When you manage a huge “get” the smartest thing you can do is mine it for every possible gem. Fareed Zakaria was among a handful of TV hosts lucky enough to get an interview with Dame Helen Mirren while she was performing in The Audience on Broadway and had Woman in Gold opening. She did not do many appearances. Unlike the other royally privileged hosts, Fareed did something very clever. Two things, really. He broke his audience into two sittings and used one of them to ask a question no one else has asked her.
To quote her co-star, Sir Anthony Hopkins, at the end of RED 2, “I didn’t see that coming!”
But how fascinating! I know. I know. There is a huge contingent out there who would want to see Meryl in that part. But the woman who brought sympathy to the woman who, for a week or so in the wake of the death of Diana, was perhaps the most reviled in the world would be a tantalizing choice to play Hillary. She could bring out the vulnerability that we all know is there (“Well, that hurts my feelings….”). Mirren always manages to find the soft spots. I can’t wait to see what she has to say on this subject.
Helen Mirren: Hillary Clinton a lioness
Hillary Clinton may be getting a lot of criticism lately, but Dame Helen Mirren says she might like to play the presidential candidate. Mirren says the role would very different from Queen Elizabeth II, the actress’ most famous part.
“The Queen, Elizabeth Windsor, I call her … hers is a just, pop my head down, I just do what I’m supposed to do, I do it as well as I can, and I don’t argue and I don’t complain, and I just do it,” Mirren tells Fareed Zakaria on his CNN show Sunday. “Hillary is much fiercer than that. You know, she is a lioness — and Elizabeth Windsor is not — I don’t know what animal she is. I have to think about that one.”
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“She would be a wonderful person to play somewhere down the line,” Mirren tells Zakaria. “Someone will do a story, because she has had what an extraordinary trajectory and brilliance, brilliance at handling her world, and what unbelievable challenges she has had over the years.”
SNIP
… I’m just saying in terms of roles for women in drama, I’m being very self-interested at this point, it would be good — to have Hillary as a president, I think.”
Back in July, before she closed on Broadway, Helen professed her love for Vin Diesel and said she wanted to be in a Fast & Furious movie. Within two weeks a script was in the works with a part for her. So, just saying, Peter Morgan, are you listening? I think you already are!
Absolutely Brilliant! wonderful post Still4Hill like Dame Helen and Hillary you hit this out of the ballpark!!! HOMERUN!!!!!
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Thank you. Actually Fareed was at bat, and he hit it out of the park. I just waved him home. Well, to whatever homes will be watching. 🙂
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Reply to self: Wrong! See next post. Fareed and others misled us. It was not he who knocked it out of the park. It was Helen with her cricket bat. I don’t know if out of the park is cricket, but she was at bat, not he.
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Update: AFSCME candidate townhalls in Iowa (and on-line) – members only.
Bernie Sanders 10am CST – Saturday, September 5th
Martin O’Malley 1pm CST – Saturday, September 5th
Hillary Clinton 1pm CST – Sunday, September 6th
They might have the townhalls available on video on the website after all the individual locals poll their members and the states pass it on to the national board. Hillary – by a landslide.
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[…] « Why Fareed Zakaria is the Smartest TV Host […]
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That comparison and summary of Hillary is BRILLIANT! Thanks for capturing that link and sharing the snippet with us! 🙂
Yep! Fareed is the smartest TV Host, ever.
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See my reply to myself above and the next post. It was not Fareed at all. It was Helen who engineered the turn of conversation. And good for her! Go Helen! Go Hillary! And go Peter Morgan! Please write the script!
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