Latest news with #Hobbit
West Australian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Ant-Man & the Wasp star Evangeline Lilly reveals ‘price' of fame during Perth Supanova visit
Just like a legendary footy player who knows when to hang up the boots, Marvel star Evangeline Lilly is going out at the top of her game. Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Times at the Supanova pop culture convention in Perth, Lilly said the decision to retire from acting last year was an easy one because it was never about the fame. 'I've never been somebody who's looking to be a celebrity. In fact, I always felt that was the cost, the price, I had to pay to be able to be an artist for a living,' she said. Though the 45-year-old Canadian has never sought the limelight, it certainly found her when she was cast as the lead actor in Lost, JJ Abrams' high-concept creation that became the most popular TV show on the planet in the Noughties. And, as a relative newcomer to the industry at the tender age of 24, Lilly admitted she wasn't prepared for the attention. 'It was really overwhelming,' she said. 'There was nowhere to hide, it was just fan attention all over the world, and I wasn't prepared for it, and I don't think I dealt with it very well, to be honest.' However, this baptism of fire was the ideal preparation for the fan fervour that came with playing Tauriel, the fearsome Woodland elf in Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies, and Hope van Dyne (aka the Wasp) in the Ant-Man franchise and Avengers: Endgame. 'I actually don't think anything has ever eclipsed the fan attention I got from Lost,' Lilly said. Having decided to walk away from acting despite a future in the MCU beckoning, Lilly is excited to pursue new opportunities. 'Life is too short for me to do one thing throughout my whole career, and I've had such a great career, it's not like I would ever be able to look back with any regret,' she said. Asked if she could ever be tempted back onto a film or TV set in the future, she pointed out that Jackson coaxed her out of a previous retirement with the aforementioned role in 2013's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. 'It's possible that something else will call me out of retirement again, but it would have to be really, really exciting, because I'm ready for other things,' Lilly said with a smile. Supanova continues on Sunday at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hobbit star Martin Freeman browses diamonds rings with actress partner Rachel Benaissa at London jewellers
Martin, who played Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit trilogy, has been with actress Rachel Benaissa, 30, for five years LORD OF THE RING? Hobbit star Martin Freeman browses diamonds rings with actress partner Rachel Benaissa at London jewellers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHERLOCK star Martin Freeman looks as if he is shopping for his precious at a jewellers. The actor, 53, seemed particularly taken with a £4,500 aquamarine and diamond ring. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Martin Freeman, pictured with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa, seemed particularly taken with a ring Credit: Eroteme 5 Martin looks as if he is shopping for his precious at the store Credit: Eroteme 5 Martin, 53, has been with actress Rachel Benaissa, 30, for five years Credit: Getty 5 Martin seemed particularly taken with this £4,500 aquamarine and diamond ring Credit: Eroteme Martin, who played Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit trilogy, has been with actress Rachel Benaissa, 30, for five years. A local who saw him outside the Hampstead, North London shop said: 'Martin looked intent on a particular show stopping ring in the front and centre of the window display. 'He even fetched the shop assistant so he could point out which one wanted to look at. "He was wearing a cap so he could go incognito.' Martin, who has two children with ex partner Amanda Abbington, recently opened up about his relationship with Rachel. He said: ' I talk to her about a lot of stuff because she's kind of my best friend and my confidante.' He also made a kinky admission on a recent podcast, revealing: 'She's a massive cheese and wine whore. 'She says that about herself, 'I'm a cheese and wine whore.' It's not all she is, but we like cooking.' Hobbit Frodo Baggins wields 'Sting' sword in Lord of the Rings
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hobbit star Martin Freeman browses diamonds rings with actress partner Rachel Benaissa at London jewellers
SHERLOCK star Martin Freeman looks as if he is shopping for his precious at a jewellers. The actor, 53, seemed particularly taken with a £4,500 aquamarine and diamond ring. Advertisement 5 Martin Freeman, pictured with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa, seemed particularly taken with a ring Credit: Eroteme 5 Martin looks as if he is shopping for his precious at the store Credit: Eroteme 5 Martin, 53, has been with actress Rachel Benaissa, 30, for five years Credit: Getty 5 Martin seemed particularly taken with this £4,500 aquamarine and diamond ring Credit: Eroteme Martin, who played A local who saw him outside the 'He even fetched the shop assistant so he could point out which one wanted to look at. "He was wearing a cap so he could go incognito.' Advertisement Read More on Showbiz Martin, who has two children with ex partner He said: ' I talk to her about a lot of stuff because she's kind of my best friend and my confidante.' He also made a kinky admission on a recent podcast, revealing: 'She's a massive cheese and wine whore. 'She says that about herself, 'I'm a cheese and wine whore.' It's not all she is, but we like cooking.' Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Hobbit Frodo Baggins wields 'Sting' sword in Lord of the Rings 5 Martin played Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit trilogy
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Wales Online
Glamping pod complete with hot tub and outdoor cinema going to auction
Glamping pod complete with hot tub and outdoor cinema going to auction The Hobbit house-style holiday let boasts a hot tub, cinema, pool table, bar and bath - and that's just outside It's a holiday home but not as you know it (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) A stunning holiday property has just hit the market, perfectly timed for a new owner to soak up the glorious Welsh sunshine in one of the country's most historic seaside towns - but it's probably not what you think it is. There's no stone cottage waiting to greet you with cosy spaces, it's not a sea view apartment with a balcony - it's something much more intriguing than that and a place to relax as well as party like you're on holiday whenever you decide to visit. This luxurious glamping pod, nestled in the heart of Pembrokeshire, offers all the modern comforts of a sea holiday with a traditional twist. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here Hobbit home-style holiday let offers so much to guests inside and out (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) Located in the picturesque Redberth Gardens in Tenby, this popular open-plan glamping pod is brimming with luxury and comfort according to the property details, and might surprise some potential bidders with the level of facilities it can offer that arguably beats a cottage or an apartment. Well-designed inside the pod offers everything - including luxury (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) Article continues below Sean Roper, from Paul Fosh Auctions, describes the petite property as the epitome of glamping luxury, saying: "The glamping pod we have on offer is glitzy camping taken up a few notches to a completely different level. The cosy sleeping zone is cleverly zoned by using screening (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) "The pod, which is at Redberth, near the historic seaside resort of Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, is bursting with all you could possibly need for a luxury seaside break. Set in a beautiful holiday site of Redberth Gardens, the glamping pod is listed with a guide price of just £45,000. The shower room is a stylish space too (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) The hobbit house-style holiday home can accommodate up to four guests, with one double bed and a sofa bed, the pod has a private shower room and a fully fitted kitchen. But arguably the outside can match and even beat the inside for facilities for guests. Outside is awesome and includes a cinema and a sofa and a bath from which to watch the movie (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) Sean comments: "The enclosed outdoor area is packed out with external furniture, bar, TV, projector screen, swing, outside fridge, pool table, outside shower and a free-standing bath. And as if all this is not enough there is also a fire pit and barbecue area. This really is the business and what's more it's a real favourite with people on Instagram!" There's a hot tub and pool table too (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) Sean adds: "This turnkey investment, which comes fully managed and even better, from an investor's perspective, with onward bookings from people eager to experience Pembrokeshire and relax at this splendid location, is to be sold with all internal and external furniture and fittings including hot tub, pool table and bar." Outdoor shower is handy and refreshing in warmer weather too (Image: Paul Fosh Auctions ) The glamping pod, which is to be sold freehold with vacant possession, has proved very popular with holidaymakers over recent years generating an income in 2023 of £73,522 and last year, £81,935, according to the auction house, who go on to say that the annual service charge is £261.00. The Pembrokeshire glamping pod is going under the hammer with Paul Fosh Auctions online sale with a guide price of £45,000 plus, which starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 24 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, June 26, call 01633 254044 for more information. Article continues below For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We Did Not Make ‘Animal Farm' for Any Algorithm': Director Andy Serkis on Animating Orwell
'Animal Farm' has always been, since its first publication in 1945 by British novelist George Orwell, both a timeless tale and a story of its time. It is no surprise, then, that Andy Serkis' animated adaptation feels so deeply rooted in our own contemporary world. Bringing the film to its global premiere at the Annecy Animation Festival yesterday, Serkis appeared moved and delighted to present 'Animal Farm' in front of a packed Bonlieu. The film features a star-studded cast led by Seth Rogen (voicing a rowdy/eerie version of Napoleon), Gaten Matarazzo (Lucky), Woody Harrelson (Boxer) and Laverne Cox (Snowball), along with talents such as Iman Vellani, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close and Serkis himself. More from Variety Nickelodeon, Paramount Animation Smurf Up Annecy Crowds With Packed Slate and Exclusive SpongeBob SquarePants Preview Cartoon Network Studios Icons McCracken, Tartakovsky, Sugar, Quintel, Ward and Muto on The Studio, State of the Industry and What Inspires Them Taicca and Gobelins Paris Announce Partnership at Annecy to 'Nurture Original Stories from Taiwan': 'Dream Bigger and Reach Further' Back for the second year at an event that he, according to artistic director Marcel Jean, 'immediately fell in love with,' Serkis spoke with Variety about the film, decades in the making. Firstly, what compelled you to adapt this particular story? I have such strong memories of reading the book when I was around twelve. Along with the 'Hobbit' book, those were the two books that really resonated with me. Then I saw a theatrical production at the National Theatre in London in the 1980s, and I thought, wow, there's a way of telling this story visually as well. Smash cut to 2011, when I was working on 'The Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' and we were shooting the sequence where Caesar, the character I was playing, leads the apes to freedom in a sort of rebellion. And suddenly I realized that there hadn't been a cinematic representation of 'Animal Farm' for a long time. We started to work on it and did a lot of experimenting, which led us to realize that animation was the right medium for this adaptation. That allowed us to keep the innocence of the storytelling that the original book had, while being able to say much more than live action would allow us to do. In live action, such a story would necessarily have been darker from the outset. Whereas with an animated movie, breaking those ties with reality and keeping Orwell's book, which he described as a fairy tale, in that realm gave us much more freedom to still have emotional engagement with the characters, keep it innocent, and then progressively let the darker themes come in underneath that. Humor also plays a great part in your modern adaptation, especially through Napoleon's character. Why was it important to you? We didn't want to create a cardboard cutout sort of villain from the start, where it was obvious that he was scheming, plotting and planning. Our world is a lot more complex now. The notion of truth is almost destroyed so that we are blinded by what is happening. When we started writing Napoleon many years ago, there was already a sense that the world was changing and that the pillars of our society we took for granted were already being undermined and destroyed. Having a charismatic leader who leans on funny at the same time seemed to work for us. I've said it many times, but the book is 80 years old, and it still feels as fresh and relevant today as it ever was. How have your casting choices shaped this adaptation, if they have in any way? They definitely have. We spoke to Seth Rogen about 12 years ago, when it was still going to be a performance-capture live-action film, same for Jim Parsons and Glenn Close as well, and they remained loyal to the project even though it took such a long time to complete. When we decided to turn it into an animated movie and things started to ramp up, we wanted great actors who could really embody the roles fully. We brought Steve Buscemi, Iman Vellani, Laverne Cox on board. In truth, we felt so blessed because everyone wanted to do it because of the passion for the book they had. To whom did you create this film for? What audience did you have in mind when building this project? I would say this is a film for people of all ages. We've screened it for young kids, and they absolutely loved it, and I think it's because it's not patronizing to them. It actually asks them to put themselves in the central character's position. That was a big decision on my part, to find a central character that is innocent, becomes corrupted and realizes that he is corrupted. I wanted to take our young audience into that world where they have to do some adult thinking, and vice versa. Family films tend to either be patronizing to children or feel like they have to satisfy the adults, and it feels like it's just doing a job of ticking boxes. We did not make this film for any algorithm. We made it because we feel that this is the right way to tell a story. Orwell wanted to write for young inquiring minds who had to make tough decisions, and that guided us for this adaptation. How has working with the animated medium shaped your vision of cinema? I've always loved animation, back to my very first memories of watching Disney classics such as 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' or 'The Aristocats.' It's the first time you get to experience emotions other than your own in a shared environment, and it transports you. Even though it didn't start as one, I'm so glad that this project ended as an animated movie, and I've learned a huge amount as a director. I'd definitely like to do more animation, but at the same time when we were into production, I thought I would never want to do animation again. Animation is a very long process, but in it you learn to value every single frame, because everything in them is thought precisely and woven carefully. Every decision has to be made because you're basically creating every single pixel on screen, and that's a beautiful thing. It makes you realize how valuable every moment is. Going back to Lucky's character: Around the end of the film, Lucky rouses all animals by asking them to remember what brought them together in the first place. As human beings, what would you want us to remember today? To really remember that truth is something to be valued. Honesty, selflessness as well. We have all become self-driven, and I think it's worth reminding ourselves that there is satisfaction to be had in working not for yourself but for the benefit of others. That all sounds very woolly and, in a way, utopian. But I do think that there are certain core human values that are slipping away, and I think that our story somehow questions that. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
