Steve Madden’s latest collection is making a splash. After nearly four decades of dominating the shoe and accessory categories, the brand is diving headfirst into swim. The company’s expansion is being introduced as part of its ‘Hello Spring’ campaign for 2026, and the line can be found at a few surprising places — like Amazon.

Steve Madden’s first swimwear collection includes bikinis, one-pieces and statement cover-ups, just to name a few. It’s a trend-driven collection, with silhouettes that put fashion at the forefront yet remain functional for beach-goers and poolside loungers who enjoy a refreshing dip. Find flattering, comfortable and stylish swim and resort wear finds, starting at just $48 now.

13 Steve Madden Swimwear Pieces That Just Dropped

1. Not-So Basic: Everyone should have a little black swimsuit in their collection, and this Steve Madden pick is an elevated version of the basic one-piece. With stylistic details like a tie back and gold chain strap accents, this suit will be one you reach for again and again.

2. Trendy Tankini: If your swimsuit style lies somewhere between a skin-baring bikini and conservative one-piece, tankinis are a happy medium. This trendy two-piece features a polka dot design, delicate bowtie details and a strappy back that actually offers adjustable support.

3. Tie Top: We love options, and this tie-front tankini is another choice we’re eyeing. It’s a sexy alternative to the polka dot top, with a crochet texture for a not-so-subtle pop of skin.

4. Animal Print: Animal prints are always a ‘yes,’ and this leopard design is no exception. Rather than a typical scoop, the one-piece features a square neckline, plus a low back to highlight your silhouette.

5. A Mesh Moment: Mesh cover-ups are playful and sexy, but they don’t steal the spotlight from the main attraction: your swimsuit. We love cover-up separates, too, and these mesh flare pants are at a top spot on our wishlist.

Related: Amazon‘s Spring Break Edit Is Here! Shop 17 Must-Haves — From $9

Spring break is the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with pieces that feel fun and vacation-ready. Luckily, Amazon’s Spring Break Style section is packed with stylish finds that make packing for a sunny getaway surprisingly easy. Choose from breezy dresses and lightweight sets to sandals and beach accessories that instantly pull a look together. […]

Advertisement

6. Festival Fringe: Festival season is looming. If you don’t have your looks lined up yet, consider this playful halter that has fringe accents and elevated gold hardware. If it gets too hot, you don’t have to change since this pick is first and foremost a swimsuit — the going-out top aesthetic is just a bonus.

7. Mixed Media: A lot is going on for this one-piece, but it all works. The primary polka dot design is enhanced with pearl accents running down the sides of the suit, fastening the material together in spurts to create sexy cutouts.

8. Bandeau Top: Steve Madden was founded in 1990, so it’s only natural that the brand would give a subtle nod to the early aughts in its swimwear collection. The scarf bandeau top isn’t exactly a bandana kerchief, but the quiet reference stands, and we’re here for it.

9. Statement Bottoms: Bikini bottoms can sometimes be an afterthought if your main focus is finding a cute top. However, this strap side bikini bottom caught our eye immediately. The gold double ring accent elevates the trim and the fun floral pattern gives off groovy ’70s vibes. Bonus: There’s a top to match with the same stunning hardware for even more eye candy.

10. Elevated Staple: You can’t go wrong with a simple bralette style. Just in case you’re looking for a slightly more elevated staple, this on-sale version features a gold ring accent at the front that adds depth to the look.

11. One-Shoulder: This one-piece is stunning and oh-so sexy with an open back design, cheeky bottoms and a single shoulder strap. We love it in black, but the suit also comes in a gorgeous floral design.

12. Something Strapless: As far as we’re concerned, the less material touching our skin in the summer, the better, which is why we were immediately drawn to this cutout bandeau bikini top. It comes in several patterns and color, all of which feature gold bead accents that feel like jewelry.

13. Surprise Skirt: When we think of cover-ups, mini skirts don’t typically come to mind. However, now that Steve Madden has brought the option to our attention, we’re sold on the idea. The designer’s take is another mesh moment, and features adjustable ruching so you can decide just how short of a hemline you want.

If you’re looking for excitement, this Tom Hardy movie is the right film to stream.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

These days, Tom Hardy is most well known for his portrayal of Eddie Bock, and his symbiote-suited alter-ego, Venom. Science-fiction superhero flicks aside, it’s worth noting that Hardy also starred in 2017’s Dunkirk, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, and is considered to be one of the greatest war films of all time. Dunkirk is celebrated for its extensive use of practical effects, excellent sound design, film scoring, editing, and cinematography.

The Movie Is Louder Than The Battle That Inspired It

The World War II film is set in 1940, and it depicts the evacuation of over 300,000 men during the Battle of Dunkirk. Though this Tom Hardy film has received high praise from actual Dunkirk veterans, there were of course some creative liberties taken by Christopher Nolan to translate the historical events into a cohesive piece of cinema.

One such liberty was the overall intensity of the movie, which Kenneth Branagh (Commander Bolton) reported that some veterans suggested the movie was “louder than the battle.”

Writing 101: Showing Without Telling

One difference between Dunkirk and its contemporaries is the film’s sparse use of dialogue. Christopher Nolan truly wanted to focus on the intensity of the evacuation and drew inspiration from silent movies like Erich von Stroheim’s Greed, D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages, and F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise.

If you’re looking for some great Tom Hardy one-liners, you won’t find them in Dunkirk, but you won’t feel cheated after you see the scope of the action sequences either.

Tom Hardy only has about 10 lines of dialogue in Dunkirk. What’s presented instead is such a visceral depiction of war that it quickly becomes apparent why Christopher Nolan decided to write a screenplay that was only 76 pages long. Nolan has gone on record stating that he didn’t want to go into the war-room politics or detailed character backstories because he felt that these story-telling mechanisms would take away from the singular moment in history he was trying to capture.

Dunkirk received universal acclaim upon its release and currently boasts a 92 percent critical score.

When you consider the thousands of extras that were employed Dunkirk’s production, as well as the use of historical boats and spitfire planes that were used to produce this war epic, it’s clear that Christopher Nolan wanted to make a film that had a sense of urgency.

By Land, Sea, And Air

To add to this notion of immediacy, Dunkirk is told from three perspectives: land, sea, and air. And it’s evident that Tom Hardy was up for the task with his portrayal of his Farrier character, who says very little, but carries the story through his brave and selfless actions as he assists in the evacuation, not knowing whether he’ll be able to fly back to England safely or crash-land.

A common storytelling mechanism in war films is the use of the composite character, and Hardy’s character gets this treatment. Though Farrier is not directly based on an actual pilot, inspiration was drawn from the real-life evacuation.

Sources indicate that Farrier’s experience closely mirrors the story of Alan Christopher “Al” Deere, a New Zealand Spitfire pilot who had a similar crash landing, and it’s likely that Hardy’s character was based on a few soldiers that actually existed rather than just one person.

What’s most impressive about Dunkirk is its relatively short run-time of 106 minutes. When you think about the multiple point-of-view treatment that the film encapsulates, it’s safe to say that not a single minute of run-time is wasted thanks Dunkirk’s visual storytelling.

Dunkirk Has Incredible Sound Design

If the promise of stunning visuals and action sequences isn’t enough for you, then the film score for Dunkirk will surely keep you at the edge of your seat. Hans Zimmer penned the score and leaned heavily into the use of Risset rhythms, which are used to create the illusion of an ever-increasing tempo, which naturally adds a healthy amount of suspense to the more tense scenes.

Zimmer also sampled and synthesized Christopher Nolan’s pocket watch, which could be subtly heard when Tom Hardy’s Farrier is trying to assess how much fuel he has left in his plane before attempting a landing.

A Critically Acclaimed Cinematic Masterpiece

Dunkirk received universal acclaim upon its release and currently boasts a 92 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only are Tom Hardy, Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-CaWarney, and Aneurin Barnard praised for their collective ability to convey emotion through the use of very little dialogue, the film itself is praised for its overall intensity and gripping cinematography. What’s more, Dunkirk raked in $527 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing World War II film to date.

Though Tom Hardy didn’t take home any Academy Awards for his performance in Dunkirk, the film was nominated for eight, taking home three for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing. If you want to see Dunkirk in all of its glory, it can be rented or purchased on demand through Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube, and Apple TV+.

Lil Nas X’s legal team is looking to have his felony police battery case handled through a diversion program. Roommates, if you remember, police arrested the rapper in August 2025 after he walked through the streets of Los Angeles wearing only underwear and boots before going completely naked.

RELATED: Lil Nas X Breaks His Silence After Entering Plea For Multiple Felonies Stemming From His Naked Stroll In L.A. (UPDATE)

Lil Nas X’s Lawyer Aims To Resolve His Felony Case Through Diversion

On Thursday, March 12, Lil Nas appeared in court in Van Nuys, California alongside his lawyer, Christy O’Connor. O’Connor asked the judge for a short delay so she could file a motion to move his case into an unspecified diversion program, according to Rolling Stone. PEOPLE also reports that the judge set the next court date for April 6. As Nas’ legal team continues its efforts, he also spoke with reporters outside the courthouse. The 26-year-old singer told fans he misses them and appreciates their support.

“All I wanted to say is to my fans, I really love and I miss you, and I appreciate your support so much, and I can’t wait to be back hugging you guys,” Nas said outside the courthouse.

Lil Nas’ Attorney Emphasizes His Clean Record Prior To Los Angeles Incident

This isn’t the first time Lil Nas X’s attorney spoke up. In August 2025, Christy O’Connor spoke during his court arraignment and told a judge that the singer has led a “remarkable life,” including winning two Grammy Awards. She also that he has never portrayed any inappropriate behavior in his life.

“Assuming the allegations here are true, this is an absolute aberration in this person’s life. Nothing like this has ever happened to him,” O’Connor said in court, per NBC.

Singer Pleads Not Guilty Following Viral L.A. Incident

In August 2025, a viral video showed Lil Nas X walking naked on Ventura Boulevard. At the time, officers said Lil Nas X charged at them when they confronted him, so they decided to arrest him on the spot. After his arrest, police suspected that he might have overdosed. Then, they took him to a hospital, where he spent several hours before officials transported him to jail.

Nas later appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors charged him with three counts of battery causing injury to a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. After spending three days in jail, Nas was released on a $75,000 bail. If a jury convicts him on those charges, he could face more than 10 years in prison. The ‘Old Town Road’ hitmaker spoke out afterwards in a video saying, “Your girl is going to be okay.” He also said that whole situation was terrifying him. “That was terrifying…that was a terrifying last four days, but your girl is gon be alright,” Nas shared.

RELATED: Real Deal! Lil Nas X’s Dad Speaks On Son’s Viral Arrest & Shares Message Rapper Wants “Everybody” To Know

Authorities now believe an Alabama family missing for more than a month is dead after finding three bodies buried in a town about 50 miles away.

The bodies suspected to be Aurelia Choc Cac and her two children, Niurika Zuleta Choc and Anthony Garcia Choc, were found in Summerdale in Baldwin County the afternoon of Wednesday, March 11, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said in a Thursday, March 12, Facebook post.

The discovery comes after a man, Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra, was arrested on three counts of kidnapping in connection with their disappearance, according to authorities, Us Weekly previously reported.

Aurelia, 40, Niurka, 17, and Anthony, 2, went missing from their home in Theodore on January 30, according to the sheriff’s office. Theodore is about a 50-mile drive west from Summerdale, where the bodies were located on March 11.

“Signs of a struggle” were found at their home, the sheriff’s office said in an earlier news release.

Related: Man Accused of Stabbing Girlfriend and Her Child Is Sentenced to Death

A man accused of attacking his girlfriend with a shovel and a knife, killing her before fatally stabbing her 4-year-old daughter, has been sentenced to death in Florida, according to court records viewed by Us Weekly. In October 2025, a Hillsborough County jury found Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc guilty of first-degree murder in connection with […]

Advertisement

On March 12, the sheriff’s office announced Argueta-Guerra has been additionally charged with one count of capital murder under 14 years, one count of obstructing justice using a false identity, three counts of abuse of a corpse, three counts of capital murder/burglary, three counts of capital murder/kidnapping, and one count of capital murder of two or more people.

“Our prayers are with the family and friends of those who knew Aurelia, her daughter Niurka, and her two year old son, Anthony,” the sheriff’s office said. “Hector, you are a sick person to do what you did to this family and we know if convicted, you will never see the outside world again.”

Information on Argueta-Guerra’s legal representation was not immediately available.

Investigators are working to identify the bodies, according to authorities.

At a March 12 news conference, Paul Burch said the sizes of the bodies were “consistent” with the three Choc family members.

“This is a horrific and gruesome murder,” Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said, before declaring, “The state will seek the death penalty in this case.”

A potential motive for the alleged murders was not specified by authorities.

When Burch was asked about a possible motive, he said “What motive would there be for killing a two-year-old?”

The FBI had previously offered a $15,000 reward for any information that might lead to the location of Aurelia and her children.

Argueta-Guerra is from El Salvador, where he allegedly has a violent criminal history, authorities previously said at a February 24 news conference, WKRG reported. He is an accused member of Los Surenos, a transnational gang with ties to El Salvador.

The drama on the set of “Euphoria” seems to have spilled over into real life. Ahead of the season three premiere, a video was released featuring its major stars, but Sydney Sweeney was noticeably left out of it.

It comes amid her rumored “bitter” fallout with her co-star, Zendaya, who allegedly “refused to stand next to her” while they were on press calls for this series’ third season.

Meanwhile, fans took to social media to spell out how glaring Sydney Sweeney’s omission was following the controversies that plagued the actress in 2025.

Sydney Sweeney Absent From ‘Euphoria’ Group Photo

Sydney Sweeney is noticeably missing in a group photo that was part of a teaser for “Euphoria,” ahead of its season 3 premiere in April. The teen drama follows the life of a group of girlfriends and the routines they pick up while transitioning through adolescence, especially as it relates to sex.

Advertisement

Rumors of a “bitter feud” between the “Housemaid” actress and the lead star Zendaya previously surfaced, with a source claiming the latter didn’t even want to “stand next” to her in press tours for the new series.

Now, HBO released a new teaser for the series and captioned it, “Taking the smallest moments and dreaming them up into something bigger. #Euphoria.”

At the start of the clip, Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow can be seen all cozied up and affectionate with each other, but Sweeney was nowhere to be seen.

Fans Share Mixed Reactions To The Omission Of Sydney Sweeney From The Group Photo

Fans took to social media to point out the obvious omission, with many speculating it had something to do with their rivalry.

“Perioddd Sydney didn’t make the group photo,” a fan wrote, throwing in a crying emoji, while another said, “Notice how Sydney wasn’t in the group photo.”

Advertisement

Someone else said, “I’m not even mad about Sydney being excluded from the group photo, it’s Barbie I’m missing. BRING BACK KAT.”

“Sydney being too iconic to show up with these newgens omg,” another person speculated as to the cause of her absence.

“The fact that Sydney Sweeney isn’t with the girls has me,” someone wrote, while another added, “lmao Zendaya said NO promo with Sydney, and she meant it.”

One user said, “WTF? Euphoria S3 promo lookin’ fire but where tf is Sydney Sweeney?? They leavin’ her out on purpose or sum drama brewin’ with Zendaya [?]”

Advertisement

Politics Might Be The Factor Dividing The Actresses

A source told the Daily Mail that tensions between them on set reached fever pitch, and they don’t see eye to eye anymore because of their different political views.

Last year, Sweeney was discovered to be a registered Republican and received praise from President Donald Trump and other top MAGA supporters after she found herself at the center of a controversial ad for American Eagle, where many accused her of promoting white supremacy and eugenics.

On the other hand, Zendaya has voiced her disapproval of the billionaire politician, even posting “Vote this MF out” during the 2020 election.

“It’s no wonder she’s refusing to do it. If she even stands next to Sydney on the red carpet, it can be read as her excusing Sydney’s views,” a source told the news outlet.

Source Claims Zendaya Doesn’t ‘Trust’ Sydney Sweeney Around Tom Holland

Zendaya’s partner, Tom Holland, could also be a reason why the actresses are not on speaking terms, as a source revealed in January that she “doesn’t trust” Sweeney around him.

“Zendaya wasn’t thrilled when Tom and Sydney would strike up conversations during filming last year,” the source shared, per Star Magazine. “It feels unnecessary at best and disrespectful at worst, given that Sydney and Zendaya don’t get along and actively avoid each other.”

Advertisement

“Tom is naturally very friendly and chatty, so when he’s around, he makes an effort with everyone — that’s just who he is,” the insider continued. “Zendaya isn’t trying to tell him who he can talk to, but with Sydney, she doesn’t want someone who she doesn’t necessarily trust getting close to her fiancé.”

“In so many words, Zendaya has warned Sydney to stay away from Tom,” the source added, explaining that her romance with music exec Scooter Braun doesn’t change things. “Even though Zendaya trusts Tom completely, she doesn’t want any lines blurred. It’s about boundaries.”

The Third Season Of ‘Euphoria’ Comes With Several Twists

The trailer for season three of “Euphoria” was released in January, but many fans were not happy with the twist some of their favorite characters encountered, particularly Cassie, played by Sweeney, who is now addicted to social media and operating an OnlyFans account.

The new season, which features a five-year time jump, sees Cassie engaged to her high school sweetheart, Nate (Jacob Elordi), despite her being an OnlyFans model.

Zendaya’s character, Rue, struggles to pay off her debt owed to dealer Laurie and is on the run from drug dealers, and Maddy (Alexa Demie) is reportedly working at a Hollywood talent agency and is fed up with how every other girl she meets is a “sugar girl.”

Advertisement

On the other hand, Lexi (Maude Apatow) has become a professional and is reportedly working as an assistant to a high-powered television showrunner played by guest star Sharon Stone.

Speaking about the upcoming series, showrunner Sam Levinson promised that it would be “our best season yet.”

Explaining the time jump, he said, “Five years felt like a natural place because if they’d gone to college, they’d be out of college at that time,” per Variety. “We basically pick up Rue south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie, trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off.”

“Euphoria” season three is set to premiere on HBO and Max on April 12, 2026.

Advertisement

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Elsbeth Season 3, Episode 13.After a rare misstep last week, Elsbeth is back to form with “Murder Six Across,” with Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) looking to solve the puzzling murder of a crossword editor at the annual crossword championship. While she’s there, she comes across guest star Steve Buscemi, playing the elite puzzle solver who took the editor down. But the question is, can she see through the enigma that is her beau, mayoral candidate Alec Bloom (Ivan Hernandez), or will she remain clueless?

Steve Buscemi Edits Out the Editor in ‘Elsbeth’s “Murder Six Across”

“Murder Six Across” opens on the National Crossword Tournament mixer, where a small group of elite solvers talk about the state of the puzzles in the daily paper. Simon (Buscemi), a piano tuner by trade, decries the work of crossword editor Morris Long (Richard Robichaux) who, in an effort to keep the puzzle relevant, has taken to adding contemporary slang into the puzzles, words like “cheugy” (outdated or uncool). Talk swiftly turns to Simon’s immaculate grooming, with the others teasing him about his crush, fellow solver Elaine (Allison Guinn), who will be arriving at the tournament as a recently divorced woman. But when she arrives, Simon gets tongue-tied and starts stammering.

Related

‘Elsbeth’ Season 3 Continues Its Unforgettable Guest Star Winning Streak in New Sneak Peek With Steve Buscemi [Exclusive]

Buscemi will appear as a master cruciverbalist in this week’s episode, “Murder Six Across.”

Luckily, the tournament is about to begin, sparing Simon from further embarrassment. Morris, who founded the tournament, welcomes the competitors before starting the timer for the first round. Those that solve the increasingly difficult crosswords with the best times advance to the semifinals, he explains to the public radio commentator covering the event (“please consider donating”… hilarious), eventually whittling the field down to the top three who will vie for the championship. Simon finishes first, followed by the other elite solvers. Afterward, they talk about the puzzles, with Simon harping on the TikTok dance clue as being particularly insulting. “Someone,” he says, “should really talk to Morris.” Elaine suggests that she could, sometime over the dinner Morris invited her to.

The revelation stuns Simon, who claims it’s an abuse of power on Morris’ part (secretly upset that Morris beat him to the punch), but Elaine doesn’t mind, seeing it as an opportunity to get to know Morris better. Simon marches to Morris’ room to confront him, reminding him about the rules that state judges can’t date competitors. Morris reminds Simon that he wrote the rules, and while sharing meals isn’t one, badgering judges is, and penalizes Simon with 15 seconds added to his time. That opens the floodgates, with Simon calling Morris out on his lazy clues and subpar pop culture references, “bending to the will of a generation that gets their news from an emoji.” That’s the final straw for Morris, who disqualifies Simon permanently. But as he’s about to call for security, Simon puts a swag bag over his head, choking him to death. He takes Morris’ phone, texts the other judge that he’s fallen ill, and walks out the door, the Do Not Disturb tag on display.

Elsbeth Reluctantly Reenters the World of Crosswords in ‘Elsbeth’s “Murder Six Across”

But Simon has a tournament to win, so he continues competing while putting ice on Morris’ body in the bathtub. With his place in the finals complete, he stuffs Morris’ body in his big trunk – the one he carries past puzzles in for studying – rents a cabin near Stillford with Morris’ phone, and takes Morris’ car there, where he dumps the body in the forest, taking a train back to the city, deed done. The body is found three days later, and Elsbeth, Wagner (Wendell Pierce), and Detective Edwards (Micaela Diamond) meet with the Stillford deputy at the precinct. Curiously, Morris never checked out of the motel, but did check into the cabin, despite having his own cabin nearby.

Wagner puts Elsbeth on the case, which she reluctantly accepts, having sworn off crosswords and their little empty boxes that need to be filled. They’re off to interview the people who knew him best, those elite solvers, one of whom discloses Simon’s crush on Elaine, and his righteous anger at Morris for asking her on a date. Elsbeth and Edwards meet Simon in the hotel bar, where he claims to have really liked Morris, had no issue that he had asked Elaine out, and how personally he loved pop culture, and was pleased they were now in the puzzles. He pays his bill with exact change, a compulsion of his to always have on hand, and ends the conversation. Only Trudy, another solver, laughs that off, saying not only did Simon not like pop culture, he liked it the least out of the group, and raised such a stink over the inclusion of a Survivor clue that the paper issued an apology, vowing never to reference the reality TV genre in the crossword again.

Related

‘Elsbeth’ Season 3 Episode 12 Recap: Carrie Preston’s Murder Mystery Series Makes Jeff Hiller Completely Wig Out

But is it a cut above the rest?

Without Morris around, Simon and Elaine have grown closer, but it’s Elsbeth who spots her off to the side, alone and visibly upset, and goes to comfort her. Simon spots the two together and comes over – it’s a great moment we’ll get to – but if he was hoping it would drive Elaine into his arms, he’s mistaken. Still, Elsbeth notes it’s a love triangle nonetheless, and the swag bags at the tournament could match the fibers found during Morris’ autopsy. As she digs deeper into the last ten years of puzzles, she notices that the earlier ones are far more intellectually challenging than the recent ones, with their youthful slang and pop culture… except today’s puzzle, which has turned to its old, challenging ways.

According to Morris’ coworker, he would have emailed the weekend’s puzzles on Monday morning, problematic given he was dead, meaning someone had accessed his email accounts, and texting as Morris. Security footage catches Simon in the elevator with his trunk, but that doesn’t prove anything. So Elsbeth heads to Stillford on the off chance she can find the trunk. She doesn’t, but she finds something better: the answer to the puzzle in a train platform newspaper box.

Elsbeth Solves Simon’s Puzzle in ‘Elsbeth’s “Murder Six Across”

Image via CBS

It’s the championship round, and Simon is on stage, ready to compete, when Elsbeth, Edwards and a host of police officers call him outside. Elsbeth calls him out for having an argument with Morris around Elaine, one that got so heated that the clasp they found from Simon’s lanyard broke off, and the swag bag, with matching fibers, was used to suffocate Morris. He kept Morris’ body on ice while continuing the tournament, and his alibi for taking the trunk home in a taxi was ruled out earlier. But the final nail in the coffin was Simon’s own compulsions. He couldn’t resist buying the Met Tribune at the train station to do the crossword puzzle, and, because of his penchant for exact change, his fingerprints were on the quarters in the box. As he’s escorted away, Simon tells Elaine that he did it because he’s in love with her.

“Murder Six Across” is another hit for Elsbeth‘s third season, and guest star Buscemi is a huge part of it. It’s the perfect match of character with actor, especially in the scene referenced earlier where Simon goes to comfort Elaine. As he walks over, he says, “Come on, Elaine, cheer up — we all have to go sometime.” It’s hard to imagine anyone else besides Buscemi even saying it in that awkward, insincere manner he does so well. The crossword puzzle competition angle is fun, and seeing Elsbeth jumping right back into crosswords, having missed out on the Eiffel Tower because of finishing crosswords in her hotel room in France, is humorous and, for those of us who understand the need to “fill in those boxes,” accurate.

Which brings us to our friend Alec. Earlier in the episode, Elsbeth and Wagner watch an attack ad on TV branding Alec a liar, an ad sponsored by Winnie Crawford’s group. Elsbeth doesn’t believe he is and tells him so, but then comes dinner at the end. Teddy (Ben Levi Ross), his boyfriend, Elsbeth, and Alec are enjoying dinner at Elsbeth’s, laughing and joking, when the subject turns to movies, specifically E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial. Alec claims that the ending always makes him cry, which are the exact same words she said to him earlier about the movie, where he claimed never to have seen it. And when Teddy pulls her aside to let her know he’ll play nice, she stops him and says, “I think Alec is a liar.” See you in two weeks, friends.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

February 29, 2024

Directors

Nancy Hower, Robert King, Lionel Coleman, Rob Hardy, Robin Givens, Ron Underwood, Rosemary Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Bille Woodruff, James Whitmore Jr., Joe Menendez, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Lily Mariye, Nick Gomez, Peter Sollett, Sam Hoffman, Tyne Rafaeli, Darren Grant, Fong-Yee Yap, Mary Lou Belli

Advertisement

Writers

Jonathan Tolins, Erica Shelton Kodish, Bryan Goluboff, Sarah Beckett, Michelle King

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

Advertisement

• Another strong antagonist with Steve Buscemi, further proof that great actors make great villains.
• After last week’s disappointing resolution, the newspaper box clue is far more plausible.
• Longer than expected, but glad that Elsbeth finally dropped the blinders at the end.

• Elsbeth partnering with Edwards is good, not great.

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is all for confidently embracing her body — just don’t call it body positivity.

“The thing I say sometimes that pisses people off is [that] I have no interest in body positivity,” Coughlan told Elle UK in March 2026. “When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn’t look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don’t care.”

She continued, “There’s a lot of things I’m passionate about, it’s not one of them. That’s someone else’s thing. It’s not mine.”

Without putting a label on it, Coughlan is still a fierce proponent of self-love and confidence. Keep scrolling for her most impactful quotes:

Related: Redefining Beauty: Stars Paving the Way for a New Era of Self-Confidence

Us Weekly is celebrating the stars who are changing the conversation when it comes to body
standards. “Body image and body positivity have become major buzzwords and part of the cultural conversation,” Lexie Kite, Ph.D. and coauthor of More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not an Ornament, tells Us in the latest issue […]

Dealing With the Haters

Bridgerton season 3 dropped in 2024, in which Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington took the lead opposite Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton).

“You know what was really bizarre was, when I was shooting that series, I was exercising a lot because I knew I had to,” Coughlan told Elle UK in March 2026, referring to the pair’s nude scenes. “I had lost a bunch of weight, [and] I was probably a size 10 and one of the corsets was a size 8.”

Despite the Irish actress’ weight loss, she was subjected to multiple comments about her body type.

“People talked about how I was plus size,” she said. “I was like, ‘How f***ed are we that I am the biggest woman you want to see on screen?’ I remember this really drunk girl once talking to me in a bathroom being like, ‘I loved [Bridgerton] because of your body,’ and started talking about my body.”

Coughlan added, “I was like, ‘I want to die. I hate this so much.’ It’s really hard when you work on something for months and months of your life, you don’t see your family, you really dedicate yourself and then it comes down to what you look like. It’s so f***ing boring.”

Embracing Her Body on ‘Bridgerton’

Nicola Coughlan even requested to film nude scenes on Bridgerton.

“I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included,” she told Stylist magazine in May 2024. “There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest ‘f*** you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body. It was amazingly empowering. I felt beautiful. I thought, ‘When I’m 80, I want to look back on this and remember how f***ing hot I looked!’”

A ‘Perfect’ Body

“You know, it is hard, ’cause I think women with my body type — women with perfect breasts — we do not get to see ourselves onscreen enough,” Nicola Coughlan joked during a June 2024 panel discussion about Bridgerton. “I am a very proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.”

Advertisement

Related: Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley Defends Nicola Coughlan After Body Comment

Simone Ashley has defended her Bridgerton costar, Nicola Coughlan, after the actress recently shut down a comment about her body. During a press conference at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Saturday, June 15, Ashley, 29, discussed Coughlan, 37, who was told at a fan event in Dublin, Ireland, on June 6 that she […]

Stop the Conversations 

In an impactful social media post in January 2022, Nicola Coughlan implored fans from speaking about her body altogether.

“Hello! So just a thing — if you have an opinion about my body please, please don’t share it with me,” Coughlan tweeted at the time. “Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive but I am just one real life human being and it’s really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look — being sent directly to you every day.”

The Derry Girls alum continued, “If you have an opinion about me that’s OK, I understand I’m on TV and that people will have things to think and say but I beg you not to send it to me directly.”

Judge Her Work, Not Her Body

Nicola Coughlan penned a June 2018 essay for The Guardian, stating that she’d rather be critiqued for her work than her physique.

“The focus was on me, not my acting,” she said, referring to her X post slamming a review of a play that called her overweight. “I know I’m not alone; women in my industry are put under constant scrutiny for their looks. It affects male actors as well — I had messages from them — but the vast majority of feedback was from women. Something in our society tells us that women’s bodies are fair game for scrutiny in a way that men’s simply are not.”

Coughlan concluded, “I hope in the future that more people will talk about our work, our inspirations, our drive, rather than our looks. A revolution is happening, and I want to play my part in it.”