Latest news with #Parker
West Australian
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Molly Parker: House of Cards actress stars in US drama Doc which has just aired in Australia
Molly Parker has a newfound respect for doctors after starring as one in Doc, the US's biggest medical drama, which has finally hit screens in Australia. The Canadian actress plays Amy Larsen, the chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis, who sustains a brain injury and loses the last eight years of her life. Dr Larsen is forced to navigate an unfamiliar world — while still practising medicine, she has no recollection of patients she's treated, colleagues she's encountered, the man she loves, or the tragedy that caused her to push everyone away. She can rely only on her estranged 17-year-old daughter, whom she remembers as a nine-year-old, and a few devoted friends, as she struggles after losing nearly a decade of knowledge and experience. It is based on an Italian series of the same name inspired by true events. Parker, best-known for her roles in House of Cards and Lost in Space, said while stepping into scrubs had been a challenge, she discovered a greater respect for medical professionals. 'The first couple of episodes are quite emotional for Amy, and so just that, in and of itself, is quite difficult,' she told The Sunday Times. 'It's given me a whole new appreciation for actors who play medical professionals, but also for medical professionals. It is such hard work and just so important. It's given me a whole a whole new respect.' With many days of intense and emotional filming, Parker said she uses knitting, a hobby she took up a few years ago, to cope. 'For me, in between setups or in between scenes, I need to be doing something with my hands, but it can't be something that takes me emotionally into another place,' she said. 'Like a big part of the job as an actor is to manage your emotional reality over the course of a day of working and knitting kind of is meditative. 'My husband's daughter just had a baby, so we have a little three-month-old granddaughter, and she's like the cutest thing ever. So I'm making little outfits. She also has a mini dachshund, Birdie, whom she takes on walks. While the series has aired in Australia for the first time, Parker admitted she hasn't spent a lot of time in the country. 'It's so embarrassing. And actually, I have an aunt from Melbourne, although she hasn't lived there in many, many years,' she said. 'I grew up on the west coast of Canada, and I just sort of always thought work would take me there. Like for a long time, all the travel I did was only for work, and I've sort of only recently really started travelling for myself, and somehow I just have not gotten a job in Australia.' Doc has been renewed for a second season of 22 episodes — double that of the first season — but Parker couldn't spill the beans as she 'doesn't know very much'. 'I expect that everything you can think of is gonna happen in this second season. But for me, that's part of what is really exciting about this dynamic, (Larsen's) amnesia gives space where almost anything can exist in that void,' she said. 'All secrets and surprises are going to show up for Amy. And I guess the big question is, Is she going to get any of her memory back? If she does, what will it be? And will it be an end?' Stream new episodes of Doc on 7plus every Tuesday.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Popular US medical drama finally airs in Australia
Molly Parker has a newfound respect for doctors after starring as one in Doc, the US's biggest medical drama, which has finally hit screens in Australia. The Canadian actress plays Amy Larsen, the chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis, who sustains a brain injury and loses the last eight years of her life. Dr Larsen is forced to navigate an unfamiliar world — while still practising medicine, she has no recollection of patients she's treated, colleagues she's encountered, the man she loves, or the tragedy that caused her to push everyone away. She can rely only on her estranged 17-year-old daughter, whom she remembers as a nine-year-old, and a few devoted friends, as she struggles after losing nearly a decade of knowledge and experience. It is based on an Italian series of the same name inspired by true events. Parker, best-known for her roles in House of Cards and Lost in Space, said while stepping into scrubs had been a challenge, she discovered a greater respect for medical professionals. 'The first couple of episodes are quite emotional for Amy, and so just that, in and of itself, is quite difficult,' she told The Sunday Times. 'It's given me a whole new appreciation for actors who play medical professionals, but also for medical professionals. It is such hard work and just so important. It's given me a whole a whole new respect.' Molly Parker in Doc. Credit: Sony Pictures Television With many days of intense and emotional filming, Parker said she uses knitting, a hobby she took up a few years ago, to cope. 'For me, in between setups or in between scenes, I need to be doing something with my hands, but it can't be something that takes me emotionally into another place,' she said. 'Like a big part of the job as an actor is to manage your emotional reality over the course of a day of working and knitting kind of is meditative. 'My husband's daughter just had a baby, so we have a little three-month-old granddaughter, and she's like the cutest thing ever. So I'm making little outfits. She also has a mini dachshund, Birdie, whom she takes on walks. While the series has aired in Australia for the first time, Parker admitted she hasn't spent a lot of time in the country. 'It's so embarrassing. And actually, I have an aunt from Melbourne, although she hasn't lived there in many, many years,' she said. 'I grew up on the west coast of Canada, and I just sort of always thought work would take me there. Like for a long time, all the travel I did was only for work, and I've sort of only recently really started travelling for myself, and somehow I just have not gotten a job in Australia.' Doc has been renewed for a second season of 22 episodes — double that of the first season — but Parker couldn't spill the beans as she 'doesn't know very much'. 'I expect that everything you can think of is gonna happen in this second season. But for me, that's part of what is really exciting about this dynamic, (Larsen's) amnesia gives space where almost anything can exist in that void,' she said. 'All secrets and surprises are going to show up for Amy. And I guess the big question is, Is she going to get any of her memory back? If she does, what will it be? And will it be an end?' Stream new episodes of Doc on 7plus every Tuesday.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker reflects on successful first season in coaching
Kaizer Chiefs' Wandile Duba and TS Galaxy's Mlungisi Mbunjana fight for the ball during their Betway Premiership match. Image: Backpagepix Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Bernard Parker has expressed his satisfaction with TS Galaxy's overall performance during the 2024/25 season, which marked his debut campaign as an assistant coach at senior level and as head coach of the club's DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team. As he transitions from a celebrated playing career into coaching, Parker says he's proud of the strides his teams have made, even amidst early difficulties. Speaking about the season, the 39-year-old admitted that adapting to professional coaching was initially challenging, despite having prior experience at lower levels. 'It was quite tough for me at first to put the team together because, although I had done coaching at a grassroots level, this was my first official season in professional coaching,' he explained. Parker holds a unique dual role with the Rockets, acting as a vital link between the club's DDC side and the senior team. A growing number of Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are turning to their development ranks to promote emerging talent from within their youth systems. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading TS Galaxy has aligned itself with this approach by outsourcing as they recently confirmed the acquisition of Kaizer Chiefs DDC captain Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi. He becomes the latest young prospect to make the switch from Amakhosi to the Rockets, following the path taken by Puso Dithejane and Khulimane Ndamane before him. Earlier in the campaign, Galaxy had found themselves in a difficult position following the departure of head coach Sead Ramovic after a string of unsatisfactory results. However, the club regained its footing under the joint leadership of Parker and Bosnian tactician Adnan Beganovic. The duo successfully steered the Rockets into a top-eight finish, narrowly missing out on CAF Confederations qualification. Reflecting on the season's beginning, Parker attributed the team's slow start to the loss of key players, which disrupted their rhythm and made it difficult to build momentum. 'It was a bit of a challenge to maintain balance after we lost some important players early in the season,' Parker said. 'We had to find replacements who could match the quality we had before, in order to carry forward from where we left off last season.'
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Indianapolis Colts' 2025 UDFA profiles: Troy WR Landon Parker
Indianapolis Colts' 2025 UDFA profiles: Troy WR Landon Parker Let's take a closer look at each of the Colts' UDFAs. Up next is Troy wide receiver Landon Parker. In addition to their eight draft picks, the Indianapolis Colts have also signed 15 undrafted rookies after the 2025 NFL draft to add to their 91-man offseason roster. Just as we did with each of the eight draft selections, let's take a closer look at each of the Colts' UDFAs. Up next is Troy wide receiver Landon Parker. Landon Parker's profile Height: 6-02 Weight: 211 40 time: 4.40 Age: 25 College profile Breaking down Indianapolis Colts' UDFA signing Parker appeared in 31 games with Wofford over four seasons from 2019 through 2022 and hauled in 60 receptions for 1,183 yards with six touchdowns. With that speed, he averaged a hefty 19.4 yards per catch during that span as well. The last two seasons, Parker has spent at Troy, where he caught 35 of his 59 targets (59%) for 478 yards and one touchdown. Almost all of his snaps have come lined up outside. By PFF's metrics, Parker was a popular target over the middle of the field, particularly on intermediate routes in that 10-19 yard range. Also of note, Parker played just 33 career special teams snaps. Hear from Landon Parker "I'm determined," said Parker in an interview with NFL Draft Diamonds. "I put in extra work to continually work on skills to get better each and every day. I never give up and understand the NFL is made up of elite athletes. I believe I am one of them given the opportunity. Not only can I make athletic catches and blocks as a receiver, but I bring versatility as I can also punt the ball." Landon Parker's RAS card
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans want to add work requirements to Medicaid. Even some recipients with jobs are concerned
Without Medicaid, Joanna Parker would have a much tougher time holding down a job. The Garner, North Carolina, resident works for a local home goods store up to 20 hours a week, typically. But she also suffers from degenerative disc disease in her spine and relies on Medicaid to cover her doctor's visits, physical therapy and medication that helps her manage the pain so she can get out of bed in the morning. 'If I lose my insurance, I lose my ability to work,' said Parker, 40, who was uninsured for about a decade until North Carolina expanded Medicaid to low-income adults in December 2023. That's why Parker is so worried about the sweeping Republican tax and spending cuts package that's now making its way through Congress. The bill that narrowly passed the House last week would impose the first-ever work requirement on Medicaid enrollees like her. The Senate will put its stamp on the measure, which aims to fulfill President Donald Trump's agenda, in coming weeks. Though she's employed, Parker fears she could be stripped of her health insurance if she's not able to work enough hours every month or gets tripped up in reporting her time on the job to the state – should the work mandate become law. 'I feel it will be so easy to lose your coverage if you do the reporting the wrong way and you can't fix it,' said Parker, who has applied for full-time jobs over the past 18 months but said she hasn't received responses. The House GOP's 'big, beautiful bill' would mandate that many Medicaid expansion enrollees ages 19 to 64 work, volunteer, go to school or participate in a job training program at least 80 hours a month to obtain or maintain coverage. The requirement, which would go into effect by the end of 2026, would not apply to parents, pregnant women, medically frail individuals and those with substance-abuse disorders, among others. The provision would help achieve Republicans' longstanding goal of introducing work requirements into Medicaid. It's part of an unprecedented set of cuts the House GOP would make to the nation's safety net program. Proponents say the mandate would prompt enrollees who could – and should, in supporters' view – work to get jobs and, eventually, move off of Medicaid. Also, they argue, it would preserve the program for the most vulnerable Americans and reduce spending on the low-income adults who gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act's expansion provision, a frequent target of congressional Republicans. 'If you are an able-bodied adult and there's no expectation of you to work or train or volunteer in any way, there's going to be a large number who don't,' said Jonathan Ingram, vice president of policy and research at the Foundation for Government Accountability, which promotes work requirements in government assistance programs. But many Medicaid enrollees and their advocates fear millions of people would lose their coverage under the proposed measure, including many who already work or qualify for an exemption but would get stuck in red tape. An estimated 4.8 million Medicaid recipients would be left uninsured over 10 years because of the work mandate, according to a preliminary Congressional Budget Office analysis, though that figure could grow due to last-minute changes to the House bill that accelerated the start date of the requirement. (The Senate, which will now consider the bill, is expected to also make changes to the legislation – though any adjustments to its Medicaid provisions remain to be seen.) Many adults with Medicaid coverage have jobs, though the estimates vary. Some 38% of adult enrollees had full-time jobs in 2023, most of them for the full year, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group that looked at folks ages 19 to 64 without dependent children who did not receive disability benefits or have Medicare coverage, which insures people with disabilities. Just over 20% worked part time, up to 35 hours a week. Another 31% reported that they did not work because they were caregivers or in school or had an illness or disability, all of which might qualify them for exemptions from the work requirements under the House bill. Only 12% of the enrollees said they were not working because they couldn't find jobs, had retired or reported another reason, according to the KFF analysis, which is based on US Census Bureau data. 'Most people are doing the things that they're expected to do in terms of qualifying activities or things that could qualify them for an exemption,' said Michael Karpman, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. 'But people have a lot of difficulty navigating the process for reporting their exemptions, or if they're not exempt, reporting their work activities.' He pointed to Arkansas, the first state to temporarily implement work requirements during Trump's first term before the effort was halted in federal court. More than 18,000 Medicaid enrollees lost their coverage over several months – even though the state automatically exempted about two-thirds of those subject to the mandate. Many beneficiaries in Arkansas did not understand the work requirements or did not realize it applied to them, a 2019 Urban Institute report found. Participants tend to move frequently so their contact information may have been outdated. Others had difficulty using the online reporting portal, especially if they did not have access to computers and internet service. 'That population has all kinds of challenges with interacting with a system like that,' said Bill Kopsky, executive director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, a social and economic justice advocacy group. He noted that many enrollees didn't receive mailed notifications from the state or didn't realize they had to take action. What's more, the mandate was not associated with an increase in employment, though the uninsured rate did rise among low-income residents in the affected age group, said Karpman, who analyzed Census data in a recent report. That finding is in line with a previous study from Harvard University researchers, which was based on telephone surveys. Ingram, however, challenges the assertion that the effort did not spur Medicaid recipients to find work. He noted in a recent report that more than 9,000 enrollees found jobs during the time the work requirement was implemented. Some 99% of them were in the age group subject to the mandate, according to a prior foundation report that cited state data. Katrina Falkner knows what it's like to be stuck in a Medicaid paperwork morass. The Chicago resident, who cares for her elderly father and other family members with disabilities, said she was disenrolled from the program in 2023 after the state Department of Human Services lost the paperwork that she had spent days organizing. The agency told her that it reinstated her, she said. But when she went to the hospital, she found out she was still uninsured. It took several visits to multiple agency offices before the issue was resolved the following year. The department told CNN that such scenarios are 'extremely rare' and it works to 'ensure timely review and enrollment' for all applicants eligible for Medicaid. Falkner, 43, volunteers with several community organizing groups at least 20 hours a week and works every other Saturday as a Head Start ambassador for the Chicago Early Learning program. She also suffers from asthma, anemia, vertigo and other conditions, which can make it hard for her to work or volunteer at times. Being able to meet the reporting requirements concerns her, especially since her electricity and internet access are sometimes cut off. 'If I lost my Medicaid, it would cause me a whole lot of struggles,' she said, noting that the program covers her nebulizer and other health care needs. 'If they don't have the right documents, I won't be able to be in existence because I can't breathe.' Although Dana Bango of Zionville, North Carolina, has dealt with state social service agencies for years, she still 'sweats it every time.' There are many strict deadlines and hoops to jump through, so she has to remain vigilant, she said. The potential work mandate fills her with 'dread' since she's worried that she could fall through the cracks and lose her Medicaid coverage – even though she works 20 hours a week at the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association and delivers for Door Dash 10 hours a week. A cancer survivor who still needs follow up care, Bango is concerned that she may not get the help she could need from state workers to log her hours if the mandate takes effect. 'I've been uninsured before. I don't want to go back there. It's a scary thing,' she said.
