Robin Wright looks glamorous in a sequinned gown while Suits star Sarah Rafferty is chic in a white dress as they lead stars at Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Actresses Robin Wright and Sarah Rafferty put on glamorous displays as they attended the Closing Ceremony of the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Tuesday.
House Of Cards star Robin, 59, had travelled to southern France to accept the Crystal Nymph Award from the Prince and Princess of Monaco to recognise her achievements during a long acting career.
The American actress - who starred as Claire Underwood in House Of Cards for more than 70 episodes - seemed elated to be in attendance as she was pictured arriving with Henri Smith.
Wearing her short blonde hair brushed to the side, Robin dazzled on the red carpet in a glitzy flowing dress which she accessorised with a matching bag and a pair of hooped earrings.
While Sarah, 52 - who had been invited to the festival alongside John Reardon to present the Best Creation Award - stunned in a white gown while letting her ginger locks flow past her shoulders.
She also cracked a smile while posing for photos with Aussie actress Rachel Griffiths, 56, who sported a poker-dot red and white dress for the evening.
After taking to the stage later in the ceremony, the Suits star awarded the Best Creation award to Don't Give Up, a South African production following a single mother struggling to provide for her children.
The awards show also saw German movie On A Day In September scoop Best Film, while Vanguard was awarded Best Series.
Individual awards were handed to charismatic Scandinavian actor Jakob Oftebro as Best Actor for his part in Vanguard, as On A Day In September star Hélène Alexandridis was crowned best actress.
Robin - who has enjoyed a 40-year career as an actress - was rewarded for her efforts in the industry later on with the Crystal Nymph Award, previously won by stars such as Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas.
Just a day earlier, the 59-year-old American opened up about her time on House Of Cards and her fight for equal pay.
During a chat with Variety, the experienced actress said: 'When David Fincher introduced House of Cards to me, he said, "This is going to be the future, it's going to be revolutionary".
'Yes, it was difficult (trying to achieve equal pay), I am going to be honest. When I said, "I think it's only fair because my character became as popular as (Kevin Spacey's), they said, "We can't pay you the same as an actor, so we will make you exec producer and you can direct".
'I asked, "Why can't you pay me as an actor" - "Because you didn't win an Academy Award".'
Aside from Robin and Sarah, a host of other stars also flocked to Monte-Carlo for the awards ceremony.
Bond girl in the 1995 007 movie Golden Eye, Famke Janssen, 60, was one of those in attendance, with the actress arriving in a glamorous strapless white and black dress.
While Gabrielle Lazure, 68, proved age is just a number in a red and gold dress which she accessorised with both golden jewellery and heels.
Percy Jackson and Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd looked typically dapper for the evening as he donned an all-black tux
Percy Jackson and Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd looked typically dapper for the evening in an all-black tux.
The 51-year-old was joined by his girlfriend of two years Danielle Savre, 36, who wore her blonde hair up after slipping into a black dress.
And much-loved Starsky & Hutch actor Antonio Fargas, 78, seemed in great spirits for the evening some 50 years after he starred in the show.
Donning a clean black and white outfit, Huggy Bear actor Antonio sported a new-look goatee beard as he posed for photos in picturesque Monaco.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Married reality TV guru in talks for Strictly Come Dancing as bosses think he won't fall victim to show's ‘curse'
BBC bosses think they have found someone who won't fall victim to the infamous Strictly Come Dancing curse – Paul C Brunson. The married dating guru has become a big figure in the reality arena as part of Channel 4's two ratings giants, Married At First Sight and Celebs Go Dating. He spread his wings even further this year when he joined Netflix as Amanda Holden 's sidekick on Cheat: Unfinished Business, where eight former couples decide whether to reconcile or stay apart. But a spot on the BBC dancefloor would give Paul's career a huge boost. And the clean-cut American, who has been based in London since 2018, could be just what Strictly needs after two scandal-packed troubled series. A source said: 'Paul would be the ideal tonic to the dark clouds over Strictly as he's clean-cut, very intelligent and has no scandals to worry about. 'They are now in discussion but he's met with producers a number of times. 'Everyone is hoping he'll sign on the dotted line and is keen to make it happen.' Last month Strictly pro Karen Hauer was a guest on his podcast, We Need To Talk, so is likely well-versed in the show. He's welcomed everyone from Katie Price to singer Yungblud on the show, which is part of the reason bosses are so keen to get him on the dancefloor. The source added: 'The crucial 16-34 audience, which execs are desperate to hook, are well aware of Paul because of his podcast and MAFS and Celebs Go Dating are hugely popular with that age group.' So far names in talks for Strictly include Mo Farah, Georgia Toffolo and Gladiator Nitro.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Jay Slater's post-mortem will feature in Channel 4 documentary investigating conspiracy theories around the case and the online abuse suffered by his family
Jay Slater's post-mortem and funeral will feature in a new Channel 4 documentary that will look into conspiracy theories surrounding the case. The Disappearance Of Jay Slater will follow the story of the 19-year-old who vanished in Tenerife last June - only to be found dead a month later at the bottom of a ravine on the Spanish party island. The film, which has been made in collaboration with Mr Slater's family, will include exclusive access to his post-mortem and funeral. It is also set to look at the conspiracy theories that stemmed from the story, the online abuse that the family still receive and the media coverage of the case. Mr Slater's disappearance last summer sparked a global internet storm - with armchair detectives sparking wild theories as to what happened to him. Rita Daniels, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: 'The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture. 'We are so glad to be working with Anna on a sensitively handled exploration of the family's experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief. 'The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.' Produced by Candour Productions, it will also look at the world of online armchair detectives and the consequences of their actions. It comes after celebrity investigator Mark Williams-Thomas last week revealed the first full witness account from the last person to see Mr Slater alive. According to the extraordinary new account, the 19-year-old armed himself with two knives and stole a bag of ketamine before fleeing an AirBnB on Tenerife. Mr Williams-Thomas found that those around Mr Slater on the night he disappeared spoke of him having taken a cocktail of drugs that left him 'on a mission'. Extraordinarily the TV investigator managed to track down two key witnesses in the case - just a month after the coroner officially appointed to investigate Mr Slater's death expressed exasperation that the police had been unable to find the same pair. Those witnesses include Ayub Qassim - the man who the apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire accompanied back to an AirBnB after staying up all night on drugs following a music festival. Convicted drug dealer Qassim, 31, is understood to be was the last person to see the apprentice bricklayer before he vanished in mountains high above the village of Masca and had been due to give evidence at his inquest last month but the coroner said he could not be traced. In the two part podcast called Jay Slater The Investigation, Williams-Thomas underlines how Qassim served a nine-year jail term after being convicted in 2015, following the smashing of a plot to flood the streets of Cardiff with Class A drugs. Speaking to Williams-Thomas, Qassim describes how he had picked up Lucy Law and two friends Bradley Hargreaves and Brandon Hodgson, and they went to look for Jay after she had contacted him on social media. In the podcast, Williams Thomas says: 'What Qassim said next was really significant and I believe provides real context to a very number of important aspects of this case.' Qassim tells him: 'They were just doing my head in, one said. 'That's the two bottles of Henny [Hennessy cognac], they were just doing my head in. 'In the end I just turned to Brandon and said:' Look Brandon, one of your mates, yesterday walked way because he's f**** off with the ket [ketamine] and he want missing. Tell this f****** idiot to get back in the car.' Williams-Thomas says: 'So, let's just re hear that again,' before playing the clip once more, and then adding:' I believe this is really significant new information. 'When Qassim said ket, he was referring to ketamine and my information is that this drug was readily available and that Jay had definitely been using it. Search and rescue teams hunt for missing Jay Slater last summer 'I have further information about the supply of ketamine into the country, in the UK ketamine is a class B drug carrying a maximum of five years sentence for possession and 14 years for supply.' Williams-Thomas adds: 'So, Qassim says in the recording that Jay left the rental on the morning and took with him Qassim's ketamine. 'If you wonder why we've not heard this before, his police statement of course made no mention of this. 'My intelligence, however, is that the rental location was specifically chosen so as not to being attention to nay illegal activity.' The release date for Channel 4's new show is yet to be announced.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Meghan Markle is risking her As Ever brand as tone shifts from 'poetic' to 'purely transactional'
Meghan Markle finally revealed an As Ever restock earlier this week by announcing in a newsletter that products and 'new surprises' would be available this Friday - but, according to public relations experts, her messaging has shifted dramatically. The purported change in messaging comes after Meghan and Prince Harry lost six staff members recently, including Kyle Boulia, their Los Angeles-based deputy press secretary, and Charlie Gipson, who had been serving as the couple's European communications director for Team Sussex. In April, off the heels of her Netflix show premiere, Meghan finally launched her much-anticipated lifestyle brand, which sold out online within half an hour. The range included flower sprinkles, jam, pancake mix and more - all of which received a less-than-flattering review by DailyMail's FEMAIL team. After the launch, though, the future of the brand became increasingly confusing for consumers with The Duchess later hinting in an interview with The Fast Company that she might never restock her jam, explaining that she was planning to 'step back to assess' her brand. But it looks like her products weren't really on a pause at all, as she's bringing them back this week - something that she announced to consumers in an email Monday. 'First off, a sincere thank you for making the debut of As ever absolutely extraordinary. We had a feeling there would be excitement, but to see everything sell out in less than an hour was an amazing surprise,' the message sent out began. 'We are pleased to share that on June 20, we're going live with the products you love – plus, some new delicious surprises,' the email continued. 'More details and exact timing will be shared soon.' It was noticeably short and sweet, a big departure from her first As Ever email, which was paragraphs long and full of inspirational quotes and personal anecdotes. And according to experts, the difference in messaging may be chalked up to her change in staffing. 'Meghan's first As Ever newsletter was poetic and intimate. It positioned the brand as an extension of her personal rituals and values, written in the voice of someone building a lifestyle, not just selling a product,' Sarah Schmidt, Celebrity Publicist and President of PR firm Interdependence, told Daily Mail exclusively. 'The latest email, by contrast, is pure transaction: short, strategic and sales-focused. And that pivot is telling,' Schmidt continued. The celebrity publicist explained that the audience is now witnessing a 'shift' in Meghan from a 'founder-as-storyteller' to 'founder-as-operator.' 'It suggests a brand moving from emotional origin story into operational scale. However, when key team members exit and the tone tightens, audiences can feel that,' Schmidt suggested. 'If the first email said, "Come into my garden," the second says, "Get ready to shop." Neither is wrong, but the dissonance creates questions. Not just about Meghan's role but about the heart and soul of the brand,' she shared. She noted that in today's world, consumers want an authentic connection to the brand. 'The most successful founders keep the heartbeat of the brand present, even in a sales cycle,' she said. 'For As Ever to be more than a celebrity brand, it has to hold onto the thing that made it feel different - the invitation into a lifestyle, not to just to add to cart.' However, it looks like there are some things that Meghan can to do improve her branding. According to Ryan McCormick, Co-Founder & Media Relations Specialist at Goldman McCormick Public Relation s, the former Suits actress could create a 'great opportunity' to grow As Ever if she added in a few small things to her newsletters. McCormick proposed that Meghan should open the newsletter by asking her readers how they're doing, or telling them that she hopes things are going well for them. 'The Duchess should let people know that she cares about them - foster that emotional connection,' he explained to In addition, she could also choose to highlight two or three reviews from customers in her letters. This 'reinforces the message of excellence and it encourages others to contribute accolades knowing that they may get highlighted in As Ever's newsletter,' McCormick shared. And lastly, he suggested that readers be able to send Meghan a message in some way. 'Allow people a means of sending a message to Meghan and letting them know that she will respond to some of them,' he shared. 'One personalized letter (even short) to a customer will enamor them forever and they will share the experience their friends.' Meghan's new As Ever release comes just days after a psychic who successfully predicted dozens of global events in 2024 has made an interesting prediction about her brand. Athos Salomé, 38, from Brazil, is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus' due to his numerous accurate predictions throughout the years. Speaking exclusively to Salomé shared that Meghan's As Ever lifestyle brand was something 'conceived as an extension of her public image - based on values such as awareness, healing and sustainability.' He warned that the project has 'occasional peaks in visibility' but no 'long-term consistency.'
