Helen Baxendale Movies

Director Roland Emmerich takes a break from his long string of big-budget disaster films with Anonymous, a historical drama that suggests Shakespeare was a fraud. Edward de Vere (Rhys Ifans) is an aristocrat who yearns to write poetry and plays, but due to social and political constraints, he is forced to use a front for his political-minded works because they subtly encourage Queen Elizabeth to alter her plan for succession in a way that is in direct opposition to her most-trusted political advisers. When drunken, illiterate, fame-hungry actor William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) passes off the plays as his own, de Vere finds his man, but eventually he is blackmailed when the morally dubious thespian wants more and more. Anonymous screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Two female drifters search for their next short-term jobs and for the reasons their lives have been filled with such wanderlust in Søren Kragh-Jacobsen's modern-day romantic fable Skagerrak. Best friends Marie (Iben Hjejle) and Sophie (Bronagh Gallagher) land on the Scottish mainland after a stint working on an oil rig, eager to move on to their next adventure. Just as Sophie decides to head to Glasgow to track down her mechanic boyfriend, the pair are set back after a one-night stand leaves Sophie severely beaten and robbed. While tending to Sophie at the hospital, Marie encounters a strange older man (James Cosmo) who later invites her to his estate while proclaiming to have an irresistible proposition for her. The old man, Sir Robert Lumley, offers to pay several thousands of pounds to Marie if she will agree to become a surrogate mother for his childless son and daughter-in-law. Initially disgusted, Marie reluctantly consents but struggles with the decision throughout her pregnancy. When a worse tragedy strikes the wanderers, Marie is forced to confront a number of issues in her life as she also finds both an unexpected love interest and an unexpected ally from the Scottish estate she has grown to hate. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi

Ordinary Decent Criminal is a classic gangster movie in modern-day Ireland. It follows the extraordinary adventures of a Robin Hood character, Michael Lynch, a thief, bigamist, liar, and criminal genius who robs from the rich to give to the poor. Michael is suave, sardonic, and sexy. When his leather-clad figure weaves its way through the Dublin traffic on a powerful motorbike, people stare in awe. He loves his two wives (who happen to be sisters), his wild kids, his gang, and, most of all, his way of life. He has two fundamental beliefs: be loyal to your own and the hell with the establishment. As his ego gets bigger and bigger, he enjoys his notoriety more than the cash it brings. Determined to break him, the police increases its harassment of the whole gang, as Michael makes a mistake that could threaten his good name with the public and his reliability as a bread-winner. But he recovers his equilibrium in time to dream up a final grand scheme to survive the trap set for him. The story is reminiscent of John Boorman's The General about a similar real-life character, Martin Cahill, also a Robin Hood married to two sisters. The impressive cast includes Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, and Peter Mullan, the tragic hero of My Name is Joe. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi

Phoebe's policeman boyfriend, Gary (Michael Rapaport), invites the guys for a ride-along in his cop car. This results in an apparent act of courage by Joey (Matt LeBlanc) -- an unnecessary act, to be sure, but one that arouses the envy of Chandler (Matthew Perry). And Ross (David Schwimmer) ruminates over the fact that his ex-wife Emily is about to remarry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This fact-based British drama tells the story of real-life Sgt. Caroline Meagher (Helen Baxendale) in a flashback to 1978, a time when Meagher realized she was a lesbian and began a secret affair with a Scottish woman, eventually attracting suspicion while running a Northern Ireland military base. In 1990, "special investigators" took her away for questioning, but before her homosexuality was proven, Meagher quit the army which previously denied it kept intelligence files on lesbians but now admits this is true. Documentary filmmaker Chris Oxley made his drama directorial debut with this film, which adds an interview with the real Caroline Meagher at the conclusion. Shown at the 1998 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Emily (Helen Baxendale) continues to insist that Ross (David Schwimmer) divest himself of all memories of his past. Joey (Matt LeBlanc) is queasy over the notion that Monica and Chandler (Matthew Perry) are making out in his apartment. Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is upset over a gift from her mother. And Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) think they've spotted Bigfoot in the apartment building. George Newbern makes his first series appearance as Danny. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season five of Friends begins in London, a few moments after the wedding of Ross (David Schwimmer) and Emily (Helen Baxendale) -- and a few more moments after Ross nearly wrecked the ceremony by invoking Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) name. As Emily expresses her desire to escape her marriage vows, Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) come to terms with their own romantic passion. Everything comes to a head at Heathrow airport -- but what about pregnant Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow)? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Despite Emily's (Helen Baxendale) trepidations, Ross (David Schwimmer) sends a wedding invitation to Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). Pretty soon, everyone has their invitations -- except, curiously, Chandler (Matthew Perry). This intrigue is used as a framework for a series of clips from earlier episodes of Friends, with a few surprising moments for viewers familiar with those episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

There's something different about Ross (David Schwimmer) when he begs Emily (Helen Baxendale) to move in with him. Tired of their apartment (not to mention the bird smell and the singing man), Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) try to bribe their way into Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) pad. And Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) hardly feels fashionable as her pregnancy grows apace. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) have trouble divesting themselves of the free porno channel that has popped up on their TV. When Ross (David Schwimmer) tells Emily (Helen Baxendale) that he loves her, the result is a round-robin of international plane flights and missed connections. And the artificially inseminated Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) discovers that she is carrying triplets -- news that nearly sends the babies' real parents Frank Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi) and Alice (Debra Jo Rupp) into a state of shock (after all, Frank Jr. may now have to drop out of refrigerator college). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Joey (Matt LeBlanc) is slated to begin work on Charlton Heston's new movie -- but he hasn't had time to take a shower, something he really, desperately needs to do. Meanwhile, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) is still stuck on Joshua (Tate Donovan). And Ross (David Schwimmer), set up on a blind date with Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) boss' niece Emily (Helen Baxendale, in her first series appearance), ends up spending the weekend with the girl. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi