Latest news with #Alias'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Max's 'Duster,' named for the 1970s muscle car, features a young actress from the Motor City
Sometimes the universe gives you a sign that you're on the right path. In Sydney Elisabeth's case, that sign was Diana Ross. The young actress from Detroit, who is part of the cast of the new Max series "Duster," was getting ready to fly from New York to Los Angeles for the show's red-carpet premiere when she spotted the Motown legend in the Delta One Lounge. Fate — and the plane's seating chart — took care of the rest. 'She was one seat ahead of me on the plane. It was insane!' says Elisabeth, who asked a flight attendant to slip Ross a note explaining how she had gone to Cass Technical High School just like Ross and how the glamorous look she was planning for the "Duster" event was inspired directly by Ross. After about 20 minutes, Ross turned around and said, 'You're from Detroit?' A full conversation ensued that Elisabeth was still processing as she arrived at her hotel. Then, when she opened the balcony door in her room, she saw a huge 'Duster' poster on the side of a building. After some initial "freaking out," she says, another feeling took over. 'I felt so peaceful and like I was in alignment. I felt like it was such a sign. I felt I am exactly where I'm meant to be.' 'Duster,' which premieres May 15 at 9 p.m. on Max, is easily one of the most stylish vehicles of the current TV season. With its 1972 setting, retro fashions, cool automobiles and impressive stunt driving, it has a vintage feel crossed with the fast pace and complex plotting of a contemporary show. The series is the creation of filmmaker and TV producer J.J. Abrams, who has gone from making small-screen hits like 'Felicity' and 'Alias' to directing 2009's 'Star Trek' and 2015's 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' and LaToya Morgan, whose credits range from AMC's history drama "Turn: Washington's Spies" to Showtime's family saga "Shameless." Abrams told the Hollywood Reporter that the idea for 'Duster' came from an image in his head "of a phone in the middle of the desert and a car driving up, and a guy getting on the phone to find out where he was meant to go next. It implied some kind of crazy intrigue, and I didn't know what the answer was, but I knew it was compelling.' "Duster" stars Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson as two characters from opposite sides of the law who become enmeshed in that intrigue. Holloway plays Jim, a driver for an Arizona crime boss, Ezra (Keith David), who is known as 'the Southwest Al Capone.' Jim is so loyal that he is trusted with delivering a new heart for Ezra's ailing son in the first episode. Hilson portrays Nina, a brand-new FBI agent who faces racism and sexism, but is determined to bring down Ezra's syndicate. Nina enlists Jim's help in the mission and, as a result, Jim's life 'goes from dangerous to wildly, stupidly dangerous,' as the Max description teases. More: New Max series 'Duster,' set in the 1970s, puts a vintage muscle car in the title role Elisabeth has a supporting role as Ezra's daughter, Genesis, who defies the stay-at-home stereotypes of the era by owning a bar and who has the cool charisma of a '70s-era action star like Pam Grier. Plenty of screen time goes to the 1970 red Duster two-door coupe that is Jim's sweet ride and the reason for the title of the series. But it's not the only set of wheels on screen. 'I also have my own car in the show that I learned how to drive, a Firebird,' says Elisabeth, referring to Pontiac's '70s-era competitor to the Ford Mustang. ln fact, part of Elisabeth's job on the set was learning how to drive a car with manual transmission. She practiced a few hours before having to go in front of the cameras and seamlessly drive the stick-shift Firebird. 'It was only a take or two and not really driving. You know how Josh is driving! I'm literally pulling into a parking lot and then driving off," she says. "But the stunt coordinator did have me drive across the city to have a feel for it. So I can drive stick, technically.' Elisabeth has been acting since she was a teen in Detroit. She honed her skills at the Mosaic Youth Theatre and in the performing arts program at Cass Tech, where she found a mentor in Marilyn McCormick, the now-retired high school teacher who was honored in 2016 with an excellence in theater education award from the Tony Awards in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University. At Cass Tech, McCormick guided future success stories like playwright Dominique Morisseau and actress Chante Adams, among many others. Elisabeth credits "MC," as McCormick's students affectionately call her, with helping her understand the depth and artistry involved in acting. Elisabeth earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and spent time in college studying abroad at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts' prestigious graduate-level acting program, which takes only 16 students each year. While getting her master's degree, she also studied abroad, this time at the British American Drama Academy in London. As a grad student, Elisabeth regularly put in nearly 12-hour days six days a week, taking classes during the day and doing rehearsals at night. When she completed the program in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had to try out for roles through online auditions, sometimes completing as many as 10 a day. She landed her part in 'Duster' in 2021 and was busy with filming in 2023 when production was temporarily shut down by the Hollywood writers strike. Filming on the first season's eight episodes finally was finished last year. The May 15 debut represents a four-year journey for Elisabeth, whose previous TV experience was appearing on a 2021 episode of Tracy Morgan's TBS comedy, "The Last O.G." Although trained in theater, Elisabeth says she likes the process of doing a TV series. 'I really think that there is something beautiful about being able to get deeper into a character and learn more about a character over years. Hopefully with another season with ("Duster"), I'll see how Genesis continues to evolve.' She says she learned a lot from working with industry veterans like Holloway ('When I first saw him, I was shook,' says the 'Lost' fan) and David, a character actor known for hundreds of movies and TV shows, from the 1982 film horror classic 'The Thing' to 2023's 'Justified: City Primeval' limited series, where he played a Detroit judge. David and his wife have become her good friends, says Elisabeth, who admires his approach to his craft. 'He really (became) a true father figure in the industry for me now and I'm so grateful I got to learn from him on set.' Now based in New York City, Elisabeth says she goes home to Detroit often. Her family was just in California with her to attend the 'Duster' premiere. 'I had to bring them to my first one,' she says, noting that her 17-year-old sister, who attends Cass Tech, probably enjoyed the experience the most. Elisabeth says she hopes to build a versatile career in acting. 'I would love to be on another TV show. … I would love to do movies. I would love to be on Broadway. That's something that's a huge goal for me. I'm also a singer, so I would love to do some music on the side, not necessarily be a pop star,' she says with a laugh. Whatever is next, she is clear about the big picture. Elisabeth says she wants to 'just continue to do art that makes me happy and makes people feel seen and loved and heard.' Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@ Debuts at 9 p.m. May 15 on Max. Additional episodes arrive every Thursday through July 3. Rated TV-MA This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit actress is part of the stylish 'Duster' series on Max
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner's boyfriend, John Miller, seen at actress's home after news of Ben Affleck wanting another shot with ex-wife
John Miller isn't giving up just yet. Jennifer Garner's boyfriend was photographed for the first time since Page Six reported that Ben Affleck wants another shot with the actress. Miller was seen pulling up to Garner's house in Brentwood, Calif., on Sunday. The CaliBurger CEO, 47, showed off his muscular physique in a tight New York Yankees T-shirt, dark wash jeans and brown boots. He completed his casual look with a baseball hat. Garner, 52, and Miller have been dating on and off since 2018. However, the 'Alias' alum's relationship with Affleck, also 52, came into question exactly a week prior when he was caught affectionately holding her while they played paintball for their son Samuel's 13th birthday. The 'Gone Girl' actor was photographed wrapping his arms around his ex-wife's waist while she shot a paintball gun. Although Garner was focused on her task at hand, she also did not pull away. The former couple, who were married for a decade before finalizing their divorce in 2018, also shared a few laughs during the outing. Garner and Affleck have always maintained an amicable relationship for the sake of their three children: Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel. However, we reported that they have been 'spending more time together than ever' since he settled his divorce from Jennifer Lopez in January. According to our insider, the exes 'found themselves leaning on each other more than ever.' 'They really do have a close bond,' we were told. Shortly after last week's photos surfaced, another source told us that Affleck 'would love another chance' with the mother of his kids. '[But] at the same time, Ben knows it's just not realistic at this time in their lives,' they clarified before adding that he 'respects Jen's relationship with John and would never come between them.' As for Garner, a source told us that she does not feel the same way about Affleck. 'She's happy with John, and that's just not where her head is at,' the source said. 'She has a great co-parenting relationship with Ben, and that's where things stand on her end at the moment.' However, that hasn't stopped Miller from feeling 'like a third wheel' after Affleck spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family — and even found cover in Garner's home during the Los Angeles wildfires. 'He doesn't feel threatened in terms of Jen ever getting back with Ben, but at the same time it's hard not to feel jealous when it's clear they have a strong connection and friendship,' we were told. As for Lopez, we heard she was 'not happy with constantly seeing photos' of her most recent ex-husband and Garner, and the situation was 'messing with her head.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Affleck affectionately holds ex-wife Jennifer Garner during paintball outing
Newly divorced Ben Affleck was spotted getting handsy with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner during a paintball outing with their son, Samuel. The 'Gone Girl' star was seen affectionately grabbing the actress around the waist as she focused her paintball gun on a target at the Combat Paintball Park in Castaic, Calif., on Sunday. Affleck pulled Garner in toward him, and she appeared to welcome the embrace. The ex-spouses stayed close together on the field, while Samuel, 13, went off with his friends. (It's unclear whether his siblings, Violet, 19, and Seraphina, 16, were also there.) Affleck and Garner, both 52, were also photographed laughing and chatting with each other at the paintball park. The Oscar-winning actor was unable to wipe a smile off his face while hanging out with the 'Alias' actress and even burst into laughter at one point. Reps for the duo weren't immediately available to Page Six for comment. The pair has maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship since parting ways in 2015. (Their divorce was finalized in 2018.) A source told Page Six in January that Affleck and Garner were 'spending more time together than ever' after the 'Argo' star settled his divorce from Jennifer Lopez that same month. According to our insider, the former couple 'found themselves leaning on each other more than ever.' 'They really do have a close bond,' we were told. Affleck fled to Garner's house in early January after evacuating his $20.5 million Pacific Palisades home due to the Los Angeles wildfires. They also spent time with Samuel on Valentine's Day last month. Meanwhile, Garner has been in an on-and-off romance with John Miller for nearly seven years. Though recently, the businessman was said to be unhappy about her 'close relationship' with Affleck. 'John feels like a third wheel,' a source told Page Six in January.
Boston Globe
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Jennifer Garner to star in adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket-set ‘Five-Star Weekend'
Advertisement The adaptation has been ordered to series by the streamer, although Garner is the only name publicly attached so far. The actress rose to fame starring in the spy thriller 'Alias' in the early 2000s, and has worked consistently in TV and movies ever since, showing off a consistent flair for comedy over the years. In 2022, she came to Cambridge to receive the She also revisited her action star roots recently in the movie ' Alas, the new series does not seem likely to show off her ability to throw a neat punch, but we can hold out hope that her 'Deadpool' appearance isn't the last time we see her as an action star. Bekah Brunstetter will serve as showrunner on the new show, and previously worked on the shows 'Maid' and 'This Is Us.' No release date has been announced. Lisa Weidenfeld can be reached at
