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Veteran actor Tim Curry, renowned for his chilling portrayals of villains across film, television and theater, has shared one of his biggest career disappointments: he desperately wanted to play Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs” but was never even considered for the part.

In a candid interview with The Academy’s YouTube channel, released earlier this month and gaining renewed attention in February 2026 amid discussions of his memoir “Vagabond,” the 79-year-old Curry reflected on his five-decade career. He singled out the iconic cannibalistic psychiatrist role, originated by Anthony Hopkins, as a missed opportunity that still lingers.

“One of my great regrets is that I read the script of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and I desperately wanted to play Hannibal Lecter,” Curry said. “My agent couldn’t get me in the room, but Tony Hopkins did a great job.”

The admission highlights Curry’s affinity for complex, menacing characters — a specialty that has defined his legacy. From the flamboyant mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) to the terrifying Pennywise the Dancing Clown in Stephen King’s “It” miniseries (1990), Curry has built a reputation for infusing villains with charisma, menace and dark humor. His voice work, including Scar in early considerations for Disney’s “The Lion King” (1994, ultimately voiced by Jeremy Irons) and other animated antagonists, further cements his status as a go-to for sinister roles.

Curry’s revelation about Lecter comes at a time when he’s been more open about his life and career. Following a severe stroke in 2012 that left him with partial paralysis and speech challenges, Curry has made rare public appearances and released his memoir “Vagabond” in late 2025. The book and recent interviews, including one with The Academy hosted in a discussion format, offer glimpses into his process and regrets.

Hopkins’ performance as Lecter earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor and became one of cinema’s most enduring villains, known for his calm demeanor, intellectual brilliance and chilling politeness. Curry acknowledged the role’s perfect fit for Hopkins while expressing personal longing to explore the character’s psychological depth.

“It’s so easy for me to see that Anthony would be brilliant in it,” Curry added in the interview clip, which has circulated widely on social media and fan forums. “But I read the script early, and I thought, ‘This is something I could really sink my teeth into’ — no pun intended.”

The “Silence of the Lambs” script, adapted by Ted Tally from Thomas Harris’ novel, attracted top talent. Director Jonathan Demme initially considered actors like Sean Connery (who declined) and others before settling on Hopkins, whose audition reportedly sealed the part quickly. Curry’s agent at the time couldn’t secure an audition, underscoring the competitive nature of high-profile casting in the early 1990s.

Fans have long speculated about Curry in villainous roles he never played. He auditioned for the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series” (ultimately voiced by Mark Hamill) and was considered for parts in films like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (as a burglar) and even early talks for “Jurassic Park.” In the same Academy interview, Curry touched on other near-misses, including animated and live-action opportunities that slipped away.

Despite the regrets, Curry’s body of work remains formidable. His portrayal of Pennywise terrified a generation, while his turn as the Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s “Legend” (1985) showcased elaborate makeup and commanding presence. Roles in “Clue” (1985) as the eccentric Wadsworth and “Muppet Treasure Island” (1996) as Long John Silver added comedic flair to his villain repertoire.

Recent coverage, including pieces in the New York Post and Yahoo Entertainment published Feb. 8-10, 2026, amplified Curry’s comments, with headlines emphasizing the “great regret” angle. Social media reactions poured in, with fans praising what Curry might have brought to Lecter — a blend of theatricality and quiet menace that could have rivaled Hopkins’ subtlety.

Curry’s health updates remain positive in recent years; he uses a wheelchair but continues to engage with fans through voice work and selective interviews. His memoir details the stroke’s impact and his resilience, offering context to why such reflections resonate now.

The Lecter revelation serves as a reminder of Hollywood’s “what ifs” — roles that define legacies yet sometimes go to others. For Curry, the part represents untapped potential in a career already packed with unforgettable antagonists.

As fans revisit “The Silence of the Lambs” and Curry’s classics, his honest admission adds another layer to his enduring appeal: even icons have dreams that didn’t come true.

For nearly two decades, Walmart WMT -1.51%decrease; red down pointing triangle has been the country’s largest company by revenue, a status it touted to prospective hires, employees and suppliers. It called itself a “Fortune 1” company.

On Thursday, Walmart lost its crown.

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Not everyone enjoys constant interaction with customers, clients, or audiences. For many introverts, the thought of daily sales calls, meetings, and live chats can feel exhausting rather than exciting. The good news? You don’t need to be highly social to succeed in business—especially in today’s digital economy.

If you prefer working quietly, independently, and with minimal communication, passive income businesses can be the perfect fit. These business models focus on automation, digital systems, and scalable assets that continue earning even when you’re not actively engaging with customers.

In this article, you’ll discover practical passive income business ideas for introverts in the Philippines that require little to no real-time interaction. These are ideal if you want a sustainable income stream without constant calls, chats, or face-to-face selling.

Why Passive Income Works Well for Introverts

Passive income refers to earnings generated with minimal daily involvement once the system is set up. While it still requires effort at the beginning, the goal is to create digital assets or automated workflows that continue producing income over time.

For introverts, this approach has several advantages:

• Less need for real-time conversations with customers
• More focus on deep work and creativity
• Flexible schedule and independent workflow
• Reduced social fatigue compared to traditional businesses
• Scalable income without constant client management

Instead of spending hours talking to customers, you build systems that work for you—such as digital products, automated stores, or content platforms that generate revenue in the background.

Key Features of an Introvert-Friendly Passive Business

Before choosing a business idea, it’s important to understand what makes a model ideal for introverts. Look for these characteristics:

• Automated order processing or delivery
• Minimal or asynchronous communication (email instead of calls)
• No need for face-to-face selling
• Digital products or services that scale easily
• Systems that can run with scheduled maintenance only

With these criteria in mind, let’s explore the best passive income business ideas tailored for introverts in the Philippines.

1. Print-on-Demand Online Store

A print-on-demand store allows you to sell custom-designed products such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and phone cases without handling inventory or shipping. Once your designs are uploaded and the store is connected to a supplier, the fulfillment process becomes mostly automated.

You simply create designs, upload them to your store, and the system takes care of printing and shipping when orders come in. Communication with customers is minimal and often limited to email support.

This business is ideal for introverts who enjoy design, creativity, or niche-focused branding. You can target specific communities such as gamers, pet lovers, or professionals in certain fields—without needing to talk to them directly.

Blogging remains one of the most reliable passive income sources, especially when monetized through ads and affiliate marketing. You create helpful content around a niche topic, attract search traffic, and earn through display ads or product recommendations.

The best part is that once articles are published and ranked in search engines, they can generate traffic and income for months or even years with minimal updates. Communication is mostly one-way—your readers consume the content without requiring live interaction.

Introverts who enjoy writing, researching, or sharing knowledge will find blogging a peaceful yet profitable venture.

Digital products are one of the most powerful passive income streams because they can be created once and sold repeatedly. Examples include ebooks, templates, planners, stock photos, or online courses.

After creating the product and uploading it to a digital marketplace or your own website, delivery becomes automatic. Customers purchase, download, and use the product without requiring constant support or communication.

This model works well for introverts who prefer creating value behind the scenes rather than engaging in active selling conversations.

4. Faceless YouTube Channel

A faceless YouTube channel is a content strategy where you produce videos without showing your face or speaking directly on camera. You can use screen recordings, animations, stock footage, or text-based storytelling to deliver content.

Once videos are uploaded and optimized, they can continue generating ad revenue and affiliate commissions long after publication. Comments can be managed asynchronously, reducing the pressure of real-time interaction.

This approach is ideal for introverts who want to create content but prefer staying behind the scenes.

5. Affiliate Niche Websites

Affiliate niche websites focus on reviewing products or providing solutions for a specific audience. When readers click your affiliate links and make a purchase, you earn a commission.

The beauty of this model is that once your content ranks in search engines, visitors come organically. You don’t need to actively promote products through direct messages or live selling. The website works as your silent salesperson 24/7.

Introverts who enjoy analysis, comparisons, and structured content creation can thrive in this type of business.

6. Stock Photography and Digital Assets

If you have a creative eye, selling stock photos, illustrations, or design assets can be a quiet yet profitable passive income stream. You upload your work to stock platforms, and each download earns you royalties.

There is little to no direct communication with buyers, and your portfolio continues to earn over time as long as it remains available online.

This is perfect for introverts who enjoy photography, graphic design, or digital art and prefer working independently.

How to Choose the Right Passive Income Idea

Not all passive income ideas will suit your personality or skills. To find the best fit, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I enjoy writing, designing, or creating digital content?
• Do I prefer structured, solo work rather than collaboration?
• Am I willing to invest time upfront for long-term returns?
• Can I commit to consistent but minimal maintenance?

Your answers will help you identify which model aligns with your strengths and comfort level.

Tools That Help Automate Your Passive Business

Automation is key to maintaining a low-interaction business. Here are common tools that support passive workflows:

• Content management systems for blogs and websites
• Email autoresponders for customer inquiries
• Design platforms for creating digital products
• Analytics tools to monitor performance without manual tracking
• E-commerce integrations for automated order fulfillment

By using these tools, you can reduce manual tasks and avoid constant communication while still delivering value to customers.

Realistic Expectations About Passive Income

While passive income sounds appealing, it is important to understand that it is not completely effortless. Most passive businesses require significant effort during the setup phase—creating content, building systems, and optimizing platforms.

However, once the foundation is established, the workload becomes lighter and more predictable. Instead of daily customer interactions, your role shifts to occasional updates, performance checks, and content improvements.

This balance makes passive income especially suitable for introverts who prefer focused work sessions over constant communication.

Tips for Introverts Starting a Passive Income Business

• Start with one business model to avoid overwhelm
• Batch your work to stay in a focused, uninterrupted flow
• Use templates and automation tools whenever possible
• Communicate through email or helpdesk systems instead of calls
• Build systems that run even when you take breaks

Remember, the goal is not to avoid people entirely, but to design a business structure that respects your energy and working style.

Quiet Businesses Can Still Be Profitable

You don’t need to be loud, outgoing, or highly social to succeed in business. Many profitable ventures today are built on quiet consistency, smart automation, and valuable digital assets.

For introverts in the Philippines, passive income businesses offer a realistic path to financial growth without the pressure of constant customer interaction. By choosing the right model and setting up efficient systems, you can earn steadily while working in a calm, focused environment.

Start small, stay consistent, and let your systems do the talking. Over time, your quiet business can become a reliable income stream—proving that success doesn’t always require constant conversation.

Domestic benchmark indices recovered after a gap-down opening and ended on a firm footing. IT stocks emerged as key drags in a volatile trading session, though broad-based buying across sectors kept the markets resilient. The Nifty climbed 116.90 points, or 0.46%, to settle at 25,571.25, while the BSE Sensex advanced 316.57 points, or 0.38%, to end at 82,814.71.

In light of the US Supreme Court’s Friday decision to rule Trump’s tariffs as illegal, sentiments are likely to remain positive, but higher volatility cannot be ruled out.

Analyst Sudeep Shah, Vice President and Head of Technical & Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, interacted with ETMarkets regarding the outlook for the Nifty and Bank Nifty, as well as an index strategy for the upcoming week. The following are the edited excerpts from his chat:

Q: Nifty managed to end the week with gains of 0.4% but failing to cross the 25,600 mark. What do Nifty charts suggest for next week of action?

Last week, the benchmark index Nifty traded within a narrow range of 512 points, which was the tightest weekly range seen over the past four weeks, resulting in the formation of an NR4 pattern. Interestingly, despite the compressed range, volatility remained elevated. During the first three trading sessions, the index witnessed a gradual pullback, however, Thursday saw a sharp reversal, erasing all the gains made earlier in the week. On Friday, the index once again found support near the lower end of the weekly range and staged a rebound. This erratic price behaviour hints that something more structural may be unfolding beneath the surface.

In fact, since February 4, the index has been consolidating within a defined range of 26,009 to 25,373. Even within this tight band, volatility continues to remain high. Owing to the sustained consolidation over recent sessions, all the key moving averages have flattened out. Momentum indicators and oscillators also point towards a sideways phase, with the daily RSI moving in a narrow range for the past 13 trading sessions. Such prolonged compression often acts as a precursor to a decisive directional move.
Going ahead, we expect the index to remain in a sideways trajectory in the near term, with stock-specific action likely to stay vibrant. However, following the Supreme Court’s ruling against the Trump-era tariffs, the market may open with a notable gap-up of nearly 350 to 400 points, buoyed by positive global sentiment.
In terms of crucial levels, the 25,400 to 25,350 zone will continue to act as an important support area, as multiple prior swing lows converge in this region. A sustained breakdown below 25,350 could pave the way for a sharper decline towards the 25,000 mark. On the upside, the 25,950 to 26,000 band is expected to serve as a key resistance zone for the index. The index’s behaviour around these pivotal levels will play a decisive role in shaping the next meaningful directional move.

Q: AI summit grabbed headlines this week and one of the takeaways was Nvidia and Anthropic announcing partnerships with India companies. Beyond the headlines and sentimental rally, how do you see this development and any stock/s that will now be under your radar?

The AI Summit announcements signal a structural shift rather than just a sentiment-driven move. NVIDIA has partnered with Indian players including Larsen & Toubro and Yotta to build sovereign AI infrastructure and GPU capacity in India. Meanwhile, Anthropic has tied up with Infosys to develop enterprise AI solutions using Claude models.

Over the medium term, this could unlock new revenue streams for IT services and digital infrastructure companies. Stocks such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and L&T remain on the radar.

That said, the IT index continues to face pressure amid AI-led disruption concerns and has not yet shown clear signs of stabilisation. The real impact will play out gradually, and investors should track sustained deal momentum and strong buying interest before expecting a durable trend reversal.

Q: What is your overall view on midcap and largecap IT stocks?

Overall, the IT space remains under significant pressure across both largecap and midcap names. The Nifty IT Index has cracked nearly 17% in the last three weeks and has decisively broken below its key long-term support, the 200-week EMA on the weekly chart. Momentum indicators are also weak: RSI has slipped below 40, MACD is below the zero line, and a rising ADX suggests the bearish trend is gaining strength.

Heavyweights and midcap players such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Mphasis, LTIM, and LTTS have all slipped below their 200-week moving averages. FIIs have also sold Rs 10,956 crore in the IT space in the first fortnight of February 2026.

The structure is clearly weak for now. Avoid bottom fishing or trying to catch a falling knife. Despite recent AI-related announcements, the benefits are long term in nature. It is prudent to wait for the IT index to stabilise and for clear signs of strong buying interest before planning fresh exposure.

Q: What is your view on Bank Nifty?

The banking benchmark index, Bank Nifty, continues to deliver a standout performance, significantly outperforming the frontline indices. While the broader Nifty trades nearly 3% below its all-time high, Bank Nifty is positioned right near record levels, underlining the sector’s impressive strength. This relative outperformance is further validated by the Bank Nifty Nifty ratio chart, which has surged to a 33-month high, which is a strong indication that leadership within the market currently rests with the banking pack.

With the index hovering around lifetime highs, all moving average-based technical setups are aligned in favour of the bulls. The daily RSI is steady around the 60 mark, reflecting steady momentum, while the weekly RSI has already pushed deeper into bullish territory, reinforcing the strength of the ongoing trend.

Given this robust chart structure and momentum alignment, Bank Nifty appears well placed to extend its upward trajectory in the coming sessions. In terms of key levels, the 20-day EMA zone at 60,500 to 60,400 acts as a vital support area. On the upside, the immediate resistance is placed at 61,600 to 61,700. A sustained breakout above 61,700 could trigger a strong upward rally, potentially opening the doors to fresh all-time highs and the next leg of bullish momentum.

(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

Wall Street has been eagerly selling private credit as a hot opportunity for individual investors. That sales pitch just got tougher.

Blue Owl Capital OWL -4.80%decrease; red down pointing triangle, a poster child for the industry, said it is liquidating $1.4 billion in assets to raise money to pay out individuals who bought into some of its funds in their heyday but now want to get out. The firm hoped the sale would shore up wobbling investor confidence.

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