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STARS LINE UP FOR ANTHONY MINGHELLA TRIBUTE

By Lorraine Parker - Saturday, April 26, 2008
STARS LINE UP FOR ANTHONY MINGHELLA TRIBUTE
Film stars Alfred Molina, Jude Law and Alan Rickman share a lighter moment outside the scaffolding-shrouded Sts Thomas Church, Newport, before Saturday's service of thanksgiving for the life of Island movie director Anthony Minghella. Picture by Jennifer Burton. VIDEO FOOTAGE.
VIDEO FOOTAGE
HOLLYWOOD stars Jude Law, Alan Rickman, and Alfred Molina were among those who turned out for Anthony Minghella’s thanksgiving service, on Saturday.
Around 550 family members, colleagues and friends attended the service at Sts Thomas Church, in Newport, which was organised by the Isle of Wight Council and Mr Minghella's family.
A Freeman of the Isle of Wight, Mr Minghella died on March 18, after suffering a haemorrhage following surgery for a growth on his neck.
Wearing a black tie and grey suit Jude Law, who took the lead role in three of Mr Minghella’s films and was described as one of his favourite people, read one of Mr Minghella’s favourite poems When Death Comes by Mary Oliver.
Meanwhile Harry Potter’s Alan Rickman, a friend and colleague for around 20 years, read from Mr Minghella’s short radio play Hang Up, which won the 1998 Prix Italia.
The service included many snippets of Mr Minghella’s work.
His sister, Gioia, read Katharine’s last words from the Oscar-winning The English Patient, while soprano singer Mary Plazas performed One Fine Day from Madam Butterfly, having performed the title role in the original production, for which Mr Minghella won an Olivier Award in 2006.
The nearly two-hour service also included various readings from Mr Minghella’s other sisters, Loretta and Edana.
His brother, television scriptwriter Dominic, also paid tribute to Mr Minghella who he said was a man who “never forgot his roots”.
He added: "He was defined by his roots, he knew where he came from.
“His legacy exists in all of us. His presence blessed you and his absence bruised you.
“I would like to list a few ways in which Anthony is still with us. Really, truly, madly, deeply, passionately, remarkably to name a few.”
The moving service also included a video montage of Mr Minghella’s life put together by his niece, Sophie Jeffrey, and a poem by his nephew, Dante.
Loudspeakers were set up for the hundreds who gathered outside the church and around the square.