Sonia is the heart and the artist of the team. She loves art and all that it implies. As Sonia says, good music, a well directed movie, or attending a music or film festival melts people’s heart and make them better. She is great at painting and photography. Working on scrapbooks is her favorite activity.
Dallas-born singer and actor Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74.
His Bat Out Of Hell album is one of the best-selling of all time.
The news of his death was confirmed on the star’s Facebook page by his family.
“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,” a message read.
Meat Loaf sold 100 million albums worldwide and also appeared in movies like Fight Club, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.
“Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours,” his family continued.
“We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man.”
“We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.
“From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!”
Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday but also known as Michael, and got his nickname when his dad said he looked as red as meat at birth, before a high school football coach added the “loaf”.
He was best known for his Bat Out Of Hell trilogy, which sold millions of albums worldwide.
Meat Loaf released a string of other albums in the late 1970s and 1980s, most notably notably Dead Ringer and Midnight at the Lost and Found.
Cher, who duetted with him on the 1981 track Dead Ringer for Love, recalled having “had so much fun” with the singer on the track.
In the 90s, Meat Loaf’s hit I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) was the UK’s best-selling single of 1993 and earned him a Grammy Award.
On screen, Meat Loaf played Eddie in 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was bouncer Tiny in 1992’s Wayne’s World, and appeared opposite Brad Pitt as bodybuilder Robert Paulsen in 1999’s Fight Club.
Bat Out Of Hell – which remains one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums ever, alongside LPs by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the Eagles – was also adapted as a stage musical, written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman.
Tributes have been paid from the world of entertainment.
Bonnie Tyler, who recorded an album with Meat Loaf in 1989, said he was “a larger than life character with a voice & stage presence to match & is one of those rare people who truly was a one off talent and personality.”
Meat Loaf had his battles with illness and injuries over the years.
In 1978, he broke his leg jumping off a stage in Ottawa, Canada, finishing his tour performing in a wheelchair.
Actor and comedian Bob Saget, best known for starring in the sitcom Full House, has died suddenly aged 65, his family has announced.
Bob Saget was found unresponsive by staff in his room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Florida on January 9.
Officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrived after a call from hotel staff and pronounced him dead at the scene.
The exact details surrounding his death remain unclear.
However, in a short statement posted to Twitter, the Sheriff’s Department said that detectives had found no signs of foul play or drug use during initial enquiries.
Bob Saget’s family said in a statement: “We are devastated to confirm that our beloved Bob passed away today.
“He was everything to us and we want you to know how much he loved his fans, performing live and bringing people from all walks of life together with laughter.”
Bob Saget, a veteran stand-up comedian, had just started a new comedy tour across the US, performing as recently as January 8 in the city of Jacksonville, Florida.
After the show he had expressed his joy at being back on stage in a post on his Instagram page, telling fans that he was “happily addicted” to his craft.
“I’m back in comedy like I was when I was 26. I guess I’m finding my new voice and loving every moment of it,” he said.
Although Bob Saget was idolized by many comedians for his profane and often cutting act, he was best known for his role in the sitcom, Full House, where he starred alongside the actors John Stamos and fellow comic Dave Coulier.
He won plaudits for his portrayal of Danny Tanner, a widowed father of three daughters, playing the role from 1987 to 1995.
Bob Saget reprised the role in 2016 when Netflix revived the program for a further five seasons.
In more recent years he found fame among younger generations as the narrator of the hit show How I Met Your Mother and for his guest stints as a highly fictionalized version of himself in the TV series, Entourage.
John Stamos, who worked with Bob Saget on Full House and Fuller House tweeted: “I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby.”
Candace Cameron Bure remembered Bob Saget, who played her father on Full House, writing on Twitter: “I don’t know what to say . I have no words. Bob was one of the best humans beings I’ve ever known in my life. I loved him so much.”
Here is the full list of winners and nominees at the Golden Globe Awards, which were announced at a pared-down ceremony in Los Angeles on January 9.
The ceremony honoring the best film and TV shows of the past year was not televised following controversy surrounding the organization behind the event, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).
Best motion picture – drama
Belfast
Coda
Dune
King Richard
WINNER: The Power of the Dog
Best motion picture – musical or comedy
Cyrano
Don’t Look Up
Licorice Pizza
Tick, Tick … Boom!
WINNER: West Side Story
Best actress in a motion picture – drama
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
WINNER: Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
Kristen Stewart, Spencer
Best actor in a motion picture – drama
Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
WINNER: Will Smith, King Richard
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Best actress in a motion picture – musical or comedy
Marion Cotillard, Annette
Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Jennifer Lawrence, Don’t Look Up
Emma Stone, Cruella
WINNER: Rachel Zegler, West Side Story
Best actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy
Leonardo DiCaprio, Don’t Look Up
Peter Dinklage, Cyrano
WINNER: Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick … Boom!
Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza
Anthony Ramos, In the Heights
Best supporting actress in any motion picture
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
WINNER: Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Ruth Negga, Passing
Best supporting actor in any motion picture
Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
Jamie Dornan, Belfast
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA
WINNER: Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
Best director – motion picture
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
WINNER: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Denis Villeneuve, Dune
Best screenplay – motion picture
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
WINNER: Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up
Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos
Best motion picture – animated
WINNER: Encanto
Flee
Luca
My Sunny Maad
Raya and the Last Dragon
Best motion picture – foreign language
Compartment No. 6
WINNER: Drive My Car
The Hand of God
A Hero
Parallel Mothers
Best original score – motion picture
The French Dispatch, Alexandre Desplat
Encanto, Germaine Franco
The Power of the Dog, Jonny Greenwood
Parallel Mothers, Alberto Iglesias
WINNER: Dune, Hans Zimmer
Best original song – motion picture
Be Alive from King Richard, by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Dixson
Dos Orugitas from Encanto, by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Down to Joy from Belfast, by Van Morrison
Here I Am (Singing My Way Home) from Respect, by Jamie Alexander Hartman, Jennifer Hudson and Carole King
WINNER: No Time to Die from No Time to Die, by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
Best TV series – drama
Lupin
The Morning Show
Post
Squid Game
WINNER: Succession
Best actress in a drama series
Uzo Aduba, In Treatment
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
WINNER: MJ Rodriguez, Pose
Best actor in a drama series
Brian Cox, Succession
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Billy Porter, Pose
WINNER: Jeremy Strong, Succession
Omar Sy, Lupin
Best TV series – musical or comedy
The Great
WINNER: Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
Reservation Dogs
Ted Lasso
Best actress in a TV series – musical or comedy
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Elle Fanning, The Great
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
Best actor in a TV series – musical or comedy
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
WINNER: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Best limited series or TV movie
Dopesick
Impeachment: American Crime Story
Maid
Mare of Easttown
WINNER: The Underground Railroad
Best actress in a limited series or TV movie
Jessica Chastain, Scenes From a Marriage
Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision
Margaret Qualley, Maid
WINNER: Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
Best actor in a limited series or TV movie
Paul Bettany, WandaVision
Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage
WINNER: Michael Keaton, Dopesick
Ewan McGregor, Halston
Tahar Rahim, The Serpent
Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or TV movie
Jennifer Coolidge, White Lotus
Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick
Andie MacDowell, Maid
WINNER: Sarah Snook, Succession
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or TV movie
The search warrant comes two weeks after Alec Baldwin gave his first TV interview about the incident, in which he said he did not pull the trigger, but the gun went off anyway.
“I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them. Never,” the actor told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News.
Alec Baldwin said he had been told “it’s highly unlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally”.
He said he is fully co-operating with the police investigation into the shooting.
No criminal charges have been brought against anyone.
A lawsuit against Alec Baldwin alleges that a film script did not require him to fire a gun when he fatally shot Halyna Hutchins.
Lawyers handling the suit described the behavior of Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers as “reckless”, and accused them of failing to follow safety protocols.
Zoe, now 40, says she was 22 years old when the actor allegedly raped her at an apartment in West Hollywood in 2004.
Lily, now 31, says she was raped in his Greenwich Village apartment in New York City in 2015 when she was 25 and he was 60.
The detailed article by journalist Kim Masters also interviews people such as Zoe’s boss at the time, a rape treatment centre and a friend of Lily’s whose accounts all seem to back up both women’s claims. The article also quotes text messages purportedly between Chris Noth and Lily at the time of the alleged assault.
Chris Noth is known for his acting roles in Law & Order and Sex And The City, in which he played a lead character, Mr. Big. A follow on from the hugely popular series, entitled And Just Like That… has recently been released.
A statement from the actor to The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone reads: “The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false.
“These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual.
“It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lily, now a journalist, contacted the publication in August, and Zoe, who works in the entertainment industry, made contact in October, as buzz about the release of And Just Like That… was gaining momentum.
“Seeing that he was reprising his role in Sex and the City set off something in me,” Zoe is quoted as saying, adding that for many years she “buried” her memories, but has now decided “to try to go public with who he is.”
The article says that Zoe was living in Los Angeles in 2004 and employed by a company that worked with Chris Noth and other celebrities.
Following what she describes as flirtations, Zoe says she accepted an invitation to visit him at his West Hollywood apartment, where she alleges he raped her.
Afterwards, a friend insisted they go to a hospital, where she needed stitches because of the assault. Police came to speak to her, but she says she refused to reveal who had assaulted her.
Zoe did, however, tell her boss at the time. The Hollywood Reporter says it spoke to them, and they back up Zoe’s claims.
In 2006, Zoe says she sought counseling at the UCLA Rape Crisis Center after she started having nightmares and flashbacks. Without addressing her case specifically, a clinical director at the centre confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Zoe was treated there.
The article goes on to say that Lily met Chris Noth, of whom she was an enormous fan, while working as a waitress in the VIP section of a New York nightclub in 2015.
“He was hitting on me, for sure. I was flattered. I knew he was married, which is shameful of me to admit,” Lily is quoted as saying.
The two went out for drinks, she said, before going back to his apartment, where he “tried to make out” with her, before allegedly pulling down his pants and raping her.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, its correspondent viewed a number of text messages purportedly between the actor and Lily in March and April 2015.
In one, the actor says: “By the way I have to ask did you enjoy our night last week. I thought it was a lot of fun but I wasn’t quite sure how you felt.”
Lily replied: “Hmm…I certainly enjoyed your company. Great conversation. Not to go into specifics over text message, but I did feel slightly used…”
Reaching one billion dollars is a monumental accomplishment for any film, let alone animated ones. However, there have been multiple animated films that have reached this astonishing feat, many of which were viewed by both kids and adults alike. Disney and Pixar make up a majority of the highest-grossing animated films, though Dreamworks and Universal have their share of heavy hitters, too. Here are a few of the extraordinary animated films that were able to reach a worldwide box office of over one billion dollars.
Frozen 2
As the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Frozen 2 also manages to break the top ten highest-grossing films of all time, period, just barely scraping by in the number ten slot. The film raked in a staggering 1.4 billion dollars, with its original film not far behind at 1.2 billion. The original film was an instant hit, spawning a plethora of merchandise and guaranteeing the sequel a chance to hit the big screen. The original film earned itself an academy award for Best Animated Feature, the first Walt-Disney Studios film to do so, two golden globes, as well as two Grammys. The films were a hefty droplet in Disney’s lake of ever-growing profit, and with an Oloff spin-off and the company’s streaming service taking off, we have assuredly not seen the last of the franchise.
Zootopia
This original film follows animals that live their lives much as we do: they go to work, play sports, and run a government. It’s a film that is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Audience psychographics and demographics play a large role in determining a film’s target audience, and despite being aimed towards predominantly younger viewers, the film manages to shed light on very mature issues, such as racism, social classes, and corruption. These themes, accompanied by a stellar story and gorgeous animation, make it easy to see how the film was as successful as it was, earning just over a billion dollars at the box office and snagging itself an Oscar in the process.
Incredibles 2
Are you feeling incredible? You will after having watched this sequel to the 2004 film. After fourteen years of waiting, fans were granted a follow-up to the super-powered family, and boy did it make some money. 1.2 billion dollars, to be more specific. With a returning cast of actors and updated visuals, this movie was a delight to younger audiences as well as those that watched the original as children and have since grown up. Will we get a third film in the future? It’s possible, especially since Pixar seems to be in an era of sequels, what with Toy Story getting four films. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take a decade to happen.
And Many More . . .
There have been several more animated films to cross the one billion dollar threshold, such as Minions, Finding Dory, Despicable Me 3, along with Toy Story 3 and 4, plus countless others that are just shy of reaching the ten-figure mark. These films are well-written, voice acted, and beautifully animated, making them enjoyable for children as well as adults.
UB40 vocalist and founding member Terence Wilson, better known by his stage name Astro, has died at the age of 64.
Astro, who performed in the reggae pop band for more than 30 years, died after a short illness, his current band confirmed.
“We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken,” said a statement on Ali Campbell and Astro’s Twitter account.
“The world will never be the same without him.”
Astro left UB40 in 2013 and went on to perform with breakaway group UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, which had played some concerts this year and was due to go on tour in 2022.
The original band broke through in the early 1980s with their unique take on British reggae and found success with hits like Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling In Love.
The British group – named after the then government’s unemployment benefit form – sold more than 70 million records and had three UK number one hits.
A statement from the current UB40 line-up on Twitter said: “RIP Astro.
“We have heard tonight, the sad news that ex-member of UB40, Terence Wilson, better known as Astro, has passed away after a short illness. Our sincere condolences to his family.”
In total, UB40 have recorded 39 UK top 40 singles and 28 top 40 albums, with Astro singing lead vocals on the hit Rat In Mi Kitchen which reached number 12 in 1987.
The Birmingham-based group also enjoyed success around the world, including in the US, where Red Red Wine went to number one, as did another cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love with You, which spent seven weeks at number one in 1993.
The original line-up played together for three decades before Ali Campbell left in 2008.
Astro acquired his nickname as a child because he wore a pair of Dr Martens boots with the model name “Astronaut”, the musician explained in a 2016 interview with website UK Music Reviews.
In August, fellow UB40 founding member and saxophonist Brian Travers died of cancer at the age of 62.
Alec Baldwin fatally shot a woman and injured director Joel Souza after firing a prop gun on a New Mexico film set for the 19th Century western Rust.
Halyna Hutchins, 42, was shot while working on the set as director of photography. She was flown to hospital by helicopter but died of her injuries.
Director Joel Souza, 48, was taken from the scene at Bonanza Creek Ranch by ambulance.
Police said they were investigating and that no charges had been filed.
A spokesperson for Alec Baldwin, best known for his role as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock and for his portrayal of Donald Trump on sketch show Saturday Night Live, told AP the incident involved the misfiring of a prop gun with blanks.
In a statement to AFP, a Santa Fe sheriff spokesman said Alec Baldwin had spoken to detectives.
“He came in voluntarily and he left the building after he finished his interviews,” the spokesman said.
Alec Baldwin is a co-producer of the film and plays its namesake, an outlaw whose 13-year-old grandson is convicted of manslaughter.
The eldest of four brothers, all actors, Alec Baldwin has starred in numerous TV and film roles since the 1980s.
Halyna Hutchins was from Ukraine and grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle, according to her personal website. She studied journalism in Kyiv, and film in Los Angeles, and was named a “rising star” by the American Cinematographer magazine in 2019.
She was the director of photography for the 2020 action film Archenemy, directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer.
Police said sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Bonanza Creek Ranch, a popular filming location, at around 13:50 local time after receiving an emergency call about a shooting on the set of Rust.
The Crown and Ted Lasso were the big winners at this year’s Emmy Awards.
The prizes won by the Netflix’s royal drama included best drama series and four acting wins – for Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor and Tobias Menzies.
The Crown‘s victory in the best drama series category is not the first time a streaming service has won the top prize at the Emmys, but it does mark the first victory for Netflix.
Gillian Anderson won for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, Tobias Menzies for the Duke of Edinburgh, and Josh O’Connor for Prince Charles.
Many of this year’s nominated actors from The Crown left the show after its most recent series, including Emerald Fennell, who played the Duchess of Cornwall, and Olivia Colman, who will be replaced as the Queen in the forthcoming fifth season by Imelda Staunton.
The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards took place in Los Angeles on September 19 and saw most nominees attending in person.
Michaela Coel won outstanding writing for a limited series for her consent drama I May Destroy You.
The British writer and actress was one of the few non-white stars to score a win at the awards, which was criticised online for its lack of diversity.
While many black actors were nominated, when it came to the ceremony itself, white performers took home all 12 acting awards across the comedy, drama and limited series categories.
In contrast, three black stars were among the four winning guest actors at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, a prelude to the main event – namely Saturday Night Live hosts Dave Chappelle and Maya Rudolph, and Lovecraft Country‘s Courtney B Vance.
The host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul Charles, however, did manage to become the most-awarded black artist in Emmy history, bagging his 11th award for the outstanding competition program.
If MJ Rodriguez from drag ball drama Pose had beaten Olivia Colman to the lead actress award, she would have become the first transgender performer to win in a lead acting category.
Kate Winslet and Ewan McGregor were named best limited series actress and actor for Mare of Easttown and Halston respectively.
Jason Sudeikis was named best lead comedy actor for his performance in Ted Lasso, while his British co-stars Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein won best supporting actress and actor.
Jean Smart was named best lead actress in a comedy series for her performance in Hacks.
As well as taking the top drama prize of the night, The Crown‘s Peter Morgan and Jessica Hobbs also won for writing and directing respectively.
British comic John Oliver, host of late night show Last Week Tonight, continued his Emmy streak when his show picked up its sixth straight win in the outstanding variety talk series category.
The final award of the night, outstanding limited or anthology series, went to Netflix’s chess drama The Queen’s Gambit.
In a highly competitive category, The Queen’s Gambit won ahead of I May Destroy You, Mare Of Easttown, The Underground Railroad and WandaVision.
Netflix’s combined total of 44 wins this year meant it towered above its nearest competitor – HBO and its HBO Max streaming service with 19.
That makes this year the first time Netflix had won more Emmys than HBO, which has dominated the ceremony for years. Disney+ was third on 14, while Apple TV won 10.
This year’s In Memoriam section included tributes to stars including Larry King, Michael Apted, Alex Trebek, Helen McCrory, Jessica Walter, Cicely Tyson and Michael K Williams.
The ceremony, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, was held after a year of increased TV viewing prompted by lockdown restrictions around the world.
Will Smith has revealed who will play him in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot.
Jabari Banks will take on the role of Will in the upcoming reboot of the hit TV sitcom.
The character catapulted Will Smith, now 52, to stardom in the early 1990s.
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart I want to say congratulations to you,” he told Jabari Banks in a video call.
“You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”
“I’m ready, I’m so ready,” replied Jabari Banks, who revealed his father had suggested he try out for the part after reading an article about it.
“This is a dream come true,” he added.
Jabari Banks said the show had a huge impact on his life, adding that he once got his friends to join him in dressing up as characters from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air while he was at high school.
The reboot, which will appear on NBC streaming service Peacock, was inspired by a 2019 viral fan video by Morgan Cooper, who re-imagined the comedy as a modern-day drama.
Morgan Cooper was snapped up to work on the new project, produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, where he will now be joined by Jabari Banks.
The original Will told the new one: “You’ve got a fantastic road ahead of you, and I’m looking forward to being an asset for you in this process as you build out your life and build out your career.”
According to Deadline, this will be Jabari Banks’ first TV role.
A resident of west Philadelphia, which is also where the titular character was famously “born and raised”, Jabari Banks graduated from the city’s University of the Arts in 2020.
Jabari Banks is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, rapper, and basketball player.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, starred Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself.
The news came weeks after it was announced that Charlie Watts would miss the band’s US tour dates to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. Charlie Watts was previously treated for throat cancer in 2004.
Charlie Watts had been a member of the Stones since January 1963, when he joined Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones in their fledgling group.
He helped them become, with The Beatles, one of the bands who took rock ‘n’ roll to the masses in the 60s with classics like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud and Sympathy for the Devil.
The statement from the Rolling Stones’ publicist said: “He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today [August 24] surrounded by his family.
“We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”
In 2016, Charlie Watts was ranked 12th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.
The drummer is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Seraphina and granddaughter Charlotte.
Nomadland has scooped three Oscars including best picture, while Anthony Hopkins and Daniel Kaluuya have won acting awards.
Nomadland’s Chloe Zhao made history as the first woman of color and second woman to win best director.
Anthony Hopkins, 83, is the oldest winner of best actor, while Daniel Kaluuya is the first black British actor to win an Oscar – for the best supporting award.
British actress-turned-writer/director Emerald Fennell won a screenplay award.
She won best original screenplay for Promising Young Woman, which she also directed.
Frances McDormand won best actress for her role in Nomadland, while veteran South Korean actress Yuh-Jung Youn won best supporting actress for Minari.
The awards were handed out in one of the grand halls at Los Angeles’s stylish Union Station to allow for a Covid-safe ceremony, while many UK-based nominees were at a venue in London – although Anthony Hopkins was at neither.
Anthony Hopkins won best actor for his masterful performance as a man suffering with dementia in The Father, 29 years after he won his first Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs.
The actor’s victory was the biggest surprise of the night. The award had been tipped to go to the late Chadwick Boseman, who died at the age of 43 last August, for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
It was perhaps a surprise to Sir Anthony himself, who was neither in LA nor at the British Film Institute in London, the ceremony’s UK venue.
Anthony Hopkins was thought to be in his native Wales, and there was not an option to appear via Zoom, meaning he did not appear on screen or in person.
The Father also won best adapted screenplay for Sir Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller, who called Sir Anthony “the greatest living actor”.
Nomadland, the slow-burning drama about a woman living in her van in the American West after the financial crash, won the top prize for best film, plus best director and best actress.
Frances McDormand, who now has three best actress Oscars, is one of the only professional performers in the film. Most of the rest of the cast is made up of real people playing fictionalized versions of themselves.
In her acceptance speech, Chloe Zhao thanked the real-life nomads “for teaching us the power of resilience and hope”.
Before Chloe Zhao, the only woman to have won the directing prize in the Oscars’ 92-year history was Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker in 2010.
Meanwhile, black-and-white film Mank, which led the nominations with 10, picked up two awards, as did Sound of Metal, Judas and the Black Messiah, Ma Rainey’sBlack Bottom and Soul.
Gérard Depardieu has been formally placed under investigation over accusations that he raped an actress at his home in 2018.
The woman accuses the French actor of raping and assaulting her in Paris in August 2018.
Gérard Depardieu’s lawyer told AFP that the actor “totally dispute[d]” the allegation, and the investigation should not have been made public.
The arts world in France has been shaken by a series of accusations of abuse against leading figures.
Gérard Depardieu, 73, is one of France’s most famous actors, known for films including Jean de Florette, Green Card and Cyrano.
An initial investigation into the rape allegations was dropped in 2019, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence, but was reopened last summer. Prosecutors formally placed Gérard Depardieu under investigation in December 2020.
The actor is free but under judicial supervision.
The woman’s lawyer, Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, told AFP she hoped her client’s “private sphere” would be respected as the case unfolded.
Able to combine bearish physicality with emotional delicacy on screen, Gérard Depardieu has appeared in some 170 films, getting his big break in 1973 with Les Valseuses (Going Places).
He won the best actor award for Cyrano at Cannes in 1990, and was nominated for an Oscar for the same role.
Green Card, an English-language comedy made the same year, brought him further acclaim outside the French-speaking world.
Off-screen, the actor made headlines in recent years for attacking French tax laws, moving to Belgium in protest.
Actor Dustin Diamond, who played Screech in the popular sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died from cancer at the age of 44, his representative has said.
Dustin Diamond had recently completed a first round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lung cancer last month.
The actor’s condition had deteriorated fast in the last week, said agent Roger Paul.
“Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful,” he said on February 1.
Saved by the Bell, a sitcom about a high school friends and their headmaster, ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1993 and was a global hit series. Dustin Diamond played Samuel “Screech” Powers.
Mario Lopez, who played AC Slater in the sitcom, said: “Dustin, you will be missed, my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on.”
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, known to fans of the show as Zack Morris, tweeted that Dustin Diamond was “a true comedic genius” and said he “will miss those raw, brilliant sparks that only he was able to produce”.
Dustin Diamond reprised his role in follow-up series Saved by the Bell: The New Class, and Saved by the Bell: The College Years. But he did not appear in the recent revival series.
He was also a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.
Dustin Diamond served three months in jail after he stabbed a man during an altercation at a bar in Wisconsin in 2014.
Talk show legend Larry King has died at the age of 87.
The giant of US broadcasting, who achieved worldwide fame for interviewing political leaders and celebrities, conducted an estimated 50,000 interviews in his six-decade career, which included 25 years as host of the popular CNN talk show Larry King Live.
Larry King died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, according to Ora Media, a production company he co-founded.
Earlier this month, the veteran talk show host was treated in hospital for Covid-19.
Larry King had faced several health problems in recent years, including heart attacks.
Ora Media said in a statement: “For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry’s many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster.”
Larry King rose to fame in the 1970s with his radio program The Larry King Show, on the commercial network Mutual Broadcasting System.
He was then the host of Larry King Live on CNN, between 1985 and 2010, carrying out interviews with a host of guests.
Larry King also wrote a column for the USA Today for over 20 years.
Most recently, he hosted another program, Larry King Now, broadcast on Hulu and RT, Russia’s state-controlled international broadcaster.
Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez are to perform at the inauguration ceremony for President Joe Biden.
It is well-known that Lady Gaga campaigned for Joe Biden during the election, appearing with him on the eve of the presidential election last November.
Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem at the ceremony on January 20. Jennifer Lopez, who also endorsed Joe Biden last year, will give a separate musical performance.
After the ceremony, Tom Hanks will host a star-studded TV special.
Titled Celebrating America, the 90-minute prime-time program will also feature musicians Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons, and will be broadcast live by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC.
Joe Biden’s inaugural committee said it would “celebrate the beginning of a new national journey toward an America united” and “showcase the American people’s resilience, heroism, and unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild”.
When Joe Biden is inaugurated, Washington DC will still be under a state of emergency after a mob stormed the Capitol on January 6. More than 10,000 National Guard troops will be in the city, with about 5,000 more on standby.
Otherwise, the ceremony’s attendance will be “extremely limited” in line with social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Biden team, which has urged Americans to avoid travelling to the capital.
Donald Trump announced last week that he will avoid the ceremony after disputing the election result, becoming the first president to skip the inauguration of his successor since 1869.
When President Donald Trump was inaugurated four years ago, 16-year-old former American Idol contestant Jackie Evancho sang the national anthem, while country stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood, and rock band 3 Doors Down were among the attractions at a special concert the night before.
This year’s Grammy Awards has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns, the organizers have announced.
The ceremony, one of the music industry’s biggest awards, was due to take place on January 31.
The 2021Grammy Awards will now take place on March 14, due to rising infection numbers in Los Angeles and the state of California.
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa led the nominations for this year’s awards, which were announced in November.
A statement from the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, said: “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show.”
It is unclear whether comedian Trevor Noah, who was set to host the show, will still take part in this year’s ceremony.
The Grammys’ new date clashes with the previously-announced Screen Actors’ Guild awards. The actors union said it was “extremely disappointed” by the scheduling conflict.
“We announced the same date for the SAG Awards last July with the intent to give the greatest possible scheduling consideration for other awards shows,” it said in a statement.
“We expect the same consideration from sister organizations throughout the industry.”
It said it was in conversation with the Recording Academy in an attempt to resolve the situation.
This year’s Grammys were already due to be a virtual event, in line with other recent award shows, such as the MTV VMAs and the Billboard Awards.
Other major ceremonies, including the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the Brit Awards have already been postponed.
The Girl Scouts are in a “highly damaging” recruitment war with the Boy Scouts after the latter opened its core services to girls.
According to lawyers, the “infringement” meant many parents mistakenly signed their daughters up for Boy Scouts, thinking it was Girl Scouts.
In response, the Boy Scouts accused the Girl Scouts of starting a “ground war”.
The BSA dropped the word “boy” from its recruitment program, and opened up to female members, in 2018.
It said at the time that it was renaming the Boy Scouts program Scouts BSA as it prepared to allow girls to join.
But the Girl Scouts said the change would erode their brand, calling the move “uniquely damaging” to them, filing an initial lawsuit in November 2018 against trademark infringement.
Last month, lawyers acting on behalf of the Boy Scouts asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit, which suggested it could not use “scouts” or “scouting” in its recruitment material for girls.
In the latest filing at the Manhattan federal court on Christmas Eve, the Girl Scouts described the new recruitment program as “highly damaging” to its organization, having caused an “explosion of confusion” among parents.
“As a result of Boy Scouts’ infringement… [there have been] rampant instances of confusion and mistaken instances of association between Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts,” the papers stated, adding that the organization could provide proof of such instances.
In a statement released on December 26, the Boy Scouts said this was “not only inaccurate – with no legally admissible instance of this offered to date in the case – but it is also dismissive of the decisions of more than 120,000 girls and young women who have joined Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA”.
In October 2017, the Boy Scouts’ board of directors voted unanimously to open the century-old club to all children.
The move triggered a fierce backlash online, with the Girl Scouts accusing the group of initiating a “covert campaign” to recruit girls into an organization that had a “well-documented” declining membership.
The Boy Scouts reportedly has close to 2.3 million members in the US, down by about a third since 2000, compared with about 1.7 million members for the Girl Scouts – excluding adult volunteers.
Actor Eddie Hassell has died at the age of 30 after being shot in North Texas on November 1.
Eddie Hassell was best known for his roles in the 2010 Oscar-nominated film The Kids Are All Right, and the NBC TV show Surface.
The star’s representatives confirmed the news of his death to Variety.
Eddie Hassell was killed in what appeared to be a carjacking, although the incident was still being investigated.
According to The New York Times, Eddie Hassell was shot outside his girlfriend’s apartment in a suburb of Dallas just before 2AM on November 1 and died in hospital soon after.
In 2010, the Texas-born actor showcased his skills to the world in the comedy drama film The Kids Are All Right, which was one of the first mainstream movies to show a same-sex couple raising two teenagers.
It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best picture.
In it, Eddie Hassell played Clay – a friend of Laser (Josh Hutcherson), whose parents (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) believe Hassell’s character is unstable.
Earlier in his career, Eddie Hassell portrayed Phil Nance – the best friend of schoolboy Miles Barnett – In the science fiction TV series Surface.
He appeared in 10 episodes, acting opposite the likes of Leighton Meester and Lake Bell, before NBC announced in 2006 that the series had been canceled after one season.
In 2013, Eddie Hassell played the young Chris Espinosa in Jobs – a biographical film about Apple founder Steve Jobs, alongside Ashton Kutcher.
Movie icon Sean Connery has died at the age of 90, his family has announced.
The Scottish actor was best known for his portrayal of James Bond, being the first to bring the role to the big screen and appearing in seven of the spy thrillers.
Sean Connery died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas, having been “unwell for some time”, his son, Jason, said.
His acting career spanned five decades and he won an Oscar in 1988 for his role in The Untouchables.
Sir Sean Connery’s other movies included The Hunt for Red October, Highlander, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Rock.
Jason Connery said his father “had many of his family who could be in the Bahamas around him” when he died overnight in Nassau. Much of Bond film Thunderball had been filmed there.
He said: “We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time.
“A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.”
Sean Connery’s publicist Nancy Seltzer said: “There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial yet to be planned once the virus has ended.”
The actor leaves wife Micheline and sons Jason and Stephane.
Robert Redford’s son, James, an activist and filmmaker, has died at the age of 58.
James Redford died on October 16 after being diagnosed with liver cancer, his wife Kyle confirmed via Twitter.
Robert Redford’s publicist, Cindi Berger, said: “The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child.”
“Jamie [James] was a loving son, husband and father,” added Berger, who asked for privacy for the Redford family “during this difficult time”.
“His legacy lives on through his children, art, filmmaking and devoted passion to conservation and the environment.”
James Redford made documentary films, including The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia.
His latest film Playing Keeps, which explored the importance of play and downtime in our lives, was given a virtual premiere online at this month’s Mill Valley Film Festival in California.
His wife of 32 years, Kyle, shared the news of his death online, alongside pictures of the couple and their two children.
Kyle Redford tweeted: “Jamie died today. We’re heartbroken. He lived a beautiful, impactful life & was loved by many. He will be deeply missed. As his wife of 32 yrs, I’m most grateful for the two spectacular children we raised together. I don’t know what we would’ve done w/o them over the past 2yrs.”
James Redford’s wife told the Salt Lake Tribune that he had discovered the cancer diagnosis late last year while awaiting a liver transplant.
His liver disease had returned two years ago, she added.
Robert Redford, 84, has three other children, including the actress Amy Redford.
Schitt’s Creek, Watchmen and Succession were the big winners at the 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which were held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s ceremony, held on September 20, 2020, was presented from an eerily empty Staples Center in Los Angeles by Jimmy Kimmel, with only a few guest presenters joining him in the studio.
It was a significantly lower-key event this year, with most winners dialing in to make their acceptance speeches from home.
Schitt’s Creek won nine prizes – breaking the Emmys record for most wins in a single season for a comedy.
It was a glowing send-off for the Canadian series, which broadcast its sixth and final season this year.
Succession took home the night’s top prize, best drama series, as well as best actor for Jeremy Strong.
The HBO series also won prizes in the drama categories for best writing and best directing during the virtual ceremony.
The show’s British creator Jesse Armstrong listed a number of “un-thank yous” during his acceptance speech, criticizing President Donald Trump and UK’s PM Boris Johnson for their respective responses to the coronavirus pandemic.
Another HBO series, Watchmen, won best limited series, as well as acting gongs for its stars Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Twenty-four-year-old Zendaya became the youngest ever winner of best drama actress for her performance in Euphoria, a teen drama which follows a group high school students as they grapple with issues of love, drugs and identity. Zendaya beat stiff competition from the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Laura Linney and Olivia Colman in her category.
Schitt’s Creek won the best comedy series prize, with the show’s creators, father and son Eugene and Daniel Levy, picking up best comedy actor and best supporting comedy actor respectively.
Catherine O’Hara was named best comedy actress, with Annie Murphy winning best supporting actress in a comedy series.
The show follows the wealthy Rose family, who is forced to move to a motel in a small town after losing their fortune.
Schitt’s Creek launched on CBC in 2015 but developed a strong fan following around the world after later being added to Netflix.
Its wins also included outstanding directing for a comedy series for Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy, with the latter also winning outstanding writing for the finale episode Happy Ending.
Regina King was named best actress in a limited series for her performance in Watchmen.
In her acceptance speech, she paid tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Notorious RBG, who died over the weekend, and encouraged viewers to register vote in the forthcoming presidential election.
Regina King wore a T-shirt bearing the image of Breonna Taylor, a black woman shot and killed by police in Kentucky in March.
Uzo Aduba, who won best supporting actress in a limited series for Mrs. America, also wore a shirt displaying Breonna Taylor’s name during her speech.
Regina King’s co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was also named best supporting actor for his performance in the show.
Watchmen, an innovative reimagining of a superhero graphic novel that tackled racism in America, scored the most nominations this year.
The show won a loyal following and critical acclaim last year during its nine-episode run.
Elsewhere, Ozark‘s Julia Garner won best supporting drama actress while Billy Crudup won in the male category for his portrayal of a conniving network executive in Apple TV’s The Morning Show.
Succession‘s creator Jesse Armstrong also won best writing for a drama, while Andrij Parekh won best directing.
Several winners used their acceptance speeches to encourage Americans to register to vote in November’s election, including Mark Ruffalo, who won best actor in a limited series for I Know This Much Is True.
The in memoriam section honored stars including Chadwick Boseman, Naya Rivera, Caroll Spinney, Kirk Douglas, Sir Ian Holm and Dame Diana Rigg.
The Creative Arts Emmys took place earlier this week, with winners announced in categories such as casting, hair, make-up, lighting and sound design.
More than 25,000 members of the Television Academy vote for the awards, which were first presented in 1949.
The name Emmy derives from an early piece of TV equipment called the image orthicon camera tube – or the Immy.
This year marked Jimmy Kimmel’s third time hosting the Emmys, after he fronted the ceremony in 2012 and 2016.
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