Clare Higgins

The Golden Compass -- In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands.

Stage Beauty -- Edward 'Ned' Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is England's most celebrated leading 'lady', using his beauty and skill to make the great female roles his own. But when Charles II tires of seeing the same old performers, the ruler allows women to tread the boards and decrees that men may no longer play women's parts. Overnight, Ned becomes a nonentity -- that is, until his ex-dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), helps him become a real man again.

Two London brothers are hard-up for cash, and both have girls to look out for, too. When rich Uncle Howard comes to town and agrees to help them out, he admits his finances are under investigation, and he asks them to do him a favor and "take care of" an old business relation to keep his trouble under wraps.

In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands.

In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands.

In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands. When Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) becomes the keeper of the Golden Compass, she discovers that her world – and all those beyond – is threatened by the secret plans of Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman). With the help of Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) and a group of unlikely allies ready to stand at her side, Lyra embarks on an extraordinary quest that celebrates friendship and courage against all odds.

The story centers around Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers - and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well.

"A woman playing a woman. Where's the trick in that?"- Welcome to the 17th century stage, where Ned Kynaston's (Billy Crudup) performance of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello brings the house down nightly. Ned is the "most beautiful woman on the London stage." That is, until the King renounces the royal edict that only men can play women on stage. Enter Maria (Claire Danes), Ned's seemingly loyal dresser, who becomes an instant star, leaving Ned to suppress his ardent feminine traits and make a man of himself.

Billy Crudup and Claire Danes star in this period drama as a famed actor and his assistant, whose fortunes reverse when the 17th century ban against women acting on the stage is lifted.

Edward "Ned" Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is England's most celebrated leading "lady", using his beauty and skill to make the great female roles his own. But when Charles II tires of seeing the same old performers, the ruler allows women to tread the boards and decrees that men may no longer play women's parts. Overnight, Ned becomes a nonentity -- that is, until his ex-dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), helps him become a real man again.

Ned's performance of Desdemona in Shakespeare's OTHELLO brings the house down nightly. That is, until the King allows women on stage. Overnight, Ned becomes a nonentity - that is, until his ex-dresser, Maria helps him become a real man again.

Good-hearted schoolteacher Alan Furnace (Jared Harris) desperately wants some excitement in his life -- and he may just get some. One lonely night at a London bar, Alan spies the raven-haired beauty Beatrice (Asia Argento) arguing with two friends, Paul (Rupert Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Beatrice quickly befriends Alan and leads him through all kinds of new, interesting and dark situations.