Warmest congratulations to Marion Cotillard! She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical yesterday!!!

Also, Variety reported yesterday that Marion garnered the Best Actress award at French’s equivalent of the Golden Globes, the Prix Lumière.

According to Variety there is hope that ‘Nine’ can go ahead despite the ongoing writers’ strike:

The Weinstein Co. has followed United Artists by inking a nearly identical interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America.Along with new scripts coming in, certain key projects in the pipeline will get some wind in their sails, such as “Nine,” the Rob Marshall musical adaptation that Michael Tolkin originally scripted.

Anthony Minghella, whose Mirage Entertainment recently reupped at TWC, plans to work on rewrites of “Nine.” Cast members attached include Javier Bardem, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Sophia Loren.

Apparently, this interim deal will allow the company to hire writers for script revisions and allow guild scribes to resume pitching new projects.

Then, I came across a rumour on New York Daily News:

Looks like Nicole Kidman will have to drop out of “The Reader” now that she’s pregnant. We hear that Kate Winslet is heading up the list of possible replacements to play a former Auschwitz guard in the Stephen Daldry film. Also being considered to join Ralph Fiennes and Bruno Ganz are Naomi Watts and Marion Cotillard.

While I have not found Marion’s name pop up in relation to this project anywhere else it is certainly a rumour I personally would like to be true. ‘The Reader‘ is another Weinstein Co. project with shooting to take place in Germany tentatively set to begin in late February or March. Synopsis: In postwar Germany, a young man’s decades-long obsession with an older woman runs headlong into a war crimes trial, where he learns an awful truth.

Last week SAG released the following statement:

After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe Awards as acceptors or presenters.

Subsequently, The Hollywood Foreign Press decided on Monday to cancel the traditional awards ceremony.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association today announced that the recipients of Golden Globe Awards in 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at The Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6:00 pm PST on January 13. “The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards” NBC telecast and champagne dinner in The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom is officially cancelled.

It looks like NBC is airing this press conference and filling the other 2 hours with interviews with the nominees. So, it’s still good to watch and keep our eyes open for Marion Cotillard.

This alteration in plans affects many people – working e.g. in styling, fashion, hotel, catering. Here some Marion Cotillard-related comments:

For newcomers like the cast of AMC’s “Mad Men,” “Hairspray’s” Nikki Blonsky and “La Vie en Rose” star Marion Cotillard, the canceled ceremony casts a dramatic pall over their career highs. “This is her time,” said Berney of Cotillard. “It is really tough. Even if she wins, it’s not the same.”
from The Envelope

“I think it still matters who wins a Golden Globe,” says Entertainment Weekly‘s awards analyst Dave Karger. “But for someone like (La Vie en Rose star) Marion Cotillard, who could very well win for best actress, she could use the attention of people seeing her walk down the red carpet and make an acceptance speech,” Karger says. Her Oscar chances “will certainly be hurt by what will be a lower viewership.”
from USA Today

Marion Cotillard will be on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson today. It’s on CBS3 at 12:35-1:35 p.m. Can anybody please record this for me?

Also the 13th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards aired yesterday on VH1. Did anybody catch it and could send in a video of Marion’s red carpet interview and her presentation during the show? Together with Emile Hirsch she presented the cast of Hairspray the Acting Ensemble Award. (I’ve started adding pictures here).

This Sunday was supposed to be a big day: The day of the Golden Globes’ ceremony. Back when Marion Cotillard’s nomination was announced she was very excited about attending the ceremony (read our update). With the writers’ strike still going on however, and the Golden Globes’ ceremony (produced by showbiz vet Dick Clark’s company) being a struck event it is very unlikely we will see her walking the red carpet:

No one, including such foreign-born nominees as Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) and director Joe Wright (Atonement), said they would cross writers’ picket lines.
“If they find an arrangement, I will go, but I won’t cross any picket lines,” offered Cotillard, who is not a member of any union in France. (from USA Today)

French actress Marion Cotillard said she would not cross the picket line although she is not an actor’s guild member because she believes writers deserve a greater share of the proceeds from productions they work on.
“I think that everyone involved in a project should share the benefit of it,” said Cotillard, who received Palm Springs’ Breakthrough Performance Award and is a Globe nominee for her performance in “La Vie en Rose.” (from The Associated Press)

Yet another nomination! This time for a SAG Award. The 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will take place January 27, 2008. Watch them live on TNT TBS to find out if our Marion Cotillard wins!

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, Julie Christie “Away From Her”, Marion Cotillard “La Vie En Rose”, Angelina Jolie “A Mighty Heart”, Ellen Page “Juno”

Those of you who have read the French interview on the Studio Hors Série scans already know. Marion Cotillard has another upcoming project apart from Nine. It’s Karim Dridi’s next film. Actually, I just learned, she referred to this project already back in September in a French interview with Télécinéobs: “Ce sera une très belle histoire d’amour.” Which translates to “It will be a very beautiful love story.” You will be pleased to know that the November-January issue of US magazine MEAN has more information (scans coming soon!):

I have an amazing beautiful project in France at the end of 2008. It’s a true story, it takes place in the desert and it’s in the early ’30s. She’s a woman, she flies planes and she goes to Africa by herself because the love of her llife has crashed in the desert. There is a French director from Tunisia attached to the project, Karim Dridi.

This sounds exciting, doesn’t it?! If you know anything else about this project – e.g. the movie title – please don’t hesitate to tell us!

Let’s all hope that scheduling conflicts for Marion Cotillard can be avoided! Karim Dridi’s film is scheduled to start shooting at the end of 2008 and Nine‘s planned production start is in the second half of 2008.

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has surprisingly named Marion Cotillard Best Actress for her performance in La Vie en Rose. But Marion isn’t African-American!? You may wonder. AAFCA President Gil Robertson, IV explains:

“Although our organization gives specific consideration to work by artists of African descent, Ms. Cotillard’s astonishing portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose is a standout performance worthy of recognition.”

Then, more nominations. The London Critics Circle nominated Marion Cotillard along with Laura Linney “The Savages”, Maggie Gyllenhaal “Sherry Baby”, Angelina Jolie “A Mighty Heart” and Anamaria Marinca “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days” for Actress of the Year. Marion’s strong competitor Julie Christie (and sometime competitor Keira Knightley) are nominated in a different category this time: British Actress of the Year.

Although the Dallas Fort-Worth Critics named Julie Christie Best Actress, Marion Cotillard came next in voting, before Ellen Page, Laura Linney and Angelina Jolie.

Then the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association nominated Marion Cotillard for Best Actress. Along with Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Julie Christie (Away From Her), Jodie Foster (The Brave One), Laura Linney (The Savages) and Ellen Page (Juno). Award winners are to be announced at a Press Conference on Friday, December 21. Official Site

Finally (at least for today), the Detroit Film Critics Society nominated our Marion as well. This time her fellow nominees are: Ellen Page (Juno), Julie Christie (Away From Her), Laura Linney (The Savages), Amy Adams (Enchanted). The official winners will be announced next Monday. (source)

Are you somewhat losing sight of what awards Marion Cotillard is collecting and being nominated for? You’re not the only one then. I’ve updated the Awards & Nomination page to help you out there.

Congratulations! When the International Press Academy was handing out their Satellite Awards yesterday it became clear that Marion Cotillard once again is the best! She was named ‘Best Actress’ in a Motion Picture Drama ahead of Julie Christie, Angelina Jolie, Tilda Swinton, Keira Knightley and Laura Linney. See the complete list of winners here.

The Golden Globe nominations were announced just today and our Marion has indeed been nominated. Marion, along with Amy Adams, Ellen Page, Helena Bonham Carter, and Nikki Blonksky received a nomination for the category “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Muscial”. I’m almost positive that Marion will walk away with this award, as no other actress delivered the same powerful, emotional and all around amazing performance as Marion. No word yet on when the Golden Globes will air, or whether or not Marion will be attending.

Edit: Thanks to Elizabeth for this bit of information. The 65th Annual Golden Globes will air January 13th, 2008 on NBC at 8pm.