All posts tagged: Sir

Sir Derek Jacobi is convinced he would have been much more successful as an actor if he’d “had the looks” to match his talent.

Sir Derek Jacobi is convinced he would have been much more successful as an actor if he’d “had the looks” to match his talent.

Sir Derek Jacobi believes he would have been much more successful if he’d “had the looks” to match his talent. The 87-year-old actor has been a regular on stage and screen since the 1960s – appearing in blockbusters such as 2000 film Gladiator and its 2024 sequel – but Derek is adamant he wanted to be a fully-fledged “movie star” and he is convinced he never landed typical leading man roles because of his appearance. In an interview with the Guardian, he’s asked if he sees himself as “ugly” and the actor replied: “Oh yes. Oh, as a kid, yes. A ginger-haired, freckled-faced …Acne-ridden, east London kid. Yes, absolutely. I can’t look in the mirror.” Jacobi went on to add: “If I were honest, I’d have liked to have been a movie star. I think I can act. But I didn’t have the looks to go with my acting. “If I had had the looks as well as my acting ability I think my world would have turned out differently. But I didn’t. And I …

Sir Ian McKellen Disagrees With Those Scathing Cats Reviews

Sir Ian McKellen Disagrees With Those Scathing Cats Reviews

Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he finally got the chance to watch himself in Cats – and he doesn’t quite understand what all the hate was about. The six-time Olivier winner was among the star-studded cast of Tom Hooper’s ill-fated adaptation of the classic stage musical, which was savaged by critics upon its release in 2019. Back in 2024, Sir Ian claimed that he’d still not had the chance to watch Cats all the way through, but during a more recent interview with Magic, he revealed he’d recently been won over by the movie when he caught it by mistake. “The other day, I did chance upon myself singing in the film of Cats,” he recalled. “And I played through the song and I thought, ‘well, that’s better than what most people thought of the film – what was wrong with that?’.” Ian McKellen as Gus The Theatre Cat in Cats When the interviewer pointed out that she “didn’t hate Cats”, he responded: “Who knows – maybe other people will be allowed to discover it.” …

RHS Chelsea Flower Show celebrates Sir David Attenborough’s 100 years with plants for each decade

RHS Chelsea Flower Show celebrates Sir David Attenborough’s 100 years with plants for each decade

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more An exhibit at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show will celebrate broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough in his 100th birthday year. It will include 10 plants to reflect the dominant gardening theme from every decade of his life – and are hero plants for wildlife. The RHS’ Bringing Nature Home exhibit, designed by Dave Green in the Great Pavilion, will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower show on May 19-23, and will take the form of a series of terraced houses showing how gardens are interlinked and the important wildlife corridors they create. Helen Bostock, RHS senior wildlife specialist, who worked on curating the list, says: “Nobody has opened up the natural world better to the general public than Sir David Attenborough. “We’ve …

15 powerful Sir David Attenborough quotes to mark his 100th birthday

15 powerful Sir David Attenborough quotes to mark his 100th birthday

When it comes to national treasure status, it’s pretty safe to say that Sir David Attenborough tops the charts. The British broadcaster, natural historian and writer was born on 8 May 1926, and after more than 70 years working in television, the conservationist has cultivated an impressive career that has touched and inspired countless lives – both human and animal alike. © Getty ImagesDavid Attenborough holding the Knight Grand Cross After developing an interest in the natural world from an early age, David joined the BBC in 1952 and has since become the face of a plethora of landmark shows and documentaries, including Life on Earth (1979), The Blue Planet (2001), Planet Earth (2006) and Frozen Planet (2011). He boasts not one but two knighthoods – the first from Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and the second from the then-Prince Charles in 2022 – and has even had numerous species of plants and animals named after him, including wasps, wildflowers, butterflies, grasshoppers, dinosaurs and ghost shrimp. WATCH: A look back at Sir David Attenborough’s life …

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday present is… a parasitic wasp

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday present is… a parasitic wasp

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Famed British naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough turns 100 years old on May 8, and a team of researchers has prepared a special present: an entire new genus of wasp named in his honor.  Meet Attenboroughnculus tau, a tiny parasitic wasp discovered in Chile. The specimen is 0.14 inches long and has a T-shaped marking on its abdomen that inspired the species name, “tau.” The insect was collected from Chile’s Valdivia Province in 1983, and it took over four decades for someone to officially recognize it as something new.   Attenboroughnculus tau is one of the over 50 species named in honor of the famed naturalist. Image: © Trustees of the Natural History Museum. “We hope to inspire global scientists to take another look in their collections to see if there is something small that could contribute to our collective understanding and therefore the future of our natural world,” Jennifer Pullar, science communications manager at London’s Natural History Museum, …

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday to be marked by star-studded live BBC event at Royal Albert Hall

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday to be marked by star-studded live BBC event at Royal Albert Hall

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 A star-studded live event is being planned to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, featuring broadcasters including Sir Michael Palin, Steve Backshall and Chris Packham. Hosted by Kirsty Young, the evening will take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall and include performances from musicians featured in his BBC Planet Earth TV series. Dan Smith, the frontman of Brit Award-winning Bastille, will join the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform “Pompeii”, which appeared in Planet Earth III. Icelandic band Sigur Rós is also set to play “Hoppípolla”, famously used in promotions for Planet Earth and Planet Earth II. The event will also combine memorable wildlife moments from the BBC’s natural history archive. Those who have worked alongside Sir David – including Backshall, Packham, and Sir Michael – will reflect on his immense impact and lasting legacy. Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday …

Sir David Attenborough at 100: The many species of plants and animals named after the revered naturalist

Sir David Attenborough at 100: The many species of plants and animals named after the revered naturalist

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 Sir David Attenborough’s profound influence on public understanding of the natural world has led countless researchers to honour him by naming newly discovered species in his recognition. From delicate butterflies to ancient dinosaurs, the revered naturalist has lent his name to a remarkable array of flora and fauna. In honour of Sir David’s 100th birthday on 8 May, here is a selection of these fascinating species. Attenborough’s hawkweed (Hieracium attenboroughianum) This wildflower holds the distinction of being the first living species in the UK and Ireland named after him. It was discovered in 2004 in the Brecon Beacons but it took a decade for scientists to establish whether or not it was actually new. Naturalist Sir David Attenborough plants a Wollemei Pine at Kew Gardens in London on 10 May 2005 (AFP/Getty) Taxonomist Tim Rich, who was part of the team …