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Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bombshell from beyond the grave: Real story behind Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame's relationship with her stepson is revealed in a new memoir so explosive it could only be published after everyone involved died, writes BRIAN VINER
The 25th Academy Awards took place on a rainy March evening in 1953, at the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The first nominee to arrive was Gloria Grahame, heavily tipped to be anointed Best Supporting Actress for her compelling performance as a shallow Southern belle in the hit movie The Bad and the Beautiful, also starring Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner. A couple of hours later, actor Edmund Glenn opened the envelope containing the winner's name. 'Gloria Grahame for The Bad and the Beautiful,' he declared. 'She's the beautiful,' he added, for dramatic effect. Certainly, as she made her way to the stage, not yet 30 and now an Oscar winner, she looked every inch the radiant movie star, basking in the adoration of her peers. Yet there were some in the Hollywood establishment who knew that Grahame was bad as well as beautiful. Less than two years earlier, her husband Nicholas Ray, an acclaimed director of film noirs (who would later make Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean), was said to have discovered her in bed, in their Malibu beach house, with his 13-year-old son, Tony. Tony was a well-built, good-looking lad who looked older than his years. But he was still only 13. And she had first seduced him when he was 12. Grahame had a blast of posthumous publicity eight years ago when Annette Bening played her in the movie Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. That was based on a memoir by a Liverpudlian actor called Peter Turner (played on screen by Jamie Bell), whose love affair with Grahame began when he was 26 and she was 55. But there was no sense in that film that her predilection for much younger men had started when she herself was 26; that she was, indeed, a paedophile. Last week, another memoir was published which tells, in intimate detail, the story of what really happened between Gloria Grahame and her adolescent stepson Tony Ray. It is an extraordinary and explosive tale, which has never been properly told before for the simple reason that the man telling it, Tony himself, would not allow publication until long after he and everyone else involved was dead. He wrote the book in 1958 when he was 21, two years before he became Grahame's fourth husband (making him stepfather to his own half-brother, Tim, her son by her second husband, Nick Ray). Nick died in 1979, Gloria in 1981 and Tony, aged 80, in 2018. Surviving members of the family have now given the go-ahead to his book Circle of Lions: Nicholas Ray, Gloria Grahame and Me. It starts with a foreword by Tony's daughter Kelsey, who also unearthed the long-forgotten manuscript. In it she acknowledges the 'deep-seated trauma' that 'trickled into every aspect of his later life'. Tony followed his father into the movie industry, becoming head of East Coast production at 20th Century Fox. He was in the running for an Oscar himself as producer of the 1978 Best Picture nominee An Unmarried Woman. But it was a much-married woman who loomed a good deal larger over his life, who was in many ways responsible for his multiple addictions, to drugs, alcohol and gambling, and for his mood swings between, as Kelsey recalls, 'euphoric and grandiose mania' and 'deeply destructive catatonic, depressive episodes'. Yet she also acknowledges that her father loved Gloria until the day he died, ridden with Alzheimer's. She describes 'one of the most profoundly powerful moments I have ever witnessed' beside his hospice bed. 'My mom (Tony's second wife, Eve) chose to put on a DVD of the movie Oklahoma! (in which Grahame unforgettably sang 'I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No') as a way to comfort him. 'She wanted to make sure he wasn't afraid and that he knew he would soon be reunited with so many loved ones. The moment my dad heard Gloria's voice, he briefly but abruptly lifted his head, and with a soft smile gently laid back down.' Nearly 70 years had passed since Gloria and Tony had first met, at Los Angeles International Airport. It was June 1950, almost six months shy of Tony's 13th birthday. Tony had got into some minor scrapes at school on the East Coast and his mother, a journalist called Jean Evans, Nick's first wife, thought he might do better living in Los Angeles with his father, who had left the family when Tony was a toddler. By then Nick had been married to Gloria for three years. Perhaps surprisingly, he agreed to let the son he barely knew join the household. Tony arrived from New York fully expecting to be met by his dad. The pair had only seen each other a handful of times down the years, but Nick was too busy to greet his son off the plane. Instead, he sent his pretty, stylish and famous young wife, who wore a V-neck cashmere sweater 'cut very low', and enveloped the boy with a warm hug. While she drove him back to Malibu in her black Cadillac convertible, Gloria asked Tony to light her a Pall Mall cigarette. Reading the book, it is clear that from the start she treated him as if he were much older, and he was duly flattered. That Californian summer the pair became firm friends. While Nick turned down all Tony's entreaties to go fishing, swimming, shooting or riding, even to play cards, with the excuse that he was too busy, Gloria was the opposite of distant. She encouraged her stepson to smoke and drink alcohol with her. She let him brush her hair every morning and even invited him to dry her back after she'd stepped out of the shower. Was she calculatedly grooming him? It certainly reads that way. Thrillingly, when the pair of them were out together, people asked her to sign autographs. Gloria had had a small role in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), had been nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Crossfire (1947), and had been cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in In A Lonely Place (1950). She was already a fully-fledged movie star and there was no doubt a plethora of willing men available with whom she could have had an extramarital affair, had she wanted to. Yet she chose a boy. Tony's life changed on the day Gloria offered to teach him how to kiss properly. From there their physical relationship developed swiftly but discreetly, although they still lived dangerously. When Nick took Gloria and Tony to stay at the celebrated Cal-Neva Lodge and Casino in Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border, they made the most of his compulsive gambling habit by going further than they had before. While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs. The marriage was volatile, to say the least. Gloria accused Nick of having an affair with Marilyn Monroe, while he raged at her for condemning his gambling. He would frequently move out of the Malibu house and then back in again. While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs (Gloria and Nick seen) But nor was all sweetness and light between Gloria and Tony. In the book he describes a row during which she pulled a gun on him, and then called the police claiming that her stepson had just tried to rape her. When the cops arrived she apologised, telling them she'd merely over-reacted during an argument. But by any measure it was a deeply dysfunctional household. And Tony was still only 13. The later rumours in Hollywood - that Nick Ray had found his teenage son in bed with his movie-star wife – were unfounded. But when Nick heard about the unseemly episode with the police he put two and two together, asking Tony directly how long he and Gloria had been having sex. Tony knew there was no point protesting their innocence. But did his father even want them to be innocent? The book implies that he was already keen to split from Gloria by the time Tony arrived to live with them, and might have manipulated them into having an affair, to facilitate a cheaper divorce. Whatever, Nick and Gloria were divorced in 1952 and two years later she married another director, Cy Howard. But that marriage didn't last either. In 1960, Tony met his father for a drink at Idlewild (later John F Kennedy) Airport in New York. They had barely seen each other since the tumult in Malibu but now Nick was returning to Hollywood from Spain and had an hour or so to spare. He asked Tony if he had seen his classic 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, arguably the screen's ultimate story of teenage angst. Tony had. For some reason known only to himself, Nick then suggested to his son that he should look up Gloria, and handed over her phone number. In a postscript to his 1958 memoir, added in 2002, Tony wrote: 'I had had no contact with Gloria since I was 13, but had pined for her throughout my teens. I had kept track of her through her movies … When I got to California, I called her. She wanted to see me immediately. I wanted to see her immediately. 'We agreed to meet at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard. She would be driving — as she had so many years before — a black Cadillac convertible. 'When she pulled up, I jumped in and we hugged each other for a long time. I saw that in the back seat there was a suitcase and a box of groceries. We drove to the modest guest house I was renting and unpacked Gloria's things. 'She had not come for an hour-long visit. She had come to stay. Gloria and I were married on May 13, 1960.' He was 22 and she was 36. It was the same substantial age gap as before but this time without the smear of paedophilia, not that Gloria's sexual attraction to a child, and her stepson to boot, had in any way hampered her career. She had since won the Academy Award and been given a wonderful role in Oklahoma! Oddly, the 1950s are often held up as an age of moral rectitude, yet nobody seemed at all worried about a female movie star having sex with a minor. Predictably, the marriage between Tony and Gloria came unstuck, although not before she bore him two sons. In 1965, the year their second boy was born, she attempted suicide. She became dependent on alcohol and had a nervous breakdown, while Tony developed his own destructive addictions. When they split up in 1974 the judge granted him custody of the children on the basis that he was 'the lesser of two evils'. It is a desperately sad and seedy story about an illicit Hollywood love triangle that damaged everyone, yet the tone of Tony Ray's book is wistful and affectionate. Its title, Circle of Lions, apparently refers to the way that trauma can be passed from generation to generation, like one vicious lion begetting another. But an alternative title might have been: The Girl Who Just Couldn't Say No.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Leonardo DiCaprio doubles asking price of $35 million home
Leonardo DiCaprio has put his Malibu beach house on the market for the sky-high price of $US23 million ($A35 million). The Hollywood superstar purchased the property four years ago for $US13.75 million ($A21.1 million). But for those who might baulk at the idea of coughing up such an enormous chunk of change, the 50-year-old actor is also giving prospective buyers the opportunity to test drive the California dwelling, simultaneously putting it on the rental market with an asking price of $US65,000 ($A100,000) a month, Realtor reports. Located on Pacific Coast Highway, the home boasts four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms The estate is described as being situated on 'a stunning stretch of the Malibu coastline where properties are rarely offered for sale'. As a result of its plum spot, the dwelling offers exclusive access to 'one of the most private and coveted beaches in Malibu,' as well as spectacular views of the ocean courtesy of its perch atop a cliffside. DiCaprio, who was pictured enjoying a day at Wimbledon in London over the weekend, bought the home in July 2021, paying $US13.75 million ($A21.1 million) via an LLC that is run by his longtime business manager. However, it is unclear whether the Oscar winner ever actually used the property as a full-time residence, with records indicating he put the home on the rental market in April, before deciding to try to offload it altogether. The home features multiple balconies and patios that can be accessed through full glass doors, allowing residents to create a true indoor/outdoor vibe throughout the year. The property also offers an enormous walk-in closet, as well as a 'spa-like' bathroom that features a spacious bathtub and a steam shower. There is a picturesque firepit, seating area, and outdoor shower and sauna. From this spot, guests can, on occasion, see dolphins swimming in the ocean, according to the listing description, which hails the sight as being 'so rare and special'. The home is not far from a former property in DiCaprio's extensive portfolio of residences, which has featured an array of incredible dwellings over the years. Shortly after he purchased the Malibu property, he sold off a nearby dwelling for $US10.3 million ($A15.8 million), having bought that home in 1998 for just $US1.6 million ($A2.4 million), according to records. Much like his newer Malibu residence, DiCaprio offered up his former home for rent before opting to sell it. 'The Departed' star initially listed it with an asking price of $US20,000 ($A30,700) a month in 2010, although that price fluctuated over the following years, dropping first to $US18,500 ($A28,400), before rising to $US23,000 ($A35,400) a few years later. He also tested the waters when it came to selling the property, first listing it for $US10.95 million ($A16.8 million) in 2016 — five years before he actually sold it. DiCaprio is understood to still use his Hollywood Hills compound as his primary residence. The A-lister bought up two adjacent residences back in the '90s before later expanding the estate with the purchase of two additional dwellings. Over the years, the actor is said to have hosted a number of impressive soirees at the home. Page Six reported in 2020 that DiCaprio hosted a viewing party for the presidential election, setting up an enormous screen on his basketball court so he and his pals could watch the results roll in live.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lady Gaga brings her signature arthouse theatrics to the stage as she kicks off her Mayhem Ball tour in Las Vegas with extravagant costumes and eye-popping choreography
Lady Gaga gave her fans a night to remember on Wednesday, as she kicked off her Mayhem Ball tour with an electric show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The pop icon, 39, brought back the arthouse theatrics for the two hours and 15 minute set, packing in a whopping 29 of her biggest hits to a sold-out crowd. She pulled out all the stops for the tour's opening night, with extravagant costumes, striking staging and her powerful vocals. Splitting the set into four acts, Gaga began with Bloody Mary, surrounded by a gothic style set, before belting out popular tracks, Abracadabra, Judas and Scheiße. And displaying her signature Avant-garde fashion, she donned a number of elaborate looks including creepily long finger prosthetics for Bad Romance. Surrounded by a team of talented dancers, the Oscar winner also delivered eye-popping visuals and slick choreography as she sang fan-favourites like Poker Face, Applause, Summerboy, Million Reasons, Die With a Smile and Shallow. Lady Gaga gave her fans a night to remember on Wednesday, as she kicked off her Mayhem Ball tour with an electric show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas The pop icon, 39, brought back the arthouse theatrics for the two hours and 15 minute set, packing in a whopping 29 of her biggest hits to a sold-out crowd She pulled out all the stops for the tour's opening night, with extravagant costumes, striking staging and her powerful vocals While her performance of enduring hit track, Paparazzi, saw Gaga don a white wedding gown with a long gauzy train flowing behind her as she strutted down the runway on silver crutches, like in the music video. She pulled on a gothic cape and took to the piano for a toned-down emotional track, before bringing out a humongous spinning skull for Killah. And for Perfect Celebrity and Disease, she leaned into the spooky visuals once again, singing from a sandbox full of human remains and surrounded by backing dancers dressed as skeletons. For the last song, the cameras followed Gaga as she slipped away backstage and removed her makeup and extravagant costume, emerging back on stage in a simple Cramps t-shirt, beanie and sunglasses to sing How Bad Do U Want Me. In typical 'Little Monsters' style, fans went all out with their outfits for the concert, with some even almost rivalling Gaga's herself. The stadium was packed full of racy look, avantgarde masks and recreation's of Gaga's most iconic looks, including the Alexander McQueen outfit she wore to the 2009 MTV VMAs and her famous Philip Treacy lobster hat from 2010. And the icon herself seemed overwhelmed by all the love, admitting in the show: 'Before I came on stage tonight, I couldn't even believe you were here for me'. In March, the songstress announced 2025 tour dates across the UK, North America and Europe, playing on iconic stages such as London's O2 Arena and Madison Square Garden in New York. Splitting the set into four acts, Gaga began with Bloody Mary, surrounded by a gothic style set, before belting out popular tracks, Abracadabra, Judas and Scheiße And displaying her signature Avant-garde fashion, she donned a number of elaborate looks including creepily long finger prosthetics for Bad Romance Surrounded by a team of talented dancers, the Oscar winner also delivered eye-popping visuals and slick choreography as she sang fan-favourites like Poker Face, Applause, Summerboy, Million Reasons, Die With a Smile and Shallow While her performance of enduring hit track, Paparazzi, saw Gaga don a white wedding gown with a long gauzy train flowing behind her as she strutted down the runway on silver crutches, like in the music video Gaga will play three nights at London's O2 Arena on September 29, 20, and October 2, before heading to the Co-op Live in Manchester in what will be her first UK show's since 2022. She will also bring the 'Mayhem' to Mexico, Brazil and Singapore, Las Vegas, Seattle, New York City, Miami, Toronto, Chicago, Paris, Berlin and more. In her tour announcement, Gaga released a statement saying: 'This is my first arena tour since 2018. There's something electric about a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows. 'But with The MAYHEM Ball, I wanted to create a different kind of experience — something more intimate — closer, more connected — that lends itself to the live theatrical art I love to create.' Mayhem soared to the top of the UK album charts this month and also created three top ten singles - Abracadabra, Die With A Smile (with Bruno Mars) and Disease. Gaga last performed for British crowds as part of her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour in October 2014, playing three nights at the O2, two in Birmingham, one in Manchester, one in Sheffield, one in Newcastle, two in Glasgow, as well as one in Dublin. She pulled on a gothic cape and took to the piano for a toned-down emotional track, before bringing out a humongous spinning skull for Killah And for Perfect Celebrity and Disease, she leaned into the spooky visuals once again, singing from a sandbox full of human remains and surrounded by backing dancers dressed as skeletons For the last song, the cameras followed Gaga as she slipped away backstage and removed her makeup and extravagant costume, emerging back on stage in a simple Cramps t-shirt, beanie and sunglasses to sing How Bad Do U Want Me In typical 'Little Monsters' style, fans went all out with their outfits for the concert, with some even almost rivalling Gaga's herself The stadium was packed full of racy look, avantgarde masks and recreation's of Gaga's most iconic looks, including the Alexander McQueen outfit she wore to the 2009 MTV VMAs and her famous Philip Treacy lobster hat from 2010 And the icon herself seemed overwhelmed by all the love, admitting in the show: 'Before I came on stage tonight, I couldn't even believe you were here for me' In March, the songstress announced 2025 tour dates across the UK, North America and Europe, playing on iconic stages such as London 's O2 Arena and Madison Square Garden in New York. The shows saw her perform hits from her 2013 project Artpop, alongside classics such as Just Dance, Poker Face and Bad Romance. She was due to head back to the UK in 2018 for her Joanne World Tour but had to pull out after suffering from chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia. The singer, born Stefani Germanotta, previously revealed that her Chromatica Ball tour in 2022 was the first time she had performed without pain for years. She has now rediscovered her love for live shows and kicked off her world tour in style by headlining Coachella in April to rave reviews from fans.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joaquin Phoenix Says ‘I'm So Sorry' for ‘Horrible' and ‘Uncomfortable' Letterman Interview: ‘One of the Worst Nights of My Life'
Joaquin Phoenix was the guest of honor on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' on Tuesday night, marking his first appearance on the late-night staple since his infamous 2009 interview with Dave Letterman and subsequent on-air apology the next year. The Oscar winner memorably appeared on Letterman's 'Late Show' in character (shaggy hair, untamed beard and all) from his mockumentary 'I'm Still Here,' which documented his life after the spoof announcement that he was retiring from acting to pursue a hip-hop career. The interview, some of which was used in the film, was incredibly awkward and led the public to believe Phoenix was having a mental breakdown. More from Variety Emma Stone on Working With Joaquin Phoenix in 'Eddington' and That Viral Bee Incident With Pedro Pascal and Austin Butler at Cannes 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman' Renewed for Seasons 6 and 7 at Netflix 'Eddington' Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal Feud Through George Floyd Protests and Machine-Gun Fire in Ari Aster's COVID Western Sitting down with Colbert, Phoenix said it was his intention to get a big reaction out of, not just Letterman, but the public at large. However, he said he did give the show a heads up. 'When I came on this show with Dave, I originally did the pre-interview in character and I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, 'Listen, this is what I'm doing. I'm coming out here and I'm doing this whole thing. And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous,'' Phoenix said. 'That was the kind of intention — I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.' But Phoenix admitted that the interview itself was 'horrible,' adding: 'It was so uncomfortable. I regret it, I'll never do it again. I'm so sorry.' After the two shared a laugh, Colbert told Phoenix, 'I don't know if [Letterman's] watching.' 'He might be and I just need to say, I'm sorry,' Phoenix responded. The actor, who stars in Ari Aster's new movie 'Eddington,' did apologize to the late-night host when he came back on 'The Late Show' in 2010. 'I hope I didn't offend you in any way,' he said at the time. 'You've interviewed many, many people and I assumed that you would know the difference between a character and a real person, but I apologize.' Reflecting on the moment with Colbert, Phoenix concluded: 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life.' Watch Phoenix's full interview with Colbert below. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Lupita Nyong'o, 42, candidly reveals decade-long agonising battle with chronic uterine fibroids
Lupita Nyong'o has opened up for the first time about her private, decade-long struggle with a painful health condition in a candid Instagram post shared on Tuesday. The Oscar-winning actress, 42, revealed she has been silently battling chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet debilitating condition, for the past 10 years, saying she often felt 'dismissed' and 'alone' in her search for treatment. In honour of Fibroid Awareness Month, the Black Panther star opened up about battling uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous yet painful growths that develop in or around the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic. She revealed she first discovered she had 30 uterine fibroids back in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award and had to undergo surgery to have them removed. However, her relief was short-lived, as Lupita recalled her doctor telling her it was 'only a matter of time until they grow again.' While she didn't detail her specific symptoms, Lupita pointed out that the condition can cause extreme discomfort, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, anaemia, frequent urination, and pregnancy complications. The Oscar-winning actress, 42, revealed she has been silently battling chronic uterine fibroids, a common yet debilitating condition, for the past ten years, saying she often felt 'dismissed' and 'alone' in her search for treatment Other common side effects of the condition also include pain during sex and pressure in the abdomen. Lupita, who has partnered with the foundation to spread awareness, told her followers that she had decided to open up about her health struggles to raise awareness of the condition. She also aims to push back on the idea that 'pain is simply part of being a woman'. As part of rejecting 'the normalisation of female pain,' Lupita revealed that she is also joining several congresswomen to push for bills expanding research into the condition. She plans to launch her own grant in collaboration with the Foundation For Women's Health to fund less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids. The star captioned her post: 'I'm speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story. 'This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond, I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone. 'And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids (80% of Black women and 70% of white women by age 50!). We deserve better. It's time to demand it. Silence serves no one! Alongside a slew of candid images, she captioned the post: 'I'm speaking up about uterine fibroids. This is my story. This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond, I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone' 'Here's where I'm beginning ➡️ 1. Today, I joined Congresswomen @repshontel @repyvetteclarke @repbonnie @reprobinkelly and Senators @sen_alsobrooks and @senlbr in Washington DC to introduce a package of uterine fibroid Congressional bills. 'These bills would expand research funding, increase early detection and interventions for uterine fibroids, study the causes of uterine cancer, and increase public awareness. '2. In partnership with the Foundation for Women's Health, I'm launching the FWH x Lupita Nyong'o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant. '@foundationwomenshealth will seek research proposals to develop minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the 15 million patients suffering from this chronic condition in the U.S. alone. Learn more and get involved at the link in my bio.' What are Uterine Fibroids? Uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus. They often appear during the years you're usually able to get pregnant and give birth. Uterine fibroids are not cancer, and they almost never turn into cancer. They aren't linked with a higher risk of other types of cancer in the uterus either. They're also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas. The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include: Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods, longer or more frequent periods, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination or trouble urinating, constipation, pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex.
