Clooney on the set of “The Midnight Sky” – Philippe Antonello/ NETFLIX(LOS ANGELES) — George Clooney says celebrities who claim that their job is tough have no idea how difficult life truly is.
Speaking to Page Six, the Midnight Sky actor opened up about his lack of sympathy for those who complain that acting is tiring work.
“I’ve done physically rough films. Perfect Storm I got beat up in the water. In [The Midnight Sky], my character’s dying, so I had to lose weight. You get weakened,” explained Clooney, 59, who revealed last week that he was hospitalized with pancreatitis after losing 30 pounds for the role.
“Directing, you need to work out first, get into shape, because as the general you’re carrying all these people up the hill. Physically it was a lot,” he continued.
Despite it all, Clooney says those roles were a cakewalk compared to a job he held before he arrived at Hollywood.
“Listen, I once cut tobacco for a living for $3 an hour. When actors say how hard it is, I’m like, ‘Come cut tobacco for a day,'” challenged Clooney, who “also sold ladies’ shoes and insurance door to door” before becoming a TV star and heartthrob as Dr. Doug Ross on the 1990s medical drama ER.
“To do our job, to still be kids, play make-believe, we should enjoy it. We’re the lucky ones,” he vented.
The two-time Oscar winner also remarked that actors need to take their job seriously on set because he says it’s a privilege.
“If you do more takes on yourself than the other actors — you’re a schmuck,” advised Clooney. “You have to do your stuff as quickly as possible and get it over with.”
Clooney’s new film, TheMidnight Sky arrives on Netflix on December 23, 2020. It is currently available in theaters on a limited theatrical run.
Myriam Borzee/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR, EMILY SHAPIRO, ERIN SCHUMAKER and IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 73.9 million people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here’s how the news is developing Thursday. All times Eastern:
Dec 17, 9:23 am Tokyo raises alert to highest after record rise in cases
Tokyo raised its alert for medical preparedness to the highest level on Thursday for the first time, as hospital beds across Japan’s bustling capital fill up with COVID-19 patients.
Following a coronavirus committee meeting, Tokyo officials raised the alert level to “red” and warned that the city’s health care system was on the verge of crisis.
The move comes after 822 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Tokyo on Wednesday, the highest single-day count the city has recorded since the start of the pandemic.
Wednesday’s tally shatters Tokyo’s previous record of 678 new cases confirmed a day earlier, according to data released by the Tokyo metropolitan government.
Dec 17, 8:52 am European leaders go into quarantine after French president tests positive
Several European leaders announced Thursday that they are going into quarantine after French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who had lunch with Macron at the French presidential palace in Paris on Wednesday, said he is self-isolating as a preventative measure and canceling any events that require his physical presence. Costa said he also took a COVID-19 test on Thursday morning as was originally planned ahead of his now-canceled trip to Africa.
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, who had lunch with Macron in Paris on Monday, said he will suspend all his activities and quarantine until Dec. 24
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who met with Macron in Brussels last week, said he will get tested Thursday and then self-isolate while he awaits the result.
Dec 17, 8:51 am 885,000 US workers filed jobless claims last week
Some 885,000 workers filed for unemployment insurance last week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday, as the pandemic continues to upend the labor market.
This is an uptick of 23,000 from the previous week’s figure.
More than 20 million people are still receiving some form of unemployment benefits through all programs as of the week ending Nov. 28, the DOL said. For the comparable week in 2019, that figure was 1.8 million.
The latest economic data comes as COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the country. The United States on Wednesday hit a record high of 247,403 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,656 additional deaths from the disease.
The latest tally of weekly unemployment claims also comes as lawmakers have struggled to reach a deal on new relief. On Wednesday, after months of stalled negotiations, a source told ABC News that congressional leaders were close to reaching a deal that could include enhanced federal unemployment benefits.
The national unemployment rate in the U.S. was 6.7% last month, according to the DOL’s most-recent jobs report. In February, prior to the pandemic, the unemployment rate was 3.5%.
Dec 17, 7:41 am Texas woman dies from COVID-19 just two months after giving birth
Jennifer Mendoza, of Grapevine, Texas, gave birth to her fourth child in October.
A few days after coming home from the hospital with her healthy baby girl, Mendoza developed breathing problems.
Mendoza returned to the emergency room and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. She never went home.
Mendoza died on Dec. 3, her 34th birthday, according to a report by Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV. She is survived by her husband and four young children.
“Her kids were everything,” Mendoza’s brother, David Mendoza, told WFAA in a recent interview. “To her last minute, she still kept fighting for them.”
“I’m going to tell them every day for the rest of their lives that their mother was the most beautiful person on this earth,” he added, “the most compassionate and the most big-hearted.”
Dec 17, 7:17 am US on track to get 2nd vaccine as FDA panel reviews Moderna data
The United States is on the cusp of a second vaccine for COVID-19, with a key Food and Drug Administration panel set to review data Thursday from Moderna that suggests its two-dose vaccine is safe and 94% effective.
An endorsement from the independent federal advisers would pave the way for an official green light by the FDA to begin distributing next week some 5.9 million Moderna doses to the nation’s front-line health care workers and nursing home residents. An internal assessment by the FDA already found that the Moderna data show the benefits likely outweigh the risks.
The Moderna batch would be in addition to the 6.4 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that started to roll out this week after being the first to get emergency-use authorization.
One primary difference is that the Modern vaccine requires fewer specific handling instructions because it does not need ultra-cold storage conditions like the Pfizer/BioNTech one.
Moderna also is seeking authorization to use its vaccine on people ages 18 and older, whereas Pfizer’s enrollment of older teens in clinical trials this fall paved the way for authorization of anyone 16 and older.
Dec 17, 6:35 am French president’s wife is self-isolating but has no symptoms
Brigitte Macron, the 67-year-old wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is self-isolating and will be tested for COVID-19 soon, although she is not showing any symptoms, her office said in a statement Thursday.
France’s presidential palace had announced earlier that Emmanuel Macron, 42, tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.
“Brigitte Macron is a contact case and has no symptoms of the disease,” her office said. “She also tested negative for Covid-19 on Tuesday, December 15, before making a visit to a pediatric ward at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris. She has placed herself in isolation and will continue her work by videoconference. She will be tested very soon as a precaution.”
Dec 17, 6:09 am Alaska health care worker suffers ‘serious’ allergic reaction to Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
An Alaska health care worker was hospitalized Wednesday, shortly after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The unnamed staff member at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, “showed signs of an anaphylactic reaction” 10 minutes after inoculation, “with increased heartbeat, shortness of breath and skin rash and redness,” according to a press release.
“She was given epinephrine and Benadryl, admitted to the hospital, and put on an intravenous epinephrine drip,” Bartlett Regional Hospital said in a statement Wednesday night. “Her reaction was serious but not life threatening.”
The staff member, who had no known previous allergies or adverse reactions to vaccines, “is recovering and will remain another night in the hospital under observation,” according to the press release.
“She is still encouraging her colleagues to get the vaccine,” the hospital said.
It’s the first known adverse allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, which was granted emergency-use authorization in the United States last Friday.
A second staff member at Bartlett Regional Hospital “experienced eye puffiness, light headedness, and scratchy throat” 10 minutes after being injected with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday, according to the press release.
“His reaction was not considered anaphylaxis,” Bartlett Regional Hospital said in the statement Wednesday night. “He was taken to the Emergency Department and administered epinephrine, Pepcid and Benadryl. He felt completely back to normal within an hour and was released.”
“He too does not want his experience to have a negative impact on his colleagues lining up for the vaccine,” the hospital added.
Both incidents were reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which Bartlett Regional Hospital said “is providing guidance and support.” The symptoms in each case were discovered during the 15-minute observation period after inoculation recommended by the CDC.
“We were expecting these things and we had all the right systems in place,” Charlee Gribbon, an infection control practitioner at Bartlett Regional Hospital, who is overseeing a mass operation to vaccinate as many staff as possible, said in a statement Wednesday night.
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink said there are “no plans to change our vaccine schedule, dosing or regimen.”
Dec 17, 5:16 am French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive
French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Elysee Palace, the official residence of the president of France, announced Macron’s diagnosis in a statement Thursday morning.
“This diagnosis was established following an RTPCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms,” the palace said.
Macron will self-isolate for seven days in accordance with public health instructions.
“He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely,” the palace said.
With more than 2.4 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19, France has the fifth-highest tally in the world, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Dec 17, 4:30 am A record 113,069 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19
There were 113,069 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the United States on Wednesday, according to data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the U.S. outbreak.
It’s the highest number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations that the U.S. has logged since the start of the pandemic.
Dec 17, 4:08 am US hits fresh record highs of 247,403 new cases and 3,656 deaths
There were 247,403 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the United States on Wednesday, marking a fresh record high, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
It’s the 44th straight day that the U.S. has reported over 100,000 newly diagnosed infections. Wednesday’s tally shatters the country’s previous all-time high of 231,775 new cases confirmed on Dec. 11, according to Johns Hopkins data.
An additional 3,656 deaths from the disease were also registered nationwide on Wednesday, setting yet another record. It’s only the fourth time since the pandemic began that the country has reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day. The country’s previous peak of 3,300 fatalities was recorded on Dec. 11, according to Johns Hopkins data.
A total of 16,979,777 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 307,501 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins data. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.
Much of the country was under lockdown by the end of March as the first wave of pandemic hit. By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country’s cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up over the summer.
The numbers lingered around 40,000 to 50,000 from mid-August through early October before surging again to record levels, crossing 100,000 for the first time on Nov. 4 and reaching 200,000 for the first time on Nov. 27.
Dec 17, 12:06 am Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19
Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt has tested positive for COVID-19. The department spokesman, Nicholas Goodwin, confirmed the news Wednesday, after an inquiry from The Washington Post.
Bernhardt received his test results prior to President Donald Trump’s Cabinet meeting Wednesday and did not attend the session.
“He is currently asymptomatic and will continue to work on behalf of the American people while in quarantine,” Goodwin said in an email.
As a result of Bernhardt’s diagnosis, various high-ranking department officials who were in close contact with him this week are now getting tested.
He is the third top official at the department known to have tested positive for the virus since November. Interior’s top attorney, Daniel Jorjani, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith also tested positive.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images(LONDON) — Ian McKellen is thankful and overjoyed that he was able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to UK’s The Mirror, the 81-year-old English actor was among the first eligible groups of people to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday and he couldn’t be more excited.
“It’s a very special day, I feel euphoric,” he reportedly said.
After receiving the injection at the Arts Research Centre, Queen Mary University Hospital, the X-Men and Lord of the Rings actor also recommended that others do their “bit for society” and get the vaccine as well.
“Anyone who has lived as long as I have is alive because they have had previous vaccinations, the take up amongst the older generation will be 100% – it ought to be – because you’re having it not just for yourself but for people who you are close to – you’re doing your bit for society,” McKellen said.
“Of course, it’s painless… it’s convenient, and getting in touch and meeting [United Kingdom National Health Service] staff and saying thank you to them for how hard they’ve been working is a bonus,” he added. “I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine.”
The Pfizer vaccine comes in two doses, with the second administered 21 days after the first. At that time, McKellen hopes to be able to skip the social distancing and go in for a hug.
“Next time I come, well no, six days after I next come I’m going to give them all a big hug – is that allowed? I don’t know,” he said.
“Star Trek Beyond” – Paramount Pictures(LOS ANGELES) — Chris Pine is keeping his fingers crossed for a return to his Captain Kirk role in Star Trek, especially a potential R-rated version from Quentin Tarantino.
Pine, who last portrayed Kirk in 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, says that at the moment, he knows about as much as anyone else.
“I’m quite literally one of the last people ever to find out. So, I haven’t read that script, I don’t know where it is in development,” he tells ComicBook.com.
“But I love the character, I love the universe, I love my friends in it,” he continues. “You know, to have a Quentin take on it would be tremendously interesting and entertaining. You know, look, whatever happens, if I come back or not, it’s a great universe, it deserves to have a future, and I hope that is the case.”
Tarantino is rumored to have been working on his own chapter of the franchise, but there has been no official word on whether or not it’s actually happening.
In a recent interview with SFX magazine, screenwriter Mark L. Smith discussed penning a script for Tarantino that included some big plans for Kirk.
“I wrote a Star Trek with Tarantino, and that was a sci-fi script on which I could have fun and lean into some bigger, broader things,” said Smith.
“Tarantino and I had so much fun with him, because Kirk is just William Shatner, y’know? It’s like: you’re not sure who is who, so you can kinda lean into that. Because you watch Chris Pine and he’s playing Kirk, but he’s also playing William Shatner a touch,” he added.
In the meantime, Pine reprises his role as Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman 1984, hitting theaters and HBO Max on December 25.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON New York 100, Cleveland 93 Chicago 124, Oklahoma City 103 Denver 126, Portland 95 LA Lakers 112, Phoenix 107
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Villanova 85, Butler 66 Texas 79, Sam Houston St. 63 Purdue 67, Ohio St. 60 Duke 75, Notre Dame 65 N. Iowa at Wisconsin (Canceled) Virginia at Wake Forest (Postponed) NC State at Louisville (Postponed)
Clooney on the set of “The Midnight Sky” – Philippe Antonello/ NETFLIX(LOS ANGELES) — George Clooney says celebrities who claim that their job is tough have no idea how difficult life truly is.
