Latest news with #Etalk
Global News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Montreal actor focused on directing but has ideas for ‘White Lotus' after breakout performance
Since her breakout role in Season 3 of HBO's hit dramedy White Lotus, acting offers have been pouring in for Charlotte Le Bon. But for now, the Montreal native is just not interested. 'Making films is my main focus more than acting, to be honest,' Le Bon said during a sit-down interview in Toronto Thursday. Le Bon recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she held meetings in search of a financing partner for her sophomore feature — a still-untitled Montreal-shot drama exploring themes of loss. 'It's autobiographique,' says the bilingual actor, reluctant to reveal too much. 'It's a very, very personal movie and I think the goal is to try to make a very light-hearted movie on grief. It's a challenge, but that's what I'm aiming for.' Story continues below advertisement The Montreal-based Le Bon was in town for Bell Media's 2025-26 programming showcase, where Etalk hosts interviewed her during a splashy event for media buyers about the last season of The White Lotus, which streams on Crave. In Mike White's eat-the-rich anthology series she plays Chloe, a socially savvy French-Canadian expat living in Thailand with her much older boyfriend, and the series' main antagonist, Greg, who now goes by 'Gary.' She's seemingly unaware of Greg's history: in Season 2, he pulled off a plot to murder his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, in order to inherit her wealth. Le Bon says she was ready to take a hiatus from acting when she was offered the White Lotus role. Though she'd built a successful career — with roles opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the 2015 biographical drama The Walk and Christian Bale in the 2016 war epic The Promise — her passion had shifted to working behind the camera. Her 2023 horror-romance Falcon Lake, which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Cannes to strong critical acclaim. 4:29 Eric reviews The Promise 'I was thinking about taking a break from acting because I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I still like it.' I was just asking myself some questions about it… I sometimes played characters that were not really inspiring for me for some reason,' she says. Story continues below advertisement 'And then White Lotus arrived and I was like, 'There's no way I can not do this. It's just an amazing opportunity'… Between the moment where I sent the self-tape and the moment I was in the plane flying to Thailand, there were probably like 10 days.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Le Bon says the experience of being part of such a pop-culture juggernaut was hard to wrap her head around. 'It's kind of overwhelming when you're taking part in such an important thing in culture. Even when it started to come out, when I started to see memes on it on social media, it was really exciting,' she says. While acting isn't her current focus, Le Bon says she would be down to return for Season 4 — and has some ideas about how it could play out. 'If their relationship is based on true love, which I think it is, then maybe she'll come back with Greg, because Greg has to come back, for sure,' she says. Le Bon muses that Chloe could be Greg's accomplice or even the one who serves him his inevitable comeuppance. 'She could either become Greg's ally and they can be like a duo of villains, or she can maybe be the one who will create the karma for Greg. Maybe she'll give it to him,' she says. Story continues below advertisement 'He has to get it at some point, so we'll see what happens.' 2:07 The Canadian composer behind 'The White Lotus' soundtrack While Chloe's relationship with Greg may seem transactional on the surface, Le Bon argues the two share a deeper 'understanding' of one another. 'I think what she likes in this relationship is she thinks she's found a way to be free… just by spending a lot of money and partying and having sex with whoever she wants,' Le Bon says. 'I think they find an agreement by the end of the season where it's clear that's her intention and maybe he can take part in this and have fun with it as well.' If that setup sounds peculiar, Le Bon says that's just the kind of thing that interests her. Story continues below advertisement 'There needs to be a singular aspect to a part that really inspires me in order for me to move my butt and be an actress again,' she says. 'It needs to be weird.'
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Charlotte Le Bon is focused on directing, but has ideas for a ‘White Lotus' return
TORONTO - Since her breakout role in season 3 of HBO's hit dramedy 'White Lotus,' acting offers have been pouring in for Charlotte Le Bon. But for now, the Montreal native is just not interested. 'Making films is my main focus more than acting, to be honest,' Le Bon said during a sit-down interview in Toronto Thursday. Le Bon recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she held meetings in search of a financing partner for her sophomore feature — a still-untitled Montreal-shot drama exploring themes of loss. 'It's autobiographique,' says the bilingual actor, reluctant to reveal too much. 'It's a very, very personal movie and I think the goal is to try to make a very light-hearted movie on grief. It's a challenge, but that's what I'm aiming for.' The Montreal-based Le Bon was in town for Bell Media's 2025/26 programming showcase, where Etalk hosts interviewed her during a splashy event for media buyers about the last season of 'The White Lotus,' which streams on Crave. In Mike White's eat-the-rich anthology series she plays Chloe, a socially savvy French-Canadian expat living in Thailand with her much older boyfriend, and the series' main antagonist, Greg, who now goes by 'Gary.' She's seemingly unaware of Greg's history: in Season 2, he pulled off a plot to murder his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, in order to inherit her wealth. Le Bon says she was ready to take a hiatus from acting when she was offered the 'White Lotus' role. Though she'd built a successful career — with roles opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the 2015 biographical drama 'The Walk' and Christian Bale in the 2016 war epic 'The Promise' — her passion had shifted to working behind the camera. Her 2023 horror-romance 'Falcon Lake,' which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Cannes to strong critical acclaim. 'I was thinking about taking a break from acting because I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I still like it.' I was just asking myself some questions about it... I sometimes played characters that were not really inspiring for me for some reason,' she says. 'And then 'White Lotus' arrived and I was like, 'There's no way I can not do this. It's just an amazing opportunity'... Between the moment where I sent the self-tape and the moment I was in the plane flying to Thailand, there were probably like 10 days.' Le Bon says the experience of being part of such a pop-culture juggernaut was hard to wrap her head around. 'It's kind of overwhelming when you're taking part in such an important thing in culture. Even when it started to come out, when I started to see memes on it on social media, it was really exciting,' she says. While acting isn't her current focus, Le Bon says she would be down to return for Season 4 — and has some ideas about how it could play out. 'If their relationship is based on true love, which I think it is, then maybe she'll come back with Greg, because Greg has to come back, for sure,' she says. Le Bon muses that Chloe could be Greg's accomplice or even the one who serves him his inevitable comeuppance. 'She could either become Greg's ally and they can be like a duo of villains, or she can maybe be the one who will create the karma for Greg. Maybe she'll give it to him,' she says. 'He has to get it at some point, so we'll see what happens.' While Chloe's relationship with Greg may seem transactional on the surface, Le Bon argues the two share a deeper 'understanding' of one another. 'I think what she likes in this relationship is she thinks she's found a way to be free… just by spending a lot of money and partying and having sex with whoever she wants,' Le Bon says. 'I think they find an agreement by the end of the season where it's clear that's her intention and maybe he can take part in this and have fun with it as well.' If that setup sounds peculiar, Le Bon says that's just the kind of thing that interests her. 'There needs to be a singular aspect to a part that really inspires me in order for me to move my butt and be an actress again,' she says. 'It needs to be weird.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Charlotte Le Bon is focused on directing, but has ideas for a ‘White Lotus' return
TORONTO – Since her breakout role in season 3 of HBO's hit dramedy 'White Lotus,' acting offers have been pouring in for Charlotte Le Bon. But for now, the Montreal native is just not interested. 'Making films is my main focus more than acting, to be honest,' Le Bon said during a sit-down interview in Toronto Thursday. Le Bon recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she held meetings in search of a financing partner for her sophomore feature — a still-untitled Montreal-shot drama exploring themes of loss. 'It's autobiographique,' says the bilingual actor, reluctant to reveal too much. 'It's a very, very personal movie and I think the goal is to try to make a very light-hearted movie on grief. It's a challenge, but that's what I'm aiming for.' The Montreal-based Le Bon was in town for Bell Media's 2025/26 programming showcase, where Etalk hosts interviewed her during a splashy event for media buyers about the last season of 'The White Lotus,' which streams on Crave. In Mike White's eat-the-rich anthology series she plays Chloe, a socially savvy French-Canadian expat living in Thailand with her much older boyfriend, and the series' main antagonist, Greg, who now goes by 'Gary.' She's seemingly unaware of Greg's history: in Season 2, he pulled off a plot to murder his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, in order to inherit her wealth. Le Bon says she was ready to take a hiatus from acting when she was offered the 'White Lotus' role. Though she'd built a successful career — with roles opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the 2015 biographical drama 'The Walk' and Christian Bale in the 2016 war epic 'The Promise' — her passion had shifted to working behind the camera. Her 2023 horror-romance 'Falcon Lake,' which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Cannes to strong critical acclaim. 'I was thinking about taking a break from acting because I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I still like it.' I was just asking myself some questions about it… I sometimes played characters that were not really inspiring for me for some reason,' she says. 'And then 'White Lotus' arrived and I was like, 'There's no way I can not do this. It's just an amazing opportunity'… Between the moment where I sent the self-tape and the moment I was in the plane flying to Thailand, there were probably like 10 days.' Le Bon says the experience of being part of such a pop-culture juggernaut was hard to wrap her head around. 'It's kind of overwhelming when you're taking part in such an important thing in culture. Even when it started to come out, when I started to see memes on it on social media, it was really exciting,' she says. While acting isn't her current focus, Le Bon says she would be down to return for Season 4 — and has some ideas about how it could play out. 'If their relationship is based on true love, which I think it is, then maybe she'll come back with Greg, because Greg has to come back, for sure,' she says. Le Bon muses that Chloe could be Greg's accomplice or even the one who serves him his inevitable comeuppance. 'She could either become Greg's ally and they can be like a duo of villains, or she can maybe be the one who will create the karma for Greg. Maybe she'll give it to him,' she says. 'He has to get it at some point, so we'll see what happens.' While Chloe's relationship with Greg may seem transactional on the surface, Le Bon argues the two share a deeper 'understanding' of one another. 'I think what she likes in this relationship is she thinks she's found a way to be free… just by spending a lot of money and partying and having sex with whoever she wants,' Le Bon says. 'I think they find an agreement by the end of the season where it's clear that's her intention and maybe he can take part in this and have fun with it as well.' If that setup sounds peculiar, Le Bon says that's just the kind of thing that interests her. 'There needs to be a singular aspect to a part that really inspires me in order for me to move my butt and be an actress again,' she says. 'It needs to be weird.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
CBC
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Can we critique With Love, Meghan, without unfairly critiquing Meghan Markle?
Meghan Markle has just released her latest venture: a lifestyle talk show for Netflix titled With Love, Meghan. Although the series debuts today, there's already been a ton of backlash from viewers and internet onlookers alike about the quality of the program. But is the negative response earned, or is it reminiscent of the media firestorm the Duchess of Sussex endured in her early years of royal life? Today on Commotion, Etalk senior correspondent Lainey Lui and royal reporter Ellie Hall join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain why some people are so mad about the program — and whether any of their anger is warranted. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Elamin: I take the point that Lainey was making, that there's only so many tropes, there's only so many ways you can pose in a kitchen, only so many titles you can give your lifestyle show, and there's bound to be some overlaps…. What do you make of that criticism of, we could have done a little bit more to distinguish this from what Pamela Anderson put out? Ellie: Well, I'm going to reveal myself as someone who reads Lainey, because this is a throwback. But when Meghan guest-edited Vogue — I think about this all the time — you wrote something that said that it's so hard to talk about rational criticism of Meghan because it gets drowned out by all of the irrationality and by the racism. And when you do want to criticize Meghan … it's hard to be rational because you have people who have an industry, who make money only criticizing Meghan Markle and only attacking her, and that's what gets them the views…. There is so much hatred that people, from the very beginning, were and are looking for reasons to hate this show. People were going to go looking for things to compare it to, and I think Pamela Anderson's show just happened to be there. I'm not a lifestyle show viewer. They all kind of look alike to me…. There's only so many ways that you can do a show about cooking and hosting and gardening, in my opinion. You're going to see some of the same shots…. But with all the Pamela Anderson criticism, you really need to understand that the loudest voices here are people who have made an industry out of hating Meghan. And you need to accept these YouTubers, these people on Twitter, all of this crazy mad criticism — you need to look at it in that context. Elamin: Okay. I take your point, which I suppose is Lainey's point — this is a bit of an attribution circle happening here … that the criticisms of Meghan Markle are landing within a context and landing within a history of really vicious racism. And so under all this context, Lainey, when we watch a show like this one, what are the avenues of criticism that are available to us, that don't feel like they are retreading that racism that made them leave the royal family in the first place? Lainey: I think that it is fair to criticize Meghan, and Harry too, based on their work. I think what Ellie was referring to is when Meghan Markle guest-edited British Vogue and she wrote an editor's letter. I think what I criticized was her writing. You know, if you're going to write an editorial letter, I think it's fair for me to criticize the writing and what she was trying to say. I didn't care for her writing. I thought it was too flowery, and she did that whole thing where it was too much alliteration…. And so to me, that's a fair criticism, criticizing her writing. So to go back to your question, when is it fair? I mean, it's always going to get lumped in with the unfairness. But I do think it would be fair to criticize this TV show, the way I criticized Harry's show Polo…. So if we're criticizing Meghan's show, then you have to consider it in the context of its library, which is Barefoot Contessa, Martha Stewart, Pamela Anderson. And, is it well produced? Are the recipes and the ideas being presented in a way that's fresh? Is there chemistry between the players? Meghan seems to do better when she's with experts. There's chemistry there because she's presenting herself as a novice, or at least someone who's learning. The chemistry with her friends, if it's not landing for whatever reason with the audience, it must mean that there's something to the way it's filmed, how these friendships are being performed, that doesn't quite capture the viewers' expectation, interest, whatever. I think those are things that are fair to criticize. However, all of that criticism ends up getting into the bigger pot of hate against Meghan, and so it's hard to separate what's true, valid and legitimate criticism.
