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WHEN her best friend and co-star Ariana Grande was ambushed on the red carpet, quick-thinking Cynthia Erivo rushed to the rescue.

A prankster grabbed Ariana at the Singapore premiere of their new film Wicked: For Good on Thursday, but Cynthia, 38, stepped in and strong-armed the invader away.

The British actress admits she feels protective over Ariana, saying: “I love her, she’s a bright spark but you just want to take care of her.  And we really took care of each other.”

Luckily loyal pal Cynthia was already fighting fit thanks to the ­gruelling stunts she had to perform for the eagerly anticipated sequel.

“The flying in harnesses, ­chafing, we had it. Chafing was like a funny word to me until I realised what chafing actually looked like when you had it, repetitively.

“It took months for my hips to heal, scratched palms bleeding, bloody nose, like it was bad.

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“We were willing to do whatever it took to do this, but this one was a big one for us.”

Meanwhile, Cynthia  says she and  Ariana  prefer to go to bed early — like a pair of “grandmothers”.

The star revealed that because of the time difference and their schedules, they often struggle to catch up when she is in London and Ariana is at home in LA.

SHUNNED BY DAD

But while gearing up for the long-awaited sequel of the big-screen musical,  32-year-old Ariana, who plays Glinda, broke routine to make sure they could chat.

Cynthia, who plays Elphaba in the films,  said of one recent late-night text exchange with Ariana: “She’s a sweetheart. I was like, ‘Why are you up so late?’ Because we’re like grandmothers, the two of us.

“We like to sleep early. For some reason I was up at 11 here, which meant she was up at two wherever she was. I said, ‘Why are you up so late?’ She was like, ‘I know, it’s new, isn’t it? I’m never up this late’.

“I said, ‘No you’re not, what’s going on?’. And she said, ‘I’m taking every second I can get right now because you’re usually asleep by now’.”

The  first Wicked movie became the highest-grossing UK release of 2024, taking £59.6million at the box office.

It led to Cynthia being nominated for an Oscar, Bafta, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actress.

The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is expected to be just as big and hits UK cinemas on Friday, continuing the tale of the  witches of Oz.

Adapted from the hit musical, Wicked follows Elphaba, a student sorceress shunned by her own father for her green skin, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, while her spoiled roommate Glinda ends up as the Good Witch of the North.

Cynthia tells how she endured ­similar heartache when her own dad walked out of her life for good when she was a teenager.

She and her sister Stephanie were very young when their Nigerian father left their mother Edith, a nurse, to bring up the girls alone.

Edith remarried when Cynthia was five and she continued to see her dad “two or three times a week”.

I think he just was not set up to be a dad. I don’t think it was his bag

Cynhtia

She told The Armchair Expert ­podcast: “My mum was really, I think, kind and gave him the space to come and visit if he wanted to.

“We would go over to him from time to time as well. She really made the space for us if he wanted to build a relationship.

“And he just didn’t. I think he  was just not set up to be a dad. I don’t think it was his bag.”

Recalling how she became estranged from her father,  Cynthia added: “I was 16 when my dad decided not to be a part of my life.”

By then, she had already joined a local youth theatre group and was singing hymns at a Catholic church near her home in Stockwell, South West London.

She went on to start a degree in musical psychology at the University of East London, but quit after securing a place at top acting school Rada.

Her early bid to break into UK telly flopped with an appearance on Channel 4 reality show Trust Me, I’m A Teenager and a small part in ITV period drama Mr Selfridge.  Hopes of a breakthrough  in Simon Cowell and

Harry Hill’s £6million X Factor ­musical, I Can’t Sing, were dashed as the run closed after seven weeks.

But her singing voice impressed casting directors.

She made her West End debut in the stage musical The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and, in 2013,  won a place in a British stage adaptation of The Color Purple, the 1985 movie that starred Whoopi Goldberg.

Since then, her roles have included Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet and a part in Netflix thriller Luther: The Fallen Sun.

But the one person  she always wanted to impress was her father.

She secretly hoped with her  ­becoming famous, he would change his mind about being in her life. Cynthia said: “I think I was using, for a small amount of time, my career as a conduit to find a way to get him back.

‘Look what you gave up, you’re going to regret leaving this’. Yeah, that kind of thing.”

Cynthia has turned to therapy to help her deal with the trauma.

‘MAKE MISTAKES’

She said: “Until you get your head around it and get some control on what it is that you’re actually looking for, what you’re trying to fix in that, it will keep going.

“Thank goodness for a good therapist — that s**t really helped.”

Now, she has finally let go and learned to forgive.  She told The Cruz Show podcast: “It took me ages to let go of parents. It’s like my father, I had to let that go and it’s taken me a long time to get there . . . to realise that it’s a human being who is also fallible and who will make mistakes.”

Cynthia admits that clinging on to that pain for such a long time held her back.

She said: “When you let go, you have to start living. What I keep doing is trying to find the things that challenge me the most, that force me to learn more, that keep me honest  in my craft, that don’t let me get complacent and lazy.”

Wicked was a challenge. The movies were filmed in the UK in chronological order,  back-to-back,  between Dec- ember 2022 and January 2024, with a break in 2023 due to an actors’ strike.

Cynthia, who is dating Lena Waithe, an American actress, producer, and screenwriter, admits that even today she still gets crippled by anxiety.

She explained: “I think if I lose the nervousness, then I know something’s wrong. Because my nervousness tells me I care. The second that disappears, we’ve got a problem.

“So I relish the moments when my heart’s beating fast and I’m nervous. I always forget the first line. Whenever I’m about to go on, the first line will go out  my head.  That’s nerves.

“But when I stand in front of people, it always comes back. It means I care about being here, I care about the people watching.”

Thank goodness for a good therapist, that s**t really helped

Cynthia

When those jitters hit, she relies  on strict pre-performance rituals. She said: “Breathing for me is always key.

“And I always say a prayer before I go on stage. Also, nervousness can sometimes be the mirror looking at yourself.

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“So what I try to do is turn the performance into something I can give. So I ask to be used like a vessel.

“Let whatever I’m singing be for whoever is out there listening. For whoever needs it.”

If you’ve watched the Screen Actors Guild Awards over the years, you’ve heard the name of the prize countless times, even if it hasn’t quite registered.

“And the Actor goes to … Timothée Chalamet.”

“And the Actor goes to … Demi Moore.”

“And the Actor goes to … ‘Conclave.’”

Now, in an effort to lean into the name of the statuette and streamline the show’s title, the Screen Actors Guild Awards announced Friday that it is renaming the ceremony to the Actor Awards. Or, if you want to get precise (and a bit verbose): the Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA.

“Now that our global audience is really growing, people don’t always understand what the union name is,” says awards committee chair JoBeth Williams. “But ‘the Actor Awards’ they recognize and they know they’re going to see their favorite actors when they tune in.”

The SAG Awards have long been a reliable precursor to the Oscars on the awards season calendar, with last year being an exception. (Chalamet, Moore and “Conclave,” winner of the guild’s best picture equivalent, the ensemble honor, did not repeat their SAG successes.)

Since the event moved to Netflix in 2024 from TNT and TBS, viewership numbers have increased, besting pre-pandemic levels. Last year, per Netflix, the ceremony received 4.3 million views on the platform.

That’s a far cry from just four years ago, when the pandemic forced ceremonies to postpone and shuffle dates, and the Grammys thought nothing of landing on the SAG Awards’ original date. (SAG-AFTRA voiced its “extreme disappointment,” then slunk off to Easter Sunday for a scheduled one-hour telecast.)

“[Netflix] saw the potential of the show to really grow an audience,” says Jon Brockett, longtime showrunner and executive producer. “We’re on 190-plus countries now on Netflix. So the simplification of the name, from a global perspective, should bring about even greater awareness to understand who we are and what we’re all about.”

Which is, in a word: actors. Like the Golden Globes, the Actor Awards (we’ll just start calling it that now, trying it out for size) reward lead and supporting performances in movies and television, and, in lieu of “best picture” or “best series,” prizes for acting ensembles. Unlike the Golden Globes, the ceremony has not been beset by scandal or raised questions about unethical self-dealing.

Nominations for the Actor Awards are chosen by two nominating committees, one for film and one for television, comprising 2,500 SAG-AFTRA members that are randomly selected each year. Winners are then selected by active SAG-AFTRA members, a massive voting body numbering more than 130,000.

“We are all doing what these folks up there on the screen do, so we have a strong sense of what it takes to do that and what it takes to make it really special,” Williams says of the awards’ voters. “The eyes of the voters are very tuned in to what actors do.”

The Actors Awards will stream live on Netflix on March 1. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 7.

The series is an adaptation of an acclaimed book

Netflix has announced a brand-new thriller led by Gangs of London star Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, adapted from a hit crime novel, after others have enjoyed another thriller and some have watched a 10/10 series.

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby will be getting the small-screen treatment by Netflix.

The story set in the Deep South follows Titus Crown (paled by Dìrísù), the county’s first black sheriff, who is being taunted by taunted by a serial killer.

Crown is haunted by his deeply religious mother’s sudden death as he tries to track down the murderer, who has been quietly targeting the African American community of Charon County, Virginia for years, supposedly in the name of god. Can Crown track the killer down before they strike again?

Netflix has confirmed the forthcoming show will consist of nine episodes and features an all-star cast, including Disclaimer’s Leila George, All American’s Daniel Ezra, John Douglas Thompson from The Gilded Age, The White Lotus’ Murray Bartlett, Nicole Beharie from The Morning Show, and On My Block’s Andrea Cortés.

Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s screenwriter Joe Robert Cole has written the series.

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Cole said about signing onto All the Sinners Bleed: “The specificity of the world S.A. Cosby created truly swept me away, and Titus Crown seized my heart.”

The show is being executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground Productions, alongside Amblin Television and author Cosby.

In fact, All the Sinnners Bleed was originally on former American president Obama’s summer reading list.

All the Sinners Bleed came out in 2023 and was named by the Guardian as one of the best crime and thrillers of the year, while The Times declared it thriller of the month and the Financial Times heralded it one of the Best New Crime Books.

Readers have left their book reviews for All the Sinners Bleed on Amazon, with one person saying in their five-star review: “I was gripped from the first chapter” and added: “Very refreshing to read a thriller from an African American perspective. I see a powerful Netflix series in the future!”

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A second five-star review was titled: “Hoping it’s first of a series, more please.” The reader stated: “Excellent thriller, for fans of John Connolly and James Lee Burke; hope Netflix do it justice with the forthcoming series.”

A third top-tier review declared: “Simply exquisite. So brilliantly written. I cannot stress highly enough just how great SA Cosby’s prose is.

“The characters are multi layered and I deeply cared about their well being. That’s so rare in a thriller where normally plot overtakes any kind of character development. Titus is a gem and I won’t easily forget him.”

While a fourth person said: “Boy that was an intense read. Cosby is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. His books are bleak, gritty, disturbing but splattered with memorable characters and great story telling and at the heart of them the worst and best of human nature.”

All the Sinners Bleed is in development with Netflix

Netflix’s The Beast in Me has been a hit with viewers

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from The Beast in Me

Netflix’s latest gripping thriller, The Beast in Me, has been captivating audiences with its stellar cast and breathtaking locations, reports the Express.

The eight-part drama stars Homeland’s Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, known for his role in The Americans.

The Beast in Me is the brainchild of the team behind Homeland and sees Danes portray Aggie Wings, a troubled author who becomes intrigued by her new neighbour Nile Jarvis (Rhys) after discovering he was the main suspect in his wife’s murder.

Nile is widely believed to have murdered his wife but managed to evade punishment.

Before Nile’s arrival, Pulitzer Prize-winning memoirist Aggie had been grappling with writer’s block, her life tainted by tragedy.

What ensues is a tense psychological thriller as Aggie seeks the truth while pretending to pen a new narrative for Nile.

The series also stars Brittany Snow, Natalie Morales, David Lyons, Tim Guinee, and Deirdre O’Connell.

The Beast in Me is packed with unexpected twists and turns, but viewers are particularly curious about one character.

Does the dog die in The Beast in Me?

Aggie’s pet dog Steve makes an early appearance in the show as danger looms.

In the series, it’s revealed that Steve was named by Aggie’s late son, adding a touching layer to his presence.

Fortunately, Steve the pooch makes it through to the finale of the Netflix thriller, allowing viewers to relax.

Steve isn’t the sole four-legged character in the programme, as Nile also owns a pair of guard dogs that form part of his sophisticated security apparatus protecting his residence.

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

While Nile’s hounds get sedated and mistreated at one stage, they emerge unscathed by the show’s conclusion.

The Beast in Me’s showrunner Howard Gordon spoke to Tudum about what initially drew him to the venture.

He revealed: “One of the things that drew me to the show initially was that we’re living in a time with texts and threads and smearing people and jumping to conclusions, but it’s always been this way.”

Gordon continued: “Whether it’s Monica Lewinsky or Amanda Knox or Nile Jarvis, sometimes we are quick to make assumptions, and to believe what we’re reading, and to be led to believe what we want to believe for whatever set of reasons.

“But when we are forced to look at it from another angle, do we have the humility and the compassion to listen, and to revise the narrative?”.

The Beast in Me represents a collaboration between executive producer Gordon and actress Danes, who previously joined forces on Homeland.

The Beast in Me is streaming on Netflix now

I USED to fancy the pants off of Charlie Hunnam.

But after seeing him turn into creepy serial killer Ed Gein in the latest instalment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster series on Netflix, I have cooled a little.

Luckily for Charlie, his girlfriend Morgana McNelis was spotted with a huge diamond on her ring finger, so it looks like she said yes top being his wife.

She was seen wearing the enormous rock during a day out this week.

A photographer friend of mine in the US said: “Charlie and Morgana have been together for almost 20 years so it’s about time he popped the question.

“She had this huge diamond on her ring finger, so it seems like Charlie has asked her to be his wife.

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“This is the first time she’s ever been seen wearing it too, so maybe that Netflix pay cheque came in handy.”

Charlie previously admitted Morgana had been pushing him towards the aisle, despite the actor feeling “indifferent” about getting married.

He said: “She does not feel the same. She’s very eager.

“I’ll do it because it’s important to her but I don’t have any great romantic feelings towards it.”

After feeling the heat from social media, Charlie later clarified his comments and said: “That really hurt my girlfriend’s feelings and I really regretted saying that.

“I actually didn’t mean it at all, it was, frankly, just stupid s**t I said in the heat of the moment.

“I’m, like, so romantic, and the reality is I sort of consider myself married. I’ve been with my girlfriend for 14 years.

“I suppose what I was trying to articulate is the official government sanction of it doesn’t mean anything to me, but the romance of it means an enormous amount.”

After that hoohaa, I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie went all out with his proposal.

Ellie’s beau strips for vid

ELLIE GOULDING has roped in a favour close to home for her new video – by enlisting her real-life boyfriend to play the love interest.

She will drop the visuals to Destiny at 3pm today and my exclusive first look shows her with muscly actor Beau Minniear, who I told you she was dating in July.

It features a series of steamy scenes, including Ellie hugging the topless hunk, straddling him with a camera in hand, and, in one of the quirkiest parts, snogging with veils over their faces.

Now I’m excited for the next album.

Gaga lithium breakdown

LADY GAGA had a psychotic episode after shooting A Star Is Born, which is why she cancelled much of the European leg of her 2018 Joanne tour.

She told Rolling Stone magazine: “I did A Star Is Born on lithium.”

On breaking down afterwards, she said: “There was one day that my sister said to me, ‘I don’t see my sister any more’.

“And I cancelled the tour. There was one day I went to the hospital for psychiatric care.

“I needed to take a break. I couldn’t do anything. I completely crashed, it was really scary.

“There was a time where I didn’t think I could get better . . .  I feel really lucky to be alive. I know that might sound dramatic, but we know how this can go.”

Thankfully Gaga, who said she is on “some, but not as many” antipsychotics now, is in a much better place.

And she’s got a surprise career away from music, having co-founded a skin-health research firm in the US alongside her fiancé Michael Polansky.

It’s called Outer Biosciences and 20 employees.

Meanwhile, the couple are more eager than ever to tie the knot.

Michael said: “We’re talking about it all the time. We have these breaks, and they’re tempting.

“It’s like, ‘OK, can we get married that weekend?’ We don’t want a really big wedding, but we want to enjoy it.”

Sara sis surprise

IT’S the final day of Sara Cox’s epic Radio 2 Great Northern Marathon for Children In Need – and she has absolutely smashed it.

Through tears and triumph, the teatime presenter proved that with great support, physical resilience and pure grit you can achieve so much.

She will today complete the 135 miles, heading past my old University digs in Headingley, Leeds, for the final mission of getting Pudsey Bear to the Yorkshire town of Pudsey.

Sara was yesterday given an extra boost as her sister Dot turned up to give her a cuddle, with Sara telling me: “That was a lovely surprise.”

And she got another when her mum Jackie rang her, saying: “We’re tracking you from India.”

Sara said: “It’s been amazing and painful. My shins are so sore.”

Speaking to me ahead of the final day, Sara paid tribute to the thousands of people who have turned out for her along the route.

Some have driven miles to catch a glimpse of her.

Sara told me: “The people coming out in the villages made me skip along a little bit faster. It’s been tough finishing in the dark because miles in the dark just seem to go so slowly.

“It has been brutal and tough but I’ve been given such a boost from people. It’s been amazing.”

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Sara was this morning starting to push her fundraising to over £3million. I expect donations to go through the roof as she appears live on BBC One’s Children In Need tonight.

If you can, join me in donating at donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/sara.

Netflix thriller The Beast in Me follows a grieving author following the tragic loss of her young son

The Netflix thriller, The Beast in Me, follows the story of a grieving author, Aggie Wiggs (played by Claire Danes), who is dealing with the tragic loss of her young son.

After being torn apart from her ex-wife due to the harrowing event, she lives alone until a new neighbour, Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), moves into a stunning manor house across the street.

Set against the backdrop of beautiful forests, green spaces and streets lined with striking homes, the series offers a visual treat for viewers.

So where was this gripping series filmed?

The Beast in Me was shot in Red Bank, a borough located in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

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Known for its picturesque location along the Navesink River, the borough has been used as a backdrop for many other films and TV shows.

Additional filming took place in Raleigh, North Carolina, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Specific locations included Tamaques Park in New Jersey, along with other popular spots such as Branch Brook Park, 33 Washington Street and 98 Frelinghuysen Avenue. A warehouse on Mulberry Street was also used, as well as Poinier Street, Independence Park, Halsey Street, National Newark Building Broad Street, Unique Design Menswear in Branford Place and 289 Washington Street.

According to The Cinemaholic, an entire block in East and West Front Street was transformed for the series. They reported: “The entire block was transformed into a film set, with JR’s restaurant at 17 West Front Street redressed as Roberto’s Pizzeria for the series.

“The 26 West On The Navesink, located at 26 West Front Street, also features in a few scenes. In addition, the Molly Pitcher Inn, situated at 88 Riverside Avenue, served as yet another prominent production location.”

The series was filmed in the township of Belleville, with Carewell Health Medical Center and Essex County Airport also serving as locations.

The Beast In Me was shot from September 2024 to late January 2025.

The Beast in Me is on Netflix

GIG GOERS at Butlins were left stunned when a Hollywood movie star came out onstage to DJ.

Playing some trance music at Fatboy Slim’s All Back to Minehead weekender this month, this movie star went viral on social media when fans realised who he was.

Tom Cruise’s movie co-star, Simon Pegg, was spotted DJing at holiday resort Butlins this month for the Fatboy Slim event.

Several holiday makers took to TikTok to share videos of the Mission Impossible star as he got his groove on behind the decks.

Simon could be seen DJing like a pro as he played some trance music to the crowd in front of him.

“Simon Pegg at f***ing Butlins,” one user penned over the video.

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In the caption, the TikToker added: “One of the best nights of my life, I’m a Butlins convert.”

Fans of Simon then went wild in the comments section when they realised he was DJ’ing at the holiday resort.

One person penned: “This is iconic.”

Another said: “It’s so random but loving it !!”

“Was a good gig! Just got back,” added a third.

“Everyone’s a DJ these days,” penned a fourth.

“So basically everyone’s a DJ,” wrote a fifth.

“His set is great, seen him at festivals,” said a seventh.

In May of this year, Simon opened up about his passion for DJing.

The actor has a music room at the end of the garden kitted out with CDJ-3000s and shelves of vinyl.

He regularly DJs at parties and festivals having self-taught himself three years ago.

Speaking to Hollywood Authentic, he said: “DJing reminds me of doing stand-up comedy, in that you have an audience, and they react immediately to what you’re doing.

“Stand-up is like, they either laugh or you die.

“With DJing, they either dance or you die!”

As well as his DJing stint at Butlins for the Fatboy Slim All Back to Minehead weekender, he played tunes at the Big Feastival in August 2025.

He also DJ’d in Kefalonia, Greece, at the Captain’s Bar in Skala in July 2025. 

Away from the decks, Simon is good pals with his Mission Impossible co-star Tom Cruise.

Speaking to the previously mentioned publication, Simon opened up about what he learned from Tom over the years.

He said: “I get asked about him all the time because he very rarely speaks about himself in public. You know, even in private, he’ll always switch the conversation back to you.

“But everyone’s so desperate for some kind of concrete information about him because he’s such an enigma.

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“But I think that’s part of his success, that he’s maintained that. He’s maintained the interest in himself simply by just taking a step back, because he can.

“His journey is extremely simple when you look at it. He’s just always given 100% to everything that he does. Everything,” he added.

Eddie Murphy is set to star in his own Netflix special Being Eddie, which will take a look at his life and career for the first time.

Eddie Murphy might be amongst the most celebrated comedy legends of our time, but his early years were overshadowed by his father’s tragic and unexpected passing.

Being Eddie, a brand-new Netflix documentary launching on Wednesday, November 12, will offer an unprecedented glimpse into the life of the beloved actor and comedian Eddie Murphy.

Viewers will not only hear directly from the star himself but will also be introduced to his loved ones and given exclusive access to his opulent Beverly Hills mansion.

However, his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, was worlds apart from his current lifestyle, as he emerged from a fractured household following the separation of his father Charles Edward Murphy and mother Lillian Murphy when he was just three years old.

The Coming to America legend previously revealed to Rolling Stone that he retained only “very dim memories” of his father due to the divorce and Charles’ untimely demise five years afterwards.

In 1969, Eddie Murphy’s father Charles was allegedly killed in a stabbing by a woman consumed with jealousy.

The performer revealed: “He was a victim of the Murphy charm ‘chuckles’.

“A woman stabbed my father. I never got all the logistics.

“It was supposed to be one of those crimes of passion: ‘If I can’t have you, then no one else will’ kind of deal.'”.

He went on: “Someone said to me one day, ‘That’s why you don’t trust women.'”.

“Get the f**k outta here. What are you, a f*****g psychiatrist?

“I don’t think the two have anything to do with each other.

“But I was really f-ked up about his death. It was really traumatic.”

Eddie has faced more than his fair share of loss in his life.

His uncle and father figure, Raymond Leon “Uncle Ray” Murphy, passed away in October 2013 at the age of 74.

In Eddie’s early career days, Uncle Ray was the head of his security and even had minor roles in some of his nephew’s films like Coming to America and Beverly Hills Cop II.

Tragedy struck again when Eddie’s older brother, fellow actor and comedian Charlie Murphy, died from Leukaemia in 2017 at just 57 years old.

Charlie was a talented individual who wrote and starred in the sketch comedy series Chappell’s Show and featured in the sitcom Black Jesus.

Being Eddie is set to premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, November 12.

This week, Lionsgate is betting that the odds will be in their favor when “The Hunger Games: On Stage” opens at London’s Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre.

The play, which is based on the young adult novel by Suzanne Collins and 2012 film that catapulted actor Jennifer Lawrence into the mainstream, is just the latest film-to-stage adaptation from Hollywood.

This isn’t a new playbook. After all, Disney revolutionized the space by adapting its animated films like “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” into Broadway musical hits. But it is one that studios are turning to again, particularly as they look to connect more deeply with audiences and expand the fan base of their franchises.

Last year, Universal Theatrical Group debuted a musical stage adaptation of the 1992 film “Death Becomes Her” on Broadway.

In addition to “The Hunger Games,” Lionsgate has several other theatrical shows in the works, including a stage adaptation of the 2017 film “Wonder” opening in Boston in December, as well as “Now You See Me Live” opening that same month at the Sydney Opera House.

Next year, there will be a stage version of “La La Land,” as well as a new production of the iconic classic “Dirty Dancing.” (Of course, the opposite is also happening, with “Wicked” as the most recent example of a book-to-stage-to-film pipeline.)

“When you look at the way that fans are engaging with entertainment, there are so many different mediums that are important now, and experiential is a big one,” Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s president of global products and experiences, said an interview. “With all of us spending so much time online and in digital mediums, the idea of that shared live experience in a theater is something that’s highly appealing.”

But getting “The Hunger Games” to the stage wasn’t easy — the process took almost seven years from the inception of the idea to first previews. As part of the show’s development, the producers also built a custom theater in London. Brown spoke with The Times about why the dystopian franchise was a good candidate for live theater and why communal experiences are so important.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What made “The Hunger Games” ripe for the stage?

It’s an enduring story that has so much relevance to occurrences that happen in the world today. I think that there’s just a ton of cultural significance.

And what we know about “The Hunger Games” is that there’s always a new wave of fans that discover it. Now we’re seeing Gen Alpha reading the books and watching the movies, and of course, we have Gen Z fans and millennial fans, and parents from other generations who have been on the journey with their children. It’s a way to bring aspects of the book to life, maybe in a different interpretation, or to let fans be able to explore certain things in a greater depth than we were able to do on a movie screen.

What does a stage play do for audiences that, say, a series or ride does not?

When you’re seeing something live, we don’t have the tricks that we have behind a camera in a movie.

You have to really find ways to bring the audience on a journey, and you can’t hide anything. That’s part of the magic of the experience, and for fans to be there and be mesmerized by some of the things that we’re executing in real time on a stage with special effects and illusions and real people doing the stunt choreography and the stunt work right in front of you, I think that there’s a lot of value in that type of experience.

Does this allow you to reach different audiences than those who already saw the films?

Obviously, a lot of fans are interested, but I think theatergoers in general, who maybe haven’t been as exposed to “The Hunger Games” or aren’t super fans, are going to be interested from the theater side of it. There’s been a lot of buzz and excitement in London, in the theater world, knowing that we had a new theater being built.

In general, lots of of people want to engage with experiences. We’re seeing just a huge sort of upward trend in interest, particularly amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Someone who maybe has read the books but hasn’t seen the movie yet will come see the stage show and then watch the movie. And I think this idea of all of it feeding each other, depending on which entry point you choose, is a really interesting thing for us as a studio to think about.

Did the pandemic turbocharge interest in live entertainment?

It’s an interest in live stage and live entertainment, and the idea of getting out again, supporting the arts and supporting shared experiences. We’ve definitely seen, thankfully, a recovery and an upswing in that area.

How big of a business is the stage aspect of Lionsgate global products and experiences?

We have three shows opening before the end of this year, and about that number slated for next year. So it really is a very busy and active space for us, and I think more in the pipeline. We probably are spending about a third of our time in this space, and I don’t see that changing.

Stuff We Wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

$80 million

After a sleepy October, Walt Disney Co. and 20th Century Studios’ “Predator: Badlands” conquered the box office this past weekend, grossing $40 million in the U.S. and Canada for a total of nearly $80 million worldwide.

The haul is the highest global opening for any film in “Predator” franchise history, surpassing 2018’s “The Predator,” which notched $73.5 million.

The strong start for the Elle Fanning-led “Predator: Badlands” provides a hopeful start for November’s theatrical fortunes. So far this year, domestic box office revenue is about $7.2 billion, up 3.1% compared with the previous year, according to Comscore. But when compared with pre-pandemic 2019, that number is still down 24.7%.

Finally …

My colleague, Malia Mendez, wrote about a TV writer who found a second career in ceramics after the slowdown in Hollywood left him out of work. His most popular workshop — Tattoo a Mug.

FORGET the Oscars, the Met Gala or a Royal wedding.

This weekend saw the VIP event to rule them all, in the form of Kris Jenner’s 70th star-studded black-tie birthday party.

Make no mistake, every celebrity worth their diamonds can gather a gaggle of A-listers, but this event was something different.

The 007-themed bash collected some of the world’s biggest names in business and tech, movies and music for a night of total luxury and couture-costumed backslapping.

Hosted by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos at his and new wife Lauren Sanchez’s Hollywood megamansion, it was proof to the guests — and millions of fans now lapping up every detail they can via Instagram — that Kris Jenner is the unrivalled queen bee.

She is bigger in power and influence than any other fellow guest in attendance, including talk show legend Oprah Winfrey, tech pioneer Bill Gates, multi-platinum singer Mariah Carey, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and Kris’s own daughter, Kim Kardashian.

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And getting on her guestlist is the equivalent of getting a glowing write-up in the Who’s Who of modern-day heavyweights.

Essentially, Kris can make or break you — but if she likes you, you’re really winning.

It’s a truth that was etched proudly across Meghan Markle’s face as she smiled her way into Kris’s exclusive birthday bash.

Flanked by her less enthusiastic husband Prince Harry, Meghan looked like the cat who had got the cream — which, for her, has been a long time coming.

Meghan may have rejected royal life before hightailing it to the US in 2020, but Buckingham Palace is a long way from Beverly Hills — and across the pond, Kris has more influence, cachet and showbiz know-how than any British monarch.

Since stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry have done their best to ingratiate themselves in the up­per echelons of LA, mingling with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Beyonce and actress Kerry Washington.

But they have fallen out with the likes of power couples Victoria and David Beckham and George and Amal Clooney — both of whom have cut them from A-list social functions.

Grandiose pitches

Meanhwile, Meghan apparently pursued her own goal: An actual friendship with Kris, who, as well as holding influence, knows better than most about the art of rebranding.

Let’s remember, her family were once jokingly labelled “the Kartrashians”, known for flogging slimming teas on Instagram and attending the opening of an envelope.

But the joke’s now firmly on all their critics, since they turned themselves into the one of the most lucrative family brands the world has ever seen — one to rival a royal fold.

And it’s Kris who has masterminded the whole thing — a fact immortalised the day she was filmed cooing at Kim, “You’re doing amazing, sweetie!” while her daughter posed nude for a Playboy magazine shoot in 2007.

Back then, she had already launched the entire family on network TV with their own reality series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, building on the infamy of Kim’s sex tape.

And though the family’s fame in the early days was easily mocked, they’ve since each cemented themselves as aspirational power players in their own right.

Kim and her sister Kylie Jenner are billionaire business moguls with their respective fashion and beauty lines SKIMS and Kylie Cosmetics, while Kendall Jenner is one of the biggest fashion models in the world.

As for Kourtney and Khloe, everything they touch also turns to gold.

Momager Kris still takes ten per cent of her family’s earnings and is well worth the levy, because having a steer and a nod from her is worth its weight in Hollywood opportunities.

Meghan’s long known this, but her efforts so far have mostly been met with muted interest.

Last year, she sent a batch of her home-made jam to Kris, and before that she and her own mum Doria Ragland previously rubbed shoulders with Kris and Kim at various charity dos.

But getting an invite to THE party of the year is the ultimate seal of approval for Meghan, and a sign that her and Harry’s luck might now be changing after all.

So far, they have been slammed by insiders for not following through on lucrative brand deals and mocked for constantly going back on grandiose pitches and promises.

In 2023, Spotify pulled the plug on their $20million audio deal after Meghan produced just 12 episodes of content for her podcast Archetypes, with one exec at the audio streamer labelling them “f***ing grifters”.

And even though Netflix has now produced two series of the universally mocked cookery and lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, it’s been reported that she and Harry are no longer the streaming giant’s golden couple.

Their $100million deal with the streamer has now been downgraded to a “first-look deal” with a reportedly massive pay cut.

In the past week, we revealed how Meghan is returning to acting with a role in the upcoming movie comedy Close Personal Friends.

Having shunned the showier side of showbiz post-royal life, it’s clear she now needs Hollywood’s endorsement more than ever — so getting through the door of Kris’s VIP-packed party is a pretty momentous achievement.

Devotedly loyal

Jeff Bezos’s role as host attests to Kris’ social standing. Not content with putting on their lavish three-day wedding in Venice which was attended by the Kardashian clan, the Amazon boss and his wife Lauren proved there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their dear friend Kris.

So it only stands to reason that Jeff would be all-ears to any film or TV ideas Meghan might have for his Prime streaming service — provided she has Kris’s seal of approval.

Other heavyweights who donned their gladrags for Kris included Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who arrived carrying a perfectly wrapped, rectangular gift (prompting the internet to wonder just what a billionaire brings as a birthday present).

Bill has a lot to thank Kris for, as she recently invested in Phia, an AI shopping start-up co-launched by his daughter Phoebe.

Kris knows what The Godfather taught us long ago: Make sure people owe you enough to remain committed and devotedly loyal.

But the night wasn’t all about business deals, and it’s safe to say that every star who attended the function — many of them dressed in red — had a night to remember.

Maintaining the party’s James Bond theme, Kris brandished a tiny pistol — stressing the point that she’s the one who wields the power.

Dressed in a frilled, hot-red ballgown and dramatic black gloves, the mum-of-six proudly displayed her most expensive purchase — a new facelift, which reportedly cost between $150,000 and $230,000.

She unveiled the results earlier this year, saying, “This is ageing gracefully, my version.”

And she certainly looked delighted with herself on the night, as did her younger actor boyfriend, Corey Gamble, 45, who lovingly followed 70-year-old Kris around all night.

Among the other VIPs attending were Motown legend Stevie Wonder, Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, socialite Paris Hilton, rapper Snoop Dogg, singer Adele and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger — while hitmaker Bruno Mars performed live.

The night was so eventful that police were called to the premises several times after neighbours complained about loud music.

Cameras were strictly forbidden, but the birthday girl did later post a carousel of photos on Instagram which showed red roses, sweeping scarlet drapery, flowing champagne, 007-themed lighters and poker chips.

It was all accounted for, and Kris was royally venerated like the modern-day monarch she has risen to be.

The rise itself is pretty spectacular, considering her modest beginnings.

Born in San Diego in 1955 to an aircraft manager dad and children’s clothing store owner mum, Kris briefly worked as an air hostess for American Airlines.

Her only “proper” job, she said it made her “see what hard work and great service looked like”.

While married to Hollywood lawyer Robert Kardashian, who represented OJ Simpson during his 1995 murder trial, she became the standard LA wife who knows all the right people and places, but still stands behind her more successful husband.

But after she divorced Robert and married Bruce Jenner, now Caitlyn, she became the former athlete’s manager and turned his faded Olympic career into lucrative brand deals.

Yet it wasn’t until she pitched her family to E! for reality TV glory that she really proved her mettle.

Coining the term momager, she has now leveraged a C-list family to Hollywood royalty.

The Kardashians now run some of the most exclusive rooms in the world — and for Meghan Markle, getting access to them is crucial.

Attending Kris’s party might just be the start of a beautiful friendship.

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And if Meghan really plays her cards right, she’ll finally hear those four words that mean so much: “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

In the meantime, Meghan — and the rest of Hollywood — know the drill: Curtsey, kiss the ring, and never say no to a Kris Jenner invitation.

Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin appeared on BBC The One Show and opened up about the final season of the show

Stranger Things fans are bracing themselves to bid farewell to the beloved programme that has captivated audiences since 2016, as the final instalment of the science fiction drama draws to a close.

Caleb McLaughlin, who portrays Lucas Sinclair in the Netflix series created by Matt and Ross Duffer, has reflected on wrapping up filming, describing it as the “best day”.

The star joined fellow cast members Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo on BBC’s The One Show on Monday (November 10) evening, where he discussed the upcoming final season with presenters Alex Jones and Angelica Bell, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Alex immediately remarked: “You’ve been together for ages, you’ve grown up together and the chemistry between you is so brilliant.”

The presenter then enquired: “What was it like to film that last moment before they shouted ‘that’s a wrap?'”

Caleb confessed: “It was really emotional honestly. I reference a 90s anime flashback, I felt like I was reminiscing on my future, my present and the past.”

He continued: “I’ve been on the show almost half my life, I mean all of us have. It’s been 10 years, it’s wild. It’s something so deep that I can’t truly understand yet because my frontal lode is still closing but it was an emotional day but one of my best days.”

When questioned about whether he’d managed to take any mementoes from the set, the actor disclosed: “With permission, my bandanna, a wright locket and some clothes from each season.”

After the explosive finale of series four, Netflix unveiled the trailer for series five last month, showing our beloved Hawkins youngsters gearing up for a final showdown with Vecna.

The clip reveals where Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has been lurking, as it begins with the arch-villain stepping out from the shadows in the Upside Down’s version of Hawkins’ town hall, declaring: “We can begin.”

It then switches to the residents of Hawkins, who find themselves “stuck” in their town due to military intervention as authorities attempt to contain the chaos Vecna unleashed at the close of series four.

The tension escalates as Finn Wolfhard’s Mike Wheeler and his mates devise one final assault against Vecna to “end this once and for all”.

The trailer also features Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) using her abilities to soar through the sky, whilst Max (Sadie Sink) is shown being carried from the hospital by Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), who then finds himself chased by a demodog.

In the trailer’s closing moments, an epic confrontation is hinted at, as Vecna lifts Will into the air towards him, saying: “You are going to help me…one…last…time.”

The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer

CYNTHIA Erivo and Ariana Grande looked incredible as the joined forces to lead the stars of Wicked: For Good’s European premiere.

The duo – who star as warring leading ladies Elphaba and Glinda in the second and final part of the beloved musical movie – held hands as they posed on the carpet together.

In a stark change to Glinda’s typical pink and pastel colour palette, Ariana donned a stunning bejeweled black gown for the event, with her newly brunette hair slicked back.

British star Cynthia stole the show in a navy blue and black dress, which was accentuated with a black leather belt and PVC arms.

Her signature long nails were a stunning blue and pink, with the star wearing a giant pink diamond ring on her finger.

Leicester Square was transformed into the Wonderful World of Oz for the event – complete with a yellow brick carpet in place of the classic red.

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Jonathan Bailey, who plays love interest Fiyero, looked comparatively casual as he posed for pics, with the Brit star – recently named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine – wrapping up against the London chill in a great suit and a black coat.

Donning sunglasses as he smiled for the cameras, Jonathan kept his hands in his pockets and showed off a growing beard as he posed.

Notably, Ariana’s partner Ethan Slater – who plays Boq in the films – posed alone, smiling for cameras in a grey and black suit, completing the look with a remembrance poppy on his lapel.

His appearance comes amid rumours the couple have called time on their romance, which is believed to have started while they were filming the two movies back-to-back in England between 2019 and 2021.

Jeff Goldblum, who plays the conniving fraud Wizard, kept in character by wearing a signature emerald green waistcoast, shirt and tie, completing the look with a brown trench coat.

He beamed as he joined his wife, Emilie Livingston, keeping a protective arm around her on the carpet.

Michelle Yeoh looked elegant and stunning in a black gown, draped with pearls and diamonds.

Beaming as she waved to the fans who were waiting outside to catch a glimpse of the cast, the friendly star looked miles away from the cruel and calculated Madam Morrible she plays on screen.

As one of the most anticipated premieres of the year, Wicked: For Good also attracted a host of UK favourites who went all out for the movie, many choosing to wear outfits inspired by the iconic characters.

Myleene Klass gave a little nod to the legendary Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz with glistening ruby slippers, matched with a tiny neon green mini-dress that showed off her legs.

Heart Radio star Ashley Roberts – famed for her daring looks – opted to take inspo from the Tin Man with a silver dress that clung to her body and exposed part of her torso and chest.

Scarlett Moffatt embraced her inner Glinda The Good Witch in a baby pink dress adorned with flowers.

Meanwhile Hannah Lowther, a West End star and TikTok sensation, also showed her allegiance to Glinda with a stunning hot pink tulle mini dress.

Amanda Holden was on typically fine form, also supporting Team Glinda in a pale pink dress with a thigh high slit that showed off her iconic legs.

Despite being Ariana Grande’s half-brother, West End star Frankie Grande proved to be totally team Elphaba in black leather trousers and matching jacket, exposing his entire chest as he happily posed for pictures.

Tasha Ghouri, whose blonde hair was in a slicked back bob, wore a daring black dress with a bodice comprised of flowers.

Taking time off from her gruelling Strictly schedule, Amber Davies joined her boyfriend on the carpet, looking stunning in a pale lemon mini dress with puffy sleeves.

Wicked: For Good is one of the most anticipated movies of the year – and wraps up the tragic story between the warring witches.

The film follows act two of the theatre production – picking up years after the first movie, which saw Elphaba shunned from Oz society and branded a Wicked Witch after discovering the beloved Wizard was a fraud.

With the Wizard and Madame Morrible turning her entire world against her, Elphaba has been living in exile, while her former best friend Glinda became known as a beacon of good for those who live in Oz.

But she’s soon forced out of hiding to end the treachery once and for all – as Glinda and those she loves, including Fiyero, Boq and Nessarose, decide where their loyalties and priorities lie.

The film also interconnects Wicked’s story with that of the Wizard of Oz, with the two tales running in tandem with each other before colliding in an all out finale.

On top of the songs made famous by the musical, Wicked: For Good will also feature two new songs created just for the film – and are already receiving Oscar Buzz.

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The Girl In The Bubble will be sung by Ariana, while No Place Like Home will be performed by Cynthia – and both reflect on what their lives have become and what they are separately fighting for.

Wicked: For Good is available in cinemas from November 21st.

MEGHAN Trainor showed off her dramatic weight loss while stepping out at an event over the weekend.

Fans of the 31-year-old All About That Bass singer were left stunned by her new look, with some even saying how they didn’t recognize her at first.

Stepping out at the Baby2Baby Gala on Sunday night, the Made You Look hitmaker looked very different.

Transforming into a Disney princess for the event, Meghan wore her blonde locks in an up-do which was reminiscent of Cinderella, along with a stunning white gown.

With a sparkly corset style upper and tulle skirt at the bottom, Meghan looked every bit the princess as she walked the red carpet.

Though she looked amazing, fans thought she looked different from how she is known and remembered.

Reacting to Meghan’s slimmed down look, fans have rushed to Instagram, Reddit and X to share their thoughts.

One person said on social media, “Didn’t even recognize her, she’s all treble now.”

“Literally! My brain refused to accept it, like i can’t believe that’s her,” said another.

“Didn’t even realize that was Meghan until your comment ??????” penned a third.

“This is Meghan Trainor? Omg,” said a fourth.

A fifth added, “Omg that doesn’t look like her at all what.”

MEGHAN’S WEIGHT LOSS

Meghan addressed her weight loss back in March of this year when she told Entertainment Tonight she was “trying all the things” and how “science is the secret” to her slimmed down figure.

“I learned a lot of tricks that I had no idea [about],” the singer told Entertainment Tonight in the spring.

She said, “I was working out so incorrectly for so long. I was running and doing cardio and my body was inflamed, always.”

Mentioning a “biohack” she went on to say, “So anything that’ll help me age backward, I’m into it.

“I just learned about the NADs [food supplement capsules].] I was like, ‘make me Hailey Bieber, I’ll do it, I’ll take it’.

“I’m trying all the things. I love a doctor explaining stuff to me.”

Then, one month later she confessed to having used fat jabs in her quest to slim down.

She wrote on Instagram at the time, “I’ve worked with a dietitian, made huge lifestyle changes, started exercising with a trainer, and yes, I used science and support (shout out to Mounjaro!) to help me after my 2nd pregnancy.

“And I’m so glad I did because I feel great.”

BOTCHED BOTOX ADMISSION

At the end of 2024, Meghan shared that she had got “too much Botox“, with the botched filler leaving her unable to smile. 

Speaking out in her podcast Workin’ On It with Meghan Trainor & Ryan Trainor, Meghan shared how she had “too much Botox”.

She confessed “I need help”, after addressing women in their 30s and urging them to keep listening.”

She added: “I messed up. I’ve had Botox a handful of times … just my forehead.

“Someone convinced me with my little lips that if you did a lip flip, you put filler right above your upper lip, that you could have a beautiful flip on your upper lip.

“And I could have one for the first time in my whole 30 years of living — it was not true.”

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She then confessed that she is now unable to smile properly.

“I cannot smile anymore,” she admitted while looking into the camera and showing viewers how wide she could grin.