Latest news with #BeatrixPotter
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Period drama with 'amazing chemistry' fans say is 'just like Downton Abbey'
The biographical period drama takes a look at the life and career of beloved children's author Beatrix Potter Chris Noonan's 2006 biographical period drama, Miss Potter, delves into the life and career of the much-loved children's author Beatrix Potter. Incorporating animated sequences of familiar characters from her globally acclaimed children's tales, Miss Potter intertwines anecdotes and experiences from Beatrix Potter's own life, presenting them in a heartwarming and captivating way for the big screen. Penned by Richard Maltby Jr. , the Tony Award-winning director of the Broadway musical revue Fosse, Miss Potter features Renée Zellweger in the lead role. It also features Ewan McGregor portraying her fiancé and publisher, Norman Warne, as well as Lloyd Owen taking on the role of Beatrix Potter's solicitor, William Heelis. Miss Potter raked in over $35.8million worldwide, against a production budget of roughly $30million. In recognition of Renéer's stellar performance, the Bridget Jones Diary actress was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and a Saturn Award for Best Actress for the film. The biographical drama brings to life the story of Beatrix Potter, the cherished author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, reports the Express. Set in the early 20th-century England, Miss Potter delves into author Beatrix Potter's life as she confronts challenges in publishing, societal pressure, family expectations, and personal tragedies. Navigating through these hurdles with determination and inventiveness, Beatrix Potter cements herself as a distinguished icon among children's writers of all time. The film received a medley of responses, garnering a 68 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While critics were divided, one acknowledged the leading performances: "...boasts terrific work from both Renée and McGregor that's heightened by their palpable chemistry together.." Another provided more subdued feedback: "Enchanting, perhaps, but a long, long way from meaningful." One reviewer compared the period piece to the highly acclaimed Downton Abbey, describing it as: "Always accessible in a Downton-Abbey-goes-to-Play-School kind of way, as evidenced by Renée Zellweger's chipper portrayal of Potter as a bustle-skirted bundle of squinty smiles and sudden blushes." Conversely, Renée's interpretation of Potter was warmly received, with praise noting: "Portraying a real-life hero can be a tough assignment. "But Zellweger breezes through the role, flashing her puckish grin, talking in her soft, breathy voice and giving very human face to one of the most beloved figures of English letters." Audience reviews for the film were decidedly split; one fan expressed their approval, saying: "Chris Noonan did an excellent job of keeping it authentic. "Zellweger fits this perfectly, a truly unique character of her times. Amazing cinematography and a stellar cast, all outstanding in their character. "Lovely to look at and filled with perseverance and true grit. Filled with fantastic ideas and wonder. "Remarkable indeed." In contrast, another viewer was far from impressed, remarking: "Extremely odd and extremely dumb. "The script for this biopic is a mess." Miss Potter marked Renée's debut as an executive producer. In conversation with IndieLondon about her experience, Renée shared: "It was a terrible idea and I'll probably never do it again [laughs]. No, I'm just joking. "It was a really interesting learning opportunity and I asked the guys if they would be interested in that kind of partnership because I really wanted us to get through creatively with these guys. They said OK, so we did." One enthusiastic viewer labelled 'Miss Potter' as their ultimate film choice, penning: "It's one of my favorite movies - I would watch it over and over again. It's very sweet and charming. "I love how brave and enchanting she was." Yet, another spectator was scathing in their critique of Renée's take on Beatrix Potter, bluntly stating: "Renée Zellweger is a disaster. "A totally artificial and preposterous performance."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Antiques Roadshow's Bunny selling rabbit collection in Newbury
A rabbit collection belonging to Antiques Roadshow expert Bunny Campione is set to go under the hammer. Her collection - being auctioned in Newbury, Berkshire - comprises 50 lots of rabbits dating from the late 19th Century to the 1950s and includes soft toys and some others made from who has appeared on the BBC's antiques show since the 1980s, said the rabbits had given her "so much joy" but that she wants to give them "happy new homes".The lots include a rare 1906 Steiff wool plush Peter Rabbit, which was found in a bin in Athens, Greece, and later given to Campione as a gift. It is expected to sell for between £4,000 and £6,000. It is thought Peter Rabbit's creator Beatrix Potter did not like Steiff's version and did not approve of it - but it is one of Campione's favourites."Collecting the rabbits has given me so much joy, but I feel that the time is right to part with them and my wish is for them to have happy new homes," she said. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, by Dean's Rag Book Co., was fortunate when Bunny's pet rabbit got jealous and bit his foot but left only minor damage. Oswald is expected to be sold for between £400 and £ Agnew, Special Auction Services' toy, doll and teddy bear expert, said Campione has been an "inspiration" to him."I have always known her charming bunny collection and feel so honoured to find this group of characters homes. What fun to own one of Bunny's bunnies!" he added. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why Gen Z parents don't like reading to their kids
Gen Z: Time for baby Enzo's bedtime story. Boomer: Beatrix Potter or Enid Blyton? I thought Beatrix Potter was a wizard? You're getting confused with Harry. We're going for Buffalo Fluffalo, a Waterstones bestseller about emotional regulation and personal boundaries. The only boundary a buffalo needs is a sturdy fence with a warning sign. I don't support the imprisonment of wild animals. I don't support Freudian analysis of a buffalo's ability to regulate his emotions. The real appeal of Buffalo Fluffalo is it's less than 500 words long. That's not a book. That's a Tweet. According to The Sunday Times, the average kids' book is 70 per cent shorter than it was in the 1930s. Literary snacks, you know? Five-hundred words isn't a snack, it's malnourishment. No 20something parent has time to read 194 pages about four kids and a dog climbing mountains without parental supervision. You mean The Famous Five? I wholeheartedly agree with a recent comment about them in the paper – that their 'fun and adventure' created a 'generation of avid readers'. And a generation who thought it was fine for British children to go and colonise an island. Not a vibe. Really? I must have missed Five Go And Plant The Union Jack. Haven't you heard that sensitivity readers have edited out Enid Blyton's use of 'queer' and 'gay'? Next thing Mr Plod from Noddy will be accused of police brutality. I prefer stories with clearer moral messages. Like recent bestseller My Friend Earth by US author Patricia MacLachlan, who's sold over seven million kids' books. Is it a rallying cry against the carbon footprint of Paddington Bear's journey from Peru? It's a celebration of eco-diversity that helps little ones become 'environmental warriors'. You'll be so proud when Enzo ends up supergluing himself to the M25. Nah, I'm not worried. We've never made it to the end of a book. He nods off that fast? I get bored and we do iPad time instead. It's not meant to entertain you! Do you think I enjoyed reading about the Very Hungry Caterpillar's binge-eating disorder nightly for three years? Well, according to The Guardian, only 41 per cent of Gen Z parents actually read to their kids and fewer than half say they have 'fun' doing it. I imagine a book called My Friend Earth would be right up most Guardian readers' streets. 'They request the same book over and over,' one Gen Z parent was quoted. Another confessed: 'It's so boring.' What's wrong with your generation? You have to make it fun! I did silly voices to spruce up Janet and John's adventures. If I read Enzo that rubbish, he'd stop me on page two to ask if Janet had Instagram. You're missing the point. Reading to your kid is about bonding. So is putting on matching pyjamas and watching Bluey. Is that a new Teletubby? It's a TV show about Australian puppy Bluey and her sister Bingo that's been streamed over 450 million times on iPlayer. Jesus wept. At least stick the subtitles on to help with literacy. That might help the parents more. BBC presenter Tina Daheley says her three-year-old daughter now has an Australian accent and calls money 'dollar bucks'. The Famous Five didn't require an understanding of currency conversion. Meanwhile, Californian TikToker Janine Lagrimas has posted a clip of her toddler drawling 'Naurrrr' instead of 'No' that has got 7.6 million views. And this unintelligible Australian accent isn't enough to get you back to books? Not until they come with a 'Previously on' and 'Skip recap' option. You're ridiculous. Do you know what you'll say when Enzo still can't spell at 13?
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The 5 forgotten items hiding in your attic that could be worth £11,000 including unwanted family junk sitting in a box
WHETHER it's a mega pile of books, your kids' toys or random bits and bobs, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use anymore. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in cardboard boxes rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a gold mine valuable items without knowing it. 3 You could be sitting on a gold mine without even knowing it Credit: Getty 3 Some of the old items in your attic could be worth more than a whopping £11,000 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 As well as vintage jewellery, it's worth checking if you have any antique clocks hiding in the old junk box Credit: Getty From rare coins to old furniture, a new study has revealed five often-forgotten items in your storage that could actually make you a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise your next clearout, here are some of the goodies to look out for. Rare coins – £11,670 Before you exchange that jar of spare change, make sure you go through it - this is because you very well may find special coins that collectors would be willing to pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable. According to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they go for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for an eye-watering £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any errors – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a a bit of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they realised they could be onto something, Metro reported. Vintage jewellery – £7,277 Whether it's a ring or a necklace, many choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value. However, if it's something that's just gathering dust, it could be time to let go - especially as true vintage pieces tend to fetch a whopping £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for an astronomical £18,000. Spot a Rare £1 Coin Worth Up to £500: The Key Details Every Collector Should Know Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously raking the owner in just over £4,000. Antique furniture – £6,485 Sure, it's unlikely you have forgotten about some larger pieces of furniture – but you may not know what you have, and there's pretty good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after amongst collectors, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe raked in close to £6,000. Works from earlier eras are also just as valuable, with 18th-century furniture being a firm favourite. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set fetched £8,000, and a fabulous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Clocks – £2,671 Before smartphones took over, most homes had an actual clock to tell the time with – and millions of us still remember the sound of its ticking. As a general rule, the older the clock, the bigger the profit – but on average, antique timepieces make a sum of around £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London took home more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Vinyl records – £4,000 Are you a huge fan of music and are hoarding old vinyl up in the attic? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even being aware of it. It's no secret that original pressings from big bands such as The Beatles are worth huge sums of cash, with one gold label vinyl copy of Please Please Me fetching more than £4,000. That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by the late artist and film director Andy Warhol – sold for £6,747, and a rare promo copy of Bob Dylan's 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde went for just over £3,000. Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are seen as particularly valuable – and they typically go for 50% more than a standard pressing.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The 5 forgotten items hiding in your attic that could be worth £11,000 including unwanted family junk sitting in a box
WHETHER it's a mega pile of books, your kids' toys or random bits and bobs, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use anymore. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in cardboard boxes rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a gold mine valuable items without knowing it. 3 3 3 From rare coins to old furniture, a new study has revealed five often-forgotten items in your storage that could actually make you a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise your next clearout, here are some of the goodies to look out for. Rare coins – £11,670 Before you exchange that jar of spare change, make sure you go through it - this is because you very well may find special coins that collectors would be willing to pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable. According to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they go for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for an eye-watering £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any errors – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a a bit of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they realised they could be onto something, Metro reported. Vintage jewellery – £7,277 Whether it's a ring or a necklace, many choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value. However, if it's something that's just gathering dust, it could be time to let go - especially as true vintage pieces tend to fetch a whopping £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for an astronomical £18,000. Spot a Rare £1 Coin Worth Up to £500: The Key Details Every Collector Should Know Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously raking the owner in just over £4,000. Antique furniture – £6,485 Sure, it's unlikely you have forgotten about some larger pieces of furniture – but you may not know what you have, and there's pretty good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after amongst collectors, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe raked in close to £6,000. Works from earlier eras are also just as valuable, with 18th-century furniture being a firm favourite. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set fetched £8,000, and a fabulous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Clocks – £2,671 Before smartphones took over, most homes had an actual clock to tell the time with – and millions of us still remember the sound of its ticking. As a general rule, the older the clock, the bigger the profit – but on average, antique timepieces make a sum of around £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London took home more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Vinyl records – £4,000 Are you a huge fan of music and are hoarding old vinyl up in the attic? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even being aware of it. It's no secret that original pressings from big bands such as The Beatles are worth huge sums of cash, with one gold label vinyl copy of Please Please Me fetching more than £4,000. That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by the late artist and film director Andy Warhol – sold for £6,747, and a rare promo copy of Bob Dylan 's 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde went for just over £3,000. Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are seen as particularly valuable – and they typically go for 50% more than a standard pressing.
