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Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Olivia Munn voices frustrated at being blamed for Aaron Rodgers' difficulties
Olivia Munn finds it frustrating that she was blamed for Aaron Rodgers' difficulties. The Your Friends and Neighbours star dated the NFL player for three years until 2017 and she noted how she was often accused of negatively affecting his game. Speaking to Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast, she said: "During the time that I was with him, he had three hail marys, I think two NFC championships—not wins—but he made it into the NFC championship, which is very hard. "No one would want to talk about that. I didn't get credit for any of the wins." And Olivia - who has Malcom, three, and nine-month-old Mei with husband John Mulaney - was also accused of being at the heart with Aaron's family rift, including tensions between him and his brother, former Bachelorette hunk Jordan Rodgers. She said: "There's this whole big narrative that stayed with me for so many years, but there was just this dynamic in the family that had nothing to do with me. "It became this whole big thing, and people were like, 'I can't believe her, she's keeping this family apart.' " The 44-year-old star does know the source of the family tension but didn't feel it would be right for her to reveal the truth. She said: "People have speculated for many years what was the rift, and I know, but I'm not saying because it's not my story to tell." Aaron is typically very private about his personal life but confirmed in a book about his life that Olivia had "nothing to do with all the years" of "deep rooted" family estrangement. And even if people don't believe she isn't to blame, the former Newsroom actress is just grateful that Aaron spoke out to defend her. She said: "Thank God somebody had read it and said, 'Oh, wait! Aaron speaks.' "You've been asking for the longest time. This is the constant conversation. The man himself is saying it. They don't want that answer. "I was really grateful that he did that. Even if people didn't want to take hold of that statement, it made me feel good that it was said."
Sydney Morning Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why you should look beyond the leading men in these hit shows
Matthew Goode and Jon Hamm are the talented and charismatic headliners in a couple of impressive recent crime dramas, Dept. Q and Your Friends and Neighbours. But marquee stars don't guarantee a satisfying series. Even with intelligent scripts, thoughtful direction and distinctive design, the leads can't carry the load alone. And both of these series benefit from scene-stealing supporting players. Goode can convincingly play a charmer, which he did as Lady Mary's love in the final season of Downton Abbey, a will-they-or-won't-they romantic interest for Alicia in The Good Wife, and a drinking buddy for Matthew Rhys in The Wine Show (the actors created a dream TV assignment, basing themselves in a Tuscan villa to sample Italian wines). In Dept. Q, though, he convincingly moves away from such roles to play detective chief inspector Carl Morck, a classic, troubled police detective. Recovering from an injury sustained in the line of duty, he's wounded psychologically as well as physically and spends much of the gripping nine-part thriller looking gaunt, dishevelled and depleted. Initially confident to the point of cockiness, Morck has that violently knocked out of him, although he remains a brilliant detective, reliably the smartest guy in the room. Or is he? Enter Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov), a Syrian expat of mysterious background who's as still and steady as Morck is restless and nervy. Loading While Morck ricochets around like a pinball and is prone to impatient, profanity-filled outbursts, Akram is quietly assured and speaks volumes with his eyes. A keen observer, he's attuned to those around him, the scope of his skill-set subtly emerging through the series. In a terrific scene at the end of the second episode, he calmly talks Morck through an anxiety attack, and then adds, firmly but evenly, a request – which is more like an order – that Morck should never again interrupt him while he's praying. In a season based on the first book in a series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen and transplanted to a gloomy and forbidding Edinburgh, Morck and Akram form an intriguing odd couple at the heart of an idiosyncratic team of investigators. Operating from the bowels of the police HQ, the cold-case unit is installed in a disused shower quarters (hence the 'Q'). Outsider Akram deftly manoeuvres his way into the fledgling operation, initially by bringing sweet treats to appreciative underling detective constable Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne). Bright, sharp-eyed and spirited, she too inveigles her way into the ad hoc team; another outlier who proves her worth, even though her blemished history on the force has seen her relegated to desk duties. Akram and Rose's value, to Morck, the investigation team and the drama, grows through the series, lending to its rich texture. Loading Like Goode in Dept. Q, Jon Hamm is initially the drawcard for the blackly comic thriller, Your Friends and Neighbours, created by Jonathan Tropper. Hamm indelibly remains Mad Men 's brooding advertising executive Don Draper, but since that landmark series, has taken on a number of notable roles (Landman, The Morning Show, Beirut). But his return to heading a TV series sees him perfectly cast as hedge-fund manager Andrew 'Coop' Cooper, Tropper using Hamm's leading-man looks to good effect. Coop looks like he belongs in the affluent enclave where social lives and business deals revolve around the country club. Yet it soon emerges that it's no coincidence Coop is spending a lot of time home alone watching old movies, frequently films noirs whose male protagonists find their lives spiralling out of control. Soon after the nine-part series begins, Coop loses his job, and it emerges that his marriage to Mel (Amanda Peet) disintegrated largely because he was wedded to his work. As he battles to keep up appearances, find another job and maintain the family's lifestyle, he decides on a dangerous course of action. However, the women in this cleverly crafted series happily don't conform to simple stereotypes, and while Coop is at the heart of the action, they also have nuance and substance. There's no obvious femme fatale or Nice Girl here. Mel's marriage-ending infidelity is seen as a response to Coop's inattention. The way the character is written and played makes her a sympathetic figure, a decent person devoted to her ex and their kids, and also struggling in the aftermath of the break-up, even though she outwardly appears to be happily moving on. Loading Coop's secret lover, Samantha Levitt (Olivia Munn), has been dumped by her husband for a younger woman and is rocked by insecurities amid an acrimonious divorce. She's closest to a femme fatale, although it becomes clear that she has her reasons. Other supporting female roles are cleverly constructed and cast. Olivia Cross (Kitty Hawthorne), who becomes the unwitting and unwilling catalyst for Coop's dismissal, is smart and ambitious, but not devious. Lu (Randy Danson), a diminutive yet fearsome grandmother, enters Coop's life during his dalliance with the dark side. She has stews bubbling away upstairs as she conducts her trade in stolen goods from a steel cage behind a pawn shop, a gun handy to deter potential threats. And then there's housemaid Elena (Aimee Carrero), who initially makes an impact with one superbly delivered line in response to Coop's arrival at a boys' night at the luxury home of Mel's lover (Mark Tallman) and goes on to occupy a central role in the action. Through the savvy Elena, the series pivots to provide a different perspective on the families of this affluent community. She's part of a largely unnoticed contingent of migrant workers that keeps the plush residences clean and tidy, women who know a lot about the dirty linen behind the pristine facades. Tropper gives all of these characters vivid life, enriching the tapestry of the show woven around his star. They're vibrant and compelling, and, along with Dept. Q 's supporting cast, bring to mind the quote by famed Russian acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski: 'There are no small parts, only small actors.'
The Age
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Why you should look beyond the leading men in these hit shows
Matthew Goode and Jon Hamm are the talented and charismatic headliners in a couple of impressive recent crime dramas, Dept. Q and Your Friends and Neighbours. But marquee stars don't guarantee a satisfying series. Even with intelligent scripts, thoughtful direction and distinctive design, the leads can't carry the load alone. And both of these series benefit from scene-stealing supporting players. Goode can convincingly play a charmer, which he did as Lady Mary's love in the final season of Downton Abbey, a will-they-or-won't-they romantic interest for Alicia in The Good Wife, and a drinking buddy for Matthew Rhys in The Wine Show (the actors created a dream TV assignment, basing themselves in a Tuscan villa to sample Italian wines). In Dept. Q, though, he convincingly moves away from such roles to play detective chief inspector Carl Morck, a classic, troubled police detective. Recovering from an injury sustained in the line of duty, he's wounded psychologically as well as physically and spends much of the gripping nine-part thriller looking gaunt, dishevelled and depleted. Initially confident to the point of cockiness, Morck has that violently knocked out of him, although he remains a brilliant detective, reliably the smartest guy in the room. Or is he? Enter Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov), a Syrian expat of mysterious background who's as still and steady as Morck is restless and nervy. Loading While Morck ricochets around like a pinball and is prone to impatient, profanity-filled outbursts, Akram is quietly assured and speaks volumes with his eyes. A keen observer, he's attuned to those around him, the scope of his skill-set subtly emerging through the series. In a terrific scene at the end of the second episode, he calmly talks Morck through an anxiety attack, and then adds, firmly but evenly, a request – which is more like an order – that Morck should never again interrupt him while he's praying. In a season based on the first book in a series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen and transplanted to a gloomy and forbidding Edinburgh, Morck and Akram form an intriguing odd couple at the heart of an idiosyncratic team of investigators. Operating from the bowels of the police HQ, the cold-case unit is installed in a disused shower quarters (hence the 'Q'). Outsider Akram deftly manoeuvres his way into the fledgling operation, initially by bringing sweet treats to appreciative underling detective constable Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne). Bright, sharp-eyed and spirited, she too inveigles her way into the ad hoc team; another outlier who proves her worth, even though her blemished history on the force has seen her relegated to desk duties. Akram and Rose's value, to Morck, the investigation team and the drama, grows through the series, lending to its rich texture. Loading Like Goode in Dept. Q, Jon Hamm is initially the drawcard for the blackly comic thriller, Your Friends and Neighbours, created by Jonathan Tropper. Hamm indelibly remains Mad Men 's brooding advertising executive Don Draper, but since that landmark series, has taken on a number of notable roles (Landman, The Morning Show, Beirut). But his return to heading a TV series sees him perfectly cast as hedge-fund manager Andrew 'Coop' Cooper, Tropper using Hamm's leading-man looks to good effect. Coop looks like he belongs in the affluent enclave where social lives and business deals revolve around the country club. Yet it soon emerges that it's no coincidence Coop is spending a lot of time home alone watching old movies, frequently films noirs whose male protagonists find their lives spiralling out of control. Soon after the nine-part series begins, Coop loses his job, and it emerges that his marriage to Mel (Amanda Peet) disintegrated largely because he was wedded to his work. As he battles to keep up appearances, find another job and maintain the family's lifestyle, he decides on a dangerous course of action. However, the women in this cleverly crafted series happily don't conform to simple stereotypes, and while Coop is at the heart of the action, they also have nuance and substance. There's no obvious femme fatale or Nice Girl here. Mel's marriage-ending infidelity is seen as a response to Coop's inattention. The way the character is written and played makes her a sympathetic figure, a decent person devoted to her ex and their kids, and also struggling in the aftermath of the break-up, even though she outwardly appears to be happily moving on. Loading Coop's secret lover, Samantha Levitt (Olivia Munn), has been dumped by her husband for a younger woman and is rocked by insecurities amid an acrimonious divorce. She's closest to a femme fatale, although it becomes clear that she has her reasons. Other supporting female roles are cleverly constructed and cast. Olivia Cross (Kitty Hawthorne), who becomes the unwitting and unwilling catalyst for Coop's dismissal, is smart and ambitious, but not devious. Lu (Randy Danson), a diminutive yet fearsome grandmother, enters Coop's life during his dalliance with the dark side. She has stews bubbling away upstairs as she conducts her trade in stolen goods from a steel cage behind a pawn shop, a gun handy to deter potential threats. And then there's housemaid Elena (Aimee Carrero), who initially makes an impact with one superbly delivered line in response to Coop's arrival at a boys' night at the luxury home of Mel's lover (Mark Tallman) and goes on to occupy a central role in the action. Through the savvy Elena, the series pivots to provide a different perspective on the families of this affluent community. She's part of a largely unnoticed contingent of migrant workers that keeps the plush residences clean and tidy, women who know a lot about the dirty linen behind the pristine facades. Tropper gives all of these characters vivid life, enriching the tapestry of the show woven around his star. They're vibrant and compelling, and, along with Dept. Q 's supporting cast, bring to mind the quote by famed Russian acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski: 'There are no small parts, only small actors.'
Hans India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Olivia Munn opens up about triumph over cancer and new beginnings
Hollywood actress Olivia Munn has shared her heartfelt reflections on overcoming a challenging chapter of her life marked by serious health battles. The 44-year-old star of Your Friends and Neighbours says she feels like she has finally reached 'the other side' after enduring a series of grueling surgeries following a cancer diagnosis. In a candid interview, Olivia expressed her gratitude and newfound peace, saying, 'I'm so grateful to be on the other side. Everything feels easy in a way. I feel so at peace.' She added, 'If I can stay happy and healthy, then I just want to sail into the rest of my life.' The actress, who shares her three-year-old son Malcolm with comedian and actor John Mulaney, revealed how motherhood sometimes pushes her into 'survival' mode, especially when dealing with toddler tantrums. Olivia was diagnosed with luminal B breast cancer in April 2023, just months after recovering from postpartum anxiety after Malcolm's birth. Reflecting on her diagnosis, she explained, 'It was a whole other perspective, because I had been struggling with life in postpartum, and now I was so desperate to stay alive. From the moment I received my diagnosis, it just became a march forward.' Olivia underwent major medical treatments including a double mastectomy, hysterectomy, and ovary removal. She also began IVF treatment on a specialized protocol for cancer patients. Together with John, they successfully retrieved and fertilized seven eggs. She shared a poignant moment from their IVF journey: 'I said, 'I really don't think I'll be okay unless we get two girl embryos. I know this puts me at risk, but I just need you to support me.' He said, 'Whatever you need.'' That very day, they discovered they had two healthy female embryos. In September 2024, Olivia and John welcomed their daughter Mei via surrogate. Olivia expressed gratitude for their surrogate, saying, 'We were so lucky to find someone so kind who we bonded with so much.' The couple also tied the knot in July that year. Recently, Olivia felt the urge to return to acting, describing it as a source of energy and renewal. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and embracing life's second chances, both personally and professionally.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Your Friends and Neighbours star Amanda Peet faked being waitress to land job at Italian restaurant
Amanda Peet once faked being a waitress to get a job in an Italian restaurant. The 53-year-old actress "made up" a name for a restaurant in San Francisco and put her then-boyfriend's phone number "as the reference" to land the job, but the 'Your Friends and Neighbors' star soon got fired after she warmed bread in the pizza oven. Amanda told PEOPLE magazine: "I had never waitressed, so I put that I had and then made up a restaurant that was in San Francisco, even though I was from New York, and then gave my boyfriend's number as the reference. "Then, on my first day, it was like an Italian restaurant where they had a pizza oven. "A lovely couple whose table I was assigned to asked me if I could warm the bread, which was in a bread basket. I put the whole thing in the pizza oven. "I didn't start a fire, but the dude was like, 'You're fired, you dumb, actress type.'" Amanda plays Mel Cooper - a therapist who has separated from her former former hedge fund manager husband, Andrew 'Coop' Cooper (Jon Hamm), after it was revealed he had been having a fling with his best pal and NBA player, Nick Brandes (Mark Tallman) - in the Apple TV+ thriller series, 'Your Friends and Neighbours'. The show sees Amanda's alter ego take part in steamy sex scenes with Coop and Nick, but Amanda is not fazed by the intimate performances. The 'Something's Gotta Give' actress explained: "Dude, I've been doing this for so long, I'm just like, 'Show me where to be. Show me who to kiss. Who do I have to make out with today?' "Whenever I see Lizzy [Talbot], the intimacy coordinator, I'm like, 'Wait, I have a sex scene?' And she's like, 'No, dear. It's somebody else.' It's so funny when I see her, I'm like, 'Oh my God, I forgot I have a sex scene.' " As well as Amanda, 44-year-old actress Olivia Munn, who plays Samantha 'Sam' Levitt in the show, also had to do intimate scenes with Jon, 54. Their characters had a secret fling while he was navigating his divorce from Mel, and Olivia was so nervous about pushing her teeth into the Hollywood legend's skin when filming the intimate scene. The 'X-Men: Apocalypse' star told the same outlet: "My character had to bite him, and I was nervous, but he just kept saying, 'It's okay. You can bite really hard.' "And then I did. And he's a pretty tough guy. He's a very tough guy."
