Chris Noonan Admits Wanting Cate Blanchett for Miss Potter
Filed under: Drama, Casting, DIY/Filmmaking, Politics
Do you like being second best? I don't, but when it comes to lead in a Chris Noonan film, I'd say fine -- so be it. Renee Zellweger definitely didn't have a problem with it -- as far as we know -- since she took the lead in the well-received Miss Potter. Apparently, Zellweger was not at all Noonan's first choice for the lead; instead, it was the brilliant Cate Blanchett whom Noonan adores. Noonan even considers Blanchett to be equivalent to one of Hollywood's greatest actresses, Katherine Hepburn, whom Blanchett portrayed in The Aviator.What was the reason for Blanchett's departure from the film? She had the role originally but was forced to give it up for an unreported reason -- but she was as reluctant to give up the role as Noonan was for letting her go. Apparently, Blanchett begged for him to postpone production, but Noonan put it perfectly when he said: "the machine won't stand still."
Even though Zellweger was runner-up for the part of Beatrix Potter, director Noonan was not disappointed in her performance or the end result of the film. Perhaps it was a happy accident for Noonan as he discovered Zellweger to be a joy to work with. The West Australian quotes Noonan describing Zellweger as humble: "She is not a star and doesn't play a star. So you lose the Renee Zellweger when she is playing Beatrix Potter and I think that is remarkable." We all know the saying: as one door closes another one opens -- and as one great actress must decline an incredible project, another remarkable actress must step in.









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-24-2007 @ 9:02PM
cc said...
Renee is no second choice. She is a brilliant actress as you mention at the END of the article and deserves more respect than to read this nonsense.
Shame on the writer for this rude commentary.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:10PM
mary said...
I'm sorry, but Renee Zellweger is not a good pick. She is great in her own mind, and is extremely manipulative. Oh well, the producer is going to lose money, and any one that hire her will. Your problem.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:28PM
Rick Badman said...
Renee Zellweger is like the old-time actresses that do roles instead of insist on being a movie star. She is beautiful and willing to be a character actress which will allow her to work for decades. She can be the girl next door, the girl on the other side of the tracks, and the girl you want to bring home to mother. She can be a best friend, a lover, a pal, and someone you just want to protect from all the evil that is around us. I just hope she remains as sweet years from now as she is now. Looks can fade and smooth skin can become wrinkled. But talent should last a lifetime.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:38PM
Ina Schiappa said...
Renee Zelwegger has been phenomenal in every role she has played and she should have won the Academy Award for Chicago rather than Zeta-Jones. Chris Noonan is very fortunate to have Zellweger free to do Miss Potter for him. Cate Blanchett does not impress me, moreover, as she apparently does others.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:43PM
KennysShort said...
Hahahaha...Mary must be a Kenny Chesney fan (he's shorter than Renee). Why else would she make such a malevolent statement? Put down the Enquirer, Mary, and re-register as a democrat.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:45PM
mary said...
I'm sorry, anyone who believes Renee Zellweger is a good actress has no mind, just likes to watch any movie because they really have no goals in life, and simply bored. Please, get a hobby or maybe even think of something else like maybe, I don't know, creating a business? Let me guess, your husband makes enough money. Your a bore.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:02PM
Jenn said...
I do think Renee is a great actress. I do believe she takes it seriously and does not choose rolls to boost her "STAR STATUS" Her personal life might not be perfect, but then WHO's is... especially in the spotlight. Mary is entitled to her opinion, but Mary, to respond as you had to KennysShort comment discredits your point of view. If you want people to listen, take out the emotion. It will go farther.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:12PM
mary said...
Cate would have been an excellent pick, and no I do not like kenny chesney. You guys really need to get a life, please get a hobby or something. If we had more actresses like Cate, well, movies would make more money, and isn't that what it's all about? Cortney Cox is another excellent actress. Jennifer Aniston is going to screw it up for her-I guess you can put Jennifer and Renee is same boat-The useless.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:12PM
Heather said...
Hey Mary...before you go picking on everybody else about getting hobbies...why don't you get one that doesn't involve critizing other people because you're probably bored...OH! And while you're at it, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE learn how to spell!!! If you're going to criticize people, do it properly...it really holds no water if you appear to be an uneducated idiot.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:29PM
FAS1 said...
Mary??...Mary?...Hmmmm...I guess Mary went to bed...
which is a good thing!!!
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1-24-2007 @ 10:29PM
mary said...
It is everyone here that getting emotional over a simple comment. Not me, dear. And before you use the word "discredit" - please think about your emotion just writing this silly comment. Kenny Chesney is a very good country and western singer, however, I am not a fan. Thank you for mentioning emotion. I need to leave this emotional blog. Hope you all find something in your life of interest. Good Luck.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:31PM
Laura said...
I am relieved that Renee Zellweger wasn't the first choice for Beatrix Potter. I thought that Cate Blanchett would have been a much better choice all along.
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1-24-2007 @ 10:40PM
FAS1 said...
Mary?....Mary?....Hmmmmm....I guess Mary went to
bed....which is a good thing!!!
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1-24-2007 @ 10:44PM
Robbyn said...
Who really gives a rat's rear what type of actress Renee, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet or Kate Hepburn is? Wake up you boring, celebrity worshiping idiots and worry about reality, not fairy tales.We are at war in at least two maybe three countries, our soldiers are being shipped home daily in body bags, and our President is a moron. Now that's someone who's living in never, neverland. Wake up people, you're not in Kansas anymore and we've run out of ruby slippers a long time ago. Don't feel sorry for the directors when they don't get their first choice of an actor/actress. I didn't get my first pick for President!
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1-24-2007 @ 10:51PM
FAS1 said...
Robbyn, you're on the wrong website for a political
diatribe. Please...take your Prozac and go back to bed. You sound like a frustrated left-wing radical!!
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1-24-2007 @ 11:01PM
Marti said...
I don't care for Renee anymore. She broke a good mans heart for no reason. Actually I never cared for her in the first place.
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1-24-2007 @ 11:03PM
Kathy said...
Renee is a competant actress and Blanchett's roles are very over the top acting, or I felt she was "acting" in most all her roles, I just don't believe it. The role as Hepburn was rather screen eating and I for one didn't believe it. I think Renee had me at "hello" in Jerry Maguire. The Nurse Betty role was very sweet and one of her best. The writing is the key and the director must get the performance to accompany the part. I have seen movies that they just let the actor be himself, where's the direction?
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1-24-2007 @ 11:13PM
SeriousMovieFan said...
How could anyone mention Courtney Cox in the same sentence with Cate Blanchett? You have to be joking!
To even try and compare the two borders on blasphemy.
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1-24-2007 @ 11:19PM
Heather said...
LOL...Yeah, I caught that "critizing" after the fact...but what I was referring to was Mary's lovely usage of "your a bore"...anybody who knows anything useful about the English language knows that's not a phrase. And thank you so much for calling me an uneducated idiot...without your attention to my typo I would have never remembered what an idiot I am.
It really is easy to say "get a life" when you keep responding...does that mean you have no life either Mary? Interesting....
And a brainless mind...I think, I THINK that's an oxymoron...keep proving my point Mary...you make it so easy! (BTW...my point is the uneducated idiot part...I feel like I might have to spell it out for people...and let me know Bing if I'm spelling stuff wrong :D)
And as for the topic that started all this...I think Renee is an actress of range which makes her a commodity to the industry. I enjoy watching her films and while I also enjoy Cate Blanchett, I think Renee is a perfect fit for this role. And the initial poster of the commentary did make a big of a blunder by praising at the bottom like she was praising all along...kind of goes against the grain. *shrugs* So it goes :)
(P.S. that was an opinion...one I think anybody who posts on these things should be entitled to...not something to be attacked for, and by attacked I mean being called a "bore." Don't misunderstand...I am definately about a good debate, but not one that becomes an attack on one's personal life.)
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1-24-2007 @ 11:23PM
eric shin said...
is this about harry potter?
and al of the people that left comments really need to get lives, or at least laid
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