Features

It’s not every day that a medical doctor becomes the most powerful politician in the European Union. Yet Ursula von der Leyen has done exactly that, rising from a physician’s office in Hanover to the presidency of the European Commission, collecting seven children, a handful of languages, and a trail of controversies along the way. … Read more

A debate over who deserves the title of greatest actor ends few film conversations. Whether you’re scrolling through IMDb user lists or checking YouGov polls, the names that appear shift depending on who’s asking and how they measure greatness. Number of actors in IMDb’s top 100 list who are men: 87 · Oldest actor among … Read more

The red bandana is the most visible symbol of Peter FitzSimons’s public image, but it’s only one thread in a life that spans rugby, journalism, 34 books, and a marriage to TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson. Let’s untangle the biography behind the headlines. Born: 29 June 1961 · Occupation: Author, journalist, radio and TV presenter · … Read more

Ron Perlman has one of those faces you instantly recognize, even if you can’t place the name. For decades, he has disappeared into roles that range from a gentle demon to a ruthless biker, leaving audiences more familiar with the character than the man behind the prosthetics. Born: April 13, 1950, New York City, USA … Read more

If you’ve ever looked at a cricket scorecard and wondered how one man could average 99.94 in Test cricket, you’re not alone. Sir Donald Bradman’s batting average towers more than 39 runs above every other batsman with at least 20 Test innings, a gap that the ICC Hall of Fame (governing body) calls the greatest … Read more

For nearly four years, the name Tom Phillips was synonymous with a mystery that gripped New Zealand: a father who vanished into the bush with his three young children, leaving behind a trail of questions and a nationwide manhunt. This is the story of how that manhunt ended — in a robbery, a police confrontation, … Read more

Few comedians brought the kind of warmth to the screen that John Candy did. When he died suddenly at 43, audiences lost not just a funny man but a gentle presence who felt like family. Birth: October 31, 1950 · Death: March 4, 1994 · Age at death: 43 · Cause of death: Heart attack … Read more

There’s a version of Maitland Ward’s story that ends at the closing credits of a daytime soap. Instead, the actress who played Rachel McGuire on Boy Meets World and Jessica Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful walked away from that world — and into an adult career that has collected industry awards, a Simon … Read more

When someone mentions the name Larry Hagman, most people immediately picture the scheming, ten-gallon-hat-wearing J.R. Ewing from Dallas. This article looks past the villainous smirk to explore his life, his health battles, and the relationships that defined him. Born: September 21, 1931 · Died: November 23, 2012 · Cause of death: Complications of acute myeloid … Read more

Natalie Barr’s occasional absence from Sunrise always gets people talking, but the facts rarely match the rumors. With three decades in journalism, her career is open—yet some personal details remain private. Full name: Natalie Ann Barr · Age: 57 (born 19 March 1968) · Occupation: Television presenter and journalist · Current role: Co-host of Sunrise … Read more