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.
Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman to win best actress, as Everything Everywhere All at Once dominated at the Oscars.
The dazzling multiverse adventure won seven awards including best picture, director and original screenplay.
Accepting her statuette, Michelle Yeoh said: “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities.
“And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime.”
Michelle Yeoh’s co-stars Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis triumphed in the supporting actor and actress categories.
In the history of the Oscars, no other film has ever won best picture, best director and three acting prizes.
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, Michelle Yeoh plays a Chinese-American laundrette owner who is mired in a tax audit, stuck in a crumbling marriage and struggling to connect with her daughter Joy.
But when she discovers different versions of herself in the multiverse, she must tap into their skills in order to save the world.
Michelle Yeoh, 60, enjoyed a late surge in momentum in this year’s Oscars race, ultimately overtaking the early frontrunner Cate Blanchett.
Yeoh is only the second woman of colour to win best leading actress, following Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball more than two decades ago.
Best leading actress has historically been far less diverse than the supporting actress category, where Ariana DeBose, Yuh-jung Youn, Regina King, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o and Octavia Spencer have won in the past decade.
How often do you karaoke? Having a karaoke party regularly or even sometimes is a great way to relax, bond, and have fun with friends and family. There’s a distinct pleasure that tickles your senses and keeps you happy and emotional. Karaoke fits into most celebrations, from birthdays to parties; you can enjoy your life singing along to your favorite music.
Karaoke night is the perfect opportunity to let loose and sing your heart out to some of the most iconic songs. And when it comes to older jams, there’s no shortage of classics. Whether you’re a seasoned karaoke pro or a newcomer to the stage, there’s something for everyone in the ‘80s music catalog. This article will highlight the 14 best ‘80s songs to sing your heart out to at karaoke night.
Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
This anthem of hope and perseverance has been a staple of karaoke nights for decades, with good reason. The tempo is perfect if you want to rock out and have a good time.
A classic power ballad that has been a karaoke staple since it first hit the airwaves in the late ‘80s. With its iconic guitar riff and heartfelt lyrics, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” is a must-sing for any ‘80s music lover. You can also enjoy this song with your guitar if you fancy a performance.
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
No list of ‘80s karaoke songs would be complete without a little MJ. “Billie Jean” is a classic dance track with a catchy beat and unforgettable lyrics, making it the perfect choice if you want to show off and sing and dance the night (or day!) away in tribute to the King of Pop.
Bryan Adams – “Summer of ’69”
A timeless, nostalgic tune that always gets people singing and dancing. With its upbeat tempo, “Summer of ’69” will rock your evening and leave your spirits high into the night. It’s great for summer nights but also any season around the year.
Cyndi Lauper – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
This special song is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to sing along to a favorite tune with friends and family. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” will put you in a party mood faster than a room full of dancing people.
Madonna – “Like a Virgin”
A must-sing for anyone who loves ‘80s music. The song is not just beautiful, its lyrics are infectious and sure to get you hooked for the night, and you’ll have the beat on repeat.
Whitney Houston – “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
The late Whitney certainly lives on in her songs, but this one from the ‘80s channels her soul as you listen. Be warned – you’ll have this song on your lips all through the night and probably for some days afterwards.
This soft rock/R&B/soul song, written in 1983, received three Grammy nominations for a reason. You’ll fall in love with the music as you sing along with literally every breath you take. Thinking of spicing up that birthday or Thanksgiving karaoke night? “Every Breath You Take” is an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor moments.
A-ha – “Take on Me”
This classic ballad from 1985 has over a billion views on YouTube. As you sing along, there’s nothing but love, fun, and wild laughter to take from this funky song. Make sure you have a partner to dance with, or you could go it alone as you shake away the worries of life.
The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”
Written in 1981, this beautiful rock song will rock your world on karaoke night. The Police went out of their way to create a timeless song everyone can sing. Take a big gulp, clear your throat, and grab the mic. “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” is great for singles, couples, and group singalongs.
Katrina and the Waves – “Walking on Sunshine”
Released in 1983, this rock/pop song was the title track of the “Walking on Sunshine” album. Katrina and the Waves was a popular rock band in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The song became a hit in 1985, shooting the band to fame. You can’t go wrong with a karaoke night blasting this song to the high heavens. Consider recording yourself to save the memories for later.
What’s a karaoke night without a little Lionel Richie? Released in 1983 from the album “Can’t Slow Down,” this R&B/soul song takes you back to the good old days when Richie stole hearts with his infectious energy.
Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin'”
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey is our penultimate pick for a beautiful karaoke night. The song, released in 1981, is a rock song from the album “Escape.” There’s no better way to spend a karaoke night than singing this awesome song. Find your rhythm rocking to “Don’t Stop Believin.'”
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”
If you’re a “Smallville” fan, you’ll remember the scene where Chloe and Lois sang along to Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” at the Talon. Recreate the scene with your favorite person as you blast the night away.
Karaoke night is fun and fabulous if you have the right company and songs. We’ve curated the top picks from the ‘80s, and we hope you love them.
She also won a Golden Globe for her role in 1974’s The Three Musketeers.
Born Jo Raquel Tejada in 1940, she grew up in California, where she won teen beauty pageants and later became a local weather forecaster.
During a brief stint in Dallas, Texas, the divorced mother of two modelled for the Neiman Marcus clothing store and worked as a cocktail waitress.
Raquel Welch’s big break came in 1964 soon after she moved back to California, when she scored cameos in A House Is Not A Home, and Roustabout, a musical starring Elvis Presley.
She shot to prominence two years later, with her back-to-back roles in the sci-fi film Fantastic Voyage and the fantasy film One Million Years BC.
Raquel Welch only had a few lines in the latter, but promotional stills of her wearing a skimpy two-piece deer-skin bikini turned her into a leading pin-up girl of the era.
Image source: Getty Images
Despite her public image, however, Raquel Welch long expressed discomfort with the representation of her body, once saying she “was not brought up to be a sex symbol, nor is it in my nature to be one”.
“The fact that I became one is probably the loveliest, most glamorous and fortunate misunderstanding,” she added.
Raquel Welch went on to address her image in her memoir, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, in which she opened up about her childhood, her early career woes as a single mother in Hollywood, and why she would never lie about her age.
In a career spanning over five decades, the actress appeared in more than 30 movies and 50 television shows.
It included playing the love interest of Frank Sinatra’s character in 1968’s Lady in Cement; the titular transgender heroine in 1970’s Myra Breckenridge; and a Golden Globe-nominated performance in the 1987 TV drama Right to Die.
Later in life, Raquel Welch also released her own signature line of wigs, a jewellery and skincare collection, and a Mac Cosmetics makeup line.
She leaves behind a son, Damon Welch, and daughter Latanne “Tahnee” Welch, who is also an actress.
The only child of rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie, has died at the age of 54, her mother has announced.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said.
Lisa Marie Presley, also a singer, was rushed to hospital on January 12. According to media reports, she suffered cardiac arrest.
She was found unresponsive at her home in Calabasas, California, sources told TMZ.
“She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement.
“We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss.”
Her mother gave no details about the possible cause of death.
Image source: Getty Images
Citing a source close to Lisa Marie Presley, TMZ reported that the star was found unresponsive in her bedroom. At about the same time her former husband Danny Keough, who also lives at the property, arrived and performed CPR.
The outlet said that the singer had suffered a “full arrest” before a bystander administered epinephrine – commonly known as adrenaline – to help her regain a pulse.
Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards, taking her to hospital.
Born in 1968, Lisa Marie Presley went on to follow in her father’s footsteps and forged a career in music. She released three albums, with her 2003 debut studio album selling hundreds of thousands of copies and receiving generally positive reviews.
Lisa Marie Presley was also well known for a series of high-profile marriages to pop legend Michael Jackson, actor Nicholas Cage and musicians Danny Keough and Michael Lockwood.
She had four children, including the actress Riley Keough. Presley’s son, Benjamin Keough, killed himself in 2020.
Lisa Marie Presley was last seen in public at the Golden Globes Awards in Beverly Hills.
Accompanied by her mother, the pair were seen breaking down in tears as they watched Austin Butler win the Best Actor prize for his portrayal of her father.
Notorious Jerry Lee Lewis has died at the age of 87, his agent has confirmed.
One of the last survivors of rock ‘n’ roll’s golden age, his life was also marred by scandal and violence.
Jerry Lee Lewis’s career was briefly halted when, aged 22, he married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown.
The singer’s agent described him as “perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock’n’roll”.
In a statement, Lewis’s publicist Zach Farnum said: “He was there at the beginning, with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and the rest, and watched them fade away one by one till it was him alone to bear witness, and sing of the birth of rock’n’roll.”
Jerry Lee Lewis passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, with his seventh wife, Judith, by his side, his publicist said.
The news of his death comes days after a hoax announcement of his death was reported by gossip website TMZ.
The Country Music Association tweeted: “It is with great sadness we’ve learned about the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis, who was just inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this month.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, Jerry Lee Lewis later moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he found work as a studio musician for Sun Studios.
He made his performing debut aged 14, and through his childhood developed his love of boogie-woogie and blues by sneaking into a Ferriday nightclub that featured the era’s best blues musicians.
Myra Gale Brown, the singer’s cousin and the daughter of his bass player at the time, was only 13 in 1957 when she married the singer, who was then 22.
She claimed on the marriage licence to be 20 and the controversy of their marriage brought the singer’s career to a halt.
Jerry Lee Lewis ended up in jail in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1976 after he was found brandishing a pistol and demanding to see Elvis Presley outside Presley’s Graceland mansion.
Earlier that year, Jerry Lee Lewis had accidentally shot his bass player, Norman “Butch” Owens, in the chest. Playing with a loaded .357 Magnum, Lewis had reportedly been trying to shoot and hit a Coke bottle.
Norman Owens was badly injured but survived, and later sued his boss, winning $125,000 in damages. Jerry Lee Lewis was also charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits.
He suffered from various illnesses and injuries in the final years of his life, with doctors telling him they should have taken him decades ago.
The musician was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986 and a few years later, in 1989, he was honoured for his contribution to the recording industry with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jerry Lee Lewis’s career got another boost in 1989 when he sang his songs for the movie Great Balls of Fire! in which Dennis Quaid portrayed him while Winona Ryder played Myra.
His last album was a gospel record with his cousin, lifetime televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who had preached against his music when they were younger.
The San Diego 2022 Comic-Con took place recently, causing many fans to take time off work, whether that’s at a company like Provider’s Choice Scribe Services or even an accounting firm, and get ready for all the new announcements from their favorite properties.
Here are some of the biggest reveals of the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.
Image source: comic-con.org
Upcoming MCU Projects
Marvel made a ton of announcements at Comic-Con this year. For starters, they’ve announced several upcoming TV series for Disney Plus, including Spider-Man: Freshman Year, Marvel Zombies, Dare Devil: Born Again, I Am Groot, Loki season 2, and more.
On top of all that, they’ve given us their entire timeline for phases four through six of the MCU, plus the beginning of phase seven. In addition to their TV series, we’ll also get films like Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Blade, Antmann and The Wasp: Quantumania, Fantastic 4, The Marvels, and more, plus the next upcoming Avengers films, title Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
It seems like Marvel has no intention of slowing down in the coming years.
Walking Dead Spin-Offs
Walking Dead fans have been early tuning in season after season since the show first premiered on AMC back in 2010, but after over a decade it is finally coming to a conclusion. The final season is finishing up its third and last part, where it will bring many of the characters’ journeys to a conclusion.
That being said, there are several spin-offs in the work, which the series hasn’t been a stranger to in the past with the likes of Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. After the original series ends, we will also be given a Daryol and Carrol spin-off as well as a Maggie and Negan spin-off. The series will also be replacing their previously stated Rick Grimes films with a six-episode mini-series that wraps up his and Michone’s journeys.
Dwayne Johnson Talks Black Adam and DC
While Marvel has been hitting home run after home run, DC has been on a bit of a losing streak lately. What with the recent Amber Heard and Ezra Miller controversies, Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill leaving DC, and the recent announcement that the “Snyderverse” would be coming to a close, it might seem as though DC has given up.
However, they’re not quite done yet. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been in the works to get a Black Adam film off the ground for years now, and it seems as though we’ll finally be getting it soon. On top of that, we’ll also be getting a sequel to Aquaman, Shazam, and The Batman. He appeared in full costume and spoke at some length about the current DC Universe and how it could go forward.
Here’s to the Future
With all the news from the recent Comic-Con event, it seems as though fans will have plenty to look forward to in the future regarding Marvel, DC, and The Walking Dead universes. Some things are coming to the end, and others are just getting started, but we’ll have lots of great content for many years to come either way.
Fans have been captivated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since Iron Man premiered way back in 2008, bringing in superhero nuts and general moviegoers alike. While the studio has still pumped out several adored films in the past couple of years since the mad titan Thanos was defeated, there has been a noticeable drop in viewer interest.
Photo Marvel
This could be due to a number of factors, such as the following:
Formulaic
It’s fair to say that the MCU seems to have fallen into a formula for most of their films after over a decade. Fans have become aware of this formula, and while it didn’t bother many for a long while, it started becoming more noticeable after a few films didn’t fair as well.
This recycled formula has led some fans to grow bored with the stories Marvel has continued to churn out and instead look elsewhere for entertainment, whether that be another form of media or even getting outside and enjoying the beauty of your very own custom backyard, courtesy of a company like Hiner Outdoor Living.
Formulas aren’t inherently bad, but when the elements that make up the formula don’t come together, you’re left with disappointed fans.
Oversaturation
The issue that many fans have been having with the recent Marvel films may not even have to do with the quality of the films, but how many are being thrown at them. The superhero genre has become saturated with plenty of different film and television franchises in general, but Marvel in particular has been giving audiences products straight from the conveyer belt.
Not only do we get an average of four films a year, but now with their Disney Plus shows, there’s just too much to keep up with. Want to know what’s going on in the newest Doctor Strange movie? Well, you better have watched the Wandavision show or you’re going to be lost.
When the focus is quantity instead of quality, fans can get burnt out pretty quickly.
All Wrapped Up
Another portion of fans have called it quits on the MCU because they feel as though it was wrapped up nicely with the end of Avengers: Endgame. Many thought it was the perfect way to end a franchise that had been going strong for a decade, but since many of the actors’ contracts came to an end or their characters were killed off, it felt like the right time to leave.
Everything after Endgame feels like a bit of an epilogue, and while there have still been a few great films to come out of the studio, there were plenty of people that decided to jump ship after what felt like a perfectly wrapped franchise.
No End in Sight
These are just a few of the reasons why some fans are done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, at least for now. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for Marvel, and even if the quality does begin to dip, there’s bound to be a few diamonds in the rough, even if we’re still watching them after another decade.
Greek composer Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, known professionally as Vangelis, has died at the age of 79.
Vangelis won an Oscar for the stirring score to 1981’s Chariots of Fire, which was followed by Blade Runner a year later.
Vangelis’s Chariots of Fire theme famously accompanied shots of athletes running along the beach in St Andrews, Scotland, at the start of the film, which was set before the 1924 Olympics.
It went to number one in the US, and later topped the UK’s classical singles chart in 2012 after being performed by Mr. Bean at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.
Image source: Facebook
Vangelis’ other film credits included The Bounty, Francesco, Bitter Moon, 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Alexander.
The composer once said: “My interest was not to create a symphony orchestra, which I can very easily, but to go further than that and do things that the symphony orchestra can’t do.
“And I think that I succeeded to create something like this.”
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “Vangelis Papathanassiou is no longer with us. The world of music has lost the international (artist) Vangelis.”
Vangelis first tasted fame as the keyboardist in the band Aphrodite’s Child with singer Demis Roussos in the late 1960s.
He went on to be an acclaimed and groundbreaking electronic solo artist beyond his work in film, making his most recent albums with record company, Decca Label Group.
Its presidents Tom Lewis and Laura Monks said: “The world has lost a genius. Vangelis created music of extraordinary originality and power, and provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives.
“We will miss him enormously. His music will live on forever.”
The 94th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will honor the best films released between March 1 and December 31, 2021, and is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on March 27, 2022
Here is the full list of this year’s Oscar nominations:
Best picture
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Belfast
Dune
Licorice Pizza
King Richard
CODA
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Nightmare Alley
Best actress
Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter
Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos
Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Kristen Stewart – Spencer
Penelope Cruz – Parallel Mothers
Best actor
Will Smith – King Richard
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick… Boom!
Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth
Javier Bardem – Being the Ricardos
Best supporting actress
Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard
Dame Judi Dench – Belfast
Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter
Best supporting actor
Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog
Ciarán Hinds – Belfast
Troy Kotsur – Coda
Jesse Plemons – The Power of the Dog
JK Simmons – Being the Ricardos
Best director
Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
Steven Spielberg – West Side Story
Sir Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi – Drive My Car
Best original screenplay
Licorice Pizza – Paul Thomas Anderson
Belfast – Sir Kenneth Branagh
King Richard – Zach Baylin
Don’t Look Up – Adam McKay (story by McKay and David Sirota)
The Worst Person in the World – Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
Best adapted screenplay
The Power of the Dog – Jane Campion
The Lost Daughter – Maggie Gyllenhaal
CODA – Sian Heder
Dune – Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
Drive My Car – Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe
Best animated feature
Encanto
Luca
The Mitchells vs the Machines
Flee
Raya and the Last Dragon
Best documentary feature
Summer of Soul
Flee
Ascension
Attica
Writing with Fire
Best international feature
Drive My Car (Japan)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
Flee (Denmark)
The Hand of God (Italy)
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan)
Best original song
No Time to Die – No Time to Die (Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell)
Dos Oruguitas – Encanto (Lin-Manuel Miranda)
Be Alive – King Richard (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Dixson)
Belfast – Down to Joy (Van Morrison)
Somehow You Do – Four Good Days (Diane Warren)
Best original score
The Power of the Dog – Jonny Greenwood
Dune – Hans Zimmer
Don’t Look Up – Nicholas Britell
Encanto – Germaine Franco
Parallel Mothers – Alberto Iglesias
Best cinematography
Dune – Greig Fraser
The Power of the Dog – Ari Wegner
The Tragedy of Macbeth – Bruno Delbonnel
Nightmare Alley – Dan Laustsen
West Side Story – Janusz Kaminski
Best visual effects
Dune – Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer
Free Guy – Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis, Dan Sudick
Spider-Man: No Way Home – Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver
No Time to Die – Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner, Chris Corbould
Best film editing
Dune – Joe Walker
The Power of the Dog – Peter Sciberras
Don’t Look Up – Hank Corwin
King Richard – Pamela Martin
ick, Tick… Boom! – Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum
Best costume design
Cruella – Jenny Beavan
Dune – Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan
West Side Story – Paul Tazewell
Nightmare Alley – Luis Sequeira
Cyrano – Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran
Best sound
Dune – Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett
West Side Story – Tod A Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy
No Time to Die – Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor
Belfast – Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri
The Power of the Dog – Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb
Best production design
Dune – Patrice Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipos
Nightmare Alley – Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
West Side Story – Adam Stockhausen and Rena DeAngelo
The Tragedy of Macbeth – Stefan Dechant and Nancy Haigh
The Power of the Dog – Grant Major and Amber Richards
Best make-up and hairstyling
The Eyes of Tammy Faye – Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh
Dune – Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
Cruella – Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon
Coming 2 America – Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer
House of Gucci – Goran Lundstrom, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras
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.
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