The daily gossip: Jennifer Lawrence claims there were no female action leads before The Hunger Games, Janelle Monáe went to her birthday party topless, and more
Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
![Jennifer Lawrence](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jwvtEhVUib4V2YVeJRt3ph-415-80.jpg)
- 1. Jennifer Lawrence claims there were no female action leads before 'The Hunger Games'
- 2. Janelle Monáe went to her birthday party topless
- 3. Anya Taylor-Joy didn't call Charlize Theron about taking over her 'Mad Max' role
- 4. Whoopi Goldberg's will warns not to make unauthorized biopics about her
- 5. 'Avatar: The Way of Water' finally premieres — and dazzles critics
1. Jennifer Lawrence claims there were no female action leads before 'The Hunger Games'
If there's one thing Twitter won't stand for, it's Linda Hamilton erasure. Jennifer Lawrence learned that the hard way after appearing to suggest The Hunger Games was the first action movie with a female lead. "When I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn't work, we were told," Lawrence said in a Variety conversation with Viola Davis. She added the idea that boys can't identify with female leads was "a lie to keep certain people out of the movies." That's a valid point, but critics took issue with her seemingly claiming to be the first female action lead ever, pointing to Linda Hamilton in The Terminator, Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, and Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, among others. Perhaps Lawrence misspoke or meant this was Hollywood's wrongheaded way of thinking. But clearly, the odds of avoiding a social media dust-up were not in her favor.
2. Janelle Monáe went to her birthday party topless
Janelle Monáe gave a whole new meaning to the term birthday suit. When celebrating her birthday recently, Monáe told Jimmy Kimmel, she "decided to go topless." The Glass Onion star explained her friends have a tradition of taking her on a trip for her birthday and celebrating with nightly themes. This year, the trip was to Mexico, and the themes included a "wine night" where your clothes match your favorite wine. But Monáe instead went rogue, declaring she wanted to "be free" and "let it all hang out." So "they were all dressed, and I was topless" throughout the entire party, which had more than 20 guests — though she noted she did "cover my nips" with "temporary tats." Still, it was the one birthday party where the guests had their wish come true.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. Anya Taylor-Joy didn't call Charlize Theron about taking over her 'Mad Max' role
She's not mad, Max. In a new Hollywood Reporter profile, Charlize Theron said she never heard from Anya Taylor-Joy about the Queen's Gambit star taking over her role of Furiosa in an upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road prequel — but she understands. "I get that," Theron said. "It's always tricky. Who wants to pick up the phone and say, like, 'Hey, we're going to go do this without you.' No one wants to do that." The film is a prequel titled Furiosa, so director George Miller needed a younger actress. Theron told the Reporter she's "not mad" about Miller going in that direction rather than making a sequel starring her, calling Taylor-Joy "one of the greatest f--king actresses." Taylor-Joy also previously told People she's planning to get dinner with Theron to "swap war stories." But Theron acknowledged that "if I had another opportunity," she'd still be interested in returning to Mad Max. Maybe at some point down the Fury Road.
4. Whoopi Goldberg's will warns not to make unauthorized biopics about her
Hollywood will make a Whoopi Goldberg biopic over her dead body. Actually, not even then. During a discussion on The View about the Marilyn Monroe film Blonde, co-host Sunny Hostin suggested we'll eventually see a Whoopi movie, too. "It sounds macabre, but I was speaking to Whoopi, and I was saying she's such a famous person that when she passes away, people are going to make films," Hostin suggested. But according to Goldberg, she's so against this idea, she's noted her objection in her will. "Actually they're not," Goldberg shot back. "They're not going to make films [about me], because in my will it says, 'Unless you speak to my family, try it.' Try it!" Granted, Goldberg is a public figure, so anyone could try to make an unauthorized biopic anyway … if they want their film set to be haunted by Goldberg, that is. Actually, a movie about Goldberg's angry ghost sounds far more appealing.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
5. 'Avatar: The Way of Water' finally premieres — and dazzles critics
How many times must we learn the lesson to never, ever bet against James Cameron? After a 13-year wait and many delays, it turns out the Avatar sequel is a real movie, as The Way of Water has finally premiered — and it sounds like critics were absolutely blown away. "Light years better than the first & easily one of the best theatrical experiences in ages," raved IndieWire's David Ehrlich, while Uproxx's Mike Ryan said he's "never seen anything like this from a technical, visual standpoint." Good Day Chicago's Jake Hamilton also said it "left my jaw on the ground for the entire runtime," and The Hollywood Reporter's Beatrice Verhoeven said it's "so beautiful it's hard to put into words." So, yeah, it's pretty good, we take it? Between this and Titanic, if you're looking for a surefire hit, maybe all you need to do is hire James Cameron and Kate Winslet and just add water.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
When families cross the aisle against presidential candidates
In The Spotlight Tim Walz's cousins, Donald Trump's niece and nephew, RFK Jr.'s siblings: When it comes to running for office, blood is not necessarily thicker than water
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Boeing's Starliner to come home empty
Speed Read Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore will return on a SpaceX spacecraft in February
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax charges
Speed Read In an unexpected move, President Joe Biden's son pleads guilty to tax fraud and avoids a trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The daily gossip: Chris Evans reportedly marries Alba Baptista, Drew Barrymore criticized for bringing show back amid writers strike, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Olivia Rodrigo's 'Guts' declared an 'instant classic,' Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reportedly wrote letters of support for Danny Masterson, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Jimmy Fallon accused of erratic behavior at 'The Tonight Show,' Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Rolling Stones reveal first album of original material in 18 years, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas slam 'speculative narratives' about divorce, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Joe Jonas wears wedding ring after Sophie Turner divorce reports, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner spotted kissing at Beyoncé show, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is coming to movie theaters, Adam Driver calls out Netflix and Amazon amid actors strike, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: Ana de Armas fans' lawsuit over misleading 'Yesterday' trailer dismissed, Selena Gomez deletes post that may have broken actors' strike rules, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The daily gossip: HBO cancels controversial show 'The Idol,' 'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter is alive after statement announced his death, and more
feature Today's top entertainment and celebrity news
By Brendan Morrow Published