Natalie Portman loves Kenneth Branagh. The actress says she wasn’t interested in doing another blockbuster movie after starring in the three Star Wars prequels until she found out the British star was directing the movie adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor. She explained: “It was sort of actually not something I was dying to do. Not Thor in particular but a big movie. When I heard Ken was doing it, I said, ‘Wow that is a daring and interesting idea.’ “Then I met Ken and he was someone I was extremely interested to get to spend three months with. It was probably the first, or one of the first times that my expectations were actually exceeded.” Natalie, 29, also admitted that she finds working with special effects challenging and thinks actors should be given lessons in how to work with a blue screen. She said: “Working with blue screen and that whole universe is something that is a skill and something that you really need to practice. If acting schools were created today, that would be a technique that you would learn. And getting to experience that with Ken’s guidance – who’s the master of attacking text and character from every angle – was a new way to approach the blue screen acting. It was an exciting challenge to go at again.” Thor is due for release in May 2011.

Source: Contactmusic

Natalie Portman is not a “snob” when it comes to choosing her movie roles. The Black Swan actress is constantly pushing herself to learn more about her craft so is equally happy tackling a special-effects filled blockbuster or an independent arthouse film. She said: “With everything I do I want to learn something new. And part of that, too, is never being a snob. “I never want to try and just make like, arty, intellectual films, I love those, of course, as experiences, but I also love big, more traditional entertainment type movies. And that’s always trying different things and always challenging myself is definitely my aspiration.”

Source: Contactmusic

Rooney Mara has bagged the female lead role in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The 25-year-old actress – whose movie credits include Dare, Nightmare On Elm Street and Youth In Revolt – will play Lisbeth Salander in the eagerly anticipated adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel, according to the Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog. New York-born Rooney will star opposite 007 heartthrob Daniel Craig in David Fincher’s film. The 42-year-old James Bond star will also play the male lead in adaptations of the other two novels that complete late author Larsson’s hit Millennium trilogy. The movie will be an English-language remake of the Swedish smash hit film of the same name, which starred Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth.

Source: The Press Association

Daniel Craig has signed has signed on to play the lead in the American adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s best-selling mystery novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. After the news became public, fans started wondering who would be cast as the lead female in the much-anticipated flick. The role of Lisbeth Salander, the punky math genius and computer hacker was reportedly offered to Natalie Portman but she turned it down. Other stars such as Ellen Page and Carrey Mulligan also auditioned for the role, but rumor has it that the execs are eyeing a relatively unknown actress for the lead. 4 names that have been making the rounds are Rooney Mara, Léa Seydoux, Sarah Snook and Sophie Lowe. One of those ladies will not be so unknown if she gets the part in this movie starring alongside Daniel Craig!

Source: HollyScoop.com

Natalie Portman is a geek’s dream. Not only did she star in all three of the Star Wars prequels, but she’s book smart, builds websites, and is totally someone you’d want to take home to meet mom. At this year’s Comic-Con, Natalie and Thor costars sat down to chat about their upcoming release, but between talk of ice monsters and fun on set, Natalie also gave us a glimpse of her geekier side.
• On what kind of geek she is: I think I have geek pedigree, but I’m not really a techie person. I’ve only recently started being into more graphic novels since V For Vendetta.
• On if she’s a Kindle or an iPad kind of girl: I have a Kindle, but I feel like the iPad is like the next [thing]. No one who’s into tech stuff is like ‘”my Kindle!” Like I love my Kindle, but…
• On her MP3 player preferences: I still have like, the first iPod, that’s what I still use.
Natalie has mad love for her Kindle, but she’s been spotted with an iPad 3G while on the set of her latest film. Could this have just been a well-placed prop, or does she swing both ways when it comes to tablets and ereaders?

Source: GeekSugar.com