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Women comprise 11.6% of the directors of global films, according to a new study from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The figure is among the indicators that women’s participation in the film industry at a global level is changing, but still nowhere near equality.

Dr. Stacy L. Smith shared results of the study on Monday during the University of Oxford Cultural Programme’s Women in Film event. The report focuses on women’s progress across four areas of interest: as global film directors across 11 countries, at film festivals across six countries, as award recipients and as film executives.

The study examines feature-length, narrative films that earned $1 million at the global box office and originated in 11 countries. A total of 4,532 movies were assessed and the gender of 4,991 directors was evaluated.

While no country was close to reaching the global population benchmark of 50%, the three countries with the highest percentage of women...

“Bridgerton” breakout Simon Ashley, Apple TV+’s “Surface” lead star Gugu Mbatha-Raw and the USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith are set to lead the lineup at the upcoming Women in Film Conference, to be held at Oxford University.

The day-long event at the university’s Sheldonian Theater will, according to organizers, celebrate change and urge further progress.

Ashley, recently seen in Amazon Prime’s “Picture This,” will be interviewed on stage by Smith, whose Annenberg Inclusion Initiative is co-sponsoring the event alongside Oxford University’s Cultural Programme and the Ghetto Film School.

“Simone is a multi-hyphenate who is clearly the future of the entertainment industry,” said Smith. “As we celebrate women’s work across entertainment, Simone’s voice represents the newest and next generation of leaders. Giving her the stage to talk about her career, her ambitions, and her vision of success will undoubtedly inspire...

Applications are now open for the 22nd edition of Screen International’s Screen Stars of Tomorrow, our annual portfolio of new talent from the UK and Ireland.

The submissions window is open from April 16 until May 30, 2025.

Applications are open to UK and Irish citizens and long-term residents of either country. There is no upper or lower age limit, but applicants should be at an early stage in their film career, demonstrate exceptional promise and be ready to progress to the next level.

Applicants should use this Google Form and need to attach a brief bio, a headshot and contact details...

The long-awaited Black Mirror season 7 is now streaming on Netflix, and as expected, fans have wasted no time watching all six brand-new installments. But while each offers its own disturbing glimpse into the dark side of technology and is entertaining to watch, none have dethroned "San Junipero" as the greatest Black Mirror episode ever. That's just the undeniable truth. Episodes like "USS Callister" from season 4 have come close, but they have not quite hit that rare emotional and philosophical sweet spot like "San Junipero." If you haven't seen this iconic episode yet, you’re missing out on a truly transcendent experience, and you should be prioritizing it immediately.

Reasons why you should've watched "San Junipero" a long time ago

The beloved episode serves as the fourth episode in the third season of the hit British anthology series. Series creator Charlie Brooker wrote the script, with Owen Harris as director. What...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for the Surface Season 2 finale “Unearthed.”] Yes, the Surface Season 2 finale ends on a bombshell for Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who learns that she’s forgotten a part of her past that resulted in warrants out for her arrest (as Tess Caldwell). But there were a few shocking moments leading up to that one as well. First, Sophie does get answers regarding her mother’s death: She was murdered, by Olivia (Joely Richardson), the wife of her biological father, Henry (Rupert Graves). She’d stopped by the estate when Sophie was a kid, and Olivia had shot her in her panic. When Eliza (Millie Brady) realizes that her body is buried on the property and is therefore the proof she needs, she alerts Sophie, her sister. “From the beginning, there’s this real push and pull with Eliza that she wants to distance herself from her family,” Brady tells TV Insider. “I think all of ...

Doctor Who has returned, for its second season, with Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, alongside new companion Belinda (Varada Sethu). And this current season isn’t the only time you’ll be able to see Unit and some familiar faces, including Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. She and other characters Who fans know will be showing up in the new spinoff, The War Between the Land and the Sea. So could there be a crossover in the future? Doctor Who showrunner and the spinoff’s creator Russell T Davies says there are none planned for the moment. While Kate, Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient), and Shirley (Ruth Madeley) will appear on the new show, which stars two other familiar Doctor Who actors, Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, playing different characters, “it’s a brand-new story,” Davies tells TV Insider. “Some people think it’s like a Unit spinoff with Unit investigating cases of the week.

Spoiler Alert: This piece contains spoilers for the entirety of Surface Season 2.

Following his famous footballer role of Jamie Tartt on Apple TV+’s breakout comedy Ted Lasso created by Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis, actor Phil Dunster brought a different role to life in Season 2 of the streamer’s drama series Surface, created by Veronica West and produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

Dunster’s Quinn Huntley emerged as a compelling character in the second season of the show, which constantly turned any attempted perception of its main character Sophie Ellis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who sometimes goes by an alter ego Tess Caldwell, on its head, challenging everything viewers think they know about her as well as those closest to her like her husband James (Oliver Jackson Cohen) and her estranged childhood best friend Eliza Huntley (Millie Brady), Quinn’s sister.

Quinn adds a very unpredictable wild card element to Sophie’s ever-shifting narrative,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for the Surface Season 2 finale “Unearthed.”] Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) walks into a police station thinking she has everything she needs about the truth of what happened to her mother — her murder, at the hands of Sophie’s biological father’s wife, was covered up — but she’s in for a shock in the final moments of the Surface Season 2 finale. The detective knows she goes by the name of Tess Caldwell as well — just one of her multiple aliases. There are other warrants out for her arrest, it’s revealed. There are quite a few people looking for her since she’s been running for a long time. Is she ready to tell the truth? Below, Mbatha-Raw reacts to that ending and shares her hopes for a third season (the series has yet to be renewed). Sophie walks into the police station and she feels she has what she needs to prove that her ...

This article contains a discussion of suicide.

Stop reading right now if you haven't watched the third episode of "Black Mirror" season 7, titled "Hotel Reverie" — massive spoilers ahead.

The new season of "Black Mirror" — its seventh outing total and fourth on Netflix, after starting its life on the United Kingdom's Channel 4 — features an episode called "Hotel Reverie," that stars Issa Rae as a movie star named Brandy Friday who's presented with an intriguing opportunity. She can play the lead in an old movie called "Hotel Reverie" (which pretty closely resembles "Casablanca") that featured an actress named Dorothy Chambers (Emma Corrin) when it was made decades prior, replacing the original male lead who played Dr. Alex Palmer ... thanks to a technology called ReDream that puts Brandy into a digital dimension where the movie takes place around her. Opposite Dorothy — who plays the heiress Clara Ryce-Lechere — Brandy has to navigate the digital world as Dr.

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Surface Season 2 Episode 6 “Atonement.”] Sophie finally comes face-to-face with her biological father, Henry Huntley, in the latest Surface episode, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Rupert Graves are both spectacular in their first meeting. After Henry tries to pay her off through a third party, Sophie confronts him at a Huntley party. He says she looks so much like her mother and he wishes they could have met under different circumstances. When it comes to what she wants, she thought it was a father, a relationship, a family, but now she just wants answers about what happened to her mother (she’s investigating his family for her death). Henry claims that she came to see him, paranoid, and it was raining and her car went off the road. The car was on fire, and he even tried to get to her, he says, but couldn’t. He was scared and didn’t...

Jonathan Majors is to star in the action movie ‘True Threat’.The 35-year-old actor has signed on to lead the Gerard McMurray-directed film for CAT5, which will follow Special Forces operative Vernon Threat (Majors) as he seeks justice after his teenage son is murdered by a Harlem gang known as The Apollo Kids. Determined to avenge his loss, Threat infiltrates The Carter - a towering 20-storey project building that serves as the gang’s stronghold - fighting his way to the top floor for a final showdown with their leader and his former mentor, Shallow.As well as directing the film, McMurray also wrote the script with Hodge K. Johnson.Larnel Stovall will oversee ‘True Threat’s' action design, with the movie due to prominently showcase 52 Blocks, a Black American martial arts style - marking the first major film to highlight the discipline.‘True Threat’ is the next production...

The fall of Jonathan Majors is a well-documented one so we won’t go into every detail yet again. But he has emerged yet again around the two-year anniversary of being arrested for assault, even saying that he is completely ready to return to the two biggest franchises Majors has been a part of (and probably ever will be) – the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Rocky/Creed series.

Jonathan Majors was recently asked by Entertainment Weekly if he thinks he would return to the MCU or the Rocky/Creed franchise, to which he replied, “Yes. Yes, to both.” He added that he is ready to change. “The version of me that would come back to those places, though, would be different. I don’t think anything different would happen between ‘action’ and ‘cut.’ That’s why I got the job. But there would be something different about it if I were to come back,...

You know what they say, “The road to redemption isn’t always a straight line.” And yet, here we are, watching Jonathan Majors, an actor who once embodied the chilling presence of Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seeking that elusive second chance.

It’s like the world’s favorite superhero universe has become a battleground for not just villains, but real-life comeback stories too.

Jonathan Majors as Kang from MCU | Credits: Marvel Studios

We’ve all heard of Robert Downey Jr.’s rise from the ashes. But Majors? He hasn’t been handed the same golden ticket. His recent interview with The Breakfast Club laid bare the complexities of his journey—from the legal issues that nearly derailed his career to his undying love for the role of Kang.

So, what’s the deal with Marvel’s selective grace? In a world where second chances are handed out like candy on Halloween,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Surface Season 2 Episode 5 “Daybreak.”] Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is no longer the only one who knows that she’s a Huntley. Her birth father, Henry Huntley (Rupert Graves), informs one of his other children in the latest Surface episode. Quinn (Phil Dunster) confronts his father about having the death of the call girl, Phoebe, he was in a video with, ruled a suicide. Was it really worth killing her to continue to keep Henry’s father’s secrets from coming out? Henry tells him he shouldn’t have opened his mouth — and about Sophie being his daughter. How does he plan to handle it, Quinn asks. An offer in exchange for her discretion, Henry says. Quinn makes it clear that if Henry doesn’t tell Eliza (Millie Brady), he’ll inform his sister. So how does Quinn feel about Sophie/Tess being his sister? “There are ...

On July 25, Marvel's first family, the Fantastic Four, is finally getting the MCU treatment and hitting the big screens. You know? Again. For the fourth time. Actually, if you count the schmaltzy one from 1994 that wasn't released and hasn't met a $5 Walmart bin it doesn't like, it's five times.

When anyone thinks of the Fantastic Four, one villain comes up immediately, followed by two others not far behind. Doctor Doom is one of comic book history's most menacing and potent supervillains. It was delirium when Robert Downey, Jr. took the stage with the Russo Brothers at Comic-Con 2024. Few villains command the need for excellent acting and diving deep into a character than Victor Von Doom.

In addition to his omnipresence within Marvel Comics, the Silver Surfer and Galactus comprise a troika of power within one Rogues Gallery. Notwithstanding those cosmic forces of nature, it's difficult to name another villain that tackles the Fantastic Four.

Surface returned with its second season on Apple TV+ in February, and it's now halfway through with episode 5 set to debut on Friday, March 21. Ahead of the episode's launch, Cbr can provide an exclusive sneak peek with a new clip.

The episode is titled "Daybreak," and its logline reads, "Sophie tells James what she’s discovered. Henry comes clean to Quinn and Eliza. Callum digs into Sophie’s past and confronts her with the truth." In the clip, James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) pleads with Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) to hear him out despite their previously contentious conversations. Can she trust her estranged husband with all she’s discovered? What other choice does she have? Check it out by watching the video below.

The synopsis for Surface Season 2 reads, "This new chapter of Surface follows Sophie (Mbatha-Raw) to London to unravel the secrets of her past. Having suffered an injury that robbed her of her memories,...

Jonathan Majors is eager to work with Marvel again and return to the MCU as Kang the Conqueror... but whether the studio would have any interest is obviously another matter.

Last year, the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Loki actor was found guilty of two misdemeanour counts of harassment and assault, as well as not guilty on two additional charges of intentional assault in the third degree and aggravated harassment in the second degree against then girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

Majors managed to escape with one year of domestic violence counselling, which he has now served. Jabbari also dismissed the federal lawsuit against him last November.

“Yeah, of course I say yes. Disney, Marvel Studios, I love them,” Majors told USA Today when asked about potentially reprising his Kang role. “Tom Hiddleston, loved working with that guy. Loved working with Paul Rudd. Loved working with Gugu Mbatha-Raw. I love the industry so much,...

Actor Jonathan Majors is widely known for portraying Kang the Conqueror in MCU’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and appeared as another variant of the character in Loki. Majors rose to fame after he starred in The Last Black Man in San Francisco, followed by his appearance in Da 5 Bloods, Lovecraft Country, The Harder They Fall, Devotion, and others.

Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror | Credits: Marvel Studios

The actor was sentenced to a 52-week Domestic Violence Intervention Program after he was convicted of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in December 2023. He was arrested in March 2023 after an alleged domestic violence altercation with his then-girlfriend. After he was convicted of misdemeanor counts, Jonathan Majors was dropped by MCU, but now he’s willing to make a return.

Jonathan Majors expresses his desire to make an MCU return

Actor Jonathan Majors was at the peak of...

With Jonathan Majors back on the big screen with his new movie, Magazine Dreams, the actor is hoping for an MCU comeback, as he recently revealed he would love to play Kang the Conqueror again. His supervillain was being set up as the McU's next big bad after Thanos. Majors first appeared in Loki Season 1, where he revealed there are countless variants who all bow to one dominant version of Kang. Another variant appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, although it's probably best if that film is forgotten. Majors was let go by Marvel Studios after being convicted of two misdemeanor counts of harassment and reckless assault.

During an interview with USA Today to promote Magazine Dreams, Majors opened up about his desire to return to the MCU. "Yeah, of course I say yes," the actor said. As is the case with almost every "canceled" celebrity, Majors' departure caused...

Jonathan Majors answers whether he could return as Kang the Conquerorafter being fired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor was once set to be the star of the Multiverse Saga. Majors did not only play Kang, but all of his multiverse variants. The Council of Kangs would have been the driving force of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, Majors was fired by Marvel in December 2023 after being convicted of misdemeanor third-degree assault and second-degree harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Now that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom took over Kang's role, Majors talks about a possible return.

Speaking to USA Today, Jonathan Majors revealed he would love to come back as Kang if Marvel came calling. The Kang actor recalled some of the MCU stars he worked with in his time in the franchise, commenting on how he loved working with actors like Loki's Tom Hiddleston. He...

Jonathan Majors wants to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).The 35-year-old actor - who portrayed Kang the Conqueror in the Disney+ TV show ‘Loki’ and the 2023 blockbuster ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ - was dropped by Marvel after he was convicted of two misdemeanour counts of reckless assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, though has now said he’d love to reprise his character in a future MCU project if given the chance to do so.When asked whether he’d come back to the MCU if he was asked to play Kang again during an interview with USA Today, he said: “Yeah, of course I say yes. Disney, Marvel Studios, I love them!”Majors then gushed about his ‘Loki’ co-stars Tom Hiddleston and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, as well as ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s Paul Rudd - saying he “loved working” with the three actors.

Jonathan Majors was dropped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe just as he was gearing up to be featured as the big bad in Avengers: Doomsday (originally titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty). Though the MCU is moving on without him, Majors is still open to coming back to the MCU if Disney and Marvel Studios will ultimately decide to reverse the decision.

Majors opened up on the possibility of returning as Kang at some point in the future during a new interview with USA Today. He was asked how he'd feel if Marvel were to give him the call about coming back, and Majors made it clear that he would do so with no hesitation. He attributed his eagerness to come back into the fold to how much he loved working with his MCU co-stars, something he says he can still feel even far removed from his role as Kang.

"Yeah,...

Jonathan Majors is open to returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after playing Kang the Conqueror in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

The actor is promoting his latest film, Magazine Dreams, and said if Marvel called him to reprise his role in the MCU, he would accept.

“Yeah, of course I say yes. Disney, Marvel Studios, I love them,” Majors told USA Today. “Tom Hiddleston, loved working with that guy. Loved working with Paul Rudd. Loved working with Gugu Mbatha-Raw. I love the industry so much, and now I’m in the place where I can feel the love from them and actually express my love for them.”

Majors was dropped by Marvel after he was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of reckless assault and harassment. The actor was sentenced to probation.

The actor played Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantimania and was reportedly set to...

Few actors make us instantly intrigued by a project like Brian Tyree Henry. The Oscar, Tony, and Emmy-nominated actor continues to showcase his brilliance, regardless of the medium. Dope Thief, a new series for Apple TV+, requires his full charisma to work, and he once again throws a genre show on his back. With Henry leading Dope Thief, the series can allow its other characters to take big swings. Even if some are unsuccessful, the crime drama emits a surprising grit and mood that cannot be ignored.

RelatedBrian Tyree Henry and the cast of Dope Thief talk Apple TV+ Crime Drama (Interview) Dope Thief – The Plot

Lifelong friends Ray Driscoll (Henry) and Manny Carvalho (Wagner Moura) have found a scheme to steal money from drug dealers with few repercussions. By posing as DEA agents, they can rob the dealers and walk out with the money, all while knowing the dealers...

Director Matt Reeves may now be known for his work directing and co-writing 2022’s The Batmanand two movies in the Planet of the Apes franchise, 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and 2017’s War of the Planet of the Apes. However, before those blockbusters, Reeves directed another monster movie, 2008’s disaster action horrow film, Cloverfield.

Written by Drew Goddard, Cloverfield, is coming to the free streaming service Tubi on April 1. The movie, a found footage film, that follows a group of friends as they set out on a rescue mission in New York City during a monster attack, made $172 million worldwide, against its budget of $25 million to $30 million. The film was produced by J.J. Abrams (Lost)under his Bad Robot banner.

Innovative Marketing Helped Fuel Cloverfield’s Success

In the film, the giant creature descends upon New York City and leaves nothing but death and destruction. The group of friends,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Surface Season 2 Episode 4 “Legacy.”] Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is still putting the pieces of her life back together as she investigates her mother’s death in Surface Season 2, and Episode 4 ends with a bombshell about her identity. Sophie joins Eliza (Millie Brady) at the Huntley estate for an overnight trip, and it’s there they start talking about their past. Eliza remembers how the other ran off from a party like she’d seen a ghost. They never should have been riding the next day, and Eliza got hurt and Sophie left her. She was one of the first girls Eliza ever liked. Sophie wishes she could go back and change it. But later, after Sophie and Eliza have a night of drinking and dancing, the former makes a shocking discovery: Eliza remarks that her father gave a music box to each of his children … and Sophie has the same one! Sophie’s a ...

Quick LinksSurface Season 2, Episode 4 Reveals a Huge Truth About SophieSurface Ruins Quinn and Grace's Relationship - What Happens Next?Surface Leaves Eliza & Callum Stuck in the Same Places

The following contains major spoilers from Surface Season 2, Episode 4, "Legacy," now streaming on Apple TV+.

Surface Season 2, Episode 4, "Legacy" will either be the best episode of the Apple TV+ show or its most confusing, depending on how fans want to look at it. The episode drops two massive bombshells -- one for Sophie Ellis and another for her ex-husband James -- that definitely shake up the entire story. Whether or not they're actually good ideas for the series, though, is where the difference of opinion will come in.

"Legacy" is so titled because the concept of that hovers over the entire episode. Sophie returns to the Huntley house, where she takes a big step toward figuring out her family history. Meanwhile, Quinn...

The Sam Raimi-produced horror thriller Crawl has finally received a brand-new streaming update. The 2019 movie was led by Maze Runner vet Kaya Scodelario as a college student athlete who tries to save her estranged father from a Category 5 hurricane.

As of March 1,Crawl is now officially available to stream for free on Tubi. In the film, Scodelario’s Haley Keller is introduced as a swimmer at the University of Florida. Getting worried about her father’s state, she travels to their family home amidst the worsening state of the storm. There, she and her father get accidentally trapped by big alligators who are blocking their exits. Now, she must find a way to evacuate her injured father from the flooding area, while trying to avoid getting eaten by alligators. Since its theatrical debut, the movie has received a Certified Fresh score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 212 reviews.

Crawl...

The following contains major spoilers from Surface Season 2, Episode 3, "Kintsugi," now streaming on Apple TV+.

Surface Season 2, Episode 3, "Kintsugi" is the episode the Apple TV+ show has been plotting all along. There aren't any huge explosive scenes or major plot reveals, but that ironically makes it more intense. With the cat out of the bag, the series shows its hand and gets to the big character moment that viewers have been waiting for since Season 2 was announced.

"Kintsugi" mainly deals with the revelation at the end of Season 2, Episode 2. Sophie Ellis now finds herself on the back foot and chooses to respond by going on the offensive. Meanwhile, Callum Walsh is still out there making things up as he goes along, which isn't the best way to approach things either. And the episode shows what happens when they face confrontation, including with each other. It raises a big question: is...

On Friday March 7 2025, ABC broadcasts Live with Kelly and Mark!

Season 3 Episode 134 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” promises an exciting lineup that fans will not want to miss. Scheduled to air on ABC, this episode features special guests Brian Tyree Henry and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, both known for their impressive work in the entertainment industry.

Brian Tyree Henry, recognized for his role in the series “Dope Thief,” will join Kelly and Mark for a lively discussion. His unique perspective and engaging personality are sure to bring a fun energy to the show. Fans can look forward to hearing about his latest projects and experiences in the world of acting.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, star of the series “Surface,” will also be a guest on this episode. Known for her captivating performances, she will share insights about her career and what audiences can expect from her upcoming work.

Netflix’s adaptation of Harlan Coben‘s I Will Find You novel is ready to name its leading man as Sam Worthington joins the cast. Based on Coben’s best-selling novel, published in 2023, Netflix’s I Will Find You is an eight-episode series and the first of Harlan’s projects under his exclusive deal with the streamer.

According to reports, Sam Worthington plays David Burroughs, “an innocent father serving a life sentence for the murder of his own son — a crime he didn’t commit, yet a tragedy he punishes himself for every day. When David receives evidence that his child may still be alive, he must break out of prison to find out the truth.”

For more details about the plot, check out this synopsis for Harlan’s novel courtesy of Amazon:

David Burroughs was once a devoted father to his three-year-old son Matthew, living a dream life just...

March Box Office: Biggest Opening Weekends In North America ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

February and March seem to be quieter than last year when Dune 2, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire were released in the cinemas. This year, in March, Snow White is the only big movie to arrive in theatres, but it might not hold a candle to the films that have registered the biggest opening weekends, and the #1 spot is held by another Disney live-action film, Beauty and the Beast. It is yet to be bested by any film, not even an MCU flick; Captain Marvel could surpass Emma Watson’s movie. Scroll below for the deets.

The live-action/animated remake of the Disney film was released in 2017. It featured an ensemble cast comprising Emma, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson.

The celebrated period drama Belle marked the arrival of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and since then she hasn’t stopped impressing audiences in films like Motherless Brooklyn, Misbehaviour and series like Doctor Who, Black Mirror (San Junipero episode), Loki, The Morning Show, and Surface, which is now releasing episodes from its second season. On that Apple TV+ series, Gugu plays Sophie, a woman who has lost her recent memories and must piece them together. She talks about the “liberating” feeling she got playing someone with a missing back story and how it forced her to be present. She explains how she utilizes her […]

The post “To Be Able To Play a Flawed, Complex, Messy Woman Who Is Morally Ambiguous …That To Me Is the Juicy Stuff”: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Back To One, Episode 332 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

The celebrated period drama Belle marked the arrival of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and since then she hasn’t stopped impressing audiences in films like Motherless Brooklyn, Misbehaviour and series like Doctor Who, Black Mirror (San Junipero episode), Loki, The Morning Show, and Surface, which is now releasing episodes from its second season. On that Apple TV+ series, Gugu plays Sophie, a woman who has lost her recent memories and must piece them together. She talks about the “liberating” feeling she got playing someone with a missing back story and how it forced her to be present. She explains how she utilizes her […]

The post “To Be Able To Play a Flawed, Complex, Messy Woman Who Is Morally Ambiguous …That To Me Is the Juicy Stuff”: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Back To One, Episode 332 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

“Live with Kelly and Mark” wraps up its week with a Friday lineup featuring actor Brian Tyree Henry, actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and a performance by the band O.A.R. Henry, known for his work in “Atlanta” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” joins Kelly and Mark to discuss his latest project, the comedy series “Dope Thief.” […]

Live with Kelly and Mark: Brian Tyree Henry, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, O.A.R.

Netflix’s Adolescence is a crime thriller of extraordinary power and rare insight, transforming into something completely unexpected by the final moments of its heartbreaking finale. The scene, anchored by a towering performance of vulnerability from the great Stephen Graham, hits with the force of a wrecking ball, leaving you shattered.

Yet, somehow, the sequence manages to piece the viewer back together. Graham, simply put, is a revelation. He is outstanding in this year’s Hulu series A Thousand Blows, embodying a powder keg of intensity — wavering between rage and tenderness — yet deeply wounded and achingly human.

I’m confident you won’t see a better performance all year.

RelatedA Thousand Blows Review — Take a Walk on the Wild Side! Netflix’s Adolescence Review and Synopsis

The story follows young Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old who is about to be arrested for the murder of his teenage classmate. The victim, by all accounts,...

Season 2 of Apple TV+'s Surface takes a bold new direction, expanding on the intriguing premise introduced in Season 1. Sophie, now going by her real name Tess (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), left the U.S. in the season finale and traveled to the UK, determined to uncover more about her mysterious past. This new setting brings a fresh group of characters, including Eliza Huntley (Millie Brady), the woman Tess recalls from her fragmented flashbacks.

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Surface Season 2 Episode 2 “Speak of the Devil.”] Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) would certainly use this episode’s title to describe one another on Surface. And in the final moments of this installment, she is shocked to find that he’s followed her to London! Leading up to that point, Sophie is continuing to investigate what happened to her mother. She suspects that the Huntley patriarch killed her. To do so, she’s working with journalist Callum (Gavin Drea), who she recently learned her mother contacted in the past before she lost her memories. Still using the name Tess Caldwell (from a passport she found), she also reconnects with Eliza Huntley (Millie Brady) and admits that she came back to London because her life fell apart and she felt like she was playing a role that never quite fit. She last felt like herself with Eliza. She scores...

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but the first season of “Surface,” the AppleTV+ show that both you and I forgot existed, was not great. A mystery/thriller in name only, it amalgamated the worst of parts of ‘prestige’ TV — faux pretentiousness, sleepy episodes, an unwillingness to actually answer any questions quickly — into a ponderous eight-hour dive into the mysteries of Sophie Ellis’ (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) life before she lost all of her long-term memory after falling off a ship.

Continue reading ‘Surface’ Season 2 Review: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Apple TV+ Show Returns With A Confident Reset After A Sleepy Season 1 at The Playlist.

Ted Lasso‘s long-rumored fourth season has yet to be officially announced, but that doesn’t mean we can’t imagine what could be in store for the fan-favorite characters at the center of Apple TV+‘s Emmy-winning comedy. When star Phil Dunster stopped by TV Insider’s studio for promotion of his other series on the streamer, Surface, alongside costar Gugu Mbatha-Raw, he imagined what Jamie Tartt’s future might look like, or what he wishes to see next for the character. Regarding the potential fourth season, Dunster admitted, “What can I say? Not very much. I don’t know.” Apple TV+ As for what he’d like to explore, “More costumes,” Dunster shares candidly. After all, we know Jamie has a penchant for fashion ever since he was introduced in Season 1. The actor adds he’d also like to see “how he would feel about the Olympics, I...

Phil Dunster has returned to Apple TV+, and his crimes may be catching up with him. Collider can share an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming second episode of Surface Season 2, in which the Ted Lasso star is confronted about a cover-up and, in turn, shows his darker side to Gavin Drea. The twisty thriller starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw returned last week after a three-year break, picking up with Sophie/Tess Caldwell as she continues her search for the truth of who she is after a failed suicide attempt erased her memory. Now in London and away from her husband, she's found herself in the orbit of both Drea's Callum Walsh, an investigative journalist keen on exposing the elite who's willing to shed some light on her past, and Dunster's Quinn, the brother of Tess's old acquaintance Eliza (Millie Brady) who has more than a few skeletons in his closet.

Plot: This new chapter of Surface follows Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Sophie to London to unravel the secrets of her past. Having suffered an injury that robbed her of her memories, Sophie follows the few clues she has, using her vast stolen resources to embed herself in elite British society, and discovering a possible connection to a beautiful heiress. But everything changes when a journalist contacts her out of the blue, and Sophie realizes they were working together to expose a shocking scandal about the dangerous people she’s now become close to…

Review: While the first season of Surface boasted a fantastic lead turn from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the Apple TV+ series was an underwhelming attempt to tell a story about memory, identity, and relationships. The series ended with a cliffhanger, leading to a vastly different second season. With two years between the finale of the first season and the debut of season two,...

On Tuesday February 25 2025, MyNetworkTV broadcasts Sherri!

Gugu Mbatha-Raw & Phil Dunster Season 3 Episode 98 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Sherri” titled “Gugu Mbatha-Raw & Phil Dunster” promises to bring excitement and charm to MyNetworkTV. This episode features talented actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Phil Dunster, who are known for their work in the Apple TV+ series “Surface.” Fans of the show can look forward to an engaging conversation as Sherri welcomes these two stars to the stage.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw is recognized for her impressive performances in film and television, often bringing depth and emotion to her roles. Phil Dunster, on the other hand, has gained popularity for his charismatic presence and strong acting skills. Together, they are expected to share stories from their careers, insights into their latest projects, and perhaps some behind-the-scenes moments from “Surface.”

As always, Sherri’s warm and inviting style will make for a lively discussion. The episode aims...

The first season of Surface was met with mixed reviews as the Apple TV+ thriller tried to use a unique amnesia storyline to evoke a psychological twist reminiscent of films like The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. Led by a stellar performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw alongside Oliver Jackson-Cohen, the 2022 first season of Surface ended with a cliffhanger teasing a major shift for the second chapter in the story. Now, Surface is back with a vastly improved sophomore run that introduces an all-new cast of supporting players as the action moves from San Francisco to London.

Surface follows Sophie Ellis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a woman suffering from amnesia after a suicide attempt. Trying to piece together her past and face suspicions about her husband, James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), Sophie finds herself uncovering a complex web of lies that include details about her past. This season finds Sophie in London, living under her real name Tess Caldwell.

Tuesday on Sherri, get ready for a double dose of talent as Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Phil Dunster drop by. Mbatha-Raw, known for her powerful performances in projects like Belle and The Morning Show, joins Sherri to talk about her latest project, Apple TV+’s psychological thriller, Surface. Dunster, fresh off the success of Ted Lasso, will […]

Sherri: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Phil Dunster...

One of the hottest TV shows on right now is Severance. The Apple TV+ drama has become a critical darling and fan favorite thanks to its unique setup. It revolves around the employees of a mysterious corporation who endure the daily grind of a soulless office job. The twist is that whenever they leave the office, they completely forget who they were and what they were doing. As their two personas blur, they have to figure out the truth about their double lives.

It's fascinating to watch actors change their "innie" to "outie" characters. Severance is mainly a drama, but it also sneaks in a lot of humor as it satirizes the bleakness of modern corporate life.

There are a lot of shows and movies like Severance out there. If you love Severance, you have to try these 10 shows and five movies with the same style and feel.

Dollhouse

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The British actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw has worked with Reece Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey, been awarded an MBE and told stories that have challenged perceptions around race. So what, asks Rhik Samadder, keeps her so grounded?

Early on in Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s career, an older, white actor advised she change her name to something easier to pronounce. She declined – a strong choice for a young actor. “I don’t think it’s that strong,” rebuts Mbatha-Raw. She likes her name. Besides, “it means ‘Our Pride’ in Zulu. To change that would be the antithesis of its meaning.”

Mbatha-Raw is known for choosing roles that combine art and social advocacy. She’s won awards, been honoured with an MBE, appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency. People still mispronounce her name, though. The most extreme example she recalls was in Norway, when a host announced her from a piece of paper.

After years of leaving her mark on our television screens via Black Mirror’s acclaimed “San Junipero” episode, The Morning Show Season 1, both seasons of Marvel's Loki, and her leading role in Apple TV+’s psychological thriller Surface, the tremendously talented Gugu Mbatha-Raw seems to be finally having a sustained moment in the limelight. Her reputation as a theatrically trained performer has never gone unnoticed, nor has her resume been empty of more mainstream hits. Still, the broader level of name recognition Mbatha-Raw deserves has felt a long time overdue.

The following contains spoilers from the Feb. 21 episode of Severance, now streaming on Apple TV+. (Read our full recap.)

Three is proving to be a crowd for several Lumon workplace romances as Apple TV+’s Severance enters the back half of Season 2. Here is what three of the involved actors had to say about the acclaimed drama’s most atypical love triangles.

More from TVLineGrosse Pointe Garden Society Premiere: Will the Murder Victim's Identity Ever Be Revealed? Creators Weigh InSuits LA Boss Talks Premiere's Cataclysmic Split, That Twist Ending and Harvey's Impending ArrivalSurface Season 2 Premiere: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Millie Brady Talk...

Surface Season 2 brings in some new and exciting cast members to join Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Sophia, such as Phil Dunster, Freida Pinto, and Callie Cooke. 

The sophomore run of Apple TV+'s thriller series continues the story of Sophie as she pieces together fragments of her memory to find out what really happened to her that led to her suicide attempt. 

As she gains new allies for her search for the truth, dangerous enemies resurface that could endanger her life. 

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