South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron dead at 24

South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday, nearly two years after she retreated from the public eye following a drink driving conviction. She was 24.

Kim’s body was discovered by a friend, according to police. There were no signs of foul play and officers are investigating the circumstances of her death, a police official told CNN.

Kim began her career as a child actor and gained widespread recognition, including an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, for her role as a girl abandoned at an orphanage in 2009 movie “A Brand New Life.”

She later starred in 2010 action hit “The Man from Nowhere,” 2012 mystery thriller “The Neighbors,” and 2014 drama “A Girl at My Door,” among numerous roles in film and television.

But Kim’s career had stalled since April 2023 after a Seoul court found her guilty of driving under the influence when she crashed her car in the South Korean capital a year earlier. Kim avoided jail but was fined about $14,000.

Her last known role was in Netflix’s 2023 K-drama “Bloodhounds.”

The final post on Kim’s Instagram account, a photo of the actor shared in January, has accumulated more than 205,000 likes. Comments are disabled on the account.

How to get help

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters.

In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.

Korean celebrities paid tribute to Kim following the news of her death.

“May you rest in peace,” actor Kim Ok-bin wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of a white chrysanthemum, a symbol of grief in many Asian cultures.

Kim’s co-star Kim Min-che shared a photo of a scene from “The Neighbors” on Instagram and said: “I was so happy to meet you as my daughter in the movie. May you rest in peace.”

Recent deaths of young K-pop idols and K-drama stars have highlighted ongoing concerns about mental health and pressures in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

Song Jae-lim, a former model who rose to prominence in K-dramas, was found dead in his apartment last November at age 39. ASTRO boy band member Moon bin died last year at age 25. K-pop singer and actress Sulli was also 25 when she died in 2019. And two years earlier, boyband SHINee’s Kim Jong-hyun was found dead at his home at age 27.

Entertainment agencies have implemented various mental health support systems, including counseling services and more flexible schedules, but observers say the highly competitive nature of K-entertainment, combined with intense public scrutiny, and expectations of perfection in appearance and behavior, are affecting stars.

The Best Moments From SNL50

Saturday Night Live celebrated 50 years of sketch comedy, memorable hosts, incredible musical performances, controversial moments, and laugh-out-loud stand-up monologues with a primetime special. That’s right, the not-ready-for-primetime players took over Sunday night television with the three-hour SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

To help celebrate this anniversary, Saturday Night Live announced that many of the stars whose careers it helped launch would return to help mark the occasion. SNL stars from every decade were there, including Adam Sandler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Ego Nwodim, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell, as well as Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Andy Samberg, Rachel Dratch, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Laraine Newman, Ana Gasteyer, Leslie Jones, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, and Will Forte. Also on the invite list was Billy Crystal, who was famously cut from the show before the first episode even aired, before returning to the show as an official cast member from 1984 to 1985. Drew Barrymore was also there — a repeat guest in Studio 8H, she holds the record as the show’s youngest-ever host, taking center stage at just seven years old.

Read More: The Best Saturday Night Live Hosts of All Time

With the show attracting so many stars over the years, the night’s guests were A-list, and included Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, David Letterman, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Woody Harrelson.

Music has always been a huge part of the show and the 50th anniversary special has some jaw-dropping talent onboard to help celebrate, including Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, The Roots, Brittany Howard, Sabrina Carpenter, Lil Wayne, and Miley Cyrus. The Sunday night show wasn’t enough to truly appreciate the scope of the show’s musical impact. That’s why the music got its very own Saturday night special, SNL50: The Homecoming Concert with an epic lineup that featured Cher, Bonnie Raitt and Chris Martin, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Lauryn Hill, Jack White, David Byrne, St. Vincent, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Backstreet Boys, and Post Malone fronting Nirvana. Hosted by former SNL-er Jimmy Fallon, the concert was held in front of a packed house at Radio City Music Hall and streamed online to showcase what has become one of the most important elements of the show’s 50-year existence.

Sunday night’s show packed five decades of memories, references, music, and jokes into a three-hour program that was high on emotion, heart, and laughs. Here are some of the highlights.

The show opened with Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter performing “Homeward Bound.”As he introduced the song, Simon explained that he originally performed the song on SNL in 1976 with George Harrison. “I was not born then — and neither were my parents,” replied Carpenter.

The monologue is “traditionally the weakest part of the show” according to Steve Martin, who was naturally delivering the night’s opening monologue. While Martin has appeared on SNL 35 times, he was never actually a cast member. But that wasn’t the only fun fact of the night. Martin delivered another salient one. “A fun fact: A person born during the first season of Saturday Night Live could easily be dead of natural causes.” He was then joined on stage by former SNL writer John Mulaney. “We writers really appreciated that tribute, but I believe the heart and soul of this show is the celebrity hosts,” he said. “Over the course of 50 years, 894 people have hosted Saturday Night Live, and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder.” (Mulaney was most likely referencing Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson.) Martin’s Only Murders in the Building co-star (and five-time SNL host) Martin Short joined him on stage, but he was quickly taken away by ICE, because he’s Canadian.

During his monologue, Steve Martin honored the SNL writers — and the camera cut quickly to show the writers standing out in the rain.

Fred Armisen played a Lawrence Welk-inspired character, introducing Will Ferrell reprising his role as Robert Goulet, asking “Oh my god. Did they put LSD in my Caesar salad, or do I see three beautiful ladies hitchhiking my way?” They were joined onstage by the Maharelle Sisters played by Scarlett Johannsen, Ana Gasteyer, and Kim Kardashian, as well as Kristen Wiig reprising her character Dooneese in an alarming prosthetic forehead and baby doll hands, all cooing at Goulet.

“Welcome to Black Jeopardy, the only Jeopardy where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance,” said Kenan Thompson, reprising his role as host of Black Jeopardy. This time contestants were played by Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and Eddie Murphy playing an exaggerated version of Tracy Morgan, while standing next to the real one. Chris Rock then joined, as did Tom Hanks, reprising his role as “Doug”, the token white man he originally played eight years ago.

Sally O’Malley, Molly Shannon’s nimble would-be Rockette, showed up to announce that she is excited to be 50 just like SNL, and then led Emma Stone in a series of her signature “kick, stretch, kick” move.

“Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey” was a long-standing segment on SNL in the ’90s where Phil Hartman offered surreally soothing adages as Jack Handey. “Looking back over 50 years, we treasure the laughs, the friendship, the fond memories,” Handey’s voice said.”But the real treasure was how much money we were making.”

Martin Short and Molly Shannon played parents at a wedding, where a musical toast by a group of bridesmaids went awry. Led by Sabrina Carpenter, the song, a rendition of “Defying Gravity,” details how the bride had been carrying on an affair with the always irresistible Domingo. Played by Marcello Hernández, the character was famously “arrested” IRL at Carpenter’s concert for being “too hot.” Also on hand were Pedro Pascal as Ronaldo and Bad Bunny as Santiago, Domingo’s brothers.

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey showed up to answer questions from a wildly star-packed audience, including Cher, Jon Hamm, Keith Richards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Quinta Brunson, Tim Meadows, and Ryan Reynolds, sitting next to his wife, Blake Lively. “Ryan Reynolds, how’s it going?” asked Fey and Poehler, to which he answered innocently, “Why? Have you heard something?” appearing to reference the legal controversy between Lively and Justin Baldoni. Reynolds went on to ask whether the material the Coneheads’ heads were made from was edible, and Fey and Poehler decided it was almost certainly very toxic. Keith Richards wanted to know if they could find his missing scarf from a 1998 appearance. (Zach Galifianakis has it.) Jon Hamm and Bad Bunny wanted to know if they were funny (Hamm, no; Bunny, yes) and Fred Armisen wanted to know why Lorne Michaels cut his sketch, “Vampire Office,” suggesting he re-pitch it for the next time Kevin Spacey hosts.

Aubrey Plaza made a surprise appearance to introduce a musical performance by Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard. The artists covered “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a song written by Prince and made her own by Sinead O’Connor. As both musicians delivered wildly memorable performances on the show — and both are gone — it was a fitting and gorgeous tribute.

Drunk Uncle (Bobby Moynihan) cracked himself up ranting about Captain America, but it was Cecily Strong’s Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party who got the best line: “You assume I’m pregnant? Just cuz I have a baby inside me? That’s misogynastic.” Turns out she was pregnant and it was with Drunk Uncle.

Former Weekend Update host Bill Murray arrived to rank other Weekend Update hosts. He started by ranking “Weekend Update’s” Black hosts, which put current co-host Michael Che at number one because he is the only Black host in the show’s history. Murray had to recuse himself from the ranking, as he was on “performance-enhancing drugs” during his tenure a.k.a. “an 8H Shaker,” which he described as “Quaaludes, cocaine, and Nighttime TheraFlu.” As he worked his way from Colin Quinn to Kevin Nealon to “Tina & Amy” and “Tina & Jimmy” to Norm MacDonald, he noted, “I only wish we had the time to say something nice about any of them.” While Colin Jost noted that there probably was time, Murray moved right along, skipping Colin Jost entirely and putting his brother Brian Doyle-Murray in the top spot.

To truly pay homage to longtime Weekend Update host Norm MacDonald, Murray paused to ask whether O.J. Simpson just might have done it. MacDonald famously roasted Simpson for years, and was eventually reportedly let go from SNLfor his jokes about the murder trial, which barely slowed the comedian’s trolling of the fallen football star.

Aidy Bryant and Jon Hamm played military folks interviewing alien abduction survivors Woody Harrelson, Pedro Pascal, and Kate McKinnon. McKinnon’s antics describing the aliens’ actions caused Pascal to break and then got Harrelson to break, too. When Meryl Streep showed up to play McKinnon’s mom, the whole cast lost it, particularly over the line where Streep referenced her character Miranda Priestly, noting that when it comes to underwear, “this Devil wears nada.”

Introduced by Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler brought his guitar on stage to perform a moving and nostalgia-packed tribute to SNL’s 50-year history. The song included many inside jokes, including ones about how cast members couldn’t use Lorne Michaels’ “little bathroom in the office” and asking the interns to get their laundry without realizing the intern was “Martin Scorsese’s kid or Nora Ephron’s kid or Randy Newman’s kid.” He also paid tribute to behind-the-scenes folks, including “drunk Wally” who would hold up cue cards upside down. “Fifty years of the best times of our lives,” Sandler sang at the end of the song, seeming to choke up.

David Spade, John Mulaney, and Pete Davidson took viewers on a trip through time to the New York City of the past. While musical lovers should watch the full sketch, highlights include Kate McKinnon as Rudy Guiliani with an assist from Lin-Manuel Miranda singing about the 2000s to the tune of Hamilton and Nathan Lane taking part in a 1980s “power mix” of cocaine and some vodka to the tune of “Hakuna Matata”.

Read More: The 22 Most Controversial Saturday Night Live Moments

Over the show’s five decades, SNL has created ads for some memorably fake products. The anniversary special put together a very special ad break of the best worst products on the market.

A good reminder that the show is live, when Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph started their Bronx Beat sketch, it was plagued with mic issues. All was forgotten though when Mike Myers appeared in full Linda Richman costume for a “Coffee Talk” crossover that got everyone verklempt. The two Bronx Beat hosts immediately started saying, “We’re not worthy!” referencing Myers’ Wayne’s World sketch and then Myers mentioned that it was “sweater weather,” shouting out one of Poehler’s most famous lines.

Tom Hanks, clad in a black suit, somberly announced that he was there to pay tribute to sketches that aged horribly. The montage included ethnic stereotypes, sexual harassment, underage sexual harassment, body shaming, sexism, slut shaming, and problematic guests (Diddy, R. Kelly, O.J. Simpson), and a whole bunch of sketches considered “whoa” and “yikes”. It was nice that the show didn’t bury its past, but unclear why we needed to see the parade of yikes all over again. As Hanks pointed out, “You all laughed at them. So if anyone should be canceled, shouldn’t it be you, the audience?”

Rachel Dratch returned as Debbie Downer with Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, Robert De Niro, and Ayo Edebiri all basking in her depressing presence as she talked about microplastics and bird flu, until her attitude led to De Niro going full Goodfellas on her.

Garrett Morris introduced the short film “Don’t Look Back in Anger” which starred John Belushi visiting the “not ready for primetime cemetery” to lay a wreath on his co-stars’ graves in the snow. As he walked through the graveyard, he paid tribute to Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Danny Aykroyd and to the Saturday Night show he loved, ending while he danced on their graves.

Sir Paul McCartney led a singalong in Studio 8H starting with “Golden Slumbers” and leading into “Carry That Weight.” The audience was on its feet, swaying, and singing as McCartney capped off the anniversary festivities. To close the show, the entire cast filled the stage to applaud Lorne Michaels, the man who made it all happen.

David Tennant throws BAFTAs into chaos as he suffers awkward wardrobe blunder

David Tennant kicked off the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards with an exciting monologue – however, the actor was hit with technical issues at the start of the ceremony in unaired scenes.

The Doctor Who star returned to host the big event, marking his second time on presenting duties after his debut last year. He took over from Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond, who both fronted the awards back in 2023.

At the start of the awards, David stepped out to make his opening monologue when his microphone wire fell out of his kilt. “We’ll cut that bit out,” he told the audience. This year’s awards sees some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters hope to take home a major BAFTA gong, with Dune, Wicked and Emilia Perez among the early winners.

Emilia Perez took home the BAFTAs for Film Not in the English Language and Supporting Actress, with Zoe Saldaña picking up the gong. The film’s director Jacques Audiard mentioned star Karla Sofia Gascon in his speech after the Best Actress nominee’s past Islamophobic, racist and fatphobic tweets came to light online.

During his acceptance speech, Jacques said that he “would like to thank the wonderful talents” and named “dear Zoe [Saldana]” and “Selena [Gomez]”. He went on to speak about Karla, who he called “dear”.

The highly-anticipated ceremony, which celebrates the best of British film, saw A-listers descend on the red carpet for a night of glitz and glamour.

While the Prince and Princess of Wales are not attending the event due to a simple schedule clash, the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Molly-Mae Hague, Pamela Anderson and James Norton stepped out in their finest looks.

Kylie Jenner made a surprise appearance at the awards to support boyfriend Timothée Chalamet, whose hit Dune took home a number of awards throughout the night – including the BAFTAs for sound and visual effects.

The couple put on a loved-up display as they took their seats at the South Bank venue.

Meanwhile, Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo walked the red carpet solo as they headed to the BAFTAs, with Wicked picking up the award for production design. Unfortunately, Ariana lost out on the gong for supporting actress to Emilia Perez star Zoe Saldaña.

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‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 premiere: Get in the boat, we’re going to Thailand

“The White Lotus,” Mike White’s black comedy anthology series, is back on HBO for a third season. Times staffers love an escape, but since we can’t take a trip to Thailand to stay at a luxury resort, the next best thing is to immerse ourselves in the new season. Follow along with us for each episode as we discuss theories, observations and our favorite moments leading up to the finale.

It has been more than two years since Season 2 of “The White Lotus” ended its run on HBO with a spectacularly meme-worthy finale that saw Tanya McQuoid head to that great luxury resort in the sky.

Now the wait is over and “The White Lotus” has finally returned, with a gorgeous new location; a fresh cast of rich, terrible people to obsess over; and lots of mystery to unpack.

The action has moved several thousand miles east to the lush island of Ko Samui in Thailand. Season 3, once again written and directed by Mike White, opens as we all knew it would: with a dead body. A young man named Zion (Nicholas DuVernay) is meditating with hotel staffer Amrita (Shalini Peiris) in a scenic pavilion when gunshots ring out. Zion takes cover behind a statue of Buddha in the lily pad pond, and a corpse floats by.

We cut to a week earlier, to what is by now a familiar sequence: guests arriving via boat (in this case, a red-sailed junk).

The first person we see aboard is Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), the unbelievably patient spa employee from Season 1 who almost went into business with Tanya. She’s in Thailand to learn about the resort’s wellness program. (Based on clues, it seems like Zion, from the opening scene, is her son.)

There’s also the Ratliff family, consisting of wealthy Southerner Timothy (Jason Isaacs), his pill-popping wife, Victoria (Parker Posey), and their three kids: obnoxious bro Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), religious studies major Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), the youngest.

On board the boat, Saxon and Timothy clash with the grumpy Rick (Walton Goggins), who’s in Thailand for mysterious purposes with his younger girlfriend, the sweet, free-spirited Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood).

The final party on board are Laurie (Carrie Coon), Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), childhood friends enjoying a girls’ trip on the other side of the world.

Once they arrive on the island, they meet the hotel staff, including manager Fabien (Christian Friedel), glamorous owner Sritala (Lek Patravadi), wellness consultant Mook (Lalisa Manobal, a.k.a. Lisa from Blackpink) and Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong), the security guard clearly crushing on her.

There isn’t a huge amount of action in Episode 1, titled “Same Spirits, New Forms,” but we are left with plenty of questions.

What shady business is Timothy up to, and why was he so rattled by that phone call from the Wall Street Journal reporter asking questions about a former colleague in Brunei? What’s going on with his eldest child, Saxon, a bully who is obsessed with porn and describes his own sister as “hot”?

Why is Rick so mean to Chelsea, and why is he so invested in tracking down Jim Hollinger, the resort’s American co-owner and Sritala’s husband, who is apparently recuperating in Bangkok?

How soon are the women on their “midlife crisis trip” going to turn on each other? What’s going on with Laurie, who ends the episode alone in her room, sobbing over a bottle of wine? And why do her old friends Jaclyn, a TV star, and Kate, who has married well, shower each other with compliments while conspicuously ignoring Laurie?

Most intriguing of all: What is Tanya’s husband Greg (Jon Gries), last seen in Season 2 abruptly leaving Sicily for a “business meeting in Denver,” doing in Thailand with a much younger girlfriend? And will Belinda, who spots Greg sitting across the restaurant, put two and two together?

Now it’s time for Yvonne Villarreal, Meredith Blake and Greg Braxton, platinum-status members of “The White Lotus” frequent guest program, to break it all down.

Where is this all heading? Any early predictions about who is going to end up as a corpse?

Blake: I have no idea who the person is, floating face down next to the lily pads, but I have a feeling that the fruit from the pong-pong tree will have something to do with it. Just like Chekhov’s gun, if there’s an extremely toxic fruit lying around, someone is probably going to eat it.

Villarreal: Yeah, that fruit will definitely cause some trouble. I’m just gonna guess for guessing’s sake and say the corpse is Walton Goggins’ character, Rick, because someone that cranky and sweaty seems destined for doom. But my fear is the corpse will be Gaitok, the sweet hotel worker who seems discerning and suspicious of the right people. I have no idea what lies ahead but I bet Jim Hollinger is going to regret being released from the hospital.

Braxton: I’m not totally convinced it’s a corpse. It’s such a quick glimpse. Maybe the show is throwing us a curve and it’s actually an alligator or a dangerous sea creature. But if it has to be a body, I will lobby for Greg. There needs to be justice and closure for the tragic death of Tanya.

How are we feeling about the new theme song and opening credits?

Blake: Honestly, I was underwhelmed by the latest theme song remix. But I did love some of the needle drops, like the song playing as the new guests are aboard the boat, which Shazam tells me is “Made in Thailand” by the group Carabao. A banger!

Villarreal: Yes, there was no eventual sway to the rhythms like I found myself compelled to do with the previous iterations. Cristobal Tapia de Veer is the composer responsible for the viral “White Lotus” themes. Season 1’s song, “Aloha!,” and the Season 2 intro, “Renaissance,” share a consistent melody with distinct instrumentation, a danceable beat and breathless vocals but are tailored to reflect the season’s location (Hawaii in Season 1 and Sicily in Season 2). I don’t hear that same throughline here, which should tell us something. Still, I can appreciate the calming and spiritual vibe of Season 3 — I mean, we kind of need it with this news cycle.

Braxton: The music has always been such an essential and valuable component of this series. Although the theme is not as immediately catchy as the previous seasons, it’s still very fresh. The verdict is still out for me as far as the needle drops.

Who stands out so far?

Blake: Mike White has an excellent track record of casting quirky Gen Z actresses in “The White Lotus.” (See: Haley Lu Richardson and Sydney Sweeney.) So far I am very into Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea (whose style is almost as eccentric as Portia’s [Richardson]).

Villarreal: The monkeys. Eerie performances and brilliant side-eye delivery.

Braxton: In the previous seasons, there were at least one or two standouts, but all of the characters had some intriguing quirk or conflict that sparked interest on what direction they would go. Parker Posey is an amazing actress, but her comic energy so far is dialed down (jet lag?). The couples and families in Hawaii and Italy had their issues, but their back stories made their connection understandable and relatable. Here, it seems a bit more contrived. For me, the characters are all at the starting blocks, but the gun to start the race hasn’t fired yet.

How are we feeling about the hotel staff? Are any of these characters intriguing to you yet?

Blake: There’s no one quite on the level with the brilliantly memorable Armond (RIP) just yet. But I’m very interested in Sritala, who orders the arriving guests to cruise the bay for a few more minutes while she puts the finishing touches on her glam. A true diva.

Villarreal: I am a sucker for the will they/won’t they, so I am fully invested in Mook and Gaitok.

Braxton: For me, Sritala has made the strongest impression. And she can sing! I feel there’s a darker side that will be revealed.

What do we make of the Ratliff family accents?

Blake: I am sure there will be debate about the authenticity of Jason Isaacs’ accent, but I thought it was pretty good. Maybe I have watched too many true-crime docs, but his character is definitely giving me Alex Murdaugh vibes. On the other hand, I am not sure if Parker Posey is trying to sound crazy on purpose because her character is heavily medicated, or if she’s just really overdoing that drawl.

Villarreal: I can’t even think about the accents because I am focused on the bizarre vibes between the siblings.

Any theories about Greg?

Blake: We can be sure that Greg is more than just one of the many bald, aging “LBHs” (“losers back at home”) in Thailand. But assuming that this season is set after Season 2 — it could theoretically be earlier — it seems obvious that Greg has gotten his hands on some of Tanya’s fortune. How else is he sustaining his luxury lifestyle?

Villarreal: I hope he dies for what he did to Tanya.

Braxton: Anyone named Greg should always be regarded with extreme caution.

What is happening with the Ratliff siblings?

Blake: So far, Saxon reminds me of a fully evil version of Shane (Jake Lacy) from Season 1, with all the white male entitlement but none of the charm or occasionally sympathetic moments. Everything about this character is a red flag, from his name, Saxon — as in the early Germanic people known for raiding their neighbors — to his inappropriate interest in his siblings’ sex lives. I am also curious what’s going on with Piper. Is she really in Thailand to interview a monk?

Villarreal: The day I describe a sibling as “pretty hot” (in relation to an assessment of their sex life, no less) is the day I need someone to hit me on the head with the fruit from the pong-pong tree. So, yes, Saxon gives me the ick too, Meredith.

Braxton: Considering Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sordid past, it’s a bit unsettling to see his son play someone who is self-absorbed and fancies himself a ladies’ man. But that could very well be a clue that things will not end up well for him when the finale comes around.

What’s your verdict on Episode 1? Are you hooked?

Blake: I, for one, am thrilled to be back at “The White Lotus.” I rate this stay three out of four stars. Yes, Episode 1 was a slow burn. But I am not worried. If you recall, Season 2 also started off quietly but ended in spectacular fashion. The new setting also gives us plenty of rich themes to explore — like embarrassing Westerners who travel to Asia seeking spiritual enlightenment — and beautiful scenery to look at. And that’s what we’re all here for, isn’t it?

Villarreal: I am ready to float on a lily pad the whole season. The episode did just enough to set the stage and provoke questions. And knowing Walton Goggins and Natasha Rothwell are part of the mayhem gives me some assurance that whatever awaits will be an enjoyable and meme-able ride.

Braxton: I’m going to be a bit of a spoiler here. “The White Lotus” set such a high bar in its previous seasons in every category — story, casting, direction, writing. Mike White is truly a force of nature and his development of all the diverse personalities is so precise and insightful. So I’m mildly disappointed that this beginning didn’t grab me as much. The slow burn is a bit too slow and undercooked. But I can be patient, putting my trust in Mike and the amazing cast that this season will ultimately be rewarding.

Sharon Stone in talks to join Euphoria season 3

Sharon Stone is reportedly eyeing a role in Euphoria’s upcoming third season.

Shortly after HBO announced that production had begun, it was revealed that the 66-year-old actress is currently in talks to join the star-studded cast.

She may soon be filming alongside series regulars: Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Maude Apatow and Colman Domingo.

She was reportedly casted weeks ago and will soon be closing her contract and, therefore, officially joining the series, per Deadline.

This comes shortly after it was revealed that Spanish singer Rosalía would also be joining the cast for the forthcoming season as well as Super Bowl winner Marshawn Lynch and A Different World star Kadeem Hardison.

The Golden Globe winner — who was romantically linked to Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner last year — last worked alongside Bob Odenkirk in the upcoming sequel Nobody 2, which will hit theaters in August.

Sharon Stone is reportedly eyeing a role in Euphoria’s upcoming third season. Shortly after HBO announced that production had begun, it was revealed that the 66-year-old actress is currently in talks to join the star-studded cast; pictured January 2025 in Beverly Hills

She may soon be filming alongside series regulars Zendaya; pictured in Euphoria season one still

A notable addition to the series, the veteran actress has an acclaimed, decades-long career under her belt.

She is known for starring as the femme fatale in Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Sliver and the Martin Scorsese-directed Casino.

The second season of Euphoria, which is an American adaptation of the Israeli show of the same name, aired in 2022.

The first season premiered on HBO in the summer of 2019.

Sam Levinson created, wrote, directed, and executive produced the show, produced in partnership with A24.

The series, which received 25 Emmy nominations, receiving nine wins including two for Zendaya and one for Colman Domingo in the drama series, is also one of the most-watched series on HBO.

New series regulars for season three include Martha Kelly, Chloe Cherry, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Toby Wallace.

Guest stars include Darrell Britt-Gibson, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert and Anna Van Patten.

The third season will be released sometime in 2026, four years after the second season of Euphoria premiered in 2022; pictured Hunter Schafer and Zendaya in Euphoria season one still

The second season of Euphoria , which is an American adaptation of the Israeli show of the same name, aired in 2022. The first season premiered on HBO in the summer of 2019; pictured Sydney Sweeney and Maude Apatow in Euphoria season one still

A notable addition to the series, the veteran actress has an acclaimed, decades-long career under her belt; pictured in 1992 Basic Instinct still

She is known for starring as the femme fatale in Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Sliver and the Martin Scorsese-directed Casino; pictured alongside Michael Douglas in 1992 Basic Instinct still

Read More Euphoria confirms MAJOR changes to cast for season three… including multiple exits

Unfortunately, not all of the original stars will be back for season three.

Nika King, who played Rue and Gia’s mother Leslie, as well as Algee Smith, who played Cassie’s ex-boyfriend Chris, will not be a part of the new season.

And since the second season aired three years ago, Barbie Ferreira, who starred as Kat, announced her exit. Storm Reid, who played Rue’s younger sister Gia, also said she would not be returning. Angus Cloud, who played Fez, tragically died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2023.

The upcoming eight-episode season, which is rumored to be the show’s lastI began filming this month in Los Angeles. As production is still ongoing, a release date has not yet been revealed.

However, the long-awaited series is anticipated to return sometime in 2026.

BAFTA Awards Signal Oscar Race Is Still Anyone’s To Win

LONDON (AP) — Papal thriller ” Conclave ” won four prizes including best picture on Sunday at the 78th British Academy Film Awards, where genre-bending musical ” Emilia Pérez ” proved that it’s still an awards contender despite a multipronged backlash that looked to have dented its chances.

At a ceremony where no film dominated, “The Brutalist” equaled the awards tally of “Conclave,” scooping four trophies, including best director for Brady Corbet and best actor for Adrien Brody. Mikey Madison won the best actress prize for Brooklyn tragicomedy “Anora.”

“Conclave,” which stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal corralling conniving clergy as they elect a new pope, beat “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Emilia Pérez” and Bob Dylan biopic ” A Complete Unknown ” to the top prize.

“Conclave” was also named outstanding British film and took trophies for editing and adapted screenplay.

Supporting performer prizes went to Kieran Culkin for “A Real Pain” and Zoe Saldaña for “Emilia Pérez,” which also won the award for best film not in the English language.

Karla Sofía Gascón, who stars as the titular transgender ex-cartel boss in “Emilia Pérez,” was a best-actress nominee but did not attend the ceremony. Gascón has withdrawn from promoting the film, which has 13 Oscar nominations, amid controversy over her social media posts disparaging Muslims, George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars.

The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, has condemned those comments, but in an acceptance speech thanked Gascón along with her co-stars Saldaña and Selena Gomez.

“I am deeply proud of what we have all achieved together,” he said.

Stars including Cynthia Erivo, Hugh Grant, Ariana Grande, Lupita Nyong’o, Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan walked the red carpet at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the awards, known as BAFTAs. The British prizes often provide clues about who will triumph at Hollywood’s Academy Awards on March 2, in an unusually hard-to-call awards season.

They also have a distinctly British accent. The ceremony kicked off with its kilt-wearing host, Scottish actor David Tennant, leading the audience in a rousing singalong of The Proclaimers’ anthem “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).”

Madison won the female acting trophy for her powerhouse performance as an exotic dancer entangled with a Russian oligarch’s son in “Anora.” She beat Gascón, Demi Moore for body-horror film ” The Substance,” Ronan for “The Outrun,” Erivo for “Wicked” and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for “Hard Truths.”

In her acceptance speech, Madison sent a message to the sex worker community.

“You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and an ally and I implore others to do the same,” she said.

Brody beat competition from Fiennes, Chalamet, who plays the young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” Grant for the horror film ” Heretic,” Colman Domingo for prison drama ” Sing Sing ” and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump in ” The Apprentice.”

Brody, who plays a Hungarian-Jewish architect in the postwar United States, said “The Brutalist” carried a powerful message for our divided times.

“It speaks to the need for all of us to share in the responsibility of how we want others to be treated and how we want to be treated by others,” he said. “There’s no place any more for antisemitism. There’s no place for racism.”

“The Brutalist” also won prizes for its cinematography and musical score.

Saldaña won for her role as a lawyer who helps the title character in “Emilia Pérez” transition to a woman and out of a life of crime. She called the film “the creative challenge of a lifetime.”

“A Real Pain,” about mismatched cousins on a trip to explore their roots, won the BAFTA for best original screenplay, as well as Culkin’s acting award.

“I’d like to share this with my wife, who didn’t come because she didn’t think I’d win,” quipped writer-director Jesse Eisenberg, who also co-starred in the film.

Claymation caper “Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” won awards for best animated feature and best family and children’s film.

Sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two” won prizes for sound and visual effects, while blockbuster musical ” Wicked” took the costume and production design trophies.

Most BAFTA winners are chosen by 8,000 members of the U.K. academy of industry professionals, with one — the Rising Star Award — – selected by public vote from a shortlist of nominees. This year’s winner was David Jonsson, star of high finance TV drama series “Industry” and London rom-com “Rye Lane.”

“Star, I don’t know,” he said. “But rising, I guess.”

The prize for best British debut went to Rich Peppiatt, writer-director of Irish-language hip-hop drama “Kneecap.”

“Willow” and “Return of the Jedi” actor Warwick Davis received the academy’s top honor, the BAFTA Fellowship, for his screen career and work to create a more inclusive film industry.

The 3-foot, 6-inch (1.1-meter) actor founded a talent agency for actors under 5 feet tall, because, he said, “short actors weren’t known for their talent, just their height.”

“This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me — and I’ve been in ‘Star Wars,’” Davis said as he accepted his award.

This awards season has been clouded by last month’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires, and BAFTA chairwoman Sara Putt sent a message of strength to everyone affected,

The event was without a dash of royal glamour this year. Neither Prince William, who is honorary president of the British film academy, nor his wife Kate attended the ceremony, which coincided with school holidays for their three children.

William, 42, sent a video message, recorded during a visit to meet students at the London Screen Academy on Wednesday.

During the visit, the heir to the throne discussed his own viewing habits, saying he’d watched World War II drama “Darkest Hour” and had begun postapocalyptic TV drama “The Last of Us.” He said he found it “quite full on” and didn’t make it to the end.

A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the Academy Awards are on March 2, not March 3.

‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Cast and Character Guide: Who Are the New Elitists on Vacation in Thailand?

The White Lotus is about to embark on the series’ third season with new faces, drama, and intrigue. The first season, set in Hawaii, followed several individuals, couples, and families during their stay at a luxurious resort. Despite all the accommodations, the guests of the White Lotus found themselves at odds with each other and the staff throughout their stay. The second season, set in Italy, focused on the perspective of multiple people staying at the prestigious White Lotus Hotel. The dark comedy anthology series emphasizes the vast differences between the “haves” and “have-nots,” creating a platform for dramatic hilarity when the two mix together. Despite being an anthology, only one character was in both the first and second seasons, only to meet their demise at the end of the second. However, a familiar face from the first season will make an appearance in the latest season, further tying the storylines together. Who knows where the next season of The White Lotus will find us…

The third season is set in Thailand, at another location of the White Lotus luxury resort chain. With lavish beaches and scenic views, the new season is sure to enthrall fans with another sardonic and satirical drama that leaves you begging for more. Premiering on Sunday, February 16, with new episodes weekly, read on to find out who will make up the cast of the third season!

Leslie Bibb

Kate

Kate is one of a group of three long-time friends who have decided to go on a girls’ trip to Thailand to reunite and rejuvenate with two of her closest friends. Played by Leslie Bibb, Kate is called out by her friend in the trailer as “fake,” implying she desperately wants to portray herself as something she isn’t. Bibb has starred in several major films, like Law Abiding Citizen, Iron Man and Iron Man 2, and Miss Nobody.

Carrie Coon

Laurie

Most recently starring in the drama film, His Three Daughters and the television series, The Gilded Age, Carrie Coon plays Laurie, the straight-talking friend out of the trio of women on their week-long “girls’ trip” to Thailand. She points out the flaws in the friends she made when they were all in the 10th grade. She refers to Kate as “fake,” and Jaclyn as “vain and selfish,” but not before they call her out as being “always disappointed.” Carrie Coon also starred in films like Gone Girl, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Michelle Monaghan

Jaclyn Lemon

Jaclyn seems to be the most adventurous of the trio of women on their trip to Thailand. Labelled as “vain and selfish,” by Laurie, she seems to be the one to insight drama and conflict within the group. As she says in the trailer, “What happens in Thailand stays in Thailand,” implying she can be more of a loose cannon within the friend group. Jaclyn is played by Michelle Monoghan, who recently appeared in MaXXXine, Pixels, and Gone Baby Gone. She also starred in the 2007 rom-com, The Heartbreak Kid as Miranda.

Walton Goggins

Rick Hatchett

Walton Goggins has been making a splash lately with his recent starring role as The Ghoul/Cooper Howard in the Amazon Prime original, Fallout, as well as voicing Cecil Stedman in Invincible. He’s also appeared in Quentin Tarantino films like Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, and starred as Boyd Crowder in the FX series, Justified. In the latest season of The White Lotus, Goggins plays Rick Hatchett, a wealthy man with a much younger girlfriend joining him for a week-long vacation at the Thailand location of the luxury resort chain.

Aimee Lou Wood

Chelsea

Chelsea is the younger girlfriend of Rick Hatchett, who simultaneously entertains and drains him with her free-spirited ideologies and bohemian lifestyle. She views him and their relationship with optimism, while he regards her with a mixture of lust, convenient companionship, and guilt, because of the glaring differences in their ages and mindsets. Aimee Lou Wood starred in the series Sex Education as Aimee Gibbs and also (ironically) the comedy series, Daddy Issues.

Jason Isaacs

Timothy Ratliff

Jason Isaacs is profoundly known to be a smug British… jerk. From playing Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot to playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, Isaacs could make his disdainful sneer a trademark. However, in the third season of The White Lotus, he plays an American with a southern accent. Taking his wife and three children on a week-long vacation at the Thailand location, he faces financial and legal struggles while trying to maintain face.

Parker Posey

Victoria Ratliff

Victoria Ratliff is the wife of Timothy. She is equally snobbish and elitist. She also refuses to accept a lifestyle that involves anything less than what she believes she deserves. Although her marriage might be on the rocks, she is happy that their three children can accompany them on this trip, even if it might be the last one they have together as a family. Victoria is portrayed by Parker Posey, who recently appeared in the new series Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as well as the A24 film, Beau Is Afraid as Elaine, and the HBO docu-drama miniseries, The Staircase.

Sarah Catherine Hook

Piper Ratliff

Piper Ratliff is the middle child of the Ratliff family, between older brother Saxon and younger brother, Lochlan. She is a college senior, studying religion, which makes Thailand a perfect location for her to delve into the religious practices of other cultures. Piper’s character is played by Sarah Catherine Hook, who is best known for her portrayal of Juliette Fairmont in First Kill and Caroline Merteuil in Cruel Intentions.

Sam Nivola

Lochlan Ratliff

Lochlan is a senior in high school and the youngest of the Ratliff children. Given his character’s age, we can expect the usual brooding and general melancholy, despite the beautiful location he’s in with his family. Lochlan is played by Sam Nivola, who has recently appeared in White Noise, Maestro, and Eileen.

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Saxon Ratliff

Saxon is the eldest child of the Ratliff family, portrayed by Patrick Schwarzenegger. After college, Saxon works for his father’s company and is thus caught adrift in whatever financial mishaps that his father has dragged him into. Along with Parker Posey, who plays his mother, Victoria, Schwarzenegger also starred in the HBO miniseries, The Staircase, and also appeared in Midnight Sun, The Terminal List, and as Golden Boy in Gen V, a spinoff series of the Amazon Prime original series, The Boys.

Natasha Rothwell

Belinda Lindsey

Belinda is the only character from the first season of The White Lotus to reappear in the third installment of the series. As the spa manager at the Maui White Lotus location, she treats herself to a vacation at the Thailand resort, hoping to learn more about the therapeutic massage practices they offer. Knowing what she has experienced from Season 1, she is not surprised when things start to go awry in Thailand. Belinda is played by Natasha Rothwell, who was a writer for Saturday Night Live and also starred in the HBO series, Insecure. Most recently, she appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as Rachel.

Other Supporting Cast Members

In addition to the already-stacked cast, Season 3 of The White Lotus also includes Patravadi Mejudhon (In Family We Trust) as Sritala Hollinger, one of the owners of the White Lotus and creator of its health program, Scott Glenn (Castle Rock) as a character named Jim Hollinger, and Lalisa Manoban, a singer and dancer in the group, Blackpink, as Mook, a health mentor for guests at the White Lotus.

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The White Lotus

TV-MA

Comedy

Drama

Mystery

7 10

Release Date 2021 – 2024

Network HBO

Showrunner Mike White

Directors Mike White

Writers Mike White

Cast

See All

Jennifer Coolidge

Tanya McQuoid

Jon Gries

Greg Hunt

Creator(s) Mike White

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Mauritius Money-Laundering Mayhem: Jugnauth and Chagos Deal in Crisis!

The political landscape of Mauritius has been thrown into disarray as former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth finds himself at the center of a money-laundering investigation. Arrested alongside his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, the former leader faces a barrage of allegations which threaten to unravel the diplomatic fabric carefully woven by him during his tenure.

Mauritius—often regarded as a beacon of stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean—now grapples with scandal as police raids uncover luxurious artifacts and substantial sums of money. The island’s Financial Crimes Commission, wary of potential attempts to abscond, has issued restrictions on the movements of Jugnauth and other implicated parties.

For many, this investigation adds a substantial wrinkle to the already contentious Chagos Islands deal. Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius has attracted criticism, particularly following revelations of Jugnauth’s predicament. A chorus of Conservative voices, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp, has called for the deal to be halted, describing it as a “dodgy deal” with dubious financial foundations.

Philp emphasizes the risk of British taxpayer money vanishing into an “unaccountable black hole,” suggesting that the “red flag” of corruption now looms large over any potential financial agreements. This sentiment resonates with many who see the deal as an unnecessary concession of strategically significant territory.

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel echoed these concerns, urging transparency from the government. She condemned the lack of forthrightness surrounding the negotiations, asserting that the British public deserves clarity on affairs affecting national security.

The proposed Chagos deal has drawn scrutiny from across the Atlantic as well. With Diego Garcia hosting a major UK-US military base, figures like former Secretary of State Marco Rubio have expressed unease at the prospect of ceding control to a nation perceived as being close to China.

Defending the agreement, Starmer cites the need for “legal certainty” in light of a 2019 UN court ruling against the UK’s claim to the islands. However, some, like shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, critique this reliance on an “ill-judged” international decision, alleging Starmer’s deference to foreign influences over British interests.

Certainly, the arrest of Jugnauth and the subsequent investigations cast a shadow over these negotiations. Yet, his supporters remain steadfast, protesting outside the Financial Crimes Commission headquarters and decrying what they perceive as undue scrutiny.

As the political drama unfolds, one thing is certain: the reverberations will extend beyond Mauritius’ shores, challenging diplomatic stances and altering the very trajectory of international relations with the island nation. The world watches closely as the tale of power, money, and politics continues to unfurl, underlining the complexities and unpredictability inherent in global governance.

Shakira Cancels Lima Concert After Being Hospitalized For Abdominal Issue

Maya Hawke Laments Some Producers Relying On Follower Counts To Cast Films: “A Lifelong Question For Me”

Shakira has canceled tonight’s show in Lima, Peru after being hospitalized due to an abdominal condition.

“I regret to inform you all that last night I had to go to the ER due to an abdominal issue and am currently hospitalized,” Shakira wrote on her Instagram Story in Spanish alongside an English translation. “The doctors whose care I am currently under have communicated that I am not in the condition to put on a concert tonight.”

She continued, “I am very sad to not be able to take the stage today. I’ve been looking forward to reuniting with my beloved Peruvian fans. I hope to be better tomorrow, and that I’ll be discharged as soon as possible to be able to give the performance that I have prepared for all of you.”

The tour date is part of the “Chantaje” singer’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, which kicked off Feb. 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will run through the end of June. Shakira — who clinched Best Latin Pop Album at the 2025 Grammys with the eponymous 12th studio album, her first in seven years — was scheduled to perform at the Estadio Nacional in Lima today and tomorrow. The tour includes stops at her home country of Colombia next, along with further dates in Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. It will finish off in the U.S. with stops in major cities like Chicago, Boston, Houston and Los Angeles before wrapping up in San Francisco. In October, the tour was expanded with new dates and upgrades for some venues from arenas to stadiums due to demand.

In making the announcement, she assured audiences that her team and the promoters are already working on a new show date. “Thank you all for your understanding. I love you so much,” she wrote, signing the note with “Shak.”

Sharon Stone Seems Primed to Join ‘Euphoria’ Season 3

The Oscar nominee is in talks to join the cast of the hit HBO drama for its long-awaited third season.

After HBO revealed new and returning cast for the much-delayed third season of Euphoria, it seems like Sharon Stone might be joining in the fun. Jeff Sneider of The InSneider reported that Stone is in talks to join the cast of Season 3 of the HBO hit, with sources confirming the reports to The Hollywood Reporter. What kind of role she’d be playing and in what capacity is unknown, and HBO declined to comment when THR reached out. However, Stone would be joining a pretty stacked cast if that were the case.

Returning to Euphoria will be Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Eric Dae, Colman Domingo, Dominic Fike, Martha Kelly, and Chloe Cherry. If cast, Stone will be joining a lineup of actors new to the series, including Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Kadeem Hardison, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Toby Wallace, Darrell Brit-Gibson, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert, and Anna Van Patten.

Euphoria would mark Stone’s first television role since guest starring on The Flight Attendant in 2022 and the television film Beauty that same year. Of course, the Oscar nominee has a slew of credits under her belt, including Where Sleeping Dogs Lie, Basic Instinct, Casino, The Mighty, The Muse, and Catwoman, among many others. She’s set to star in the upcoming action-thriller Nobody 2 alongside Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Christopher Lloyd, Colin Hanks, John Ortiz, Mckenna Grace, and Chris Pine.

News of Stone’s potential casting comes just days after HBO confirmed that Euphoria Season 3 is finally in production. The third season has been in the works since 2022 but filming was pushed back on numerous occasions for the strikes and other projects that the cast and creator Sam Levinson were taking on. It was announced last summer that filming would be starting in early 2025, and now that the show is finally in production again, it seems like things are running smoothly.

It’s unknown when it will be confirmed whether or not Sharon Stone will join the cast of Euphoria for its potential final season, but it’s possible news will be revealed soon. With production going on, fans can probably expect more news surrounding Season 3, which will have a bit of a time jump, in the coming months, which should make the wait for it a little easier, even if it won’t be here until 2026. In the meantime, the first two seasons are streaming on Max.