Tag Archive for 'Jake Gyllenhaal'

A LITTLE bit of Hollywood landed in London, specifically at the Dorchester Hotel, that grand ole hotel where all the stars who visit London stay when they visit London.

The last time I was here was in 1999, interviewing Peter Buck and Michael Stipe. But this time I was going to speak to the cast of Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time, the new movie by director Mike Newell. So that’s Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley as well as Jordan Mechner (the guy who created the original video game).

Jake is a lot funnier than I expect him to be, often sparring with the reporters gathered at the round table conference (and it really is a round table). When someone asks him what he would like to do if he could turn back time, he says he would like to see what his birth was like.

“It’s quite bloody,” says a reporter. “Oh, you were there at my birth?” he shoots back.

Gen, this one is for you: Jake told me to tell you "hi". Really.

Sir Ben Kingsley too, is in top form. “Good afternoon Sir,” says a reporter to him. “Good afternoon, madam,” he replies. He’s also quite funny, and shares a lot of anecdotes about his career as well as why he never became a rock star even though he was encouraged to by two of the Fab Four, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.

An audience with Gandhi

“You’ll get used to this,” said Sir Ben to Gemma, as she laughed while we took our shot.

Gemma is as beautiful as she is statuesque (she says she’s about 5′ 8″). And she’s like the sweetest thing, all very polite and like the proverbial English rose type, except that she says she can kick some butt. And you know what? I believe her. She also says she still can’t quite believe that anyone would want to get her autograph or take her picture. Unfortunately, when I try to prove that to her, I am told due to a thingy we signed before we were allowed to talk to Gemma, that meant we really, really couldn’t take a pic with her – so here’s a pic of the outside of the hotel instead.

Okay, it’s late and I need to get some shut-eye. Tomorrow is press conference day with Jerry Bruckheimer. I need to get ready.