Latest news with #AustrianAlps
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Christine Baranski shares why Nicole Kidman kept distance on Nine Perfect Strangers set
They may be Nine Perfect Strangers on screen, but behind the scenes the new cast of the drama series are anything but. Christine Baranski joins Nicole Kidman along with a star-studded line-up for season two, including Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, The White Lotus star Murray Bartlett, and Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy. But while the cast bonded during the six months they filmed in the snowy Austrian Alps, in a case of life imitating art, Kidman kept her distance on the series, which is now streaming on Prime Video. The Aussie actress reprises her role as Masha Dmitrichenko, a Russian wellness guru who uses unconventional and questionable methods to treat her guests as the fictional health retreat Zauberwald Although Masha is sociable and people are drawn to her, she is equally complex and enigmatic – and it appears Kidman maintained this persona off-screen too. 'We bonded, the nine of us. And when [Kidman] would come in, it was sort of exactly like it would be in the show, which is she comes in and we're all, what's she all about? What's she going to do? And so the chemistry was sort of exactly right for it,' Baranski, 73, told 'She's rather perfect for that role. The character of Masha is so mysterious and has her own backstory that's very, very complicated and interesting. And Nicole is really tall and statuesque, and her look in this show, I think, is particularly arresting. So she's just perfect for this inscrutable, intimidating character.' Still, there was nothing that could keep Baranski away from the show or Kidman. 'It's such a no-brainer. My agent said it was Nicole Kidman and the second season of Strangers, which was already an established hit. Then he mentioned the talent that they were offering roles to various actors, and they were all extraordinary people. And then he said that it was going to film in Europe, in Munich and the Austrian Alps,' the Mamma Mia star shared. In season two, Baranski plays the glamorous and sensual Victoria, who enlists the help of Masha to repair her relationship with her daughter Imogen (played by Murphy). While they play an estranged mother-and-daughter duo, off-screen Murphy adored Baranski. 'She is the hostess with the mostest and she's so generous. Anytime she'd go away [from set], she'd come back with cakes and treats and all these things for us,' Murphy told 'We were staying in this town called Halstadt in Austria, which is this beautiful fairytale town around this alpine lake. And we're staying in this beautiful hotel and the hotel backed onto the lake. 'Christine arranged this evening for us, and the sun was just setting and we walked out and there was champagne and beautiful tables set up. She'd curated this incredible classical playlist for us that was kind of echoing across this still, beautiful lake. And it was just magical.' In the series, there is also magic between Baranski's Victoria and her much younger lover Matteo (played by Aras Aydın). There seems to be a chorus of age-gap romances playing out on screens across Hollywood lately, but Baranski says there is nothing salacious about this May-December romance. 'It was very easy because Aras is so emotionally free and available and he's beautiful and so passionate. We didn't have to work at that [chemistry],' she said. 'As you can see from early on in the first few episodes, it's not just some sexy older woman-hot guy relationship. There's an enormous kind of tenderness and caretaking and loveliness between us. 'We valued bringing that out more than the sexy part because it's transcends age. People can love each other long after they feel sexy or hot for each other. The tenderness and the intimacy is what is most lasting and interesting.'
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Damian Warner, Pierce LePage face off in sneak preview of showdown at world championships
One of the most anticipated showdowns of this summer's World Athletics Championships will get a dress rehearsal of sorts this weekend. Decorated Canadian decathletes Damian Warner and Pierce LePage are in Götzis, Austria, for the annual Hypo Meeting combined events festival. This picturesque town nestled in the shadow of the Austrian Alps hosts the biggest multi-event competition in the world, outside of the Olympic Games and world championships. It's also one of only a handful of decathlons that Warner and LePage compete in every season. The scarcity of competition only multiplies the importance of the Hypo Meeting, especially considering how quickly both Canadians would like to put last season behind them. Warner, 35, had his "worst nightmare come true" at last summer's Olympic Games. The four-time world championship medallist and defending Olympic champion withdrew midway through competition in Paris after triple-faulting in the pole vault. "I've had some tough moments in my career, but [Paris 2024] probably ranks as one of the highest," Warner told CBC Sports in April. "You're never going to get those moments back. WATCH | #TheMoment Damian Warner broke down after pulling out of the Olympics: #TheMoment Damian Warner broke down after pulling out of the Olympics 10 months ago Duration 1:24 "But at the same time, there's a lot of things that you can learn from it and take away from it. So I want to kind of right the ship. I know that I'm better than that. And I've been trying to prove that in my training this year." LePage, 29, had the most successful season of his career in 2023, becoming the first Canadian to win a world title in decathlon. But his 2024 season was completely derailed by a back injury that caused him to miss that year's Hypo Meeting and the Paris Olympics. He's back in action after surgery in August to repair a herniated disc. "I'm the world champion. I want to defend my title," LePage said in an interview with The Canadian Press in October. "I'm sure Damian feels similar thoughts on not wanting to stop [in Paris]. "No one likes to not finish decathlon. That is definitely [the] drive to doing it again and kind of redeem ourselves, I suppose." Götzis offers a perfect setting for the Canadians to get off on the right foot as they make their way toward the world championships in Tokyo in September. They couldn't have picked a more familiar or comfortable place to start that journey. WATCH | Warner eyeing elusive world championship title in Tokyo: Damian Warner eyeing elusive world championships title in Tokyo 1 month ago Duration 5:58 Warner has won more decathlon titles in Götzis (eight) than any other person in the event's half-century history. "I've just had an amazing time every single time that I've gone [to Götzis], and it's one of those things where I'm going to do that event every single year that I can, for the rest of my career," Warner said. "It's the 50th anniversary, so I think it's going to be a really special one this year." Warner will be looking for his record-extending ninth title at the Hypo Meeting and enters as the reigning champion. Of course, that 2024 title was won without LePage in attendance. The Whitby, Ont., native halted Warner's streak of seven consecutive Hypo Meeting titles in 2023. That win in Götzis was the first international title of LePage's career and a sign of things to come, as he won world championship gold in Budapest a few months later. Warner – who is a four-time medallist at worlds but has yet to win gold – took silver in Budapest, as he did at that year's Hypo Meeting. Iron sharpens iron The decathlon is an individual competition, and the two men don't train together – but there's at least one way that LePage has helped Warner. He said LePage's rise from newcomer to world-class decathlete motivated the veteran to step his own game up. "I would say he's a different competitor than all the rest, because as a decathlete, you want to be the best in the world. be the best in the world, you have to be the best in your own country," Warner said. "For Pierce to come along at the time that he did, I think was really good for me. "As an athlete, you're like, 'OK, if I want to continue to be the best, then I'm going to have to try to find ways to get better. So he's one of those guys that pushed me in a different way than maybe some of the other competitors in the world." WATCH | Warner builds the ultimate Canadian decathlete: Olympic champion Damian Warner builds the ultimate decathlete 1 month ago Duration 4:37 Damian Warner selects his all-time list of past and present Canadian track and field stars to build the ultimate decathlete. As for those other competitors, few come as tough as Germany's Leo Neugebauer. The 24-year-old Olympic silver medallist is making his Hypo Meeting debut and should provide a stiff challenge for both Warner and LePage. The event begins on Saturday with the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400m. Sunday will see the athletes compete in the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and finish with the 1,500m.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
Find idyllic mountain chalets, chic spas with knockout views and total bliss in the Austrian Alps
GLIDING through the water towards the majestic mountain range ahead of me, I feel more serene than I have in yonks. I'm swimming above clusters of fluffy clouds in a jaw-dropping infinity pool, with the Austrian Alps as my backdrop, and I never want to leave. 5 5 Just over an hour's drive from Salzburg, Priesteregg Premium Eco Resort is a much-needed escape in the ever-stressful rollercoaster of life. With just 18 chalets perched at 3,600ft high, owners Huwi and Renate are keen to keep this place exclusive. Those with megabucks book the super-high-end pads with private pools or swimming lakes, so often we're the only guests at the chic spa, where the saunas and treatment rooms come with yet more knockout views. And bathe… Our rustic Berg chalet sleeps five and is home to a hot tub, sauna, monsoon shower and freestanding bath. There's a huge TV above the reclining day bed for us to snuggle on come evening. 5 And each morning, much to the delight of Poppy, six, and Raffy, three, 'breakfast fairies' sneak in downstairs to lay out a wondrous, candle-lit spread of local, organic goodies. They return later to tidy up, too! One day, we follow a forest trail even higher up the mountain past the yoga platforms nestled among the towering pines, before hopping on the resort's electric mountain bikes (with a trailer for the kids), to explore the undulating countryside. Arriving home to a basket of home-made cake each afternoon is yet another treat. Stays at Priesteregg include Saalfelden-Leogang lift passes too, so we drive 10 minutes to the Asitzbahn gondola where, once up the mountain, my husband Andy faces one of the world's longest and fastest ziplines, flying Superman-style at 130kph across the valley. Rides cost from £48 per person ( Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport The kids, meanwhile, join a free bread-making class, tackle obstacle courses and decorate wooden balls, £2 each, for brilliant ball runs down the mountainside. When Andy returns, we all have a giggle on a musical toboggan, which sets off chimes as we fly through checkpoints, £3.50 per ride ( before we head back for a refreshing dip in Priesteregg's second pool – a natural one surrounded by lush grass. Hat stuff The mouth-watering Hat Dinner in the picture-perfect garden of Priesteregg's eatery, Huwi's Alm, proves a must. We sizzle strips of beef and pork on a metal hat, which has a brim filled with beef broth and veg, plus there are sides of potatoes, sauces and salad, £27 per person. 5 I satisfy my pudding stomach with sweet dumplings and boozy plums, £10, and sip a Hugo cocktail, £6.50, as the sun sets. One evening, we order succulent pork and cheese escalopes in a tomato and basil sauce with taglioni, £21 per person, to our chalet. Another night, Huwi and Renate host a complimentary family-style supper for guests by a pond. Freshly caught trout is barbecued over hot coals and served up with an array of sides and crisp white wine. The air is soon full of chatter and, as the night draws to a close, we wander back beneath the star-studded sky to our chalet – ice-cream cones in hand, giant smiles plastered across our faces. If I could bottle the feeling of contentment Priesteregg gave me, I would. I'd really love to have a breakfast fairy every morning, too… 5
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Murray Bartlett on the ‘thrilling ride' it was joining Nicole Kidman on Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2
Aussie actor Murray Bartlett is far from The White Lotus. The 54-year-old went from playing resort manager Armond in the first season of the dark comedy to being cast as cancelled puppeteer Brian on Season 2 of the drama series Nine Perfect Strangers. But Bartlett, who was born in Sydney and raised in Perth, is far from lost – and he is no stranger to fellow Aussie actress Nicole Kidman, who reprises her role of enigmatic wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko in the new season. 'She's an icon in the world, but she's like a special icon for us. So I think it was a thrill for all of us to jump on board with her and be able to be part of this world with her,' he tells ahead of the Season 2 premiere on May 22 on Prime Video. 'It's an extraordinary character that she's created and she's wild and mysterious and unpredictable. And so that was also a thrilling kind of ride to be on, to be in scenes with this character. You're not sure whether she's helping you or messing with you, which I think makes the show really compelling to watch.' Like in Season 1, nine people with different traumas convene for 10 days at fictional wellness retreat Zauberwald in the Austrian Alps led by Masha (Kidman). But with the Russian guru's unconventional approach to healing, it's anyone's guess what journey is required for them to undergo their transformations. Murray plays a once-popular children's TV show host and puppeteer who is 'cancelled' for his offensive meltdown on screen. 'I love the character. I love the way he was written. I think it's really interesting to explore the nuances of cancel culture and what it looks like from both sides and trying to suspend judgement on both sides of a situation like that and just kind of dive into the emotional stuff that people are projecting or dealing with in that kind of situation. So I felt there was so many kind of interesting things to explore with Brian,' he says. Mainly for Bartlett, it was the cast that made the series. Among them are billionaire father Peter Sharpe (Mark Strong) and son David (Henry Golding), glamorous divorcee Victoria (Christine Baranski) and her enraged daughter Imogen (Annie Murphy) and a nun named Agnes with a mysterious past (Dolly De Leon). 'It's this great ensemble show. I didn't know at the time when I signed on what a wonderful group it would be, but it's amazing to be able to be part of such a great ensemble and to tell this story together and lean on each other and develop those relationships,' Bartlett says. Co-star Annie Murphy agrees. She played Alexis Rose in the award-winning Netflix hit Schitt's Creek on all six seasons. In Nine Perfect Strangers, Murphy portrays Imogen – a guarded woman raised with wealth and privilege. 'I was so excited by the prospect of working with a big cast,' Murphy tells ' Schitt's Creek was such a special show because it was such an ensemble piece and that really is where I feel most comfortable and the opportunity for adventure. We spent six months in Munich and travelling around Austria. It was just an obvious no-brainer to hop on board.' Adds Bartlett: 'I love a situation like that. Similar to your experience in Schitt's Creek, I had that in White Lotus and other jobs that I've done where I love being part of an ensemble. And this was a pretty extraordinary special group to be part of.' While parts of the show explore the depths of trauma and mental health, Bartlett says the cast, the location and the comedy in the chaos balance out the darkness. 'There's so many beautiful layers in the show connected to that dealing with trauma and facing your demons and trying to let go of the baggage you might've been carrying,' he says. 'But also its beautiful locations. It's beautifully shot. It's a gorgeous place to spend some time in watching this show. It's got a lot of complimentary aspects to it that it's got those depths, but it's funny. It's a really brilliant group of actors inhabiting some really funny, fascinating, interesting characters.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Odd moment Nicole Kidman answers questions as her sinister character from Nine Perfect Strangers during interview on The Project
Nicole Kidman shocked host Waleed Aly into stunned silence on Monday's episode of The Project when she suddenly 'moprhed' into her sinister character from the streaming hit Nine Perfect Strangers. The 57-year-old Oscar winner appeared on the panel show alongside her co-star, fellow Aussie Murray Bartlett, to tease details about season two of the thriller in which she plays the creepy 'wellness' guru Masha. Fans were first introduced to the sinister 'psychedelic therapist' in 2021 in season one of NPS which saw Masha drugging guests on her retreat without their knowledge. After Waleed asked Nicole why her character did not end up in 'jail' Nicole appeared to get into her character of Masha. 'Because I'm on the run,' she said in a tone fans familiar with the show would recognise in an instant. Nicole continued in character as she answered, 'I'm very clever, very smart and I am able to shape shift.' Uncharacteristically, Waleed appeared lost for words before continuing the interview. However, Nicole's screen companion, Murray appeared to love his co-stars spontaneous 'performance' and laughed hysterically. Season two of the streaming hit, which is set to drop on May 22 on Amazon Prime Video, shifts the action from Down Under to the Austrian Alps. This season Masha is the director and proprietor of Tranquillum House, a resort that offers wellness treatments and is a relaxing vacation destination. The enigmatic Russian-American figure appears eager to take any measures necessary to enhance her guests' path toward better health. Nine distinct characters arrived at the resort and began their journey toward healing but some of the guests started to question the unconventional methods of the retreat. Last month Nicole Kidman stunned fans with a dramatic transformation featured in the Nine Perfect Strangers S2. Known for her timeless beauty and signature red locks, looks completely unrecognisable in on-set photos. For her role as Masha, Nicole said goodbye to her trademark strawberry blonde curls and wore a blonde bob wig for an icy look. With her sleek platinum hairpiece, porcelain complexion and icy, intense gaze, the Hollywood star looks worlds away from her usual glamorous self. In one promotional photo, she is seen standing in a snow-covered landscape, exuding an air of mystery in a dark green coat, turtleneck sweater and leather gloves. Another image captures her in an intimate, tense moment, leaning forward with a serious expression as she focuses on a laptop screen. Fans took to social media to gush over the incredible transformation. 'Best Supporting Actress goes to Nicole Kidman's wig,' one person quipped. 'The devil works hard, but Nicole works harder,' a second added. In 2023, Hulu renewed Nine Perfect Strangers for another season following a successful debut.
