'09
With all the talk of Nine and A Single Man, I had kind of forgotten that I was really looking forward to The Lovely Bones this awards season. I read the book several years ago, and I was very impressed with the both the casting, and with the hiring of Peter Jackson to direct. Thus far, the reviews are mixed (read Time Magazine‘s review here), but I’m still going to see it. Just to hit the highlights of casting – Mark Wahlberg as the father, Rachel Weisz as the mom, 15-year-old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (Oscar nominee for Atonement) as the murdered daughter Susie and Susan Sarandon as the fabulous Grandma Lynn. Wahlberg and Weisz didn’t make it to last night’s charity premiere in London (hosted by the Prince of Wales), but Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan did, and they both looked gorgeous. My God, Susan is pretty much ageless, isn’t she? Maybe it’s the red hair. The red hair keeps her young. And Saoirse is a beautiful little thing too – she’s growing up to be an absolutely stunning young woman. The Daily Mail has more from the premiere:
She has been under the harsh glow of the celebrity spotlight for decades, but last night Susan Sarandon showed she had lost none of her sheen.
The actress, who turned 63 last month, dazzled the rain-soaked crowds at the Royal Film Performance and premiere of The Lovely Bones in London’s Leicester Square.
Dressed in an elegant floor-length dress, which she covered with a long, black sequinned coat, Miss Sarandon managed to smile despite the downpours battering the capital.
She was heard to mutter, however, that she was ‘not really enjoying the weather’ as she stepped out of her car.
Miss Sarandon plays a grandmother in the Oscar-tipped film, directed by Peter Jackson, which centres around a family that has been destroyed by the murder of a young girl.
Other star guests at the premiere, which was raising funds for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, included Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, who wore a teal blue velvet dress and matching evening cape with a pearl necklace.
The film’s young star Saoirse Ronan arrived in a grey strappy chiffon dress despite the winter chill. Miss Ronan, 15, who plays the character Susie Salmon, said it had been ‘nerve racking’ making such a high-profile film.
The American-born Irish teenager, who was nominated for best supporting actress Oscar for her role in 2007′s Atonement, said: ‘It was great to grow as an actress. I think there is a little bit of pressure but I’m trying not to think about it.’
She described how Miss Sarandon had become like a ‘mother’ to her during filming.
She added: ‘She’s very maternal on the set. She did look after me. And she’s a very open person so it was nice to be with someone like that. Just being around someone as experienced as that is great.’
The film is based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, which tells the story of 14-year-old Susie, who is raped, dismembered and murdered by a neighbour.
[From The Daily Mail]
When asked about whether Grandma Lynn is really a good person, Susan said: “Grandma Lynn is quite wacky, which is good for me because my kids think I am wacky anyway! But she’s not your typical grandma and when I asked my kids what makes a bad grandparent, they could tell me because theirs aren’t exactly the best! But in the end Grandma Lynn comes good for the family, as they struggle to come to terms with the death of her granddaughter Susie – she is the one holding them altogether. She failed miserably with her own daughter but she’s been given a second chance and while she doesn’t embrace it at first, she soon becomes the one they all need.” I’m telling you, casting Sarandon was totally brilliant. She is perfection.
Susan Sarandon and 15-year-old Saoirse Ronan at the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund Royal Film Performance of ‘The Lovely Bones’ on November 24, 2009. Also pictured are H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Credit: WENN.
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Aging, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon
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38 Responses to “Ageless Susan Sarandon wows at premiere of ‘The Lovely Bones’”
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63 years old? Pretty darn amazing! On a side note, her little brother is a fantastic sports writer right here in town. Writes for the St. Pete Times. Terry Tomlin is his name.
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I might actually go to a theater (see rant in Katie Holmes thread) to see this.
Susan Surandom has looked the same to me for years, and IMO she has always looked old.
Love Saoirse. Great little actress.
Also, love Michael (Christopher) Imperioli! Gosh I miss The Sopranos!
I hate to say this, but I love Mark, but I find him painful to watch on anything other than when he makes the periodic stop on Entourage. Still cringing from both his and Zoe Deschanel’s performances in The Happening!
*shudders*
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I love Susan, but she needs to wear a bra more often. Yes, she’s lovely, but take a page from Helen Mirren or Vanessa Redgrave or even Emma Thompson. They dress (usually) beautifully and are no less sexy for it.
Someone please tell me how to pronounce Saoirse! It looks gorgeous, but I’m too dumb to figure out how to say it. And she’s so pretty – I love that dress.
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Such a great (but awful subject) book!
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snowball – I’m not sure if this is right, but I’ve heard her name pronounced “Sa-War-see”.
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Thanks, Kaiser! When I was looking for baby names back in the Stone Age, I was so enchanted by the Irish/Celtic names, but their pronunciation possibilities ended up making me stick to the usual names for boys.
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I love the book & I’m happy to see that the movie looks like it might actually be good!
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I’ve been avoiding the book because I thought it would be too upsetting. But the movie looks so visually stunning that I think I’ll have to see it. BUT now, do I read the book first, or is it better to wait for the movie?
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Geez, the YouTube clip gave away the whole movie! Now I won’t have to put up with Katie Holmes talking thru it.
Love Stanley Tucci! Saoirse reminds me of Evan Rachel Wood in ‘The Upside of Anger’.
Demi Moore should take a cue from Susan Sarandon on aging naturally. We’ll see what kind of a crypt keeper she’ll look like in 20 years. Dorian Gray…
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to me, she just looks mean and scary, like the teacher who yells at you.
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Wif. absolutely, read the book. It is not upsetting at all, it is a beautiful piece of writing. I read it in two days.
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Read the book. It’s one of those, I can’t put it down even though it’s now 4am, types. I cannot wait for the film.
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Now see, that’s how to look age-appropriate and fantastic at the same time. She’s a knockout, take ‘em to school Suze!
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EXACTLY Bill!!
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Firestarter, I totally agree about THE HAPPENING. I’m amazed anyone has hired those two after that movie.
Sarandon’s had work, it’s just settled. Check out her taut face in ANYWHERE BUT HERE ten years ago or so.
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She can thank her plastic surgeon for the “ageless” look. He gave her a great face-lift and maybe more.
If you see pictures of her 10 years ago, she looks older than she does today. It’s enough to make you head for the plastic surgeon!
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I looove Marky Mark and I thought he and Zooey had really good performances in The Happening. He’s amazing in everything he is in. Don’t blame Mark because you didn’t like the movie, he didn’t write it!
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Nothing against Susan Sarandon personally, but I have never found her remotely pretty–even in her younger years. My idea of true beauty is Jaclyn Smith, who at 62, looks ageless.
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I am always shocked that people seriously believe that some celebrities don’t have plastic surgery. Not all celebrities are keen on airing out all their dirty laundry to the press Blohan-style, but they are most definitely getting cosmetic maintenance. With HD tv’s and Hollywood’s obsession to be young, I’m sure 80%+ have Body Dysmorphic Disorder. So yes, Susan looks “ageless” b/c she has a plastic surgeon that stands by the doctor-patient confidentiality clause.
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Kaiser, ‘fraid not. Seer-sha, that’s how you pronounce it.
It’s a pretty common name here in Ireland.
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I think she’s great. Have to say it tho, it looks like she’s had a little something done. She used to look older (to me anyway). Whatever it was though, looks natural. I hope she doesn’t overdo it. (Where’s Tim!?)
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Squirtle, I like Markey as well. Anything I’ve seen him involved in has always been very good. (OK, not very good, but worth the price of admission) It was a cheesy movie but I enjoyed that movie Rock star he was in.
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Love her acting but her “twins” should be supported and covered more. She’s been hanging around for years. Love her partner too!
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Intelligence always makes a woman beautiful. So she’s had plastic surgery so what, I’ll qualify my earlier remark by saying she looks great with the help of “age-appropriate” plastic surgery.
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snowball – i have a friend from ireland and she tells me it is pronounced: “seer-sha”, emphasis on the first syllable.
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Thanks original kate and what I think looks like Rose. Is it me or do the letters of the name go right over the number response it it? I can’t see who half the people are.
Anyway, “seer-sha” sounds just as good.
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Hey, how about Sarandon’s daughter, prancing around as a stripper/college student on “Californication?” I hope she doesn’t give similar career advice to Saoirse Ronan!
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Just seeing her put the ‘The Time Warp’ song in my head.
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Minor thing on the pronunciation of Saoirse – but it’s pronounced “Sore-Sha”. Am from Ireland and people not familiar with name always have difficulty with knowing what to say when reading it. Good old Irish Gaelic never sounds how it looks unfortunately.
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its Gaelic , I believe its SEER- SHA or shu as in shut sound.
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There is no WOW in the way Susan looks, who are you lookin’ at???
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Love SS, she was perfectly cast IMO.
Am also a huge PJ fan as well (well I am a Kiwi, so it kind of goes with the territory lol), what I have seen from the trailers this film looks great, can’t wait to see this one.
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It’s pronounced SORE-sha.
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I can’t wait to see the movie. I read the book when it first came out and it is fabulous. Has Alice Sebold written anything since?
I am upset they cast Mark Walhburg in this movie as the father. He never loses his accent.
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great book. very deserving of Sarandon.
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I love how we have 3 different people from Ireland telling us 3 different ways to pronounce her name.
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“I love how we have 3 different people from Ireland telling us 3 different ways to pronounce her name.”
Yeah. It is like a Texan trying to pronounce anything with the short “e” sound…which gets mutilated and comes out sound like a short “i.”
“Pen, anyone?”
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She looks gorgeous and HUMAN, not like a botoxed alien.
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