Funny role for Rachel - Nov 6 2007
When Rachel Weisz agreed to try her hand at comedy in new Christmas movie Fred Claus, it was all because of co-star Vince Vaughn.

"I'm a big Vince Vaughn fan," the actress told Access Hollywood at the film's Los Angeles premiere. "So I thought it would be fun to do a few scenes opposite Vince and see how I could possibly keep up with that lightning-speed mind that he has.

"He's such a guy's guy, and I like guys like that," she added. "He's very down to earth, very funny, very charming, very smart. He's a master of comedy as well, so it was fun for me to try to absorb some of that."

Rachel plays Wanda in the movie which sees Vince's character Fred Claus go to the North Pole to help his brother Nick (Santa Claus) in the family business.

"I really wanted to do a comedy," she said. "I've been doing a lot of really dark heavy things. I've died a lot basically. I've died a few times in a row and I really wanted to do something fun."

Fred Claus comes out in the UK at the end of November.



Snow Weisz lives a Disney dream - Nov 1 2007
Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz will live "every little girl’s dream" when she appears as Snow White in a series of new images for Disney.

The 36-year-old British star of The Mummy and About A Boy is seen in Snow White’s famous hairband and dress in a portrait shot by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

The images for Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams celebration, which has been extended to the end of next year, also see Dame Julie Andrews posing as the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio and men’s world tennis number one Roger Federer as King Arthur.

They come after David Beckham portrayed the dragon-slaying horse-riding Prince Phillip for Disney earlier this year, along with Beyonce Knowles as Alice In Wonderland and Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella.

Rachel, who is seen with a blue and white bird resting on her hand while she befriends animals in a forest, said: "I’m a woman now, but it doesn’t matter what age your are, I think you always want to be Snow White.

"It is every little girl’s dream.

"And to be photographed by Annie, one of the great living artists, is really an amazing collaboration."

Ms Leibovitz said: "She was so Snow White. Rachel Weisz was just a perfect Snow White."

"I wanted to put them right inside a storybook.

"The more fantasy these scenes evoke, the better story they tell.

"When you work with this calibre of actor, it takes just a few seconds, a few minutes, to do these pictures."


Rachel’s ’a cauldron of emotion’ - Jan 9 2007
British film star Rachel Weisz has been described as a "cauldron of boiling emotion" - by her fiance.

US film director Darren Aronofsky paid Rachel the strange compliment when the couple gushed about their love for each other in a joint interview.

Darren, the director of fantasy film, The Fountain, said: "I have always described her as a cauldron of boiling emotion, and all you’ve got to do is turn up the heat and all these different emotions start flying out of the pot. She ignites."

The Oscar-winner was slightly more restrained in the interview by Harper’s Bazaar.

"I had seen Darren’s films and I expected to meet some kind of weird, dark, indie person, but he is very, very light in his spirit," she said.

Strangely, Rachel added: "His favourite TV show is The Price Is Right."