UN: britto08
LN: Morelli
DH:
Leo David (28)
DW:
Annabelle Sara "
Annie" (nee
Delaney) (28)
--DD:
Roisin Alba Delaney "
Rosy" (3)
--DD:
Charlotte Helen (nb)
Type of Celebrity: Film (both actors)
Shortly before
Rosy's second birthday, while still filming a psychological thriller,
Annie got a call from one of her favorite directors to work with, asking her and
Leo both to star in a new movie version of Beauty and the Beast.
Annie has always been a favorite for period and fantasy pieces because of her classic beauty, and the directors wanted the couple's powerful on-screen chemistry for the film. At first
Annie was doubtful; now a mother and feeling far more mature, she didn't want to go back to playing the ingenue roles of her early 20s. And though Beauty and the Beast was her favorite fairytale, she couldn't help feeling it would be a step back to that direction.
Leo agreed to the part of the Beast/Prince, but
Annie was on the fence until they sent her the script to read. Once she read it, she fell in love with it and agreed to star with her husband if the main character's name could be changed from Bella--she wanted to avoid all Twilight associations. The character's name was obligingly changed to
Rose, which delighted
Annie and
Leo because of the association with their daughter's name.
Rosy even got a very tiny part in the very last scene, playing the main characters' toddler daughter.
Just before filming wrapped,
Annie and
Leo discovered they were expecting another baby. They were both thrilled, as was
Rosy, who couldn't wait for a "really baby" to play with instead of her dolls.
Annie and
Leo decided to just go ahead and make the announcement and answer questions, just to avoud the rabid hounding they had with
Rosy. They also retreated to their home in upstate New
York to spend most of the pregnancy, as it was the most private and
Leo was signed on to do an off-Broadway play. The two enjoyed the low-key time they shared, only coming out for awards shows.
Annie was shocked and thrilled when she was nominated for a Golden Globe and an
Oscar for her portrayal of
Rose. Critics had almost universally lauded the film and called her portrayal of
Rose a "ballsy, assertive version of the quintessential golden-hearted heroine for a new generation." While
Leo's portrayal was also lauded, he wasnot nominated, which made
Annie feel awkward at first until she realizedhe was just thrilled for her. They attended the awards shows, where she was passed over for a Golden Globe for her closest contender (which she couldn't be too disappointed about, as the actress was one of her idols). However, at the Oscars, the heavily-pregnant
Annie walked across the stage to accept her very first
Oscar, presented by that very same actress who had won the Golden Globe (the previous year's winner). Though nominated once before,
Annie had never dreamed she would actually win. Her speech was an attempt not to cry and to thank everyone at once.
Leo and their families couldn't stop congratulating her for days.
A few weeks later,
Annie went into labor and gave birth to another beautiful daughter who was almost the perfect image of
Leo. The two had decided on a name long before. They chose to honor women they admired.
Charlotte is for
Charlotte Bronte, one of
Annie's very favorite authors.
Helen is for
Helen Mirren, an actress both greatly admire. They toyed with the idea of another middle name, but in the end decided against it. The media is gaga over baby
Charlotte, as their entire family is.
Rosy, though a little afraid to youch her at first, adores her new sister and loves to help Mama with the new baby.
This message was edited 8/28/2011, 11:45 AM