Matthew Macfadyen News

Matthew Macfadyen will co star alongside Rufus Sewell and Donald Sutherland in Ken Follett's 'The Pillars of the Earth', according to the Hollywood Reporter. Details in the link.

Matthew will play the role of Prior Philip. Shooting will commence on June 22 in Hungary and Austria. Premiere is set for the second half of 2010.

The series is partially produced by Ridley Scott and his brother Tony. Ridley is currently directing and producing Robin Hood, which Matthew is also currently working in as the Sheriff of Nottingham due out next year!

Much congratulations Matthew! ;-)

Update: June 22, 09 - The Official Websight for The Pillars of the Earth series is up and running and being updated weekly. Pictures of the set as well as information about the production are included. Thanks to the production companies Tandem, Muse and Scott Free and thanks Scrappydew for alerting us on the forum.

jpritch11 brings word to the forum that Matthew Macfadyen is cast in the BBC's Criminal Justice airing next season.

Matthew will play the role of a barrister. Alongside Matthew are actors Maxine Peake, who recently co starred in Little Dorrit with him, and Denis Lawson, who will appear with Matthew in Enid Blyton next fall.

See this BBC Press Release for further information.

Thanks JPritch11, for the news.

Matthew Macfadyen has been cast in the Ridley Scott film "Robin Hood" alongside Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, confirmed by Mr. Christian Hodell of Hamilton Hodell, Matthew Macfadyen's agent.

Matthew will be playing the role of The Sheriff of Nottingham and shooting will commence in May and June.

Thank you, Mr. Hodell for this exciting and exclusive news!;-)

May said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

Telegraph Wow!

Wow is right! Thanks for the link and news, May.

Matthew is running for Leukaemia Research with the TV Times Adidas group and has been training with fellow actor, Alistair Petrie. The London Marathon will commence on Sunday 26 April, 2009

TV Times has a fundraiser page at Leukaemia Research, TV Times Leukaemia Research for donations. Good Luck Matthew and Alistair!

Edit/Update 4/26/09: Matthew completed the London Marathon at 4 hours 54 minutes. See a photo and finishing times on this PDF from the Flora London Marathon site at

Flora London Marathon Celeb Pics thanks musicalmel for the link.

photo: Leukaemia Research, Matthew Macfadyen and Alistair Petrie at the finish line!Leukaemia Research Finishing Line pics

As PBS's "Masterpiece Classic" continues to roll out films based on the works of Charles Dickens, attention turns to one of the author's less popular works, "Little Dorrit." Beginning at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday and continuing for the next four Sundays, "Dorrit" tells a Dickens love story with the timely themes of chronic debt and financial collapse.

Starring Matthew Macfadyen as Arthur Clennam and newcomer Claire Foy as Amy Dorrit. Check your local listings on PBS for times/schedule. PBS Masterpiece Classics

Edit/Update 3/28/09: A great review of the series in the New York Times TV Review Section thanks Pat.

Matthew Macfadyen attended the Royal Television Society Awards with his wife last evening 17 March, as he was nominated in the best actor (male) category for his work in the BBC Dickens series 'Little Dorrit'. See Rex Featuares for images.

Alongside his nomination was his co star in 'Little Dorrit', Claire Foy, for best actor (female).

Ben Wishaw and Andrea Riseborough were awarded in these categories. Congratulations to both Matthew and Claire for their nominations.

'Little Dorrit' will broadcast on PBS's Masterpiece Classic in the USA, with the first episode airing on March 29, 2009. links and discussion

jpritch11 said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

I just saw this in today's Sun. Looks like Matthew is working again. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article2302852.ece

Forthcoming information to be updated as it occurs. All we know now is that he will be in this TV production for BBC4, and he will co star with Helena Bonham Carter as children's author Enid Blyton. He will play her first husband, according to the Sun.

Thanks JP for the great news of Mr. Macfadyen's new project.

Edit/Update 9 March 2009: The official press release from BBC gives information about the project including director, screenwriter and production company.

Scrappydew said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

Best Actor nomination and Claire Foy Best Actress Nomination. http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/23675/nominees-announced-for-royal-television

This year's nomination is for his lead role in the Dickens series aired on BBC and PBS 'Little Dorrit'. Last year, Mr. Macfadyen was also nominated and won the RTS best actor award for his role in 'Secret Life'.

The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 17 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

Best of luck this year, Mr. Macfadyen and congratulations. ;-)

rosemary said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

I saw a thread about this over on the Toby site, posted by a lady who is on the Haymarket Theatre Mailing List. It's taking place at 2.30pm on Friday March 20th presumably prior to the evening performance of On The Waterfront. Anyone in England free to attend this? The Haymarket do put on acting Masterclasses at irregular intervals.

The Haymarket site has more information and reservation information about Matthew Macfadyen leading this Q & A. Some restrictions apply. Check out the details at Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Schedule

Thanks Rosemary for the update!

update/edit The date has changed to Friday, April 17, 2009.

Little Dorrit, The BBC Dickens series starring Matthew Macfadyen and broadcast on PBS next month, has been included in the list of nominations from the Broadcasting Press Guild Association.

Among the nomination categories are for best drama series, best actress, Ruth Jones, and the writers award for Andrew Davies. Awards will be announced at the Theatre Royal in London on 27 March.

May said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

Both Matthew and Keeley have been spotted at the BAFTAs!

Thanks to you May for being the first to spot him and bringing it to Topix!

Matthew presented two awards for the evening, alongside actress Emily Moritmer.

The Orange/BAFTA site has a video of a small interview with he and his co star Michael Sheen BAFTA Site. Thank you to poster ladada.

update 2/13/09: Video of Matthew and Emily presenting awards for Set Design and Make Up. Youtube.

Thanks to all our Topix friends for keeping a vigilant watch to see Mr. Macfadyen's star shine on this important evening in the entertainment industry!

Michael Sheen and Matthew Macfadyen at the BAFTA awards, February 9, 2009 in London, (GettyImages).

;-)

jpritch11 said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

An announcement was made by decanter.com that Matthew (Macfadyen) will narrate a BBC4 series on the wine industry beginning Feb. 16th. http://www.decanter.com/news/news.php?id=276139

Thanks JP for the news!

Matthew Macfadyen, along with cast members of Frost/Nixon, attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday evening, January 25 in Los Angeles.

Matthew was nominated for the category of "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture".

Slumdog Millionaire won the category.

Congratulations to Matthew and the cast of Frost/Nixon for the prestigious nomination!

May said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

Best Film Best Actor - Frank Langella, Best Director - Ron Howard, Best Adapted Screenplay - Peter Morgan, Brad Pitt's movie got 13 noms Slumdog Millionaire 11 noms Angelina got best actress nominee Kate Winslet best actress for The Reader Congratulations to all the nominees, but particularly to our boys!

In addition it was nominated for editing.

Thanks May for the breaking news, and break a leg Frost/Nixon!

The Academy Awards will be broadcast on February 22, 2008 8ET/5WT on ABC.

Celena said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

Scroll the page and Frost/Nixon gets 14 nominations for the BAFTA Awards. Congratulations! http://goldderby.latimes.com/

Thanks Celena for the link and news!

*update 1/15/09, BAFTA short list includes five final nominations. Best Picture, Actor, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Editing.

The Screen Actors Guild has nominated the ensemble cast, including Matthew Macfadyen, for outstanding Performance in a Major Motion Picture!

See the details from the press page for the awards ceremony, and specifically listed is the entire cast for Frost/Nixon. Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations and Press Release

The Awards Ceremony will take place on January 25, 2009 at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center and will broadcast live on TBS and TNT.

In addition, Frank Langella is nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Richard Nixon.

Congratulations to all of the cast of Frost/Nixon and to Matthew Macfadyen specifically.

According to The Evening Standard, production of the ITV remake of "A Passage to India" has been shelved due to budget concerns. A sign of the times, perhaps.

In a statement from an ITV spokesperson quoted in the Evening Standard's Londoner's Diary,

"We are working hard to make sure that we extract maximum value from the schedule and spend money carefully and, as a result, we will not be taking forward the commission of A Passage to India,"

No plans have been reported to put the project on the backburner in the meantime or for another production company to take it on, but things could change, stay tuned.

From The Daily Mail, Baz Bamigboye gives details on Matthew's next project:

MusicalMel said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

The Daily Mail/Baz Bamigboye Director Adrian Shergold has also cast Matthew Macfadyen, currently playing Arthur Clennam in the BBC’s excellent serial of Charles Dickens’s Little Dorrit, as Richard Fielding.....Shooting begins at the end of January on location in India. The film, expected to be a jewel in ITV’s 2009 crown, will be broadcast next autumn. END.

Thank you to MusicalMel for alerting the forum to the news and congratulations to Matthew!

Frost/Nixon has been nominated for five Golden Globe awards, Variety announces.

It will be a battle of “Frost/Nixon” vs. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” at the Golden Globes, with the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. nominating both pics in the top film categories, including picture, director, actor, screenplay and score.

See Variety for more news on the Golden Globe nominations. The ceremony will be held on January 11, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton (where much of the film was shot).

Congratulations to Mr. Howard, who championed this project from the very start and especially all of the ensemble cast and crew for a fine achievement!

Ouiss said in the Matthew Macfadyen Forum:

3 little interview with Frost's team. Youtube/MovieManiacsTV#1, Youtube/MovieManiacsTV#2, Youtube/MovieManiacsTV #3

With three added:

#4, #5, #6

In addition, Ouiss alerted us to these links on Youtube from Movie Maniacs TV:

Matthew Macfadyen-Frost/Nixon Interview Part 1 and Matthew Macfadyen-Frost/Nixon Interview Part 2

Thank you Ouiss for alerting us and to Movie Maniacs TV on Youtube for these interviews with Matthew Macfadyen talking about Frost/Nixon.

Update: On the dawn of it's release, another interview of Matthew Macfadyen, with co stars Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt of Frost/Nixon, has surfaced! Catch it at IGN.com