Megan Hilty recently spoke with the Wall Street Journal after the premier of NBC’s Smash, and the co-star had a lot to say about the goings-on back stage, from her experience working with producer Steven Spielberg to backstage drama.

In the interview, Hilty talks a bit about the show, but the big focus in the interview is on the actress behind the character. Among other things, Hilty explains what it’s like transitioning from theater to TV.

“It’s great because the subject matter is something that’s very close to what I know and what I’ve always grown up knowing and wanting to do, but I’m just kind of adjusting [to] my audience now,” she said. “My audience is a couple of inches away instead of filling a 2,000-seat auditorium. So it’s great. It’s like a little adventure every day.”

For more, including what she has to say about Spielberg, check out Wall Street Journal’s video interview with Megan Hilty below.

Going by all of NBC’s promotion leading up to the premier of Smash, it was easy to get the impression that Katherine McPhee was the star of the show, or at least one of the only singers vying for the role of Marilyn Monroe. If you caught the premier, you know that isn’t the case–Hilty’s character, Ivy Lynn, is just as determined to land the big part.

In another interview with Christian Science Monitor, Hilty gives us a rundown of her character, Lynn, and what could be in store for her in the coming episodes.

“Very quickly you’ll see her relationships, her family life and the emotional roller coaster that is in store for Ivy that explains a lot about her behavior. We actually reshot a scene a couple of times [from the pilot] because we didn’t know what to give away about my mother, but you’ll find out fairly quickly how my family feels about my career choice and all of that.”

Megan Hilty talks Smash, working with Spielberg is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton spent the day before her 30th birthday at the premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse.” The Duchess of Cambridge was accompanied by Prince William and thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

According to Spielberg, Kate Middleton was moved to tears by “War Horse.” Spielberg said:

“I was sitting next to her and all I know is at one point my wife, who was sitting to my right, right in front of my face she passed a Kleenex. I saw the Kleenex go across my face, arrive and stop but I didn’t want to intrude on her experience watching ‘War Horse,’ so I never glanced over.”

After the event Middleton and William hosted a gala at the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace to benefit the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Jeremy Irvine, the lead actor in “War Horse,” said:

The fact that they’re here to watch my fat face on a cinema screen is bizarre. It’s such a thrill. And also for their charity. It’s a great cause.”

Here’s the trailer for “War Horse.”

After the public event Middleton and William retired from the spotlight for a “low-key and private” birthday. The CS Monitor notes that the “low-key” party was expected as Middleton is not only leaving her 20s, but also because she is transitioning into the role of the future queen.

Robert Jobson, author of “William and Kate: The Love Story,” said:

“She’s done very well, playing a very good supporting role to Prince William and complementing him as part of a team. We’ve not seen much of her, but when she’s in public she has performed with aplomb.”

Middleton will spend the first year of her 30s helping Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, as well as play a supporting role at the 2012 London Olympics.

Kate Middleton Moved to Tears at “War Horse” Premiere, Spends 30th Birthday in Private is a post from: The Inquisitr

Emily Watson has been chatting about the experience of shooting ‘War Horse’ with director Steven Spielberg, who she says she’d have done anything to work with. Speaking to On the Red Carpet, the 44-year-old British actress simply stated: “It’s Steven Spielberg,” and admitted she would have played a “meek mouse” if asked.

‘War Horse’ is a new probable tearjerker from Spielberg, and tells the tale of a young boy separated from his horse, after the beast (that is, the horse) is sent off to fight in the First World War. Watson says the boy and the horse are almost like lovers:

“I think it’s such a potent combination of an animal, an innocent animal and a savage, savage war. A savage and pointless war and putting this animal into the middle of it. And an animal we’ve learned to love, because we’ve learned to love him through the eyes of a boy. They’re like star-crossed lovers in a way, and we desperately want them to be together.”

Jeremy Irvine plays the heartbroken young lad in the film, and prefers a ‘brother’ analogy to Watson’s ‘lover’ idea. But basically, he agrees:

“I think when this horse comes into his life, it fills the place of a brother. The stakes need to be that high for him to then go off to the First World War to try and get him back. So I imagined when he’s being taken away from me, I kind of imagined what it would be like to have one of my younger brothers being taken away like that.”

The movie is out in the States now, having been nominated for two Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture Drama and Best Score). I’ve not seen it myself, but would happily bet my mortgage something potentially devastating happens to that horse at some point.

Here’s Watson yapping about the film, and below that, the official ‘War Horse’ trailer:

Emily Watson talks up Steven Spielberg and ‘War Horse’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yes, that’s Daniel Day-Lewis. The continually-morphing actor will be playing Abe Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s biopic, “Lincoln,” next year, and he’s already getting into the part.

Daniel Day-Lewis, a renowned method actor, is known for completely losing himself in his roles. According to the Daily Mail, Lewis has only been in 10 movies since 1989. He’s earned Oscar nominations for four of them.

Jeff Schneider, from Variety, reported on Twitter:

“Word around town is that DANIEL DAY-LEWIS hasn’t broken his Lincoln accent since March. His real name doesn’t even appear on the call sheet.”

Still, some people are still skeptical that he’ll be able to pull off one of America’s most famous presidents.

What do you think? Even with the iconic top hat it looks like Daniel Day-Lewis has the Lincoln look down.

Here’s a little refresher of what Honest Abe looked like.

Spielberg could make “Lincoln” an epic war movie, but the acclaimed director said that he’ll focus more on the final months of Lincoln’s life.

Spielberg told the Orlando Sentinel earlier this year:

“['Lincoln' is] not a battlefield movie. There are [Civil War] battles in it, and being in Virginia, we have access to those historic battlefields. It is really a movie about the great work Abraham Lincoln did in the last months of his life… We’re basing it on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, ‘Team of Rivals,’ but we’re only focusing in on the last four months of Abraham Lincoln’s life.”

Spielberg also said that Lincoln would come out after the 2012 election since he doesn’t want politicians to use it as political fodder.

Daniel Day-Lewis will be joined by Sally Field, as Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Gordon-Levitt  as Robert Todd Lincoln, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens and John Hawkes as Robert Latham.

Do you think Daniel Day-Lewis will play a convincing Abraham Lincoln?

Daniel Day-Lewis Spotted With Abe Lincoln Beard is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steven Spielberg is said to be in formal talks with Warner Brothers to direct the sweeping Moses epic Gods and Kings.

The movie chronicles the the life of Moses from birth through death and includes the story of the Jews’ emancipation from Egypt and years spent in the desert.

Spielberg took several years off from directing to spend time with his family but has two movies debuting this year in TinTin (already a hit in Europe) and War Horse which is an adaption of the hit play about a horse that braves his way through World War I.

Apparently content on directing biopics and historical pieces at the moment Spielberg is directing the biopic President Lincoln which stars Daniel Day Lewis.

This movie has us much more excited than the Mel Gibson rumored move about the life of Judah Maccabee.

Here’s a video of Steven Spielberg talking about the long awaited TinTin project:

Would you head out to see a Moses movie directed by Steven Spielberg? How about his TinTin adaptation?

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Steven Spielberg To Direct Moses Movie ‘Gods and Kings’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tyler Perry, the director, actor, screenwriter, producer and even songwriter has been named by Forbes magazine as the highest earning figure in Hollywood from May 2010 through May 2011.

According to the magazine the hit makers $130 million gross puts him ahead of big names including Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg.

Perry’s money came in from five movies he made over the last two years including:

“Madea’ s Big Happy Family,” “Why Did I Get Married Too?” and “For Colored Girls.”

Perry also reaps the benefit of two TV series “Meet the Browns” and ” House of Payne.”

In terms of sheer acting Leonardo DiCaprio was the highest paid actor with $77 million thanks to just two movies Shutter Island and Inception. Had DiCaprio worked on more films he likely would have ranked at the top of the list.

Second place went to Jerry Bruckheimer who raked in $113 million despite the box office flops of ”The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and ” Prince of Persia.” Bruckheimer’s biggest score came from ”Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” which took in more than $1 billion globally.

In third place was Steven Spielberg who took a three year directing hiatus but still managed to take in $107 million.

Elton John followed behind  those men as the top singer with $100 million, while X-Factor creator Simon Cowell didn’t do to bad either with $90 million to round out the top five.

Is there anyone missing from the top 5 list that you would have suspected made more money?

Tyler Perry Named Top Earning Hollywood Figure is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steven Spielberg was busy promoting TinTin this week at Comic-Con and while speaking about that movie he began to hint that a fourth Jurassic Park movie is in the planning stages.

Speaking to his fans Spielberg said of the new dinosaur flick:

“We have a writer who is writing a treatment and hopefully we will make Jurassic Park 4 in the next two to three years.”

After Spielberg began hinting about the movie Jurassic Park 3 director Joe Johnston told ScreenRant:

“The most important thing I can tell you is that it starts a new trilogy that will go off in a different direction—a completely different direction that is very exciting.”

The last time a Jurassic park movie hit theaters was 2001.

What direction would you like to see the new Jurassic Park trilogy move towards?

Steven Spielberg Hints: Jurassic Park 4 On The Way is a post from: The Inquisitr

Would you want to see a fourth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise?

Well, you might get lucky, but don’t hold your breath. Reports swirled this morning that “purely exploratory” talks were underway to put together Jurassic Park 4, and that “Steven Spielberg has been brainstorming ideas” along with screenwriter Mark Protosevich. Paste Magazine says:

However, Universal Studios and Spielberg’s representatives “stress that no one has been engaged to write a script and that the discussions have been purely exploratory.”

The first film, which released in 1993, was adapted from Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel and greatly advanced CGI technology in achieving realistic-looking dinosaurs on the screen. With the rise of 3D in 21st century cinema, however, THR suggests that the reboot could achieve even more with updated technology.

In other news, if you would like to feel old, the original Jurassic Park (which I saw in a drive-in theater) was released back in 1993- eighteen years ago.

Jurassic Park 4 In The Works? is a post from: The Inquisitr

A movie based on the Halo game franchise? Rubbish idea. I’ve been over this.

An even worse idea? Basing the movie on the Halo novels. The only place in the world you’ll find writing more atrocious than that in the Halo games is in the Halo novels.

The Halo movie has been in the pipeline for years. However, funding from Fox and Universal collapsed in 2007, and would-be director Neill Blomkamp later declared a Halo film unworkable, because of Master Chief’s faceless nature. Cue the sound of a million 37-year-old virgins crying into their Cortana body pillows.

Despite this, the Steven Spielberg-owned DreamWorks is now interested in making a Halo film based on said books, according to sources close to Vulture. I can only imagine a major rewrite would be required to stop this becoming a complete turkey.

Incidentally, I love how everybody lost interest in this project, but now every human being on earth owns a copy of Halo: Reach, DreamWorks suddenly really wants to get involved. Strange that.

[Vulture, via MTV Multiplayer]

Steven Spielberg wants to make Halo movie, base it on Halo novels is a post from: The Inquisitr

The first trailer for HBO’s The Pacific, the follow up by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks to Band of Brothers has been released.

The Pacific focuses on the United States Marine Corps’s actions in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WWII, and cost at staggering $200 million to produce. Shot in Queensland and Victoria, the series is due out in March 2010.

First impressions: epic. The CGI is believable, the color and tone rich, and I can just see this becoming a must watch. Here’s The Pacific trailer:

First trailer released for HBO’s The Pacific is a post from: The Inquisitr

A two-film series based on the famous comic series Tintin looks close to going ahead, with negotiations said to be “advanced” between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Pictures to finance and distribute the films.

The Tintin project is being proposed by both Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, neither of whom need explanation here. Spielberg will direct the first film, Jackson the second.

Paramount had previously offered to finance the entire $130 milliion project, according to THR, but both directors weren’t happy with the conditions placed on the money. Universal Pictures was reported to be close to a partnership for the series last month, but back away at the last minute.

Under the deal, Paramount will gain exclusive North American rights, with Sony taking the rest of the world.

Sony may fund Tintin, Spielberg and Jackson to direct is a post from: The Inquisitr