Latest news with #DarylMcCormack
Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Netflix's Pride and Prejudice shows how tedious television has become
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a journalist, when writing about Jane Austen, must resort to an opening sentence that riffs on her most famous novel. So here we are again. Why? Because an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is in production at Netflix and has already attracted attention for its diverse cast, which includes Daryl McCormack (the Irish actor whose father is African-American) as the amiable Mr Bingley. Of course, this is now the norm: Armando Iannucci's 2019 Dickens adaptation, The Personal History of David Copperfield, featured Dev Patel in the title role, with Rosalind Eleazar as Agnes Wickfield; David Oyelowo played Javert in the 2018 BBC adaptation of Les Miserables; while Bridgerton turned the notion of costume dramas being the preserve of white actors on its head (on screen, at least – theatre has exercised diverse casting for decades). There will always be those who are upset by the idea of a traditional English period drama that features actors of non-Caucasian heritage, but to my mind the real story about this latest Austen adaptation is that it shows how unimaginative television has become. We simply don't need another Pride and Prejudice. For me, the BBC's 1995 version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is definitive, although I realise that Joe Wright's film – made for cinema a decade later, starring Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley – also has its fans. Both were built to last, and while you could argue that new productions of Hamlet and Macbeth are endlessly trotted out on our stages, theatre is an ephemeral art form. An actor on a stage doesn't have the global reach of Colin Firth in a dripping wet shirt. This year marks 250 years since Austen's birth, and while a new adaptation of her most famous work may seem fitting, it does not add very much to the world. In fact, I would argue that we have had quite enough Austen to be getting on with. In the past 20 years, there has been at least one new adaptation of each of her six novels (not to mention Whit Stillman's superb Love and Friendship from 2016, based on Lady Susan, and ITV's strangely popular Sanditon which ran for three seasons from 2019, despite being inspired by a working manuscript from Austen that stretched to a mere 120-pages). If any new Austen adaptation were needed, it would be Mansfield Park, of which there hasn't been a decent version since 1983 (available on iPlayer). The most recent, from 2007, saw a woefully miscast Billie Piper attempt to elicit sympathy for Fanny Price, Austen's difficult heroine. For a lot of readers, Fanny is insipid and moralistic; to my eyes, she is one of the most misunderstood characters in literature. We need, frankly, a new Fanny, from an actress who can bring out her quiet fortitude and strength of will. I would suggest Patsy Ferran, who is watchful, instinctive and always gives the impression that she is capable of great courage. Yet Netflix would never commission Mansfield Park, not unless it has secret plans for an exhaustive, Marvel-Style 'Janeiverse' which would stretch to origin films about Mr and Mrs Bennet, and spin-offs featuring the Bateses from Emma. Why? Because Pride and Prejudice isn't just a better and more accessible novel than Mansfield Park, it is also a brand. People who care little for bonnet dramas or English literature are likely to watch a new Pride and Prejudice simply because they have heard of it. It is strong IP. And of course strong IP is becoming the main reason that things get commissioned in the first place (particularly in the TV industry). That is particularly frustrating in terms of costume drama because, despite having hundreds of years of literature on which to draw, we are seeing the same classics being adapted time and again. That explains why we got three productions of Great Expectations in as many years – in 2011, 2012 and 2023 – and, I believe, no other major Dickens adaptations, at least in this country, during that time. In olden times, Andrew Davies would approach the BBC with Little Dorrit or Bleak House and get the green light, but that seems unthinkable now. For many years, BBC radio gave a home to more unusual works, such as new adaptations of Balzac or Gissing. That era is also coming to an end, as radio drama continues to fall victim to budget cuts. Radio 3 no longer broadcasts any, while Radio 4's output has decreased considerably in recent years. There is a little more room for manoeuvre in the film industry, but even there the decisions are crippled by cautiousness. Next year we will be treated to another Austen, Sense and Sensibility with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood, as well as Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, starring Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Cathy. With traditional broadcasters feeling the pinch, and unable to stretch to the budget that a lavish costume drama demands, it is up to the wealthy streamers to do their bit and take a gamble on something that doesn't smack of algorithmic approval. History has proven that with the right cast, director and writer you can make much of a little-loved work. I am thinking particularly of Cranford, Elizabeth Gaskell's – dare I say it, slightly boring – vignette of a provincial town. When it aired in 2007, the combination of a clever script by Heidi Thomas, and the talents of Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins, proved irresistible to both viewers and critics; it won Baftas and became the BBC's most-watched costume drama of the decade. As to whether Netflix's Pride and Prejudice will create a conversation in the same way that the BBC's adaptation did 30 years ago, only time will tell – but it seems unlikely. The problem with repeatedly revisiting a known and much-loved story, is that people eventually get bored. Perhaps somebody will take a chance on Mansfield Park, after all.
NZ Herald
30-07-2025
- 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.
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix now streaming ‘truly entertaining' British thriller with a ‘mind-blowing' twist ending
An iconic actor teams up with a Peaky Blinders star in this gripping British thriller that's just been added to Netflix Netflix is now streaming an underrated thriller from two years ago that's guaranteed to keep you on your toes. Starring Richard E Grant and Daryl McCormack, fans and critics alike agree this psychological drama is 'mesmerising'. Unfortunately, it didn't quite light the box office on fire upon its original release, though the streaming service has now given the film a well-deserved second chance at success. Penned by Alex MacKeith and directed by Alice Troughton, in her feature film debut after working on iconic shows like EastEnders and Doctor Who, The Lesson deserves the top spot on your watchlist this week. It follows aspiring writer Liam Summers (played by McCormack) who seemingly lands the perfect job, tutoring at the estate of one of his literary heroes, JM Sinclair (Grant). However, his tenure soon takes a dark turn when his idol's family secrets start to bubble to the surface and Liam becomes trapped in a web of deceit. Awards Daily described the thriller as "meticulously crafted" and "mesmerising', while The Spectator was particularly impressed by Grant's "deliciously, marvellously, full-on monstrous" performance. A fan writing on Google reviews also had nothing but praise for Grant's co-star: 'I can't get over how incredible Daryl McCormack is in The Lesson! 'The plot twists had me on the edge of my seat, and the ending was absolutely mind-blowing - I never saw it coming!' Another five-star review gushed: 'The Lesson is a cinematic gem that is so refreshing, witty and entertaining till the very last musical note and cut to end credits. 'The stellar cast's chemistry brings layers of brilliance to the script and to the screen. The editing, score and cinematography simply yet intentionally further elevate the storytelling, creating an unexpected well crafted masterpiece.' Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky from £15 Sky Get the deal here Product Description Someone else heaped on the praise: 'Best film I have seen in a long time and I see a lot of films. 'It completely kept me riveted from the very beginning to the end and through the epilogue. 'An elegant, intelligent, writerly and artful example of a truly entertaining masterpiece. Loved it. I wish there were more like it.' And a final fan summed up The Lesson as 'simply brilliant' in yet another five-star write-up. 'Delightfully quirky, superbly filmed visually, nicely sinister in an almost tongue in cheek manner, brilliantly acted by all the actors.' With this hidden gem of British cinema now on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, make sure The Lesson gets the attention film fans think it deserves this week. The Lesson is available to stream on Netflix.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I'm A Middle-Aged Woman. This Is What Happened When I Got A Happy Ending Massage.
Way back near the beginning of pandemic, I had a real-life Good Luck to You, Leo Grande experience. If you're not familiar with the movie (now streaming on Hulu), a retired widow (Emma Thompson) hires a fine-ass sex worker (Daryl McCormack) to find some sexual adventure. (Spoiler: Adventure is found.) In my case, there was no green-eyed Leo Grande. However, I did have two (2!) people working over my middle-aged body. Also, they weren't official 'sex workers,' though it did involve both sex and work. I was getting a 'hands-on bodywork session,' basically a massage with a (possibly) happy ending. Oh, it was all on the up and up. It was through an organization, let's call it Yonis R Us (YRU), that hosts retreats in glamorous locales where women of all ages (seriously, ALL, like up to extremely senior citizen) learn to connect with their bodies, their sexuality and their desires. And yeah, a happy ending might be had, but the bodywork sessions were about more than that. It was about allowing yourself to accept pleasure and feel sexual without any of the body image/performative/goal-oriented pressures of a lot of hetero sex. Getting rid of that last bit was going to be a trick for me. I enjoy spending my leisure time worrying about things like that new spot on my leg (fatal????), people who don't text back immediately (dead???) and the like. My monkey mind doesn't just chatter away during my rare attempts at meditation ― mine is more howler monkey, always on duty, hyper-vigilant and screeching from the treetops, alerting me to a constant stream of imaginary peril. To be honest, I was secretly looking for a Magic Vagina Whisperer, someone who would force me to chill the F out, know what I wanted even before I knew it, and could play my body like a piano, or whatever musical instrument is the equivalent of my body (Bagpipes? Theremin?). When Nanette*, the founder of Yonis, messaged me one day and offered me a private session that night, gratis, I was immediately like, 'Yes, please!' It was to date, the best media perk I've gotten, and I am a person who recently received a huge box of weed products hand-delivered to my door. Related: Related: About four seconds later, I panicked. The letting-strangers-touch-alllllll-the-naughty-bits wasn't the issue. I've interviewed several sex workers and came away convinced that sex work is an important helping position. Providing loving sexual touch to people who aren't getting it, for whatever reason, is a gift. I had no moral quandaries. Viva getting touched by a kindly, trained stranger/specialist! But on that particular day, I was not feeling super fuckable. I already had a full-on pandemic body going on, even though we were just barely into it. Underneath my Bao-like belly, I was sporting a bush with the aesthetics of an abandoned parking lot. As Emma Thompson told Vogue about the extremely last-minute preparations for her role in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, 'I couldn't go off to a health spa in anticipation of forthcoming nudity.' Nor could I, Emma. I couldn't lose the belly in one day, and in a flash of liberation, I decided I would leave the bush in 'as is' condition. I was gonna own this 'forthcoming nudity,' goddammit. The idea was strangely empowering. 'Screw it!' I thought. 'This is my body. Behold!' That night I pulled up to a charming little house tucked down a shady lane somewhere by San Diego. I was greeted at the door by Nanette, who is short, curvy and warm, like a sexy fairy godmother. She introduced her associate, Rod Steele,* who is blonde, muscled and pretty much an ideal specimen of manhood, as well as being a lovely, gentle person. There was a spacious living room and a large wooden dining table laden with snacks. I picked at the spread while we had easy talk about…something? Finally, they asked me to go into the bedroom, disrobe, and get up on a table similar to a massage table. I draped a sheet over myself and waited. When they came in, they spoke to me gently and started giving me a massage. If you find yourself in a situation where two people want to give you a massage, I'd recommend you take them up on it at once. It was pretty great. I closed my eyes as they introduced elements of sensation play, always asking permission first. There were scarves draped up my thighs, a little wheel toy with pokey things ― the idea was to stay in the moment and really focus on the sensations. Somebody eventually started touching me where the bathing suit covers. There were some consensual flicks of a flogger and the introduction of a butt plug. It's odd that I can't remember the specifics of who was touching where, otherwise I could give you a play-by-play, like 'Bishop to e5.' What does stand out is that it was dawning on me that I wasn't even close to having an orgasm, and I (ridiculously, I know this!) felt like I should ― like it would be polite to do so. And it felt absurd that it wasn't happening. I was being stroked and lavishly feted by two gorgeous, sexy, and attentive people. But I was lying there wondering if their hands were getting sore, and they regretted doing this for free. So there I was: naked, the stimulation increasingly amping up, and still not having an orgasm. Eventually (two minutes? 700 years?) they brought out the big guns, the hallowed Magic Wand. If you're not familiar, the Wand is a giant vibrator that's pretty much a jackhammer for the lady parts. If there ever was a vibrator that could easily be converted to gas power (rip cord and all), it would be the Wand. They applied the Wand, but my body would not succumb to it. I felt my monkey mind cockblocking the insistent ministrations of my electric lover. 'Shit, it's still not happening!' I thought, which for the record, is pretty low on the list of arousing thoughts. Then it dawned on me. I thought about my best sex ever and how raw chemistry goes a hell of a long way towards arousal. Yes, the simple biological manipulation of body parts is a huge part of sex, but it's just one part of a complex mix of lust chemicals, scents, the almost divine touch of someone who really does it for you and the particular appeal of a partner's jawline/chest/thigh/thick dick/whatever. In this case, all manner of diligent rubbing wasn't gonna be enough. It's the same reason a glory hole wouldn't appeal to me. I'd need some backstory. Here, I couldn't just lie down on the massage table thing, spread my legs, and get lost in it. In discussing the 'problems' of sex in How to Think More About Sex, the delightful School of Life co-founder Alain de Botton writes, 'Great sex, like happiness more generally, may be the precious and sublime exception. During our most fortunate encounters, it is rare for us to appreciate how privileged we are. It is only as we get older, and look back repeatedly and nostalgically to a few erotic episodes, that we start to realize with what stinginess nature extends her gifts to us — and therefore what an extraordinary and rare achievement of biology, psychology and timing satisfying sex really is.' But I digress. Through all this, the Wand was determinedly buzzing away, perhaps puzzled, not understanding why I was resisting its charms. I didn't know what to do, so finally I mentally pulled up the images of my favorite porn. If you must know it's the one with two college guys who, against their supposed straightness, get too turned on and simply must bone each other immediately. Eventually, less being swept away by inevitability and more 'I will make this happen,' ala Annette Bening, 'I will sell this house today!' in American Beauty, I had the orgasm. Check. Not huge, but there. Hey, way to ruin goalless pleasure with a goal, self! Once the 'sex' part was done, we moved back out to the living room. I sat on a couch, and Nanette and Rod settled in on each side. They snuggled in close and handed me an exceptionally good popsicle. We talked about what had gone down and how it was for me. Rod suggested I give the plug another try sometime. I had another popsicle (this is unrelated). It was A+ aftercare. In the end, I still completely support this kind of work. If you can lie back and enjoy being attended to by two eager pretend lovers, get yer butt on up on that table. (Statistically, it's likely that you'd dig it: Multipartner sex is the most common fantasy, according to Justin Lehmiller's Tell Me What You Want.) For me and my howler monkey mind though, the most thorough fuck of the night was the mind fuck I gave myself. It wasn't ideal, but lessons were learned. Sex with another person who hotly desires you as much as you desire them is a rare and beautiful thing. This was not it. But it didn't need to be that. It occupied a different space. In this space, you can be sexual without worrying about pleasing another (or, like me, you can worry about it anyway) and that feels important. You can go to this place, go really deep sexually and emotionally with two other people, then be on your merry way, with no emotional reverb. And you might even get some popsicles out of the deal. *Names had been changed. Except mine, which was probably a bad decision. This article originally appeared on HuffPost in July 2022. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Solve the daily Crossword
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Irish stars' whodunnit to open BFI London Film Festival
The BFI London Film Festival 2025 will open with the international premiere of the third mystery in the Knives Out series - the latest film starring Irish actors Daryl McCormack and Andrew Scott. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will see James Bond star Daniel Craig reprise his role as famed private detective Benoit Blanc, who unravels another murder mystery among a new cast of suspects. The Netflix film, which also stars Emmy-winning actress Glenn Close, Challengers star Josh O'Connor, and That '70s Show actress Mila Kunis, will headline the festival's opening night gala, taking place at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall this autumn. The other cast members of the star-studded film include the American actors Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Cailee Spaeny. Director Rian Johnson, said: "We're honoured to be opening the BFI London Film Festival with Wake Up Dead Man. London is the birthplace of the golden age of detective fiction, and it's a thrill to be back!" Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: "At this 69th edition of the BFI London Film Festival, we are inviting audiences to get their spyglass at the ready as we get back on the case with another deliciously fun mystery from director Rian Johnson and his all-star cast with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery." The 69th edition of the festival, which is run by the UK's lead organisation for film and the moving image, the British Film Institute (BFI), will take place between 8 and 19 October. The second film in the Knives Out series, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, closed the 66th edition of the festival in 2022.
