they could ease into the night and they could be some misty patches into the morning. certainly, six to 8 degrees into the morning. tomorrow will be a much less windy day than today. still some blustery showers for the north. sunny drier weather in between that and temperatures between that and temperatures between ten to m degrees. goodbye for now.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... south africa have won the rugby world cup final —— after convincingly beating england 32—12 at yokohama injapan. the government halts fracking for gas in england until there is evidence the controversial process is safe. labour unveils a plan to make all new—build homes "zero carbon" within three years if it wins the general election. nicola sturgeon is to tell a snp rally that an independent scotland is within touching distance. strong winds have caused travel delays and power cuts across large parts of southern england and south wales. over 20 flood warnings are in place and police are urging people not to make unnecessary journeys.

now on bbc news, a special edition of talking movies top british actress felicityjones sits down with tom brook to discuss her latest film the aeronauts. hello and welcome to talking movies: countdown to the oscars, our early take on the race to the academy awards 2020. the oscars are still weeks away, but already we have some idea of the likely contenders. we will be looking at the front runners in the major categories, as well as hearing from some big—name stars vying for hollywood's top prize. but first, our sitdown interview with the talented felicityjones, who is about to light up cinema screens around the world for her performance in the period adventure the aeronauts,

set in the 19th century, in which she plays the pilot of a hot—air balloon. jones is an oscars contender, but by no means is she at the front of the pack. what's that? dinner. perhaps you could turn it into something else. the 36—year—old jones began acting as a child. she made her first screen appearance in the british family tv movie the treasure seekers in 1996. since then, she has made some 20 films, in which she has tackled very different roles. she played jyn erso, a key member of the alliance to restore the republic in rogue one: a star wars story. she appeared in the romantic comedy chalet girl. i would not wish any companion in the world but you. and then there has been shakespeare, in the role of miranda in the screen adaptation of the tempest. she also took on the supreme court justice ruth bader ginsburg in the biographical film on the basis of sex. two films have been pivotal in her career.

what have you been doing? waiting for you. one was the 2011 largely unscripted drama like crazy, where she played a british girl in los angeles who falls for an american boy, played by anton yelchin. why did you just shout at me? i am sorry i shouted at you. don't raise your voice at me. people are going to come round if you keep shouting. it's really important if people come round. who is going to come around? simon? like crazy brought her critical acclaim and prizes, and put her on the map, especially in the us, where studios took note. the other significant film in her career was portraying jane hawking, the wife of physicist stephen hawking, played by eddie redmayne, in the theory of everything. the film was widely praised, as was her performance, which brought her an oscar nomination. yes, physics is back in business. and so it begins. now she is starring in the aeronauts, a heavily fictionalised account of a record—breaking flight by two hot—air balloonists in 1862.

it has reunited jones with eddie redmayne, who plays the meteorologist on board the hot—air balloon. felicityjones is the pilot, amelia wren. what i loved about her is that she is someone who acts before she speaks, thinks. she's incredibly strong physically. i just love that she was a total wildcat, and really wanted to throw myself into playing her. you have worked with eddie redmayne before, really beautifully, on the theory of everything. so it must have been something you welcomed, this opportunity to work with him again. yes, we have built up such trust from making the theory of everything that it made the project much more appealing, doing it with someone that you already had that relationship in place. and, because so much of it is just the two of them in a tiny little basket for hours on end, you know, you felt like you had to do that with someone you really liked and got on with and respected. shooting this film with a hot—air balloon, did that place physical

demands on you as an actress? it was a physical experience like nothing i have ever experienced before. it was one of the most demanding films i have ever shot, and partly because of the style of trying to get something that felt very visceral, very naturalistic, and to achieve that, you kind of have to go through the mill. don't you wish to be up there with them? some reach for the stars, some push others towards them. i have read that you believe the film is about hope, and anything is possible. in what way? i think there's just a huge — it's hugely optimistic, the film. and there's an element of looking beyond, you know, looking beyond the sort of difficult times that we're having at the moment, in the sense that, you know, rainbows are going to come. we hope. when you look at back

at your body of work, which is pretty impressive, how do you view the film like crazy? because that brought you a lot of attention, didn't it? i think that film really gave me a sense of an acting style, and i think it was something i've all always carried through, because there was so much improvisation. and improvisation is a bit of creating anarchy. and so that little bit of anarchy you have to take with you on everything. and often when you're shooting, it can get very repetitive, and suddenly there can be a sort inertia. and i always remember from like crazy, you've got to throw caution to the wind, and you've got to try things out, and don't be scared. and i think like crazy really emboldened me in that approach. i read that when you were young, your mother repeatedly showed you gone with the wind. how did that affect your aspirations as an actress? did it have an impact? yes, i think enormously. i think growing up around cinema, i'm a massive cinephile myself, and i think it'sjust a...

itjust gave me the love of filmmaking that i have now, from being around it at such an early age. there is no question. stephen must live. you got oscar nominated for theory of everything. did that affect your career at all? did it result in you getting more work? well, it's a funny old business, because you definitely — you sort of... i think it was james corden who said that some actors, like maybe brad pitt or angelina jolie, have this consistent level of fame that never changes. and then, for the rest of us, it's kind of peaks and troughs. and that is definitely true. as soon as you do something that people respond to, the offers do flood in, definitely. you notice that you're getting more attention, and then everyone sort of sits up and takes notice. though i definitely was given, you know, amazing opportunities from theory of everything.

oscar season is rapidly approaching. do you keep up with the oscars race, and the ups and downs of it? yes, everything. because i get sent the films, so — and you start being sent them in sort of late august, early september, and there are hundreds to get through for voting. so yes, i am fully committed, and spend a lot of time watching all the films. i love seeing what the new thing is. unfortunately, we're kind of in this world where all the really great stuff comes at the end of the year, so you sort of have to pack it in. you are pretty diligent about it, though, aren't you? yes, well, i love doing it. doesn't feel like a chore. don't touch this rope. ido i do know how a balloon works. what are you doing? the sky awaits. would you like to have more authorship in your work,

and be a director? yes, i mean, it's something i wouldn't ever rule out, and definitely i love every aspect of filmmaking. and i studied english literature at university, so i'm always reading and looking for stories. and that's what's a lovely sort of part of the profession, is being able to be involved a little bit earlier on, without a doubt. and do you think you would be good at directing a film? i don't know if i — i don't know. i think directing takes enormous skill. it's not for everyone. i always feel like the director is the most put—upon person. despite the title director, there is a lot of indirect—ing. they are dealing with issues from every direction. but it's not something i would ever, ever rule out. but we will see. this is absurd. it is what they call entertainment, mr glaisher. i don't find it particularly entertaining. it requires a sense of humour,

which you seem to lack. now, let's move on to our countdown to the oscars, our admittedly early take on the race to the academy awards, although preliminary oscar voting does take place as soon as next month. first, the best actress category, where renee zellweger is widely perceived as a front runner for her portrayal of late showbiz legend judy garland in the film judy. emma jones went to meet her. # somewhere over the rainbow. # way up high... as performances go, it is a comeback to rival any one ofjudy garland's. renee zellweger took a six—year break from the film industry. bridgetjones reprisals aside, her role asjudy garland towards the end of her all—too—brief life is the first major one for a decade. portraying one of hollywood's

greatest legends offered all the satisfaction and terror for an actor looking for a challenge. i was curious immediately, because i knew so very little about this chapter injudy‘s life, and it seemed like certainly there is more to it than what was written about her after her passing. so i came over to england. they said just come, we'lljust chat, we'll talk about it, and then maybe we'll try some songs, and we'll see where we are and where we might want to go. and we started experimenting with a black wig, and let'sjust try her stage make—up. just went on like that. i read that you started preparing for the role a year before rehearsals, renee. is that true? yes, thank goodness. yes. critics raving that zellweger manages to embody the essence ofjudy garland, it is no surprise she is a front runner for the prize. hollywood loves an actor who transforms successfully into a real—life character. last year, there was little doubt that gary oldman would triumph for his portrayal

of winston churchill. there is a cake — don't eat it. hollywood also loves to talk about itself, and judy dives back into the golden age of the studios, when garland was making the wizard of oz. finally, hollywood likes to reward effort. zellweger brings more than total transformation. she brings her own live singing, though she didn't plan on it. # clang, clang, clang went the trolley... mum, please don't go to sleep now. renee, how do you feel about singing live, and particularly singing over the rainbow, as well? well, i could lie to you. i could tell you that it was fantastic, and i couldn't wait. i was horrified, i couldn't believe it. in the actual experience of it, it was so fun, it was so special. what you mean you cannot? my mouth is dry. the character of judy garland, a woman deeply scarred

by her experiences of being psychologically abused by her studio in the 1930s, resonates deeply because of hollywood's recent self—examination. it's really hard to deny that she had very little say in the course that she was being set on at the time. i don't know that she would look at herself as a victim. the movies are what united us. they shaped conversations, shaped fashion, shaped the decisions you would make about what a good life looks like, what you aspire to have or ought to be. it was shaped by film and to be part of that, to be a start of cinema, you know, what would you do? at 50, age is no barrier to her success. last year was a surprise win for olivia colman in the favourite over glenn close for the wife. other recent wins include meryl streep, julianne moore and cate blanchett. but much has been made of zellweger stepping away from the spotlight for years, not months. she previously won best supporting

actress in 2004 for cold mountain. much of her body of work belongs to the 1990s and the turn of the millennium. ultimately, though, the story of one of their own triumphing after being written off is one that the industry finds hard to resist. and that might apply as much to rene zellweger as tojudy garland. # dreams that you dared to dream really do come true... now let's move onto the frontrunner in the best actor category, where adam driver has had a very good year. i'm thinking zombies. what? you know, zombies. he was at cannes where he won some praise for his role in the jim jarmsuch zombie movie the dead don't die. he also appeared as a senator investigating the use of enhanced interrogation techniques in the wake of september 11 in the film the report.

but he made the most impact playing the husband in the divorce story marriage story opposite scarlettjohansson. his performance in marriage story has given him frontrunner status. we caught up with him to discuss his current wave of success. your career is going really well right now. you are being embraced for your work in different films and the performances you give. you are getting a lot of positive feedback. does that mean a lot to you? i mean, it always means a lot getting the respect of your peers, and, you know, people you admire. but it's also surreal. at a certain point i don't know what good it does to try to attach a meaning to it, because in a way, there is no meaning to it. i work really hard, but there are a lot of actors who work really hard. i've just been extremely lucky in the people i've got to work with, and things like this that have come along, and the timing has worked out. there is a whole other pool of reasons why i'm lucky. so i try to keep it in perspective.

clearly lots of people are very impressed by your acting. when you reflect on your own work, do you see yourself developing as an actor? i hope. i mean, i hope. sometimes it is hard to gauge because i also try not to watch the things that i do. you know, sometimes you pick things, well, i always pick films because of the director first. but then within the character or the movie you want to work on something personal. and it's hard to gauge whether you've got it right. because sometimes you think things that are operating aren't, and the opposite is true. i've met older actors, who have been doing this for a lot longer than i have, and have learned that they all seem to share the same youthful ambition in trying to get it right, which i find comforting. it is a good lesson for me to realise, you don't ever kind of get it right. you hope you get better, but even that is subjective. you never master anything. you just make the attempt. so as long as i try to get better

at being comfortable with failure, then i think that would be a good gauge of improvement. well, you do a pretty good job. thank you very much! i'll never really get to be his parent again. he needs to know that i fought for him. so far, we've looked at the likely frontrunners in the best actor and best actress categories. what about some of the other races? talking movies reached out to a group of critics to get their predictions. for best supporting actor i think it's really a battle between tom hanks, who's playing mr rogers in it's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, and brad pitt playing cliff booth in once upon a time in hollywood. they're both big movie stars doing slightly offkilter roles which really play to their strengths. that said, brad pitt has had a good year and that role is one which i think people adored,

you know, watching him as the sidekick who looks more like a movie star than the movie star does. so i think he's probably the frontrunner. i would not be surprised if most people right now are really talking about al pacino for his role in when it comes to best supporting actor in the irishman. he plastimmy hoffa in this huge scenery—eating performance. pretty unforgettable. he oscillates between bay really intense, really high and really low. the first time he's ever worked with martin scorsese. it's a big moment for him and for the movie. if not al pacino, i would say willem dafoe in the lighthouse is bonkers and fantastic. he has been nominated a couple of times. i think a lot of people really want to award him. he would be the spoiler, i think, in that category. 10,15, even 20 years ago, we would probably be surprised

if we were talking about jennifer lopez as a potential oscar nominee, but it seems like that's definitely the way it's going right now. her performance in hustlers as a stripper who is part of a ring of women who basically drug men for their money, i think it'sjust filled with layers. all of the things that we love about jennifer lopez as a performer. jennifer lopez's performance is unbelievable. it's fully memorable, kind of the j—lo that everybody remembers from years ago, just completely exploding onto the screen. hustlers is not a great movie. it is a very fun movie, and the reason it is fun is because ofjennifer lopez. she plays a stripper with a heart of gold. she really owns the movie in the way that you want a great actor to own a movie. she makes it thrilling. i think zhao shuzhen in the farewell stands a good chance. she's pretty wonderful.

i would love to see her in the mix. obviously this would be a great year to see jennifer lopez in hustlers get in there. i think a lot of people are rooting for that. it was great to see her in a good role again, you know? she's such a movie star in that movie. i'm rooting for her. it's the irishman. it's a historical mobster movie about a fixer for the mob andjimmy hoffa and also it's about ageing and coming to the end of your life and looking backwards and wondering what it all amounted to. it's a big, bold, career—defining film for scorsese, and it has amazing actors in it, giving amazing performances. it has everything that the academy really loves. so i think that that's a sort of powerhouse media, a powerhouse cast, a powerhouse special effects, that's definitely going to be a frontrunner. i really do think it's going to boil down to two frontrunners

for best picture, it's going to be once upon a time in hollywood and it's going to be the irishman. they're both very strong, but i think of the two, the one to beat is going to be once upon a time in hollywood. there's lots of love and support not just for quentin tarantino, but the idea of shooting on film, shooting in hollywood, supporting the industry, and i think hollywood loves to celebrate hollywood and i think this isjust going to be a slam dunk. realistically, i think it's probably between once upon a time in hollywood and marriage story. my gut tells me maybe marriage story could get in there and win. on the side of once upon a time in hollywood, you've got that it's a story about hollywood, which always goes over well. you've got quentin tarantino. but i think also, it's so divisive. whereas marriage story is this almost classically well—made movie with incredible acting, the writing is so good, it's just this really beautiful story about a relationship falling apart. and i think that's hard to resist.

so, we didn't have a host this year, in part because of the kevin hart thing of 2019, and i'm all for not having any host for award shows ever. i think there should totally be a host. it's an awards show. have somebody come out and say, welcome, and hear some people who will give out awards, and then goodnight. it doesn't take much. just get anybody, who cares? i'd be surprised if they went with a single host. if they do, it should be awkwafina. the other thing i keep seeing in my mind is the oscars making a gigantic bid for young people, going for youtube stars or something. logan paul, ninja, a streaming star. i really think, you know, just go full force. try and get that market, you know. the oscars can stay relevant forever. well, that brings this edition of talking movies to a close. we hope you've enjoyed the show. please remember, you can always reach us online and you can find us

on facebook as well. so, from me, tom brook, and the rest of the production crew here in new york, it's goodbye, as we leave you with oscars frontrunner rene zellweger singing over the rainbow from the film judy. # somewhere over the rainbow # skies are blue # and the dreams that # you dared to dream # really do come true # the weather has been causing

headaches today. travel disruptions, trees down, power cuts and several fireworks displays council this evening, too. this picture comes from west sussex, where there has been heavy rainfall with the strength of the wind, too. certainly enough to cause significant travel disruption. as we head through this evening, the rain and went to the easing, but we are still expecting disruption to last through the remainder of today. all down to the fa ct remainder of today. all down to the fact that we have this area of low pressure setting across central part of the uk, slowly drifting eastwards. i supposed to the south and the north of that centre of low pressure, still some strong winter come across parts of southern england, south wales, as well. a0 to 50 miles an hour later this afternoon, 60 miles per across northern scotland. combined with some heavy showers, as well. the heavies of the shower to songs of their winds will gradually ease with this evening. so, it's become such west mendes overnight and not as wet first thing tomorrow morning. some messed and fog patches developing

here and there, particularly in northern ireland, north—west england and into wales, as well. temperatures falter about 68 degrees. tomorrow will be a different feeling day. low pressure very much with this, but it is starting to sell. not as many isobars on the much more. so if you blustery showers, areas include easter skulls, parts of northern england and if you showers towards the south—west later in the day, to those but a much improved picture of the likes of east anglia, is that these common images. towards northern ireland as well should be mostly dry. return to a little bit of sunshine and certainly much less window than today. temperature rise, ten to a0 degrees. still reasonable amount of the day on sunday, but things were twinkled at sd coming you because of —— ten to 1a degrees. some slow moving heavy showers and thunderstorms in the south—western parts of england. a bit of sunshine in between some of the showers on monday and temperatures about nine to 13 monday and temperatures about nine to 1s degrees. then, we are set to

see the unsubtle spell continuing through much of the week ahead was up through much of the week ahead was up here is the outlet, social showers, cycle figures the middle pa rt showers, cycle figures the middle part of the week. we have got colder weather on the cards, perhaps a little bit more brightness at times, too. goodbye.

this is bbc news, i'm shaun ley. the headlines at apm: south africa are victorious in the rugby world cup final, beating england s2—12 at yokohama in japan. so near yet so far for england fans who take comfort in team coach eddiejones‘ achievements. south africa deserved it. it was a disappointing game to watch, because there was simply not enough rugby being played. hey, it'sjust a game of rugby, mate, it's all good. the government halts fracking for gas in england until there is evidence the controversial process is safe. nicola sturgeon accuses boris johnson and jeremy corbyn of running scared of a tv debate with her and says scottish independence is within touching distance.