Latest news with #ThandiweNewton
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maggie Gyllenhaal Has Sparked A Debate On "White Privilege" After She Automatically Assumed That "All" Women Actors Use Their Sexuality For Roles
In 2018, Angela Bassett, Claire Foy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Elisabeth Moss, Thandiwe Newton, and Sandra Oh all sat down with the Hollywood Reporter for a wide-ranging chat about various aspects of their careers. Related: At one point, they were asked about roles that were "easy no's" for them, leading Thandiwe, who is mixed, to sound off about constantly being approached for "ethnic" and "exotic" roles. She said, "I, for years, would be called up and said, 'Thandiwe, they want to go exotic with the role, so get excited. They want to go ethnic with the role,' and even just that...I would just have to brace myself because it was just so deeply offensive, but I wanted to work." "And then I would read the script, and I would transform it out of this bizarre objectification, and I would think, how can I help this, how can I make this more progressive?" Thandiwe continued, noting that the roles were frustratingly "always" written by men. "As soon as I read 'sexy,' I'm like, really? Do we have to be sexy in order to be powerful?" she wondered. "What's that about? And no, they don't mean it when they write 'sexy,' they mean strong, but let's start looking at the way things are described and let's take out the incredibly offensive [words]. They have ramifications. I have daughters. I don't want her thinking you have to be sexy to be powerful." Maggie then chimed in to say that some male creators are well-meaning and genuinely "interested and curious about women" in their work. She also said she believes "sex and sex scenes and sexuality has been a way to get people's attention and then go, OK, are you listening now? Here's what I actually really want to talk about." "That's what's available to me," the Dark Knight star said, "so that's what I used." Related: "I think it has felt like a prerequisite that yes, you can be smart and powerful and all these things," she continued, "but you do have to throw a little sexiness in there. I don't know if that's going to stay that way, but it's certainly been that way for most of my career." Thandiwe then repeated her concern, specifically for young women coming into the industry who are "encouraged to use [their] sexuality" to book jobs, leading Maggie to interject and say, "But aren't we all?" Related: "No, not really," said Angela, who up until that point had been sitting quietly at the table. "I've not been asked to use my sexuality in my career." Clearly taken aback, Maggie asked, "Really? But even just, like, as a vibe?" "No," Angela replied, "not as a Black woman. [I'm] not seen know, there's a particular look and a vibe and image." "And you don't think it includes sexuality?" Maggie asked, pressing on, to which Angela firmly answered, "No, it has not." Sandra, who is Korean, agreed with her. "I gotta tell you. I'll echo Angela's experience, and I will say, for me, I don't think I've ever gotten a job based on boom, boom, boom, boom, boom," she said, motioning toward her body. "No," Angela stressed. "That's why it was so beautiful the first season of Grey's Anatomy to see that image because it has never, across the board, the landscape of cinema, not the one they're checking for for sexuality." Related: The clip of the conversation resurfaced on X this week, earning over 3 million views and tons of comments criticizing Maggie for her insensitive remarks. One X user wrote, "she's so tone deaf lmfao I'm crying." "and then thandiwe next to her going 'i wonder why ' hdhjjsjsj they were having a who's more tone deaf competition there," commented another. Someone else said, "Maggie just sitting there like a deer in headlights - what Angela & Sandra said is absolutely industry has always had a strange and biased physicality to women of other colors and ethnicities. It's fucked if you really pay attention to movies and tv, and really look at just the last 30 years even, it's very true. Has it gotten better in the more recent years? Ehh, a bit, but there's still a long ass way to go. But what I don't get is that Angela & Sandra are STUNNING, SEXY, BEAUTIFUL women, so it honestly makes zero sense to be discriminated against in such a way. Glad they said something." Another person praised "the way Angela started the layup and Maggie slam dunked it…" There was tons of criticism when the moment was initially posted on THR's YouTube channel, too, with many sharing similar thoughts. One person teased that their "Favorite part is this video is watching Angela and Sandra basically tell Maggie 'Maybe for YOU, Sis.'" "The conversation about sexuality is exactly why these panels need to continue to be diverse," said another. "Maggie's experience is completely different than that of Angela and Sandra's because they aren't necessarily looked at as sex symbols. Their bodies/faces/skin are not what the industry has typically used in scripted forums to show what sexuality can be. I think Maggie learned a lot from their push back to her about how these things differ based on your race. I loved the different perspectives." Another person stated, "This was frustrating to watch. It's clear Thandie has a lot of trauma wrapped into how she was treated and exploited in the industry, and for Maggie to immedIately counter that with 'well I know good men / that's what women historically had to offer' was excruciatingly tone deaf and reeked of privilege. Same as both of them not even acknowledging the experience that a darker woman of colour / less 'conventionally' attractive women had experienced. So much fertile ground for discussion but it all stayed shapeless and poorly articulated." "When Angela said she was not encouraged to use her sexuality and Maggie goes 'really even just as a vibe?' I lost it," another shared. "I think one of my personal pet peeves is saying no to a question/statement in terms of my own experience and then to be asked again 'really?'" Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity:
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gerard Butler looks in good spirits as he enjoys a bike ride with girlfriend Morgan Brown in NYC
Gerard Butler looked in good spirits as he went for a bike ride with his girlfriend Morgan Brown in New York City on Thursday. The 300 actor, 55, cut a casual figure in a light brown t-shirt, adidas trainers and a baseball cap, as he cruised around in the sunshine. Morgan, 54, also opted for neutral tones, twinning her beige short-sleeved shirt with a matching mini-skirt and tasseled cowboy boots. The Los Angeles-based real-estate investor nodded to her home county with a Le Café De La Plage cap, merch from the iconic Malibu brunch hotspot. The couple confirmed they were officially back together hitting the How To Train Your Dragon red carpet as a duo in LA. Gerard Butler looked in good spirits as he went for a bike ride with his girlfriend Morgan Brown in New York City on Thursday The lovebirds were on and off for a few years, having first got together more than a decade ago in 2014. Gerard was recently spotted posing with actress Nico Parker while attending day three of CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Nico, who is the daughter of Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker - paused for snaps alongside The Phantom Of The Opera actor, 55, at a special screening of How To Train Your Dragon at the event. The upcoming film is a live-action adaptation of the 2010 animated movie and is set to hit theaters later this year on June 13. Nico put on a stylish display wearing a white dress which was layered with a dazzling silver jacket. She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her brunette locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders. Nico and Gerard were also joined by director Dean DeBlois as they addressed the crowd inside a theater at Caesar's Palace. Other stars that have been cast in the remake include Mason Thames, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison and Gabriel Howell. The premise is: 'As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together,' per IMDB. In January, Gerard revealed the reason why shooting the upcoming action thriller, Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera, was a 'nightmare.' He opened up about an injury he suffered shortly before filming began for the sequel. The movie - which also stars O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Evin Ahmad - hit theatres on Friday, January 10. While recently talking to Entertainment Weekly, 'This was a weird time for me at the beginning of this movie because I'd been through a pretty intense surgery.' 'And then I tore my ACL fully about a month later and then started this movie,' Butler continued. 'So I was not in the best shape, and it was a pretty physical movie, and I didn't have a chance to get the surgery on my ACL, so I made this movie with a freshly torn ACL, and it was pretty rough. 'I wanted to put a "but" in to make it sound positive, but it wasn't positive. It was a nightmare!' Gerard expressed, before humorously adding, 'And I was a whiny little b***h!'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘How to Train Your Dragon' Star Nico Parker Says ‘I Just Don't Care' That People Are Upset Over Her Casting: ‘I Can't Value Your Opinion on My Hair'
Nico Parker is paying no mind to those who are upset about her casting in the live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' In a recent interview with The Times of London, Parker addressed the online backlash surrounding her casting as the young dragon butt kicker Astrid. Some were upset that Parker doesn't have blonde hair and blue eyes like the character in the original animated 'How to Train Your Dragon.' However, the 20-year-old British actress explained that she does not let those comments get to her head. More from Variety 'How to Train Your Dragon' Soars to Korea Box Office Crown 'How to Train Your Dragon' Review: DreamWorks Swoops Into the Remake Game With Respectful Cover From Co-Director of 2010 Toon Live-Action 'How To Train Your Dragon' Among Additions to Annecy Lineup 'There's some people that really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film, and I hope that you can watch [the new version] and find something that you love about it, regardless,' she said. 'But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don't care.' She continued, 'If I wouldn't value your opinion on most things in life, I can't value your opinion on my hair. If I did, I would go mad.' Parker comes from a family of filmmakers. Her father is director Ol Parker and her mother is actress Thandiwe Newton. She added that when she was younger, the representation in Hollywood of 'mixed race or Black icons' was 'really minimal,' but thinks it's 'really special' to see how far the industry has come. 'There's still a long way to go — for women in general, in terms of new parts, original material and female-led stories,' Parker added. 'But I think that everything's changing. I'd like to think that I could contribute to that change at some point.' The original 'How to Train Your Dragon,' loosely adapted from the 2003 children's book by Cressida Cowell, was released in 2010 and went on to gross a massive $495 million worldwide. Leading cast members included Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and America Ferrera. In his review for the new live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon,' which hits theaters June 13, Variety film critic Peter Debruge praised Parker's performance, writing, 'The swaggering Astrid was always the film's most self-reliant character, and in Parker's hands, the romance between her and Hiccup takes on Clark Kent-Lois Lane vibes, especially when the two hit the skies.' Best of Variety 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?'
Forbes
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Hiccup And Astrid In ‘How To Train Your Dragon' Look So Familiar
The live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker. What else have they starred in? Rated PG, How to Train Your Dragon tells the story of Hiccup (Thames), a teen Viking on the isle of Berk who has aspirations of being a dragon slayer, but lacks the wherewithal to do it. However, Hiccup — the outcast son of Chief Stoic the Vast (Gerard Butler) — changes his mind about his life's goal when he accidentally ensnares a Night Fury dragon he names Toothless and begins to bond with the creature. After creating an artificial tail flap to help Toothless fly again, Hiccup develops an understanding of Toothless and his fellow dragons. As such, Hiccup discovers that the winged, fire-breathing creatures don't want to harm the Vikings and that they could live in harmony with humans if Stoic and his fellow Vikings just give the dragons a chance. Parker also stars in How to Train Your Dragon as Astrid, a teen Viking who at first is a rival of Hiccup's during dragon slaying training but eventually becomes an ally of Hiccup and Toothless. Born July 10, 2007, in Dallas, Thames made his screen debut in a three-episode guest role in the AppleTV+ drama For All Mankind in 2019. Also among Thames' credits is a guest turn in three episodes as the young version of Walker (Jared Padalecki) in 2021 and 2022 in the CW police drama Walker. Born on Dec. 9, 2004, in London, Nico Parker is the daughter of Westworld star Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Ticket to Paradise). Nico Parker's acting credits include the 2021 sci-fi film Reminiscence, starring Hugh Jackman and Newton, and more recently, the Renée Zellweger romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Here are some of Thames and Parker's other high-profile projects, which explains why the Hiccup and Astrid actors look so familiar. Nico Parker stars as Milly Farrier in director Tim Burton's Dumbo, a live-action remake of the 1941 animated Disney classic. Milly and Joe (Finley Hobbins) are the children of Holt Farrier, a World War I veteran who returns home to work for the the Medici Brothers' Circus after losing his arm in battle. The family cares for the elephant named Dumbo, whom they discover — thanks to his oversized ears — can fly. Dumbo — which also stars Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Michael Keaton — marked the screen debut of Parker. Mason Thames in "The Black Phone." Universal Pictures Mason Thames' big-screen breakthrough came in a starring role in the hit supernatural horror thriller The Black Phone, directed by Scott Derrickson. In the film, Thames stars as Finney, a teen kidnapped by a serial killer known as the Grabber (Ethan Hawke), who is trapped in a soundproof basement. When Finney discovers a black, rotary dial phone in the basement, he picks up calls only to hear through static connections the voices of the Grabber's victims. Thames will reprise his role as Finney in The Black Phone 2, which is set for an Oct. 17 release. Derrickson is returning to direct the sequel, which also stars Hawke and Madeleine McGraw, who reprises her role as Finney's sister, Gwen, from the 2021 movie. Nico Parker in "The Last of Us" Season 1. HBO/Max Nico Parker starred in a guest turn in Season 1 of The Last of Us, the hit HBO and Max series based on the blockbuster video game of the same name. Parker appears in the pivotal role of Sarah — the daughter of Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller — but dies during the chaos at the beginning of the Cordyceps outbreak in the pilot episode. Mason Thames stars in a leading role opposite Mel Gibson in the adventure thriller Monster Summer, which had a brief theatrical run in October of 2024 before its pivot to streaming. Thames plays Noah Reed, who along with his teen friends enlists the help of retired police Det. Gene Carruthers (Gibson) to look into mysterious occurrences on their island. How to Train Your Dragon, starring Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost and Gerard Butler, is new in theaters.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nepo baby Nico Parker wows in a strapless bandage mini dress at How To Train Your Dragon premiere in NYC
Nepo baby Nico Parker looked incredible in a LBD as she attended the How To Train Your Dragon premiere at SVA Theatre in New York on Wednesday. The daughter of Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton, 52, and writer/director Ol Parker, 56, was the epitome of chic in the bandage black dress. Nico plays Astrid, who was depicted as a young blonde Viking in the 2010 animated version of the film as well as its sequels. The actress teamed her stunning ensemble with chunky earrings and elevated her frame with stylish black heels. Nico hit back at critics objecting to her taking on the lead role in How To Train Your Dragon. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. After some fans took umbrage with Nico - who is of Zimbabwean descent through her mother - not having Astrid's 's original blonde hair and blue eyes, she slammed trolls 'hating inclusivity' and having an 'opinion on her hair'. 'There's some people that really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film, and I hope that you can watch [the new version] and find something that you love about it, regardless,' Nico said in an interview with T he London Times. 'But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don't care,' she asserted. 'If I wouldn't value your opinion on most things in life,' and getting to the root of some of the backlash she's received added, 'I can't value your opinion on my hair. If I did, I would go mad.' Nico, who was brought up in London, said seeing other people of colour on screen was useful. 'When I was younger, the amount of mixed race or black icons, people that I would look to on screen to be like, "Oh, this feels like me," felt really minimal in comparison to what it could be for young people now, and I think that's really special,' she told the outlet. 'There's still a long way to go — for women in general, in terms of new parts, original material and female-led stories. But I think that everything's changing. I'd like to think that I could contribute to that change at some point.' In the 2010 animated How to Train Your Dragon and the 2014 and 2019 sequels Astrid was voiced by Latina actress America Ferrera. Nico's first role was in Disney's live-action Dumbo, which she said she auditioned for on a whim. 'By the time we got on set [in 2017], I remember being, like, "This is what I want to do all the time.:' she said of her 12-year-old self. Since then she has gone on to star in Reminiscence and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. One role, a two episode run in The Last of US, was a special experience for her, and she had high praise for star Pedro Pascal. 'He is one of the best people ever. He really is as special as you think he would be. I was 16 when I filmed The Last of US and it was a bit of a weird time of life in general, and I feel like I came into the job on a bit of an odd footing. I don't have enough words to describe how grateful I am that he was there.' How to Train Your Dragon is expected to fly to the top of the box office after it's released on Friday. The action-adventure stars Mason Thames, 17, as Hiccup, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as his blusterous dad Stoick. 'I remember seeing how many views the trailer got and I was, like, "What is happening?" To me, I think for everyone who grew up with the films, it feels very personal,' she said. Based on the performance of the three previous films, the reimagined version is expected to pull in somewhere between $80 million and $100 million domestically according to Box Office Pro. Universal Pictures has already announced a sequel to the anticipated blockbuster. 'They announced a release date and I was like, "Well, that's quite soon,"' Parker said.
