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Tom Hanks is one of several celebrities who have fallen for the charm of Muskoka in Ontario, Canada, a region filled with thousands of lakes and tens of thousands of craggy islands

When you consider Hollywood getaways, you might envision classic destinations like Italy’s Portofino, Monte Carlo, or the Hamptons, but Tom Hanks appears to have discovered the ideal spot for a tranquil retreat, well away from bustling beaches and heaving resorts.

Boasting thousands of lakes and countless rugged islands, the relatively unknown Muskoka region in Ontario, Canada, has attracted the star for serene and scenic breaks before the masses discover it.

It’s a realm of tranquil azure waters, small wooded islets, and timber boathouses that feels worlds apart from Hollywood and mirrors the Lake District but amplified, minus the coach parties and with far superior weather.

Merely two hours from Toronto, Muskoka spans an enormous area of central Ontario, peppered with over 1,500 lakes and encircled by coniferous woodlands.

It’s frequently dubbed “the Hamptons of the North”, owing to its blend of wilderness splendour and waterside opulence, reports the Express.

The ambience here is considerably more relaxed than what you’d experience in that exclusive New Jersey enclave.

You’re far more apt to spot families paddling canoes or toasting marshmallows beside a bonfire than moored, ostentatious vessels with champagne flowing.

Tom Hanks is amongst numerous celebrities who’ve been captivated by the region’s allure.

Sources claim he owns a home on Lake Muskoka itself, one of the area’s most renowned locations, where he spends considerable time between shoots. Muskoka, a tranquil region in Canada, is rumoured to be the summer retreat of choice for many celebrities, including Harry Styles, the Beckhams, Justin Bieber, and even Steven Spielberg, all seeking respite from their hectic lives.

The area is defined by three main lakes: Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Joseph, each with its own unique charm. Lake Rosseau is renowned for its elegant cottages and grand holiday homes, while Lake Muskoka offers a more laid-back vibe, ideal for canoeing, paddleboarding or simply watching the sunset from the dock.

For those who love the great outdoors, Muskoka is a dream come true. Walking trails line the banks of the lakes, and there are plenty of places to rent a canoe or mountain bike.

With nearly 30,000 little islands scattered across the region, you can easily spend a day exploring and feel like you’ve truly escaped.

Despite its current status as a hidden gem, Muskoka has been a celebrity favourite for over a century. The iconic Bigwin Resort hosted big names such as Clark Gable and Ernest Hemingway back in the 1930s.

Steve Haid, a luxury waterfront estate agent, perfectly encapsulated the allure of Muskoka when he told Forbes: “To describe Muskoka is like trying to put into words a beautiful dream you just had.

“It’s best that you experience it rather than hear about it; beautiful lakes, unique boat houses, and a variety of cottage-style lake houses from different eras, it’s something out of a storybook really.”

Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett join the cast as Emily Atack says she loved playing sexy Sarah Stratton: ‘I am her. I’m a flawed woman’

When the adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster Rivals hit screens last year, it quickly became Disney’s best performing TV drama. Now Rupert Everett and Hayley Attwell are to join the cast for the much-anticipated second series, playing lead character Rupert Campbell Black’s former showjumping boss and his bitter ex-wife – who are now married to each other.

Atwell, best known for her roles in the Marvel and Mission Impossible films, will be playing Helen Gordon, mother of Rupert’s two children, Marcus and Tabitha – who will also appear this time around.

Everett, who starred alongside Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding, takes on the role of her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.

READ MORE: Expert for The Jury: Murder Trial believes second series reaches ‘wrong verdict’ next week

In Cooper’s original story Helen was treated badly by her ex-husband and remains very bitter towards him after their divorce. She is now married to the former chef d’équipe of the British showjumping team, Malise.

Speaking in a session at the Edinburgh TV Festival yesterday where the castings were announced, Emily Atack joked that her character Sarah Stratton, the regularly unfaithful wife of an MP, had not been much of a stretch. “I had to dig real deep,” she quipped.

But the actress, who found fame with hit series The Inbetweeners, said she had no qualms about playing a flawed temptress.. “I’ve been typecast my whole life and I’ve loved every minute,” she declared. ” I’ll carry on playing these sexy women for as long as I can.”

Emily said that shooting the infamous naked tennis scene alongside Alex Hassell as Rupert had been great fun. Alex said that many discussions had taken place over whether or not he should wear a prosthetic over his privates for the scene, but in the end he’d decided to go without.

Emily declared that she had had a bit of help for that particular scene. “I had a stick on muff,” she laughed. “A murkin, it’s called. A proper 80s bush – I felt like I had furry knickers on. It’s so jarring seeing yourself like that.”

But the actress said she’d soon got used to it. “I didn’t want to put my clothes back on! I did a couple of cartwheels.”

Emily, 35, said part of the appeal of playing Sarah, was that while she is flawed, she also also has vulnerabilities that were recognised. “These types of women are never written with nuance,” she said. “I am her, I am a flawed woman, I’ve made terrible decisions in my love life – so I wasn’t scared to identify with her. Her bad behaviour isn’t being celebrated, but it’s being understood.”

Bella McClean, whose character Taggie O’Hara found love with Rupert in the final episode of series one, revealed she was so pleased with her audition as Taggie – and chemistry with Alex – that she walked straight into a wall afterwards.

The actress she had enjoyed playing a character who was so wholesome and good, it had made her take a look at her own life and decisions. She loved the long, simmering build-up to the romance between Taggie and Rupert, saying: “They see though all the crap and just adore each other for who they are,” she explained. “It’s about their love.”

The show’s creator Dominic Treadwell-Collins said that Jilly Cooper had told him early on how she expected the male heroes of her 1980s books to behave. He said: “She told me ‘my men don’t cry’. My men are macho.”

Dominic added: “We are utterly thrilled to have Hayley and Rupert join us to play Jilly Cooper’s legendary characters Helen and Malise Gordon. Alongside our other new wonderful actors and truly brilliant returning cast, Rivals series two absolutely showcases the best of British and Irish talent. We can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next for the residents of Rutshire.”

Disney boss Lee Mason said he was also thrilled that Everett and Atwell were joining the cast. “They are a perfect match for the world of Rutshire, so lovingly created by Dame Jilly and the team at Happy Prince.”

Rivals is filming in the UK until February and is expected to return, for an extended season of twelve episodes, later in 2026.

Set against the backdrop of the Cotswolds countryside and the glamorous, high-stakes world of 1980s British television, the second run will see the return of the all-star cast including Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Aidan Turner and David Tennant.

Next time around viewers will find that many careers, marriages and reputations hang in the balance as personal and professional lives collide in a world where secrets can’t stay hidden for long.

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AT the age of three, Phil Foden’s daughter might struggle to tell the time — but Daddy has already treated her to a £10,000 Rolex.

Little True was seen wearing the pricey watch in pictures posted on her Instagram page last week.

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England and Man City ace Phil, 24, and girlfriend Rebecca Cooke run the site, which has 22,400 followers.

True is also seen kitted out in a £160 Monnalisa designer dress, a £40 bag from Hookd and a Pandora charm bracelet.

Her Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six.

Phil’s own watch collection includes a Rolex Sky Dweller and a Day Date.

The midfielder, who came on as a sub in yesterday’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, loves spending his £200,000-a-week wages on his kids — Ronnie, five, True, and baby boy Phil Junior.

True was given a pony, Angus, at Christmas and is having riding lessons.

A source said: “True loves anything girly, sparkly — she loves fancy things. She is the little girl that wants for nothing.”

Phil recently moved the family to a mansion with a lake in the Cheshire countryside.

He was brought up on a council estate in nearby Edgeley, Stockport.

His mum, Claire, has revealed how much her son had changed recently.

She said: “The shocking thing is I hear him ordering salmon a lot now and he never used to eat that.”

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