Avast ye scurvy dogs! This week’s Five takes a look at a crew of new sea dogs joining the Pirates cast. OK, enough with the pirate talk. Let’s take a look.
Penelope Cruz – The Spanish actress and wife of Javier Bardem plays the role of Angelica, Blackbeard’s long lost daughter and jilted ex-lover of Capt. Jack Sparrow. Cruz filmed the movie while pregnant with her first child, who was born three days before Bardem was nominated for an Oscar in Biutiful. Will Angelica be able to work with Sparrow as they seek out the Fountain of Youth or will Blackbeard’s dark heart overpower her?
Ian McShane – Speaking of Blackbeard, the English actor is probably best known to American audiences from his three year stint in HBO’s Deadwood. McShane also starred in BBC’s drama Lovejoy for eight seasons. In Pirates, he plays the evil, dark-hearted Blackbeard who, with the aid of his daughter Angelica, set out to find the Fountain of Youth. Will he get there first or will Capt. Sparrow and Barbossa best him?
Sam Claflin – Pirates marks the feature film debut for this English actor. Up until now, Claflin starred in various TV movies and films including The Pillars of the Earth. In Tides, Claflin plays the yin to Blackbeard’s yang. Being held captive, he attempts to save whatever is left of Blackbeard’s soul and falls for a mermaid at the same time. Which brings us to…
Astrid Berges-Frisbey – A Spanish-French actress who made her debut in 2007 on French television. Personally selected by Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall, Berges-Frisbey plays the lead mermaid role of Syrena. Since her character plays a vital role in the story, she had to brush up on her English and used cast mate Cruz to help with the language barrier.
Stephen Graham – The British actor best known as Tommy from Snatch and Al Capone in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Graham plays Scrum, a crafty pirate who shows Jack the ropes aboard Barbossa’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Scrum is torn between his duty to Angelica and admiration for Captain Jack. Who will he side with?
Aye, so that be the list o’ the five new souls who climb aboard the Pirates franchise. Check out Pirates in theaters tomorrow and be sure ye set your eyes on more Fun Facts and the best of that sea-goin' scallywag Johnny Depp.
