Polanco’s back in acting after ‘Orange’
NEW YORK (AP) — Agencies, writers, producers: Dascha Polanco says the time is now for Hollywood to do more in terms of diversity behind the scenes.
In front of the cameras, she told The Associated Press that the industry should stop thinking of her and so many of her co-stars on the recently wrapped Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” as non-traditional Hollywood types.
Polanco declared: “We are the tradition. We are the reality.”
The actress said she’s back in the hustle, working on the film “In the Heights” and going out on auditions. She’s also trying to spend more time living each moment.
Polanco said she has the mind of a hustler with no time to sit around and wait for opportunities. She added: “I learned that from 50 Cent.”
Newton sued over monkey bite to girl
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Wayne Newton is being sued by a Nevada woman who claims the crooner’s pet monkey bit and injured her daughter at his mansion in October 2017.
The lawsuit seeking at least $15,000 and filed by Jocelyne Urena says her daughter Genevieve was attacked by the monkey during a tour of Newton’s former estate home, Casa de Shenandoah.
The girl’s age and nature of her injuries were not detailed in the civil negligence complaint filed Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Jocelyne Urena’s attorney Marc Naron and representatives for Newton did not immediately respond Thursday to messages seeking comment.
Newton and his family have since moved to another home.
He is 77 and marking his 60th year performing his signature song “Danke Schoen” in Las Vegas and on tour.
Richard Gere visits migrants stuck at sea
ABOARD THE OPEN ARMS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA (AP) — Actor Richard Gere is visiting rescued migrants on board a humanitarian ship that has been stuck in the Mediterranean Sea for over a week.
The Hollywood star took food and supplies by boat today to 121 people aboard the Open Arms, a rescue ship floating in international waters near the Italian island of Lampedusa after being blocked from entering ports in Italy and Malta.
The 69-year-old actor carried fruit boxes on board and spoke to several migrants who had fled war-torn Libya on unseaworthy smuggling boats before being rescued. Gere urged the world to “please support us here on Open Arms and help these people, our brothers and sisters.”
Other European countries have yet to respond to the aid group’s request for a solution to the impasse over the rescue ship.
