Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
dimanche 7 avril 2019
The Pet Sematary Reboot Includes a Startling Change to Stephen King's Original Story
Warning: BIG spoilers for both the original and new versions of Pet Sematary ahead!
After watching the trailer for the Pet Sematary reboot a few months back, we were shocked to discover that the studio decided to give away a major twist that explains both of the horror flicks' chilling taglines: "Sometimes dead is better" and "They don't come back the same."
In this new adaptation of Stephen King's 1983 novel, directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer decided to change a major component of the original story. This time around, the young son of the Creed family isn't the one who dies - it's his older sister.
To give you some background, the film follows Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who moves into a sprawling rural home with his wife, Rachel (Amy Seimetz), and their two young children, 8-year-old Ellie (Jeté Laurence) and toddler Gage (twins Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie). Not long after they arrive, their neighbor Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) informs them about the eerie pet cemetery located in the woods bordering their home, which isn't your average burial place for beloved cats and dogs. Instead, when dead pets are buried on a plot of land just beyond the pet cemetery in the woods (which used to be a burial ground for the Micmac tribe), sometimes they come back, albeit in a much more aggressive, evil, zombie-like state. All of this is essentially in line with King's original story.
Here's where things diverge: the Creeds' home happens to be directly next to a busy road where trucks fly by at dangerous speeds, and Ellie is tragically hit while running out to grab the family's recently reanimated cat, Church. Gage actually does run out into the road when he sees his sister, but Louis is able to pull him back in time; the driver swerves to avoid them, resulting in his truck coming apart and hitting Ellie.
Despite Jud's warnings, a grief-stricken Louis decides to bury Ellie in the cemetery. A very creepy and very murderous version of their daughter returns, dead set on making everyone around her just as dead as she is. In the book and 1989 film adaptation, Gage is the one who dies and comes back, playing psychological games with his family members and ultimately killing multiple people. (It's not actually him, however - a spirit from the burial grounds possesses his body.)
So, what's the deal with this new twist? The film's creators sat down with EW in February to explain their big decision.
"Trust me, we were nervous about it," producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said. "I feel this way about anything that you remake or update. If we gave you what you had before, we didn't do the subject matter much good. I'm very protective of movies too, but I want a new experience each time, and feel like filmmakers have really thought about the choice. That was one, we thought, 'All right, let's make this choice.'"
Kölsch and Widmyer also said they felt the change to Jeff Buhler's screenplay was necessary due to the physical realities of their young stars. "Much of how they shot the first [movie] was a doll," Widmyer said of the original 3-year-old Gage character. "It's creepy and it's effective. But we've now seen Child's Play and we've seen the little kid trying to kill, and it's effective when done right." He went on to note that they wanted to try something new instead.
"There was something about an 8-year-old and the psychology that she would have," he added. "She would understand what happened to her on the road. She would understand that she's dead. She would know how to not only physically kill a person, but psychologically destroy them as well. It just gave another layer to it."
Ellie indeed knows what happened to her - she tells her father as much after he brings her back, and then insinuates that it's his fault she died. She has a similar thirst for vengeance for her mother, and . . . well, we won't spoil it any further for you. Let's just say that it'll give you enough nightmares to last a lifetime.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Jaz Sinclair Gets Real About "Cunning" Roz’s Surprise Romance
If there's anything we've learned since Netflix's wicked hit Chilling Adventures of Sabrina came around last year, it's to love a supernatural woman on the rise. And while fans have rapidly flocked to the streaming site's dark take on everyone's favorite blonde witch (based on the Archie comic book series of the same name), part two of the series shines a spotlight on one of the other "cunning" young women shaking things up in Greendale: Ms. Rosalind Walker.
"There are a lot of changes between Roz in the beginning and Roz at the end of part two," actor Jaz Sinclair told me recently, as we chatted about the show's second season. "She's a lot more open-minded now! Like in season one, when Sabrina asks her to do the séance with her, Roz is like 'Hell no!' But then, as time goes on, Roz gets more and more involved in the witching world. That's really cool for me because I love the magic part of it and I'm definitely trying to be as much a part of it as I can."
"I'm glad that the mortals' storyline continued to develop because I think it grounds the show."
To be fair to Roz, there aren't many people who would be gung-ho about joining their friend in a séance to ask their dead mother about the secrets surrounding her demise. There are some things that girl code just doesn't account for. But that changes when the high schooler learns a startling truth about herself: she has the gift of premonition called "the cunning." In part one of CAOS, Roz's Nana Ruth explains that their family was cursed for crossing a witch generations ago. Now the Walker women are gifted with visions of the past, present, and future. Talk about skeletons in the family closet!
But Sinclair embraces all the supernatural elements that come with her character's cunning, especially in part two. "It's crazy to me because we only shot it over nine months, but it's a lot of character growth! I think people are gonna like it. We got to do some really fun stuff in the second run and I think people are going to be surprised on so many levels."
Surprised is an understatement - although Sabrina attempts to immerse herself in the dark side of her witch-hood by leaving behind her mortal friends, we still get to see how Roz, Harvey, and Theo (formerly Susie) fare at Baxter High. As Sinclair notes, "I'm glad that the mortals' storyline continued to develop, because I think it grounds the show."
And what are some big mortal developments that occur early in part two? Big spoiler alert here - in the span of three episodes, Roz completely loses her vision and begins a blossoming relationship with Harvey Kinkle. Yes, the ex-boyfriend of Roz's best friend Sabrina, played by Ross Lynch.
"When I read the script, I was like 'Oh. Sh*t!' I was not expecting that at all," she admits, laughing. "But I like the way that they did it. I like that Roz gets the vision of it way before it starts to take off and she's like 'What the f*ck does this mean? You're my friend, why did we just kiss in my brain?' I like the way that they wrote it, because it's just really endearing and sweet. They could have easily written it like, 'Roz is after Harvey or Harvey's just looking for a rebound.' It didn't feel like either of those things, which feels good. If I'm going to get a love story, let it be a good one!"
"Because Ross and I are so close, they were like 'This sh*t's cute. We gotta write more of this!'"
Truly, they are pretty cute. The chemistry between Sinclair and Lynch practically jumps off the screen, which is why she believes they were given more than just a throwaway rebound line. "I suspect that they wrote Roz and Harvey's relationship initially not planning on it having longevity," Sinclair mused. "And then, because Ross and I are so close, they were like 'This sh*t's cute. We gotta write more of this!'"
"We'll see where it goes, because it's interesting to see them market it as a love triangle [between Harvey, Sabrina, and Nicholas Scratch], because when you watch it, it's really not like that," she added. "I think they'll keep writing them together - at least for a while. But I also think that people are going to really like watching them. Even if it does go back to Harvey and Sabrina, there's still gonna be that part of fans that is still thinking about how cute Roz and Harvey were!"
With her new bae by her side, Roz then has to deal with her sudden blindness as well. "They gave me a really good storyline this time around and it definitely took a lot of digging. The romance with Harvey didn't take as much digging, but the blindness arc involved a lot of research," Sinclair revealed. "I had to really figure out how I would handle it if I were going blind as a teenage girl. What does that feel like, or look like? I just tried to really honor the emotions of somebody who might lose their vision."
"That arc gets really intense. . . [it] gets really beautiful and painful. There's just so much cool stuff that happens with that, her visions, and all the magic. I got a lot to play with this season, which was really cool," she added. As such, fans will get to see a lot more of Roz's home life in CAOS part two, especially "Papa Walker," Greendale's minister. But if there was one more thing that Sinclair would love for Roz to have, it's definitely a house.
"All I have is a kitchen! When we're filming, everyone has a bedroom and then I have the Walker house kitchen," she points out, laughing. "I think Lisa Soper [CAOS's production designer] is actually designing a room for Roz now, which is gonna be awesome. I've never had a character have a room that I'm in for a long period of time. I really hope Roz gets a cool room!"
"I think having a show like this . . . that's mostly women, is so cool."
Honestly, same. Considering how brash and empowered the high schooler has been since her first appearance on the series - and her flawless sense of style - I can only imagine how boss her room would be. And aside from all the witchy goodies that Sinclair loves or the surprise romance that is rapidly catching fans, the actress is just grateful to be working on a show like CAOS.
"We grew up with such few examples of strong or interesting women on TV. You're either the hag, the sex object, or the mom and nothing in between. And it was never our stories - our parts were written to service the men or written too simply when we're so complex," she said. "I think having a show like this, where any table read is like 75 percent women, and it's such a bomb ass show that's mostly women, is so cool. Especially with a show full of interesting, complex women. We're all totally different. It's such an honor."
But what if she were to manifest some things for Roz (which she says she's very good at, swearing she manifested her character's cunning in part one) in the upcoming seasons? "I definitely want more love for her. More witchy stuff. And a room. That's pretty much everything I could ask for."
17 Tyrion Quotes That We'll Remember Long After Game of Thrones Is Over
HBO's landmark series, Game of Thrones, is coming to an end (hold for dragon-size tears). The show that put actors and actresses like Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams on the map will come to an end following an eight-year run. Fans have a slew of questions leading up to the series' final season, premiering on April 14.
But to add some levity to the intense wait, we decided to spend some time reliving the best one-liners from fan favorite, Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion has a way with words, and has since the very first season. With the final episodes marching toward fans like the Walkers beyond the Wall, we revisit Tyrion's best lines throughout the series.
Shazam!'s Zachary Levi Is on a Mission to Make Superhero Movies Fun Again
Can you remember the last time you saw a big screen superhero be genuinely, truly thrilled about their powers? Other than the exuberance of Peter Parker, every other hero as of late has been busy avenging their dead parents, feeling guilty about the worldwide destruction they've caused, or trying to figure out a way to revive their dead friends. As compelling as those stories are, they aren't always fun - that's where Shazam comes in.
Like a lighting bolt of fresh air, Zachary Levi's titular hero in 2019's Shazam! is suitably "stoked" to be able to zip through the air whenever he wants, lift up a falling bus with his bare hands, and hold his own against a villain wielding seven deadly sins-worth of powers. And who wouldn't be? Well . . . a jaded adult, probably. But Levi's Billy Batson isn't an adult. (At least not all the time.) Despite the giant muscles and towering frame, Levi's version of the character is actually the adult alter-ego of a mischievous 14-year-old foster kid, played in the film by Disney Channel alum Asher Angel.
Now that he's on the cusp of being a household name - to those of you who have been depriving yourselves of the joy that comes from watching Chuck or season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, of course - I hopped on the phone with a very excited Levi to discuss everything from what it was like to film all those flying scenes (not fun, "particularly if you're a dude") to what he'd like to see in a potential sequel.
POPSUGAR: What's it like to play a superhero who's actually excited to be a superhero, for once? Not tortured or seeking revenge.
Zachary Levi: Basically what you're watching on the screen is just me not reigning in all of my own genuine enthusiasm for what was, and is happening in my life. I was a little kid who dreamed about being a superhero - that's happening. I was an actor who dreamed about portraying a bonafide superhero of my own, leading a big franchise and not supporting someone else - that's happening. What you see onscreen is the kid inside of me, or rather just the man-child that I am [laughs] being very stoked and trying to bring that to life as authentically as I could.
I'm super grateful that I, like you said, get to play a different type of a superhero. It's a different take on the genre. The closest other character I can think of who's similar to Billy Batson is Peter Parker. There's a youth and an excitement about the powers that they've now gotten, and wanting to use them for good. That made it a heck of a lot of fun. God knows, plenty of other incredible actors have been super stoked to get these superhero jobs and they're giddy and excited, and then the camera starts rolling and they've gotta be like [using a deep voice] "I'm Batman." It's gotta be real serious. I'm glad I didn't have to reign any of that in.
PS: There are some really funny moments throughout the film, and I loved that the humor is able to be a bit edgier than the average superhero movie. Also, how almost disturbingly dark it gets with Mark Strong's villain. Like that conference room scene?
ZL: Wasn't that gnarly?
PS: Nightmares. Did that aspect of the script appeal to you?
ZL: Oh, 100 percent. The DNA of the movie is so naturally there. It's a movie about a 14-year-old boy who's given a magic word to transform into being the superhero version of himself. It's Big meets Superman. That, inherently, is gonna have lots of heart and lots of humor. So when I found out that David Sandberg was going to be our director, I genuinely thought it was such an inspired choice by the studio. Having come from a horror background, what he was going to be able to do was help juggle and balance that lighter side that we were already going to have. It wasn't like we needed someone to punch up or extrapolate the humor or the heart in the film - that's already there in the characters. You need to have that other side that's a little darker, a little kookier, a little creepy. That helps balance the whole meal. It really takes people by surprise, which is great.
PS: You play "the full potential" version of Asher Angel's Billy, but he's still very much the troubled teen that Asher plays despite how excited he is about his powers. How involved were the two of you in the fleshing out his character and linking your performances, so to speak?
ZL: We actually had a little bit of rehearsal time before we started shooting, and David, Asher, and I would be in the room, and David and Asher would run through various scenes. I was there to observe, more than anything, and try to capture as much essence of him as I could. Really just both of us trusting David to direct both of us, since neither of us were really ever in the same place at the same time. But also, we're both trying to play Billy. It was less about me trying to be him, or him trying to be me, but both of us trying to be Billy as best we could. That was kind of more the game plan, I think.
Image Source: Zachary Levi with Shazam! director David F. Sandberg.
PS: The rapport between both versions of Billy and Jack Dylan Grazer's character, Freddy, are hilarious - was there a lot of riffing going on during your scenes with him?
ZL: Oh, tons. David was very gracious in that he allowed myself, Jack, really all of us, room to riff, to ad-lib, and improv, and inhabit the characters and bring them to life. I think people definitely feel that, because there are a lot of moments that feel like we just made them up on the spot, and there were. We made them up on the spot! But you're only able to do that if you've got a scene partner who knows how to do that, and I'm so grateful that of all the 14-year-old kids that they found, they found Jack, who really . . . he and I have a similar understanding of comedy. You know, I've got a few more years . . . well, 24 more years on him. [laughs] But nonetheless he's got such an old soul and a sharp mind, and just naturally talented and funny.
"It's Big meets Superman. That, inherently, is gonna have lots of heart and lots of humor."
We had a ball doing all that stuff. David giving us the freedom to do that was such a blessing. But also, we were improving and riffing what was already a great template with the script. Henry Gayden wrote such a great script. You've got the structure and the beats, and a lot of the lines, if we did riff on them, were alts of what was already written. The heart of it, and the essence of what we were trying to accomplish, was already given to us. It was awesome.
PS: What was your experience like filming all those flying scenes?
ZL: All of the harness work was difficult. Those harnesses are just not comfortable at all, particularly if you're a dude. There was a lot of harness work, because we flew a lot. But you get through it, you grin and bear it, and then you get to go watch the finished product, and I'm fucking flying on a movie screen, so it's completely worth it, you know?
PS: On that note, I'd love to talk a little bit about the suit, because I know you're already a tall guy but it looked gigantic. Was it hard to get into that thing everyday?
ZL: On one hand it was amazing, because it was a total dream coming true with the spandex and cape and all that. So cool. And it has actual practical lighting in it; the chest really lit up, and the gauntlets really lit up, so I felt like a walking, talking, action figure. It was real fun. That said, it was insanely uncomfortable and very difficult to go to the bathroom in. It was a bit bulky. There are a lot of layers that are packed in there, you know? Obviously I've been working out like a madman and putting on quite a bit of weight, getting healthier and stronger than I've ever been in my life, and I'm super grateful for that, but you still have to have some augmentation in those suits in order for it to translate on camera at all times.
I also had to have a bunch of warm layers on underneath because we were shooting in Toronto in the middle of Winter, freezing my ass off. I mean, I was stuffed into that thing. It was so tight. Fortunately I had awesome costumers with me every day who helped me get into and out of it. It only took about 10 minutes to get into it fully, and five minutes to get out of it. To be honest, it kind of made me feel like a 4-year-old again, when your parents are putting your clothes on.
PS: I have to say I did note that moment in the big fight scene at the end when Shazam gets ripped back by his cape - it made me think of Edna Mode's "no cape" rule in The Incredibles. Are you still pro-cape, or no cape?
ZL: Pro-cape or no cape? [laughs] Well I gotta go pro-cape, right? Because my guy wears the cape. So I'm totes pro-cape.
PS: Alright, that's fair. I can accept that. So, switching gears from your cape, there are a few moments towards the end of the movie that hint at expanding the world of Shazam - the Superman cameo, the appearance of Mister Mind in the mid-credits scene. If a sequel happens, what would you ideally want to see Billy doing, or who would you want him to team up with?
ZL: What we've laid out for the end of the movie feels like a really fun direction that we can go in. Going and fighting some of the classic villains would be so delicious, and Mister Mind is one of those villains. Ultimately down the road, Shazam and Black Adam need to have their showdown. I don't know if that's the next [film] or the next one after that. But as far as team-ups, all of it is so above my pay grade, but I really hope they make me a part of the Justice League. I hope I get to team up with all of those badasses. Shazam and Superman fighting against each other, and then fighting with each other would be supercool, like we've seen in the comics before.
One of the coolest things about how they've rebooted this, the Geoff Johns New 52 comic that then made its way into our film, is the "Shazam-ily," as I like to call it. I'm so glad we were able to keep it under wraps for so long, and it's really been delighting people. It's a real, big time, wish-fulfillment moment, and there's a whole bunch of ways we can go with that stuff. I'm just stoked for all of it.
PS: Did you get a chance to bond with the cast playing the older versions of Billy's foster family at all?
ZL: Of course, yeah! I'm just really grateful now that the movie is coming out and now everyone will be able to know, and know that they're in it and be able to congratulate them on it. It's been a big secret that we've been holding on to.
Shazam! is now in theaters.
Marilyn Monroe's Tragic Life and Death Is the Subject of an Upcoming BBC Studios Series
Marilyn Monroe has now been portrayed onscreen in practically as many titles as she herself starred in. Adding to the selection is BBC Studios with a forthcoming series about the events leading up to the iconic actress's death at 36 from a barbiturate overdose in 1962. Tentatively titled The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, the limited series will be partly informed by Keith Badman's 2010 biography The Final Years of Marilyn Monroe.
Written by Dan Sefton, who previously created UK medical dramas Trust Me and The Good Karma Hospital, the series will look at Monroe's career aspirations and frustration over being typecast, as well as her highly publicized romantic relationships and rumored affairs with John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
"In the last few months of her life, Marilyn was sincerely loved, callously betrayed, cynically filled with hope, and ultimately cruelly abandoned," BBC Studios Executive Producer Anne Pivcevic told Variety. "Her death changed the lives of everyone in her orbit and cemented her status as a legend."
BBC Studios has yet to announce its lead. Monroe has previously been portrayed by Mira Sorvino in Norma Jean & Marilyn, Kelli Garner in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, and Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.
Kylie Jenner Shuts Down Those Travis Scott Breakup Rumors With Steamy Vacation Snaps
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are still going strong! Despite reports that their relationship was on the rocks, the couple recently took a family vacation with their 1-year-old daughter, Stormi, and it looks like they had a blast. In true Kylie fashion, the 21-year-old billionaire documented the trip to an undisclosed location on Instagram, sharing snaps of her sexy outfits and Stormi with an Hermès Kelly bag. It also looks like the parents were able to squeeze in some quality time together, because on Thursday, Kylie shared some almost NSFW shots of her and the 27-year-old rapper in the pool.
Kylie and Travis have been dating for two years now, but it seems the pair hit a rough patch last month. According to People, Kylie accused Travis of cheating after she apparently "checked his phone and saw something that she didn't like." However, it looks like they worked it out and Kylie has no plans of breaking up with him. Travis's reps later denied the reports to People and the rapper seemingly did the same when he posted a photo with Kylie on Instagram. Well, judging from these photos, Kylie and Travis still seem crazy about each other!
1 Woman Made Lady Gaga's "Million Reasons" All About Raisins, and a Parody Star Was Born
There could be a hundred other videos trending on the internet right now, but there's only one that I'd happily agree to watch on a loop for the rest of my days. That video is this side-splitting parody of Lady Gaga's "Million Reasons" that actor Elena Skopetos brilliantly turned into a ballad about nothing other than "A Million Raisins." Skopetos is a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, and in the video, she sits at a piano in a blonde wig and a fedora, soulfully airing out her grievances after an acquaintance gave her the ultimate gift of a million raisins.
"You handed me a million raisins / Give me a million raisins / That is just too many raisins / Where'd you get those raisins," she sang throughout the song before two male dancers appeared on stage with a pitcher of raisins that they handed out to the audience . . . and later fed to Skopetos by the handful. Watch the hilarious video for yourself above.
Why Shahadi Wright Joseph Is Feeling "a Teensy Bit of Pressure" About Her Role in The Lion King
Image Source: Getty / Johannes Eisele
At age 13, I spent a majority of my free time prank-calling the boys I had crushes on and tricking out my MySpace page with an array of bathroom mirror selfies. Meanwhile, currently 13 years old, Shahadi Wright Joseph is busy appearing in record-breaking movies alongside renowned actors - and she's just getting started.
This year, Joseph scared the bejesus out of moviegoers while starring in Jordan Peele's latest horror film, Us, which follows a family's struggle to survive when their villainous doppelgängers crash their beach vacation with a hunger to kill. In the thriller, Joseph plays both the innocent Zora Wilson and Umbrae, Zora's sinister red-jumpsuit-wearing counterpart, nailing both polar opposite roles flawlessly.
Image Source: Everett Collection
If Joseph's on-point performance wasn't enough of an indication, Us wasn't her acting debut, as she has a handful of other credits under her belt. At just 9 years old, she became the youngest actress to play the character of Nala while appearing in The Lion King on Broadway. She was also one of the original cast members of School of Rock on Broadway, in addition to performing with big names like Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande in NBC's Hairspray Live! production.
Next up on her ever-growing acting resumé? She's reprising the role of young Nala in the upcoming live-action reboot of The Lion King, which hits theaters this Summer. Ahead of the film's July release, we chatted with Joseph over the phone about the challenges of recording voiceovers and how she feels about being cast in a film with so many other stars (Beyoncé! Seth Rogen! Donald Glover!), and it definitely has us feeling even more ecstatic about nabbing our tickets for the nostalgic movie.
POPSUGAR: To kick things off, what was your initial reaction to being cast as young Nala in The Lion King reboot?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: It was crazy. My whole family and I were screaming and jumping, and it was a lot, but we were just so excited.
PS: Yeah, it's such a huge opportunity for any actress. So obviously working on this movie was pretty different than Us because it was all voiceover. Did anything about doing that voiceover work surprise you while you were recording your lines?
SWJ: When you're doing voiceover work, you have to put all of your energy just into your voice without having body language to support that. So it was a little bit more challenging than when I was on Broadway because when you're on stage, you can move around and you can actually see the person talking to somebody else. What I learned from the voiceover was that I could really try and put all of that confidence into my voice so that young Nala can sound authentic.
PS: Gotcha. It must be hard to do these scenes where you're in a recording studio and just saying your lines to a microphone and you're not actually in the scene. So how did you overcome that to envision this scene happening around you?
SWJ: It wasn't a traditional voiceover booth that I had to work with. I actually worked with JD McCrary, who plays young Simba. We were in a room together, and we could actually move around, so that was fun because we could change things. We could go back. We could correct any mistakes. And you can really see the connection between us.
Image Source: Everett Collection
PS: Have you met or talked to any of the other big stars in the film, like Beyoncé or Donald Glover?
SWJ: Unfortunately, I haven't. I've only met JD. But I'm excited to meet everybody else.
PS: How does it feel to be cast in the same movie as these big names?
SWJ: It's kind of crazy and a little bit overwhelming. There's a teensy bit of pressure just from how iconic The Lion King is. But it's mostly exciting.
PS: I know you played Nala on Broadway when you were 9, which is super cool. How do you feel about reprising her role in a new format?
SWJ: I'm really excited for this because Nala's such an inspiring character. I'm excited to . . . really put my own energy into it this time.
PS: Which of Nala's qualities do you identify most with?
SWJ: That she's confident. That she's fun. And she's silly.
PS: What do you think fans of the original Lion King film should look forward to the most about seeing the new live-action version?
SWJ: I think they'll be really excited about the new animation because there's going to be more feeling into it now that the animation is so much bigger and so much better.
In the Dark Star Perry Mattfeld on Her Gutsy New Show: "There's Nothing Else on TV Like It"
The CW has recently made a killing with teen-focused shows like Riverdale and the Charmed reboot that are as soapy as they are addictive. But on Wednesday nights, airing just before Jane the Virgin, is a brand-new, slightly more elevated series that you should have on your radar: In the Dark. There are elements to the show that will strike any CW fan as familiar - snappy dialogue, pop culture references, a catchy-as-f*ck soundtrack - but it also boldly pulls back the curtain on a number of issues that few other network shows have dared to.
The premise is an interesting one, to say the least: 20-something Murphy (Perry Mattfeld) is a blind alcoholic who prefers to drink away her issues rather than facing them, but fortunately, she has a roommate, Jess (Brooke Markham), who's there to pick her up when she inevitably falls to pieces, and a loyal service dog, Pretzel, who sticks by her no matter how many rude comments she throws his way. The hard-living, acidic heroine encounters another reason to hit the bottle when she seems to encounter the lifeless body of the sweet teenager who saved her life a few months earlier, Tyson. Desperate to find Tyson and fed up with the police's lackluster investigation, Murphy starts digging into what really happened by herself.
"Just reading the script and learning about who Murphy was, that was an emotional, mental, and then additional physical aspect there with this character that I was just dying to try," the show's star, Perry Mattfeld, told me over the phone as we chatted about the show ahead of its April premiere. "What's challenging, too, with Murphy, is as prickly as she is, the audience needs to still see a side of her that they'll root for and love even if maybe the characters around her don't quite see that. So making sure to find that balance between having a kind of intimate relationship with the audience so that they know who she is inside or that who she wants to be or can be, was something I had to work at, too."
Despite its fresh feel and the charm of its cast, In the Dark is not without controversy - since Mattfeld isn't actually blind like her character, a debate about whether or not she should be playing Murphy at all has been bubbling on social media. During our conversation, Mattfeld explained that the show had consultant Lorri Bernson, who is blind and who partly inspired the series, on set with her guide dog Captain while they were filming most days. The drama also boasts the talents of blind actress Calle Walton, who plays the precocious, scene-stealing daughter of the detective (GLOW's Rich Sommer) investigating Tyson's case. Both women bring a level of authenticity to the show that she hopes audiences will recognize.
"There's nothing else on TV like it."
"I just feel really lucky that I got an opportunity to be a part of this show, and I think the creators did a really good job of using the plot and using the story as an opportunity to surround the show with as much authenticity as possible," she said, noting that all the guide-dog users in the series are people who are actually blind. "It's been really educating for me as well. It's an honor that I've been able to get to learn as much as I have and that we've been able to surround the project with people from the blind community - not only behind the scenes, but on camera, too. I've been really lucky to be part of that."
From pushing the boundaries of sexual relationships onscreen - Murphy's character has a notable mishap with a new boyfriend, while her roommate Jess has a conversation about using a strap-on with her girlfriend - to something as seemingly insignificant (and yet incredibly important) as Murphy having a conversation with Walton's character about getting her period, In the Dark is shining a light on a lot of important issues and situations that Mattfeld is hopeful will resonate with fans.
"You have these really real relationships and writing. There's someone for every single person to relate to on the show," she said. "One of my favorite things is just the breadth of emotions that you feel while watching the show. It's even been hard to categorize the genre, because it's hilarious at times and then it can shift into being a heavy drama. So, it's hard to pinpoint, but that's what makes it so unique. And that's also why I think there's nothing else on TV like it."
A Round of Applause, Please: Amal Clooney Just Landed This Very Special New Role
Amal Clooney just landed a new job, and she's perfect for it! On Friday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt appointed the 41-year-old human rights lawyer the foreign secretary's special envoy on media freedom. This role will allow Amal to continue her work of promoting the freedom and safety of journalists across the globe and "establish a panel of legal experts to counter draconian laws that hinder journalists from going about their work."
Amal expressed her excitement over the new endeavor in a statement, saying she is honored to work alongside Jeremy and continue defending journalists. "I have seen first-hand the ways in which reporters are being targeted and imprisoned in an effort to silence them and prevent a free media," Amal said. "I welcome the UK Government's focus on this issue at a time when journalists are being killed and imprisoned at record levels all over the world and I look forward to working on new legal initiatives that can help to ensure a more effective international response."
As a human rights attorney, Amal has made it her mission to help refugees, advocate for victims of sexual violence, and protect the rights of journalists across the world. In 2013, she represented journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy after he was arrested by Egyptian authorities along with two of his colleagues for broadcasting "false news." The mother of two worked tirelessly until Fahmy was eventually released and pardoned. We can't think of anyone more deserving of this new position!
Watch This Amazing Game of Thrones Fountain Show to See the Night King Go Up in Flames
Someone call Daenerys, because a familiar blue-fire-breathing dragon has taken over the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and he isn't alone.
As part of the excitement leading up to the season eight premiere of Game of Thrones, HBO and water feature company WET Design have partnered to create a three-and-a-half-minute light and water spectacular. Even more exciting? One of our favorite villains is the star: the Night King!
"The Bellagio fountain is iconic," Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi told the Associated Press. "It's known around the world, and so is Game of Thrones, so I think putting them together and seeing the music choreographed to a fountain like that is quite the spectacle."
The show starts out with tranquil music, scored by Djawadi, and soft blue lights to mimic the blizzards and cold of the long winter. Soon enough, though, the show's custom score transitions into the familiar climactic Game of Thrones theme song and Viserion swoops in to steal the show. "You'll feel and you'll see the shadows of those dragons, and then at the end when the dragon incinerates the ice wall, it catches our lake," Mark Fuller, CEO of WET Design, said in a press release video. "And, if you thought maybe water didn't burn, oh my gosh - you've got to see what this dragon does to the lake of the Bellagio."
As part of HBO's #ForTheThrone initiative, the show is complete with pyrotechnics, colorful lights, and shadow-like projections of both Viserion - Daenerys's dragon-turned-White Walker - and the Night King as he marches forward through the flames of battle (and possibly toward Casterly Rock). The most interesting detail? If the end of the fountain show is anything to go by, it looks like the fight for the throne is going to go down in flames.
The limited-run event will be on display twice nightly at the Bellagio at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. now through April 13. Check out photos and a video of the entire flame-fueled fountain show below.
Game of Thrones Released 30 New Photos From Season 8, and They'll Chill You to the Bone
After a few brief but telling teasers for Game of Thrones season eight, a ton of glorious photos from the final season have arrived! HBO shared a whole bunch of illuminating images from Westeros, including glimpses of Dany and Jon Snow together in the North, Cersei stalking around on her lonesome (in some sick new armor, we might add), Brienne looking worse for wear, and more.
Who will live? Who will die? And who will get to sit on that freakin' throne?! While we'll have to wait until April to get the answers to those questions and any potential confirmations of the internet's many theories about the last season, these photos are enough to keep us busy in the meantime. Keep reading to see them all!
Game of Thrones: How Littlefinger's Face Could Be the Key to Cersei's Downfall
The Game of Thrones season seven moment when Arya and Sansa finally take down Littlefinger is triumphant. It proved that the Stark sisters understand that they're at their strongest together, while also illustrating how adept they've become at carrying out a deception when necessary. Lord Baelish never saw them coming, and in season eight, there's a chance that Cersei won't either. Since the season seven finale, there's been speculation from fans about whether Arya took Littlefinger's face after his execution. On the surface, it doesn't seem like his visage would be useful in her bag of tricks. After all, Sansa passes his sentence in front of an audience in the North, everyone at Winterfell that day, including the Knights of the Vale, know that he's dead.
But there's one key player who may have no idea that the Stark sisters disposed of Littlefinger, and that person is Cersei. She's currently busy shoring up her army in the South and focusing on stopping Daenerys's bid for the Iron Throne. When it comes to the North, she knows the White Walkers are heading toward Winterfell, but she seems wholly unconcerned. In fact, she's counting on the army of the dead to decrease the number of enemies gunning for her seat in King's Landing. Would anyone who witnessed the death of Littlefinger send Queen Cersei a message? It seems unlikely.
The last time Cersei and Littlefinger talked was back in season five. During their conversation, he promises her Sansa's head. Cersei knows from experience that Lord Baelish allies himself with whichever side will get him want he wants. She's not happy about his false promises, but given her current political position, she might be willing to entertain an audience with an enemy she knows if she believes it would be benefit her. Enter Arya wearing Littlefinger's face.
Remember, Cersei is on Arya's list, and she's someone that Sansa would no doubt like to see taken down for the role she played in their family's destruction. In a recent interview with The Wrap, Sophie Turner hinted that a showdown between the eldest Stark sister and the current Queen of Westeros could be in the cards for season eight. "It's definitely something that you could possibly see. And I would love to see Sansa have a face-off with Cersei," the actor said. "I think it would be a long time coming." And there's no better way to get Sansa, Arya, and Cersei in the same room than by Littlefinger appearing to finally keep his promise by giving Sansa to Cersei to do with as she will. It could even be considered an act of good faith to get back in her graces. Then all Arya would need to do is remove the stolen face and serve up some justice on behalf of the North.
However, if season eight reveals early on that Cersei is fully aware of Littlefinger's fate, then this theory is unlikely to come true. Since all of the other major players know that Lord Baelish is dead, there's no political need for Arya to take his face. The Stark sisters are too savvy to use the face of a man the entire North knows is no longer among the living to trick Cersei if they even suspect the news made its way South. Still, as long as Cersei is in the dark, the possibility of Arya donning Littlefinger's face remains on the table for the final season.
Is Pet Sematary Based on a True Story? There's More Truth to the Movie Than You Think
Warning: very spooky spoilers for Pet Sematary ahead!
Although it's no secret that animals can't actually come back to life once they've passed away, there might be more truth to Stephen King's 1983 novel Pet Sematary than you think. And now that Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer's adaptation of the book has hit the big screen, it's time to separate fact from fiction.
In both King's novel and the 2019 reboot, we're introduced to the Creed family: patriarch Louis is a doctor who moves his wife and two young children from a bustling city to the small town of Ludlow, MI, so that he can take over the University of Maine's hospital. He and his wife, Rachel, hope that the move will give them more quality time with their kids, and they're also getting a sprawling farmhouse out of the deal. Unfortunately, a portion of the property they move onto is cursed by a Native American legend, bringing back the corpse of whatever is buried there as a vicious, malevolent shell of the living thing it once was. When tragedy strikes, Louis is pushed to the brink in an effort to keep his family whole.
Now, clearly King didn't experience those events exactly, since he's still walking, talking, and dragging the president on Twitter daily. But according to the introduction in the beginning of a new version of Pet Sematary, written in 2000, the famed horror author said his inspiration from the book is actually based on a handful of real-life events. He explained that the idea for a story came to him while he was the writer in residence for his alma mater - the University of Maine - in the late 1970s.
Although he loved living in the rural Northeast with his family, the house they rented was on an extremely busy road. Despite being warned that the road "has used up a lot of animals" by his Judson Crandall-like neighbor, Julio DeSanctis, King found his daughter's cat, Smucky - whose name you might remember seeing on a headstone in the movie - dead on a neighbor's lawn soon after moving in. And to make matters even creepier, DeSanctis told the writer that there actually was a pet cemetery behind the King's home where other children in the area had buried pets they lost to the highway.
But the scariest part of all? King's toddler-aged son made a beeline for the road one day while the family was flying a kite in the yard. Although King was able to catch up to him, the experience made a lasting impression on him. "A part of my mind never escaped from that gruesome what if," he wrote. "I simply took existing elements and threw in that one terrible what if. Put another way, I found myself not just thinking about the unthinkable, but writing it down."
Of course, in the book, the toddler character isn't quite so lucky - Gage Creed goes careening into the busy road next to the family's new home and is struck by a seeding tractor trailer. The reboot actually makes a fairly significant change to that particular twist, but the story remains just as bleak and nightmarish as ever.
The 10 Films That Inspired Jordan Peele’s Us - And Where to Watch Them
Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele very famously cited Rosemary's Baby (1968) and The Stepford Wives (1975) as inspiration for his 2017 social thriller Get Out. So when the trailer for Us first arrived back in December everyone had theories about where the director drew his inspiration.
Peele eventually revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he relied on ten horror classics to build his vision for the Tethered. "For my second feature, I wanted to create a monster mythology," Peele explained. "I wanted to do something that was more firmly in the horror genre but still held on to my love of movies that are twisted but fun."
If you've seen Us, you know the twist lies in the fact that - major spoiler incoming - Adelaide is actually one of the Tethered, a group of mute clones designed by the government to control the masses. But since the film's record-breaking opening weekend, many viewers have expressed an interest in delving deeper into the meaning behind the eerie doppelgängers and the film as the whole. Luckily, by revealing this list to the masses, Peele has given us an opportunity to do just that! So, let's countdown the top 10 films that inspired Us, and see if we can draw a connection to the film's mind-bending plot.
Please be advised not only do spoilers lie ahead, but also most of these movies are for mature audiences (NSFW).
After All This Time, I'm Still Jealous of Aly & AJ's Cute Sisterly Bond
Aly & AJ are back with new music, and my Disney Channel heart has never been happier. The sisters - Alyson Michalka, 30, and AJ Michalka, 27 - first rose to fame with pop hits like "Rush" and "Potential Breakup Song" in the early 2000s, but have since reinvented themselves with their '80s-inspired album, Ten Years. While their music has certainly evolved over the years, one thing that has remained is their sisterly bond. Whether their showing off their sweet harmonies on stage or they're hugging it out on the red carpet, it's clear that Aly & AJ are more than sisters -q they're best friends. See their cutest moments ahead!
Lea Michele Knows How to Work the Camera, and These Sexy Pictures Prove It
Lea Michele's incredible voice isn't the only thing that leaves us breathless. The 32-year-old actress and singer loves to show off her stunning figure. Can you blame her? She looks amazing! Whether the former Glee star is hitting the red carpet in a high-slit dress or posting a sexy bikini snap on social media, she always knows how to work the camera. Grab a fan and get ready to look through some of her hottest snaps ahead.
Related: These Bikini Pictures of Lea Michele Are Guaranteed to Fill You With Glee
The 20 Best New Books to Read in April
Whether you live in a place that has luckily shed the icy chill of Winter or you're still spending your days in cozy sweaters, we have a whole lot of amazing new books to keep you company this Spring. Ahead, you'll find 20 April releases that will have you turning pages long past your bedtime - from touching memoirs to love stories to bone-chilling thrillers. April showers or not, all of these incredible books are guaranteed to keep you entertained until May.
The Internet Has a Hankerin' For Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus's "Old Town Road" Remix
Howdy, partner! I reckon you've heard Lil Nas X's remix of his hit "Old Town Road" featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. And if you haven't, you better yee-haw your way to updating your playlist because this one is a banger. The 19-year-old rapper and 57-year-old crooner dropped the country-trap tune on Thursday as a follow-up to Lil Nas X's original 2018 hit. The release comes shortly after Billboard decided to remove the song from its Hot 100 Country Songs charts, which was followed by backlash and conversations about race in the country genre.
The remix perfectly combines country vocals and rural lyrics with a trap beat and hip-hop flair. Lil Nas X posted about his excitement over working with Cyrus on Instagram, sharing snapshots of the two posing together. The young artist also shared a video of them in the studio and listening to the final outcome. "You're a light in this world, man. You're gonna shine," Cyrus tells Lil Nas X in the clip. "People are gonna see you from all over the universe."
The song has pretty much taken over Twitter, and fans are going wild over the remix. Not only are they loving the actual sound - again, you need to listen to it - but they're also obsessed with the dynamic between the two artists. "Boy you made Billy come out of retirement for that Old Town Road," one person wrote. "A freshman + a graduate."
This new bop has quite a few people ready to purchase a cowboy hat and boots and embrace the hip-hop/country genre - as we all should (*tips hat*). Listen to the track below before reading some of the most hilarious reactions!
18 Amazing, Well-Hidden Easter Eggs and DC References You Might Have Missed in Shazam!
If there's anything we love in a big superhero film, it's all the sly winks and nods to other films in the franchise (or otherwise) that the cast and crew hide for fans to catch. DC's latest superhero outing, Shazam!, is no different.
The film follows the adventures of Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a mischievous foster kid who is granted powers by the wizard Shazam. Every time he says the wizard's name ("Shazam!"), Billy is transformed into the best version of himself - a tall, muscular, superhero played by Zachary Levi who can shoot lightning bolts from his hands and fly (though that takes some getting used to). He and his superhero-obsessed foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) use Billy's alter-ego to cause pranks, get out of school early, and get up to other mischief. Of course, things can't stay perfect for long, and the big bad - wealthy scientist Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, played by actor Mark Strong - comes through to claim Billy's powers for himself.
Shazam's lighthearted approach is a refreshing break from the bleak, gritty stories found in Batman v Superman and Man of Steel, though the film is filled to the brim with references to the DCEU films that came before it. It also pays homage to some classic films also set in Philadelphia, as well as a ton of references to the character's comic-book mythology. Keep reading for some of the biggest and sweetest Easter eggs in Shazam!.
The Final Table Read For Jane the Virgin Looks as Emotional as We Expected
Jane the Virgin's fifth season is off to an amazing start, and there's already so much to digest. There's the return of Jane's formerly deceased husband Michael, who remembers nothing of his former life - let alone his wife - as well as Jane's relationship with Rafael. Oh, and the seemingly endless schemes of Sin Rostro, aka Rose. There is so much going on in each episode, we almost forgot this is the show's final season. Unfortunately, because this is the last season, it means all the craziness is just building up to the end of Jane the Virgin. And as hard as that is to process as a fan, it's only harder for the cast themselves.
On Wednesday, April 3, the cast and crew of the series took to social media to express their bittersweet feelings about the series' last-ever table read. Showrunner Jennie Urman shared her thoughts with fans on Twitter, writing, "No big deal: just the last table read of #JanetheVirgin ever today!" The three crying emojis she added to her caption really emphasized the sadness, we must say.
No big deal: just the last table read of #JanetheVirgin ever today! 😭😭😭
- Jennie Urman (@JennieUrman) April 3, 2019
Actors Justin Baldoni, Yael Grobglas, and Andrea Navedo (who play Rafael, Petra, and Xiomara, respectively) took to Instagram to share their thoughts, each one taking the time to express their thanks to the fans for making the beloved show the hit it is.
"Ends are always hard. We've grown up together," Baldoni captioned a photo of himself with Grobglas and Gina Rodriguez. "It's the end of an era but the beginning of so many incredible things. Our show has given birth to so much beauty in all of our lives. So many tears. But they are tears of gratitude."
Jane the Virgin's very own Latin Lover Narrator, Anthony Mendez, also joined in, posting a video on what he called, "Woe And Wepa Wednesday." Whew, we're getting a little teary-eyed ourselves, and there's still several more episodes of season five to go! Watch the emotional tributes ahead, but don't fret too much - we still have the rest of season five and a whole spinoff to look forward to!
Nothing to See Here, Just the Most Cutting-Edge Celebrity Hair Transformations of 2019
There's nothing more liberating than getting a fresh haircut, and these celebrities know that all too well. So far this year, celebrities have graced us with such hot hair looks that we can't stop saving them to every Pinterest board and Instagram folder we have. Charlize Theron snipped her hair the day of (!) the 2019 Oscars, showing us that the time is always right to take to the scissors. Gabrielle Union (literally) turned heads at the 2019 Vanity Fair afterparty with her cutting-edge pixie, and to say we were star-struck is an understatement. From red-hot hues to lengthy cuts, these celebs changed their locks and their looks with these tantalizing hair color and cut transformations.
As Coco Chanel once said, "A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life," and she was exactly right.
17 Cloud Makeup Photos That Prove It's the Most Magical Beauty Trend to Sweep the Internet
Maybe you're searching for cloud makeup because you saw it floating around the internet and you need some eye-catching beauty inspiration for weekend one of Coachella. Maybe you're scrolling through examples because its color schemes remind you of Lisa Frank stickers. Regardless of the reason, we get why the illustrations of fluffy cotton-candy-like clouds strewn across your face has become a beauty trend: it's artistic, dreamy, and down-right captivating.
We first saw the trend last year, as influencers posted video tutorials on their takes of how to create the look, and to do so is simple: the eye shadow look is comprised of one or multiple fluffy clouds, often painted in dreamy color schemes and surrounded with painted-on stars, sparkles, and thunderbolts. (If you need help on choosing your colors, a quick Pinterest search of "Cloud Color Palettes" yields the most enchanting results.) Cloud makeup can be whatever you want it to be - from a few feathery sweeps of iridescent, white shadow, to fully-illustrated three-dimensional cumulus - and it all starts with a fluffy eye shadow brush, your favorite eye palettes, and, if you'd like, a few jars of fine glitter.
The trend is resurfacing just in time for festival season as brands are coming out with the brightest, most shimmery palettes for every look (for example, Nyx has released its Glitter Goals collection, which will add some twinkle to your lids, and Smith and Cult now has pots of six otherworldly hues and go on in big, shimmery, holographic chunks that will catch light even through nighttime performances), while makeup artists on Instagram are looking to newly launched Anastasia Beverly Hills Riviera Palette to paint their faces.
Ahead, check out 17 examples of the beauty trend (and 17 reasons to keep your head in the clouds).
This Spring, Shop the Top Trend in Nail Polish on Amazon
When it comes to our manicures, we're big believers in having a little fun and trying playful, cool, trend-focused colors. And this season, it's all about pastels. From soft blues to pretty pinks and cool greens, these are the colors we've seen all over Instagram, and they look gorgeous on so many different skin tones. And all these colors are on Amazon, which means your next manicure is only two days away.
Get Your Summer Manicure Ready With These 11 Neon Nail Polishes From Amazon
Painting our nails is one of our favorite forms of self-care. This season, it's all about neon colors, and we couldn't be happier. It's such a fun trend to try out, and painting your nails is a low-risk, high-reward way to experiment with different shades. Whether you're into shocking pink or bright blue, there's a polish that was made for you. As a bonus, all these picks are on Amazon.
Related: Looking to Clean Up Your Nail Routine? These 11 Polishes Are All 7-Free
We Found Healthy AND Tasty Trader Joe's Snacks, So Please Excuse Us While We Fill Up Our Carts
Clear out your shopping carts and make room for these health-conscious snacks from Trader Joe's. As if we didn't already love TJ's enough, its snacking options are healthy, easy, and oh so affordable. Whether your taste buds prefer chocolates or veggies, these low-cal, protein- and fiber-packed nibbles will satisfy all of your midday cravings.
So make as much room as you can in your snack drawer because, trust us, you'll need it.
- With Jenny Sugar, Lauren Breedlove, and Erin Cullum
Thinking of Going on Low-Estrogen Birth Control Pills? Here's What You Need to Know
With so many birth control options available for women, finding the right fit for you can be overwhelming. Should I go with an IUD? The implant? What about the dozens of birth control pills on the market? One form of birth control that has been gaining interest is low-estrogen birth control pills. With a lower dose of estrogen than other birth control pills, these pills are supposed to give you shorter periods and have fewer hormonal interactions.
But is this option the right fit for you? We spoke with Lakeisha Richardson, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and paid consultant of Allergan, who broke down what exactly low-estrogen birth control is and why it might be the right fit for you.
What Are Low-Estrogen Birth Control Pills?
Combination birth control pills are oral contraceptives that contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Birth control pills on the market range in how much estrogen is in them; they can contain 10 micrograms (mcg), 20 mcg, 25 mcg, 30 mcg, 35 mcg, or 50 mcg of daily estrogen. Dr. Richardson said combination oral contraceptives are effective for pregnancy prevention when taken correctly and consistently; that is, taken at the same time every day and not in conjunction with certain medications, including some antibiotics. There are other complications that can interfere with birth control's effectiveness, including not storing the pill properly and having a digestive disorder.
Low-estrogen birth control pills are pills that contain 10-30 mcg of daily estrogen. One example is Lo Loestrin Fe, which has 10 mcg of daily estrogen. Dr. Richardson said Lo Loestrin Fe may give women shorter, lighter periods, some as little as two days.
What Are the Side Effects of Low-Estrogen Birth Control Pills?
Even though low-estrogen pills have less estrogen than other birth control pills on the market, the side effects are similar: nausea/vomiting, headaches, spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods, weight change, breast tenderness, acne, abdominal pain, anxiety, and depression. Like other higher-dose estrogen pills, low-estrogen birth control pills can also increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. It's best to talk to your doctor to assess your risk factors, especially if you smoke cigarettes and are over the age of 35, Dr. Richardson advised.
Who Are Low-Estrogen Birth Control Pills Good For?
It's not just the physical and potentially dangerous side effects associated with combination pills that can wreak havoc on your quality of life; there are other negative symptoms people may experience from hormonal birth control. Some of them include wild mood swings, a decreased sex drive, and heavy bleeding and cramping. Unfortunately, every person is different, so there's no way to predict how you will react to different types of hormonal birth control; it may take some trial-and-error.
"Estrogen levels affect women's bodies differently, so women should work through the option that is appropriate for them with their healthcare providers," Dr. Richardson advised. If you haven't had success on a higher-dose estrogen pill previously, a low-estrogen option may be a better fit. These pills could also be a good option for people who want shorter, lighter periods, but they may not be good for everyone; Dr. Richardson said to talk to your doctor about low-estrogen birth control if you are moderately obese.
What Should You Ask Your Doctor Before Getting on Low-Estrogen Birth Control?
OK, so you're interested in getting on low-estrogen birth control. But what comes next? You need to visit your doctor and have a thorough discussion before choosing the best contraception for you. According to Dr. Richardson, be sure you ask some key questions such as:
- Do I have any risks factors that increase my risk of complications if I use an oral contraceptive for birth control?
- What side effects should I expect? And what should I do if I do experience side effects?
- Will oral contraceptives interfere with any of my current medications or medical illness?
- How soon can I start an oral contraceptive?
- Do I have to take it at the same time every day?
- How effective are oral contraceptives?
- Is there anything I should or should not do while taking oral contraceptives?
- Is there anything I can do to make oral contraceptives more effective?
Bottom line: low-estrogen birth control, such as Lo Loestrin Fe, may be a good option for you, but you need to work that out with your doctor first. Bookmark this article and come equipped to your next doctor appointment with the right knowledge and to-the-point questions to ask.
In a Boss Move, Beyoncé Reportedly Declined to Work With Reebok Due to Diversity Issues
On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé closed a sweet deal to collaborate with Adidas and relaunch her activewear line, Ivy Park. But apparently, that wasn't the only athletic wear company that was on Bey's radar. In Friday's episode of ESPN's NBA show The Jump, writer Nick DePaula remembered a meeting the "Run the World" singer had with Reebok. They explored the idea of working together, but there was reportedly one thing that didn't sit well with Beyoncé.
"They had a whole presentation of everything, potential products, how this could all look," Nick recalled. "And she took a step back and said, 'Is this the team that will be working on my product?' and somebody said, 'Yes,' and she said, 'Nobody in this room reflects my background, my skin color, where I'm from, and what I want to do.' So, she took a step back and left."
Reebok has since disputed the claim, but the important takeaway from the reported anecdote is that it's so important for companies to review their hiring processes as well as the backgrounds of those who are in positions to make major decisions. If a business wants to broaden their reach and provide a service or product to a heterogeneous consumer base, it's incredibly vital to have people who reflect the real world, which is full of diverse stories and narratives. But I digress.
Naturally, the Beyhive - and anyone who appreciates celebrities who practice what they preach - has been buzzing, and conversations about representation in large corporations have taken over Twitter (along with some hilarious memes). Read on to see some of the best reactions to Bey's power move!
Movie Nights Won't Be the Same Now That You Have These 6 Low-Carb Popcorns
When we think of yummy salty snacks, popcorn is at the top of our favorites list. It's so addictive and a generally healthy snacking option that still feels indulgent. It's delicious on its own, but also tastes so great with everything from chili salt to M&M's. If you're trying to follow a low-carb eating plan, we've got you covered with these six delicious options. Now, when's our next movie night?
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