The Independentâs arts and culture newsletter
Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  Í â  â  [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1mdGFqdXB5NHpkcWxXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Saturday, August 31, 2024 â â ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50P2xpZD14cG1pZ3AxM2Viem5XBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50P2xpZD1lM2ltcjNpZnY4bzhXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ â Good morning culture fans. I hope you wonât be crying your hearts out/looking back in anger/insert appropriate Oasis lyric here this morning if you are trying to bag reunion tickets. Yes, itâs actually, actually happening, and itâs going to be a big morning for waiting in online ticket queues. But, [as our music editor Roisin wrote this week, it will be worth it](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLXJldW5pb24tdG91ci1zZXRsaXN0LWdsYXN0b25idXJ5LWxpYW0tbm9lbC1iMjYwMjIzNC5odG1sP2xpZD02M3FvcnJwNTZ0NjJXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). âNo other rock band of their time really compares when it comes to that narrative arc: the humble origins, the difficult childhoods then the rise to global fame,â [she says](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLXJldW5pb24tdG91ci1zZXRsaXN0LWdsYXN0b25idXJ5LWxpYW0tbm9lbC1iMjYwMjIzNC5odG1sP2xpZD1tdmR5NnBsdjF0bWFXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). âThe partying, the excess. Then the Romulus and Remus-level fallout of 2009⦠and now, the reconciliation.â Mark Beaumont [agrees](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLXJldW5pb24tYW5ub3VuY2VtZW50LXRvdXItZ2xhc3RvbmJ1cnktdGlja2V0cy1iMjYwMTYyNS5odG1sP2xpZD02b3A2b25vNDdyMGlXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). This is the perfect moment for a reunion, he says, just the right time for âa monumental moment; [an erasure of long-ingrained generational divides and a modern cultural closure](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLXJldW5pb24tYW5ub3VuY2VtZW50LXRvdXItZ2xhc3RvbmJ1cnktdGlja2V0cy1iMjYwMTYyNS5odG1sP2xpZD11amFtNzFvdnEwcjFXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)â. Thatâs partly because this year marks 30 years since the release of Definitely, Maybe, the bandâs era-defining debut album. Mark also [looked back on the album that launched them into the Britpop stratosphere](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLWRlZmluaXRlbHktbWF5YmUtcmV1bmlvbi1saWFtLW5vZWwtZ2FsbGFnaGVyLWIyNjAyNDA4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXltNm01MjNneWxzY1cFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL2ZlYXR1cmVzL29hc2lzLXJldW5pb24tYW5ub3VuY2VtZW50LXRvdXItZ2xhc3RvbmJ1cnktdGlja2V0cy1iMjYwMTYyNS5odG1sP2xpZD1vcG4wNmxtdGN6ZmhXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Band of brothers: a much anticipated Oasis reunion is finally happening (PA) This week saw another major comeback. Angelina Jolie [wept at Venice Film Festival as she received an eight-minute standing ovation](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHYvY3VsdHVyZS9hbmdlbGluYS1qb2xpZS1tYXJpYS1zdGFuZGluZy1vdmF0aW9uLXZlbmljZS1maWxtLWZlc3RpdmFsLWIyNjA0MzQxLmh0bWw_bGlkPWlmN2dxeWlsaG44b1cFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) for Maria, her much heralded return to the big screen after three years away. Clarisse gave the surreal Maria Callas biopic, which is directed by Pablo Larrain (Spencer, Jackie) a four-star review, describing it as [a âcareer-definingâ performance for Jolie](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL3Jldmlld3MvbWFyaWEtY2FsbGFzLWFuZ2VsaW5hLWpvbGllLXJldmlldy12ZW5pY2UtYjI2MDMwMzIuaHRtbD9saWQ9eGhsMmpxNWVvNHk2VwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Elsewhere, Geoffrey Macnab wondered if the superstar combo of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga can [revive the increasingly maligned genre of the movie musical](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL2pva2VyLTItZm9saWUtYS1kZXV4LW11c2ljYWwtcmVsZWFzZS1kYXRlLWpvYXF1aW4tcGhvZW5peC1iMjYwMzY5NS5odG1sP2xpZD1xYXdreGd2OHBmZHFXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~), and Nick Hilton [spoke to the stars of Netflixâs star-studded new series Kaos](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2thb3MtbmV0ZmxpeC1qZWZmLWdvbGRibHVtLWIyNjAyMzAwLmh0bWw_bGlkPWxnNnYzYmY5cDh0eVcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). The verdict on Beetlejuice sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? [Incoherent incoherent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL3Jldmlld3MvYmVldGxlanVpY2UtYmVldGxlanVpY2UtbW92aWUtMjAyNC1yZXZpZXctYjI2MDMyMzIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MjJtcXY4NTUyemtyVwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Have a great weekend, Jessie
[@jessiecath](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0QyaHR0cDovL3d3dy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZXNzaWVjYXRoP2xpZD14ejFpbmV2aXZ6eGhXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) â Support The Independent Join The Independent's mission for truth. With your support, we challenge the status quo, uncover crucial stories, and amplify unheard voices. Your contribution ensures our independence and fuels honest, transparent journalism. Whether $5 or $50, every donation matters. Support us today to keep truth free. [SUPPORT US](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1xemRhMmhsbjcxdGlXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Payment methods](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1qeDI4dGEycWI0YnlXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) What to do this weekend Music | [Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljP2xpZD1maWJvcDU3MzFyOGFXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) plunges listeners into the lakes and seas of a âswimming godâ before bringing us up for air to gawp up at the stars (âbright, triumphant metaphors for loveâ) and then grounding us on a warm Earth where âthe country doctor whistles across the meadowâ and rocking us to sleep with the muffled piano ballad âAs the Waters Cover the Seaâ. Cave has described each song on this record as an individual conversion â one track is titled as such â but you donât need to subscribe to any religious faith [to buy into the transformative power of love that is hymned here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljL3Jldmlld3Mvbmljay1jYXZlLWJhZC1zZWVkcy13aWxkLWdvZC1yZXZpZXctYjI2MDM4NDkuaHRtbD9saWQ9OGZ0d2VicWo4dXl1VwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Helen Brown | Album critic â TV | [Kaos](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2P2xpZD0xZzVnY3Y2NzBqYmNXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Itâs hard to be a god. At least, thatâs what [Kaos](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2thb3MtbmV0ZmxpeC1qZWZmLWdvbGRibHVtLWIyNjAyMzAwLmh0bWw_bGlkPTdqN2s2eHBsYmt4aFcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) would have you believe. [The new eight-episode Netflix series](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L3Jldmlld3Mva2Fvcy1uZXRmbGl4LXJldmlldy13YXRjaC1qZWZmLWdvbGRibHVtLWJpbGxpZS1waXBlci1iMjYwMzI5MS5odG1sP2xpZD1jcDRycndnZDJpemRXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) (pronounced âchaosâ) seeks to bring the heavens crashing down to Earth, re-situating the gods of Greco-Roman mythology within a modern context. Along with Prime Videoâs [Good Omens](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L25ld3MvZ29vZC1vbWVucy1zZWFzb24tMy1jb25maXJtZWQtYjI0NjQ1ODMuaHRtbD9saWQ9YjVpaTQ0cDh5MWxxVwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj), the show could be said to fall into the fledgling microgenre of âmythological comedyâ. Not the most obvious cocktail for laughs, perhaps â but in the hands of Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World), who knows? Nick Hilton | Chief TV critic â Theatre | [Swan Lake, State Ballet of Georgia](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L211c2ljP2xpZD1zNjhiam9hYTJleWNXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) The State Ballet of Georgia [makes its London debut with a sturdily traditional Swan Lake](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3RoZWF0cmUtZGFuY2UvcmV2aWV3cy9zd2FuLWxha2Utc3RhdGUtYmFsbGV0LW9mLWdlb3JnaWEtcmV2aWV3LWIyNjAzODA0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWhsY2lkMHpjNmxkeFcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). The large-scale production offers clean, confident dancing throughout the ranks, but could do more to reach the romantic intensity of Tchaikovskyâs score. Founded in the 19th century, the State Ballet of Georgia stepped onto the international map in 2004, when it appointed beloved former Bolshoi Ballet star Nina Ananiashvili as its director. She brings her star name and energy to this company, drawing on both her Bolshoi roots and her sense of adventure. Zoe Anderson | Dance critic â TV | [Sherwood](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zP2xpZD03eDI0dHgxcjRoZ29XBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) When âbadâ King John, retreating during the First Baronsâ War, reached The Wash, a tidal estuary in the Midlands, he was in disarray. The Crown Jewels were lost to the water during his crossing, and shortly after he died at Newark Castle in Nottinghamshire. Johnâs wickedness may have been punished by Nottinghamâs topography, but his image was crystallised by local mythology. This is a land that repudiates authority, that challenges the rich and is laden with lost treasures â all themes that recur in the second series of [James Graham](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdG9waWMvamFtZXMtZ3JhaGFtP2xpZD1uZ2NsOGR0MmZlajBXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)âs Sherwood, [which returns to BBC One](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L3Jldmlld3Mvc2hlcndvb2QtamFtZXMtZ3JhaGFtLWJiYy1zZWFzb24tMi1iMjYwMDM2NC5odG1sP2xpZD1jcTgzbng3bWI3dWhXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). Nick Hilton | Chief TV critic â [The Saturday Interview â Emma Willis](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2VtbWEtd2lsbGlzLWludGVydmlldy12b2ljZS11ay1sb3ZlLWlzLWJsaW5kLWIyNTk1NTc0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTIwdGtlNmJieHRnclcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2VtbWEtd2lsbGlzLWludGVydmlldy12b2ljZS11ay1sb3ZlLWlzLWJsaW5kLWIyNTk1NTc0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTZpNW0wMG13dDZoZlcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Emma Willis: âIâm finally in my f***-it phaseâ (ITV) Over the past two decades, the immensely likable TV host has carved out a place as one of the most reliable, versatile presenters on the small screen. [She tells Jacob Stolworthy](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2VtbWEtd2lsbGlzLWludGVydmlldy12b2ljZS11ay1sb3ZlLWlzLWJsaW5kLWIyNTk1NTc0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWEwbWxtcGl4bHBpclcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) about why The Voice has stood the test of time, what she really thinks of controversial reality contestants, and working with husband Matt Willis. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2VtbWEtd2lsbGlzLWludGVydmlldy12b2ljZS11ay1sb3ZlLWlzLWJsaW5kLWIyNTk1NTc0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWJpd2oyYjM4anM0ZlcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Emma Willis returns to 'The Voice UK', which is now in its 13th series (ITV) Read an extract from our Saturday Interview below⦠For someone who regularly appears on live TV, Emma Willis has a commendable command of the F-word. âIâm not putting on a façade, so if you donât like me, thatâs quite f***ing personal,â the Voice UK presenter says, speaking from her Hertfordshire home. Thereâs been a lot of stuff over the years that â to borrow her parlance â has f***ed her off. There was superficial criticism in my 30s, like, âWhat the f*** are you wearingâ or âYour hair looks s***.â And there was the: âIs she pregnant?â â no, Iâve just got three kids and I donât go to the gym every day. Then the heavier stuff comes, like, âI f***ing hate her,â and that can really start to affect you. And yet, Willis tells me all of this while wearing a big grin. "Iâm just being me,â she explains, mock incredulity inflecting her Birmingham accent. Sheâs smiling because the 48-year-old has reached a liberating â and aptly titled â stage of her life. "I'm finally in my f***-it phase! Iâd heard about it and wanted it so badly because Iâm a chronic people pleaser, but Iâm living it and itâs wonderful." [Read the full interview here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L2ZlYXR1cmVzL2VtbWEtd2lsbGlzLWludGVydmlldy12b2ljZS11ay1sb3ZlLWlzLWJsaW5kLWIyNTk1NTc0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTl3aGpnZHU2enZlaFcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) â ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9Mm82ZmJuazl2Z29nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPWY2ZHBkNGkzaGpseVcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ â [Climate100](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3RoZS1pbmRlcGVuZGVudC1jbGltYXRlLTEwMC10aWNrZXRzLTk5NTA3MDQ0MTQ3Nz9saWQ9NmY1OHQ5amhyajUyVwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Climate100](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3RoZS1pbmRlcGVuZGVudC1jbGltYXRlLTEwMC10aWNrZXRzLTk5NTA3MDQ0MTQ3Nz9saWQ9aHFvcmZoem81OWM0VwVzcGNldUIKZs8ywNJmQxck2VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) â [INDYBEST](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD1sYWI1djA2NnozZGlXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) / [BEST BUYS](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD03NWdxOXdwbG5wcDJXBXNwY2V1QgpmzzLA0mZDFyTZUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [school books](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jvb2tzL25vbi1maWN0aW9uLWJvb2tzL2Jlc3Qta2lkcy1ub24tZmljdGlvbi1ib29rcy1yZWFkaW5nLWxpc3QtZXhwbGFpbi13b3JsZC1ob21lc2Nob29saW5nLWE5NDc4NjI2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWxkeG03OGRqNjZwMVcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) We've rounded up the [best childrenâs non-fiction books](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jvb2tzL25vbi1maWN0aW9uLWJvb2tzL2Jlc3Qta2lkcy1ub24tZmljdGlvbi1ib29rcy1yZWFkaW5nLWxpc3QtZXhwbGFpbi13b3JsZC1ob21lc2Nob29saW5nLWE5NDc4NjI2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWkwMHV2NjZuamdzblcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) to inspire little ones[.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRotUUyP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jvb2tzL25vbi1maWN0aW9uLWJvb2tzL2Jlc3Qta2lkcy1ub24tZmljdGlvbi1ib29rcy1yZWFkaW5nLWxpc3QtZXhwbGFpbi13b3JsZC1ob21lc2Nob29saW5nLWE5NDc4NjI2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXFmOHZtbHF3dnNscVcFc3BjZXVCCmbPMsDSZkMXJNlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) â Take a look at our subscriber-exclusive newsletters As a subscriber, you'll also enjoy unlimited access to Premium analysis and opinion along with ad-free reading, the daily edition newspaper, and more exclusive newsletters. 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