Cate's risky role

Cate Blanchett's latest movie is delayed as members of the Dublin underworld name their terms.

From: Unknown, 2003-11-02
Date added: 2003-11-15

back

Horrifed Cate Blanchett almost saw her controversial new film abandoned when Irish gangsters threatened the production. Cate was shocked when local Dublin heavies hinted there would be serious trouble on the set of her film Veronica Guerin if changes were not made to the script.
Filming of the self-titled biopic of the heroic Irish journalist merdered by drug dealers in 1996 caused paranoia among the city's underworld.
And that unrest evolved into direct threats when several gangsters felt names being used were too close to their own. Just weeks into filming last year a member of the production staff was warned of violent consequences if the names were not changed.
'The producers were appalled when he threats were received. It really put people on edge,' reveals a film insider. 'It's a fairly unusual problem to say the least, and not the type of thing film peple usually have to endure. But it was a threat, and taken very seriously. 'After what happened to the real Veronica Guerin, it was clear that no one on the film could be allowed to feel that their life was in danger. The film bosses were very worried.'
The real Veronica Guerin was a high proofile investigative reported who was threatenedregularly after wrting exposes about the drug dealers operating in Dublin in the 1990's. After being shot in the leg while in her own home, and another criminal threatening to kidnap and rape her son, she vowed to persevere in her quest to defeat the drug dealers.
But on June 26, 1996, while stopped at traffic lights in her car, two men pulled up beside her and pumpe six bullets into her, killing her instanly. She was 37 years old, and left behind a husband and six-year-old son.
The news was greeted with horror by th people of Ireland, who had made a celebrity of Veronica after her exposes in The Sunday Independent. The Irish Parliament even held a moment's silence for her. Following the execution-style murder, Veronica was defied as a modern-day saint, and polica arrested more than 150 criminals in an attempt to stop crime.
Two men were charged with her murder and sentenced, but the city is still affected by such criminals. Names in the script have been altered and security for the stars, including Dublin actor Colin Farrell, has increased. 'Security has been beefed up after the Drug dealers made their feelings known,' confirms the film source. 'The problem with gangsters is that names change but the crime doesn't go away. A lot of the really sinister guys in the Dublin underworld were unaffected by the arrests made after Veronica Guerin's death.
'Cate was taken aback by the threats but she's not the type of lady to panic. She obviously admired Veronica Guerin to be doing the role in the first place.' The source adds: 'The problem with doing this film is that so many of the main players are still around, so you know it's bound to ruffle a few feathers.'
'When you're dealing with people as ruthless as some of these, it's important to tread very carefully. For the sake of Cate, Colin and the rest of the people involved, it was smart to be diplomatic.'

- By Jason Kerrigan

back