In Oscar queen Streep’s performance – again worthy of the Academy’s attention – she is supported by a superb cast that includes Hugh Grant as her longtime companion and careful protector St. Clair Bayfield, and Simon Helberg of “The Big Bang Theory”, who is such a joy to watch every moment he’s on-screen.
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As a kid, actor Simon Helberg (TV’s The Big Bang Theory) didn’t need anyone to tell him he wasn’t going to make it to the National Basketball Association.
She also shows off her singing ability in films Ricki and the Flash and the aforementioned Florence Foster Jenkins, in which she had to sing poorly in order to imitate the delusional real-life diva. “I realized maybe I don’t belong in the basketball world”.
This week the second movie of the year based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins opens in theaters with Meryl Streep as the woman whose love for music was nearly as monumental as her lack of talent.
Emmy-winner Simon Helberg plays Cosme McMoon. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park on the city’s northeast side.
As for her newest film, Streep said when director Stephen Frears called, “I said yes”, before she even know what the film was really about.
Helberg: Oh, no. It’s a awful, bad day in America (laughs)… “It seemed familiar territory, but no, I hadn’t, and I was just so excited that this existed and that I could be a part of the story”. “I just saw the character so clearly in my head”. Instead he champions Florence, admires her courage and allows us to root for her in spite of her deluded shortcomings.
Although the movie is far from typical summer action megaplex fare, Helberg thinks it’s going to win over audiences with its many charms. The last time she performed on stage was in the Public Theater’s 2006 production of Mother Courage and Her Children.
Helberg said he actually admires Florence for her blissful innocence, which he likened to the “blind ambition” of his early career.
Helberg admits, however, that’s not exactly how it works in Hollywood. We had great turnouts for both of those films, and as always we’ll be giving away Cap Times T-shirts, sunglasses and other swag. Streep won an Emmy Award for the series, which featured a fantastical love scene in which an angel (Emma Thompson) brought her to orgasm while hovering over Manhattan. You’re coming up.’ And I said, ‘I’m not coming up!
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“I mean one of the genius things that Stephen did that’s embedded in the film is even in the margins, you feel the warmth”, added the actress. He was so adept at transitioning to classical music that what you see and hear in “Florence Foster Jenkins” is all him playing live for the cameras.
