Alan Cumming's X-Men character transformation drastically reduced in Avengers: Doomsday
Last month the official cast for the new Avengers: Doomsday, was announced with numerous stars returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe including Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd and Robert Downey Jr.
Among the surprise names confirmed for the film were various X-Men actors such as Alan Cumming, James Marsden, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer who previously starred in the movies produced by 20 Century Fox.
Cumming, who played Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner in 2003's X2: X-Men United recently said during an interview on Today With Jenna and Friends that he has already begun makeup tests for the forthcoming blockbuster.
When talking about his return to screen, Cumming said: 'It's been 23 years since I was a superhero. I've had some makeup tests already for the role, but what's great about it was that before it was about four and a half hours to apply it, but now it's only 90 minutes.'
Nightcrawler has a distinctive appearance with his blue tattooed skin. The outfit Cumming had to wear had several harnesses for components like his tail. He also had to put on fake teeth and contact lenses to achieve Nightcrawler's otherworldly look.
Back in 2003, all of Nightcrawler's tattoos were drawn by hand but Cumming says that they are now simply just stuck to his face which he has called a 'gamechanger'.
Audiences have only seen Nightcrawler on-screen once. The character did not return for X-Men sequels such as The Last Stand or Days of Future Past.
Cumming went viral in 2024 for calling X2: X-Men United the 'gayest film' he'd ever worked on in his career. He added: 'It's got a queer director, lots of queer actors in it. I love the fact that something so mainstream and so in the comic book world is so queer.'
This received an overwhelmingly positive response from X-Men screenwriter David Hayter who told TMZ: 'I'm so glad we did right by him. He's such an icon for gay rights. Ian McKellen also really recognised the allegory of it from a gay perspective.'
When talking about his experience on X2, Cumming said: 'It's an allegory about queerness, about people having these great gifts and really great, powerful things that they have to hide to exist. Queer people understand what that's all about.'
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Metro
14 hours ago
- Metro
Inside Hugh Jackman's new relationship after Deborra-lee 'betrayal' statement
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness' split has taken an unexpected turn with the Waiting actor opening up on her experience with 'betrayal.' The Wolverine star, 56, and his ex-wife, 69, announced their separation in September 2023, which appeared to be amicable. But Deborra has since seemingly hinted at adultery playing a part in their shock split, releasing a statement talking about 'betrayal' amid the breakdown of her 27-year marriage. An insider told MailOnline that Hugh was 'extremely disappointed' to read Deborra's statement just days after she filed for divorce. Since their split, Hugh has moved on with another actor, with reports suggesting they are set to move in together. Hugh confirmed he was dating Broadway star Sutton Foster 16 months after splitting from Deborra. Just days prior to the announcement, the X-Men icon was spotted watching the 50-year-old actor on stage in Once Upon a Mattress in Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre. Their budding romance comes just months after Sutton filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Screenwriter Ted Griffin, in October 2024. It is thought that Hugh and Sutton first met after starring in the Broadway show The Music Man together in 2022. The pair both praised each other after starring together, with Sutton telling People in June 2024: 'He's one of the greatest guys ever, an incredible costar. I think everyone already knows that, though.' During a joint appearance with Sutton on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2022, Hugh also gushed: 'This is a six-time Tony nominee, two-time winner. Like, I saw her do Thoroughly Modern Millie when you were like 4 years old. But I've watched everything she's done. It's amazing.' Sutton is best known as a Broadway actor who made her stage debut in 1996 in Grease as Sandy Dumbrowski. She has since had roles in Shrek the Musical, Anything Goes, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned her her first Tony Award. Sutton has also made the move into the world of film and TV with roles in The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, and Younger. Like her ex-husband, Deborra is an actor who began her career in an unlikely fashion. She first got a job as an assistant to the news director at Channel 9 in Australia before being asked to work on the daytime current affairs programme No Man's Land. She first performed on the stage after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 80s before landing her first movie role in Shame in 1998. She went on to star in the likes of TV miniseries Stark and Michael Rymer's Angel Baby before landing the title role in the TV series Correlli in 1995. Hugh and Deborra-Lee first met on the set of Correlli and instantly became inseparable, with the Wolverine actor getting down on one knee just months later. Neither Hugh nor Deborra has publicly announced why the couple has split, but the latter recently hinted at infidelity in their relationship. Deborra spoke about 'navigating betrayal' in a statement released on May 28, just days after filing for divorce. 'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,' she began. 'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however, I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.' She then specifically spoke about her 27-year marriage to Hugh, saying: 'This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. 'I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose. 'It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom. She then added 'that none of this is personal,' and said: 'We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random. 'We are drawn to people, we invite them in, in order to learn our lessons and to recognise and heal the broken parts of ourselves…I remain grateful,' she concluded her statement to MailOnline. Hugh has since responded to the statement, with an insider saying he was 'extremely disappointed.' 'Hugh was extremely disappointed after reading what his ex had said,' an insider told MailOnline. 'There was no stipulation that she could not address this, but there was an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press.' The insider suggested that Deborra 'got around' this agreement and added that Hugh 'caved' to her divorce requests. 'She got around this by not naming him – instead focusing on how she felt. 'Hugh knows that he cannot change anything, and it is unfortunate that Deb feels the way she did given the fact that he caved in to all of her divorce requests.' Announcing their separation in September 2023, the couple was amicable. 'We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,' their joint statement to People at the time read. 'Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.' More Trending 'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. 'We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.' Hugh and Deborra share two adopted children named Oscar, 25, and Ava, 19. Metro has reached out to representatives for Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Pregnant Rihanna 'playing hide the bump' in sizzling Savage X Fenty lingerie photoshoot MORE: Robin Thicke, 48, ties the knot with model April Love Geary, 30, after seven-year engagement MORE: Ricky Gervais risks backlash once more with dicey jokes in Hollywood Walk of Fame speech
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
It's part of what actors do but it's never a joy, says Gillian Anderson as she reveals all about filming sex scenes
Gillian says she finds the first two days of filming a new project to be the scariest part SEX FILES It's part of what actors do but it's never a joy, says Gillian Anderson as she reveals all about filming sex scenes A TWO-MAN tent on the windy south-west coast of England might not be everyone's ideal spot for a steamy encounter. But that is where former X-Files actress Gillian Anderson found herself acting out a sex scene for her new film The Salt Path, about a homeless couple embarking on a 630-mile trek. Advertisement 8 Gillian Anderson filmed a sex scene in a tent on the windy south-west coast of England Credit: Getty 8 Gillian was filming with White Lotus star Jason Isaacs for upcoming film The Salt Path Credit: Black Bear 8 Gillian says she has become used to unexpected demands when it comes to filming sex scenes Credit: Getty She was even asked to squeeze into a sleeping bag with co-star Jason Isaacs — and now she has spoken about the awkwardness of filming intimate acts with someone you barely know. Mum-of-three Gillian, 56, said: 'That is something you just expect as an actor. "That's part of what one does. I had an experience for many, many years working with the same actor every day. 'I've also done sex scenes on the first day of working, which is never a joy at any time during filming. Advertisement "So you're thrown stuff all the time and just show whatever you're given. 'And Jason makes it very easy. He's very amenable, he's very likeable. 'And certainly physically, we feel like we're the same language — certainly by the end. 'We feel like our journey is baked into us, and we feel like we're part of the same conversation.' Advertisement So is sex in a tent ever a good idea? Gillian said: 'Well, sex in the back of a car, sex anywhere, I mean, yeah, why not? 'Uncomfortable, tight quarters, but needs must . . .' Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher in the The Crown season 4 trailer The star became an international sex symbol playing FBI special agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, alongside David Duchovny as special agent Fox Mulder, in the original hit series that ran from 1993 to 2002. Secret desires Since then she has enjoyed a distinguished three-decade career that has seen her take on a variety of roles, from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown to therapist Jean Milburn in Netflix's racy series Sex Education. Advertisement She has also found time to become a real-life crusader for female sexual empowerment and is currently working on a follow-up to her hugely successful 2024 book, Want. The collection of anonymous female sexual fantasies included one from a woman who wanted to be intimate with an office doorknob. I read the book and I couldn't speak for days. I was really profoundly affected by it. I think I might have threatened them within an inch of their lives to hire me! Gillian even hid one of her own fantasies in the mix — although she has not revealed which one — and has hinted that she may put more of her own secret desires in book two. The Salt Path is based on the book of the same name by long-distance walker and writer Raynor Winn. Advertisement It tells her real-life tale of walking from Minehead in Somerset to Poole, Dorset, with her husband Moth after he is diagnosed with an incurable neuro-degenerative disease called corticobasal degeneration, or CBD. The couple had also become homeless in 2013, so they decided to set out on the 630-mile South West Coast Path with nothing but a tent bought on eBay, £115 in cash and a paycard to withdraw £48 a week in tax credits. 8 Gillian became famous for her role as FBI agent Dana Scully in The X Files television series Credit: Fox TV 8 Gillian has become an outspoken advocate for women's empowerment when it comes to sex Credit: PA:Press Association Advertisement The heartwarming book went on to sell more than a million copies and, at this week's Hay Literary Festival, Raynor described the moment she found out that Gillian was going to play her in the film. She said: 'I thought, 'How is that ever going to work? She's so perfect, so glamorous, so beautiful. How is she going to capture me at such a raw moment in my life?' ' The tent sex scene with White Lotus star Jason did not feature in the book, but was added by writers for the movie adaptation, which was released on Friday. Raynor added: 'There's only one particularly hot scene in that book — I gave them big waves. I got back a sweaty scene in a tent.' Advertisement For Gillian, playing Raynor became one of her most challenging roles, but one that she was desperate to play. She said: 'I read the book and I couldn't speak for days. I was really profoundly affected by it. I think I might have threatened them within an inch of their lives to hire me!' Gillian has always been drawn to playing strong women and found that becoming those characters on screen instilled a new-found confidence. Rebellious teenager She said on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: 'I think it awakened in me a kind of stirring in my own sense of my sexual self and sensual self. Advertisement 'I don't know whether it had always been asleep or whether it was awake when I was younger and then was asleep. 'But the fact that so much of my career as an actor — starting as Scully in my 20s, where suddenly I was consistently called on to be the smartest in the room — I was asked to show up and believe that I could do those things. "It showed that I had it somewhere in me to look that smart, to be that powerful, to be that confident, to walk that way.' Gillian was born in Chicago but raised in London during her early years. Advertisement Most of the time when I show up to work, particularly at the beginning of a job, I think I am going to be fired. Every single job, the first two days are hell. Then the family moved back to the US when she was 11 and she later became a rebellious teenager. She went through a lesbian phase, was arrested and dabbled in punk — getting into what she called 'dangerous things'. By the time she was 14 she was in therapy. Ten years later, while living on benefits in Michigan, she landed the X-Files job — and found overnight global fame. But Gillian admits she still struggles to conform. She told the We Can Do Hard Things podcast: 'I always have been a bit of an outsider. I didn't really make a lot of friends in high school. Advertisement 'My hair was always not unlike it is right now — ratty and not curled. 'Then I started wearing oversized thrift clothes, cinching it with a belt, pointy black boots with buckles, and I started to shave my head and have a Mohawk. Also, by then I'd had a lesbian relationship that they all knew about and teased me about. 'I was kind of on the outside. Then true to form, on graduation night, I was actually arrested, because I tried to break into the high school with my then boyfriend to glue the locks shut.' 8 Gillian has been in a long-term relationship with The Crown writer Peter Morgan Credit: Getty Advertisement 8 Gillian's daughter Piper is one of her three children, she also has two teenage boys Credit: Getty 'I started panicking' Gillian, who has been married twice, currently lives in London where she has been in a long-term relationship with The Crown writer Peter Morgan. Mum to daughter Piper, 30, and sons Oscar, 18, and 16-year-old Felix, she juggles acting with running the soft drinks company she founded with Peter's son, Robin. And despite being at the top of her game for more than 30 years, she admits she still feels insecure at times. Advertisement On playing Margaret Thatcher in 2020, she said: 'It was daunting. From the moment I said yes, I started panicking. "She is a big deal in the UK. And she's a very divisive character and however people feel about her, there's no middle ground — they either absolutely hate her or they love her. "So I knew people felt very strongly, and obviously I wanted to do a good job. So I felt quite a lot of pressure.' She added: 'Most of the time when I show up to work, particularly at the beginning of a job, I think I am going to be fired. Advertisement 'Every single job, the first two days are hell. Literally I think that I'm going to be fired and that the producers are huddling around the monitor. I'm literally going, 'Oh my God, what have I done?' 'And so the point is that I can do that and act as if I am this confident person, despite having panic attacks. 'If I can do those things, then as far as I'm concerned, anybody can.' 8 Gillian says she was profoundly affected by The Salt Path story and was excited to film the movie Credit: Kevin Baker/Black Bear
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
BGT's Simon Cowell 'sobbed down the phone' to co-star after heartbeaking news
BGT's Simon Cowell 'sobbed down the phone' to co-star after heartbeaking news Renowned pop-singer Sinitta has shared how Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell broke down in tears during a phone call in the aftermath of a recent bereavement Simon Cowell 'sobbed down the phone' during a call with a co-star after hearing heartbreaking news (Image: GC Images ) So Macho singer Sinitta has opened up about her first phone call with Simon Cowell after the tragic death of One Direction singer Liam Payne last year. Simon and Liam developed a close bond after first meeting on the X Factor in 2008. Although Liam only made it as far as the Judges' Houses, the teenager returned in 2010 where he was placed into the boy band One Direction. Simon was joined by Sinitta in both 2008 and 2010 to watch Liam perform at the 65-year-old's home, first as a solo artist and then with One Direction, with the five youngsters making an instant impression on the pair. Sinitta had first Liam as he appeared in the judges houses stage of X-Factor (Image: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images ) One Direction eventually finished in third place, losing out to eventual winner Matt Cardle, but the band continued to enjoy huge worldwide success in the years that followed under Simon's management However, despite the band's popularity continuing to rocket, they would eventually pursue solo careers. Tragically, in October last year, Liam fell to his death at a Buenos Aires hotel after flying out to watch former bandmate Niall Horan in concert. Now, during a recent interview with Best magazine, Sinitta opened up about the heartbreak of learning of Liam's death. She said: "You never expect anyone younger than you to die. All I could think about was Cheryl and Bear." Managing to put her own grief to one side, her thoughts turned to Simon, as she recalled speaking to the inconsolable judge: "Later that day I reached out to Simon, and he was devastated. I hadn't heard him so upset since his mum died. He sobbed down the phone to me - it was hard to know what to say. It was brave of him to go to that funeral and comfort Liam's parents." Liam first appeared on X-Factor in 2008 (Image: Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal ) Simon and Sinitta first met in 1983 when Sinitta, then thought to have been 20 at the time, became his first signing as a record boss. The pair would go on to have a 30-year love affair that saw the couple repeatedly make up and break up. In 2004, Sinitta made her first appearance on the X Factor when she joined Simon at the Judges' Houses stage. She joined Simon in rejecting Liam in 2008 and recommending that he came back to the show at a later date. Two years later, she joined Simon at the Judges Houses' phase once again and this time decided to progress Liam and his new bandmates, One Direction, to the next stage of the show. One Direction finished in third place in the seventh series of X-Factor (Image: PA ) After finding huge success on the show, the band saw their popularity sky-rocket in the years that followed before deciding to go their separate ways in 2016. But, whilst staying in Argentina in order to go and watch his former band mate, Niall Horan, in concert, Liam tragically fell to his death from the third-floor balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel. As the star's funeral in Amersham, Buckinghamshire followed, Simon was amongst the mourners as he was seen comforting Liam's parents, Geoff and Karen. Article continues below Simon was seen comforting the Geoff and Karen Payne at the One Direction stars funeral (Image: WireImage ) Since then, Simon has returned to our screens as he has joined Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden in judging this year's acts on Britain's Got Talent. The much-loved talent show will come to a close this evening (May 31) at 7 pm on ITV, as the remaining acts vie for a chance to claim the top prize.
