Birthday's to share this week : 23rd - 29th July 2017

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau does on 27th July - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 47, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 23rd July

• Ronny Cox - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Woody Harrelson - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Shawn Levy - Born 1968, turns 49 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Daniel Radcliffe - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actor | Singer | Producer  

Monday 24th July

• Dan Hedaya - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor
• Gus Van Sant - Born 1952, turns 65 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor
• Doug Liman - Born 1965, turns 52 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Lynda Carter - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter
• Jennifer Lopez - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Rose Byrne - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actress 
• Elizabeth Moss - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress | Producer
• Anna Paquin - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress | Producer  

Tuesday 25th July

• Matt LeBlanc - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• D.B. Woodside - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor   

Wednesday 26th July

• Mick Jagger - Born 1943, turns 74 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Producer | Actor | Writer
• Kevin Spacey - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Jeremy Piven - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Jason Statham - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer 
• Helen Mirren - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Susan George - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actress | Producer
• Sandra Bullock - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actress | Producer 
• Olivia Williams - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actress 
• Kate Beckinsale - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress 

Thursday 27th July

• Cliff Curtis - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Julian McMahon - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer  

Friday 28th July

• Randall Wallace - Born 1949, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer    

Saturday 29th July 

• David Warner - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actor
• Stephen Dorff - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was born in Rudkobing, a small town on the island of Langeland in Denmark, to mother Hanne Soborg Coster, a librarian and father Jorgen Oscar Fritzer Waldau who died in 1998. He has commented in the past about his fathers struggle with alcohol and about his parents divorce, as a result of which Nikolaj and his two older sisters were mostly raised by their mother. He grew up in the small village of Tybjerg in southern Zealand - the largest and most populated island in Denmark (other than Greenland). Nikolaj studied at the Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance in Copenhagen, where he was educated from 1989 through to 1993, and he was the youngest Actor to be admitted there. 

Coster-Waldau made his stage acting debut in a production of 'Hamlet' at Copenhagen's Betty Nansen Theatre in 1992 and '93 before securing his small screen introduction in television movie 'Slaget pa tasken' in 1993. In 1994 the young Actor scored his big screen breakthrough role in horror thriller 'Nightwatch' (not to be confused with the Timur Bekmambetov Russian fantasy supernatural thriller of 2004) which was well received in his native country. He then appeared in a number of locally made for television short films, and stage plays in and around Copenhagen, until being cast in his British debut feature film 'Bent' in 1997 alongside Clive Owen, Jude Law, Mick Jagger, Paul Bettany, Ian McKellen and Rachel Weisz, and Directed by Sean Mathias. More Danish productions followed including 'Wildside' with Mads Mikkelsen in 1998 which he also Co-Wrote, horror offering 'Angel of the Night' that same year, 'The Cable Club' in 1999 and 'Misery Harbour' seeing out the decade.

2000 saw Danish war time drama 'Foreign Fields', then two episodes on the short lived Channel 4 television adaptation of 'Lock, Stock . . . ' and then Michael Apted's 2001 'Enigma' with Kate Winslet, Saffron Burrows and Dougray Scott. Coster-Waldau launched his US career courtesy of Ridley Scott who cast him in 2001 as Delta Force Medal of Honor recipient Gary Gordon in 'Black Hawk Down' with an all star cast. More locally produced Scandinavian films followed including 'Stealing Rembrandt', 'The Bouncer', 'My Name Is Modesty' and 'The Good Cop' before being cast in 2004 in Richard Loncraine's tennis RomCom 'Wimbledon'. In 2005 Ridley Scott came knocking again, casting Coster-Waldau in the epic historical drama 'Kingdom of Heaven' again with an all star cast. 'The Headsman' (aka 'Shadow of the Sword') came next, and then crime thriller 'Firewall' for Director Richard Loncraine again with Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Robert Forster and Alan Arkin. 

Up next was comedy drama 'Filthy Gorgeous' with Isabella Rossellini, comedy thriller 'The Baker' with Damian Lewis, Swedish comedy drama 'Wonderful and Loved by All', Norwegian historical drama 'The Kautokeino Rebellion', Danish crime drama 'Himmerland', Peter Berg's Sci-Fi drama 'Virtuality' and then Danish action adventure 'At World's End' in 2009. In between time there was top billing for Coster-Waldau on Fox Television's Sci-Fi detective drama series that ran for a single season of eight episodes 'New Amsterdam', with the Actor playing immortal New York homicide cop John Amsterdam.

Western 'Blackthorn' followed in 2011, then Norwegian action thriller 'Headhunters' based on the novel by Jo Nesbo and Directed by Morten Tyldum and which was both a critical and commercial success in its native Norway, with a US version allegedly in the works. 2013 saw supernatural horror film 'Mama' with Jessica Chastain and Directed by Andrew Muschietti, taking US$147M from its US$15M budget outlay. A turn in the Tom Cruise post-apocalyptic SciFi offering 'Oblivion' with Morgan Freeman too proved to be another commercial success bringing in US$287M from its US$120M budget, before 'A Thousand Times Good Night' opposite Juliette Binoche and U2's Larry Mullen Jnr., and Nick Cassavetes comedy film 'The Other Woman' with Cameron Diaz in 2014, leading on to Danish thriller 'A Second Chance' later that year.

2015 opened with comedy drama 'Klown Forever', and then in 2016 Alex Proyas' epic fantasy action adventure offering 'Gods of Egypt' with an all star cast that included Gerard Butler, Bryan Brown, Brenton Thwaites, Geoffrey Rush, Rufus Sewell but despite this the film was panned by critics for just about every reason under the sun and it recovered US$151M in ticket sales from its US$140M budget investment. Later that year he also appeared in the fifteen minute short film Written and Directed by James D'Arcy 'Chicken/Egg' also starring Hayley Atwell.

This year in a Netflix Original Film he took top billing in 'Small Crimes' with Jacki Weaver, Robert Forster and Gary Cole, the Danish drama film '3 Things', and due for imminent release is prison crime drama 'Shot Caller' with Jon Bernthal and Benjamin Bratt. 'Domino' which is currently filming is due for a 2018 release and is Directed by Brian De Palma and also stars Christina Hendricks and Guy Pearce.

This brings us up to date, however, not forgetting the role that made Coster-Waldau a household name the world over as Jaime Lannister on the hugely successful HBO series 'Game of Thrones', based on the George R.R. Martin best selling fantasy action novel series of books 'A Song of Ice and Fire'. 'GOT' started screening in early 2011 and has just aired its first episode of Season 7. Coster-Waldau has starred in 46 episodes to date and plays a central character, for which he is paid two million pounds sterling per episode for this current season, making him one of the highest paid Actors working in television today.

All up Coster-Waldau has 52 Acting credits to his name, five as Producer and one as Writer on 1998's 'Wildside'. He has fifteen awards nominations including Critics Choice Television Awards, People's Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards nods - all for 'GOT'. Coster-Waldau is married to Greenlandic Singer, Actress and 1990 Miss Greenland Sascha Nukaaka Motzfeldt, with whom he has two daughters - Filippa (born in 2000) and Safina (born in 2003). They live in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. He has supported the Danish Red Cross since 2003, and in 2016 he has also supported (PRODUCT) RED in engaging with the private sector in raising awareness and funding to help eliminate HIV/AIDS across eight African countries. In late 2016 he was appointed a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador to help raise awareness and support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - made his name in 'GOT' and we love you for it and remain glued to the screen because of it, but equally securing diverse roles on both sides of the Atlantic and increasingly in demand in both local Scandinavian and international television and film, loves a good dramatic story and portraying characters with secrets, twists and who don't follow the rules. 'All Men Must Die' Jaime Lannister - will you survive into the final season of 'GOT' - let's hope so. In the meantime Happy Birthday to you Nikolaj, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 20th - 26th March 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jessica Chastain does on 24th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 39, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 20th March

• Carl Reiner - Born 1922, turns 94 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• William Hurt - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• David Thewlis - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Writer
• Spike Lee - Born 1957, turns 59 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Holly Hunter - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress | Producer

Monday 21st March

• Rosie O'Donnell - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Timothy Dalton - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor
• Matthew Broderick - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor
• Gary Oldman - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Scott Eastwood - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor | Producer

Tuesday 22nd March

• William Shatner - Born 1931, turns 85 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Matthew Modine - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Bruno Ganz - Born 1941, turns 75 - Actor
• M. Emmett Walsh - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor
• Stephen Sondheim - Born 1930, turns 86 - Composer | Songwriter | Writer
• Andrew Lloyd Webber - Born 1948, turns 68 - Composer | Songwriter | Writer | Producer
• Reese Witherspoon - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress | Producer | Singer

Wednesday 23rd March

• Amanda Plummer - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actress
• Catherine Keener - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actress | Producer
• Michelle Monaghan - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Keri Russell - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress

Thursday 24th March

• Jessica Chastain - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actress | Producer
• Lara Flynn Boyle - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer
• Kelly LeBrock - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actress
• Keisha Castle-Hughes - Born 1990, turns 26 - Actress
• Curtis Hanson - Born 1945, turns 71 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Partick Malahide - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actor

Friday 25th March

• Edgar Ramirez - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | Producer
• Lee Pace - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor
• Paul Michael Glazer - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Sarah Jessica Parker - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actress | Writer

Saturday 26th March

• Keira Knightly - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress | Singer
• James Caan - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor
• Alan Arkin - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Francis Lawrence - Born 1971, turns 45 - Director | Producer
• Martin McDonagh - Born 1970, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Martin Short - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer
• Alan Silvestri - Born 1950, turns 66 - Composer | Songwriter

Jessica Michelle Chastain was born in Sacramento, California, USA to mother Jerri Renee, a vegan chef, and father Michael Monasterio, a rock musician who died in early 2013 aged 55. Chastain was estranged from her father for her entire life and has never publicly acknowledged him, with his name not appearing on her birth certificate. She was raised by her mother and her stepfather Michael Hastey - a fireman, whom she does regard as her father to all intents and purposes. She retains her mothers maiden name (Chastain) as did her sister Juliet, who died aged 25 in 2003. She grew up with her siblings from her mothers second marriage - William, Daniel and Jacquelyn Hastey. She is perhaps closest to her maternal grandmother Marilyn who first sparked the interest in Acting in the young seven year old Jessica after attending a performance together of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' starring David Cassidy. She attended El Camino High School in Sacramento where she struggled academically, and then went on to Sacramento City College before gaining a scholarship donated by Robin Williams that allowed her to attend Juilliard School in New York City where she actively participated in drama, theatre and film projects, before graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2003.

Her early career saw her move to Venice Beach, California where she started to audition for roles and was subsequently picked up by a talent agency, although she struggled to secure roles because of her red hair and somewhat unconventional looks. Her television debut came with a remake of a popular 1960's gothic series 'Dark Shadows' but the show failed to live up to expectations and was not picked up for broadcast. That was 2004, and the following four years saw several appearances on the likes of 'E.R', 'Close to Home', 'Veronica Mars' and 'Law & Order : Trial by Jury'. About this time she gained an introduction and a recommendation to Al Pacino who was searching for an unknown talent to star in his new theatre production of 'Salome' - he hired her on the spot, and as a result of the plays sell out success she came to much wider attention.

In 2008 Chastain made her film debut in the lead role of 'Jolene' - the story of an abused foster child told over a ten year period from age 15. She receive generally positive reviews and won a Best Actress Award on the film circuit. Next up was 'Stolen' which crashed and burned, and then a year later came the 'Murder on the Orient Express' episode of 'Agatha Christie's : Poirot'.

2010 saw 'The Debt' for Director John Madden and starring Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Sam Worthington, and then 'Take Shelter' with Michael Shannon which was critically lauded and had much praise bestowed upon it, including for the film and the performances of both her and Shannon, picking up numerous awards along the way.

2011 was a particularly busy year with the Ralph Fiennes Directed 'Coriolanus' based on a modern adaptation of the Shakespeare play; then Terrence Mallick's highly acclaimed 'Tree of Life' with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn; 'The Help' with Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer which was also highly acclaimed with the Oscar going to Octavia Spencer for her supporting performance. The documentary drama of 'Wilde Salome' as Directed and starring Al Pacino recounted the story of what led him to stage his play at the Wadsworth Theatre in West Los Angeles; and the year closed out with 'Texas Killing Fields' with Sam Worthington, Jason Clarke and Chloe Grace Moretz.

John Hillcoat's 'Lawless' followed in 2012 with an all star cast that included Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Jason Clarke. 'Zero Dark Thirty' came next garnering Chastain an Oscar nomination for this highly praised film Directed by Kathryn Bigelow being the story of the ten year hunt for one Osama bin Laden, resulting in his final capture and death . . .  allegedly!

Horror fantasy 'Mama' was next in 2013 and that same year the film of 'Salome' Directed and starring Al Pacino based on the Oscar Wilde play was released, bringing the saga full circle from Pacino's stage play to film docudrama to full blown movie production. Next up came a trio of films under the banner of 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' and subtitled 'Him', 'Her' and 'Them' with Chastain playing the title role alongside James McAvoy. 'Miss Julie' came next with Colin Farrell, and then Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' with Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine and Anne Hathaway. 'A Most Violent Year' followed after this run with Oscar Isaac in the J.C. Chandor Directed film of a most violent 1981 New York.

2015 brought along 'The Martian' for Ridley Scott and with Matt Damon, and then 'Crimson Peak' for Guillermo del Toro and with Tom Hiddleston. Next up is 'The Zookeeper's Wife' with Daniel Bruhl in post-production currently for release later this year; 'The Huntsman : Winter's War' for release soon; 'The Death and Life of John F. Donovan' in pre-production; 'Miss Sloane' for Director John Madden currently filming and 'Woman Walks Ahead' recently announced. 

Chastain has 42 Acting credits to her name and has so far garnered seventy award wins and another 94 nominations including two Academy Award nominations for 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Help'; two Golden Globe nominations for 'A Most Violent Year' and 'The Help' with a win for 'Zero Dark Thirty' and two BAFTA nominations for 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Help'. She also lent her voice talent to 'Madagascar 3 : Europe's Most Wanted'.

Chastain is a feminist, and a vegan, and is involved in the suicide support group 'To Write Love On Her Arm'. She turned down roles in 'Iron Man 3', 'Oblivion' and 'Diana', has picked up numerous fashion awards, appears on numerous 'Top' lists, and in the last four years has starred in four  films all nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards - 'The Martian' in 2015, 'Zero Dark Thirty' in 2012, 'The Help' and 'Tree of Life' both in 2011.

Jessica Chastain - so much achieved in such a short space of time, diverse acting range across all genres (although perhaps not yet comedy), highly acclaimed, much in demand, bankable, keeping it real, keeping it grounded and very watchable. Happy Birthday to you Jessica, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-