Keira Knightley says it's exciting to be opening the London Film Festival with World War II code-breaking story "The Imitation Game."
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as computer pioneer Alan Turing, who helped win the war but was later prosecuted for homosexuality.
Knightley, who plays fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke, said Wednesday that "it's lovely to be the first" of the 248 features screened at the 12-day festival.
"The Imitation Game" won the audience award at the Toronto Film Festival, often a precursor to Oscar success.
Director Morten Tyldum said playing the London festival was "like coming home" for the movie, which was shot in the British capital and at the nearby Bletchley Park code center.
The festival opens Wednesday and closes Oct. 19 with the Brad Pitt war saga, "Fury."
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More