'Apple Cider Vinegar' star Kaitlyn Dever felt 'calling' to play 'twisted' Belle Gibson
'Apple Cider Vinegar' star Kaitlyn Dever knows all too well the desperate desire to heal what modern medicine can't. Doctors diagnosed Dever's mom, Kathy, with Stage 4 breast cancer at just 39. She died last year, after a 14-year fight.
'In the last few years of her life,' Dever tells USA TODAY,' I became really interested in holistic protocols and other therapeutic things that she could do for her body that weren't conventional," in addition to conventional treatments. 'I became very obsessed with it just because I wanted to look at every option possible for her. So it was interesting timing when ('Apple Cider Vinegar') came into my life.'
Dever described her mother as her 'everything' in an Instagram tribute. 'Nothing I'll ever say will amount to the gifts you have given me in my life, the boundless joy you brought, the deep, endless, unconditional love you gave me and our family,' she writes. 'Your love was everywhere.'
Netflix's six-part limited series dramatizes the rise and fall of Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson (Dever) who amassed an Instagram following while claiming to manage her terminal brain cancer with whole foods, natural medicine and Gerson Therapy. Gibson promoted her methods in a cookbook and app that was downloaded at least 300,000 times. After all, her cancer was now shockingly undetectable. But that's because she never had it in the first place, as journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano uncovered. They detailed their findings in the book, 'The Woman who Fooled the World,' which inspired the series. In the show, Belle emulates blogger Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey), who found brief success treating her (real) cancer naturally.
The unchecked influencer is still a threat that Debnam-Carey, 31, recognizes today.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
It's "maybe as rampant and as insidious,' she says. 'TikTok is a great example,' with its constant barrage of hacks and trends. 'The space that it takes up in your brain and then having to do all this research and (gather) information to really make sure that what you're getting is correct, it is constant, and it is just as prevalent now as I think it was then.' She says what all of us tempted by magic pills on social media already know: 'It's so easy to be drawn in by those things, and to feel quite gullible at times.'
The TV showswe can't wait to see in 2025, from 'White Lotus' to 'Stranger Things'
'Vinegar' creator Samantha Strauss says she received a letter from someone who had seen the show and battled breast cancer. 'She's like, 'I wanted to run off and eat some blueberries,'' Strauss recalls. 'That sounds like such a lovely alternative.' Especially compared to the reality of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The 3-year-old son of Strauss' best friend has been diagnosed with leukemia. 'The doctors have to put all this awful medicine into his body every day,' Strauss says. Her friend 'has to trust that it's going to work. He's screaming on the bed, and he doesn't understand why it's happening. And she feels like a monster to put him through this.'
In preparing for the manipulative Belle, who relished the sympathy her faked illness won her, Dever thought 'a lot about what amount of hope wellness can bring to people. In our story, we're really trying to convey the idea that this is just a person that is desperate for community and desperate for love and will do anything she can to get that. And a lot of these moments, a lot of these more emotional beats that we were playing out in the show were just a cry for help in a lot of ways.'
The idea of playing the fictionalized Belle, crafted by Strauss in a 'twisted and gripping and kind of funny way,' excited Dever. She also welcomed the challenge of an Australian accent, which Sydney native Debnam-Carey thinks she nailed. And perhaps most heartwarming, the project is one that delighted Dever's late mom.
'I knew it would be difficult subject matter for me to be surrounded by,' says Dever. 'But I know that my mom was very excited. She got to read all of the scripts, and she loved it. She thought it was such a great story, and there was so much excitement surrounding it. So I felt like I just had to do it, and I felt a certain calling to do it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a minute ago
- New York Post
RFK Jr. comes clean on his unusual workout attire — but his explanation sparks more confusion
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has addressed why he wears jeans to exercise after videos of him working out in the unorthodox athletic attire raised eyebrows. Kennedy revealed that the unusual sartorial choice is just a matter of habit during an interview on Fox News' 'Jesse Watters Primetime' Tuesday. 'Well, I just started doing that a long time ago because I would go hiking in the morning and then I'd go straight to the gym, and I found it was convenient, and now I'm used to it, so I just do it,' he told Watters when asked about his outfit. Advertisement 4 RFK Jr. is seen working out while wearing jeans. Robert F Kennedy Jr/Instagram 4 Fox News' Jesse Watters ask RFK Jr. about his workout attire. Fox News 'Okay, there were a lot of theories, but that makes perfect sense,' the host responded. Kennedy, a known outdoor enthusiast, raised eyebrows last month after he posed for a photo with his son in the sweltering Arizona desert wearing a sweat-drenched tee and blue jeans at the top of Camelback Mountain outside of Phoenix. Advertisement The 71-year-old's odd workout clothing choice caught the internet's attention again this week after Kennedy posted a video with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promoting a pull-up and pushup competition, dubbed the 'Pete and Bobby challenge.' In the clip, Kennedy can be seen exercising in his typical blue jeans, held up by a belt, and a t-shirt. However, the health secretary's reason for working out in jeans has only sparked more confusion and debate. 4 RFK Jr. with his son, Finn, while on a hike on Camelback Mountain. Robert F Kennedy Jr / X 'Isn't it a bit unhygienic to wear jeans, especially those you've worn while hiking, in a gym?' X user Anthony the Mesa questioned. Advertisement 'The next question… why would you wear jeans to hiking?' another asked. 'Hiking in jeans is diabolical,' a third jabbed. Meanwhile, others claimed jeans are the ideal choice for hiking in nature. 'Bunch of city boy b—–s never been near cactus let alone spiders or a rattlesnake,' a denim supporter chimed in on X. Advertisement 4 RFK Jr. is known to workout while wearing jeans. HHS Another supporter insisted that jeans are 'most appropriate' attire for hiking outdoors. 'Wearing jeans when hiking or doing anything else is not at all odd in Colorado,' wrote a third person.
Elle
2 minutes ago
- Elle
Netflix's 'House Of Guinness': The Shocking True Story Behind The Family Drama
When Netflix drops House of Guinness on September 25, viewers will witness more than just another period drama about wealthy dynasties. This is the story of Ireland's most iconic brewing family, whose real-life scandals, power struggles and generational secrets have never received the small-screen treatment — until now. The eight-part drama centres on one of the most consequential moments in the Guinness empire: the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868 and the explosive aftermath of his will reading. Benjamin wasn't just any brewery owner – he was the grandson of Arthur Guinness, who famously signed a 9,000-year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery in 1759, and the man who transformed the family business into a global phenomenon. His death didn't just mark the end of an era; it ignited a family feud that would determine the fate of the world's most famous stout. netflix Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, the show's creator Steve Knight described the series as fundamentally about 'a family who happens to be the inheritors of the biggest brewery in the world' facing a singular challenge: 'Don't screw it up'. The second priority? 'To make Guinness even bigger.' But behind this corporate succession drama lies a much more complex web of sibling rivalry, manipulation and strategic betrayal that defined 19th-century Dublin society. The Guinness family's later history adds an eerie dimension to the series. Over subsequent generations, the family became associated with what some have come to call the 'Guinness curse' – a pattern of tragic accidents, mysterious deaths and public scandals that plagued multiple generations. While these later tragedies fall outside the series' 1860s timeline, they cast a shadow over the dynasty's origins that Knight may well reference in the upcoming biopic. Knight admitted to Netflix that he is excited for audiences to meet the 'naturally wild' clan. 'I'm just in awe of their zest for life — their lust for life, often literally,' he added. In short, the story of the Guinnesses is one hell of a family drama. As the eldest son, Arthur carries the heaviest burden of expectation throughout the series. Knight describes Arthur and his brother Edward as 'the heart' of the series, bound together by their father's deliberate manipulation. Boyle, fresh from his acclaimed performance in Masters of the Air , perfectly depicts Arthur's challenge of balancing business acumen with family loyalty; his job isn't just running a brewery – it's managing his volatile brother while preserving their father's legacy. netflix In reality, after selling his share of the business to his brother, Arthur took over his father's seat in Parliament following the patriarch's death. He was voted in as a Conservative MP in 1868 for the City of Dublin when all of Ireland was part of the UK, and he held on to the position for just one year before it was voided after it was revealed that an election agent's unlawful efforts had gotten him the position. As it was ruled that Arthur was unaware of this, he was able to stand again as MP in 1874, an election he won under the leadership of Benjamin Disraeli, whom he was a staunch advocate of. As well as being a Member of Parliament, Arthur also followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a landlord of the several estates he owned in Galway. The middle brother represents the wild card in Benjamin's succession plan. Partridge, known to Netflix audiences from the Enola Holmes films, plays Edward as the more reckless Guinness sibling, whose 'lust for life' often puts him at odds with Arthur's more measured approach. Knight has hinted that the brothers were 'chained together' by their father's will for very specific reasons, suggesting Edward's unpredictability serves a purpose in the family's power structure. Edward took over the company following his father's death in 1868. He then bought out his brother Arthur's half-share in the brewery in 1876 and, aged 29, gained sole ownership of the Dublin company. Edward grew Guinness even further than his father Benjamin, multiplying the value of the brewery exponentially during his tenure as sole owner. By 1879, the Guinness company was brewing 565,000 hogsheads of stout; by 1886, it was brewing 907,000 hogsheads globally. netflix The entrepreneur was so successful that he floated two-thirds of the company in 1886 on the London Stock Exchange for £6 million, making him the richest man in Ireland. He then went on to retire at the age of 40 as a multi-millionaire and remained the largest shareholder in the now-public company. He also retained his position as chairman. Edward is also the man responsible for the construction of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, which is now a successful tourist attraction in the city. The Guinness daughter navigates a world where women's influence operates through marriage and social connections rather than direct power. Fairn, a rising star who made her mark in The Responder , portrays Anne as someone who understands that her value to the family extends beyond the brewery. In an era where women couldn't inherit businesses, Anne's storyline explores how female members of dynasties wielded influence through different channels. The youngest Guinness sibling faces the classic challenge of the family baby – finding his place in a hierarchy dominated by his older brothers. O'Shea, who captivated audiences in Normal People , brings vulnerability to a character who must prove himself worthy of the Guinness name while carving out his own identity separate from the brewery business. Perhaps the most intriguing character in the series, Rafferty represents, in Knight's words, 'how modern the story actually is'. Norton, beloved for his role as the menacing Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley , plays an Irishman whose relationship with the Protestant elite Guinness family promises to expose class and religious tensions. Knight's description of Rafferty as 'one of the most extraordinary aspects of this series' suggests that his character will drive much of the show's dramatic tension. netflix Norton's enthusiasm was palpable in an interview he gave to Netflix's Tudum: 'It's got beer. It's got this eccentric family. We've got these Steven Knight characters all kind of jostling and playing, fighting, f**king.' Described as 'determined' in early character descriptions, Ellen appears to be connected to the broader Dublin community affected by Guinness's influence. McCormack brings working-class authenticity to a character who likely represents the ordinary Dubliners whose livelihoods depend on the brewery's success. Her storyline promises to ground the series in the social realities of 19th-century Ireland. The 'seductive' Lady Olivia brings aristocratic glamour to the series. Galligan, known for Shadow and Bone , plays a character who appears to move in the same elite circles as the Guinness family but may harbour her own agenda. In an era where marriages were strategic alliances, Lady Olivia's presence suggests romantic entanglements that could reshape family fortunes. Gleeson returns to playing privileged antagonists after his unforgettable turn as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones . Byron's connection to Lady Olivia (presumably family) places him in the orbit of both aristocratic society and the Guinness empire, potentially serving as a catalyst for conflict between different elite factions. netflix As a family elder, Aunt Agnes represents the previous generation's values and expectations. Kirwan, a veteran of Irish drama, brings gravitas to a character who likely serves as both family conscience and keeper of secrets. Her position allows her to influence the siblings while maintaining some distance from their father's manipulative will. Connected to Ellen Cochrane (possibly as a relative), Patrick appears to represent the Dublin community that intersects with Guinness business interests. O'Hara's character suggests the series will explore how the brewery's decisions affected broader Irish society. McElhatton, another Game of Thrones alumnus, plays what appears to be a business associate or legal figure connected to the Guinness empire. His character likely handles the practical aspects of Benjamin's complex will and its implementation. Champion's role remains mysterious, but his name suggests someone connected to the entertainment or social aspects of Dublin's elite society. Wilmot brings character actor credibility to what may be a key supporting role in the family's social network. In short, no. In 1986, the Guinness brand merged with British food and drinks conglomerate Grand Metropolitan to establish the company Diageo, which is now the parent company of Guinness. While Diageo, which also owns Johnnie Walker and Bailey's, is now the owner of Guinness, the Guinness family does own a stake in Diageo, which was said to be worth around £200m in 2017, per the Irish Independent . The family also owns the 22,500-acre Elveden estate in Suffolk, which is used for agriculture. The current head of the Guinness family is the Earl of Iveagh. House of Guinness will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, September 25. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE . Daisy's 'Phenomenal' Drama Is Now On Netflix Netflix Has Renewed 'Dept Q' For Season 2 Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years' worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.
Cosmopolitan
29 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
Love Is Blind UK trailer accidentally reveals major clue Bardha and Jed don't get married, fans theorise
Season two of Love Is Blind UK is in full swing, and it's almost time for the couples to say "I do" - well if they decide to, as it looks like one couple in particular won't be making things official, if the new trailer is anything to go by... At the end of episode eight, a teaser for the next two episodes were shown, and the show may have accidentally revealed that Bardha and Jed don't get married. In the clip, we see Bardha sharing her doubts with the other girls during their hen do. She says: "We did actually have an argument yesterday. Right now it does feel really uncomfortable." In the next clip, Jed reveals: "We were on two different pages. If I feel like I'm not heard, it will be a problem." The clip then skips to their wedding day with Bardha all dolled up in her lace gown complete with a long veil atop of her icy blonde locks. "Why do I need to rush into something if I don't know him enough?" she asks herself as she takes deep breaths in the mirror. But perhaps the biggest clue that they don't get married, however, is the final scene in the trailer. In the scene, one of Bardha's friends, who is wearing a burgundy gown, can be seen consoling a crying Bardha. Earlier in the clip, another bridesmaid, also wearing a burgundy gown, sobs heavily throughout the ceremony. And while we don't actually see any of Bardha and Jed's vows in the teaser, we do see a blonde bride in a veil walking back down the aisle while crying. Both Ashleigh and Bardha are blonde and have lacy dresses, however, Ash doesn't have a veil for her big day, so it's clear this is Bardha. Is it all over for these two? Love Is Blind UK season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
