Latest news with #Elg
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taina Elg, Actress in ‘Les Girls' and ‘The 39 Steps,' Dies at 95
Taina Elg, the Finland-born actress and dancer who starred opposite Gene Kelly in the colorful 1957 George Cukor musical Les Girls and with Kenneth More in the 1959 remake of the spy thriller The 39 Steps, has died. She was 95. Elg died May 15 in an assisted care facility in her native Helsinki, her family told the Helsinki Times. More from The Hollywood Reporter Paris Gaming Studio Amplitude, Newly Independent From Sega, Raises $13.5 Million HBO's 'Harry Potter' Series Finds Its Harry, Ron and Hermione James McEachin, Star of 'Tenafly' and Perry Mason Telefilms, Dies at 94 On Broadway, Elg worked alongside Raul Julia in the 1974-75 revival of Frank Loesser's Where's Charley? — she earned a Tony nomination for best featured actress in a musical for that — and in the 1982-84 original production of Tommy Tune's Nine, where she played the mother of his character, Guido. Her breakthrough in Hollywood came with her turn as cabaret dancer Angèle Ducros in MGM's Les Girls, which also starred Mitzi Gaynor and Kay Kendall and featured music from Cole Porter. She and Kendall shared the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy for their work. In the Rank Organisation's remake of The 39 Steps, Elg portrayed the schoolteacher Miss Fisher, who inadvertently gets involved with a British diplomat (More's Richard Hannay) out to decipher and break up a sinister plot against England. (The 1935 original, of course, was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starred Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll.) The daughter of pianists, Taina Elisabeth Elg was born in Helsinki on March 9, 1930. She appeared in her first film at age 10, danced with the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki and went on to study ballet in Sweden in Stockholm and Gothenburg and in London with the Royal Ballet. She was discovered in London by American film producer Edwin H. Knopf and, in the wake of the Hollywood success enjoyed by fellow Scandinavian Anita Ekberg, signed to a seven-year contract by MGM. Elg appeared alongside Lana Turner in The Prodigal (1955) and Diane (1956), then received a Golden Globe for best female foreign newcomer for her performance in Gaby (1956), starring Leslie Caron. In her follow-up to Les Girls, she starred as a Frenchwoman who owns a farm in the war comedy Imitation General (1958), starring Glenn Ford and Red Buttons. Her last movie under contract at MGM was the African adventure Watusi (1959), starring George Montgomery. With her film career waning, Elg moved to the stage and starred as the title character in a touring production of Irma La Douce in 1962. In 1970, she made the first of her seven Broadway appearances, portraying a nun in Josh Logan's Look to the Lillies, based on the 1963 Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field. Later, she toured with Gigi in 1984-85 and with Titanic in 1999-2000. In 1980-81, Elg stood out as Olympia Buchanan, the banished first wife of Texas tycoon Asa Buchanan (Philip Carey), on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. Her character memorably falls over a balcony at a costume party to her death. Her résumé included the films The Bacchantes (1961), Hercules in New York (1970), Liebestraum (1991) and Barbra Streisand's The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) and the soap operas The Doctors, Guiding Light, The Edge of Night and Loving. Her son is jazz guitarist Raoul Björkenheim. Elg was married to economist and importer Carl 'Poku' Björkenheim from 1953 until their 1958 divorce and to educator Rocco Caporale from 1982 until his death in 2008, when she left New York after more than three decades to return to her home country. Four years earlier, she received the prestigious Order of the Lion from Finland. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Pink Villa
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who Was Taina Elg? Golden Globe-Winning Star of Les Girls and The 39 Steps Passes Away at 95
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to an individual's death. Taina Elg, the Finland-born actress and dancer best known for her roles in Les Girls and the 1959 version of The 39 Steps, has died at the age of 95. Her family confirmed that she passed away on May 15 at an assisted care facility in Helsinki, her hometown, according to the Helsinki Times. Born on March 9, 1930, in Helsinki to pianist parents, Taina Elisabeth Elg began her career in the arts as a child. She danced with the Finnish National Ballet and later studied ballet in Sweden and London. Her talent caught the eye of American film producer Edwin H. Knopf, leading to a seven-year contract with MGM. Elg's breakout Hollywood role came in the 1957 musical Les Girls, directed by George Cukor and starring Gene Kelly. She played Angèle Ducros, a cabaret dancer, alongside Kay Kendall and Mitzi Gaynor. Elg and Kendall shared the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for their performance. The film also featured music by Cole Porter. In 1956, she won the Golden Globe for Best Female Foreign Newcomer for her role in Gaby, where she starred opposite Leslie Caron. Her other MGM credits include The Prodigal (1955), Diane (1956), Imitation General (1958), and Watusi (1959). Elg also starred in the 1959 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. She played schoolteacher Miss Fisher, opposite Kenneth More as Richard Hannay. The role marked one of her most notable appearances outside the musical genre. After her film career slowed, Elg found success on stage. She appeared in the 1974-75 Broadway revival of Where's Charley? with Raul Julia, earning a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. From 1982 to 1984, she starred in the original Broadway run of Nine, portraying the mother of the lead character Guido, played by Tommy Tune. Elg made several TV appearances, including on One Life to Live (1980–81) as Olympia Buchanan, and on other soap operas like The Doctors, Guiding Light, The Edge of Night, and Loving. Her later film credits included The Bacchantes (1961), Hercules in New York (1970), Liebestraum (1991), and The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), directed by Barbra Streisand. She was married to Carl 'Poku' Björkenheim from 1953 to 1958 and later to educator Rocco Caporale from 1982 until his death in 2008. She had one son, jazz guitarist Raoul Björkenheim. Elg returned to Finland in 2008 and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Lion of Finland in 2004 for her contributions to the arts. ALSO READ: Who Was Presley Chweneyagae? South African Actor Part of Oscar Winning Film Tsotsi Dies at 40
AU Financial Review
29-04-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Unis embrace digital to bridge education in evolving job market
This flexibility is especially valuable in an era where lifelong learning is becoming the norm. 'Education is no longer something you complete at 21 and never revisit,' says Elg. 'The workforce is evolving so quickly that professionals will need to continuously upskill throughout their careers.' With higher education increasingly tasked with shaping future workforces, universities are turning to platforms like Workday for critical data insights. 'We have access to data from over 65 million employees using the same cloud platform, generating about 1 trillion transactions each year,' says Elg. 'When 24 per cent of America's job requisitions go through Workday, we get a strong sense of the skills in demand and the roles organisations are filling globally.' These insights help universities tailor curricula to industry needs, ensuring graduates are workforce ready. Evolving tech Technology is also transforming how universities operate. Many institutions still rely on rigid student management systems designed decades ago, creating inefficiencies for both students and staff. Workday is helping modernise these systems, providing a more user-friendly experience that aligns with today's digital expectations. 'Workday Student creates a seamless experience where students can register for classes, track finances and monitor academic progress through an app, just like they use TikTok,' says Elg. The shift toward AI-driven education is not just about efficiency — it's also about preparing students for a workforce that is increasingly dependent on automation and machine learning. AI is not only shaping job opportunities, but also presenting ethical challenges that universities are helping to address. 'AI, and specifically generative AI, presents major productivity opportunities but also significant ethical questions, which universities are playing a key role in exploring,' says Elg. In Australia, universities play an especially crucial role in workforce development, as many businesses outsource research and development rather than embedding it internally. 'That puts universities at the forefront of shaping the future workforce,' says Elg. The challenge, however, is ensuring that universities keep pace with the speed of industry advancements. Unlike traditional academic disciplines, technology fields evolve rapidly, requiring constant curriculum updates. This need for adaptability extends beyond academia. Universities are also rethinking their entire operational frameworks to remain competitive in a rapidly changing education market. Many are still using outdated finance and HR systems, which hinders their ability to respond to changing student expectations and workforce demands. 'Thirteen universities in Australia and New Zealand now use Workday for finance or HR, including three Group of Eight institutions,' says Elg. By replacing outdated systems, universities can enhance decision-making, improve administrative efficiency, and deliver a better student experience. Forward-thinking; outward-looking The integration of advanced technology also offers institutions the agility to adapt to external changes. As universities face challenges such as shifting government policies and fluctuating international student enrolments, real-time data becomes critical for effective planning. 'Workday gives universities the tools to prepare for multiple scenarios,' says Elg. 'Whether it's predicting enrolment trends or responding to funding changes, having access to real-time data is a game changer.' The nation's peak technology body, the Tech Council of Australia (TCA), is championing efforts to prepare universities for the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapid evolution of technology. TCA CEO Damian Kassabgi stresses the critical role universities play in nurturing tech talent and preparing future workers. 'Universities are great spaces for facilitating new ideas and discoveries and nurturing the next generation of world-class tech talent,' says Kassabgi. However, he notes, 'The challenge they face is keeping up with the new technologies that are shaping the education landscape and designing industry-relevant courses that keep up with the rapid pace of transformation and innovation in the sector.' Kassabgi points to the example set by industry leaders such as Microsoft, which is creating educational pathways like the upcoming AI Skills Fest, to help upskill students and prepare them for the demands of the digital economy. Looking to the future, Kassabgi highlights the profound impact AI will have on the workforce. 'Around 7.2 million Australian workers — nearly half of the country's workforce — will see their jobs change in some way through artificial intelligence,' he says. With this rapid change, he stresses, it is crucial for education systems to be fit-for-purpose. 'To stay ahead, we need a fit-for-purpose education and training system — one that builds specialist AI talent such as engineers and data scientists, but also one that equips all workers with the digital and AI literacy they need to thrive.' While AI continues to augment processes across industries, Kassabgi warns that a lack of accessible training could leave many behind. 'AI is already being used widely to augment processes, save time and transform industries. But with such rapid change, we risk leaving people behind if we don't have accessible training on offer. Already, one in three workers aren't using AI due to lack of training,' he adds. Kassabgi calls for universities to broaden their focus to ensure graduates are equipped with both general digital literacy and the frontier skills necessary for an AI-powered world. 'We encourage universities to embrace their role in providing education in both generalist digital skills as well as frontier specialist skillsets to help increase the availability, uptake and understanding of tech like AI.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Des Moines teen soaring to new heights at prestigious flight academy
DES MOINES, Iowa — JROTC cadets train with military precision. The high school program prepares them for future careers both in and out of the uniform. Hours before the first bell rings at Central Campus, cadets from the Marine Corps JROTC line up for inspection. They march in the gym in steps and formations that are drilled into them. 'The first couple of weeks, I was not very good at drilling. It was definitely a little rough,' said Cadet 1st LT Madison Elg. But now Elg is calling out the commands as a unit commander. 'It's basically about discipline; that's the main thing. Pretty much working as a team to accomplish the same goal and everybody has their role in it. So, nobody is more important than anybody else,' she explained. The 17-year-old junior is doing something no other Des Moines cadet has done before. Out of 1,000 applicants, she was one of ten selected to attend the prestigious Navy and Marine Corps JROTC Flight Academy in Florida over the summer. At the end of the eight-week program, Elg will earn her pilot's license. 'I'm just proud of myself for getting in because I very much did not think I could get in,' said Elg. Fixing Iowa's chronic absenteeism law: What changes are needed? 'We encouraged her — hey you got this. Sometimes they just need a little push — but you got this because you're just as good as anybody else,' said GySgt Michael Gettler, who everyone calls Gunny. He says it's his job to know when to give cadets that little push. 'Our main goal is leadership, being a good citizen, being a good role model, right? I mean that's the crux of everything,' said Gunny. After two decades as an active duty Marine and another 24 years as an instructor and air rifle coach, this is his last year. 'We're the best program in this building, you know what, I mean it takes a lot to say that. A lot of people are like oh that's … you guys just think … no we're good. Our kids are good, our expectations are good,' explained Gunny. Cadets like Elg are taking those expectations and reaching new heights. She says attending the flight academy is a dream come true. 'When I was younger, I wanted to be a bird. So, when I was five or six-years-old, I was obsessed with birds and I would always jump off the couch and try to fly. I would always build nests out of blankets, and it was just so interesting to me how they could fly and why they could fly,' she explained. The flight academy program aims to inspire high school students to pursue careers in aviation. In addition to getting her pilot's license, Elg will earn five college credits. She wants to join the military and is planning to attend Utah State University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
