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Gillian Anderson shuts down The Crown rumours

<p dir="ltr">Gillian Anderson has shut down reports stating she declined to return for season 6 of <em>The Crown</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The sixth and final instalment of the show is welcoming many newcomers, with a major cast update revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rufus Kampas and Ed McVey will portray Prince William and Meg Bellamy will play Katie Middleton.</p> <p dir="ltr">Anderson, who won an Emmy for her role as Margaret Thatcher in the show's fourth season, has taken to social media to debunk a report claiming she declined to reprise her role of Thatcher. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress responded to the rumour posted by @MetroUK on Twitter, writing, “absolutely bollocks.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Absolute bollocks <a href="https://t.co/MBh4XdzruD">https://t.co/MBh4XdzruD</a></p> <p>— Gillian Anderson (@GillianA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GillianA/status/1645454002316869633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">According to <em>The Sun</em>, season six of The Crown has been in “chaos”, with rewrites required after Anderson was rumoured to reprise her role due to scheduling conflicts.</p> <p dir="ltr">The outlet noted that Netflix executives had been hoping to bring back Anderson so that Thatcher would be on-screen for the golden winning anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.</p> <p dir="ltr">The report, which Anderson disputed, claimed the dinner scene will recreate another dinner scene, one where the Queen will read the “strength and stay” speech. </p> <p dir="ltr">The focus for <em>The Crown’s</em> final season will be Prince William and Kate Middleton. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-42b311bb-7fff-09bb-54e0-601b799c3ff7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

TV

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‘Gone Girl’ fans can get their fix on killer-themed cruise

<p dir="ltr">For fans of the author Gillian Flynn, the mind behind the thrilling novel <em>Gone Girl</em>, this cruise is for you.</p> <p dir="ltr">Flynn’s award-winning book, about a woman faking her own murder to frame her husband, earned actors Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike a string of accolades for their roles in the blockbuster adaptation. </p> <p dir="ltr">For those who can’t get enough of her stories, which include <em>Sharp Objects</em> and <em>Dark Places</em>, Flynn will be joining passengers on an eight-day cruise down the Danube River.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am very excited about this,” Flynn told <em>Today Extra</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Along the way I will be telling some stories and doing readings and answering questions about writing, anything about writing in general.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m always up to talk about books.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Flynn marked the ten-year anniversary of <em>Gone Girl</em>’s release in May, sharing with fans what a sequel could look like.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Today is the ten-year anniversary of <em>Gone Girl</em>. What am I thinking about?” she wrote on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In <em>Gone Girl</em> chronology, Nick and Amy’s child would be close to 16 years old now. I keep wondering what a teenager raised by Amazing Amy would be like… and I’m chilled… in a good way.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with spending time with the acclaimed author, passengers on the cruise will be able to take part in various activities and day trips, as the cruise makes stops in Budapest, Visegrad, Vienna, Krems and Grein.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cruise, set to depart on September 15, will set passengers back $4,238 each and includes seven servings of breakfast and dinner, and six lunches.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is one of Avalon Waterways’ series of Storyteller cruises, with upcoming trips featuring comical novelist <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/storybook-scenery-sarcasm-satire/WZA-T2/?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christopher Moore</a> and musical group <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/active-discovery-on-the-rhine-with-sister-hazel-northbound/WWA-T2/?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sister Hazel</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">To find out more about the killer cruise, head <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com.au/europe-river-cruises/active-discovery-on-the-danube-gillian-flynn-WBLT?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bdbcb0c5-7fff-e497-15b2-c99a2b499fc1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @thegillianflynn (Instagram)</em></p>

Cruising

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X-Files star makes X-rated confession

<p><span>Actress Gillian Anderson has revealed she has well and truly given up on wearing a bra any longer.</span></p> <p><span><em>The Crown</em> star shared an hilarious Instagram Live video on Monday, where she daringly admitted her bra-wearing days are gone for good.</span></p> <p><span>“I can’t wear a bra, I’m sorry,” the 52-year-old revealed.</span></p> <p><span>“I don’t care if my breasts reach my belly button.</span></p> <p><span>“I’m not wearing a bra, it’s just too f****** uncomfortable.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRPrrERlKou/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRPrrERlKou/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gillian Anderson (@gilliana)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>Fans took to the comments to share their thoughts on the matter.</span></p> <p><span>“I never wear a bra and I get a lot of distasteful comments about it, so knowing Gillian Anderson doesn’t wear a bra anymore is information most pleasing to me!” one person said.</span></p> <p><span>Another added: “If two-time Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress Gillian Anderson says no more bras, who are we to disagree?”</span></p> <p><span>Anderson has just landed a sixth Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Supporting Actress.</span></p> <p><span>Her role as Margaret Thatcher in <em>The Crown</em> was behind the honourable recognition, but it is not the only prize she’s received for her hard work.</span></p> <p><span>She has already won a Golden Globe for the role.</span></p> <p><span>In 1997, Anderson won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her work as Dana Scully in <em>The X-Files.</em></span></p>

Beauty & Style

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Carly Flynn takes a one-week venture into retirement

<p>TV presenter and journalist Carly Flynn might not need to worry about retiring for a decade or two yet, but when it comes to financial security in old age it doesn't hurt to get a heads up on what to expect.</p> <p>The 37-year-old has spent the past week experiencing life on $374 a week – the estimated amount she might earn as a retiree, based on an average New Zealand salary if she works until age 65, and superannuation stays the same.</p> <p>Flynn took the frugality challenge for New Zealand Money Week, an annual campaign to get people to think about their personal finances. The focus this year was to engage people with their KiwiSaver account.</p> <p>Her budget was a paltry $53 a day, which once bills were deducted shrank still further, to a meagre $24.</p> <p>The week was spent in activities typical of the average retiree: gardening and going to the library – "in other words, things I could do for free".</p> <p>Her daily latte was a goner, and a wine night with friends was skipped. Meals consisted of culinary delights such as porridge, tuna, spaghetti and eggs on toast.</p> <p>All in all the North Shore mum of two found the exercise to be "a real eye-opener".</p> <p>Flynn reckons living on $374 is "definitely achievable" and she knows thousands of other Kiwis do it every week. Some manage on even less. But it would be nice to have a little extra at the end of one's working life.</p> <p>"I think I'd like more for when I retire so that I can travel and still shop."</p> <p>Flynn joined KiwiSaver eight years ago but has been categorised as having a "set and forget" approach to her retirement planning. An inspection of her savings gave cause for alarm and she decided to double her contribution and change her fund and investment type.</p> <p>"I did a bit of research before I accepted the challenge and realised my own KiwiSaver savings were pretty abysmal and I'd have bugger all to live on at 65. I thought right, yeah, I actually have to do this health check because no one else is going to look after me.</p> <p>"It's interesting. We all sort of think that someone's going to look after us once we turn 65 or that we'll flog our Auckland properties and go and live in the provinces.</p> <p>"The reality is if I don't start saving now I'm going to have a pretty miserable retirement, or not the kind of retirement I imagine for myself."</p> <p>And that's a reality a few Kiwis might need to face. A recent Westpac-Stuff poll of 700 people found only 15 per cent believed themselves to be in a financially comfortable position to retire, while 43 per cent had done nothing at all to prepare for retirement.</p> <p>According to Westpac's head of wealth products Nigel Jackson "New Zealanders are pretty poorly prepared for retirement".</p> <p>Flynn says she began the week unsure how she would fare. In the end, she was lucky enough to receive a heap of tips and tricks she intends to keep using. She had also been given plenty of feedback from friends and relatives – including one very happy father.</p> <p>"This is a dream for my Dad. He's tried to preach that sort of stuff forever."</p> <p>Written by Josh Fagan. First appeared on <strong><a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a></strong>.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2016/01/7-common-retirement-myths-debunked/">7 common retirement myths debunked</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/balancing-act-for-funding-your-retirement/">Balancing act for funding your retirement is a tricky test</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/10-quotes-that-sum-up-retirement/">10 quotes that perfectly sum up retirement</a></strong></em></span></p>

Retirement Income

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