Five days of the best of international television — not to mention blue skies and seas — came to a close Thursday night as a gala dinner wrapped the Monte Carlo International Television Festival.
Terry Crews, Ming Na, Lindsey Wagner and Bo Derek were among the stars that celebrated the festival and the winners of the Golden Nymph awards.
Outstanding actor winner Steven Van Zandt, whose show Lilyhammer also won for best European comedy series, told The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked at receiving the prize two years in a row.
“Last year was shocking, this year may be even more shocking. It is just a small little Norwegian show. To have that happen not once but twice, that means we are really reaching people,” he said. The “small little Norwegian show” is a Netflix original series.
He reiterated his acceptance speech with a bittersweet nod to the late James Gandolfini. “I meant what I said [on stage]. Any scene with Jimmy Gandolfini was like a year-long acting class. I’m not exaggerating. You walked away from a scene with Jimmy and you were better, just like that. I really miss him so much,” he said.
Ron Perlman said he enjoyed a week of relaxing and watching great shows after he wrapped six months of shooting his show Hand of God.
“It’s so tough to be in Monte Carlo as the guest of the prince and princess with nothing but sunshine, blue skies and the bluest of oceans. Where do I begin to complain?” he joked. “I’m so happy, I really feel like someone is going to wake me up out of this dream.”
The president of the miniseries jury said that while the viewing had been easy, the deliberations had been hard. “What we were watching was great work and that’s never hard. It was hard choosing. It’s difficult to judge something as subjective as a piece of artwork, which one is best and why. After some infighting, a couple of cat fights, scratching and clawing, we came to a conclusion.” His jury chose French-UK drama The Missing.
The festival is close to the heart of Eric Close, who made his sixth appearance on the Cote d’Azur. “One of things I love about this festival is the fans, because I’ve actually developed friendships with some of the fans that live here stay in touch over Twitter,” he told THR. “It’s fun to come down and see them, because without our fans we’re not working.”
Close presided over the television film jury, and said it was an honor with a lot of responsibility. “It’s a little bit of pressure when you know what it’s like to be up for something and you hope to win, but — and I know this sounds cliché — but it really is an honor to be nominated.”
Texas Rising star Cynthia Addai-Robinson stunned in a sparkly pale peach Jad Ghandour gown. “When you hear you are going to Monte Carlo, it feels like you should honor that location. Normally I don’t wear sequins and tulle, but I thought: why not be festive?” she said.
Orange is the New Black’s Matt McGorry, who has demonstrated his dance moves to acclaim on the show, said he might use the famous afterparty hosted by Prince Albert II to shake it. “I’ve heard that dancing happens, some dancing on tables maybe, and I’m looking forward to it, tearing it up a little bit,” he joked. “It’s a little hard in a tux though.”
While McGorry’s table dance sadly never materialized, Prince Albert did hit the dance floor with Bianca Jagger for a party that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.
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