APOCALYPSE RISING! "THE FADES" EMERGE...

Black crows for a dark mind. The troubled Paul (Iain de Caestercker) in the new supernatural drama THE FADES. Image: BBC.

It's not easy being a teenager-there's acne, raging hormones and an all round general disease with being who you are-but what happens when you also get apocalyptic visions of the future that show the end of humanity? This is the consistent and disturbing scenario that awaits and plagues poor youngster Paul (as played by up and coming Scottish star Iain de Caestecker) who's also unwelcomely blessed with the ability to see the spirits of dead people (THE FADES of the title) that no one else-friends, family, even his psychiatrist-can see or believe in, in what looks set to be another creepy and atmospheric supernatural winner for the unashamedly self promoting BBC "yoof" channel BBC Three, whose previous foray into the this type of genre programme with BEING HUMAN would quickly prove international successful. This new six part drama, created by THIS IS ENGLAND and SKINS creator Jack Thorne, and with a cast that includes THE TUDORS Natalie Dormer, Tom Ellis and THIS LIFE's Daniela Nardini, looks equally poised to win a similar cult following, especially if the overall series lives up to its exciting trailers-with Paul surely being the critical nexus point in which the fate of all humanity will ultimately rest. No pressure, then...

Trailers: The Fades - Trailer - BBC Three - YouTube
The Fades Are Coming: Eye - BBC Three - YouTube

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "THE TUDORS" NATALIE DORMER

As the spellbinding Anne Boleyn, Natalie Dormer in THE TUDORS. Image: SHOWTIME.

With her cat-like eyes and beguiling man snaring looks (showing a fortitude that could be used for both good and evil), backed up with a shapely figure whom her female rivals would no doubt feel intense jealousy towards, the popular English actress Natalie Dormer clearly has all the right stuff for casting directors, seeing the wide range of diverse work and career lines she has so enjoyably trod these last few years, from period epics to more intimate modern drama and upcoming blockbuster movies.

Bedroom games for Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in a saucy season one promo for THE TUDORS. Image: SHOWTIME. 

Miss Dormer would first make a sterling impression on film and TV screens of the last few years with her break-our performance in a two season stint on the Ireland filmed, glossily produced US SHOWTIME series THE TUDORS, as Anne Boleyn, who captured the heart and insatiable lust of Jonathan Rhys Meyers interpretation of King Henry VIII, (well, at least until he got bored and weary of her, and, accused of witchcraft, adultery and heresy, had her head chopped off!), then, as the ambitious legal eagle Niamh Cranitch in the BBC drama series about the lives and rivalries of a core group of British barristers, SILK, opposite other popular TV stars like Rupert Penry Jones and Maxine Peake, and now back to the past, though of a more historical fantasy kind, in the epic second series of HBO's audience and critically acclaimed adaptation of George R. R. Martin's GAME OF THRONES books, returning to Belfast to play the ambitious Margaery Tyrell of the House Tyrell for the upcoming, highly anticipated second season, involved in what will surely be a compelling plot to take the throne from that snidely super brat King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson).

Dormer has a fun cameo in the upcoming CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, as Private Lorraine, opposite Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Philips. Image: MARVEL STUDIOS.

Oh, and there's the continued work in Hollywood, previously including films like CASANOVA (with the late Heath Ledger), FLAWLESS (with Michael Caine and Demi Moore), and now what will surely be a memorable cameo appearance, and back to her natural blond looks, in the upcoming Joe Johnston directed blockbuster based on the MARVEL comics and graphic novels superhero: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, working with lead star Chris Evans, whom her character (Private Lorraine) gives a special "thank you" to for his services to America and the war effort!, and working alongside the likes of acting heavy weights including Tommy Lee Jones...

Dormer, as last seen on UK TV, in THE FADES. Image: BBC.

Beyond her recent creepy foray within the ambitious youth horror drama realms of THE FADES, playing dead/undead heroine Sarah, I think Miss Dormer's current CV is just the smallest tip of an iceberg with regards to bigger, future work, of which KOOL TV looks forward to those next projects with great interest...


All episodes of THE TUDORS are now available from SHOWTIME, as is SILK, from BBC DVD.