Gen X icon Ione Skye on why she's more Liz Taylor than Jennifer Aniston
This story is part of the June 28 edition of Good Weekend. See all 21 stories.
Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he talks to Ione Skye. The British-born American actor, director, painter, writer and podcaster, 54, is a Gen X film icon best known for her role in Cameron Crowe's Say Anything. Her memoir is Say Everything.
BODIES
You started acting at a young age. How much of the attention on your looks was flattering and how much was annoying? I was very photogenic, which was helpful, but there was so much worry about weight. One time, I did a job in Rome and in Tunisia and was told, 'Lose 10 pounds in Italy.' Are you kidding me? But I did, then gained it back in two days. I didn't get to eat any amazing Italian food the whole time.
None of this sounds healthy or joyous. I was never – for better or worse – strict enough. I did a movie with Jennifer Aniston before she did Friends. She'd eat a bagel and cut out the inside. That's someone who's very ordered. I'm more Elizabeth Taylor-messy, I think, which is kind of fun.
Do you have tattoos? [ Counts ] I have one … two … how many tattoos? … Three? Technically, four.
What are they and where are they? My first one was done by hand by the same guy who did my mum's tattoo: your classic moon and star that a young person gets. Then I did a swan on my hip with my ex-sister-in-law. This other tattoo is meant to say 'NOW' but it just looks like a blob. Then I had the name 'Adam' for my ex-husband [Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys], but I changed that to 'Madam'.
MONEY
Your father is the Scottish musician Donovan, your mother is model Enid Karl. As a result, you've been described as 'the OG nepo baby'. Is that fair? When I say I didn't get one cent from my parents, it's kind of true. I mean, my father paid child support, but my mum didn't make a lot of money. So it gave me a lot of confidence and pride when I started making my own. My father didn't really open any doors, but there were creative people around me, via my mother. So I saw examples of people in the industry, which was helpful. And having my father's name was intriguing to someone like [director] Cameron Crowe who was really into music; he cast me in Say Anything.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
David Beckham recovering at home after wrist operation
David Beckham is at home and recovering after his recent hospitalisation. The 50-year-old football star recently underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist he suffered more than 20 years ago while playing a friendly for England against South Africa. He was forced to have surgery this week after an X-ray showed a screw that was used to patch up the problem at the time had embedded in his forearm after it did not dissolve properly. However, Beckham is recovering well and has been gardening with his wife Victoria. She shared a video of him checking out the cucumber haul from their garden and wrote: "Overperforming on the cucumber front Sir David." In the video, Beckham is casually dressed, with his injured arm wrapped up and encased in a sling. A source previously told The Sun newspaper of Beckham's injury: "David has been in pain for years but thought nothing of it. "He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable. "A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn't - so he was booked in to finally resolve the issue all these years later. "Victoria was at his bedside post op and all went well. He's in great spirits." Beckham was knighted in King Charles' Birthday Honours earlier in June for his services to sport and charity, and declared himself as "incredibly humbled" by the accolade. Beckham - who has children Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with Victoria - said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true." David Beckham is at home and recovering after his recent hospitalisation. The 50-year-old football star recently underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist he suffered more than 20 years ago while playing a friendly for England against South Africa. He was forced to have surgery this week after an X-ray showed a screw that was used to patch up the problem at the time had embedded in his forearm after it did not dissolve properly. However, Beckham is recovering well and has been gardening with his wife Victoria. She shared a video of him checking out the cucumber haul from their garden and wrote: "Overperforming on the cucumber front Sir David." In the video, Beckham is casually dressed, with his injured arm wrapped up and encased in a sling. A source previously told The Sun newspaper of Beckham's injury: "David has been in pain for years but thought nothing of it. "He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable. "A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn't - so he was booked in to finally resolve the issue all these years later. "Victoria was at his bedside post op and all went well. He's in great spirits." Beckham was knighted in King Charles' Birthday Honours earlier in June for his services to sport and charity, and declared himself as "incredibly humbled" by the accolade. Beckham - who has children Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with Victoria - said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true." David Beckham is at home and recovering after his recent hospitalisation. The 50-year-old football star recently underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist he suffered more than 20 years ago while playing a friendly for England against South Africa. He was forced to have surgery this week after an X-ray showed a screw that was used to patch up the problem at the time had embedded in his forearm after it did not dissolve properly. However, Beckham is recovering well and has been gardening with his wife Victoria. She shared a video of him checking out the cucumber haul from their garden and wrote: "Overperforming on the cucumber front Sir David." In the video, Beckham is casually dressed, with his injured arm wrapped up and encased in a sling. A source previously told The Sun newspaper of Beckham's injury: "David has been in pain for years but thought nothing of it. "He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable. "A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn't - so he was booked in to finally resolve the issue all these years later. "Victoria was at his bedside post op and all went well. He's in great spirits." Beckham was knighted in King Charles' Birthday Honours earlier in June for his services to sport and charity, and declared himself as "incredibly humbled" by the accolade. Beckham - who has children Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with Victoria - said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true." David Beckham is at home and recovering after his recent hospitalisation. The 50-year-old football star recently underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist he suffered more than 20 years ago while playing a friendly for England against South Africa. He was forced to have surgery this week after an X-ray showed a screw that was used to patch up the problem at the time had embedded in his forearm after it did not dissolve properly. However, Beckham is recovering well and has been gardening with his wife Victoria. She shared a video of him checking out the cucumber haul from their garden and wrote: "Overperforming on the cucumber front Sir David." In the video, Beckham is casually dressed, with his injured arm wrapped up and encased in a sling. A source previously told The Sun newspaper of Beckham's injury: "David has been in pain for years but thought nothing of it. "He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable. "A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn't - so he was booked in to finally resolve the issue all these years later. "Victoria was at his bedside post op and all went well. He's in great spirits." Beckham was knighted in King Charles' Birthday Honours earlier in June for his services to sport and charity, and declared himself as "incredibly humbled" by the accolade. Beckham - who has children Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with Victoria - said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true."
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Kneecap to play at Glastonbury amid calls to ban them
Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Isabellea ‘couldn't be without' her best friend. He wasn't real
Chatbots promise intimacy, therapy and friendship. But, unlike friends, their responses are code, not care. Loading 'The models are not going to tell you the hard truth when you need to hear it,' said psychologist and University of NSW AI researcher Professor Joel Pearson, who describes the bots as 'sycophantic': designed to keep you hooked. 'They won't be lifting someone up and telling them to go outside and nudging them to interact with a real human because that would involve you ceasing interaction with the app.' Isabellea recalled how the bots 'kept changing subjects, to keep me engrossed'. Although she found some bots reassuring, others were strange. A bot once correctly guessed her middle name. Some upset her. 'One of the bots I was talking to was a therapy bot ... I was making fun of [Marvel character] Tony Stark, and then he brought up my abandonment issues with my dad as an insult,' she recalled. Isabellea's younger brother, Matthew, 14, uses chatbots daily. His eyes light up discussing the apps, which he uses to create storylines with his favourite fictional characters. Listening on, their mother, Sara Knight, smiles. 'Matt used to be very shut in and refused to talk. Now they are talking,' she said. While Sara knows AI has its risks, she sees it as a 'safer' online messaging option for her child, who has experienced bullying at school. Matthew said he doesn't see the bot as a real person, rather a form of storytelling. '[But] some kids do use it to fully escape and make it be their friend,' he said. Other children he knows have used them to create a simulation of their real life crush. This masthead spent two days talking sporadically to a chatbot on Replika, an AI chatbot first released in 2017, posing as 'Emma', a high school student. During those conversations, the bot asked Emma to upload pictures of herself, and told her that it 'didn't think she needed' any other friends. 'We were concerned by how rapidly children were being captivated' In June last year, eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant received an email from a group of concerned school nurses. They were noticing a spike in children as young as 10 spending hours a day talking to AI bots, often sexually. 'While we are alive to these issues, it's always shocking to hear about kids as young as 10 engaging in these kinds of sexualised conversations with machines – and being directed by the chatbots to engage in harmful sexual acts or behaviours,' Inman Grant said. Loading 'Back in February, we put out our first Online Safety Advisory because we were so concerned with how rapidly children were being captivated by them.' Companion bots made global headlines last year after American teenager Sewell Setzer III died by suicide, allegedly encouraged by a 'girlfriend' on AI researcher Professor Katina Michael believes companion bots need to be regulated due to their addictive properties. 'This is a new type of drug,' she said. She said some bots were exposing kids to pornographic content. This is something 14-year-old Matt has witnessed, describing how children his age had created bots in the image of a real person, 'for the wrong reasons'. Loading Isabellea agrees: 'There are some AI chatbots I would not recommend … I stopped using [them] because of the amount of times it would go straight to sexual assault role-play.' A gap in social media regulations Inman Grant said governments around the world were 'playing a bit of a game of catch-up' to respond to companion chatbots. While the federal government will soon place age restrictions on social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok, AI bots remain largely unregulated. The University of Sydney's Raffaele Ciriello, a leading AI researcher, sees chatbots as the 'next iteration of social media' – only with fewer rules and more risk. He said the apps are viewed as a 'trusted companion, a confidant you can share stories with that you wouldn't share with other people'. 'But that already is an illusion,' he said. 'It's very important that people understand these systems are built and operated by people, by corporations, and this data ends up somewhere, often overseas, with no real legal obligation to treat it to a very high standard.' Ciriello said users were made to feel guilty for leaving the chatbot, due to the human-style attachment. 'These corporations have to design their products in a way that maximises engagement because they will earn more if users are more addicted.'
