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"Offer is on the table": New James Bond actor revealed

<p>In a world where the only constant is change, one thing remains certain: James Bond will always be suave, sophisticated, and British.</p> <p>The search for the next 007 has been a rollercoaster of speculation, rumours and hopes dashed faster than a villain's escape plan. But now the wait appears to be over. The man most likely in line to be the next James Bond has been revealed, and his name is Taylor-Johnson ... Aaron Taylor-Johnson. </p> <p>According to a report from <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/26774029/aaron-taylor-johnson-offered-role-james-bond/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Sun</em></a> on Tuesday, Eon Productions, the brilliant minds behind the iconic spy franchise, appear to have finally settled on their man. According to sources as reliable as Bond's impeccable taste in martinis, Taylor-Johnson is set to don the tuxedo and wield the Walther PPK in the next instalment of the series. Well, at least if he accepts the offer.</p> <p>“Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it," <em>The Sun </em>reported. "The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back.</p> <p>“As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”</p> <p>Now, some of you might be scratching your heads, wondering, "Aaron who?"</p> <p>Aaron Taylor-Johnson is an English actor, which automatically makes him qualified for the role. Plus, he's been in action films like <em>Tenet</em>, <em>Bullet Train</em> and <em>Avengers: Age of Ultron</em>. So, he's no stranger to high-stakes thrills and spills. Also, did we mention he's British? Because that's kind of a prerequisite.</p> <p>At 33 years of age, Taylor-Johnson would be the youngest actor to step into Bond's impeccably polished shoes since George Lazenby back in 1969. Talk about big shoes to fill. But if anyone can handle the pressure, it's our man Aaron. </p> <p>Now, some purists might be clutching their martini glasses in horror, lamenting the departure of Daniel Craig, who graced our screens for five thrilling films. But fear not, for change is the spice of life, and if there's one thing Bond knows how to handle, it's change. Besides, who wouldn't want to see what Taylor-Johnson brings to the table? Maybe he'll introduce a new signature drink or a quirky catchphrase. The possibilities are as endless as Bond's list of conquests.</p> <p>The response to <em>The Sun</em>'s announcement has caused a few reactions across the globe, with 9News reporting that "A source with knowledge of the situation tells CNN that Johnson has not been cast as Bond. And, BBC News reports that a 'production insider' said there is no truth to the rumours about Taylor-Johnson's casting."</p> <p>So, as we eagerly await the official announcement from Eon Productions, let us raise our glasses to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the next suave superspy set to save the world, one shaken, not stirred, adventure at a time. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty / Twitter (X)</em></p>

Movies

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Queen Camilla meets . . . Princess Margaret?!

<p>In a collision of regal proportions, the world witnessed an unforgettable convergence of the fictitious and the real, as the one and only Helena Bonham Carter, famous for her portrayal of the indomitable Princess Margaret in seasons three and four of <em>The Crown</em>, found herself in the splendid company of none other than the Queen Consort herself, Camilla, at Clarence House.</p> <p>The rendezvous occurred at a glitzy reception held to celebrate 30 years of the Forward Arts Foundation. The Foundation, on a mission to spread the love of poetry throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, decided to throw this soiree just as London was gearing up for another artistic extravaganza: Frieze Week. Clearly, this was a battle for the city's cultural heart, and poetry had the honour of setting the stage.</p> <p>The highlight of the evening, however, was the majestic meeting of the minds between Bonham Carter and the Queen Consort. As they locked eyes, it was hard to tell who was more starstruck. The actress executed a curtsey so profound it nearly reached the Earth's core before engaging the Queen in delightful conversation.</p> <p>In a refreshing break from her usual attire, which would make even the most extravagant peacock jealous, Bonham Carter sported a dress adorned with bright florals and black feathers, accented by pink ribbons in her hair. Camilla, on the other hand, stole the sartorial spotlight in an arresting peacock feather print shirt dress that must've made any nearby birds quite envious.</p> <p>But Bonham Carter wasn't content with merely being a guest; she also graced the audience with her talents by reciting a poem. Her choice was William Stafford's "Yes," a poem that would have moved Shakespeare himself to stand up, clap and stomp his booted feet.</p> <p>William Sieghart, the founder of the Forward Arts Foundation, expressed his immense pride in the work of the foundation and thanked the Queen for her involvement, calling it "proof of the pudding" that they were indeed making progress.</p> <p>Among the distinguished guests at this intimate soirée were previous winners of the Forward Prizes for Poetry, including the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the actress Karen Bryson, and Bonham Carter’s former <em>The Crown</em> co-star, Natascha McElhone. </p> <p>Speaking of royalty, Netflix's juggernaut series, <em>The Crown</em>, has once again captured our attention. The recent announcement of the November and December release dates for the final season has ignited a whirlwind of excitement and speculation. The promotional artwork for this last hurrah features a moody and atmospheric image of the Queen, played by the talented Imelda Staunton, and a reimagining of the iconic photograph of Princess Diana poised on the diving board of a yacht in Portofino, just a week before her untimely departure from this world.</p> <p>While fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming season, it hasn't been without its controversies. Critics have <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/tv/major-twist-in-store-for-final-season-of-the-crown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised their eyebrows at reports</a> suggesting that the show will include depictions of Princess Diana's "ghost". </p> <p>Bonham Carter herself, who graciously passed her fictitious tiara to Leslie Manville for the final seasons, has spoken out about the show's duty to distinguish between fact and artistic license. During a chat on the show's official podcast back in 2020, she insisted that <em>The Crown</em> carries a "moral responsibility" to remind viewers that this is a work of fiction inspired by facts, not an educational documentary. It's a reminder to us all that even the fanciest of crowns can come with a little disclaimer.</p> <p>So, as the final season of <em>The Crown</em> approaches, we can only wonder what other regal surprises are in store for us. In the meantime, let's raise a glass to the poetic evening at Clarence House, where fact met fiction, and where, for a brief moment, we were all kings and queens of our own whimsical kingdom.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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"It was a loud wake-up call": Aaron Sorkin's serious health scare

<p dir="ltr">Award-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin has revealed he suffered a stroke last November.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with <em>The New York Times</em>, the 61-year-old, who holds three Golden Globes and five Emmys, said the experience was so intense it made him think he might never work again.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There was a minute when I was concerned that I was never going to be able to write again," Sorkin said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin revealed that the stroke occurred two months before rehearsals for his upcoming musical – a re-written version of <em>Camelot</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>West Wing</em> creator said that the symptoms showed up in the middle of the night when he realised that he kept crashing into walls on his way to the kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The symptoms carried on the next day, when he found himself continually spilling a glass of orange juice in his home office.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he went to the doctors they said his blood pressure was so high, he was "supposed to be dead".</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin also shared that he’s still suffering from the side effects as he hasn’t been able to taste food properly since the stroke.</p> <p dir="ltr">A month after the stroke, Sorkin struggled to type and was slurring his words, it’s only recently that he finally built up the coordination to be able to sign his name again.</p> <p dir="ltr">The director shared that the stroke has led him to make some major lifestyle changes.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Mostly it was a loud wake-up call," he said. "I thought I was one of those people who could eat whatever he wanted, smoke as much as he wanted, and it's not going to affect me. Boy, was I wrong," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin has since given up smoking, works out twice a day and has incorporated a healthier diet. "I take a lot of medicine. You can hear the pills rattling around in me," he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The screenwriter is currently preparing for the opening of his new musical, <em>Camelot</em>, which is his fourth Broadway production.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Nick Carter pays tribute to his brother

<p dir="ltr">Nick Carter has paid tribute to his brother Aaron who was found dead at the age of 34. </p> <p dir="ltr">The former teenage heartthrob was found dead at his home in Lancaster, California on November 5 after his friend called police worried about his welfare. </p> <p dir="ltr">His brother, a member of the Backstreet Boys, issued a heartbreaking statement and several photos of the pair together following his death. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My heart is broken. Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkoA-v1II5K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkoA-v1II5K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nick Carter (@nickcarter)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss, but the truth is that addiction and mental illness is the real villain here. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now you can finally have the peace you could never find here on earth….I love you baby brother.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Aaron is survived by his four brothers and sisters, his ex-partner and mother to his baby son, Melanie Martin, 30, and his son, Prince, 11 months old.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Brad Pitt has a list of actors he’ll never work with again

<p dir="ltr">The people you work with have the power to make going to work heavenly or hellish, so it should come as no surprise that Brad Pitt - whose career in acting and producing spans 35 years - would be selective about who he works with.</p> <p dir="ltr">In fact, <em>Bullet Train</em> co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson has revealed that Pitt has a “long” list of actors he never wants to work with again.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor-Johnson told <em>Variety</em> that Pitt keeps notes on who he likes and dislikes when he’s making films.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He just wants to bring light and joy into the world and be around people who are there to have a good time,” the 32-year-old explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You work with many actors and after a while you start making notes - ‘I am definitely not working with this person ever again’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Brad has this list too: the ‘good’ list and the ‘s**t’ list.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0b58473c-7fff-a28a-53f3-7b4800d2810c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But, Taylor-Johnson was tight-lipped as to who was on Pitt’s “s**t list”.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPY8Eyr9kZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPY8Eyr9kZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (@aarontaylorjohnson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">It comes after the <em>Fight Club</em> star recently revealed he would be winding down his acting career to the dismay of her millions of fans.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pitt told a popular men’s magazine that he was on the “last leg” of his career and that he chooses his new projects very carefully.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor-Johnson said his 58-year-old costar “is in a new chapter of his life”, describing him as “a humble and gracious human being”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Quentin Tarantino, who worked with Pitt on <em>Once Upon A Time In Hollywood</em>, said that when Pitt does retire, Hollywood will lose “one of the last remaining big-screen movie stars”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s just a different breed of man,” Tarantino said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7a240c0-7fff-ce3d-7ca0-1b30139672c6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“And frankly, I don’t think you can describe exactly what that is because it’s like describing starshine.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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The Carters celebrate 75 years of marriage

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Needing a date one night while home from the US Naval Academy, Jimmy Carter’s sister paired him with a family friend who already had a crush on him, and would become his future wife.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nearly eight decades later, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are soon to be celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary in the same tiny town where they were born, grew up, and met on that first outing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the years, the pair have travelled the world as naval officer and military spouse, American president and first lady, and more recently as human rights and public health ambassadors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s a full partnership,” the former president told the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Associated Press</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> during a joint interview ahead of their anniversary.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple are the longest-married presidential couple in American history.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBwrvCiFjU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBwrvCiFjU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jimmy Carter NHP (@jimmycarternps)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carter, now 96, is also the longest-lived of the country’s 45 presidents.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the countless decisions he has made as head of state, commander in chief, or executive officer of a nuclear submarine in the early years of the Cold War, Carter has often said the most important decision he ever made was falling for Eleanor Rosalynn Smith in 1945, then marrying her the next summer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My biggest secret is to marry the right person if you want to have a long-lasting marriage,” Carter said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple offered a few other tips for a long-lasting marriage.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Every day there needs to be reconciliation and communication between the two spouses,” Carter said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We don’t go to sleep with some remaining differences between us,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rosalynn Carter, now 93, stressed the importance of finding common interests.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Jimmy and I are always looking for things to do together,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, Rosalynn said that comes with a caveat: “Each [person] should have some space. That’s really important.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Carters plan to celebrate their marriage milestone with a party in Plains after their anniversary, but have mixed feelings about being in the spotlight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have too many people invited,” Rosalynn said with a laugh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m actually praying for some turndowns and regrets.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Jimmy Carter National Historical Park / Instagram</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Helena Bonham Carter opens up about incredible link to Princess Margaret

<p>Helena Bonham Carter, who is set to play the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret in the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix series<span> </span>The Crown<span> </span>has revealed she has a particularly unique connection to the royal. </p> <p>When speaking to British edition of<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/" target="_blank"><span> </span>Harper’s Bazaar</a>,<span> </span>Bonham Carter says her uncle Mark once had a relationship with the royal. </p> <p>"He was in the Grenadiers, I think, and he guarded Margaret and Elizabeth at Windsor. And then they met, and I think there was a romance. He was really dashing..,” she said. </p> <p>During a conversation at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, the actress noted she has photographs of the couple together. </p> <p>While they didn’t last together as a couple, as Princess Margaret would go on to marry and then divorce Antony Armstrong Jones, the royal and her uncle maintained a close relationship. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832186/bonham-carter.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fb7a82a1fff04d298d96b81162c62f0c" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Princess Margaret with Mark Bonham carter at the February 1954 premiere of <em>Kiss Me Kate.</em></p> <p>"[They] remained good friends," she said, per<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Sun.</a><span> </span>"It's weird, I basically went out with my uncle."</p> <p>Bonham Carter has proven to be a dedicated actress, and opened up about her unique methods to prepare for her role on<span> </span>The Crown. </p> <p>The actress admitted she communicated with Princess Margaret from beyond the grave through a psychic, as well as using more traditional methods by speaking to several of the late royal’s ladies-in-waiting, and her hairdresser. </p> <p>"They spent hours talking about her, mainly because they loved her," Bonham Carter said. "They felt very strongly that a whole chunk of her character had never been recorded."</p> <p>An interesting quirk about the royal was she preferred her lipstick angled a certain way to coat both her lips in one swipe. </p> <p>"The less effort, the better, which is very high-status," Bonham Carter said. "And she always wore a corset because she felt vulnerable, it was her emotional armour—she said of herself that her confidence was enamel-thin."</p> <p>All 10 episodes of<span> </span>The Crown's<span> </span>third season drop on Netflix Novembe</p>

Relationships

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Helena Bonham Carter uses psychic to contact Princess Margaret for acting tips from beyond the grave

<p>Actress Helena Bonham Carter has revealed that she’s reached out to Princess Margaret via a psychic to ask for her permission to play her in Netflix’s show<span> </span><em>The Crown</em>.</p> <p>Princess Margaret passed away at the age of 71 back in 2002, so Bonham Carter thought that it would only be right to reach out and get permission before she went forth playing the lady herself.</p> <p>“She said, apparently, she was glad it was me,” Bonham Carter, 53, revealed at <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/helena-bonham-carter-tells-cheltenham-3398590" target="_blank">a sold-out session at the Cheltenham Literary Festival</a> on October 5.</p> <p>“When you play someone real, you really want their blessing because you do have a responsibility.</p> <p>“I asked her, ‘Are you OK with me playing you?’ And she said, ‘You’re better than the other actress that they were thinking of.’</p> <p>“That made me think maybe she is here because it’s a really classic Margaret thing to say – she is really good at complimenting you and putting you down at the same time.”</p> <p>Reaching out to someone from beyond the grave is nothing new for Bonham Carter as she always talks to a psychic when playing a real person who has passed away.</p> <p>The Queen’s younger sister also included some rules for Bonham Carter to follow.</p> <p>She said, “You’re going to have to brush up and be more groomed and neater.”</p> <p>Bonham Carter has been excited to play the role for a while, as Princess Margaret is known in a “one dimensional” way by the public.</p> <p>“Everyone has such a particular idea of Margaret. It’s very daunting and I don’t really look like her,” she told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/helena-bonham-carter-known-vulnerable-tricky-combination/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> </em>in December 2018.</p> <p>“But like the Queen, no one really knows what they’re like privately, so you can make your own choices.”</p> <p>She also confirmed that she researched for the role by talking to people who knew her closely, including relatives and three former ladies-in-waiting.</p> <p>“They really loved her, and when you go to the inner circle of people … they were very happy to talk about her because they miss her,” she said.</p> <p>“I felt very lucky to suddenly be the receptacle of all these stories. I think, for a lot of the friends, they are so tired with her being portrayed in a one-dimensional, very bitchy understanding of her.”</p>

TV

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Federer’s emotional interview: “Never broke down like this”

<p>Roger Federer has revealed his most vulnerable state as he gave an emotional interview about his former coach Peter Carter.</p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN</a> from his training base in Dubai, Federer broke down in tears when he was asked about Carter, who was responsible for discovering the tennis legend in Basel when he was only a teenager.</p> <p>“It’s a really nice story,” said Federer. “He came to play club tennis for my club in Basel, Old Boys Tennis Club. When I was little, he was one of the star players on the team. I was able to have coaching lessons with him.</p> <p>“Peter was a really important person in my life. If I can say thank you for my technique today, it’s to Peter.”</p> <p>Sadly, Carter passed away in 2002 after he was involved in a car accident in South Africa during his honeymoon.</p> <p>He died a year before Federer won his first grand slam at Wimbledon.</p> <p>When asked what Carter would think about the athlete’s career if he was still alive, Federer was reduced to tears.</p> <p>“Sorry. Oh, man, I still miss him so much. I hope he would be proud,” he said.</p> <p>“Geez, never broke down like this,” he later said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Roger Federer's inspirational former coach died in a car crash on his honeymoon in 2002.<br /><br />Nearly two decades on, Federer still gets emotional when he talks about Peter Carter.<br /><br />Our exclusive interview: <a href="https://t.co/AJM6UXgt6H">https://t.co/AJM6UXgt6H</a> <a href="https://t.co/g9aiylaKy8">pic.twitter.com/g9aiylaKy8</a></p> — CNN Sport (@cnnsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/cnnsport/status/1082249426905821186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2019</a></blockquote> <p>It was revealed in<span> </span><em>The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection</em><span> </span>– a book about the tennis champions life by journalist Rene Stauffer – that Federer “was never so upset in his life” when he heard the news of Carter’s death during the Canadian Masters in Toronto.</p> <p>According to an Australian newspaper, the 37-year-old left his hotel and “ran through the streets, bawling and hysterical.”</p> <p>Federer told CNN that the moment was a turning point in his career saying: “He didn’t want me to be a wasted talent. It was somewhat of a wake-up call for me when he passed away, I really started to train hard,” he said.</p> <p>“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the right people at the right time, the right coaches at the right time. Sure, I make those decisions but I’ve been lucky along the way.”</p> <p>Federer has proven his loyalty to Carter as he is regularly seen paying for Carter’s parents to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne to attend the Australian Open every year.</p> <p>The Swiss player is determined to take home the title this year.</p> <p>“Am I confident? I don’t know. I feel good. I’ve been training really well. I’ve had another great year. Still happy playing and I’ve won the last two Australian Open editions, so I should be going in there with confidence,” he said.</p> <p>“I love playing Australia, love playing in Melbourne. There’s so much that connects me to that country. The legends that I admire, the coaches that I’ve had in Tony Roche and Peter Carter – they’ve been incredibly inspirational and important to me in my life.”</p> <p> </p>

News

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Meet the oldest Peace Corps volunteer

<p>87-year-old Alice Carter has broken the record for the US’ oldest Peace Corps volunteer. She was first inspired to join back in 1960 after then-President John F. Kennedy called for more young Americans to get involved.</p> <p>Since last year, Carter has been stationed in Rabat, Morocco. Prior to joining, she told <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/02/13/466592640/peace-corps-volunteer-values-staying-active-in-old-age" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NPR</span></strong></a> she was always interested in civil rights and the world in general. Carter was a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War and spent her time before the Peace Corps tutoring disadvantaged children and organising church dinners.</p> <p>Carter says her age is no barrier to staying both mentally and physically active. “You can't quit. I've been told that it's hard to make friends as you get older. I have not found that to be true,” she said.</p> <p>“I'm not here to be a world-beater or accomplish impossible tasks. I just want [people] to know that you can have a really good time in the Peace Corps when you're old,” she added.</p> <p>We think she has the right attitude! <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2015/12/reasons-to-volunteer-in-retirement/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Click here</span></strong></a> to read our article on why you should consider using your free time to volunteer.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/105-year-old-volunteer-teacher/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">105-year-old proves volunteering has no age limit</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/76-year-old-volunteer-shares-wisdom-with-schoolkids/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">76-year-old volunteer shares wisdom with schoolkids</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/i-found-retirement-overrated/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Retirement is overrated. Here’s what I did instead.</span></em></strong></a></p>

Retirement Life