Latest news with #JJAbams
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Who is Gracie Abrams' mother, Katie McGrath? She once worked for RFK Jr's uncle, was a ‘proud mum' when her daughter supported Taylor Swift, and runs a film company with her husband, J.J. Abrams
Gracie Abrams is on the rise. The musician has been on tour for her The Secret of Us album, and last year, Abrams joined Taylor Swift for the last leg of her Eras tour, which concluded in December after an epic two-year run. Abrams also opened for the 'Anti-Hero' singer during several of her 2023 shows too. More recently, she's been supporting her boyfriend Paul Mescal at the Cannes Film Festival; the pair wore matching black outfits, though they did not pose for photographs together. 'The bar is very high in my relationships,' she told Cosmopolitan in February. 'It's not appealing to me to not feel settled and seen, so I don't date people who make me feel like that. I would rather be single for the rest of my life than feel uneasy in a relationship.' Advertisement But Gracie Abrams ' trajectory has long been plagued by nepo baby allegations: her father is filmmaker J.J. Abrams and her mother is producer Katie McGrath. 'Obviously we can't control where we are born into, and there are a million visible and even more invisible advantages to having family members who are in any entertainment industry,' the singer told Rolling Stone. 'I know how hard I work, and I know how separate I've kept [my parents] from every conversation about anything careerwise, but of course you can understand what it looks like from the outside.' You might recognise J.J. Abrams for his work on Star Wars and Lost, but who is Katie McGrath, who was a 'proud mum' watching her daughter perform at one of Swift's shows? She was in politics Katie McGrath (right), mother of Gracie Abrams (left), once worked for RFK Jr's uncle, Ted Kennedy. Photo: @ktmcgrath/Instagram Katie McGrath had a prolific career in politics before turning to public relations and production. Per People, she started off in Washington as Senator Ted Kennedy's legislative aide before taking on a directorial role at MTV Networks. Along the way, she also founded her own political media company, First Tuesday Media. She now works with her husband Katie McGrath and her husband J.J. Abrams. Photo: @ktmcgrath/Instagram McGrath and Abrams have been married for 28 years and share three children, Henry, Gracie and August. McGrath, alongside her husband, is co-CEO of Bad Robot Productions, the production house behind several Star Trek films and mega-hit shows including Lost, Person of Interest and Westworld.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE: Camille Guaty spills the skincare secrets that saved her during her fertility battle - plus her screen comeback and embracing her power as a female force
From Disney Channel to Duster — Camille Guaty is a force to be reckoned with. The decorated actress has been in the entertainment biz for over two decades, with one of her first notable roles being on Disney Channel's show Gotta Kick It Up back in 2002. Now, she is embarking on a groundbreaking adventure with her role as Izzy Reyna in J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan's new HBO Max show Duster, which officially premiered on May 15th, 2025. Duster is a historical fiction action-packed show that follows the first African American female FBI agent who creates an unexpected partnership with a mob getaway driver during the 70s. Guaty's character Izzy plays a pivotal role throughout the series and is known for her grit and determination. 'I remember the chemistry read with J.J. Abrams so well... It's the end scene for Josh and I, and he starts crying, and I start crying, and J.J. goes like, cut, print, put that up on TV right now,' said Guaty. Guaty steps into this new role with a unique perspective as a mother and longtime actress who has grown up in what is considered a male-dominated industry and fought for women's voices. 'To see my character who is a truck driver... You know, she is a single mother. And to see what she has gone through — and that she uses her voice, such a small voice, but that small voice made such a big change. And I think it is so important to see these types of characters on television.' Asides from appearing on screen, Guaty has spent many years of her career using her platform to speak out on subjects that directly affect women, especially infertility, after suffering through it herself. A big point of mention was how her skin underwent significant hurdles during long IVF attempts and what she did to combat it during her on-camera career. 'It wasn't until I started doing IVF that I was like, wow, what's happening with my skin? What's happening with my face?' said Guaty. But the Nashville based actress has spent years finding ways to persevere, and taking care of her skin through ' active ingredients ' has been her secret to success. Guaty turns to three staple brands for all her beauty: Skinbetter, Biopelle, and NEQI. 'I have a few products that I absolutely love... This is a vitamin C serum that has more than just the serum. I know vitamin C is everywhere, but this one in particular has a whole bunch of other yummy goodness in it!,' said Guaty while sharing her love for luxe brand Skinbetter. Skinbetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum 'I know vitamin C is everywhere, but this one in particular has a whole bunch of other yummy goodness in it.' Guaty can not get enough of this serum that is packed with nourishing ingredients, including Vitamin C and E. Whether you are fighting hyperpigmentation (like Guaty) or just looking for healthier, brighter skin — this serum has got you. $97.90 Shop During her journey to motherhood, Guaty found herself fighting hyperpigmentation, and it was this sneaky snail mucin serum that she swore by to combat it, 'This snail serum growth factor... I am telling you this right here is like five facials in this tiny little bottle. It's amazing.' Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 Snail Mucin has been taking the world by storm and it seems Camille Guaty as well! 'So I know, like, everyone's all into the snail stuff, but I'm telling you this right here is like five facials in this tiny little bottle!' These powerful, luxury serum capsules pack a punch with intense hydration and science backed brightening. $195 The Duster actress also noted that there is one Target hair brand that has become her recent obsession for her curly locks, and shockingly their products are less than $15. 'So, it is target prices... but it works like it is a $50 product,' said Guaty. She also noted that despite her love for the finer things, she'd be remiss not to mention that she thinks her character Izzy Reyna would be much simpler, resorting to just two products — lemon and Vaseline. NEQI Diamond Glass Styling Spray All Hair 'This is from Target... it looks really expensive and it smells really expensive.' You can shop a handful of NEQI products directly online and in stores at Target! This spray according to Guaty holds frizz back and gives effortless volume for hours on end. $14.69 Shop Whether she is shopping for skincare or starring in the hottest new television series, Guaty is committed to not just entertaining people, but creating a better and brighter future for women like herself. In the words of Camille Guaty, 'It just takes one person, and then you speak to another person, and you speak to another person, and you start your own coalition... and you can make things happen. You can make a change.'
CNET
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
'Duster': When to Watch Episode 2 of the Throwback Grindhouse Series
Josh Holloway is back in the driver's seat, and his newest TV outing is a perfect fit. Duster is the series in question; It's an action-filled drama that takes place in the early '70s in Arizona, where Jim Ellis (Holloway), a rough-and-tumble driver for a growing crime syndicate, finds himself unexpectedly partnered up a tenacious FBI newbie named Nina (Rachel Hilson) -- a woman dead-set on bringing said crime family to justice. This high-octane thrill ride hails from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, who found the right vehicle for the Lost alum to settle into. Rounding out the cast are Keith David (as crime boss Ezra Saxton), Sydney Elisabeth (as Genesis), Greg Grunberg (as FBI boss Abbott), Camille Guaty (as Jim's ex, Izzy), Asivak Koostachin (as Awan), Adriana Aluna Martinez (as Luna) and Benjamin Charles Watson (as Royce). Scroll on to find out more details about streaming Duster and information about how using a VPN may help. Read more: Max Streaming Service Review: Loads of Content, but You Have to Make It Fit You Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson star as Jim and Nina in Duster on Max. Ursula Coyote/Max Where and when you can watch 'Duster' The second episode of Duster will drop on Thursday, May 22, at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT on Max. The eight-episode season will air new episodes weekly until the finale, which will drop on Thursday, July 3. James Martin/CNET Max The Home of Duster If you want to get behind the wheel of Duster, the key you'll need is a subscription to Max. You can choose the with ads tier, which costs $10 per month, or the ad-free option, which is $17 per month. Want to watch in 4K? The Ultimate plan offers that feature and costs $21 per month. There's also the Hulu, Disney Plus and Max megabundle. The ad-based bundle comes with a $17 monthly price tag, while the ad-free version is $30 a month. See at Max How to watch 'Duster' with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN usage to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
Gizmodo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Brie Larson and J.J. Abrams Are Teaming Up for a Creature Feature
How's this for a mega team-up? Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson, will star in a new, horror movie produced by J.J. Abrams, written by Brian Duffield and directed by J.T. Mollner. It's called Fail-Safe and it's based on a short story by Philip Fracassi about a young boy whose father spends a large amount of time making sure his mother doesn't kill everyone, because she turns into a monster. 'With Fail-Safe, Brian Duffield has written an absolute powerhouse of a script. It's a horror film that is as sweet and moving as it is terrifying,' Abrams said in a statement given to Deadline. 'To have J.T. Mollner in the director's chair — his Strange Darling blew me away — is a dream come true. Finally, having the limitlessly talented Brie Larson as our star sets up Fail-Safe to be that rare horror film that makes you laugh, feel, and care, before taking you on an absolutely wild ride.' The film is currently being shopped on the market at the Cannes Film Festival, so expect some distributor to pick it up and help it get made, especially with that level of talent behind it. Larson and Abrams kind of speak for themselves. One is the Oscar-winning darling who turned an incredible, low-key career starring in incredible movies like Short Term 12 and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World into a superheroic one, with her role as Captain Marvel and more. Abrams is the only person to ever direct a Star Trek and a Star Wars movie and has helped create some of the most beloved TV shows of a generation, like Lost, Alias and Felicity. Those two together are awesome on their own but really it's Mollner and Duffield that bring this together. Mollner has only directed two features but his most recent one, Strange Darling, was a genre festival darling, gaining praise and shock at each and every screening that took place. Duffield recently wrote and directed No One Will Save You, the stellar sci-fi starring Kaitlyn Dever, and previously directed the hilarious and over the top, Spontaneous. They are some of our best talents in the genre space and, to have them under the wing of J.J. Abrams, with Larson at the heart of this very intriguing movie, is awesome. You can read 'Fail-Safe' by Philip Fracassi, in full, at this link. It's a short story so expect the movie to be slightly expanded but, you'll get the idea. This could be awesome.
The National
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Mission: Impossible ranked from worst to best – how does Final Reckoning stack up?
There's no bad Mission: Impossible ranking. In part, that's because there's no bad Mission: Impossible film. Which one you pick as your favourite depends on which ingredient you value highest. Want character development and emotionality? Watch Ethan Hunt become a desperate husband trying to save the woman he loves in Mission: Impossible 3. Want awe-inspiring thrills? See him scale Dubai's Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Beautiful images? Director John Woo's Mission: Impossible 2 is for you. Want shocking twists and turns? Throw on the first one. Since that initial instalment made its debut in 1996, producer/star Tom Cruise has willed his big-screen adaptation of a '60s TV show into a body of work that has justifiably come to define him as both an actor and a man. And in an era in which classic big-screen action filmmaking increasingly like a relic of another era, the Mission: Impossible films are a haven for those who still chase the surprise and delight that can only be found in the shared theatrical experience. With the release of the latest and possibly final instalment coming to cinemas on May 21 across the Middle East, here's how alll films – including Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning – stack up. It's hard to place any of these films at the bottom. And Mission: Impossible 3, directed by JJ Abrams, lands here despite boasting the best villain in the series (played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the most emotions. It turns Ethan from a hero largely without a singular identity into a loving husband pulled back into a deadly world against his will – who will stop at nothing to keep his wife safe. The Keri Russell cameo sequence is the best thing to be found here, and her final line is the most haunting in the entire franchise. While Tom Cruise dangling inches above a white floor in the first film will remain the definitive image of the series, no image will define Cruise's own legacy more than him hanging atop the Burj Khalifa in the fourth instalment . But while the action in Ghost Protocol, directed by Brad Bird, is often gorgeous, jaw-dropping and balletic, it's also the thinnest, least affecting story in the franchise. And because it almost completely lacks emotion, it loses nearly all momentum after the still-thrilling UAE sequence. If this is indeed the end, it's a worthy one. The action is the most tense Cruise and company have produced to date, and it's surprisingly emotional. Here, Cruise has pushed both the form and themselves to their absolute limits. But it's bogged down by too much exposition, particularly in the first hour, to pass its predecessors. There are two main reasons why the excellent Dead Reckoning was so disappointing for so many, despite boasting so many strengths. One is that Fallout was an impossible act to follow. But more importantly, its marketing campaign, centred around a behind-the-scenes featurette, spent too much time showing audiences the central stunt that was supposedly the reason for buying a ticket. Finally seeing it in context later felt like something of an afterthought. But revisit it, and you'll find it's not only full of the franchise's trademark thrills, it's also the funniest film they've made to date. After Brian De Palma, Cruise had trouble finding a director who could capture all aspects that a masterful Mission film requires. Abrams could tell a tale on the page but wasn't capable enough as a visual storyteller. Brad Bird increased the scale of the action, but the story fell flat. Christopher McQuarrie, meanwhile, put it all together in the most cohesive film since the first. It's no wonder Cruise has kept him connected at the hip ever since. Revisiting the entire franchise in preparation for Final Reckoning, I was ready to hate Mission: Impossible 2. As a kid, it was the coolest movie I'd ever seen, but over the years I'd accepted the opinion that it had aged poorly, and now sat as a cheesy blight on the franchise. What a delight to discover that, despite a plodding first half and painful villain, the second hour is transcendent, and includes some of the best purely visual storytelling in the history of action filmmaking, let alone this franchise. John Woo may have made this his own too much for the franchise's own good, but on its own, it's a gem. The first film the series does more than just lay the groundwork for what is to come. On its own, it's among the best spy thrillers ever made, thanks to a cracking and twisty script and De Palma working at the top of his game. Even nearly 30 years on, it's still endlessly rewatchable and each time better than you remembered it being. For the sheer breadth and scale of what this series can achieve, there is no better example than Fallout. It's a flawlessly constructed film, featuring seemingly unstoppable momentum that builds to a breathtaking crescendo. The only film that comes close to its heights is Cruise's own Top Gun: Maverick.
