Latest news with #PrivateLife
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Harte: Surrogacy situation threatens to end up like the Handmaid's Tale
I watched the movie Private Life at the weekend, a brilliant film on Netflix about the complications of assisted parenthood. Rachel and Richard, played by Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti, are desperate to have a much-longed-for child. This poignant, sometimes hilarious comedy drama makes astute yet non-judgmental observations about the deep biological urge to have a child and the lengths to which a couple failing at expensive $10,000- a-pop IVF may go. Rachel and Richard enlist the services of Richard's stepniece, Sadie, a floundering college dropout who agrees to act as an egg donor, but lacks the emotional maturity to understand the implications of this decision. The film is particularly good on the ethics of the fertility industry, which may profit from people desperate to have a baby. It also subtly raises points about the quagmire of ethical issues around egg donation and, in an indirect way, surrogacy, which is back in the news here. This month, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced in the Dáil that there is no fixed timeline for the commencement of the Assisted Reproduction Act (AHR), due to concerns of a clash between the act and an EU Directive aimed at preventing human trafficking involving surrogacy which must be transposed into Irish law by 2026. The act was passed in 2023 but has not yet come into force. This will be incredibly disappointing to surrogacy campaigners and to parents of around 1,000 children, neither of whom has legal rights to their children until legislation retrospectively amends the situation The lack of legislation affects children regarding birth registration, citizenship entitlements, and access to health care. Apparently, a new piece of legislation is being worked on to take account of the EU directive, and it is clear to me that there is still much to work out due to inconsistencies and deficits in the AHR. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has expressed concerns about the 'highly unusual' approach taken by Irish legislators to commercial global surrogacy. Many European countries have a complete ban on surrogacy. Surrogacy allows either a couple or an individual to have a child using a surrogate mother who agrees to carry a child to term with the intention that the intended parents (or parent) become the legal parents after the child is born. The medical possibilities vary depending on whether a surrogate carries the baby to full gestation using the couple's sperm and ova, the surrogate donates the ova, and the biological father's sperm is used, or both donor ova and donor sperm are used, with the surrogate carrying the child. In many ways, the law, which is by its nature slow to develop, has not kept pace with lightning speed changes in medical and reproductive advances and perhaps social attitudes. In a 2014 case, the then Chief Justice Susan Denham said nothing in the Constitution prevented the Oireachtas from legislating for surrogacy. She noted that surrogacy laws 'affect the status and rights of persons, especially those of the children.' We are obliged to protect Irish children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which includes guaranteeing rights to all without discrimination of any kind. This affects the 1000 children with a right to identity from birth, which arguably includes the interpretation of the right to your birth family. Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children asked legislators to incorporate the 'best interest of the child' principles into the act to avoid sidelining children's rights. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Whether it's a human right to have a child is a thorny question. It's not an explicitly named right. Yet, even if it is like all rights, it can be curtailed and limited by other rights. Culturally, we've evolved from seeing children as property whom we can raise as we wish to viewing them as independent beings within their own set of distinct rights. With the current lack of legislation, some Irish children are effectively legally left stateless and parentless, with the intended parents often seen as legal strangers to their children. This is to nobody's benefit Imagine a situation where a child was hospitalised, then the intended parents would not be legally entitled or able to give medical consent for a life-saving procedure or care. Surrogacy, however, is a highly complex area both legally and ethically. Under the new act, an Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority is proposed to be established, which will regulate a wide range of complex reproductive practices within Ireland and potentially surrogacy and donor-assisted decisions undertaken in other jurisdictions. One of the functions presumably of the authority would be to ensure that Irish couples or individuals do not become involved even indirectly in surrogacy arrangements involving human trafficking, which is key when an increasing number of Irish people are availing of surrogacy arrangements abroad, in countries such as Ukraine and India. It's evident that we need to set up a functioning framework as quickly as possible for properly regulated legal arrangements. Currently, most commercial surrogacy remains unregulated, underregulated or wrongly regulated, and it's always better to face up to reality. Concerns around surrogacy at the EU level, with a widened EU Directive introducing new penalties next year for those who participate in the exploitation of surrogacy, centre on the vast potential for the exploitation of poorer women as surrogates as well as the commodification and trafficking of children. As in many countries, you cannot pay for surrogacy in Ireland beyond a surrogate's reasonable expenses, but the new AHR, when it comes into force, will allow Irish parents to engage in commercial surrogacy abroad, provided they do so within the terms of the Act. First, there seems to be an ideological lack of cohesion here. Why should commercial surrogacy be domestically prohibited while allowing Irish couples to engage in commercial international surrogacy? It reminds me of the Irish solution to the Irish problem approach we once took to abortion. We had no abortion here, but we turned a blind eye to the thousands of women forced to go abroad for an abortion. It was a deep-seated form of hypocrisy. Secondly, if you drill into the details, while commercial surrogacy is allowed abroad under the act, only reasonable expenses to the surrogates are permitted, although many other payments are permissible, including payments of intermediaries' fees, which I would have thought is potentially red-flag territory where trafficking and exploitation are concerned. The categorisation of surrogacy as either 'altruistic' or 'commercial' is interesting. Often, only the surrogate is expected to act altruistically, while doctors and lawyers (and presumably shadowy others in some instances) involved in the process can legally be paid. Why should surrogates not be properly compensated? Naturally, altruistic surrogacy is often something by another name, in that altruism is a façade with actual compensation concealed within 'reasonable expenses.' But how on earth are you protecting a surrogate by making it a criminal offence for her to accept more than reasonable expenses, while other professionals and third-party intermediaries involved in the chain between intended parents and surrogate can profit handsomely? I would have thought regulating these parties was precisely where the focus should be. One stomach-churning development has been high-profile, vastly wealthy celebrities turning to surrogacy, like Kim Kardashian, who effectively rented another woman's womb. We live in a crazy world where, increasingly, the rich can buy anything they want. Outsourcing gestation requires careful legal and ethical consideration if we are to avoid a scenario like The Handmaid's Tale. Children's rights should be paramount in this debate, and that includes the 1000 children effectively in legal limbo. However, the murky international surrogacy racket needs to be spotlighted so that poor women are not used and abused, and children are not bought and sold. Read More Terry Prone: We recall Ronald Reagan fondly but he was every bit as bad as Donald Trump
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jodie Foster Says She Was Offered Lead Roles in French Films Before ‘Vie Privée' but Was ‘Too Scared': The Dialogue ‘Was a Huge Challenge for Me'
Jodie Foster revealed that she's been offered leading roles in French films before making 'Vie Privée,' but was 'too scared' to take them on. The Oscar winner is fluent in the language, having attended a French school growing up in Los Angeles. 'I had secondary parts [in French films] before, but I was actually afraid,' Foster said during 'Vie Privée's' Cannes press conference. 'A number of directors offered me projects but I was too scared to act in French. I thought someone who was more familiar with French should do so. But I don't really remember how things worked out this time around.' More from Variety 'Private Life' Review: Fluent in French, Jodie Foster Steers an Upscale, Paris-Set Psychological Thriller Guillermo Galoe Unpacks His Insider's Vision of a Family Riven by Its Shanty Town's Demolition in Critics' Week's 'Sleepless City' New York Erotic Tale 'Drunken Noodles' Sells to Taiwan, France and Germany for M-Appeal (EXCLUSIVE) Earlier in the press conference, Foster — who spoke in French nearly the entire time — said leading a French film was something she had 'wanted to do for a long time,' but learning all the dialogue was a 'huge challenge.' 'The great thing is that when I act in French, I'm a totally different person,' she added. 'I have a much higher voice, I'm much less confident and I get very frustrated because I can't express myself as well. And so it actually creates a new kind of character for me.' The Rebecca Zlotowski-directed film premiered at the festival on Tuesday night to an impressive eight-minute standing ovation. 'Vie Privée' stars Foster as a psychotherapist who becomes convinced that her patient's suicide was actually a murder. The film marks Foster's first film shot in France since 2004's 'A Very Long Engagement.' Her co-stars include Daniel Auteuil, who plays her ex-husband, and Virginie Edina, who portrays a mysterious patient whose death triggers her unorthodox investigation. Speaking about what sort of role she'd want to take on next, Foster expressed an interest in exploring comedy more. 'The older I get, the more I want to be more lighthearted,' she said. 'I'd like to be in films which talk about other people.' Foster continued: 'I only wanted to be in films which talked about me when I was younger. But this time around, things have truly changed. It's so much fun to listen to new voices and to support other people's performances. It's wonderful to be the old lady who says, 'Don't worry, there's nothing serious about it!'' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Simpsons reveals star who will voice iconic character as original actor replaced after 35 years in role
The star who will voice an iconic character in The Simpsons has been revealed as the original actor is replaced after 35 years in the role. Last year, it was announced actress Pamela Hayden, 71, would be retiring from the animated Fox series. She portrayed Milhouse Van Houten - one of Bart Simpson's friends known for his nerdy antics and a character who has been a staple part of the show since 1989. He also is also particularly known for his long crush on Lisa, Bart's younger sister. Now, it has been confirmed that Pamela will be replaced by Kelly Macleod who is the lead singer of female-fronted rock band Private Life. 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. She portrayed Milhouse Van Houten (centre) - one of Bart Simpson's friends known for his nerdy antics and a character who has been a staple part of the show since 1989 Kelly made her debut on The Simpsons as Milhouse in the final episode of season 35 last weekend. It wasn't her first time on the show, the singer also portrayed a minor character back in 2022. As for Pamela, she also voiced a variety of other characters during her time on The Simpsons, including Jimbo Jones and Chief Wiggum's wife, Sarah Wiggum. In a statement, per Deadline, Hayden expressed, 'The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?....Not easily.' 'It's been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse (and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others).' Pamela continued, 'Here's to everyone who made this terrific ride I've been on possible. Thanks for 35 years!!' 'Be well and happy. My best to you all. P.S. I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.' One of Pamela's other characters, sixth-grade bully Jimbo Jones had been a part of the beloved show since episode eight of the first season back in 1990. The menacing student became known for picking on Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) and was originally played by Tress MacNeille, 73. Pamela took over the role in the second season and had portrayed the pesky character ever since. Last month it was been revealed who exactly had taken on Jimbo's role - Mo Collins, 59. She featured as the school bully for the very first time on Sunday's episode, P.S. I Hate You. The comic starred as several different characters in more than 150 episodes of sketch comedy MadTV. She announced her new endeavour on Instagram and posted: 'Some exciting news I've been waiting to share! 'I will be taking over as the voice of Jimbo Jones on the Simpsons! Big shoes to fill. Pamela Hayden has retired, and now remains a legend! Well earned!! 'Getting that first script and seeing my name on it? Cool!! Stepping into that massive studio? Cool!! Hearing my voice to the animatics?!! 'So cool!! Huge thanks to the producers of the show, especially Mike Price, whom I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with on F is For Family, and (currently) Lil Kev (watch it! It's soo good! BET+) This is RAD!!! The Simpsons is available to stream on E4 and Disney+.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Private Life' Review: Fluent in French, Jodie Foster Steers an Upscale, Paris-Set Psychological Thriller
A sophisticated American in Paris, psychiatrist Liliane Steiner has a habit of recording her sessions. Is it because her patients speak French, and she's afraid of missing a thought? (I doubt much eludes Jodie Foster, who plays the almost Hitchcockian character in her first significant French-language role in more than 20 years.) Or is it because Liliane isn't really listening to these people, whose problems all sounds so frivolous, they practically blend together in a torrent of white noise on the soundtrack of 'Private Life'? In Rebecca Zlotowski's sleek but slippery psychological thriller, Liliane is caught off-guard by the news that Paula Cohen-Solal (Virginie Efira), a woman who failed to appear for her last three appointments, has in fact committed suicide. Liliane didn't see it coming and now she's rattled, wondering what else she might have missed. Paula's death sends Liliane back to her archives, listening for clues, though she's not likely to find the truth there. More from Variety Guillermo Galoe Unpacks His Insider's Vision of a Family Riven by Its Shanty Town's Demolition in Critics' Week's 'Sleepless City' New York Erotic Tale 'Drunken Noodles' Sells to Taiwan, France and Germany for M-Appeal (EXCLUSIVE) Rebel Wilson Escalates Battle With 'The Deb' Producers in 'Bizarre Outburst of Jealousy' After Cannes Yacht Party In fact, Anne Berest and Zlotowski's playful screenplay suggests that much of what Liliane's patients share with her is a kind of invented reality, in which they appear as the heroes or victims of their own stories for their therapist's benefit. To what extent might they be weaving entire fictions, and how much does she actually know of the lives they lead outside her office? That's an intriguing premise for an old-school psychological mystery, the likes of which Hollywood once made in abundance, before the genre migrated to TV. When Liliane shows up at a memorial ceremony for Paula, she's caught off guard when her late patient's husband (Mathieu Amalric) loses his temper and ejects her from the gathering. Apparently, Paula died of an overdose, taking all the medication Liliane had prescribed at once — though Liliane prefers to think that foul play might have been involved. In theory, she should have to answer to the authorities, although Liliane takes it upon herself to investigate, starting with the recordings. If Liliane were seeing a therapist of her own (as in a scene with an ex-mentor played by Paris-based filmmaker Frederick Wiseman), that professional might call it a case of countertransference: Rather than accept her own responsibility or negligence, Liliane looks for another explanation. But her body is sending contradictory messages. For starters, she can't stop crying. It's not out of sorrow, insists Liliane, but a short circuit of some kind in her tear ducts. Liliane's condition seems especially embarrassing for so stoic a woman, unaccustomed to showing the slightest emotion. Though nothing in 'Private Life' looks banal, the sight of Foster's eyes streaming nonstop ranks among Zlotowski's more striking visuals. Liliane's ex-husband Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil) is a doctor, so she books an appointment, but the crying continues. So Liliane does something she never thought she would, going to see a hypnotist who'd succeeded where she couldn't (convincing one of her patients to stop smoking) and giving herself over to what she'd always considered a quack procedure. Whatever you make of such alternative methods, hypnosis certainly makes the film more interesting, as it gives Liliane access to a vision in which her patient also appears — a flashback to World War 2-era Paris that looks like something out of a Claude Lelouch movie — with the added twist that they might have been lovers in a past life. Could this explain the affinity Liliane feels toward Paula? And might the sight of Liliane's son Julien (Vincent Lacoste) dressed as an SS officer explain her lifelong coldness toward him? The specter of antisemitism isn't just a passing detail, but an issue of personal significance to Zlotowski, who is Jewish. Here, the director implies that Liliane's vision is no less valid a reality than the one Paula was spinning for her, though you might want to brush up on your Lacanian dream analysis before trying to unpack a sequence that recalls such films as 'Dead Again' and 'Spellbound'). There's a deliciously overripe, almost campy quality to much of 'Private Life' that's expertly balanced by the intense focus of Foster's performance. Liliane always seems sure of herself, even when we the audience are fairly certain she's barking up the wrong tree. Practically every step of her investigation involves overstepping the ethics of her profession, and yet Foster's conviction never wavers. Would it surprise you to learn that the whole experience provides a much-needed form of therapy for Liliane as well? She's become complacent in her profession, and her personal relationships (with Gabriel, Julien and her newborn grandson) are a shambles. Running around like Nancy Drew from one corner of France to the other reignites something in Liliane. And while the ultimate destination somewhat underwhelms, it's a thrill to see Foster navigating a fully bilingual role, while tossing off the kind of snide remarks only an expat could feel toward the French — a tiny glimpse into Foster's private life, perhaps. Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Metro
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Simpsons reveals new actor playing Milhouse...and she's been in a rock band
The replacement for a long running The Simpsons character has been announced. In 1989, Pamela Hayden joined the American animated series, voicing characters including Milhouse Van Houten, Jimbo Jones and Rod Flanders. After appearing in more than 700 episodes, in November last year the 71-year-old revealed she was leaving the show. 'The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?……not easily,' she shared in a statement. 'It's been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse (and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others).' Six months on it's now been revealed who will be taking over the character, best known for being Bart Simpson's best friend. Entertainment Weekly has reported Milhouse will now be played by singer Kelly Macleod. In 2022 she appeared in an episode of The Simpsons, the season 33 episode, Bart the Cool Kid. In it she performed the song Two Badges, One Mind in the ep, which also starred The Weeknd and Michael Rapaport. She began her career as a member of the rock band Private Life, which released two albums produced by Eddie Van Halen and Ted Templeman. Their son Touch Me was also featured on the soundtracks of both Wayne's World and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Macleod then spent a decade with another band, The Sweet Potatoes and released the solo album, Wide Open, in 2021. She will make her debut on The Simpson's Sunday night's season finale Estranger Things. The episode's official synopsis teases: 'When Bart & Lisa stop watching Itchy & Scratchy together, Marge fears that they'll start to drift apart… but she has no idea how bad things are about to get!' However, Milhouse will only have a minor part in this episode and will say one line. He will appear in a scene where he, Bart, and Lisa are all adults. When announcing her exit from the show, Pamela also paid tribute to her best-known character. 'P.S. I'll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses,' she wrote. More Trending Milhouse, named after former US president Richard Milhous Nixon, first appeared in The Simpsons a Butterfinger commercial in 1989. Creator Matt Groening previously explained his origin story, sharing: 'Bart needed someone to talk to in the school cafeteria. 'We named him Milhouse because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have.' View More » The Simpsons is streaming on Disney Plus. 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: Fans thrilled as Netflix 'saves' beloved children's TV show after shock axe MORE: WWE fans furious as surprise return gets 'spoiled' hours before tonight's Raw MORE: My 600-lb Life star Latonya Pottain dies aged 40 after asking fans to 'pray for me'
