Cagney & Lacey’s Sharon Gless: ‘My love affair with Martinis nearly killed me’

Angelique Jackson Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon have partnered with Netflix to produce the film adaptation of “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.”Based on the upcoming book by British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator Tọlá Okogwu, “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun” tells the tale of a teenager who learns she has powers and travels to Nigeria to learn more about her origins, where she discovers a threat to her newfound magical community.Described as “Black Panther” meets “X-Men” or “Percy Jackson,” the book is the first in an action-packed series for middle-grade children and will be published by Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and U.K.

Kate Aurthur editorHBO Max announced Wednesday that “Our Flag Means Death” — a new comedy from creator David Jenkins and Oscar-winning executive producer Taika Waititi — will premiere on March 3, and unveiled its trailer and the show’s key art.In “Our Flag Means Death,” Rhys Darby (“Flight of the Conchords”) plays 18th century gentleman Stede Bonnet, who gives up a life of comfort to become the captain of a pirate ship called Revenge. The plot, according to its logline, is: “Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard, played by Waititi.

Tom Holland is no stranger to stunt-work, with six movies as the Marvel hero Spider-Man under his belt.And now, there’s “Uncharted.” He plays young treasure hunter Nathan Drake in Sony’s feature film adaptation of the PlayStation video game series of the same name. The actor spent his time on set getting hit by cars and vaulting over bannisters and railings.

Ethan Shanfeld The world’s favorite K-pop band will grace the big screen in theaters worldwide on March 12, with the release of new concert film “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing.”The event marks the first live worldwide cinema broadcast of a concert from South Korea. With a three-hour run time, “Permission to Dance on Stage” features BTS’ greatest hit songs from across their catalog.Tickets for the concert event are on sale in North and South America, Europe and Oceania on Feb.

Alissa Simon Film CriticUzbekistan-born Michael Borodin makes a searing feature debut with the Russia-Turkey-Slovenia co-production “Convenience Store,” a story of modern slavery in Moscow, taking places under the noses of thousands of indifferent witnesses. Demonstrating his interest in pressing social issues, Borodin’s Berlinale Panorama selection was inspired by his personal experience as an illegal immigrant to Russia and the 2012 case of the “Golyanovo slaves,” which is now making its way to the European Court of Human Rights.Developed through the Next Step program of Cannes’ Critics’ Week and other co-production markets, the film, like the case of the Golyanovo slaves, centers on citizens of the former Soviet Republics, who are illegal migrants to Moscow and forced to work long hours, unpaid, in 24/7 convenience shops, without being able to leave the premises.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJeremy Vuernick has been promoted to president of A&R for Capitol Music Group (CMG), it was announced today by CMG chair & CEO Michelle Jubelirer.In his elevated role, he will lead the company’s A&R team, sign and develop artists for the company, as well as oversee recording projects for new and established artists spanning the company’s portfolio of labels. He also will work closely with Jubelirer as a key member of her executive team to set the creative direction of the company. He is based in the company’s Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood and reports to Jubelirer.Vuernick joined CMG’s Astralwerks label in 2013 after two years as an A&R executive at long-running electronic label Ultra Music.

Guy Lodge Film CriticHaving long been mired in a writer’s block that she fears might be terminal, celebrated novelist Junhee decides the solution is to try another medium altogether, and sets out make a film. She has an actor, and a cinematographer, but no clear idea of what her film should be about — and that’s okay, she decides, since it will all emerge in time.

J. Kim Murphy The 27th Critics Choice Awards are going global. The Critics Choice Association announced Wednesday morning that its upcoming awards ceremony’s telecast will unfold with broadcasts from events in both London and Los Angeles.“The role of the Critics Choice Awards in the entertainment world has grown exponentially over the past quarter century,” Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Association, said in a statement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMelissa Fumero has joined the upcoming Netflix comedy series “Blockbuster,” Variety has learned.Fumero joins previously announced cast member Randall Park in the single-cam comedy, which takes place at the last Blockbuster Video in America. Further castings for the ensemble workplace comedy will be announced at a later date.Fumero will play Eliza, described as a dedicated mother whose marriage to her high school sweetheart is on the rocks. She left Harvard after one semester to start a family and now works at Blockbuster alongside Timmy (Park) as his trusty number two.Fumero is best known for her starring role as Det.

Angelique Jackson WarnerMedia has partnered with Black Beauty Roster and its network of 10,000 vetted beauty professionals in an effort to advance diversity in hair and makeup on set.Through the new relationship, WarnerMedia and Black Beauty Roster (BBR) aim to address a problem that is twofold — first, addressing the concerns of talent of color who’ve been underserved on sets by helping producers and executives find hair stylists and makeup artists skilled in working with their hair textures and skin tones; and second, creating opportunity for those artists to work on productions and special events, which is oft complicated by union regulations and rosters. “We [at WarnerMedia] had done these listening sessions to hear about the concerns that were happening, and, of course, one of the biggest things was hair and makeup,” Yvette Urbina tells Variety, explaining the genesis of this initiative.

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is known to put on a red-hot display for her legion of fans online and on TV.Showing off her ageless figure, incredible curves and jaw-dropping good looks, Amanda, who turns 51 on February 16, has certainly gained favourable attention over the years for her daringly risque outfits.However, despite many loving her boldness and her confidence to risk it all, the blonde bombshell has often been hit with numerous complaints as some believe she often takes her ensembles a step too far.In an interview with Loose Women, Amanda spoke openly regarding her decision to wear such courageous outfits.She also confessed that all of her Britain Got Talent show-stopping frocks are approved before she wears them on the show in front of millions.The star expressed: "There’s now a whole body of people that know on my door and come and stare at my chest before we go on air. There’s a t*t committee," she admitted.So as she celebrates her birthday today, Daily Star has taken a look at Amanda's most complained about outfits over the years.In 2020, Amanda sparked outrage after she appeared on ITV's Britain's Got Talent wearing a plunging blue dress.The presenter's royal blue frock was tightly fitted and sported a low neckline which drew focus to her ample assets.

We can confidently predict a documentary is forthcoming on ‘90s TV psychic Miss Cleo.

Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project, The Office) has partnered with Amazon to launch Mindy’s Book Studio, a boutique publishing works selected by Kaling, which the six-time Emmy nominee will look to adapt for film in concert with Amazon Studios.

Johnny Depp received Serbia’s Gold Medal of Merit during a ceremony honoring Serbian Statehood Day in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday (Feb. 15). The actor, who had a dramatic fall from grace after he lost a libel case against The Sun regarding allegations of abusing his ex-wife Amber Heard, was awarded the honor by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for “outstanding merits in public and cultural activities, especially in the field of film art and the promotion of the Republic of Serbia in the world,” per the website Balkan Insight.

following death threats he received from Lewis Hamilton fans in the wake of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Canadian driver opened up in December about the online abuse he had received following his dramatic crash in the Formula One season finale.

Pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, starring Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi, will land at HBO Max in March.

Kanye West‘s love life had made headlines long before becoming part of Kim Kardashian‘s reality television world. Ever since Ye broke out on his scene, his romances have been in the public eye – mainly because he’s used them as inspiration for some of his biggest songs. From rapping about his high school sweetheart on his landmark debut to having Amber Rose star in an unreleased music video to riding a motorcycle with Kim in “Bound 2,” Ye’s artistic vision has been motivated by his heart. So, who has this rapper called girlfriend?

The Billboard Music Awards are rejoining the fun in Vegas.

Two-time Emmy winner Sharon Gless packed 40lbs on to her 5ft5in frame to more authentically portray the violent, demented nurse in Misery at London's Criterion Theatre between December 1992-March 1993.The 78-year-old Cagney & Lacey alum recalled deeply regretting the decision to gain weight to play Annie Wilkes in her memoir Apparently There Were Complaints, which hit shelves on Tuesday.'When I got it, the [director Simon Moore] said, "We'll make you a fat suit,"' Sharon told Page Six on Tuesday.

She became a lesbian icon as the star of the popular '80s police drama Cagney & Lacey.And Sharon Gless revealed she questioned her sexuality after kissing and hitting on Rosie O'Donnell following an appearance together on Queer as Folk in 2005.The 78-year-old actress wrote in her new book, Apparently There Were Complaints, that she was 'confused' after a failed date with the famed comedian. The way they were: Sharon Gless revealed she questioned her sexuality after kissing and hitting on Rosie O'Donnell following an appearance together on Queer as Folk in 2005Gless shared a kissing scene with O'Donnell— who came out as a lesbian just a few years before— on the Showtime series which ran from 2000-2005.

In the kick-ass role of NYPD detective Christine Cagney in the hit TV series, “Cagney and Lacey,” Sharon Gless became a lesbian icon.Now, in her new memoir, “Apparently There Were Complaints,” (Simon & Schuster) out Dec. 7, the 78-year-old Californian admits to hitting on Rosie O’Donnell after suddenly feeling “confused” about her own sexuality.In 2005, O’Donnell made a guest appearance on Gless’ Showtime drama “Queer As Folk” in which they exchanged an on-screen kiss.