Ryan Tubridy missed a golden opportunity to have a really important conversation
Asking a woman her age is always a difficult question. Ryan Tubridy had no doubts about that when he interviewed Derry Girls actress Jamie-Lee O’Donnell on Friday night.
Amie-Lee, who plays Michelle Mallon in the dramedy, was at the Late Late to talk about Channel 4’s hit show and how they managed to keep Liam Neeson’s surprise appearance under wraps.
During the chat, host Ryan Tubridy paused to ask her, “That might be a rude question, you don’t have to answer, but may I ask how old you are?”
Jamie-Lee tried to make fun of it, telling him she was 117 and very wise. But Ryan persevered and asked again.
“That’s what gets on my nerves a bit, no disrespect,” explained Jamie-Lee. “It’s quite misogynistic, even if it’s unintentional, because men don’t get the same scrutiny in their careers.”
Ryan intervened to make it clear that he would ask a male actor the same question.
“You say that now,” Jamie-Lee said. “But nobody here is like that [I’ll have to] Take your word for it.”
Ryan claimed the question came from a good place.
“They have these great characters playing teenagers… There came a compliment… Please don’t misunderstand where I’m from,” he said.
“I’m done with that question. I go on. I can read a mood when I see it.”
Jamie Lee nodded; “I wanted to tell you a hilarious anecdote.”
“That’s okay, I’m sure there will be another one,” he said.
Throughout the exchange, they both laughed and smiled, stressing that their respective comments were not meant to be disrespectful.
While misogyny might be too strong a word, the exchange was insightful. We live in a society that shamelessly values youth, especially female youth. And no industry is more brazen than showbiz.
We know Hollywood’s age-related double standards; While male actors can age and retain their star power (Sean Connery, Brad Pitt, George Clooney), women are expected to stop aging in their late twenties and begin the process of “reverse aging” (Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman).
This is an industry where Maggie Gyllenhaal was told by a Hollywood producer that at 37 she was too old to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man. An industry where Angelina Jolie was cast as Colin Farrell’s mother Alexander – even though she is a year older than him.
As Meryl Streep turned 40, she noticed a marked shift in the type of roles that were coming in.
“I wasn’t offered female adventurers or love interests or heroes or demons…I was offered witches because I was ‘old’ at 40.”
Jessica Chastain has famously said that she will never publicly admit her age because she is an actress and doesn’t want to be written off. I’ve never heard male actors tell comparable war stories about Hollywood’s ageism.
If these are the obstacles Oscar winners have had to overcome, I can’t imagine how many similar things other successful actresses have to deal with.
Ryan’s question to Jamie-Lee was posed live on air, on the country’s most-watched chat show. He dressed it politely, but Jamie-Lee really had nowhere to go.
If she flatly refused to answer, she risked looking petty and diva-like, while Tubridy appeared composed and polite.
Also, the moment he asked, we would all find out her age.
We watch TV with our phones taped to our hands, and most of us immediately Google any topic or question that celebrities shy away from.
Ryan’s claim that he asked her her age because she’s playing a teenager Derry girls also falls a bit flat.
Actors in their twenties (or later) playing teenagers is nothing new. This has been going on for ass years. Henry Winkler was 28 when he began playing the role of 16-year-old The Fonze Happy Days, and was 38 when the show ended. Stockard Channing was 33 when she played Pink Lady Rizzo Fat (and was applauded for the performance). However, I’ve rarely heard actresses asked how they play characters years older than them.
That always strikes me as odd; It must be easier to play the role of a teenager (when you were a teenager) than to play a 60-year-old (when you’re still in your 40’s).
But my main issue with the exchange is that Ryan ended it after the issues of sexism and ageism were raised.
Jamie-Lee had a personal story about the acting industry’s obsession with shiny young things and was willing to share (“I have a hilarious anecdote”), but instead of listening, Ryan wanted to move on.
As a host, it can seem like he dislikes controversy or confrontation. He prefers a stable ship. And often that works, but sometimes it can be frustrating for viewers and interviewees alike.
Discussions about sexism or ageism can be confrontational and uncomfortable. But surely getting over that and listening to people is better than extending an outstretched palm and saying the conversation is over?
Latex clothing at a festival? no thanks
Kim Kardashian in a latex dress
Coachella is back after a two-year hiatus, and with it comes a slew of analysis on what the 2022 festival look will be like. it’s the party Fashion tells us that ‘the boldest festival coords are born’ and ‘set the stage’ for music extravaganzas worldwide.
This year, inspiration comes from Kim Kardashian in the form of her love of shrink-wrapped latex dresses. According to Stylecaster, the look is “edgy and elegant without trying too hard to be trendy.” “Full latex is a requirement and should be saved for the headliners after sundown,” it adds.
I hate raining at the festival parade, but does the combination of latex and three days without a shower sound good to you?
Kim has said it takes three people and a bottle of lube to get into her ensembles. That must be a tricky maneuver in a one-man pop-up tent.
In fact, Kim recently opened up about how difficult it is to get the outfits on and off. She explained how much she sacrifices for the look. Namely toilet breaks.
“I don’t care how uncomfortable it is, I don’t care how long — even if I have to wear a diaper or not go to the bathroom — I don’t care what I have to do,” she said.
Kim’s no-pee policy might work at a red carpet event, but not at a festival. At some point you have to go – and then? I have visions of young women stuck in dirty portaloos on EP, like Ross Geller with his leather pants around his ankles.
Don’t do it to yourself, just grab waterproof boots and as much fleece as you can fit in your pack. Sexy? Absolutely not. But at least you won’t end up with a kidney infection.
“Pie” cost sparks debate
A divisive debate has erupted in the restaurant scene. We’ve heard of corkage, but now some restaurants and cafes are charging cake money (€10 per head) if someone wants to bring a Colin the Caterpillar cake to a friend’s birthday, rather than choosing a set dessert from the menu.
From the back of the debate that telegraph asked chefs and maitre d’s if there are any other add-ons they would like to bring in.
contain suggestions; Charges for singing out-of-tune birthday songs, charges for splitting bills, and charges for unsolicited dad jokes about “hating the food” while pointing to an empty plate. Sounds reasonable to me.
https://www.independent.ie/life/ryan-tubridy-missed-a-golden-opportunity-to-have-a-really-important-conversation-41563468.html Ryan Tubridy missed a golden opportunity to have a really important conversation