Henrick Vartanian
By: Benjamin Scuglia — Chances are good movie fans will be hearing a lot about Charlotte Riley over the next couple of years. If you follow the gossip pages, then you’ve probably heard a bit about her already. That shattering sound you heard a few months ago was millions of lovelorn hearts breaking when it was revealed Ms. Riley is engaged to “Inception” stud Tom Hardy, whose own star wattage is blazing right now.
The 29 year-old English actress is best known for an ’09 TV adaptation of “Wuthering Heights“—where she and Hardy first met—as well as the 2008 film “Easy Virtue,” based on the Noel Coward play. Like many British actors, she moves frequently between stage and screen.
Ms. Riley is apparently in contention for a plum role in “The Dark Knight Rises,” the third Batman film starring Christian Bale. Hardy will play the villainous Bane, while the role of Selina Kyle (whose alter ego is Catwoman) it was recently announced will go to Anne Hathaway.
Gossip reports note Riley tested for the role of Bruce Wayne‘s love interest opposite such starlets as Keira Knightley, Gemma Arterton and Jessica Biel. Expect an announcement soon. Filming commences on “The Dark Knight Rises” in May, with release date already inked for July 20, 2012.
Recommended: see Riley and Tom Hardy in action in The Take starring – (2009 release, on DVD)
CLICK HERE for a BBC Breakast News interview on YouTube that originally aired 12/7/09.