Latest news with #Unbroken
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Domhnall Glesson says he'd ‘love to' act alongside his dad and brother again
FAMILY MATTERS | As he plays his darkest character in new film Echo Valley, Domhnall Gleeson looks back over the highlights of an incredible career. But the actor reckons sharing the stage with famous father Brendan and equally successful actor brother Brian at Dublin's Olympia Theatre has been his proudest moment in the spotlight. Treading the boards together at the start of 2015 in Enda Walsh's comedy The Walworth Farce, the trio were critically hailed for their comic timing and chemistry. Domhnall as Armitage Hux in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens 'I did a play with my dad and my brother in Dublin in the Olympia about ten years ago and I thought the work was stunning,' Gleeson said. 'The play was absolutely insane — it was bananas and it was amazing working in Dublin every day. But getting to go out and do that with my dad and my brother every night was a very, very proud thing in my life. 'I still when I think about that; I think it's amazing that we did it. And I'm proud of the work I did in that one as well.' The thespian dynasty, led by legendary patriarch Brendan (70) who was nominated for an Oscar in The Banshees of Inisheerin — has since reunited on the small screen for hit TV series Frank of Ireland in 2021, written by Domhnall and Bad Sisters' star Brian. Domhnall as Bill Weasley in Harry Potter And Domhnall admits the family are due another performance because he 'always wants to work with them'. 'We've done it a few times and if the right thing came along, I'd always want to work with them. They're amazing. I'd love to work with them again.' It's full circle for Domhnall, who enjoyed one of his first screen roles opposite his dad in Martin McDonagh's short movie Six Shooters while barely in his early twenties. Now 42, the star has taken the opportunity to reflect on his impressive, more than two decades on the stage and screen while promoting his latest role in Apple TV+ thriller, Echo Valley alongside Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney. Speaking to Magazine+ from London, Domhnall cuts a relaxed figure in jeans and a navy cardigan just before the film's release. While pondering some of his most memorable roles, including turns in Lenny Abraham's The Little Stranger and in Enda Walsh's play Medicine, the actor admits some of most physically punishing roles belong to Angelina Jolie's WWII epic Unbroken and Leonardo DiCaprio's blockbuster The Revenant. Domhnall with Rachel McAdams in About Time But playing Irish icon Bob Geldof in 2010's When Harvey Met Bob left the deepest impression. 'I mean, I lost weight for a role in Unbroken, and that was challenging, and The Revenant was a really, physically tough shoot. 'Then I also played Bob Geldof in a thing years ago and so that was a different sort of physical transformation, but also fun to do. And, you know, doing somebody who exists trying to get their voice down, and the look down, that was all different.' Did Geldof see his performance? 'No, I met him and he was very nice, but I don't think he ever saw the thing. And maybe that was for the best.' Married to longtime partner, producer Juliette Bonass, since 2023, the actor has enjoyed a spectacularly diverse career, including the aforementioned turns in the Star Wars franchise as malevolent Genera Hux, to fan favourite Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter universe. But when I ask him about a role that audiences and critics had misunderstood, he offers a surprise response with 2013 About Time with Bill Nighy and Rachel McAdams, which was one of Gleeson's first forays into romantic comedy. 'About Time, when it came out, it wasn't like critically reviled or anything like that. I think it did fine with the critics, and it actually did okay at the box office. But it's been really heartening and amazing to see how over the years, it's sort of grown and grown in stature. That's been like, amazing to see. I guess as time has gone on, the reception to it has warmed comparative to how it was when it came out. And so I think that's always a good I always remind myself of that. 'If you're in something and it doesn't find an audience when it comes out, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll just never have an audience forever, you know.' Brian, Domhnall and Brendan in The Walworth Farce A sci-fi romance about a young man with the ability to time travel who tries to change his past in hopes of finding his true love, About Time was initially criticised for a lack of coherent storyline and gaping plot holes. However, the British production went on to make over €76m at the global box office and Gleeson admits he'd love to see a sequel down the line. 'I could do scenes with Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy and all those amazing people again. So maybe I'd pick that and I'd get to hang out with Richard Curtis again, which would be nice.' After his character — spoiler alert! — ends up happily ever after with McAdams' character, does he think they'd still be together in the follow-up? 'When we finished the film, that's what I felt. Yeah. When I finished the film, I thought, this is a guy set up for happiness. And that made me very happy for him.' In Echo Valley, Julianne Moore plays a lonely rancher who covers up a murder to protect her addict daughter, played by Hollywood It Girl Sydney Sweeney. In a brooding turn, Gleeson is Jackie, a scheming lowlife who stumbles on the truth, and becomes hell bent on destroying the family. And the actor relished the chance to play nasty in the thriller, which also stars Irish acting legend Fiona Shaw. 'He's a guy, he was pretty dark. He was a pretty, you know, a pretty awful character. And it's nice to do something as a reactionary against that.' With an upcoming role in TV series The Paper, a highly anticipated offshoot from Ricky's Gervais' iconic comedy, The Office, Gleeson has worked tirelessly non-stop for the past two decades. But the actor has learned the important lesson to slow down. 'I've done roles where I end where I had been working so much that I went into it tired. And it's not good to start a job tired, you know what I mean? I've done jobs where I entered into it tired because I've been working too closely up before. 'But then again, if you have something locked in that you have to do and then, you know, Paul Thomas Anderson comes calling, it's not like you're going to say, 'no, sorry, I need time to rest for the right opportunity'.'
Irish Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Domnhall Gleeson could be Bond villain after stunning fans in Echo Valley
Actor Domhnall Gleeson could be eyeing up being a James Bond villain role as he stars in Angelie Jolie's biopic, Unbroken. The son of Brendan Gleeson will star in director Angelina Jolie's first studio film 'Unbroken', a real-life story about Olympian Louis Zamperini. Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for the biopic, which is narrated by Tom Brokaw and stars English actor Jack O'Connell as Zamperini, a former distance runner who survived life as a prisoner of war in World War II when he was captured as an American/Italian bombardier by the Japanese Navy. Gleeson ('Harry Potter') stars alongside Finn Wittrock ('All My Children') as Phil and Mac, the airmen with whom Zamperini endured perilous weeks adrift in the open Pacific. Other cast members include Garrett Hedlund ('Tron: Legacy'), John Magaro ('Not Fade Away'), Finn Wittrock ('A New York Winter's Tale'), Jai Courtney ('A Good Day to Die Hard'), Japanese actor Miyavi, who plays the brutal camp guard known only to the men as 'The Bird', and Alex Russell ('Carrie') as Zamperini's brother, Pete. The film is based on the bestselling biography 'Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption' by Laura Hillenbrand. But according to Ladbrokes, Domhnall's evil side in thriller Echo Valley opposite Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney and Fiona Shaw, is leaving fans talking about if he could make a perfect Bond villain. Speaking at the film's European premiere at BFI Southbank in London on Tuesday, Gleeson said: "It was a chance to do a totally different sort of character. He's very threatening in a very unusual sort of way. "[It was] a chance to work with Julianne and Sydney and our fantastic director Michael [Pearce (Beast)]. And the script was amazing. Brad [Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown, The Way Back)], who wrote the script, is fantastic. Across the board, [it was] an incredible opportunity, and I loved it." Rami Malek was the most recent Bond villain who lit up our screens in 2021's No Time to Die. The Irishman is 4/1 to oppose Bond in the next 007 feature. Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: 'Domhnall Gleeson is usually seen as a loveable, harmless character. 'However, his most recent role sees him as the villain, with fans now expecting him to turn to the dark side in the next Bond.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
"Unbroken" launch reinforces urgency of Uyghur human rights crisis
Rushan Abbas presenting her book to Markus Rinderspacher, vice-president of the Bavarian State Parliament (Image credit: X/Rushan Abbas) Uyghur human rights activist Rushan Abbas officially launched her powerful memoir "Unbroken": One Uyghur's Fight for Freedom at the European Uyghur Summit, held in Munich. The launch was marked by a heartfelt reading and powerful statements of solidarity from global dignitaries and advocates. The memoir, authored by Abbas--who serves as the Executive Committee Chair of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU)--chronicles her personal journey, the ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur people, and her tireless fight for justice and freedom. — RushanAbbas (@RushanAbbas) In a post on X, Abbas wrote, "Today marked the opening of the East Turkistan/Uyghur National Summit, organised by the @UyghurCongress and co-hosted by @CUyghurs alongside other allied organisations." She also shared a personal milestone from the summit: the presentation of her memoir to Markus Rinderspacher, vice-president of the Bavarian State Parliament. "We are deeply grateful for his support of the Uyghur cause and his commitment to human rights," Abbas added. One of the event's most poignant moments came as Abbas read from the memoir's final chapter, A Letter to the Uyghur Diaspora--a heartfelt message of resilience, unity, and hope. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 지금 차면 가장예쁜 기부팔찌 유니세프 지금 기부하기 Undo The summit was attended by a distinguished roster of supporters and partners, including David Baxendale of Oneworld Publications, Niclas Butz, Ambassador to the Health Innovation Exchange, and Dolkun Isa, former President of the World Uyghur Congress. Each voiced strong support for Abbas's work and reaffirmed the global importance of advocating for the Uyghur cause. Campaign for Uyghurs, a leading NGO dedicated to promoting human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of East Turkistan and ending the Uyghur genocide, shared highlights of the launch on X. "We were deeply honoured to mark the European launch of Unbroken at the Uyghur Summit in Munich, surrounded by members of the Uyghur diaspora from across the world, trusted friends, advocates, and international delegates," the organisation posted. The European launch of Unbroken underscores a growing international awareness of the Uyghur struggle and reflects a broadening coalition of allies committed to justice, human dignity, and the defence of basic freedoms. The Uyghur population in China's Xinjiang region has faced severe and systematic human rights violations under the Chinese government. Since 2017, over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in so-called "re-education" camps, where reports of indoctrination, torture, and abuse have emerged. Authorities have enforced mass surveillance, restricted religious and cultural practices, and separated children from families. Evidence also links Xinjiang to forced labour programs, with Uyghurs coerced into working under oppressive conditions. Furthermore, China's birth prevention policies targeting Uyghur women have raised serious concerns about demographic suppression. International organisations and several governments have labelled these acts as crimes against humanity, with growing calls for accountability and global action to end the repression and protect Uyghur rights.
Metro
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
This 'disgusting' TV episode had fans boycotting global hit series 10 years ago
*Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and MAJOR spoilers for Game of Thrones.* This weekend 10 years ago, TV viewers watched something so harrowing that it caused several fans to threaten boycotts of a hit fantasy series. By 2015, Game of Thrones had become one of the most popular TV shows in the world – and arguably the most successful fantasy TV series of all time. Set in the fictional medieval continent of Westeros, Game of Thrones primarily focused on the warring factions and royal families who each longed to sit on the Iron Throne. A violent, bloody, and graphic series, the HBO show gained rave reviews for the majority of its run and became a global smash hit, even among people who usually avoided the fantasy genre. But being such a graphic 18+ show meant that it sometimes crossed the line with viewers, especially when it came to the brutal sexual assaults it often depicted. On this night in 2015, the season five episode Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken crossed so many lines in the eyes of some viewers that a section of them vowed to never watch Game of Thrones again. From season one to season four, main character Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) had been imprisoned by the royal Lannister family after her father's execution. And at just 13 years old, she was forcibly married to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). Sansa was eventually smuggled away from the Lannisters and, by season five, had been escorted back to where she'd started the series: her home castle, Winterfell. The Starks had ruled Winterfell for generations but, after a deadly war during seasons two and three, the Bolton family now had control – and no Bolton was as cruel as military commander Ramsay (Iwan Rheon). Sadistic and twisted, Ramsay had already horrified viewers when he captured and tortured Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), eventually castrating him during a sick sexual game. Theon was still Ramsay's prisoner at Winterfell when Sansa – now aged 15 – returned to the castle and was instructed to marry the evil Bolton boy. On their tragic wedding night, Ramsay fiercely ripped Sansa's clothes off and raped her, while also forcing a helpless and tearful Theon to watch. The episode attracted 6.24 million viewers, but many of them – TV critics and fans alike – were outraged by the decision to take Sansa's story in this direction. One Reddit user, account now deleted, summed up many fans' feelings by saying: 'Before each episode, I ask myself how much worse will Sansa's life get today. [It turns out] much worse.' From seasons one to five Game of Thrones had been criticised for its frequent female nudity, while many viewers claimed that lead female characters were raped in order to further progress their stories. Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was raped in the first episode, while Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) had also been raped by her brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in season four. The term 'sexposition' had also been coined to describe scenes in the show that used nudity and sex as a titillating distraction while crucial plot information was divulged by another character. Following four seasons of this reputation building and building, the incident involving Sansa, Ramsay, and Theon was seen as one step too far, with Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken being the final straw for some viewers. TV writer Joanna Robinson asked in Vanity Fair: 'Did they really need to go there? Did we really need to see Ramsay Bolton rape Sansa Stark? No, we absolutely did not.' The creative decision to focus the camera on Theon's face instead of Sansa's at the scene's climax also drew criticism, with some viewers hammering the show for placing a man at the centre of a woman's story. Reddit user Fat_Walda argued that the scene portrayed Sansa as 'the damsel in distress' and as little more than 'a vehicle for Theon's redemption'. The morning after, many fans called for a boycott of Game of Thrones, with United States senator Claire McCaskill among them after describing the episode as 'disgusting'. She wrote on X at the time: 'Ok, I'm done [with] Game of Thrones. Gratuitous rape scene disgusting and unacceptable. It was a rocky ride that just ended.' Sezin Koehler, writing for Huffington Post, joined the boycott and chastised the writers for having 'beloved young girl characters brutally and repeatedly raped, tortured, and murdered.' However, according to Jeremy Podeswa – who directed Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken – Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss were reportedly 'influenced' by the angry reaction and subsequently made changes to future episodes. He said in December 2015: 'They did not want to be too overly influenced by [the criticism], but they did absorb and take it in and it did influence them in a way.' Amid the calls for a boycott, viewing figures for the following episode, titled The Gift, dropped to 5.4 million – although many analysts attributed the drop in ratings to the Memorial Day weekend holiday in America. For the episode two weeks on, titled Hardhome, viewing figures reached an all-time series high of 7.01 million, indicating that calls for a boycott hadn't reached everyone. In the years since Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken's initial broadcast, its reputation hasn't improved much in the wider TV-watcher community, but it has been defended by some fans of the show. Horror author and culture writer Gretchen Felker-Martin argued: 'Game of Thrones is one of the only shows on TV making a meaningful inquiry into rape as both a traumatic experience and as a weapon deployed by society against women.' She added: 'Treating Sansa as a real person who's been wronged by her creators, rather than a fictional one in a story explicitly about the different forms of violence people go through, is also a disturbing misapprehension of art's nature.' A year later, Sezin Keohler wrote a second letter saying she'd ended her boycott because of how 'empowering' later episodes had been for female characters – Sansa in particular. In 2021, Professor Feona Attwood told the Game of Thrones fan podcast The Longest Night that 'the dialogue around the show [suggested] there was a correct way to depict rape. '[Suggesting that rape scenes] should be shot in a certain way… How dull and uninteresting would it be if there were rules about how certain events unfold?' More Trending Sophie Turner herself spoke strongly to The Times (via The Sun) in 2017: 'The more we talk about sexual assault the better – screw the people who are saying we shouldn't be putting this on TV, and screw the people who are saying they're going to boycott the show because of it. '[Rape] used to happen and it continues to happen now. If we treat it as a taboo subject, then how are people going to have the strength to come out and feel comfortable saying that this has happened to them?' Game of Thrones was later praised for Sansa's story from season six onwards, as she used military cunning to get revenge on Ramsay, reclaim Winterfell, execute her rapist, and eventually rule as Queen in the North. View More » Watch Game of Thrones on SkyGo, Sky Atlantic, and NowTV. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Ex WWE star wraps first film role after shock exit and Invicta move MORE: 'Perfect' Netflix show renewed for season 2 but fans worry it won't be the same MORE: WWE legend Jim Ross, 73, diagnosed with cancer after years of health struggles
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jaw-dropping ‘Goldywood' estate is back on the market
A jaw-dropping luxury estate used to accommodate actors shooting at nearby film studios is back on the market. The sprawling property at 36 Jenkins Court, Upper Coomera is priced at more than $8m and marketed by Amir Prestige agents, Alex and Victoria Fleri. It's been on and off the market for the past five years since being transformed into a private retreat fit for film stars. The current owners spent close to $3m on the rebuild after purchasing the property as a deceased estate for $1.2m in 2016. Anchored by a contemporary five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, the estate commands breathtaking 360-degree views stretching from Brisbane to northern New South Wales, and showcasing the glittering lights of the Gold Coast skyline. Features include a basketball court, infinity pool and spa, tennis court, firepit, commercial-grade gym and yoga garden, along with a recently upgraded professional recording studio. The estate has doubled as a home away from home for visiting actors shooting film productions in the region. The nearby Village Roadshow Studios comprises world-class facilities and has hosted productions including Nautilus, Aquaman, San Andreas, and Unbroken, while the city itself has earned the nickname 'Goldywood' for its local investment into the film industry. The home includes five large bedrooms including an opulent master suite along with three renovated bathrooms and a powder room, plus a media room and fireplace lounge. Illuminated waterfall stone benchtops in the kitchen anchor expansive living areas, flowing onto a vast covered terrace. Mr Fleri – who moonlights as an actor and film producer himself – confirmed Aussie screen veteran and Gladiator star Russell Crowe was among actors who had stayed at the Jenkins Court estate. Oscar-winner Crowe stars in the upcoming thriller Bear Country, shooting on the Gold Coast this year and marking a return to the Glitter Strip for the award-winning Aussie actor, who also appeared in Land of Bad, another local production filmed in 2022 with Luke and Liam Hemsworth. Builder's marvel named Aus hottest home One of the Hemsworth brothers is also understood to have stayed at the property. 'The location within a secure gated estate provides the openness of an acreage while being ensconced in privacy, and then of course there's the view, the quality and inclusions of the home itself and the lifestyle that comes with it,' Mr Fleri said. 'With the basketball and the tennis courts, all of the property's features create the luxury vibe that is comparable to the Hollywood Hills lifestyle, and that is why it is a drawcard for the Village Roadshow guestlist.' Mr Fleri said the owners had maintained a close relationship with the location hunters and studio executives, and would also be positioned within easy reach of a new screen production facility planned for Yatala, between the Coast and Brisbane. The property is marketed via an expressions of interest campaign.
