Read More - George Pimentel

celebrity photographer
george pimentel’s
aging
gr acefully
the shutterbug’s best shots of
timeless hollywood icons
n Hollywood, for many, you’re here today
and gone tomorrow,” remarks Canadian
Iphotographer
George Pimentel, who has
snapped the globe’s hottest celebrities for
more than 15 years. “But some stars stand
the test of time. There’s a class of icons that
age gracefully.” These actors enjoy careers
that span decades, he adds, and are able to
hang on to the beauty and charisma that
made them famous in the first place.
Here, in the second of our three-part
“Hello! Hollywood” special package,
George shares photos of the screen stars
who are only shining brighter with age.
d e m i moor e
“At every event I do, there’s one prize shot that
I need to get. It’s like fishing: sometimes it’s
skill and sometimes it’s luck. At the Sundance
Film Festival, Jan. 17, 2009, I was in the right
place at the right time to catch this moment
with Demi. I’ve been a fan for years and
there’s no doubt that she’s gotten even more
beautiful with age.”
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cat e bl a nchet t
“This photo was taken at the Golden Globe
Awards on Jan. 16, 2005. Cate is so natural.
She doesn’t have to try very hard to look
stunning. She has this unique look. And her
fashion choices are always spot-on. She has a
wonderful sense of colour and is so classy and
elegant. Above all else, Cate has this arresting
presence – and that presence comes from
within. At the end of the day, she’s just a really
great person. She’s so approachable.
She makes it easy to take her picture.”
n i c o l e k i dm a n
For more fabulous photos,
open here
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For more fabulous photos,
open here
“I love Nicole Kidman, but she’s the only celebrity
that I feel intimidated around. Her beauty is overwhelming. She’s also very fragile. You have to be
cautious with Nicole. You can’t holler her name
because it will work against you. If it gets too loud,
she won’t make eye contact. She’s the only star that
I keep my mouth shut around.”
HELLO! 59
h a l l e be r r y
“Halle’s beauty is utterly flawless.
You can’t take a bad photo of her.
Short hair, long hair, dressed up, in
jeans – she always looks amazing. She
has a gorgeous smile. And her skin
radiates youth. She doesn’t
seem to register age at all. I have
a hard time keeping the camera steady
when I shoot her. Pretty much every
guy I know wishes he was
Gabriel Aubry.”
pierce brosnan
“I took this photo at the Sundance Film Festival on
Jan. 23, 2009. If all men could look as good as Pierce
does in his 50s, this would be a beautiful world. He’s
sophisticated, classy and charming. He is James Bond.”
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wa r r e n be at t y
a nd a nnette bening
“Warren and Annette are the kind of stars that I look up to. They’re a
couple that’s held it together. They’ve risen above the pressures of
Hollywood. They are comfortable with themselves and each other,
and you can see it in this photo from the Vanity Fair Oscar party on
March 24, 2002. Annette is gorgeous. And even at the age of 72,
Warren still looks like a classic movie star.”
george pimentel
and mike myers
“I love photographing Canadians. It’s great when you have a personal connection with stars. It just so
happens that I went to school in Toronto with Mike Myers. He was in my brother’s grade. Every time
I see him, I yell out, ‘Lescon Public School!’ and he goes out of his way to give me the shot. I was
backstage with him at the Emmy Awards on Sept. 21, 2003, and we were reminiscing about the old
days. I said, ‘Let’s do something funny!’ A friend of mine came and took this photo of us. Mike is one
of the funniest guys I know. He cracks me up every time I see him.”
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p e n e lop e c ruz
“This is one of my favourite moments of all time, because
I felt like I was in the 1950s. I was at Cannes on May 16,
2004, when Penélope decided to walk to her première.
A huge crowd was behind her, forming a sort of procession.
She stood out because she was all in white.
She looked like an angel.”
‘This photograph is so Old
Hollywood to me, like a scene
from La Dolce Vita’
sc a r le t t joh a nsson
“She was leaving a première at Cannes on May 12, 2005,
when the press mobbed her. Unfortunately, in the
confusion, her mother slipped and fell. This shot is
so Old Hollywood to me, like a scene from
the classic film La Dolce Vita. Her mother was not
injured, but I’ve never published this photo until now
out of respect for Scarlett.”
m a don n a
“Madonna was in Toronto with Guy Ritchie on
Sept. 11, 2005. I got wind they were eating at
[the restaurant] Nectar. Security was at the back to
pick her up, but I convinced them to use the front
instead so fans would get their moment and not
chase her all night. When she came out,
I instructed everyone not to rush her and it all ran
smoothly. She gave me my shot.”
‘This looks like a photo that
Brad and Jennifer could have
had on their fridge’
nicole k i dm a n
a n d tom c ru i se
b ruc e w i ll i s
a nd d e m i mo or e
br a d p i t t
a n d j e n n i f e r a n i s ton
“ This is from the opening of Planet Hollywood in Toronto in
March 1997. It was -30° C outside and I froze for four hours,
waiting to get the shot. At the time, Bruce and Demi were the
hottest couple in Hollywood. Not a lot of stars were coming
through Toronto back then – it was just a handful. They were the
very first celebrity couple I photographed.”
“I was at Sundance Jan. 12, 2002, and Brad and Jennifer were
there for a première. I was so excited because it was the first time
I’d seen Brad. I wanted to get close so I blew off the arrival, went
into the theatre, found their seats and sat in front until they
arrived. Then I turned around and asked for the shot. This looks
like a photo they could have had on their fridge.”
“This is a shot at the Vanity Fair Oscar
Party on March 26, 2000. For me, this
photo is all about Tom Cruise. It was the
first time I photographed him and I hadn’t
realized how short he was! I soon
discovered that Tom is easily the nicest guy
in Hollywood – for the press and the fans.
He embraces stardom, loves it. Tom is also
the kind of guy that doesn’t hide his
feelings for the women in his life.
He always puts his love on display.”