Andrea Riseborough Movies
Actress Andrea Riseborough caused a veritable sensation in her native Britain during the 2000s, with a succession of remarkable portrayals (character and lead roles) that resisted typecasting through their stunning diversity. A native of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Riseborough left school at age 17 and resisted the idea of attending university at first, but ultimately enrolled at London's legendary Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where she began to specialize in playing virginal innocents. The homogeneity of those assignments was reportedly frustrating for the blossoming thespian, though she had the epiphany that "all virgins are different," and began to excel by locating the psychological and dramatic uniqueness (the core) of each new character. The ability to do so helped the upstart secure a highly regarded agent by her third year at RADA.Following graduation, the then-ingenue spent time waitressing, directed a succession of short films, launched a greeting-card firm, and took Cantonese language lessons, but soon found herself magnetically drawn back to acting. In that sphere, two remarkable tendencies emerged: a chameleon-like ability to adapt her personality and behavior to suit the material at hand, and a proclivity for exhaustively researching parts prior to beginning work. Her research, for example, carried her to Croatia for a lengthy period (as preparation for The Pain and the Itch) and prompted her to read everything she could get her hands on about onetime prime minister Margaret Thatcher (as preparation for her portrayal of a young Thatcher in the English telemovie Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley [2008]). Also in 2008, she teamed up with succès d'estime Mike Leigh for a small supporting role, as Dawn, in that director's seriocomedy Happy-Go-Lucky.
Significantly, Riseborough remained equally active in other venues, particularly theater, with acclaimed performances in productions of Miss Julie, Dog Days, A Brief History of Helen of Troy, and other plays. She could also be seen on television, where she turned viewers' heads as the sexually voracious Kirsty on the series Party Animals. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Screenwriter Rowan Joffe makes his feature directorial debut with this adaptation of author Graham Greene's 1939 novel about an ambitious British gangster who will stop at nothing in his quest for ultimate power. Britain, 1964: Pinkie (Sam Riley) is well on his way to becoming one of the most powerful figures in the British underworld when naïve waitress Rose (Andrea Riseborough) links him to a brutal murder. In order to ensure that Rose remains silent about the crime, Pinkie seduces her, and begins tracking her every move. John Hurt, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris, and Oscar winner Helen Mirren co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren
Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marsan star in director Mike Leigh's seriocomedy concerning an eternally optimistic teacher living and working in North London. Thirty-year-old teacher Poppy (Hawkins) always has a smile on her face, and does her best to brighten the days of those around her by making small talk and cracking jokes. For the past ten years, Poppy has lived with her best friend, Zoe (Alexis Zegerman), a fellow teacher whose wry outlook on life serves as the perfect counterbalance to Poppy's effervescent charm. One day, Poppy decides that it's time to take driving lessons and enrolls in the Axle School of Motoring. Almost instantly, Poppy and her stressed-out instructor, Scott (Eddie Marsan), clash. Still, it seems that there's more to this relationship than surface appearances would suggest. After accompanying her colleague Heather (Sylvestra Le Touzel) to a dance class taught by a particularly passionate instructor (Karina Fernandaz), Poppy connects with kindly school social worker Tim (Samuel Roukin). Of course, Tim can't help but fall for a woman of such boundless compassion, but how will Poppy's increasingly jealous driving instructor react to the news of her most recent romance? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, (more)
As produced by heavyweight Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game) and headlined by Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) and Bob Hoskins (The Long Good Friday), this period docudrama brings to life a pivotal event from British history. In 1968, women's rights took a broad leap forward when workers at the Ford Dagenham automobile plant -- buckling beneath deplorable working conditions rightly perceived as gender discrimination -- suddenly stormed out into the streets and began to strike in protest of the unfair treatment levied at them. Little could they have foreseen the ramifications that this courageous and noble act would engender in successive years. Christopher Smith directs. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, (more)
- 2007
The team behind the cult Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show makes the leap to features with this comedy concerning a pair of feuding magicians. When their long-running double act ends in disaster, the pair employs every power at their disposal to make each other's lives unbearable. Andrew O' Connor directs a script penned by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and Peep Show regulars David Mitchell and Robert Webb star as the warring wizards. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Webb, David Mitchell, (more)
Director Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) and writer Alex Garland (28 Days Later) team up to adapt Remains of the Day author Kazuo Ishiguro's introspective sci-fi novel about a group of unsuspecting boarding-school students who make a horrifying discovery about themselves. Sheltered teens Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Ruth (Keira Knightley), and Tommy (Andrew Garfield) all grew up at a remote English boarding school, and now they're hungry to explore the real world. Their dreams of freedom are soon stifled, however, upon learning that they are nothing more than clones created specifically for organ harvesting. Now, in addition to confronting their own mortality, all three must come to terms with a lifetime of emotions and unfulfilled longings while pondering their true purpose for being. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, (more)
- 2007
Go behind-the-scenes of British politics in this BBC mini-series following four young Westminster advisors and researchers who shoulder the immense responsibility of ensuring their government doesn't break down due to power-struggles and intense political infighting. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pip Carter, Matt Smith, (more)
- 2011
- NR
Director Amit Gupta teams with Welsh author Owen Sheers to adapt Sheers' gripping novel set in an alternate history where Nazi German has conquered Russia, and Allied forces were defeated during the Battle of Normandy. The year is 1944. The Nazis have occupied areas of Britain, and a small Welsh village is about to awaken to a shocking surprise. All of the men in the village of Olchon have vanished without a trace, including Sarah Lewis' husband Tom, a respected farmer. Could they have left under the shroud of darkness to join the Resistance? As the women nervously ponder the fates of their absent husbands, a German patrol appears in Olchon on a clandestine mission. When the winter weather takes a turn for the worst, the local women and the German troops are forced to rely on each other for survival. As Sarah and German commanding officer Albrecht Wolfram form a fragile alliance, however, the reality of the situation begins to weigh on both the villagers and the soldiers, and the tense situation leads to tragedy for all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Pop icon Madonna returns to the director's seat for the first time since her 2008 feature debut, Filth and Wisdom, for this ambitious romance detailing one lonely woman's obsession with the relationship between King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy) and American divorcée Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough). To Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), no act of devotion in history is more romantic than King Edward VIII abdicating the throne to be with his one true love. But the deeper Wally dives into the background of this controversial love affair, the more apparent it becomes that their relationship was no bed of roses. Now, as each new discovery paints an increasingly dire picture for the once-happy couple, Wally begins to grow disillusioned about the prospect of true love. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, (more)
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