Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur – who cast Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush in Elizabeth – says Australian actors can thank their country’s isolation for their international success.

“They feel cut off and need to reach out and explore the world, and that need is transformed into craft,” he said in Melbourne yesterday.

Elizabeth, about the early reign of Elizabeth I, earned Blanchett and Rush BAFTA awards in Britain.

Kapur also cast another Australian, Abbie Cornish, in the recently finished sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

“All three of them, in every scene, explore rather than define their characters,” he said.

“There is a certain aura of mystery because they are guessing at how their characters behave and that keeps the audience guessing about their exact motivations.”

The Mumbai-based director said he saw this characteristic in another Australian, Heath Ledger, whom he cast in the war film Four Feathers.

… read on

I have added screencaptures from the new Elizabeth: The Golden Age trailer, which is now available in HD at Yahoo! Movies. A new still was released too. I can’t get over how gorgeous Miss Abbie looks in her role! The film also has a new official website at elizabeththegoldenage.com.

Last but not least, thanks to Jess of Nicole’s Magic for making us their Site of the Moment!

GALLERY LINKS:
- The Golden Age: Trailer #002 Screencaps
- The Golden Age: Production Stills

The new domestic trailer for Elizabeth: The Golden Age is now online and can be viewed via this link! We get to see a few new shots of Abbie as Elizabeth Throckmorton. If anyone can donate caps please email us.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age tells the thrilling tale of an era…the story of one woman’s crusade to control love, crush enemies and secure her position as a beloved icon of the western world.

The movie comes to US theaters October 12.

I have added a new still from The Golden Age. Unfortunately we can only see the back of Elizabeth Throckmorton but it is the first and only official still featuring her so far. I have also added the film’s trailer to the video vault.

Last but not least, SarahPolley.org has made us their ‘Spotlight’ site. Thanks so much, Mariana!

We also have a new elite affiliate, the amazing Kate Winslet Fan.