Though big of heart and generous of wallet, the vocal talents of New York socialite and heiress Florence Foster Jenkins were somewhere down the other end of the spectrum, size-wise. She was, to put it bluntly, a rubbish singer. Still, she achieved something few have managed and sold out Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall, a story charted by Stephen Frears’ new film. It has three new posters of its trio of central characters to share.
![Meryl-Streep-Florence](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/empire-images/articles/571de8bc7211b7171ffcd0f9/FFJ_1SHT_CHARACTERS_meryl.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Florence’s grand ambitions are loyally supported and encouraged by her husband St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), himself a wobbly actor harbouring fading delusions of grandeur. Enter aspiring concert pianist, Cosmé McMoon (The Big Bang Theory's Simon Helberg), to lend a hand with coaching her to something approaching competence.
![Hugh-Grant-Florence](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/empire-images/articles/571de8bc7211b7171ffcd0f9/FFJ_1SHT_CHARACTERS_hugh.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
There’s a lot more ambition than talent among this lot but the threesome are an often hilarious combination in a film that hits the right – wait for it – tone throughout.
![Simon-Helberg-Florence](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/empire-images/articles/571de8bc7211b7171ffcd0f9/FFJ_1SHT_CHARACTERS_simon.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Florence Foster Jenkins hits UK cinemas on May 6.