Why Nicole Kidman has got a hit film in her DNA: Star in talks to bring musical about pioneering scientist to the big screen
Nicole Kidman has been discussing bringing her portrait of DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin to the big screen.
Kidman has read a script about Franklin, written by Anna Ziegler, author of the play, Photograph 51, that tempted the actress back to the West End.
Her return, after an absence of 17 years, won rave reviews from critics this week; there was praise for her co-stars, too, and director Michael Grandage.
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Winning formula: Nicole Kidman and her director Michael Grandage, who have both been praised for their work on West End play Photograph 51
Back to Hollywood: Nicole, seen on her first night back in theatre, has been discussing bringing her portrait of DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin to the big screen
Grandage told me he and business partner James Bierman plan to make the film version of Photograph 51, with Nicole in the main role of molecular biologist Franklin, who was pivotal in decoding ‘the secret of life’: the structure of DNA.
He said the film would not simply be a movie of the play. ‘It’s going to be a proper picture,’ he told me.
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Nicole insisted the film project was ‘a way off’; and said she wanted to enjoy being back on the London stage first: ‘The opening night’s over and I couldn’t be more relieved!’
The Oscar winner said the entire cast had been ‘nervous and excited’ before the press performance, ‘but I think I was a bit more terrified.
‘We just played it the best we could, but were so eager to get through it that we lost several minutes of the running time.’
Looking around the first-night reception at the National Portrait Gallery, she pointed out her fellow players. She was warm about all of them — particularly Stephen Campbell Moore, who played scientist Maurice Wilkins, who worked with Franklin, though not as closely as he would have liked.
She also joked with Will Attenborough (a star in the making), Edward Bennett, Patrick Kennedy and Joshua Silver.
The group got to know each other pretty well during weeks of rehearsals, which would often begin with exercises that involved jumping up and down, Grandage said.
‘You’ve not met Nicole Kidman until you’ve seen her rolling around on the rehearsal room floor,’ Grandage told me solemnly. ‘She was game for it all.’
Nicole’s husband Keith Urban flew in from the U.S. for Monday’s first night. ‘I’m so proud of her,’ he said, adding that he will catch the play a few more times before the run ends.
‘I’m having the time of my life,’ Nicole told me, adding that she would like to play Franklin on stage ‘in another city’ before taking her on to the big screen.
The Broadway musical Hamilton — a scintillating powerhouse of a show that uses hip-hop to tell the tale of Alexander Hamilton (one of America’s founding fathers) — will come to the West End in 2017.
Composer, lyricist — and leading man — Lin-Manuel Miranda’s scorching show is being staged at the Richard Rodgers theatre.
Cameron Mackintosh will produce in London and is showing producers Jeffrey Seller and Oskar Eustis around some West End houses early next month, including the New London — home to the National Theatre’s hit War Horse until March 12.
Sheridan's Funny Girl is given a fresh twist
New show: Sheridan Smith is set to revive the role of Fannie Brice as Funny Girl comes to London
Sheridan Smith is to play a brand new Funny Girl on the London stage.
The show, about American comedienne Fanny Brice, made Barbra Streisand a star on Broadway in 1964. But it’s rarely produced, for two reasons.
First, there are few actresses with the acting and vocal powers to portray Brice.
Second, the show’s book has always been problematic.
Streisand had considerable influence over the creative team and, as a result, the second act is more like a Fanny Brice concert than a show with a story.
This problem is about to be solved. Harvey Fierstein, who wrote the script for new hit Kinky Boots, has been contracted to revise Funny Girl for the forthcoming production at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
David Babani, the Chocolate Factory’s artistic chief, confirmed: ‘Harvey Fierstein will be looking at revising the show’s book and making it acceptable for an audience today.’
Rehearsals begin on October 19, but Ms Smith has already started working with Alan Williams, the show’s musical supervisor, and has been reading with people at final auditions for other roles.
Director Michael Mayer, choreographer Lynne Page and other members of the creative team have also had sessions with Smith.
The run at the Chocolate Factory sold out in a matter of hours. Performances start on November 20 and go till March 5.
There’s an eagerness to transfer the show into the West End after that, and there’s a lot of chatter about Broadway, too, where it will be something special to see Sheridan Smith’s name in lights.
Funny: The musical and subsequent film Funny Girl made Barbra Streisand a star on Broadway in the 1960s
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