International Entertainment

Veteran actress uses AI as her doctor

Dame Helen Mirren avoids doctors and turns to artificial intelligence (AI) for medical advice.

The actress admitted she is the “opposite of hypochondria ... I just completely ignore everything” after her A Talent for Murder co-stars Alden Ehrenreich and Olivia Cooke, 32, revealed to Entertainment Weekly that they bonded over being self-proclaimed hypochondriacs on the set of the thriller film.

Ehrenreich, 36, asked Mirren, 81, if she avoids doctors, and the star replied: “Totally deny. I avoid doctors. Oh no, totally. And it’s working.”

Meanwhile, the actor’s tendency to worry about potential health problems makes him wish he “could just have a doctor live in my house, I would be thrilled”.

It prompted Mirren to quip: “Well, you do. It’s called AI.”

Ehrenreich laughed off his co-star’s suggestion as an “interesting plug for AI”, but Mirren stressed how useful the tool is.

“You know, AI is amazing. ‘It hurts, but it doesn’t hurt that much!’ Oh, it’s incredible.”

The Oscar winner’s embrace of the technology comes two years after she dramatically ripped apart an AI-generated speech while accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Cinematheque Awards.

After being presented with the gong by her 1923 co-star Harrison Ford, 84, Mirren read from a piece of paper: “Ladies and gentlemen and esteemed guests and dear friends, I am deeply humbled, profoundly honoured to stand before you today accepting this extraordinary award.

“To be recognised for a lifetime devoted to the craft of acting is a privilege beyond words.

“First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the industry and the individuals who have supported me throughout this incredible journey. It has been a life filled with passion, challenges, and above all, an unyielding love for the art of storytelling.”

Before the audience cheered and applauded her ripping the paper to shreds and tossing it on the floor, Mirren added: “And that was written by AI.”

Mirren previously shared her fascination with GPS.

“GPS is the most wonderful thing to watch my little blue spot walking down the street. I just find it completely magical and unbelievable.”

Rapper dropped from tour over Palestine comments

(AP): Macklemore said on Monday that he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran ‘s tour over pro-Palestinian comments he made earlier this month onstage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Macklemore said on Instagram that several US venues told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran’s opening act for the Loop tour. As a result, he wrote, Sheeran’s team decided to remove him from the tour. That’s despite the fact that the rapper — best known for his breakout hit Thrift Shop — has been making similar comments about the plight of Palestinians for years.

“So why is it an issue now? Because I’m sharing a stage with one of the biggest artistes in the world, in some of the biggest stadiums in America,” Macklemore wrote. “At a certain level of exposure, ‘Free Palestine’ becomes too much of a risk.”

A growing chorus of organisations and experts say Israel’s wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide — an accusation Israel vehemently rejects. Sheeran has not commented and representatives for the singer did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

The promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed in a statement to Rolling Stone that it had been notified by venues that “they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans”.

The rapper, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty in Washington state, exclaimed “Free Palestine” during the September 5 date of the tour while introducing his protest song Hind’s Hall. Written following the 2024 campus protests in support of Palestinians, it’s named for Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed after Israeli forces fired on her family’s car in Gaza City.

“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” he said during the New Jersey concert. “This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.” Macklemore said he holds no ill will toward Sheeran, who he considers a friend.