Archive for the ‘celebrity’ Category

We women have spent many years – even decades – bemoaning the fact that men rule the world and we’re the accessories.  This seems especially true in the entertainment industry.  Actresses, if they haven’t made it by 30, are basically screwed.  On air personalities, once they hit middle age are usually replaced or put on the back burner whereas men often work well into their senior years.  Oh, how unfair, we whine.

Well, my dears, the times they seem to be a-changing.  Mary Hart, at nearly 50, is still anchoring Entertainment Tonight.    Barbara Walters, Katie Couric and many others are still the face of journalism along with stalwarts like Tom Brokaw and Lloyd Robertson.

In the movie world, it’s been a great year for those who might have been considered washed up a decade ago.

Meryl Streep as Julia Child

At 60, Meryl Streep had a wonderful year with Julie and Julia and It’s Complicated.

In Julie and Julia she is engaging and funny as Julia Child.  From giving the uptight examiner at the Cordon Bleu School a raspberry to beautiful and sexy moments with her husband (the gloriously supportive and understated Stanley Tucci) she is by far the best part of the movie.  She shows older women in the light of someone who can pursue her dreams at any age,  is sexually active (even though Julia was a virgin until 40) and can have a blast doing all of it.  Meryl is by far the most interesting part of this movie.  Amy Adams as Julie Powell who created the Julie/Julia project that the movie is based on, is quite dull.  The contrast between the joy of age and truly knowing  yourself and whiney youth is stark.

It’s Complicated has Meryl playing a newly divorced woman having an affair with 2 men, including her ex husband.  What a joy to see a woman of age having a great time in the bedroom!  And being the object of desire.  Rock on, ladies, we are sexy at any age!

Helen Mirren, who I’ve mentioned here before, is 64.  This year she has a movie called The Last Station where she plays Leo Tolstoy’s wife,

Helen Mirren in The Last Station

secretary and muse Sofya.  At a time when many are seeking a pension, Helen has created another older woman who is strong, in love, wants sex, fights for her rights, works hard and is loyal to those she loves (Sofya wrote out War and Peace 6 times – by hand!).  From what I have seen in the trailer, she’s by far the most interesting part of the movie, even ecplipsing Christopher Plummer (whom I love) as T0lstoy.  In addition, Helen has 3 more movies coming out this year!  Women Rock!

Betty and Sandra in The Proposal

Another icon, Betty White – 87, mopped the floor with Sandra Bullock (who’s no spring chicken anymore, either and had a very good year as well with The Blind Side ) and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal.  Her comic timing is impeccable and she has so much fun doing what she does.  She is a master and hasn’t lost one iota of her brilliance despite the fact that she’s at the age that many are sitting around bemoaning the life they wished they had or the past they wish they could have back.  Women are tough so never quit!

The success story of the year is Jane Lynch.  Turning 50 this year and having been a bit player in many movies,

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester

including Julie and Julia as Julia’s sister, Jane came into her own this year with the huge hit Glee.  Jane plays an hilariously nasty Cheerleading coach in this series about a high school glee club.  She is the villain and she obviously loves it!  One of the big costumes this year for halloween was a short blonde wig and a track suit with a holier than thou, uber bitch attitude as Sue Sylvester from Glee.  Jane shows it’s never too late to hit your stride.  Keep going, ladies, your dream may be just around the corner!

No matter what your age, ladies, you are amazing, beautiful, sexy and worthy.  Always remember that.  As you go into the new year, grab your life by the horns and go for your dreams.  No matter where you are on the age scale, you can learn, grow and LIVE LARGE!

Hugs and Happy New Year!

Be Beautiful, Be YOU!

www.thebadkitty.com

Just after talking about using “real” models on German magazine covers, this ridiculously photo shopped ad is released.    Is this a backlash against reality or just a really stupid choice by the marketing department?

Either way, it has me concerned.  The reaction has been unsurprisingly strong from the public.  The blog post on boing boing has, to date, received over 50 comments.  On photshop disasters, over 200.  This image is an obvious manipulation.  I don’t care how skinny someone is, when the hips are smaller than the head, there is definitely something up!  Compare that picture to this one. 

I have a sneaking suspision that it may have had some work done on it as well, but it’s not as obvious.  When the “adjustments” are inhuman, it’s easy to be outraged.  No one looks like that, yikes!  How ugly!  However, we’ve been looking at false images of models, celebrities and even regular people for years and have come to think that that’s what they actually look like.  The tabloids love to sell editions of “what they really look like” pictures.  Wow, they look like you and I do when we just get up or have no make up on.  Shocking!

So the question is, how long is it before we accept the ridiculously distorted images as reality?  We eventually become immune to things.  We get tired of analyzing and simply accept it as normal, regular, the way things are.

Be clear that reality is beautiful.  The manufactured is impossible.  Today is the day to stop striving for the impossible and accept the beautiful – reality.  Be in love with you, no matter where you are in your journey.  Only a worldwide wash of love for what is will stop the advancement of what can never be.

Be Beautiful, Be YOU, the world needs you!

Love you,

Christie

www.thebadkitty.com

Two things have happened in the last week that clearly illustrate how easy it is to prejudge people.

The first is Susan Boyle. She became an overnight sensation after appearing on “Britain’s Got Talent”. If you haven’t seen her yet, she has become so popular that all you have to do is enter “Susan” in Google and she will turn up in the top 5! This week over a 2 hour period, she was tweeted over 700 times. In moments Susan went from a frumpy nobody to a celebrity.

She’s a demonstration of how we judge on looks. Due to her appearance and nonchalant attitude, she was judged to be untalented. When she opened her mouth to sing, all judgments turned around in a heartbeat. That woman can SING! Her lack of glamour held her back until she managed to demonstrate to the world the beauty hidden behind bushy eyebrows.

I’ve always been a big fan of stories like “The Ugly Duckling”, “Cyrano DeBergerac” and “The Elephant Man” about immense beauty hidden by an ugly exterior. We all have the beauty, we just need to be willing to see past the package.

I also heard an interview with Tori Spelling this week. I’ve had the impression of her being a spoiled Hollywood, not too bright, brat. She is actually intelligent, grounded and delightful.

The opposite of Susan Boyle in almost every way, Tori’s prejudgment lies in the fact that she is TOO well known. When we see celebrities, we think we know who they are because of what we see on a screen or read in a magazine without really taking the time to see them for who they are.

It’s so easy to make generalizations based on minimal information. This illustrates the need to be willing to see the whole picture rather than filling in the holes on our own.

We are all prone to making these judgments. It’s human, so don’t beat yourself up over it. However, please be aware of the tendency and be willing to get more complete information about people. It’s worth it to see people for their full selves.

It’s only fair to see the beauty in others, as we have so much beauty to share ourselves that we want others to see.

Live your life BE BEAUTFUL, BE YOU and remember that everyone else is the same!

www.thebadkitty.com