American Beauty star burnt at the stake in latest Gold Spot ad

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 02-May-07, 11:50

LONDON - Mena Suvari, the Hollywood actress famous for playing Kevin Spacey's love interest in 'American Beauty', is to star in the latest Orange 'Gold Spot' campaign.

The ad, created by Mother London, features Suvari as Joan of Arc in homage to her cheerleader role in 'American Beauty'.

The ad also features the fictional Orange Film Board characters, Mr Dresden and his sidekick Burnley, who have starred in all the "Gold Spot" ads to date.

The gag in the ad involves Dresden and Burnley intervening in a scene where Joan of Arc is being burnt at the stake. Dresden and Burnley force the filmakers to reshoot the scene with Joan of Arc dressed as an American cheerleader.

The 65-second ad breaks in cinemas on Friday night, and follows a "Gold Spot" ad starring Hollywood actor Michael Madsen as the "phone box killer", which launched in February.

Rachel Macbeth, head of advertising and design at Orange, said: "Cinema audiences love our relaunch of the Gold Spots, we're delighted by the reaction to the Michael Madsen spot so far.

"I think British cinema audiences will find Mena even funnier, while continuing to remind them, in the spirit of the Orange Gold Spot, to turn their phones off before the film, in a fun and friendly way."

Last summer, martial arts actor Steven Segal played an ageing actor trying to persuade the Orange Film Board to fund his vanity project.

Previous Orange Film Board spoofs have featured Carrie Fisher, Roy Schneider, Daryl Hannah, Patrick Swayze and Ewan McGregor.

Orange has held the 65-second "Gold Spot", which asks audience members to switch off their mobile phones, since 2000.