In 2015, the same year Marvel handed Tom Holland the Spider-Man suit, he was doing some of the best television work of his career, though you probably didn’t see it. Decked out in a flat cap and fur collar, in rooms usually lit by just one candle, he plays Gregory Cromwell in BBC’s Wolf Hall. Gregory is the son of Henry VIII’s chief fixer, Oliver Cromwell (Mark Rylance), and his job for six episodes is mostly to watch his father ruin people’s lives while trying to look like he’s keeping up with all the cutthroat political scheming surrounding him. He isn’t, but that’s kind of the point. Holland spends the whole miniseries a half-step behind the adults in the room, and the result is the least Tom Holland performance Tom Holland has probably ever given.

Ten years later, Wolf Hall is still near the top of his Rotten Tomatoes page, hanging on above a stack of Spider-Man sequels and the Uncharted movie no one talks about. It’s easy to forget he’s in it at all. (Marvel casting has a way of erasing everything an actor did before it.) But now that we’ve all seen him hold his own as Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, this piece of obscure TV trivia looks more like a receipt.

‘Wolf Hall’ Turns Henry VIII’s Court Into Must-Watch TV for Period Drama Fans

To understand why Holland’s performance works, you have to look at the show he’s disappearing into. Peter Kosminsky directed the six-part miniseries from Peter Straughan‘s adaptation of Hilary Mantel‘s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Rylance’s Thomas Cromwell mostly listens. He watches the room and remembers what people say so he can use it against them later. A blacksmith’s son from Putney who ended up as Henry VIII’s chief fixer, Rylance plays the man Henry used to annul his first marriage, break from Rome, and dissolve the monasteries, as someone with a monumental chip on his shoulder.

Damian Lewis, meanwhile, plays the mercurial king. His Henry VIII is charming one minute and dangerous the next, and half the fun of the show is watching Cromwell figure out which one he’s got in front of him. It’s about how power moves in a court where being loud and obvious usually gets you killed. That’s a hard show to act in. It’s a much harder show to act in when you’re only 18-years-old. Which is what makes Holland’s presence there so strange, and so good.

‘Wolf Hall’ Is Still One of Tom Holland’s Best Roles, and One of BBC’s Best Dramas

Gregory Cromwell has no big scenes to hit. He’s the boy who got sent away to school, comes home, and realizes the people who used to underestimate his dad are now afraid of him. Holland plays him as always alert and just a bit bewildered; a kid slowly realizing what his father has become, and struggling to make sense of it. The restraint is what stands out the most. Almost every part Holland has taken since has asked him to sell a feeling, and sell it loudly. Think of the tearful third acts of the Spider-Man movies, the shell shock in Cherry, the earnest boyishness of every talk-show couch he’s ever sat on. Wolf Hall asked him for something else. It handed him all of three seconds of screen time and expected him to hold his own against veteran actors without the help of a mask and CGI magic. He does. Easily.

Rewatching Wolf Hall now, after a decade of Holland being asked to be charming and cheeky, is a nice little shock. The show itself is one of the best British costume dramas of the 2010s: a beautifully made chronicle of how a nobody became the second most powerful man in England. It was also a precursor to what Holland could do before he strapped on a pair of spandex, a tease of what might come after Spider-Man, and a fascinating kind of TV time capsule.

It’s difficult to imagine Ted Mosby living a life away from his dear friends Barney, Robin, Lily and Marshall, but the How I Met Your Mother cast aren’t like their TV characters — especially more than 10 years after the show wrapped.

Josh Radnor, who played Ted on the beloved CBS series, got real about his friendships with his former castmates on the Sunday, August 16, episode of the “Half the Picture” podcast.

When asked whether he and costars Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders, are “as close as you were,” he admitted, “No. Not even a little bit.”

Radnor, 52, noted, “I don’t mean that in any dramatic way.”

Related: ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

How I Met Your Mother was a pop culture phenomenon during its nine-season run and in the years that followed. How I Met Your Mother told leading man Ted Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) love story in reverse — ultimately leading up to the moment where he meets the mother of his children. Radnor starred alongside Alyson […]

He explained that he’s had Harris, who played Barney Stinson on the sitcom, on his “How We Made Your Mother” podcast where they “had a really interesting conversation about some of the tension we had on set that was fascinating and kinda healing.”

When it comes to Radnor’s relationship with Segel, who played Marshall Eriksen, he said they “send each other texts every once in a while when something that reminds of something funny on set.”

“But I haven’t seen him in a really long time,” Radnor shared.

Smulders, who portrayed Robin Scherbatsky, has also appeared on Radnor’s podcast twice, so he explained, “I’ve seen her mostly on Zoom.”

Radnor revealed that Hannigan, who played Lily Aldrin, was at his wedding to Jordana Jacobs in 2024, “But I haven’t seen her, I don’t think, since.”

How I Met Your Mother premiered in 2005 and followed Ted’s shameless quest for love alongside his four best friends in the years leading up to the day he met his future wife for the first time. Ted narrated the show, telling his kids about the road to meeting their mother, which culminated in nine seasons before the show’s 2014 finale.

While the five main characters were thick as thieves on camera, Radnor explained on the podcast that like many types of relationships the cast’s dynamic shifted once the cameras stopped rolling.

“I have love for all these people,” Randor said on Sunday.

He compared his friendships with the other actors to college, “where you have this very intense time together and you can’t imagine not seeing each other every day because you’ve seen each other every day for so long. Then it just disperses and you just go out and live your life.”

Randor noted that Harris is the only other person who lives in New York, while the other stars are usually in California.

Although Randor said he’s “just living my life,” he understands why fans would be disappointed that the cast isn’t as close as they once were.

Related: Jason Segel: I Was ‘Really Unhappy’ While Filming Final ‘HIMYM’ Seasons

Rob Latour/Shutterstock A difficult balance. Jason Segel reflected on his attempts to pursue other opportunities while filming the final seasons of How I Met Your Mother — and revealed how his mental health was affected. “There was a period in my life and career around the last couple of years of How I Met Your […]

“I think that there’s a yearning, especially when a show’s so centered around friendship, people really want to believe that like me and Neil and Jason are hitting bars in New York City together,” he continued.

Radnor, however, called the cast dynamic more akin to family than friends “in that you don’t get to choose your family.”

He pointed out, “We were cast. We didn’t choose each other.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Radnor added, “And family dynamics come out to play when you are in an environment like that for so long. But you also have love that is quite deep and rich and probably everlasting.”

While Randor and the other HIMYM stars have gone their separate ways, he said the show still holds a special place in his heart — even after having to distance himself from Ted for a few years.

“I had this hostility toward people who wouldn’t let me out of what felt like an identity prison,” Radnor confessed on the podcast. “Now I just have enough time away from it, now it feels like a big part of my autobiography but not the whole thing.”

Alix Earle relives one of the highlights of bringing her upcoming reality TV show to life!

The media personality detailed some of the most significant moments she experienced behind the scenes of “Earle Meets World” and one scene they had difficulty filming.

Alix Earle rose to fame on TikTok through candid “Get Ready With Me” videos before she finally catapulted into other ventures like podcasting, business ventures, and television.

The podcaster, during an interview promoting a recent business partnership, revealed that she carried immense pride in the way her family handled everything life threw at them on the show. From moments of heightened emotions to physical tussles, Earle said that they actually made them closer as a family unit.

However, one scene with her sister Ashtin Earle and mother Alisa Earle was “definitely a hard moment to film” because of how emotional and exposed she felt at the time. Despite the discomfort, the media personality admitted that she is glad to see that such a vulnerable moment made the cut. In her words:

“But those are sort of things where even if I go back and watch the show, I forget that all this happened or I was feeling these things, and I feel so bad for myself watching it sometimes. I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just want to give her a hug.’ I’m snotting all over the place.”

Earle revealed to US Weekly that revisiting painful experiences is not always easy, but she believes showing those raw moments is an important part of connecting with viewers. The show will premiere on Netflix on September 4, 2026.

The 25-Year-Old Adds Dunkin’ Partnership To Her Growing Reality TV And Influencer Portfolio

Earle continued during the interview that producers often encouraged relatives to address uncomfortable topics instead of brushing them aside with the sole aim of bringing them closer.

She also admitted there were tense moments on the show, but said the experience did not create the division she initially feared from doing a reality show.

When the budding reality TV star is not unpacking everything in front of the camera alongside the rest of her family, she is getting into her bag with another business adventure. Earle discussed her Earle-Y Riser Meal partnership with the news outlet, revealing that her younger siblings partly inspired it.

Advertisement

She explained that she added three MUNCHKINS Donut Hole Treats as a playful nod to the three younger children her father, Thomas Earle, shares with Ashley Dupré.

The collaboration comes during an especially busy period for Earle, as she is currently appearing on “Dancing With the Stars” and continuing the “Get Ready With Me” videos that helped propel her to social media fame.

Alix Earle Joined Hailey Bieber And Kendall Jenner As Cymbiotika Investor

Global Cosmetic News shared that the media personality recently joined a group of celebrity investors like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner to invest in the wellness brand. This power move pushed her beyond a traditional paid partnership to become a shareholder and a brand partner.

The deal gave Cymbiotika premium access to Earle’s audience of roughly 14 million followers, while also giving the creator a financial stake in the company’s future growth. Their partnership could eventually expand into a co-branded product, potentially giving Earle an even bigger role in shaping what she promotes to consumers.

Her investment comes as Cymbiotika continues to scale the supplement business, which started in 2019, and in January 2026 it secured $25 million in outside investment while continuing to be profitable and grow by triple digits. Its products have also penetrated the mainstream beauty retail market with a rollout into over 1,000 Ulta Beauty locations.

Advertisement

The University Of Miami Alum Admitted Online Pressure Left Her Second-Guessing Her Looks

As noted by The Blast in July, Earle got candid about taking a social media break while she battled a difficult period of anxiety and emotional exhaustion due to the constant attacks on her content. She added that these statements have left her doubting her looks and some of the relationships in her life.

While she has gotten used to life under a microscope as a celebrity, she confessed to constantly overanalyzing all her steps and appearance till she eventually realized she was slipping into an unhealthy space.

Earle recalled that this thought gradually started slipping into her consciousness as she would suddenly break down in tears while getting ready and later experience a panic attack during a flight. She found it difficult to even upload ordinary content as they often attracted criticism from people and got overblown.

She dealt with this moment of her life by taking time away to reconnect with her friends and spend time in Miami. While she still enjoys creating content and sharing her life, she understands that maintaining an online presence is not worth sacrificing her self-esteem or emotional well-being.

Alix Earle Confronted Long-Running Speculation About Her Political Beliefs

The media personality once addressed speculations surrounding her political beliefs, making it clear that when it comes to President Donald Trump, she does not support him. The Blast stated that Earle recalled publicly stating during her final year of college that she did not support Trump.

She reiterated that position in her 2026 TIME 100 Creators cover story, explaining that questions about her political views still regularly appear across her social media platforms. Earle added that she decided not to respond to every single comment on the matter because she wanted to avoid drama in every way possible.

Advertisement

Earle’s disclaimer came amid reports that a feud had brewed between her and old pal Alex Cooper, where the latter accused her of manufacturing a conflict to get the public’s attention.

The world cannot wait to see Alix Earle and her family on screen!

Big Brother live feeds were wild overnight and this morning including some hot dog and banana shenanigans. Also, Drew Campbell and Barrett Pfeiffer’s sneaky two-faced game play was exposed to their closest allies.

Big Brother 28: Trust Issues and Turbulence

Let’s start with Kamu Kirk’s cluelessness about how much at risk he is of eviction. Kamu worked on Mallory Aurichio trying to get her to keep him and evict Angela Murray. Kamu promised he’d go after Dee Valladares and Devens.

And Kamu told Mallory the vets are liars who can’t be trusted. These are things she already knows. Then, Mallory ratted out Kamu’s evict-Angela pitch to Angela herself. Kamu also promised to keep Mallory safe. Angela said Kamu’s scrambling.

Kamu still can’t seem to figure out why Mallory still wants to evict him. Let’s see. Kamu nominated her, targeted Mallory’s allies when his side was in power and took a steaming poo on her Big Brother tea party.

Melody Morris told the rest of FAP crew that she’s annoyed Taylor Brown wants to keep Kamu because he’s hot. Mallory said emphatically, Kamu is not hot. Yash Patel and Kamu finally figured out Drew and Barrett have been ratting to the icons.

They realized they tattled about the HOH meeting under Lala’s reign. And Melody and Mallory realized Drew and Barrett have been running to the vets this whole time. Melody confronted Drew about allying with the vets.

Mal and Mel agree they only trust each other now. And Haley Thogmartin‘s piling on telling Taylor not to trust Drew and Haley thinks Drew and Barrett have a 4 person thing with Devens and Dee.

And by the way, Yash did have an extreme reaction to Devens blindside DPOV move but did it up in his HOH room with Drew and Kamu, so it was a no-risk space.

Yash Crashes Out on BB28

Yash was griping about Devens and said “f-k this power. I’m not gonna let this power take a negative turn on my HOH that would’ve been a masterclass. F-word you and your damn power bro”. That’s his rant.

Also, there was another Lala incident. Taylor was cleaning the bathroom, Angela came in and Lala Verrett started grilling her asking how close is she to Dee. Are they tight, are they allies? Taylor got mad and shut it down.

She told Angela, you don’t have to answer that. And at first Angela said it was okay, then she asked Lala, well how close are you to Kamu. I think you’d keep Kamu over me. In the end, Angela went upstairs to cry (as usual).

Then, Taylor went off on Lala, chewed her out, told her stop putting people on the spot, stop moving around the house that way. Taylor was really mad & when she put her hands on her hips, Lala laughed so hard she almost peed.

Then, Taylor stormed off to the storage room to rant to the cameras about Lala messing up her game but Taylor said she can’t just ditch Lala at this point. Taylor said a prayer to make it to jury.

By the way, Lala’s kids are on social media upset about Taylor talking to their mom like this. Later, Yash and Taylor teamed up on Lala. After Taylor and Yash fussed at her, Lala said, fine I won’t say anything but good morning, good afternoon, good night and keep it moving.

Taylor said perfect and Yash said, it sounds messed up but yeah. I don’t think Lala’s going to stick to those rules. She complained it’s a double standard because Haley says things.

Taylor said yes, but not not out loud in front of everyone. She told Lala this is a social experiment. She walked out and Yash told Taylor, “There will be a day we have to send Lala home. You know that right?”

Drama and Fractured Alliances on BB28

There’s growing anti-icon sentiment but it seems to be tabled for one week. So, Melody told Drew, “what if we do this for the icons (getting Kamu out), then next week all bets are off?”. Melody realized they’re doing the vet’s dirty work like Haley, Chuk Anyanwu, and Kamu did in the past.

But with the numbers whittled down, if the entirety of the house turns on the vets next week, they’ll have the numbers. Even if the vet pets scurry back and align with them. Taylor, Yash, Mallory, Melody, Lala and either Haley or Kamu will stay. That’s 6.

Drew, Barrett and the vets is 5. The non-vet side should have control but it’s all about the next HOH and the final time capsule power. Fan polls have Drew in the lead but Kamu’s shifted up to second place. And the coin of destiny is still up for grabs. Next week on Big Brother should be fire.

Speaking of anti-vet sentiment. Kamu, Lala and Taylor all clocked that Dee’s the type who talks bad about you and then avoids you because of her own guilt. Taylor said she’s like that quote—when people do you wrong, they avoid you.

Big Brother 28: Weinergate – Who Bit the Dog?

Okay now Weinergate. This was a fun prank. Rick Devens made two hotdogs and mac n’ cheese and got called into the DR because production’s just mean. He left his food on the table.

Then, Yash, Drew and Melody peer pressured Barrett into sneaking down and taking a bite of his food. Barrett looked really stressed but finally took a bite of a dog. When Devens came out of the DR, he saw a bite was missing.

He immediately assumed Dee did it. The HOH crew watched on the monitor upstairs laughing as Devens called Dee a hot dog biter. She told Devens it wasn’t me, but it’s funny, I wish I’d thought of it.

Then, Melody, Yash, Drew and Barrett came down and lined up in front of him. Devens said it’s a hot dog inquisition. They rehearsed to say in unison, “you have to guess who ate your hot dog and if you get it wrong, you’ll never know.”

Devens said Melody’s least likely which makes her most likely. He said Drew wouldn’t do it unless it was peer pressure. Barrett wasn’t even on his radar. So, Devens guessed Yash and because he’s wrong, they turned around silently and jogged back upstairs.

After a few seconds Devens did a big cinematic “nooooooo”. Upstairs, Drew said they have to take it to their graves.

Big Brother: It’s All Bananas

Another cute thing is that Mallory made Angela a card to cheer her up. She gathered a bunch of food wrappers, a piece of cardboard off a food box and the medical tape from the first aid kit and tore up the letters and taped them onto the card to say “Angela Rocks BB28“.

Mallory said she thought she might like it for her scrapbook. Angela was moved to tears and said it’s like a strange kind of love on Big Brother. And now the banana incident.

Devens was with Dee, Barrett, Drew and Mallory and Melody in the hot tub room. Devens has a round blue pillow with a hole in it like a mouth. He put sunglasses on it and named it Garrett.

So, pillow-Garrett interviewed Pipe Queen Mallory about some stuff and then Garrett described to everyone how Drew eats a banana. He said Barrett eats bananas like a “normal human being”.

You peel a little, eat a little, peel some more, then you end up with empty peel. Garrett said the way Drew eats bananas is “quite unorthodox”. Devens said Drew takes the banana, peels it entirely and holds the squishy banana in his bare hand.

Devens said Drew bites one end, then the other all the while holding it like it’s a smiley face and then eats it to completion. They’ve got to put that on the episode because it killed me.

Tonight is the 90 minute power of veto comp episode where we’ll see Yash win OTEV, leave noms the same and Devens plays his DPOV to apparently lackluster response. Can’t wait to see it.

UPDATE — 8/19/26, 2:05 p.m. ET: David Krumholtz is clarifying his temporary break from acting.

“Firstly, I am very well. And I feel very loved. Secondly, I never used the word ‘retiring’ or ‘quitting.’ Instead, I said that I decided to put my career on hold,” Krumholtz wrote via Instagram to set the record straight on Wednesday, August 19. “I don’t expect anyone to understand, but the outpouring of support for my decision has been deeply heartwarming. I am wildly grateful, as more than one of my biggest dreams have come true as a result of being an actor. Grateful to all who support and believe in me.”

At the same time, the Supergirl star acknowledged having a “mountain of disappointments” alongside his successes.

“My mental health is vital to my family. My career has run the gamut. I’m in disbelief. But I find myself at a crossroads between the inherent self involvement being a professional actor requires, and a burning desire to give more of myself to others in need, in whatever way I can,” he continued. “And so, for the time being, I’m pursuing that goal. There’s still more work to come. Stuff to be seen. And as always, I really hope you enjoy what I’ve put out there. Just,… gimme a sec ❤️.”

Original story below: 

Oppenheimer and Supergirl actor David Krumholtz announced he’s taking an “indefinite break” from acting, saying he is “fed up.”

“I kinda sorta put my acting career on hold the other day. It’s been something I’ve been petrified to do for years,” Krumholtz, 48, shared in a now-deleted Threads post on Tuesday, August 18.

“Specifically, the fear was that I’d go broke and not be able to handle being out of the game. But I sent the definitive email,” he wrote, per Deadline, Just Jared and other outlets.

Krumholtz continued, “And gotta say, a huge wave of relief washed over me. Not sure what I’m going to do for money instead, or how I’m going to do it, but I just removed a humongous burden, one that I truly didn’t fathom the weight of until it was gone. Frustrated, fed up, fried.”

Related: Tim Allen’s ‘Santa Clause’ Costar David Krumholtz Reveals Shocking Residuals

David Krumholtz doesn’t receive much of a holiday bonus from his Santa Clause residuals. “They’re minimal because the movie plays so much,” Krumholtz, 48, recently told Page Six of the checks he receives each year for the 1994 Christmas film starring Tim Allen. The Numb3rs actor explained, “This is how residuals work: Every time it […]

Advertisement

In response to a follower who asked if he was retiring from acting, he responded, “Not quitting entirely. Just taking a bit of a step back and an indefinite break.”

“The stress of the moment has me wondering if there’s a higher calling to pursue. Thanks for the very kind thought. Means the world,” he added.

Krumholtz shared another post, reacting to the support he received from the acting community.

“The love and encouragement re: my last post is overwhelmingly surprising. Acting professionally is a very different concept than the exercise of acting itself,” he wrote. “I’ve enjoyed every single minute of exercising the muscle. I’ve enjoyed the fanfare. There was a time when being competitive and self-involved really served my pursuit. That time has passed. Much to MY overwhelming surprise. There will always be great joy in the exercise. But for me, the profession has lost its gleam.”

Advertisement

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Related: James Lafferty Was Ready to Quit Acting Before ‘One Tree Hill’

Advertisement

Most people have thought about giving up their jobs at one time or another — including some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. During a 2019 interview with Australian Men’s Health, Chris Hemsworth admitted that he considered leaving acting behind after his role in 2009’s Star Trek sparked fewer opportunities than he’d hoped. Thank You! You have […]

The Mindy Project’s Garret Dillahunt commented on Krumholtz’s post, “This is sad news for me. But I am happy for you. I understand completely.”

“Garret, man. Means the world. Ain’t over, rather, redefining my terms. Hoping to find a new, more rewarding passion,” Krumholtz responded. “Me, my product, and I mentality is not working anymore. I want to try to be of service. No crystal ball.”

Krumholtz played physicist Isidor Rabi in Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer in 2023. He most recently played Zor-El in DC Studios’ Supergirl, starring opposite Milly Alcock. His other credits include Disney’s The Santa Clause franchise, 10 Things I Hate About You and a role in Apple TV’s hit show The Studio.

Advertisement