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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘90s Actress From Iconic Movie Series, 66, Looks Ageless During Rare Public Appearance
'90s Actress From Iconic Movie Series, 66, Looks Ageless During Rare Public Appearance originally appeared on Parade. Veteran actress Wendy Makkena made a radiant appearance at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival last month, standing out at the premiere of her latest project. Dressed with effortless style and confidence in a black outfit with a wide-brimmed cream-colored hat, the Sister Act star, 66, captivated festival-goers and photographers alike with her ageless appearance—even moreso due to the rarity of the public outing. At the film festival—an acclaimed BIFA-qualifying event marking its 10th anniversary—Whispers of Freedom—in which she plays Karin Gueffroy—had its world premiere on May 16, with Makkena among the key cast present. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Makkena first captured audiences' hearts in the 1992 smash hit Sister Act, playing Sister Mary Robert, the soulful voice shy nun who was a notable character in what became one of the most beloved comedy-musicals of the era. She reprised the role in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit a few years later and remains best known for those performances. Beyond the beloved film series starring , Makkena has amassed an impressive filmography, including roles like Jackie Framm, the mother of the basketball-playing dog star, in the fan-favorite Air Bud (1997) film series, Camp Nowhere (1994), State of Play (2009), Rabbit Hole (2010), and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), showcasing her range from family films to intense dramas. She's also featured in numerous TV roles, including a standout arc in The Mob Doctor, earning her status as a respected figure on both the small and big screens. Next: '90s Actress From Iconic Movie Series, 66, Looks Ageless During Rare Public Appearance first appeared on Parade on Jun 23, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Cosmopolitan
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Harry Potter TV Series: Cast, Expected Release Date, Story
More cast have been confirmed for the Harry Potter TV series. On May 27, Max (formerly HBO Max, soon to be HBO Max again) revealed the actors who will be playing Harry, Ron and Hermione in the upcoming show. Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout are set to play Harry, Hermione and Ron in the new series. And fans think that they'll do the roles that were originated by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint justice. "I think they all look perfect for the roles," one fan wrote, as another added: "I really like this casting I can really see them as the Golden Trio. I wish them all the luck!" But who else in the cast? Dust off your wands and broomsticks and read on for everything you need to know about the new Harry Potter TV series, including already confirmed cast who the trio will join on the new series. Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout have been confirmed to play Harry, Hermione and Ron in the HBO Original Harry Potter series. The trio of actors are relatively new to the acting world, but have had some roles. Dominic starred in an upcoming Sky movie titled Grow alongside Golda Rosheuvel and Nick Frost, who, incidentally, will play Hagrid in the Harry Potter TV show. The film will be released later in 2025. Meanwhile, Arabella starred as Matilda in the Matilda the Musical on the West End. Alastair has appeared in an advertising campaign and is credited as "son at dinner." Speaking about the casting, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod said in a joint statement: "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." In April, the show added Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and BIFA nominee Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. All will serve as series regulars. They'll be joined by newly announced guest/recurring cast, which includes Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch. 'We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch,' showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner said. Director of multiple episodes and executive producer, Mark Mylod, added: 'We're delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can't wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life." John Lithgow was the first official cast member of the much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series to be revealed in February. John Lithgow, who you might recognize from The Crown, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Interstellar and more, was confirmed as the fourth actor to take on the legendary role of Dumbledore. He follows in the footsteps of Michael Gambon, who put on the half-moon spectacles after original actor Richard Harris died following Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, while Jude Law played a young Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off films. Speaking about taking on the role of the wise wizard, John—who will be the first non-Irish or British actor to take up the role—told Screen Rant: "It came as a total surprise to me." "I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid," he continued. "But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' In September 2024, TV network HBO confirmed to Variety that they had launched a casting call for youngsters who think they might be in with what it takes to play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The casting call said children must be residents of the UK or Ireland and between the ages of nine and 11 in April 2025 in order to be eligible. They said they are "committed to inclusive, diverse casting," and in order to apply for each role, applicants had to "submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated." The casting asked for two self-tapes of the actors auditioning: one of a short poem or story, that isn't Harry Potter related, and one "telling us a bit about yourself, including your date of birth, height and where you live," all in their own accents. According to Deadline's February 2023 report about the series, Warner Brothers have invited a number of different directors, producers and creators to pitch ideas for the new series – including Succession writer Francesca Gardiner. Others on the shortlist reportedly include Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran, and Michael Lesslie, with a source commenting, "It's an interesting mix of Brits and Americans, most of whom have some experience working with streamers and many of whom have shepherded projects in the sci-fi/fantasy space." Then, in June 2024, it was revealed that Francesca Gardiner had landed the role of showrunner, having previously worked on His Dark Materials, and Succession's Mark Mylod has been chosen as the lead director. 'This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,' said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content about the project. In the announcement on Twitter, HBO Max (or Max, I guess, we can't get used to the change just yet) said the show will be 'a faithful adaptation of the iconic books' meaning there will hopefully be lots more details about the wizarding world. The series is expected to air in 2026, according to multiple reports, so fans have a while to wait. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told Wall Street analysts on a company call in February 2024 that 2026 felt likely, explaining, "We've not been shy about our excitement around Harry Potter. "I was in London a few weeks ago with Casey [Bloys, CEO of HBO] and Channing [Dungey, chairperson of Warner Bros Television]... Both sides just thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great." Max have shared that the series is set to be a decade long—yes, really! That's ten years worth of Harry Potter content for us to get stuck into—which debunks the previous theory that each series would be based around one book. There are seven books in the series—so maybe, like in the film series, a couple of them might be split into two separate seasons? You will be able to watch the series on Max, aka HBO Max. SIGN UP HERE Max have confirmed that J.K. Rowling will be an executive producer on the series, despite being heavily criticized for her comments made against transgender people. 'Our priority is what's on the screen,' Casey said about J.K. Rowling's involvement in the show. 'Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That's our priority, what's on screen.'
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
A-list actors bring stories to life for International Booker Prize video series
The prestigious award for works in translation, the International Booker Prize, has released a series of short films to highlight its six finalists, starring beloved UK actors In the lead up the 2025 International Booker Prize, the prestigious organisation has released a star-studded video series to spotlight its shortlist. The series includes six impeccably directed and visually captivating readings of the shortlist, performed by some of the UK's most well-known actors, actresses and comedians. Staring straight into camera, each star pulls viewers into the world of the book with an intimate two-minute reading. The six actors in the series include: Ambika Mod (One Day, This Is Going To Hurt); Lucy Boynton (Barbie, Bohemian Rhapsody); Peter Serafinowicz (Amandaland; Shaun of the Dead); Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses, Deep Water); Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag, Stath Lets Flats); and Omari Douglas (Black Doves, Rye Lane). Each video feels like a mini-movie. Lucy Boynton's reading of On the Calculation of Volume 1 features the actress sitting at a desk, head in hand, surrounded by dozens of half-drunk teacups as she takes on the voice of a bookseller trapped in a time loop. Peter Serafinowicz, off to the side of a quiet restaurant dining room, draws the camera in with his embodiment of an anguished narrator with an intense attachment to a platonic friend. You can watch all six videos on the Booker Prize Instagram page or YouTube channel. Each film in the series was directed by Roxy Rezvany, a BIFA and London Critics Circle- nominated director and producer. The online response to the mini-films has been spectacular, with many saying it's a brilliant way to bring in a new readership and market the books. One Instagram user commented on the directors' Instagram page: 'these films are excellent – it's been a long time since I've seen such an innovative approach to literature-related communication.' Other commenters pointed out that the films have helped them see the books in a new light. One user admitted that Mod's reading of Heart Lamp made her a convert: 'Okay I hadn't been immediately drawn to this one. That has changed.' The organisation has called its latest shortlist a feast of fiction from around the world that offers 'a miraculous lens through which to view human experience'. The books cover a range of topics including survival and self-preservation and are set in locations around the world. READ MORE: 8 books that will rekindle your love with reading for World Book Day 2025 The 2025 judging panel includes award-winning poets, authors and previous Booker winners, including: Max Porter; Caleb Femi; Wasafiri Sana Goyal; Anton Hur; and Beth Orton. The judges narrowed down their longlist of 13 books to this list of 6 short-listed books from 154 books published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 May 2024 and 30 April 2025. Max Porter says he and the other judges want people to feel inspired to converse when they read these books, and draw their own conclusions about them: ''We need literature that shocks, delights and baffles and reveals how weird many of us feel about the way we are living now. Ultimately, these books widen the view.' Porter continues: 'They enhance the quality of conversation we are all having. They don't shut down debate, they generate it. They don't have all the answers, but they ask extraordinary questions.' For the first time in the prize's history, all six shortlisted books are from independent publishers, according to the Booker website. The shortlist also reflects the work of authors and translators from around the world, including Denmark, England, Japan, India, Scotland, France and Italy. The winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize will be announced on May 20, 2025 at a ceremony at the Tate Modern in London. What is the International Booker Prize? The annual prize celebrates the best works of long-form fiction and short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland. It is considered the 'world's most influential award for translation fiction" and previous winners include: The Vegetarian by Han Kang (2016), Flights by Olga Tokarczuk (2018), and The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld (2020. Last year's winner was Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck. International Booker Prize Shortlist 2025 On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Guernsey film to premiere at national festival
A short film partly shot in Guernsey is due to be screened at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival. It will be the world premiere of Whispers of Freedom, written and directed by Guernsey filmmaker Brandon film tells the story of Chris Gueffroy, a waiter who tried to flee East Germany after he discovered he was being conscripted to the film was supported by both Guernsey Arts and the DDR Museum in Berlin. The team behind the production said "it beat off several thousand other international short films to win a spot in the Official Selection lineup".The Sunderland Shorts Film Festival is also a qualifying event for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).After permission was granted to re-tell the story of Chris Gueffroy by his family, work started on the script in Golden Goat Films then produced it the following year, with the cast and crew on location in both Guernsey and Berlin. 'Too many to mention' A number of well known Guernsey locations feature, including the Old Government House hotel and Guernsey Water's Kings Mill site, which was transformed into part of the Berlin Ashplant said local actors and crew worked alongside international names on the project including former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, and Oscar nominee Jonathan Tammuz."There's too many names to mention; 148 in total, and around 70% them are local. I cannot thank them enough," Mr Ashplant premiere is due to take place at the Omniplex in Sunderland on 16 May.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Manchester Film Festival: Everything you need to know
Manchester Film Festival is described as an annual celebration of storytelling through cinema and about 8,000 people are expected to started out in 2015 and is billed as the city's biggest celebration of the best new and independent than 150 films will be screened at the north of England's largest film festival with highlights including HILL, a documentary about Formula 1 champion Damon Hill followed by a Q&A session with the racing legend. Here is everything else you need to know about the event. What is it? It is a celebration of independent cinema featuring films from renowned directors and actors to lowbudget world premieres from filmmakers just starting out in the festival is both a BAFTA qualifying festival for British short films and BIFA qualifying for shorts and will bring filmmakers and film lovers together to showcase 45 feature films, including 15 UK premieres and four world premieres, Q&A sessions as well as putting the spotlight on some of the best up and coming filmmakers from the north-west of England. When is it and where? The festival takes place from 14-23 is being held at venues in Manchester city centre. The majority of the events are held at the Odeon Great Northern but the festival opens at the Aviva Studios, with the UK's first public screening of The Penguin Lessons, directed by British filmmaker Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve are also events being staged at HOME for the first time. Why was it set up? Festival director Neil Jeram Croft founded it 10 years ago after he produced and starred in his own film and said more could be done to help those starting out in the said there was a "gap" in the market and there was no film festival in Manchester so he decided to set his own up."I wanted to make it a great experience for other filmmakers setting out and make them feel special," the 44-year-old said it had "grown massively" in the last decade and focused heavily on audiences as well as filmmakers now. What are some of the highlights? The Penguin Lessons, based on the best-selling memoir and starring Steve Coogan., tells the poignant and inspiring story of an Englishman's personal and political awakening during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history, brought about by his unlikely adoption of a a documentary on how Damon Hill defied the odds and overcame tragedy to step out of his father's shadow and become a Formula 1 racing legend in his own right. It is directed by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Alex Holmes. A world premiere of Departures. In the aftermath of a toxic relationship, Benji is trapped in a spiral of addiction and fleeting hook-ups. As he stumbles through visiting the places he visited with his ex, he is forced to confront his - a coming of age Sci-Fi directed by Jessica Vogt.A film by Burnley-born Jack Hartley, a Peaky Blinders star turned director, Humble Pie, shot in Audenshaw, is also being shown. Do I need tickets? Yes, you need to buy tickets or passes for the events. A full programme of events and ticket information can be found on the Manchester Film Festival website. Is it family-friendly? Most of the films are rated as 15 or 18 with age certifications for each film included in the listings on the festival's website. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
