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Daily Mail
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The naked truth about Page 3: Model Nicola Tappenden reveals 'shocking' wages, life-changing diagnosis at 41 and doomed relationship with Jeff Brazier
For years, Nicola Tappenden was one of Britain's most recognisable Page 3 models, beaming from tabloids and red carpets with effortless glamour. But behind the smiles and photo shoots, she carried a weight she couldn't explain - until a life-changing diagnosis at 41 finally made everything make sense. 'I spent my life feeling different,' Nicola tells MailOnline. 'Like I didn't fit in. Always asking myself, 'Why did I say that? Why did I do that?' That nagging feeling would follow her through fame and her relationships, including a disastrous romance with TV presenter Jeff Brazier. Twenty years earlier, before entering the world of glamour modelling, Nicola worked in compliance at Citibank and lived in Croydon with parents Tina and Steve. A light-hearted pub chat with friends about her 'great boobs' led to her entering The Sun's Page 3 Idol contest in 2002. She kept her progress in the competition a secret from work and when her manager found out, he jokingly confronted her. However, the company's HR wasn't so lighthearted and told her she'd boosted office morale, but her time at the bank was up. Soon after, Nicola won the contest with over 25,000 votes. The prize: a one-year contract with The Sun, red carpet invites, photoshoots, celebrity parties, and what was sold as a fast track to fame and fortune. She was 20, living at home with her parents in Croydon and working for a bank when her friends encouraged her to apply for the contest, which she won after attracting more than 25,000 votes from The Sun readers 'It was just a massive whirlwind,' Nicola recalls. Suddenly, at aged 20 Nicola was walking the red carpet and meeting A-listers at the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The following day's paper would see Nicola posing in a barely-there dress with the headline: 'Good Lord, it's Nicola's 2 towers!'. 'One night I was at a premiere mixing with A-listers, the next morning I was having a bowl of cornflakes with my mum and dad,' she says. However, she would soon discover the promise of 'fortune' was underwhelming - £1,000 a month. 'I was earning more at the bank,' Nicola reveals. 'I got paid £1,000 a month and then £250 a day to attend events but that might be one day a week or one day a month.' Nicola also found the reality far less glamorous than it appeared. 'I think I did Page 3 for about five years altogether. 'It just isn't what you think it would be.' Despite the public attention, Nicola began to realise that behind the glossy images, her mental health was unravelling. She never felt good enough - not pretty enough, not smart enough and not worthy. She was also subject to a deeply unsettling experience. During a visit to Gibraltar to welcome home Royal Navy officers, Nicola found herself alone in a private room with a group of drunk, high-ranking men. They pressured her to expose herself. Intimidated and alone, she complied - then fled the room in tears. 'They just kept chanting. I eventually gave in - and I've never felt so ashamed.' Back in England, her agent reported the incident. She was sent flowers and an apology - she heard nothing more. 'I was young and vulnerable, and instead of being protected, I was exposed,' she says. Despite the challenges, Nicola became iconic in the Page 3 world. But inwardly, she struggled with relentless self-doubt. 'I never felt pretty enough. I would obsess over every photo. I just wanted to be liked.' She dated several high-profile men, including footballers Bobby Zamora and Simon Walton, who she welcomed daughter Poppy with. Bobby, she says, opened her eyes to a world beyond Croydon. 'He lived in a penthouse in Canary Wharf, and showed me a totally different kind of life. He was normal, funny, kind. I'm grateful to him for that.' She later dated Jeff Brazier, TV presenter and ex-partner of the late Jade Goody. Their relationship, Nicola says, was deeply unhealthy from the start. 'If I'd known then what I know now - about trauma, about myself - I never would have stayed. But I did, because I was desperate to be liked, to feel enough. 'There was a defining moment, and at that point, I should have said I'm never going to speak to you ever again.' Meanwhile, as the Page 3 culture shifted, Nicola became disillusioned. 'The early days of Page 3 when photographer Beverley Goodway was there were the best,' she says. 'He created this amazing culture and when the girls got together, we all loved to see each other. 'It changed when Beverley retired.' During a calendar shoot, Nicola clashed with another model over their unkind behaviour. To this day, she's unsure if she quit or was pushed out - but either way, she was done. She remains close to fellow ex-Page 3 girls Nikkala Stott and Keeley Hazell. 'We laugh all the time because they say I got sacked. If I got sacked, I didn't know about it. But I never went on Page 3 again,' she says. By then, Nicola had built a successful business, launched a fashion label, and went on to appear on reality TV shows, including WAGs Boutique and Celebrity Big Brother where she entered the house to boos. 'Coming out to cheers felt like people were finally seeing me for who I really was,' she says. But the turning point in Nicola's life came at the school gates. A fellow mum suggested Nicola might have ADHD after recognising the same symptoms her daughter had. At first, Nicola was stunned. She then received a professional diagnosis and cried for weeks. 'It was like someone had lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I realised there was never anything 'wrong' with me, it was what was right with me. 'I grieved for that little girl who was constantly misunderstood. The girl who always felt like she was failing and never good enough.' The diagnosis reframed her life. It also gave her the tools to help her daughter, Poppy, who has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Determined to support other women like her, Nicola launched Noops, a supplement brand aimed at managing ADHD symptoms. She spent 18 months working with scientists to develop the gluten-free and vegan supplement designed to support brain health, energy, mood, focus and sleep. 'I didn't want more chemical medication. But the supplement market was overwhelming. So I created what I wished had existed,' says Nicola, who also runs digital consultancy, Belle Digital. Now 42, she lives a quieter life in Surrey with ex-footballer partner Simon - whom she reunited with 12 years after their split - and their daughter, Poppy, 16, as well as son Louis, five, who she had in another relationship. 'Simon and I found each other again and it's definitely where I'm meant to be.' Nicola no longer chases the limelight - she chases meaning. 'Celebrity life wasn't good for my mental health. It made me feel desperate, and I never want to feel like that again,' she says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by noops (@noopsnootropics) She dreams of launching a ADHD support network for women, to help others avoid the pain she endured silently for so long. And she has her sights set on taking Noops to America, as well as raising awareness about ADHD in girls. She explains: 'ADHD goes undiagnosed in girls because the traits are so different. In boys, we recognise the traits as being hyperactive and a naughty little boy, 'But little girls, it's so different. They are almost in a bubble, in a fairy bubble.' Today, Nicola isn't just a former model. She's a mother, a businesswoman, an ADHD advocate - and someone who has finally found peace in who she is. 'There were times I didn't want to be here anymore. But now I know - I was always worthy. I just needed to understand myself first.' WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. Ballet secures new contract agreement ahead of 50th anniversary season
The San Francisco Ballet has reached a new contract agreement with its orchestra seven months before its current one was set to expire this year. As part of the new three-year agreement with the American Federation of Musicians, the union that represents more than 70,000 professional musicians in the U.S and Canada, the Ballet Orchestra is able to add a new position, increasing its ranks to 50 musicians. 'S.F. Ballet's commitment to its musicians as a vital foundation upon which the Company stands is concretely expressed by this agreement,' Peter Wahrhaftig, an AFM representative and the orchestra's principal tubist, said in a statement released Monday, June 9. He added that the contract not only helps in expanding the orchestra but also assists in attracting and retaining new players. In December, the Ballet and its performers' union reached a two-year agreement that addressed wage increases, health and wellness provisions and staffing capacity, among other topics. The deal put an end to months of contract negotiations, with demands prompted by concerns about the wellbeing of dancers and an increase in workers' compensation claims. The Ballet is currently facing lawsuits from two dancers who claim that they endured permanent injuries after being forced to perform through pain. AFM's new contract with the Ballet comes at a time where labor negotiations continue to be contentious among several arts organizations, including at the San Francisco Symphony. Dozens of Symphony musicians and choristers have staged several protests over compensation, artistic direction and financial transparency. These tensions have been heightened by the looming departure of Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, who cited disagreements with the board as his reason for leaving after his last performance with the Symphony on Saturday, June 14. In May, Symphony musicians staged a demonstration outside Davies Symphony Hall ahead of a sold-out screening and live orchestral performance of the soundtrack from 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.' The Ballet has had a smoother, shorter negotiation process, which Wahrhaftig called 'unprecedented.' He credited it to the 'strong, long-standing relationship' between musicians and management. In addition to ratifying the new contract, the institution announced it received a 'major gift' from philanthropists and longtime Ballet supporters Shelby and Frederick Gans just in time for its Ballet Orchestra Music Director and Principal Conductor Martin West's 20th anniversary with the company in September. 'Frederick and I are proud of the outstanding artistic excellence of both Martin West and San Francisco Ballet Orchestra,' Shelby said in a statement. 'We are honoring their dedication and respective 20th and 50th anniversaries with a gift that will support our beloved ballet through the year 2050.' The exact amount of the donation was not disclosed. 'We look forward to celebrating our unparalleled artists,' Ballet Executive Director Branislav Henselmann told the Chronicle, 'both in the orchestra pit and on stage, in the year ahead."
UPI
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Mariska Hargitay tries to understand late mom in 'My Mom Jayne'
1 of 3 | Mariska Hargitay learns about her late mom, Jayne Mansfield, in the new documentary "My Mom Jayne." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 3 (UPI) -- HBO is previewing My Mom Jayne, a documentary about Jayne Mansfield, as told through the eyes of her daughter Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay, 61, an actress best known for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, is the younger daughter of Mansfield, a Hollywood star who died at age 34 in 1967. "I've spent my whole life distancing myself from my mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex symbol," Hargitay says in the trailer, out Tuesday. "Her career made me want to do it differently. But I want to understand her now." "I was three years old when my mom died, and I don't have any memories of her," she added. The documentary sees Hargitay interview her half-siblings to learn more about their mother. She also sifts through letters, photos and other things that had belonged to Mansfield for insight. In addition, Hargitay addresses her parentage -- the actress learned in her 20s that Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, not Hungarian bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay, is her biological father. Hargitay was raised by Mickey Hargitay. "She grapples with her mother's complicated public and private legacy, uncovering the surprising layers and depth of who Jayne was, not only to her fans, but also to those closest to her," an official synopsis reads. My Mom Jayne will air on HBO and stream on Max June 27. Photos: 'Law and Order' icon Mariska Hargitay turns 60 Mariska Hargitay and her godchildren attend the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" in New York City on December 5, 2002. Hargitay has called "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" a "platform to effect change." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
UPI
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Mariska Hargitay shares in documentary that Mickey Hargitay isn't her biological dad
1 of 3 | Mariska Hargitay discusses in the documentary "My Mom Jayne" how her biological dad is Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, as she long believed. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo May 19 (UPI) -- Law & Order: SVU icon Mariska Hargitay shares in a new documentary that Mickey Hargitay isn't her biological father like she and the world have long believed. The actress discussed her parentage in My Mom Jayne, an HBO documentary about her late mom, model and actress Jayne Mansfield. Mariska, now 61, discovered in her 20s that Italian singer and comedian Nelson Sardelli -- not Hungarian bodybuilder and actor Mickey -- is her actual birth father. The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, the New York Post and Today reported the news. Also according to My Mom Jayne, which Mariska directed and which screened this weekend at the Cannes Film Festival, Mickey raised Mariska and two of her older siblings after Mansfield died at the age of 37 in a Louisiana car crash in 1967. Mariska and two of her siblings were in the vehicle at the time. Mickey, who died in 2006, knew Sardelli fathered Mariska while Mickey and Mansfield were briefly separated, but he never wanted to discuss it with Mariska. Mickey and Mansfield reunited shortly before Mariska's birth in 1964, but they split up again later that year. Mansfield would marry and divorce another man, filmmaker Matt Cimber, before she died. Mariska described learning the truth about her parentage as feeling like "the floor fell out from underneath me," like she was "living a lie" and as though her "infrastructure was dissolved." Mariska told Vanity Fair she met Sardelli, now 90, when she was 30. She said she behaved much like the no-nonsense New York Police Department detective she plays on SVU when she approached him after a show in Atlantic City. "I went full Olivia Benson on him," she recalled. "I was like, 'I don't want anything, I don't need anything from you. I have a dad,'" she said. "There was something about loyalty. I wanted to be loyal to Mickey." Sardelli and his family participated in the documentary, which is to premiere on HBO on June 27. Photos: 'Law and Order' icon Mariska Hargitay turns 60 Mariska Hargitay and her godchildren attend the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" in New York City on December 5, 2002. Hargitay has called "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" a "platform to effect change." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum - Everything We Know So Far
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors So rich and layered was the mythology that J.R.R. Tolkien created that even though the stories of both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" have already been adapted to the big screen, there's still more to tell. First on deck is "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum". Here's everything we know about the next film in Tolkien's saga. When Does 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' Release? "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" hits theaters December 17, 2027. Who Is Making 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum?' Andy Serkis - who originated the live-action role of Gollum in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy - will star in and direct "Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum". Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who wrote Jackson's trilogy, are working on the script for the film along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Peter Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens are producing. Who Is In 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'? So far, the only cast confirmed for "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is Andy Serkis, who will do double duty both starring as Gollum and directing. The character of Gandalf is expected to appear, and Sir Ian McKellen has said he is open to returning to the role, but his involvement is not yet confirmed. Read More: Orlando Bloom Says He'd Return for More 'Lord of the Rings' Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Warner Bros. What Is 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' About? A lot of what happens in the source material was left out of Peter Jackson's film trilogy, and in this case, one thing that is briefly mentioned in the films but never expanded upon is the hunt for Gollum. In the books, after Gandalf discovers that Bilbo's ring is the One Ring, he employs the help of Aragorn and the Wood Elves in the search for Gollum. Reference is made to this search in the films, but what is not mentioned is that Aragorn actually succeeds in capturing Gollum and together he and Gandalf interrogate him. Based purely on the working title of the film, this is the story it will tell. When Does 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' Take Place? Assuming the film will stick to the source material, "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" should take place during the events of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". Specifically, "The Hunt for Gollum" should unfold between the birthday party of Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm), and Gandalf's return to the Shire after discovering the nature of Bilbo's magical ring. Is There A Trailer for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'? No, there is no trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" yet. More Movies: 'Naked Gun' Reboot Shares First Look at Pamela Anderson's Femme Fatale Mark Hamill to Lead New Dystopian Stephen King Survival Thriller
