Backstage with… Hamilton and In The Heights star Anthony Ramos

Published

3 years ago

June 16, 2021

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Anthony Ramos is perhaps best known in the UK as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the stage musical Hamilton.

But now, he has ditched the muskets and 19th-century army uniforms for a flat cap and a vest, as he leads the ensemble cast in the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In The Heights, which has just burst on to big screens in the UK.

It tells the story of Washington Heights in New York – a community which is predominantly made up of Latino people and immigrants, and highlights the highs and lows, of living there.

And while the community and its residents are put centre stage, so is the singing, dancing and rapping in this colourful and loud musical.

Ramos plays Usnavi, the lead character in the film, who ties everyone’s storylines together, telling Sky News he sees the role as the “invisible thread” of the film.

“Usnavi is a guy that… cares about his community, he runs a corner store in a predominantly Latino community.

“He takes care of his cousin, he takes care of, she’s not really his grandmother, but she’s the matriarch of the block, if you will, and of the community. He takes care of her, and both his parents passed away and he inherited a business that he didn’t ask for, but he does it with as much grace as possible.

“And Usnavi, he tells this story about this community and the day-to-day life that not only he goes through, but the people in the community.

“He’s like that guy that knows who’s dating who, what person moved out of that apartment, who just moved into that business, you know?

“And Usnavi kind of walks us through what is happening in this world, he’s like the perfect invisible thread, if you will, for this for this kind of film with this many characters.”

Usnavi’s storyline is bittersweet – he loves his community and works hard for them, but he also dreams of going back to his home country of Dominican Republic and starting a beach bar with his cousin.

Talking about a story that is relatable to people who dream of a more peaceful life, Ramos says: “He wants to build it back up and give not only himself an easier life, but his family, and live in paradise – but times are hard in New York.

“He’s still trucking through and he’s still doing his best every single day. And I think ‘who hasn’t gone through that’, where you have days with some good, some not so good.”

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Ramos tells Sky News that the film’s relevance in society is part of the “beauty of art”.

“That’s that’s why I love to do this,” he adds, saying: “Someone spoke from the heart, wrote something, and then in a movie, the actors come together, the whole crew come together, we tell the story and people are going to receive this however they’re going to receive it.

“It’s going to hit someone differently than this part of the world, and it’s going to hit this person in this part of the world.

“That’s the beauty of art and especially art that transcends, that’s timeless, that feels still feels relevant.“

And of course this is not the first time that Ramos has worked with the film’s writer Lin-Manuel Miranda, having previously worked with Hollywood’s most in-demand man on Hamilton – which last year was beamed into millions of living rooms on Disney+.

“Lin’s a genius,” he gushes to Sky News.

“I’m always nervous – any time I’m around him I’m soaking up something, I’m learning something from him.

“He’s just one of the most brilliant people to ever walk the earth. I think Lin is a visionary.

“So any time I can work with him, I’m grateful because I’m always learning from him all the time.”

In The Heights starring Anthony Ramos is out in cinemas across the UK now and you can hear more on the Sky News Backstage podcast, available wherever you get your podcast.

Entertainment

MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift matches Beyonce as most-awarded artist while Katy Perry shocks on stage

Published

6 hours ago

September 12, 2024

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MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift matches Beyonce as most-awarded artist while Katy Perry shocks on stage

Taylor Swift has won seven gongs at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), equalling Beyonce in a career total of 30 and matching her as most-awarded musician in VMAs history.

Swift, who used her platform to urge Americans to vote in the upcoming presidential elections, picked up prizes including video of the year for Fortnight, featuring Post Malone, artist of the year and best collaboration.

While Swift overtook Beyonce as the most decorated solo artist in VMA history, the Single Ladies singer has previously picked up gongs for being in girl group Destiny’s Child, and her collaborations with husband Jay-Z as The Carters.

Beyonce did not win any new awards at this year’s VMAs and was notably shut out of the Country Music Association Awards earlier this week.

Upon receiving her award for video of the year, Swift thanked her boyfriend, NFL player Travis Kelce, for his support, saying: “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic.”

She also encouraged her fans who are over 18 to register to vote in the upcoming US election, although she avoided directly mentioning her endorsement of vice president Kamala Harris.

On Tuesday, after a presidential debate between Ms Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, Swift endorsed the Democratic candidate on Instagram, writing: “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

Swift jokingly signed off her endorsement “childless cat lady” – a move which was followed by Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks shortly after.

Elsewhere, Katy Perry also made VMA history, becoming the first singer to win the Vanguard award – the VMA’s lifetime achievement award – having previously won video of the year and also present the ceremony in previous years.

The stakes were high for the I Kissed A Girl singer after her comeback album – 143 – was panned by fans and critics alike, with the first two singles from the collection sinking without trace.

Perry performed a medley of her biggest songs, including Roar, Teenage Dream and Firework, with her stage show including a risqué performance with rapper Doechii, during which the pair wrapped their legs around each other and lay on the stage.

Accepting her award, which was presented to her by her husband British actor Orlando Boom, Perry said: “There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents.”

Bloom and Perry shared an on-stage kiss after the singer accepted the award, with Perry thanking him “for keeping me grounded”.

She also paid tribute to their four-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove, saying: “Lastly, for my Daisy, the only flowers I’ll ever need.”

Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter picked up song of the year for Espresso, while Good Luck, Babe singer Chappell Roan was named best new artist and Blackpink’s LISA won the best K-pop award.

Carpenter wore the same silver sequined Bob Mackie gown that Madonna wore to the 1991 Academy Awards, and surprisingly kissed an alien during her performance of a medley of her hits which included Please Please Please, Taste and Espresso.

Meanwhile, Roan channelled Joan of Arc for her medieval performance of Good Luck, Babe – a summer hit that has made her a break-out star.

Roan – who last month sparked a conversation about boundaries after posting videos online urging fans to stop “harassing her” – had recently faced push-back after cancelling two European shows to play the VMAs.

Eminem won prizes for best hip-hop video and best visual effects, making him the solo male artist with the most wins with a total haul of 14 gongs.

He performed his two latest singles, Houdini and Somebody Save Me, entering the stage with dozens of dancers all sporting bleach blonde wigs.

It was a nod to his 2000 VMA performance of The Real Slim Shady, where he sang at the ceremony in front of hundreds of extras dressed just like him.

The 2024 MTV VMAs will be screened in the UK on MTV and Paramount Plus at 8pm on Thursday 12 September

Entertainment

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner divorce finalised – as judge declares marriage ‘irretrievably broken’

Published

1 day ago

September 11, 2024

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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner divorce finalised - as judge declares marriage 'irretrievably broken'

The divorce between Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas and his estranged wife Sophie Turner has been approved, five years after the pair got married.

Florida judge Gina Beovides also signed off a confidential settlement over splitting assets, spousal support and custody of their two daughters, four-year-old Willa and two-year-old Delphine.

She declared the marriage “irretrievably broken” between Jonas, 35, and British-born actress Turner, 28, who is best known for her roles in Game Of Thrones and X-Men.

Finalising the terms of the divorce, the judge said the couple’s agreement, especially their parenting plan, was in the best interest of the family.

The split brings a relatively quick end to a divorce, filed a year ago, which briefly became acrimonious and looked headed for a long and ugly custody fight.

The couple met through Instagram, began dating in 2016, and married in a secretive ceremony in a Las Vegas wedding chapel in May 2019.

In September 2023, Jonas filed for divorce, a day later the pair posted messages on Instagram reading: “After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage.”

The joint statement added: “There are many speculative narratives as to why, but truly this is a united decision.”

In the same month, court documents revealed Turner claimed the breakdown of their marriage happened “very suddenly” after an argument.

She said she learned about their split “through the media”, although Jonas said they had several conversations about it.

The couple had initially been caught up in a custody dispute over their daughters, who were born in the US but have dual citizenship.

Turner sued Jonas over access to the girls’ passports so they could join her in her England, but the custody battle was dropped in January, a sign the pair were on a path to a settlement.

Court documents reveal the pair also had a pre-nuptial agreement.

Turner, who is from Northampton, played Sansa Stark for eight seasons on HBO‘s Game Of Thrones and then Jean Grey in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse and 2019’s Dark Phoenix.

Jonas, who was born in Arizona, found fame with brothers Nick and Kevin with their band, Jonas Brothers, and also had a reality TV series.

The group saw chart success in the UK with their single Sucker in 2019, and also from their albums Happiness Begins and 2023 release, The Album.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift endorses ‘gifted leader’ Kamala Harris minutes after Donald Trump debate

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2024

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Taylor Swift endorses 'gifted leader' Kamala Harris minutes after Donald Trump debate

Taylor Swift has said she will vote for Kamala Harris in the US election, giving her endorsement just minutes after the debate with Donald Trump ended.

The Instagram post showed her holding her cat Benjamin Button – a reference to Mr Trump’s running mate JD Vance‘s childless cat lady” comments.

Follow the latest on the Trump v Harris debate reaction here

Swift urged her 283 million followers to “do your research,” but said AI-generated images of her supporting Mr Trump made her realise “I need to be very transparent about my actual plans”.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” she said. “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.

“I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.

“I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate Tim Walz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”

‘Massive star’ endorsement could be ‘huge’

Sky News US correspondent James Matthews said after her post that Swift’s endorsement is “huge” for the Harris-Walz campaign.

“She is a massive star, huge,” he said. “She speaks to people in a way that politicians do not, and the message from Taylor Swift will resonate with a huge audience far beyond the kind of people watching what has gone on here.

“The timing will not have been an accident. Tonight, the headline is Taylor Swift. Tomorrow, all the talk is going to be about Kamala Harris and Taylor Swift and the momentum that will be behind her.”

It marks the first time Swift has spoken on the 2024 election. While the Style hitmaker did endorse Joe Biden in 2020, she did so only a month before election day.

However, despite her worldwide fame and popularity even Taylor Swift cannot escape the vicissitudes of American politics. The number of people following her on social media fell following her post.