EastEnders' Cindy star Michelle Collins hits back at trolls over cruel jibes

It’s nearly Christmas, which means a whole host of festive shows have opened all over London, and earlier this week we made our way to the Southbank Centre to catch the touring production of Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana (it will be playing at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking and then the Milton Keynes Theatre in January). Last year we caught the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club rendition of The Nutcracker at the Southbank Centre; this year’s version is decidedly different, with a Cuban influence – the musical score has been rearranged in a Latin style.

EastEnders legend Michelle Collins has clapped back at online trolls who criticised her "weathered" look.The iconic soap baddie urged folks to stop judging women's appearances as she gears up for Cindy Beale's explosive plot in the upcoming Christmas special on BBC, where her character's affair with ex-husband George Knight's (played by Colin Salmon) son Junior (portrayed by Micah Lafortune) is set to stir up drama in Walford.The 62 year old star, who has been a part of EastEnders since 1988, shared a current snap alongside her vintage EastEnders headshot on X/Twitter, lamenting: "what I don’t get is why do people always comment on a woman’s looks? her age, how old she looks, how weathered she looks, she hasn’t aged well, looks terrible close up, honestly really ? You don’t do it to men hardly ever ! I'm older, wiser happier and a better actress." This bold move from Michelle – who recently left fans gobsmacked over her real age – comes after she opened up about feeling "out of control" during her rise to fame. On the How To Be 60 podcast, she reminisced about seeking solace with her mum amidst public scrutiny, sharing: "Lots of times I felt out of control, and I remember sometimes going to my mum and she would really worry about me a lot of time time.

About 100 people turned out on Dec. 12 at D.C.’s Eaton Hotel to listen and ask questions to a panel of six LGBTQ rights advocates who discussed the impact on the LGBTQ community of the election last month of Donald Trump as U.S. president and a Republican majority in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

Donald Trump nominated this week the previously little-known Silicon Valley tech advisor to be the State Department’s top economic and trade policy official. That means Helberg will likely find himself at the center of some of the administration’s biggest fights, including a hardened stance towards China.Stay woke with our briefing while staying informed on all things LGBTQ+ entertainment, life, and more!Described as a “China hawk” by Politico, Helberg serves as a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He’s pushed hard for TikTok to be banned in the U.S.

TGIF! We’ve made it to the weekend again! A lot happened this week… to put it mildly. Here are some of the happier highlights…DRENCHED: Jonathan Bailey revealed his secret obsession: “Go as deep as you can go.” [Read more]CLOSET DOOR BUSTDOWN: Brazilian pro tennis player João Lucas Reis casually confirmed he’s gay by wishing his boyfriend a happy birthday.

I think I trust myself more. Early on, I had a fair dose of impostor syndrome when it came to the celebrity thing. Coming off of ‘Idol,’ I was like, ‘Yes, this is a dream that I’ve had.

according to the AP.Typically, a losing team making a quarterback switch at the end of the season wouldn’t constitute many headlines. But there’s something a little different about Haener. Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.We just can’t quite put our manicured fingernails on it…Saints QB Jake Haener is set to get his first career start against the Commanders on Sunday, per @nick_underhill.

Time this week heralded Elton John as its Icon Of The Year. In a profile piece, the magazine highlighted his longevity, stamina and prolific output. It pointed to his recent work with younger artists, such as Dua Lipa, extending his run of hits, and his work producing music for animated movies and shows such as Tammy Faye and The Devil Wears Prada.A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)John, 77, talked about fame, his career, his famous temper, and about sobriety.

Mark-Brian Sonna’s The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents: A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker! has become a theater tradition for the holiday season. Under his MBS Productions company, he’s staged and performed in this Nutcracker for 16 seasons and nearing 400 performances with its current run. The loony show opened last weekend at the Addison Theater Center’s Studio space and while the show has evolved through the years, it’s not at all short on zany humor and its own rendition of the Christmas classic ballet.