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Man clinging to esky rescued after Hurricane Milton ravages entire state

<p>A man has been dramatically rescued after he drifted more than 50km out to sea after being hit by the terrifying storm of Hurricane Milton. </p> <p>The record-breaking storm system ravaged the US state of Florida on Thursday, as the death toll has risen to 14 at the time of writing.</p> <p>One fisherman survived the storm by clinging to an esky and was rescued by the US Coast Guard in the Gulf of Mexico after his boat was stranded overnight in dangerous waters.</p> <p>“This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner,” Lieutenant Commander Dana Grady of the US Coast Guard said of the dramatic rescue.</p> <p>“To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75 to 90mph winds, 20- to 25-foot (six to seven metre ) seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight."</p> <p>“He survived because of a lifejacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon and a cooler.”</p> <p>The storm swept through the city of Tampa, causing widespread destruction throughout the south-east of the state, with many residents now dealing with power outages and extensive debris. </p> <p>Amongst those stranded during the flash flooding were 135 residents of an aged care home, with many  wheelchair-bound residents spending the night sitting in water up to their waste before they were rescued the next morning.</p> <p>“This is a neighbourhood that doesn’t have a lot … They’ve lost everything,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p>“These are people who live day-to-day and they have nothing … Your heart shatters for these people.”</p> <p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “We’ll survey the damage and get people back on their feet – we’ll get through this.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - US Coast Guard</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Grandparents found hugging after being killed by fallen tree

<p>Marcia Savage, 74, and Jerry Savage, 78, had already turned in for the night as Hurricane Helene roared outside. </p> <p>Their 22-year-old grandson, John Savage, had checked in on them to make sure they were fine after he heard a snap. </p> <p>“We heard one snap and I remember going back there and checking on them. They were both fine, the dog was fine." he recalled. </p> <p>But not long after disaster struck and John and his father heard a "boom" as one of the largest trees on their property in Beech Island, South Carolina came crashing down on top of his grandparents' bedroom, killing them. </p> <p>“All you could see was ceiling and tree,” he said. “I was just going through sheer panic at that point.”</p> <p>John said his grandparents were found hugging one another in the bed, in what he described as a final heroic act from Jerry who tried to protect his wife. </p> <p>“When they pulled them out of there, my grandpa apparently heard the tree snap beforehand and rolled over to try to protect my grandmother,” he said.</p> <p>Jerry did all sorts of handy work but worked mostly as an electrician and carpenter. Jerry went “in and out of retirement because he got bored”. </p> <p>“He’d get that spirit back in him to go back out and work," his grandson said. </p> <p>Marcia was a retired bank teller who was very involved in their church. </p> <p>Their daughter Tammy Estep said Marcia loved cooking for her family, especially for Thanksgiving, and was known for her banana pudding. </p> <p>The couple were high school sweethearts and were married for more than 50 years, with Tammy recalling that "their love was immediate, and it was everlasting”.</p> <p>“They loved each other to their dying day,” John said.</p> <p>The couple are among more than 150 people confirmed dead in one of the deadliest storms in US history. </p> <p>A GoFundMe organised for their funeral expenses says that they were survived by their son and daughter, along with their four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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“Miracle”: 1-year-old baby survives two days beside highway during hurricane

<p>A one-year-old baby has been found alive on the side of a highway after surviving two days of dangerous hurricane conditions between the Texas and Louisiana border in the US. </p> <p>A truck driver spotted the one-year-old on a major highway, just a few kilometres where the boy's four-year-old brother was tragically found dead in a lake. </p> <p>The one-year-old had to survive stormy weather as Hurricane Beryl inundated the area with heavy rain and high winds, but was relatively unscathed when he was found.</p> <p>The truck driver recalled the moment he found the child to local news station KPLC, saying, "There was a little boy sitting down in the embankment there."</p> <p>"As I approached him, he smiled at me and then he started crying and walked toward me. Once he walked toward me, I grabbed his hand and he stopped crying at that point."</p> <p>Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory said the baby had a few insect bites, but otherwise seemed well.</p> <p>“This kid spent two days out in the weather on the side of the highway,” Guillory said while becoming emotional.</p> <p>“Thank God that trucker seen him. When you look at the video, here he was, you know, crawling toward the highway."</p> <p>“We look at this one-year-old as our miracle baby because he was still alive.”</p> <p>The children’s mother, 25-year-old Aaliyah Jack of Lake Charles, has been charged with failing to report a missing child, while the child's grandmother is fighting for custody of the infant. </p> <p><em>Image credits: News15</em></p>

Caring

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Dame Helen Mirren lets her “radical” hair down

<p>Dame Helen Mirren has put her foot down over the idea that older women are meant to keep their hair short. </p> <p>While chatting to Lorraine Kelly on the UK breakfast TV show <em>Lorraine</em>, the award-winning actress - who has openly spoken out in the past against ‘beauty standards’ and the unfair stereotypes imposed on her generation - shared her latest take on the matter. </p> <p>“You’re not supposed to have longer hair after a certain age,” the 77-year-old stated. </p> <p>“But during Covid, I started growing my hair and I hadn’t actually had long hair since I was in my 20s,” she continued. “And it sort of grew and grew and grew, and I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically.</p> <p>“I thought, ‘do you know what? It’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually’.</p> <p>“But I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical.”</p> <p>And when it came to the idea that Helen was “fly[ing] the flag” for women over 60, the actress shared that “life doesn’t stop. And creativity doesn’t stop and passion doesn’t stop and energy doesn’t stop, unless you decide to stop it.</p> <p>“So it’s just [to] be self-motivated, really, and never give up. And find enjoyment, if it’s possible in your life.”</p> <p>Helen has been stunning with her long hair and natural glow for years, on film sets and red carpets alike, and speaking out against ageism in life and the industry alike for many before that. </p> <p>In a 2021 interview with <em>The Cut</em>, she confessed she was opposed to the term ‘anti-ageing’, and that she found it to be quite “demeaning”. </p> <p>“We age. It happened. I’m really sorry, but you know what? It happens, and there’s no way out,” she explained. </p> <p>“It’s a part of the human condition. So to talk about ‘anti-ageing’ is like saying ‘anti-human’, ‘anti-real’, ‘anti-wisdom’, ‘anti-experience’, and so on, you know?</p> <p>“But you can put on your best possible face. It doesn’t mean you have to go, ‘oh my God, it’s all over for me!’ because it’s not all over for you … in a way, with each era, it’s the start of something new, so I absolutely believe in beauty products for all ages, and all skin types, but I don’t like the word ‘anti-ageing’. I think it’s demeaning, actually.”</p> <p>Similarly, in 2019, she told <em>Grazia</em> that ageism had been forced upon her generation for “far too long”. </p> <p>“It’s extremely annoying to women of my generation and others following mine to have beauty products sold on a 15-year-old face,” she said. </p> <p>Helen went on to explain in the interview that she didn’t feel comfortable using terms like “beauty” in that context, as it led those who are insecure about their appearance feel “immediately excluded” from the conversation. </p> <p>As she explained, “they’ll think ‘well, I’m not very beautiful. It’s all very well for these beautiful women, but I don’t feel beautiful’.</p> <p>“I don’t want to exclude these people from feeling fabulous about themselves.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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"That was a scared kitty": Brave Hurricane Ian rescue warms hearts

<p dir="ltr">Hurricane Ian has wreaked havoc in Florida as it made its way through the densely populated city. </p> <p dir="ltr">The category 4 hurricane hit Cayo Costa, just north of the city of Fort Myers, on Wednesday with shocking five metre high waves and winds of around 250 km/h.</p> <p dir="ltr">Videos showing the flow on effects of the powerful hurricane have been shared widely on social media, with one showing a man rescuing a cat warming people’s hearts. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My boyfriend saving a cat from flood waters near Bonita Beach,” Megan Cruz Scavo wrote on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man could be seen making his way through knee-high water toward the cat before grabbing it and making his way back to safety. </p> <p dir="ltr">The video soon made the rounds with many congratulating the man for his efforts in saving the poor animal. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">My boyfriend saving a cat from flood waters near Bonita Beach. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Naples?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Naples</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bonita?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bonita</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortMyers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortMyers</a> <a href="https://t.co/BlBC9P1rdy">pic.twitter.com/BlBC9P1rdy</a></p> <p>— Megan Cruz Scavo (@MeganScavo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeganScavo/status/1575156353865510912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“That sweet cat was so scared!  Your boyfriend rescuing that little feline darling was a beautiful thing. Karma saw it, and will remember you all,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So good about being slow and calm!  That was a scared kitty too,” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Watching him approach the cat with respect was beautiful! That poor sweetie was clearly afraid, and trusted him to care for it,” another wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">The storm, which hit Cuba first unfortunately took two victims, before another 23 migrants were reported missing when the boat they were sailing in sank off the Florida Keys. </p> <p dir="ltr">Deanne Criswell from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said there will be “catastrophic impacts” from the hurricane for a while. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There is going to be catastrophic impacts, and not just where we’re going to see the storm make landfall, but we’re also really concerned about all of the inland flooding because it’s bringing with it a lot of rain and it’s going to move slowly,” she told CNN.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“How do you write to your Queen?” Helen Mirren reveals contents of special letter

<p>Helen Mirren has revealed the secret letter she wrote to Queen Elizabeth when the actress was playing Her Majesty in the 2006 biopic <em>The Queen</em>. </p> <p>The Hollywood legend reflected on crafting the letter in an interview with the <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/radio-times-new-issue-cover-helen-mirren/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Radio Times</a>, saying she felt compelled to write after realising the intensity of the Queen's role firsthand.</p> <p>"I realised we were investigating a profoundly painful part of her life, so I wrote to her," she said. </p> <p>"How do you write to your queen? Was it Madam, or Your Highness, or Your Majesty?"</p> <p>"I said: 'We are doing this film. We are investigating a very difficult time in your life. I hope it's not too awful for you'. I can't remember how I put it. I just said that in my research I found myself with a growing respect for her, and I just wanted to say that."</p> <p>The 76-year-old actress won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrayal in the film, which is set during the time Princess Diana tragically died. </p> <p>While she never received a response to her letter from the Queen, Mirren said she did receive a letter from the Queen's secretary.</p> <p>Upon opening the response she confessed, "I was very relieved subsequently that I had written that letter."</p> <p>Earlier this year, the actress told <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/helen-mirren-interview-f9-golda-meir-1235097461/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> that she believes the Queen has watched the biopic.</p> <p>"At the time, it had never been done before, playing the queen. It was quite nerve-racking because I didn't know – no one knew – how the public would receive it, let alone the establishment in Britain," Mirren reflected.</p> <p>"But I got the sense that it had been seen and that it had been appreciated. I've never heard directly, and I never will," she added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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Helen Mirren's stepson dead at 52

<p>Actor and club owner Rio Del Valle Hackford has died in California at age 52. </p> <p>Hackford, who appeared in films and TV shows including <em>Jonah Hex</em>, <em>Swingers</em>, <em>Treme</em> and <em>The Mandalorian</em>, was the step-son of British acting legend Helen Mirren. </p> <p>His brother Alex confirmed the news, saying he had died of an illness. </p> <p>Rio Hackford, who was the son of director Taylor Hackford, was known by friends for being a "connector of all sorts of people," said his friend, screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis.</p> <p>"Not simply obsessed with movies and how they mirrored and compelled, he was something more: a superfan of innumerable scenes, of particular gestures of unsung actors, weird career turns, roaring comebacks, cinema swan songs," DeVincentis wrote on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcWrs87pZgB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>.</p> <p>Hackford was known for his joy and excitement of life, and his generous embrace of artists at his clubs including Matador and One-Eyed Jacks in New Orleans, where he also owned Pal's Lounge.</p> <p>In San Francisco, he owned Homestead, and in Los Angeles he renovated the Monty bar just west of downtown.</p> <p>These inclusive venues were often seen as a safe haven for alternative artists, which Rio championed. </p> <p>"He was a great magnet to creative people, with a Zelig-like path that could make a page-turner of a biography. He loved the alchemy of personalities and talents, and was one of the great facilitators in this respect," DeVincentis continued.</p> <p>He is survived by his wife, musician Libby Grace; two children; brother Alex; his father; and stepmother Helen Mirren.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Betty White’s touching act of kindness during Hurricane Katrina revealed

<p dir="ltr">Betty White has been remembered and celebrated as a hilarious comedian and brilliant actor, but also a wonderfully generous conversationist, philanthropist, and animal activist, since her<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/betty-white-s-final-words" target="_blank">passing on December 31 at the age of 99</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Animals were one of the big loves of Betty’s life, with her writing on Instagram in April 2021 for National Pet Day, “I have been a pet lover all my life” underneath a photo of her with two of her dogs.</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/CNi0EYGnn11/?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> <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/CNi0EYGnn11/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Betty White (@bettymwhite)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">But in addition to owning and caring for pets herself, she also dedicated a lot of time and money to advocating for important causes related to animal welfare and protection. One example was shared by Audubon Nature Institute following her death.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Institute tweeted, “We lost a conservationist, animal advocate, and friend. When the penguins &amp; sea otters were evacuated to @MontereyAq for Hurricane Katrina, Betty White paid for the plane to relocate them. She did not ask for fanfare; she just wanted to help.” Attached was a photo of an employee releasing a penguin into the water.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We lost a conservationist, animal advocate, and friend. When the penguins &amp; sea otters were evacuated to <a href="https://twitter.com/MontereyAq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MontereyAq</a> for Hurricane Katrina, Betty White paid for the plane to relocate them. She did not ask for fanfare; she just wanted to help. ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouForBeingAFriend?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThankYouForBeingAFriend</a> <a href="https://t.co/NLneNetezz">pic.twitter.com/NLneNetezz</a></p> — Audubon Nature Institute (@AudubonNature) <a href="https://twitter.com/AudubonNature/status/1477087180816322562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for the organisation told<span> </span><em>PEOPLE,<span> </span></em>"After Hurricane Katrina, a private plane was chartered to relocate Audubon Aquarium's sea otters and penguins to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Audubon did not find out until after the trip that Betty White had paid for a portion of the trip."</p> <p dir="ltr">White was passionate about her animal advocacy work, telling the<span> </span><em>Wall Street Journal<span> </span></em>in 2012 that she was thrilled to be able to highlight issues affecting animals through her work with numerous organisations, including PAWS/LA and the Morris Animal Foundation.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also spoke about her own pets, including her beloved Golden Retriever Pontiac, who had a tracking implant that White helped fund the development of. She added, "But he's never very far from me. He doesn't go very far because wherever I am he is."</p> <p dir="ltr">Pontiac passed away in 2017, and White decided not to adopt more animals due to her advancing age.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Amanda Edwards/WireImage</em></p>

News

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Helen Mirren set to test your Harry Potter knowledge

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the first event of its kind, Dame Helen Mirren will be hosting a four-part television quiz event called </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">later this year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary since the release of the first film in the franchise, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The four-part quiz, which will air later this year, will see fans of the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">franchise put their knowledge to the test and compete for the title of House Cup champion, much like the students at Hogwarts do each year. The quiz will feature hundreds of trivia questions, as well as special guest surprises and a play-along component for those watching at home.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Award-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren is joining the Wizarding World family to host an exciting four-part quiz competition, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. Discover more: <a href="https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT">https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT</a> <a href="https://t.co/WW8ozPzU6y">pic.twitter.com/WW8ozPzU6y</a></p> — Wizarding World (@wizardingworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/wizardingworld/status/1438173666949443585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Mirren never starred in any of the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Potter</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> films, she will “add some British grandeur” to the proceedings, according to Tom Ascheim, Warner Bros. president of global kids, young adults, and classics. Mirren herself said, “I knew someday I’d get a Harry Potter role, and I’m so pleased to take part in the 20-year film celebration. The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us, and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mirren, an Academy Award winner for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in 2013’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queen, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">was appointed a Dame for services to drama as part of the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours. She also played the Queen in the 2013 play </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Audience, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">a role for which she won both a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The event will tape later this month and be broadcast later this year. Better start studying now if you want to try and beat Ravenclaw!</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTMvaG-KvPr/?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/CTMvaG-KvPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Helen Mirren (@helenmirren)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images</span></em></p>

TV

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I Am Woman is Helen Reddy’s story

<p>When Helen Reddy Reddy came out and sang <em>I Am Woman</em> nearly 50 years ago, the world listened. Like most songs, there was an important story behind it and the film, <em>I Am Woman</em> tells that story in fascinating detail.</p> <p>It does seem strange that no-one had told Helen Reddy’s story on the big screen before. Sure, Reddy did write a book about her life titled,<em> The Woman I Am,</em> but to date, we haven’t had a film about this iconic Australian singer-songwriter and Grammy-award winning artist.</p> <p>Not only is Reddy one of the most successful performing artists ever to emerge from Australia, she’s also the person who co-wrote and sang the song that went on to become the anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s – <em>I Am Woman.</em></p> <p><strong>The film <em>I am Woman</em> tells the full story</strong></p> <p>Released earlier in 2020, the film about Reddy’s life is now streaming on <a href="https://www.stan.com.au/">Stan. </a></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WLMz8Qeg4A" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Made by the producers of <em>The Sapphires</em>, <em>I Am Woman</em> was directed by Unjoo Moon and shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe. Australian actor, Tilda Cobham-Hervey stars as Reddy and American actor, Evan Peters, stars as Reddy’s husband, Jeff Wald.</p> <p>It’s an inspiring story because Reddy, who arrived in New York in 1966 with $230 in her pocket and her three-year-old daughter on her arm, went on to have incredible success as a singer in both the American market and then, worldwide.</p> <p>It wasn’t long before she ran out of money but five years later, she was one of the biggest superstars of her time. She became an icon of the 1970s feminist movement by co-writing a song which galvanised a generation of women to fight for change.</p> <p><strong>Arrived in New York with $230 in her pocket</strong></p> <p>Helen Reddy arrived in New York in 1966 with $230 in her pocket and her three-year-old daughter, Tracy, on her arm.</p> <p>Reddy traveled to America because she’d been told she’d won a recording contract, but when she goes to see the record company about it, she’s met with blatant sexism and a dismissal of her work as a female artist.</p> <p>Without a visa, Reddy decides to stay in New York anyway and pursue a singing career, struggling to make ends meet and provide for her daughter. She befriends fellow Australian and legendary rock journalist, Lillian Roxon and later, it’s Roxon who inspires her to write and sing the iconic song, <em>I Am Woman. </em></p> <p>Roxon holds a party for her and it’s there Reddy meets Jeff Wald, a young aspiring talent manager who later becomes her agent and husband. Reddy’s story unfolds as she marries Wald and they move to LA so he can help her get the breaks she needs. But it’s not easy and Reddy has to persuade him to keep pushing her.</p> <p>In the end, Wald helps her achieve her goals, but it’s not enough to save their marriage because he becomes addicted to cocaine and this gradually turns their relationship toxic.</p> <p><strong><em>I am Woman</em></strong><strong> becomes an anthem</strong></p> <p>Reddy writes her iconic song, <em>I Am Woman</em>, during this time when she’s trying so hard to be heard as a musical artist in America. At exactly the same time, the Women’s Liberation Movement was at its peak.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a046199a0c1e4783add573ce4273060e" />Reddy has said <span>She was looking for songs that reflected a positive self-image that she felt she had gained from her participation in the women's liberation movement. She’s been reported as saying she was looking for the right song and she couldn’t find it, so she knew she had to write it herself.</span></p> <p><span>She worked on the song with another song writer, Ray Burton, and together they came up with <em>I am Woman</em>. </span>It became the perfect unofficial anthem and was a smash hit at the same time. Of course, the song upset some of the men who said it was “angry” or even “man-hating.”</p> <p>Reddy sang many popular songs after this one but she didn’t write many more, which would seem to be a pity.</p> <p><strong>The film is largely and Australian production</strong></p> <p>The film, <em>I Am Woman</em>, is a Goalpost Pictures production in association with Deep Blue Pacific. It had funding from Screen Australia, in association with WestEnd Films, Screen NSW, Adelaide Film Festival and South Australian Film Corporation.</p> <p>The film premiered in Sydney about a year and a half ago, with the director, Unjoo Moon, and the Australian actor, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, who played Reddy in the film.</p> <p>At the premiere, Unjoo Moon said she was thrilled to be there because: “It’s deeply meaningful to me that the release of Helen Reddy’s inspirational story, <em>I Am Woman</em>, will kick off in Australia. Not only did Helen’s story begin in Australia but so did our journey of making this movie.”</p> <p>Moon continued, saying her inspiration for the film came from her early years: “I remember so clearly, when I was a young girl growing up on the north shore here in Sydney. I wasn’t old enough to have been at a Helen Reddy concert but I remember what would happen when her music came on the radio. I’d be sitting in the back seat of the station wagon and the windows would get rolled down and everyone’s hair would come out – and I knew she just had this kind of impact on my mother and her friends,” said Moon.</p> <p><strong>This film still has so much relevance today</strong></p> <p>Some reviewers have said this film about Reddy’s life is timely for our current situation because it gives us historical background to issues which are still relevant to feminist discussions today.</p> <p>While it appeals to a specific audience – those women who grew up with Reddy’s songs as background to their lives and their children – it’s still interesting for younger women who may not know about these events.</p> <p>For the women and their children who lived through the 1970s, watching Reddy sing her songs on the big screen would be a deeply personal and rewarding experience.</p> <p>For those who are younger and don’t know Reddy’s songs as well, it’s probably enough to learn about how these songs gave women inspiration for their feminist cause – and how Reddy will always hold a special place in their hearts for the role she played as a strong and successful woman.</p> <p><strong>Helen Reddy passed away in September 2020</strong></p> <p>Helen Reddy was able to see the film, <em>I Am Woman</em> in 2020 but sadly, she passed away on September 29, 2020.</p> <p>“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother,” her daughter Traci and son Jordan posted on Facebook.</p> <p>“She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and a truly formidable woman.</p> <p><strong>You can watch <em>I Am Woman</em> now on <a href="mailto:https://www.stan.com.au/">Stan.</a></strong></p>

Movies

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Helen Mirren applauds Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as royals

<p>Dame Helen Mirren has said she “applauds” Prince Harry and his wife Meghan for stepping back from their royal life and positions, adding that the Duchess was a “fantastic addition to the royal family.”</p> <p>The London-born actress, 74, who won an Oscar for taking on a role as Queen Elizabeth, has revealed she believes the pair’s decision to step down from carrying out official royal duties was a correct one.</p> <p>Despite noting the Duke and Duchess would be a grave loss to the public, Mirren told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://variety.com/" target="_blank">Variety</a>: “I think their instincts are absolutely right, and I applaud them for it. Hugely actually. Of course, it is complicated.</p> <p>“Meghan Markle was a fantastic addition to the royal family - charming, did everything right, was gracious, was sweet-natured, and seemed to be ... Wow! What a lovely addition. Didn't seem to be neurotic...</p> <p>“So, I think it is a loss in a way, but at the same time I think their instincts are absolutely correct.”</p> <p>It comes after sportsman David Beckham spoke out about how “proud” he was of his royal friend following his marriage to Meghan Markle and the birth of their son Archie, who is nine months old.</p> <p>The English soccer star, 44, praised the Duke of Sussex for “growing up” after announcing his decision to step back as senior royals and relocate to Canada.</p> <p>Their plans to carry on the brand of<span> </span><em>SussexRoyal</em><span> </span>has also been abandoned.</p> <p>Harry and Meghan have maintained their intention to split time between the UK and Canada while seeking full financial independence from the Firm.</p> <p>The date of Megxit has been confirmed as April 1.</p>

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Dame Helen Mirren gets candid about filming sex scenes in her latest role

<p>While some actors and actresses have a tough time filming sex scenes in front of entire film crews, Dame Helen Mirren has admitted she isn’t bothered by it in the slightest. </p> <p>The 74-year-old Oscar winner admitted she “loved every minute of it,” to Foxtel Magazine while discussing her new show<span> </span><em>Catherine The Great. </em></p> <p>The HBO four-part series will be available for viewing on Sunday and features a particularly steamy session with not one, but two men. </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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_a1nJjgAn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/B2_a1nJjgAn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Helen Mirren (@helenmirren)</a> on Sep 29, 2019 at 2:58am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The show will delve into the lavish life of the famous Russian empress, who lived throughout the 18th century. </p> <p>“Catherine was a serial monogamist and one of her lines was, ‘I’m in love with love’,” Mirren explained.</p> <p>“She was a woman who always wanted to have a man, but she didn’t want to relinquish power. She loved sex and she loves a sexual relationship, but when she wanted to get rid of them after, she’d give them palaces or something.</p> <p>“She even gave one guy a country, making him King of Poland (Stanislaw August Poniatowski).</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4PKH7toTWQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/B4PKH7toTWQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Fillm &amp; Serie TV (@filmandserietv)</a> on Oct 30, 2019 at 2:11am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There is a particular rumour Mirren cannot stand, which alleges Catherine the Great - whose death was in 1796 - passed away while having sex with a horse.</p> <p>“I hate that in history men can sleep with anyone they want but women are punished for their sexuality. There was always the intimation that Catherine was some sort of debauched, mad, sexual creature, but those rumours absolutely weren’t true,” she said. </p> <p>German-born Catherine became ruler of Russia after deposing her husband, Emperor Peter III - a violent, drunken bully.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4PPuXCjo-R/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/B4PPuXCjo-R/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sky Atlantic Italia (@skyatlanticit)</a> on Oct 30, 2019 at 3:00am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Despite having a successful ruling, Catherine’s sex life was at the forefront of public and media gossip, which historians believe was a method used to detract from her powerful and influential leadership. </p> <p>Legend says Catherine the Great’s libido was so powerful that she was enticed to sleep with a horse and died while a leather harness holding the horse above her snapped and Catherine was crushed to death. </p> <p>While it is a widely debated myth, many assume it is whispers of misogynists attempting to tarnish the extraordinary achievements of the ruler. </p> <p>“It’s appalling the way history treats successful, powerful women. It has to pull them down. Her unbelievable achievements were very successful, obfuscated by history,” Mirren told<span> </span><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/">The Sun.</a></p> <p>“I have feminist friends who say, ‘Oh, what are you going to do about the horse?’, which of course is a complete lie, a classic way of belittling her.”</p>

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Helen Mirren oozes sophistication and glamour in stunning emerald gown

<p>Dame Helen Mirren was a picture of elegance and beauty when she appeared at the relaunch of Reinvents and Re-imagined Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London on Tuesday evening.</p> <p>Mirren is renowned for her incredible fashion taste and yet again she appeared looking sleek and effortlessly gorgeous at the London launch wearing an emerald green coat by Suzannah which featured a chic Italian jacquard fabric decorated with Japanese style flowers.</p> <p>The 73-year-old looked delightful as she cosied up to her former flame, Liam Neeson, 67.</p> <p>The two both enjoyed a “serious” romance in the early '80s where they both moved into a home together during the relationship.</p> <p>Oozing glamour and sparkle, the award-winning actress jokingly poked and giggled alongside Neeson while donning a dangling pair of earrings and a simple makeup look.</p> <p>Liam looked sophisticated and comfortable in a navy shirt along with a crisp grey suit.</p> <p>In January 2018, the former couple both appeared together on<span> </span><em>The Graham Norton Show</em><span> </span>where they cheekily chatted away about their romance where Helen insisted they were more than just a flame.</p> <p>“'We didn’t date, we lived together for four years – we were a serious item for a while. Lucky me!” she said.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the gorgeous emerald green look worn by Dame Helen Mirren.</p>

Movies

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Helen Mirren talks ageism in Hollywood

<p>Ageism in the media is far from a new concept. With many actresses speaking up about the unfair advantage those who are younger receive when it comes to obtaining coveted roles and opportunities. But while the topic is important to touch on, us mere mortals may find it hard to relate to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.</p> <p>It’s been a point of discussion for a few years now, with starlets coming out and voicing their concerns over pay disparities compared to their male counterparts. And while it’s unfair, human nature is a fickle thing, where we tend to sympathise with those we can relate to.</p> <p>Actress and legend, Helen Mirren is known to be intelligent and eloquent, so when she raised her voice against the disadvantage’s women face on and off screen, you know that her argument would raise some valid points.</p> <p>Speaking to <em><a href="https://variety.com/2016/film/news/helen-mirren-fast-8-women-hollywod-pay-gap-1201884251/">Variety</a></em> magazine for their “<em>Power of Women</em>” issue, the 73-year-old said that ageism in Hollywood isn’t just about what happens on-screen, but also what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling.</p> <p>When <em>The Queen</em> star was asked about how she views the changing landscape of women in media, she said: “I have witnessed such a huge change. The biggest change for me, and the best change, is to see women on the set, in the crew. It wasn’t that long ago I saw my first female electrician. And to me, that’s really exciting. That’s a really big change, because that was such a macho, male world.”</p> <p>Women have made a huge impact on the film industry, but despite their contribution, they are some of the most underrepresented. According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film (2015-16), only 9% of directors were women at the time of the study.</p> <p>That percentage is exactly the same figure as 1998.</p> <p>Here’s to hoping that number increases in the coming years.</p> <p>Do you agree with Helen Mirren’s sentiments? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Movies

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5 incredible facts about Helen Keller

<p>There are few historical figures as inspirational as Helen Keller. Born in Alabama in 1880, a childhood illness left her both deaf and blind by the age of two. Despite this, she went on to become a prolific author and political activist.</p> <p>Chances are you’ve seen her story in the 1962 film<em> The Miracle Worker</em>, starring Patty Duke as Keller and Anne Bancroft as her companion Anne Sullivan, but there’s so much to this incredible woman.</p> <p>Here, we’re taking a look at some of the little-known facts about Helen Keller.</p> <p><strong>1. She had many famous friends</strong></p> <p>In 1895, when she was just a teenager, Keller met legendary <em>Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</em> author Mark Twain at a lunch in New York. They bonded over their political views, with Keller, who was the same age as Twain’s daughter, saying he “treated me not as a freak, but as a handicapped woman seeking a way to circumvent extraordinary difficulties.” Twain introduced her to oil magnate Henry Huttleston Rogers, who, along with his wife, funded her education.</p> <p>Prior to meeting Twain, when she was just six years old, Keller met Alexander Graham Bell (the inventor of the telephone). Bell, whose wife was also deaf, had founded several schools for the deaf and advised Keller’s parents to enrol her at the Perkins Institute for the Blind, which she attended and soon met former student Sullivan. Bell and Keller remained friends until his death in 1922.</p> <p><strong>2. Two of her greatest passions were music and animals</strong></p> <p>Even though she could not hear, Keller was a great fan of music. Through her highly sensitive fingers, she could “hear” music through the vibration of instruments and the human voice.</p> <p>She was also a great lover of animals, particularly dogs, with whom she was able to forge a strong connection. In fact, she was responsible for introducing the popular Japanese breed of dog, the Akita, to America, after being gifted one (called Kamikaze-Go) from a police officer while visiting Japan.</p> <p><strong>3. She won an Oscar</strong></p> <p>Well, not quite, but the 1956 documentary about her life (<em>The Unconquered</em>) won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, which Keller herself accepted. She also dabbled in acting, starring in a 1919 silent film about her life,<em> Deliverance</em>, and performing on the Vaudeville circuit with Sullivan.</p> <p><strong>4. She travelled the world</strong></p> <p>Keller’s advocacy for people with disabilities took her all over the planet. She visited 39 countries, including the UK, France, India, South Africa and Korea, and met with historical figures the likes of Winston Churchill and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.</p> <p><strong>5. She almost married – three times</strong></p> <p>At the age of 36, Keller fell in love with her then-assistant Peter Fagan, a newspaper journalist seven years her junior. The couple took out a marriage license and tried to elope three different times.</p> <p>Sadly, they were never able to go through with it. At the time, eugenics (the belief that reproduction should be limited to those with desirable health and physical traits) was still popular, and to top it all off, Keller’s family stood in the way of at least one of their failed elopements due to concern that only they could care for her.</p>

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Helen Mirren wows in figure-hugging red gown

<p>Helen Mirren has stepped out in a stunning figure-hugging red gown to promote her new horror movie <em>Winchester</em>.</p> <p>The 72-year-old looked typically glamorous in a floor-sweeping red frock with sequined sleeves that showed off her curves. She finished the look with statement earrings and perfectly coiffed hair.</p> <p><img width="375" height="563" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/11/492F053500000578-5389865-All_eyes_on_Helen_The_stunning_star_showcased_her_effortless_ele-a-5_1518608470340.jpg" alt="All eyes on Helen: The stunning star showcased her effortless elegance as she arrived  in a gothic-inspired bus to the screening" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-45201de0638c3e"/></p> <p><img width="368" height="553" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/11/492F074D00000578-5389865-Capping_it_off_Her_look_was_completed_with_red_peep_toe_heels_an-a-7_1518608470398.jpg" alt="Capping it off: Her look was completed with red peep toe heels and a box clutch" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-b9ddd0561ac80760"/></p> <p> </p> <p>Promoting the thriller in Italy, Mirren, who plays an eccentric heiress haunted by lost souls, got right into character posing for photos holding a dagger.</p> <p><img width="363" height="546" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/09/492F678D00000578-0-image-a-30_1518598912464.jpg" alt="Menacing: Helen Mirren was pictured playing up to her new menacing role in Winchester on Tuesday, as a party was held to celebrate the film in Rome, Italy " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-92ceb181b261fc94"/></p> <p> The film Winchester will be out in cinemas next week. </p>

Beauty & Style