Latest news with #Lollipop
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘How much can one person take?': Posy Sterling on her intense portrayal of a mum trapped in custody hell
Each morning before filming Lollipop, Posy Sterling took a giant bucket outside, filled it with ice and climbed in. Never mind that it was November or that her call time was at 5am; the actor would take daily dips in the freezing water in the dark. In Lollipop, Sterling plays a headstrong mother who has recently been released from prison and is fighting to win back her kids. The role is heavy, but the ice baths meant she started the days feeling light. 'I just found it euphoric,' she says. Tickled, her driver started bringing her more ice as part of her ritual. Today, Sterling, 32, is similarly full of beans, buzzing from two coffees and fresh from six weeks in New York. 'I haven't slept,' she says brightly. The actor has been quietly building her profile since Screen International named her one of 2023's Stars of Tomorrow, with performances in the Saoirse Ronan addiction drama The Outrun and Benedict Andrews's buzzy take on The Cherry Orchard at the Donmar Warehouse in London, which has just finished a run off Broadway. We're meeting in an office in north London, where Sterling is excited to talk about her first leading role in a film. 'I share a fire with Molly,' she says of her character in Lollipop. Sterling is breezy and charming, but there is an intensity to the way she speaks. She says she related to Molly's 'refusal to be reduced', despite the difficulties she faces. In the film, Molly lives in a tent while on a waiting list for a one-bedroom flat. It is the only kind of accommodation she can apply for as a single, unmarried woman, but in order to live with both her children, she needs at least two bedrooms. As if things weren't hard enough, Molly has just spent the last four months in prison. According to the Prison Reform Trust, 58% of prison sentences given to women in England and Wales in 2022 were for less than six months. 'And yet the repercussions of what someone like Molly is going through can last a lifetime,' Sterling says. 'Usually they're reacting to the environment they're in,' she adds, listing poverty, addiction and domestic violence as typical contributing factors. 'A different punishment could be served instead of a prison sentence.' She pauses and laughs darkly. 'Or help, maybe?' The film is written and directed by Daisy-May Hudson, who made the 2015 documentary Half Way, about her and her family's experience of homelessness, when she was just 24. Lollipop is Hudson's first fiction film but it is driven by a similar mission: to expose the bureaucracy that punishes people who have fallen through the cracks of society, and to show their joy and resilience. Sterling is electric as Molly, blazing with intelligence and maternal rage. 'What I really like about what Daisy-May chose to do, is that she doesn't ever say why Molly went to prison,' Sterling says. 'That doesn't define a person, and it doesn't tell you anything, actually, about who they are,' though 'it's probably the first thing people would ask'. The film resists offering up Molly's crime as a way of justifying her situation. Instead, Hudson presents a character study of a flawed, fiercely loving woman trying her best to be a 'good' mum. Sterling doesn't have children of her own but, before Lollipop, had already spent time researching pregnancy in prisons for another role. Sweatbox was produced by Clean Break, a celebrated theatre company whose cast and crew are made up of women affected by the criminal justice system. Set entirely in a prison van and following three women as they are transported between prison and court, the play was turned into a short film, which caught the eye of Lollipop's casting director, Lucy Pardee, a regular collaborator of Andrea Arnold. Sterling read the script for Lollipop seven times before her audition, because how prison affects mothers was something she 'cared about already'. In order to build the character of Molly, Sterling had conversations with a woman who had fought to regain custody of her children after they were removed. 'She would tell me viscerally what her body went through when this happened to her, which was something I was able to draw on when playing Molly,' she says. In the film's most devastating scene, the stoic Molly finally crumbles, letting out an animal howl of pain on the floor of a social services building. Sterling tears up when I mention it. 'It felt quite ancestral, to be honest,' she says. 'It's important that you see how something is just affecting someone. How much can one person take?' Sterling was born in Manchester in 1992, and spent her childhood in north London and, later, Market Harborough in Leicestershire. She is one of eight, including stepsiblings. Sterling and her younger siblings were born quite close together but have different accents because of where they grew up. She says she was 'massively protective' of them. 'I was separated from my siblings for a time,' she explains cautiously, and 'was moved around quite a lot growing up'. The experience of being in so many different situations gave her a fascination with people-watching and quietly psychoanalysing behaviour. 'I don't want to say I was naughty,' she says, but at school, the label stuck. 'I was always very passionate,' she adds, two deep dimples emerging. 'But I was quite rebellious.' Performing was an escape while growing up and Sterling, a gifted singer, would put on shows and direct anyone within earshot. She applied to Italia Conti drama school, whose alumni include Lesley Manville and Naomi Campbell. 'Basically I did get in, before Clean Break,' she says. Sterling declines to talk about the circumstances that led her to Clean Break, but explains that 'to be a service user [at the organisation], you do have to tick some boxes' – Clean Break being for women who have either been affected by the criminal justice system or are at risk of offending. In 2015 she joined Clean Break's Young Artists programme, which she describes as 'a second chance for a lot of women'. When Sterling was referred there, she remembers that she didn't want anything to do with acting. 'I felt things deeply and had started to do my healing,' she says, and so the prospect of ploughing her emotions 'felt like that would be too much'. The programme was an opportunity 'to turn pain and experience into something', as well as an instructive lesson that acting is not the same as therapy. 'Sometimes at drama schools, they try to get you to dig and unearth all the worst things in your life, whereas somewhere like Clean Break, they are nurturing you as a person. It's not always about 'How do you get into character?' but 'How do you get out of character?'' Italia Conti 'held my place' and Sterling graduated in 2016. To be an actor, she says, you need life experience – something that nobody can teach. 'But you need to have the skill to approach characters, and to be able to access parts of yourself in a way that isn't going to re-traumatise you.' In Lollipop, Sterling's soulful performance feels authentic, but it is precise and crafted. It impressed her former mentor, Zawe Ashton, who was introduced to Sterling through Clean Break. In an email, Ashton says Lollipop was the first acting work she had seen from Sterling. She said her performance was 'full of primal feeling and nuance' and left her 'truly awestruck … Posy is that electrifying blend of trained technique and raw emotion.' Sterling is also a gifted vocalist and sings in the film. She is 'learning the guitar at the moment' and has been 'jamming the blues' with musicians she met in New York. During an early Clean Break performance, her rendition of a Frank Sinatra number caught the ear of Jane Winehouse, stepmother of Amy, who invited her to participate in the Amy's Yard outreach programme, which supports vulnerable young musicians. Sterling wrote and recorded a song in Winehouse's studio, and met the producer Mark Ronson at a gala 10 years ago. The experience was a turning point that 'connected me to myself again', she says. A few weeks ago in New York, at a performance of The Cherry Orchard, the actor Grace Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep, was in the audience. She was so taken by the play that she brought Ronson, her husband, with her to see it again the following day. Sterling did a double take when she saw him while on stage. 'They were meant to be going to another show, and she traded the tickets in to come back to see it a second time,' says Sterling. It was a full-circle moment, reminding her of just how much has happened during the last decade. Sterling credits Clean Break and the outreach programmes she took part in with instilling self-belief at a time when she had little. 'They really want you to see what they see,' she says. 'Then it feels like there's been a reason for all of this.' Lollipop is in cinemas from 13 June.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Lil Wayne announces ‘Tha Carter VI Tour,' MSG show. Get tickets today
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The self-proclaimed 'best rapper alive' may be dropping bars at a venue near you very soon. Lil Wayne just announced his 'Tha Carter VI Tour' in support of his long-awaited album with the same name, which hits shelves June 6. To kick off the run, Weezy is headlining New York City's Madison Square Garden for the first time in his career. Keeping with the tradition of sixes, this will also go down on 06/06. Advertisement Then, at the end of July, the nationwide 37-concert tour will begin in earnest along with special guests Tyga, NoCap and Belly Gang Kushington on select dates. As of now, the 'Lollipop' rapper has four additional New York and New Jersey concerts lined up. First, he's slated to hit Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, Aug. 2. After that, the New Orleans native drops into Holmdel, NJ's PNC Bank Arts Center on Sunday, Aug. 3, Syracuse's Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 8 and Buffalo's Darien Lake Amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 9. While we don't know exactly what Lil Wayne will bring to the stage at these shows, he did tease that concerts will be 'built on 20+ years of Carter classics' in an Instagram tour announcement post. Advertisement Fans can purchase tickets for all upcoming Lil Wayne shows on sites like Vivid Seats; the official on-sale for the Madison Square Garden concert is Friday, April 25. Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event. Lil Wayne tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below. Advertisement iHeartRadio Music Festival Toward the end of the trek, Weezy F Baby will take part in the annual iHeartRadio Music Festival. He'll be joined by a diverse crop of performers including but not limited to GloRilla, Jelly Roll, Mariah Carey, LL Cool J and Tim McGraw. If you'd like to attend, single and multi-day iHeartRadio Music Festival passes can be scooped up here. Lil Wayne set list Advertisement On Feb. 28, Lil Wayne headlined at St. Louis' Enterprise Center. Based on our findings at Set List FM, here's what he took to the stage that evening. 01.) 'I'm Goin' In' (Drake cover) 02.) 'Let the Beat Build' 03.) 'John' 04.) 'Uproar' 05.) 'Fireman' 06.) 'Money on My Mind' 07.) 'Tha Mobb' 08.) 'Blunt Blowin'' 09.) 'Rich as F—' 10.) 'Hustler Musik' 11.) 'Love Me' 12.) 'Lollipop' 13.) 'HYFR (Hell Ya F—ing Right)' (Drake cover) 14.) 'Mrs. Officer' 15.) 'She Will' 16.) 'Shoes' 17.) 'Ride for My N—-s (Sky Is the Limit)' 18.) 'YM Wasted' 19.) 'Tunechi Rollin'' 20.) 'We On Fire' (Hot Boy$ song) (with Juvenile) 21.) '400 Degreez' (Juvenile cover) (with Juvenile) 22.) 'Rich N—-z' (Juvenile cover) (with Juvenile) 23.) 'Project B—-' (Big Tymers cover) (with Big Tymers) 24.) 'Neighborhood Superstar' (Hot Boy$ song) (with Hot Boy$) 25.) 'Ridin' (Hot Boy$ song) (with Hot Boy$) 26.) 'I Need a Hot Girl' (Hot Boy$ song) (with Hot Boy$) 27.) 'Bling Bling' (B.G. cover) (with B.G.) 28.) 'Back That Azz Up' (Juvenile cover) (with Juvenile) 29.) 'Steady Mobbin'' (Young Money song) 30.) 'A Milli' Lil Wayne new music Although no single for the album has been released as of yet, the legendary rapper dropped four singles this year. There's the hypnotic 'Pop It Off' with Tyga (you have to wait until the 1:50 mark to hear Wayne), anthemic 'Tweaker' alongside GELO (once again, Weezy drops in around two minutes in), the smooth 'This Is Why' where he features for Tucker Nichol and emphatic 'Baby Mad At Me' collab with That Mexican OT. Want to dig further into the archives? You can find Lil Wayne's expansive discography in full here. Lil Wayne special guests At most shows, Weezy will be joined by a special guest or two. To get you up to speed on their sounds, here's each artist's most-streamed song on Spotify. Tyga: 'Taste' Advertisement NoCap: 'Ghetto Angels' Belly Gang Kushington: 'Same Day' Hip-Hop stars on tour in 2025 Rap is officially in season. Many of the biggest names in the game are hitting the road these next few months. To make sure you're in the loop, here are just five of our favorites you won't want to miss live these next few months. Advertisement • Wu-Tang Clan • NBA Youngboy • Ice Cube • Tyler, The Creator Advertisement • Cypress Hill with Atmosphere Who else is out and about? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
No more Ee Saala Cup Lollipop: Allu Arjun's son's funny video after RCB's IPL win
Allu Arjun's son, Allu Ayaan, one of the loyal fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), was emotional after the team lifted the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 years. The 11-year-old poured a bottle of water on his head, expressed his love for Virat Kohli and was overjoyed after his favourite team another video, Ayaan heaved a sigh of relief when he realised that he cannot say 'Ee Saala Cup Lollipop' any more. 'Ee Saala Cup Namde' is a chant that RCB fans have been saying for years. The 'Lollipop' version was used against RCB when the franchise failed to win a cup in 18 'Pushpa' actor shared a video of his son's uncontrollable excitement and said, "Your face is glowing." Ayaan replied, saying, "I love Kohli. I like Kohli so much. I got into cricket because of him." The young one can be seen lying on the floor, pouring water on his head, and screaming, "Finally, 18 years." Allu Arjun couldn't stop laughing seeing his son's antics on RCB's win. "Ayaan getting super emotional. #viratkohli fan boy moment. Soo cute my chinni babu #alluayaan #rcb #ipl2025 (sic)," he posted as he shared the funny the video: In another video, Ayaan said, "Finally I cannot say Ee Saala Cup Lollipop," which left Allu Arjun in the video: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in the finals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Virat Kohli, who played for the franchise for 18 years, was extremely emotional and in tears after the phenomenal Kohli ran to Anushka Sharma and hugged her, while sharing the joy with her. Many celebrities wished RCB as they lifted the Watch
ITV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Lollipop: A 'timely' film about the realities of the social care system
A decade ago Daisy-May Hudson picked up her camera and started documenting her family's life. She, her mother and her 13-year-old sister had just lost their home. Priced out of the rental market, they were living in hostels and halfway houses while they fought layers of bureaucracy to try and get rehoused. The resulting documentary, Half Way, announced the arrival of a major new filmmaking talent as well as showing the frustrations, tears and helplessness of people in her family's position. Awarded the BAFTA Breakthrough accolade, she has now made her first feature film Lollipop, which deals with a mother fighting to regain custody of her children after they are taken into care while she is in prison. The feelings of powerlessness she encountered amongst single mothers during screenings of Half Way, helped inform Hudson's decision to make a feature film, using people who had real life experience of the issues. From women she met during the making of Holloway, her documentary about former inmates of Holloway women's prison, to a script supervisor who herself lost her son into the care system just days after he was born, Lollipop is an emotional and powerful study of the realities of mothers separated from their children, while offering no judgement of the parties involved. For Hudson and script supervisor Emilia Rose Porter, Lollipop presents the system as it is, and asks if this is what the viewer thinks it should be be. Porter uses her experience to help those working in the social care industries, sharing the story of how a difficult private life and mental health issues meant she had to fight to get her son back and turn her life around. She succeeded, and is grateful to Hudson for giving people like her visibility, she says. With increasing awareness of the negative impact on children caused by maternal imprisonment, Lollipop is timely. Now the film is about to get a lot more visibility. Next week it is being released in UK cinemas.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lil Wayne will bring 'Tha Carter VI' tour to Target Center
Lil Wayne will bring 'Tha Carter VI' tour to Target Center originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Lil Wayne has somehow been churning out albums in his Tha Carter series for more than two decades, and that will continue this week with the arrival of Tha Carter VI on Friday. The record will be accompanied by a North American tour that has the "Lollipop" rapper dropping into the Target Center in Minneapolis on Aug. 20 – the night before the start of the Minnesota State Fair, and just in time for him to grab some Mouth Trap cheese curds on his way out of town. Tha Carter VI Tour is promising to spill "20+ years of Carter Classics" with support from Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington. That 34-city tour will kick off with an album release show at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday. Then, Lil Wayne, who received a last-minute pardon on a federal weapons charge from President Donald Trump during his first term, will really get the tour underway with regular dates beginning on July 30. Tickets for Lil Wayne go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on June 6. However, fans can sign up for presale access at Lil Wayne's website. Fans will be hoping the artist makes it to Minnesota, with the rapper canceling previous metro shows on three occasions: twice in 2017 due to scheduling conflicts and then plane issues, and once in 2015 due to an issue with his entourage at Myth story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
