Jean Simmons in new Miyazaki movie

Jean Simmons has voiced the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's newest anime tale, "Howl's Moving Castle," due out Friday.  From a review in yesterday's L.A. Times--

[Pixar's] Docter and [co-director] Dempsey found their Old Sophie in a screen legend -- Simmons ("Spartacus," "Great Expectations"). "She really got in to the character" during the dubbing sessions, Dempsey said. "She hunched over, making her posture like Sophie's to ensure that she would sound like that character.

To read the full review:  'Howl's' a natural draw for an anime master
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Entertainment Weekly had this to say about her:

Jean Simmons, who knew nothing about Miyazaki -- a virtual legend in the animation community and one of Japan's highest-grossing filmmakers (''I'm learning,'' she says) -- voices the elder version of Sophie, a young woman magically turned into a 90-year-old. ''I think I need to go get my back straightened,'' Simmons reports. ''I did a lot of hunching over to get the lack of lung power some old folks have.''

EW's full preview is here--  (Subscribers and newsstand readers must log in to read it)
Howl's Moving Castle

I know I'll be seeing this one.  My daughter loves Miyazaki's movies.

I love them too!  They are some of the best anime ever.  Adults as well as kids can appreciate their beauty and stories.  (Spirited Away, Kicki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro).  Even though Disney is releasing this, it's not Disney fare. 

I can't wait to check it out. Thanks!

That's cool. She has a really nice speaking voice.

Miyazaki is amazing. The one scene in Princess Mononoke where the forest comes back to life always has me in tears.

The Winnipeg Sun's Web site has a new interview with Simmons ( Good Jean, bad Gene - Venerable actress receives mail for nasty rocker) that among other things includes a mention of her appearance in the '91 DS series and anecdotes about doing the voiceovers for this film, receiving Gene Simmons' fan mail, working with Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton, and her experience shooting Guys and Dolls.

Nice article!