Over the last few weeks I have been getting caught up in the new Series ‘Star Trek: Picard’ I have to say that it’s been getting better and better each week.
One character has stood out for me (OK two, but we’ll get to the other one in a bit). Cristobal Rios, the Captain of the ship that Picard commandeers to help in his quest, and played by Santiago Cabrera. He also plays all the emergency holograms on board the ship, which gives Santiago and wonderful playing field.
Mr Cabrera has been on my radar since 2006 when he was one of the ‘original’ heroes in the TV Series ‘Heroes’. He played Isaac Mendez whose super power was being able to paint visions of the future. The only downside was that he could only do it while he was high! It was one of his paintings that helped to coin the phrase ‘Save the cheerleader, save the world’.
Since then, he keeps cropping up in things that I watch from time to time, like, ‘The Musketeers’, where he played Aramis, and I have to say that this look was extremely hot!
He also played Lancelot in ‘Merlin’
Anyway, I look forward to seeing more of his character in ‘Picard’ It’s going to be fun to see how many emergency holograms they can come up with!!
I can’t leave this blog without a special mention for another character in ‘Picard’. Elnor, a Romulan played by Evan Evagora.
Evan Evagora is just a baby!! At 23, and much like Timothee Chalamet, he’s a little too young to be on my radar. So he will just get a special mention here and also, much like Timothee Chalamet, I will watch his career with interest.
This one is long overdue, but I have been putting this one off because it didn’t seem quite right. This one is a BABY!! and he’s only a year older than my eldest daughter!
Tom Holland. C’mon, who couldn’t love that adorable face!
His debut movie role was as ‘Lucas’, Ewan McGregor’s son in ‘The Impossible’. A performance that got him noticed, immediately.
After a little bit of work on a TV show, honing his dancing skills as Billy Elliot in the stage production of the same name, and a role alongside Chris Hemsworth in ‘In the Heart of the Sea’, our little boy matured enough to become Spider-man!!
After years of doing some good Spider-man movies and ‘almost’ getting things right, particularly with Andrew Garfield, they finally hit the jackpot with Tom Holland.
First introduced to us in Captain America: Civil War, Tom came bounding onto our screens with the enthusiasm of a puppy dog! He melted the hearts of millions of young followers and the hearts of every Mom on the planet. Tom is the ‘all around’ package. He’s young, charismatic, fun to be around, a great actor, hits the nail on the head with his portrayal of Peter Parker, hilarious in interviews and just an all around nice person in real life.
I don’t know anyone who didn’t cry at this………
After 3 appearances in the Avengers movies and 2 standalone Spider-man movies, fans were devastated with news back in August that after a fresh deal with Disney, over the character of Spider-man (owned by Sony) couldn’t be reached, we may not be seeing Tom in any future movies.
Fans were angry… in fact they were fuming!!
However, yesterday saw the news that fans had be holding out hope for, as it was announced that Spider-man is officially staying in the MCU and will actually be making another standalone Spider-man movie! YAY!
I’m so happy for him. (and look at the amount of followers he has… CRAZY!) I’m happy for me too! As he will clearly be hanging around (excuse the pun) as Spiderman for a few more years yet.
I for one, cannot wait to see how this young man matures in his film career. For now though, he’s clearly having the time of his life as Spiderman.
There are always events in life that you will remember. Weddings. The birth of your children. Holidays. World events…. I bet you can remember exactly what you were doing on 9/11 or when Diana died.
Discovering ‘Dish of the Week’ number 80 is one of those events for me.
Today is the anniversary of a song that I absolutely adore. Take Me to Church by Hozier.
I have a wonderful memory of the first time I heard the song and the beautiful voice of a tall (6’5″), gangly Irishman with long messy hair, called Andrew John Hozier-Byrne.
I had fallen asleep on the sofa one evening and I woke up to a very late night repeat of a Graham Norton show at around 2 in the morning. It was the musical section at the end of the show and Hozier was singing Take Me to Church and I was completely blown away.
Here is that very performance…..
I was smitten and immediately looked up more about him and his music. His first album, Hozier, is an amazing piece of work with every track a masterpiece that I can listen to again and again.
Take Me To Church and the self-titled debut album sent him on an international tour for more than two years and by the time he came home, he was burnt out. It took months to decompress and return to normal. He moved into a bungalow near his family in Wicklow and lived alone, “trying to do the everyday normal stuff that make people feel like people”. After a while the ideas for Wasteland, Baby! started to come.
It was a frustratingly long wait for this second studio album, that was finally released in March this year. One track on the album was release on an EP in Sept 2018. The amazing ‘Nina Cried Power’ with Mavis Staples.
It was shortly after the release of that EP that I actually got to see Hozier in concert in December 2018! STUNNING is an understatement for this man live on stage.
If I ever get the chance to see him again, I will be jumping at it.
Wasteland Baby is another magical piece of work. It’s hard to pick a favourite track, so here are just 3 corkers.
When I listen to his music, I find I am drawn to his live performances over the studio recorded ones. He pours his heart and soul into his music every time he performs and this makes every live performance different and stunning.
I just hope I don’t have to wait another 5 years for the next album!!
So here’s what I do with an unexpected weekend off.
This is going to be a first. I like to do the occasional Dish of the Week but I also do the occasional (very occasional) Dishette of the Week. I have decided to incorporate the two because it doesn’t matter if the dish in question happens to be male or female. Why should I separate? In fact I think it makes me a little lazy in that I rarely write a Dishette of the Week. So now I will have no excuse.
I have chosen to do a whole host of Dishes for this one. As this week sees the finale to the Marvel Avengers movies as we currently know them with the release of Avengers: Endgame, I am listing ALL the Dishes involved from day one!
This is going to be quite a long post and heavy on pictures! I have probably missed out a few because there are so many.
So! Going through the films in CHRONOLOGICAL order, so please don’t start telling me that they are out of order. I know. I’m running with storylines and where they all fall together chronologically. So I will start with….
1 – Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
This film introduced us to Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan and I can’t believe that neither of them have ever made it to my Dish of the Week!! An oversight that is now rectified.
Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes AKA Captain America and the soon to be Winter Soldier.
I mean, just look at these noodles! Who couldn’t love them.
2 – Iron Man (2008)
Technically the first of this Marvel franchise and an introduction to Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, the Iron Man himself. Robert has made it to my Dish of the Week in the past, at number 42, and that can be read HERE.
I said it back then and I’ll say it again, Robert was born to play Tony Stark!!
Iron Man also introduces us to the first of my Dishettes. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Pepper Potts. Tony’s Right hand and eventual lover. The only woman who can truly control him! This woman takes no shit! She also dons the Iron Man suit occasionally.
3 – The Incredible Hulk (2008)
A stand alone Hulk movie made before the introduction of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, this one starring Edward Norton. However, my dish is going to have to be Mark Ruffalo. He is such a sweetie and I can’t understand why they are yet to make a Hulk movie with his portrayal of the Hulk. The character has been developed so much during the last 22 Marvel films that he could quite easily carry a stand alone movie.
4 – Iron Man 2 (2010)
5 – Thor (2011)
Not one, but two Dishes and a Dishette in this one. Both Dishes have had previous entries on my Dish of the Week. Chris Hemsworth’s entry can be read HERE, and Tom Hiddleston’s can be read HERE. Both blogs apparently very short and sweet.
Chris Hemsworth plays the God Thor and Tom Hiddleston plays his brother Loki in this Marvel franchise. Chris is just perfect as the tall muscular God Thor, but Tom has been the surprise hit of the franchise with his amazing portrayal of Loki. It’s funny to think that Tom actually originally auditioned for the part of Thor. I’m so glad he didn’t get it, Loki is just delicious! Natalie Portman, the next of my Dishettes, plays Jane Foster, the scientist who discovers and falls in love with Thor.
If you needed any convincing about just how good, and popular, Tom Hiddleston is as Loki, then just look at this video of Tom when he attended the San Diego Comic con back in 2013 in full costume and character and watch how he plays with the audience.
6 – Avengers: Assemble (2012)
Now we’re getting serious. I’ve already mentioned a lot of this cast already with Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, but this film now throws us Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow.
AND BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING……
Black widow was actually introduced to us back with Iron Man 2
and Hawkeye was fleetingly introduced to us during Thor.
It was clear from day one that Scarlett Johansson was going to be absolutely kick ass as Black Widow and Hawkeye became a firm favourite with fans, although his character has been somewhat held back a little, but it is widely believed that this character will come to full fruition during Avengers Endgame.
7 – Iron Man 3 (2013)
8 – Thor: Darkworld (2013)
9 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
This filmed turned Sebastian Stan into the Winter Soldier and an absolute, rip roaring hotty!!
10 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 1 (2014)
The surprise hit of 2014 was Guardians of the Galaxy, and for me, this one delivered a Dish, 2 Dishettes and a special mention as he is not an Avenger.
When Chris Pratt danced into the opening scenes to Come and Get Your Love by Redbone, he danced into the hearts of millions all over the world. He also had two kick ass women to work with, with Zoe Saldana as Gamora and Karen Gillan as Nebula.
Chris Pratt has actually made it to my Dish of the Week twice before. One can be read HERE, and the other can be read HERE.
My special mention goes to Lee Pace, who played Ronan, the bad guy and definitely not an Avenger. Lee has already made it to my Dish of the Weeks previously, and that can be read HERE. I have liked Lee Pace since way before this film as I mentioned in my blog. Underneath all the Ronan makeup is a very handsome man.
11 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 (2017)
12 – Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
They just keep coming. This film throws us Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and (if only too briefly) Aaron Taylor Johnson as Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver.
It also gives us Vision, played by Paul Bettany. Paul had been the voice of Tony Stark’s computer, Jarvis, since day one, but he finally gets physical form in the form of Vision in this Avengers movie and he falls in love with Wanda. I’ve always loved Paul Bettany, but he didn’t strike me as a hero type until I saw him as Vision!
13 – Ant Man (2015)
Another surprise hit for Marvel was Ant Man with the title character being played by the ever cute Paul Rudd. A joker both on-screen and off. Just how is he 50 years old!!
This film also introduces us to Hope Van Dyne, who later becomes the Wasp, played by the gorgeous Evangeline Lilly.
14 – Captain America: Civil War (2016)
15 – Spiderman: Homecoming (2017)
I couldn’t wait to get to this one! After years of various re-boots of the Spiderman franchise, they’ve finally hit the nail on the head with Tom Holland as Peter Parker.
The baby of the MCU at just 22 years old. Sweet, innocent, cute, blabber mouth. Cannot be trusted to keep plot-lines a secret so doesn’t get given whole scripts to read. He literally has no idea what he’s filming until he sees it on-screen!
This Youtube video perfectly demonstrates Tom’s inability to keep a secret and the lengths his co-stars go to to help him keep quiet!
But I think this video is where I truly lost my heart to Tom Holland. What a mover and a little hottie. This young man is going to go a long way and he’s going to mature nicely doing it.
16 – Doctor Strange (2016)
When this one was announced, I was very unsure of what to expect. Seeing the stills and the trailer before the film itself, I really didn’t know if I was going to like Doctor Strange. Turns out, I loved it! But then why wouldn’t I? Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t put a foot wrong. I’ve loved this guy for years anyway, and now I have more of a reason to love him. He has also been on my Dish of the Week list in the past and that can be read HERE.
17 – Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Chris Hemsworth went from hot to banging hot for this one!
Ragnarok also introduces us to another kick ass lady, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie.
I’m also putting another special mention in here with Karl Urban. I have loved Karl since seeing him portray Judge Dredd back in 2012. In this he plays Skurge the executioner who turns out to be quite the hero. He has made it to my Dish of the Week posts about 5 or 6 times in the past, and a couple of them can be read HERE, and HERE.
18 – Black Panther (2018)
Right! We’re on the home straight now. Black Panther was a huge hit for the MCU…..but….. and please don’t hate me for saying it, but this one is probably my least favourite of all the films listed here today. I just didn’t enjoy it. I felt they were trying to do just a bit too much with it and it really bugged me. That said, it did give us plenty of eye candy and kick ass women with Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black panther, Letitia Wright as Shuri and Danai Gurira as Okoye to name just a few.
19 – Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
20 – Ant Man and the Wasp (2018)
21 – Captain Marvel (2019)
OK, so chronologically, she should be second, but hey ho! The first female avenger to get her own movie. Brie Larsen as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, showed us that women can truly be kick ass and do it in a costume that is not over sexualised.
22 – Avengers: Endgame (2019)
So here we are. The culmination of the last 21 films. The bringing together of the WHOLE of the MCU…. literally. Without giving anything away, the film is amazing. Totally NOT what I was expecting. It certainly didn’t go in the direction I thought it would. It was funny, it was sad, it was exciting and it was a fitting end to the MCU as we currently know it. It is certainly NOT the end of the MCU.
More hotties will be posted as we find out about them. I have no doubt that Tom Holland will get a post all of his own at some point.
As you will see by my previous post, I have become a little obsessed by a TV series called Versailles.
It originally aired in 2016, so I’m a little late to the ball game for this one. I blame my Uni work. For the last two years, there’s really been no time for wasting time on TV shows, so I’m more than a little behind on EVERYTHING!!
Anyway, from the very first episode, I have been totally enamoured by Alexander Vlahos who plays Philippe, the younger flamboyant brother of Louis the XIV.
As I got more into the show, I decided to research how much of this character was based in reality. Turns out, pretty much all of it!!
Duke of Orleans. He won several major battles for his brother. During the reign of Louis, he was simply known as Monsieur. He was the founder of the House of Orleans and a direct ancestor to Louis Philippe I, who ruled France from 1830 to 1848. Although he was open about his homosexual behaviour and freely acted effeminately, he fulfilled his royal duty and married twice fathering several children. Through the children of his two marriages, Philippe became an ancestor of most modern-day Roman Catholic royalty, giving him the nickname of “the grandfather of Europe.
Even when he was married, he reportedly carried on open romantic affairs, with no regard to either of his two wives.
Among Philippe’s lovers, one man stands out, Philip of Lorraine-Armagnac, the never-married Chevalier de Lorraine, (played by Evan Williams and deserving of a Dish of the Week too!!) who was described as “insinuating, brutal and devoid of scruple”. This character is used to great and sometimes very amusing effect in the show. Although how he managed to keep his head after, historically, not one, but two stays in prison, one of which was for treason, is a miracle!! Philippe must have really loved him!
Anyway, this is becoming a blog about Philippe… let’s get back to Alexander.
Alexander is 5’10” and was born on the 30th of July, 1988 in Swansea, South Wales and his first language is Welsh. Damn it! I’m old enough to be his mother!! This is ridiculous.
He his probably best known in the UK for his role as Mordred in BBC fantasy show, ‘Merlin’ where he earned rave reviews for his portrayal as the young Druid destined to kill King Arthur.
Apart from Versailles, what have I seen him in?
NOTHING!!
Well, I’ve seen a few seconds of Merlin because my kids have been watching it recently, but Versailles is it! I look forward to seeing where his career goes.
Right, let’s start the year how I mean to go on. Lots of random blogging that probably doesn’t mean a lot to anyone other than me!! This is my diary in a way. Ranting, reviewing, gushing over actors (and actresses) and sometimes just venting. I find it therapeutic.
As I haven’t had the time for much of this over the last two years, I am determined to make up for it this year and what better way to start than by catching up with my ‘Dish of the Week’ posts that I haven’t updated since May last year!
I’m sorry, I know this is going to bore you, but I have decided that the first ‘Dish of the Week’ 2019, is going to be a joint venture, and two people who have already made the list several times in the past.
Adam Driver and Domhnall Gleeson.
My two favourite actors (with Adam just edging his way into the number one spot)
I do this for a reason. This is a big year in my calendar as December will see the final instalment of the current Star Wars Trilogy and both of these guys are in it. For anyone that knows me, you’ll know just how a big a Star Wars fan I am!
I have to admit that Adam was discovered purely because of Star Wars and this lead on to the discovery of his entire career from the TV series Girls, through to masterpieces like ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, ‘Hungry Hearts’, ‘This Is Where I Leave You’, ‘Paterson’, ‘Silence’, ‘BlacKkKlansman’, and much more in between!!
The past year has been a frustrating one as I eagerly awaited the general release of ‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’.
One of Adam’s films that is still in legal wranglings over rights ownership that has meant that it has only had a limited release at film festivals and may never see a general release. I just hope that it at least makes it onto DVD!!
Domhnall is another matter. He came to my attention long before Star Wars in films such as Harry Potter when he played Bill Weasley, and when he played poor little Clan Techie in Dredd, and About Time is one of my absolute favourite chick flicks! Then of course there’s the amazing ‘Frank’ and the incredible ‘Ex Machina’, but it was again Star Wars that catapulted my interest in his career.
And he’s gone on to be in some of my favourite movies since Star Wars with ‘The Revenant’, ‘American Made’, ‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’, ‘Crash Pad’, and ‘Peter Rabbit’.!
And I’m still missing beautiful films like ‘Unbroken’, ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘A Futile and Stupid Gesture’.
The build up to Star Wars in December is going to be fun! This is when we start to get a lot of speculation, snatched set photos and fan theories before we are finally treated to a teaser trailer and the actual title of the film.
What do I expect from the film? Well, I’m hoping that Kylo survives. Not necessarily redeemed, but at peace with the force and his life. Hux on the other hand, is going to die! There is no doubt in my mind that I will in fact be losing my General in the last film. Either in battle or more likely by Kylo’s hand. I just hope he gets to seriously ‘bite back’ after the way he was treated in ‘The Last Jedi’.
The pair of them have other films on the horizon too, and I will blog about these as I get to see them, and of course, awards season wouldn’t be much without at least one of Adam’s film in the spotlight with that honour falling to ‘BlacKkKlansman’ this year. Watch out!
I have been going through a bit of a rough patch over the last few weeks.
Life in general has just been a bit much and I have struggled to get going on my University work now that we have started year two.
To make my life even more stressful, my brand new PC did a windows update the other day that it really didn’t like and now it keeps re-booting itself for no apparent reason.
It’s done it once already while writing this…. I HATE WINDOWS UPDATES!
The most frustrating thing is that whatever the update did, it won’t allow me to open up Corel Draw now. The design package I use for everything.
My hubby has done his best to try and fix the problem but it’s just a little too technical for him and he doesn’t want to do any more damage, so we are having to resort to a technical specialist we’ve used in the past.
I’m hoping it will just be a simple fix for him.
For now, I just have to make sure I save, save, save, save, save, any work I do as I go because the PC will literally just re-boot itself without warning.
Very frustrating and NOT helping with the Uni work situation at all.
Anyway, this is supposed to be a Dish of the Week post!!
I’ve decided I need a little pick me up and what better way than with a Dish of the Week post dedicated to my favourite actor, Adam Driver.
I have been following his work now for nearly three years.
The more I learn about him, the more I fall in love with him.
He is very self-deprecating.
He is very humble.
He loves his work but is uncomfortable with the ‘fame’.
He has worked with some amazing directors.
Clint Eastwood
Noah Baumbach (multiple times)
Steven Spielberg
The Coen Brothers
Shawn Levy
J.J. Abrams
Jeff Nichols
Jim Jarmusch
Martin Scorsese!!
To name a few and he’s only 34 years old!
I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea and it’s sad that he knows it too.
He’s always making fun of himself and I think this is one of the things that really endears me to him.
So here’s a collection of photos that really make me smile.
Something I really need right now.
The man is an absolute cinnamon roll and my personal stress buster.
Ah, if only I were 25 years younger!!!
Yep, seriously old enough to be this ones mother and then some.
As you will have noticed from recent posts, I have fallen in love with a film called ‘Call Me By Your Name’, for which this young man has earned himself a ‘Best Actor’ Oscar nomination and a ‘Best Actor’ BAFTA nomination at the age of just 22.
The film is also shortlisted for the Best Picture Oscar and BAFTA and he also co-stars in ‘Lady Bird’ which is also nominated for Best Picture Oscar this year.
Timothee Chalamet.
This is a young man to seriously watch out for.
Talented is an understatement. Just take a look at this monologue from ‘Miss Stevens (2016)’
I first saw him play the teenage son of Matthew McConaughey in ‘Interstellar’ but it is undoubtedly his stunning performance in ‘Call Me By Your Name’ that won my heart.
As a taster, watch this scene that was shot in one complete take where he’s not only holding dialogue with Armie Hammer, he is also playing a piece on the piano and playing it three different ways!!
Then take a look at this wonderful inteview he did alongside Armie Hammer on the ‘Ellen’ show and see what a heartbreaker this young man is going to be!!
He and the film are up against some very strong competition this year but I am sending all my best wishes.
If he misses out this year, I am in no doubt we will see him win plenty more in the future.
Right , here it is.
First ‘Dish of the Week’ for 2018.
As I have just watched him in a beautiful film that I would highly recommend watching, Call Me By Your Name, and, as this is not the first film I’ve seen and liked him in, I thought it was about time that Armie Hammer got a ‘Dish of the Week’ mention.
Look at those eyes!
Armie was born in 1986 (how depressing) and is a staggering 6 foot 5 inches tall.
He is a stunningly beautiful work of natural art.
He first hit my radar when he appeared in Mirror Mirror as Prince Alcott and when he took the lead role in The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp.
Neither film left me ‘wanting’ to see them again unfortunately, but then he starred alongside ‘Henry Cavill’ (Dish of the week #20#25 AND #39…. tough competition!!) in The Man From U.N.C.L.E!!
It doesn’t show in the poster but Armie is a whopping 4 inches taller than Henry!!
It certainly shows in the film.
I liked the original TV show and I loved this film, I hope to see a sequel but unfortunately I’m not holding out much hope at this point.
I’ve seen him in Nocturnal Animals that he appears in alongside Jake Gyllenhaal who is Dish of the Week #62.
I don’t think I was in the right frame of mind however, and can barely remember anything about it. I will have to try it again.
Before ‘Call Me By Your Name’ I saw him in ‘Mine’
WOW!!
He plays a soldier who is on an assassination attempt that goes wrong.
He ends up triggering a land mine. He’s on his own, in the middle of the desert, exposed to the elements and he must survive the psychological and physical strain if he is to see his rescue!
It is literally Armie, standing on a landmine, in the middle of the desert and tackling every demon imaginable.
It is a brilliant film!!
But ‘Call Me By Your Name’ is an absolute masterpiece.
I hate to jinx it by saying ‘Oscar’ worthy as we are just a couple of weeks away from nominations, but I really think this stands a chance of a few nominations.
So there it is.
The first Dish of 2018.
What a tasty dish he is.
It’s been a while since I did one of these and in a way this is a strange one for me because, as much as I love this man, his personality, his smile and his enthusiasm for everything he does, I know that as I girl I would be on a forever losing battle to win his heart.
That and the fact that I’m also old enough to be his mother!!
Oh, and by the way, his Mother is a goddess and I love her to bits! and his Dad is amazing too.
I discoverd Riyadh a few months ago when I had a quiet afternoon and a large bottle of wine.
I stumbled onto this little gem on Youtube. He was such a cheeky happy guy, I couldn’t stop watching.
At the time I was looking for a good laugh and this hit the spot!!
I just had to check out his Youtube channel and found myself spending an entire afternoon having a major fit of giggles and having my eyes opened to a whole community I knew very little about.
Riyadh developed an interest in Youtubing at an early age and worked in radio in Ireland and was recently offered the chance to present his own 6 part TV show with BBC three.
I highly recommend taking a look at Queer Britain. A wonderful show and very enlightening.
Riyadh didn’t have it easy growing up in Ireland, but he overcame adversity, followed his heart and his dreams and now he’s living his dreams and I really hope that he goes from strength to strength. I want to see him hosting his own chat show in future. He’d be amazing!
I’ll leave you with this little piece from his Youtube channel.
mumofthreedevils.com 