Birthday's to share this week : 20th - 26th August 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Elizabeth Debicki  does on 24th August - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 27, 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 August

• Joan Allen - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actress 
• Amy Adams - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress | Singer | Producer
• Sylvester McCoy - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor 
• David O'Russell - Born 1958, turns 59 - Director | Producer | Writer
• David Walliams - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Andrew Garfield - Born 1983, turns 34 - Actor   

Monday 21st August

• Peter Weir - Born 1944, turns 73 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Kim Cattrall - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actress | Producer
• Carrie-Anne Moss - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress 
• Hayden Panettiere - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress | Singer  

Tuesday 22nd August

• Honor Blackman - Born 1925, turns 92 - Actress 
• Kristen Wiig - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer
• Ty Burrell - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor
• Richard Armitage - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor
• Rodrigo Santoro - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor | Producer  

Wednesday 23rd August

• Alexandre Desplat - Born 1961, turns 56 - Composer | Conductor | Songwriter
• Roger Avary - Born 1965, turns 52 - Writer | Producer | Director | Cinematographer
• Charley Boorman - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Scott Caan - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer  

Thursday 24th August

• Stephen Fry - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Steve Guttenberg - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Jared Harris - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor 
• James D'Arcy - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor 
• Rupert Grint - Born 1988, turns 29 - Actor | Producer 
• Elizabeth Debicki - Born 1990, turns 27 - Actress  

Friday 25th August

• Joanne Whalley - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actress
• Blake Lively - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actress | Producer
• Sean Connery - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor | Producer 
• Tom Skerritt - Born 1933, turns 84 - Actor | Director
• John Badham - Born 1939, turns 78 - Director | Producer | Actor 
• Tim Burton - Born 1958, turns 59 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Tom Hollander - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Nikolaj Arcel - Born 1972, turns 45 - Writer | Director
• Joe Wright - Born 1972, turns 45 - Director | Producer
• Alexander Skarsgard - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer   

Saturday 26th August

• Mike Colter - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor 
• Chris Pine - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Macaulay Culkin - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actor  
• Melissa McCarthy - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer

Elizabeth Debicki was born in Paris, France to ballet dancer parents - her mother being Australian and her father Polish. When the young Elizabeth was five years of age the parents relocated to Melbourne, Australia. From an early age she became interested in ballet, and trained as a dancer until making the switch to theatre. She attended the independent co-ed boarding and day school - the Huntingtower School, located in the east Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley. Upon graduating in 2007 she was the school's Dux (the highest-ranking student in academic or sporting achievement in each graduating year) and had gained perfect study scores in both Drama and English. In 2010 she gained a degree in drama from the University of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts. During her time there she was awarded a bursary in 2009 for outstanding acting students in their second year of training.

In 2010 Debicki gained her stage acting debut in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of 'The Gift', and the following year she secured her feature film debut in the comedy film offering 'A Few Best Men' Directed by Stephan Elliott and starring Xavier Samuel, Rebel Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, and Steve Le Marquand. On the strength of this appearance Baz Luhrmann cast her in his 2013 retelling of 'The Great Gatsby' opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Steve Bisley, Jason Clarke, Vince Colosimo, Jack Thompson, Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher. The film picked up 49 award wins including two Academy Awards, two BAFTA's, twelve AACTA's and 83 other nominations, and it made US$351M from its US$190M budget outlay. 

In mid-2013 Debicki starred in the Sydney Theatre Company's stage production of 'The Maids' opposite Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert - a role which gained her the Best Newcomer Award at the Sydney Theatre Awards. She also starred in the thirteen minute short film 'Godel Incomplete' Written and Directed by Martha Goddard about a time travel romance between one of the 20th Century's great minds, Kurt Godel, and a lonely particle physicist, Serita Cedric (Debicki) working as a research student at Switzerland's Large Hadron Collider. This then led to an appearance on a single episode of 'Rake' in season three opposite Richard Roxburgh. 

2015 saw Debicki score the role of Lady Macduff in Justin Kurzel's big screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with Michael Fassbender in the title role and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth with Paddy Considine, Jack Reynor, David Thewlis and Sean Harris. That same year she was cast in the big screen adaptation of the classic mid-'60's action spy series 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' as Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, Jared Harris and Alicia Vikander. Debicki plays Victoria Vinciguerra one half of a wealthy Nazi sympathising criminal underworld couple. Rounding out that year, Debicki was cast as Dr. Caroline Mackenzie - the base camp physician in Balthasar Kormakur's biographical adventure film 'Everest' alongside an all star cast comprising Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington, Clive Standen, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley and Emily Watson. 

In 2016 Debicki took a break from big screen offerings to concentrate on small screen fare with her starring role in Australian television drama 'The Kettering Incident' filmed in Tasmania over eight episodes in the first series. A second series is currently in the early stages of development. Then there was the highly acclaimed British thriller 'The Night Manager' based on the 1993 book of the same name by John le Carre but updated to the present day. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Coleman and Tom Hollander the six episode mini-series in which Debicki plays girlfriend Jed Marshall to Hugh Laurie's Richard Roper and the love interest to Tom Hiddleston's Jonathan Pine (the Night Manager in question). The series picked up seventeen award wins including three Golden Globe wins, two Primetime Emmy wins and three BAFTA wins, and another 44 nominations. A follow-up second season is in development too it seems. Closing out 2016 Debicki also starred in London's National Theatre production at the Lyttelton Theatre of 'The Red Barn' with Mark Strong and Hope Davis. 

This year has so far seen two epic Sci-Fi outings - the first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the second instalment of 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2' as Directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradely Cooper, Michael Rooker, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. Debicki plays the golden High Priestess Ayesha and the leader of the genetically engineered Sovereign People. The film recovered US$862M from its US$200M production budget and generally positive Reviews. 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' is in development. Just released is Luc Besson's space opera and epic effects laden Sci-Fi adventure film 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' in which Debicki lends her voice to the character of Emperor Haban Lima.

Next up for Debicki and to be released later this year is the Simon Baker Directed, Co-Written and starring 'Breath' based on the best selling award winning Tim Winton book set in the mid-'70's coastal Australia about two teenage boys who form an unlikely bond with an older adventurer who pushes them to take risks that leave a lasting impression on their lives. Richard Roxburgh also stars. Then due for release in 2018 are 'The Tale' also starring Laura Dern, Frances Conroy, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Ritter, John Heard and Common. Then there is the animated 'Peter Rabbit' based on the famed Beatrix Potter character with Debicki lending her voice talents together with Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, James Cordon (as Peter), with Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson too. Following these is the Steve McQueen Directed 'Widows' based on the early '80's British television series with Michelle Rodriguez, Viola Davis, Jacki Weaver, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Lukas Haas and Daniel Kaluuya, and finally the space station Sci-Fi horror offering that will be the third instalment in the 'Cloverfield' franchise - 'God Particle' and starring Daniel Bruhl, Chris O'Dowd, John Ortiz, David Oyelowo, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Produced by J.J. Abrams. 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' has also been recently announced in which Debicki is slated to reprise her role as Ayesha.

All up Debicki has eighteen Acting credits to her name, and has so far picked up two award wins - both AACTA Awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) for 'The Kettering Incident' and 'The Great Gatsby', plus four other nominations - three of which were for 'The Great Gatsby' and one for 'The Night Manager'. Debicki has been romantically linked with Australian Actor Alexander England.

Elizabeth Debicki - described in one publication as 'versatile, graceful, statuesque and swan-like' and she is certainly all of these things and more. Already on a upward trajectory that sees her going from strength to strength with every role both on the small screen and the silver screen, clearly in demand, comfortable across all genres it seems, and with your star shining brightly after just six short years in the business. We will watch your career with much interest as the roles unfold and the accolades undoubtedly will follow. Happy Birthday to you Elizabeth, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 29th January - 4th February 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Isla Fisher does on 3rd February - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 41, 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 29th January

• Katherine Ross - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actress
• Oprah Winfrey - Born 1954, turns 63 - Television Personality | Actress | Producer
• Heather Graham - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Isabel Lucas - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actress
• Tom Selleck - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Edward Burns - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer

Monday 30th January

• Gene Hackman - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor
• Christian Bale - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actor
• Vanessa Redgrave - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actress | Producer | Singer  

Tuesday 31st January

• Minnie Driver - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Singer  
• Portia de Rossi - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress
• Philip Glass - Born 1937, turns 80 - Composer | Musician | Songwriter
• Anthony LaPaglia - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer
• Dexter Fletcher - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Justin Timberlake - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer

Wednesday 1st February

• Terry Jones - Born 1942, turns 75 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Linus Roache - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor
• Michael C. Hall - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Thursday 2nd February

• David Jason - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Gemma Arterton - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actress | Singer  

Friday 3rd February

• Morgan Fairchild - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actress | Singer
• Isla Fisher - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress
• Nathan Lane - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Saturday 4th February

• George A. Romero - Born 1940, turns 77 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor
• Patrick Bergin - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter
• Gabrielle Anwar - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress
• Natalie Imbruglia - Bron 1975, turns 42 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter

Isla Lang Fisher was born in Muscat, Oman to Scottish parents - mother Elspeth Reid, a romance novelist and father Brian Fisher, a banker who worked in Oman for the United Nations at the time of her birth. The family moved back to their hometown of Bathgate, in Scotland when Isla was young and then to Perth in Western Australia at age six. There she attended Swanbourne Primary School and then the independent Methodist Ladies College. Whilst at school she appeared in several school productions including 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Her acting career kicked off at just nine years of age appearing in kids television shows 'Bay City' and 'Paradise Beach' as Robyn Devereaux which ran for two series over 260 episodes from 1993 through 1994, and was syndicated across eleven countries including the USA, UK and France. This in turn led to her being cast in the role of Shannon Reed in the hugely popular long running Australian soap opera 'Home and Away' in which she starred in 376 episodes from 1994 through to 1997. In the meantime, she published two best selling novels at age eighteen aimed at the teenage market - 'Bewitched' and 'Seduced by Fame' with the help of her mother. Had her acting career not taken off, she would happily have become a writer.

After exiting the cast of 'Home and Away', she enrolled at L'Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq - a school in Paris where the physical art of theatre is studied emphasising the body, movement and space as the entry point in theatrical performance. Armed with these skills she appeared in a number of UK pantomimes and in a number of stage plays travelling the country. She went on to roles in the ITV mini-series 'Oliver Twist' in 1999, then an episode on the BBC series 'Sunburn' and then in 2001 in the mini-series 'Attila' with Gerard Butler, Powers Booth, Steven Berkoff, Liam Cunningham and Tim Curry. In 2001 she gained her first major role in the German slasher horror film 'Swimming Pool' (aka 'The Pool') alongside James McAvoy. She followed this with her role as Shaggy's love interest as Mary Jane in 2002's live action adaptation of 'Scooby Doo'. The film received generally lacklustre Reviews but it grossed US$276M from its US$84M budget outlay.

The Australian comedy 'The Wannabes' followed in 2003 with a bit part in Scott Caan's Directing debut 'Dallas 362' alongside Scott Caan, Jeff Goldblum and Selma Blair. 'I Heart Huckabees' came next with an all star cast as Directed by David O. Russell, and then 'Wedding Crashers' with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson winning the Actress a Breakthrough Performance Award. 'London' followed with Chris Evans, Jason Statham and Jessica Biel, and then RomCom 'Wedding Daze' with Jason Biggs in 2006. Crime film 'Lookout' came next with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels, then comedy offering 'Hot Rod' and then the romantic dramedy 'Definitely, Maybe' with Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Kline, Rachel Weisz, and Abigail Breslin. 'Confessions of a Shopaholic', another RomCom, closed out the decade with Fisher in the starring role alongside John Lithgow, John Goodman, Hugh Dancy, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lynn Redgrave.

2010 brought 'Burke and Hare' - the black comedy Directed by John Landis and starring Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in the title roles respectively. This was followed up by the RomCom 'Bachelorette' with Kirsten Dunst, Rebel Wilson and Lizzy Caplan, before Baz Luhrmann's epic retelling of 'The Great Gatsby' with Fisher starring as Myrtle Wilson beside Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan and Jason Clarke. The film made US$351M at the Box Office from its US$105M investment and won 46 awards (including two Oscar's and two BAFTA's) and another 74 nominations. That same year, Fisher starred in 'Now You See Me' as Henley Reeves with Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. The film was a critical and commercial success, although Fisher was unable to reprise her role in the 2016 follow-up and was replaced by Lizzie Caplan.

The crime comedy 'Life of Crime' with Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins and Will Forte came along in 2013, and was followed up in 2015 by supernatural horror straight to video offering 'Visions'. A cameo role as herself in 'Klown Forever' in 2015 led to action comedy 'Grimsby' with Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Rebel Wilson and Penelope Cruz. Tom Ford's acclaimed 'Nocturnal Animals' in late 2016 with Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson and the critical and commercial failure 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' saw out 2016 and brings us up to date.

In the meantime, Fisher lent her voice talents to the animated features 'Horton Hears a Who!' in 2008, to 'Rango' in 2011, and to 'Rise of the Guardians' in 2012. She also has had appearances in several television series including 'Pilot Season', the animated 'Neighbors from Hell', 'Bored to Death', 'Arrested Development' and animated series 'Sofia the First' most recently.

All up, Fisher has 44 acting credits to her name, and she has thus far accumulated four award wins and ten nominations. She married to English Actor, Producer, Comedian and Screenwriter Sacha Baron Cohen having met at a party in Sydney, Australia in 2002. They were married in a Jewish ceremony in 2010 after Fisher converted to Judaism after three years of study in 2007. They have three children together - daughters Olive (born in 2008) and Elula (born in 2011) and son Montgomery (born in 2015). Fisher published her first solo written children's book 'Marge in Charge' in 2016.

Isla Fisher - voted on numerous 'Top' lists, often mistaken for friend Amy Adams; wanted to marry Elvis Presley when she was young even though he died in 1977 and she was born in 1976; often plays in RomCom's and comedies, but is also playing it straight in horrors, in crime dramas, in animated productions leaving only Sci-Fi on her list to tick off. Committed to her husband and her children, committed to her new religious beliefs, loves acting saying it is the greatest fun in the world and considers herself 'very Australian'. A child actress who has blossomed into a children's author, a leading lady, and an in demand supporting Actress, Happy Birthday to you Isla, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 19th-25th June 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Joel Edgerton does on 23rd June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 42, 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 19th June

• Paul Dano - Born 1984, turns 32 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Zoe Saldana - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Sadie Frost - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Kathleen Turner - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actress | Producer
• Gena Rowlands - Born 1930, turns 86 - Actress  

Monday 20th June

• Nicole Kidman - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Martin Landau - Born 1928, turns 88 - Actor | Producer
• Stephen Frears - Born 1941, turns 75 - Director | Producer
• John Goodman - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Josh Lucas - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Producer
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actor
• Robert Rodriguez - Born 1968, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Composer | Songwriter | Editor | Cinematographer | Cameraman | FX Executive  

Tuesday 21st June

• Chris Pratt - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor
• Benjamin Walker - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actor
• David Morrissey - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Juliette Lewis - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Lana Wachowski - Born 1965, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Wednesday 22nd June

• Meryl Streep - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Lindsay Wagner - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress | Producer
• Kris Kristofferson - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Bruce Campbell - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Uwe Boll - Born 1965, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Randy Couture - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | UFC Wrestler  

Thursday 23rd June

• Joel Edgerton - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Bryan Brown - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer
• Joss Whedon - Born 1964, turns 52 - Producer | Writer | Director | Actor | Editor | Composer | Songwriter
• Frances McDormand - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actress | Producer  

Friday 24th June

• Nancy Allen - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress
• Peter Weller - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Director
• Dan Gilroy - Born 1959, turns 57 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Iain Glen - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer  

Saturday 25th June

• Anthony Bourdain - Born 1956, turns 60 - Television Personality | Producer | Writer
• Timur Bekmambetov - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ricky Gervais - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Television Personality | Singer | Songwriter

Joel Edgerton was born in Blacktown, west of Sydney, Australia to mother Marianne, a housewife and mother, and father Michael, a solicitor and property developer. He has an older brother, Nash, who works as a stuntman, actor and Director, and whom Joel describes as his best friend. He graduated from The Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst, north-west of Sydney in 1991 and went onto Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney from where he graduated in 1994 before appearing in various stage productions with the likes of The Sydney Theatre Company amongst others.

His first small screen appearance came on a single episode of 'Police Rescue' in 1995 with his first big screen appearance a year later in 1996 in 'Race the Sun' with Halle Berry, James Belushi, Casey Affleck, Steve Zahn and Bill Hunter. This was followed up by a nine minute short film that same year, 'Loaded' Co-Directed by brother Nash and Kieran Darcy-Smith. The following few years saw more television series roles including 'Big Sky', 'Fallen Angels', 'Spellbinder', 'Wildside' and 'Water Rats'. 'Praise' followed in 1998 for Director John Curran and the 26 minute short film 'Bloodlock' for brother Nash and Kieran Darcy-Smith once more. 'Erskineville Kings' with Hugh Jackman and 'Dogwatch' saw out the decade.

The following few years saw a number of made for television movies including 'Secret Men's Business', 'The Three Stooges' and the 'The Secret Life of Us' with Claudia Karvan and Deborah Mailman, and which spawned a spin-off television series of the same name with largely the same cast, and Edgerton reprising his role in 32 episodes as Will McGill from 2001-2002. There were also several short films including 'Gate', 'The Pitch' Written by the Edgerton brothers and Directed by Nash, 'Animalis' and 'Saturn's Return'. Perhaps the role that really established him was as Owen Lars in 'Star Wars : Episode II - Attack of the Clones' in 2002 - a role he would reprise in 2005 in 'Star Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith'.

In between time, there was 'The Hard Word' with Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths, Gregor Jordan's 'Ned Kelly' biopic with Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush, the Sinatra biopic of the crooners tour of Australia 'The Night We Called it a Day' with Dennis Hopper and Melanie Griffiths all followed. Antoine Fuqua's epic retelling of 'King Arthur' with Clive Owen, Ray Winstone, Stellan Skarsgard and Keira Knightley, and then 'Kinky Boots' with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nick Frost took us up to 2006.

'Open Window', 'Smokin' Aces', 'Whisper', 'The Square' Directed by Nash and written by Joel, 'Acolytes', 'Separation City' and 'The Waiting City' saw the decade out with eight episodes of Australian action drama series 'Dangerous' in 2007, and further short films 'Crossbow', 'Father' and 'Spider' again Directed by, and Co-Wriiten by brother Nash, with ABC mining drama 'Dirt Game' in 2009.

2010 saw the highly acclaimed and Oscar nominated 'Animal House' for David Michod with Jackie Weaver, then 'Warrior' with Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte, and the remake/prequel to John Carpenter's classic 'The Thing' in 2011. 'Wish You Were Here', 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green' and then highly praised Osama bin Laden hunt him down film by Katherine Bigelow 'Zero Dark Thirty' with Jessica Chastain. This was followed by his turn at Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's lavish period piece 'The Great Gatsby' with Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire in this equally acclaimed production. The Police thriller 'Felony' Produced, Written and Starring Edgerton came next in 2013, with Ridley Scott's biblical epic adventure tale of brothers Moses and Ramses in 'Exodus : Gods & Kings' with Christian Bale, Ben Kingsley and John Tuturro.

'Life' followed in 2015, as did Egerton's Directorial debut with 'The Gift' which he also wrote, Produced and starred in to positive critical and commercial success making eleven times its budget outlay. 'Black Mass' with Johnny Depp in the lead role of James 'Whitey' Bulger in this true crime biographical drama set in the mid-70's South Boston area. 'Jane Got a Gun' was Co-Written for the screen by Edgerton and stars him too in this action Western that has yet to receive a cinema release in Australia, despite its release in the US at the end of January where it tanked - possibly due to its troubled production and repeatedly delayed release.

'Midnight Special' was released on a limited basis only just very recently to generally positive reviews, although it has so far only recovered one-third of its Budget costs. That film is Directed by Jeff Nichols and stars Michael Shannon, with whom Edgerton reprises that relationship next with 'Loving' due in November this year and very warmly received at this years Cannes Film Festival where the film received a standing ovation, and subsequent Oscar speculation of Edgerton's first nomination. He has lent his voice talents also over the years to '$9.99', 'Legend of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole', and short films 'The Cartographer' and 'The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello'.

Next up is 'American Express' due next year and Directed by Nash Edgerton with Charlize Theron, Thandie Newton, David Oyelowo and Sharlto Copley, and then 'Bright' in pre-production for David Ayer with Will Smith and Noomi Rapace. All up Edgerton has 68 acting credits, nine Writer cerdits, six as Producer and three as Director. He has thirteen award wins and another 24 nominations so far.

Edgerton is an ambassador for the 'Fred Hollows Foundation' which restores eye sight to the less fortunate in poorer countries through a simple low cost procedure. In 1996 he and brother Nash Co-Founded Blue Tongue Films with Kieran Darcy-Smith and David Michod that has since produced feature films, short films and music videos for many named artists.

Joel Edgerton - multi-talented; multi-faceted across the film making game; has worked across just about all genres; is widely respected; grounded, real and has film making values that he holds dear; is clearly much sought after, and another great Australian success story - Happy Birthday to you Joel, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 12th - 18th July 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jason Clarke does on 17th July - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 46, 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 12th July

• Michelle Rodriguez - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actress
• Cheryl Ladd - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actress
• Brian Grazer - Born 1951, turns 64 - Producer | Writer
• Topher Grace - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
• Bill Cosby - Born 1937, turns 78 - Television Personality | Actor | Writer | Producer | Composer

Monday 13th July

• Patrick Stewart - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Robert Forster - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Harrison Ford - Born 1942, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Cheech Marin - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Cameron Crowe - Born 1957, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer

Tuesday 14th July

• Harry Dean Stanton - Born 1926, turns 89 - Actor
• Joel Silver - Born 1952, turns 63 - Producer
• Scott Rudin - Born 1958, turns 57 - Producer
• Jackie Earle Haley - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Writer
• Matthew Fox - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actor

Wednesday 15th July

• Travis Fimmel - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actor
• Forest Whittaker - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jan Michael Vincent - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Brigitte Nielsen - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
• Diane Kruger - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress

Thursday 16th July

• Phoebe Cates - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress
• Corey Feldman - Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Will Ferrell - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer

Friday 17th July

• Jason Clarke - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor
• Donald Sutherland - Born 1935, turns 80 - Actor | Producer
• David Hasselhoff - Born 1952, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• F. Gary Gray - Born 1969, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Actor

Saturday 18th July

• Vin Diesel - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Verhoeven - Born 1938, turns 77 - Producer | Director | Writer
• James Brolin - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Elizabeth McGovern - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actress | Writer
• Kelly Reilly - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actress | Producer

Jason Clarke was born in Winton, Queensland, Australia - a remote rural part of this outback State. His father was a professional sheep shearer. In his teens the young Clarke decided on an acting career and he enrolled in a class with the waiting to be discovered Hugh Jackman. After High School he moved to Melbourne to attend drama school at the Victorian College of Arts from which he graduated in 1994.

In his mid-20's his acting career kicked off with appearances in Australian television shows and films. His small screen debut came with singular episodes of 'Halifax f.p.' in 1995, then 'Mercury', 'Diagnosis Murder', 'Water Rats', 'Heartbreak High', 'Wildisde', 'Murder Call' and in between several appearances between 1995 and 1999 on 'Blue Heelers'.

His first big screen outing came in 1997's 'Dilemma' with Danny Trejo, and then 'Twilight' in 1998 with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon, with 'Praise' that same year with Joel Edgerton. The next year bought 'Kick' with Paul Mercurio and Radha Mitchell, and then 'Our Lips Are Sealed' in 2000 with the Olsen Sisters. By this time however, after a string of popular television shows in the first half of the decade, the latter half of the decade turned very lacklustre with bit parts in B and C grade film fare. Becoming increasingly frustrated Clarke started questioning his acting career.

DEspite his self doubt, 2000 also saw 'Risk' and then 'Better Than Sex' with David Wenham and Susie Porter, but it was 2002's 'Rabbit Proof Fence' that was to prove a break through. Directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Kenneth Branagh, David Gilpilil and Deborah Mailman, this film was both a commercial and critical success in both Australia and Stateside. Suddenly he was getting noticed, and the offers started coming in.

Next up, there was a stint on Australia's long running 'Home and Away' in 2002, with three episodes on 'Farscape' in 2003, two on 'White Collar Blue' and seven on 'Stingers' up to 2003. 'Get Rich Quick' was next in 2004, with the successful 'Brotherhood' Showtime crime drama series for 29 episodes from 2006 through to 2008 during which time he also made 'Under Still Waters', 'Death Race' with Jason Statham, Ian McShane and Joan Allen, and then 'The Human Contract' with Idris Elba and Paz Vega as Directed by Jada Pinkett Smith.

Following these there were smaller parts in studio fare but featuring some big name talent including Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale; Oliver Stone's 'Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps' with Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf; David Schwimmer's 'Trust' with Clive Owen and Viola Davis; John Hillcoat's 'Lawless' with Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce; and Kathrine Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty' with Jessica Chastain and Kyle Chandler.

In the meantime there had been a return to TV with thirteen episodes of 'The Chicago Code' and movies 'Yelling at the Sky', 'Swerve' and 'Texas Killing Fields'.

The last few years have seen bigger budget film fare as Clarke has risen to prominence in Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'; actioners 'White House Down' for Roland Emmerich; 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' for Matt Reeves; and the just released 'Terminator : Genisys' for Alan Taylor playing the saviour of the free world in 2029 against the machines, John Connor.

Still awaiting release in Australia is 'Knight of Cups' with Christian Bale; 'Child 44' with Tom Hardy; and 'Everest' due later this year and with an all star cast; 'All I See Is You' due in 2016; 'HHHH' currently in pre-production; and 'Weightless' recently announced.

With 58 acting credits to his name, one Producer credit and four award nominations so far, Jason Clarke is stepping out of the shadows finally, is a star on the rise, and capable of emulating an almost flawless American accent he is sure to do well in Hollywood, at last. Go get 'em Jason - the lad from outback Queensland. Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 24th - 30th May 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Carey Mulligan does on 28th May - check out the tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 30, 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 24th May

• Kristen Scott Thomas - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actress
• John C. Reilly - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Alfred Molina - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer
• Jim Broadbent - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor
• Roger Deakins - Born 1949, turns 66 - Cinematographer

Monday 25th May

• Cillian Murphy - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actor
• Ian McKellen - Born 1939, turns 76 - Actor | Writer
• Mike Meyers - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Frank Oz - Born 1944, turns 71 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Anne Heche - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director
• Jacki Weaver - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actress

Tuesday 26th May 

• Helena Bonham Carter - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actress
• Pam Grier - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actress
• Matt Stone - Born 1971, turns 44 - Writer | Producer | Actor
• Lenny Kravitz - Born 1964, turns 51 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor

Wednesday 27th May

• Paul Bettany - Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Christopher Lee - Born 1922, turns 93 - Actor
• Joseph Fiennes - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actor
• Louis Gossett Jnr. - Born 1936, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director

Thursday 28th May

• Carey Mulligan - Born 1985, turns 30 - Actress
• Kylie Minogue - Born 1968, turns 47 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress | Writer
• Sondra Locke - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actress | Director

Friday 29th May

• Annette Benning - Born 1958, turns 57 - Actress
• Rupert Everett - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Danny Elfman - Born 1953, turns 62 - Composer | Actor

Saturday 30th May

• Antoine Fuqua - Born 1965, turns 50 - Director | Producer
• Duncan Jones - Born 1971, turns 44 - Director | Producer
• Harry Enfield - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director

Carey Hannah Mulligan was born in Westminster, London to mother Nano Booth, a university lecturer, and father Stephen, a hotel manager. At three years of age the family moved to Germany where the young Carey's father had transferred to manage a hotel there. While living in Germany Carey and her brother Owain, attended the International School of Dusseldorf. Five years later, aged eight, the family returned to England where as a teenager she was educated at Woldingham School.

From aged six her interest in acting was sparked by her brothers performance in a school production of 'The King & I'. While at Woldingham School she involved herself in theatre and was the student head of drama while herself performing in musicals, plays and actively supporting productions.

Her parents were disapproving of her desire to pursue an acting career, instead wanting to attend university like her brother. She applied to three London drama schools but failed to gain an offer. In her last year at school author/writer/Director and Politician Julian Fellowes gave a lecture on the production of 'Gosford Park'. She sought advice from Fellowes which led to a dinner invitation for aspiring young Actors to gain advice on their chosen career path. That dinner in turn led to an introduction with a casting assistant and an audition for 2005's 'Pride and Prejudice' which she eventually scored in the role of Kitty Bennett.

Working in a pub and as a errand runner at Ealing Studios she first trod the boards at 19 in 'Forty Winks' at London's Royal Court Theatre. In 2005 she auditioned too for the BBC adaptation of Dicken's 'Bleak House' for which she won the BAFTA Award in her television debut having starred with Judi Dench, Donald Sutherland and Keira Knightley. In 2006 she starred in several TV shows including 'The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard', 'Agatha Christie's Marple', 'Trial & Retribution X', 'Waking the Dead', 'Northanger Abbey', 'My Boy Jack' and 'Doctor Who', as well as the stage play 'The Seagull' with Kristen Scott Thomas and Chiwetel Ejiofor,

In 2009 at just 24 her first lead role hit our screens with 'An Education' by Lone Scherfig and written by Nick Hornby. Further to her breakout role she won a BAFTA Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and the BAFTA Rising Star Award. That same year she starred in 'The Greatest' with Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon.







Next up was 'Never Let Me Go' with Keira Knightley in 2010, together with Oliver Stone's 'Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps'. The following year came a return to the stage with 'Through a Glass Darkly' which like many of her works to date was much praised and highly lauded. This led to 'Drive' for Director Nicholas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, and Oscar Isaac for which she was nominated for her second BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. Steve McQueen's 'Shame' with Michael Fassbender followed that same year and the two latter films debuting at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals respectively.

In 2013 she starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' followed by Joel & Ethan Coen's 'Inside Llewyn Davis' with Oscar Isaac once again. Following this was the TV mini-series 'The Spolis of Babylon', the 'Skylight' with Bill Nighy and Directed by Stephen Daldry, with 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and 'Suffragette' with Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter both due later this year.

To date Mulligan has 24 acting credits to her name, and 43 awards wins including the BAFTA for 'An Education' and a further 49 nominations including Academy Award and the Golden Globe nods for 'An Education' and the BAFTA for 'Drive'.

In 2009 she participated in the 'Safe Project' to raise awareness of sex trafficking, she has been  an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society since 2012, and from 2014 for 'War Child' also. She married Marcus Mumford (of Mumford & Sons) in April 2012, and they are expecting their first child this year.

Carey Mulligan - so much talent from someone still so young; experienced in film, TV and theatre; determined and focused; grounded and humble; charmingly playboyish and beautiful too - Happy 30th Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-