Matt Damon, the Oscar winning star of Good Will Hunting, has become the latest Hollywood celebrity to tread the boards in London's West End. Taking over from StarWars actor Hayden Christiansen last night, he is starring in This is our Youth, playwright Kenneth Lonergan´s first work. Showing at the trendy Garrick Theatre, the hit play is about a group of neurotic, drug-addled New York teenagers, and has been highly acclaimed by the critics as well as drawing huge crowds.
Matt has brought a group of New York friends to act alongside him. The play´s producer Clare Lawrence explained, "They're all part of the same group of friends in New York and they decided they wanted to come and do the play together”. Amongst the star-studded cast is Casey Affleck, brother of Ben, and Summer Phoenix, sister of Joaquin and the late River.
Matt isn't the only star to be swapping Tinseltown glamour for London hip.In two weeks, Gwyneth Paltrow will make her West End debut in David Auburn´s play Proof at the trendy Donmar Warehouse. She plays the daughter of a brilliant mathematician who inherits both his genius and his mental illness. Gwyneth will be following in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman, who famously stripped off in The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse two years ago. The Shakespeare in Lovestar knows she has a tough act to follow, but says she loves the play. John Madden, close friend and director, commented, "Gwyneth and I were so thrilled by the play that I bought the rights for her."
The kudos of the voguish West End will do wonders for the actors' credibility back in Hollywood, but the stars won´t be earning anywhere near the fortunes they command Stateside. Matt Damon will receive between £600 and £1200 a week for his performance, and Gwyneth only £350 - the normal pay for a West End lead. But Matt can afford to take a pay drop for a while, since he is also set to star in the Hollywood thriller “The Bourne Identity”, for which he will scoop £7 million.
Gwyneth, said to be quite taken with London's vibe, has been staying with her good friend Madonna, who will also be appearing on the London stage next month, as an art dealer in Up for Grabs at the Wyndham Theatre.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
