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.

The agent for Australian actress Abbie Cornish, has denied rumours the Candy star will be the next Bond Girl.

“No, I can tell you that that information is not accurate,” her agent Belinda Maxwell said today. She said she had no idea where the false reports were coming from.

Earlier, the Daily Telegraph quoted Rose Byrne as saying her friend had scored the role opposite Daniel Craig, who will return as Bond.

The report said Rose Byrne had spilt the beans on her friend’s role on a recent MTV interview. “When she was asked whether she’d been contacted about a part in the upcoming flick she said that, as far as she knows, the role belonged to her friend Abbie Cornish,” the Daily Telegraph said.

The agent for the Hunter Valley actress said: “Well, I can reiterate that that’s not accurate information.”

According to MTV.com, fellow Aussie and a personal friend of Ms. Cornish, Rose Byrne, has stated that she believes Abbie will indeed be the next Bond Girl! As you may know, these rumors have been floating online for months and it seems there may actually be something to it!

As Bond 22 gears up under new helmer Marc Forster, one of the biggest unanswered questions is which lucky lady will be taking up the mantle as the next famed Bond Girl. Well, thanks to a fellow countrywoman, we may now have an answer.

MTV News caught up with Aussie actress Rose Byrne (Sunshine, FX’s Damages), and asked if she had been contacted about the roll (Byrne’s name was previously batted around for Casino Royale). Byrne denied any involvement in 22, exclaiming to us, “I think Abbie Cornish’s got it.”

While Cornish — a fellow Australian — has been rumored for the part since earlier this year, Byrne’s utterance lends extra credence to the story given the pair’s friendship. If true, Cornish’s appearance in Bond would mark the star’s first major break outside her home country, where she has made numerous acclaimed appearances in Australian television and film.

According to a variety of sources, including ComingSoon.net and BoxOfficeMojo.com, the release of Stop Loss has unfortunately been pushed back from 2007 to March 28, 2008 (US).

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