'Nailed was a blast' and Jake's a winner - 'Can I touch it?'

It's not surprising that with all the gems being uncovered on the net for Prince of Persia, putting us in no doubt that this is going to be a movie of big proportions, there's been little time recently for any of Jake Gyllenhaal's other forthcoming roles. And we're in the fabulous position of having more than one on the way.


An interview with the young actress Jenny Gulley, who is appearing in a US version of Little Britain, reveals that she also has a role in Nailed, as Brenda, the waitress friend of Jessica Biel's character, the one with the nail in her head. Jenny's verdict: 'Nailed' was a blast... It was one of the funnest sets I've ever been on.' Tracy Morgan has also been explaining his role in Nailed recently but this is so full of spoilers that I'll leave it to the link! Suffice to say, however, that a medical dictionary may be a requirement for audiences when (I trust, when) Nailed reaches our screens, alongside the popcorn and Ben & Jerry's.


Trip back to 2006

I've also not had much chance for Jake nostalgia lately, so I thought I'd put that to rights today, and have a look back to February 2006 and Jake's BAFTA win - not what happened on the stage of the Odeon (the same cinema where the premiere of The Dark Knight took place last week) but what happened off it.


Here is an account by BAFTA guest and comedienne Janey Godley of what happened at the Grosvenor Ball, an event that was attended by the enormously and justly proud winner of a gong, Jake Gyllenhaal: 'The show finally finished and we got a car to take us to the ball at the Grosvenor Hotel. As we were walking down the stairs, Jake Gyllenhall [sic] was standing alongside us, clutching his gloriously gold BAFTA award. A lady beside me asked him “Can I touch it?”'


'Jake smiled and held it to her to touch; we all slowly kept making our way slowly on the stairs. He smiled at me and I said “Can I stroke it?” He politely held it to me and I added quickly “No…not that!” and he laughed out loudly and people around us laughed. He then opened his expensive black jacket and said “Help yourself” So I stood there and giggled as I stroked his very toned chest!'


'He then lifted up the back of his jacket and grabbed my hand and put it on his ass and added “You want some of this!” I kept laughing, his smile was huge and he obviously has a good sense of humour. I told him I was a stand up comic and he answered “I love stand up, wow what’s your name?” We chatted a bit more and then reached the ground floor entrance to the ball. What a guy, we then posed for a picture. I was well happy!' The picture that Janey took is tiny, but at least she has one. I wouldn't mind learning more about her encounter with George Clooney in the gent's loo that night (there is another picture from that).

Jake wasn't just a hit amongst voters, comediennes and partygoers, the press loved him too: 'There was no doubting the press pack's favourite winner of the night - Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal. A warning "not to salivate or sigh too much" when he came in the press room went largely unheeded, and he was greeted with whooping and cheering when he returned with co-star Heath Ledger and director Ang Lee. Gyllenhaal turned the table on the hacks with a question of his own. "I have a question for the radio people," he announced. "I was looking for a little hip hop in the car [on the way to the awards] and I could not find any." Well, even a Hollywood star's gotta relax those nerves somehow. A chap from Radio 1 suggested he try his station on a Friday night. Not much help on a Sunday though, is it?'


And here is another account of that memorable day: 'Jake Gyllenhaal, of course, full of the exhuberance of youth and what not, played his nominations the other way. "Every film you make you assume you're going to get this response, so for those that don't it's all a bit underwhelming!" And what of being in the soggy British weather? "Man, I love it. Britain is worth it. I feel I've always been embraced by British audiences in particular, doing This Is Our Youth on stage and then when I came for Donnie Darko. It's just great to be here."' I love a man who appreciates British weather.


Jake had to beat not just one George Clooney but two to get that award, but Jake had nothing but admiration for his foe: 'Having snatched the Best Supporting Actor gong from under the nose of “The George twins,” as he labelled Clooney’s double nomination in the category, Gyllenhaal had nothing but praise for the Syriana star. “He came up to me on the red carpet and said ‘You’re so gonna lose.’ I gave him one of those,” Gyllenhaal throws a mock punch. “George has such courage as a filmmaker, when you consider the position he’s in, he doesn’t have to work like that but he does it from the heart.”'


Winning the BAFTA put a huge smile on Jake's face and, in addition to carrying the award itself home on the seat next to him on the plane, someone else recalls: 'I’ll note that it was also moderately exciting to be flying back to Los Angeles last night on the same plane as Jake Gyllenhaal. He was seen at baggage claim, clutching his BAFTA award for his performance in Brokeback Mountain.' Although I have no idea why it should be 'mystifying' that Jake should be travelling on the same plane as Justin Timberlake.

And here we can enjoy Jake's (and Ang's) words backstage just after receiving his award.



Includes pictures from IHJ and links.