British actor-writer Simon Pegg has revealed he considered quitting acting after appearing in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was partly shot in Abu Dhabi. "I had a bit of a crisis of confidence afterwards. I hadn't had the chance to take stock, and I came home to the UK and I was pretty sure I wanted to quit acting," Pegg told the UK's Observer. "I called my agent and I said: 'Look, I want to take some time off and think about what I want to do next.' I was being a bit dramatic. I said: 'Don't call me for the next six months, unless like, Steven Spielberg calls.' Then, of course, my phone rang." Spielberg offering a part in his new sci-fi blockbuster Ready Player One was a dream-come-true moment for him. "He's someone who's influenced me my whole life, my love of film and my love of the craft," added the 46-year-old – IANS
Noel Neill, first actress to play Lois Lane, dies at 95
The actress who was the first to play Superman's love interest, Lois Lane, on screen has died. Noel Neill was 95. Neill's biographer Larry Ward said she died on Sunday at her home in Tucson, Arizona, following a long illness. Neill first took on the role as the Daily Planet reporter in the 1948 Columbia movie serial, Superman. She would reprise the part alongside George Reeves as the Man of Steel in the 1950s TV series, The Adventures of Superman. Neill's involvement with the series continued through the years. She played Lois Lane's mother in 1978's Superman and had a bit part in Superman Returns in 2006. In 2010, the city of Metropolis, Illinois, unveiled a statue of Lois Lane modelled after Neill. — AP
Samuthirakani planning a film with Jayam Ravi
National Award-winning actor and filmmaker Samuthirakani, whose latest Tamil directorial Appa has been received warmly by audiences, hopes to team up with actor Jayam Ravi for his next directorial venture. "I'm in talks with Ravi, and have a script ready for him. The film is tentatively titled Thondan, and I had originally written it for actor Sasikumar. If everything goes as planned, we might start shooting this year-end," Samuthirakani said. The project reportedly also stars Telugu actor Allari Naresh. Jayam and Samuthirakani had previously worked on Tamil thriller Nimirndhu Nil. Upon completing Jayam's project, Samuthirakani will commence work on his long-delayed directorial, Kitna. — IANS
Smokey Robinson honoured by US Library of Congress
The US Library of Congress has named Motown legend Smokey Robinson the latest winner of its Gershwin Prize, which honours living composers for their contributions to music. The 76-year-old R&B singer has been the force behind dozens of hits over his career, including The Tracks of My Tears, I Second That Emotion and Being With You. "His rich melodies are works of art – enduring, meaningful and powerful. He is a master at crafting lyrics that speak to the heart and soul, expressing ordinary themes in an extraordinary way," acting Librarian of Congress David Mao said in a statement, on Tuesday. – AFP
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski welcome baby girl, Violet
Celebrity couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski have welcomed a second daughter. Krasinski, who's best known for his role as Jim Halpert on NBC's The Office, posted the news on Twitter on Monday, writing "two weeks ago we met our beautiful daughter Violet." Blunt and Krasinski's first child, Hazel, was born in 2014. Blunt is a British actress who starred alongside Tom Cruise in 2014's Edge of Tomorrow. She's set to play Mary Poppins in an upcoming sequel to the classic Disney film. — AP
New Mexico to provide backdrop for new film Hostiles
A new movie starring Christian Bale and Native American actors Wes Studi and Adam Beach will be filming in northern New Mexico in September. The New Mexico Film Office announced on Tuesday that principal photography for the frontier epic Hostiles will begin this month. Locations include Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Abiquiu and Los Alamos. The film is set in 1892 and tells the story of a legendary army captain, played by Bale, who ends up escorting a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family from a remote army post back to tribal lands. Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess says the region is proud to serve as a backdrop for the production. Officials expect about 350 New Mexico crew members to be hired for the project, along with 10 New Mexico cast members. – AP
