KRISTEN STEWART & CHRIS HEMSWORTH MAKE THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES CLASS OF 2017!!

Kristen Stewart (l) and Chris Hemsworth (r) at the Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced their new membership class of 2017 Wednesday afternoon with our SWATH stars making the cut. 

Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth join the largest Oscar voting class which boasts 774 new members representing 57 countries. In the last two years, the Academy has been trying to right the wrongs of a long history of its lack of diversity which the majority of its membership was made up of older white males. 

Stewart has been in the entertainment business as a child actress starring alongside some of the best actors in the business (Robert DeNiro, Jessie Eisenberg, Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, James Gandolfini, Melissa Leo and more).  As a teen, Stewart starred in Twilight which is one of the most successful non-comic book blockbuster film series in history. 

Since the release of the Snow White and the Huntsman in 2012, Stewart has gone back to her indie roots where she has been a part of many critically acclaimed performances in films such as Clouds of Sils Maria (which she won a French Oscar for Best Actress), Still Alice, Woody Allen's Cafe Society and Personal Shopper where she teamed back up with her 'Sils Maria' director Oliver Assayas.  She was recently lauded at this year's Cannes Film Festival with her directorial debut of the short film Come Swim which she also wrote. 

Hemsworth has maintained his more commercial big budget film roots in films such as the successful remake of Ghostbusters, Blackhat, In the Heart of the Sea and the SWATH pre-quel/sequel The Huntsman: Winter's War. 

He continues his appearance as Thor in the Marvel films The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Dr. Strange along with his upcoming sequels Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War. 

In one of his rare indie appearances, critics gave him praise in his role as the Formula 1 race car driver James Hunt in the biopic Rush directed by Ron Howard. 

As two of Hollywood's top young talents, their membership in the Academy is well-deserved and will give more youthful insight into the Oscar voting. Congratulations to them both. Now vote vote vote!

For the complete list of invites click here.

Source: AMPS

CHARLIZE THERON MAKES TIME'S '100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE' LIST OF 2016

                Robert Gauthier—Los Angeles Times/Contour by Getty Images (Source: Time)



Charlize Theron's work with AIDS in Africa through her charity 'Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project' is being recognized with her selection as one of Time's Most Influential People of 2016.

The forward written by Mycoskie, the founder of Tom Shoes, gives insight into Theron's charitable works:

Straight talker on HIV prevention A lot of celebrities know how to raise awareness. Charlize Theron is different. First, she is deeply, deeply involved in the actual work of her foundation, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project; for the past nine years she has spent a lot of time in southern Africa with young people, helping them protect themselves from HIV. Second, she’s incredibly results-oriented and knows her programs really well. And third—and this is what makes her particularly effective with people who can make stuff happen—she’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind. I’ve never met anyone who holds less back. That means people trust her, which helps spread her influence. We’ve been giving kids shoes for 10 years at Toms, and what we’ve found is that making kids feel special is just as important as putting shoes on their feet. Charlize’s work is the same: the work she’s doing is important, but the way she goes about it, by building kids’ self-esteem, is just as valuable.

Congratulations to Charlize! Find more information at Charlize Africa Outreach and follow her on Twitter at @CharlizeAfrica.

Read the rest of the Time 100 Most Influential People list here.

2-TIME SAG AWARD WINNER SWATH STUNTMAN PAUL LOWE WINS ANOTHER!

Paul Lowe

Congratulations are in order again for SWATH stuntman Paul Lowe who won his third Screen Actors Guild Award for his work as a member of a Stunt Ensemble for the HBO drama Game of Thrones.

Lowe is a four-time SAG nominee with two wins in 2012 for his work in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and again for Game of Thrones. 

Lowe's recent stunt work can be seen as being the Peter Pan stunt double in Pan, in the latest Bond movie Spectre and in the upcoming summer movie Now You See Me 2. 

Congratulations Paul! Well done!

See the full list of stunt ensemble winners below.


“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

Boian Anev
Richard Bradshaw
Jonathan Cohen
Christopher Cox
Jacob Cox
Matt Crook
Rob DeGroot
Levan Doran
Clint Elvy
James Embree
Bradley Farmer
Richard Hansen
Bobby Holland-Hanton
Radoslav Ignatov
Borislav Iliev
Rowley Irlam
Erol Ismail
Milen Kaleychev
Paul Lowe
Jonathan McBride
Sian Milne
David Newton
Radoslav Parvanov
Ian Pead
Jan Petrina
Rashid Phoenix
Andy Pilgrim
Dominic Preece
Marc Redmond
Paul Shapcott
Ryan Stuart
Pablo Verdejo
Calvin Warrington-Heasman
Annabel E Wood
Danko Yordanov
Lewis Young


“MAD MAX: FURY ROAD” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Keith Adams
Shea Adams
Lee Adamson
Michael Addison
Genevieve Aitken
Russell Allen
Cameron Ambridge
Guy Andrews
Eugene Arendsen
Keir Beck
Artur Berezin
Tristan Carrigan
Kabelo Chaletsane
Raelene Chapman
Dayna Chiplin
Malcolm Cochrane
Jared Cohen
Doug Coleman
Hein De Vries
Sebastian Dickins
Paul Doyle
Steve Dunlevy
Kelsey Egan
Morgan Evans
Sean February
Brenda Firmani
Shaun Ford
Sam Foster
Stephen Gall
Bruce Garland
Warren Germishuys
Liam Gherlenda
Paul Goodwin
Dane Grant
Scott Gregory
Steve Griffen
Tad Griffith
Peter Hill
Daniel Himschoot
Katja Hopkins
Natascha Hopkins
John Iles
Russell Ingram
Olivia Jackson
Rob Jones
Ingrid Kleining
Nathan Lawson
Schalk Louw
Cody Mackie
Craig Macrae
Monelisi Magadia
Eduardo Marques
Rob Marshall
Russ McCarol
Rocky McDonald
Ian Meiring
Roland Melville
Darren Mitchell
Tomoki Miyamoto
Craig Morgan
Malibongwe Mqamelo
Aaron Muchanya
Anneli Muller
Stephen Murdoch
Guy Norris
Harlan Norris
Harrison Norris
Richard Norton
Chris Patton
Brett Praed
Thapelo Ramatlhodi
Mark Rayner
Greg Robinson
Mick Roughan
Vince Roxburgh
Inge Sildnik
Yasca Sinigaglia
Ben Smith-Petersen
Michael Soloman
Gillian Statham
Tyrone Stevenson
Ian Stock
Greg Stuart
Glenn Suter
Riley Suter
Matt Taylor
Mark Tearle
Jacob Tomuri
Reon Van Der Watt
Fleur Van Eden
Matthew Van Leeve
Annette Van Moorsel
Karl Van Moorsel
Mick Van Moorsel
John Walton
Mark Wickham
Judd Wild
James Wilkey
Vernon Willemse
Stuart Williamson
Tim Wong
Lawrence Woodward
Avril Wynne



Source/Source

KRISTEN STEWART WINS NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR 'BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS'

IFC Films

Kristen Stewart was bestowed the New York Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in Oliver Assayas' Clouds of Sils Maria Wednesday morning.

Although Stewart won the Best Supporting Actress César (French Oscar), pundits believed Stewart's performance would not continue to resonate in time for the Oscar nominations since the film opened over a year ago at the Cannes Film Festival.

However, the tough New York film critics brushed aside any naysayers and may have cleared the pathway for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Stewart.

The NYFCC is known to be the "principled alternative to the Oscars honoring esthetic merit in a forum that is immune to commercial and political pressures." The Academy Award nominations are usually in correlation to the NYFCC winners.  Meaning, as history dictates, Stewart should be nominated.

The NYFCC awards will be handed out during a ceremony held on January 4, 2016.  



NYFCC 2015 Winners:

Best First Film: Son of Saul
Best Foreign Film: Timbuktu
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman, Carol
Best Screenplay: Carol
Best Nonfiction Film: In Jackson Heights
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Actress: Saiorse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Picture: Carol

Special Award: Posthumous Award honoring the legacy of William Becker and Janus Films
Special Award: Ennio Morricone, Composer

Sources: 1/2

KRISTEN STEWART MAKES FORBES LIST OF 'WORLD'S HIGHEST-PAID ACTRESSES OF 2015'

Without any blockbusters on her recent resume, coming in at No. 9, Stewart hauled in a cool $12 million on the back of small indie films as she makes Forbes annual list of 'The World's Highest-Paid Actresses 2015.' 

More after the break

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY CHARLIZE!

Charlize Theron at 'Dark Places premiere.

Charlize Theron is celebrating a birthday milestone by turning the big 4-0 today and looking as beautiful as ever.

Charlize has been on a whirlwind this year in film with the release of the surprising summer blockbuster hit Mad Max: Fury Road. If anyone followed the history of the making of this film would find it a miracle not only for it to be a blockbuster but for it even be released. It was reported that she may return as Furiosa in Mad Max: The Wasteland; however she has denied having knowledge of the sequel according to reports. 

Her film Dark Places released today which she produced and stars with her Mad Max co-star Nicholas Hoult. Charlize also has many films under development as producer/actor according to IMDb along with four films releasing next year which includes her return as Ravenna in The Huntsman.

In June, Charlize got her wax figure placed in Madame Tussauds in Hollywood.

On a personal level, it was just reported that Charlize adopted a baby girl. So congrats to her and the family!! And Happy Birthday!










Photos source: Zimbio

STEWART & HEMSWORTH NOMINATED FOR TEEN CHOICE AWARDS 2015

Stewart (Still Alice: Sony Classics) & Hemsworth (Blackhat: Universal)

Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth received nominations for this years Teen Choice Awards. 

It is certainly not surprising that Stewart received a Choice Movie Actress: Drama nomination for her critically acclaimed performance as Lydia Howland in Sony Classics 'Still Alice.' 

More after the break

CBS SUNDAY MORNING'S MOVIE CRITIC DAVID EDELSTEIN PRAISES KRISTEN STEWART'S MOVIE CAREER

Kristen Stewart: Official Cesar Portrait

It seems like Kristen Stewart winning the prestigious French Oscar also known as the Cesar has had the top film critics taking notice or at least speaking up to let the world know that they knew she was this talented all along.

New York Film Critic David Edelstein does not dole out endorsements like candy.  So when he took to the CBS Sunday Morning show today to rain praises on her amazing career, hopefully it will make people understand that it is more to Stewart's career than 'Twilight'.

Edelstein opens by talking about critics reviews of her performance in the 'Twilight' films but then says, "Laugh all you want, I always thought that Stewart was a really good good actress." "You just have to accept that she never, ever wants to be caught acting." 

He goes into her background in film from her growing up on film sets with her parents and didn't have the typical "kid actor's look at me vibe."

Take a look at the video below as Edelstein takes a profound look at Stewart and her career leading up to her huge win. 

The prestigious Sunday Morning show has been on air since 1979 and part of CBS News.








Source: CBS/Cesar Awards







  

CONGRATULATIONS TO TOBY JONES FOR ANOTHER BAFTA TV NOMINATION!

BBC Two

Another nomination announcement...another nomination for Toby Jones. 

A consistent face during awards season, Jones received a Best Lead Actor nomination for a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for excellence in British television.  Jones was nominated in 2013 for his role as Alfred Hitchcock in 'The Girl'. 

Jones plays a man with learning difficulties in the BBC Two film called 'Marvellous' which is also up for Best Drama. 

Jones is joined by fellow nominees Emmy Award winner Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock - BBC One), BAFTA winner James Nesbitt (The Missing - BBC) and Jason Watkins (The Last Honour of Christopher Jefferies - ITV). 

The BAFTA TV awards will be held on May 10th at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London with comedian Graham Norton as host. 

'Marvellous' is currently out on DVD.

Sources: 1/2
Photos via The Guardian & BBC.com

KRISTEN STEWART SHOWS HUMOROUS DISBELIEF IN HER OFFICIAL CESAR PORTRAIT

French Academy

The French Academy revealed the official winner portraits for the Cesar award.  Kristen Stewart who made history being the first American actress to win the prestigious French Oscar shows humorous disbelief in one of her photos (see below).

Stewart won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' playing the assistant for the aging actresses played by Juliette Binoche. 

The US will finally be able to see 'Sils Maria' this April 10th. 

Read more about Stewart's historic win here. 

KRISTEN STEWART MAKES HISTORY BEING THE FIRST AMERICAN ACTRESS TO WIN FRANCE'S CESAR AWARD

Stewart now stands among firsts. The first man to walk on the moon. The first to discover how to turn straw into bricks. The first person to win a Jeopardy championship. Whatever the first is...she will always be the first at what she achieved tonight in film history. 

There will be time to sit back and eat up every interview and every photo taken at every angle to celebrate what was witnessed in that audience, on television or online. But for now there is a need to reflect on what happened. 

History was made tonight. Film history, American history, world history...history was made. 

It is not easy to get the prestigious Cesar Award which is France's equivalent to the American Oscar.  If it was, she wouldn't be the first. Kristen Stewart made history twice by not only being the first American actress in 30 years to receive a nomination, but the first to win it. 

The first....

More after the break

KRISTEN STEWART RECEIVES A FRANCE CESAR BEST SUPPORTING NOMINATION FOR HER WORK IN 'CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA'

IFC Films

Nominations for the 40th Annual Cesar Awards by France's Academy of Cinema Arts were released and Kristen Stewart received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work as Valentine in 'Clouds of Sils Maria', according to the Hollywood Reporter. 

The Cesar is the French equivalent of the Oscars.

Other nominees for Best Supporting Actress are: 
Marianne Denicourt for 'Hippocrates', Claude Gensac for 'Lulu in the Nude', Izia Higelin for 'Samba' and Charlotte Le Bon for 'Yves Saint Laurent'.


'Clouds of Sils Maria' received a total of 6 nominations for Best Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (Olivier Assayas), Best Actress (Juliette Binoche) and Best Photography (Yorik Le Saux).

Sean Penn who directed Stewart in 'Into the Wild' will be receiving the Honorary Cesar. Prior recipients have been Meryl Streep, Kevin Kostner, Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johnasson and Kate Winslet.

Read the entire list of nominees at THR.

Stewart's recent work has been receiving critical acclaim which includes an Oscar campaign by Sony Classics for Best Supporting Actress for 'Still Alice' and receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination from the 2014 Women Film Critics Circle Awards for 'Camp X-Ray' where 'Still Alice' won big. 

The Cesar awards will air live on Friday, February 20th on Canal+ two days before the Oscars. 






[Credits]: 1
Photo: Google Images

CONGRATS TO CHRIS HEMSWORTH FOR BEING 'PEOPLE'S SEXIEST MAN ALIVE 2014'

Well it took People Magazine long enough to figure out what we already knew that Chris Hemsworth was pretty sexy. But now it's official (I guess).

Chris was revealed as People's 'Sexiest Man Alive' for 2014.  Jimmy Kimmel revealed the honor on his show last night.

More after the break.

KRISTEN STEWART MAKES LA TIMES LIST OF ACTORS UNDER 30 WHO MATTER

Empire Magazine

The LA Times takes a look at actors who are under 30 years of age who matter in Hollywood.  Kristen Stewart was mentioned among the actors who are "more interested in the art than artifice." 

In other words, they're not in it for the fame.

The LA Times noted how it was unfortunate that the lack of casting of minorities (in the age group) in Hollywood made it difficult to place more on the list.

The actors who made the list have an "array of talent" and an "earnestness and directness" in their "approach to the work." They will apply "more of what we think of as an indie style even when the project is in blockbuster territory or playing with extremes of sci-fi fantasy."

Stewart (Twilight, Snow White and the Huntsman), Shaliene Woodley (Divergent), Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games) are known for taking that approach to their blockbuster films.

What made Stewart standout? 

Betsy Sharkey writes, "[Stewart] Hit my radar in "Panic Room" as Jodie Foster's character's daughter having to do or die after a home invasion. Proved a keeper outside of the "Twilight" zone as a moody teenage Joan Jett in "The Runaways."

Check out the complete list of actors who joined Stewart as the '30 actors under 30 who matter'.

Photo by LA Times

EDDIE MARSAN WINS ANOTHER BEST ACTOR AWARD FOR 'STILL LIFE' AT THE RUSSIAN VOICES FILM FESTIVAL

Eddie Marsan has won another Best Actor award for his role in 'Still Life' at the 5th Edition of the Voices Film Festival. 'Still Life' also won the Grand Prix and Best Film awards as well. It has been only two weeks since Marsan won the same award at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Voices is a Russian showcase for young European independent filmmakers.

"Jury president Svetlana Proskurina said that the decision for the Grand Prix had been “absolutely unanimous”, while VOICES art director Korinna Danielou recalled that having Still Life at the festival had been “a dream come true” for her," according to Screen Daily.

Could this be a hint of things to come for this upcoming award season? Let's hope so. Congrats again to Eddie Marsan for a another win. 


Credits: Voices Festival

CRITICS AGREE: STEWART'S PERFORMANCE IN 'SILS' WAS TIED FOR THE STRONGEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE AT CANNES

Without a doubt, critics have consistently agreed that Kristen Stewart has given one of the best performances of her career in Oliver Assayas' 'Cloude of Sils Maria'. 

Indiewire canvassed votes from nearly 40 critics resulting in a slam dunk for Supporting Actress and a tie-for the best overall performance at Cannes. 

Since the screenings, there has not been a lack of praise for her performance. It has been a consistent drum beat from around the world.  Had their been a Best Supporting Actress at Cannes, Stewart should have won.

Stewart: Relaxed and Confident, Talks to Indiewire About Perceptions, Fame, Projects and More...

Indiewire about the vote:

"Kristen Stewart's work in Olivier Assayas' "Clouds of Sils Maria" garnered a first-place finish in the Supporting Performance list. In fact, if you throw in the handful of votes she also received for Lead Performance, she'd be tied with Dorval for the most overall ballot points of any performer. Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" also received spread-out acclaim, with its central acting triumvirate each appearing on their fair share of lists. Mark Ruffalo finished just behind Stewart, while Channing Tatum and Steve Carell each received a high combined total between mentions for Lead and Supporting."

(See entire list of Supporting Actors here)

**********

Considering how Hollywood operates, it is a bit early to be naming potential nominees for awards season; however, this isn't bad buzz for Stewart. 

Hopefully, fans will have something to look forward to this upcoming season.  Only time will tell. 

Read more here and see the complete list of winners here.



Source:
Photo source: Zimbio

THR NAMES STEWART'S & THERON'S STYLISTS AS ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S TOP POWER STYLISTS OF 2014

Photo: THR

When Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart hit the red carpet, there is someone in their corner placing them on some of Hollywood's top best dressed lists year after year.

Both Stewart stylist Tara Swennen an Theron's stylist Leslie Fremar are being hailed as one of Hollywood's Top 25 Power Stylists by The Hollywood Reporter.

More after the break

SWATH GAINS ANOTHER QUEEN: CONGRATULATIONS TO JEMMA LEWIS CROWNED 'MISS HEART OF WALES'

Move over Snow White and Ravenna, there's a new queen in town! Jemma Lewis can leave her dwarf alter-ego behind because she can proudly say that she is truly a queen.

Lewis was crowned Miss Heart Of Wales 2013 on November 23, 2013.  The pageant finale was held at the City Hall in Cardiff, Wales. 

More after the break

TEXT A VOTE FOR MISS HEART OF WALES FINALIST SWATH'S JEMMA LEWIS AND HELP FIGHT CANCER

Our very own Jemma Lewis, who played dwarf double Duir, is a finalist for the Miss Heart of Wales 2013 and needs help to get the title while supporting charity.

Miss Heart of Wales contestants have to raise money for a specific charity selected by the organization. The charity this year is Tenovus Cancer Charity.  Contestants have "no age, height or weight restrictions."  Miss Heart of Wales is a celebration of "femininity, grace and inner strength of the women of Wales."

The winner will be crowned Saturday, November 23rd at City Hall in Cardiff. The winner is awarded points in the following categories: 

FUNDRAISING : 20 POINTS ​ 
INTERVIEW : 20 points ​ 
BALLGOWN : 20 points  
FASHION WEAR : 20 points 
TEXT VOTE/WEBSITE VOTE : 10 points  
SECRET ROUND : 10 points 

In order to help Jemma win the Text Vote round, all you have to do is Text "MHOW70 JEMMA LEWIS followed by £1" (1 British pound which equals approximately 1.62 US dollars at the current rate).

No matter what happens, Jemma will always be a winner with us. TEXT EVERYONE. GOOD LUCK JEMMA!

Read more about the contest at Miss Heart of Wales and at Tenovus.org




Source