Latest news with #Brenda
Perth Now
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Brenda Song blocked from movie role by Disney
Brenda Song has claimed Disney blocked her from starring in Gran Torino because of a sexual assault scene. The 37-year-old actress shot to fame as hotel heiress London Tipton in the Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and went on to star in a number of the network's own movies before moving away from child stardom to more adult roles. However, despite her success, Brenda revealed her transition wasn't made easy and she faced difficulties such as missing out on a role she wanted in Clint Eastwood's 2008 drama Gran Torino. Accepting Variety's Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, she recalled: "The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it. And I was very upset but I was like, 'Okay, I guess it didn't work out.'' Brenda also had to fight for her role as Christy in The Social Network, which also featured a sexually-explicit scene, going to then-COO of Disney Branded Television Gary Marsh to plead her case. She recalled: 'I was just like, 'I am an actor. When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress. If I have ever done anything in my personal life to ever draw bad attention to your company, I understand. But this is the last season of the show, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime.' "And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.' Brenda - who has sons Dakota, four, and Carson, two, with fiance Macaulay Culkin - was grateful to break into acting at a young age because it was "really hard" for Asian-American women to find success. She said: "That was the tricky thing growing up, being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood. 'Like if you weren't Jackie Chan or Jet Li — I'm not an Asian man — it was really hard. But I was fortunate to have actors like Ming-Na Wen, Michelle Yeoh and Lucy Liu, who really inspired me.' Of working with Ming-Na when she was eight years old, she added: 'I'm so grateful because she was so encouraging, so kind and just so supportive.'
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Disney Nixed Brenda Song's Gran Torino Role
Brenda Song was just 7 years old when she made her acting debut in the ABC sitcom Thunder Alley, with the star going on to make several other TV show appearances over the years, and signing a contract with Disney Channel after starring in its original movie The Ultimate Christmas Present. However, you probably best know her playing hotel heiress London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a role that she landed at 16 years old. Brenda, now 37, remained on the Disney Channel series for all three seasons, until September 2008, and later reprised London in the Suite Life spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, which aired until 2011. And Brenda has now revealed that her ties to the network impacted the rest of her career, with Disney even stopping her from appearing in Clint Eastwood's 2008 movie Gran Torino because it included a sexual assault scene. Brenda would have been around 20 years old at the time, and recalled being 'very upset' that she wasn't able to go for the part. Speaking at the Bentonville Film Festival earlier this week, the actor explained: 'The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it. And I was very upset, but I was like: 'OK, I guess it didn't work out.'' And while the star allowed Disney to dictate her career choices at this point, she ended up putting her foot down two years later when they tried to stop her from accepting the role of Christy in The Social Network. For reference, Christy is Eduardo's love interest in the Oscar-winning movie, and at one point, it is implied that the characters have sex in a public Disney raised concerns about Brenda taking on the adult role, she ended up going directly to the president and COO of Disney Branded Television at the time, Gary Marsh. 'I was just like: 'I am an actor. When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress. If I have ever done anything in my personal life to ever draw bad attention to your company, I understand. But this is the last season of the show, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime,'" Brenda shared. "And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.' Brenda's comments come soon after she revealed that her agents dropped her after she committed to The Social Network because she'd already been booked onto another project. In a conversation captured by the Wrap, she explained: "There was another project that I had booked when I also booked The Social Network and my agents very much pushed me for the other project. [They're] like: 'It's a lead role, it's a big movie. This is amazing, this is it.'""I was like: 'David Fincher is one of my favorite directors of all time,'" Brenda went on. "They're like: 'It's two scenes,' but I'm like: 'This is what I really wanted.' And my agents dropped me over this decision." After The Social Network, Brenda's career took on a new lease of life, with appearances on episodes of Scandal, New Girl, and Dollface. More recently, she starred in Gia Coppola's 2024 movie The Last Showgirl, opposite Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, with Brenda crediting her role as showgirl Mary-Anne as a 'turning point' in her told Entertainment Weekly earlier this year: 'I had literally just said to my mom and my partner: 'If the best of my career's behind me, I think I'm okay with that. I am really proud of what I've done.' And they're like: 'What are you talking about? You're 35 years old.' But I was at such a crossroads in my life.' What do you make of Disney's impact on Brenda's career? Let me know in the comments below!
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Express
Successful outing for Sabah duo
Published on: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 26, 2025 By: GL Oh Text Size: L-R: Halim, Brenda and Amin. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's Abdul Halim Mohammad and Brenda Anellia Larry had a successful outing at the Internationale Deutsche Meisterschaften Para Swimming 2025 held in Berlin, Germany over the weekend. Abdul Halim succeeded in setting two Asian records in the SB8 category as well as winning a bronze medal. He recorded a time of 32.91 seconds (s) in the men's 50-metre (m) breaststroke to rewrite his own record of 34.72s set at the World Series 1 in Melbourne, Australia on February 15 this year, while the bronze came in the men's 50m freestyle with a record time of 27.18s achieved in the final. Brenda on the other hand, managed to set two personal best times of 1:06.64s in the S4 women's 50m breaststroke and 1:00.76s in the 50m freestyle. She also met the minimum entry time in the 50m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke to qualify for the Toyota World Para Swimming Championship in Singapore this September. As a result she will be taking part in a total of five events following earlier qualification in the 150m individual medley, 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke, while Abd Halim confirmed his slots in the 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke. Coach Eva Wong, who accompanied them to the meet, was pleased with their performance and achievement. 'Brenda has improved a lot since she finished her STPM. I am very happy to see their commitment and hard work. 'I am also looking forward to their future performance and hope they can live up to their potential as we prepare for the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles,' she said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, shuttler Mohd Amin Burhanuddin captured the SL4 men's singles title at the Asian Para Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand at the weekend. The 32-year-old, who hails from Labuan, defeated India's Surya Kant Yadav 23-21, 21-15 in the final to take home the gold medal. He had earlier in the semi-final beat another Indian player Naveen Sivakumar in three sets 21-16, 17-21, 21-17. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Trex Company Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer
WINCHESTER, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trex Company, Inc. (NYSE:TREX), the world's largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing and a leader in high-performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products, today announced that Brenda Lovcik has resigned as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to accept a position in Minnesota, near to her family. 'We appreciate Brenda's contributions to the Trex Company and the financial experience she brought to our organization. Brenda has been a valuable member of our executive leadership team, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors,' said Bryan Fairbanks, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ms. Lovcik will continue to serve as CFO through August 5, 2025, at which time the CFO responsibilities at Trex will be assumed on an interim basis by Bryan Fairbanks. Mr. Fairbanks served as CFO from August 2015 until being named CEO and a member of the Board in April 2020. Trex is pleased to reiterate its guidance for full year 2025 revenue growth of 5%-7% and Adjusted EBITDA margin to exceed 31% and is on track to achieve its second quarter revenue guidance of $370 million to $380 million. The company has begun a search to identify the next CFO. About Trex Company For more than 30 years, Trex Company [NYSE: TREX] has invented, reinvented and defined the composite decking category. Today, the company is the world's #1 brand of sustainably made wood-alternative decking, and residential railing, as well as a leader in high performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products. Trex boasts the industry's strongest distribution network with products sold through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents. Through strategic licensing agreements, the company offers a comprehensive outdoor living portfolio that includes deck drainage, flashing tapes, LED lighting, outdoor kitchen components, pergolas, spiral stairs, fencing, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture – all marketed under the Trex ® brand. Based in Winchester, Va., Trex is proud to have been named America's Most Trusted ® Outdoor Decking ^ 5 Years in a Row (2021-2025). The company also holds a place on Barron's list of the 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies (2024 and 2025), was named one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek, ranked as one of the 100 Best ESG Companies by Investor's Business Daily, and named the Sustainable Brand Leader in the decking category by Green Builder Media for the 15 th consecutive year. For more information, visit You may also follow Trex on Facebook (trexcompany), Instagram (trexcompany), X (Trex_Company), LinkedIn (trex-company), TikTok (trexcompany), Pinterest (trexcompany) and Houzz (trex-company-inc), or view product and demonstration videos on the brand's YouTube channel (TheTrexCo). Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this press release regarding the Company's expected future performance and condition constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual operating results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the extent of market acceptance of the Company's current and newly developed products; the costs associated with the development and launch of new products and the market acceptance of such new products; the sensitivity of the Company's business to general economic conditions; the impact of seasonal and weather-related demand fluctuations on inventory levels in the distribution channel and sales of the Company's products; the availability and cost of third-party transportation services for the Company's products and raw materials; the Company's ability to obtain raw materials, including scrap polyethylene, wood fiber, and other materials used in making our products, at acceptable prices; increasing inflation and tariffs in the macro-economic environment; the Company's ability to maintain product quality and product performance at an acceptable cost; the Company's ability to increase throughput and capacity to adequately match supply with demand; the level of expenses associated with warranty claims, product replacement and consumer relations expenses related to product quality; the highly competitive markets in which the Company operates; cyber-attacks, security breaches or other security vulnerabilities; the impact of current and upcoming data privacy laws and the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the related actual or potential costs and consequences; material adverse impacts from global public health pandemics and geopolitical conflicts; and material adverse impacts related to labor shortages or increases in labor costs. Documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company, including in particular its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, discuss some of the important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish holidaymakers warned phone habit risks public shame or €1,000 fine
With peak summer holiday season just around the corner, thousands of Irish holidaymakers are preparing to jet off to sunnier climates to soak up the sun, experience new cultures and enjoy a well-deserved break. But amid the exciting and planning, there's a warning that could save travellers from unexpected trouble ahead. A simple phone habit that many take for granted at home could land you in hot water overseas. From fines to public shame and even legal consequences, using your phone in the wrong way abroad is becoming a growing issues as countries tighten rules on their use in public spaces. Travel expert Brenda Beltrán from Dublin-based eSim provider Holafly has revealed that everyday phone behaviours we consider harmless in Ireland - like checking Google Maps, sending a quick voice note or even taking selfies - can be viewed very differently elsewhere. Brenda warned: "People think using their phone abroad is harmless, but in some places, it's considered rude, disruptive, or even illegal. Travellers can be fined simply for using their phones while walking near roads or for taking selfies in prohibited areas. The rules are changing quickly, and people need to stay informed." The crackdown on phone use varies dramatically from country to country. In Japan, for example, talking on your phone while using public transport is frowned upon, with many trains requiring passengers to switch phones to silent mode and avoid calls. Meanwhile, in the Lake Como region of Italy, some towns have introduced fines for using phones while walking, citing safety concerns. In the United Arab Emirates, filming strangers without their consent can lead to arrest under strict privacy laws. And drivers in France and Spain face hefty on-the-spot fines of up to €1,000 for using their phones, even while stopped at traffic lights. It's not just about public etiquette either. In many temples and sacred sites across Asia, phone use, even just taking photos, is often banned and considered disrespectful Countries where Irish holidaymakers could get into trouble for using mobile phone Brenda added: "You wouldn't light up a cigarette in a church, so don't assume it's fine to film or FaceTime in a sacred temple. Checking a text might seem harmless, but in some cultures, it's seen as disrespectful or distracting. At worst, it could lead to a fine or being removed from a site entirely." To help Irish travellers avoid costly mistakes, Brenda has offered some practical advice. "Know before you go", she says, urging holidaymakers to Google specific phone laws for their destination ahead of travelling. She also recommends switching phones to silent mode when using public transport or visiting cultural spaces, avoiding filming strangers or staff, especially in markets, airports or religious sites, and using hands-free or car-safe mounts if driving. Most importantly, "when in doubt, put the phone away. It's always better to be safe than sorry", she said.
