Telegraph's interview with Dan Stevens; THR, GoldDerby predictions for the Emmys
Telegraph's interview with Dan Stevens, which appears to have taken place at the press launch, given what he's wearing in the photo that accompanied the article:
I'm not really posh, says 'Downton Abbey' actor Dan Stevens
I don't know how candid he's been in the past but he's sharing some very personal details about his background. The part relevant to S2: The first series of Downton harked back to the last era in which class was so clearly delineated. “The new series, though, kicks off in the trenches of the First World War. So the old order is about to be literally and metaphorically blown to smithereens.”
In the much-awaited eight-part series, Matthew Crawley is an officer experiencing the horrors of the Somme. Still recovering from his broken relationship with Lady Mary Crawley, he has met Lavinia Swire while on leave, become engaged and now, much to Lady Mary’s chagrin, returns to Downton to introduce her to the family.
“Of course, the audience will probably always root for Matthew and Mary to get back together, because their relationship had so much spark and passion. Mary was as tricky as Lavinia, now, is good and gentle - and although that possibly makes her the less interesting option, Julian is posing questions about love and what is likely, in the end, to bring people contentment.”
Plus, the 'obligatory' Emmy coverage this week --
* Tim Goodman's predictions at the Hollywood Reporter: MINISERIES/MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
What an excellent and varied allotment (finally!): Starz got in with The Pillars of the Earth; PBS got in with Downton Abbey; ReelzChannel got in with The Kennedys, even though it shouldn't have -- but still, ReelzChannel at the Emmys! How strange and fresh. And, of course, category-dominant HBO got in with Cinema Verite, Mildred Pierce and Too Big to Fail.
Should Win: Downton Abbey. Duh. Is there even a doubt?
Will Win: Mildred Pierce. In many ways, it's too big to fail. Voters are unlikely to sidestep the all-star cast, even though the entire affair was as flawed as it was lovely.
* GoldDerby's round-up of predictions from the pundits for the Movie/Mini categories.
* GoldDerby's editors' predictions.
* GoldDerby on the Supporting Actress category: Three of the nominees for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham and Evan Rachel Wood) were featured in the HBO mini-series "Mildred Pierce" while the other two contenders -- Eileen Atkins and Maggie Smith -- stole all their scenes in the PBS minis "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey." The race is thought to be between Wood and Smith. [...]
Two Dames of the British Empire round out the race. [...] Smith stands a much better chance at winning for her portrayal of the acid-tongued Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey." It's the sort of prim and proper role Smith has come to own in recent years. With just one arched eyebrow, she speaks volumes, commenting on the action in her inimitable way. Smith already had two Oscars ("The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "California Suite") and a Tony ("Lettice and Lovage") by the time she won an Emmy in 2003 for her leading role in the telefilm "My House in Umbria."
Last year's winner was Julia Ormond who had little screen time as the title character's mother in "Temple Grandin." However, that HBO telefilm was a hit with Emmy voters, who awarded it Best TV Movie as well as wins for lead Claire Danes as well as supporting players David Strathairn and Ormond and director Mick Jackson.
This year, "Mildred Pierce" and "Downton Abbey" are battling it out to win the combined TV Movie/Miniseries race. While Winslet is probably a lock for her leading role, Wood and Smith are neck and neck in the supporting race. While our experts favor Wood, our editors opt for Smith as do our users.
* GoldDerby on the Leading Actress category: It may have taken Kate Winslet six tries before she finally won an Oscar in 2008 for "The Reader," but she is expected to prevail in just her second Emmy contest (she was a 2006 guest comedy nominee for "Extras") for playing the title role in the HBO miniseries "Mildred Pierce." In the race for Best Movie/Mini Actress, she faces off against three women who all lost their sole Oscar bids and are now first-time Emmy contenders as well -- Diane Lane ("Cinema Verite"), Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey") and Taraji P. Henson ("Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story") -- as well as Jean Marsh who reprises her Emmy-winning role in the reboot of "Upstairs, Downstairs." [...]
As the sole American in the cast, McGovern certainly stands out on "Downton Abbey." Unlike "Upstairs, Downstairs," which follows the lives of those living in a London townhouse during the time of Edward VIII, "Downton Abbey" is set during the reign of his grandfather, Edward VII and takes place all around a vast country estate. McGovern plays a wealthy American who has wed the impoverished lord of the manor. What began as a marriage of convenience has turned to true love. McGovern is excellent but it is a stretch to classify her as the leading lady of this production. [...]
Gold Derby experts, editors, and users all concur giving Winslet overwhelming odds to win. Registering in the low single digits, the other four nominees are just along for the ride.
I'm not really posh, says 'Downton Abbey' actor Dan Stevens
I don't know how candid he's been in the past but he's sharing some very personal details about his background. The part relevant to S2: The first series of Downton harked back to the last era in which class was so clearly delineated. “The new series, though, kicks off in the trenches of the First World War. So the old order is about to be literally and metaphorically blown to smithereens.”
In the much-awaited eight-part series, Matthew Crawley is an officer experiencing the horrors of the Somme. Still recovering from his broken relationship with Lady Mary Crawley, he has met Lavinia Swire while on leave, become engaged and now, much to Lady Mary’s chagrin, returns to Downton to introduce her to the family.
“Of course, the audience will probably always root for Matthew and Mary to get back together, because their relationship had so much spark and passion. Mary was as tricky as Lavinia, now, is good and gentle - and although that possibly makes her the less interesting option, Julian is posing questions about love and what is likely, in the end, to bring people contentment.”
Plus, the 'obligatory' Emmy coverage this week --
* Tim Goodman's predictions at the Hollywood Reporter: MINISERIES/MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
What an excellent and varied allotment (finally!): Starz got in with The Pillars of the Earth; PBS got in with Downton Abbey; ReelzChannel got in with The Kennedys, even though it shouldn't have -- but still, ReelzChannel at the Emmys! How strange and fresh. And, of course, category-dominant HBO got in with Cinema Verite, Mildred Pierce and Too Big to Fail.
Should Win: Downton Abbey. Duh. Is there even a doubt?
Will Win: Mildred Pierce. In many ways, it's too big to fail. Voters are unlikely to sidestep the all-star cast, even though the entire affair was as flawed as it was lovely.
* GoldDerby's round-up of predictions from the pundits for the Movie/Mini categories.
* GoldDerby's editors' predictions.
* GoldDerby on the Supporting Actress category: Three of the nominees for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham and Evan Rachel Wood) were featured in the HBO mini-series "Mildred Pierce" while the other two contenders -- Eileen Atkins and Maggie Smith -- stole all their scenes in the PBS minis "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey." The race is thought to be between Wood and Smith. [...]
Two Dames of the British Empire round out the race. [...] Smith stands a much better chance at winning for her portrayal of the acid-tongued Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey." It's the sort of prim and proper role Smith has come to own in recent years. With just one arched eyebrow, she speaks volumes, commenting on the action in her inimitable way. Smith already had two Oscars ("The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "California Suite") and a Tony ("Lettice and Lovage") by the time she won an Emmy in 2003 for her leading role in the telefilm "My House in Umbria."
Last year's winner was Julia Ormond who had little screen time as the title character's mother in "Temple Grandin." However, that HBO telefilm was a hit with Emmy voters, who awarded it Best TV Movie as well as wins for lead Claire Danes as well as supporting players David Strathairn and Ormond and director Mick Jackson.
This year, "Mildred Pierce" and "Downton Abbey" are battling it out to win the combined TV Movie/Miniseries race. While Winslet is probably a lock for her leading role, Wood and Smith are neck and neck in the supporting race. While our experts favor Wood, our editors opt for Smith as do our users.
* GoldDerby on the Leading Actress category: It may have taken Kate Winslet six tries before she finally won an Oscar in 2008 for "The Reader," but she is expected to prevail in just her second Emmy contest (she was a 2006 guest comedy nominee for "Extras") for playing the title role in the HBO miniseries "Mildred Pierce." In the race for Best Movie/Mini Actress, she faces off against three women who all lost their sole Oscar bids and are now first-time Emmy contenders as well -- Diane Lane ("Cinema Verite"), Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey") and Taraji P. Henson ("Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story") -- as well as Jean Marsh who reprises her Emmy-winning role in the reboot of "Upstairs, Downstairs." [...]
As the sole American in the cast, McGovern certainly stands out on "Downton Abbey." Unlike "Upstairs, Downstairs," which follows the lives of those living in a London townhouse during the time of Edward VIII, "Downton Abbey" is set during the reign of his grandfather, Edward VII and takes place all around a vast country estate. McGovern plays a wealthy American who has wed the impoverished lord of the manor. What began as a marriage of convenience has turned to true love. McGovern is excellent but it is a stretch to classify her as the leading lady of this production. [...]
Gold Derby experts, editors, and users all concur giving Winslet overwhelming odds to win. Registering in the low single digits, the other four nominees are just along for the ride.