Latest news with #Cleopatra
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Netflix's Pride and Prejudice remake features diverse cast
The show 'really emphasised black', according to Verna Myers, the company's diversity lead. It was criticised by some for its inaccurate depiction of Regency England as a diverse and post-racial society, and also for glossing over the social struggles of black people at the time. Irish actor Daryl McCormack will play Charles Bingley. Photo / Daily Telegraph UK Austen herself did not spend much time on describing what her characters looked like, and Mr Bingley is said to be 'wonderfully handsome', while the snobbish Caroline is 'one of the handsomest women' known to the heroine, Elizabeth Bennet. Mr Bingley will be played by Irish actor Daryl McCormack, who has spoken in the past about his own experience of racism in Ireland, while Caroline will be played by Black Mirror star Siena Kelly. The newly announced casting choices will appear alongside Rufus Sewell, who has been unveiled as the genial Mr Bennet, and the previously announced Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet and The Crown star Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet. Jack Lowden, best-known for Slow Horses, will play Mr Darcy. Siena Kelly will play Caroline Bingley. Photo / Daily Telegraph UK Dolly Alderton, writer and executive producer on the series, said earlier in the year that the Pride and Prejudice adaptation would offer an opportunity to 'find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life'. Myers said in 2021 that Netflix's emphasis on diversity while 'exciting' can lead to 'some controversy'. In 2023, a Netflix series portrayed Cleopatra as black, after producer Jada Pinkett Smith – the wife of actor Will Smith – cited the importance of telling 'stories about black queens'. Dr Zahi Hawass, a leading Egyptian archaeologist, reacted by saying, 'Cleopatra was not black'. It was pointed out that Cleopatra was descended from Ptolemy, a general of Alexander the Great, making the queen of 'light-skinned' Macedonian Greek heritage. The BBC has also sought to increase diversity in casting for its period dramas, including Wolf Hall, which returned for a second series with a diverse cast of Tudor courtiers, including real historical figures known to be white. This diversity was evident within families, and the mother and sister of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII, were portrayed as being of different ethnic backgrounds from Jane herself. This approach has also been with the forthcoming drama King and Conqueror about the Norman invasion of 1066, with historical Anglo-Saxon noblemen as being from diverse backgrounds. King and Conqueror is a CBS Studios co-production series acquired by the BBC.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
World Lipstick Day 2025: History, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today
Celebrate World Lipstick Day in colour with our guide to lipstick's fascinating past and the top trending hues ruling makeup bags now. World Lipstick Day 2025, celebrated on 29 July, celebrates one of beauty's most powerful and iconic products—its history, hottest shades, and textures that make lips pop. From Cleopatra's crimson lips to glossy TikTok trends, lipstick has remained a timeless tool of confidence and style. Whether you're swiping on red or glossing up with nude, here's everything you need to know about its World Lipstick Day. A kiss of history: How lipstick began World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock Lipstick has been colouring lips for more than 5 000 years. Ancient Sumerians and Egyptians were among the first to use crushed gemstones, beetles, and plant pigments to add colour to their mouths. Cleopatra famously favoured deep reds made with carmine beetles, symbolising power and beauty. In Europe, lipstick saw fluctuations in popularity. It was banned in the Middle Ages for being 'deceitful', but returned with a vengeance during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, who favoured stark white skin and bold red lips. Lipstick took off globally in the 20th century, with the invention of the first twist-up tube in 1923. By the 1950s, red lipstick became a symbol of Hollywood glamour, with icons like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor defining eras with their signature shades. Trending Textures in 2025 World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock Lipstick today is more versatile than ever, offering a range of finishes for every mood and look: Matte : Long-wearing with rich pigment. Perfect for statement lips with minimal touch-up. : Long-wearing with rich pigment. Perfect for statement lips with minimal touch-up. Glossy : Reflective and juicy, gloss is having a big moment thanks to Gen Z and Y2K nostalgia. : Reflective and juicy, gloss is having a big moment thanks to Gen Z and Y2K nostalgia. Satin : A smooth, slightly shiny finish that's both elegant and comfortable. : A smooth, slightly shiny finish that's both elegant and comfortable. Lip oils and balms: Hydrating and sheer, ideal for low-maintenance, dewy looks. Most popular lip colours right now World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock According to beauty insiders and online sales, these are the top lipstick colours trending today during World Lipstick Day 2025: history, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today: Power Red: A classic symbol of strength and style. Mocha Brown: Earthy, bold, and perfect for all skin tones. Peachy Coral: A playful pop for warm weather. Soft Rosy Nude: Natural, flattering, and perfect for everyday wear. Deep Berry: Chic, moody, and trending on winter runways. Whether you love a bold matte or a sheer gloss, today is the perfect excuse to pucker up and paint your lips with pride to celebrate World Lipstick Day 2025: history, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
6 ancient beauty secrets that still work today and why they are not just myths
Modern skincare trends may come and go, but ancient beauty rituals? They've stood the test of time. Long before the rise of sheet masks and retinols, women across civilisations were mixing oils, powders, and plant-based goodies into their self-care routines and glowing effortlessly. From Egyptian queens to Indian maharanis, these beauty secrets weren't just about looking good, they were about connecting with nature, slowing down, and taking care of yourself inside-out. Here are a few ancient beauty traditions that are still total game changers today, no fancy packaging, no filters, just real results. 6 ancient beauty traditions that still work Milk baths Found in: Ancient Egypt Why it works: Cleopatra didn't have serums, but she had milk and it did the trick. It's known to leave the skin feeling soft, smooth, and pampered. A warm milk soak, infused with rose petals and honey, was her signature beauty move. Honestly, queen behaviour. Turmeric masks Found in: Ancient India Why it works: Desi households have been using turmeric for generations, not just in cooking but for glowing skin. Brides still apply haldi before their wedding day to brighten and purify their skin. It calms redness, fades marks, and leaves behind that unmistakable 'healthy glow.' Rose water Found in: Persia, India, and the Middle East Why it works: Rose water was like the ancient version of micellar water, minus the chemicals. It cools, hydrates, and adds a soft freshness to the skin. From Mughal queens to our nanis, everyone had a bottle stashed somewhere. Still does. Multani mitti (Fuller's earth) Found in: Ancient India and the Middle East Why it works: Got oily skin or the occasional breakout? Multani mitti is a go-to. It's like a natural clay mask that soaks up excess oil, clears out pores, and leaves your face feeling super clean, without the tight, dry aftermath. Sesame oil Found in: Ancient Ayurvedic texts Why it works: Used in daily abhyanga (oil massage), sesame oil nourishes the skin, strengthens the body, and promotes a deep sense of calm. Warmed slightly, it melts away stress and dryness. Think of it as your body's love language. Aloe vera Found in: Ancient Egypt, India, and China Why it works: Whether it's a sunburn, a breakout, or a dull-skin day, aloe has your back. Ancient cultures called it the 'plant of immortality,' and let's be honest, it does feel magical when you apply that cool gel on your skin. Still a bathroom-shelf favourite. The world may have moved on to 17-step routines and high-tech serums, but there's something beautifully grounding about going back to the basics. Amidst all the noise of modern skincare, ancient beauty secrets remind us of a simpler truth: effective skincare doesn't need to be complicated. It just needs to be consistent, natural, and rooted in genuine care. From Ayurvedic rituals to timeless oils and herbs passed down through generations, these traditional remedies have stood the test of time for a reason. They weren't just about looking good, they were about balance, nourishment, and respecting your body. So the next time your skin acts up or your shelf feels overwhelming? Trust your ancestors. They knew what they were doing and they probably looked incredible doing it. Also read| 5 Best homemade body scrubs for glowing skin you can make today
West Australian
4 days ago
- West Australian
Nat Locke: Was this cultural experience relaxation or torture? I'll let you decide
When I travel to a different country I like to try local cultural experiences. It's a way of understanding the social customs and traditions of a society that is different to our own. And that's how I found myself mostly naked and sliding all over an array of marble surfaces at a Turkish hammam. A hammam, in case you weren't aware, is like a day spa, if the day spa therapists like to take turns beating and almost drowning you. It's obviously amazing. But maybe you can't get yourself to Istanbul anytime soon, so let me run you through my experience. Firstly, I was shown through into a small change room where I stripped down and attempted to pop on a comically small pair of disposable knickers. It is not immediately apparent which is the front, and which is the back, but honestly, they are so tiny I don't think it matters. I then wrapped a Turkish towel around myself and was led into the steam room where I sat for about 15 minutes pondering my life choices. Next, my therapist, or Hammummy, as I liked to call her, fetched me and took me by the hand to a flat piece of marble next to a pool. It's around this point that I noticed she has slipped into a fetching pair of black bathers, which should have been the first red flag. But I didn't have time to think about that, because my towel was removed and I was ordered to lie on my back — yes, boobs akimbo — on the marble slab while two Hammummies started scrubbing me with large mitts with the consistency of pot scourers. At some point one of them took my hand and made me feel the complete layers of skin that were now in small piles all over my abdomen. Yes, it was vaguely gross. Next these two women took me by the hands and led me over to the corner of the room where they proceeded to pour great buckets of water over my head. We all hoped my recently removed skin wasn't going to block the drains. They then led me back to the marble slab and covered me in vast amounts of foam before massaging me vigorously. Like, really vigorously. The laws of physics state that foam plus marble plus four firm hands equals substantial sliding all over the place. I was constantly concerned that I was going to slip right onto the floor, which was also marble. It was at this point that I realised the reason they constantly held my hands when moving about was to literally stop me from falling over. Rumours of my clumsiness had preceded me. And as if it wasn't slippery enough with all that foam and water, the next step was to slather me in a clay mask. 'Like Cleopatra' one of the Hammummies whispered. I did not feel like the Queen of the Nile, let me tell you. More dousing with buckets of water was next, including a particularly humiliating episode where I sat slumped on a step in my disposable knickers while the Hammummies washed my hair. At one stage, between being practically drowned, I glanced over at the only other women in the hammam to see that she too was being summarily soaked. And it wasn't a pretty sight. Imagine what she thought of me. Then it was off for an aromatherapy massage because I had decided to treat myself and get the full works. By this stage, all I wanted to do was slip back into my properly-fitting undies and get out of there, but I had to withstand 40 minutes of relaxation. Unfortunately — and here's a plot twist you probably didn't see coming — my capacity to relax was somewhat hampered by the fact that just minutes before this experience had started, my friend and house sitter had called to tell me that my dog had run off on his dog walker and was currently at large in the North Fremantle area. This sort of issue is concerning enough when you're overseas, but when you're wearing ill-fitting disposable underwear and your mobile phone is locked away, it's practically torture. By the time I was scrubbed and pummelled to within an inch of my life, I'm happy to report that my dog had been found in the river by a lovely lady named Susie and was in the care of the Fremantle rangers, who in my dog's best interests were refusing to release him to just anyone, even if that person happened to be my very devoted house sitter who definitely did not sign up for this. Anyway, I don't know if you've ever had to send a flurry of text messages and emails whilst only wearing a Turkish towel and covered in oil, but it's trickier than you might imagine. In the end, though, my dog got to go home, my skin had never looked fresher and I didn't fall over. I guess we would call that a win.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Visit Egypt's best holiday hotspot where you can stay five-star for under £100 - and ice-skate to keep cool
On the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, between the desert and the deep blue sea, sits Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt's premier beach and diving resort. This is where the desert and granite mountains meet the Red Sea and are transformed into a 40-mile belt of coral reef, part of an underwater National Park that teems with colourful marine creatures. A holiday here is mainly about sun, sea and snorkelling but if you're itching for desert adventures, take a guided tour by dune buggy or quad bike into the Valley of Holes, where Bedouin people continue to live a nomadic life and camels roam. FOR… £300 A NIGHT Egypt's premier beach resort and a favourite bolthole for celebs, Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh is secreted away from the main tourist drag of Naama Bay in vast palm-studded gardens. Two hundred and eighty rooms (ranging from guestrooms to villas) nestle amid bougainvillea, jacaranda and hibiscus, and for those who don't wish to tackle the short walk to the kilometre-long private beach, where sun loungers and cabanas line the water's edge, there's a shiny, retro funicular in operation. All rooms are generous with Egyptian-inspired architecture, but those added in 2020 are a little more stylish. There are five pools dotted around and Sinai Blues, the diving and water sports centre, offer snorkelling excursions and all levels of dive experiences from introductory dips in the pool to advanced night dives in open water. In The Spa, try a Cleopatra treatment: a bath of milk, honey and roses followed by a massage. Of its many dining options, Zitouni, which serves up Middle Eastern dishes such as ouzy el sham (braised lamb with nuts, peas and cinnamon) shish taouk (chicken in a Lebanese marinade), is a standout. As is pan-Asian Yatai and the ocean-view Reef Grill for casual, barbecue dinners and lunches. There's a fantastic kid's club, as well as a golf course and tennis courts, and day excursions include stargazing camel treks to dune buggy safaris. OR …£96 A NIGHT THE SAVOY With 408 rooms, The Savoy is one Sharm's original five-star mega resorts. It's part of the group that own glitzy Soho Square (an entertainment cornucopia of restaurants, shops, bowling alley, and an ice rink to cool down in), located on the resort's doorstep. You can pay extra to add Soho Square's restaurants into their all-inclusive dining package. There is some noise pollution from neighbouring resorts and bedrooms aren't a knockout (with bland colour schemes of beige and brown) but they are well maintained. What guests return for, year after year, is service with a smile from friendly staff. On a private beach, loungers and thatched umbrellas line the water, and there are five pools, three of which are adult-only. At the spa try the Egyptian herbal body wrap, and not to be missed is lunching on fresh-off-the-boat grilled prawns at Seafood Island, the hotel's popular, beachside lunch spot.
