Latest news with #VirtuosoAward
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- 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.'
Express Tribune
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Brenda Song reveals Disney tried to stop her from filming ‘The Social Network'
Brenda Song is opening up about the challenges she faced transitioning from child star to serious actress, revealing that Disney once prevented her from pursuing key film roles. Speaking at the 2025 Bentonville Film Festival, where she received Variety's Virtuoso Award, Song reflected on her career and the lasting legacy of her Disney Channel role as London Tipton on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Despite her comedic success, Song said she wasn't allowed to audition for Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino due to a sexual assault scene involving her character. Later, when she was offered a role in David Fincher's The Social Network, Disney again hesitated. Song took her case directly to then-president of Disney Branded TV, Gary Marsh. 'I told him, 'I am an actor. This is the opportunity of a lifetime,'' she recalled. Ultimately, Disney approved the role—a turning point that changed her career. Song also shared stories from her early years in Hollywood, including stealing wardrobe items from the Suite Life set and taking home a massive portrait of her character, which now resides in the home she shares with partner Macaulay Culkin. Reflecting on representation, Song noted that she lacked Asian-American female role models growing up but credited Ming-Na Wen and Michelle Yeoh as inspirations. Now a mother and veteran actor, Song is proud of how far she's come. 'It was hard being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood. But I was lucky to have support,' she said. The Bentonville event also featured Song performing with Geena Davis and Culkin in gender-swapped scenes from The Producers and Stranger Things.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez Admits ‘Some of the Magic Has Disappeared' Amid Karla Sofía Gascón's ‘Emilia Pérez' Scandal
Selena Gomez was supposed to receive her Virtuoso Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival alongside 'Emilia Pérez' co-star Karla Sofía Gascón on Sunday, but instead, she was left solo to stand behind their film amid its continued fallout. Best Actress nominee Gascón removed herself from the Oscar campaign trail this past week after racist tweets of hers resurfaced, leaving director Jacques Audiard and Best Supporting Actress nominee Zoe Saldaña to distance themselves from her in the process. However, while Gomez acknowledged the difficulties associated with the fallout on-stage, she made sure to show her love for the Netflix musical. 'I'm really good. Some of the magic has disappeared, but I choose to continue to be proud of what I've done,' she shared. 'I'm just grateful and live with no regrets and I would do this movie over and over again if I could.' 'Just having someone see something in me besides the obvious was such a special experience,' Gomez added. 'The director just really trusted me, and I was so grateful because I've gotten to show people that I am capable of doing more. I hope this is just the beginning for me in this field.' She further noted, 'It's going to be hard for me to ever go back to music after this.' Gomez's comments came after Gascón herself responded to Audiard speaking out against her. 'Following Jacques' interview that I understand, I decided, for the film, for Jacques, for the cast, for the incredible crew who deserves it, for the beautiful adventure we all had together, to let the work talk for itself, hoping my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference,' Gascón wrote on Instagram. 'I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way.' Still, 'Emilia Pérez' remains the most-nominated movie at the 2025 Oscars. The post Selena Gomez Admits 'Some of the Magic Has Disappeared' Amid Karla Sofía Gascón's 'Emilia Pérez' Scandal | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
