Dame
Margaret Natalie Smith, more commonly known as “Maggie” is an acting legend. So how could this be a blog on Scotland’s Film Scene without mentioning someone of
her calibre?
Having been performing for 60 years she is still going strong with
her most recent release being in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Smith portrays a hard-nosed
bigoted woman called Muriel, who gradually begins to soften and show a more
vulnerable side after spending time in India for a hip replacement. The film
features a number of elderly people who have all travelled to India for
different reasons, after being advertised the false image of a beautiful hotel.
The reality is far from what they originally thought, however, with the
hopeless but loveable hotel manager, Sonny, who is struggling to fulfil his
dreams; played by Dev
Patel
the star of “Slumdog Millionaire.” Amongst the cast are fellow acting heroes:
Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy. The heart-warming film follows the
characters through huge milestones in each of their lives and sees unlikely
relationships blossom.
Cast of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
As Professor McGonagall
Maggie
Smith has also recently starred in much loved TV series “Downton Abbey” where
she plays the character of Violet Crawley. And, of course, playing the role of
Professor McGonagall in the mammoth “Harry Potter” franchise, which made the author;
J.K. Rowling worth an estimated £620 million ($1 billion) as of March 2011
and created a world-wide fan base.
Smith
is also involved in the comedy, drama “Quartet” which isn’t to be released
until November 2012. Staring alongside Michael Gambon and Billy Connoly,
Dame Maggie plays Jean who causes trouble for her ex-husband Reggie and other
residents living in the home for retired opera singers. Directed by Dustin
Hoffman, the film’s storyline revolves around residents who want to take part
in a birthday concert, with the character of Jean acting like a diva and disrupting
the show.
Scottish born actor David
Tennant, best known for his five year stint on “Doctor Who” as the Tenth
Doctor, is starring in soon-to-be released “The Decoy Bride.” Set on a ScottishIsland the comedy is about the marriage
of a famous actress (Alice Eve) and James, her fiancé, (Tennant) trying to
escape the paparazzi on their special day. When the photographers turn up,
however, they are forced to hire Katie, a local girl, (Kelly MacDonald) to be
the decoy for the press. But when Katie meets James sparks fly. The film is planned
to be released the 9th of March and available on DVD from the 12th.
Trailer:
CinemaBlend.com has
described “The Decoy Bride” by saying:
“The trailer
is actually funny, though the story looks like it could tread into familiar
waters, with a woman falling for a spoken-for man, who may just full for her
back, and the odd-man(bride)-out possibly being unlikeable enough to root
firmly against. That aside, it looks like a fun comedy, and I can easily see
being charmed by the cast (particularly Tennant and MacDonald).”
So
if your up for a laugh and don’t mind a bit of cliché then this movie might be
the one for you! Here is a link to the full article!
“The Decoy Bride” was filmed
on the Isle of Man but set in Scotland!
Here are some other Scottish location doubles.
If you want to check out any
more of Tennant’s work then here are a few of the other projects he’s been
involved in:
A remake of
the 1985 cult film “Fright Night” (2011).
The 2009 TV
film “Hamlet” for the BBC with David Tennant in the title role.
Barty Crouch
Junior in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005).
And of course
the Tenth Doctor in the long running TV series “Doctor Who”.
