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Meghan Markle put her most fashionable foot forward as she marked International Women’s Day in true Hollywood style by appearing on a celebrity-studded panel at SXSW – while her husband Prince Harry cheered her on from the front row.

The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex joined actress Brooke Shields and longtime news anchor Katie Couric on-stage at the prestigious festival, where she was leading a panel discussion about ‘breaking barriers’ and ‘women’s representation’.

Beaming with pride as she walked out on stage, having been introduced to the crowd as Megan, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan then took her seat alongside her fellow panelists for the discussion – during which she candidly opened up about the ‘hatred’ she received while pregnant with her children.

The Duchess of Sussex, who traveled to Austin from her $14.65 million home in Montecito on Thursday, looked radiant in a silver-beige $1,000 Giuliva Heritage silk maxi skirt and matching $975 button-up shirt, a look that she accessorized with some chunky gold earrings.

Throughout the panel discussion, Harry, 39, was seen gazing up at his wife from the front row, joining his fellow guests in applauding Meghan – whom he joined for a date night on Thursday at the Austin venue of private members’ club Soho House.

Meghan Markle put her most fashionable foot forward as she marked International Women's Day in true Hollywood style by appearing on a celebrity-studded panel at SXSW

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Meghan Markle put her most fashionable foot forward as she marked International Women’s Day in true Hollywood style by appearing on a celebrity-studded panel at SXSW

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The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex joined actress Brooke Shields and longtime news anchor Katie Couric on-stage at the prestigious festival

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Meghan began by gushing about her ‘excitement’ to be joining the panel

Prince Harry cheered his wife on from the front row at the panel discussion - and was joined by the couple's close friend, Soho House mogul Markus Anderson (left)

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Prince Harry cheered his wife on from the front row at the panel discussion – and was joined by the couple’s close friend, Soho House mogul Markus Anderson (left)

Prince Harry was joined in the front row by the couple’s very close friend, Soho House mogul Markus Anderson, who was instrumental in bringing the Sussexes together in the early days of their relationship.

The Duchess began by gushing about her ‘excitement’ to be joining the panel, before going on to tout the many female-focused initiatives that she and Prince Harry work on through their nonprofit, the Archewell Foundation.

‘I’m so excited to be here and to be with such incredible women, so much brilliance on this panel and this is just such an amazing way to celebrate International Women’s Day,’ she said.

She then went on to discuss a wide range of topics, including:

  • Hatred she has received on social media, particularly when she was pregnant with her children, Archie and Lilibet 
  • The need for more inclusivity and accurate representation of women and mothers in media 
  • Fighting to protect children and young people from dangers of social media while praising Prince Harry for being an ‘incredible partner’ and ‘hands-on’ dad
  • Retold her story about leading campaign to change ‘sexist’ soap commercial when she was 11 years old 

FIGHTING FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION OF MOTHERS IN MEDIA  

When asked about the Archewell Foundation’s decision to fund a recent report calling for ‘true representation’ for mothers on TV, Meghan explained that she and Harry had chosen to get involved with the project for ‘three key reasons’.

‘My husband and I, our foundation helped to fund it because I think from our standpoint, and certainly from mine, there are three key reasons why it felt vital to see the information they were going to be pulling from this report,’ she said.

‘On a personal level, I’ve just always loved understanding women and our stories and our lived experiences and our shared experiences so I was really curious to see what the report was going to uncover.

‘Oftentimes as women, the way that we see ourselves is reflected back to us, sometimes accurately, and sometimes, much to our disservice, inaccurately, in what we see in media.

‘So to be able to have the findings to uncover what we can do to propel that, to make sure women are really feeling seen in a way that is reflective of who and how we are and how we move through the world, felt important.

‘From a philanthropic standpoint with our foundation, there is obviously a lot of work to be done in supporting women and moms. You can begin with paid leave.’

She went on to note that Archewell’s production arm is focusing more on its own representation of women and mothers ‘as it expands its slate’ of projects, both on-screen and in podcasting.

Meghan has her own female-focused podcast, Archetypes, which began as part of the Sussexes’ lucrative deal with Spotify, but has since moved to Lemonade Media, after the couple parted ways with the popular streaming company.

‘IT’S NOT CATTY, IT’S CRUEL’: OPENING UP ABOUT ‘HATRED’ SHE RECEIVED DURING HER PREGNANCIES 

Meghan went on to open up about the hatred she received online while pregnant with her children, Archie, now four, and Lilibet, now two.

‘I keep my distance from [social media] right now for my wellbeing but the bulk of the bullying and abuse I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn, with each of them,’ she said after being asked about the trolling she has faced.

‘You just think about that and to wrap your head about why people would be so hateful. it’s not catty it’s cruel. Why you would do that when you’re pregnant or as a mom at such a tender and sacred time.’

She questioned how anyone could ‘do that’ to a an expectant or new mother – noting that much of the vitriol she was seeing online was coming from women trying to take down other women.

‘[It’s] women completely spewing that to other women and I cannot make sense of that,’ Meghan continued.

MEGHAN PRAISES HARRY FOR BEING AN ‘INCREDIBLE PARTNER’ AND A ‘HANDS-ON’ DAD 

Having discussed the toll that online ‘hatred’ had on her throughout her pregnancies and in the early stages of motherhood, Meghan went on to discuss the ways in which the Archewell Foundation is working to ensure that women and mothers can feel safer and more supported online.

While opening up about the ‘dizzying’ impact that social media can have on a new mom, Meghan praised the ‘support’ that she receives from Prince Harry, describing him as an ‘incredible partner’ and a ‘hands-on dad’ to their two kids.

‘The effect that social media can have a new mothers… even just the lack of sleep because they spend all this time scrolling and scrolling,’ she said.

‘But it can also be really dizzying for them to see this portrayal of motherhood that looks so perfect, when we all know that it’s not perfect. We all know that it’s messy.

‘I’m fortunate in that amongst the privileges that I have in my life, I have an incredible partner. My husband is such a hands-on dad and such a supporter of me and of my family, and that I don’t take for granted, that is a real blessing.

‘But a lot of people don’t have that same level of support. So for us, it’s just trying to put the safeguards in so women, and moms especially, can not feel like they’re even more vulnerable when they go online, so they can somehow feel like they are going to a safer place.’

The mother-of-two was joined on the panel by actress Brooke Shields, TV host Katie Couric, and inclusion consultant Nancy Wang Yuen

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The mother-of-two was joined on the panel by actress Brooke Shields, TV host Katie Couric, and inclusion consultant Nancy Wang Yuen

Meghan wore a silky maxi skirt and a matching shirt in a muted silver-beige tone, accessorizing with some chunky gold earrings

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Meghan wore a silky maxi skirt and a matching shirt in a muted silver-beige tone, accessorizing with some chunky gold earrings

'I’m so excited to be here and to be with such incredible women, so much brilliance on this panel and this is just such an amazing way to celebrate IWD,' she said after taking her seat

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'I’m so excited to be here and to be with such incredible women, so much brilliance on this panel and this is just such an amazing way to celebrate IWD,' she said after taking her seat

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‘I’m so excited to be here and to be with such incredible women, so much brilliance on this panel and this is just such an amazing way to celebrate IWD,’ she said after taking her seat

During the panel, Meghan opened up about the 'hatred' she received while pregnant with her children, Archie and Lilibet, as her husband Harry watched on

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During the panel, Meghan opened up about the ‘hatred’ she received while pregnant with her children, Archie and Lilibet, as her husband Harry watched on

Meghan Markle praises Prince Harry for being a ‘hands on dad’

KATIE COURIC ASKS MEGHAN TO RETELL SEXIST P&G SOAP CAMPAIGN STORY FROM HER CHILDHOOD

One topic of conversation was how society can work towards making ‘the world more equitable’, a discussion that Meghan began by noting the importance of representation for ‘young girls’.

‘If you’re a young girl and you see yourself in a position of power or strength or leadership, you can believe that is possible,’ she said.

‘If you look out on the screen, or you look out in the world, and you see no one that looks like you, it is incomprehensible for most people to imagine that they can have that level of success or joy or strength.’

Former Today anchor Katie then asked Meghan if she would ‘retell the story about when you wrote that letter to P&G’, referring to an anecdote that the Duchess has told on multiple occasions about fighting against a ‘sexist’ Procter & Gamble commercial when she was 11 years old.

‘I don’t know if anyone… if everyone’s heard it, but it’s such a great story at a very young age,’ Katie went on, before apologizing for ‘disrupting the flow’ of the panel.

Beaming with pride, Meghan happily agreed to share the story with the crowd – having mentioned it at multiple events over the years.

‘I was 11 years old, about 11 years old, and I had seen a commercial on TV for a dishwashing liquid, and the boys in my class at the time… you know it said, “Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans,” and the boys said, “Yeah that’s where women belong, in the kitchen,”‘ Meghan recalled.

‘And at 11, I just found that infuriating, and [so] I ended up writing lots of letters, I put pen to paper, and they ended up changing the commercial to “people all over America”.

‘It’s funny to look back at it now, because that was before social media where you have a reach that is so much greater, it was just an 11 year old with a pen and paper.

‘But it just goes to show that if you know that there’s something wrong and you’re using your voice to advocate in the direction of what is right, that can really land and resonate and make huge change for a lot of people.’

Meghan then concluded: ‘Your voice is not small, it just needs to be heard.’

At one point during the panel, Meghan once again retold a story about how she had Procter & Gamble change a 'sexist' soap commercial when she was 11 years old

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At one point during the panel, Meghan once again retold a story about how she had Procter & Gamble change a ‘sexist’ soap commercial when she was 11 years old

Meghan appeared on Nick News after lobbying the manufacturing company to change a TV ad for dishwashing liquid in 1993

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Meghan appeared on Nick News after lobbying the manufacturing company to change a TV ad for dishwashing liquid in 1993

The Duchess of Sussex looked radiant in a silver-beige $1,000 Giuliva Heritage silk maxi skirt and matching $975 button-up shirt

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The Duchess of Sussex looked radiant in a silver-beige $1,000 Giuliva Heritage silk maxi skirt and matching $975 button-up shirt

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The Duchess of Sussex looked radiant in a silver-beige $1,000 Giuliva Heritage silk maxi skirt and matching $975 button-up shirt

The festival announced Meghan’s involvement in the panel earlier this week, billing the Duchess as a ‘visionary female leader’, while noting that she and her fellow guests would discuss ‘breaking barriers’ and ‘challenging stereotypes’ while speaking about ‘women’s representation in media and entertainment’.

‘Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there’s still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers,’ the SXSW blurb about the panel – entitled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen – read.

‘Social media’s omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular.

‘On International Women’s Day, we’ll hear from feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity, New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of The Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions Meghan, The Duchess of SussexEmmy Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Katie Couric; two-time Golden Globe Award-nominated actress, model, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author Brooke Shields; and author, sociologist, pop culture expert, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant at Peoplism Nancy Wang Yuen.’

South by Southwest, which is widely known as SXSW, is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, and runs from March 8 to March 16.

Meghan looked relaxed and happy throughout the chat, beaming widely as she spoke with her fellow panelists

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Meghan looked relaxed and happy throughout the chat, beaming widely as she spoke with her fellow panelists

Although the Duchess of Sussex touched on some very serious topics throughout the panel - including the dangers of social media for kids - she appeared upbeat for most of the chat

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Although the Duchess of Sussex touched on some very serious topics throughout the panel - including the dangers of social media for kids - she appeared upbeat for most of the chat

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Although the Duchess of Sussex touched on some very serious topics throughout the panel – including the dangers of social media for kids – she appeared upbeat for most of the chat

The festival announced Meghan's involvement in the panel earlier this week, billing the Duchess as a 'visionary female leader'

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The festival announced Meghan’s involvement in the panel earlier this week, billing the Duchess as a ‘visionary female leader’

SXSW is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, and runs from March 8 to March 16

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SXSW is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, and runs from March 8 to March 16

Meghan’s panel session is, according to the organizers, being presented by her and Harry’s Archewell Foundation in collaboration with The 19th, a nonprofit newsroom that reports on gender, politics, and policy.

Meghan and Harry are understood to have arrived in Austin on Thursday – when they were spotted grabbing dinner at the city’s Soho House location in a sweet throwback to their first date, which was enjoyed at one of the private members’ club’s London venues.

The happy couple were seen by onlookers, who told People that they seemed ‘happy and in great spirits’ during their dinner.

‘Harry was very animated throughout the dinner. They were super low key and seemed happy to be around the upbeat vibes at the lively venue,’ the anonymous passerby told People.

The Sussexes’ night out came almost exactly eight years after they enjoyed their first rendezvous at Soho House in London, a night they enjoyed so much, they even returned the following day, when they are believed to have snapped some intimate black-and-white photo of themselves laughing together in a photobooth.

Harry opened up about his first date with his wife in his bombshell memoir, Spare, admitting in the tome that he had actually arrived late at the venue, much to his horror.

‘Red-cheeked, puffing, sweaty, half-an-hour late, I ran into the restaurant, into the quiet room, and found her sitting at a small area on a low velvet sofa in front of a low coffee table,’ he wrote, before going on to gush how ‘beautiful’ he thought Meghan was upon seeing her for the first time.

Prince Harry and Meghan (seen together in Canada last month) are understood to have traveled to Austin together on Thursday

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Prince Harry and Meghan (seen together in Canada last month) are understood to have traveled to Austin together on Thursday

The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry were spotted at Soho House Austin on Thursday night ahead of her appearance on the star-studded panel at the opening day of the SXSW festival

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The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry were spotted at Soho House Austin on Thursday night ahead of her appearance on the star-studded panel at the opening day of the SXSW festival

‘I’d seen so many photos of her from fashion shoots and TV sets, all glam and glossy, but there she was, in the flesh, no frills, no filter… and even more beautiful,’ he said.

Harry’s appearance at the festival came just one day after a judge ordered that the Department of Homeland Security hand over sensitive material about the Duke’s immigration papers so he can review them and decide whether to make them public.

The development came after a hearing at the court in Washington, D.C. last month in which Judge Carl Nichols heard from the DHS and the Heritage Foundation, which is seeking to release the material.

The Heritage Foundation is seeking the release of the documents as part of a Freedom of Information request it filed last year following Harry’s confession in his memoir and in the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary that he had done drugs.

His admission sparked questions about whether the Duke was entirely truthful on his immigration paperwork – which requires entrants into the US to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?’

If the Duke did not tell the truth on his entry forms then he could be removed from the US or barred by a border agent.

In the latest update, Judge Nichols told the DHS that its arguments so far were ‘insufficiently detailed’ for him to make a decision.

He asked the agency, which oversees immigration, to give him declarations explaining the ‘particular harm’ that would arise from the disclosure of the Duke of Sussex’s visa application.

Pierce Brosnan dressed to impress alongside his wife of 23 years, Keely Shaye Smith, as they attended the US-Ireland Alliance’s 2024 Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica on Thursday.

The former James Bond actor, 70 – who recently enjoyed a romantic date night with his wife in Malibu – joined other celebrities at Bad Robot, a production company run by both J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath.

The Tomorrow Never Dies star was one of the honorees during the event, as well as SNL alum Molly Shannon and Richard Baneham.

Brosnan opted for an all-black ensemble for the special night, and donned a pair of black pants as well as a black button up that was partially unfastened around the collar.

He layered the monochromatic outfit with a black, suede blazer and slipped into a pair of sleek dress shoes that were secured with laces.

Pierce Brosnan, 70, dressed to impress alongside his wife of 23 years, Keely Shaye Smith, 60, as they attended the US-Ireland Alliance's 2024 Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica on Thursday

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Pierce Brosnan, 70, dressed to impress alongside his wife of 23 years, Keely Shaye Smith, 60, as they attended the US-Ireland Alliance’s 2024 Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica on Thursday

The Tomorrow Never Dies star was one of the honorees during the event, as well as SNL alum Molly Shannon and Richard Baneham

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For a finishing touch, Brosnan additionally wore a black, satin cravat that was loosely wrapped around his neck.

US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo said of Brosnan in a statement, per the official website, ‘The success of Irish actors in the film industry in recent years has highlighted the remarkable talent in Ireland.’

‘We’re thrilled to be honoring one of the most talented Irish legends, who paved the way.’

The Irish-born actor was joined by his wife Keely – whom he tied the knot with in 2001 – and she also opted for an all-black ensemble.

The journalist wore a pair of black trousers as well as a satin blouse that contained ruffled details on the front.

Smith added a black blazer on top which was left unbuttoned and also slipped into a pair of black, ballet flats.

Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders. Keely accessorized her look with a pair of silver, dangly earrings as well as a chunky ring on her right hand.

The couple – who share sons Dylan, 27, and Paris, 23 – were seen posing for an assortment of photos upon arriving to the festivities and later crossed paths with fellow honoree, Molly Shannon.

Brosnan opted for an all-black ensemble for the special night, and donned a pair of black pants as well as a black button up that was partially unfastened around the collar

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Brosnan opted for an all-black ensemble for the special night, and donned a pair of black pants as well as a black button up that was partially unfastened around the collar

He layered the monochromatic outfit with a black, suede blazer and slipped into a pair of sleek dress shoes that were secured with laces

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He layered the monochromatic outfit with a black, suede blazer and slipped into a pair of sleek dress shoes that were secured with laces

For a finishing touch, Brosnan additionally wore a black, satin cravat that was loosely wrapped around his neck

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For a finishing touch, Brosnan additionally wore a black, satin cravat that was loosely wrapped around his neck

The Irish-born actor was joined by his wife Keely - whom he tied the knot with in 2001 - and she also opted for an all-black ensemble

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The journalist wore a pair of black trousers as well as a satin blouse that contained ruffled details on the front

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The Irish-born actor was joined by his wife Keely – whom he tied the knot with in 2001 – and she also opted for an all-black ensemble

Molly Shannon put on a leggy display wearing a dark navy minidress that contained sequin details on the fabric that sparkled under the bright lights

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Molly Shannon put on a leggy display wearing a dark navy minidress that contained sequin details on the fabric that sparkled under the bright lights

The Superstar actress also opted for a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders

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The Superstar actress also opted for a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders

The Superstar actress put on a leggy display wearing a dark navy minidress that contained sequin details on the fabric that sparkled under the bright lights.

Shannon also opted for a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders.

Molly was also seen posing for a few memorable snaps with Pierce as well as his wife, Keely, shortly before the event commenced.

Jane Seymour, 73, was also in attendance and put on a radiant display wearing a figure-hugging, teal dress that contained short, puffy sleeves.

The hem of the ensemble stopped a few inches above her ankles, easily revealing a pair of open-toed, nude-colored heels.

The Somewhere In Time actress added a pair of dangly, blue earrings that matched the color of the dress, as well as a chunky ring on her right hand to accessorize the look.

Her hair was parted in the middle and flowed down past her shoulders, allowing her bangs to gently fall onto her forehead.

Seymour is also no stranger to the Bond franchise, and although she never worked alongside Brosnan, she notably starred in Live And Let Die (1973).

Pierce Brosnan leads feature documentary Quintessentially Irish
Molly was also seen posing for a few memorable snaps with Pierce as well as his wife, Keely, shortly before the event commenced

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Molly was also seen posing for a few memorable snaps with Pierce as well as his wife, Keely, shortly before the event commenced

Jane Seymour was also in attendance and put on a radiant display wearing a figure-hugging, teal dress that contained short, puffy sleeves

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Jane Seymour was also in attendance and put on a radiant display wearing a figure-hugging, teal dress that contained short, puffy sleeves

The Somewhere In Time actress added a pair of dangly, blue earrings that matched the color of the dress, as well as a chunky ring on her right hand to accessorize the look

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The Somewhere In Time actress added a pair of dangly, blue earrings that matched the color of the dress, as well as a chunky ring on her right hand to accessorize the look

While posing for photos, she was seen crossing paths with Touched By An Angel star, Roma Downey, who opted for stylish comfort at the event

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While posing for photos, she was seen crossing paths with Touched By An Angel star, Roma Downey, who opted for stylish comfort at the event

The two also had a bit of fun while striking another pose together for the cameras

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The two also had a bit of fun while striking another pose together for the cameras

At one point, Downey also met up with Pierce during the photo session, and the pair also stopped for a quick photo together

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At one point, Downey also met up with Pierce during the photo session, and the pair also stopped for a quick photo together

While posing for photos, she was seen crossing paths with Touched By An Angel star, Roma Downey, who opted for stylish comfort at the event.

The Irish actress sported a pair of black, fitted leggings as well as a white sweater that had long, billowing sleeves.

She slipped into a pair of black, knee-high boots and carried a vibrant, green bag in her hand that offered a pop of color to her outfit.

At one point, Downey also met up with Pierce during the photo session, and the pair also stopped for a quick photo together.

Lily Rabe was effortlessly chic in a white, lace dress that had layered details on the skirt that fell down towards the ground.

The Love & Death star added a sequin, gray sweater on top for a dazzling flare and also wore a pair of open-toed, black heels.

She carried a small, black purse in her right hand and opted for bold makeup – which included a smoky, red shadow around her eyes.

Rabe was joined by her partner and Midnight Mass actor, Hamish Linklater, who wore a white button up that was tucked into the waist of gray, denim jeans.

Lily Rabe was effortlessly chic in a white, lace dress that had layered details on the skirt that fell down towards the ground

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Lily Rabe was effortlessly chic in a white, lace dress that had layered details on the skirt that fell down towards the ground

Rabe was joined by her partner and Midnight Mass actor, Hamish Linklater, who wore a white button up that was tucked into the waist of gray, denim jeans

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Rabe was joined by her partner and Midnight Mass actor, Hamish Linklater, who wore a white button up that was tucked into the waist of gray, denim jeans

ER alum, Maura Tierney, kept it casual in a pair of classic, denim jeans as well as a long-sleeved, black sweater

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Fionnghuala O'Reilly flaunted her toned figure in a fitted, black dress that clung to her frame and was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her neck

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ER alum, Maura Tierney, kept it casual in a pair of classic, denim jeans as well as a long-sleeved, black sweater

Cillian Murphy was also spotted during the festivities, and donned a white shirt that was tucked into a pair of black trousers

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Cillian Murphy was also spotted during the festivities, and donned a white shirt that was tucked into a pair of black trousers

The Oppenheimer actor added a black blazer on top and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown shoes to complete his look

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The Oppenheimer actor added a black blazer on top and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown shoes to complete his look

He also donned a black coat as well as dark brown boots that were secured with laces to complete his look for the evening.

ER alum, Maura Tierney, kept it casual in a pair of classic, denim jeans as well as a long-sleeved, black sweater.

She layered the ensemble with a light, tan-colored jacket and slipped into a pair of brown, suede boots for a finishing touch.

Fionnghuala O’Reilly flaunted her toned figure in a fitted, black dress that clung to her frame and was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her neck.

A small cutout could be seen around the bodice for a sultry flare, along with floral embellishments. The Irish-American model wore a pair of open-toed, black pumps to coincide with the monochromatic color scheme of her ensemble.

Her dark locks were swept up into a chic up do, allowing a few wavy strands to border the sides of her face.

Cillian Murphy was also spotted during the festivities, and donned a white shirt that was tucked into a pair of black trousers.

The Oppenheimer actor added a black blazer on top and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown shoes to complete his look.

The Oscar-nominated actor was seen stopping for a quick photo session upon arriving to the venue on Thursday

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The Oscar-nominated actor was seen stopping for a quick photo session upon arriving to the venue on Thursday

Titanic director, James Cameron, was seen in a pair of black pants as well as a dark navy sweater. The filmmaker added a black leather jacket on top and donned a pair of black shoes for a finishing touch

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Titanic director, James Cameron, was seen in a pair of black pants as well as a dark navy sweater. The filmmaker added a black leather jacket on top and donned a pair of black shoes for a finishing touch

Cameron was also seen crossing paths with honoree and Irish animator, Richard Baneham. The two notably collaborated on the Avatar franchise

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Cameron was also seen crossing paths with honoree and Irish animator, Richard Baneham. The two notably collaborated on the Avatar franchise

Greg Grunberg donned a dark navy suit as well as a plain shirt underneath while attending the event

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Greg Grunberg donned a dark navy suit as well as a plain shirt underneath while attending the event

He was also spotted crossing paths with Molly Shannon and the two stars flashed cheerful smiles while posing for a photo together

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He was also spotted crossing paths with Molly Shannon and the two stars flashed cheerful smiles while posing for a photo together

Courtney B. Vance donned dark gray trousers as well as a black, puffer vest to stay warm in the cooler temperatures

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Courtney B. Vance donned dark gray trousers as well as a black, puffer vest to stay warm in the cooler temperatures

Titanic director, James Cameron, was seen in a pair of black pants as well as a dark navy sweater. The filmmaker added a black leather jacket on top and donned a pair of black shoes for a finishing touch.

Cameron was also seen crossing paths with honoree and Irish animator, Richard Baneham. The two notably collaborated on the Avatar franchise.

Greg Grunberg donned a dark navy suit as well as a plain shirt underneath while attending the event. The Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor slipped into a pair of sneakers that offered a casual flare to his outfit.

He was also spotted crossing paths with Molly Shannon and the two stars flashed cheerful smiles while posing for a photo together.

Courtney B. Vance donned dark gray trousers as well as a black, puffer vest to stay warm in the cooler temperatures.

The Lovecraft County star also wore a silver, leather jacket as well as black and gray-colored sneakers. For a finishing touch, he also added a dark gray hat on top of his head.

Celebrities were seen mingling shortly after the festivities kicked off, and Pierce and his wife were spotted taking a quick snap with a fellow guest

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Celebrities were seen mingling shortly after the festivities kicked off, and Pierce and his wife were spotted taking a quick snap with a fellow guest

The couple paused for another snap as they sat on a comfy couch with the other attendees at the event

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The couple paused for another snap as they sat on a comfy couch with the other attendees at the event

Brosnan also held a lighthearted conversation with Richard Baneham and the pair held smiles on their faces while sipping on a Guinness beer

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Brosnan also held a lighthearted conversation with Richard Baneham and the pair held smiles on their faces while sipping on a Guinness beer

Other attendees - along with Pierce and Richard - could be seen talking amongst themselves before the main ceremony took place

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Other attendees – along with Pierce and Richard – could be seen talking amongst themselves before the main ceremony took place

Molly Shannon had the chance to catch up with other guests as she relaxed on a cushioned couch at the venue

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Molly Shannon had the chance to catch up with other guests as she relaxed on a cushioned couch at the venue

Richard was seen with his wife, Ashling Baneham, as well as their three sons Luke, Daniel and Nathan who came to support the animator

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Richard was seen with his wife, Ashling Baneham, as well as their three sons Luke, Daniel and Nathan who came to support the animator

Celebrities were seen mingling shortly after the festivities kicked off, and Pierce and his wife were spotted taking a quick snap with a fellow guest.

Brosnan also held a lighthearted conversation with Richard Baneham and the pair held smiles on their faces while sipping on a Guinness beer. Other attendees could be seen talking amongst themselves before the main ceremony took place.

Molly Shannon had the chance to catch up with other guests as she relaxed on a cushioned couch at the venue.

Richard was seen with his wife, Ashling Baneham, as well as their three sons Luke, Daniel and Nathan who came to support the animator.

Later in the night, Pierce was seen flashing a cheerful smile as he took to the stage to accept his award at the ceremony. He could be seen addressing the audience as a bright spotlight shone down on him.

James Cameron was also spotted talking on stage and addressed the star-studded crowd while holding an award in his hand.

Roma Downey was another speaker at the awards ceremony and took to the stage in front of the crowd.

Natalie Portman‘s marriage of 11 years to Benjamin Millepied is now officially over.

Portman quietly filed to end the union in July and the divorce was finalized in France, a representative for the actress confirmed with People.

Portman, 42, and Millepied, 46, married in 2012 and share two children together – son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France.

The split came after it was alleged Millepied had cheated on Portman with a woman 21 years his junior. 

Last year French outlet Voici released an explosive report claiming Millepied had an affair with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Étienne.

Natalie Portman 's marriage of 11 years to Benjamin Millepied is now over after the actress quietly filed for divorce from her husband last year

Natalie Portman ‘s marriage of 11 years to Benjamin Millepied is now over after the actress quietly filed for divorce from her husband last year

People magazine reported at the time that the romance with Camille was ‘short-lived’ – and that Benjamin was ‘doing all he could’ to get ‘Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together.’

In their latest report about the divorce, a friend of the former couple shared with People how Portman had been getting through the split.

The friend revealed it been ‘initially really tough’ for Portman in the early days of her split, but her supportive friends ‘helped her get through the worst of it.’

The friend explained that the actress is now on ‘the other side’ of a difficult year and ‘stronger’. She has now been ‘finding joy in her family, friends, and work.’

Portman’s ‘biggest priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for her children,’ the friend said.

‘She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents they can be. Nothing is more important,’ the insider said.

Portman lightly touched on her marital problems in the 30th annual Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

When the May December actress was asked how she feels about having her marriage written about, she said it was ‘terrible.’ She added, ‘It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.’

Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together - son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France

Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together – son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France

In a January WSJ interview, she seemed to quietly confirm their split as she talked about living in Paris with her two children but made no mention of Millepied, which was the biggest hint yet that they no longer live together.

Last month the duo reunited as they were pictured with their two children on a lunchtime outing in Los Angeles.

The Academy Award-winning actress did not appear to be donning her wedding ring.

The Star Wars alum has been seen without her wedding ring on multiple occasions since the cheating allegations were first made public, including during her solo appearance on the Golden Globes red carpet in January.

Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together - son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France; the former couple pictured 2019

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Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together – son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France; the former couple pictured 2019

Portman and Millepied met in 2009 on the set of her psychological horror film Black Swan, for which he was the choreographer; pictured 2022

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Portman and Millepied met in 2009 on the set of her psychological horror film Black Swan, for which he was the choreographer; pictured 2022Over the weekend, Portman announced her book club pick for March: Nora Ephron's autobiographical novel 'Heartburn', based on her marriage and divorce from second husband Carl Bernstein, following his affair

Over the weekend, Portman announced her book club pick for March: Nora Ephron’s autobiographical novel ‘Heartburn’, based on her marriage and divorce from second husband Carl Bernstein, following his affair

Beautiful in black! Natalie Portman at Palm Springs Film Fest

The divorce news comes after Portman revealed the latest selection in her book club – a  novel about the impact of a cheating husband.

Over the weekend, Portman announced her book club pick for March: Nora Ephron’s autobiographical novel ‘Heartburn’, based on her marriage and divorce from second husband Carl Bernstein, following his affair.

‘Excited to finally read Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, her classic transformation of pain into humorous art. Looking forward to hearing what you all think! #MarchBookPick @natsbookclub,’ Natalie wrote in the caption of her post.

Portman and Millepied met in 2009 on the set of her psychological horror film Black Swan, for which he was the choreographer.

The now-exes became engaged in 2010 and were married in 2012 at Big Sur, California.

Benjamin also worked on choreography for Natalie’s dark musical drama film Vox Lux in 2018, in which she played a woman who survives a school shooting, only to become a pop star.

Angelina Jolie’s former partners might have felt a bit overshadowed when she revealed that her most memorable on-screen romance was with Denzel Washington in a film.

The 48-year-old actress has shared the screen with numerous attractive co-stars throughout her career, but she particularly relished the opportunity to “seduce” the esteemed Training Day actor during their collaboration in 1999.

Their union dates back a quarter-century to their work on Phillip Noyce’s gripping crime thriller, The Bone Collector. Jolie recently reminisced about her experience with Washington, expressing how he managed to impress her during filming. Adapted from Jeffery Deaver’s 1997 novel, The Bone Collector is a gripping tale.

In the film, Jolie portrays Amelia Donaghy, a determined police officer hunting down a serial killer who leaves behind a disturbing signature at each crime scene: a carefully extracted bone from the victim.

Struggling to interpret the killer’s cryptic clues, Donaghy enlists the help of quadriplegic forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme, played by Washington. Despite his physical limitations, Rhyme’s intellect proves invaluable in cracking the case.

As the characters spend time together unraveling the mystery, a connection develops, leading to an intimate moment between them, albeit not in the conventional sense. Discussing the nuances of their relationship, Jolie emphasized that the “romance” was more about intellectual and emotional intimacy than physicality.

Reflecting on her experience during an interview with Dark Horizons following the film’s release, Jolie delved into the chemistry between her character and Washington’s, describing a scene where she seduces him using both intellect and scent as “the best sex I ever had.” She elaborated, expressing the thrill of seducing someone through intellectual means as a significant turn-on.

Despite enjoying her time with Washington on set, Jolie admitted that filming The Bone Collector was a challenging and isolating experience, causing her to doubt her capabilities. She candidly shared her struggles, revealing her initial feelings of inadequacy in leading a film and grappling with the demanding role of a cop tasked with saving lives.

Given the intense nature of the plot, it’s understandable that the experience left Jolie feeling a bit unhinged. She humorously remarked that starring in The Bone Collector “nearly drove her insane” because her character’s turmoil mirrored her own internal struggles. However, one can imagine that sharing scenes with Washington provided some much-needed grounding amidst the chaos.

After his wife became disabled, Ryan divorced her and sold their home with her still in it. However, he accidentally crossed paths with her six years later, only to learn the tables had turned.

A gorgeous woman stepped out of the silver car that pulled over outside the luxury hotel. Ryan, now a homeless man, was about to approach the vehicle when the hotel’s doorman noticed him.

Terrified the doorman would call the cops on him, Ryan was about to bolt, but the woman stopped him.

“Here,” she offered him a $20 bill. “Get something to eat…Oh my god, is that you, Ryan?”

Ryan was shocked. Nobody had called him by his real name on the street. He looked at the woman closely and gasped. “Brittany?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

The last time Ryan saw his ex-wife, Brittany, was six years ago when she was in a wheelchair. He had divorced her and walked out of her life.

“How…how did you get all the money for this car…hotel?” he stammered.

“I see you’re more surprised by my wealth than my healing…Well, Ryan, I’d have never gotten where I’m today if it weren’t for what you did six years ago…” Brittany replied as the past flashed before her eyes.

Six years ago…

Ryan decided to leave their house quietly as he went to fetch the last box of things, but Brittany was waiting for him.

“How could you, Ryan?” she demanded angrily as she positioned her wheelchair between him and the last box. “You sold this house without telling me?! What about our dreams? Memories?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“I thought you’d understand,” he shrugged, averting his gaze. “Anyway, there’s nothing left between us, Brit. Those memories are dead. I can’t keep living here like nothing’s changed. That accident didn’t just kill our child; it killed us too.”

“Don’t say that!” She wheeled in front of him. “You told me family is the most important thing! I gave up my career to raise our child. We were supposed to get through this together!”

“OK, stop! This is hard for me too, alright?” Ryan shot back. “Do you think I enjoyed watching our relationship disintegrate? Getting a divorce was best for both of us and so was selling this house. The movers will be here in the morning for the furniture—”

“So is that what I am now, Ryan? Furniture?” Brittany’s eyes welled up. “You sold this house with me in it…Never even gave me a chance to find somewhere else to go!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“I found you a nursing home. They can care for people like you…what more do you want?”

“People like me…who are no longer useful to their families, right?”

Ryan pretended he hadn’t heard what Brittany said. He loaded the last box in his truck and drove away.

Brittany moved to the nursing home. She couldn’t help but feel betrayed, and she was so furious that she lashed out at her physical therapy nurse, Tara.

“What’s the point of those exercises when nothing will get better? Not like they’ll bring back my husband or my child!”

“It can help you live a fuller life, Brittany,” Tara said calmly.

But Brittany was fuming. “My ex-husband sold our house without telling me and dropped me here like a stray dog! You have no idea what it’s like to be abandoned!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“I do!” Tara cut her off and looked her in the eye. “My husband left me for his mistress, and all I got out of the divorce was a huge bill for items he had bought in my name and defaulted on paying! He turned my life upside down in two days, and I’m still picking up the pieces.”

“They don’t deserve to live a good life when we suffer!” Brittany crossed her arms. “We should show them what it’s like to be in our shoes!”

Over the next few days, Tara and Brittany formed a tight friendship as they wanted revenge on their exes. Tara revealed her ex-husband, Harold, had some papers in their house that could nail him for fraud, and Brittany quickly had a plan.

***

They spotted Harold’s car in the parking spot. The vehicle reversed just as Brittany wheeled past. She shrieked as her wheelchair spun from the impact and barely managed to keep it upright.

“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!” Harold leaped from the car and ran to her. “I didn’t see you…Are you hurt?”

“You nearly ran right over me! Can’t you see where you’re going?” She hyperventilated as she examined her legs. “But…I think I’m okay. My nerves are so on the edge now, though. Can you walk me there?” She pointed to the building elevator about 50 meters away.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Harold felt guilty and agreed. Brittany kept him distracted with small talk as they approached the building.

Meanwhile, Tara’s hands shook as she approached Harold’s sports car. She saw he seemed distracted, and she had no time to waste.

Tara accessed his glove compartment and rummaged through the junk to find his house keys. But in a rush, she accidentally spilled everything on the passenger seat. “God! Not now!” she swore, but luckily, she found the keys.

Tara quickly removed a lump of putty from her handbag and pressed Harold’s keys to it. She glanced back at the building, and Harold and Brittany had vanished. She quickly stuffed everything back in the compartment and sprinted down the block.

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I was copying that key!” she confessed as she and Brittany were staking out of Harold’s house.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Sorry that you had to go through this, but think of the rewards,” Brittany consoled her.

Suddenly, they spotted Harold.

As Harold reversed out of his driveway and disappeared down the street, Tara and Brittany got themselves inside his house using the key they had made from the imprint.

“What if he’s changed the passcode?” Tara sighed as they stood before the safe in his office. But she tried the five-digit combination, and the safe clicked open!

“Harold is such an idiot!” Tara grinned as she scanned the folders in the safe, but her smile faded when she couldn’t find the documents.

“The records for his dummy corporations and his offshore bank accounts…it’s all gone! We did this for nothing!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Brittany and Tara hadn’t expected their plan would fail. They decided to regroup back at the nursing home and headed toward the door, but they heard loud voices approaching and had to rush to the bathroom to hide.

“Look at all these fancy artworks, Trent! Do you reckon boss would accept them as payment for Harold’s loan?” A man’s rough voice appeared.

“Nope! Boss said only cash, Dave!” Trent replied.

“Hey, just check out this man’s liquor cabinet!” Dave whistled. “The boss didn’t say anything about not helping us with his whiskey, did he?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Who are these guys?” Brittany whispered to Tara, who told her to be quiet as she pressed her ear to the door.

“Well, you heard the man, Harold,” Dave said. “The boss wants cold, hard cash. What’s the code for your safe?”

“There’s no money in there—”

Both women flinched as they heard the sound of a hard slap.

“Oh god, we need to sneak out while they’re distracted!” Brittany whispered. Then they heard another loud crash.

“Dang it, Trent! Look what you did! How’s the man supposed to tell us the code if he’s out cold?”

“I never thought I’d say this,” Tara sighed. “But we need to save Harold!”

“What? We’re no match for them!” Brittany hissed. “I adore you, Tara, but I’m not dying for your lousy ex!”

“We won’t confront them directly,” Tara reached the medicine cabinet over the sink and removed sleeping pills. “Wait for me!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Tara tiptoed from the bathroom and into the kitchen. She triggered the garage door’s remote control and hurtled back into the hall. The whir of the garage door opening echoed through the house.

“You heard that? Sounds like we’ve got company!” Trent said.

“Let’s check it out; Harry’s not gonna run off anyway.”

Tara held her breath and hid behind a plant as she saw the two bulky brutes covered in scars walk to the garage. She raced down to the sitting room where Harold was lying unconscious. Tara had to be quick. She crushed the sleeping pills into the thugs’ glasses and hurried back to the bathroom.

“Something’s up, Dave! The timing’s too perfect. We should check the house!” Trent said as they returned, and Brittany and Tara stared at each other in horror.

But thankfully, Dave refused. They seemed to be drinking again, and soon their speech started to slur, and eventually, they went quiet.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Tara and Brittany crept over to where Harold lay. They managed to get Harold over Brittany’s wheelchair handle, but disaster hit when they reached the front door.

“He’s stuck!” Tara exclaimed as Brittany’s chair veered to the left.

“Get him unstuck, fast!” Brittany glanced at Tara as she clung to Harold. “He’s starting to slip.”

“Shoot…sorry, Harold.” Tara banged the toe of Harold’s shoe until it popped free from the metal curve it had gotten wedged in.

Tara huffed as she pushed her friend and Harold toward her car. But soon, they realized they couldn’t fit Harold and Brittany’s chair in their vehicle.

“Wait, I have a better idea!” Tara ran back to Harold’s house. She tiptoed over the sleeping thugs and went through their pockets. Luckily, she got their car keys quickly and hurried back to Brittany.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Together, the women loaded Harold into the trunk and settled him there as comfortably as possible. Then Tara helped Brittany into the passenger seat.

”See if they have a first aid kit,” Tara said. ”I need to bandage Harold’s thigh.”

Suddenly, Brittany let out a startled gasp. “Did you find the kit?” Tara asked.

“No…but there’s so much money that we could use some as bandages if you want,” Brittany said, holding up several stacks of $100 bills.

“Oh, God! Let’s just get Harold to the hospital. We can figure everything else out later,” Tara said.

”Honey, I don’t think there’s anything to figure out.” Brittany grinned as she fanned her face with several bills.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Tara let out a startled laugh as she started the car. “After we drop Harold off at the hospital, let’s leave our heartaches and awful exes behind us and start a new life!”

“You know what?” Brittany chuckled. “Honolulu is amazing at this time of the year! I think I’ve had enough of revenge.”

Present-day…

“So Tara and I moved to Hawaii. We invested the money and watched it triple in the first year. Tara suggested I see a surgeon, and here I am after the treatment…but it looks like things didn’t go well for you after we split. How about you come to my suite and—”

”I’m sorry, Ma’am, but you can’t do that!” The doorman said firmly.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“I’ll be sure to tell the front desk you tried to stop me if they have concerns about my friend,” Brittany replied, marching right past the stunned doorman with Ryan in tow.

”Now, I want to hear everything that’s happened to you over these past six years. And then we’re going to discuss what I can do to help you get back on your feet.” She smiled as they reached the reception.

“But why?” Ryan asked. “Why would you help me after what I did to you?”

”Because I can. I did want revenge on you once, Ryan, but I moved on ages ago. Tara’s kindness toward Harold that day made me realize that the only person I was hurting by holding onto my bitterness was me. Besides,” Brittany grinned, “like I said, I never would’ve reached this point in my life if it weren’t for you.”

To raise her precious newborn girl, Sandra worked hard as a housemaid for a rich employer who seemed cold and rude. That was until she found an old photo in the man’s attic: Who was this man, really, and why did he have her picture

There were tiny little pockets of time in Sandra’s day when she wasn’t busy cleaning her boss’ palatial house. In these tiny little pockets of time, she forgot the pain in her young body, the heartbreak of being abandoned by her boyfriend, the sorrow of being an orphan all these years…

All of that ceasedto exist, and she only saw the serene image of two pink hands and feet and a face so delicate and divine it broke her heart. “Amelia!” Sandra’s lips would quiver, uttering the name of her baby girl, who was just 4 months old.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

Sandra’s world had turned on its head since the day she learned she was pregnant. Her boyfriend of three years walked out on her, saying he wasn’t cut out to be a father.

Sandra had never met anyone in this world who was father material. Or mother material, for that matter. For as long as she could remember, she felt tossed around from one foster home to another, never making any real friends or feeling at home.

There were years when she was angry at the world, unwilling to be a kind, vulnerable human to anyone in her path. But that anger got older and paler, and when Amelia came along, it completely melted away.

“Promise me you’ll watch over her. Promise me, so I can go…”

“I can always be the mother and father I never had… that will be my closure,” she thought as she worked the vacuum cleaner on the expensive rug that covered the marble floor in her employer’s home.

It was only her third day at work, and it already looked like she was getting on Mr. Russell’s nerves.

“What do you think you’re doing, miss?” His feeble but angry voice jolted her back to the present moment.

“You’re using the wrong vacuum cleaner on the wrong rug… AGAIN!”

Sandra turned red with embarrassment and shame and ran up to the store room in the attic to correct her error.

Mr. Russell’s angry words continued to chase after her. “If you’re going to be distracted the whole time, I suggest you look for another job! I’d like to see who else would hire someone as sloppy as you!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

Sandra couldn’t shut out the man’s voice or stop her eyes from tearing up. The fact that she couldn’t find the right cleaning instrument up there wasn’t helping either. She rummaged through the large storage closet and bit her tongue as a pile of mops and buckets toppled onto the floor, making a loud noise.

“What’s that noise?” Mr. Russell yelled impatiently and started climbing the stairs to the attic.

Sandra was nervously putting things back in place when she noticed something that fell off the shelves.

It was an old family photo album, and it landed open on a picture that brought goosebumps all over Sandra’s skin.

In a daze, she picked up the album and took a closer look at the photo, her eyes widening and tearing up every second.

“Is that… me?” Sandra wondered out loud and fainted into the chair behind her.

When she finally got a hold of herself again, she saw Mr. Russell, who had been standing in a corner of the room the whole time.

Only this time, his voice had softened, and there were tears in his eyes.

“Cassandra? Is that really you? You… do look just like… your father!” the older man wiped his face.

Mr. Russell looked at the young woman in a new light and could clearly see traces of his best friend Matthew, his big-hearted fellow soldier who had died tragically in a fire several years ago.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

“M-My father? You knew him?”

Mr. Russell collapsed into the chair behind him and covered his mouth, his eyes reliving the horror, the pain, and the promise of the past…

It turns out that Matthew and Mr. Russell, or Matt and Ray, as they lovingly called each other, had been the thickest of friends during their years in the army. Ray was an orphan and had no family waiting for him to return, while Matt was a lucky man, married to a beautiful woman who wrote to him every day.

“Ray, she wrote to me again today… and look! She finally sent me a picture of my baby girl! I named her ‘Cassandra.’ Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Ray had looked at the picture and felt his partner’s joy in his own heart. Without saying a word, Ray blessed that bright-looking little child in the picture a hundred times.

But fate had its own plans. The very next day, Matthew was caught in a fire at the warehouse that he was assigned to surveil.

Fighting to speak in his final moments of pain, his weak hand placed the same photo of his daughter into Ray’s hands.

“My wife… tell her I love her. Tell her I’m going to love her from up there, too. And remember, Ray? You said you didn’t have anyone to go home to… well, now you do. My daughter… promise me you’ll watch over her. Promise me, so I can go…”

That last sob of his dying friend still echoed in Mr. Russell’s ears.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

“I’m so sorry, Cassandra. I wrote to your mother. I looked for her… and for you. But when I returned from service a year later, both of you were gone without a trace… All I could find out was that your mother had driven you to a different city wanting to start a new life for your sake.”

Sandra burst into tears as she recollected pieces of the rest of the story. She was only three years old back then, and she remembered her mother driving her somewhere.

The skies were golden, her mother was singing and hiding her tears all along, and just as they reached a city-like place with buildings and lights again, a blinding flash of light dashed towards them, and Sandra heard her mother’s voice calling her name for the very last time.

“Cassandra…” she had said, and years later, Mr. Russell’s voice carried the same heaviness as he called that name.

It was a miracle that after all these years, life allowed Ray to fulfill his promise. And to Sandra (or Cassandra, as she insisted on being called ever since), it was a blessing to feel the presence of a father figure in her life.

For the rest of his years, Ray did his best to make up for lost time with his best friend’s daughter. He took Cassandra and her baby daughter in and provided them with every luxury he could afford. When it was Ray’s time to go, he left all that he had earned on earth to Cassandra and Amelia, the family that was gifted to him by an incredible friend.

The Teletubbies Sun baby – Jess Smith – now has a baby of her own, sharing a new family snap on social media.

Smith, 28, was just nine months old when she was cast as the Sun baby in Teletubbies, appearing in 365 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2001.

She welcomed her first child in mid-January, though she didn’t mention the baby’s name or gender in her Instagram post.

Just days later, she shared that her child is a daughter, named Poppy Rae Latham, with the middle name a possible nod to a ‘ray’ of sunshine from her Sun Baby role.

‘Family day out visiting nanny, Ollie and Arlo,’ Smith captioned the snap of her, Latham and their daughter.

The Teletubbies Sun baby - Jess Smith - now has a baby of her own, sharing a new family snap on social media

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The Teletubbies Sun baby – Jess Smith – now has a baby of her own, sharing a new family snap on social media

Smith, 28, was just nine months old when she was cast as the Sun baby in Teletubbies, appearing in 365 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2001

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Smith, 28, was just nine months old when she was cast as the Sun baby in Teletubbies, appearing in 365 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2001

She welcomed her first child in mid-January, though she didn't mention the baby's name or gender in her Instagram post

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She welcomed her first child in mid-January, though she didn’t mention the baby’s name or gender in her Instagram post

Smith announced she was expecting back in October, when she shared an image of her sonogram.

‘When two becomes three,’ she captioned the post, where she tagged her longtime boyfriend Ricky Latham.

Then on January 15 she shared a snap of her baby Poppy’s hand wrapped around her finger, which she captioned, ‘One whole week of you,’ indicating the child was born January 8.

She shared another snap on January 20 of Latham carrying their child in a car seat, which she captioned, ’12 days in our lives, 7 days at home, 2 very lucky parents. Please welcome Poppy Rae Latham.’

Smith shared another snap of her and her daughter in mid-February, which she captioned, ‘Mummy and baby cuddles. “Smile and Be Kind.” Does anyone else just lose hours of their day with baby cuddles?’

A few days later she share another snap of her and Ricky, who was holding the seemingly-sleeping child, captioned, ‘My little family.’

Last week, Smith shared an adorable snap of Poppy in a bunny robe as she was getting ready for a bath.

‘Relaxing bath time. Does bath time calm anyone else down? Poppy loves relaxing and calming down in the bath, especially when they start with a bunny dressing gown,’ she said.

She shared another snap on January 20 of Latham carrying their child in a car seat, which she captioned, ' 12 days in our lives, 7 days at home, 2 very lucky parents. Please welcome Poppy Rae Latham'

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She shared another snap on January 20 of Latham carrying their child in a car seat, which she captioned, ‘ 12 days in our lives, 7 days at home, 2 very lucky parents. Please welcome Poppy Rae Latham’

Smith shared another snap of her and her daughter in mid-February, which she captioned, 'Mummy and baby cuddles. “Smile and Be Kind." Does anyone else just lose hours of their day with baby cuddles?'

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Smith shared another snap of her and her daughter in mid-February, which she captioned, ‘Mummy and baby cuddles. “Smile and Be Kind.” Does anyone else just lose hours of their day with baby cuddles?’

A few days later she share another snap of her and Ricky, who was holding the seemingly-sleeping child, captioned, 'My little family'

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A few days later she share another snap of her and Ricky, who was holding the seemingly-sleeping child, captioned, ‘My little family’

Last week, Smith shared an adorable snap of Poppy in a bunny robe as she was getting ready for a bath.

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Last week, Smith shared an adorable snap of Poppy in a bunny robe as she was getting ready for a bath.

Another snap of Smith and Poppy from last week was seemingly taken in the wee hours, captioned, '2am sleepy cuddles. Anyone else’s newborn wake up when you put them down? At least I’ve got @thegbsblive to keep me company'

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Another snap of Smith and Poppy from last week was seemingly taken in the wee hours, captioned, ‘2am sleepy cuddles. Anyone else’s newborn wake up when you put them down? At least I’ve got @thegbsblive to keep me company’

Another snap of Smith and Poppy from last week was seemingly taken in the wee hours, captioned, ‘2am sleepy cuddles. Anyone else’s newborn wake up when you put them down? At least I’ve got @thegbsblive to keep me company.’

Smith was just nine months old when she became the Sun Baby, revealing in a BBC interview that it happened by chance.

‘I was being weighed at the hospital. My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they’d seen any smiley babies,’ she said.

She revealed her father would sit behind the cameras playing toys and cars to make her do her famous giggle heard on the show.

It wasn’t until 2015 that she revealed her identity after previously preferring to keep it a secret.

‘I used to hide it but after a lot of encouragement from my friends at university, I’ve gained the confidence to come out with it,’ she said.

‘I am the sun from the Teletubbies. Everyone says they can see the likeness between my face now and me as a baby. I still have a baby face. I haven’t changed much either. I am still giggly,’ she admitted.

Kylie Jenner pointedly deflected a question about her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet – amid rumors the Hollywood hot couple have split.

The awkward moment came during a New York Times interview in which she spoke about how her dress sense changed about a year ago, once she had gotten her ‘body back’ after her pregnancy with her son Aire.

She was then asked about the social media rumors that her style transformation was actually due to her romance with Timothee, which started last spring.

‘I don’t know how I feel about that,’ she replied, swatting the subject away by saying: ‘I just don’t want to talk about personal things.’

Timothee and Kylie have not been seen together for two months, leading anxious fans to speculate that the pair have broken up.

Kylie Jenner pointedly deflected a question about her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet - amid rumors the Hollywood hot couple have split

Kylie Jenner pointedly deflected a question about her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet – amid rumors the Hollywood hot couple have split

'I don’t know how I feel about that,' she replied, swatting the subject away by saying: 'I just don’t want to talk about personal things'; she and Timothee are pictured in September

‘I don’t know how I feel about that,’ she replied, swatting the subject away by saying: ‘I just don’t want to talk about personal things’; she and Timothee are pictured in September

Kylie Jenner shares morning routine amid breakup rumors

Their last public sighting was at the Golden Globes in early January, when they set the internet ablaze by engaging in a public display of affection on camera.

The breakup rumors reached a fever pitch this Tuesday, when Kylie posted a TikTok of her daily routine with her daughter Stormi, six, and sister Kendall.

Fans sprang into the comments to share their theories about how Kylie was showing the world she was flourishing as a single mother in order to ‘soft-launch’ a breakup.

Kylie and Timothee took their romance public in the audience of a Beyonce show in early September, after being trailed by dating rumors for months.

In spite of the performance below, Kylie and Timothee appeared to have eyes only for each other, kissing passionately while wrapped in one another’s arms.

Timothee later confessed to MTV that he found it ‘hard to be present’ at a Beyonce concert while indulging in the steamy make-out session.

Kylie and Timothee have been linked since April 2023, although they have both studiously refrained from discussing the relationship in public.

Timothee, whose dating history includes Eiza Gonzalez and Lily-Rose Depp, has repeatedly hit the headlines for his current runaround with Kylie.

Timothee and Kylie have not been seen together for two months, leading anxious fans to speculate that the pair have broken up; pictured in November

Timothee and Kylie have not been seen together for two months, leading anxious fans to speculate that the pair have broken up; pictured in November

Their last public sighting was at the Golden Globes in early January, when they set the internet ablaze by engaging in a public display of affection on camera

Their last public sighting was at the Golden Globes in early January, when they set the internet ablaze by engaging in a public display of affection on camera

Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet pack on the PDA at US Open

In October, a People insider remarked that the pair were enjoying what Kylie regards as a ‘fun and uncomplicated’ dalliance.

Elsewhere in her personal life, Kylie is amicably co-parenting her daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two, with her rapper ex Travis Scott.

When her boy was born in February 2022, his given name was Wolf Jacques Webster — a nod to Travis, whose legal name is Jacques Webster.

However, not long afterwards, Kylie shocked her fans by revealing on social media: ‘FYI OUR SONS NAME ISN’T WOLF ANYMORE.’

She explained: ‘WE JUST REALLY DIDN’T FEEL LIKE IT WAS HIM. JUST WANTED TO SHARE BECAUSE I KEEP SEEING WOLF EVERYWHERE.’

Their decision prompted Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli’s son Wolfgang, who goes by Wolf, to cheekily tweet: ‘THANK F***.’

On an episode of Hulu’s The Kardashians, Kylie told her gal pal Stassie Karanikolaou about the impetus behind the decision to name her son Aire.

‘I just always wanted a name for him that had meaning. It’s a Hebrew name and it means: “Lion of God”,’ Kylie explained.

Lucas Jemeljanova, a 13-year-old boy from Belgium, captured the global attention achieving something that was previously considered impossible.

This brave young man became the first ever person in the world to beat a deadly brain cancer known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Hopeless and helpless after receiving the devastating diagnosis about Lucas’ cancer at the age of six, his family waited for him to respond to the treatments, and after everything failed, they enrolled him in the BIOMEDE trial in France, a venture exploring novel treatments for DIPG.

To the surprise and delight of many, young Lucas responded remarkably to the drug everolimu. MRI scans showed the tumor vanishing little by little.

While battling the cancer, Lucas was unable to walk in a straight line and started losing consciousness and having random nosebleeds.

His prognosis were grim as per statistics only 10% of those diagnosed with this type of cancer survive more than two years, as per the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

That same statistics states that 98% of patients with the rare brain tumor will die within five years, and the prognosis are even worse for children who have a life expectation of just nine to 12 months following a diagnosis.

Today, at 13 years old, Lucas stands as a symbol of hope, having been in remission for an astounding five years.

Dr. Grill, head of the brain tumor program at the center, marvels at Lucas’s resilience, stating, “Lucas defied all odds. Over a series of MRI scans, I watched as the tumor completely disappeared.”

He added: “I don’t know of any other case like him in the world. Lucas’s tumour had an extremely rare mutation, which we believe made its cells far more sensitive to the drug.

“Lucas is believed to have had a particular form of the disease. We must understand what and why to succeed in medically reproducing in other patients what happened naturally with him.

Researchers are now scrutinizing genetic anomalies and cultivating tumor organoids in laboratory settings, with Marie-Anne Debily, a researcher leading the laboratory efforts, highlighting the importance of identifying a drug capable of replicating the effects seen in Lucas’ tumor cells. “The next step will be to find a drug that has the same effect on tumor cells as these cellular changes,” she said.

However, “it takes 10-15 years from the first lead to become a drug – it’s a long and drawn-out process,” she added.

Since September 2006, the Irwin family have been missing a piece in the form of Steve Irwin. However, they have not filled this chasm with anybody else. Robert and Terri Irwin recently talked about the rumors surrounding Terri’s dating life and a friend who has been invaluable to the family.

In the years following the tragic loss of beloved wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, his family has courageously carried on his legacy, with each member stepping into the spotlight in their own unique way. Recently, Terri and Steve Irwin’s son, Robert Irwin, has come forward to address the swirling rumors surrounding his mother Terri’s dating life since the untimely death of his father.

Despite numerous reports linking her to over thirty individuals, one of whom was rumored to be King Charles, Robert has dismissed all such claims as “absolute nonsense.” In a candid discussion about the topic, Terri herself has humorously shed light on her personal life, remarking, “I have a lot of quiet evenings with a nice, big, juicy pizza.”

Despite the public’s curiosity and the occasional rumor, such as the one that emerged six years ago suggesting a romantic connection with actor Russell Crowe, Terri remains a single woman. Terri, maintaining her characteristic humor, clarified that they were merely friends, recounting how Crowe reached out in bemusement over the rumors.

Reflecting more deeply on the matter, Terri revealed the bond formed between Crowe and Steve years ago, emphasizing the actor’s steadfast support for her family through challenging times, including efforts to protect their conservation reserve from potential threats. Terri warmly regards Crowe as a “dear friend,” a testament to the enduring friendships that have supported the Irwin family through their loss.

Amidst her responsibilities running the Australia Zoo and starring in an Animal Planet series, Terri Irwin has expressed little interest in rekindling romance. “I think it’s wonderful when people who have lost someone find love again, but I’m not personally looking, and I haven’t been on a date in 27 years,” she stated in 2018. Terri reminisces about her “happily ever after” with Steve, whom she met in 1991 and married just eight months later. The couple’s profound connection and shared passion for wildlife conservation blessed them with two children, Bindi Irwin and Robert, before Steve’s life was cut short in 2006.

The unexpected nature of Steve’s accident left a profound impact on Terri and their children, prompting the family to adopt nightly rituals that focused on positive reflections and acts of kindness. This practice, Terri believes, has been crucial in their healing process, allowing them to shift focus outward and begin to heal through service to others and dedication to the causes Steve held dear.

As the Irwin family continues to navigate life without Steve, Terri has remained a pillar of strength, emphasizing the importance of carrying forward Steve’s legacy and passion for conservation. She reflects on Steve’s full and vibrant life, expressing a desire to live just as fully and meaningfully.

The family has also received support from those around them, like Crowe. Cementing the role he plays as a close friend in the Irwins’s lives, Crowe bought Bindi and her husband a fig tree as a wedding present in 2019. Now, they have planted the tree and are enjoying it with their daughter.