SAMANTHA MORTON (Sarah)
Samantha Morton earned an Academy Award nomination in 2000 for her role opposite Sean Penn in Woody Allen’s SWEET AND LOWDOWN. She was most recently in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi epic MINORITY REPORT opposite Tom Cruise; in Alison McLean’s JESUS’ SON based on the book by Denis Johnson; and drew critical acclaim in the title role of Lynne Ramsay’s MORVERN CALLAR. Morton will next be seen with Tim Robbins in Michael Winterbottom’s CODE 46.
Morton’s feature film debut in Carine Adler’s UNDER THE SKIN received widespread critical attention, garnering Best Actress from The Boston Society of Film Critics, and a nomination for Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards in 1998. Her additional credits include Bruce Beresford’s BOSWELL FOR THE DEFENSE; Julien Temple’s PANDAEMONIUM; Amos Gitae’s EDEN; THIS IS THE SEA, with Gabriel Byrne; DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES, opposite Rupert Graves; and THE LAST YELLOW, directed by Julian Farino. She has been seen in the television films “Jane Eyre” (as Jane Eyre), “Tom Jones” (for BBC TV), and the mini-series “Emma,” based on Jane Austen’s novel.
PADDY CONSIDINE (Johnny)
Paddy Considine was most recently seen in Michael Winterbottom’s critically acclaimed story of the Manchester music scene, 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE. He first came to the fore as the obsessive loner in the British indie A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, directed by Shane Meadows, and drew further accolades for his work as the love-sick Alfie in Pawel Pawlikowski’s award-winning THE LAST RESORT.
Considine’s other films include DR. SLEEP with Goran Visnjic, HAPPY NOW, THE MARTINS, BORN ROMANTIC and the short film MY WRONGS #8245-8249 & 117 which won the BAFTA Award. Considine’s upcoming films include Shane Meadows’ untitled project, which is co-written by Considine.
DJIMON HOUNSOU (Mateo)
Djimon Hounsou received a Golden Globe® nomination for his performance as Cinque, the rebel slave leader in AMISTAD. He went on to star in the Academy Award-winning epic GLADIATOR, in which he played Juba, the fiery warrior who befriends Maximus (Russell Crowe). His recent work includes Shekhar Kapur’s THE FOUR FEATHERS, BIKER BOYZ with Laurence Fishburne, LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE directed by Jan De Bont, and the forthcoming MURAYA from director Jan Kounen.
Born in Benin, West Africa, Hounsou moved to Paris at the age of 13 for his education. At 22, he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who immediately featured him in several of his design campaigns, as well as in his book Thierry Mugler Photographs. Hounsou was also a subject in the late Herb Ritts’ book Men and Women. Hounsou was subsequently spotted by director David Fincher (FIGHT CLUB, SEVEN), who cast him in three music videos: Steve Winwood’s “Roll With It,” Madonna’s “Express Yourself” and Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.”
Once established as an international model, Hounsou made the move to Los Angeles where he taught himself English (largely by watching television documentaries) and broke into acting. A featured role in the Janet Jackson video “Love Will Never Do Without You” caught the attention of agents and casting directors and led to roles in such films as STARGATE, UNLAWFUL ENTRY and DEEP RISING, before landing the career-making role in Steven Spielberg’s AMISTAD. Hounsou has also been seen in a recurring role on televison’s popular “E.R.”
SARAH BOLGER (Christy)
IN AMERICA marks 11-year-old Sarah Bolger’s second feature film. Her first was A LOVE DIVIDED for director Sydney Macartney. For television, Bolger appeared in “A Secret Affair.” Her voice will soon be heard on a new cartoon entitled “The World of Tosh.” Bolger will next be seen in the smtv/BBC Television’s “The Yo Yo.”
She and her sister, Emma, who plays her sister in the film, reside in Ireland and study drama with the Young Peoples Theatre/Ann Kavanagh School.
EMMA BOLGER (Ariel)
IN AMERICA marks 7-year-old Emma Bolger’s acting debut. She and her sister, Sarah, who plays her sister in the film, reside in Ireland and study drama with the Young Peoples Theatre/Ann Kavanagh School.
