Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African-American and youngest person ever to play the lead role in Les Miserables on Broadway, has died in a fall, a show spokesman has said.
Kyle Jean-Baptiste, 21, fell from a fire escape after Friday evening’s performance at the Imperial Theatre, said representative Marc Thibodeau.
The actor made history performing the role of ex-convict Jean Valjean in the musical.
A statement described him as a remarkable young talent.
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The notice placed on Facebook said: “The entire Les Miserables family is shocked and devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle, a remarkable young talent and tremendous person who made magic — and history — in his Broadway debut. We send our deepest condolences to his family and ask that you respect their privacy in this unimaginably difficult time.”
In May, Kyle Jean-Baptiste announced on Twitter he would be joining Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Miserables as Courfeyrac and understudying Jean Valjean. He first went on stage in that role on July 23.
Kyle Jean-Baptiste told Playbill magazine: “This was my dream since I was a little boy.”
His last performance in the role was on August 27.
The circumstances of Kyle Jean-Baptiste’s death are unclear. Some reports have said he was at his mother’s home at the time.
Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik has admitted that he is unclear who Anne Hathaway is.
Manolo Blahnik, 70, told Interviewmagazine: “Anne Hathaway… Pretty? Yes. Wonderful actress? Yes. But, I mean, I don’t even remember her. What is it about her?”
The shoe designer then went on to slam the Oscar nominee’s Les Miserables co-star, Amanda Seyfried, as equally forgettable.
“I don’t even know Amanda Seyfried or whatever – they’re all the same!” he said.
The interviewer tried to jog Manolo Blahnik’s memory of Anne Hathaway, reminding him that the actress was “very good as Cat Woman in The Dark Knight Rises”.
Manolo Blahnik responded: “As Cat Woman, yes, and I’m not saying she’s not beautiful or a great actress.”
He then added dismissively: “I just don’t remember her.”
Manolo Blahnik has admitted that he is unclear who Anne Hathaway is
Indeed, it seems Manol Blahnik only has admiration for a specific type of contemporary actress.
“The only one I remember is Julia Roberts because she’s particular,” he told the interviewer.
Manolo Blahnik says he became nostalgic for old-fashioned acting one weekend after watching the entire series of Nineties show Twin Peaks.
According to him, Twin Peaks stars, Lara Flynn Boyle and Sherilyn Fenn, are “old-school girls like Elizabeth Taylor”.
“[They] should be working now instead of these anonymous girls.”
Manolo Blahnik also recalled being captivated after bumping into Salma Hayek at an awards show when he was feeling unwell.
“I was waiting to be photographed,” he recounts.
“And I almost fainted on that girl, the tiny woman from France, no, from Mexico… Salma Hayek.”
Salma Hayek’s good looks and glamour clearly made an impression on the designer.
“She’s a sweet girl, beautiful,” he said.
“I love that. This is what I really love: Where are those girls?” Manolo Blahnik wondered aloud.
Anne Hathaway has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in Les Miserables.
Sally Frith from Gloucestershire, UK, is a massive fan of musical Les Miserables.
In 25 years Sally Frith has notched up 957 visits to see the famous musical on stage and has possibly spent more than £50,000 ($80,000) in doing so.
“I think it is one of the greatest musicals ever written,” she said.
“I love the story, love the songs and everything about it, and I’ve got to know quite a few cast members over the years.”
In fact, Sally Frith reckons she has seen 25 different casts in total, with favorite performances from Alfie Boe in the role of Jean Valjean and Matt Lucas as innkeeper Thenardier.
But what does the cast think of her devotion?
“Some are quite shocked and some have heard from other cast members that I’m a regular visitor, but on the whole the majority of the cast are lovely,” Sally Frith said.
More than 60 million people have seen Les Miserables over the past three decades, in more than 40 countries and in more than 20 different languages.
The record-breaking hit musical is based on Victor Hugo’s 19th Century novel.
In 25 years Sally Frith has notched up 957 visits to see the famous musical on stage and has possibly spent more than £50,000 in doing so
“I have always been a fan of the theatre, and everybody was raving about Les Miserables when it first came out in 1985,” said Sally Frith.
“Eventually, three years later, I managed to get tickets to see the show, fell in love with it, went to see it again, and it just grew from there.”
Sally Frith has seen the show mainly in London, but also at Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and as far afield as Sweden and New York.
It is a four hour journey in total – more than 100 miles (161 km) each way on the train from her bungalow in King’s Stanley near Stroud – to the Queen’s Theatre in London.
The musical’s managing director, Nicholas Allott, of Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, said ever since Les Miserables opened it had attracted many audience members who had returned “over and over” to see it.
“These members of our fan base are the lifeblood of the show and are one of the reasons we are rapidly approaching our 30th year in the West End,” he said.
Sally Frith’s love of the show, which started in 1988, has also fuelled a similar passion among her family and friends.
If her mother does not travel with her, then she has friends she turns to including one who goes with her regularly and has seen the musical about 300 times.
Amongst her memorabilia she counts many photos of herself with cast members, as well as hundreds of tickets and programmes, T-shirts, mugs, videos, cassette tapes and more.
Sally Frith avoids thinking about what her hobby has cost over the years as it is “probably too much to mention”.
“They worked it out once and it was about £40,000 but that was a long time ago. So it is probably about £50,000 now at least,” she said.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the film adaptation had received nine BAFTA nominations including Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman being recognized in the lead actor and supporting actress categories.
The film is now out on general release and will Sally Frith be going to see it?
“Of course,” she says, excited about her planned trip to the cinema on Monday.
“I will have to look at it with a totally different mind-frame because it’s going to be a film, not a stage version, but from what I’ve heard it’s going to be absolutely mind-blowing.”
Hit film Les Miserables isn’t exactly a barrel of laughs, but, for one New York family, the experience of seeing the musical tearjerker on the big screen proved positively overwhelming.
Amused by their parents’ tearful reaction to seeing the film, Ryan and Kevin Ferguson uploaded a video to YouTube of the couple crying as they drove home from the cinema.
Their distraught mother asks her husband: “Wasn’t it better than the play, George? It was better than the play.”
Their father also found the film devastating, admitting that it didn’t take much for the waterworks to start.
“When I hear the first notes I start to cry,” he said.
“I was walking in I was crying. I look at Anne Hathaway and I still cry.”
He went on: “We’ve been to funerals where we’re less upset. We’ve been to funerals of family members and have cried less.”
Couple can’t stop crying after seeing Les Miserables
As their sobs continue, the brothers begin to laugh, drawing a horrified response from their mother.
“How could you laugh?” she asks Ryan, to which he responds: “I’m not laughing! I was sad too.”
The brothers were clearly tickled by their parents’ reaction, describing them as “cute”.
“My father was crying too, as my brother and I had earlier during the movie,” Ryan Ferguson wrote beneath the video.
“This is a lighthearted video showing how great my parents are.”
The video become viral and hit thousands of views since was posted on YouTube few days ago.
Anne Hathaway’s dedication to realism in the film Les Miserables was hair-raising, according to co-star Hugh Jackman.
Anne Hathaway plays Fantine in the movie adaptation of the hit musical and brought in her own hairdresser for the emotional scene where her character becomes destitute and has her long hair chopped off.
Hugh Jackman, who takes the part of Jean Valjean, said: “They were in the make-up trailer discussing how they were going to do it because they had to cut it live on camera and she said, <<If you cut my head while you are doing it that would be great – to get the blood in the scene>>.”
He revealed the hairdresser is also featured.
“He had to wear a dress to pretend to be a woman.
“You don’t see his face, but if you look closely you can see these man hands holding the scissors.”
Anne Hathaway, who plays Fantine in Les Miserables, brought in her own hairdresser for the emotional scene where her character becomes destitute and has her long hair chopped off
Meanwhile ten-year-old Les Miserables star Isabelle Allen is treasuring a special gift from Hugh Jackman.
“He sent me a glass plaque – it was yellow to match my room,’ said an excited Isabelle, who plays young Cosette.
“It had my face engraved on it and three lines from Suddenly, the film’s original song. I’m going to keep it for ever.”
Isabelle Allen has now attracted interest in Hollywood, although her father Nigel admits: “It’s still early days.”
Anne Hathaway, who plays Fantine in the hotly anticipated Les Misérables, took the opportunity to open up about starving herself for the role in a new photo shoot.
Anne Hathaway shed 25 lbs to portray the poverty-stricken factory worker forced to turn to prostitution, and it was no easy task.
She told the new issue of The Hollywood Reporter: “I just had to stop eating all for a total of 13 days shooting.”
Anne Hathaway shed the weight in two stages: she dropped 10 lbs in three weeks before filming, and then 15 lbs during production.
But Anne Hathaway was dedicated from the start – even before she landed the role.
Anne Hathaway, who plays Fantine in the hotly anticipated Les Misérables, took the opportunity to open up about starving herself for the role in a new photo shoot
The actress said: “There was resistance because I was between their ideal ages for the parts – maybe not mature enough for Fantine but past the point where I could believably play [Fantine’s daughter] Cosette (portrayed by Amanda Seyfried).
“And I did what I do when I really want a role: I got fiery and told my agent, <<Just get me in the room>>.”
The eerie images accompanying the interview see a barefoot Anne lead her co-stars Amanda, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks.
Les Misérables hits cinemas on Christmas Day. The new issue of The Hollywood Reporter is out on December 14.
Isla Fisher stole the show from her husband Sacha Baron Cohen in daring plunging white gown by Willow with triangular cut out panels which accentuated her slim figure and red hair at the London premiere of Les Misérables.
But it must have got a little chilly as the pair posed up and ever the gentleman, Sacha Baron Cohen offered his wife a chivalric hand and helped her into her black jacket.
Although all eyes may have been on Isla Fisher, 36, her 6ft 2in husband perhaps had the best view of her daring satin gown as she shone on the red carpet.
Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays Monsieur Thénardier alongside Helena Bonham Carter, did his best to look dashing next to his stunning wife.
There was a general theme of innocence as star of the show Anne Hathaway wore a glamorous pearl Givenchy gown that boasted sequin detail and off the shoulder sleeves.
The floor-length gown fell perfectly over her figure, hugging her hips before flowing out around her feet but the real drama of the dress came from the back.
The gown boasted a dipped hemline that scooped to the small of her back, leaving plenty of skin on show.
Isla Fisher stole the show from her husband Sacha Baron Cohen in daring plunging white gown at the London premiere of Les Misérables
Sacha Baron Cohen’s onscreen wife Helena Bonham Carter , who plays Madame Thénardier, looked just as quirky as usual in a black gown.
Isla Fisher recently said being “Mrs. Borat” can be rather embarrassing.
“I cannot tell you how embarrassing he is in social situations,” Isla Fisher said.
“To him, there’s no difference between the awkward gaffes he deliberately makes as a comic, and the terrible faux pas he innocently commits as my husband.”
Actress Anne Hathaway has revealed the extreme measures she took to lose weight for her role in Les Miserables.
Anne Hahaway, 29, takes on the role of the tragic Fantine in the big screen version of the hit musical and she admits she was “state of deprivation, physical and emotional” when filming ended.
To prepare for the part of a dying prostitute in the Nineteenth century French underclass, Anne Hathaway had to shave all her hair off and lose a drastic amount of weight as she didn’t want to rely on props or special effects.
Anne Hathaway told Vogue magazine that she dropped 10 pounds before shooting began on a strict cleanse.
She then lost another 15 lbs by following a near-starvation diet during two-week break in filming, consisting of two thin squares of dried oatmeal paste a day, the magazine reports.
Anne Hathaway told Vogue magazine: “I had to be obsessive about it – the idea was to look near death. Looking back on the whole experience – and I don’t judge it in any way – it was definitely a little nuts.
“It was definitely a break with reality, but I think that’s who Fantine is anyway.”
She said: “I was in such a state of deprivation – physical and emotional. When I got home, I couldn’t react to the chaos of the world without being overwhelmed. It took me weeks till I felt like myself again.
“The first time I really threw everything into a part, which was when I did Rachel Getting Married, there was no one waiting for me when I got back. This time, Adam [Schulman, her husband] was there.
“He gets what I do and who I am and supports me in it, and that’s pretty awesome.”
Anne Hathaway has revealed the extreme measures she took to lose weight for her role in Les Miserables
But now Anne Hathaway seems to have re-gained her curves and she positively glowed on the magazine’s front cover.
Her creamy complexion is flawless and just a hint of cleavage can be seen in her elegant bottle-green gown.
Her elfin crop is slicked back to show off her large eyes and generous mouth and her only accessories are a pair of heavy diamond studs.
Anne Hathaway also opens up about her September wedding to Schulman, 31.
The couple tied the knot in Big Sur, California, and Anne Hathaway wore a custom-made Valentino number.
She said working with the designer was a memory she will “treasure forever”.
Anne Hathaway also proved recently that it’s not just dramatic, high-brow roles she can turn her hand to.
She hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend and her raucous performances, including parodying Katie Holmes and Claire Danes, went down a storm.
Anne Hathaway lost a staggering 16 lbs of her already slim frame to take on the role of Fantine in the new movie adaptation of Les Miserables.
In a new interview, Anne Hathaway, 29, has revealed the extents she went to in a bid to shed the pounds.
The actress told Allure magazine that she underwent some “pretty crazy weight stuff” to get in shape for the role, and survived on radishes and hummus alone.
In the interview, completed as Anne Hathaway was shooting Les Miserables, she said: “I’m on day six of detox… this diet makes me break out, so I love that. Nothing like living on hummus and radishes and then be all, <<And I got a pimple. Yeah!>>”
Anne Hathaway lost a staggering 16 lbs of her already slim frame to take on the role of Fantine in the new movie adaptation of Les Miserables
Anne Hathaway added to the magazine that the hardest part was giving up her favorite food, cheese.
She said: “Cheese is amazing… (but) once you’re over the cheese hump, there’s nothing really left.”
As well as losing weight for Les Miserables, Anne hathaway was also under pressure to get into shape to take on the role of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.
In particular, Anne Hathaway described the pressure of squeezing herself into the character’s famous catsuit as a “psychological terrorist”.
Anne Hathaway said: “The Catwoman suit. It was a psychological terrorist. The suit, thoughts of my suit, changing my life so I would fit into that suit … it dominated my year.”
Anne Hathaway has been on a strict diet in a bit to lose weight to play the role of dying prostitute Fantine in the movie adaptation of Les Miserables.
Anne Hathaway, 29, displayed the results of the regime, which saw her consuming just 500 calories a day – significantly less than the recommended daily allowance of 2,000 calories a day – as she shot scenes for the movie alongside Hugh Jackman in London.
The actress was seen wearing a pale lilac short-sleeved dress as she shot the scenes on the balcony location, standing next to Hugh Jackman – who sported unruly grey hair for his part.
Anne Hathaway’ once-lustrous long brown hair had also been replaced by a blunt crop, necessary for the role of the hungry, dying prostitute.
It is believed that Anne Hathaway has lost around 16 lbs in just three weeks in preparation for the beginning of shooting.
Anne Hathaway displayed the results of the regime, which saw her consuming just 500 calories a day, as she shot scenes for Les Miserables alongside Hugh Jackman
A source told the Daily Mirror earlier this month: “Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-come-lady of the night.
“Unfortunately, she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible – up to a stone-and-a-half – because she’s been filming the scenes showing her fit and healthy, almost slightly chubby.
“It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints.
“Producers have assigned her a personal trainer and she is literally eating nothing more than a couple of apples a day, and some protein – mainly in the form of a shake.”
However, producers are said to be making sure doctors keep a close eye on the actress during the short-term diet.
Meanwhile, in the movie Hugh Jackman is playing Jean Valjean, a poor man on the run from the police after he was released from prison after a 19 year stretch for stealing bread for his family.
The character is being pursued by Russell Crowe’s Inspector Javert, who released Valjean on parole, but then later decided to dedicate his life to imprisoning him again.
The film also stars Irish tenor Colm Wilkinson, who appears as the Bishop of Digne and was the original Jean Valjean in the West End and Broadway musical productions.
And it has quite the stellar cast as well as Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, with Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier.
Anne Hathaway has admitted to cutting her daily food intake down to only 500 calories for her role in the forthcoming movie Les Miserables but she has also agreed to cut her hair.
Anne Hathaway, 29, who usually flaunts a thick mane of long brunette locks has trimmed her hair to barely one inch in length, in order to achieve the look of her character in Les Miserables.
The actress was pictured leaving London’s The Box nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning with the newly cropped do.
Anne Hathaway looked especially gaunt as she left the venue with fiancé Adam Shulman and their friends.
As they hopped into a taxi she tried to conceal her fresh crop from onlookers who took a while to catch on to her identity.
Grabbing her head as she made her way home, Anne Hathaway is evidently still getting used to her short style.
Anne Hathaway has trimmed her hair to barely one inch in length, in order to achieve the look of her character in Les Miserables
Wearing a dark coat and blue jeans, as expected she appeared noticeably slimmer than usual as she has embarked on a hardcore diet for her part in the film.
Anne Hathaway plays Fantine, a struggling factory worker who is forced into prostitution to provide for her illegitimate child and ends up selling her hair for financial gain.
A film source told the Daily Mirror: “Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-come-lady of the night.
“Unfortunately, she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible – up to a stone-and-a-half – because she’s been filming the scenes showing her fit and healthy, almost slightly chubby.
“It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints.”
Anne Hathaway looked a far cry from the glamorous situations fans are used to seeing her in but the dramatic decision was all for the greater good.
While many stars opt to don a hairpiece to save their precious tresses, Anne Hathaway was clearly determined to be as authentic as possible for the musical motion picture.
Anne Hathaway is on a drastic 500-calorie diet in order to lose weight in a short time for her latest role in Les Miserables.
Anne Hathaway, 29, has been ordered to lose 16 lbs in less than three weeks to play dying prostitute Fantine in the movie adaptation of Les Miserables.
As fans of the musical classic will know, the single mother ends up with consumption and later appears as a ghost.
Although currently a healthy size 10, Anne Hathaway will have to lose 16 lbs for her realistic portrayal of a hungry, dying prostitute.
Instead of eating the recommended daily allowance of 2,000 calories a day, Anne Hathaway is now down to under 500 to achieve the rapid result.
A film source told the Daily Mirror: “Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-come-lady of the night.
“Unfortunately, she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible – up to a stone-and-a-half – because she’s been filming the scenes showing her fit and healthy, almost slightly chubby.
“It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints.
“Producers have assigned her a personal trainer and she is literally eating nothing more than a couple of apples a day, and some protein – mainly in the form of a shake.”
Anne Hathaway slimmed down to fit into an unforgiving catsuit to play Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises
However, producers are making sure doctors keep a close eye on the actress during the short-term diet.
Anne Hathaway is no stranger to having to lose weight for roles.
In 2011, the actress slimmed down to fit into an unforgiving catsuit to play Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.
Anne Hathaway started doing Bikram yoga and push-ups and eating vegetables, fish and fruit to shape down.
She also lost weight to play Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada.
The Les Miserables movie, which also stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried, is due to release in December.
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