Simon Curtis waited 20 years before making the leap from directing television to directing feature films. When I spoke to him on October 11, 2011, he made it clear that it was worth waiting for a project about which he felt passionately, and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN was just that. Once we finished talking about the homework done by Michelle Williams in order to transform herself into Marilyn Monroe, the conversation turned to meeting audience expectations about people that they think they know, the nature of celebrity culture, and the integral part terror plays on both sides of the camera.
Based on the diaries of Colin Clarke and detailing his trials, travails, and triumphs as he gamely entered show business, wide-eyed and innocent, in 1956 as the third assistant director and general gopher during the production of THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL. All three of those states resulted from the interaction between director and co-star Sir Laurence Olivier and co-producer and co-star Marilyn Monroe, and, moreso, from Clarke’s interaction of a non-professional nature with Monroe, who turns to him for emotional support as both the production and her private life disintegrate. The film stars Michelle Williams as Marilyn, Eddie Redmayne as Colin, and Kenneth Branagh as Olivier, Curtis’ previous work includes television productions of CRANFORD, THE VIRGIN QUEEN, the series PERFORMANCE and DAVID COPPERFIELD. After 20 years in the directing game, this is his feature film directorial debut.
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