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SINGAPORE : Guido. Thanks to the guilty pleasure MTV reality show "Jersey Shore", the slang term for a working-class urban Italian American has since become the word du jour.
But take it from us, the "Guido" you should be turning your attention to is the tortured artist/egotistical auteur protagonist from Chicago director Rob Marshall's latest movie-musical "Nine".
Guido Contini - the famous Italian film director suffering from both writer's block and a midlife crisis as he juggles the many women in his life - has been played several great actors, from Marcello Mastroianni in the Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film "8½" (which Marshall's version is based on) to Raul Julia in the 1982 original Tony Award-winning Broadway musical production, and Antonio Banderas in the 2003 Broadway revival.
But it is none other than the inimitable Daniel Day-Lewis playing Guido in Marshall's film that has everyone singing his praises.
Sure, the US$64-million (S$90-million) film didn't make a dent on the American box-office when it was released last December - even with an Oprah endorsement - while the self-proclaimed Guidos of "Jersey Shore" broke records with their season finale.
But which other Guido has two Best Actor Oscars sitting on his mantle; handy skills picked up from method-acting stints on films, like butchering ("Gangs Of New York"), boxing ("The Boxer") and an appreciation of the Czech language ("The Unbearable Lightness Of Being"); as well as an impressive bevy of Oscar-winners and beauties made up of Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas fawning all over him on screen and off?
These ladies know to stand by their Guido.
Nine opens in cinemas on Thursday.
Ladies, what was it like working with Daniel Day-Lewis?
Nicole Kidman: He's such a beautiful person to be around because he's very clear, committed, and he takes on a persona of the character but there're still glimpses of Daniel coming through. And he has the most wonderful and mischievous spirit, which is great. He has a joyful spirit actually. As much as he's very thoughtful and intellectual, he's got a lot of joy in him.
Marion Cotillard: He's one of the most amazing actors on earth. I've always admired him so much. It's more than inspiring when you have the opportunity to work with a genius. He's so involved ... He shares, gives and he's so intense.
Fergie: Daniel is so amazing. He was walking around the set, speaking in an Italian accent. He wrote me little notes on his little Guido's stationery and they were all signed off as Guido. He was very much taking it in and making it a part of himself. Which prompted me to do the same. So I started walking around the set as (prostitute) Saraghina and we were not even rehearsing. I didn't let myself cross my leg the entire time we were filming because Saraghina would've never done that.
Judi Dench: Daniel ceases to be Daniel when he comes on to the set - you could have endless jokes with him but it would not be so much with Daniel as it is with Guido ... It's as if a part gets injected into him. The whole of his inside becomes that character. There's only the skin of Daniel left. You don't call him Daniel anymore, you call him Guido.
Did you ladies get along?
Marion: We all get along so well. Something happened right away when we all met. When I met Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman ... we're so happy to share this adventure and we really love each other - all these women who fight for the same man. The energy we have between all of us on the set is really love.
Fergie: Working with the actresses was such a pleasure. Sophia (Loren) is the fashion icon and she comes to the set dressed to the nines, in her scarves and beautiful make-up. Judi Dench is just a crack-up. She's got this very sharp wit about her. Kate (Hudson) is just hilarious. We just got along like little high school friends like we knew each other from way before. Penelope (Cruz) was fun. She was the social coordinator when all of us were going to the Madonna concert in London together.
Nicole, how did you land this gig?
Nicole: Rob (Marshall) took me to lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel and said to me, "I'd love you to play Claudia, the movie star in the film." And I said, "Okay, I'd love to do it!" It was that simple!
Rob, was casting the rest of the women just as easy?
Rob Marshall: The first phone call I made was to Sophia Loren. My heart was beating a mile a minute. I couldn't believe I was speaking to Sophia Loren and I said, "Can't imagine making this film without you. Would you play Guido's mother?" And she accepted the offer. She was so sweet, so lovely and so warm immediately and I thought, "Ah! Now I have an Italian film! I have the great Italian actress to be the spirit of the film."
As for Kate, I've known her for years. When she came in, she opened her mouth and started to sing and I thought, "Where has this voice been hidden?" And I started to dance with her and she's a real dancer - I am a dancer so I know in a second that she's a real dancer. And so we went on to create a role for her.
And what about Fergie, seeing as she is the only pop star in the group?
Rob: She came in with a fever. But she was going to prove herself and showed me that she wanted the role. That is her role - Saraghina, the whore on the beach. She was determined to show me what she could do as an actor. She lunged into that audition which was in London. She came in and just took over the place. She sang it unbelievably. She attacked the role as an actor - it wasn't performing the song. She said, "I feel this woman! I feel this earthy woman!"
Exclusive transcripts courtesy Golden Village.
- TODAY/il
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