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Talking All Things English With Scarlett, Natalie and Eric

PopSugarUK — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:00:00 -0800

In the first part of my exciting meeting with the stars of The Other Boleyn Girl I found out about their experiences of making the movie and Eric mischievously teased Scarlett about her research attempts, which mainly revolved around reading the novel. Have you read the book, or are you about to start? If so you should definitely check out Buzz's book club – It's a great way to get even more out of it.

In this installment Eric, Natalie and Scarlett speak about accents, England and their Brit director Justin Chadwick. There's even more to come next week, so be sure to keep checking back to PopSugarUK to read their responses.

You all had to learn accents for the roles, do you think it was more difficult to do an upperclass English accent rather than another kind?

SJ – All are difficult, for Natalie and I as Americans, it places a restriction on the intonation and, whether it’s upper crust or common, it’s still very foreign. Americans have a tendency to emphasise every single word that we say, whereas [with this] there are choice words placed delicately for emphasis. It’s a challenge, but it’s a fun one.

NP – It was definitely an extra challenge, but we were lucky enough to have an great dialect coach on the film who guided us through. I actually think that doing something more posh – an exaggeration of what we think of as British – is more clear in my head than doing more of like a modern urban dialect, just from the British movies and television I’ve seen.

To find out Eric's accent experiences, how they found working with Bleak House director Justin Chadwick, and to see photos of Natalie at the David Letterman show, read more

And Eric, you smoothed out your vowels.

EB (In an exaggerated accent) – What you talkin’ about mate? What’s all this about? I fink it’s ‘ard, I mean, everytime I go an’ do a movie I gotta get rid of it all. It's just anover feather in my bow, so to speak, y’know? (back in normal voice, others are laughing) No, it’s always hard, but in my case – rather than the girls, because they’re lucky enough to be American – every time I go to work I have to do it, so it becomes part of the job. It’s an extra challenge and an extra tool you have to think consciously about [when you're] getting into character. So whilst it does require more work, it also is maybe even an advantage to a degree. It forces you to switch, it forces you to consciously jump in and out of a character.

How was it working with your British film director Justin Chadwick on his debut movie?

EB – Justin was brilliant. I love working with people who have television experience as there’s an efficiency and methodology that comes from that background. Having seen Justin’s work on Bleak House I knew that he’d be incredibly well-prepared and interesting stylistically for this, and that was most definitely the case. He creates a very loose, liberating environment and is a great collaborator. I loved working with him, he was very smart in how he assembled people around him and had a crew that he knew very well. So he was very comfortable on set so I never felt like I was working with a first-time film maker.

NP – The film was shot digitally which is really unusual for a period film, I think it might be one of the first period features to be shot digitally, so he and the crew were so meticulous and watching in this darkened tent so they could see everything. I think they succeeded on such a grand scale of making it look as beautiful as it could have looked on film, because digitally it’s hard not to make it look too sharp. He’s just a lovely human being, and he brought a modernity to the way the film came out, he brought the pace and the real emotion. It doesn’t feel as removed as period films can feel, I think.

SJ – I’d seen the Bleak House series, which was so riveting, I loved it. He said to me -"Look, I’ve been an actor before, and I want to make certain that within the craziness of the costumes and the sets and the locations and all this, that we really find the humanity of the story. I don’t want to make a 'Men In Tights', masterpiece theatre type of thing, I want to find the human quality of the story." - And I think he was really successful in that. I really appreciated that he maintained that integrity throughout production and was always trying to fine the humanity of these scenes instead of just the melodrama and the rivalry, he wanted to find the deeper human connection between the characters.

NP – And the locations were amazing – we got to film in all these 16th Century buildings. At Dover Castle we had a big crane shot, and there was a wind tunnel during certain hours in the day, at 3pm they’d be like ‘Everyone Inside!’ and hooped skirts would be flying up. The crew all had hard hats on as it was so dangerous to walk through this thing, whereas they send the two of us in bareheaded in our little wigs. It was funny!

There's even more to come from Natalie, Scarlett and Eric including their thoughts on the status of women in the days the film is set versus now, and what Scarlett's up to in the future in both music and movies. Also here's some photos of Natalie's appearance at David Letterman last week, Pop US has all the gossip on it, as well as a video of her appearance!

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Natalie Brings Boleyn Girl and Boob Talk

Molly — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:05:00 -0800

Natalie Portman took the promotional reigns without Scarlett Johansson at a screening of The Other Boleyn Girl in NYC last night. She looked gorgeous, of course, but not as happy as with her on-screen sister by her side. On Sunday Natalie was profiled in The Times of London, which as usual made her seem nothing short of perfect. Though, she did reveal a bit of a sassy side talking about Isaac Mizrahi grabbing Scarlett's breast at the 2006 Golden Globes, "Seriously, I would want to grab them. She’s got beautiful ones, but, Isaac, that was not so appropriate." She also weighed in on another of her contemporaries, Miss Britney Spears. Natalie said:

“We both had the same first job. We both understudied for an off-Broadway musical called Ruthless. I never met her, but I took over from her when she left to join the Mickey Mouse Club. So we connected over that. She invited me to a few things and my guy friends at college said, ‘We have to go.’ I’m sad to see how everyone’s treating her now...Any time I see something about Britney, I close it. I can’t look at it. I’m usually interested in gossip, but this makes my stomach hurt.”

Britney and Natalie seem like night and day in the starlet set, but of course Natalie has compassion for the fallen pop star. I'm mostly surprised that she'd even admit that she's ever into gossip at all. Maybe working on the soap opera-y period piece piqued Natalie's interest in the salacious rumor mill - not that I don't relate, wink.

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Scarlett, Natalie and Eric Get A Right Royal Welcome

PopSugarUK — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:03:59 -0800

Prince Charles and Camilla attended the charity premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl last night in Leicester Square. Have you been reading the novel along with Buzz's book club? Having Royal company must have really put the pressure on for Natalie and Eric who portray Royals Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in the film, but they maintained cool exteriors when I was lucky enough to preview the movie and attend the press conference with them yesterday. Keep your eyes on PopSugar UK as I'll be reporting back on it in a week or so.

The Brit stars of the film – Jim Sturgess and David Morrissey – also showed up, as did Michael Palin, Nancy Dell'Olio and lovely Lily Allen. Fab UK is asking what you think about Scarlett's flowing number – I'm not sure Natalie Cassidy got the memo about the elegant, black tie dress code! Anyway, for more premiere pics just read more

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Images include: Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lily Allen, Natalie Cassidy, David Morrissey, Michael Palin, Nancy Dell'Olio and Jim Sturgess

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Scarlett and Natalie at Another Other Boleyn Girl Premiere

Molly — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:14:42 -0800

If Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman are sick of parading down the red carpet in pretty dresses to promote The Other Boleyn Girl, they're not showing any signs of fatigue. Both the actresses looked beautiful in their gowns at the London premiere of their movie today. Though, still always a little surprised to see that bright tattoo on Scarlett's arm. Lucky Eric Bana was yet again there with a gorgeous lady on either arm. While you guys overwhelmingly prefer Natalie, there's no doubt that they're both stunning. I wonder if Scarlett and Natalie talk to each other beforehand to coordinate their premiere outfits? You wouldn't want to clash with your friend/costar after all.

To see more from the premiere including Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lily Allen and others just read more

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Images include: Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lily Allen

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Scarlett and Natalie Go Sheer and Shiny For Their Big Premiere

PopSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:30:33 -0800

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman slipped into a couple of sexy numbers for the red carpet premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl at the Berlinale Film Festival today. Scarlett wore a more simple dress to balance her teased hair and dramatic eyeliner, while Natalie made it very clear that she's not the prude good girl she often gets pegged for. Once again, the girls talked about how well they got along on the set and how much they respect one another. Natalie said, "People keep asking if the rivalry was real but it was the opposite because we just liked each other so much. It was such a rare opportunity to work with an actress my age who I much admire."

Lots more of Scarlett and Natalie looking glamourous so read more

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Scarlett, Natalie, and Eric Love Each Other

Molly — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:31:28 -0800

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman were finally joined by their handsome costar Eric Bana for a Berlinale Film Festival photocall before their premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl today. With all three hot young actors working together, of course there have to be rumors that they didn't get along, but Bana was quick to shoot down any whispering. He said, "I hate to break it to you but actors really do love each other. It's a crazy job and we put ourselves in vulnerable positions. I don't care if it sounds corny but it's true: you're part of a brotherhood, and protect each other. And they indeed do get along really well." While Natalie and Scarlett are so often pegged as total opposites, sometimes that's exactly what you need from a friend.

To see more from the premiere just read more

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