All posts tagged: Olivier

World’s Tallest Basketball Player, 7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux, Signs With UC Irvine

World’s Tallest Basketball Player, 7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux, Signs With UC Irvine

Published by Sam Flores

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — The world’s tallest college basketball player is going coast to coast. Former Florida walk-on Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and one of the most recognizable student-athletes in North America, announced Thursday he has signed with UC Irvine. The school in Southern California announced his arrival hours earlier. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said in a statement. “He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” Rioux …

Olivier Awards Winners 2026 List: Rachel Zegler, Paddington Dominate

Olivier Awards Winners 2026 List: Rachel Zegler, Paddington Dominate

Published by Daniella Wilson

It may have been a night to remember for Rachel Zegler at London’s prestigious Olivier Awards on Sunday, but a certain marmalade-loving bear owned the evening. The U.K. equivalent of the Tony Awards, celebrating the best and brightest talent leading the country’s vibrant theater scene, crowned its winners at a ceremony broadcast by the BBC and hosted by The Traitors and Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed. The new smash-hit production of Paddington the Musical stole the show with seven prizes in total, including best actor for performers James Hameed and Arti Shah, who operate the beloved bear’s voice (Hameed) and suit (Shah). The musical, currently running at the Savoy Theatre on London’s West End, also nabbed Oliviers for best new musical, best supporting actor and actress, best director, best set design, and best costume design. McFly singer Tom Fletcher, who composed songs for Paddington the Musical, said while accepting the best new musical award: “We tried to make a show that is all about celebrating kindness… and to be part of this group of people that is putting that …

Paddington The Musical dominates Olivier Awards as Rosamund Pike triumphs on stage return

Paddington The Musical dominates Olivier Awards as Rosamund Pike triumphs on stage return

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Paddington The Musical emerged as the undisputed champion at the 2026 Olivier Awards, sweeping multiple categories, while Rosamund Pike made a triumphant return to the stage after nearly 14 years to claim the coveted Best Actress prize. The beloved bear’s theatrical adaptation, staged at the Savoy Theatre, was crowned Best New Musical. Its cast also garnered significant recognition, with James Hameed and Arti Shah jointly winning Best Actor in a Musical. Further accolades for the production included Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical and Tom Edden for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. The show’s creative excellence was also celebrated, with Luke Sheppard receiving the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director, and Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar taking home Best Costume Design, alongside Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward for Best …

Olivier Award winners 2026: Rachel Zegler and Paddington win big

Olivier Award winners 2026: Rachel Zegler and Paddington win big

Published by Daniella Wilson

The 50th annual Olivier Awards have crowned its winners, with theatre icons – both British and American – winning big at this year’s ceremony. Rachel Zegler, who wowed the world with her viral balcony performance of Evita, took home the prize for best actress in a musical, while all-round British legend Paddington Bear scooped up awards for Cunard best new musical, best director and best supporting actor and actress. The judges also recognised stand-out performances such as Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia and Paapa Essiedu for All My Sons. The Bridge Theatre revival of Into The Woods also scooped up plenty for its impressive lighting and best revival. Read below for the full list of nominees and winners. Plus, if you want to see some of the award-winning shows live: Olivier Awards 2026: Full list of winners Cunard best new musical Here We Are (National Theatre) Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre) – WINNER Shucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry (Theatre Royal Haymarket) Best musical revival American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) …

Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus lead the best-dressed stars at the Olivier Awards

Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus lead the best-dressed stars at the Olivier Awards

Published by Daniella Wilson

Elizabeth Hurley and shared an Easter post stepped out for their first public appearance in five months at the Olivier Awards on Sunday. The couple, whose last public outing was at the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville in November, were spotted holding hands as they made their way along the red carpet and into London’s Royal Albert Hall, joined by Elizabeth’s son, Damian, 24. © Getty ImagesDamian Hurley, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus attend The Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard at the Royal Albert Hall on April 12, 2026 in London, England Mother and son coordinated in white ensembles. Elizabeth wore a stunning dress cinched at the waist with a plunging neckline, while Damian donned a silk trouser suit with a cross necklace. © Getty Images Meanwhile, Billy opted for an all-black look, complete with a scarf, layered necklaces and his signature black sunglasses. Split rumours Rumours began to circulate that the couple may have parted ways after Elizabeth hadn’t shared any images of Billy on her Instagram grid since December 2025. However, the …

Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus lead the best-dressed stars in defiant public appearance after 5 months at the Olivier Awards

Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus lead the best-dressed stars in defiant public appearance after 5 months at the Olivier Awards

Published by Sam Flores

Elizabeth Hurley and shared an Easter post stepped out for their first public appearance in five months at the Olivier Awards on Sunday. The couple, whose last public outing was at the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville in November, were spotted holding hands as they made their way along the red carpet and into London’s Royal Albert Hall, joined by Elizabeth’s son, Damian, 24. Damian Hurley, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus attend The Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard at the Royal Albert Hall on April 12, 2026 in London, England (Getty Images) Mother and son coordinated in white ensembles. Elizabeth wore a stunning dress cinched at the waist with a plunging neckline, while Damian donned a silk trouser suit with a cross necklace. (Getty Images) Meanwhile, Billy opted for an all-black look, complete with a scarf, layered necklaces and his signature black sunglasses. You may also like Split rumours Rumours began to circulate that the couple may have parted ways after Elizabeth hadn’t shared any images of Billy on her Instagram grid since December …

Paddington Bear crowned big winner at the Olivier Awards – alongside Hollywood stars including Rachel Zegler | Ents & Arts News

Paddington Bear crowned big winner at the Olivier Awards – alongside Hollywood stars including Rachel Zegler | Ents & Arts News

Published by Daniella Wilson

Paddington Bear has triumphed at this year’s Olivier Awards – alongside Hollywood stars including Rachel Zegler and Rosamund Pike. Beloved West End show Paddington The Musical picked up seven prizes at the ceremony at London‘s Royal Albert Hall, including best new musical, best director, and best actor in a musical as a joint prize for James Hameed, who provides the voice and remote puppetry, and Arti Shah, who brings the bear to life on stage. Hosted by comedian, actor and Celebrity Traitors star Nick Mohammed, this year’s Olivier Awards marked the 50th anniversary of the ceremony, which celebrates the best in British theatre. Image: US star Rachel Zegler was named best actress in a musical for her performance in Evita. Pic: Ian West/ PA US star Zegler – who made headlines for a stunning Evita performance that took the song Don’t Cry For Me Argentina out to crowds on the street outside the London Palladium – was named best actress in a musical, while British star Pike was named best actress for her role in …

Olivier Awards 2026: Full list of nominations as Paddington and Into the Woods dominate

Olivier Awards 2026: Full list of nominations as Paddington and Into the Woods dominate

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Paddington will be taking his marmalade sandwiches to the Royal Albert Hall next month – with the musical picking up 11 Olivier Award nominations ahead of April’s ceremony. The Olivier Awards announced its nominees on Thursday (5 March), with the likes of Hayley Squires, Rosamund Pike, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston and Rachel Zegler receiving nods. Paddington The Musical, staged at London’s Savoy Theatre, is the joint most-nominated production this year, alongside the Stephen Sondheim revival Into the Woods at the Bridge. open image in gallery A bear in for a big night: ‘Paddington’ leads with 11 nominations (Isha Shah/PA) Meanwhile, Wyndham’s Theatre’s staging of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons earned six nominations, as did the one-man thriller Kenrex and the multi-Tony-winning rock-band drama Stereophonic. Celebrity Traitors star Nick Mohammed will host the awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, marking …

Olivier Colom, the sexual predator’s French ‘friend’ and networker

Olivier Colom, the sexual predator’s French ‘friend’ and networker

Published by Sam Flores

Olivier Colom, international adviser at Holding Edmond de Rothschild SA, in Paris, on May 14, 2014. ELODIE GREGOIRE/REA/LE MONDE “Let’s talk on the phone, I dn’t [sic] like emails,” wrote Jeffrey Epstein in September 2013 to one of his main French contacts: Olivier Colom. Despite this, the former deputy diplomatic adviser at the Elysée during Nicolas Sarkozy’s five-year term as president (2007-2012) now finds himself at the center of the Epstein scandal for his prolific correspondence with the American sexual predator, between 2013 and 2019, as revealed in the trove of emails released by the US Department of Justice on January 30. Today, the former diplomat, age 56, is a consultant to heads of state and business leaders through his company founded in 2016, OC Advisory, and is very active in Africa. According to a report by Africa Intelligence, the Frenchman, whom Le Monde interviewed at length, played a key role in organizing far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s trip to Chad in 2025. You have 93.73% of this article left to read. The rest is …