Latest news with #Lucius
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MAFS star Michael Brunelli shares raw confession as he admits the toll fatherhood has taken on him after welcoming son with Martha Kalifatidis
Michael Brunelli has shared an emotional update with fans, opening up about the personal toll that parenthood and pressure have taken on his mental and physical well-being. The former MAFS groom turned influencer, who rose to fame on Season 6 of the hit dating show, revealed in a raw Instagram post that despite loving life as a dad to two-year-old son Lucius, he no longer recognises the person he's become. 'As cliché as it sounds, I looked in the mirror today and barely recognised the guy looking back,' the 33-year-old began in his vulnerable message, adding, 'Not because there's anything seriously wrong with me, but I finally accepted that I'm not where I should be… physically and mentally.' Michael, who found lasting love with fiancée Martha Kalifatidis on the show, admitted that he's been stuck in survival mode and has neglected his own health and happiness while focusing on being a parent. 'My gym bag has dust on it, the veggies in the fridge are untouched, and the steps haven't cracked 10,000 in months,' he said. 'It's like I'm physically here, but in a thousand other places mentally.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. While he's struggling behind the scenes, Michael made it clear that fatherhood remains his proudest role. 'Being a dad is a massive part of my purpose,' he said. 'But somewhere in the life noise, the pressure, the lack of sleep, the negative thoughts… I stopped being much else.' The former PE teacher said a scroll through his old photos reminded him of the man he used to be – someone 'clear, focused and driven'. 'I miss that version of me,' he confessed. 'Not for how I looked, but for how I felt.' Now, Michael says he's ready to start again. 'This is a wakeup call,' he wrote. 'To start living healthier again. To find my passion again. To keep moving forward again. Because Looch and Martha deserve the best of me, and so do I.' The post quickly struck a chord online, with fans and fellow reality stars praising Michael's honesty and relating to his experience. 'I feel this on a daily basis,' fellow MAFS dad Jack Millar commented. 'As cliché as it sounds, I looked in the mirror today and barely recognised the guy looking back,' the 33-year-old began in his vulnerable message, adding, 'Not because there's anything seriously wrong with me, but I finally accepted that I'm not where I should be… physically and mentally' 'Totally understand, my man. Make sure you give yourself credit for all the things you do do also!' Michael ended his message with a rallying cry to others feeling similarly stuck: 'Whether you've got kids or not, it's so easy to lose yourself when life doesn't give you a second to stop and think. Just know it's never too late to make a change.' Martha and Michael met and fell in love during the sixth season of MAFS in 2019 and they welcomed their first child Lucius in February 2023. They have been frequent attendees at Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrations with Martha stepping out, with mum Mary, to the 2022 Melbourne Cup while pregnant with Lucius. The following year, both Martha and Michael flaunted their sartorial style at the G.H Mumm Derby Day party. Martha recently hit back at online trolls who accused her of sponging off her parents. Martha, Michael, and Lucius currently live with Martha's parents Mary and Theo in their Melbourne home. The reality star took to Instagram in September to answer a rather loaded question from one fan, pulling no punches in her response. 'Why don't you and Michael pay your own way like the rest of the world?' they asked, referring to the young family's current living situation. Martha rejected the claim that she was sponging off her parents, saying the decision to live with Theo and Mary was not financially motivated. 'Our living arrangement has nothing to do with money,' she wrote. 'The sad thing is you probably believe we live with my parents to capitalise off of the situation. That is the furthest [thing] from the truth.' She added that her young family's current living situation was beneficial to all involved. 'In reality, we mutually enjoy it,' she said.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The queens of collaboration in Lucius are finding themselves again musically
NEW YORK — The magic created by the vocal blend of Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, collectively known as Lucius, has opened many doors for them in the music industry. Sometimes quite literally — like when they arrived at the home of Joni Mitchell, invited by Brandi Carlile to sing at one of her 'Joni Jams,' and Paul McCartney answered their knock.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The queens of collaboration in Lucius are finding themselves again musically
The magic created by the vocal blend of Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, collectively known as Lucius, has opened many doors for them in the music industry. Sometimes quite literally — like when they arrived at the home of Joni Mitchell, invited by Brandi Carlile to sing at one of her 'Joni Jams,' and Paul McCartney answered their knock. It's a heady experience, singing at Mitchell's house. Tipped in advance that McCartney might be there, Laessig and Wolfe rehearsed a version of 'Goodbye,' a song he wrote that was a hit for Mary Hopkin in 1969. They sensed the moment he recognized it — hey, that's my song! The women have collaborated with many artists through the years, among them Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Harry Styles, Roger Waters, Jeff Tweedy, the Killers, War on Drugs and Mumford & Sons. This year, they're concentrating on their own music with Lucius, a rock band that also includes Dan Molad and Peter Lalish. They've released a self-produced disc that reflects their experiences settling in Los Angeles and starting families, titling it simply 'Lucius' even though it's their fourth album. An album that felt like coming home 'It felt like a coming home to ourselves,' Wolfe said. 'There wasn't really a question, actually, whether the record would be titled something else. It just felt like it was us, and let's give it our name.' Laessig and Wolfe met and quickly bonded two decades ago as students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. They first sang together as part of a school project to remake the Beatles' White Album — their version of 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' will never see the light of day — that was abandoned because they began writing their own music. 'We were always inspired by Phil Spector and Elliot Smith and people who used double vocals as an interesting textural thing,' Wolfe said. 'And we thought, well, we could actually do this live. We both wanted to be lead singers, but together.' 'Unison singing,' notes Laessig, 'is not for the faint of heart.' Check out the heartbreaker ' The Man I'll Never Find' — particularly the stripped-down, piano-led version — for a spellbinding example of their work. Many have wrongly assumed they were sisters. They look a little alike, and play up this image of two who have become one by frequently dressing alike onstage. Even offstage: they arrived at The Associated Press for an interview in nearly matching, all-red outfits with identical makeup. They are disciplined in alternating who answers questions. It can be, let's be honest here, a little creepy. 'We're dressing the sound,' Wolfe explained. 'I grew up in the theater. Being able to escape and feeling like, you know, you can put on your costume, put on your uniform and become something else for a moment in time. Even though it feels honest and real and close to the heart, there's something magical about it.' 'When you look at us, we wanted you to see one,' she said. 'We didn't want you to see two.' The gimmick served them well as they sought to make a name for themselves, Laessig said. 'We were touring in the van and doing festivals and nobody had a clue who we were, but we walked around in matching outfits. People were like, 'What is this about?' Oh, come see us. We're playing at this stage at 3 p.m.' Their collaborative nature is a strength they have brought to working on projects with other musicians. 'People who bring us in know that they're going to have something that's solid between the two of us,' she said. 'We just speak each other's language. And we like building worlds within worlds. Luckily we've been given the freedom in all of these different projects to be us.' Sharing looks, sharing styles and now, sharing a nanny Real life brings its parallels, too. They live in homes minutes from each other and, within the past year or so, both gave birth to babies. Collaborating with others has its strengths, and Lucius brought in Madison Cunningham and The War on Drugs to work with them on two songs on the new album. But becoming known for their work with others comes with a risk attached, that they lose sight of themselves in the process. 'We like exploring different worlds and seeing how it takes shape and how we can get lost in it,' Wolfe said. 'There's something really enchanting and magical about that. And, yes, sometimes after you explore that world, it doesn't necessarily feel like you.' To that end, the 'Lucius' album is in one sense a reaction against the dance-oriented production hand that Carlile and Dave Cobb brought for the 2022 album 'Second Nature.' The more rock-based new disc sounds like the musicians are more comfortable. It 'feels honest and real because we wrote about things that were just happening in our lives,' Wolfe said. They're looking forward to a busy summer of playing that music on tour, and sharing the experience with their young families. 'We get to do it together and see the world together and our kids are going to know different places and cultures and foods and things, more than I had as a kid,' Wolfe said. 'As tough as it can be with the nap times and sleep schedules, it's a beautiful thing.' ___
Associated Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
The queens of collaboration in Lucius are finding themselves again musically
NEW YORK (AP) — The magic created by the vocal blend of Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, collectively known as Lucius, has opened many doors for them in the music industry. Sometimes quite literally — like when they arrived at the home of Joni Mitchell, invited by Brandi Carlile to sing at one of her 'Joni Jams,' and Paul McCartney answered their knock. It's a heady experience, singing at Mitchell's house. Tipped in advance that McCartney might be there, Laessig and Wolfe rehearsed a version of 'Goodbye,' a song he wrote that was a hit for Mary Hopkin in 1969. They sensed the moment he recognized it — hey, that's my song! The women have collaborated with many artists through the years, among them Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Harry Styles, Roger Waters, Jeff Tweedy, the Killers, War on Drugs and Mumford & Sons. This year, they're concentrating on their own music with Lucius, a rock band that also includes Dan Molad and Peter Lalish. They've released a self-produced disc that reflects their experiences settling in Los Angeles and starting families, titling it simply 'Lucius' even though it's their fourth album. An album that felt like coming home 'It felt like a coming home to ourselves,' Wolfe said. 'There wasn't really a question, actually, whether the record would be titled something else. It just felt like it was us, and let's give it our name.' Laessig and Wolfe met and quickly bonded two decades ago as students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. They first sang together as part of a school project to remake the Beatles' White Album — their version of 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' will never see the light of day — that was abandoned because they began writing their own music. 'We were always inspired by Phil Spector and Elliot Smith and people who used double vocals as an interesting textural thing,' Wolfe said. 'And we thought, well, we could actually do this live. We both wanted to be lead singers, but together.' 'Unison singing,' notes Laessig, 'is not for the faint of heart.' Check out the heartbreaker ' The Man I'll Never Find' — particularly the stripped-down, piano-led version — for a spellbinding example of their work. Many have wrongly assumed they were sisters. They look a little alike, and play up this image of two who have become one by frequently dressing alike onstage. Even offstage: they arrived at The Associated Press for an interview in nearly matching, all-red outfits with identical makeup. They are disciplined in alternating who answers questions. It can be, let's be honest here, a little creepy. 'We're dressing the sound,' Wolfe explained. 'I grew up in the theater. Being able to escape and feeling like, you know, you can put on your costume, put on your uniform and become something else for a moment in time. Even though it feels honest and real and close to the heart, there's something magical about it.' 'When you look at us, we wanted you to see one,' she said. 'We didn't want you to see two.' The gimmick served them well as they sought to make a name for themselves, Laessig said. 'We were touring in the van and doing festivals and nobody had a clue who we were, but we walked around in matching outfits. People were like, 'What is this about?' Oh, come see us. We're playing at this stage at 3 p.m.' Their collaborative nature is a strength they have brought to working on projects with other musicians. 'People who bring us in know that they're going to have something that's solid between the two of us,' she said. 'We just speak each other's language. And we like building worlds within worlds. Luckily we've been given the freedom in all of these different projects to be us.' Sharing looks, sharing styles and now, sharing a nanny Real life brings its parallels, too. They live in homes minutes from each other and, within the past year or so, both gave birth to babies. Collaborating with others has its strengths, and Lucius brought in Madison Cunningham and The War on Drugs to work with them on two songs on the new album. But becoming known for their work with others comes with a risk attached, that they lose sight of themselves in the process. 'We like exploring different worlds and seeing how it takes shape and how we can get lost in it,' Wolfe said. 'There's something really enchanting and magical about that. And, yes, sometimes after you explore that world, it doesn't necessarily feel like you.' To that end, the 'Lucius' album is in one sense a reaction against the dance-oriented production hand that Carlile and Dave Cobb brought for the 2022 album 'Second Nature.' The more rock-based new disc sounds like the musicians are more comfortable. It 'feels honest and real because we wrote about things that were just happening in our lives,' Wolfe said. They're looking forward to a busy summer of playing that music on tour, and sharing the experience with their young families. 'We get to do it together and see the world together and our kids are going to know different places and cultures and foods and things, more than I had as a kid,' Wolfe said. 'As tough as it can be with the nap times and sleep schedules, it's a beautiful thing.' ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘Five-star epic' sequel to beloved action movie now streaming
One of the biggest blockbusters of last year is finally available to stream at no extra cost for Paramount+ subscribers Paramount+ is finally home to one of the biggest movies of the 2020s that left action movie fans with their jaws on the floor. Debuting in cinemas in November last year, this epic historical action film served as a long-awaited sequel to a modern classic set 16 years after the events of the original. It blew audiences away, earning an impressive $462 million at the global box office and even picking up a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Golden Globes for an A-list member of the cast. You can now stream it at home exclusively on Paramount+, so if you're already a subscriber to the service you won't have to pay a single extra penny to immerse yourself in this stunning spectacle. We're, of course, referring to Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott at his best and starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe's iconic Maximus Decimus Meridius. Sent away from Rome after the death of his father, Lucius is a soldier in Numidia living happily with his wife when General Acacius (played by Pedro Pascal) invades and takes him prisoner. Like his father before him, Lucius is sold into slavery and forced to do battle in the legendary Colosseum under the mentorship of Macrinus (Globes nominee Denzel Washington), a former slave who aims to take Rome for himself. Although Gladiator II received some mixed reviews from critics, picking up a 70 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, many fans of the original were thrilled by this nostalgic return, its 82 percent audience score on RT indicating most moviegoers loved the film. One Google review reads: 'Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching Gladiator 2, and it was a beautifully nostalgic experience that exceeded my expectations. 'The film pays respectful homage to the original while introducing fresh elements that remain true to its tone. It is grand, elegant, sophisticated, and noble - ultimately delivering a deeply satisfying cinematic experience.' Someone else called it 'A Five-Star Epic That Honors the Legacy' in their write up. They paid extra attention to Washington's barnstorming performance, adding: 'Denzel Washington's commanding presence elevates the film to new heights. His performance is nothing short of extraordinary, adding gravitas and a magnetic intensity to every scene.' Another five-star review said: 'Gladiator II is a breathtaking sequel that not only pays homage to its predecessor but also carves out its own legendary path in cinematic history. 'Directed by the visionary Ridley Scott, this film transcends the expectations set by the original and delivers an experience that is both emotionally resonant and visually stunning.' The film also has plenty of die-hard fans on the film social media platform Letterboxd, with one enthusiast writing: 'I'm in complete awe at what I've just watched, a masterpiece of cinematic storytelling. 'It's always such a true honour to witness a Sir Ridley Scott film on the big screen, you are always certain to be entertained through his pioneering work of modern cinema. 'The action sequences are brutal as we venture and return into the heart pounding, glorious and regimented Roman colosseum. This for sure lives up to the legacy of the predecessor.' And a final fan gushed: 'Couldn't think of a better thing to do than stare at a sweaty bloody Paul Mescal for two and a half hours, my time is well spent.' Is a trip to Ancient Rome on the cards this week? Gladiator II is available to stream on Paramount+.
