Montel Williams shares inspiring stories in special ‘Lifelines of Hope'
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Michelle Williams discusses playing a woman with terminal cancer in 'Dying for Sex'
Michelle Williams is opening up about stepping into another emotionally complex role in "Dying for Sex." In an interview with " Good Morning America" that aired Monday, the five-time Oscar nominee opened up about portraying Molly Kochan, a woman living with a terminal cancer diagnosis, in the Hulu series. "Her bravery to take the worst news, which is going to be news that we all receive, and to continue to view her life with creativity and joy and pleasure," Williams said of what drew her to portray Kochan. "And I thought, 'Oh, I'd like that.' I would not have been capable of that." The show is inspired by the true story of Kochan, who, after learning her cancer had returned, chose not to let the disease define her final chapter. Instead, she embarked on an unexpected journey of intimacy, pleasure and self-discovery. "She continued to seek pleasure amidst painful procedures and bad diagnosis was not going to be who she was," Williams said. For Williams, playing Kochan meant more than embodying a woman facing the unimaginable. "This diagnosis became a portal," she explained. "A way for her in the time she had left to go back to heal an original wound & experience pleasure in a body before she no longer had a body to experience." The series, adapted from the podcast created by Kochan and her best friend Nikki Boyer, follows Kochan's decision to leave her sexless marriage and embrace unconventional connections as she confronts mortality head-on. Asked what gave her confidence to take on such a role, Williams admitted, "I don't know if it's confidence, really. But I think it's a leap of faith and I enjoy taking those." Her leap has already been recognized as Williams has earned an Emmy nomination for her performance, alongside Jenny Slate, who plays Nikki, Kochan's confidante and best friend. Their on-screen chemistry, Williams said, reflects their real-life friendship. "It's love," she said. "It's about how passionate of a love can exist between two female friends. And that's what we had when we met, an instant connection and desire to be closer. She and her family have moved to Brooklyn & now our children are in school together. So the love is real." For longtime fans, "Dying for Sex" marks another milestone in Williams' career, which began with "Dawson's Creek" in 1998. At just 17, she became a breakout star as Jen Lindley, a role still remembered decades later. Seven years later, her career took a defining turn with "Brokeback Mountain." "Oh gosh. Well, it made me a mother," Williams, now 44, said, referencing her daughter Matilda, whom she shared with the late Heath Ledger. Now, Matilda is 20, and Williams has built a family with husband Thomas Kail, the Tony-winning director of "Hamilton." Together, they share three younger children. That support system, she said, grounds her. "I'm lucky enough to know that that support walks with me all day, every day," she said. "And when I do say that I want to go to work, my family says, 'Great, it's about time.'" Even with decades of acclaim, Williams admits her approach to acting continues to evolve. "I think I started having more fun maybe somewhere in my 40s," she said. "I found myself capable of a little more relaxation, and then I was having more enjoyment. I think each time there's a feeling of, 'Well, I'm willing to risk it all. And I'm willing to go splat.'" All episodes of FX's Emmy-nominated limited series "Dying for Sex" are now streaming on Hulu.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Forbes
A Hands-On Look Inside Starfinder Second Edition Player Core
After a year of public playtest, Starfinder Second Edition premiered at Gen Con earlier this month. Paizo delivered the Starfinder Player Core into the hands of fans in Indianapolis. Now they can blast off on science fantasy adventures inspired by Star War, Guardians of the Galaxy and more I received a copy of Starfinder Player Core a few weeks ago. This is one of my most anticipated releases for the year. I loved what Paizo did with Pathfinder Second Edition Remastered and to see Starfinder get the same treatment really excited me. What Is Starfinder? Starfinder is a science fantasy role playing game from Paizo, Inc. It blends high magic and high tech together allowing ancient wizards and cocky star pilots to team up together for wild adventures. Players can plunder a dragon's hoard one week and battle an undead star fleet the next. Starfinder Second Edition revamps the rules for full compatibility with Pathfinder Second Edition. The games stand alone but now Game Masters can use material across game lines to add even more options to their table. For anyone that's ever wanted to battle a goblin scrap fleet or hurl fireballs with one hand while blasting away with the other, this is the game to play. The setting is a sequel to the one seen in Pathfinder. The world of Golarion disappeared and in its place now lies Absalom Station. Heroes spread out across the galaxy searching for fame, fortune and good fights to fight. Starfinder Second Edition Player Core Starfinder Player Core kicks off a fresh take on the new line. It includes 10 ancestries and six classes to build a character. Each of these options include further choices that focus character concepts. Ancestries include humans as well as several alien types. The aliens generally offer riffs on the classic animal person archetype, such as the ratlike ysoki or the telepathic hive minded shirren. There are two versatile heritages that can be combined with any of these options; the undead Borai and the Drift-infused Prismeni. The six classes cover the usual archetypes expected in science fantasy. There are unique riffs on these concepts such as the witchwarpers who pull their spells from the multiverse or the solarians who balance the light and dark powers of the stars themselves. Anyone stuck between choices can choose an archetype and blend two classes together seamlessly. The book contains the basic setting information of the Pact Worlds. Some things have gone down since Starfinder First Edition like the Drift Crisis and a dark alien god hatching out of a planet as if it were an egg. There's a lot going on here for Game Masters to use to start building their adventures. Starfinder Second Edition Adventures For those Game Masters who don't want to start from scratch, there's Murder In Metal City. This boxed set drops the players into a cyberpunk murder mystery on the harsh world of Aballon. It included everything for play from first through third level including pre-generated characters, maps, tokens, handout and more. Paizo also released some adventures during the playtest process that are still compatible. One of them centers on the aforementioned hatching. There's also a short one from Free RPG Day that gives players a chance to break free from pirates and get their own ship in the process. Starfinder Second Edition Impressions My preferences when playing role playing games lean towards light mechanics and heavy story. I admire the craftsmanship that's gone into Starfinder and I find myself truly enjoying the heavier mechanics in play here. Yes, there seems like there's a rule for everything but those rules are very well thought out and implemented. The key design focus of the game is choice. Choices in combat, choices in building characters and choices everywhere. For the most part, these choices seem meaningful and push back against the idea that once everyone's chosen their class they are stuck in a specific playstyle. All those combat rules are there to encourage players to not just sigh and roll to hit. Starfinder really sings on the tabletop battle grid and I love the feel of moving people around and making pew pew noises during the fight. Paizo supports this style of play with a great series of flip-mats. Character builds work the same way with feat choices at every level that help players dial in their characters. There are a lot of feats already but they are so flavorful that just flipping through the list can inspire me to build a new character. I admit that having access to Starfinder Nexus helps me scratch that itch. I also feel ahead of the game with my copy of Starfinder Galaxy Guide which includes more information and ancestries. I love the idea of putting together a crew with a floating brain guy, a cute but deadly four armed space koala, a cat person James Bond and a laid back psychic star wizard. Starfinder offers some great options to let your players bust the galaxy wide open.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Thunder Valley Casino Resort guest wins more than $600,000 on $7 bet
( — A guest of Thunder Valley Casino Resort took home more than half a million dollars after playing Buffalo Diamond Extreme on a penny denomination machine. Officials said the guest placed a $7 bet, earning themselves a $622,352.71 jackpot. Video Above: Can you increase your odds of winning the Powerball jackpot? 'This is what Thunder Valley is all about, extraordinary fortune, unforgettable experiences, and life-changing wins for our guests,' said Dawn Clayton, General Manager of Thunder Valley Casino Resort. 'We are thrilled to see another jackpot of this magnitude, and what makes Thunder Valley truly special is that jackpots are happening all the time, every day, across our casino. Whether it is a massive six- or seven-figure prize or a smaller win, there is always exciting energy on our floor.' The win is followed by a string of recent jackpots at the casino, including $1.15 million jackpot, a $249,470 jackpot and multiple six-figure wins. Thunder Valley officials said the casino has earned its reputation as the 'Jackpot Capital of Northern California.' Comedian Trevor Noah to take the stage at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Guests continue to take home major and minor wins across a wide variety of slot machines and table games. To learn more about Thunder Valley, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
