Thursday 1 January 2009

Archived Articles: Michelle Forbes .net

Old articles from mf.net: (all gallery links replaced). October 2008 - April 2009
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April 2009

New Interview(s)
Saturday, 25 April 2009 15:49

Michelle talks about therapy, the entertainment industry and her three current tv shows in an interview by hmonthly:
http://www.hmonthly.com/blog/2009/04/20/michelle-forbes-talk/

Movie Entertainment interviewed Michelle about In Treatment recently, you can download the podcast here:
http://www.movieentertainment.ca/en/web-exclusive/news951.idigit

And here's a sneak peek from True Blood season 2 that may or may not feature Michelle's character Maryann ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQsMcY4EPo
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True Blood Season 2
Saturday, 04 April 2009 14:39

HBO has released some new promotional pictures for "True Blood":



The second season starts June 14th, 2009 on HBO
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March 2009

Interview and News
Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:38

Starry Constellation Magazine did an interview with Michelle about True Blood:
http://starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=4131&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS

"There is a lot about it I find challenging! There is a lot of being asked to do that I've not done before. I can't really say what, but there is a freedom about Maryann that is quite interesting and fascinating to play. There is no sorrow or guilt in any of the things that humans are usually imprisoned by. She's just a completely free being and a little mischievously playful as well."

You can also download it as a podcast:
http://starrymag.com/uploads/MichelleForbes.wav.mp3

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Film Independent - Directors Close-Up
Friday, 06 March 2009 17:33

Michelle attended the Film Independent - Directors Close-Up "Casting & Directing Actors" panel on March 4, 2009:



Pictures at msn:
http://entertainment.msn.com/photos/gallery.aspx?gallery=20415
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February 2009

Interview in SFX Magazine
Sunday, 22 February 2009 22:36

The next issue (on sale Wednesday 4 March, a Battlestar Galactica special) of SFX magazine will feature an interview with Michelle.

"Twilight and True Blood coming up at the same time has really pushed the vampire genre back into the forefront of our minds, and I'm new to it. On some level I've been involved in science fiction for the past 17 years but I never really got it until Battlestar - and the same with vampires. I guess I have to do something before I really get it, and now I'm like, 'Vampires, yeah!'"

"Turns out Germans and criminals on Death Row were my biggest fans from the Star Trek days. I guess they were running it a lot in Germany. But the Death Row thing… I don't want to get a complex! I used to get a lot of prison letters but that's sort of calmed down. I think it's because of some of the characters I've played I've always had a bit of an interesting fan base."

You can read a longer excerpt here:
http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=michelle_forbes_interviewed
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New Project & Picture Update
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 18:07

Small info about the new short film project Michelle mentioned in one of her last interviews:
The film is directed by Jon Goldman, the other lead actress is Nazanin Boniadi. Goldman has done one short film before, Boniadi is mostly known for her role in "General Hospital" and also appeared in "Iron Man".
No details about the title or plot so far!
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January 2009

New Interview and "Dark Athena"-Trailer
Sunday, 25 January 2009 23:10

»»“True Blood” is just a wild ride. It’s a very fun and challenging character for me. “In Treatment” was so rooted in our deep, intimate emotions that we don’t often get allowed into. We’re never allowed into anybody else’s therapist’s room. It was fascinating to be a fly on the wall. “True Blood” is quite the opposite. It’s being in this world that is not rooted in reality and human emotion. It’s wonderful to do both at the same time, to alternate between deep reality and hyper-reality.««

-Michelle talks about her current TV shows "True Blood", "Durham County" and "In Treatment", the emotional challenges of shooting "Wonderland" and her opinion of reality TV in an interview on fancast.com:
http://www.fancast.com/blogs/interviews/true-blood-‘in-treatments’-michelle-forbes-resurrected-on-directv/trackback/
-And you can get an impression of Michelle doing the voice-over for the intimidating 'Captain Revas' in a new trailer for the "Assault on Dark Athena" video game:

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/riddick-dark-athena-bares-all/844/
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Pictures: Wonderland Premiere
Tuesday, 13 January 2009 18:29

The cast and crew attend the DIRECTV Premiere of Wonderland yesterday:







Wonderland premieres January 14 at 10 pm ET/PT, on The 101 Network, Channel 101 on DIRECTV.

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"In Treatment" to return in April
Monday, 05 January 2009 23:27

HBO has confirmed that the second season of "In Treatment" will air in April.

The newly divorced Dr. Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) has relocated to Brooklyn and now runs his therapy practice out of the living room. He has 4 new patients and will resume his friday therapy sessions with Gina (Dianne Wiest).

Considering this premise and the statement: "Forbes may also be back as a guest star in Season 2." - it seems Michelle's part won't be that large, but hopefully we'll see her in some of the Friday episodes.


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December 2008

Michelle in new "Chronicles of Riddick" Video Game
Sunday, 14 December 2008 17:21

Michelle lends her voice to a character in the upcoming "Chronicles of Riddick:Assault on Dark Athena" video game, a follow-up to the game based on Vin Diesel's movies.

She will do the voice acting for "Revas", captain of the mercenery vessel Dark Athena.

Players must face a large bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm through death-defying events and battle fierce enemies in a fight for their survival and their freedom.(starbreeze.com)

gamesradar.com had a chance to preview the game and commented on Michelle's part:
She plays the captain as cool and calculating; in many ways Captain Revas reminds us of an evil version of Admiral Cain from Battlestar Galactica.

"Chronicles of Riddick:Assault on Dark Athena" will be released on March 3,2009 for Windows PC, XBox360 and Playstation3.



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DIRECTV to Air "Wonderland"
Written by Chris
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 23:05



DIRECTV's Network Brings Back the Controversial and Critically Acclaimed Television Series Wonderland, Including Six Never-Before-Seen Episodes Beginning Jan. 14 -- The Show Deemed Too Intense for Network Television Returns to DIRECTV in HD and Commercial Free.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)

On the heels of its groundbreaking deal that made a new home for the critically acclaimed series Friday Night Lights, DIRECTV makes television history once again with the bold return of the highly controversial television series Wonderland, the gritty drama that delves into the lives of the doctors of Rivervue, a fictional New York psychiatric hospital.

All eight episodes of the series, including six never-before-seen on television, will air Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning Jan. 14, 2009, only on DIRECTV's The 101(R) Network and DIRECTV on DEMAND.

Revered as a show that was ahead of its time, Wonderland first aired on ABC in the spring of 2000 and was met with both critical praise and controversy. Because of its dark tone and intense nature, it was quickly taken off the air. Now, fans will be able to see the entire series from start to finish with new opening commentary, circa 2009, by Peter Berg (Hancock, Friday Night Lights), the series' creator and executive producer.

"This show was deemed so intense for network television that it was removed from ABC's lineup after just two episodes, so viewers who enjoy quality television were frustrated - now they will get to see what they missed," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of Entertainment at DIRECTV. "We are proud to add such a provocative and original show to our Network lineup and, as we've seen with Friday Night Lights, Peter Berg is an exceptional story teller who knows how to present compelling drama."

"I'm pleased that Wonderland has been given another chance so that viewers can see these characters' stories evolve," said Berg. "There was so much debate about the portrayal of the mentally ill patients that fans missed the opportunity to see what the show is really about - the complicated lives of the doctors charged with caring for their patients while balancing aspects of their personal life, such as divorce, impending fatherhood and everyday married life."

Wonderland will join The 101's Wednesday night lineup following the season 3 finale of another critical and fan favorite, Friday Night Lights (9 p.m. ET/PT), commercial-free and in HD at 10 p.m. ET/PT. DIRECTV's The 101(R) Network will be the only place viewers will be able to see this incredible series in its entirety with episodes that feature many of today's leading television and film stars including Michelle Forbes (HBO's In Treatment), Billy Burke (Fringe, My Boys), Dax Griffin (Bold and the Beautiful, All My Children), Martin Donovan (Ghost Whisperer, Weeds), Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight, Why Did I Get Married), Ted Levine (Monk, American Gangster) and Patricia Clarkson (Vicky Christina Barcelona). The show also featured guest cameos by Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Piven.

SOURCE - Press Release DIRECTV
http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=353798

P.S.: All 8 episodes aired on TV (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Switzerland) -- but not on US TV. Yes, there is life and TV outside the US ;-)
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Michelle at Starfury Convention
Written by Chris
Tuesday, 09 December 2008 14:49

Michelle in London at the Battlestar Starfury Convention:





»» More pictures in the gallery:



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November 2008

"I'm a lot of things, just like you"
Written by Chris
Monday, 24 November 2008 10:27

True Blood. Season's finale.





I still don't get it :-(

Who on earth is Maryann? I'm glad that I'm not the only one. A zillion viewers googled last night for: Maryann, Maenad, Michelle Forbes ... and came here looking for an answer. Sorry, folks. I have no clue.

And the pig still doesn't make any sense to me.

P.S.: I'd transform her into a Gypsy Queen, and replace the pig with a beautiful wild wolf.
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True Blood Episode 12 Picture
Friday, 21 November 2008 17:11

New promo picture featuring Maryann and Tara in this season's final episode "You'll be the death of me":



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So who's that Lady that picked up Tara?
Written by Chris
Monday, 17 November 2008 18:36

Maryann Forrester ;-)

True Blood screencaps, episode 11:





Funniest comments so far on the IMDb discussion board:
"Don't trust Admiral Cain."
"I think that Social Worker lady killed Gran. - Answers:
- Killing random old ladies is not what the Maenad is about.
- Her preferred modus operandi is definitely not strangulation and knifing old ladies."

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"OMG, that's Michelle Forbes!"
Written by Chris
Thursday, 13 November 2008 18:53

I enjoyed watching the first 5 episodes of True Blood. Solid entertainment without attacking the intelligence of the viewer. Then they killed my favourite character, Sookie's gran :(
So I skipped the next episodes. Did I miss earthshattering scenes with my second favourite, the collie? A mysterious cutie. Is he still alive? And what about the oversexed Jason? Awww, Jason, you 'tumber Tor', you clumsy fool.
Good. I'm waiting for epidode 11 'To Love Is to Bury' ("Tara's anger over Lettie Mae's refusal to bail her out of jail is tempered when a wealthy "social worker," Maryann Forrester, comes to her rescue") und will hopefully find out who this very special person was last sunday.
On various discussion boards people saw a lady, or a girl, or a creature, a mysterious woman, a wild thing, one viewer was wondering "What is Ensign Ro Laren doing naked in the street?", another one saw Admiral Cain. I thought that it was Samantha Brinker seeking her clothes that went on sale on ebay some weeks ago. - But the majority screamed: OMG, that's Michelle Forbes!



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True Blood Episode 11
Thursday, 13 November 2008 18:24





You can catch another few seconds of Michelle as the Maenad (this time in "social worker" form) in the recap video für episode 11 "To Love Is To Bury":

youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2BqgAWxxvo

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First "True Blood" Screencap
Written by Chris
Sunday, 09 November 2008 18:05

Maryann? Maenad? Callisto? Social worker?

Michelle in "True Blood", episode 10 "I don't wanna know":



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Durham County - Promotional Pictures
Written by Chris
Tuesday, 04 November 2008 19:01

Thank you very much to Muse Entertainment for providing two official promo pictures.





(Click to enlarge)

Durham County Season Two will air in April 2009 on The Movie Network and Movie Central.
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Michelle about Durham County
Written by Chris
Monday, 03 November 2008 02:43

MF talks about shooting in Montreal, the very emotional story, about the writer Laurie Finstad Knizhnik, working with Hugh Dillon, about her career - and of course about her character Penelope Verity:

“Penelope’s really quite different from anyone I’ve played. There’s a strain of that rage and frustration I’ve felt in other characters but in a totally different way. There have been moments of me just grabbing on to Laurie or grabbing on to Hugh and saying ‘oh my God.’ It’s been a right challenge for me and that’s really good. She’s really quite unlike anyone I’ve played before.”

Read more at TV, eh - What’s up in Canadian television?
http://www.tv-eh.com/2008/11/02/michelle-forbes-delves-into-the-darkness-of-durham-county/

A more extended version is also published at Blogcritics.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/11/02/183943.php

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October 2008


Creation TV Interview - August 2008
Written by Chris
Friday, 31 October 2008 01:48

Michelle Forbes - Interview with Creation TV at the Star Trek Las Vegas Event, August 2008



Youtube link --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG6K2KbpFMw
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Durham County - Keep The Magic Going
Written by Chris
Friday, 24 October 2008 16:16



On Wednesday the first season of Durham County, the emotionally compelling six-episode dramatic series won a pair of Geminis. The award of best screenplay went to writer Laurie Finstad Knizhnik (Best Writing in a Dramatic Series). Jill Purdy, Mario Auclair, Lee De Lang, Keith Elliott, Andrea Higgins, Brad Thornton got the trophy for Best Sound in a Dramatic Series.

Winners in the high-profile categories of best drama and comedy series, comedy ensemble and best lead actor and actress will be announced in Toronto next month where 'Durham County' is up for four more trophies. - The Gemini Awards honour the best in Canadian televison.

Season two - another six episodes - is currently in production in Montreal. According to the official press release of Back Alley Film Productions und Muse Entertainment shooting began end of September and features Hugh Dillon, Michelle Forbes, Hélène Joy and Laurence Leboeuf:
"We've once again created an ensemble drama that combines pace and suspense with complex psychological characterization that will leave the audience on the edge of their seats," says Finstad Knizhnik.

"Michelle Forbes plays a brilliant but troubled forensic psychiatrist who develops a very intense bond with Mike Sweeney," says Director/Executive Producer Adrienne Mitchell.

"We're thrilled with the success of season one of Durham County. The Gemini nominations and the international sales reaffirm that a series like this can travel beyond Canada's borders," says Executive Producer Janis Lundman.

"Durham County continues in the vein of edgy, contemporary and hard-hitting dramas whose pace has been set by the great HBO shows," says Executive Producer Michael Prupas."

There is something very unique in the crew behind the show. I leave it up to the readers to find out:
Writer: Laurie Finstad Knizhnik
Editor: Annie Ilkow, Teresa DeLuca
Director(s): Adrienne Mitchell, Alain Desrochers, Rachel Talalay
Executive Producer: Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Laurie Finstad Knizhnik, Noel Hedges, Michael Prupas
Production Designer: Donna Noonan
Costume Designer: Janet Campbell
Cinematographer: Éric Cayla
Starring: Michelle Forbes, Laurence Leboeuf, Hélène Joy, Hugh Dillon

The Season One DVD has been released in Canada. The show is currently airing on various European networks.

I highly recommend to watch the first season. It's dark, it's creepy. Compelling and emotional. Has a unique perspective. Is visually interesting. Certainly not mainstream.

And I'm sure, with Michelle joining the cast for the second season, the story will get under your skin.

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Michelle in "True Blood"
Friday, 10 October 2008 23:08

Apparently the rumours are true: hollywoodreporter.com confirmed that Michelle Forbes has been added as a regular to the cast of True Blood for the upcoming second season.
True Blood is a new vampire series on HBO, based on the "Sookie Stackhouse" novels written by Charlaine Harris.

Michelle will play the character "Maryann" who also appears in the last 3 episodes of the first season.
Several websites suggest that Maryann is the"maenad", a character originally named "Callisto" who only appears in the second book "Living dead in Dallas".

The Maenad is a mythical creature, a wild woman roaming through the woods, dressed in rags most of the time. She feeds on dead animals and human emotions such as pride, violence and fear.

Here's a quote from the book, to give you an impression of this character:

"She had long snarled hair, an indeterminate dark in the uncertain light, and she was wearing almost nothing. She had a kind of shift on, but it was short and ragged and stained. She was barefoot. She smiled back at me. Rather than scream, I grinned even more brightly.
"I have no intention of eating you," she said." [...]

I love drunkenness, and you are very drunk," Callisto said happily. "I love pleasures of the flesh, and these people are full of lust. This is my kind of place."
It hasn't been officially confirmed if Maryann in the series = Callisto in the book, though Charlaine Harris mentioned on her messageboard that she thinks Michelle Forbes talked to her about the character at the True Blood premiere party.

According to a spoiler post on televisionwithoutpity, Michelle's character is a "social worker". But maybe that's just her day job ;)

We will find out in november! The first episode featuring Michelle is either "I don't wanna know" (episoder 10) or "To love is to bury"(episode 11)
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17-05-2009