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The actor answers your questions on working with Mike Leigh, starring in a New Order video and dressing as a giant Snoopy at Harrods

Each year I convince myself that you’re beneath one of the costumes on The Masked Singer, but I’m proved hopelessly wrong! Has your drama school holiday job – wearing a Snoopy costume in Harrods’ linen department – put you off? VerulamiumParkRanger

I have been offered The Masked Singer, but it’s not something I want to do. It’s not because of Snoopy, although that wasn’t a great experience. The associate director at Rada [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art] was asked whether any of the students would be prepared to get into a Snoopy costume in the linen department during the Easter holidays. I don’t know why, but they asked me and I got the gig. I was at Rada with Imogen Stubbs, so...

Hugh Grant is worried about the state of making movies. His complaints aren’t so much about the final products themselves, but the culture around them. His latest movie is a hit, but he’s looking for more than good business results out of his moviemaking experience.

The Love Actually actor thinks there’s been a cultural shift on movie sets. Actors don’t develop the same camaraderie they once did, nor the same romances According to Grant, there is a very simple habit to blame for this change.

Hugh Grant is a seasoned leading man Hugh Grant attends the Mexico City premiere of Paramount Pictures’ and eOne’s “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” I Antonio Torres/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Grant would know if there has been a cultural shift on movie sets. The 62-year-old actor has been working in film since the 1982 whodunit Privileged. That Oxford University...

40 years ago, Hugh Grant made his film debut in 1982’s “Privileged,” a little-seen effort about undergraduates at Oxford (where Grant studied English lit), which was funded by the Oxford University Film Foundation. In its July 14, 1982, review, Variety said the film — which also marked the bows of producer Andy Paterson, director Michael Hoffman, actors Imogen Stubbs and James Wilby and composer Rachel Portman — would have “limited interest” for most audiences but that the actor, billed as Hughie Grant, gives a convincing performance as an “aristocratic dropout.”

For the next five years, Grant did sketch comedy, played the classics onstage and worked in TV; his first mention in Variety was for the 1985 miniseries “Jenny’s War,” playing the Raf pilot son of Dyan Cannon.

He boosted his profile with the 1987 Merchant-Ivory film “Maurice,” adapted from E.M. Forster. The film also featuring his “Privileged” costar Wilby and the two shared the best-actor prize at the Venice Film Festival.

To mark the release of Midsomer Murders Series 21, out now, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on DVD

Dance extravaganzas, bee empires, and giant fish – what do these all have in common? In the county of Midsomer, they’re united by one thing…murder. Dci John Barnaby and DS Jamie Winter are back on the case tackling curious crimes in the idyllic and picturesque setting. Beneath the tranquil exterior of country life, a sinister propensity for killing lurks…

In the new series, which sees Griff Rhys Jones (Alas Smith & Jones) and Imogen Stubbs (Sense and Sensibility) amongst some of the great guest stars, Dci Barnaby must contend with yet more cunning criminals as he tackles bizarre beekeepers, radical robots, fanatical fishermen, and to cap it all off he sashays into the baffling world of ballroom dancing.

Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only

a Rafflecopter...

By Todd Garbarini

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A Summer Story is the unassuming title of a classy and ultimately emotionally wrenching romantic drama of class differences set in Great Britain in the early 1900’s. Originally released in the United States in the summer of 1988 in a small number of theaters, the film is an adaption of John Galsworthy’s 1916 short story “The Apple Tree” which was also made into two separate radio programs over forty years earlier: Lady Esther Almanac on CBS in 1942 and Mercury Summer Theatre in 1946. Obviously the source material proved to be palatable enough to audiences to warrant adaptations in both the aural and visual spectrums. Director Piers Haggard, known for more sinister fare such as The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971) and Venom (1981), directs from the late Penelope Mortimer’s adapted screenplay.

Frank Ashton is played by James Wilby, who was coming off...

Emma Thompson both wrote and stars in this latter-day Jane Austen adaptation, blessed with fine locations and costumes, a congenial cast and attentive direction by Ang Lee. Kate Winslet consolidates her newfound stardom as a second Austen husband-seeker, lost in a maze of family intrigues and betrayals. But none are so severe as to prevent faith, hope and charity from prevailing in the end. Sense and Sensibility Blu-ray Twilight Time Limited Edition 1995 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 136 min. / Ship Date November 10, 2015 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Gemma Jones, Tom Wilkinson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, Lucy Steele, Harriet Walter, Imelda Staunton, Emilie François, Robert Hardy, Hugh Laurie. Cinematography Michael Coulter Original Music Patrick Doyle Written by Emma Thompson from the book by Jane Austen Produced by Lindsay Doran Directed by Ang Lee

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Jane Austen is certainly back in the chips these days,...

The lineup for this year's Pointless Celebrities series has been announced by BBC One.

Beginning with an August 9 comedy special, the upcoming series will feature different themes each week.

Four teams of two from the world of music, TV, soaps, sport, food and drink, journalism, radio and theatre will compete for charity in weekly specials to air on Saturday evenings on BBC One.

The first show pits Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather against Ronni Ancona and Phil Cornwell, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc, and Josh Widdicombe and his partner Sara Pascoe.

Standout teams from the series include Stefan Dennis and fellow Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who will square off against Ray Quinn and Louis Emerick from Brookside.

Antony Costa from Blue will team with 5ive's Scott Robinson in the music special, while TV stars Louie Spence and Carol McGiffin will face off against the likes...

Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing Announce First Eight Titles to be Released Under New Multi-Year Distribution Deal

in August

Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing have announces the inaugural releases of eight films under the companies' new multi-year distribution deal. Over the next year and after, there will be additional releases by Kino Lorber from the Scorpion library, including new acquisitions that will be available for the first time.

Among the first selection of titles to be released in August are Green Ice, starring Ryan O'Neal and Omar Sharif; Grizzly, starring Christopher George (both out on DVD August 5th); A Summer Story, starring Susannah York (out g August 12th), the award-winning Australian drama Careful He Might Hear You (out on August 12th), Jack Hill's Sorceress, produced by Roger Corman (out on August 19th); The Girl in a Swing, starring Meg Tilly (out on DVD on August 19th); the acclaimed drama Friendly Fire, starring Carol Burnett, and the 1982 TV movie version of The Elephant Man (both streeting on DVD on August 26th)

"Green Ice"(1981)

Director: Ernest Day

Cast: Ryan O'Neal, Anne Archer, Omar Sharif, John Larroquette

In the Andes mountains a group of archaeologists are murdered after they discover uncut emeralds. Back in New York, Joseph Wiley (Ryan O'Neal, "Love Story") is down on his luck and runs off to Mexico where he meets Lilian Holbrook (Anne Archer, "Fatal Attraction"). The two are instantly attracted to each other, but Lilian is on her way to meet Meno Argenti (Omar Sharif, "Doctor Zhivago"), the man who intends to marry her. Wiley is mistakenly drawn into perilous adventure when a mysterious caller tells him to look at the samples - stolen emeralds. Lilian's sister is killed and, suspecting Argenti, Wiley and Lilian, in a bid to avenge her murder, plan a daring raid on Argenti's vault of emeralds - green ice. Also starring John Larroquette (TV's Night Court).

"Grizzly" (1976)

Director: William Girdler

Cast: Christopher George, Andre Prine, Richard Jackel, Joan McCall

When an eighteen-foot, two-thousand-pound grizzly bear starts mauling campers and hikers at a state park, a park ranger (Christopher George, "The Exterminator") springs into action. But the job is too big to tackle alone, so he enlists the aid of a naturalist (Richard Jaeckel, "The Dirty Dozen") and a helicopter pilot (Andrew Prine, "The Evil") to take this freak of nature down. Meanwhile, the giant grizzly, not content with picnic baskets, continues to kill indiscriminately, leaving pools of blood and piles of body parts in his wake. Can the ranger and his cronies end the grizzly's reign of terror without resorting to excessively extreme measures? This post-Jaws, nature-runs-rampant thriller was directed by William Girdler ("Day of the Animals"), and was a box office hit and the top-grossing independent film of 1976.

"A Summer Story" (1988)

Director: Piers Haggard

Cast: James Wilby, Susannah York, Jerome Flynn

A country girl has a brief, life-shattering moment when she falls for a young lawyer. Adapted from John Galsworthy'sThe Apple Tree, the film tells of the relationship between a young London lawyer, Frank Ashton (James Wilby,"Handful of Dust") and Megan David (Imogen Stubbs, "True Colors"), the innocent girl who helps him during his recovery from a twisted ankle at the farm where she lives. The attraction between the two is overpowering; they make love in the farm hayloft and vow never to be parted. But Frank goes to Torquay where he meets an old schoolfriend and his lovely sister Stella (Sophie Ward). Thus, Frank's plans become muddled and Megan comes looking for him. A Summer Story of young love. Also starring Susannah York (Tom Jones) and Jerome Flynn (TV's Game of Thrones).

"Careful, He Might Hear You" (1983)

Director: Carl Schultz

Cast: Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill

Winner of 8 Australian Film Institute Awards - Nominated for 5 more - National Board of Reviews: Winner (Top 10 Films)

Set in Australia in the 1930s, this drama stars Nicholas Gledhill as P.S., a six-year old boy who lives with his Aunt Lila (Robyn Nevin, "The Matrix Reloaded," "The Matrix Revolutions") and Uncle George (Peter Whitford, "Strictly Ballroom"). P.S.'s mother died in childbirth, so her sister Lila took him in, and while George and Lila don't have much money, they always done the best they could to the give the boy a good home. One day, Lila's older sister, Venessa (Wendy Hughes, "My Brilliant Career") arrives from a trip around the world; Vanessa is quiet wealthy, and upon her return to Australia, she expresses interest in taking custody of the child. Lila is willing to let the boy meet his aunt, but decides to fight her in court when she decides that she wants the boy full time. The case becomes more complicated by the arrival of the boy's long-absent father, Logan (John Hargreaves, "Emerald City"), an alcoholic who loves his son, but is incapable of caring for him. Careful He Might Hear You won 8 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Hughes) and Best Supporting Actor (Hargreaves).

"Sorceress" (1982)

Director: Jack Hill

Cast: Leigh Harris, Lynette Harris, David Millbern

From legendary producer Roger Corman ("Bloody Mama") comes the box office hit of 1982, "Sorceress." When an evil Wizard Traigon makes a pact with the dark forces to sacrifice his first born to his God Caligara to gain the highest degree of power, but things get complicated when his gives birth to twin. Having knowledge of her husband's plan she runs away and her two daughters grow up to be beautiful warriors played by playboy playmates Leigh and Lynette Harris. After the death of their mother and adopted families at the hands of Traigon and his army, the twins blessed with the forces of light and strength given to them by the magical warrior Krona, join forces with Baldar the Viking and Erlik the Barbarian to take down Traigon and avenge their mother's death. Standing in their way is all sorts of Traigon's minions, from an army of ape man to undead zombies which leads us to a climax in an all out battle between good and evil! Now watch this cult classic, not only from a brand new HD master, but from a previously never-before-seen longer version!

"The Girl in a Swing" (1988)

Director: Gordon Hessler

Cast: Meg Tilly, Rupert Frazer, Nicholas Le Prevost, Elspet Gray

A London art broker (Rupert Frazer, "Empire of the Sun") goes to Copenhagen where he requires the services of a secretary fluent in Danish, English, and German. He falls deeply in love with the woman (Meg Tilly, "The Big Chill"), despite the fact that he knows virtually nothing about her. She insists on not being married in a church, and after they are married, some bad things from her past begin surfacing in subtly supernatural ways, and he must find the best way to deal with them without destroying their relationship. Based on the best selling novel by Richard Adams ("Watership Down") and directed by horror specialist Gordon Hessler ("Cry of the Banshee," "The Oblong Box").

 "Friendly Fire" (1979 TV Movie)

Director: David Greene

Cast: Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy Hutton, David Keith

 The true story of Peg (Carol Burnett, "The Four Seasons") and Gene Mullen (Ned

Beatty, "Deliverance") who pursue the truth over their son's death in Vietnam. After their son is killed in Vietnam the couple's on-going inquiries eventually establish he was killed by 'artillery fire from friendly forces'. This beautifully orchestrated, harrowing story, assembled with uncommon sensitivity, is one of the most dramatic works ever made about the Vietnam War. Directed by David Greene ("Hard Country") and based on the novel by C.D.B. Bryan ("So Much Unfairness of Things") The wonderful cast includes Sam Waterston ("The Killing Fields"), Timothy Hutton ("Ordinary People") and David Keith ("An Officer and a Gentleman"). Winner of 4 Emmy Award® including Best Director and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor and Best Actress. 1980 Peabody Award Winner and DGA nominee foe Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials or Movies Made for TV.

"The Elephant Man " (1982 TV Movie )

Director: Jack Hofsiss

Cast: Philip Anglim, Kevin Conwak, Glenn Clsoe 

The story of John Merrick (Philip Anglim), The Elephant Man, and of his triumph over his terrible affliction. It is a story of life and the affirmation of life; timeless, tragic, uplifting and heroic; an exultation of the humanity of a man trapped inside the twisted, lesion-ridden grip of a terminally disfiguring disease. We see John Merrick as a man with many admirers, beginning with the witty and beautiful actress, Mrs. Kendal (Penny Fuller), who, so taken with Merrick, brought a who's who of English society to visit him regularly. The stellar cast includes Glenn Close as Princess Alexandra and Kevin Conway. Directed by DGA nominee Jack Hofsiss (1984 TV Movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). Winner of 1 Emmy Award® for Best Supporting Actress (Fuller) and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor, Philip Anglim who also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Motion Picture.

Young Vic; Gielgud, London

Theatre Uncut's visionary series of political plays appeal as much for the ideas as the drama. And Strangers on a Train runs out of steam

What began as a hand grenade has ended up as a cluster bomb. Three years ago Hannah Price conceived the idea of Theatre Uncut, a political new writing company and different version of protest theatre. It ingeniously brings new technology to bear on traditional agitprop, combining live performance and instantaneous multiplication.

The scheme, in which Price was joined as artistic director by Emma Callender, was to commission short plays that reacted to current politics and would be free for a month for anyone to download and perform anywhere. The original spur was the coalition's public spending cuts. In 2012 work came from Egypt and Iceland, Greece and Spain. This year, having consulted its rapidly growing audience – an audience which even by Young...

St James, London

Olivia Williams and Mark Bazeley are lacerating as the central couple in this stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film

Marianne (Olivia Williams) and Johan (Mark Bazeley) seem to have it all: careers, money, lovely children, a beautiful house and happiness. When their friends Katerina (Aislinn Sands) and Peter (Shane Attwooll) come to supper they watch in horror as their guests claw at each other like wild cats. Their relationship is falling apart; but Marianne and Johan are rock solid. Or are they?

Where did it all go wrong? Is there a moment that can be identified when we made a bad decision, failed to say the right thing or took the wrong turn? It's a question we all ask about our lives and broken relationships, and one that haunts Joanna Murray-Smith's stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's 1972 portrait of marriage. Where Bergman's movie was stark and desolate,...

Two thriller classics are being adapted for the London stage.

Sir Trevor Nunn will direct a stage version of the Oscar nominated 1987 infidelity thriller "Fatal Attraction".

James Dearden is penning the new adaptation of the Adrian Lyne film which starred Michael Douglas as a married lawyer who engages in a brief affair, only for the other woman (Glenn Close) to stalk his family after he calls it off.

Casting has yet to be announced. No word as yet if the bunny boiler scene makes it into the stage version which opens in March.

The other project is a new adaptation of "Talent Mr. Ripley" author Patricia Highsmith's acclaimed novel "Strangers on a Train" which became the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Jack Huston and Laurence Fox will star as the two strangers who meet on a train where one posits the idea of them 'swapping murders'.

When one doesn't go through with it,...

Former Doctor Who David Tennant, Band Of Brothers star Damian Lewis and veteran British TV star June Whitfield are among the nominees who will compete for prizes at the inaugural BBC Audio Drama Awards.

Tennant, who will also host the awards ceremony in London on 29 January, has been recognised for his role in Kafka: The Musical by Murray Gold, while Lewis is nominated for Giovanni's Room. They will compete with Rory Kinnear for his role in Terence Rattigan's Flare Path, which also landed a Best Supporting Actor nod for Rupert Penry-Jones.

Absolutely Fabulous star Whitfield is mentioned for her role in A Monstrous Vitality.

The judges deciding on the awards winners include actresses Maxine Peake and Imogen Stubbs and screenwriter Andrew Davies.

British actress Imogen Stubbs thrilled pupils at a college in London this week (begs05Dec11) by joining a drama class and performing scenes written by the students.

The Jack & Sarah star surprised a group at Lambeth College in the U.K. capital and shared her acting advice with the youngsters, who are part of the prestigious Donmar Warehouse's play-writing project for teenagers.

Stubbs tells Britain's Evening Standard, "Their plays weren't just deep but cool too, and very original. It was very brave of them.

"If they were nurtured, they could go far. I hope they do go on and write."...

Sir Trevor Nunn has ended his whirlwind romance with girlfriend Nancy Dell'olio just months after his marriage breakdown, according to a U.K. report.

Nunn's wife, actress Imogen Stubbs, announced in April that they had split after 21 years together, and the Broadway legend was subsequently linked to Dell'Olio, the ex-girlfriend of former England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The pair went public with its romance, but editors at Britain's Daily Mirror claim the stars have now parted ways after Dell'Olio was snapped looking close to a man during a holiday in her native Italy.

A source tells the publication, "The relationship was already on the rocks when she jetted out to Italy. But after pictures emerged of Nancy cavorting with a younger, better looking man, Trevor felt enough was enough.

"He said he'd had enough of the showbiz lifestyle and of the circus that comes with dating Nancy Dell'Olio."...

Janet Suzman was one of the giants of the British stage in the 60s and 70s. She might have made it in Hollywood too – if she hadn't looked so good in a tiara

'See Pooh bear up there?" says Janet Suzman, pointing to a little doll on the bookshelf. "That was a present from Judi Dench when Josh was born. Isn't it sweet?" We're sitting in what was once her son's nursery at Suzman's Hampstead home. Now little Josh is Dr Joshua Nunn, 30-year-old father to a seven-month-old daughter. He's a postdoctoral research associate at the cool-sounding Ultrafast Group at Oxford's physics department and is currently researching the field of quantum memories. Perhaps Dr Nunn will tell us some day if quantum memories are like the human ones that suffuse this room – memories of 30-year-old kisses and of bedtime stories read by one of the RSC's most seductive voices, all locked,...

Sir Trevor Nunn's new girlfriend Nancy Dell'olio couldn't resist the theatre director's charms when they first met, despite insisting she had no clue who he was.

Nunn's wife, actress Imogen Stubbs, announced earlier this year that they had split after 21 years together, and the Broadway legend was subsequently linked to Dell'Olio, the ex-girlfriend of former England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

They are now openly dating, and Dell'Olio reveals she didn't know of Nunn's fame when he started to relentlessly pursue her.

She tells Britain's Daily Telegraph, "I never connected the name and the face. But he knew me. He seduced me. Sometimes I wish I was more calculating."...

James Purefoy in Injustice on ITV. co. ITV

ITV’s Injustice is finally over which means no more articles on Best British TV that are accompanied by head shots of James Purefoy. . . well for a while at least. The ending was a little bit like a cross between the John Travolta film The Punisher, and an episode of Poirot. First Travers gave us his long explanation as to how he figured out Newell’s crime and then he delivered his own brand of justice. The very last shot was kind of creepy as he asked his new client whether he was guilty or not. Who knows? maybe they will do a follow up.

Beyond Purefoy’s excellent performance as the troubled Travers, Charlie Creed-Miles deserves a lot of credit for his outstanding performance as the utterly despicable DS Wenborn. He was cruel, he was vengeful and like most of the villains in this story,...

British actress Imogen Stubbs has defended her close relationship with estranged husband Sir Trevor Nunn, insisting they are still "good friends" despite their recent split.

Last month, Stubbs announced her 21-year marriage to the theatre director had come to an end, but they fuelled reports of a romantic reconciliation after they were subsequently photographed together in their pyjamas in the doorway of their London home.

The Sense and Sensibility star, who is now dating a new partner, now admits she is baffled by the fuss over their ongoing friendship and reveals she will always be fond of Nunn, the father of her two children.

She tells Britain's The Times, "Isn't it good we like each other? We are good friends, is that so shameful? That we still like being together? In our case we are just redefining what we had...

"Trevor and I have always loved our friendship. If you marry someone as charismatic, funny and wise as he is, you can't not have wonderful memories... He is an amazing dad and a fascinating, generous, great man. I have been very spoilt."

Stubbs would also like to prove her split from Nunn is amicable by working with him on an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes From A Marriage.

She adds, "I hope Trevor and I do another play together. Oddly, we rehearsed Scenes From A Marriage together, which was a brilliant, harrowing play, but we didn't discuss our marriage. I would like to do that play properly. It would show a sense of solidarity or irony or lunacy and it would be a great loss not to do it. It would be a treat."...

Last month, Imogen Stubbs announced her 21-year marriage to the theater director Trevor Nunn had come to an end, but they fueled reports of a romantic reconciliation after they were subsequently photographed together in their pajamas in the doorway of their London home.

The "Sense and Sensibility" star, who is now dating a new partner, now admits she is baffled by the fuss over their ongoing friendship and reveals she will always be fond of Trevor Nunn, the father of her two children.

She tells Britain's The Times, "Isn't it good we like each other? We are good friends, is that so shameful? That we still like being together? In our case we are just redefining what we had..."

"Trevor and I have always loved our friendship. If you marry someone as charismatic, funny and wise as he is, you can't not have wonderful memories... He is an amazing dad and a fascinating,...

British actress Imogen Stubbs and her director husband Sir Trevor Nunn have sparked rumours they are still living together following the official announcement of their split.

Stubbs recently confirmed the couple - parents to two children - is separating after 21 years together. She also admitted "there has been someone else in my life for a while", while the theatre director has been linked to Nancy Dell'Olio, the ex-girlfriend of former England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But Stubbs and Nunn are reportedly yet to make their split official after they were both pictured standing at the doorway of their London home on Wednesday morning as they said to goodbye to a friend.

Britain's Daily Mail reports the former couple is still living together. Nunn, 71, and Stubbs, 50, married in 1994.

British actress Imogen Stubbs and director Sir Trevor Nunn have separated after 21 years together.

The Sense and Sensibility star has confirmed she has been enjoying a new romance "for a while" after the couple ended its relationship.

Nunn, who is currently directing Flare Path starring Sienna Miller in London's West End, has been linked to Nancy Dell'Olio, the ex-girlfriend of former England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

In a statement, Stubbs says, "After 21 wonderful years together, very sadly Trevor and I are separating... The testament to our friendship and respect for each other is the dignity with which Trevor has dealt with this knowledge."

The 50 year old also insists she is "happy about any new friendships (Sir Trevor) is forging".

Stubbs married Nunn in 1994 and they are parents to daughter, Ellie, and son, Jesse. The theatre mogul was previously married to actresses Janet Suzman and Sharon Lee Hill.

Ghosts, little girls, Victorian do-gooders, Bridget Jones's pal . . . what can't Shirley Henderson play?

Shirley Henderson isn't famous. Or at least she hopes she isn't. "I don't think I'd be comfortable," says the actor, "if people were spotting me every five seconds. You need to be able to go about your business." Still, with more than 70 roles in TV, theatre, and film to her name, her face – angular, expressive, punctuated by thick, dark eyebrows – will be familiar to many. Children may know her as Moaning Myrtle, the ghost from Harry Potter; others are likely to remember her as helium-voiced Jude in the Bridget Jones movies.

But the majority of Henderson's roles have been in under-the-radar indie films or TV series, with each part quite a transformation: in ITV1's May Contain Nuts – a 2009 comedy drama about pushy parents – she played an 11-year-old girl; then, in last year's Life During Wartime,...

Trevor Nunn's film version of one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies lacks the star power of the Mel Gibson "Hamlet" and the audacity of Ian McKellen's "Richard III" and should prove tough going for all but the most sophisticated art-house audiences. It does, however, succeed in putting the Bard ahead of Jane Austen in the current literary-adaptation horse race.

This play of mistaken identities and cross-dressing hasn't been filmed before and probably for good reason; its confusing plot lines and multiple characters make for a difficult experience, and this often-somber adaptation isn't particularly user-friendly. The story revolves around a pair of identical twins, Viola (Imogen Stubbs) and Sebastian (Steven Mackintosh), who are separated as a result of a shipwreck. Viola, believing her brother dead, disguises herself as a man and enters the service of the young Duke Orsino (Toby Stephens).

The duke sends his new charge to woo the beautiful widow Olivia Helena Bonham Carter) on his behalf, but Olivia is more interested in the messenger than the message. Viola, on the other hand, finds herself in love with Orsino. When Sebastian shows up, things become even more complicated.

There are many colorful supporting characters, including Olivia's foolish steward, Malvolio (Nigel Hawthorne), who becomes the victim of a cruel practical joke engineered by Olivia's uncle Sir Toby Belch (Mel Smith) and his friend Andrew Aguecheek (Richard E. Grant). Ben Kingsley appears sporadically as Feste, the fool, who provides acerbic comments on the absurd goings-on.

Nunn, the esteemed theater director who makes a film only every decade or so, is faithful to the material and doesn't invest it with any gimmickry. He has also assembled a first-rate group of performers. But the film never quite comes to life.

The theatricality of the piece doesn't translate particularly well, with the realism of film not kind to such artifices as Viola's pretending to be a man. The acting, too, is surprisingly pallid, with the exception of Hawthorne, who provides laughs and poignance. Kingsley also has some wonderful moments, although he is required to wander around the countryside, crooning like a 19th-century Bing Crosby, a little too often.

The neo-Victorian look of the settings and costumes is handsome but drab, and so is the cinematography.

TWELFTH NIGHT

Fine Line Features

Director-screenplay Trevor Nunn

Producers Stephen Evans, David Parfitt

Executive producer Greg Smith

Director of photography Clive Tickner

Editor Peter Boyle

Music Shaun Davey

Color/stereo

Cast:

Olivia Helena Bonham Carter

Sir Andrew Aguecheek Richard E. Grant

Malvolio Nigel Hawthorne

Feste Ben Kingsley

Sir Toby Belch Mel Smith

Maria Imelda Staunton

Orsino Toby Stephens

Viola Imogen Stubbs

Running time -- 125 min.

MPAA rating: PG...