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“Nicholas Hoult breaks silence on childhood fears… ‘Everyone told me child actors disappear’ — what he revealed at Red Sea Festival

At the Red Sea International Film Festival, Nicholas Hoult opened up about the pressure of being a child star, reuniting with Toni Collette after 20 years, and why he once feared his career would collapse before it even began.

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Nicholas Hoult Opens Up About Child Actor Fears and Career Journey at Red Sea Film Festival
Nicholas Hoult reflects on childhood fears and his 30-year career during a heartfelt conversation at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

In a rare moment of deep reflection, Nicholas Hoult — the actor audiences grew up watching from About a Boy to Mad Max: Fury Road and X-Men — spoke openly about the anxieties that shaped his journey from child prodigy to one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars. Appearing at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Hoult shared that despite early success, he constantly feared becoming “another child actor who disappears.”

The Emmy-nominated actor, now 36, recalled the pressure he felt after starring opposite Hugh Grant in the 2002 hit About a Boy. “Back then, even as a kid, everyone talks to you about how child actors stop working, their life goes off the rails and it doesn’t work out as adults,” he admitted. “You have this kind of fear of what’s to come.”

Hoult said that the noise surrounding his early acclaim was overwhelming, even though the industry praised his performance. “Even then I knew I wanted to continue acting, but I was like — there’s a good chance this doesn’t work out.” He credits his grounded family for helping him navigate the uncertainty. “My parents sent me to a normal school. They kept life as regular as possible, so there was never pressure to succeed,” he added.

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“I was five when I first auditioned”

Sharing childhood memories, Hoult revisited his first-ever audition — at just five years old — for Philip Goodhew’s 1996 film Intimate Relations. “I grew up in a house full of musical theatre and acting. It all felt natural, but I was still terrified,” he said with a laugh.

His recollection revealed a softer side of the actor — someone who wasn’t just discovered, but nurtured and shaped by a creative environment long before the world knew him.

On working with Toni Collette… and meeting her again 20 years later

One of the most moving parts of his conversation was about his bond with Toni Collette, who played his mother in About a Boy. Hoult described their reunion two decades later on Clint Eastwood’s film Juror No. 2 as “surreal and special.”

“She played my mum when I was 11,” he said. “And then we did Juror No. 2 recently. It was lovely to reunite. These people have known me since I was a kid — now I get to know them again as an adult. It’s really special.”

For fans who watched Hoult grow from a shy 11-year-old into a charismatic leading man, this emotional full-circle moment hits home.

Nicholas Hoult Opens Up About Child Actor Fears and Career Journey at Red Sea Film Festival


Working with George Miller and James Gunn

Hoult’s career soared as he collaborated with industry giants including George Miller on Mad Max: Fury Road and James Gunn on upcoming DC projects.

He reflected on how those experiences shaped him:
“Working with filmmakers like George and James is like taking a masterclass. They trust you, push you, and teach you without even trying.”

With Gunn now casting him as Lex Luthor in the new Superman reboot, Hoult’s transformation into a global pop-culture icon seems inevitable.

A career built on fear — and discipline

Despite his impressive three-decade journey, Hoult admitted that fear remained a quiet motivator. “Fear of failure kept me disciplined. It taught me to work harder,” he said.

Today, he stands as proof that child actors don’t have to “go off the rails” — some grow up, evolve, and find greater purpose in their craft.

And as his conversation at the Red Sea Festival showed, Nicholas Hoult’s story is still unfolding — with honesty, humility, and a success he once believed might never happen.

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Olivia Rodrigo Leaves Her Idol ‘Mind Blown’ With Stunning A Cappella Christmas Cover

Teaming up with Jacob Collier, Olivia Rodrigo delivers a pitch-perfect ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ that earns praise from Sheryl Crow

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Olivia Rodrigo and Jacob Collier perform a stunning a cappella version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
Olivia Rodrigo and Jacob Collier perform a stunning a cappella version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

Olivia Rodrigo just delivered an early holiday gift that instantly melted the internet — and left one of her biggest idols completely stunned.

On Monday, December 8, acclaimed musician Jacob Collier shared a video featuring himself and the Gen Z pop superstar performing an a cappella cover of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The stripped-down rendition, rich with layered harmonies and emotional warmth, quickly became a fan favorite — and even earned a jaw-dropping reaction from Sheryl Crow.

“Ok MIND BLOWN,” Crow wrote in the comments, summing up what thousands of listeners were thinking.

Olivia Rodrigo and Jacob Collier perform a stunning a cappella version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”


A Simple Start, A Breathtaking Finish

The video begins casually, with Olivia Rodrigo flashing a heart with her hands and asking, “Hi, Jacob! How’s this?” What follows is anything but casual.

Rodrigo launches into a soft, crystal-clear vocal take on the classic holiday song — originally made famous by Bing Crosby in the 1940s. One by one, Jacob Collier layers in intricate backing harmonies, creating a rich, almost orchestral soundscape without a single instrument.

“I’ll be home for Christmas / You can plan on me,” the pair sing in perfect sync. “Please have snow and mistletoe / And presents under the tree.”

Sharing the clip, Collier wrote, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas with my dear friend @oliviarodrigo 🎄,” keeping the caption as understated as the performance was powerful.

A Classic Song, A Modern Revival

Though “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” dates back more than 80 years, the song has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, even peaking at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. Rodrigo and Collier’s version feels both timeless and modern — respectful of the original while infused with their distinct musical identities.

Fans praised Rodrigo’s control and emotional restraint, while Collier’s signature harmonic genius elevated the performance into something almost sacred.

Sheryl Crow’s Full-Circle Moment

The most notable reaction came from Sheryl Crow, a longtime inspiration for Rodrigo. The admiration between the two artists has been mutual and well-documented.

The pair first crossed paths at Billboard’s Women in Music Awards in 2022, where Crow presented Rodrigo with Woman of the Year. During her acceptance speech, Rodrigo gushed,
“Sheryl, I am such a massive fan of you and your songwriting… It really means the world.”

Olivia Rodrigo and Jacob Collier perform a stunning a cappella version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”


In 2023, Rodrigo returned the favor by helping induct Crow into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Reflecting on that moment, Rodrigo told Billboard,
“It was an honor to join Sheryl on stage. She’s equally as kind as she is talented.”

Crow, for her part, has been equally generous with praise. Speaking on The Tonight Show, she called Rodrigo “the real deal,” adding,
“She’s a great songwriter. She seems kinda unaffected by all of it.”

A Holiday Moment Fans Won’t Forget

For Rodrigo, who first rose to fame on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series before becoming one of pop’s most defining voices, the performance marks another reminder of her versatility — not just as a hitmaker, but as a vocalist deeply rooted in melody and storytelling.

For fans, the collaboration is more than just a Christmas cover. It’s a meeting of generations, talent, and influence — and a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful performances need nothing more than voices and heart.

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Justin Bieber Revisits the Bowling Alley From His ‘Baby’ Era 15 Years Later — A Full-Circle Moment Fans Didn’t Expect

The pop star returns to the iconic filming location of his breakout hit ‘Baby,’ reliving memories from the start of his global superstardom

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Justin Bieber Revisits the Bowling Alley From His ‘Baby’ Era 15 Years Later — A Full-Circle Moment Fans Didn’t Expect
Justin Bieber revisits the bowling alley where he filmed ‘Baby,’ 15 years after his breakout hit

Justin Bieber recently took fans on a nostalgic journey back to where it all began. On Thursday, December 11, the global pop icon shared an Instagram Reel revealing that he revisited the bowling alley where he filmed the music video for his career-defining hit “Baby” — a full 15 years after the song changed his life forever.

“Went to where I shot my music video for baby. This is what happened,” Bieber captioned the post, instantly sending longtime fans into an emotional spiral. The Reel shows Bieber casually walking through the bowling alley, singing Baby a cappella while friends beatbox beside him — recreating the magic that once introduced him to the world as a teenage sensation.

A Casual Look, A Powerful Memory

Now 31, Bieber appeared relaxed and reflective in the video, wearing an oversized gray T-shirt, baggy embellished shorts, a silver chain, and a beanie. The vibe was far from the polished pop-star image of his early years — instead, it felt intimate, spontaneous, and deeply personal.

Justin Bieber Revisits the Bowling Alley From His ‘Baby’ Era 15 Years Later — A Full-Circle Moment Fans Didn’t Expect


Friends and collaborators including Eddie Benjamin, Oranj Goodman, Gabriel Jacoby, and Kyle Massey accompanied him. In one moment that delighted fans, a friend even stepped in to perform Ludacris’ famous verse: “When I was 13, I had my first love…”

‘Baby’: The Song That Changed Everything

Released in 2010, “Baby” was the lead single from Justin Bieber’s debut studio album My World 2.0. The track quickly became a global phenomenon, peaking at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and turning Bieber into one of the most recognizable faces in pop culture.

The music video was filmed at Universal CityWalk and Lucky Strike Lanes in Los Angeles, locations that became instantly iconic for an entire generation of fans who grew up watching Bieber’s rise.

Inspired by Michael Jackson

Back in 2010, Ludacris compared the Baby video to a modern-day version of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” during an interview with MTV News — a comparison that underscored how massive Bieber’s breakout moment truly was.

At the time, Bieber explained that the song and video centered around teenage heartbreak and persistence.

“It starts off, I really like this girl, but we didn’t get along,” Bieber said then. “I want her back, and I’m chasing her around. She’s playing hard to get, but I’m persistent.”

Ludacris Knew It Was a Hit

Ludacris, now 48, recalled having to creatively frame his verse to fit a teen love story.

“I knew it was a hit as soon as I heard it,” he said. “I just had to figure out how I could get on a record with a 15-year-old.”

He famously added, “Mark my word, that’s going to be one of the biggest songs of 2010.”
History proved him right.

Justin Bieber Revisits the Bowling Alley From His ‘Baby’ Era 15 Years Later — A Full-Circle Moment Fans Didn’t Expect


Jasmine Villegas Looks Back

Jasmine Villegas, who played Bieber’s love interest in the Baby music video, later reflected on the experience in a PEOPLE interview.

“I was around 16 or 17,” she said. “I knew he was on YouTube, but I didn’t realize what it would become. I didn’t put two and two together at first.”

From Teen Idol to Global Icon

Bieber’s quiet return to the bowling alley wasn’t just about revisiting a set — it symbolized how far he’s come. From a YouTube discovery to a chart-topping artist who has navigated fame, controversy, marriage, health struggles, and reinvention, Justin Bieber’s journey has been anything but ordinary.

Fifteen years later, Baby still echoes — not just as a song, but as the starting line of one of pop music’s most defining careers.

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Euphoria Season 3 First Photos Drop After Four-Year Wait — Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi Return Older and Darker

HBO unveils new Season 3 images as Euphoria jumps five years ahead, revealing adult lives, broken ties, and shocking futures

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Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi return in HBO’s Euphoria Season 3 after a five-year time jump
Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi return in HBO’s Euphoria Season 3 after a five-year time jump

After nearly four years of silence, HBO’s Euphoria is finally back in focus. On Friday, the network released the first official photos from Euphoria Season 3, giving fans their first glimpse at where the beloved — and deeply troubled — characters have landed after a dramatic five-year time jump.

The images confirm what creator Sam Levinson has been hinting at for months: Euphoria is no longer a high school story. The former teens are now adults, navigating careers, relationships, addiction, ambition, and consequences that didn’t fit inside lockers and classrooms.

Zendaya’s Rue Enters a New, Dangerous Phase

At the center of the series remains Zendaya, returning as Rue Bennett. In the newly released photos, Rue appears isolated and solemn — sitting alone in a church in one image, and riding in a truck in another.

Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi return in HBO’s Euphoria Season 3 after a five-year time jump


Across the first two seasons, Rue’s struggle with substance abuse — fueled by grief over her father’s death — defined the emotional core of Euphoria. Season 3 takes that struggle even further.

According to Sam Levinson, Rue is now “south of the border in Mexico,” deeply in debt to drug dealer Laurie, played by Martha Kelly. The new season will follow Rue as she searches for “very innovative ways” to survive and pay off what she owes — a storyline that suggests the show is entering its darkest territory yet.

Nate and Cassie’s Shocking Future

One of the biggest reveals from Levinson confirms a jaw-dropping arc: Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) are now living together in the suburbs — and they’re engaged.

In the Season 3 photos, Nate is seen in a suburban kitchen making hamburgers, a quiet image that contrasts sharply with his violent and manipulative past. Cassie, meanwhile, stands outside a house as an ice cream cone melts in her hand — a visual metaphor for her unraveling emotional state.

Levinson revealed that Cassie is now addicted to social media and obsessed with the illusion of success surrounding her former classmates. He also confirmed that Nate and Cassie will get married before the end of the season, a development that is already dividing fans online.

Jules, Maddy and Lexi Find New Worlds

Jules Vaughn, played by Hunter Schafer, is now attending art school. A new image shows her working in an art studio, with Levinson describing her as “nervous” about her future as a painter.

Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) has moved to Hollywood, working at a talent agency while juggling undisclosed “side hustles.” In one of the most striking photos, Maddy appears fully glam on a film set — a far cry from her high school chaos.

Interestingly, Maddy appears alongside Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow) in multiple images. Lexi is now working as an assistant to a showrunner, played by Sharon Stone, and is seen wearing a “crew” pass on what looks like a large-scale production set, complete with gladiator costumes in the background.

Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi return in HBO’s Euphoria Season 3 after a five-year time jump


The Losses Still Linger

Season 3 also carries the weight of real-life and fictional loss.

At the end of Season 2, Fezco (Angus Cloud) watched helplessly as his younger brother Ashtray (Javon Walton) was killed during a SWAT raid. Tragically, Angus Cloud himself died of an accidental overdose in 2023, and his absence looms large over the new season.

Not all characters are returning. Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, previously exited the show, citing creative differences and a lack of direction for her character. Storm Reid, who portrayed Rue’s sister Gia, will also not return for Season 3.

A Grown-Up Euphoria

Speaking earlier this month at an HBO presentation, Sam Levinson explained why the five-year leap felt necessary.

“It felt natural,” he said. “It allows the characters to not only leave high school behind, but college as well.”

The new photos hint at adulthood without spoiling key plot points — solitude, ambition, domesticity, and identity all quietly woven into the visuals.

If Seasons 1 and 2 were about chaos in youth, Euphoria Season 3 looks poised to explore something more unsettling: what happens when trauma grows up with you.

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