Kirsten Dunst: You have to love acting to make it last

Kirsten Dunst has warned child stars who want to go the distance in Hollywood that they will need to love their jobs to make it all the way.

The 32-year-old blonde beauty found fame at the age of 12 when she appeared opposite Tom Cruise in Interview With A Vampire in 1994 and is still going strong 20 years later.

'You really have to love it, I think. If you don't, then there's no point. You have to love the craft of doing what you are doing,’ she said at the UK premiere of her latest film The Two Faces of January.

The star also warned that acting hopefuls that want to get into the industry for fame and fortune alone will be left disappointed.

‘If you are just in it to be famous or for the glamour, it can feel very empty,' she added.

While Dunst has been dating fellow actor Garrett Hedlund, 29, after meeting on the set of 2012’s On The Road, it is action man Viggo Mortensen that she plays the wife of in her new mystery thriller.

'Viggo is a very handsome man and a very talented actor,’ she said of her co-star, adding: ‘It was very easy to play his wife. He was one of the reasons I wanted to make the film.'

With filming taking place in various locations – including Greece and Turkey – Dunst revealed she was glad to soak up some culture with her boyfriend when she had breaks in filming.

‘We lived in the sightseeing places. We were at the Acropolis and places like that. We would go swimming in the sea, we would eat and swim – although we only had one day off per week. It wasn’t like being on vacation. We were at work.’

And the actress also explained she made some four legged friends while on the continent.

'There are a lot of cats in Greece and I love cats, so I would feed the cats with my boyfriend,' she giggled.

Co-star Mortensen was quick to enthuse about working with Dunst as well, saying: 'I enjoyed having Kirsten as my beautiful, young wife. It was fun. She works very hard but she also has a very good sense of humour which helps.'

The actor also took a moment to reflect on his time in the Lord of the Rings trilogy - revealing he enjoys watching Peter Jackson's current Hobbit trilogy and holds no resentment over not being invited to take part in the blockbuster series.

'Aragorn isn't in the book - although they've taken so many liberties for The Hobbit so they could have stuck him in there as well. But I have been to opening days for the first two and sat in the front row with 3D glasses. For me, personally, it was interesting to once-in-a-while catch an element of non CGI parts of New Zealand and that brought fond memories,' he said.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender revel in X-Men roles

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender have delighted in the fact they play young versions of Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellen in the latest x-men film.

Fassbender, who plays a you Magneto - played also by Mckellen - confessed he stalked the older actor online to perfect his part.

'I did study Ian Mckellen. I found something on YouTube which was a workshop back in the 70s for the RSC which was about 10 minutes long.

'I thought I'd watch that as I didn't want to ask him how to do my acting,' he said. Meanwhile McAvoy took a more jovial approach to working with Patrick Stewart.

'It's terrible to have Patrick on screen. This is my film now and I want it back!' he laughed. 'The next one I want all for myself. It's been amazing.'

He also believes the X-Men series owes it's success to keeping the story-lines relatable.

'Most super heroes have super problems, X-Men have very human problems. They're being punished for being different and that relates to so many,' he said.‎

Meanwhile, with the World Cup coming up, McAvoy risks being rejected by his homeland after confessing he will support England in Brasil.

'‎I will actually - and I know that hurts a lot of Scottish people that any Scotsman would back England, but I do,' he revealed.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 13 May 2014]

Quickfire Q&A: Simon Kinberg X-Men: Days of Future Past

The time-travel adventures of the X-Men in Days of Future Past has been brought to the big screen by incredibly talented writer/producer Simon Kinberg – who also penned The Last Stand in 2006 and is already hard at work on DOFP sequel X-Men: Apocalypse (out in 2016) as well as scribing the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.

Simon stopped at the UK premiere of X-Men in London for some quick questions about the latest instalment, future X-Men films and possible Marvel cross-overs.

Days of Future Past is an incredibly ambitious film – what was the biggest challenge brining this vision to life?

It was two things – one is time travel is a nightmare as a writer because there are all these logic problems and plot holes and paradoxes. So getting the time travel right and creating the rules and sticking to the rules was a big challenge. The second part is having eight-to-ten main characters and giving them everything they want and need emotionally. They have their own stories to play.

JJ Abrams 2009 Star Trek’s reboot has wiped the slate clean for their time-line, will X-Men have a similar impact for future instalments?

We knew with a time travel story, everything that happened in the past was going to affect the future. So there are things that happen in 1973 Days of Future Past which are going to have an impact going forward. So everything from 1973 onwards – which will cover X 1, 2, and 3 and The Wolverine. There are ripples that don’t necessarily change the overall current of the river, but do ripple on down.

What stage is X-Men: Apocalypse at?

Just starting the writing process now. It’s going really well so far. Luckily there is no time travel this time and I only have to worry about one version of each character. But it has different challenges. The scale of that movie will be even bigger or any superhero movie you have seen. It is a disaster movie. It is an extinction-level event kind of film. So keeping it character based, emotional and grounded while also having Roland Emmerich levels of action – that’s the new challenge.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 suggested there could be scope for an X-Men/Spider-Man mash-up when a teaser for DOFP was attached to the end of the film credits – will the X-Men recruit Spidey in the future?

I wish that was true and they let us put our tag at the end of their movie but integrating the characters into one movie will have different challenges.

What about a cross over with the Fantastic Four?

It’s tough because they take place in different worlds. In the X-Men movie’s we’ve never mentioned that there is the Fantastic 4 superheroes living in New York. I would love to see it, and there is probably ways to figure it out. But for right now we are just making the best stand-alone Fantastic Four movie we can make. It’s going to be good.

Quickfire Q&A: Lauren Shuler Donner X-Men: Days of Future Past

The latest X-Men film – Days of Future Past – unites the original X-Men trilogy cast (including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Ellen Page and Hugh Jackman) with Matthew Vaughn’s First Class prequel (Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult).

Based on the Uncanny X-Men’s 1981 storyline Days of Future Past, the X-Men use their powers to send one character (in the case of the film Jackman’s Wolverine) back in time to stop a horrifying future in which Sentinel robots have wiped out most of the world’s mutants.

X-Men’s mega-producer Lauren Shuler Donner stopped for some rapid fire questions about the superhero franchise.

What was the biggest challenge bringing Days of Future Past to the screen?

It was a logistical nightmare to get the whole cast together because everybody had other commitments. Patrick and Ian were doing a play, Jennifer Lawrence was doing the Hunger Games, Hugh had to go and sell the Wolverine – it was very, very difficult. But the end result was all worth it!

How will the time-travel element in DOFP impact the timeline seen in the original X-Men trilogy?

It will be fine. The next one – X-Men: Apocalypse (due in 2016) – will move into the 80s.

Is X-Force still going ahead as well?

I’m not sure. But it would be good.

With such a rich history in the X-Men comics, what other X-Men storylines would you like to see brought to life in cinema?

You know, I do have a special project that I wish I could talk about. When I can, I will say “this is the special project I meant!”

You tease!

I know! But I just can’t. It will be very different…

Aaron Taylor-Johnson military fit in Godzilla

Aaron Taylor-Johnson says he’s still not as heroic as his on-screen characters despite undergoing military training for his blockbuster role in Godzilla.

The hunky 23-year-old revealed his hellish rehearsal regime as he stepped out for the flick’s red carpet premiere in London last night accompanied by his leather-clad wife Sam Taylor-Johnson, 47.

‘It was very exciting,’ said the father-of-two, who is seen skydiving and fighting giant beasts in the Hollywood monster movie.

‘I’ve been on military tanks, trains with missiles, we jump out of helicopters. I did actually jump out of an aeroplane, but it was still on the tarmac.’

The star told how he received intense military training for the film role in which he plays a bomb disposal expert.

‘I did quite a lot of the stunts involved and there was an amazing team. I had a marine guy who I worked with closely on the movie. I got used to the equipment and learnt to fire rounds,’ he explained.

‘And I got used to the military lingo they use – it’s like a boys club.’

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Monday 12 May 2014]

Elizabeth Olsen: Aaron's like a brother

Elizabeth Olsen says Aaron Taylor-Johnson is as good as family since they play husband and wife in Godzilla and siblings in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The 25-year-old American actress says the British star, 23, is ‘like a brother’ and she’s relishing working with him on two major blockbusters.

‘In Godzilla we actually didn't get to have too many scenes together. So working on Avengers we're actually getting more familiar with each other than on this film,’ she explained.

'He definitely feels like a brother. We have that playful, teasing relationship. And it is also the first time I've ever worked with the same actor on two projects so there is a comfort there,' she added.

She also revealed that real life siblings - twins Mary-Kate and Ashley, 27 - still give her hand-me-down clothes.

'I don't really like shopping so my sisters used to give me hand-me-downs, but now they make clothes for a living so I wear that,' she giggled - while wrapping one of her sister's The Row jackets over an Elie Saab evening dress as she stood on the red carpet at the European premiere of Godzilla in London’s Leicester Square.

Looking elegant at the event, Olsen suggested she is something of a tom-boy when it comes to her personal film choices.

'Films like Godzilla were my favourite kind of movies growing up so it's really great to be working on the other end of them,’ she revealed.

Miley Cyrus: I didn't overdose

Miley Cyrus has hit back at online trolls who accused her of a drug overdose when she was forced to cancel part of her Bangerz World tour due to an allergic reaction.

The 21-year-old singer blasted her haters who didn't believe her when she fell ill after swallowing some dodgy antibiotics.

'I didn't have a drug overdose. I took some s***ty antibiotics the doctor gave me for an infection and I had a reaction,' the star defiantly stated at the opening of the European leg of her Bangerz world tour in London on Tuesday night.

'My immune system was already low because I had a death in my family and my body literally couldn't take anything else so I had an antibiotic and had an allergic reaction that really sucked,' she explained before sarcastically adding her online critics took a low blow.

'You know what makes me a lot better is when people online say that "you're overdosing on drugs!" That makes me feel a lot better. I had a really s***ty week and those s***ty comments made it a lot s***tier.'

The Wrecking Ball singer said she also feels bad that she got struck down with illness - because she is surprisingly clean living.

'I'm actually really responsible when it comes to being on tour. What's the most fucked part of me being the one who got sick is that I'm probably the one on this tour that doesn't smoke or drink before a show because I take this s**t really seriously. It's like being an athlete up here.'

'I did a lot of yoga and all natural because doctors couldn't fix me but now I feel better than I've ever felt because I've been on honies and laughing and that stuff is keeping me healthy. Doctors should be scared of vitamins and this insane honey that is amazing for immunity as the next day I woke up and was ready for this tour. It will cure people and then doctors will be out of a job.'

Now back to full strength, Cyrus promises she will bring even more fun now the tour has resumed.

'I'm gonna f**k this place up. We're gonna have a lot of fun. Some people were saying "maybe they are more conservative in England?" And I'm like, "No! We're gonna have tops off, screaming and having a good time!" I'm excited for this European tour because I feel I can do what I want.'

Cyrus also says her racy stage costumes have brought her a tonne of compliments - from Strippers.

'A lot of strippers like my outfits,' the star said ahead of her headlining performance at the O2.

'So many strippers ask me where I get my shit and I'm like "this is custom made",' she laughed.

The singer back tracked on a statement from last year that a 'star is someone who doesn't have to take her clothes off to be sex' saying: 'you are a lot more famous if you show your tits.'

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Wednesday 7 May 2014]

M.I.A reveals Glastonbury break in

M.I.A is well known for her Bad Girls antics and has confessed she once broke into the Glastonbury festival without a ticket.

The 38-year-old London rapper smuggled her way in to the legendary music event when she was a student at Central Saint Martins.

‘I went there with thirty people. When we got there, we had to dig a hole and make a tunnel to get through the fence because nobody had tickets,’ the star – real name Mathangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam – cackled, adding that they also forgot to bring a tent.

‘Somebody lent us this piece of plastic. It was a massive sheet that could fit twenty people under. But it wasn’t a tent. It was very open. We just had poles and put the sheet on top like a roof. It was well ghetto. It was like going back to my experiences of living in India or something like that,’ she explained – adding she also struggled with the lack of hygiene that comes with attending a week-long music event.
‘It was disgusting. I stayed in the same outfit for three days. It was gross. You’re in the same thing and everyone is getting off with each other – although I’m totally fine with that,’ she laughed.

M.I.A will be headlining this years’ Lovebox festival on June 19 but advises fans that festivals are the least likely places to find love that will last.

‘It would be like falling in love at a rave. I always thought that was it when I found someone at a rave – that was the thing. But it never was. You would see them the next day and be like: “Wow! You look so… different”.’

Catch M.I.A at: Benicàssim, Hove Festival, Lovebox, Glastonbury. Her fourth studio album, Matangi, is out now.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures 2014 Festival Guide, Friday 2 May 2014]

Luke Pritchard reveals alcohol struggles as he confronts death of father

Luke Pritchard has confessed he relied too heavily on alcohol as a crutch while working through personal emotions while creating The Kooks new album.

‘I was being very self-destructive. I was confronting a lot of stuff about my dad at the time and there is a song, See Me Now, which is on the album which is about my dad,’ the 27-year-old frontman said.

‘He died when I was three. When something like that happens when you are really young, you go through phases where you deal with it. I poured it all into our music. But I didn’t want to make a depressing record, I wanted to make one that would make you cry but make you sing as well.’

The London-based singer says he almost lost himself to drink but managed to pull himself together in order to confront his own mortality and make his best music to date.

‘Drinking for me got really bad at a time and it changes you when you are like that. You become more aggressive and everything is s**t. Before you know it, it’s been months and months and you can’t remember the last time you didn’t have a drink and you’re sat there going “what am I doing? This is insane”.’

‘I was like “right. I want to do something f***ing amazing now. I’m in a place to take this to another level. What am I on this planet for? Why do I exist?” I want to leave my mark on the world.’

Catch The Kooks at: Lollapalooza, Mallorca Rocks, Ibiza Rocks. New single, Around Town, is out June 15 and album Listen on September 1.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures 2014 Festival Guide, Friday 2 May 2014]

Foster The People recall run in with Snoop Dogg entourage over Nandos chicken

Foster The People have revealed they once got thrown to the floor by Snoop Dogg’s overzealous entourage at a music festival.

Frontman Mark Foster recalled the incident and hopes his UK experience will be a little less manic when the band take to the stage at Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds this summer.

‘There was a huge group of people waiting to get into some area after playing at a festival in England. I think there was a Nandos or something backstage and everybody was really hungry so we were all waiting,’ the 29-year-old recalls.

‘And then these giant bodyguards came storming in and just threw everybody out of the way. And it was Snoop Dogg’s entourage trying to get to the Nandos. I remember getting, like, thrown,’ he laughs.

With the band’s new single, Best Friend, out on June the 23rd, Foster hopes he can make new friends with his fans when he get’s the chance to mingle with the crowds at this summers’ events.

‘I remember at Coachella when I was 20, artists were all just hanging out and playing music together and it was super communal and kind of a hippy vibe,’ he reminisces.

‘I love walking into environments like that where there is no pretention and no cultural divisions and people are bonding over something, like music or whatever. It’s what you remember because it is out of the ordinary and people can kind of put down their preconceived ideas of society and kind of be a kid again.’

Catch Foster The People at: Glastonbury, Hove Festival, Reading & Leeds, Lollapalooza. Their latest album, Supermodel, is out now.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures 2014 Festival Guide, Friday 2 May 2014]

Iggy Azalea: I hate camping

Iggy Azalea confesses she can’t remember if she’s ever been a punter at a music festival – and admits she hates the idea of spending a weekend camping.

The sassy 23-year-old – who will perform at Wireless festival in London and Birmingham – says she’s not exactly down with festival style either.

‘I can’t remember if I have been as a punter because I am always performing, but I hate tents and I hate camping – it’s not for me,’ the blonde babe admits.

‘Gum boots – what you guys call wellingtons – are not particularly my scene,’ she went on, adding her opinion on the inevitable festival wear necessary for outdoor music events in the UK.

Having grown up in the Australian outback, the Fancy singer also adds the fear of spiders and snakes invading tents is more like a myth.

‘I love the reputation that a kangaroo would be stomping on my tent. It’s not likely,’ she laughs – revealing she never really had a need to go camping growing up.

‘We could just stay up all night. It was warm where I grew up so it wasn’t a big issue, you know? We would just be out there partying.’

Catch Iggy Azalea at: Wireless Festival, Lollapalooza. Her debut album, The New Classic, is out now.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures 2014 Festival Guide, Friday 2 May 2014]