Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Catherine Roy If you grew up watching VHS action flicks, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the guy who could do the splits on a moving truck. But behind the screen, the Belgian actor has navigated a much more complex role: managing a bipolar disorder diagnosis, rebuilding personal relationships, and reportedly ending a decades-long feud with Steven Seagal. Profession: … Read more
Ray Dalio turned market panic into a $92 billion fortune, proving that the worst times to trade can be the best. This article digs into how he built his wealth, his famous 5 Principles, and how he compares to Warren Buffett. Assets Under Management (Bridgewater): $92 billion · Founded Bridgewater: 1975 · Stepped Down as … Read more
There’s a reason viewers kept tuning into BBC’s Poldark for five seasons, and a big part of that was Eleanor Tomlinson’s fiery portrayal of Demelza Carne. This article answers those questions with verified facts from authoritative sources. Born: 19 May 1992 (Kensington, London) · Age: 31 (as of 2024) · Height: 5 ft 7 in … Read more
There’s a curiosity that comes with watching an actor play a comforting role for years — you start to wonder about the person behind the character. Erik Thomson, the Scottish-born actor who won an AFI Award for The Black Balloon, built a career on characters who felt like family, and here’s a look at confirmed … Read more
Few actors manage to stay universally liked for three decades, but Paul Rudd has pulled it off without breaking a sweat. From his breakout in Clueless to headlining Marvel’s Ant-Man franchise and now filming a thriller in Ireland, he’s built a career on likability, deadpan humor, and constant reinvention. Born: April 6, 1969 · Age: … Read more
There’s a peculiar tension in the way we talk about Casey Affleck – the actor who delivered one of the most quietly devastating performances of the decade in Manchester by the Sea, and the man who settled two sexual harassment lawsuits before that Oscar win. Those 2010 civil cases were settled out of court and … Read more
Few child stars manage to reinvent themselves across decades, but Raven-Symoné has done just that — from playing a wisecracking toddler on The Cosby Show to becoming a Disney Channel icon and a visible LGBTQ+ advocate. Her journey includes a public coming out, a quiet wedding, and a net worth that’s sparked plenty of online … Read more
Lois Griffin, the long-suffering matriarch of the Griffin family on Family Guy, is far more than a cartoon housewife — she is a satirical construct whose voice actor, age, parents, and even sexuality have become subjects of public curiosity. This profile unpacks the facts and fiction surrounding the character and the woman who brings her … Read more
When you think of the longest-running animated series in history, you think of Matt Groening. The creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment turned a comic strip into a billion-dollar franchise. Yet the man behind the yellow empire keeps much of his personal life out of the limelight. Here’s what we actually know. Net worth: … Read more
There’s something about that last reach before sleep — the phone, a glass of water, a half-read book — that makes the bedside table one of the most used surfaces in any bedroom. Yet finding the right one in Ireland can feel like a puzzle of sizes, styles, and budgets. This guide compares the bedside … Read more