Blake Lively has been called out by journalist Kjersti Flaa after she and Justin Baldoni settled their long-running legal battle last week.

Flaa claimed the actress “bullied” and “publicly humiliated” her as she was dragged into the nasty legal fight between the co-stars, but then attempted to block her from testifying in court.

The journalist also hit out at Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for “manipulating” the internet following her appearance at the Met Gala on the same day she settled her lawsuit.

Flaa has hit out at Blake Lively following her out-of-court settlement with Justin Baldoni, as it essentially means she won’t get to testify in their case.

The Norwegian reporter got dragged into the legal feud after sharing an old interview clip she had with Lively, where the actress made remarks about her “bump” because she congratulated her on her pregnancy at the time.

Flaa didn’t expect the jab from the star at the time and would later reveal that she cannot conceive. However, the video went viral, causing many to accuse Lively of being “mean” and “rude.”

This led to speculations that she may have reshared the old clip as part of a “smear campaign” by Baldoni, with Lively attempting to subpoena Google to get information from Flaa’s account.

Baldoni’s team eventually tapped her to testify on the actor’s behalf, but now that both stars have settled, it means she’ll no longer need to, which she considers painful considering all that she went through.

“I wasn’t surprised by [Lively objecting to me testifying], it makes a lot of sense that they wouldn’t want me [to testify],” Flaa told the Daily Mail. “They accused [Justin’s production studio’s team] of amplifying the video and using it to smear her, and I was planning to tell the truth about what actually happened. I had nothing to do with the smear campaign.”

Kjersti Flaa Accused The Actress Of Being A ‘Bully’

The journalist claimed that her testimony would have dealt a devastating blow to Lively’s case as she could “prove the opposite of what she was trying to prove” with the video analytics.

“I was the only person who had access to the analytics and could see what really happened to that video. I could see there was no one who amplified that video – YouTube shows you where all the traffic is coming from. I was going to reveal a lot of things that I’m sure they were not happy about,” Flaa noted.

She also alleged that Lively “bullied” and publicly humiliated her, before saying she was “disappointed” she won’t get to testify now that they’ve settled.

“I was looking forward to it. I was looking forward to telling my side of the story and supporting what I believe very strongly is the truth here,” Flaa said.

The Journalist Said It Would Have Been ‘Humiliating’ For Blake Lively To Lose

Just last month, Lively’s case took a shocking turn after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 out of the 13 claims she made against Baldoni, including sexual harassment and defamation charges.

At the time, she maintained that she was proceeding to court and was going to try and prove the remaining charges when their trial started, which was supposed to be Monday, May 18.

But by settling, Flaa believes it was her accepting defeat, as things were already looking shaky for her.

“She knew she had a weak case. I think she was advised by everyone to let it go,” the reporter suggested. “It would have been so humiliating for her to lose, and you never want to look like a liar in front of a jury.”

After announcing her settlement, Lively proceeded to make an appearance at the 2026 Met Gala on the same day, but Flaa noted it was a desperate attempt by “delusional” Lively to change the narrative about her.

Kjersti Flaa Called The Actress’s Met Gala Move ‘Mind-Blowing’

Flaa told the news outlet that it was “mind-blowing” she’d even consider doing something like that, alleging it’s what she and Reynold try to “manipulate the public” by flooding the internet with stories that are “friendly and  pro–their narrative.”

“The audacity and guts that she had to stand there in front of all these people and say, ‘Hey, look at me in this dress.’ I was shocked that she did that. I think it says a lot about her,” she noted. “In her reality, she still cannot believe that people don’t like her. That’s why she went to the Met Gala.”

Flaa added, “For her, this is an orchestrated smear campaign against her, and she believes people still love her. It’s so delusional. She really, truly believes this … that’s the tragic thing in all of this. In her wildest imagination, she cannot fathom that people don’t like her.”

The Journalist Believes Blake Lively Can Still Make A Career Comeback

Amid her lengthy court battle with the actor, reports emerged suggesting Lively has become unpopular among several Hollywood circles, with a Disney executive saying nobody will work with her anymore.

Several brand and PR experts have also spoken out about how the court case may have negatively affected her public image, especially because many people already think she exudes “mean girl” energy.

However, Flaa suggests all hope isn’t lost yet if the “Another Simple Favor” actress just lies low for a while.

“My advice to her would be to stay low for a couple of years if she wants a chance to come back and do anything in Hollywood again,” Flaa said. “I think in Hollywood, everything is just about money. And if [a movie studio] believes she can make money on a project, they will consider working with her.”

“But who wants to work with her now? Maybe a studio would risk it, but what kind of director wants to work with her? Who wants to put themselves through that? She is toxic, and right now the public is not ready to take her back,” she added.

Ryan Reynolds has raised eyebrows over the way he referred to his wife, Blake Lively, using “this/them” wording in a recent Mother’s Day post.

The post comes amid rumors that the couple’s marriage has been strained by Lively’s high-profile legal battle with Justin Baldoni, which reportedly ended in a settlement earlier this month.

Lively has also reportedly grown unpopular in some Hollywood circles, with the fallout from the legal battle said to have affected both her career and Reynolds’ public image.

On Sunday, May 10, Reynolds took to Instagram to share a glowing Mother’s Day tribute to Lively. However, several online users raised eyebrows over his choice of words as speculation continues that their marriage has been strained.

“I appreciate this mother beyond measure,” Reynolds wrote.

The post immediately sent the rumor mill into overdrive, with some social media users calling it “weird” that he referred to his wife as “this” instead of simply using her name. Others also pointed to his April 19 interview on “TODAY,” where he used similar language to refer to her.

“I’ve just never in my life been more proud of someone with that level of integrity that brings that with them and carries that with them in everything that they do,” he said.

Fans Call Out Reynolds Over Blake Lively Tribute

Fans then took to social media to share their reactions, calling Reynolds out over the way he referred to his wife.

“Are her eyes closed in the bottom picture? And what a crappy story. He doesn’t even say her name. With a husband like that, who needs enemies?” a Reddit user wrote.

Another person claimed, “It’s a weird narcissistic devaluation thing. Although I do sort of think he’s running everything through ChatGPT to the point of madness.”

“Maybe it’s a keyword SEO manipulation thing again,” someone else penned. “He avoids referring to Blake by name so that he’s not contributing any additional new content that associates Blake with him.”

Ryan Reynolds Reportedly Pushed Blake Lively To Settle

The backlash comes amid reports that Lively’s legal battle with Baldoni strained her marriage to Reynolds. This apparently prompted him to push her to settle, as he allegedly didn’t want to be dragged through court.

Sources told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop that the actor was also concerned the case was beginning to affect Lively’s public image and personal relationships, among other things.

An insider told the journalist that Reynolds “knew the longer this dragged on, the more it would erode everything,” while another source claimed Lively was deeply invested in the case and wanted to defend her position until the end.

However, she supposedly decided to pull the plug on the case, with the source noting that “the one thing she refused to lose was her marriage.”

Lively And Baldoni Ended The Feud With A Statement

Lively and Baldoni reached an out-of-court settlement, ending a bitter legal feud that began in late 2024 when she filed a sexual harassment suit against him.

The “Another Simple Favor” actress had originally filed 13 claims against Baldoni, including sexual harassment and defamation, but 10 of those claims were dismissed by a judge in April on technical grounds.

In a joint statement released at the time, both parties said they remained proud of their work on “It Ends With Us” and its message about supporting survivors of domestic violence. They also noted that the concerns raised deserved to be heard, while sharing hopes that everyone involved could now move on peacefully.

Blake Lively Still Seeking Damages After Settlement

Since the settlement, both sides have claimed victory despite reports suggesting there was no financial payout from either party. However, Lively’s lawyers have said she will continue to pursue damages under a California law that bars retaliatory defamation lawsuits tied to sexual harassment claims.

According to the L.A. Times, she is seeking attorneys’ fees, punitive damages, and other financial penalties stemming from the $400 million countersuit Baldoni filed against her, which was dismissed by a judge last June.

“By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively,” Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, said in a statement.

The best sci-fi shows often come from the best sci-fi authors. The genre has no bounds, exploring whether technology could advance beyond imagination or how far humanity itself might evolve in the future. However, the greatest sci-fi works are usually the ones that ring closest to real-life issues. No matter how many years pass, what kinds of governments rise and fall, or how advanced science becomes, the human conflict between right and wrong remains timeless and universal.

Sci-fi only complicates this further with scientific logic, which is notoriously objective. But when that logic crashes into something as philosophical, intangible, and subjective as morality, things get messy fast. That tension is exactly what makes the genre so fascinating in the first place, and the authors below excel in that department. With that in mind, here are the sci-fi shows based on books that are true masterpieces.

‘The Expanse’ (2015–2022)

Image via Prime Video

The Expanse, both the show and the novel series, is larger than life. The six-season series is based on James S. A. Corey’s nine novels, as well as additional source material from their short stories and novellas. It is the reason why The Expanse, true to its name, continues to stretch across the universe. Set in the 23rd century, humans have colonized the Solar System. Earth is governed by the United Nations, while Mars has become an independent military power.

As for ordinary working-class people, they are the Belters — those who live and work in the asteroid belt — who make ends meet by supplying essential resources like water to the inner planets. Although technology has advanced and space colonization is now the norm, war remains much the same, as Earth and Mars constantly watch each other’s backs, wary that the other might strike first. But if there is one thing about war, it is that there is always a third party lurking in the shadows of the universe, looking to profit from the chaos.

‘Altered Carbon’ (2018–2020)

Image via Netflix

Immortality is no longer an impossibility in Altered Carbon. In a future society (about 360 years ahead in the show’s adaptation), humans have developed a form of digital immortality using cortical stacks implanted in the spine, allowing them to store a person’s consciousness. When the physical body dies, the stack is preserved and transferred into a new body, or “sleeve.” In this way, the mind can potentially live forever.

Sci-fi often explores technologies that challenge the rules of nature, and Altered Carbon is no exception. However, this technology comes with deep moral implications, giving both the series and the novel strong nuance. For some, immortality is seen as playing God, which in the book is strongly opposed by religious groups such as the Roman Catholics, as it contradicts sacred teachings. Much like in real life, this kind of technology is also unequally distributed, reserved mainly for the wealthy, while the working class remains disposable.

‘The Man in the High Castle’ (2015–2019)

Image via Prime Video

The Man in the High Castle imagines an alternate reality where Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan win World War II, dividing the United States between them. By 1962, the East Coast is controlled by the Nazis, the West Coast is occupied by Japan, and the middle of the country exists as unstable Neutral Zones filled with fugitives and resistance groups. When resistance fighters come across mysterious films depicting an alternate reality where the United States actually won the war, the fascist regimes launch a massive manhunt to destroy the films.

Without a doubt, fascist powers are inherently evil. However, The Man in the High Castle provocatively explores the individuals living under these regimes rather than focusing solely on the system itself. Characters like the American-born but Japanese-culture-assimilated resistance fighter Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) and the pacifist Japanese trade minister Nobusuke Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) reveal the nuances of living in this alternate universe.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017–2025)

Image via Hulu

Set in the dystopian republic of Gilead, The Handmaid’s Tale follows June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), a woman stripped of her freedom after a religious authoritarian regime seizes control of the United States. With fertility rates collapsing worldwide, fertile women are forced into servitude as “Handmaids,” assigned to bear children for powerful officials. Renamed Offred, June struggles to survive a brutal society that treats women as property while desperately holding onto hope of reuniting with her husband and daughter.

Reproductive rights remain a pressing issue worldwide, with lawmakers dictating deeply personal matters such as abortion and Planned Parenthood. The Handmaid’s Tale reimagines these anxieties to terrifying yet believable extremes, where women are only seen from their capacity to bear children rather than their minds. The series also shows how class determines how women are treated. High-ranking women married to commanders do not face the same repercussions as the Handmaids, proving that women’s rights are never experienced equally across different social classes.

‘Dark Matter’ (2024–Present)

Image via Apple TV

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Rule number one of sci-fi: never mess with alternate realities. Dark Matter follows Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a genius yet humble Chicago physics professor living a quiet family life with his wife and son. His world changes overnight when he is abducted and wakes up in an alternate reality where he chooses scientific ambition over family and becomes a celebrated scientist. There, he discovers that another version of himself created technology capable of traveling between parallel universes.

Dark Matter explores the theory of superposition through a parallel-universe story centered on “the Box,” a quantum gateway connecting countless alternate realities. While one version of Jason abandons the idea, his alternate counterpart successfully builds the machine, though at a moral cost. Sometimes, the pursuit of science is worth questioning, especially when it begins to cross ethical boundaries. Each jump across these realities destabilizes reality itself, threatening the potential collapse of the universe.

‘Silo’ (2023–Present)

In Silo, set on a desolate Earth where stepping outside could mean instant death, the last remnants of humanity have been herded into one massive underground silo. Nobody knows exactly when or why the silo was built, but questioning it is forbidden. To keep the silo functioning, its inhabitants are divided into three main classes: the Upper Levels are reserved for bureaucratic elites, the Middle Levels for ordinary workers and businesses, and the Down Deep for mechanics, engineers, and laborers.

Ironically, the people of the Down Deep are the literal heartbeat of the silo. Yet despite performing the most grueling work, they are often looked down upon and rarely given the chance to rise to higher levels — something that resonates with actual workers in real life. However, in this society, questioning authority leads to grave consequences. Anyone who dares challenge the system is sent outside to “clean” the exterior cameras — never to return alive.

‘3 Body Problem’ (2024–Present)

Image via Netflix

3 Body Problem is what happens when physics, aliens, and politics collide into the ultimate hard sci-fi experience. Spanning multiple timelines, the story begins during China’s Cultural Revolution, when a young astrophysicist branded a political dissident becomes involved in a secret military radio project. Decades later, scientists around the world begin mysteriously taking their own lives, while a nanotechnology expert starts seeing an unexplained countdown visible only to him.

The mystery behind the countdown drives the momentum of 3 Body Problem, but its scientific foundation is what makes the series especially compelling. The story draws inspiration from the real-life “three-body problem,” which explores how difficult it is to predict the movement of three massive celestial bodies, such as stars or planets. In the series, an alien civilization orbiting three suns faces extreme and unpredictable environmental disasters, turning their world into a cycle of apocalyptic destruction, forcing them to retreat to Earth.

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3 Body Problem

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March 21, 2024

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Minkie Spiro, Derek Tsang

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Dua Lipa has launched a massive legal battle against Samsung, alleging that the company used her likeness to market its products without her consent.

The pop star claims that the tech giant ignored multiple warnings to stop using a specific photograph of her on their television packaging.

However, fans have slammed the singer’s lawsuit as a weak attempt to gain more money out of financial desperation. 

Lipa is seeking at least $15 million in damages from Samsung, alleging that the company featured her face on TV boxes sold across the United States without her permission.

According to the lawsuit filed on May 8, the image in question is a copyrighted photo titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024.” 

The singer’s legal team argued that this marketing tactic falsely implies she endorses the television, leading customers to believe she is affiliated with the brand. The filing even highlighted social media posts from fans who admitted they purchased a TV specifically because they saw the 30-year-old Grammy winner on the box, per People Magazine.

In addition to the initial use of the photo, the complaint alleges that Samsung acted in a “dismissive and callous” manner when confronted. Lipa’s representatives reportedly sent several cease-and-desist letters starting around June 2025, yet the televisions featuring her face allegedly remain on the market. 

Her attorneys insisted that Samsung purposefully exploited her fame and brand recognition to drive their own commercial success.

Fans Are Not Buying Into Dua Lipa’s Lawsuit

The news of the $15 million lawsuit has generated a wave of strong, conflicting opinions online, with some fans criticizing the legal action as an excessive move for a celebrity of Lipa’s stature. 

One social media user wrote, “This is so frivolous, but yes, they did use her entire face as the largest visual on the packaging to sell their product… she absolutely should be paid. 

Another critic even joked that the singer might be acting out of financial desperation, suggesting her “vacation money” was running low.

Yet, another user wrote, “I do not believe a single person exists that chooses to buy that TV because the ad on display had Dua Lipa’s face lol.” 

On the other hand, a small part of the audience believes the star is entirely justified in her legal pursuit.  “If a billion-dollar company can use your face without permission, imagine what they’ll do to ordinary people. Protecting image rights matters,” the user wrote. 

Inside Dua Lipa & Callum Turner’s Altercation With The Paparazzi

Lipa’s struggle to maintain her boundaries with corporations like Samsung is mirrored in her daily life with the paparazzi. In February, a romantic evening in Paris for Lipa and Callum Turner turned into a chaotic ordeal when they were swarmed by aggressive photographers. 

As the couple attempted to leave Le Voltaire restaurant, they were met by a crowd of paparazzi who ignored their requests for space. 

The Blast reported that Turner was seen on video appearing visibly frustrated and telling individuals off-camera that the situation was “not okay.” Lipa was equally distressed, shielding her face with one hand while holding Turner’s hand with the other as she tried to walk away. 

The situation became so frantic that Lipa nearly bumped into a pole while trying to escape the flashing lights and shouting. Afterward, fans online rushed to the singer’s defense when video of the encounter went viral, with many describing the photographers’ behavior as outright harassment. 

What Dua Lipa Said About Her Future Motherhood Plans

While Lipa remains protective of her current personal space, she has also contemplated the future and the life she hopes to build with her significant other. In a candid interview, the singer addressed the prospect of starting a family, confirming that she would love to have kids one day. 

However, she admitted that the logistical realities of balancing a massive global career with motherhood are a source of constant thought and concern. She questioned how motherhood would fit into her demanding schedule, particularly how long she would need to step away from work and how she would manage being on tour.

Despite her concerns about her professional life, the Albanian native remains optimistic about the future milestone, stating that it will “happen when it happens,” per The Blast.

Dua Lipa Defended Her Controversial Wedding Attire

Whether she is debating the logistics of her future or defending her past choices, Lipa has consistently stood by her decisions regardless of public opinion. 

This same independent spirit was on display when she addressed the long-standing controversy surrounding her choice of the sheer white dress she wore to the wedding of designer Simon Porte Jacquemus and Marco Maestri. 

The outfit had caused a significant stir because it was both white and quite revealing, leading many to criticize her for breaking traditional wedding guest etiquette.

As The Blast reported, Lipa explained that the dress code for the event was specifically white and that she was far from the only person following those instructions.

The fantasy genre was on its deathbed by 1999. Indeed, things were outright dire by the decade’s second half, with hardly any movies taking off outside of the animated realm. Sure, there were still masterpieces by Princess Mononoke, but overall, the likes of Hercules couldn’t live up to the greatest gems produced throughout the early days of the Disney Renaissance. Then 2001 came along, and everything changed.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say 2001 was one of the greatest years for fantasy in the new millennium, if not the best. At least three certified masterpieces came out throughout those precious twelve months, two of which revitalized the dying genre and revolutionized cinema as a whole. Today, twenty-five years later, the best fantasy movies of 2001 are more revered than ever before. They have aged like fine wine, not only for their importance to the medium, but for their stellar quality as motion pictures.

‘Monsters, Inc.’

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios began the new millennium with a lovely adventure about friendship and self-discovery that proved they could do much more than just Toy Story. Monsters, Inc. is set in a world where children’s screams power a huge, monster-populated city. James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) and his sidekick, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), are the top-performing duo at Monsters, Incorporated, the monster world’s largest scare factory. Things change when the two-year-old human girl Boo (Mary Gibbs) accidentally finds her way to the monster world, throwing Sully and Mike’s lives into disarray.

Like most other great Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc. thrives through a combination of a creative narrative, a powerful emotional core, stunning animation, and a memorable screenplay full of quotable lines and now-iconic gags. Sully and Mike are among Pixar’s most emblematic characters and one of cinema’s best depictions of friendship. However, it’s Sully’s bond with Boo that becomes the strongest aspect of this delightful monster comedy. For a movie aimed at children, Monsters, Inc. deals with some very profound issues, including corporate greed, prejudice, and the healing power of laughter as a force for good. A now-famous and very bittersweet ending is the cherry on top of this monstrously crafted cake.

‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Harry Potter was arguably the defining franchise of the 2000s. Progressing and maturing along with the decade, the tale of the Boy Who Lived is responsible for an entire generation’s love for the fantasy genre. The first entry, 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, introduces us to eleven-year old Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), an orphan living with his abusive uncles. One day, he learns he’s actually a wizard and can attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he meets and becomes friends with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). While attending classes and facing new and daunting tasks, Harry learns of his backstory and his role in bringing down the dark wizard Lord Voldemort.

The Harry Potter movies produced one of cinema’s most enduring fantasy worlds — never before had so many wanted to receive a letter via owl. The highlight of the series is undoubtedly the third entry, 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but there’s such an enchanting value to the first entry. Out of them all, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the one that feels most inviting and wholesome. It has to do with it being the introductory chapter to this story, but it’s also thanks to the distinct childlike approach that director Chris Columbus takes to the story. Hogwarts feels like a place straight out of the wildest child fantasies, full of whimsy and danger, but always warm and irresistible. The saga would become something darker and more mature as it progressed, but the first movie remains a timeless triumph that marked an entire generation.

‘Shrek’

The worlds of fantasy and animation forever changed in 2001, thanks to the release of Shrek. Based on the 1990 children’s book Shrek! by William Steig, the film stars Mike Myers as the titular character, a cantankerous ogre whose swamp is suddenly flooded by a myriad of fairy tale characters banned by the despotic Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Joined by a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad: he’ll travel to a distant tower and rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) so she can marry Farquaad, in exchange for his swamp.

Shrek subverted the classic fantasy notions and fairy tale tropes through a modern and edgy humor, including anachronistic references, pop culture jokes, and an overall 21st-century approach to what would otherwise be a classic romance adventure. Myers, Diaz, Murphy, and Lithgow are incredible in their voice roles, with Murphy even earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2002 ceremony (one of the coolest things BAFTA has ever done, by the way). In terms of narrative, Shrek is simply amazing, full of hilarious and witty jokes, double-entendres, and subversions of classic fairy tale characters and settings. The film truly felt like a breath of fresh air in 2001, and its success led to a wildly successful franchise that endures to this day — the long-awaited fifth movie will debut in 2027. Moreover, Shrek won the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

‘Spirited Away’

Image via Studio Ghibli

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Studio Ghibli has been producing masterpieces since the ’80s, but it reached a whole new peak in the 2000s, largely thanks to Spirited Away. Hayao Miyazaki‘s timeless fantasy masterpiece tells the story of Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi/Daveigh Chase), a young girl whose parents are transformed into pigs after they inadvertently enter the spirit world and overindulge in food. To save them, Chihiro secures employment in the bathhouse of the witch Yubaba (Mari Natsuki/Suzanne Pleshette), where she will lose her name and will need to rediscover herself.

A mystical coming-of-age journey that stands as arguably Studio Ghibli’s crowning jewel, Spirited Away is a masterpiece that has only gotten better with age. The film’s messages about strength, self-discovery, consumerism, and the road to maturity blend beautifully with the story’s larger exploration of Japanese culture, mysticism, and spirituality. As with most other Miyazaki movies, there’s also a considerable dose of environmentalist themes here. The result is a true work of art that keeps resonating with audiences. Spirited Away brought Japanese cinema to a new international level of acclaim and established Ghibli as a singular force in animation. Released in the U.S. in 2002, the film won the second-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature, ensuring its legacy as a titan of the medium.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’

Image via New Line Cinema

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No franchise in the 2000s had a better commercial or critical reception than Sir Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Based on the seminal novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, the trilogy adapted the three most important and influential fantasy books of the 20th century into three equally revolutionary movies. The first entry, 2001’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, tells the story of young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who inherits from his uncle a mysterious ring with a strange power. Learning it is the dreaded One Ring, Frodo and a group of companions, calling themselves the Fellowship of the Ring, begin a journey to destroy the One Ring in the fired of Mount Doom.

You simply can’t overstate just how massive Fellowship of the Ring was. The film created one of the most immersive and mystical fantasy worlds in cinema, throwing audiences into the middle of an intense and dangerous tale of good versus evil. At its core, the film is about how heroes can come from the most unlikely places and how small deeds can have the power to shake entire destinies. Yet, it also includes some spectacular sequences, from Arwen’s (Liv Tyler) rescue of Frodo to the magic duel between Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) and Saruman (Sir Christopher Lee), to the confrontation against the demonic balrog. The film is stunning to look at, with visual effects that have aged beautifully and an atmosphere that makes everything seem ancient and outside of time itself. The Fellowship of the Ring is arguably the best fantasy movie ever made, launching one of cinema’s most revered trilogies and changing the landscape of cinema forever.

For decades, Brooke Shields has been one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, from controversial fashion campaigns to iconic film and television roles. But behind the glamorous image, Shields says there was another side of herself the industry rarely allowed audiences to fully see. Now, as she steps back into comedy with her new mystery series “You’re Killing Me” and continues speaking openly about aging and reinvention, Brooke Shields is reflecting on the pressure she faced growing up in the spotlight and why it took decades for Hollywood to embrace her comedic side.

Brooke Shields is reflecting on the pressures she faced growing up in Hollywood, admitting the industry largely viewed her as a “sex symbol” instead of embracing her comedic side. Speaking with AARP’s Movies for Grownups about her memorable guest appearance on “Friends,” Shields said she would have loved to lean into comedy much earlier in her career.

“Believe me, I would’ve done it a couple of decades before,” she said of her over-the-top role as Joey’s obsessed stalker on the hit sitcom. “But that wasn’t what people wanted of me. They wanted me to be this, I don’t know, sex symbol … and that was fine.”

Shields Says Comedy Was Always Her Happy Place

Although Shields became famous for her provocative Calvin Klein ads as a teenager, she revealed that comedy had always been where she felt most comfortable creatively. The actress said she spent years doing sketch comedy under legendary entertainer Bob Hope during dozens of USO tours entertaining troops overseas. “Doing sketch comedy,” Shields said. “I was always happiest.”

Now at 60, Shields is once again stepping into a comedy-forward role with her new Acorn TV series You’re Killing Me. In the limited mystery-comedy series, Shields plays an “aging out” mystery novelist who teams up with a younger true-crime podcaster to solve a murder. “It’s a funny mystery series,” she explained. “And there’s a lot of physical comedy in it for me.”

Brooke Shields Is Embracing Aging Differently

Shields also opened up about aging and how her perspective on beauty has evolved over the years. While chatting with the outlet, the actress joked about trading trendy denim for vintage Levi’s. “I’ve gone back to the OGs,” she said. “Can’t do any of these new, fancy ones.”

Shields added that while she’s no longer the same size she was as a teenager, she no longer sees that as something to chase. “I’m not the same size as I was at 17, but … that’s not the goal,” she explained.

The actress recently expanded on those themes in her book, “Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman,” where she discusses aging, menopause, and the pressure women face to stay youthful.

Shields Says Menopause Conversations Were Long Overdue

According to Shields, conversations surrounding menopause were ignored for far too long, even within the medical community. “Doctors weren’t even educated about it,” she said. “They never learned about it.”

Since releasing her book, Shields said she has been overwhelmed by women thanking her for speaking openly about topics many previously felt uncomfortable discussing publicly. “People say to me, ‘Oh my God, thank you for having these discussions,’” she shared. “It’s in the zeitgeist now.”

Brooke Shields Says Family Life Looks Different These Days

Away from Hollywood, Brooke Shields says life at home with husband Chris Henchy has settled into a much quieter rhythm. The actress revealed that when they’re off the clock, Henchy usually handles dinner while she enjoys relaxing hobbies like needlepoint. But when daughters Rowan Henchy, 22, and Grier Henchy, 20, are home, the atmosphere quickly shifts back into family mode with backgammon games and long conversations.

Shields also admitted that becoming an empty nester ended up being easier than she initially feared. “The empty nest syndrome was not as painful as I thought it was going to be,” she shared, before joking, “I only had two years of it.”

While Rowan is currently back home, Grier is away at college, though Shields said her youngest daughter initially acted nervous about leaving. “When [Grier] went to college, she said, ‘I’m going to want to come back…. I don’t want to leave you,’” Shields recalled with a laugh. “Within two weeks, I could barely get her on the phone.”

As Shields approaches her 61st birthday later this month, the actress says she’s embracing this stage of life with humor and a willingness to laugh at herself along the way.