Established 1961 T 29 Tuesday, April 10, 2018 L i f e s t y l e G o s s i p Antonio Banderas says he’s too old to play the ‘sexy boy’ ntonio Banderas has grown tired still has a number of ambitions he’d like of playing the “sexy boy” in his to accomplish before he quits acting. Amovies. The 57-year-old actor The Spanish star - whose 19-year mar- stars as Pablo Picasso in the new TV riage to actress Melanie Griffith ended series ‘Genius: Picasso’, and Banderas in 2015 - revealed he would like to has revealed he didn’t hesitate to accept direct again, while he’s also started the role because he’d grown weary of studying fashion design in recent years. playing so many similar parts during his Speaking to CBS, he shared: “I do a lot time in Hollywood. Reflecting on the of things. There’s only one life, you have experience of playing the Spanish to do it. And there is time. Absolutely, painter, he confessed: “I found incredi- there is time for everything.” Banderas ble liberation in that because you has also claimed that in spite of his suc- escape from certain labels that people cess, he’s always keen to learn new put you in - you know, the Latin lover things and he doesn’t yet consider him- or other thing, you know, is fine for a self to be a “master” of anything. He while and it’s fun for a while. “But I’m explained to the Guardian newspaper: 57. I don’t want to be the sexy boy my “I have been a student my whole life, I whole life, because that would be don’t stop studying and I’m going to pathetic.” Despite what he’s already continue. I don’t consider myself a mas- achieved during his career, Banderas ter of anything.” Normani Kordei’s Mark Strong hiatus heartbreak prefers being a bad guy ormani Kordei was “heartbro- ken” to announce Fifth NHarmony were going on hiatus. The ‘Work From Home’ hitmaker admits it was “very scary” for her and her bandmates when they announced they would be taking a break from the band and says it only really became Andie MacDowell real once it was out there in the open. She said: “[It was] very scary. And chose ‘normal life’ heartbreaking for me personally. The first day that we even put out the over film career announcement for the hiatus, it was the toughest day ... “So many people say- ndie MacDowell could have don’t know that people ever really ing, ‘Oh my god, what happened? had a huge film career but allowed us to be normal. I think it’s What’s wrong?’ Just having that atten- Achose a “normal life” instead. super hard for people to allow tion on something that you already The ‘Love After Love’ star believes someone in my position to be nor- know is real and the fact that now she could have had a similar career mal, because they like to see you as everybody else knows it’s real, it’s like, to the likes of Nicole Kidman but that. It’s more fun.” However, the 59- ‘Wow, this is really happening.’” And ultimately decided to focus on her year-old actress still considers her- the 21-year-old singer knows it will be family and children. She said: “I look self to be “super ambitious”. She an “adjustment” going solo but she is at other people, like Nicole Kidman told the Huffington Post newspaper: very “excited” to let people know who and all these people, and look back “The good thing is, at the same time, the real Normani is. She added to and think, “At one point, I was a I think I’m super ambitious. In get- Entertainment Tonight: “It’s definitely contender along with these people.” ting out of that whole world, I did going to be an adjustment. It’s all I’ve I feel like I lost my juice somewhere focus on my children, so there was a known for the last six years, but I’m along the line ... I think it was impor- positive. They didn’t really know that excited ... It’s a discovery for myself, tant to me to have a normal life. I much about what I did. It was not a you know? There are so many people don’t know that you can have a nor- part of our dialogue, and it did help that are excited for me, trying to see, mal life. “It was a sweet idea, and I me to just be a mom. But at the same ‘Oh, what is she gonna do next? ‘What tried super hard. I lived in North time, it made me lose the inspiration, does Normani sound like?’ I’m still Carolina and Montana, and I did not in a sense, to be more creative in my trying to figure that out ... I’m in the focus very hard on my career. I work. And it’s just a matter of finding studio and its really cool because I talk focused really hard on my children, that kind of levity and energy and about things that I actually wanna talk and I had this concept that I wanted making it happen when you haven’t about and things that I feel genuinely, to give them something normal. I been in the loop.” and I can finally fully be myself. I feel like, within the group, I’m so, so grate- ful for the process but I can speak for all of us, you’ve only been able to see a fraction of who we are individually.” Samuel L Jackson doubts Black Panther’s impact James Blunt reveals the ark Strong prefers to play villains to heroes key to his Twitter popularity and he thinks his love of dark characters Mcomes from him being English. The 54-year- Beautiful’ hitmaker - who has 1.75 million followers old actor has portrayed bad guys in ‘Syriana’ , ‘Zero on Twitter - explained: “I don’t really care about it Dark Thirty’ and ‘Green Lantern’ and has been cast as so much. I just think that humans should be kind to main antagonist Doctor Sivana in upcoming DC each other and treat each other nicer. “But on Extended Universe film ‘Shazam!’, which is being social media, some people don’t. So, I laugh to directed by David F. Sandberg. Strong has never shied myself when I’m reading them, and don’t take them away from villainous roles because they are always fun too seriously.” Despite the criticism he’s received and he admits it’s a bonus that many Hollywood direc- on Twitter, James has already enjoyed a hugely tors like to cast English actors in those parts. When successful career, selling more than 20 million asked if actors have more fun playing baddies, he said: records worldwide since releasing his debut album “I think so. In Britain we don’t shy away from villains, in 2004. However, the British star admitted that whereas American culture is much more geared one particular career memory sticks out in his towards the hero. We can go all the way back to mind. He told Star2.com: “My favorite moment was Richard III and Macbeth. They (Americans) have John playing to 80,000 people at the Glastonbury Wayne.” Strong - who can currently be seen playing Festival with the sun setting in the beautiful English spy Max Easton in new FOX espionage TV drama countryside. It was an amazing experience. “But ‘Deep State’ - says the thing he enjoys most about his just to be on a tour around the world and come to career is the challenge of playing people completely places like Kuala Lumpur is also a great big honor different to himself. In an interview with the Metro for me. In fact, the greatest honor I have is to play newspaper, he said: “I always thought what made act- music that brings people together.” James also ing interesting was playing what you’re not, whether revealed that one of the tracks on his new album it’s wigs, costumes or accent. Although I’d say Max has a distinctly political tone. He shared: “In a Easton is as close to me as it might get. I couldn’t base world where politicians try to divide us, music him on anyone so I had to rely on my understanding of ames Blunt says his casual attitude is the key brings us together. “I have a song on the new how someone would react in the circumstances he to his social media popularity. The 44-year-old album called ‘Someone Sing Along’ that was faces ... The most important thing is that Max is a guy Jsinger has developed a reputation for his specifically inspired by Donald Trump, and the trying to protect his family. Anyone can relate to that. amusing and sarcastic messages on Twitter, and divisive politics that he talks about. “I don’t see a He joined MI6 to make the world a better place, gets amuel L. Jackson doubts the success of ‘Black Panther’ will lead James claims that his ability to not take the plat- difference between skin color or sexuality - we are involved in something he can’t stomach, courts their to long-term changes in Hollywood. The acclaimed Marvel movie form “too seriously” has helped him to maintain a all humans with the same hopes and fears and the wrath and puts his family in danger.” has led to calls for more films to be led by black actors and healthy relationship with social media.