I owe London something back if I felt welcome, says
JOSEPH FIENNES has defended his axed portrayal of Michael Jackson.
He played the late singer in an episode of Sky Arts’ Urban Myths series about a road trip Jackson, Marlon Brando and Dame Elizabeth Taylor were rumoured to have taken following the September 11 attacks. But it was pulled after Jackson’s daughter Paris said clips made her want to “vomit”.
British actor Fiennes, 46, told Vulture: “It’s a satire, so we have to look at it through that lens. The depiction of the three characters is very satirical, comic, light-hearted, to examine the disconnect of iconic celebrity.”
Some alleged that Fiennes, a white actor, portraying the black singer was a form of “blackface”. He said: “If it comes anywhere near that criminal and hateful sensibility, then I’m deeply regretful and embarrassed, but there’s a part of me that would love people to see it and get into a discussion.” CATE BLANCHETT will come to the West End next year, in Ivo van Hove’s stage version of All About Eve. The double-Oscar winner, 47, inset, will take the role of ageing Broadway star Margo Channing — played by Bette Davis in the 1950 film — and deliver the famous line: “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night!” Producers Sonia Friedman and Fox Stage Productions are in the process of securing a theatre for the play. BROS star Luke Goss has opened up about his love-hate relationship with Britain and says he would only move back to London if he felt fully welcome here.
The 48-year-old moved to the US more than 20 years ago following the acrimonious break-up of Bros, the band he began with his twin Matt and schoolfriend Craig Logan in 1986.
Last year the Lewisham-born brothers announced they will reunite for some live shows — without Logan, who is now a music manager — including two dates at the O2 in August.
In an interview with the Standard, Luke said he would see how the band were received before deciding whether he could ever return to the UK to live. “I’ll be honest with you, every time I want to come back some bullshit is written about us,” he said. “If I feel welcome there consistently and it’s warm and fuzzy, I’d love to have a place in London. I absolutely love it there — the last few times I’ve been over have been nothing short of beautiful. But you know when you’re scared to fall in love again because you don’t want to get your feelings hurt? I’m there! I would love to live in my own country.
“There’s no middle ground with Matt and I. People either love us or hate us, sometimes without even knowing why.”
Bros will play the O2 on August 18 and 19 and Manchester Arena on August 22. They had planned a bigger tour but have cancelled four dates citing
“logistical circumstances beyond their control”.
In the Eighties they were briefly the biggest band on the planet, with eight consecutive Top 10 singles including I Owe You Nothing, which topped the charts, and When Will I Be Famous? Their debut album