Happy Birthday to
Jodie Foster
49 today
Choosing to work only when she wants to is a superb strategy for this two time Oscar winner, by carefully monitoring the output the resultant scarcity increases demand. Although her next film, Roman Polanski's Carnage, may well divide audiences on how they feel about the content of Yasmina Reza's bitter play on which it's based. Personally I couldn't be more stoked.
Happy Birthday to
Brenda Vaccaro
72 today
Are you trying to imagine where you've seen Brenda? Maybe as a TV staple, including a voice in Cartoon Network's "Johnny Bravo", or maybe as Bab's BFF in The Mirror has Two Faces or maybe you're casting your mind back still further to playing scrabble with a naked Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy. A-ha you've got her now, superb performances but alas still an I know you actress rather than an a-lister. Seems to be semi-retired these days.
Happy Birthday to
Maggie Gyllenhaal
34 today
It has to be said that Maggie does great red carpet, always stunning and always exceptionally well put together. With a career that spans high concept block busters, edgy dramas and cult favourites I expect to see Ms Gyllenhaal's career continue to grow from strength to strength. Nothing on the immediate horizon though.
Happy Birthday to
Whoopi Goldberg
56 today
The Commedienne/Actress Goldberg doesn't exactly stretch herself these days. Recently she played God in a Kate Hudson vehicle no-one watched and next up is a cameo in the Muppets, surely her co-hosting work on The view isn't that taxing, is it?
Happy Birthday to
Ryan Gosling
31 today
Riding high, with two well-received dramatic turns in the last few months, Gosling's come a long way since his Mickey Mouse Club days, or since his energetic turn in Murder by Numbers - I'll never forget how he licked Sandra Bullock. Coming up next, and where this picture comes from, we'll see him reunite with Derek Cianfrance on stunt motorcyclist epic Place Beyond the Pines.
Happy Birthday to
Susan Kohner
75 today
Susan has not acted since 1964. By choice she retired, aged just 28, to raise a family. I'm sure her two children, with non Hollywood type John Weitz, count themselves lucky, not just because their parents obviously wanted the very best for them but because their mother chose to turn her back on an exceptionally promising career. Oscar nominated for her role of the light-skinned black girl dealing with prejudice in Douglas Sirk's Imitation of Life she proved she could take an unappealling character and reveal the hidden layers of vulnerability.
Happy Birthday to
Sally Field
65 today
About 30 years ago Ms Field was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood winning two Oscars within 6 years and drawing crowds to her movies. Then it all went silent for a while, with most of the naughties spent on TV, however now she's back in the mainstream with the next Spiderman movie, as Aunt May no less, and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln both on their way next year. Look out for another nomination at least.
Happy Birthday to
Tatum O'Neal
48 today
It's when kids that marked cinematic milestones have birthdays that we begin to realise how time is passing, and so it is with anyone who remembers film in the early 70's when Ryan's daughter stole the limelight in Paper Moon. Of course I wasn't even born then and can only remember Tatum from her marriage (and divorce) to John McEnroe, but anyone who can remember is probably now considering whatever happened to the last 38 years.
Happy Birthday to
Toni Collette
39 today
When Fright Night came out a couple of months ago I heard one reviewer lament how every time you see Toni she looks thinner. It's an interesting point, and one that seems to hinge on the unfortunate ways that female stars have to conform in Hollywood, whilst never really over weight, Toni was often thought of that way because of her Australian breakout role in Muriel's Wedding but in order to keep the parts coming, even the mother to the hero parts like the aforementioned horror remake, she's had to scrape every inch of form from her body. There aren't even any great parts coming for her right now.
Happy Birthday to
Lee Grant
84 today
One of the most successful actresses that no-ones heard of, you will almost certainly know Lee's work, from In the Heat of the Night to Shampoo her career was full of cult hits and fascinating choices, as well as being one of the the unfortunate actresses to have been blacklisted during the McCarthy trials.
Happy Birthday to
Winona Ryder
40 today
After years of virtually disappearing, apart from certain security camera footage, Winona is bravely moving into the next stage of her career - kicking and screaming through Black Swan as the former Prima Donna replaced by Natalie Portman. Next up is voice work on Tim Burton's Frankenweenie.
Happy Birthday to
Joaquin Pheonix
37 today
The super-sexy stud has, unsurprisingly, been taking it easy since his infamous performance art mockumentary I'm Still Here which followed his apparent breakdown and crossover to drunken rap star. However he's chosen a great vehicle to reintegrate with mainstream with the Paul Thomas Anderson religion drama The Master.
Happy Birthday to
Roberto Benigni
59 today
The Oscar winning actor-director has been quietly resting for some time, although I heard his one man touring Dante's Inferno was excellent, but it's interesting to see his coming back to our screens in Woody Allen's next Rome set comedy Nero Fiddled (formerly Bop Decameron) although set photos with his trousers round his ankles indicate this may be more farcical than many fans will hope.
Happy Birthday to
Bob Hoskins
69 today
Whilst his screen persona may imply the ultimate in cockney geezers, it's surprising to hear Bob was born in genteel Bury St. Edmonds. Although given that his mother had evacuated from the Blitz it's less of a shock. Loads of projects on the slate, but nothing that's really grabbing my attention.
Happy Birthday to
Kevin Kline
64 today
Juilliard alumni Kline has had an varied career that's seen him run the gamut of roles, from musicals to heavy drama, although it's his lighty satirical touches that probably resonate the most, especially his collaboration with Lawrence Kasdan in The Big Chill. Great news then, as he will next be seen in their dog tale movie Darling Companion.
Happy Birthday to
Joan Fontaine
94 today
I've been thinking a lot about the Golden age of Romantic cinema recently, so it's seems fitting to celebrate a birthday of one of the great stars of her time, and one of the few legendary beauties still with us. Best remembered for her collaborations with Hitch (Rebecca , pictured, and Suspicion) Joan's look of fragility and grace in the soft focus glow of the 40's is a reminder of what the studio system did best - create stars we could only dream of being.
Happy Birthday to
Viggo Mortensen
53 today
Viggo's been getting the lion's share of praise from the festival circuit tour of A Dangerous Method, with his performance as Sigmund Freud, the third consecutive collaboration with director David Cronenberg, being called fantastic and inspirational casting. I'm also looking forward to see him in the supporting ensemble of Jack Kerouac adaptation On the Road but with the buzz of that disappearing and the film being quietly delayed into 2012 I am beginning to doubt it's quality.
Happy Birthday to
John Lithgow
66 today
I can't help but think there's a certain sniffiness about audience opinion of Lithgow, his long running stint on TV's "Third Rock from the Sun" obscures the two dramatic supporting actor Academy Award nominations. Maybe his acclaimed turn in Rise of the Planet of the Apes will introduce him to a whole new generation of film fans. Next up is ensemble romantic comedy New Years Eve.
Happy Birthday to
Fernanda Montenegro
82 today
I usually pick generic publicity or red carpet shots to celebrate birthdays, but I just love this Luiz Garrido portrait of the Brazillian screen star. Bursting onto the international stage following her Oscar nominated turn in Central Station, a film I love. Next up is A Igreja do Diabo for the sprightly 102 year old director Manoel de Oliveira.
Happy Birthday to
Joan Cusack
49 today
From juicy supporting turns to the 80's - whether for her brother or when sporting big corporate hairstyles - to mainly voice and TV work recently Joan's career has followed a strong if predictable path. Of course I'd prefer her to be do some serious comedy turns but I guess we'll just have to hold on to the memories.
