method acting

Dakota Fanning to Bring Preternatural Poise to Real-Life Role as High School Cheerleader

9:10AM Kyle Buchanan | The steady rollout of Dakota Fanning 2.0 continues apace as the young actress hit up Oprah today to promote her new drama, The Secret Life of Bees. As a pre-teen, Fanning sometimes came off as robotically overprepared on the talk show circuit, but she felt much more relatable on Oprah — perhaps a pleasant side effect from the fact that she’s now eschewed home schooling to attend an actual high school. Typically, the studious Fanning isn’t about to half-arse that, either; she’s joined the cheerleading team, and Oprah’s got the picture to prove it. Abigail Breslin, eat your heart out! Also, after the jump, Fanning discusses shooting the film’s kissing scene — with Dixon from 90210, of all people. Silver’s gonna be pissed! More »

Thandie Newton’s Teenage Lesbianism In No Way Helped Her Play Condoleezza Rice

6:40AM Kyle Buchanan | As rumours circulate that Condoleezza Rice was passed up for John McCain’s vice presidential slot due to questions about her sexuality, her film portrayer Thandie Newton sat down for an interview with gay magazine The Advocate. The actress, who is playing Rice in Oliver Stone’s election-tipping presidential fantasia W., said that she herself doesn’t believe Rice is a lesbian — and it’s too bad, because Newton has the same-sex experience that could have informed such a role: More »