Ormond Stars in Premiere of Hare's Latest

British film star Julia Ormond will return to the stage in the world premiere production of David Hare's latest play, My Zinc Bed, which opens at the Royal Court Downstairs in mid-September 2000.

Ormond has achieved international fame in Hollywood films including Legends of the Fall, Smilla's Sense of Snow, First Knight and Sabrina, but her career started on stage. Her London theatre credits include Christopher Hampton's Treats at the Hampstead Theatre and an Almeida production of Jean Anouilh's The Rehearsal, which transferred to the West End's Garrick.

Little is known about My Zinc Bed except that it is a three-hander which will most likely be directed by David Hare himself. Hare is one of the most prominent of contemporary British playwrights. His many award-winning plays include Amy's View, which starred Dame Judi Dench in the acclaimed National Theatre production; The Blue Room, which starred Nicole Kidman at the Donmar Warehouse; The Judas Kiss, which starred Liam Neeson in an Almeida production at the West End's Playhouse Theatre; and Plenty, which the Almeida revived last year in the West End with Cate Blanchett. Hare made his professional acting debut two years ago at the Royal Court with his semi-autobiographical work Via Dolorosa.

Joining Ormond in the cast of My Zinc Bed are two other actors who have been drawn away from the stage since the 1990s due to film and television commitments. Tom Wilkinson's film credits include The Full Monty, Shakespeare in Love, The Governess, Wilde, Ride with the Devil and the soon to be released Mel Gibson movie, The Patriot. His last stage role was as King Lear at the Royal Court in 1993. Steven Mackintosh, meanwhile, has starred in many television serials including Our Mutual Friend and The Buddha of Suburbia. His West End theatre productions include Look, Look, The Glory of the Garden and The Woman in Black.

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