Birthday's to share this week : 8th-14th May 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Domhnall Gleeson does on 12th May - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 33, 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 8th May

• David Attenborough - Born 1926, turns 90 - Television Personality | Writer | Producer | Conservationist
• Michel Gondry - Born 1963, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Melissa Gilbert - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress

Monday 9th May

• Glenda Jackson - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actress | Politician
• Candice Bergen - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer
• Rosario Dawson - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress | Producer
• Albert Finney - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actor | Producer
• James L. Brooks - Born 1940, turns 76 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Allan Bennett - Born 1934, turns 82 - Writer | Producer | Actor  

Tuesday 10th May

• Bono - Born 1960, turns 56 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Producer | Actor
• Maureen Lipman - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress
• Meg Foster - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress  

Wednesday 11th May

• Holly Valance - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress
• Frances Fisher - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress
• Tim Blake Nelson - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  

Thursday 12th May

• Gavin Hood - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jason Biggs - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor | Producer
• Domhnall Gleeson - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor | Writer
• Emilio Estevez - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Gabriel Byrne - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Stephen Baldwin - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Ving Rhames - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Emily VanCamp - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress  

Friday 13th May

• Zoe Wanamaker - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress
• Robert Pattinson - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor | Producer
• Harvey Keitel - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Joe Johnston - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer
• Tim Pigott-Smith - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor
• Stephen Colbert - Born 1964, turns 52 - Television Personality | Writer | Producer | Actor  

Saturday 14th May

• Tim Roth - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director
• George Lucas - Born 1944, turns 72 - Writer | Producer | Director | Editor
• Robert Zemeckis - Born 1952, turns 64 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Danny Huston - born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Director
• Cate Blanchett - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Sofia Coppola - Born 1971, turns 45 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actress

Domhnall Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland, to mother Mary Weldon and Actor father Brendan Gleeson. He is the eldest of four sons - the others being Fergus, Ruairi and Brian, also an Actor. He attended Malahide Community School - a co-educational school located in Malahide, County Dublin and subsequently graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts.

After graduating Gleeson started to Write and Direct screenplays for films and plays for the stage. In 2001 he gained his small screen debut in the mini-series 'Rebel Heart' - the story of Ireland moving towards independence following the Easter Uprising of 1916 through to Civil War in 1922. Next up he gained a part in the short film 'Six Shooter' which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. His feature length debut came in 2005 with a small part in teen zombie comedy horror 'Boys Eats Girl'. That same year he appeared in three episodes of the Irish television series 'The Last Furlong', with 'Studs' a year later in which Gleeson Jnr. starred for the first time with Gleeson Snr.

He then spent a couple of years treading the boards in a Charles Dickens adaptation of 'Great Expectations' at Dublin's 'The Gate Theatre', and 'American Buffalo' at the same playhouse that year. Gleeson also starred in the Broadway play 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore' for which he received a Tony Award nomination. In 2008 he starred with Jeff Bridges in television movie 'A Dog Year' and also 'Perrier's Bounty' - a Dublin set crime thriller starring Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Gabriel Byrne and Jim Broadbent.

After comedy sketch show in which Gleeson played various roles over six episodes on 'Your Bad Self', there came 'Never Let Me Go' written for the screen by Alex Garland, Directed by Mark Romanek, and starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Charlotte Rampling.  Whilst the film failed to recover its budget outlay, it was hailed a critical success. That same year came the chance to work with the Coen Brothers on 'True Grit' with Jeff Bridges once again and Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, J.K.Simmons, Barry Pepper and the young Haileee Steinfeld. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, eight BAFTA's and two SAG Awards. Also in 2010, was 'Sensation' and his first outing as Bill Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1' with 'Pt. 2' following up a year later.

Sci-Fi actioner 'Dredd' followed in 2012 with Karl Urban in the title role as the judge, jury and executioner based on the comic book 'Judge Dredd'. This was followed up by polar opposite 'Anna Karenina' as Directed by Joe Wright with Jude Law, Keira Knightly once again, Alicia Vikander and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The film won an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Costume Design and a further 27 wins and 52 other nominations. 'Shadow Dancer' was up next with James Marsh at the helm and starring Clive Owen, Gillian Anderson and Andrea Riseborough in this early 90's Belfast set drama.

The Romantic dramedy 'About Time' followed in 2013 as Directed by Richard Curtis with Bill Nighy, Rachael McAdams and Margot Robbie. It made US$87M off its US$12M budget.

In 2014 there was 'Frank' with Michael Fassbender, Scoot McNairy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, then 'Calvary' with Brendan Gleeson again, Chris O'Dowd, Dylan Moran, Aidan Gillan and Kelly Reilly. War time survival story 'Unbroken' for Director/Producer Angelina Jolie followed starring Jack O'Connell, Jai Courtney and Garret Hedlund. The film was a critical and commercial success bringing in US$163M and picking up thirteen award wins and 27 other nominations from around the circuit.

2015 saw 'Ex-Machina' for Director Alex Garland with Alicia Vikander again and Oscar Isaac, with 'Brooklyn' and Saoirse Ronan, Jim Broadbent once more and Julie Walters.  Next up came the much hyped and eagerly awaited 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens' in which Gleeson starred as General Hux - the ruthless First Order Starkiller Base Commander - hugely successful that really needs nothing else said about it! And then there was this years 'The Revenant' with Leonard DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Will Poulter for Director Alejandro G. Inarritu - also hugely successful more critically than commercially but still bringing in a very tidy US$527M in Box Office receipts so far before even hitting the home entertainment market which it does from later this month.


Next up for Gleeson is 'Crash Pad' due later this year with Christina Applegate and Thomas Haden Church, 'Mena' in post-production for 2017 with Tom Cruise and Jesse Plemmons as Directed by Doug Liman, 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture' with Seth Green and Will Forte currently filming and 'Star Wars : Episode VIII' also filming.







All up Gleeson has 35 acting credits, five award wins and another nine nominations. In 2015 every film he appeared in received multiple Academy Award nominations, and he has appeared in three films nominated for Best Picture - 'True Grit', 'Brooklyn' and 'The Revenant'.  With his father and brother Brian he co-founded the 'Immaturity for Charity' sketches which the three star in to raise funds for St. Francis Hospice in Dublin.

Domhnall Gleeson - like father like son; Director and Writer of several short films; you could say almost Irish royalty; and clearly increasingly sought after with an impressive recent track record and more great stuff in the pipeline - Happy 33rd Birthday Domhnall from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 13th - 19th March 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jai Courtney does on 15th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy 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 13th March

• William H. Macy - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Emile Hirsch - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actor
• Common - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter

Monday 14th March

• Michael Caine - Born 1933, turns 83 - Actor | Producer
• Quincy Jones - Born 1933, turns 83 - Producer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Jamie Bell - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor
• Ansel Elgort - Born 1994, turns 22 - Actor
• Corey Stoll - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor
• Billy Crystal - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Wolfgang Petersen - Born 1941, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Writer

Tuesday 15th March

• Jai Courtney - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor
• Greg Nicotero - Born 1963, turns 53 - Make Up & Special Effects Specialist | Producer | Writer | Director | Actor
• David Cronenberg - Born 1943, turns 73 - Director | Writer | Actor
• Judd Hirsch - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor
• Renny Harlin - Born 1959, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Eva Longoria - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director

Wednesday 16th March

• Kate Nelligan - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress
• Jimmy Nail - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Victor Garber - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor
• Gore Verbinski - Born 1964, turns 52 - Producer | Director | Writer

Thursday 17th March

• Kurt Russell - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Gary Sinise - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rob Lowe - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• John Boyega - Born 1992, turns 24 - Actor
• Lesley-Anne Down - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actress | Writer

Friday 18th March

• Vanessa Williams - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Queen Latifah - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Adam Levine - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter 
• Luc Besson - Born 1959, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Brad Dourif - Born 1950, turns 64 - Actor

Saturday 19th March

• Bruce Willis - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Harvey Weinstein - Born 1952, turns 64 - Producer
• Glenn Close - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Ursula Andress - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actress | Original Bond Girl

Jai Stephen Courtney was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to mother Karen, a teacher at Galston Public School where he and his sister attended, and father Chris who worked for the State owned and operated electricity company. He grew up in the north western Sydney suburb of Cherrybrook where he later attended the Cherrybrook Technology High School before going onto the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts at the Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia.

In 2005, Courtney scored his first film break in the controversial short film 'Boys Grammar' about bullying taken to the extreme in an exclusive private boys school that was inspired by true events at a private boys school in Sydney. From here he picked up two episodes on 'All Saint's' in 2008 - an Australian fictional medical drama series, and then two episodes on 'Packed to the Rafters' in 2008/09 - an Australian award winning family centred drama series.

His first feature film outing came in 2009's 'Stone Bros.' and Australian Aboriginal stoner comedy that cost US$3.4M to make and grossed less than US$100K. In 2010 Courtney secured the role of Varro in the first season of 'Spartacus : Blood and Sand' over ten episodes.

2010 was probably the turning point for Courtney starring with Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, and Rosamund Pike in the Christopher McQuarrie big screen adaptation of the Lee Child penned 'Jack Reacher' novels. The film retuned US$219M off US$60M ensuring a sequel would follow - and it does in October this year with 'Jack Reacher : Never Go Back'.

Next up was another big screen seasoned actioner with Bruce Willis in the fifth instalment of the 'Die Hard' franchise with 'A Good Day to Die Hard' in which Courtney plays Jack McLean - the estranged son to Willis' John. The film made US$305M off its US$90M budget.

'Felony' came next in 2013 with this modern day Australian crime thriller Written, Produced and Starring Joel Edgerton with Tom Wilkinson and Melissa George. The following year saw 'I, Frankenstein' with Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy and Miranda Otto, and although the film was critically panned, it did recover its US$65M budget with a Box Office take of US$71M.

2014 also saw the launch of the 'Divergent' series with the first instalment headed up by Shailene Woodley and also starring Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Miles Teller, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q and Ashley Judd. 'Insurgent' followed in 2015 as the second in four instalments. In the meantime that same year there were two wartime offerings with Angelina Jolie's biographical sports drama film 'Unbroken', and then Russell Crowe's Directorial debut 'The Water Diviner'. The former made US$164M and the latter US$31M.

2015 saw 'Terminator : Genisys' in which Courtney plays the pivotal role of Kyle Reece in this fifth film in the franchise which brought Arnold Schwarzenegger back into the role originally made famous by him in 1984. The film made US$441M from US$155M and was intended to be the first in a there film reboot, but in early this year Paramount announced that for now, a sequel was off the radar. 'Man Down' then followed in late 2015 but has yet to be released in Australia. This post-apocalyptic war thriller stars Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman and Kate Mara and premiered in September 2015 at the Venice International Film Festival.

Next up is the hotly awaited 'Suicide Squad' due for release in August this year. Based on the DC Comics Extended Universe antihero comics of the same name, Courtney stars as 'Boomerang' (how appropriate) - a deadly boomerang wielding assassin. Directed by David Ayer the film also stars Will Smith, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis, with a sequel already announced for 2017. Following this is another war time drama 'The Kaiser's Last Kiss' also with Christopher Plummer, Eddie Marsan and Lily James, and is currently filming.

Courtney has eighteen Acting credits to his name and has two award nominations both for Best Supporting Actor on 'Felony'. He lives in Los Angeles and from 2006 until 2014 was romantically linked to Actress Gemma Pranita.

Jai Courtney - unsuccessful in securing a place at NIDA but has scored success nonetheless; plays guitar and sings and in another life may have pursued a career as a musician; was a serious rugby player in his early years (hence his build); and he has a three skull tattoo drawn by his six year old God-daughter 'inked on my flesh forever'. With only 18 films your star is on the rise, being increasingly sought after and in demand, and maybe typecast in blockbuster action fare, your following is increasingly assured. Happy 30th Birthday Jai, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 15th January 2015.

It's mid-January already - awards season is upon us and earlier this week The Golden Globes paved the way for the upcoming Hollywood night of nights in a few weeks time. What this means for the movie going public like you and me is that a whole raft of great films will be released in the coming weeks to ensure that those nominated are fresh in our minds come awards night. For the most part these have already been released 'Stateside' hoping now to gain an extra shot in the Box Office arm carried along by all the publicity and furore that 'The Oscars' generates.

This week is no exception with one of the most talked about movies for a long time hitting our multiplexes that is creating lots of buzz already; then we have the second Directorial outing for one of Hollywood's most recognised actresses and one half of a very powerful Tinseltown couple; and then there is an Aussie family friendly flying flick that ticks all the right boxes!

With so much great stuff out there on general release and Previewed or Reviewed in previous weeks, plus more great new offerings this week and in the following weeks you had better start diarising what your going to see first, next and thereafter! Whatever you decide upon, share your thoughts and observations with the Odeon Online ever expanding readership and Post a Comment after this, or any other Post. Enjoy your movie!

BIRDMAN (aka THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) - (Rated MA15+) - finally after all the buzz, excitement and anticipation surrounding this Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu Directed film, 'Birdman' has arrived. With it comes talk of career best performances from its lead Actor, and not so bad either from its support cast; the strength and originality of the script; and the camera work to create an almost seamless journey through the life of Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) as he struggles to re-establish his career, stage a Broadway play, and fight his own Demons. With Michael Keaton cast at Thomson ('The Birdman') this is almost a case of art imitating life imitating art! In this film Riggan Thomson is an Actor who back in the day was very successful in the lead role of a Superhero movie franchise, known as 'The Birdman', who quit at the height of his popularity after three films and largely faded into obscurity. Similarly Keaton was very successful in the lead role in Tim Burton's early 'Batman' franchise playing the caped crusader twice and then quitting, and largely fading into obscurity, although he has always been somewhere in the background of film & TV releases subsequently!

Now fast forward and the film takes us inside a Broadway theatre when Riggan Thomson is attempting to reignite his flagging career with a Raymond Carver adapted stage play that he is financing, writing, Directing and starring in. . . what could possibly go wrong? With rehearsals ongoing; in fighting amongst the cast & crew; New York critics chomping at the bit; other egos all getting in the way; and plenty of opinions, advice and wisdom being proffered from all quarters -  is it any surprise that Thomson starts to implode? In doing so he starts to hallucinate, levitate and communicate with his alter ego 'Birdman'. Thomson is very much front and centre throughout this film with memorable characters all crossing his path as opening night approaches - Emma Stone at Riggan's daughter and appointed PA Sam, Edward Norton as renowned Broadway Actor Mike Shiner, Naomi Watts as Lesley - an actress and girlfriend of Shiner, Amy Ryan as Riggan's ex-wife Sylvia, Zach Galifanakis as Jake - friend and Lawyer to Riggan and Andrea Riseborough as Laura - also an actress, and Riggan's girlfriend. Touted already as the film of the year on many levels, this US$18M movie has so far garnered 98 awards wins and another 114 nominations and the Academy Award nominations have not even been announced yet (at the time of Publishing this Post). On this basis - it is the 'must-see without fail' so far in 2015.

UNBROKEN (Rated M) - Angelina Jolie's second turn in the Directors chair for this true life account of the extraordinary life of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini whose WWII exploits were adventurous, colourful, fantastical, miserable and testing all at once. The 1956 autobiography 'Devil at my Heels' this film has been doing the rounds well and truly for the last 50+ years - Tony Curtis was in fact set to play Zamperini back in the day, and then in more recent time Brad Pitt, then Nicolas Cage before Jolie got her hands on it and signed up Jack O'Connell to play our hero. Subsequently Laura Hillenbrand wrote the biography which was published in 2010 with whom Jolie collaborated and brought in Joel & Ethan Coen to help write the screenplay. Known for his fast pace and running prowess at school the young Zamperini ran at the 1936 Olympics although failed to win a medal but showed enough promise to be a shoe-in for the 1940 Tokyo Games. The advent of WWII scuppered that dream and joining the US Forces he was shot down over the Pacific and spent 47 days adrift with several other crewman. He was then captured by the Japanese and spent two years as a prisoner of war undergoing all manner of mental and physical hardships and torture. In many respects this story is such an unbelievable one that you might struggle to believe what the human body, mind and spirit can endure as depicted here. Filmed largely in Australia for US$65M this also stars Jai Courtney, Domhnall Gleeson and Garrett Hedlund, and it has picked up nine award wins and 14 nominations so far.

PAPER PLANES (Rated G) - this Australian family film is likely to surprise and delight young and older audiences for its simple grounded storyline, humour, heart and adversity overcome through opportunity. Young Dylan (Ed Oxenbould) is growing up in outback Australia and has developed a fascination for making  - yes you guessed it - paper planes, and has become very good at it! So much so that he qualifies to compete at an event in Sydney, which in turn gives his a chance to attend the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. However, he needs to convince Dad Jack, (Sam Worthington) that this is a good idea and that such a change of focus will help him recover from the recent death of his wife and Dylan's mother - whom he has been grieving over for the past five months. With a strong story and effects showing all manner of paper planes ducking, diving, bobbing and weaving through the air in all manner of acrobatic and aeronautic movements this could be a real crowd pleaser for kids of all ages! David Wenham and Deborah Mailman also star, and Directed by Robert Connolly.

Once again three very different offerings with which you can't possibly go wrong. Check one out this week and share your movie thoughts with us all right here at Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthdays to share this week : 1st - 7th June.

Do you share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer or Singer/Songwriter/Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming week? 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 over the coming week. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Check out too the spotlight on this weeks Birthday Girl on 4th June, Angelina Jolie, at the end of this feature.

Sunday 1st June

• Morgan Freeman - Born 1937, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Brian Cox - Born 1946, turns 68 - Actor
• Jonathan Pryce - Born 1947, turns 67 - Actor
• Powers Boothe - Born 1948, turns 66 - Actor
• Robert Powell - Born 1944, turns 70 - Actor
• Alanis Morissette - Born 1974, turns 40 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• Jason Donovan - Born 1968, turns 46 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor

Monday 2nd June

• Zachary Quinto - Born 1977, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
• Liam Cunningham - Born 1961, turns 53 - Actor
• Dennis Haysbert - Born 1954, turns 60 - Actor | Producer
• Stacy Keach - Born 1941, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Wentworth Miller - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor

Tuesday 3rd June

• Imogen Poots - Born 1989, turns 25 - Actress

Wednesday 4th June

• Angelina Jolie - Born 1975, turns 39 - Actress | Producer | Director | Humanitarian
• Russell Brand - Born 1975, turns 39 - Writer | Producer | Actor | Singer | Songwriter
• Sean Pertwee - Born 1964, turns 50 - Actor
• Bruce Dern - Born 1936, turns 78 - Actor
• Geoffrey Palmer - Born 1927, turns 87 - Actor

Thursday 5th June

• Mark Wahlberg - Born 1971, turns 43 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Kathleen Kennedy - Born 1953, turns 61 - Producer
• Kenny G - Born 1956, turns 58 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer

Friday 6th June

• Paul Giamatti - Born 1967, turns 47 - Actor
• Jason Isaacs - Born 1963, turns 51 - Actor | Producer
• Robert Englund - Born 1947, turns 67 - Actor
• Sandra Bernhard - Born 1955, turns 59 - Actress
• Billie Whitelaw - Born 1932, turns 82 - Actress

Saturday 7th June

• Liam Neeson - Born 1952, turns 62 - Actor
• Karl Urban - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor
• Michael Cera - Born 1988, turns 26 - Actor
• Ronald Pickup - Born 1940, turns 74 - Actor
• William Forsythe - Born 1955, turns 59 - Actor | Producer
• Virginia McKenna - Born 1931, turns 83 - Actress
• James Ivory - Born 1928, turns 86 - Director | Writer
• Tom Jones - Born 1940, turns 74 - Singer | Songwriter
• Prince - Born 1958, turns 56 - Singer | Songwriter 

Angelina Jolie Voight was born to renowned acting father Jon Voight and mother Marcheline Bertrand in Los Angeles. She is an accomplished Actress, Producer, Director, Writer, and Humanitarian in her spare time whilst also playing the other part of Hollywood power couple Mr. and Mrs. Brad Pitt . . . and oh by the way, she has been cited numerous times and in assorted publications over the last ten years or so as the world's most beautiful woman, and, in 2009, 2011 and 2013 was the highest paid Actress in Hollywood. Not bad credentials really!

Her acting career kicked off at age seven starring alongside her father Jon Voight in 'Lookin' to Get Out', with a bigger break coming in 1995 in 'Cyborg 2', but it was 1995's 'Hackers' that propelled her more into the mainstream playing alongside future husband Jonny Lee Miller. From there she moved to 'Pushing Tin' with John Cusack and future husband Billy Bob Thornton. Now firmly on the Hollywood map she went on to 'The Bone Collector' and then her Academy Award winning 'Girl, Interrupted', followed by 'Gone in Sixty Seconds', 'Lara Croft, Tomb Raider' and its follow up 'Lara Croft, The Cradle of Life', 'Taking Lives', 'Alexander',  and 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' with future life partner, one Mr. Brad Pitt. Other notable outings have included 'The Good Shepherd', 'Changeling' 'Wanted', 'Salt', 'The Tourist' and 'Maleficent' out this week and previewed in Post #97. She has also lent her voice to the role of 'Tigress' in the 'Kung Fu Panda' series with the third instalment due for release in 2015. Earlier this year Jolie has been resident in Sydney Directing 'Unbroken' due for release later in 2014, and the reprisal of her role as Evelynn Salt has just been announced for 'Salt 2'.

Outside of starring in and making movies Jolie is the Special Envoy and former Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for which she has won much acclaim for her work undertaken to highlight such issues on the global stage and in ultimately trying to make a difference through her celebrity status and ability to influence change.

In early 2013 at age 37, she underwent a double preventative mastectomy having learnt that there was an 87% chance of her developing breast cancer. Again, using her celebrity status and the privileges this affords she went public to raise awareness on a global scale of the choices women have to beat breast cancer. 

Jolie and Pitt have six children - three biological and three adopted. In 2008 she and Pitt sold the first pictures of Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline to 'People' and 'Hello' magazines for a reported US$14M - the most expensive celebrity pictures ever taken, with the proceeds going to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The recipient of 33 award wins and a further 62 nominations so far to date, Jolie has picked up two Academy Awards - a win for Best Supporting Actress in 'Girl, Interrupted' and the 'Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award'. She was nominated for Best Actress in 'Changeling'. Added to this she has a BAFTA Nominations also for 'Changeling' and has won three Golden Globes for 'George Wallace', 'Gia' and 'Girl, Interrupted' with four other nominations.

Not doing things by halves Jolie was married from 1996-99 to actor Jonny Lee Miller, and from 2000-03 to actor Billy Bob Thornton. Since 2005 she has been with Brad Pitt with whom she seems most settled - six children, numerous awards & accolades, in demand in front and behind the camera, the Hollywood power couple, supporters of Humanitarian causes . . . it's a wonder they ever see each other! Let's hope that Brad makes time for Angelina on her birthday this week!

Angelina Jolie - beautiful woman, Actress, Director, Mother, inspiration, crusader of worthy causes - Happy Birthday to you from all at Odeon Online!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-