#MusicMonday: a little behind the scenes from the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London @theofficialsting 🎶
So proud of my godson @roccoritchie, who is an extraordinary person and has dedicated himself to his art. Rocco Ritchie & Tony Cassanelli’s new exhibition #TalkIsCheap is at The Painting Rooms in Soho, London, now open to the public just steps from Tottenham Court Road tube. Go see it quick – last day will be tomorrow, Wednesday 17 December!
A wonderful view of December 4th’s Supermoon in Gemini — when the Moon was in the zodiac sign of Gemini as well as being at its closest to Earth. According to astrology, this combination brought mental clarity, communication, connection, and wisdom, especially to those born under the signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, providing profound realizations and decisions for future paths. Did any of you feel the effects? #supermoon #moodmonday
Brussels, 20 October 2025 – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is deeply dismayed that Dr. Mohammed Obeid, a respected orthopaedic surgeon and long-time MSF colleague, remains in detention and was not released under the October ceasefire agreement. Arrested by Israeli forces on 26 October 2024 during a military operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Obeid has been held incommunicado for nearly a year. MSF urgently and unconditionally calls for his immediate release and reiterates its concern for his safety, dignity, and freedom. Photographs: Dr Mohammed Obeid.
Brussels, 20 October 2025 – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is deeply dismayed that Dr. Mohammed Obeid, a respected orthopaedic surgeon and long-time MSF colleague, remains in detention and was not released under the October ceasefire agreement. Arrested by Israeli forces on 26 October 2024 during a military operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Obeid has been held incommunicado for nearly a year. MSF urgently and unconditionally calls for his immediate release and reiterates its concern for his safety, dignity, and freedom. Photographs: Dr Mohammed Obeid.
From tiny bundles to gentle giants in the making, these four are some of the biggest pups we’ve ever had. Big paws, big hearts and even bigger love from all who meet them. Thanks to @gglongevityy for all your expert loving care, what would we do without you! 💕💕🐾🐾🐾🐾
I brought the glam, Cami-cat brought the attitude, circa 1983 #tbt
Last night @sumnermickey and I attended a screening of #FackhamHall, an absolutely hilarious romp produced by our dear friend here Kris Thykier. It follows a loveable pickpocket who becomes the new porter, only to find himself tangled in forbidden romance, family chaos, and a wildly over-the-top mystery. It’s sharp, silly, and a much-needed tonic for the holidays. Go see it and have a good laugh.
Last night @sumnermickey and I attended a screening of #FackhamHall, an absolutely hilarious romp produced by our dear friend here Kris Thykier. It follows a loveable pickpocket who becomes the new porter, only to find himself tangled in forbidden romance, family chaos, and a wildly over-the-top mystery. It’s sharp, silly, and a much-needed tonic for the holidays. Go see it and have a good laugh.
Repost @sumnermickey: @speechdude thank you thank you thank you for articulating this so beautifully: Our children shape society – our children ask us to slow down – pay attention to what really matters – they ask us to connect – not fix. So much Love & support to all the families out there terrified for their children’s future, dignity, safety, happiness, education, health and basic human rights. #nonspeaking #autism #neurodiversity #ableism #community #disability #love
Rewilding: Bringing Nature Back! Today, I wanted to highlight @standmighty and their brilliant conservation work. Introduced to me last year by friend and fellow environmental campaigner @bengoldsmith, their mandate is to protect nature and fight climate change by driving transformation across industry and government. Mighty Earth works across the globe to protect the most vulnerable wildlife communities. This month, they’ve announced exciting news, whereby beavers, nature’s great engineers are being re introduced back into the British countryside to help restore habitats and manage water resources. The UK government’s recent decision to allow the return of beavers into river catchments, is paving the way for this native species to roam wild in British rivers and lakes once more, helping to create wetlands and increase biodiversity. Look out for them this Easter…! 💚🍃💚 Scientists are reinforcing the importance of reintroducing keystone species to restore balance to ecosystems. It can lead to a remarkable recovery of plant and animal life, proving that when nature has the chance to heal, it does so in extraordinary ways. To support this organisation and to find out more please see the link in the bio https://mightyearth.org/ #mightyearth
This #FemaleFilmmakerFriday is dedicated to the brilliant Frances Hannon (@frances_hannon_official) for her extraordinary work on #WickedForGood. A master of makeup, hair, and prosthetics design, Frances has shaped the visual worlds of films like The Grand Budapest Hotel (for which she won the Oscar), The King’s Speech, Captain Phillips, and many more. Her recent work on Wicked: For Good is a triumph of world-building through character artistry. Tasked with creating the film’s entire makeup design, Frances didn’t adapt the stage production but crafted a new visual identity for Oz, one tailored to Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jon M. Chu’s intimate, camera-forward approach. From Elphaba’s luminous green to Glinda’s warm, ethereal radiance, from the university years in Shiz to the darker, more complex transformations later on, each character’s look was built to hold narrative depth, emotion, and believability up close. Frances’ work reminds us how profoundly makeup design shapes the worlds we fall into. A beautiful example of craft elevating character, story, and magic. Congratulations, Frances! 💞💚
This #FemaleFilmmakerFriday is dedicated to the brilliant Frances Hannon (@frances_hannon_official) for her extraordinary work on #WickedForGood. A master of makeup, hair, and prosthetics design, Frances has shaped the visual worlds of films like The Grand Budapest Hotel (for which she won the Oscar), The King’s Speech, Captain Phillips, and many more. Her recent work on Wicked: For Good is a triumph of world-building through character artistry. Tasked with creating the film’s entire makeup design, Frances didn’t adapt the stage production but crafted a new visual identity for Oz, one tailored to Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jon M. Chu’s intimate, camera-forward approach. From Elphaba’s luminous green to Glinda’s warm, ethereal radiance, from the university years in Shiz to the darker, more complex transformations later on, each character’s look was built to hold narrative depth, emotion, and believability up close. Frances’ work reminds us how profoundly makeup design shapes the worlds we fall into. A beautiful example of craft elevating character, story, and magic. Congratulations, Frances! 💞💚
This #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m highlighting writer-director Julia Ducournau (@julia_ducournau), whose new film #AlphaMovie will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Julia was born and raised in Paris, France where she studied screenwriting at La Fémis, the film and television school of PSL Research University. Her first film, Junior, won the Petit Rail d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. She is known for telling stories that explore identity and transformation through a visceral lens, as seen in her films Raw and Titane. In 2021, she became the second female filmmaker and the first as a solo awardee to win the Palme d’Or solo for Titane. Her new film, Alpha, follows an 11-year-old girl in a fictional 1980s city inspired by New York. As the AIDS epidemic unfolds, she’s forced to face loss and mortality for the first time. Looking forward to seeing what Julia brings to Cannes this year!
This #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m highlighting writer-director Julia Ducournau (@julia_ducournau), whose new film #AlphaMovie will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Julia was born and raised in Paris, France where she studied screenwriting at La Fémis, the film and television school of PSL Research University. Her first film, Junior, won the Petit Rail d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. She is known for telling stories that explore identity and transformation through a visceral lens, as seen in her films Raw and Titane. In 2021, she became the second female filmmaker and the first as a solo awardee to win the Palme d’Or solo for Titane. Her new film, Alpha, follows an 11-year-old girl in a fictional 1980s city inspired by New York. As the AIDS epidemic unfolds, she’s forced to face loss and mortality for the first time. Looking forward to seeing what Julia brings to Cannes this year!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m celebrating the brilliant Chloé Zhao (@chloezhao) and her newest film, #Hamnet. Born in Beijing and raised between England and the U.S., Chloé discovered her passion for storytelling while studying politics and film at Mount Holyoke College. She later attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she began shaping her signature style rooted in naturalism, empathy, and deeply personal character work. Her early films, including the short Daughters and her debut feature Songs My Brothers Taught Me, earned critical acclaim for their authenticity. She followed this with The Rider, a semi-biographical portrait that won the top prize at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, and later with the Academy Award–winning Nomadland, which cemented her as a powerhouse director in contemporary cinema. Her new film Hamnet tells the moving story of Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and their son Hamnet, and how a family’s profound grief becomes the spark behind one of literature’s greatest works. It’s a haunting, beautifully rendered reminder of the ways art and tragedy often intertwine. I’m always inspired by the emotional depth Chloé brings to her films, and I can’t wait for you all to experience this extraordinary new chapter in her work!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m celebrating the brilliant Chloé Zhao (@chloezhao) and her newest film, #Hamnet. Born in Beijing and raised between England and the U.S., Chloé discovered her passion for storytelling while studying politics and film at Mount Holyoke College. She later attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she began shaping her signature style rooted in naturalism, empathy, and deeply personal character work. Her early films, including the short Daughters and her debut feature Songs My Brothers Taught Me, earned critical acclaim for their authenticity. She followed this with The Rider, a semi-biographical portrait that won the top prize at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, and later with the Academy Award–winning Nomadland, which cemented her as a powerhouse director in contemporary cinema. Her new film Hamnet tells the moving story of Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and their son Hamnet, and how a family’s profound grief becomes the spark behind one of literature’s greatest works. It’s a haunting, beautifully rendered reminder of the ways art and tragedy often intertwine. I’m always inspired by the emotional depth Chloé brings to her films, and I can’t wait for you all to experience this extraordinary new chapter in her work!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m celebrating the brilliant Chloé Zhao (@chloezhao) and her newest film, #Hamnet. Born in Beijing and raised between England and the U.S., Chloé discovered her passion for storytelling while studying politics and film at Mount Holyoke College. She later attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she began shaping her signature style rooted in naturalism, empathy, and deeply personal character work. Her early films, including the short Daughters and her debut feature Songs My Brothers Taught Me, earned critical acclaim for their authenticity. She followed this with The Rider, a semi-biographical portrait that won the top prize at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, and later with the Academy Award–winning Nomadland, which cemented her as a powerhouse director in contemporary cinema. Her new film Hamnet tells the moving story of Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and their son Hamnet, and how a family’s profound grief becomes the spark behind one of literature’s greatest works. It’s a haunting, beautifully rendered reminder of the ways art and tragedy often intertwine. I’m always inspired by the emotional depth Chloé brings to her films, and I can’t wait for you all to experience this extraordinary new chapter in her work!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m highlighting director, writer, and producer Hikari (@thehikarism) for her latest film, #RentalFamily. Originally from Osaka, Hikari first came to the U.S. as an exchange student and later studied Theatre Arts, Dance Performance, and Fine Arts at Southern Utah University before completing her MFA at USC. Her early years working on sets, sometimes as a dancer or extra, gave her a grounded understanding of performance and visual storytelling. She went on to direct episodes of @netflix’s Beef, including the pilot, bringing a striking emotional clarity to the series, and earned acclaim for her feature debut 37 Seconds, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her new film, Rental Family, follows an American actor who takes an unusual job with a Japanese agency, stepping into the lives of strangers who need someone to stand in for them. As he moves between these borrowed roles, he begins to rediscover purpose and connection in unexpected places. A thoughtful reminder of how cinema can help us see one another with fresh eyes. Congratulations Hikari, I can’t wait to see what you do next!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m highlighting director, writer, and producer Hikari (@thehikarism) for her latest film, #RentalFamily. Originally from Osaka, Hikari first came to the U.S. as an exchange student and later studied Theatre Arts, Dance Performance, and Fine Arts at Southern Utah University before completing her MFA at USC. Her early years working on sets, sometimes as a dancer or extra, gave her a grounded understanding of performance and visual storytelling. She went on to direct episodes of @netflix’s Beef, including the pilot, bringing a striking emotional clarity to the series, and earned acclaim for her feature debut 37 Seconds, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her new film, Rental Family, follows an American actor who takes an unusual job with a Japanese agency, stepping into the lives of strangers who need someone to stand in for them. As he moves between these borrowed roles, he begins to rediscover purpose and connection in unexpected places. A thoughtful reminder of how cinema can help us see one another with fresh eyes. Congratulations Hikari, I can’t wait to see what you do next!
This week for #FemaleFilmmakerFriday, I’m highlighting director, writer, and producer Hikari (@thehikarism) for her latest film, #RentalFamily. Originally from Osaka, Hikari first came to the U.S. as an exchange student and later studied Theatre Arts, Dance Performance, and Fine Arts at Southern Utah University before completing her MFA at USC. Her early years working on sets, sometimes as a dancer or extra, gave her a grounded understanding of performance and visual storytelling. She went on to direct episodes of @netflix’s Beef, including the pilot, bringing a striking emotional clarity to the series, and earned acclaim for her feature debut 37 Seconds, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her new film, Rental Family, follows an American actor who takes an unusual job with a Japanese agency, stepping into the lives of strangers who need someone to stand in for them. As he moves between these borrowed roles, he begins to rediscover purpose and connection in unexpected places. A thoughtful reminder of how cinema can help us see one another with fresh eyes. Congratulations Hikari, I can’t wait to see what you do next!
For #GIVINGTUESDAY we’re focusing on helping to provide food for many children and families who are struggling because of the cost of living crisis, both in the UK and the US. In the US, @nokidhungry is supporting children and families in three ways – in schools by providing healthy breakfasts, during school holidays with their summer meal programs, and at home by helping families access food programs and providing cheap and healthy recipe advice. In the UK, close to our home in Wiltshire, the @salisbury_foodbank is working hard to make sure no one in the local community goes hungry. It’s part of a nationwide network of food banks supported by The Trussell Trust, who last year supplied 2.9 million emergency food parcels containing three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food. We are also giving back to a community kitchen which was one of the locations on the film I directed this summer – the @refettoriofelixlondon at St Cuthbert’s in Earl’s Court, London. This drop-in centre and community kitchen has an open-door policy, welcoming everyone without judgement, whatever their situation.
For #GIVINGTUESDAY we’re focusing on helping to provide food for many children and families who are struggling because of the cost of living crisis, both in the UK and the US. In the US, @nokidhungry is supporting children and families in three ways – in schools by providing healthy breakfasts, during school holidays with their summer meal programs, and at home by helping families access food programs and providing cheap and healthy recipe advice. In the UK, close to our home in Wiltshire, the @salisbury_foodbank is working hard to make sure no one in the local community goes hungry. It’s part of a nationwide network of food banks supported by The Trussell Trust, who last year supplied 2.9 million emergency food parcels containing three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food. We are also giving back to a community kitchen which was one of the locations on the film I directed this summer – the @refettoriofelixlondon at St Cuthbert’s in Earl’s Court, London. This drop-in centre and community kitchen has an open-door policy, welcoming everyone without judgement, whatever their situation.
For #GIVINGTUESDAY we’re focusing on helping to provide food for many children and families who are struggling because of the cost of living crisis, both in the UK and the US. In the US, @nokidhungry is supporting children and families in three ways – in schools by providing healthy breakfasts, during school holidays with their summer meal programs, and at home by helping families access food programs and providing cheap and healthy recipe advice. In the UK, close to our home in Wiltshire, the @salisbury_foodbank is working hard to make sure no one in the local community goes hungry. It’s part of a nationwide network of food banks supported by The Trussell Trust, who last year supplied 2.9 million emergency food parcels containing three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food. We are also giving back to a community kitchen which was one of the locations on the film I directed this summer – the @refettoriofelixlondon at St Cuthbert’s in Earl’s Court, London. This drop-in centre and community kitchen has an open-door policy, welcoming everyone without judgement, whatever their situation.
