Latest news with #HowToFail
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Gillian Anderson had an epiphany that changed how she saw aging: ‘Why waste time?'
Gillian Anderson does not mince words. Speaking about wellness culture and the pressure to self-optimize on the podcast 'How To Fail' in 2023, she said in a calm, matter of fact and confident tone: 'I realized that anytime somebody tells me to do something, I'm going to say f—k off.' In a culture where women still feel obliged to be people pleasers, the 56-year-old actress makes being forthright look easy. When we spoke over video call from the Cannes Film Festival, where Anderson was attending L'Oréal Paris' Lights on Women's Worth Award, I asked if she's always been able to set boundaries. 'I was quite a rebellious teenager,' she said. Yet it wasn't until her 40s that she felt able to speak her mind without fear, without worrying about what other people thought. 'It was almost like something that pre-existed but I didn't realize how valuable it was, and that it was something that I could actually vocalize and delight in,' she said. 'There was something that felt really good about having that.'
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Gillian Anderson had an epiphany that changed how she saw aging: ‘Why waste time?'
Gillian Anderson does not mince words. Speaking about wellness culture and the pressure to self-optimize on the podcast 'How To Fail' in 2023, she said in a calm, matter of fact and confident tone: 'I realized that anytime somebody tells me to do something, I'm going to say f—k off.' In a culture where women still feel obliged to be people pleasers, the 56-year-old actress makes being forthright look easy. When we spoke over video call from the Cannes Film Festival, where Anderson was attending L'Oréal Paris' Lights on Women's Worth Award, I asked if she's always been able to set boundaries. 'I was quite a rebellious teenager,' she said. Yet it wasn't until her 40s that she felt able to speak her mind without fear, without worrying about what other people thought. 'It was almost like something that pre-existed but I didn't realize how valuable it was, and that it was something that I could actually vocalize and delight in,' she said. 'There was something that felt really good about having that.' Gillian Anderson at the L'Oréal Lights on Women Award at the Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2025. Anderson has also become more vocal about women's sexual pleasure. A far remove from how most of us came to know her — as brainy, buttoned-up agent Dana Scully from the '90s TV show 'The X-Files' — this sex-positive persona seemed to be a spillover from her role as a sex therapist on Netflix's 'Sex Education.' When Anderson was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on the show in 2024, she wore a strapless Gabriela Hearst gown subtly decorated with white embroidered vulvas. Gillian Anderson at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards in a white gown embroidered with vulvas. Last year, she published 'Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous,' a collection of women's sexual fantasies which were submitted from all over the world; she also has a functional soft drinks brand, G Spot, which includes the flavour, 'Arouse.' In this, and in everything she does, Anderson proves that life after 50 is full of possibility. 'I certainly feel that and have been embracing that and really properly leaning into it and taking advantage of it,' she said. 'What's interesting is when I've been asked about it, there's part of my brain that just thinks, 'Well, of course. I mean, why wouldn't it be?'' Still, Anderson said leaving behind her youth wasn't a seamless transition. She experienced two periods of 'deep grief, real sadness and feeling of loss,' one in her late 30s, another in her early 40s, sparked by the realization that she was on the other side of something. In her 40s, she had a mind-altering epiphany: she was the youngest she was ever going to be for the rest of her life. 'It was like, my brain exploded,' she said. 'It's such an obvious thing to say, but at the same time, this is right now. Appreciate where you are right now. Why waste time?' But she understands why many of us feel apprehensive about what life has in store once we hit the midpoint, and why we delight in witnessing women over 50 in popular culture thrive. 'To see women our age showing that not only is there a next, but it's a really fantastic next is really important,' said Anderson, who recently landed her first beauty contract earlier this year, as a face of L'Oréal Paris's Age Perfect line. 'I encourage women to look forward to this time and not be afraid of this time, but to know that it can be incredibly positive and empowering — actually more empowering than some of the other decades that we've lived.' Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs at a London screening of 'The Salt Path.' As Anderson has progressed further into her career, she's begun working with more women directors — including on 'The Salt Path,' out later this month. The film, based on writer Raynor Winn's memoir, is a drama about a married couple who walk across the south west coast of England after becoming homeless. It was directed by Marianne Elliott, and the crew was populated with many women, including a producer and the director of photography. 'Anytime I see a woman director, I celebrate it. It's just a very different vibe,' Anderson said, comparing the atmosphere to the 'very male-centred, very macho' sets that she's become accustomed to. From here, Anderson is feeling ready for whatever is next. 'I'm not afraid of my age or the changes that are happening. I feel proud to be the age that I am,' she said. 'I'm continuing to build and to grow and do what I set my mind to.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Christine McGuinness returns to Celebs Go Dating after sexuality admission
Christine McGuinness has returned to Celebs Go Dating, just weeks after announcing she was withdrawing from the programme due to the mounting pressures of the reality show Christine McGuinness has returned to Celebs Go Dating just weeks after dramatically pulling out of the show. The reality star and former wife of TV presenter Paddy McGuinness took to social media last month to inform fans she had made the decision to quit the dating programme just days into filming. At the time, the 37-year-old said she felt as though the show had good intentions, but the experience was "too soon" following the finalisation of her divorce from Top Gear host, Paddy. But just over a month later, the former Real Housewives of Cheshire star has returned to the show and has been pictured at the grand finale, which was held in London. Love guru Anna Williamson took to social media, sharing a string of snaps from the final filming of the programme, surrounded by the famous faces who were looking for love, including Kerry Katona, Olivia Hawkins, Mark Labbett, Donna Preston and Sam Prince. Speaking about Christine's return, a source told The Sun: "Christine's return was kept top secret from everyone, so they were all so excited to see her come back. The cast were really sad when she quit the show, even though they totally supported and understood her reasons, so it was great to see her come back. "She started the journey with them all, so it was the perfect end that she got to finish the series with them too." They went on to explain that Christine didn't find love on the dating programme, but the decision for her to leave was the right one. Meanwhile, Anna captioned her upload: "Oh…my…..word. I cannot express just HOW good this series of @celebsgodating is!!!! "10 weeks of intense filming, dating, and coaching and we are done and dusted for another series. Oh my goodness, we have seen transformations in every single one of our amazing celebs!!! You are going to NEED to watch because it's THAT good. For now I have to shush (I don't want to spoil it) but let me tell you, making a show like this takes so many hundreds of incredibly talented people." She added: "I am so proud to be part of this show, it is one of the kindest, warmest, most fun productions I believe in the industry, and in an age where we are all more challenged to find the light in life than ever, it really is such a wonderful family to be a part of." Her return comes just weeks after Christine was praised for opening up about her sexuality, admitting that her former husband, friends and family had known she had dated both men and women. But while she didn't find love on Celebs Go Dating, she admitted that it shouldn't matter what someone's gender is. Speaking on the How To Fail podcast, Christine said: "It never mattered to me, which was why once me and my ex-husband were separated and I met people, I didn't properly date. It was more like blurred the lines of friendships for me, that was normal. It felt comfortable because I'd done that as a teenager and I, as a teenager, I dated both men and women. My ex-husband knew, my family knew, it was never a secret for me." She added that she doesn't label her sexuality and instead is a "free spirit." "No, and again, I've thought about it," she commented. Christine added: "A lot of people always ask me, are you a lesbian? Are you bisexual? Are you what? Is this a phase? I've always been quite a free spirit. I think that's the only word I would put on it. When I was a teenager, I'd dated boys and girls. 14/15 was probably when I had my first kisses with, with both, and I never felt it was anything different or a big deal."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Claudia Winkleman's battle with chronic eye condition
The television presenter was awarded an MBE for her services to broadcasting in the King's Birthday Honours Television personality Claudia Winkleman has opened up about her health struggles, revealing a chronic eye condition left her 'never really' able to see her own face in the mirror. The 53-year-old star, who yesterday was awarded an MBE by King Charles, has undergone various operations to try to correct her vision. Previously the Traitors host has spoken about "how blind" she is as she struggled with myopia, or short-sightedness, for years. In an interview with the How To Fail podcast last November, she explained: "I've always had terrible eyesight, which goes back to the blurriness of the paintings I like and the blurriness of how I really like life to be. "I've had a couple of operations since then because I was just banging into walls. But now I wear lenses or glasses or whatever." She continued: "A lit candle and everything is just a bit fuzzy around the outside. 'I was born, I think, with minus 15, so I've never really been able to see my face. It's all guesswork. "But everything is ish, it's just a vague idea, which is how I'd like to live. I don't want to live in 'perfect land'. I want to live in 'fuzzy world '. "If there's perfect here — people who want things to look good and ordered and alphabetised and organised — and then there's the other end, I'm past the other end. I like irregular and ramshackle and messy. Just look at the way I do my eye make-up. I'm not very good at neat." As reported by The Sun, she admitted that she has previously struggled to read an autocue while presenting. She also revealed that her vision problems have changed over time as she went from being short-sighted to long-sighted. In 2021 she said: 'I can't even begin to tell you how blind I am. It's embarrassing. I can't read the autocue. My eyes have deteriorated so badly, I'm not meant to drive. I am doing the wrong job." In another interview on Gabby Logan's podcast The Mid Point in December, Claudia said: "I've had lens replacement. I've had so many operations on my eyes. I had a lens replacement in my left eye because my astigmatism was so bad. I was minus 16, but that was 14 years ago. "Then I had a little fiddle with it, but because I was so short-sighted, by fixing it I'm now long-sighted, so I can't really read anymore. I can with glasses—I've got plus 2.5—but I can't read The Bee Sting with those glasses and that light." Yesterday (June 13), Claudia was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours alongside her Strictly Come Dancing co-host, Tess Daly. 'I am incredibly grateful to receive this honour,' Claudia said. 'It's a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. 'So this is for the BBC, the traitors and the faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha. I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Claudia Winkleman's chronic eye condition left her 'never really' able to see her own face
Claudia Winkleman's chronic eye condition left her 'never really' able to see her own face Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman was named among the King's Birthday Honours list released yesterday Claudia has said she has 'never really been able to see' her own face in the mirror (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) Television star Claudia Winkleman has candidly discussed her long-term battle with a severe eye condition that has left her barely able to see her own reflection. The 53-year-old star, who was on Friday honoured with an MBE by King Charles, has undergone multiple surgeries in an attempt to improve her vision. The Traitors presenter has previously talked about her significant myopia, or short-sightedness, saying, "how blind I am". During a conversation on the How To Fail podcast last November, she shared: "I've always had terrible eyesight, which goes back to the blurriness of the paintings I like and the blurriness of how I really like life to be. "I've had a couple of operations since then because I was just banging into walls. But now I wear lenses or glasses or whatever." She added: "A lit candle and everything is just a bit fuzzy around the outside. I was born, I think, with minus 15, so I've never really been able to see my face. It's all guesswork. "But everything is ish, it's just a vague idea, which is how I'd like to live. I don't want to live in 'perfect land'. I want to live in 'fuzzy world'. Claudia was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours alongside her Strictly Come Dancing co-host, Tess Daly (Image: 2024 Getty Images ) Article continues below "If there's perfect here - people who want things to look good and ordered and alphabetised and organised - and then there's the other end, I'm past the other end. I like irregular and ramshackle and messy. Just look at the way I do my eye make-up. I'm not very good at neat." The Sun previously reported that Claudia confessed to having difficulties with reading an autocue due to her vision issues, which have shifted from short-sightedness to long-sightedness over time. In 2021, she disclosed: "I can't even begin to tell you how blind I am. It's embarrassing! I can't read the autocue. My eyes have deteriorated so badly, I'm not meant to drive. I am doing the wrong job." During a conversation on Gabby Logan's podcast The Mid Point in December, Claudia shared details about her eye surgeries. She said: "I've had lens replacement. "I've had so many operations on my eyes. I had a lens replacement in my left eye because my astigmatism was so bad. I was minus 16, but that was 14 years ago." She continued: "Then I had a little fiddle with it, but because I was so short-sighted, by fixing it I'm now long-sighted, so I can't really read anymore. I can with glasses-I've got plus 2.5-but I can't read The Bee Sting with those glasses and that light." Article continues below On June 13, Claudia was honoured with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours list, an accolade she shares with her Strictly co-host Tess Daly. Upon receiving the honour, Claudia expressed her gratitude. She said: "I am incredibly grateful to receive this honour," and added, "It's a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. "So this is for the BBC, the traitors and the faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha. I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble."
