Latest news with #Overcompensating
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
James Van Der Beek reveals what colorectal cancer taught him about self-love
James Van Der Beek has just woken up from a nap as he hops on a Microsoft Teams call. About nine months after sharing his colorectal cancer diagnosis with the world, the 48-year-old actor's face looks thinner. He isn't shy talking about the toll his illness has taken on him. He admits he doesn't have as much energy as he used to. He has good days and bad days. But, while he wouldn't wish his illness on anyone, the actor adds it's also given him something else, something he didn't expect: a deeper sense of self-love. "Cancer's a wild thing," he says. "It really does force you to look at your own mortality and decide what's important and decide really what you want to live the rest of your life without. And so, one of the big things for me was recognizing how negative my self-talk was." He continues: "When I was getting treatment and away from the beautiful cacophony of six kids and 36 acres and five dogs and a bearded dragon and the beautiful chaos that is my life, in the quiet I realized how negatively I was talking to myself. And so, that started a whole journey of just recognizing how important self-love is and how necessary and how simple it is." James Van Der Beek and how cancer has changed him Van Der Beek first revealed he had colorectal cancer in a November interview with People, sharing he was diagnosed in August 2023. He says his cancer was detected via colonoscopy. Now, he's partnering with Guardant Health to encourage people to get screened for cancer regardless of if they have symptoms or not. Doing so, he says, is often life-saving. It was for him. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Better Yet newsletter "To me, the biggest misunderstanding is that you need to have symptoms to get screened," he says. "I was very healthy, in amazing cardiovascular shape, and had full-blown stage three cancer, and I didn't know it." The actor says cancer has forced him to take a good, hard look at his life. It's made him rethink what matters and let go of what doesn't. It's also made him reexamine who he really is, versus what he's come to identify himself as. "I was forced to look at myself and say, 'Well, what am I, if I'm just a too skinny guy alone in a room with cancer?' And the conclusion that I came to, after some meditation, was I'm still worthy of love. I'm still worthy of God's love, but I'm still worthy of self-love, just for existing," he says. "My conclusion is that I do believe we're here to experience love − to connect to and to give and to receive love. But, in order to receive love, I think you have to have it for yourself first." Why he wants to work now more than ever Van Der Beek has refused to let cancer stop him from acting. In fact, he says, it's actually fueled him to act − and do other things he loves − even more. Van Der Beek recently appeared in Amazon's "Overcompensating" and is set to also appear in the upcoming "Legally Blonde" spin-off series "Elle." Before cancer, Van Der Beek says, he was on the verge of taking a step back from acting. Since his diagnosis, however, he's recommitted himself to it. "For a minute I thought, 'You know what? I don't need acting. I don't need it in the way that I did before,' " he says. "I'm very, very happy just doing this here with my family. And then, when I got cancer, I realized I love to tell stories. Acting is actually a real passion. Writing is a real passion, and I need to feed that. So, I joke that I'm the only guy I know who got cancer and realized I need to work more." More: James Van Der Beek chokes up discussing his wife's support after cancer diagnosis One of the best parts about acting, he says, is that, when the camera's rolling, nothing else matters. You're in the moment, not thinking about anything else − including cancer. As for family life, Van Der Beek says his kids have all processed his illness differently. The actor and his wife Kimberly Brook share six children, whose ages span 3 to 14. When it comes to parenting with an illness, Van Der Beek has made honesty his policy. Being transparent, he says, has "really allowed for some lovely moments of connection" with his kids. James Van Der Beek, Jenna Fischer and the rise of young people getting cancer "We made the choice to just be as honest as we can with them," he says. "They all handle it differently. They all hide it differently. Their concern manifests differently in each of them. But again, telling them what I'm going through, it actually allows them to show up for me in a way that's just been so beautiful. 'Dad, can I get you tea?' 'No, dad, I'll get that for you.' 'How are you feeling today?' They know when I'm having a bad day. I mean, kids, they pick up on everything." Though he's grateful for the new perspective cancer's given him, he obviously wishes we lived in a world where no one had to go through it. That's why he's "shouting from the rooftops: Get screened. Talk to your doctor." "I'm feeling good," he says. "I've learned a lot. But, if I could save people from having to go through this journey, I definitely will. I would still give colorectal cancer zero stars." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Van Der Beek gives update on colorectal cancer
USA Today
3 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
James Van Der Beek reveals what colorectal cancer taught him about self-love
James Van Der Beek has just woken up from a nap as he hops on a Microsoft Teams call. About nine months after sharing his colorectal cancer diagnosis with the world, the 48-year-old actor's face looks thinner. He isn't shy talking about the toll his illness has taken on him. He admits he doesn't have as much energy as he used to. He has good days and bad days. But, while he wouldn't wish his illness on anyone, the actor adds it's also given him something else, something he didn't expect: a deeper sense of self-love. "Cancer's a wild thing," he says. "It really does force you to look at your own mortality and decide what's important and decide really what you want to live the rest of your life without. And so, one of the big things for me was recognizing how negative my self-talk was." He continues: "When I was getting treatment and away from the beautiful cacophony of six kids and 36 acres and five dogs and a bearded dragon and the beautiful chaos that is my life, in the quiet I realized how negatively I was talking to myself. And so, that started a whole journey of just recognizing how important self-love is and how necessary and how simple it is." James Van Der Beek and how cancer has changed him Van Der Beek first revealed he had colorectal cancer in a November interview with People, sharing he was diagnosed in August 2023. He says his cancer was detected via colonoscopy. Now, he's partnering with Guardant Health to encourage people to get screened for cancer regardless of if they have symptoms or not. Doing so, he says, is often life-saving. It was for him. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Better Yet newsletter "To me, the biggest misunderstanding is that you need to have symptoms to get screened," he says. "I was very healthy, in amazing cardiovascular shape, and had full-blown stage three cancer, and I didn't know it." The actor says cancer has forced him to take a good, hard look at his life. It's made him rethink what matters and let go of what doesn't. It's also made him reexamine who he really is, versus what he's come to identify himself as. "I was forced to look at myself and say, 'Well, what am I, if I'm just a too skinny guy alone in a room with cancer?' And the conclusion that I came to, after some meditation, was I'm still worthy of love. I'm still worthy of God's love, but I'm still worthy of self-love, just for existing," he says. "My conclusion is that I do believe we're here to experience love − to connect to and to give and to receive love. But, in order to receive love, I think you have to have it for yourself first." Why he wants to work now more than ever Van Der Beek has refused to let cancer stop him from acting. In fact, he says, it's actually fueled him to act − and do other things he loves − even more. Van Der Beek recently appeared in Amazon's "Overcompensating" and is set to also appear in the upcoming "Legally Blonde" spin-off series "Elle." Before cancer, Van Der Beek says, he was on the verge of taking a step back from acting. Since his diagnosis, however, he's recommitted himself to it. "For a minute I thought, 'You know what? I don't need acting. I don't need it in the way that I did before,' " he says. "I'm very, very happy just doing this here with my family. And then, when I got cancer, I realized I love to tell stories. Acting is actually a real passion. Writing is a real passion, and I need to feed that. So, I joke that I'm the only guy I know who got cancer and realized I need to work more." More: James Van Der Beek chokes up discussing his wife's support after cancer diagnosis One of the best parts about acting, he says, is that, when the camera's rolling, nothing else matters. You're in the moment, not thinking about anything else − including cancer. As for family life, Van Der Beek says his kids have all processed his illness differently. The actor and his wife Kimberly Brook share six children, whose ages span 3 to 14. When it comes to parenting with an illness, Van Der Beek has made honesty his policy. Being transparent, he says, has "really allowed for some lovely moments of connection" with his kids. James Van Der Beek, Jenna Fischer and the rise of young people getting cancer "We made the choice to just be as honest as we can with them," he says. "They all handle it differently. They all hide it differently. Their concern manifests differently in each of them. But again, telling them what I'm going through, it actually allows them to show up for me in a way that's just been so beautiful. 'Dad, can I get you tea?' 'No, dad, I'll get that for you.' 'How are you feeling today?' They know when I'm having a bad day. I mean, kids, they pick up on everything." Though he's grateful for the new perspective cancer's given him, he obviously wishes we lived in a world where no one had to go through it. That's why he's "shouting from the rooftops: Get screened. Talk to your doctor." "I'm feeling good," he says. "I've learned a lot. But, if I could save people from having to go through this journey, I definitely will. I would still give colorectal cancer zero stars."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Sky issues update on return of 'darkly comic' series with new cast added
The Sky Original thriller has added more stars to its cast as filming commences on season two Sky has announced a significant update for one of its popular series as production kicks off in London for the second season. The "darkly comic" Sky Original thriller, Sweetpea, features Ella Purnell portraying the unsuspecting serial killer Rhiannon Lewis. Tamsin Greig of Friday Night Dinner fame and Rish Shah from Overcompensating have recently been added to the cast, with Sky revealing their characters in the forthcoming series. Shah steps into the role of Gabriel, Rhiannon's new love interest, while Greig will be seen as Liv, the mother of AJ (played by Calam Lynch). Additionally, two more actors are set to appear in guest roles: Taj Atwal, known for Line of Duty, as Freya, Rhiannon's new boss at the Carnsham Gazette, and Jenny Walser from Heartstopper as Daisy, an adoring new acquaintance. The synopsis for the upcoming season teases: "Navigating a new promotion, an irresistible rebound, Marina still hot on her trail, her sister selling her family home and a copycat killer threatening to expose her, the kill list is mounting. "But now that she's harnessed her rage and found her power, Rhiannon is forced to question whether her perfect ex AJ, was right: is she a monster?" Jon Pointing, Jeremy Swift, Leah Harvey, Ingrid Oliver, Nitin Ganatra, and Alexandra Dowling are all confirmed to return for season two. Purnell, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Ella Jones and Patrick Walters, assures fans that the new season will deliver "an intoxicating ride for Rhiannon as she continues on her murderous journey." The trio remarked: "This season, the stakes are even higher, and as the consequences of her actions begin to close in, questions of morality and justice will come into play." Based on C. J. Skuse's novel, the series has yet to announce an official release date for its second season. Debuting in October 2024, the first season earned acclaim with Rotten Tomatoes labelling Purnell a "diabolical delight".
Cosmopolitan
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
From We Were Liars to The Summer I Turned Pretty S3, here's everything on our Prime Video summer watchlist
A hot-girl summer isn't just about rooftop bars and iced lattes, it translates to what you watch, too. And Prime Video has got you covered this year, with some seriously hot TV and film. From love triangles to dangerous family secrets, frenemies and hidden identities, I've rounded up the shows and films you'll want to add to your watchlist. Expect juicy plots, strong female leads, and just the right amount of emotional chaos to keep you entertained this summer. Belly makes a return for a third season of the romantic drama based on Jenny Han's novels of the same title. Picking up two years later, Belly, played by Lola Tung, is now in college and engaged to Jeremiah – that is, until his brother Conrad returns, reigniting old feelings and shaking everything up. The love triangle reaches its emotional peak as Belly has to decide once and for all: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? Get your pomegranate margaritas ready because, if season three stays true to the book, we're going to need one – or the entire jug. If you love TSITP, We Were Liars is your next obsession. Like the former, it's also set at a beach house, although Cousins Beach is a chill summer's break compared to Beechwood Island, where the Sinclair family hides dangerous secrets (think fire and loss). In the eight-part series, which launched in June, Cadence, aged 17, returns to her family's private island one year after a mysterious accident, with no memory of what happened. As she starts putting together the pieces of the summer, old friends and buried truths emerged. With an impeccable cast and a twist you absolutely won't see coming, We Were Liars is summer drama with a haunting edge. I was completely obsessed with Blake Lively's deviously cunning Emily and Anna Kendrick's overly-pedantic Stephanie, so when I heard there was a sequel to A Simple Favor, I wasted no time giving it a watch. And you won't want to delay, either. In the second film, the unlikely duo are back and the twists are even more absurd than the last time, as Stephanie travels to Italy to be a bridesmaid at Emily's wedding to the super-rich Dante Versano. There's more deaths, revenge, chaos and OTT fashion. Plus, Michele Morrone plays Emily's soon-to-be-husband – surely that's enough to pique your interest. Hook-up disasters, frat-party drama and secret crushes? Overcompensating delivers the ultimate college chaos, as closeted Benny, played by Benito Skinner, tries to navigate his freshman year while keeping his sexuality a secret. Desperate to keep up his straight-guy act, Benny teams up with ballsy outsider Carmen (Wally Baram), and together they stumble through the joys of college in this coming-of-age story. With bold humour and a killer soundtrack, including tracks from the likes of Britney and Charlie XCX, the eight-part series is a fresh take on identity, friendship and self-discovery. Estranged sisters reunite in this thriller starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. While Chloe (Biel) lives an idyllic life with her husband Adam and their son, Nicky (Banks) struggles to make ends meet. When Adam is brutally murdered, the two sisters are forced to put their complicated past behind them to find out who is responsible. As the investigation deepens, buried family secrets, fractured sibling bonds and shocking twists emerge. Based on Alafair Burke's novel, the eight-part drama is giving major Gone Girl and Big Little Lies vibes, and worth bingeing this summer. Prime Video is available in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost to a Prime membership for just £8.99 a month or £95 per year. New customers can find out more at and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.
Metro
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Devil Wears Prada 2's stacked cast could be a bad omen
The cast announcement for The Devil Wears Prada 2 is jam-packed with talent, but I'm nervous. I was 10 years old when I first saw the film in a Croydon cinema with my friend and her mother, and I was completely hooked. I've seen the film again countless times since then, constantly tuning into re-runs on telly, and finding it a comfort to stream when I'm feeling poorly or dreadfully hungover. When it was announced that the film was set for a sequel, after nearly 20 years, I was ecstatic and quietly hopeful that it would be at the same calibre as the noughties movie. My optimism was because the original cast, including Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci, are reprising their roles, and much of the creative team from the original has signed back on with David Frankel returning to direct and Wendy Finerman returning to produce. The sequel seems to be in pretty safe hands, so the latest announcement that Simone Ashley, Kenneth Branagh, and Lucy Liu have been confirmed as cast members should be music to my ears. Unfortunately, it's anything but. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The stars are joining the cast alongside The Office's B.J. Novak, TikTok and Overcompensating star Caleb Hearon, The Sex Life of College Girl's Pauline Chalamet, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's Justin Theroux. The newcomers have all found ways to light up the screen, so why should their appearance be anything but a welcome new addition to the sequel? Here's the problem. When a beloved movie is rebooted for a sequel, sometimes a jam-packed cast is announced to secure bums in seats at the cinema. But a stacked cast doesn't equal quality, in fact, shoe-horning in as many famous faces as possible to keep audiences and critics entertained can often feel a bit cheap, and a way to ensure there's a conversation about the film – without having to make the film actually good. For example, Zoolander No. 2, had a bonkers cast with all the original famous faces returning, plus the likes of Will Ferrell, Penélope Cruz, Kristen Wiig and Benedict Cumberbatch, and Fred Armisen all joining the main cast. The cameos were also off the charts with Justin Bieber, Naomi Campbell, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and John Malkovich all stepping in. But this didn't save the film from being a complete flop, with mostly negative reviews and earning $56.7 million (£41.74m) against a $50–55m (£37- £40m) budget. A lot of movie reboots have fallen into this trap. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was meant to revitalise the franchise 19 years on from the last movie in 2008. Securing the original cast, including Harrison Ford, actors including Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent were all brought on board. Although the film could hardly be called a flop, it did disappoint many fans who wanted the reboot after nearly two decades to deliver something magnificent and felt underwhelmed by the lacklustre film. The 2019 movie Men in Black: International was an attempt to revitalise the franchise with Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca Ferguson, Rafe Spall, and Liam Neeson joining the cast. Despite the Hollywood heavyweights, the movie was a flop and widely considered very forgettable and lacking anything substantially worthy of praise. The movie, like many other reboots, was another prime example of a franchise being brought back because it's an easy cash grab. Not because there's a story worth telling. Slapping some big names on the cast list to draw punters in, and then not delivering when it comes to the end product, has sadly become rather familiar when it comes to Hollywood blockbusters. But listen, I want to be wrong. There are sequels bursting with talent that still managed to be fabulous additions to a franchise. Anchorman 2 delighted fans nine years after the original, featuring one of the most stacked casts of all time, including numerous cameos from virtually every comedy actor working at the time. Shrek 2 added Jennifer Saunders, Julie Andrews, Rupert Everett, John Cleese, Joan Rivers, and Antonio Banderas to the cast and didn't budge an inch on plot, narrative, and creativity. That said, the sequel did come just three years after the original movie and wasn't trying to revitalise a franchise – also the following sequels left a lot to be desired. The Devil Wears Prada franchise is also built for cameos, with the characters mingling with the rich and famous in the fashion industry. There would be perfect opportunities to throw in a few famous faces into the movie – much like Gisele Bündchen's appearance in the OG movie as Runway worker Serena. More Trending I'm just concerned that announcing an all-star lineup a year before the film is going to be released is trying to drum up excitement that really shouldn't be necessary. Even with just the four main cast members returning, the movie is almost guaranteed to sell tickets just from a nostalgia factor. Fans can't wait to see where the beloved characters are after nearly two decades and want to be immersed once again in this fashionable, high-end world. I just hope the new film is worthy to fill the enormous, likely Prada, shoes left by the original movie. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is due to be released in cinemas on Friday May 1, 2026. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I bought the online poison that killed my son – it was easy MORE: 'Painful to watch' action sequel dominates Netflix chart with 37,000,000 views MORE: Terrifier director teases role for WWE legend in gruesome horror sequel
