Surviving PicassoAbout the Cast



Anthony HopkinsANTHONY HOPKINS (Pablo Picasso) most recently starred as President Richard Nixon in Oliver Stone's "Nixon." He earned an Academy Award as Best Actor for his performance as Hannibal Lector in "The Silence of the Lambs," and was nominated in 1993 for his starring role in Merchant Ivory Productions' "The Remains of the Day," for which he was also named Best Actor by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In 1993 he starred in Richard Attenborough's critically lauded "Shadowlands" opposite Debra Winger.

In 1992 he appeared in "Howards End" for Merchant Ivory, and in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," directed by Francis Ford Coppola, before starring in "Legends of the Fall" and "The Road to Wellville."

"August," in which he stars with Kate Burton, marked his directing debut, and Hopkins also composed the musical score for an adaptation of Checkov's "Uncle Vanya." Following "Surviving Picasso," Hopkins begins production on "Bookworm," written by David Mamet for Lee Tamahori's direction.

Hopkins' earlier films include "84 Charing Cross Road," "The Bounty," "Elephant Man," "Magic" and "A Bridge Too Far."

In television, Hopkins has earned two Emmy Awards as Best Actor -- for "The Lindbergh Kidnapping" and "The Bunker" -- and was nominated for his outstanding performance in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." He also appeared in the miniseries "QB VII."

A native of Wales, Hopkins discovered a love of acting at the age of 17 and shortly afterward won a scholarship to the Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. In 1961 Hopkins was given a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; he graduated a Silver Medalist and then performed in several repertory companies. In 1967 he became Sir Laurence Olivier's understudy in Strindberg's "Dance of Death" at the National Theatre.

Hopkins made his film debut in 1967 as Richard the Lionheart in the Oscar-winning "The Lion in Winter," which earned him a BAFTA nomination.

In contemporary theater, Hopkins starred on Broadway in the National Theatre production of "Equus" and at London's National Theatre in David Hare's "Pravda," which earned him the British Theatre Association's Best Actor Award and the Observer Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 1985 Olivier Awards.

Hopkins was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Honour list, June, 1987, and was invested with his knighthood at Buckingham Palace on February 23, 1993.

Natasche McElhoneNATASCHA McELHONE (Francoise) makes her film debut in "Surviving Picasso" after graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and appearing on stage in England in Richard III, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Cherry Orchard. On television, she has appeared in several popular British series, including an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous." She will next be seen in Alan Pakula's film "The Devil's Own."



JULIANNE MOORE (Dora Maar) has attracted the attention of critics and audiences with her outstanding work in films ranging from SHORT CUTS and VANYA ON 42ND STREET to THE FUGITIVE and ASSASSINS.

In 1995, Moore starred opposite Hugh Grant in NINE MONTHS, a romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of pregnancy that made over $70 million domestically. She also starred as a repressed suburban housewife in Todd Haynes' SAFE, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was voted runner up for Best Film of the Year by the NY Film Critics.

Julianne MooreLast summer Moore starred opposite Hugh Grant in "Nine Months," a romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of pregnancy written and directed by Chris Columbus. She was also seen starring in Todd Haynes' "Safe," where she plays a repressed suburban wife who comes to believe she has a 20th Century "environmental disease." "Safe" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to screen successfully in Cannes.

Since earning her B.F.A. in acting from the Boston University School for the Performing Arts, Moore has starred in a number of Off-Broadway and regional productions, including the American premieres of both Carol Churchill's "Serious Money" and "Ice Cream/Hot Fudge" at the Public Theatre; the original production of Arthur Kopit's "The Road to Nirvana" at the Humana Festival of New Plays in Louisville; and the Guthrie Theatre's 1988 production of "Hamlet."

In 1993 Moore starred opposite Al Pacino in a workshop production of Strindberg's "The Father," directed by Peter Stomare at The Circle in the Square in New York.

Moore has since completed work on the family drama, MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS, and she is currently shooting BOOGIE NIGHTS, Paul Thomas Anderson's ode to the porn industry in the 70's with Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds and Don Cheadle. In September, Moore goes directly into the lead opposite Jeff Goldblum in JURASSIC PARK II: THE LOST WORLD, directed by Steven Spielberg.

After earning her B.F.A. in acting from the Boston University School for the Performing Arts, Moore starred in a number of Off-Broadway and regional productions, including the American premieres of both Carol Churchill's SERIOUS MONEY and ICE CREAM/HOT FUDGE at the Public Theatre, the original production of Arthur Kopit's THE ROAD TO NIRVANA at the Humana Festival of New Plays in Louisville, and the Guthrie Theatre's 1988 production of HAMLET.

She has recently workshopped Strindberg's THE FATHER with Al Pacino, and Wendy Wasserstein's AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER with Meryl Streep. In 1994, Moore earned critical acclaim for her performance in Louis Malle's VANYA ON 42ND STREET, which was based on Andre Gregory's ongoing workshop of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA.

Her other feature film credits include THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE, BENNY & JOON, SHORT CUTS and ASSASSINS. PETER EYRE (Sabartes), in addition to enjoying a prolific and successful career on the British stage, has appeared in such motion pictures as "Princess Caraboo," "The Remains of the Day," "Orlando," "Let Him Have It," "Dragonslayer," "La Luna," "Mountains of the Moon," "Just Ask for Diamond," "Maurice," "Hedda," "Mahler," "The Pied Piper" and "Julius Caesar." He will next be seen in the upcoming "The Honest Courtesan" for Warner Bros. and New Regency.

On television, he has been seen in numerous BBC productions, including "Dalziel and Pascoe," "The Last Machine," "Momento Mori," "Spyship," "The Birds Fall Down," "Doran's Box," "Platonov," "A Misfortune," "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Death of Socrates," as well as "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" for American television.

Eyre played the role of Polonius in the Jonathan Kent-directed production of "Hamlet" that played in London and on Broadway. He portrayed Edgar in The Old Vic production of "King Lear" and lists among his many other theater credits "As You Like It," the Royal Shakepeare Company's productions of "The Red Noses," "The Desert Air," "Hedda Gabler," "The Beast" and "Comrades"; and "A Country Life," "The Duchess of Malfi," "The Misanthrope," "Crime and Punishment," "The Three Sisters," "The Seagull," "The Ruling Class," "The Idiot," "Macbeth," "Twelfth Night" "early Morning" and "Benito Cereno."

JANE LAPOTAIRE (Olga Picasso) was born and educated in England. She trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and joined the Bristol Company for two years. In 1967, she became a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at The Old Vic in London, where she played leading roles in "The Dance of Death," "The White Devil," "The Way of the World" and "The Captain From Copenick." She also starred opposite Olivier in Jonathan Miller's production of "The Merchant of Venice."

Lapotaire was a founding member of The Young Vic Theatre, where she played roles in "Oedepus," "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Measure For Measure," among others. In 1974 she went to New York with The Young Vic production of "The Taming of the Shrew." Her other theater credits include "Twelfth Night," "Macbeth," "Love's Labour Lost" and "Uncle Vanya" for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She also played the starring role in "Piaf" for the RSC, in both London and New York, winning the Society of West End Theatre Award, the Plays and Players Award, the Variety Club of Great Britain Award and the Tony Award for Best Actress.

Her other theatrical credits include "Kick For Touch," "Venice Preserved," "Antigone," "St. Joan," "Misalliance," "The Archbishop's Ceiling," "L'Aide Memoire," "Greenland," "Shadowlands" and RSC productions of "Hamlet" and "Ghosts."

Lapotaire's film credits include "To Catch a King," Nicholas Roeg's "Eureka" and "Performance," "Anthony and Cleopatra," "Lady Jane" and "Napoleon and Josephine." She has also won numerous awards for her television work and is the author of a book, Grace and Favour.

Lapotaire is Honorary President of The Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club and of The Friends of Shakespeare's Globe. She has a visiting fellowship at Sussex University and is one of the Honorary Associate Artists of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

JOSEPH MAHER (Kahnweiler) has enjoyed a varied and extensive career on both sides of the Atlantic as a stage, television and film actor. He was seen in the romantic comedy "I.Q." and the noir drama "Bulletproof Heart," before which he appeared in "The Shadow," "Sister Act," "My Stepmother is an Alien," "Funny Farm," "Just Tell Me What You Want," "Heaven Can Wait" and "For Pete's Sake." In addition to "Surviving Picasso," Maher's most recent film work includes a role in Warner Bros.' and Tim Burton's science-fiction fantasy, "Mars Attacks!"

In British theater, Maher received a 1991 Olivier Award nomination for his work in "What the Butler Saw." In the United States, his stage credits include such Broadway productions as "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "The Royal Family," "Spokesong" (for which he received a Tony nomination), "Night and Day" (which brought him another Tony nomination), "84 Charing Cross Road" and "Loot" (for which he received another Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Critics Award). He has also appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions.

Maher's television credits include series roles in "Anything But Love" and "Laurie Hill," as well as guest appearances on such shows as "Chicago Hope," "The Martin Short Show," "Tales From the Crypt," "Murder, She Wrote," "Seinfield," "thirtysomething," and "Moonlighting" and a role in the miniseries "Little Gloria: Happy at Last" and PBS Faery Tales Theatre's "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp."

BOB PECK (Francoise) has spent most of his professional life as an actor with Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company, for whom he has appeared in such productions as "The Three Sisters," "Twelfth Night" and "Nicholas Nickleby," all directed by Trevor Nunn; "The Accrington Pals"; "Richard III" and "Lear," directed by Barry Kyle; "Destiny," "The Tempest" and "Maydays," all directed by Ron Daniels; "Anthony and Cleopatra"; the title role in "Macbeth" under Howard Davies' direction; and the role of Iago in "Othello" under Ronald Eyre's direction.

Peck has also appeared in productions at the National Theatre including "Rutherford and Son," "The Road to Mecca," "A Chorus of Disapproval" and "The Birthday Party"; in "The Price" and "Two-Way Mirror" at The Young Vic; and "Lambeth" at the Donmar Warehouse.

Peck's film credits include "The Kitchen Toto," "On the Black Hill," "Slipstream," "Ladder of Swords," "Jurassic Park," "Seasick," "Smilla's Sense of Snow" and "Opium War."

He was the winner of the 1985 BAFTA Award for Best Actor and the British Guild Press Award for Best Actor in 1985 for his work as Ronald Craven in the BBC television production of "Edge of Darkness." He has also appreared in numerous other television productions for the BBC.

DIANE VENORA (Jacqueline Roque) was most recently seen starring opposite Al Pacino in Michael Mann's crime saga "Heat." She drew critical acclaim and earned a Golden Globe nomination and New York Film Critics Award for her performance as Chan Parker in Clint Eastwood's "Bird." Her additional film credits include "Ironweed," "F/X," "The Cotton Club," "Three Wishes" and the recent "The Substitute" with Tom Berenger. She will next be seen as Lady Capulet in Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo and Juliet" with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio.

On television, Venora had a recurring role on the acclaimed CBS series "Chicago Hope." Her other credits include the ABC series "Thunder Alley" with Ed Asner and a PBS Great Performances production of "Hamlet."

Her extensive theater credits include Ophelia opposite Kevin Kline in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Hamlet" and the title role in Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival production of the same play. Her other notable credits include "The Country Wife" (Loeb Drama Center), "The Three Sisters" (Princeton Acting Ensemble), "Penguin Touquet" (Public Theatre), "Miss Julie" (Lincoln Center), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (New York Shakespeare Festival), "Peer Gynt" and "The School for Scandal" (Williamstown Theatre Festival), "Uncle Vanya" (La Mama), "Messiah" (Manhattan Theater Club), "The Seagull" with Joanne Woodward, "Tomorrow's Monday" (Circle Rep), "A Man for All Seasons" (Roundabout Theatre) and "The Winter's Tale" (New York Shakespeare Festival).

Venora is a member of the Ensemble Studio's theatre and the Circle Repertory Company.

Hailed as one of the world's finest stage actresses, JOAN PLOWRIGHT (Francoise's Grandmother) began her career with a two-year scholarship to the renowned Old Vic Theatre School in London in 1950.

Four years later, after a succession of roles in English repertory companies, she made her London stage debut in "The Duenna." Not long after, she joined the English Stage Company, soon to be known as the famous Royal Court Theatre, where she won her first starring role in a revival of "The Country Wife."

She next played opposite future husband Laurence Olivier in John Osborne's "The Entertainer," a role which took her to Broadway and her first Tony Award nomination. In 1960, she won the Tony as Best Dramatic Actress for her starring role in "A Taste of Honey."

Some of her credits in an acclaimed stage career include "The Way of the World," "The Cherry Orchard," "Uncle Vanya," "The House of Bernarda Alba," "Hobson's Choice," "The Advertisement," "Rhinoceros," "Roots," "The Good Woman of Setzuan," "The Crucible," "The Three Sisters," "Major Barbara," "Tartuffe," "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Chairs" and "Saint Joan," for which she was awarded the London Evening Standard's Best Actress Award.

She also won the Variety Club's Best Actress Award for "Saturday, Sunday, Monday" and the Society West End Theatre Award as Best Actress for "Filumena." She also claimed Italy's Adeline Ristori prize for "Filumena."

Plowright made her film debut in "Time Without Pity" in 1957. She reprised her stage role in Tony Richardson's film version of "The Entertainer," and was directed by husband Laurence Olivier in the American Film Theatre presentation of "The Three Sisters," a role which brought her a British Academy Award nomination as Best Actress.

She won a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA nomination for "Equus," was twice voted Best Actress by the Variety Club for her film roles in "The Dressmaker" and "Drowning By Numbers" and received a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for "Enchanted April."

Her other motion picture credits include "Avalon," "I Love You to Death," "Brimstone and Treacle," "Britannia Hospital," "Wagner," "Dennis the Menace" and "The Last Action Hero."

She won another Golden Globe, as Best Supporting Actress, in the HBO drama "Stalin." She starred as the cranky matriarch in the CBS pilot "Driving Miss Daisy" and has also appeared in several telefilms on the BBC, including "The Merchant of Venice," "School for Scandal," "The Birthday Party," "Saturday, Sunday, Monday" the American production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" and the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "A Place For Annie."

SUSANNAH HARKER (Marie-Ther'se Walter) has appeared in such motion pictures as "Burke and Wills," "Wetherby," "White Mischief," "A Dry White Season" and "Crucifer of Blood." Her British television credits include "The Lady's Not For Burning," "Troubles," "The Fear," "House of Cards," "Adam Bede," "Sherlock Holmes," "Faith" and "Pride and Prejudice."

In the theater, Harker appeared in "Winter in the Morning," "Look Back in Anger" at the Bristol Old Vic; "The Debutante Ball"; "Racing Demon" at the National Theatre; "Coriolanus," "She Stoops to Conquer" and "Venus Observed" at the Chichester Theatre; and "The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Aldwych Theatre.



Surviving Picasso


©1996 Warner Bros.