The Lovely Bones

As a film that’s been inspired by a best selling novel and was directed by Peter Jackson, you would expect The Lovely Bones to have an all star cast. But, as it’s list boasts 2 Oscar winners plus an incredible further 4 Oscar nominees (and who knows what will happen in March), and taking into consideration that one of these nominees was only 12 years old when she was nominated, it’s pretty safe to say that the cast of The Lovely Bones is made up of some of the most talented actors spanning 3 generations.

Being a talented bunch, they have all played an assortment of characters over the lifetime of their careers, and we are taking a look at some of the best…

Saoirse Ronan

1 Oscar nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Atonement)

Gaining her first Oscar nomination at the tender age of 13, Saoirse is gaining a reputation for being one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood today. Refreshingly down-to-earth, Saoirse has often commented that she’s glad that she didn’t start acting ‘too young’ as this would mean that she wouldn’t burn out early. While most might suggest that 11 years old actually is very early to be starring in a major Hollywood hit such as Atonement, you have to give her credit for modesty. This is, after all, the girl who Kiera Knightly said that she took acting tips from.

• Susie Salmon (The Lovely Bones) Caught for most of the film in the “in-between”, a place where Susie watches over her family as they cope with her loss, Saoirse delivers an extremely accomplished performance as a teenager trapped between wanting revenge for her murder and needing her family to move on. With some very challenging and poignant scenes Saorise certainly deserves the many nominations and prizes that she’s gaining for her role in this film.
• Briony Tallis (Atonement) Playing introspective, naive 13-year-old-Briony when she was only 11 should have been a challenge, but Saorise plays the role with ease, and is thoroughly worth of the Oscar nomination for her role in Atonement.

Stanley Tucci

1 Oscar nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (The Lovely Bones)

Stanley Tucci is one of those lucky actors in Hollywood who has completely avoided being type-cast, and so has had a wide ranging and exciting number of strings to his bow; from camp fashion assistant Nigel in the Devil wears Prada, to adoring husband in Julie & Julia, to serial killer in The Lovely Bones. We have yet to see a weak performance from Stanley, and with roles in Burlesque and other great films coming up – we can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

• George Harvey (The Lovely Bones) Portraying a child rapist and serial killer effectively can be hard, but Tucci plays the blandly chilling Harvey expertly; creating a character that is the epitome of normality on the surface, while conveying a sense of menace than runs through the film.
• Paul Child (Julie & Julia) It was Paul’s job that originally took Julia Child to Paris so creating one of America’s most famous female chefs, and the world thanks him for it. Tucci’s Paul Child is caring, supportive and just downright loveable, played with complete believability that will melt your heart every time.

Susan Sarandon

4 Oscar nominations, 1 win - Best Actress in a Leading Role (Dead Man Walking)

The veteran of The Lovely Bones’ star studded cast, Susan Sarandon is one of the most well known actresses in Hollywood today. With a career spanning over 30 years, she has gone from strength to strength since first appearing on the silver screen back in 1970’s Joe,  gaining her first Oscar nomination in 1982 for her role in crime thriller Atlantic City. Apparently she keeps her Golden Man in the bathroom!

• Grandma Lynn (The Lovely Bones) Providing a colorful take on the grandmother role, Sarandon plays Susie’s inept, alcoholic grandmother who is attempting to deal with the grief of losing a grandchild while also refusing to let the family drown in unhappiness. Slightly comical in her un-togetherness, Sarandon has just enough crazy to make this work.
• Queen Narissa (Enchanted) As Prince Charming’s evil stepmother Susan Sarandon is everything she should be; complete with wicked laugh, evil intentions and a deadly apple we’ve rarely seen a more collected  and convincing Disney baddie.

Mark Wahlberg

1 Oscar nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (The Departed)

A rare success story of young pop ‘musician’ crossing over to have a genuine acting career, Mark Wahlberg has gained an impressive acting port folio since starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries. Also a talented producer, Mark is one to watch for the future as who knows how he could combine his triple threat of singing, acting and producing.

• Jack Salmon (The Lovely Bones) As a distraught father trying to cope with the loss of a child Mark presents a powerful and emotional character without overplaying the part and making it cringe worthy.
• Marky Mark (Form... Focus... Fitness, the Marky Mark Workout) Well, really, this came as quite a shock to us also. While we should point out that this was around 20 years ago, we can’t help but snigger at Marky Mark’s denim clad, backward basket-ball-cap-wearing, teenage attitude persona.

Rachel Weisz

Won 1 Oscar - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (The Constant Gardener)

Starting her career at 14 with modeling jobs, Weisz has gained critical acclaim in acting since first starting up the Talking Tongues theatre group while studying English at Cambridge University.

• Abigail Salmon (The Lovely Bones) Playing the classic stay-at-home mum, Weisz’s performance is understated and exposes the audience to a character who is desperate to move on past the loss of her daughter, but can’t. The emotional turmoil that she goes through is pitched perfectly, and is another to add to the list of great performances by Weisz.  
• Evelyn Carnahan (The Mummy) A no-nonsense, kick-ass, but sadly clumsy Egyptologist, Evelyn is the ultimate in intelligent girl-power. Knowing what she wants, she sets her sights on her goals and tends to achieve them, even if it means awakening ancient Egyptian’s from the dead!

Michael Imperioli

Nominated twice for a golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (The Sopranos)

While Michael has yet to be nominated for any Academy Awards, two nominations for a Golden Globe in the Supporting Role category really isn’t that shabby. As well as being a fantastic actor, has written, directed and produced a feature film, various plays in the New York theatre scene,  and also wrote numerous episodes of The Sopranos.  Surprisingly for someone who often plays violent mafia characters, Imperioli is said to hate on-screen violence.

• Len Fenerman (The Lovely Bones) In complete contrast to roles he is better known for, Imperioli plays the detective in charge of finding Susie in The Lovely Bones. Faced with a father determined to find the person who killed his daughter and a frightening lack of evidence, Imperioli’s portrayal of Len Fenerman’s confused and mixed emotions feels authentic. 
• Christopher Moltisanti (The Sopranos) As Tony Sopranao’s protégé, Chris is a volatile and violent character, who later on in the series becomes addicted to both alcohol and Heroine, eventually dying in a car crash. Known for his catchphrase "I'm sorry, T!", Imperioli highlights Chris’ flaws and virtues with a sympathy that makes Sopranos fans feel like they know him.