Uma Thurman to Guest Star on NBC’s SMASH
Uma Thurman Guest Stars on NBC's SMASH as a famous, but sometimes difficult, movie star who is flirting with the idea of starring in "Marilyn."
NBC is looking to siphon off the success of FOXâs hit, Glee, by including some famous guest stars in their new musical drama, Smash. Having recently released a promising trailer, the series from executive producer Steven Spielberg will follow Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) along her journey from Iowa to Broadway. Though the show already supports a strong cast in Debra Messing, Christian Borle and Anjelica Huston, Smash is going to need some star power: thatâs where Uma Thurman comes in. Thurman will be featured in a five-episode arc as a famous, but pretentious, movie star who competes for the starring role in âMarilyn,â the featured musical of Smashâs plot. Hit the jump for the press release.The central story of Smash focuses on the people on stage and behind the scenes during the creation of a Broadway musical. âMarilyn,â based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, is written by Tom (Borle, a Tony Award nominee) and Julia (the Emmy Award-winning Messing). While the creators of âMarilynâ have their own personal dramas going on, the rivalry between Karen (McPhee) and stage veteran, Ivy Bell (Megan Hilty) will be the driving energy of Smash. It looks like Thurmanâs guest appearance may be to muddy up the waters as to who will portray Monroe in the musical. Check out the full press release below:
GOLDEN GLOBE-WINNING AND OSCAR-NOMINATED FILM STAR UMA THURMAN TO GUEST-STAR IN FIVE-EPISODE ARC IN NBCâS NEW MUSICAL DRAMA âSMASHâUNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. â December 8, 2011 â Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Uma Thurman will have a five-episode guest-starring arc on NBCâs new musical drama âSmashâ as a famous and somewhat difficult movie star who flirts with the idea of starring in âMarilyn,â the musical within the musical.Thurman also is well-known for her starring role in the cult feature film hit âPulp Fictionâ (for which she received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations) as well as for âKill Bill Volume I,â both directed by Quentin Tarantino. She first achieved notice in the film âDangerous Liaisonsâ and âHenry & June,â and went on to star in other films such as âKill Bill Volume 2,â âEven Cowgirls Get the Blues,â âMad Dog and Glory,â âBeautiful Girls,â âThe Truth About Cats & Dogs,â âGattaca,â âBatman & Robin,â âPaycheckâ and âBe Cool.âMore recently, Thurman also starred in the films âThe Producers,â âMy Super Ex-Girlfriend,â âThe Accidental Husband,â âMy Zinc Bedâ and âMotherhood.â She will star in the upcoming film âEloise in Paris.âThurman won a Golden Globe for her performance as Best Actress â Miniseries or Television Film in âHysterical Blindness.â She also was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in âKill Bill Volume Iâ and âKill Bill Volume II.ââSmashâ will debut on Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).âSmashâ is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire â to be a âsmash.â The series centers on the process of creating a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe â written by the successful songwriting duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, âLegally Blonde: The Musicalâ) and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, âWill & Graceâ). Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband Frank (Tony Award nominee Brian dâArcy James, âShrek The Musicalâ).A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty Karen (Katharine McPhee, âAmerican Idolâ) â who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds â and stage veteran Ivy Bell (Megan Hilty, â9 to 5: The Musicalâ), who's determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break. A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner, Anjelica Huston, âPrizzi's Honorâ) discovers the âMarilynâ project and jumps on board with a brilliant director, Derek (Jack Davenport, âPirates of the Caribbeanâ films) â whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality. Jaime Cepero (âPorgy and Bessâ) stars as Ellis, and Raza Jaffrey (âSex and the City 2,â âMI-5â) stars as Dev.The series stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg (âER,â âSchindler's Listâ). The pilot was written by acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Theresa Rebeck (âMauritius,â âNYPD Blueâ). David Marshall Grant (âBrothers and Sistersâ), Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning âChicago,â âHairsprayâ) and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (âUnited States of Tara,â âThe Borgiasâ) also serve as executive producers. Original songs are written by Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (âHairspray,â âCatch Me If You Canâ), who serve as executive producers as well.âSmashâ is a production of Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television and Madwoman in the Attic. The pilot was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (âSpring Awakening,â âAmerican Idiotâ).For embeddable clips and full episodes from "Smash," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/smash/.For artwork and a complete press kit from the show please visit the NBC Universal Media village website at http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/.Please follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NBCSmash and on Twitter @NBCSmash.MEDIA CONTACT:Kristy Chan, Universal Television Publicity, 818/777-0545, kristy.chan@nbcuni.com
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