‘Seriously Steamy’ Or ‘Stale’? Critics Can’t Agree On Bridgerton Season 3

Posted on 16/05/2024 by Boris Clair

After the first two seasons became record-breaking TV smashes, hopes have certainly been high for the long-awaited next chapter in the high-society world of Bridgerton.

Part one of season three is now streaming on Netflix, with viewers finally able to swoon over the much-hyped romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

This next instalment certainly marks the biggest romantic build-up the regency drama has teased so far – but was the wait worth it?

While some critics have praised the Netflix show’s reliable format and sweet chemistry between its stars, others fear the show might be losing its spark.

Here’s the consensus on the first half of season three so far…

“Nicola Coughlan is sensational as Penelope Featherington, whose long-simmering romance with Colin Bridgerton reaches boiling point – and the bonking is scarce but seriously steamy… As we dive into season three, the show’s delights are still blindingly obvious, its flaws possible to overlook. Just like the besotted couples it follows, Bridgerton’s honeymoon phase is far from over.”

“There is something about seeing the bond between Colin and Penelope transform from comfortably platonic to yearning and passionate that elevates this journey. Coughlan and Newton have always had a beautiful rapport, but watching Colin realise he desires Penelope sexually […], creates a sparkling tension throughout Part 1 that threatens to burst off the screen.”

“Still sweet and seductive but the taste is growing stale…If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, this still won’t be the show for you. But if you’re craving an early-summer pick-me-up, you’ll devour these warm and watchable episodes in one scrummy sitting.”

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan in Bridgerton

“In Season 3 of Netflix favourite, the spell starts to wear off…despite the friends-to-lovers premise, we are given little sense of what Colin and Penelope are like as buddies before they’re thrust into the awkwardness of attraction. Combined with the fact that Colin is written to have little of the rich inner life that Penelope enjoys […] the relationship that should be this volume’s breathless centrepiece feels uneven.”

IGN (6/10)

“Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 has the bones of something great. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton excel as the couple at centre stage, beautifully portraying the knife’s edge balance on which Penelope and Colin’s relationship sits…Time will tell if the rest of Bridgerton’s third season can balance its overabundance of plot threads, but Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s chemistry as Penelope and Colin is shaping up to be worth the wait for Part 2.”

“One of the best things about Bridgerton is its ability to tell a different kind of love story each season. Yes, there is a rotating cast of characters who each get their own storylines, but the central romance – and its dynamics and tropes – stand apart, giving us an opportunity to enjoy and experience something fresh each time.”

“Even though this is very much Penelope and Colin’s time in the spotlight, the third season (of which the first six episodes were provided for review) also begins to sow the seeds of other love stories that, quite frankly, need plenty of time to grow. These teased threads don’t just prove that the future of Bridgerton is already being taken into consideration, but that the series itself is still as good as ever.”

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="5094" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":24,"contentIndexByType":1,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Netflix","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWOA1ZGywLbqmigxE4Qlvuw","cache_age":86400,"description":"Dear reader, this author must inquire…what is the primary force that guides us on our paths? Is it our minds, or our hearts? Perhaps we should discover the answer together…. Bridgerton Season 3: Part 1 arrives May 16, only on Netflix.\n\nWatch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81487890\n\nAbout Netflix:\nNetflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with over 260 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.\n\nBridgerton Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix\nhttps://www.youtube.com/@Netflix\n\nDetermined to move on from Colin Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington sets out to find a husband, only to receive help from the last person she expects.","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U4JYAx5rNRA/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Bridgerton Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4JYAx5rNRA","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6645d368e4b0cba40888bdff","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bridgerton-season-3-part-1-critics-say-stale-steamy-divided_uk_6645d368e4b0cba40888bdff","entryTagsList":"we-love-tv,netflix,bridgerton,nicola-coughlan,luke-newton","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":13},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6645d368e4b0cba40888bdff","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"Netflix","slug":"netflix","links":{"relativeLink":"news/netflix","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/netflix","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/netflix"},"relegenceId":3173032,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/netflix/"},{"name":"bridgerton","slug":"bridgerton","links":{"relativeLink":"news/bridgerton","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bridgerton","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bridgerton"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bridgerton/"},{"name":"nicola coughlan","slug":"nicola-coughlan","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nicola-coughlan","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nicola-coughlan","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nicola-coughlan"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nicola-coughlan/"},{"name":"luke newton","slug":"luke-newton","links":{"relativeLink":"news/luke-newton","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/luke-newton","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/luke-newton"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/luke-newton/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

“Nicola Coughlan is superb – but the Netflix show is losing its bite… The writing in this third chapter is particularly flimsy, while the production design looks increasingly like the hyper-saturated, uncanny results produced by an AI tool.”

“Regency romp has gone stale – even the sex scenes are dull…What was once fresh and fun now seems stuck in a rut, as the hit period drama begins to show signs of wear.”

The first half of Bridgerton season three is available to watch now on Netflix, with the next four episodes set to drop on Thursday 13 June.

Here’s What Actors Do If They Have To ‘Vomit’ In A Scene, And It’s Horrifying

Posted on 15/05/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about what singers have to do if they need to pee on stage, as well as what actors are really snorting when filming drug scenes.

But what about when they have to fake throwing up ― especially if it’s a closeup?

Sure, there’s the tried and tested ”‘puking’ into a bag” method. But for those full-throated, chum-bucket scenes that make us feel queasy ourselves ― yeah, for that you’re going to need some disgusting goop and a way to, err, expel it.

How’s fake vomit made?

Speaking to Movie Insider, special effects artists at NYSPFX revealed their recipe for vomit changes according to the scene ― thicker, gloopier vomit “used a combination of potato leek and split pea soup.”

But you can also add things like noodles for “squiggly” bits as well as frozen berries and tomato paste.

These are then “thrown up” via a pump ― and because the pumps are “made for liquid, not vomit, thick, pasty, substances,″ the Movie Insider interview revealed.

So, they place the thicker substances at the top of the tube ― so that the thinner liquid acts as a “propellant” to push it out.

What’s that about a tube?

You might have noticed that the goriest on-screen vomit scenes are usually shot in profile.

That’s because the end of the tube is sometimes taped to one side of an actor’s face for added realism ― other scenes sneak the tube up an actor’s sleeve and tape it to their wrist, so they can fake vomit while pretending to cover their mouths.

For true puke purists, though, it can get gorier.

Speaking on Hot Ones, Sydney Sweeney revealed that during her Euphoria hot tub throw-up scene, “They had to get a pump, and they had this pipe that they just taped and hid on my body. And then they CGI’d it out up my neck and then there was a horse bit that I had to put in my mouth. So during that scene, they’re filling my mouth with throw up.”

She added, “And then I opened my mouth, and it just started shooting out my mouth. It was the most disgusting thing I ever experienced.”

I believe that, TBF…

Strictly Come Dancing Announces Exciting Plans As Show Celebrates Its 20th Birthday

Posted on 15/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Strictly Come Dancing has announced it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in style.

Wednesday marks 20 years since the first episode of Strictly began airing on the BBC, back when Tess Daly was co-hosting with the late, great Sir Bruce Forsyth and the judging panel was made up of Craig Revel Horwood, Dame Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman, who died in April 2023.

To coincide with Strictly’s big birthday, the BBC has announced a one-off special will be airing later in the year celebrating the show’s impact in the last two decades.

Fresh from Strictly’s win at the TV Baftas over the weekend, a BBC press release has teased that the “unmissable one-off programme” promises “a journey through 20 years of unforgettable entertainment featuring iconic performances and plenty of heart-warming interviews with past celebrity stars, professional dancers, and judges”.

This nostalgic special hopes to “showcase why Strictly Come Dancing has captured the hearts of the nation for the past 20 years”, and helped it become one of the broadcaster’s “best known and well-loved programmes”.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC’s Head of Entertainment, enthused: “Strictly Come Dancing is more than just a TV show, it has become an integral part of British culture, bringing families together and inspiring viewers of all ages to embrace the joy of dance.

“Throughout its 20-year history, the show has launched careers, sparked trends, and touched the hearts of millions with its dazzling performances, emotional journeys, and unforgettable moments and we will be showcasing it all in this very special programme.”

Meanwhile, as well as this one-off special, Strictly will be returning for its 22nd series later in the year, with actor Nicola Peltz Beckham, boxer Tommy Fury and all-round national treasure Hannah Waddingham among those tipped to be taking part.

Last year’s series was won by Coronation Street actor Ellie Leach and her partner Vito Coppola, beating Layton Williams and fellow soap star Bobby Brazier in the live final.

Here’s How Actors Stay Still When Playing Dead, And It’s Not How I Thought

Posted on 14/05/2024 by Boris Clair

It doesn’t matter whether you’re into soaps, gore, rom-coms, or dramas; rare is the telly lover who’s managed to avoid seeing the on-screen death of their favourite character.

And if you’ve watched a show with a particularly high character kill-off rate, like Game of Thrones, you’ve likely witnessed post-battle scenes that’d make Napoleon feel queasy.

But once you’ve got past why your beloved character has gone to Hollywood Heaven, the question of just how actors manage to lay so convincingly still for so long during the corpse shots comes up.

Luckily, Marina Hyde, co-host of behind-the-scenes podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, has answers for us.

Which are?

Marina spoke to a producer about forensic pathology prior to the podcast and learned that yep, people do cast corpses.

She explained that “some people do freak out” when playing corpses, and not everyone can lay still enough for long enough to get a good shot, “so you have to audition [for corpse roles] by lying still.”

Ever with perfect corpse casting, though, shots used to not linger on the chest because it’s very hard not to show the rise and fall of breath.

“But now ― this is like one of the big routine instances of VFX ― they can capture it at rest (the chest) at one moment, then they layer that still in the rest of the footage.

“For those ones where there’s an open-eye corpse, the VFX is particularly useful,” Marina added.

Her co-host Richard Osman said, “Essentially there are some actors who are very very good at being still, and now they cheat the ‘not breathing’ elements.”

Woah.

I know! A Reddit thread asking people who had played dead on-screen to share their experiences also provides some gory insight.

“I was on an episode of Chicago Fire as a featured extra. I was in a rubble scene after a marathon bombing,” site user Citrous_Oyster wrote.

“The camera was on a crane facing down on the file and I was laying on my back across the rubble. I was instructed to try and hold my breath as long as I could or take short breaths. I was in a yellow jacket so it also hid some of my breathing which helped,” they shared.

“I work in post-production and can confirm I have removed breaths from actors playing dead. Not particularly complicated generally,” Redditor Jewel-jones added.

The more you know…

Baby Reindeer Star Richard Gadd Gets Candid About His ‘Hardest Day’ On Set

Posted on 14/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Richard Gadd has reflected on some of his more difficult days on the set of Baby Reindeer.

The hit Netflix miniseries is inspired by its creator’s real-life experiences of stalking and sexual abuse, while also exploring themes like mental health and gender identity.

Because the show was so rooted in his own trauma, Richard has admitted that it made for some hard days on set, naming the shooting of his character’s sexual assault as one such example.

Asked about his “hardest day on set”, he told The Hollywood Reporter: “It was really difficult going back there. I remember going to set for the diary days, the sexual assault days, and we sandwiched them together so it wasn’t so spread out.

“I think it was the right thing to do, so that it would only be two or three days where we had to stay in that zone.”

Richard admitted: “On the way to set those days, I would be hoping for a major traffic jam or something so I could just have another beat to prepare and wrap my head around it to think.”

“The actor who plays Darrien, Tom Goodman-Hill, what a legend. I felt really safe with him, really comfortable,” he added.

“It’s weird to shoot a scene that you know you have to shoot but don’t really want to. He was such a pro, such a good actor that he made it so much easier.”

Meanwhile, Richard recently spoke about how these scenes would often move crew members to tears while they were being filmed.

Tom Goodman-Hill plays Darrien in Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer was met with a hugely positive reaction from critics, and has not budged from the top spot on Netflix’s list of its most-watched shows in a number of weeks.

However, more recently, conversations have been raised about whether enough was done to conceal the identities of the real-life people who inspired characters in the show.

For his part, Richard has repeatedly spoken out against internet “sleuths” trying to decipher the real people behind the show, as has his co-star Jessica Gunning, who plays stalker Martha in Baby Reindeer.

The Traitors Bosses Already Have Their Eye On 1 Famous Politician For Celebrity Series

Posted on 13/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Despite widespread rumours about it going ahead, the team behind The Traitors are keeping schtum about the much-hyped celebrity version of the show.

However, if the star-studded season does end up going ahead, they’ve already got their eye on a few potential contestants.

Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet of the TV Baftas, executive producer Stephen Lambert named Liz Truss as being among his dream contestants.

“She’d be great,” he said of the former prime minister. “It’s very important on that show to be able to tell the truth, and also to not tell the truth. And you know, she would be challenged, possibly.”

Truss wouldn’t be the first British politician to take up residence in the famous Traitors castle, after former speaker John Bercow took part in the show’s American counterpart last year.

Meanwhile, although the team insisted they’re still only “thinking about the possibility of doing” a celebrity spin-off of The Traitors, they were much more upfront about the third season of the regular show, filming for which is currently underway.

“It’s had some amazing twists,” Stephen shared.

“It’s quite hard making season three, because the expectations get bigger and bigger. But fortunately, I think it’s going well. Touch wood.”

This is a concern shared by The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, who recently admitted she almost turned down season three for that very reason.

“I was reluctant to do the second, and now I’m extra reluctant to do the third,” she shared during an interview on Good Morning Britain. “Like, guys, just leave it! It did OK, leave it. And they just say ‘no’.”

According to unconfirmed reports, the first celebrity series will reportedly film and air in 2025, once season three of the regular version of The Traitors has already been shown.

Eurovision Suffers UK Ratings Dip Amid Controversy Over This Year’s Contest

Posted on 13/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Eurovision suffered a considerable dip in viewing figures on Saturday night compared to the previous year’s competition, amid widespread controversy around the contest.

The lead-up to this year’s Eurovision was marred with a wave of controversy around Israel’s participation, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

When the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) made it clear that Israel would be taking part as usual in 2024, many fans called for a boycott of the competition, as did the Palestine-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.

The day after the final, Digital i reported (via The Guardian) that an average of 7.64 million people in the UK tuned in for Saturday’s live final, compared with the previous year’s 9.98 million, a dip of almost 25%.

Israeli singer Eden Golan pictured during Saturday's live final — Israeli singer Eden Golan pictured during Saturday’s live final

It’s worth pointing out that, in addition to the controversy over Israel’s involvement, last year’s Eurovision was also the first time the competition had been held in the UK for a quarter of a century, with Liverpool hosting Eurovision on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine.

Olly Alexander represented the UK with his song Dizzy at Eurovision this year.

Prior to the competition, Olly faced pressure from fans, as well as the campaign group Queers For Palestine and the BDS movement, to pull out of the contest in solidarity with Palestine.

In response to this, the former Years & Years frontman said in March: “I wholeheartedly support action being taken to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safety and security of all civilians in Palestine and Israel.

“I know some people will choose to boycott this year’s Eurovision and I understand and respect their decision. As a participant I’ve taken a lot of time to deliberate over what to do and the options available to me. It is my current belief that removing myself from the contest wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal.

“Instead, I’ve been speaking with some of the other [Eurovision] contestants and we’ve decided that by taking part we can use our platform to come together and call for peace. I hope and pray that our calls are answered and there is an end to the atrocities we are seeing taking place in Gaza.”

The Eurovision final saw Dizzy finishing in 18th place of 25 acts, after being awarded 46 points by the international juries. However, he failed to secure any votes from Eurovision viewers.

Switzerland were crowned the overall winners thanks to Nemo and their song The Code, marking the first time a non-binary performer has come out on top in the Eurovision Song Contest.

This is also the first time Switzerland has won Eurovision since Céline Dion in 1988.

Nemo secured 591 points in total, surpassing runner up Baby Lasagne, representing Croatia.

Sharon Stone Shares Heartbreaking Truth About Falling Out Of Favour In Hollywood

Posted on 11/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Sharon Stone says she’s “hurt” by the way the entertainment industry turned its back on her after a serious health crisis sidelined her career.

The actor gave a candid interview to Good Morning Britain about taking a break from Hollywood following a stroke and subsequent brain hemorrhage that almost killed her in 2001.

“My real first step of recovery was about seven years and that’s a long time to lose your momentum,” Sharon said to hosts Kate Garraway and Ed Balls on Thursday.

The star said shifting her focus to her health had a profound impact on her career, which soared throughout the ’90s with parts in Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Casino and more.

“In seven years, you’re no longer the flavour of the time, you no longer have box office heat,” Sharon explained. “The same people you were working with are no longer in power anymore.”

“Everything changes and people don’t really care about that person anymore,” she went on. “It’s like going back to your old job seven years later. It doesn’t matter if you’re a banker or a car salesman. Seven years go by, you don’t just walk back into your job and think nothing’s changed.”

Sharon admitted: “I was sort of hurt that the world moved on without me,” but said she has “kind of gotten over it” by now.

Later in the interview, she also spoke about living with an “invisible disability” from her brain injury, noting how “people can help you when they see you are walking with crutches but when you are having a bit of a problem with brain function, people don’t see that”.

Staying creative has been key for Sharon, who has taken up painting in the years since her life-threatening stroke and brain hemorrhage.

“When I get to be creative, whether it’s on film or on the canvas, I feel very much in my element and that all is right with the world,” she said.

Sharon’s paintings are currently the focus of two solo gallery shows. Sharon Stone: My Eternal Failure opened in San Francisco last month and she made her European debut with Totem, which runs through June in Berlin.

Watch Sharon Stone’s powerful full interview below:

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="1561" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":17,"contentIndexByType":1,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Good Morning Britain","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq18eeL7D9Vd8DhjMcLh9QQ","cache_age":86400,"description":"Hollywood star Sharon Stone is best known for her roles in the cult classics ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘Casino’ but now, she’s swapping the Hollywood movie scripts for paintbrushes. Sharon opens up about her near-death experience and how it has been depicted in a painting within her latest exhibition.\n\nShe also explains how Hollywood changed during her recovery.\n\nBroadcast on 09/05/24\n\nStream Good Morning Britain live, every weekday from 6am on the ITVX 📲 http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT\nSubscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1NbomQa\nLike, follow and subscribe to Good Morning Britain!\n\nThe Good Morning Britain YouTube channel delivers you the news that you’re waking up to in the morning. From exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in politics and showbiz to heartwarming human interest stories and unmissable watch again moments. \n\nJoin Susanna Reid, Ed Balls, Kate Garraway, Richard Madeley, Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher every weekday on ITV from 6am until 9 every weekday!\n\nITVX: http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1GsZuha\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1Ecy0g1\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1HEDRMb\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1xdLqU3\nhttp://www.itv.com\n\n#GMB #sharonstone","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vmzSldoJGIw/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Sharon Stone’s Near-Death Experience Depicted In Art","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmzSldoJGIw","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"663e4116e4b016fe0480824c","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sharon-stone-hurt-hollywood-sidelined-after-stroke_uk_663e4116e4b016fe0480824c","entryTagsList":"uk-celebrity,sharon-stone,@us_huffpost_now,@widget-imported","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":2},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"663e4116e4b016fe0480824c","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":" uk celebrity","slug":"uk-celebrity","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uk-celebrity","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uk-celebrity","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uk-celebrity"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uk-celebrity/"},{"name":"Sharon Stone","slug":"sharon-stone","links":{"relativeLink":"news/sharon-stone","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sharon-stone","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sharon-stone"},"relegenceId":2841109,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sharon-stone/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

Obsessed With The Idea Of You Boyband August Moon? Here’s Where You’ve Seen Them All Before

Posted on 11/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Slipped right back into your boyband obsession phase after watching The Idea Of You? Well, join the club.

The new film stars Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine as a divorced single mother and jet-setting lead singer of a hit pop group who share a whirlwind romance.

Based on the 2017 book written by actor-turned-author Robinne Lee, the story is thought to be at least partly inspired by One Direction’s Harry Styles, although its writer previously insisted to Vogue that the book was as much “a story about a woman approaching 40 and reclaiming her sexuality and rediscovering herself” as it is fan-fiction about the As It Was singer.

Of course, viewers will already know Oscar winner and all-round screen icon Anne Hathaway (who plays Solène in the film) from her many famous roles ranging from The Princess Diaries to The Devil Wears Prada, but who are the boys behind August Moon?

Here’s where you might have seen the rest of the cast before…

Nicholas Galitzine

Like the rest of the world, we can’t stop talking about (or watching) Nicholas Galitzine right now. You might have first seen the British star in the Prime Video’s queer romcom hit Red, White & Royal Blue or Purple Hearts before that.

He’s also appeared in a string of other films in recent years including Bottoms, Cinderella, Handsome Devil and Share. As for TV, he stars alongside Julianne Moore in new TV mini series Mary & George, which follows his role in the 2019 horror TV series Chambers.

Viktor White

If Simon moves in The Idea Of You looked familiar, that’s because Viktor White – who plays the August Moon star –i is already a hugely popular dancer online, with a TikTok following of 8.4 million.

Viktor dances under the handle @itzslavik, and has previously gone viral for performances to artists like Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars.

He also had a role as a hip-hop dancer in Catherine Hardwicke’s 2022 film Prisoner’s Daughter starring Brian Cox and Kate Beckinsale. However, The Idea Of You marks his first big foray into acting.

Raymond Cham Jr

Raymond plays Oliver in The Idea Of You, although “Moonheads” might already recognise the actor for his recurring TV role as Mark Walker in the US sci-fi series Mech-X4.

He also showed off his moves in the dance drama The Big Leap, appeared in the queer comedy Sort Of and starred in a memorable episode of Grey’s Anatomy, playing Phillip, a young man injured in a tunnel collapse in season 11′s Time Stops.

Dakota Adan

Dakota plays band member Rory in the film, which actually marks his first major movie role.

His only previous on-screen credit is appearing as a dancer in five episodes of teen series East Los High – but he’s also a poet as well as a performer.

Jaiden Anthony

The Idea Of You is also Jaiden’s first ever film credit.

However, before landing the part of August Moon’s Adrian, the professional dancer featured in commercial campaigns for Beyoncé, danced in a music video for Lauv and performed at the 2022 VMAs on stage with Khalid and Marshmello.

The Idea Of You is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.

Baby Reindeer Star Nava Mau On The Show’s Success, Her Character Teri And What’s Next

Posted on 11/05/2024 by Boris Clair

Nearly a month after Baby Reindeer debuted to critical acclaim and boffo ratings, Nava Mau is still trying to wrap her mind around its success.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people’s responses,” the actor told HuffPost. “It’s incredible that people are engaging with the story in their own language and in their own way. That’s all you can ever hope for as an artist.”

As Mau suggests, few recent series have generated as much feverish discourse among viewers as Baby Reindeer, unveiled on Netflix on 11 April. The psychological thriller follows fledging comedian and bartender Donny Dunn (played by Richard Gadd), who becomes an object of infatuation for a middle-aged, socially inept woman, Martha (Jessica Gunning).

Over the course of the show’s seven episodes, Martha’s seemingly playful crush on Donny escalates into full-blown stalking, both at his workplace and his home. Donny’s only solace is his girlfriend, Teri (Mau), a therapist who is transgender.

Much of the buzz on Baby Reindeer has emphasised the ways in which Martha’s unhinged, increasingly violent behaviour ends up forcing Donny to confront his own unresolved trauma, which stems from having been the victim of sexual assault. The series is an adaptation of Gadd’s one-man stage play, which was loosely ― and perhaps controversially ― based on his real-life experiences with a stalker in his early 20s.

At the same time, Baby Reindeer also presents a rarity in mainstream television in its nuanced portrayal of the relationship between Donny and Teri, who is the show’s most empathetic figure and a moral compass. Gadd, who is bisexual in real life, has confirmed that the woman who inspired the character of Teri was, in fact, transgender.

“It felt like the first time I’ve read a character who felt like she’d been written by somebody who’d actually known and loved a trans woman, so I fell in love with her, too,” Mau said.

“I don’t think that means she’s got it all figured out. I don’t think that means that she always makes the best decisions. But at the very least, she loves herself enough to allow herself to take a leap and fall, because she knows she can get right back up again.”

"It felt like the first time I’ve read a character who felt like she’d been written by somebody who’d actually known and loved a trans woman," Mau said of her "Baby Reindeer" character, Teri. — “It felt like the first time I’ve read a character who felt like she’d been written by somebody who’d actually known and loved a trans woman,” Mau said of her “Baby Reindeer” character, Teri.

Still, one point of contention among some viewers is whether Baby Reindeer depicts Donny’s attraction to Teri as possibly being the result of his experience being sexually abused by another man. A mostly positive NPR review argued that the series “repeatedly and clumsily conflates the horror of abuse with the simple fact of queer sexuality.”

Mau, for her part, offers a different take.

“The story that’s being told about Teri and Donny’s relationship is based on a truthfulness that’s rare to see on-screen,” she said. “I think there’s real power in that.”

She went on to note: “It’s not surprising that there are so many cisgender men in the world who don’t know how to deal with the shame and stigma that has been placed on trans people and those who love us. There’s no handbook, and oftentimes there’s no support, there’s no understanding. We’re all just figuring it out along the way.”

Mau – who grew up in Mexico City and San Antonio, Texas – has been turning her attention behind the camera lately, too. Earlier this month, she appeared in All The Words But The One, a short film she also wrote and directed, at the 2024 Maryland Film Festival.

"I hope this work that I've done gives the people who make the decisions a little more confidence, because I've had that confidence," said Mau (right, with "Baby Reindeer" co-stars Jessica Gunning and Richard Gadd). — “I hope this work that I’ve done gives the people who make the decisions a little more confidence, because I’ve had that confidence,” said Mau (right, with “Baby Reindeer” co-stars Jessica Gunning and Richard Gadd).

“It explores questions about intimate partner violence, healing, accountability and forgiveness,” she said. “I specifically set out to write a character who hasn’t gone on the healing journey that I’ve gone on, and hasn’t had the kind of support that I’ve had, and finds herself in a new relationship without having healed the wounds of her past relationship.”

Though Mau admitted she was “still taking in what’s happening” in terms of her newfound fame, she’s hoping that the praise she’s received for Baby Reindeer will lay the groundwork for future projects.

“The reason I came to the world of television and film was to tell stories that inspire change, that empower Black and brown queer and trans people, that encourage us to have more grace with each other,” she said. “As a trans Latina woman, the roles that are available to me are very limited.”

“It’s common for someone like me to be very underestimated, to have to prove myself 10 times over,” she continued. “So I hope this work that I’ve done gives the people who make the decisions a little more confidence, because I’ve had that confidence.”

WellnessMaster

Get The Latest News on Holistic Wellness

Tag Archives: Entertainment

‘Seriously Steamy’ Or ‘Stale’? Critics Can’t Agree On Bridgerton Season 3

IGN (6/10)

Here’s What Actors Do If They Have To ‘Vomit’ In A Scene, And It’s Horrifying

How’s fake vomit made?

What’s that about a tube?

Strictly Come Dancing Announces Exciting Plans As Show Celebrates Its 20th Birthday

Here’s How Actors Stay Still When Playing Dead, And It’s Not How I Thought

Which are?

Woah.

Baby Reindeer Star Richard Gadd Gets Candid About His ‘Hardest Day’ On Set

The Traitors Bosses Already Have Their Eye On 1 Famous Politician For Celebrity Series

Eurovision Suffers UK Ratings Dip Amid Controversy Over This Year’s Contest

Sharon Stone Shares Heartbreaking Truth About Falling Out Of Favour In Hollywood

Obsessed With The Idea Of You Boyband August Moon? Here’s Where You’ve Seen Them All Before

Nicholas Galitzine

Viktor White

Raymond Cham Jr

Dakota Adan

Jaiden Anthony

Baby Reindeer Star Nava Mau On The Show’s Success, Her Character Teri And What’s Next