If the movie business thinks you’re good enough to play a young Helen Mirren, well then, you are clearly doing something right. And those accolades are currently being lofted upon Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany, who is currently in talks to play the younger take on Mirren’s character in Woman in Gold, her latest film.
Mirren and actor Ryan Reynolds are already confirmed in the cast of the Weinstein Company and BBC co-production (always a good idea to get on the right side of Harvey Weinstein), where — should the talks go through — Maslany will play the younger version of Mirren’s character in flashback scenes. Woman in Gold is said to tell the true story of one Holocaust survivor’s crusade to retrieve some of her many impressive family heirlooms, long lost to the Austrian government after Nazi soldiers stole them from her home, nearly 60 years after they were originally stolen. Some of those prized possessions included a Gustav Klimt painting (no doubt worth millions, and likely where the film got its name). As to how Reynolds fits into the film? He will be playing the attorney who agrees to take on Mirren’s case.
Has awards-bait written all over it, doesn’t it? Helming the film is the man behind My Week With Marilyn, Simon Curtis, and it is said that production on the project begins quite soon. Later this month, in fact, so hopefully Maslany gets her involvement in the movie figured out soon. Maybe she has to ask permission from the DYAD institute: anyone else think Rachel Duncan would be seriously — seriously — jealous of her working with such a Dame as Mirren? No doubt Alison will be brimming over with actorglee.
What do you think of the potential casting? Could Maslany pull off a young Helen Mirren? Let us know what you think in the comments!
She may be young (a fault we’re all guilty of at some point in our lives) but she does have 20 years in the business and incredible talent. My biggest regret is that my age may prevent me from seeing her at the peak of her career.
Tatiana could definitely pull off the role as the younger version of Helen Mirren’s character–she’s one of the best new young actors I’ve seen in years! Hope she gets the part!