Latest news with #MataHari
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Famous birthdays for Aug. 7: Charlize Theron, Jalen Hurts
Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: -- Hungarian countess/serial killer Elizabeth Bathory in 1560 -- World War I spy/ courtesan Mata Hari, born Margaret Gertrude Zelle, in 1876 -- Diplomat/Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche in 1904 -- Actor Carl Switzer in 1927 -- Humorist Garrison Keillor in 1942 (age 83) -- Actor Tobin Bell in 1942 (age 83) -- Former FBI Director Robert Mueller in 1944 (age 81) -- Actor David Rasche in 1944 (age 81) -- Minnesota Supreme Court Justice/Football Hall of Fame member Alan Page in 1945 (age 80) -- Actor Caroline Aaron in 1952 (age 73) -- Actor Wayne Knight in 1955 (age 70) -- Musician Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) in 1958 (age 67) -- Actor David Duchovny in 1960 (age 65) -- Musician Jacquie O'Sullivan (Bananarama) in 1960 (age 65) -- Actor Maggie Wheeler in 1961 (64) -- Actor Harold Perrineau in 1963 (age 62) -- Actor David Mann in 1966 (age 59) -- Actor Michael Shannon in 1974 (age 51) -- Actor Charlize Theron in 1975 (age 50) -- DJ Samantha Ronson in 1977 (age 48) -- Actor Eric Johnson in 1979 (age 46) -- Actor Abbie Cornish in 1982 (age 43) -- NHL player Sidney Crosby in 1987 (age 38) -- MLB player Mike Trout in 1991 (age 34) -- Actor Brett Gray in 1996 (age 29) -- Actor Liam James in 1996 (age 29) -- NFL player Jalen Hurts in 1998 (age 27) Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
MI6 gets first female chief: The real-life female intelligence agents who mastered the art of espionage
This is where the reel merges into reality. MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), the foreign intelligence agency of the United Kingdom, is all set to get its first female chief – Blaise Metreweli – nearly three decades after Dame Judi Dench landed the role of 'M' in the 007 movies. Metrewel, who is to become MI6's 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security. She steps into her new role in the autumn, having joined the intelligence services as a case officer in 1999 – four years after the top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films (from 1995). However, as per the service tradition, the new chief Metrewel will be using the title 'C'. Although it took over a century for MI6 to appoint their own very own 'M', three decades later than the reel version won over the worldwide audience, women have made significant contributions to intelligence and espionage throughout history. Take a look. Virginia Hall An American who became one of the most distinguished spies of World War II. Despite having a wooden prosthetic leg, she served as a field agent for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), organizing sabotage missions and aiding in the escape of Allied soldiers. She was the only female civilian to receive the Distinguished Service Cross during the war. Mata Hari Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The idea of a beautiful, exotic dancer using her powers of seduction as a spy made her name synonymous with the femme fatale. She was executed by firing squad in France. Noor Inayat Khan A British-Indian princess and the first female wireless operator, Noor Inayat Khan, also known as Nora Baker, was sent to Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Operating under the codename 'Madeleine', she transmitted vital intelligence until her capture and subsequent execution at Dachau. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her bravery. Amy Elizabeth Thorpe An Anglo-American socialite and spy, also known as Betty Pack, Betty Thorpe, Elizabeth Pack, and Amy Brousse, who worked as a spy for British and American intelligence during World War II. Known by her codename 'Cynthia', she used her charm to extract sensitive information from foreign diplomats, including German Enigma codes and Vichy French naval secrets. Melita Norwood A British civil servant who secretly passed nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union over several decades. She was one of the longest-serving Soviet spies in Britain, operating under the codename 'Hola'. Her espionage activities were revealed only after her death. Belle Boyd Maria Isabella Boyd, best known as Belle Boyd, was a Confederate spy during the American Civil War. Boyd used her charm to extract information from Union officers, which she then relayed to Confederate commanders. She operated from her father's hotel in Front Royal, Virginia, and provided valuable information to Confederate General Stonewall Jackson in 1862. She was arrested multiple times but continued her espionage activities throughout the war. Lydia Darragh An Irish-American Quaker, Lydia Darragh was an Irishwoman who acted as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. She overheard British officers planning an attack and managed to warn General Washington, allowing the Continental Army to prepare and thwart the assault. Nathalie Sergueiew Nathalie 'Lily' Sergueiew was a Russian-born French journalist who worked as a double agent for MI5 during World War II under the codename 'Treasure'. She played a significant role in the Double-Cross System, deceiving the Germans about the location of the D-Day landings. Elvira Chaudoir Elvira Concepción Josefina de la Fuente Chaudoir was a Peruvian socialite and double agent for the British during World War II. She worked for MI5 and MI6 under the codenames 'Cyril', 'Dorette', and 'Bronx', contributing to operations such as the Double-Cross System and Operation Overlord. Chaudoir's deceptive communications to the Abwehr are credited with preventing the 11th Panzer Division from reinforcing German forces at Normandy.
Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Jung Min Hee frustrated over online harassment after false link to Son Heung Min blackmail case: ‘It's not me, stop contacting'
Jung Min Hee has publicly denied the baseless rumors connecting her to the recent blackmail scandal involving football star Son Heung Min. On May 23, Jung Min Hee took to her social media to share a screenshot of direct messages from strangers accusing her of being involved in the case. One message read, 'Are you the woman who blackmailed Son Heung Min? Are you his ex-girlfriend? Someone claimed your Instagram belongs to his former partner. Is that true?' Distressed, Jung Min Hee responded firmly, asking people to stop sending her messages and to cease following or commenting on her accounts. She emphasized her denial with bold text, saying, 'It's not me. Who said that? Please stop contacting me.' This comes after footballer Son Heung Min reported to the police that he had been blackmailed by a woman alleging pregnancy with his child and demanding money. Authorities arrested two suspects linked to the extortion attempt, but amidst the investigation, false claims started circulating online implicating Jung Min Hee as Son Heung Min's ex-girlfriend. In response to these false allegations, Jung Min Hee has made it clear she has no connection to the case, urging the public to stop spreading misinformation and to respect her privacy. Many have expressed sympathy for the actress who is unfairly caught up in the controversy. For those unaware, Son Heung Min has also been dealing with a deeply personal situation. In 2023, he became the target of a blackmail attempt involving a woman he was reportedly in a relationship with. The woman allegedly claimed to be pregnant with his child and demanded 300 million won. According to reports, Son Heung Min made the payment, but the pregnancy was later terminated. While the case has now moved into legal hands, the emotional weight and public attention surrounding it continue to follow him. Son Heung Min recently found himself at the center of a disturbing blackmail scheme, and it seems to be quite complicated. The case has since been handed over to prosecutors for further action. As for Jung Min Hee, who began her stage career with the musical Aida in 2016, she has since built an impressive resume with standout roles in productions like Mata Hari, Excalibur, and Mamma Mia.
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Greta Garbo documentary reveals star as ‘a relaxed, silly, funny person'
She is remembered as the ultimate reclusive film star, following her shock retirement at the height of her success. But the enduring image of Greta Garbo is being challenged by a new documentary, which will show that, far from withdrawing from life – as in her most famous line, 'I want to be alone' – she lived it to the full, partying with close friends. The British film-maker Lorna Tucker has been given access to previously unseen behind the scenes footage in which the star, once described as 'the most alluring, vibrant and yet aloof character ever to grace the motion picture screen', can be seen larking about and laughing. The footage shows a relaxed, silly, funny person,' Tucker said. 'We see that the most famous woman in the world was actually very silly, very normal. But she also hungered for privacy to live out her life.' The footage has come from one of Garbo's Swedish friends. Tucker has also been given access to more than 200 unpublished letters by Garbo's grand-nephew, Scott Reisfield, who welcomed the documentary for showing another side to the star in her later life. He said: 'The whole 'Garbo is a recluse' meme was a media creation. Sure, she was private. But not in a JD Salinger kind of way … Yes, she did sometimes hold her hand up to ruin the shot, but that became the shot. Paparazzi sold the idea of Garbo hiding because it made them more money.' The documentary, titled Garbo: Where Did You Go?, is an artistic exploration of the myth and mystique of an actor revered for her ethereal screen presence and described by the actor-director Orson Welles as 'the most divine creature', although she was insecure about her looks. Born Greta Gustafsson, her beloved father was an itinerant labourer who died when she was a teenager and she grew up in poverty in a Stockholm slum. After getting a scholarship to the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, she was cast in 1924 in the silent epic The Saga of Gösta Berling, whose director, Mauritz Stiller, gave her the name Garbo and got her a Hollywood contract. She went on to make classic films including Mata Hari, Queen Christina, Anna Karenina and Ninotchka. She had gone to Hollywood wanting to send money back home to her mother and sister, whose early death from cancer was to devastate her. Disillusioned with the film industry, she suddenly announced she was retiring in 1941, aged 35. She never acted again. She withdrew from public life, relying on close and protective friends, including her long-term lover, George Schlee, and the comic actor and film-maker Charlie Chaplin. When she was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1955, she did not attend the ceremony. She died in 1990. Sign up to Film Weekly Take a front seat at the cinema with our weekly email filled with all the latest news and all the movie action that matters after newsletter promotion Tucker said Garbo became wary of people selling stories about her: 'She had to become very private and trust her instincts of who she let in, and that came across as frosty. But also it's about how the press weave a narrative. They take a picture of her looking sad or covering her face and say, 'She's hiding, this woman who never goes out.' She did go out. She partied all the time, but just at friends' houses. She was having a wild time, but in private. '[The press] create a narrative and then, sadly, that becomes the narrative … [They were] offering so much money to … her poorer friends to tell stories, so then they ended up getting cut out of her life and, just before she died, she was pretty much alone because she couldn't trust anyone.' Reisfield only recently had the letters translated and he is drawing on them for his forthcoming book, Greta Garbo and The Rise of the Modern Woman. Mostly dating from the 1940s and 1950s, Garbo had sent the letters to his grandmother, Peggy, a former nurse who married Garbo's brother, Sven Gustafson. They reflect Garbo's bid for privacy. In one letter, she wrote from Wisconsin: 'Nobody recognises me here.' In another, planning to visit Palm Springs in California, she advised: 'If you would like to write to me … write in Swedish, because they might open the envelope.' The documentary is produced by Embankment, an independent film company whose productions include The Father, the Oscar-winning drama starring Anthony Hopkins. It airs on 14 May on Sky Arts, Freeview and the streaming service Now.
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
In 'Once,' supporting characters playing live music complete story
Three actor-musicians on why their 'small' roles in 'Once' matter most For the musical 'Once,' 16 different types of instruments -- including guitar, mandolin, violin and drums -- are used on stage. This show demands 12 performers who can not only act and sing, but also play musical instruments. In fact, the difficulty of assembling a cast of skilled actor-musicians is one reason the show is returning to the stage a full decade after its Korean premiere in 2014. While more musicals featuring actor-musicians — such as Great Comet and Zorro — are appearing domestically, the paths to becoming such versatile performers vary widely. Among 12 actors who take the stage each show for 'Once,' Park Ji-il, Ko Ye-il and Kim Min-seong exemplify that diversity. Park, 65, plays 'Da,' the father of the main character 'Guy.' A seasoned actor with a long career across theater, film, and television, Park landed the role on his second attempt -- an audition that marked one of the rare occasions he didn't succeed on the first try, with more than a decade between the two auditions. This role requires good guitar, ukulele and mandolin but he always loved playing the guitar but wasn't familiar with mandolin back then. However, hoping to participate in 'Once' he practiced, waited for a next change and tried again. Park has always loved performing with others, even if not in a professional setting -- making the actor-musician role feel like an ideal combination for him. 'Being able to play music on stage and also act, something I've done for decades, makes this show one of the most meaningful performances I could ever take part in,' Park told The Korea Herald during an interview joined by two cast members. 'In my 40-year acting career, this might be the smallest role I've ever taken on, but to me, it feels like a huge gift. Despite how small the role is, I feel like I've put in ten times more effort into this one production than I have for any other,' he added. While Park's acting career spans four decades, Ko Ye-il, who plays violin onstage, is arguably South Korea's most experienced actor-musician. The 37-year-old comes from a classical music background and trained as a violist. Her entry into musicals was unplanned; since stumbling into the genre in 2017, she has taken on nearly every actor-musician role available in the country, such as 'Mata Hari,' 'The Man Who Laughs,' 'Midnight,' 'Zorro,' 'The Great Comet' and more. 'I've mostly played roles where I'm running around and moving a lot on stage, so I thought 'Once' would be a quiet, lyrical kind of piece -- very different from what I usually do. This was a deeper and more introspective work and really drew me in,' Ko said, adding 'it has become my favorite role.' 'What's really remarkable about this piece is that every single role, no matter how small, feels embraced with love,' Ko added. Ko takes the role of 'Ex-girlfriend' in 'Once.' Kim Min-seong considers himself fortunate to make his debut as Andrej, a character who plays both guitar and bass guitar in the musical. 'I'd watched the film several times -- it's one of my favorites. When I saw the audition announcement, I thought it would be the perfect experience to have before starting my military service,' said the 23-year-old, who played guitar as he studied applied music in high school. With this role, Kim, who now majors in musical theater performance in college, hopes to pursue his career in musical theater. 'When I studied applied music, I realized that it wasn't the type of art that I wanted to pursue. When I saw a musical, my eyes opened wide. Now, I'm so sure about this path and I know performing in a musical production is something I really want to do,' Kim noted. 'I'm thrilled to start my career with this musical that I love so much,' he said. Originally based on the 2007 Irish indie film, "Once" made its Broadway debut in 2012, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The Korean version of "Once," produced by Seensee Company, runs at Coex Artium until May 31.
