Karen Gillan – Amy Pond

We’ll Take Manhattan explores the explosive love affair between Sixties supermodel, Jean Shrimpton, and photographer, David Bailey.

Focusing on a wild and unpredictable 1962 Vogue photo shoot in New York, the drama brings to life the story of two young people falling in love, misbehaving and inadvertently defining the style of the Sixties along the way.

Set predominantly in 1962 but also exploring the story of how Bailey and Shrimpton first met, this one-off drama reveals how a young, visionary photographer refused to conform. He insisted on using the unconventional model Jean Shrimpton on an important photo shoot for British Vogue and, over the course of a freezing week in Manhattan, went against the wishes of fashion editor, Lady Clare Rendlesham, and made startling, original photographs.

We’ll Take Manhattan is the story of that wild week, of Bailey and Jean’s love affair, and of how two young people accidentally changed the world for ever.

Jean Shrimpton is played by Karen Gillan, David Bailey by Aneurin Barnard and Lady Clare Rendlesham by Helen McCrory.

Amy Pond’s alter ego tells about her favourite episodes coming up in season 6b of Doctor Who, plus tells that she will definitely return to the series in 2012.

Screen Daily reports that the film will be directed by John Mckay (Crush) and tells the story of a best-selling author (Gillan) of “miserable” fiction whose success and happiness has led to writer’s block.

Her publisher (Elliott) decides to mess with his author’s life in a bid to get her writing again, only to realise that he is in love with her.

Production is set to begin at the end of this year or early in 2012.

Director Mckay said of his film: “We have two of the newest, hottest, sexiest pair of lead actors out of Scotland. Just right for the kind of quirky, romantic indie movie Not Another Happy Ending is set to be.”

Doctor Who’s ‘Amy Pond’ Karen Gillan joins previously mentioned Douglas Hodge, in Inadmissible Evidence, by John Osborne, which opens at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre 18 Oct 2011, following previews from 13 Oct – running to 26 Nov 2011.

Karen Gillan burst onto TV screens last year as feisty companion, Amy Pond, and immediately secured her place in Doctor Who broadcasting history which has been an integral part of British culture since the Sixties. Returning for her second series aboard the TARDIS, Karen reveals what lies in store for Amy, the naughty tricks her co-stars play on her and why she has a newfound passion for fencing.

“There were clues planted in the last series that are going to become major storylines in this one,” divulges a conspiratorial Karen Gillan; a revelation which is bound to have all “Whovians” avidly watching Series Five to spot what the Inverness-born actress is referring to.

“There’s a really interesting arc in this series that involves all of the major characters and it’s evident from the first episode that everyone on the TARDIS is withholding secrets from one another,” continues Karen. “It makes for a fascinating dynamic between the characters and it’s incredibly important to the overall series.”

Karen also believes that Amy has more respect for her new husband Rory after his recent adventures. “I think Rory has perhaps developed the most out of all the characters,” explains Karen. “By the end of last series he became a Roman Centurion hero and he had changed a lot; it felt like he had earned his place in the TARDIS. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine the TARDIS without him now!”

But has married life changed Amy Pond? Karen quickly sweeps [Read the rest of this entry...]

The BBC has announced the commission of single drama, We’ll Take Manhattan, which explores the explosive love affair between photographer David Bailey and sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton.

Focusing on a wild and unpredictable 1962 Vogue photo shoot in New York, the drama brings to life the story of two young people falling in love, misbehaving, and inadvertently defining the style of the Sixties along the way.

Karen Gillan will play Jean Shrimpton, in her first lead role since starring alongside Matt Smith as Amy Pond in Doctor Who. The drama is produced by Kudos Film and Television for BBC Four.

Karen said: “Jean Shrimpton is an icon of the Sixties and I am so excited to be playing somebody who had such a lasting impact on the fashion world. I can’t wait to take on the challenge of bringing Jean and Bailey’s fascinating love story to life. Sixties here I come!

Richard Klein, Controller BBC Four, says: “The story of David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton is classic territory for BBC Four – a moment in time, a fusion of talents, that had a huge impact on cultural life. It is a drama that is all about being alive and taking a chance, being young and [Read the rest of this entry...]

Karen Gillan plays a New Jersey high school student sent back in time to a fantastical 13th century Verona, where it just so happens that people from her life are characters from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Gillian Anderson plays her mother and Robert Sheehan gets the Romeo role. Empire magazine has more