News Mash-up: Famous Figures

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. heir / ɛər / (n.) – someone who has the legal right to receive the property or rank of an important person who has died
    Example:

    The guest of honor was the heir to the British throne.


  2. notorious / noʊˈtɔr i əs / (adj.) – well-known for something bad
    Example:

    They finally caught one of the country’s most notorious criminals.


  3. jeopardy / ˈdʒɛp ər di / (n.) – a situation in which someone or something is exposed to possible injury or danger
    Example:

    The witness’s statement put her life in jeopardy.


  4. intrusive / ɪnˈtru sɪv / (adj.) – annoying someone by disturbing their privacy
    Example:

    The actor stopped the interview when the host started asking a lot of intrusive questions.


  5. precaution / prɪˈkɔ ʃən / (n.) – an action that’s done in advance to prevent possible harm or trouble
    Example:

    I’m taking all precautions to keep my loved ones safe and healthy.


Article

Read the text below.

Lady Gaga stayed in character for 9 months to bring Gucci tragedy to big screen


Lady Gaga brought her star power to London on Nov. 9 for the premiere of drama House of Gucci, her second major film role and one for which she said she stayed in character for nine months to play the wife of a murdered heir to the Italian fashion dynasty.


Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie, based on the book of the same name, features an all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Salma Hayek and Jeremy Irons, in a retelling of the notorious murder case that shocked Italy and its fashion industry in the 1990s.


Donning an Italian accent, Gaga plays Patrizia Reggiani, who married into the Gucci family. (Reuters)


Keep photos of our kids out of media, George Clooney pleads in open letter


George Clooney has appealed to news outlets to keep his children’s faces out of the media, saying he fears that public photos would put their lives in jeopardy.


Clooney, who has 4-year-old twins with his human rights lawyer wife Amal Clooney, said in an open letter to the media he accepted that “oftentimes intrusive photos” were part of the price he had to pay for being a celebrity.


“Our children have made no such commitment,” the Oscar-winning star wrote in the letter released Nov. 4.


Clooney, 60, said his wife’s job, which involves working against extremist groups, meant the couple had to take precautions to keep the family safe. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The House of Gucci retells the notorious murder of an Italian fashion dynasty heir. Do you think being an heir to a huge amount of wealth increases the risk of being a victim of crimes like this? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Lady Gaga played the role of the wife of the murdered Gucci heir and stayed in character for nine months, even off-camera. How do you think she was able to do this? If you were an actor/actress, which character would you like to portray? Would you also try to stay in character even outside of filming? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Clooney said in an open letter to the media he accepted that “oftentimes intrusive photos” were part of the price he had to pay for being a celebrity. Do you think the media should be restricted in terms of their coverage of celebrities’ lives? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The actor also pleaded to news outlets to not publicize their twins’ photos because his wife Amal is working against extremist groups as a human rights lawyer. Do you think it’s possible for celebrities to completely keep their families from the public eye? Why or why not? Discuss.