THE HEART OF AN ICON

“I guess I finally tested positive for icon,”  Ryan Reynolds joked when accepting the People’s Choice Icon Award in December 2022. It’s a status the Canadian actor fully deserves, as he has steadily built a remarkable career over the past three decades.

Add this latest award to a host of other accolades, including, GQ Man of the Year, People Magazine’s Sexiest Man (and Sexiest Dad) Alive, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The American Cinematheque Award, a Golden Globe nomination and numerous People’s Choice wins.

Performing at the Icon ceremony honoring Reynolds was Shania Twain, who name-checked him in her song “Don’t Impress Me Much,” instead of Brad Pitt as she did in the original version, thus marking a cultural paradigm shift in Hollywood hotness.

Self-deprecating, irresistibly charming and endlessly versatile, Reynolds is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, starring in films that have brought in more than $5 billion, and counting.

Reynolds steps into 2023 as a multi-hyphenate Renaissance man, an actor, producer, writer, comedian, entrepreneur, husband and father with multi-platform success and a blindingly bright future.

Yet Reynolds’ acting career initially was fraught with struggle and anxiety, he fully admits. Reynolds, the son of a former police officer, was the youngest of four siblings born to a middle-class family.

He first graced television screens as a teenager in a 1990 Nickelodeon series, filmed a movie in Sri Lanka, then went on to bit parts andfrustration as his career, then based in Vancouver, failed to take off.

Reynolds quit acting at 19 and briefly enrolled in a polytechnic university, but he had clearly been bitten by the acting, not academic bug. Soon after enrolling, he dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles on a whim with a friend to try his luck in Hollywood, much to his family’s chagrin.

Even then it was not smooth sailing for Reynolds. The jeep they drove to Los Angeles was stolen and stripped of its doors, but Reynolds got the vehicle back and drove it to auditions anyway, too broke to replace the stolen parts.

He started meeting people, like close friend Jason Bateman, and persistence paid off. In 1998, Reynolds was cast in the television series Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, a run that lasted four seasons and got him noticed in tinsel town.

This led to his first major screen role in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, cast as a seventh-year senior with a penchant for partying. Reynolds jokes that the 2002 role got him recognized, and free shots from fans at just about every bar he frequented.

Yet Reynolds would be known for even greater exploits as his career progressed, bulking up for the role of Hannibal King in 2004’s Blade: Trinity, his first entry into the superhero genre, and a role that required him to add 25 pounds of muscle to his 6’2” frame.

And from there, Reynolds’ career quickly snowballed, with turns in 2005’s Just Friends, alongside Ray Liotta in 2006’s Smokin’ Aces, as well as a variety of romantic comedies where his good looks coupled with quick wit and dry humor solidified his star power.

He ventured into the thriller genre with his role in 2010’s Buried, and dipped back into superheroes with his titular role in 2011’s Green Lantern, where he unwittingly met his future wife, Blake Lively, whom he married in 2012.

And then came Deadpool. The snarky, foulmouthed blockbuster 2016 film shattered box office records and paved the way for a sequel in 2018, with a third Deadpool film in production and set for release in 2024.

Reynolds’ interests span beyond the silver screen. He has made sizeable donations to Ukrainian refugees and clean water for indigenous people in Canada, and is an ardent supporter of the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s work on Parkinson’s disease.

His business acumen is also substantial. Reynolds created Maximum Effort marketing and production companies, and famously bought a stak in Aviation American Gin as well as the Wrexham AFC soccer club in Wales, a move he also documented in Welcome to Wrexham, which Reynolds co-produced.

He has also co-produced three daughters, and another baby on the way, with Lively over the course of their 10-year marriage, which he clearly considers his greatest achievement.

And as he accepted his Icon award, with his daughters’ handmade bracelets on his wrists, Reynolds acknowledged their importance in his every endeavor.

“Blake and my girls, you are quite literally my heart. You are my hope, you are my happiness,” he proclaimed. “I joke that my family exhausts me, but in reality, you give me more strength than any man could possibly deserve.”

Lovely Lively

When actress, producer and director Blake Lively took to the red carpet during 2022’s Met Gala, all eyes were on her. Despite the fact that she was on the arm of her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, voted People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2010, all eyes were on her.

The statuesque California beauty has had many major moments with fashion. Still, the incredible copper Versace dress, with the surprising reversible patina train, created a true “wow” moment at an event replete with them.

It was Lively’s demeanor, too, her beaming smile and elegant poise, which further endeared her to her legion of fans, cultivated across a career that spans 24 years.

Lively was born into a show business family, and as a young child with four older siblings, she began attending acting classes led by her parents. Not because of any particular interest the future actress showed, it was just easier than getting a babysitter.

“I did not want to be an actor because my whole family did it — going into the family business was the last thing I wanted to do.”

Lively was first cast by her father at the age of 10 in a bit part as Trixie the Tooth Fairy in 1998’s musical Sandman, but it took a while for the acting bug to get under her skin. She would later joke that the availability of craft services while on set had something to do with stoking her interest.

An overachiever in high school, she had her heart set on Stanford, not stardom. But then came her breakout role of Bridget, alongside Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrera, in 2005’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which she took on while still in high school. The film explored themes of friendship and young adulthood and earned Lively a Teen Choice Award nomination for Best Breakout Performance.

After the film, Lively returned to school for her senior year, where she was class president, involved in cheerleading and choir.

But her notoriety soared after she was cast in the Teen Drama Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen, a role she played from 2007 through 2012, which New York Magazine has called “the greatest teen drama of all time.”

Her performance would earn her three Teen Choice Awards during the series’ run. It would also garner her the cover of Vogue, classically styled a la Veronica Lake, at the age of 21.

Lively has proven that her talent translated to the silver screen as well. She and husband Reynolds met when they co-starred in 2011’s The Green Lantern. Then there was 2015’s the Age of Adaline where she captivated audiences and critics alike for her subdued yet engaging portrayal. She also starred in the box office hit, A Simple Favor in 2018, and gave a brave, toned-down performance in the gritty international spy drama, 2020’s The Rhythm Section.

“All my eggs are in one basket, and that’s my family. That’s where my heart is. That’s where my everything is.”

While a much sought-after actress, Lively, 35, has also embraced domestic life since marrying Reynolds in 2012.

Two years later they started their family with the birth of daughter James, and have since welcomed two more daughters, Inez and Betty.

It’s a bright and joyous world for the family of five outside of the glitz and glamour. Lively describes herself as an unabashed foodie and cook — Martha Stewart is one of her idols — who values the peacefulness of domestic life as much as the fanfare associated with her Hollywood career. Baking cupcakes and crafting are favorite activities for the down-to-earth star with 34.4 million Instagram followers and counting.

As a nod to her love of family, while all the attention at the Met Gala was focused on her dramatic dress, Lively quietly held a reminder of family in her hand, a Judith Leiber clutch designed to resemble the Brooklyn Bridge with the letters B, R, J, I, B down the front, the first initials of her cherished family of five, demonstrating that even when the spotlight glares, Lively grounds herself with what most fills her heart.

DON’T MISS LOVELY LOVELY #ONTHECOVER OF OCEAN BLUE MAGAZINE

With five film projects in the works for 2022 and a headline-grabbing romance with former flame Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, 52, is once again proving her point: It’s J.Lo’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

In a career that spans nearly 30 years, the dancer /singer/ actress / director / producer has consistently demonstrated that she is a force to be reckoned with, as year after year she redefines her celebrity.

Part of her appeal is her genuineness in interviews and public appearances. With her sweet smile, a lilting laugh which seems to channel sunlight, and down-to-earth demeanor, Lopez could be your — albeit exquisitely dressed — next-door neighbor.

Yet on stage, “Jenny from the Block,” becomes a fierce force of nature, turning from sweet to smoldering on a dime, supremely comfortable in her own skin, and showing no signs of slowing down.

Being an artist doesn’t start because you’re 21, and it doesn’t end because you’re 51. You are who you are until the day you die.

Bronx-born Lopez got her first toe-hold in show business when she was cast as a “Fly Girl” dancer on comedy show In Living Color in 1991.

She moved on to a few small film roles before landing the title role in the acclaimed film Selena, a 1997 biopic of a popular Tex-Mex singer that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a million-dollar paycheck, making her the highest-paid Latina actress at the time.

But her growing fan base exploded in 1999 when she released her first album, On the 6, which broke new ground in Latin pop music in the United States.

Lopez followed that up with her second album, J.Lo, in 2001, coinciding with her starring role alongside Owen Wilson in The Wedding Planner, and became the first woman to have a number one film and album in the same week.

Suddenly Jennifer Lopez was everywhere  — on the radio, in the club, on the silver screen  — as her status as a pop culture icon began to solidify.

Several successful films and hit albums followed, as did a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Billboard Icon award, and other accolades leading up to her 2016 to 2018 residency in Las Vegas, titled “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have” which grossed $101.9 million after 120 performances.

And while she worked her magic on stage and screen, Lopez also became a designer, launching highly successful clothing, perfume, and accessory lines which contributed to a net worth Forbes estimates to be around $400 million.

Life’s too short to live the same day twice.

As Lopez enters her 50s, she is uniquely poised, both personally and career-wise, to take her achievements to previously uncharted levels.

In 2019, Lopez embarked on a 32-show tour in celebration of her 50th birthday, performing nationally and internationally from June to mid-August.

In September, Lopez once again donned a version of the infamous, plunging green Versace dress she wore to the Grammy Awards in 2000, making a surprise appearance at Milan Fashion Week that brought down the house.

September also marked the release of Hustlers, with Lopez both producing and starring as hardened stripper Ramona, which drew her some of her best critical reviews yet and grossed $157.6 million worldwide.

In 2020, Lopez kicked off the year with her infamous Superbowl performance, appearing on stage with 12-year-old daughter Emme.

She also was part of Oprah Winfrey’s Visionary Tour, sitting down with the iconic talk-show host at the LA Forum to talk career, family and turning 50 at the end of February

While in quarantine she finished production on her next film, musical romance Marry Me, co-starring Owen Wilson, which is set for release on Valentine’s Day 2022.  Lopez also performs on the accompanying soundtrack.

It is said that an object in motion stays in motion, and Lopez is no exception. Throughout her career, she has broken barriers and boundaries and taken her fame to astounding heights through her unique and versatile talent and rigid work ethic, and don’t expect her to let up any time soon. Jennifer Lopez is, quite simply, unstoppable.

The Unbreakable Bond

With his glacial eyes, searing intensity and impressive physique, Daniel Craig has embodied the sexy, suave intrigue of James Bond for nearly a generation of fans. But he wasn’t the obvious choice when he was cast to play 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale.  

Photos Courtesy of MGM Studios, EON Productions, Universal Pictures

And, frankly, he wasn’t sure he wanted the role. He showed up to an initial interview disheveled, which in Craig terms means sans cuff links.

“It’s a huge challenge, a huge responsibility. Bond is a huge, iconic figure in movie history,” Craig later said. “These opportunities don’t come along very often, so I thought, ’Why not?”

Committing to Bond meant staying true to the character but doing so on his own terms. It required going to the gym — a lot — and doing extensive research in order to make the super-spy his own.

Although some critics thought Craig was too short (he stands 5’10”) and too blond to play the iconic character, Casino Royale and the films that followed proved that the talented actor brought a new sensibility to the part, with 007 crying, falling in love, and showing vulnerability, albeit with the character’s requisite aplomb, during Craig’s portrayal of Bond in Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre, the last of which was released in 2015.

As the longest-standing Bond in history, with Sean Connery himself calling the casting of Craig a “terrific choice.” Craig’s first four Bond films alone have generated more than $3 billion worldwide.

But there’s more to come. In No Time to Die, Craig plays Bond for the fifth and final time. The much anticipated, COVID-delayed film release this October, with the retired 007 hunting a kidnapped scientist. It’s a film he wasn’t sure he could physically endure, with the strenuous shots over the years taking a brutal toll on his 53-year-old body, including a torn meniscus during the filming of Spectre.

Photos Courtesy of MGM Studios, EON Productions, Universal Pictures

There was a narrative Craig felt needed to be finished, a continuation that began in Casino Royale, and a completion of a storytelling circle begun 15 years earlier that the actor now calls “emotionally satisfying.”

These are heady heights indeed for the notoriously private actor, who first began performing for patrons as a toddler at his parents’ pub in England.

Photo Courtesy of BBC Films, FilmNation, Entertainment, Chad Bakta

Photo Courtesy of BBC Films, FilmNation, Entertainment, Chad Bakta

“If I wanted to make spy movies for the rest of my life, that would be one thing, but I don’t want to just make spy movies.” — Daniel Craig

Unpopular in school and underprivileged, Craig found his first taste of stardom when a friend convinced him to join the cast of the school play Oliver! At 14, the applause unleashed by his performance was a rush he had never before experienced, a burst of adrenaline similar to a drug, he has said.

Not long thereafter, he attended a screening of the sci-fi film Bladerunner(1982) and was transfixed, he recalls, his mind reeling as he read the credits and the realization that he could actually make a living as an actor began to form.

Craig studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1991, taking bit parts before landing his breakout role as Geordie Peacock on the British drama series Our Friends in the North in 1996.

This led to roles in Elizabeth (1998), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Road to Perdition (2002) and Layer Cake (2004). And then it led to Bond, when he was handpicked by producer Barbara Broccoli, granddaughter of the franchise’s creator Albert Broccoli.

Between Bond films, Craig has not let the franchise define him and has continued to cultivate his career with numerous television, film and theater roles, including starring opposite his wife, multiple-award-winnning actress Rachel Weisz, in 2013’s Betrayal which took Broadway by storm.

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Craig’s more notable film roles include poet Ted Hughes opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in the biography Sylvia, Steve in Steven Spielberg’s Munich, and as journalist Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, to mention a few.

Saying goodbye to the Bond character is bittersweet, but as one mega-franchise comes to a close, another is potentially waiting in the wings. Craig was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2020, for best actor starring in the detective-mystery and comedy film, Knives Out, a smashing box office hit with two sequels already in the works.

And although rumors continue to swirl around who will be the next Bond, Craig has some advice. The summary, without the expletive, being: don’t mess up his legacy, or that of the actors who have come before him. “It’s a beautiful, amazing thing. Leave it better than when you found it.”

Actress Elizabeth Debicki is, quite simply, beauty personified.

Lithe and lissome, the former ballet dancer uses her graceful body as an instrument that allows the characters she plays to not just speak, but sing from the depths of their soul without making a sound. Her performances are magnetic and entrancing, her demeanor positively regal. 

And while her exquisite features beguile audiences and critics, there’s more to her than just looks. Her keen intellect, sharp wit and vulnerability allow her to transcend the scripted word in a chameleon-like fashion.

Be it villain, housewife, mistress or gilded high priestess — Debicki plays every role with relish and unwavering commitment to explore the essence of the characters she embodies, digging deep into her psyche to unleash the part of herself that connects with those she portrays.

Born in Paris to ballet dancer parents of modest means, Debicki moved to Melbourne, Australia, when she was five.

A self-described “dag” — Australian slang for nerd — Debicki’s childhood dreams of becoming an archaeologist gave way to an affinity for dance, the family business, which she credits with teaching her discipline and tenacity.

“The older I get and the more experience I have, the more it becomes apparent that your truest strength is to speak with your own voice. It’s scary to be authentically yourself.”

When she realized that her height — Debicki stands at a statuesque  6’3” — made her too tall for ballet, she set her sights on law school. Yet her interest in becoming a lawyer waned as she drifted into acting and instead chose to pursue drama at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Upon graduation, she managed to capture the attention of famed Australian director Baz Luhrmann who cast the unknown actress in the pivotal role of Jordan Baker in 2013’s The Great Gatsby, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.

Just 22 when the film was released, Debicki stole her every scene, mesmerizing audiences and critics with her poise and charm. The echo of old Hollywood glamour lurking behind azure eyes that sparkle even brighter than the sequins on her Roaring Twenties-era dresses.

On the heels of the film’s release, Debicki took to the theater opposite stage and screen legends Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Maids which won her the Company’s award for best newcomer, further establishing her acting chops.

By 2015, her dance card was full. That year she appeared in three major productions, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Macbeth and Everest, an eclectic choice of roles that reflect Debicki’s incredible range and versatility.

“The beauty of acting is that you can try on so many different roles without having to commit to them in real life.”

In 2016, Debicki starred in two acclaimed television series, playing the lead role of Dr. Anna Macy in Australia’s The Kettering Incident and as Jed in The Night Manager, based on the John le Carré novel.

“Dancing gives an innate physical awareness — it’s physical training. Acting feels like the same medium but just with words.”

As a result, her career continued to skyrocket. In 2018 Debicki appeared in five major films, most notably as Alice in director Steve McQueen’s Widows alongside Viola Davis. That performance earned her the best reviews of her career, and the cast of all-female leads spoke to her passion for supporting women’s empowerment.

In addition to her whirlwind acting career — Debicki has appeared in a total of 18 films, three plays and three television series in the past 11 years, won two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards and the Cannes Film Festival’s Trophée Chopard  — she is also a global ambassador for Women for Women International, a non-profit organization helping provide support for women survivors of war around the globe.

Her penchant for helping others is just one of several traits she shares with the late Princess Diana, whom she will portray in the final two seasons of one of the most-watched series in history, The Crown, set for release in 2022.

The casting of Debecki as Diana is a stroke of brilliance. Both have a similar blonde, lanky look and share expressive blue eyes that speak volumes about emotions ranging from dark inner turmoil to sheer delight with a mere gaze.

Some have called it the role of a lifetime for the actress who turns 31 this year, but undoubtedly the greatest role Debicki has played is that of herself. Majestic beauty aside, Debicki’s intellect, power and strength  make her a force to be reckoned with now and for years to come.

Send in the Cavill-ry

With his chiseled features, steel blue eyes and daunting physique, Henry Cavill’s clearly got the looks of a star, and no wonder British Glamour named him the World’s Sexiest Man in 2013. But over the course of a nearly 20-year career, Cavill’s acting chops have proven he’s much more than a pretty face.

“I want to tell stories. That’s what excites me.”

Audiences have delighted at his portrayals of Superman in three films, August Walker in 2018’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout, Gerhart of Rivia in Netflix’s 2019 series The Witcher, which drew 76 million viewers in the first four weeks of its release, and most recently as Sherlock Holmes in 2020’s Enola Holmes. With particularly praised performances in the latter two projects, Cavill’s star power is unstoppable.

“I kept looking in the mirror, going, ‘I don’t believe it. I’m Superman? I’m Superman!”

Yet, as his 14.3 million Instagram fans can attest to, there’s a depth to this 37-year-old star; he may look like the Man of Steel, but in his private life, Cavill’s decidedly down to earth, taking delight in hobbies and interests well outside the realm of celebrity.

Born in Jersey, United Kingdom, Cavill was the fourth of five boys He attended Stowe School in Buckinghamshire where the chubby teenager was known as “Fat Cavill,” bullying that he would later draw on when exploring a character like Superman’s ostracization.

The then-budding actor recalls a fateful encounter one day in 2000 when Russell Crowe was at the school shooting scenes for his film Proof of Life. Cavill approached Crowe and queried him on his profession which led to a short discussion on the merits and pitfalls of being an actor. Crowe later sent Cavill a gift box including a signed photo from Gladiator, with the words “Dear Henry: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Both men would remember the encounter when they met up again on the set of Man of Steel 13 years later with Crowe playing Superman’s father.

Cavill’s big-screen debut came when he was cast as Albert Mondego in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and he has been working continuously since, landing roles ranging from rakes to romantic leads in 18 films and numerous television projects.

But there’s a nerdy side to Cavill that he openly embraces. He’s a history buff with a fondness for Egyptology and Ancient Rome.

One of his favorite creatures ever is his Akita, Kal, named for Superman’s name on his home planet, Kal-el. The beloved pooch accompanies him on film shoots and figures prominently in his Instagram posts.

He’s also a big fan of American Football, having adopted the Kansas City Chiefs as his home team because, of course, that’s where Clark Kent was raised.

“People shouldn’t see me as a sex symbol. I’m really just Henry. I’m just telling a story.”

Cavill is also a huge gamer and builds his own gaming consoles. Cavill’s keen interest in playing Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher came after playing the video game based on the series of fantasy novels for hundreds of hours.

And when he lobbied for and was cast in the part of the monster-slaying Rivia, Cavill made sure, just as he did with Superman, that his character respected the lore surrounding the fantasy genre’s stories, knowing that die-hard fans, himself included, are sticklers for details.

After wrapping the first season playing the monster-slayer, in which his eight-pack abs and grueling physical fitness regimen came in handy, Cavill mild-mannerly slipped into another iconic role, that of Sherlock Holmes opposite Millie Bobby Brown in the title role of Enola Holmes, donning a three-piece suit and portraying the beloved character better known for his cerebral, rather thank physical, prowess.

Cavill’s performance is more subtle and nuanced in this 2020 film, allowing the spotlight to be placed firmly on Brown, while also providing the emotional connection needed to support the siblings’ relationship.

Halle, Hallelujah!

There’s an undeniable glow to a woman who feels comfortable in her own skin, and at 54, Halle Berry is simply luminous, more beautiful inside and out than ever before.

Earlier this year the former beauty queen, award-winning actress and mother of two unabashedly skateboarded through the streets wearing bikini bottoms, looking flawless, supremely confident and re-energized as she navigates new chapters in her nearly 30-year-career.

“Self-esteem comes from who you have in your life. How you were raised. What you struggled with as a child.” — Halle Berry

Berry wows whether she’s in sweats or sequins but her talent is her most stunning quality, one that has allowed Berry to slip into varied roles like a shape shifter.

She has come to life on the screen as a comic book hero, a mutant, a spy, an assassin, the Queen of Sheba and a junkie, among other memorable performances, lifting the lid on the multi-faceted characters she has chosen to portray with honed insight and heartfelt grit.

Berry, born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a British mother and African American father, began her career as a model and beauty pageant queen but it was acting she chose to pursue, and she wasn’t about to let her looks, or her color, get in the way.

Berry’s beakout film role was in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever (1991) in which she played the role of Vivian, a crack-addicted prostitute. The play against type was intentional, Berry says, as she fought to be taken seriously as an actress.

Her talent definitely got her noticed, and she went on to star with Eddie Murphy in Boomerang (1992), then The Flintstones (1994), and Bulworth in 1998, among others.

But it was her turn in the title role of Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999), which would prove to be prophetic.

Berry immersed herself in the character of Dandridge, the first woman of color to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in 1954’s Carmen Jones, garnering an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal.

Just three years later, Berry would find herself stepping into her character’s shoes once again as she was nominated for, and won, the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 2001’s Monster’s Ball, becoming the first and only woman of color to win the Oscar in that category.

Berry’s 2002 acceptance speech noted the groundbreaking moment, which she dedicated to those who had come before her, as well as future generations.

“It’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened,” Berry said through tears.

The 2000s saw Berry’s career skyrocket, with memorable roles as Storm in four X-Men films, and as Bond-girl Jinx in Die Another Day. She was awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and appeared in more than a dozen films in that decade, further certifying an appeal that goes beyond skin deep and becoming one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses in the process.

In 2008, six months after having her first child, Berry was named Esquire’s “Sexiest Woman Alive,” at age 42. She also became the face of Revlon and launched a fragrance with Coty.

In 2010, she became the second black woman ever to grace the cover of Vogue’s coveted September issue, continuing to push racial boundaries.

Last seen in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), Berry took on a new challenge both in front of and behind the camera last year when she directed and starred in Bruised, a film tracking the career of a mixed martial arts fighter

In order to get in shape for the film, Berry worked out incessantly, showing the same tireless devotion to her craft as she has at every stage of her lauded career, and sharing her progress with 6.3 million Instagram fans.

But the role she is proudest to play she’ll never win an Oscar for, and it involves no red carpet premieres or press junkets. Berry’s finest performance is that of mother to twelve-year-old daughter Nahla and six-year-old son Maceo, who she considers her most cherished body of work.

“Career is important, but nothing really supersedes my roles as a mother.” — Halle Berry

Jenaissance: Hollywood’s Golden Girl is Having (Another) Banner Year

Take a bow, Jennifer Aniston, you’ve earned it.

Nearly a quarter-century since Aniston first arrived on the scene, the beloved actress is poised to enjoy her best year ever and fans and audiences can’t wait to see what lies next for one of the world’s brightest stars.

Perennially sexy, savvy, and refreshingly down-to-earth, Aniston started off 2020 with a media trifecta.

In January there was her Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Female Actor in A Drama Series for her much-acclaimed work on “The Morning Show.”

Aniston celebrated her 51st birthday, on February 11, the same day Interview magazine released a jaw-dropping photo shoot of an incredibly fit Aniston posing in clothing designed to highlight her yoga-toned abs, arms and legs.

A scant 10 days later came the announcement that a “Friends” reunion special was in the works and Aniston’s Instagram followers have since jumped to more than 30 million. When Aniston first joined Instagram in October 2019, she broke the site — and a Guinness World Record — amassing one million followers in just five hours and 16 minutes, beating the previous record set by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Aniston is once again reminding us she’s a force to be reckoned with, combining that same sweet spunk we fell in love with when we first met her as “Rachel” with the added confidence of a woman supremely comfortable in her own skin.

But it’s her natural style and effortless beauty that have made her America’s sweetheart, and Aniston is consistently named to lists of the world’s most beautiful women. In 2011 Men’s Health magazine named Aniston the “Sexiest Woman of All Time,” beating out top five contenders Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Britney Spears.

One of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, Aniston has been in the public eye for more than two decades. Hounded by paparazzi, we’ve watched her triumphs and challenges play out in the pages of magazines, and endless speculation on who she’s dating and whether she’s pregnant has become an international tabloid obsession.

It’s her vulnerability, quick comic timing, and strong acting chops that have endeared her to worldwide audiences over the years. Apart from her decade on “Friends,” Aniston has starred in a string of box office hits, including Office Space (1999), Bruce Almighty (2003), Marley & Me (2008), Horrible Bosses (2011), We’re the Millers (2013), and Dumplin’ (2018).

While adept at romantic comedies, Aniston’s range is broad. One of her most critically acclaimed roles, that of chronic pain sufferer Claire Simmons in 2015’s Cake has the style icon eschewing her trademark little black dress and make-up in a dramatic turn lauded as the performance of her lifetime. The dark role saw Aniston plumb the depths of desperation, and earned her Best Actress nominations for both the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

But there is much more to this actor, producer, director, businesswoman and style icon. Aniston is also known for her philanthropical contributions and has quietly donated millions to causes such as St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and disaster relief in Haiti and Puerto Rico.

Whether opening her heart to the less fortunate, or to her tight-knit group of friends, Aniston’s approachability and likeableness are some of the qualities that makes her so intriguing. Regular guests at holiday parties and other celebrations held at her sprawling Beverly Hills home include Courtney Cox, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Jason Bateman, and other A-listers.

She’s also fond of taking friends with her on vacations to luxury resorts in Los Cabos, which has become somewhat of a second home for the sun-loving star and a place to recharge away from the spotlight.

One would think that decades of constant media scrutiny would wear her down, but there’s a purposefulness to how Aniston lives her life, a deep devotion to caring for mind, body and soul. The resulting inner glow and flawless beauty have never burned brighter as Aniston eases into a new chapter in life with her typical down-to-earth grace, infectious smile and effortless glam.