Stephen Fry accuses ‘lost cause' J.K. Rowling of being ‘radicalised'
The British actor, broadcaster and writer has criticised the Harry Potter author for her outspoken views on transgender rights. During a recent appearance on The Show People podcast, Fry, who narrated the audiobooks for all seven Harry Potter novels, declared that he disagrees "profoundly" with Rowling's views. "She has been radicalised, I fear - perhaps by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists), but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her.' 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her. I'm afraid she seems to be a lost cause for us."
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Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Not affordable': Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes battles to find tenants for unrenovated $1300-a-week Bondi semi she bought for less than $100,000
Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes is struggling to find renters for her $1300-a-week Bondi semi, with the dated property failing to attract tenants more than three weeks after being listed. The 84-year-old British-Australian actress, known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise, purchased the 167-square-metre property in 1984 for $93,000. On Thursday, a Facebook account linked to the star, though not believed to be official, shared a post advertising the home: "Rush to rent this gorgeous Bondi property in Cox Avenue … $1300 per week / 2 Bedrooms." The link directs to a listing on from Raine & Horne, which includes images of the two-bedroom, semi-detached property at 34 Cox Avenue, just minutes from the iconic Bondi Beach. It was listed 23 days ago and remains available, even as agents spruik its location "nestled in a premier Bondi cul-de-sac" with proximity to the beach and local cafes. The rental includes timber floorboards, a gas kitchen, a separate laundry, a bathroom, and a private courtyard. There is no parking, and the interiors appear untouched since Margolyes first acquired the home. According to Raine & Horne, the $1300 weekly price aligns with the area's median rent of around $1100. But online commenters were quick to scoff at the listing. "1300 a WEEK. Nope," one wrote on the Facebook post. "Wow rent is so expensive now. Glad I'm in the bush," said another. A third added: "Oh Miriam! $1300 for a two bedder with no car space is unfortunately not affordable for most of the population. #CosiLivi." Margolyes, who became an Australian citizen in 2013, also owns a luxurious rural retreat in Robertson, in the NSW Southern Highlands, called Yarrawa Hill. The property, which she rents out for $500 per night for two people, has long served as her Aussie sanctuary. "It is Australian enough and it is also a bit like England. There are elements of it that remind me of England," the BAFTA winning actress previously said of the home. "I wanted something that was away, solitude is important." When not in Australia, the BAFTA-winning actress lives in Clapham, South London, sharing her home with two young lodgers. "My family and friends think it's hilarious and ridiculous that I live with Miriam. I do too," one of the renters told iNews in 2023. "But this unusual domestic set-up has become my new norm and I wouldn't have it any other way." Margolyes has called Clapham home since 1973 and has been in a long-term relationship with retired Australian professor of Indonesian studies Heather Sutherland since the late 1960s. Although the pair also own a property together in Italy, they have maintained a long-distance relationship for decades, with Sutherland based in Amsterdam. "We want to live together now because we haven't got long left," Margolyes told SAGA magazine in September. In recent years, Margolyes has spoken candidly about her declining health. She lives with spinal stenosis and underwent heart surgery in 2023 to replace her aortic valve. In 2024, the actress stated that she is registered as disabled and uses mobility aids, including walking sticks, a walker, and a scooter.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
People are just realising Worcestershire sauce has ‘hidden' ingredient
Worcestershire sauce is a condiment often used to add flavour to dishes such as pasta, casseroles, pies, and even Bloody Mary cocktails. But it's only recently that people have discovered its key ingredient, and it's completely blowing their minds. The tangy sauce is typically made with water, vinegar, brown sugar, golden syrup, salt, tamarind, spices, onion powder, and garlic powder. However, people have been left stunned to find out that the sauce also contains a rather polarising ingredient – anchovies. The revelation came to light after a mum and home cook shared her take on a Caesar salad, which she declared was 'picky child approved' as it contained no anchovy fillets, unlike a typical Caesar salad. Diana Konfederat instead added a dash of the brown condiment to the salad's dressing, saying, 'this has anchovies in it'. 'Please don't come for me for not using fresh anchovies,' she added. 'I don't like them, my kids don't like them.' Although thousands were keen to recreate her version of Caesar salad dressing, many were shocked to discover that anchovies were hiding in the sauce. 'Wait a second. I had no idea Worcestershire sauce had anchovies in it,' said one user. 'I just ran to check my sauce – and yes. I haven't eaten Caesar dressing since I've learned it's in there and all along I've been eating this. I'm dead,' admitted a second. 'My mind is blown, Worcestershire sauce has anchovies?!' yet another commenter exclaimed. 'Never knew that Worcestershire sauce contained anchovies,' a fourth added. However, several admitted they'd always steered clear of Caesar salad because of the fish, but were pleased to discover that Worcestershire sauce could be used to recreate that delicate, salty, fishy taste. 'YAY I've always wanted a non-fishy Caesar recipe,' one user wrote. 'This looks bomb – I hate anchovies, so this I could do,' someone else said. Anchovies are included in Worcestershire sauce to impart a deep, savoury, and umami flavour. This umami, frequently characterised as a 'meaty' or 'brothy' taste, arises from the fermentation process and the natural compounds present in the anchovies. The anchovies are matured in vinegar, which helps in breaking them down and releasing these flavour compounds and contributing to the sauce's distinctive character. As a result, many Worcestershire sauces aren't vegan. However, if you are vegan or simply don't like anchovies, plenty of fish-free Worcestershire sauce brands exist. Vegan Worcestershire sauces include ingredients like molasses, tamarind, and vinegar to give the same complex, delicious flavour without the fish. For example, the home brand Woolworths Worcestershire sauce contains no anchovies, nor does the Coles home brand version. Popular brand Lea & Perrins does, however, contain anchovies.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Is F1: The Movie any good?
Formula 1 fans have so much access to the sport that a fictional production can't match the real highs of racing. The real thing feels far less predictable than Hollywood's drive to milk corporate sponsors and cash in on F1's popularity. All the parts were in place to make F1: The Movie unforgettable. There were superstar actors in Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, ably supported by Kerry Condon and Damson Idris. A blockbuster director in Joseph Kosinski, fresh from the success of Top Gun: Maverick. Guidance from racing legend Lewis Hamilton and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali to make sure it didn't run off course. And unprecedented access to the drivers, cars, circuits and trackside action that make Formula 1 the pinnacle of motorsport. The last bit is where F1 fans might feel short-changed. F1 used to be elusive and exclusive. Former boss Bernie Ecclestone was a magician who wowed onlookers without revealing his tricks, putting on a show while keeping the audience at a distance. But the sport has thrown open its doors to live broadcasts, social media, Netflix, podcasts and more that take us deep into the world of Grand Prix racing. We've gone from a couple of hours of racing every other week to an unprecedented level of access to racing's cast and crew. Racing fans can consume countless hours of content each week. That's where F1: The Movie differs from Top Gun: Maverick. There's a lot of mystery surrounding fighter pilots, their jets and missions. Top Gun pulls viewers into a world off-limits to civilians. But F1 offers a fictionalised spin on a world its fans are intimately familiar with. Racing fans are spoiled. It's everywhere you look. And its real stories are better than what Hollywood scripted. F1: The Movie is about a struggling team owner (Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem) who turns to a retired racing star of the 1990s (Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt) in a desperate ploy to win a race. There's friction from young teammate Joshua (played by Damson Idris) and team technical director Kate (played by Kerry Condon), before everyone works together to get their trophy. It's a poor substitute for the real drama of F1. Fans will never forget the career-defining battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, culminating in the controversy of Abu Dhabi's season finale in 2021. Look at that pair. There's rich material in Verstappen's well-documented struggle with an abusive father, or the way Hamilton's raw talent drove him through adversity. There's Michael Schumacher's tragic skiing accident and his son Mick's ultimately futile drive to follow his path. Or Jack Doohan striving for F1 for his entire life only to be thrown on the scrap heap after half a dozen races. Robert Kubica last week completed a fairytale story by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans – arguably the world's biggest race – in a Ferrari, years after a near-fatal rally crash prevented him from driving for Ferrari in Formula 1. Hours later, the battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris boiled over in Canada. Piastri, ice-cold, unflappable and inscrutable, went wheel to wheel with a Norris plagued by a lack of confidence in his clearly immense ability. My invitation to the Australian premiere of F1: The Movie included a drive of a $400,000 Mercedes-AMG sports car that features in the film, the opportunity to wear the same $45,000 IWC watch shown on screen, and all the alcohol-free Heineken I could drink. Which isn't much. The best racing movies are underpinned by real stories. Rush (2013) faithfully tells the gripping story of James Hunt and Niki Lauda, pitched in a do-or-die battle with brutal consequences. Ford v Ferrari (2019) has Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles beating the odds to win Le Mans, and the biographical Senna (2010) is told with more care than Kosinski managed. I'd even argue Will Ferrell's silly NASCAR flick Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) has more heart, humour and audience appeal than a none-too-convincing Brad Pitt trying to climb onto the podium. Sure, the film might give F1 a further bump in popularity. But fans won't find much beyond what they already see on Grand Prix Sundays.
