Gabourey Sidibe has the type of rags-to-riches story that Hollywood seems to specialise in. The 27-year old actress was plucked from obscurity when she landed the title role in Precious, an adaptation of the novel Push by Sapphire. The performance earned the debutante an Oscar nomination, and since then her life has been an endless stream of glamorous parties and cool acting gigs.
She says that this transformation seems "much grander for outsiders, but to me it's just life". Since the Oscars, Sidibe has been working hard, too. "I've made the TV show The Big C and am in the film Yelling to the Sky and am doing the film Tower Heist now."
In addition to the acting work, she has hosted Saturday Night Live, which is a sure sign that you've made it as an entertainer in America. Her debut role saw her nominated for an Oscar, becoming only the eighth African-American woman to be nominated for the biggest prize in acting.
No wonder when the actress- who likes to be called Gabby - talks about her career she says: "I love it. I never wanted to be an actress - not ever. But once it kind of fell in my lap, I can't go back to a real life. I want to do more."
She laughs, though, at the story that she was down and out and happened on to the Precious role by a chance meeting with director Lee Daniels.
The star says: "Lee is so dramatic. He likes to tell it like I was found on the corner of 144 and Lennox and that I was living in a refrigerator box. I was not. I went to an audition in a college in the Bronx, a friend of mine told me about it, and they were looking for a certain type of girl and a lot of people didn't meet the physical requirements, and my friend called me and thought I should go in.
"I went to an audition in a college in the Bronx. I never went to that school and on a whim I just went in and got the part. When Mr Daniels told me he wanted me to be in the film, I was crying that I had the part. I was like, 'stop playing.'"
One of her co-stars in Precious is Lenny Kravitz, and there is a link with the rock star in her new film Yelling to the Sky. It stars the singer's daughter Zoe Kravitz, although it was Daniels rather than Lenny Kravitz who first introduced the pair. Zoe Kravitz was interning at the director's office when Daniels first met Sidibe. Kravitz recalls the director running home and showing the audition tape to everyone. The young actresses then became fast friends, partying together at Sundance when Precious first aired and hanging out, and it was a coincidence that both had already committed to doing Yelling to the Sky.
Sidibe agreed to the role in the directorial debut from former actress Victoria Mahoney before the success of Precious. There are many similarities in the storyline between the two films, but instead of playing the victim, Sidibe is cast as a brutal bully who picks on Kravitz's character, Sweetness O'Hara.
The semi-autobiographical tale of a mixed-race girl growing up in Queens, New York, is about the struggle of Sweetness to beat poverty and the unstable world she grows up in. Sweetness turns to crime to help pay her way and in doing so earns the respect of her peers.
But acting with her friend Kravitz was not the pleasure that Sidibe envisioned: "Being mean to each other is definitely not a plus because I love Zoe. That's a strange aspect of being in this film together because we are enemies and that can get really strange - we are both sensitive people with plenty of emotion and the emotion that we have to reach in order to have this fight is very hard to get into with someone I love and someone I care about. Nonetheless, it was really cool to hang out on set and be able to do girl talk. That was the best part for me."
The actors got so involved in their characters that Sidibe admits that she and Kravitz cried when the cameras stopped rolling.
The downside of fame is that Sidibe is finding it increasingly difficult to live a normal life. Even going out to the shops can be troubling. "I walk around New York," she says. "I shop, I ride around with my friends and I ride buses and stuff like that, but I do it at a much slower pace because every fifth person I have to hug, or sign autographs for and take pictures with and things like that. Sometimes I wear a hat and sunglasses so I don't have to do it as much. I try to hide but for some reason it doesn't always work. I was at some random store and I was wearing a hat, sunglasses and a turtleneck sweater, and all you could see was my chin and someone says 'Are you Gabby?' and I was like really, how do you know? And they said: 'I recognise this chin'.
"How do you recognise anyone from that? I'm as normal as you can possibly be for someone who was on every TV screen last year."
One thing that shines through when chatting to Sidibe is that she always has a smile on her face. It's almost as though she can't quite believe she's a star, but now that she is, she's going to enjoy every second she can. She says: "I find humour in the tragedy of things that I have been through and it helps me find humour in all aspects of life. People don't realise how much choice they have in life, you can choose to be happy or you can choose to be sad. It's so much more work to be sad. It's so much work to be humourless and depressed. It's so much easier to make jokes all the time, it really is."
Her next role will utilise her comic skills as she is starring in the comedy Tower Heist, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick and Casey Affleck. All she says that she can reveal about the film is that it is about a group of thieves who decide to take money from the richest man with offices in a skyscraper, and she gets entangled in the affair. The biggest challenging for the actress was trying to hold her own against Eddie Murphy. "I was really worried because a lot of my scenes are with Eddie Murphy and whenever I think about Eddie Murphy, I think about Eddie Murphy Raw and how genius it is," she recounts. "He has that red leather suit and he is so funny and off the cuff I was so nervous about what it would be like to film with him."
Tower Heist is set to be released in November. Who knows how much more Sidibe's life will have changed by then.
Follow us on Twitter and keep up to date with the latest in arts and lifestyle news at twitter.com/LifeNationalUAE
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Spider-Man%202
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The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
Results
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Company%20Profile
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
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THE%20SPECS
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TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%2C%20multimedia%20and%20creative%20work%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELogo%20design%2C%20website%20design%2C%20visualisations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20management%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegal%20or%20management%20consulting%2C%20architecture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EResearch%20support%2C%20proofreading%2C%20bookkeeping%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESales%20and%20marketing%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESearch%20engine%20optimisation%2C%20social%20media%20marketing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EData%20entry%2C%20administrative%2C%20and%20clerical%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20entry%20tasks%2C%20virtual%20assistants%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIT%2C%20software%20development%20and%20tech%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20analyst%2C%20back-end%20or%20front-end%20developers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWriting%20and%20translation%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EContent%20writing%2C%20ghost%20writing%2C%20translation%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOnline%20microtasks%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImage%20tagging%2C%20surveys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20World%20Bank%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
