News: Thandie Newton

British fave Thandie keeps hovering on the brink of major success, but never quite getting all the way to the A-list, and her brief turn as Will Smith’s somewhat unpleasant wife in this week’s The Pursuit of Happyness is unlikely to help much. Will her turn as the love interest in the Eddie Murphy comedy Norbit (due out on 23rd February in the UK)? It’s too early to say for certain, but female leads in Murphy films rarely seem to go on much success – almost as if there’s a curse… Fingers crossed for her, eh?

What could prove a bit more fun is another comedy, the feature directorial debut of ex-Friends star David Schwimmer, Run, Frat Boy, Run. OK, so the title doesn’t promise much, but it does star the likes of Shaun of the Dead‘s Simon Pegg and The Simpsons‘ Hank Azaria – always amusing in pretty much whatever they appear in – and the plot of an unfit guy trying to run a marathon to win back the love of his life could just be silly enough to work. You never know..

Still, you have to wonder – why is an actress of Newton’s looks and abilities only appearing in supporting roles? What are Hollywood’s casting directors thinking of?