Jordyn Curet on Her Recipe to Success in Pursuing Her Passions
Jordyn Curet on Her Recipe to Success in Pursuing Her Passions By Arianne Granada In a world where most teens are struggling to find their footing as they come of age, Jordyn Curet has already carved out her path in life by establishing herself as a talented actor and singer. Despite being only all of 14 years old, she’s making waves in the entertainment industry and is racking up a growing list of impressive credits under her belt. Her talent has taken her to the big screen with roles in various TV shows and movies, including Disney series Bizaardvark to the acclaimed film Marriage Story, alongside Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. Her most recent portrayal as Shamiah in the ABC sitcom Home Economics has further propelled her career, garnering her widespread recognition for her exceptional acting chops where she plays daughter to Caitlin McGee’s Sarah and Sasheer Zamata’s Denise, as the couple struggles to make ends meet in their family. Catching up with the young star in our recent interview, Curet lets us in on her journey in the industry thus far, her love for music and acting, and her aspirations for the future. Tell us about how you started out in the industry. I actually started acting when I was only 18 months old! At first, I did some simple print work modelling for clothing brands like GAP and Skechers. But it wasn't until I was around seven years old that I really got into acting. My mom waited until I expressed interest in it, and once I started, I realized it was something I was truly passionate about. It all started with musical theatre, which I fell in love with when I was around six. I just thought acting was so cool and fun, so I kept at it. I booked my first Target commercial and that led to more commercial gigs. And then came my big break — I landed a role on Bizaardvark with Olivia Rodrigo, who was an amazing co-star. That experience really helped launch my career with Disney, and I've been working with them ever since. I've gotten to work on some really fun stuff, and one of my favourite experiences was getting a big screen role in Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. You’ve been in Home Economics since 2021, playing Shamiah. Can you give us some insight into what she’s like? Shamiah is a really sweet girl who values
Spencer MacPherson on ghosts and growing pains in Paramount+’s new teen drama, School Spirits
Spencer MacPherson on ghosts and growing pains in Paramount+’s new teen drama, School Spirits by Angelyn Kwek Landing the bad boy character in a high school drama might be the breakout role for many a young actor, but Spencer MacPherson isn’t your run-of-the-mill rookie. The 25-year-old has been in front of the camera from a tender age, starring in shows that run the gamut from young adult dramas and comedies such as Reign and Degrassi Next Generation to emotionally heavier and grittier titles including American Gothic, Northern Rescue and American Gods. Indeed, that would be why his steely blue eyes look so familiar — odds are you’ve caught the young lad on your TV screen at one point or another, seeing as MacPherson has been on the scene since he was 14. No stranger to the entertainment industry, it’s only natural the Toronto native is now conquering the streaming platforms for his next big project, starring as ‘Xavier Baxter’ on Paramount+’s latest mystery drama School Spirits. Acting alongside an ensemble cast comprised of Peyton List, Kristian Flores, Milo Manheim, Kiara Pichardo, Sarah Yarkin, Nick Pugliese, and Rainbow Wedell, the show follows ‘Maddie’ (portrayed by List) who is stuck in the afterlife with a group of other students and decides to investigate how she disappeared. Despite the familiar trappings of high school as the backdrop of the series, the show is more nuanced and layered than your typical teen drama. With creators Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud at the helm, elements across drama, comedy, mystery, and the supernatural are woven into an intriguing narrative that casts a new light on high school life and being a teenager. In a similar vein, ‘Xavier’ isn’t just the bad boy but also boyfriend to ‘Maddie’, who has to confront his own demons—as well as being a suspect in her disappearance—as the series progresses to reveal that there’s more than meets the eye to his character. Without spoiling the plot (much), we got talking with MacPherson on playing a ghostly ‘bad boy’, his personal experiences at high school, and what it means to tackle stereotypes and be your most authentic self. School Spirits is described as a young adult drama-mystery series with a supernatural twist. What are some of the themes the show explores when it comes to being a teenager and navigating high school? The feeling of being unseen and unheard is something I know I felt as a highschooler and a common feeling at
10 celebs and their puppies totally giving us the warm and fuzzies
10 celebs and their puppies totally giving us the warm and fuzzies by Angelyn Kwek Whoever domesticated dogs way back when had the right idea. Not only are they loyal companions for life, these fuzzy babies bring smiles and joy to all—in addition to being that all-important learning journey prior to becoming parents to human babies. Plus, there’re not many things that can beat coming home after a long day to the enthusiastic welcome of your precious canine pal and. That said, Hollywood’s luminaries are not immune to puppy power either (it’s those giant, soulful eyes). On the occasion of National Puppy Day, here are 10 celebs sharing precious snaps of themselves with their furry counterparts. Cameron Mathison and Red The Canadian-American actor with his Doberman aka the fifth member of the family. Emilia Clarke and Ted Going everywhere his mama goes, Ted the dachshund just had to smize for the camera as well on the set of Clarke’s Clinique shoot. Zendaya and Noon That’s the smile of a proud dog mum when her baby takes his first step into the pool all on his own. Chris Evans and Jinx “In my house, every day is #internationaldogday.” Aye aye, Captain America! Nicole Kidman and Julian Can you believe this is the Aussie actress’s first ever puppy? She had, quote, “been waiting her whole life for this!”, unquote. Selena Gomez and Winnie and Daisy Just a chill day for Gomez, lounging on the couch and sharing doggy kisses with her gals. Scott Eastwood and Josey We cannot confirm or deny if man and puppy were intentionally posing just so, but Eastwood and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel certainly make a pretty picture together. Lana Condor and Timmy Aww, the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star cuddling her mini Bernedoodle will make any dog lover’s day. Kaia Gerber and Milo An adorable rescue adopted by Gerber, Milo is inseparable from the model and now lives the doggy dream, complete with a custom Celine dog bag. Chrissy Teigen (and John Legend) and Pearl One from a brood of six— Puey, Penny, Pearl, Pebbles, Petey, and Pepper—this cutie of a basset hound is an adoptee who has a soft spot for husband John Legend.
Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams
Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams by Arianne Granada March is Women's History Month, and what better way to celebrate than by shining a light on a trailblazing woman in the media industry? For over 20 years, Karen Khunkhun has been a beloved fixture of Vancouver's morning radio scene. From her humble beginnings in the promotions department at CFOX to her current role as a co-host of one of the city's most popular morning shows, Khunkhun has become a trusted voice for thousands of listeners across the region. Early Career and Finding Her Calling Khunkhun's broadcasting journey began at Vancouver's Co-OP Radio while she was still a university student. From there, she moved to the promotions department at CFOX but it wasn't until she joined the famous Larry & Willy morning show as a traffic reporter that she found her true calling. Despite her initial nerves, Khunkhun quickly adapted to the fast-paced world of morning radio and became a beloved part of the team. She adds, "I used to listen to the CFOX morning show, and they were my favourite morning wake-up show. And I was so nervous because I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t work with Larry or Willy like this. It’s too much!’ Once I got over all the nervousness and just being so scared, I started and that was kind of my way in and I’ve been there ever since." Her infectious energy and quick wit soon landed her other exciting opportunities, including stints at CityTV's Morning Breakfast Show and CTV News as a weekend weathercaster. While she may love both fields, she admits there's something special about each one. Radio provides a comfortable and safe space for her to research and prepare, while TV offers the thrill of being on the spot and performing. Each separate industry has taught me so much and it brought a lot of joy to my life like I sometimes even at this stage, I just kind of feel like “Wow.” Adapting to Change As the pandemic swept across the world, Khunkhun had to leave the familiar studio environment behind and work from home. At first, the prospect of being separated from her colleagues was daunting. But as Khunkhun settled into her new routine, she began to appreciate the silver linings of this unexpected change. I always think I'm such an extroverted person. I love being social, I love going out and about, but honestly, it all
Bria Singleton as Bobbi Kristina in Whitney Houston Biopic
Hitting New Notes: Bria Danielle Singleton as Bobbi Kristina in Whitney Houston Biopic By Arianne Granada Growing up, Bria Singleton was a Whitney Houston fan — her music was a mainstay in the Singleton household. Today, in a full circle moment, the rising star and actress portrays Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in the biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. We sat down with Singleton, to talk about how the film honours Houston's legacy and the challenges and valuable lessons she learned along the way. On Being Bobbi Kristina Taking on the role of Bobbi Kristina in the Whitney Houston biopic was a new and significant challenge for Bria Singleton. "It was such an experience because this is like a job where I haven’t had a lot of auditions for a character based on a real person," says Singleton. "I’m portraying a real person so this was an entirely new thing and this is the biggest project I've ever done." Singleton approached the role with a unique perspective, determined to find the real Bobbi Kristina behind the cameras and avoid any negative portrayals in the media. She shared, "I researched a lot on Bobbi Kristina but I tried to steer clear of what everyone was wanting to portray of her in a negative light. I wanted to find the Bobbi Kristina that was behind the cameras and just try to search for that type of conflict to where I could just get something more authentic." In her search for a deeper understanding of Bobbi Kristina, Singleton says she also found similarities between herself and her character. "I’d say that Bobbi is a lot more patient, to be honest. I think we're both very patient, but we're also very understanding, always available to help anyone and just very supportive people." Her Full-Circle Moment as a Long-Time Whitney Fan Growing up, Bria Singleton was surrounded by Whitney Houston's music. "I've been a fan since birth. My mom raised us on her. She's one of those people who was always present, never in the background. My mom used to make us watch The Bodyguard when we were young, and she still does. We'd rewatch it sometimes and just listen to her music while going on a drive, on our way to school, and waking up to it. She was just always around." Playing Bobbi Kristina in the Whitney Houston biopic was a personal and enlightening experience for Singleton; it was a full-circle moment
Sarah Drew Talks Motherhood, Holiday Films & the Importance of Family
Out of the ER: From Grey's to Reindeer Games Homecoming Sarah Drew Talks About Her New Holiday Movie and Her Family's Favourite Traditions by Arianne Granada Making her mark by playing iconic characters like Dr. April Kepner from Grey’s Anatomy and Sarah Brown from Amber Brown, Sarah Drew is set to make her writing debut with the upcoming Holiday rom-com Reindeer Games Homecoming as part of her two-picture deal with Lifetime. We sat down with Drew to talk about how she navigates motherhood and parenting while being a full-time actress, director, producer, and writer. Your new show Amber Brown has recently premiered on Apple TV+, can you tell us more about your role? I play Amber’s Mom, Sarah. She loves her daughter so much and is trying hard to navigate the giant changes in their lives with grace and kindness. Sarah creates healthy boundaries for Amber and is committed to repairing when there is a rupture in the relationship. Sarah is also coming into her own. She’s in therapy, learning how to identify and pursue her own desires while also parenting well. It’s fun to see both Sarah and Amber navigate these changes together. How similar or how different is Sarah Drew to Sarah Brown? I’m very similar to Sarah for all of the reasons I mentioned above. I’m always thinking about my kids. I believe in setting good boundaries. I’m committed to raising kind and brave kiddos and part of that comes with moments when they don’t like me very much. Like Sarah Brown, trust is absolutely essential to our family dynamic. We have a rule in our home that we never go to bed angry. We must make peace before saying goodnight. What is your favourite part about filming for Amber Brown? I loved the community that we built. I loved the brilliant words that Bonnie Hunt gave us to say, and how playful the set was. It was also a joy to watch Carsyn grow and blossom into a truly brilliant artist on set! How has being a real-life mom affected how you played your roles? I’m more selective about the jobs I take. Every job takes me away from my kids — sometimes out of the country even. I think about the fact that they will probably watch all of my work at some point, so I am sure that I’m making art that I’m proud of and that I’ll be proud to share with them. It
Kara Alloway: More Than a Real Housewife of Toronto
Kara Alloway: More Than a Real Housewife of Toronto By Arianne Granada Known as the feisty fashionista in Slice’s Real Housewives of Toronto, we sat down with Kara Alloway to learn more about her family life, her philanthropic side, and how she enacts changes for the world in her own way. It's been five years since The Real Housewives of Toronto aired, how has your life changed from that point in time? Incredibly, drastically so. Where do I begin? Before the show even started, I never really wanted to be on reality television. I wanted to produce reality television. I have a background in journalism, so I see myself as a storyteller. So, before the show, I was in touch with a production company with plans to produce a reality show about charity events. Being involved in that world made me think it would make great organic content for a reality TV show, so I contacted the producers. There was a lot of back and forth until they said “Look, you should do Real Housewives of Toronto! It could be a sizzle reel or your show, you can do a spin-off.” But I never actually wanted to be on it. Immediately after I came to LA, I was very fortunate and grateful to have tons of acquaintances who connected me with the right people to produce reality television. I jumped right in and I now have three-week projects in development. After RHOT, my world just changed dramatically. I think the show served such a great purpose in helping me get very specific about what I wanted to do, what I saw as my purpose in this world, and where I wanted to go. Have you kept in touch with the ladies from the show? You know I get asked that a lot and the thing about that is, it was a really unique situation. I never really knew any of them beforehand. One of them was an acquaintance of a third party and that was actually how she came on the show. I was working with production and they had the entire cast but they still needed one more person. So I said, “I know this individual and she has a huge personality so, in that sense, she might be a good candidate for reality television.” And then, sure enough, they ended up casting her on the show. She ended up being my nemesis, but it was great casting,
Virgin River’s Jenny Cooper on Juggling Motherhood with Acting
Virgin River's Jenny Cooper on Juggling Motherhood with Acting by Arianne Granada You might see her as a familiar face on television. Jenny Cooper has played prominent roles in crowd-favourite shows like Grey's Anatomy, Open Heart, 24, Law and Order True Crime: The Menedez Murders, Scandal, NCIS, and CSI: Miami. Currently, she is starring as Joey Barnes in the Netflix series Virgin River, which is based on the long-running series of novels by New York Times bestseller Robyn Carr. When she's not starring on Virgin River, Jenny Cooper is raising her three kids in Los Angeles with her husband. We had the chance to talk to Jenny about how she balances work and family life, and she gave us some pretty insightful tips for anyone else trying to figure out how to do it all. Tell us a bit about your character in Virgin River. Joey is Mel's older, protective sister who, when the series started, seemed like she had it all together and was there mostly to support Mel. But we have seen through subsequent seasons that she was hiding a lot from her sister, including the state of her marriage. Virgin River has tackled issues like postpartum depression, cancer, sexual assault, pregnancies at an older age, grief, and domestic violence that many women and parents could relate to. Do you think this openness and honesty to real-life situations contributed to the show’s success? It's so hard to say what contributes to any show's success or failure. In our case, it feels like it was the right show at the right time. There's so much unrest in the world right now, I think our audience wants to believe that a place like Virgin River actually exists, with people who are kind and generous towards one another. And it seems like the larger issues that are tackled in the show work in part because of the beautiful performances of the cast, because of the love people have for these characters, and, as you said, because many of us have experienced these kinds of challenges, so it's always inspiring to see someone work through a dark time and come out on the other side. Joey is Mel’s sister and go-to person for advice. What can you say about their sisterly love and how do you think they maintain their strong bond despite their distance? I think they have the kind of relationship where they are always at the forefront of each
John Catucci’s Big Food Bucket List
John Catucci's Big Food Bucket List By Leigh-Ann Brodber We show affection in different ways. Whether it’s through our actions, spending time with our loved ones, giving gifts, doing things for those we care about or even through our words. For John Catucci, his love language is food. From hosting shows like Food Network’s series You Gotta Eat Here! and the Big Food Bucket List to preparing meals in his own kitchen for his teens, expressing love through food comes naturally to him. What’s the best part about hosting a TV food series and how does it differ from doing comedy shows? It’s quite different. When you’re on stage, there’s an immediacy that exists between you and the audience compared to when you’re shooting a TV show. There are a lot of different hands that touch the show before it goes to air so something that might’ve worked at the moment doesn’t necessarily work on TV. I mean, sometimes I’ve eaten food on stage but not to this extent! I think one of the best parts of the show is meeting people. That’s one of the things I love to do. I love figuring out what makes them tick, how they got into this business and why. One of the main similarities between chefs and people that I’ve interviewed over the years is that food is their love language. To share food with people is everything and it was never about making millions of dollars but more about the relationship and forming a connection. Which episode would you say that you enjoyed the most? It’s hard to choose just one! There have been so many great experiences, but one of my favourites is when I visited a restaurant called La Palma. It’s an Italian restaurant in Toronto and Chef Craig Harding is an amazing chef. He makes dishes that his mom and grandma taught him. La Palma is known for its 100-layer lasagne and it’s massive. When I took a bite of it, it brought me back to when I was a kid and tasting my dad’s food that he’d make with love. We had to stop shooting because I started crying. It’s been like 14 years since my dad passed away and his love language was always food. He was an Italian immigrant who worked all the time and had three jobs which meant I only saw him on Sundays. But every Sunday, he would make
