February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eileen Murphy
Just in case you thought that Andrea Corr was just a singer in an internationally famous rock band, let us remind you that the girl has acting experience, too.
The dark-haired beauty, voted one of the most beautiful women in the world (by people who obviously have never seen our picture at the top of this page) has gotten some acting experience under her belt in the last few years. Before she and her siblings hit the road as a musical act, she won a role in "The Commitments" movie, playing the younger sister of Jimmy Rabbitte. In her screen debut, she uttered the immortal line, "Would you go and shite!" in response to a crude pickup attempt. Clearly, a star was born.
Andrea later came to the attention of Andrew Lloyd Webber. She won a small part in the movie version of "Evita," which starred some ’80s pop diva whose name escapes us at the moment. Most of her part was cut from the final print, but Andrea obviously made an impression on the composer and the movie’s male lead, Antonio Banderas. We hear that Corr is on the short list of actresses being considered for the female lead in the upcoming movie version of Webber’s "Phantom of the Opera," opposite Banderas, who will don the famous white mask.
Joining Andrea in the waiting room are pop princess Jessica Simpson, Catherine Zeta Jones, and former "EastEnders" star Martine "Tiffany" McCutcheon. The female lead was originally played by Webber’s ex-wife, operatic singer Sarah Brightman. Presumably, there will be some adjustment of octaves and chords and whatever, since none of the actresses under consideration have operatic training.
Sounds like Andrea’s only real rival is Jones, since Simpson is barely old enough to vote, and might make the 40-something Banderas look like he’s robbing the cradle. Martine’s enjoying a successful pop career and is currently starring in a West End production of "My Fair Lady." But frequent bouts of illness have inspired the always-sympathetic British tabs to christen her with the nickname "Sicknote."
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Catherine’s got the acting resume and a superstar hubby, but Andrea’s got the voice, so it will be interesting to see who gets the plum role. We’re sure all the actresses are "Breathless" with anticipation.
Sam’s beau is not so sweet
We were afraid this was going to happen. Convent-educated Irish pop singer Samantha Mumba, whose star is definitely on the rise in the all-important American market, has fallen for every mother’s worst nightmare. No, we’re not referring to that rakish rogue Daniel O’Donnell. Sam is dating American rap star Eminem.
The two met at the Brit 2001 in London a few months ago, but Eminem was seeing someone at the time, so nothing happened. They met up recently in Los Angeles, where Mumba is working on Steven Spielberg’s new film, "The Time Machine." The newly unattached Eminem (real name: Marshall Mathers) has been calling Mumba frequently, and the two have been spotted holding hands during romantic dinner dates.
"They really like each other," said a source.
We can just imagine how thrilled Mrs. Mumba must be at the thought of her daughter’s new beau. The potty-mouthed rapper is not exactly the kind of son-in-law a mother dreams about, unless she’s partial to songs about ex-wives stuffed in the trunk of a speeding car. And then there’s that pesky lawsuit he filed against his own mother. And the bitter child custody battle with his ex-wife. And, most horrifying of all, that bizarre duet with Elton John at the Grammy awards. We’d avoid him just on grounds of bad taste in music.
Luckily, Samantha doesn’t have a lot of free time for dating these days. When she finishes the Spielberg movie, we hear she’ll be rushed into production of "Men In Black II" in which she’ll costar with Will Smith. Hey, it beats grounding her or taking away phone privileges, right?
Briefings
We hear that hunky rocker Jon Bon Jovi, in Ireland last week for a concert at the RDS, dropped £12,500 on a Donegal landscape painting by Irish artist John Humbert Craig. He reportedly outbid another prospective buyer at an auction in Ballsbridge.
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Action star Jackie Chan will film his new movie, "Highbinders," in Ireland this summer. The film, a £60 million production that kicks off (couldn’t resist) in August, will be a shot in the arm for the Irish film industry, which has taken a hit due to the recent FMD crisis.
Hot Gigs
Tenors of the times
We hardly need to tell you that the Irish Tenors will bring their "Ellis Island Concert" this Thursday night, June 21, at Radio City Music Hall, 50th Street and Sixth Avenue, NYC. The show starts at 8 p.m., and trust us, you won’t want to be late — you don’t want to miss a note. For information, call the box office or Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171. Tenor fans in Connecticut will have a chance to see the group perform at the Ives Concert Hall on Saturday, June 30, at 8 p.m. For information, call (203) 744-8100.
Wolfe Tones on the one road to Stamford
If you see a roof raised in the vicinity of Sumner Street in Stamford, Conn., this weekend, don’t be alarmed. It’ll be the Wolfe Tones doing their trademark high-energy show at The Playwright Pub this Saturday, June 23. The show takes place in the venue’s air-conditioned tent. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For details, stop by the bar at 488 Summer St. or call (203) 353-1120.
Star shine
One of our favorite Irish bands, Morning Star, will celebrate the release of their new CD, "Away Ye Go Now," with a party at An Beal Bocht Café, West 238th St., Riverdale, N.Y., on June 28 starting at 7 p.m. The band will perform cuts from their new album, and there will be some special guests on hand for the craic. For details, call (718) 884-7127.