with more rock, soul-inspired sound."
The new line-up was unveiled on May 22, 2010 consisting of Scherzinger as returning lead vocalist and four other girls: former Laker Girl, Vanessa Curry; So You Think You Can Dance finalist, Kherington Payne; former Harajuku Girls member, Rino Nakasone Razalan and former Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious contestant Jamie Lee Ruiz.



Tours and concerts

Main articles: PCD World Tour and Doll Domination Tour

The Pussycat Dolls opening at The Circus
Starring Britney Spears

During 2006, the Pussycat Dolls performed live shows in North America supporting the Black Eyed Peas. As headliners they toured the UK, Europe, Philippines and Malaysia.The group has also performed in Singapore for the annual Singfest.
On August 8, 2006, after a Dolls concert in Kuala Lumpur, their concert promoter, Absolute Entertainment, was charged with flouting Malaysian decency laws. The Malay Mail quoted Culture Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohamad Arif Abdul Rahman as saying: "I believe the way the Pussycat Dolls behaved onstage amounted to gross indecency". The charge was settled by paying a fine of RM5,000 (US$1,358).
From November 2006 – January 2007, the Pussycat Dolls embarked on their PCD World Tour with Rihanna as the opening act. On February 4, 2007, the Pussycat Dolls performed at the Manchester Evening News Arena in a concert that was recorded and later streamed via MSN Music.
The Pussycat Dolls also toured North America as a support act for Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour, along with Danity Kane and NLT. They also performed at the Cokelive Festival, In Bucharest, Romania and at the UK leg of Live Earth in Wembley Stadium, London.
The Pussycat Dolls announced that in January 2009 they will embark on a world tour in support of their Doll Domination album. In an interview with Capital Radio, Ne-Yo revealed he will be touring with the group. Lady GaGa and Queensberry also supported them on stage. The tour started January 18 at Aberdeen Exhibition Centre in Scotland. The group recently toured as the opening act for the North American leg of Britney Spears' tour The Circus Starring Britney Spears.




Television series

In April 2006, The New York Times reported that Interscope executives were working to produce their own reality TV series, overseen by the producers of America's Next Top Model and McG, the director of the Charlie's Angels films. The show, entitled Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll would search for a new member for the recording group.[40] The new member would sing on the next album and tour with the group. The show premiered on The CW, on March 6, 2007. It premiered in Australia and the UK on April 1. The season finale announced the winner of the show to be Asia Nitollano. It was announced in July that Asia Nitollano had "decided to pursue a solo career" instead.
The second season of the show commenced broadcast on February 18, 2008, titled Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious. Unlike the previous series which tried to find a new member to join the Dolls, the second series auditioned women to become part of a new three member all-female group, Girlicious. However, on the show's finale, it was revealed that Girlicious would be a quartet. The lineup was composed of Nichole Cordova, Tiffanie Anderson, Chrystina Sayers, and Natalie Mejia. The group debuted just after the show's finale, releasing their debut album and gaining attention from mostly Canadian and Brazilian audiences with their hip-hop, urban sound. However on June 2009, after a change of direction from urban to pop, it was announced by Antin that Anderson left the group and that Girlicious will continue as a trio. Members of the Pussycat Dolls recording group appeared on both seasons of the Pussycat Dolls Present: either as guest judge, performing songs, or in a video message shown to the contestants each week.




Other ventures

In 2007, Interscope formed a London-based spin-off group called Paradiso Girls through an open audition. The group's original lineup was composed of lead singers Aria Cascaval and Lauren Bennett, rapper Shar Mae Amor and DJ Kelly Beckett. Antin and Ron Fair selected Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll finalist Chelsea Korka to join as a third vocalist, making it into the group's final lineup. The group has yet to make an international debut whilst releasing their debut single and a yet to be released debut album.
As of February 2008, as part of the promotion for the TV series, The CW have sponsored Stardoll.com, a virtual paperdoll website, to include images of the members of the PCD recording group for interactive "Dress-Up" in PCD logo clothes. This site is aimed at girls aged seven to seventeen. The CW confirmed that the series would not return for a third season and has been canceled due to low ratings.
The Pussycat Dolls had re-recorded "Don't Cha" in Simlish for inclusion in the computer game The Sims 2: Pets.They also appeared in character form in the computer game Asphalt: Urban GT 2 in November 2006.



Merchandise

During 2006, Interscope engaged the California company BandMerch to distribute a range of merchandise, including clothing and other items, linked through the group's official website. In a merchandising agreement with Interscope in 2006, toy manufacturer Hasbro had plans for a line of dolls modelled after the Pussycat Dolls, and reportedly marketed at six to nine-year-olds. The groups Dads and Daughters and Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood successfully lobbied the company to scrap the plan because they felt that the Pussycat Dolls would have been inappropriate for children, due to the overtly sexual nature of the Pussycat Dolls' songs, videos and live shows.
They also negotiated a deal with Estée Lauder for a Pussycat Dolls line of cosmetics under the Stila brand. During 2008, It was reported that Antin and the La Senza Corporation of Canada were producing a line of Burlesque/Pussycat Dolls-styled lingerie called "Shhh...by Robin Antin".
In December 2009 PCD released Robin Antin's Pussycat Dolls Workout DVD featuring dancers from the PCD Lounge Review (inclding Chrystina Sayers) and featuring Nicole Sherzinger.



Controversy

In 2006 the group ran into trouble in Kuala Lumpur with the authorities for sexually explicit dancing. The performance, part of their PCD World Tour, was not well-received in the Muslim state which frowned upon the group's "eye-popping attire" and "sexually suggestive stage routines". 'Absolute Entertainment', the company behind the group's appearance in Malaysia was fined $3000 for the incident.
Meanwhile Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly took a major swipe at the group for their overemphasis of Scherzinger as the lead singer. Watson said "there are two types of girl groups: those anchored by a superstar (e.g. Destiny's Child, The Supremes) or those made of charismatic personalities the (Spice Girls). The [Pussycat Dolls] are neither." Other criticism pointed out that "Scherzinger is no Beyoncé Knowles" and that many people could not even name the other four dolls.
Awards

Main article: List of Pussycat Dolls awards and nominations Discography

Main article: Pussycat Dolls discography
2005: PCD
2008: Doll Domination
2010: TBA


Tours

2006–2007: PCD World Tour
2009: World Domination Tour
As an opening act
2006: Various Artists: Honda Civic Tour
2007: Christina Aguilera: Back To Basics Tour (North America Only)
2009: Britney Spears: The Circus Starring Britney Spears (North American Only)
Source:wikipedia
Sponsor:ez2.in

Law & Order: UK

Law & Order: UK is a British police procedural and legal television programme, adapted from the US TV series Law & Order. The programme is financed by the production companies Kudos Film and Television, Wolf Films, and NBC Universal. Head writer Chris Chibnall based the first series of episodes on scripts and episodes of the parent series. Based in London, and following the formula of the original, Law & Order: UK stars Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels, Freema Agyeman, and Bill Paterson. Law & Order: UK is the first US drama television series to be adapted for British television.

Premise

Law & Order: UK is based in London.

Law & Order: UK (also known as: Law & Order: London in Ireland) is the latest member of the Law & Order franchise, one of the most successful brands in American primetime television. To summarise the premise of Law & Order: UK, its variation on the famous Law & Order opening statement is:
“ In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime, and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. ”
Law & Order: UK is based in London and duplicates the episode format of the original series. The first half focuses on the perpetration of a crime and the related police investigation typically culminating in an arrest, while the second half follows the legal and court proceedings in an effort to convict the suspect. The show dwells little on the characters' back-stories or social lives, focusing mainly on their lives at work.



Production

Conception
Law & Order: UK had been a dream of creator Dick Wolf's for a long time. The first 13 episodes are based on scripts from the original Law & Order series to accommodate contractual requirements with his company and to build on the experience with successful storytelling. The episodes were picked by show runner and lead writer Chris Chibnall, who had previously worked on Torchwood, Life on Mars and Born and Bred.
Chibnall delved through the so-called Law & Order bible (a collection of synopses for every episode) and watched the series on DVD before picking 15-16 that would translate well to British television. The final 13 episodes are the favourites of Chibnall and producer Richard Stokes, although one episode had to be replaced due to incompatibility with English law. Stokes considered a 13-episode series to be quite long for British television drama, and described the pacing as "the only real challenge", whereas Dick Wolf was disappointed at the short series, as the American series typically run for more than 20 episodes per season. Wolf further hopes that the show will succeed sufficiently to allow him to push ITV for more episodes per series. The scripts have been updated for contemporariness, and while the difficulties of adapting the scripts for the English legal system exceeded the expectations of the production team, Stokes opined that audiences familiar with both shows would enjoy them for their distinctions. Comparing UK with the original Law & Order, Wolf described the biggest difference as the wigs, "The law is not really that dissimilar and, you know, murder is murder." It is unknown if a possible second series of Law & Order: UK would re-use original Law & Order scripts.
The filming of Law & Order: UK began in January 2008. Despite concerns expressed by star Jamie Bamber and Variety magazine as to the possibility of a second series, it was announced in June 2009 that ITV had commissioned a second series of 13 episodes to be produced in the second half of 2009 and broadcast in 2010.



Sets and shooting

The Old Bailey, Sunday shooting location for
the series (14 June 2004)

Law & Order: UK frequently shoots on-location around London, including some footage taken in the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court, on Sundays. The filming of the courtroom interior, the police station, and the CPS offices takes place on sets built in disused Ministry of Defence buildings at Qinetiq, off the M25 motorway around Surrey. The police station's sets were designed with an eye to realism, tchotchkes and personal items adorn the desks, while an ironing board and clean shirts are around for the eventuality of police officers heading to court.


Exemplar Law & Order: UK black-and-white intertitle from "Care"
Many of the familiar hallmarks of the original Law & Order were carried through to this iteration, including the opening music stylings, black-and-white intertitles, and hand-held camera work; Stokes was especially pleased to be able to use Kudos' method of "guerilla filming" on the streets of London. The so-called Dick Wolf Cash Register Sound — "the little 'dum dum' sound"— separates scenes as well.



International broadcasting
TV3 began to show the programme in Ireland, one day after its ITV showing, where it is billed as Law and Order: London. Citytv broadcast the first series in Canada starting 11 June 2009. As of August 2009 Network Ten broadcasts the series in Australia.. Other countries to have picked up the series include France
In a December 2008 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Jamie Bamber speculated that the show may also be broadcast in the United States, possibly on one of NBC's cable stations. Law & Order creator Dick Wolf also expressed interest in airing the UK version in the United States, believing it would be strong enough to air on NBC on Saturday nights. In a February 2009 interview, Wolf also hinted at the possibility of a crossover episode on one of the two series. Beyond Law & Order: UK, Wolf has mentioned that he would love to have an iteration of the show set in a major Muslim city such as Cairo.



Cast

The cast of Law & Order: UK
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks played by Bradley Walsh
Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin played by Jamie Bamber
Detective Inspector Natalie Chandler played by Harriet Walter
Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel played by Ben Daniels
Junior Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips played by Freema Agyeman
Director of CPS London George Castle played by Bill Paterson


Recurring cast
The recurring cast for the first two series' included Jessica Gunning,
Tariq Jordan, Nicola Sanderson, Nicholas Blane
and Gillian McCutcheon.

Guest stars
Guest stars in the first series include Holly Aird, Iain Glen, Colin Salmon, Juliet Aubrey, Sean Pertwee, Frances Barber, Derek Riddell, and Keith Barron.[1] Answering fans' inquiries in February 2009 as to whether Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character John Munch—played by Richard Belzer—will appear on Law & Order: UK, Chibnall joked that he believed it was a contractual obligation.



Episodes

Series 1 (2009)
Originally planned for a single series, the first run was broadcast as two separate series in the UK, with episodes 1–7 being shown in 2009 and episodes 8–13 in 2010.
# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewing figures[22] Original Law & Order episode
1 "Care" Omar Madha Chris Chibnall 23 February 2009 6.96 million "Cradle to Grave" (31 March 1992)
After Dionne Farrah (Venetia Campbell) leaves her dead nine-month old son at a local hospital, Brooks & Devlin discover that the boy was poisoned by the gas heater in his flat. Fellow tenant Mike Turner (Tony Maudsley) is arrested for sabotaging the heater as a means of getting rid of tenants who refused to vacate their homes for more profitable developers. However, the case is declared a mistrial when it is claimed that the testimony of a French-speaking witness was wrongly translated. Turner's boss, Maureen Walters (Lorraine Ashbourne), is found guilty after the CPS receive testimony that she bribed environmental inspection officials to ignore her tenants' complaints. Patrick Malahide guest stars as the devious and unprincipled defence barrister Robert Ridley QC.
2 "Unloved" Andy Goddard Terry Cafolla 2 March 2009 6.24 million "Born Bad" (16 November 1993)
Brooks and Devlin are emotionally affected by the case of an unidentifiable 13-year-old boy who was kicked to death at Euston Station. DI Chandler holds a press conference which leads to identifying the victim as Danny Jackson who was in foster care. The trail leads to the arrest of another young boy who was also in care at the same house as Danny. Steel and Phillips face an "old flame" from Steel's past in defence barrister Beatrice McArdle (Dervla Kirwan), who attempts an audacious defence of genetic predisposition towards violence: the suggestion that genes could be responsible for aggressive behaviour. This could upset the whole British legal system since other defendants could claim that genes means that they are not responsible for their actions.
3 "Vice" Omar Madha Chris Chibnall 9 March 2009 6.61 million "Working Mom" (26 February 1997
The murder of an ex-vice cop in Paddington leads Brooks and Devlin to investigate both the victim's boss (Sean Pertwee) and a children's clothing store in Barnes (run by Juliet Aubrey and Deborah Cornelius), only to discover that it is a front for a escort girl service. Steel and Phillips face off against "formidable defence barrister" Phyllis Gladstone (Lesley Manville), who presents a case of self-defence.
4 "Unsafe" Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 16 March 2009 6.24 million "American Dream" (9 November 1993)
The unearthing of a shallow grave aside the Thames forces Brooks and Devlin to reopen a contentious murder case that Steel himself prosecuted eight years prior. As a result, it would appear that Luke Slade (Iain Glen), convicted of the murder of his business partner, is the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Steel himself, however, is far from convinced and, when Slade represents himself in court, it becomes less about the trial and more about the vendetta between the two men.
5 "Buried" Mark Everest Catherine Tregenna 23 March 2009 6.69 million "...In Memory of" (November 5, 1991)
The remains of an eight-year-old boy, later identified as Tommy Keegan, are uncovered, twenty-five years after he was reported missing. His childhood friend, Julia Mortimer (Holly Aird), reluctantly agrees to undergo EMDR therapy and this leads to a history of sexual abuse and abuse of trust. However, Steel soon finds that his whole case rests on a very upset and potentially unreliable witness. Guest-stars Keith Barron as the defendant.
6 "Paradise"[30] Tristram Powell Chris Chibnall 30 March 2009 5.87 million "Heaven" (26 November 1991)
When an arson attack on a Turkish club claims 17 lives, Brooks and Devlin are under pressure to discover just who was behind it. What was first thought of as a racist attack soons turns out to be a lot more complicated and is not helped when a suspect's human rights gets in the way of obtaining crucial evidence. Even when that is overcome, the prosecutors struggle to build a case as a conflict emerges between justice, community relations and racial harmony and Steel himself faces an awkward situation with an old friend.
7 "Alesha"[33] Mark Everest Catherine Tregenna 6 April 2009 6.02 million "Helpless" (4 November 1992)
Phillips accuses respected gynaecologist Dr. Alec Merrick of sexually assaulting her during a routine examination, but Brooks, Devlin and Chandler struggle to find any firm evidence and the team becomes divided. Phillips then resorts to desperate means to obtain justice only to make things worse for herself and Steel is pitted against formidable defence barrister Phyllis Gladstone (Lesley Manville). In a June 2009 interview with Digital Spy, Freema Agyeman (Alesha Phillips) described the episode and its content as "the biggest challenge I've ever been faced with in my career".


Series 2 (2010)
# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewing figures Original Law & Order episode
1 "Samaritan"[34] Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 30 July 2009 (Canada)
11 January 2010 (UK) 6.51 million "Manhood" (12 May 1993)
When a police constable, Nick Bentley, is shot by drug dealers while on foot patrol it seems like a pretty straightforward case. Brooks and Devlin eventually locate a witness who identifies one of the parties to the drug transaction and he finally tells the police what really happened. The witness also tells them something else: she saw another police constable standing in the shadows while the injured policeman was calling for help. The dead man's partner, PC Ray Griffin, claims to have been several blocks away when his partner was shot and lay bleeding to death but Brooks and Devlin find an anomaly in his formal statement and they decide to investigate. What they learn is that Bentley's fellow constables had recently learned of his sexual orientation and that his partner Griffin is the head of a Christian group of officers that rejects gays. For the Crown prosecutors, the question is whether they can make an argument that Griffin had a duty of care and was obliged to help his dying partner.
2 "Hidden" Julian Holmes Emilia di Girolamo 6 August 2009 (Canada)
18 January 2010 (UK) 6.53 million "Bitter Fruit" (20 September 1995)
Devlin and Brooks investigate the murder of a young girl, 10 year-old Jodie Gaines, who was kidnapped some two weeks before and has now been located, dead, in a rubbish bin. Witnesses on the day of the kidnapping reported seeing a white van in the area and they soon arrest Nick Carlton who is charged with murder. He is no sooner released on bail that he is killed by the dead girl's grieving mother, Kayleigh, a recovering drug addict who is separated from her husband who had formal custody of the child. Crown prosecutor James Steel seeks a murder conviction, even though he knows that Kayleigh will likely have the sympathy of the court. When it appears that Kayleigh is to be set free, Devlin and Brooks uncover a crucial piece of information.
3 "Community Service" Ken Grieve Catherine Tregenna 13 August 2009 (Canada)
25 January 2010 (UK) 6.07 million "Volunteers" (29 September 1993)
The police investigate an attack on a homeless bipolar man who is found severely beaten in a neighborhood park. The investigation reveals that the CCTV cameras had been turned away indicating that the attack may not have been random. They also find that many in the neighborhood are tight-lipped about the incident or about anything that might have happened on the night in question. When they do make an arrest, it falls to James Steel to make the case. Given the homeless man's record of constantly interfering and threatening however, will he be able to convince a jury that the attacker was doing anything but a public service?
4 "Sacrifice" Robert Del Maestro Terry Cafolla and
Nathan Cockerill 20 August 2009 (Canada)
1 February 2010 (UK) 6.06 million "Sonata For Solo Organ" (2 April 1991)
When a man is found lying on the ground with a kidney surgically removed, Brooks and Devlin have a case that they believed fell more into the category of urban myth than real-life crime. They quickly focus on finding the intended recipient of the stolen organ. Transplantation is highly controlled and centralized to prevent queue jumping but they soon find a recent transplantation that was completed from outside the system. They soon uncover a tale of a sick woman, a concerned parent and a greedy, disgruntled surgeon. For James Steel, the question becomes one of which of these to prosecute. When he makes his choice, he finds that his boss, George Castle, will defend the case.
5 "Love and Loss" Mark Everest Terry Cafolla 27 August 2009 (Canada)
8 February 2010 (UK) 6.34 million "Consultation" (9 December 1992)
When 18 year-old Debbie Powell dies from a heroin overdose just as she returns to the UK from a holiday in Thailand, the police learn that she was a drug mule with over 70 condoms of the drug in her stomach. With the dead girl far from being the usual drug mule the police try to understand why a young woman from a reasonably well-off family would get involved in drug smuggling. Her two traveling companions ran away after the girl died but they know she was to meet her boyfriend immediately on their return. When an arrest is made, James Steel and the Prosecution Service not only charge him drug importation but also with manslaughter, arguing that he had a duty of care with respect to the young woman. The man seems to have a history of seducing young women and using them as mules but in court, the Crown's principal witness recants his earlier statement saying the police coerced him. Steel pursues another strategy to ensure justice is done.
6 "Honour Bound" Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 3 September 2009 (Canada)
15 February 2010 (UK) 6.28 million "Corruption" (30 October 1996)
When an undercover drug buy goes wrong, DS Ronnie Brooks finds himself in a very difficult spot. Brooks and DS Jimmy Valentine are posing as drug dealers when Valentine shoots the dealer claiming the man pulled a gun on him. Brooks was behind their car at the time and saw nothing but has known Valentine for many years and has no reason to doubt him. DS Matt Devlin on the other hand did not see the dead man pull a gun or do anything threatening and is given 24 hours by DI Natalie Chandler to find evidence or shut up. When the Crown Prosecution Service charges Valentine, the dirty cop testifies that Brooks was in on a drug theft. Ronnie has to call on an old friend to testify on his behalf but at a great cost to herself.



Reception

Independent writer Robin Jarossi attended a special preview of the premiere episode at the British Film Institute in London (attended to by Wolf, Chibnall, Daniels, and Agyeman) on 5 February 2009. Jarossi praised the uniquely British take on the franchise for balancing the new vision while maintaining the proven Law & Order formula. Jarossi specifically extolled the unexpected casting of Bradley Walsh, the excellent use of their London backdrop, and Chibnall's adaptation of the show. John Boland of the Irish Independent compared Law & Order: UK to the original, ultimately deciding that the former is just as engrossing as the latter, if its tone is slightly more jocular. Boland expects ITV "[has] a winner on its hands." Andrew Billen from The Times expects the series to be successful based on the premiere episode, and TV Times said that "those concerned can give themselves a pat on the back because this really, really works." The Daily Express' Matt Baylis described the new series as "a breath of fresh air [...], and the Daily Mirror said "It’s all highly professional and heroic."[4] Variety magazine called the series a hit, quoting NBC Universal as saying, "'Law and Order' has won its slot every week and is actually increasing its ratings."[
While Radio Times reviewer Alison Graham felt the series' execution was adequate, she criticized its pacing and writing; the former for not matching that of the original Law & Order programmes, and the latter for "[falling] headfirst into a typically British legal-drama trap of the noble prosecutor [...] crusading to bring the guilty to justice while pitted against the louche, self-serving defence barrister." Whereas, on the other hand, The Guardian's Sarah Dempster didn't feel that using the original series' camera work and stylings was appropriate for British crime drama: "Fiddly. And wrong.". However, later on in the series' run The Observer's Kathryn Flytt writes that despite her initial prejudices, the series "seems to have absorbed the pace and energy of the original without looking too tricksily derivative".
In Australia, Melinda Houston commented favourably in The Age on the show's opening series; opining that the fusion between British crime drama and the US Law and Order Franchise is like "a match made in Heaven."  The premiere episode which aired on 12 August 2009, only rated 775,000 viewers (compared with the average numbers of 1 million viewers on the major commercial networks) and was outside the top 15 rated shows for that period.


DVD Releases

Region DVD Title Includes Release Date Number of Episodes Special Features / Notes
2 Series One Episodes 1-7 11 January 2010 7 Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Care: Alternative Beginning
Vice: Summing Up
CPS Set Tour
Interviews with Dick Wolf, Bradley Walsh,Jamie Bamber and Chris Chibnall
2 Series Two Episodes 8-13 22 February 2010 6 Audio Commentaries
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Interviews with Richard Stokes, Harriet Walter and Robert Glenister
Police Set Tour
1 Season One Series 1&2 23 March 2010 13 Audio Commentaries
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Care: Alternative Beginning
Vice: Summing Up
CPS Set Tour
Interviews with Dick Wolf, Bradley Walsh,Jamie Bamber, Richard Stokes, Harriet Walter and Robert Glenister and Chris Chibnall
Police Set Tour
This Region 1 release was made available exclusively through Target stores in the U.S.
Source:wikipedia

Val Kilmer

Val Edward Kilmer, (born December 31, 1959) is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! (1984), then the cult classic Real Genius (1985), as well as blockbuster action films, including a role in Top Gun and a lead role in Willow.
During the 1990s, Kilmer gained critical respect after a series of films that were also commercially successful, including his roles as Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in 1993's Tombstone, Batman in 1995's Batman Forever, Chris Shiherlis in 1995's Heat and Simon Templar in 1997's The Saint. During the early 2000s, Kilmer appeared in several well-received roles, including The Salton Sea, Spartan, and supporting performances in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Alexander, and as the voice of KITT in Knight Rider.

Early life

Kilmer, the second of three sons, was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Gladys (née Ekstadt) and Eugene Kilmer, an aerospace equipment distributor and real estate developer. Kilmer's grandfather was a gold miner in New Mexico; the poet Joyce Kilmer is a second cousin of Kilmer's. Kilmer grew up in the San Fernando Valley with his two siblings, older brother Mark and younger brother Wesley,but says that even as a child growing up in California he did not like it there. Kilmer, who was raised a Christian Scientist, attended Chatsworth High School—where his classmates included Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham—as well as Hollywood's Professional's School. He also attended Berkeley Hall School, a Christian Science school in Beverly Hills, CA, from nursery school until graduation from the 9th grade. At the age of 17, he was at the time the youngest person to be accepted into Juilliard's drama program. His brother Wesley died as a teenager due to an epileptic seizure in a swimming pool. Kilmer did not think Christian Science treatment was responsible for his brother's death as Wesley was alternated between medical treatments and Christian Science.





Career

1980s
In 1981, Kilmer co-authored and starred in the play How It All Began, which was performed at the Public Theatre at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Kilmer turned down a role in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film, The Outsiders, as he had prior theatre commitments.That same year, his first off-stage acting role (excluding television commercials) came in the form of a television short titled One Too Many, which was an educational drama on drinking and driving; it also starred a young Michelle Pfeiffer. His big break came when he received top billing in the spoof comedy Top Secret!, where he played an American rock and roll star. Kilmer sang all the songs in the film and actually released an album under the film character's name, "Nick Rivers".
During a brief hiatus, he backpacked throughout Europe, before going on to play the lead character in the 1985 comedy Real Genius. He turned down roles in Dune and Blue Velvet, before being cast as naval aviator "Iceman" in the big budget action film Top Gun, alongside Tom Cruise. Top Gun grossed a total of $344,700,000 worldwide. Following roles in the television films The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains, Kilmer played "Madmartigan" in the fantasy Willow; he met his future wife, co-star Joanne Whalley, on the film's set. Kilmer published a book of his poems, My Edens After Burns, in 1987, and starred in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet in 1988. In 1989, Kilmer played the lead in both Kill Me Again, again opposite Whalley, and in TNT's Billy the Kid.




1990s
After several delays, director Oliver Stone finally started production on the film, The Doors, based on the band of the same name. Kilmer memorized the lyrics to all of lead singer Jim Morrison's songs prior to his audition, and sent a video of himself performing some Doors songs to director Stone. Stone was not impressed with the tape, but Paul Rothchild (the original producer of The Doors) said "I was shaken by it" and suggested they record Kilmer in the studio. After Kilmer was cast as Morrison, he prepared for the role by attending Doors tribute concerts and reading Morrison's poetry.He spent close to a year before production dressing in Morrison-like clothes, and spent time at Morrison's old hangouts along the Sunset Strip. His portrayal of Morrison was praised and members of The Doors noted that Kilmer did such a convincing job that they had trouble distinguishing his voice from Morrison's. Paul Rothchild played Val's version of 'The End' for Robby Krieger, and he told him "I'm really glad they got 'The End'. We never got a recording of that live with Jim and now we've got it." However, Doors keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, was less than enthusiastic with how Morrison was portrayed by director Oliver Stone's interpretation.[citation needed] In the early 1990s, Kilmer starred in the mystery thriller Thunderheart, action comedy The Real McCoy and again teamed with Top Gun director Tony Scott to play Elvis in True Romance, which was written by Quentin Tarantino.
In 1993, Kilmer played Doc Holliday in the western Tombstone alongside Kurt Russell, in what some say is one of Kilmer's finest performances.[who?] 1995 saw Kilmer star in Wings of Courage, a 3D IMAX film, and that same year, he starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, which is now considered one of the best crime/drama films of the 1990s. In 1996, he appeared in a largely unknown film, Dead Girl, and starred alongside Marlon Brando in the poorly receivedThe Island of Dr Moreau. That year, Kilmer starred alongside Michael Douglas in the thriller The Ghost and the Darkness. The next year he played Simon Templar in the popular action film, The Saint. In 1998, he lent his voice to the animated film The Prince of Egypt, before starring in the independent film Joe the King (1999) and playing a blind man in the drama/romance At First Sight, which he described as of then, the hardest role he had ever had.



Batman
In December 1993, Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher had seen Tombstone, and was most impressed with Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday. Schumacher felt for him to be perfect for the role of the Caped Crusader, though at the time, the role was still Michael Keaton's. Batman co-creator Bob Kane said he felt Kilmer was the best actor to portray Batman.
In July 1994, Michael Keaton decided not to return for a third Batman film after 1992's Batman Returns,due to "creative differences." William Baldwin (who previously worked with Schumacher on Flatliners) was reported to be a top contender, though just days after Keaton dropped out, Kilmer was cast. Kilmer took the role without even knowing who the new director was and without reading the script.Kilmer first learned that he was offered the role of Batman while he was literally in a bat cave in Africa, doing research for The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). Released in June 1995, Batman Forever was a success at the box office,despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.
In February 1996, Kilmer decided not to return for a sequel (1997's Batman & Robin, in which George Clooney replaced Kilmer), feeling that Batman was being marginalized in favor of the villains. Kilmer went on to do The Saint with a salary of $6 million.When asked why he did not return for a fourth installment, Kilmer said he liked the characterization of Simon Templar better than Bruce Wayne. Kilmer commented "Simon is a literary character who uses his wit, and not violence. Batman is a real screwed-up guy who has hustled an entire city, and now he's running around in a cape. What's it all about?"



2000s
Kilmer's first role in 2000 was in the big budget Warner Bros. box office disaster[26] Red Planet. That same year, he had a supporting role in the film Pollock and hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. In 2002, he starred in the thriller The Salton Sea, which was generally well-reviewed, but received only a limited release. The same year, he teamed with his True Romance co-star, Christian Slater, and the two starred in the low budget film, Hard Cash, also known as Run for the Money.
In 2003, Kilmer starred alongside Kate Bosworth in the drama/thriller Wonderland, as well as appearing in The Missing, where he again worked with Willow director Ron Howard. The next year, he starred in Spartan, where he played a United States government secret agent who is assigned the task of rescuing the kidnapped daughter of the President. He received Delta Force-like training in preparation for the role. Subsequently, he had a role in the drama, Stateside, and starred (again with Slater) in the thriller Mindhunters, which was filmed in 2003 but not released until 2005. Kilmer next appeared in the big budget Oliver Stone production, Alexander, which received poor reviews. Also in 2004, Kilmer returned to the theatre to play Moses in a Los Angeles musical production of The Ten Commandments: The Musical, produced by BCBG founder Max Azria. The production played at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Kilmer had previously played Moses in the animated film The Prince of Egypt. Finally in 2004, Kilmer appeared in an episode of Entourage where he played a tripped-out Sherpa shaman whose primary source of income was the growing, harvesting and distributing high-quality marijuana all under a guise of hippy-dippy metaphysical insights.
Kilmer was in negotiations with Richard Dutcher (a leading director of Mormon-related films) to play the lead role in a film entitled Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith, although the project never materialized. Kilmer performed in The Postman Always Rings Twice on the London stage from June to September 2005. In 2005, he co-starred with Robert Downey, Jr in the action-comedy film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. His performance was praised and the film was well reviewed, but the film received only a limited release.It later won the award as "Overlooked Film of the Year" from the Phoenix Film Critics Society. In 2006, he reunited with director Tony Scott a third time for a supporting role opposite Denzel Washington in the box-office hit Déjà Vu. In 2007, he guest-starred in hit TV series Numb3rs episode "Trust Metric" as torture expert Mason Lancer. In 2008, Kilmer starred alongside Stephen Dorff in the Sony and Stage 6 film Felon. The film was given only a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles in 2008, but it developed into a success secondary to positive word of mouth.
He next starred alongside Nicolas Cage in the Werner Herzog film Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and alongside Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in Streets of Blood. Both were released in 2009. He appeared as the main antagonist "Mongoose" in a live TV series adaptation of the comic/video game of XIII on NBC in 2009.
As of 2010, Kilmer was working on writing the movie about the life of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science church. He is currently working on a possible sequel to 1985's Real Genius[citation needed]. He stars in a 2010 thriller from Michael Oblowitz called Mr. Nobody, wherein he portrays a Police Officer.



Knight Rider revival
He was the voice of KITT for the 2008 Knight Rider TV pilot movie and the following television series. He replaced Will Arnett, who had to step down from the role due to contractual conflict with General Motors.
In keeping with tradition established by the original Knight Rider series and original KITT actor William Daniels, Kilmer was uncredited for the role on-screen.



Personal life

Kilmer was married to Joanne Whalley, an actress, from March 1988 to February 1996. The two met while working together on the film Willow. They have two children, daughter Mercedes, born in 1991, and son Jack, born in 1995.
He dated supermodel Cindy Crawford in the 1990s. A noted incident in their dating life involved Crawford's advertising for a bar of which Kilmer did not approve. He admitted being unreasonable.
Warwick Davis, Kilmer's co-star from the 1988 fantasy Willow, in his audio commentary for the film described Kilmer as a very funny man and a hard working, dedicated actor. Kilmer is also an avid musician, and released a CD in the fall of 2007, proceeds of which went to his charity interests.
Other actors have noted that he prepares for his roles extensively and meticulously. Kevin Jarre, the original director of Tombstone, said that Kilmer once told him, "I have a reputation for being difficult. But only with stupid people."[36] Irwin Winkler (director of At First Sight) talked about his decision to hire Kilmer. "I'd heard the stories, so I checked him out. I called Bob DeNiro and Michael Mann, who'd worked with him on Heat, and they both gave him raves... I had a wonderful experience in spite of all the naysayers." Jeffrey Katzenberg (director of Prince of Egypt) talks about the actor. "Val was one of the first people cast in The Prince of Egypt. He was there every step of the way; patient, understanding, and phenomenally generous with his time."
Following their appearance together in Top Gun, Kilmer and co-star Tom Cruise reportedly had taken their onscreen conflict offscreen. Reports classified the two as holding a vitriolic hatred of one another. Kilmer even refused to participate in a charity beach volleyball game with Cruise on the grounds that he was, quote, "dangerous", although Kilmer is noted to have knocked out Cruise when a fistfight between the two developed during the filming of Top Gun.
Kilmer owns a ranch in New Mexico, where he tracks, hikes, fishes, and raises buffalo. Kilmer is also involved with The Wildlife Center of New Mexico and assists in rescuing animals and releasing them on his ranch.
In 2009, Kilmer listed Pecos River Ranch for sale for $33,000,000 with conservation real estate firm Orvis/Cushman & Wakefield.
He briefly flirted with running for Governor of New Mexico in 2010, but in the end declined to run. He made a donation to Ralph Nader's 2008 presidential campaign. On January 30, 2009, Kilmer was chosen to be the King of Bacchus, a parading Krewe in New Orleans, who in 1969, began the tradition of having celebrities ride in their parade as King.



Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1984 Top Secret! Nick Rivers Film debut
1985 Real Genius Chris Knight
1986 Top Gun Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazanski
The Murders in the Rue Morgue Phillipe Huron TV film
1987 The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains Robert Eliot Burns/Eliot Roberts TV film
CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries
1988 Willow Madmartigan
1989 Billy the Kid William Bonney
Kill Me Again Jack Andrews
1991 The Doors Jim Morrison Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Performance - Male
1992 Thunderheart Ray Levoi
1993 The Real McCoy J.T. Barker
Tombstone Doc Holliday Based on a true story
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Performance - Male
True Romance Mentor
1995 Batman Forever Bruce Wayne/Batman Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male also for Heat
Heat Chris Shiherlis Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male also for Batman Forever
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
Wings of Courage Jean Mermoz IMAX Film
1996 The Island of Dr Moreau Montgomery
The Ghost and the Darkness Col. John Henry Patterson Based on a true story
Dead Girl Dr. Dark
1997 The Saint Simon Templar
1998 The Prince of Egypt Moses/God Voice-over
1999 At First Sight Virgil 'Virg' Adamson
Joe the King Bob Henry
2000 Pollock Willem de Kooning
Red Planet Robby Gallagher
2002 The Salton Sea Danny Parker / Tom Van Allen Limited release
Prism Award for Best Performance in a Theatrical Feature Film
Hard Cash FBI Agent Mark C. Cornell a.k.a. Run for the Money
2003 Wonderland John Holmes Based on the Wonderland Murders
The Missing Lt. Jim Ducharme
Blind Horizon Frank Kavanaugh
Masked and Anonymous Animal Wrangler
2004 Entourage The Sherpa Episode: "The Script and the Sherpa"
Spartan Robert Scott
Stateside Staff Sergeant Skeer
Alexander Philip
George and the Dragon El Cabillo uncredited
2005 Mindhunters Jake Harris
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Perry Van Shrike/"Gay Perry" Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Nominated– Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
2006 Summer Love The Wanted Man a.k.a. Dead Man's Bounty
Moscow Zero Andrey
10th & Wolf Murtha
Played Dillon
Déjà Vu Agent Andrew Pryzwarra
The Ten Commandments: The Musical Moses
2007 Have Dreams, Will Travel Henderson
Numb3rs Mason Lancer Episode: "Trust Metric"
2008 Comanche Moon Inish Scull TV mini-series based on the book
Knight Rider voice of KITT TV film based on 1980s TV series
Conspiracy MacPherson direct-to-video
Felon John Smith
Delgo Bogardus voice only
2:22 Maz
Columbus Day John
XIII Mongoose based on Belgian comic book XIII
2008–2009 Knight Rider voice of KITT TV series based on the 2008 TV film
2009 The Chaos Experiment James Pettis a.k.a. The Steam Experiment
Streets of Blood Detective Andy Devereaux
American Cowslip Todd Inglebrink
The Thaw Dr. David Kruipen
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Stevie Pruit
Hardwired Virgil
2010 Fake Identity also known as Double Identity Nick
Mr. Nobody The Stranger post-production
Provinces of Night Warren Bloodworth post-production
The Irishman Joe Manditski post-production
MacGruber Dieter Von Cunth post-production
Georgia Dutch Journalist post-production
Tales of an Ancient Empire Rollo filming
Source:wikipedia

Monica Bellucci

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci, (born 30 September 1964)is an Italian actress and fashion model.

Personal life

Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy,the daughter of Maria Gustinelli, a painter, and Luigi Bellucci, who owned a trucking company.Bellucci started modelling at 16, when she was attending the Liceo classico. Initially pursuing a career as a lawyer, Bellucci modeled to pay her tuition at the University of Perugia,but the lifestyle tempted her away from her law studies. She speaks Italian, French, and English fluently, Spanish semi-fluently, and she has had speaking roles in each of these languages as well as in Aramaic for her part as Mary Magdalene in The Passion of the Christ.

Bellucci was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso in 1990. She is currently married to fellow actor Vincent Cassel, with whom she has appeared in several films, and has a daughter named Deva (born 12 September 2004). The couple are expecting their second child in the spring of 2010. In 2004, while pregnant with her daughter, Bellucci posed nude for the Italian Vanity Fair Magazine in protest against Italian laws that prevent the use of donor sperm.She posed pregnant and semi-nude again for the april 2010 issue of Italian vanity fair.

In a documentary movie The Big Question about the film The Passion of the Christ, she stated: "I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings."

Career

Modeling

At the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

At the 2009 Women's World Award.

In 1988, Bellucci moved to one of Europe's fashion centers, Milan, where she signed with Elite Model Management. By 1989, she was becoming prominent as a fashion model in Paris and across the Atlantic, in New York City. She posed for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle, among others. In that year, Bellucci made the transition to acting and began taking acting classes. The February 2001 Esquire's feature on Desire featured Ms. Bellucci on the cover and in an article on the five senses. In 2003, she was featured in Maxim. In 2004, she topped AskMen's 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World annual list. Bellucci's modelling career is managed by Elite+ in New York City. She is considered an Italian sex symbol. She is currently a face of a range of Dior Cosmetics. Bellucci is also signed to Storm Model Management in London.

Film

Bellucci's film career began in the early 1990s. She played some minor roles in La Riffa (1991) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Lisa in L'Appartement[ and strengthened her position as an actress. She became known and popular with worldwide audiences, following her roles in Malèna (2000), Irréversible (2002) and has played in many films from Europe and Hollywood like Tears of the Sun (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Le Deuxième souffle (2007), Don't Look Back (2009), etc.

She was supposed to be seen portraying Indian politician Sonia Gandhi in the biopic Sonia, originally planned for release in 2007, but it has been shelved.

Bellucci dubbed her own voice for the French and Italian releases of the film Shoot 'Em Up (2007). And she also voiced Kaileena in the video game Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and the French voice of Cappy for the French version of the 2005 animated film Robots.

Awards and others

In 2003, Bellucci won the Nastro d'Argento Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Alessia in Remember Me, My Love. In 2006, she served as a judge at 59th Cannes Film Festival. In 2009, she won the World Actress Award in Women's World Award.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes

1990 Vita coi figli (Life With the Sons) Elda

Briganti – Amore e libertà (Bandits – Love and Liberty) Costanza

1991 la riffa Francesca

1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula One of Dracula's brides

ostinato destino Marina/ Angela

1994 I Mitici Deborah

1995 Pala di Neve Melina

Il cielo é sempre piú blu

Joseph Pharaoh's wife

1996 L'Appartement Lisa Nominated - César Award for Best Supporting Actress

Sorellina e il principe del sogno (uncredited) Princess

1997 Stressati

Dobermann Nat the Gypsy

Mauvais genre Camille

Come mi vuoi Nellina

1998 Le plaisir Girl

Compromis Monique

Ultimo capodanno dell'umanità Giulia Giovannini

A los que aman Valeria

1999 Comme un poisson hors de l'eau Myrtille

Mediterranées Marguerite

2000 Under Suspicion Chantal Hearst

Franck Spadone Laura

Malèna Malèna Scordia

2001 Brotherhood of the Wolf Sylvia

2002 Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre Cleopatra

Irréversible Alex

2003 Remember Me, My Love Alessia Nastro d'Argento award for Best Supporting Actress

Tears of the Sun Lena Fiore Kendricks

The Matrix Reloaded Persephone

Enter the Matrix (video game) Persephone

The Matrix Revolutions Persephone

2004 The Passion of the Christ Mary Magdalene

Agents Secrets Barbara / Lisa

She Hate Me Simona Bonasera

2005 The Brothers Grimm The Mirror Queen

How Much Do You Love Me? Daniela

2006 Sheitan La belle vampiresse

N (Io e Napoleone) Baronessa Emilia Speziali

The Stone Council Laura Siprien

2007 Heartango

(short film for Intimissimi) L'inafferrabile/ La passionale /

L'indecisa / La curiosa /

L'aggressiva / La mamma /

La premurosa

Manuale d'amore 2

(Capitoli successivi) Lucia

Shoot 'Em Up Donna Quintano

Le deuxième souffle Manouche

2008 Sanguepazzo Luisa Ferida

L'uomo che ama Alba

2009 Don't Look Back Jeanne

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Gigi Lee

Baarìa – La porta del vento Bricklayer's girlfriend

Omaggio a Roma Tosca

2010 The Whistleblower Awaiting release

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Veronica Awaiting release

(source:wikipedia)