wows

BRIDGERTON’S Simone Ashley is in pole position to feature in the sequel to Brad Pitt’s movie F1.

The 30-year-old, who starred with Jonathan ­Bailey in the Netflix romance, was cast in this year’s flick but her scenes were cut.

A source said: “A script is already in the works with early plans to go into production next year.”

As well as appearing in Sex Education, Ashley has also lent her acting chops to suspense drama Thriller.

She shot to fame after starring in the hit Netflix show Sex Education.

The star developed her acting skills at the Arts Ed school in Chiswick, which specializes in Musical Theatre & Acting degrees.

FANCY UNDRESS

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Simone has spoken about coming from a traditional Indian family, who finds her acting career “quite scary and unsettling”.

She told Veylex: “My parents are incredibly protective over me, and sometimes I found it quite stifling.

“It made me want to escape and do things my own way. I’ve always been a bit rebellious in that sense.”

“I am incredibly privileged to be apart of a generation where young women from all over the world have more opportunity than ever before, where we are being less stereotyped and walls and being broken down slowly.”

IRINA Shayk poses again for Victoria’s Secret — and looks like she’s never been away. 

The Russian beauty, 39, features in a new festive campaign for the lingerie brand. 

Irina, who has a daughter with actor Bradley Cooper, 50, was one of its Angels at a New York fashion show last week. 

She returned to modelling for the brand last year following an eight-year hiatus. 

Irina first shot to fame after appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011. 

Her breakout moment came the same year as an engagement to football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, who she was with until 2015. 

The supermodel has been linked with NFL legend Tom Brady on and off over the past 12 months.

She was spotted out on a date with the former New England Patriots icon last year.

The pair were then said to have gone their separate ways.

However, the brunette and Brady were said to have rekindled their romance, with the spark clearly still there.

And Irina has shown exactly why she is one of the biggest models in the world in her latest shots.

DEMI Moore poses in a cage-style dress — but says she feels freer than ever.

The screen star, 62, was in celebratory mood after being named one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year.

It comes after she won a Best Actress Golden Globe for her role in horror flick The Substance.

Demi was interviewed by Substance co-star Margaret Qualley for the mag.

She said: “With everything I’ve been through, which has been a lot, I wouldn’t trade where I am today.”

She added a difference with her younger self is the “freedom to know I don’t have to have the answer, and life is not going to be completely stolen from me if I somehow don’t know”.

NO MOORE PARTIES

Demi Moore skips distributor’s Oscars after-party following shocking loss

During Demi Moore’s emotional Golden Globes acceptance speech, she spoke of having been at a “low point” and not thinking she was “enough”.

The actress has battled countless traumas and rejections during her life – including her biological dad leaving before she was born, saving her drug addicted mum from suicide, two spells in rehab and being raped aged 15. 

The star of Ghost, Indecent Proposal and A Few Good Men’s return to form in the satirical horror movie The Substance is one of the greatest Hollywood comebacks of all time.

Having struggled to land a hit movie over the past couple of decades, Demi thought “this was it.”

And when you learn of what the mother-of-three has been through, you’ll know why her best actress win at the Globes on Sunday meant so much.

In her speech, which has gone viral, Demi said: “In those moments when we don’t think we’re smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or are basically just not enough, I had a woman say to me, ‘Just know you will never be enough but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.’”

POP star Sabrina Carpenter is a white for sore eyes in a revealing outfit.

The Espresso singer, 26, was seen leaving TV show Saturday Night Live’s after-party in New York.

She had appeared in a sketch as a young boy interviewing “President Donald Trump” for a podcast.

Sabrina also addressed the controversy over the cover for her latest album Man’s Best Friend, which showed her on all fours being grabbed by the hair.

She said the pic was cropped and joked that the original showed SNL’s Bowen Yang ­lifting her up by the hair after she had been pushed over by actor Martin Short.

Fans have rushed to her defence and accused SNL of “trying to sabotage” her following a tech issue during one of her skits.

NONSENSE

Sabrina Carpenter fans accuse SNL of ‘trying to sabotage’ star after tech issue

manchild

Sabrina Carpenter jokes she’s ‘had to train men’ – as she strips off for shoot

The singer returned to the late-night live sketch comedy show to host and perform on Saturday night but her mic briefly went off mid-skit.

This meant viewers were unable to decipher what the Espresso singer was saying.

She continued to say her lines with the other SNL stars before the mic was switched back on after a few songs.

However, her loyal fans were left unhappy and flocked to social media to share their frustration.

One person wrote: “Brief mic problem. Can’t recall ever seeing that before.”

Another fan of the Grammy award-winner fumed: “Who cut off Sabrina’s mic in the middle of the skit? They tryna sabotage my girl.”

BRAVE Amanda Holden takes to the Britain’s Got Talent red carpet wearing the top that almost saw her flash the show’s audience at auditions.

But an onlooker said the 54-year-old “was being much more careful this time round.”

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Show judge Amanda — in a lop-sided strapless top — nearly exposed herself by lifting her left arm to wave at the crowd as she strutted on stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday.

After adjusting her clothes to preserve her modesty she sat down.

Then, gesturing to her boob, she admitted: “This keeps slipping out every time I raise my arms.”

Yesterday The Sun revealed a small production team were quickly put on “nipple watch” to ensure there were no surprise appearances during filming of the ITV ­talent contest.

Undeterred, Amanda wore the strapless top again.

Our observer reported: “She waved with her left hand, where her top had more coverage than on the right-hand side, and kept her other hand firmly in her pocket most of the time.

“Amanda didn’t want any wardrobe malfunctions again. She was probably already feeling the chill in blustery Blackpool.”

Also dressed for sunnier climes was head judge Simon Cowell in shades, and fellow panellist Alesha Dixon wearing sunglasses and a crop-top.

Only hosts Ant and Dec and new judge KSI — taking over from Bruno Tonioli — looked ready for Lancashire weather.

Auditions for the 19th series of BGT, due to air next year, continue in the seaside town until the end of this week.

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TAYLOR SWIFT has admitted she no longer believed in ­marriage and had given up on love after splitting from long-term boyfriend Joe Alwyn.

The superstar has used her new album The Life Of A Showgirl — out today — to document going from depression to being wooed back to life by her fiancé, Travis Kelce.

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Though in a move that is sure to get the world talking, Taylor savages a ­mystery person, believed to be singer Charli XCX, for mocking her.

Taylor and Travis started dating in the summer of 2023 before he popped the question in August this year.

On lead single The Fate Of Ophelia, Taylor sings: “And if you’d never called for me. I might have drowned in the melancholy.

Rediscovered love of life

“I swore my loyalty to me, myself and I, right before you lit my sky up.”

She adds: “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.

“And if you’d not come for me, I might have lingered in purgatory.

“No longer drowning and deceived, all because you came for me.”

The song is based on Shakespeare’s character Ophelia in Hamlet.

After being toyed with by rich and powerful men, Ophelia goes insane and kills herself by drowning.

The track acts as a bridge between the doom of Taylor’s 11th album The Tortured Poets Department and her new, rediscovered love of life, all thanks to her Kansas City Chiefs man.

On Eldest Daughter, Taylor pines for true love, admitting she feels played and betrayed by men her whole life.

She says: “I’ve been dying just from trying to seem cool. But I’m not a bad bitch.

“The last time I laughed this hard was on the trampoline in somebody’s backyard. I must have been eight or nine.

“The night I fell off and broke my arm. Pretty soon I learned cautious discretion. When your first crush crushes something kind. When I said I don’t believe in marriage, that was a lie.”

Vowing she still secretly pines for true love despite being hardened to disappointment, Taylor sings: “And I’m never gonna let you down. I’m never gonna leave you out. So many traitors. Smooth operators.

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“But I’m never gonna break that vow. I’m never gonna leave you now.”

Despite only being out today, thanks to pre-orders The Life Of A Showgirl is already the fastest selling album of the year.

Written during Taylor’s record-breaking Eras Tour last summer, the record peels back what life was like for the star away from the stage.

On song Elizabeth Taylor, she sings about dating Travis: “Sometimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.

“All the right guys promised they’d stay, under bright lights they withered away. But you bloom. Tell me for real. Do you think it’s forever?”

Despite the glitz and glamour, Taylor says she had “everything and nothing all at once” — pining for true love over material goods.

She sings: “Hey, what could you possibly get for the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?

“Babe, I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust.”

On Opalite, Taylor sings about “dancing through the lightning strikes”, a reference to her splitting with British actor Joe just weeks before embarking on the biggest tour of her career.

Storytelling best

Continuing with the theme of yearning for the simple things in life, Taylor uses Wi$h Li$t to double down on wanting love over material goods.

She pines: “I made wishes on all of the stars. Please, God bring me a best friend who I think is hot, I thought I had it right once, twice but I did not.”

She adds: “I just want you. Have a ­couple kids.”

For the title track, Taylor reverts to her storytelling best alongside fellow superstar Sabrina Carpenter.

The Life Of A Showgirl tells the brutal reality of life on the road chasing fame and fortune.

Taylor sings: “The more you play the more that you pay. You’re softer than a kitten so. You don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe

She continues: “I’m married to the hustle. And now I know the life of a showgirl, babe. And I’ll never know another. Pain hidden by the lipstick and lace.”

As a final nod to her record-breaking 24 months, the song —  and album —  fades out with live audio thanking fans as she takes her final bow on her Eras Tour.

CHARLI XCX

‘It’s sweet all the time you’ve spent on me‘

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THE most brutal track on the album is called Actually Romantic.

It appears to be a full take-down of Brit singer Charli XCX, who is friends with Taylor’s love rat ex Matty Healy.

Charli’s husband George Daniel is part of Matty’s band The 1975.

Taylor sings: “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave.

“High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me.

“Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face. Some ­people might be offended. But it’s actually sweet, all the time you’ve spent on me.”

Charli has long been accused of glamorising drug use – even ­releasing a vinyl of her latest record Brat filled with white powder. Rather than being a flash-in-the-pan spat, the duo have a long ­history.

Charli supported Taylor on her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour. But the Brit hated the experience.

She told Pitchfork mag in 2019: “I’m really grateful that Taylor asked me on that tour. But, as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to five-year-olds.”

From then on things seemed to sour further – and Charli’s Brat album track Sympathy Is A Knife is believed to be about Taylor.

Charli sings: “This one girl taps my insecurities. Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiraling. Cause I couldn’t even be her if I tried.

“I’m opposite, I’m on the other side. I feel all these ­feelings I can’t control.”

SCOTT BORCHETTA

‘They don’t make loyalty like they used to’

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DESPITE plenty of floor fillers, Taylor’s new album is not all sweetness and light. As well as having a dig at Charli XCX, on Father Figure Taylor appears to round on Scott Borchetta.

He is the CEO of her first label Big Machine Records, who sold the rights to her first six albums in 2019.

The track features lines of George Michael’s 1987 single of the same name, as she seemingly talks about how Borchetta, right, boasted about being able to make her a star before stabbing her in the back.

“I’ll be your father figure, I drink that brown liquor. I can make a deal with the devil because my d’s bigger. This love is pure profit, just step into my office.”

She later adds: “They don’t make loyalty like they used to.”

Her reference to brown liquor is thought to be a nod to how Borchetta celebrated selling her masters to Scooter Braun over a glass of whisky.

In an open letter to fans about the sale, Taylor wrote: “These are two very rich, very powerful men.

“Then they’re standing in a wood-panel bar doing a tacky photoshoot, raising a glass of scotch to themselves.

“Because they pulled one over on me and got this done so sneakily that I didn’t even see it coming.”

Earlier this year, Taylor finally bought back her masters.

Hinting at her victory, she ends the track singing: “We drank that brown liquor. You made a deal with this devil. Turns out my d’s bigger. You want a fight, you found it.”

BIZARRE VERDICT

★★★★☆

THE Tortured Poets Department – for me the best Taylor album until now – was always going to be a hard act to follow.

But a drastic change of direction here has served the star well.

Lyrically, she continues at her best – with enough metaphors and coded literary references to keep fans speculating for ages.

Pop records are the hardest to perfect when it comes to both lyrics and melodies, but with producers Max Martin and Shellback by her side, Taylor has once again made magic.

With The Life Of A Showgirl, she proves yet again she’s the best in the business. Are there a couple of skips? Yes. But there’s also some of her best ever work.

Lead single The Fate Of Ophelia is an earworm of a track that’s perfect for both radio and dancefloors. It’s also possibly the most infectious Taylor lead single of all time.

Elizabeth Taylor, Ophalite and Cancelled! are also standouts.

Taylor’s reign atop the music industry is far from over.

ACTRESS Zendaya stretches out to show off her new sneaker range — but doesn’t lose her trainer thought.

She teamed up with Swiss sportswear brand On for her Cloudzone Moon footwear with fashion guru Law Roach.

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The 28-year-old also showed off her abs as she posed in a track jacket and matching shorts.

The new shoes are said to be about “balancing standout style with all-day comfort”.

Zendaya, who is engaged to British Spider-Man big screen hero Tom Holland, 29, say: “Movement has always been a part of how I connect with myself, and movement looks different for everyone.”

Meanwhile the apparel collection, features lightweight, breathable materials designed for everyday versatility.

They include a bomber jacket, a bodysuit and a track jacket with matching shorts.

Zendaya is currently in Glasgow, doubling as New York, to shoot Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

It’s amazing her head isn’t spinning.

The blockbuster film, due to be released next year, has generated excitement amongst locals over the last few months.

The eagerly awaited sequel will see Tom reprise his iconic role.

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The Dodgers’ starting pitcher had no problems on Saturday afternoon.

It was the bulk guy who followed him who ran into issues.

In a 6-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani showed more encouraging signs as a pitcher, throwing two scoreless innings that included a double play in the first and a strikeout of the side in the second.

But, in a reminder of the still-tenuous pitching depth the Dodgers have relied on for much of this first half, long man Justin Wrobleski came back down to earth in a five-run, 4 ⅔-inning outing thereafter, sending the team to a defeat that clinched a series loss to the Astros.

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is tagged out by Houston Astros third base Isaac Paredes while trying to stretch a double into a triple at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

In the big picture, this weekend has offered hope for the Dodgers’ long-term pitching plans.

On Friday, manager Dave Roberts said injured $136.5-million right-hander Tyler Glasnow is on track to return from his shoulder problem during next week’s road trip.

Before Saturday’s game, injured $182-million left-hander Blake Snell threw his second live batting practice of the week, striking out four of the eight hitters he faced in what is expected to be his final simulated session before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Both he and injured reliever Blake Treinen, who also threw an inning of live batting practice Saturday, are lined up to be activated from the IL “at some point in time shortly after the All-Star break,” per Roberts.

Then there was Ohtani, who despite once again being limited to a short workload in his fourth pitching start of the season, was also once again dominant in a 31-pitch display.

After Isaac Paredes singled to lead off the game, Ohtani broke Cam Smith’s bat on a 96-mph fastball for a double-play grounder to second. In the second inning, Ohtani fanned Christian Walker with a slider, then Victor Caratini and Yainer Díaz on a pair of big-breaking sweepers — all while also touching 101 mph on the radar gun.

In his six total innings this year, Ohtani has given up just one run, one walk and four hits while striking out six batters on what was his 31st birthday.

And though it remains unclear exactly when he’ll be fully stretched out — or exactly how built up he will eventually get this year, coming off a second career Tommy John surgery — the Dodgers are inching steadily closer to having the rotation they envisioned this year: One with Ohtani, Snell and Glasnow joining likely All-Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a star-studded quartet the club has spent lavishly the last two offseasons to build.

“We can see a little squint of light,” Roberts said. “It’s taken a little longer than we’ve all expected or hoped for, as far as getting our guys together. So we haven’t gotten there yet. But we’re hopeful and excited.”

In the short term, however, the Astros have put a dent in the optimism the club had clung to among its stable of young pitching depth.

After Ben Casparius was knocked around in a historic blowout on Friday night, Wrobleski suffered a similar fate against Houston’s surging lineup. Upon entering the game at the start of the third, he quickly blew an early 2-0 Dodgers lead, giving up a leadoff single to Cooper Hummel and back-to-back two-strike doubles to Mauricio Dubón (who fouled off fastball after fastball before whacking a full-count heater the other way) and Zack Short (who got three-straight off-speed pitches, pulling the last one down the third-base line to score two runs).

Miguel Rojas, tapped to play third base Saturday in place of the recently injured Max Muncy, made matters worse by misfiring on a tough throw to first on a soft ground ball from Smith with one out, allowing a run to score. Then Walker, an unlikely Dodgers killer over his career, lined a two-out single to right to make it a four-run inning and a 4-2 Astros lead.

Wrobleski did eventually settle down, but not before Díaz homered at the start of the third to put the Astros up there.

That deficit proved insurmountable for the Dodgers. They made it 5-4 when Rojas homered in the fourth (he also had an RBI single in the second inning, and drew a walk in the fifth) but stranded a string of opportunities down the stretch, finishing the day one-for-five with runners in scoring position and with nine men left on base.

THIS nepo-baby looked incredible as she appeared at an exhibition in London last night.

And it’s no surprise, as the actress has grown up with very famous Hollywood parents.

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The 17-year-old was snapped in London at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition Party.

And she looked absolutely stunning as she posed in a sweet pink dress beside her famous mother.

But can you guess who she is? Or who her famous parents are?

The young lady in question is Nell Burton, the daughter of Hollywood director Tim Burton and A-list star Helena Bonham Carter.

Nell made her first movie appearance as a toddler, as a Baby at Dock in the movie “Alice in Wonderland”, directed by her father Tim.

Her mother, Helena, played the Red Queen, starring opposite Johnny Depp as a Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as Alice.

Nell was then seen as a Little Girl at the Train Station in the 2012 fantasy comedy “Dark Shadows”.

She also made an appearance as Girl at Park in the biographical drama “Big Eyes”, about the life of the painter Margaret Keane.

And she appeared as Unnamed classmate in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Tim and Helena met for the first time when he cast her to play in his 2001 movie “Planet of the Apes”, during which the two began their relationship.

Sweeney Todd actress Helena, 59, and Tim, 66, went on to have an unconventional marriage.

The couple famously lived together in adjoining houses in Belsize Park, North London, before knocking them together.

They had two children Billy, 22, and Nell, 17, but split in 2014.

They remained friends after the split with Helena branding the director “very generous”.

She said at the time: “You go through massive grief — it is a death of a relationship, so it’s utterly bewildering.

“Your identity, everything, changes.

“Luckily I’ve kept both houses. He was very generous.”

Helena is now with writer and academic Rye Dag Holmboe, who at 37 is 22 years her junior.

And Tim is with Bond girl and model Monica Bellucci, 66, who presented him with a lifetime achievement award at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon in 2022.

Nell’s older brother has also made appearances in several of their father’s movies.

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LOUISE Redknapp wowed fans as she posed in a bikini top on her girls’ holiday to New York.

The 50-year-old star shared a snap of herself enjoying the sunny weather in the Big Apple.

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Throwing her hands in the air, Louise flaunted her toned figure in the top and low cut shorts.

She captioned her shots: “A little girls trip with Sue.”

Fans were quick to comment on her holiday snaps, with one saying: “Wow u look incredible”.

Another said: “Still stunning after all these years!”

Louise found love again almost two years ago with boyfriend Drew, 41.

Since then, they’ve appeared inseparable, often enjoying music events and spending their summers attending festivals, including Glastonbury and Boardmasters.

If Louise hasn’t been going to festivals, she’s been performing at them, with the singer launching a comeback with her Greatest Hits celebrating her career to date.

She’s also just released her fifth solo album Confessions.

The Strictly winner was with ex Jamie Redknapp for 20 years and they share two sons.

“What’s great is (Drew) is brilliant on a friendship level with the boys,” she told The Sun last month.

“They get on great with him. And that, for me, is super-important. There’s just a real mutual respect there. Obviously Beau is still at school, but we spend a lot of time together.”

The nine-year age gap inevitably led to Drew being described as her “toyboy” and Louise being referred to as a “cougar”.

But it’s “water off a duck’s back,” she added.

“For me, age is irrelevant – within reason – but he’s not 22. I think it’s more about the person and the life experiences and the connection that’s important.”

However, Louise isn’t thinking about walking down the aisle a second time.

“Oh, I’m not even thinking that far ahead. I’m not even going there. Manifesting is a real hint to Drew.

“I’m not going to lie and say it isn’t. But it’s also a life lesson to be present in the here and now, so I’m not thinking down the line. I’m enjoying my relationship, my kids, my album and my life.”

After their split her ex Jamie went on to marry model Frida Andersson in 2021.

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