Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says he was hugely impressed by the commitment from his players in Saturday’s 28-7 win over South African side Bulls.
Wilco Louw cancelled out Stuart McCloskey’s try in the first half but Ulster scored three tries after the restart, through Juarno Augustus, Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu, to power to victory.
It was a second bonus-point win in as many matches in the United Rugby Championship for Ulster, who have a game in hand over the majority of the league after their game in Edinburgh was postponed as a result of Storm Amy.
“Absolutely, I was blown away by their commitment, work ethic and grit to stay in the fight,” Murphy said when asked if it was the best team performance since he took charge of Ulster in March 2024.
“I thought we worked really hard for each other defensively. It shows the team is building nicely and there’s still loads of things we feel we can be better at.
“We have to build on it going forward now.”
Ulster will now travel to South Africa for two matches against Sharks and Lions before the URC takes a break for the November internationals, and Murphy says his side are “going down there on a mission to win”.
“I don’t think we should worry about any team we are playing,” he said.
“Going down to South Africa is obviously a very difficult place to go.
Just when the Scottish media had been drawn into a “Steven Gerrard returns to Rangers” frenzy, the former England midfielder withdrew from the process as the Scottish Premiership club seek a new head coach.
The timing of the move, with Gerrard having left Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq in January, is believed to be behind the decision.
Having initially held positive discussions with the former Aston Villa boss, Rangers are left looking elsewhere for a successor to the sacked Russell Martin.
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Wasted seven days or lucky escape?
Rangers fans seem united in their shock at Gerrard’s decision but split about whether it is a good or bad thing for the club, with chairman Patrick Stewart, sporting director Kevin Thelwell and the new American owners also under scrutiny.
Brian: Hugely disappointed with Gerrard’s decision. I felt energised at the prospect of him becoming manager after the debacle of Russell Martin’s tenure, when I’d just lost all hope and belief in the club. We are now left in this vacuum of hopelessness where I feel lost.
Jeff: Everyone is really upset that it’s not worked out with Gerrard, but most likely this is because they’re focused on their corporate set-up. This director of football role is actually hurting the club. We’re forced to look to inferior set-ups to make sure we can ensure that the director of football gets his position strengthened.
Alexander: Gerrard obviously knows that Rangers are in a bad place right now and, no matter what, he would be unable to lift the team. The next manager is going to have to build the team up from their confidence and fitness levels to get the team back to basics in how to defend and, more importantly, how to play as a team. Setting a new standard of performance will be crucial to getting Rangers back on track.
Kenny: There were doubts in my mind whether he could repeat the success he had initially with us. He had that impetus carry over from his playing days that brought passion and confidence to the players. That has a shelf life. His backroom staff were very important to his success.
Craig: So Gerrard only wants to manage a club able to compete as that’s best for him. What he’s really saying is “I am unable to improve a team or players as I’d be out of my depth and don’t have the necessary skills to do this”.
Callum: Anyone asked to come in and manage the club will now know that they weren’t first choice. If, as has been reported, Thelwell and Stewart were the stumbling block then the obvious solution is to sack that pair and invite Gerrard back for more talks.
Andrew: “Timing” seems a convenient excuse. Surely he knew timing was bad at the start of the week. It sounds somewhat like he doesn’t buy into the owners’ plans, which is potentially slightly concerning. If the owners have pushed him away, that’s pretty poor.
Robert: Gutted. There is obviously more to it than timing as why would Gerrard have flown half around the world to speak to the club? There needs to be clarity on the reason he turned us down.
David: Gerrard is not the manager Rangers need right now. He was also the one who walked away from Rangers. The board must be held responsible and fans have no faith in them.
Kenny: Probably for the best. Looks like he thinks he’s better than his record actually is. Don’t think he’s in a position to dictate when he picks up the role. Rangers now have the name of a sack-happy club.
Stewart: Unfortunately, our club has now wasted seven days pursuing Steven Gerrard. If he had doubts, he should have pulled out earlier.
Joss: He never intended to take it. Just wanted the opportunity to knock it back, as if he might have other big offers on the horizon. I don’t believe there are a queue of big clubs looking to secure his services.
Tim: Terrible optics yet again coming from the club. Supporters are losing faith in the owners and the people they appointed. Whoever becomes manager will have to start winning very quickly.
Stuart: I’m surprised at Gerrard. Does he think he’ll go on to manage a big club in England fighting for honours? Highly unlikely. I wasn’t fully behind him. I believe anyone we get will be hit and miss with the players available at Ibrox at the moment.
Philip: I think both Rangers and Gerrard have dodged a bullet here.
Tommy: Guess we have to realise that we have to move forward from Gerrard. Twice turned down now and it makes a mockery of Rangers as a club.
William: A shambles again. They had plenty of time to get decent candidates. The board are a disaster. Back to the drawing board.
Keith: It’s a shame, but who can really blame Gerrard? Rangers are a shambles currently.
No consensus over next manager pick?
SNS
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is reportedly the new favourite, but there appears to be no consensus about who Rangers should turn to next.
Heart of Midlothian’s Derek McInnes, St Mirren’s Stephen Robinson, Livingston’s David Martindale, former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, Coventry City’s Frank Lampard, former caretaker Barry Ferguson, St Johnstone’s Simo Valakari, former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil, former Everton manager Sean Dyche, ex-Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock, Marco Rose, formerly of RB Leipzig, Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen, Shanghai Port’s Kevin Muscat… take your pick.
Graeme: I’m worried what message Gerrard’s decision will send to other potential interested potential candidates and fans. Is it about available funds not being there for strengthening the squad? I’d love to see Benitez come, but I suspect another second-rate manager is on the cards.
Mark: Why not look nearer to home – Stephen Robinson or David Martindale? Both solid performance. Gerrard left, so he should not have had the chance to come back. Or, if you want top notch, Rafael Benitez is free.
David: I am glad he turned it down. Never forgiven him for leaving like he did last time, nor will I ever. Danny Rohl is the man for me.
Donald: Not to keen on Steven Gerrard coming back, plus Russell Martin has ruined the team as he brought in too many duds. Derek McInnes was my favourite, but it won’t happen this time round.
Kenny: I’m sure Gerrard will return as Rangers boss one day. It looks like financial restraints are too much for him at this time, which is fair enough. However, the Rangers directors need to get it right this time. We need someone with experience and a proven track record.
Jeff: If Lampard, McInnes or Ferguson are not announced, it’s going to be Groundhog Day, but it’ll be the board as well as Stewart and Thelwell who will come under pressure this time.
Douglas: Simo Valakari would me my top choice. He has and is proving his ability in Scotland at St Johnstone with an enjoyable brand of football. Rangers should give him the opportunity before another club from England or Europe steps in.
Edward: Barry and Neil [McCann] and Billy [Dodds] and Allan [McGregor] should be back as soon as possible. They did well in difficult circumstances last season.
Martin: Gary O’Neil is a good person.
Tam: Derek McInnes or Barry Ferguson are the only two that know Rangers and Scottish football.
Nigel: Deflated. I think he would given everyone an immediate lift. Any manager we appoint now from the current names suggested would involve a settling in period trying to win over sceptics, which is how Martin started. McInnes or Ferguson for me.
Susi: They need to appoint someone who is not just in it for the money. They need to have a bit of passion about the club.
Frank: Never wanted Gerrard back. Said he wants to return to management with a club expected to win trophies as he believes that suits him. That’s why he left for Aston Villa, then the Arab League – really? Should never have been considered. Potter is available and, given a five-year deal and left to get on with it, would be successful.
Guy: Good decision by Gerrard. The players are poor, don’t like criticism and the fans toxic and no sort of leadership from the owners. I like Rangers, but if you are a progressive manager, you don’t touch. The people who sort the club out in respect of managers are Dyche or Neil Warnock – they need strong leaders who won’t take crap from over-rated players.
Ruaridh: I’m astonished that nobody seems to be mentioning Stephen Robinson for the Rangers vacancy. He knows Scottish football inside out and has always produced good footballing teams (and encouraged young talent) without having huge amounts of money to spend. He’s just 10 minutes down the road too! We don’t need a high-profile manager. We just need a good manager and Stephen Robinson is exactly that.
Peter: Surprised. Disappointed but certainly not gutted. For me, Derek McInnes was and remains the clear number one choice, so hopefully Rangers now push the boat out to get him. Possibly a blessing in disguise.
John: I never understood the desperation to get Gerrard in. His profile was the only aspect, because I do think they need a big character/name. Rohl is a gamble. They need a Lampard or Southgate to come in.
William: I’m in the minority. I’m glad as it took him three years to win a title. We need a Graeme Souness -type manager who won’t let players just turn up to get their huge salaries. A hard, experienced pro.
David: I have said all along that Barry Ferguson and his staff is a natural selection to be manager. He has the commitment, the passion the respect of players and fans and the ability to mould a successful team to challenge Celtic.
Ally: What they should have done in the first place and try get Derek McInnes. If he doesn’t want to leave Hearts, it’s got to be Barry with his same team again. They will set us up properly and go back to what Rangers used to be and have a strong Scottish base who know the league and the pressure playing for Rangers will bring.
Bill: If Ange Postecoglou is sacked at Nottingham Forest, Rangers would be mad not to take him on board. He has a fantastic proven record in Scotland and is a brilliant tactician and man-manager. Would the owners be brave enough?
Boaby: Personally I would go for Marco Rose, although there is no guarantee he would be interested. The obvious alternative is Mr McInnes, who had Walter Smith’s endorsement, which is more than good enough for me.
John: I’m actually glad Gerrard turned down Rangers. He’s not what Rangers need. It’s understandable to want to go back to the guy that last won something for the club. But he didn’t take the club forward. Steve Cooper can and would take Rangers forward. Yet he’s never been considered or even linked to the position.
Chris: So glad Gerrard is not coming back. Let him go somewhere else to try to get his mojo back. Only one trophy winner in the names being banded about. Appoint Kevin Muscat now please and don’t consider the other mediocre “did well from limited resources or staved off relegation” candidates please.
Euan: Don’t believe the statement for a minute. If timing wasn’t right, why commit to the talks in the first place. Senior exec team at Rangers are displaying a concerning lack of football knowledge, fishing in a small pool of the footballs’ unemployed/recently sacked. Why not be bold and try and tempt Kjetil Knutsen from Bodo/Glimt or someone else who is actually currently doing a good job?
Callum: Whilst it would have been good to see Stevie back, we need a manager with experience to turn the squad around. So long as it is not another Martin-esque appointment like Rohl.
It was announced this weekend that actor Diane Keaton died at the age of 79 after an award-winning acting career, but her health had rapidly declined
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The actress won and Oscar and starred in major films including The Godfather trilogy(Image: Getty)
Oscar-winning Diane Keaton’s health declined rapidly before her death at 79, it has been reported. It was announced on Saturday that the award-winning actor had died in California.
It has since been reported that the star’s health declined at a rapid rate in the last few months before she died. More details about Diane’s death have since emerged, with a friend reportedly saying that her death was “unexpected”.
The actress was best known for her work in films such as The Godfather, Annie Hall, The First Wives Club, and Something’s Got To Give. She also worked with director Nancy Meyers multiple times on projects like the Book Club series.
READ MORE: Diane Keaton’s co-star Leonardo DiCaprio shares sweet throwback with moving tributeREAD MORE: Diane Keaton movies including forgotten rom-com hit after star’s heartbreaking death
She received numerous awards throughout her career, including an Oscar, a BAFTA, Golden Globe Awards and nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. The late actress was romantically involved with Hollywood stars like Woody Allen, her Godfather co-star Al Pacino and Warren Beatty.
More details surrounding Diane’s health in recent months have been emerging. A friend of Diane’s told PEOPLE Magazine: “She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her. It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”
The source added: “In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”
The star bravely opened up about her battle with bulimia back in 2014, as she described it as “the lowest point in [her] life”.
Behind the scenes, the A-lister was sadly dealing with body image issues and mental health struggles since her twenties. During a candid chat on The Dr Oz Show, Keaton confessed that she would consume a staggering 20,000 calories daily during the height of her bulimia battle.
She explained what she would have for a typical evening meal, which would consist of “a bucket of fried chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple of TV dinners, a quarter of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake, and three banana cream pies.”
According to People magazine, Diane’s eating disorder began after the director of the Broadway show Hair offered Keaton the lead role on the condition that she lose weight.
Diane managed to conquer her bulimia, but in a 2020 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the celebrity confessed that even as she grew older, she didn’t feel “secure” in herself.
On the subject of ageing, she sadly expressed: “I don’t think it gets easier as you get older. I think it gets more pressing, just because it’s really about death. It’s really like approaching it, and how do you approach that part of your life? Nobody wants that.”
If you’re worried about your health or the health of somebody else, you can contact SEED eating disorder support service on 01482 718130 or on their website, here.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand Threads.
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Pakistani and Afghan forces have exchanged deadly fire at multiple locations along their border, and the two sides claim to have captured and destroyed border posts in one of the worst border clashes in recent years.
The Taliban administration’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in “retaliatory” attacks on Saturday night, two days after blasts were reported in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the southeastern province of Paktika.
The Pakistani military admitted 23 of its soldiers were dead while claiming to have killed 200 Taliban and affiliated “terrorists”. Pakistan’s interior minister called the Afghan attacks “unprovoked firing”.
The Taliban government has accused Pakistan of carrying out Thursday’s bombings. Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations.
Pakistan was accused of backing Taliban fighters during their rebellion against the United States-led occupation of Afghanistan and was one of only three countries that recognised the first Taliban government from 1996 to 2001.
But the rise of attacks inside Pakistan since the return of the Taliban to power in 2021 has strained their ties as Islamabad has accused the Taliban administration of providing safe haven to fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistan Taliban. Kabul has denied the allegations.
So what’s the latest on the fighting? What triggered the clashes? And is the situation expected to escalate further?
Pakistan accuses the TTP of carrying out attacks on its territory and the Afghan Taliban government of harbouring the group [File: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters]
What’s the latest?
The Taliban attacks on Pakistan border areas began about 10pm (17:00 GMT) on Saturday, and the exchange of fire took place at multiple locations.
Pakistani officials and state-run radio noted that those locations included Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir and Chitral – all in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – and Bahram Chah in Balochistan.
(Al Jazeera)
Mujahid said Afghan forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, captured 25 army posts and wounded 30 soldiers in their attacks.
“The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” Mujahid said at a news conference in Kabul.
Afghanistan’s TOLOnews channel reported on Sunday that the Ministry of Defence is deploying tanks and heavy weapons in several areas of Kunar province on the 2,640km (1,640-mile) border, also referred to as the colonial-era Durand Line.
The Pakistani military on Sunday condemned what it called “the cowardly action”, saying it was aimed at destabilising the border to facilitate terrorism”.
“Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Last night’s episode vindicates Pakistan’s long-standing position that the Taliban government is actively facilitating the terrorists,” ISPR said. At least 29 soldiers were injured during the overnight skirmishes, it added.
The Pakistani military claimed multiple Taliban locations were destroyed along the border and “21 hostile positions on the Afghan side of the border were also briefly physically captured and multiple terrorist training camps used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan were rendered inoperative.”
While the exchange of fire is mostly over, residents of Pakistan’s Kurram area reported intermittent gunfire.
A Taliban fighter walks in front of female protesters during an anti-Pakistan demonstration in Kabul on September 7, 2021 [West Asia News Agency via Reuters]
What triggered the clashes?
On Thursday, Kabul was rocked by the sound of two explosions, and another took place in a civilian market in the border province of Paktika, the Taliban Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The Taliban government accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s “sovereign territory”. Islamabad did not outright deny the blasts but asked the Taliban to curb the activities of the Pakistan Taliban.
A Pakistani security official told the Reuters news agency air strikes were carried out and their intended target in Kabul was the leader of the TTP, who was travelling in a vehicle.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify if the leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, had survived.
Pakistan and the Taliban, once allies over shared security interests, have grown increasingly hostile over Islamabad’s claim that the Taliban is giving refuge to the TTP, which is accused of carrying out years of attacks inside Pakistan.
At least 2,414 fatalities have been recorded in the first three quarters of this year, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank.
In its latest report issued last month, CRSS said that if the current trend continues, 2025 could be one of the deadliest years in Pakistan. Last year, at least 2,546 people were killed in attacks.
The attacks have risen since the ouster of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2022. Khan’s government had involved the Taliban in efforts to get the TTP to agree to a ceasefire. Although the ceasefire unravelled during Khan’s tenure, the frequency of attacks remained lower.
Ties have deteriorated as Islamabad has increased its use of air strikes inside Afghanistan to target hideouts it says are used by TTP fighters.
Analysts said a recent surge in TTP attacks against Pakistani soldiers was the main trigger for the deadly clashes.
The TTP attacks, including suicide bombings, compelled Pakistan to strike in Afghanistan, said Mehmood Jan Babar, a Peshawar-based political and security analyst.
“The message was to clearly show that if the Afghan Taliban won’t control the elements on their soil, Pakistan will strike inside the Afghan territory. The issue is that the TTP has enough support within the ranks of the Afghan Taliban, and that is also why the government often chooses to look the other way when the TTP carries out its activities inside Pakistan,” Babar said.
“If the Kabul government chooses to take some action, they fear there could be a big revolt in their internal ranks as not only TTP fighters but even the Afghan Taliban rank and file might end up joining hands, or worse, join the so-called Islamic State in Khorasan Province.”
Relations have also soured over Pakistan’s decision to deport tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. At least 3 million Afghan refugees had taken shelter in Pakistan after fleeing decades of conflict.
What have both sides said?
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Afghan attacks late on Saturday, adding that the country’s army “not only gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations but also destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat”.
Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister, said the Afghan attacks were “unprovoked” and civilians were fired at. Strongly condemning the Taliban’s attacks, he said: “The firing by Afghan forces on civilian populations is a blatant violation of international laws.”
“Afghanistan is playing a game of fire and blood,” he said in a post on X.
Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, said its attacks on the Pakistan border posts were a retaliatory operation, adding that they concluded at midnight.
“If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their airspace and will deliver a strong response,” Khowarazmi said.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi speaks to the media on October 11, 2025, in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, during a weeklong visit to India [Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters]
What has been the international response to the clashes?
The escalating tensions have prompted regional concern as they come amid rapidly changing security dynamics and relations in South Asia.
“Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a live interview with state television, adding that “stability” between the two countries that border Iran “contributes to regional stability”.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged “both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability”.
Expressing concern, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region.”
“The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples,” it added.
India, which is currently hosting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on his first visit there, has yet to comment on the border clashes. Islamabad has viewed New Delhi’s engagement with the Taliban with suspicion.
Ibraheem Bahiss, a Kabul-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, said Muttaqi’s red-carpet welcome in India was “probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan army to escalate in the major way that we saw”.
An Afghan girl and her family sit in a truck as they head back to Afghanistan at the Chaman border crossing on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan province after Pakistan ordered Afghans out of the country [File: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters]
Could these clashes escalate?
Security analysts and a former diplomat Al Jazeera spoke to suggested both sides would like to avoid escalating the matter.
Asif Durrani, a former Pakistani ambassador and special representative to Afghanistan, told Al Jazeera he believes “the chances of this clash [spilling over] to something bigger and more serious [are] minimal.”
“Afghanistan does not have any conventional military capacity when compared to Pakistan,” Durrani said, adding, “Guerrilla warfare is not the same as conventional warfare, which is a whole different beast and something where Pakistan is considerably ahead of Afghanistan.”
Bahiss said he believes that priority for both Islamabad and Kabul is to de-escalate. “Neither side wants major escalation on their frontiers as they are already grappling with several issues,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Pakistan is dealing with violence with attacks against security personnel, and it would lead to the compounding of this issue if the Afghan Taliban also started carrying out attacks, putting broader security under pressure, and that is something Pakistan would want to avoid.”
The Afghan retaliation, Bahiss said, was “to reassure their domestic audience, showing that they are in control of the situation and can avenge any strikes inside their territory”.
Babar says both sides need to engage through diplomacy. “It is the only way they can somehow find a way to resolve their differences. Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, who is also the foreign minister, has met his Afghan counterpart multiple times this year, and they have both promised not to fight,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Both countries have a similar set of friends, particularly China and other Muslim nations. Saudi Arabia, in fact, has already issued a statement urging restraint from both sides and disengagement from battle. China and Russia too will not want this border to heat up and will want both to get back to the negotiation table, so I don’t think there will be any further escalation,” he said.
But Durrani said the TTP remains the central issue in the countries’ fraught relations.
“The Afghan government refuses to acknowledge their [the TTP’s] existence on their soil, and as long as that irritant remains present, the situation will remain tense,” he added.
Canary Wharf has been branded the UK’s answer to New York City thanks to its hotspot as a film location
What do Hollywood icons Angelina Jolie, Idris Elba, Emma Thompson and Colin Firth all have in common? They’ve all been spotted filming in London’s financial hub Canary Wharf, which has been dubbed the UK’s ‘mini-Manhattan’.
With its sleek skyscrapers, sophisticated shopping centre and futuristic-looking underground station, it’s not surprising the area has caught the eye of film and television makers who are putting the area in the spotlight and showcasing its screen-ability. Just this month, A-lister Angelina Jolie was spotted sporting a stunning blonde bob during filming for new Netflix comedy Anxious People – and she’s just the latest in a long line of Hollywood celebrities who have been frequenting the area.
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Film expert Adam Brannon, founder and editor of Movie Metropolis, says he’s not surprised that Canary Wharf is catching the attention of filmmakers as it offers both scale and accessibility. “Unlike many parts of London, particularly central London, its wide-open spaces, controlled estates and modern infrastructure make it easier to manage large-scale shoots,” he says. “Whether that be a car chase or an intricately choreographed fight sequence.
“Like New York, the area’s dramatic night-time lighting and reflective skyscrapers also lend themselves really well to stunning cinematography. And both London and New York offer generous tax incentives to attract film and TV productions, which means this central city location and incentives for crews in the UK means it can take the place of NYC relatively easily.”
A Hollywood leading man spent months learning The Boss’s distinctive vocals in a new biopic
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The Hollywood star got Bruce’s approval for his portrayal of The Boss(Image: INTERNET)
Every painstaking note Jeremy Allen White sang as he strove to perfect Bruce Springsteen’s rasping tone made him certain who was The Boss. Aping Springsteen’s genius for his role in the new biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, was always set to be a daunting task.
But the actor, who first found fame playing juvenile delinquent Lip Gallagher in the US version of Shameless, had not bargained on the Born to Run star shadowing him 24/7 on set. He laughs: “It was very hard. Especially because he’s sitting there the whole time.
“I had not had a lot of experience – or any experience – singing, playing guitar, any of it, before I took on the role. So that was daunting, to say the least, in the beginning. I had a lot of time, but I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked. You never do, you know? I had about six months to kind of learn.
“The chords are pretty simple. There’s not many of them. And a lot of the songs are in the same (chord). Yeah. But the singing was a gamble.”
Six months may sound to the uninitiated like a very long time. But there is a reason why Springsteen’s rugged, raspy, heartland voice has helped him sell 150 million records … he is pretty much inimitable.
To get somewhere close, White, 34, hired Hollywood vocal coach Eric Vetro to knock his vocal chords into shape. He says: “He helped Austin Butler with the Elvis movie and he helped Timothy Chalamet with the Bob Dylan movie. He’s kind of the ‘go-to’, you know?
“And he works with a lot of amazing, like vocalists and real singers and performers.” Worried if he could even sing, White continues: “Then you try to find a little bit of that rasp and then you start messing around with that nasal sound, that New Jersey phrasing.
“I really have to give Eric credit because he was there to say ‘this is how you sing a song. This is how you make it sound good.’ When I finally sounded like Bruce, that was like a breakthrough.”
And, according to The Boss himself, White – who will be appearing with Springsteen on BBC1 ’s Graham Norton show on October 17 – hit all the right notes, as he recreated his trademark New Jersey blue collar sound. He says: “I remember Bruce was great the first time he heard one of my pre-records, because he was like, ‘You sound like me, but you’re singing the song, you know? And you’re making the song your own. You’ve got your connection with the song”.
Audiences can see if they agree when Deliver Me From Nowhere is released in cinemas on October 24. The film shows Springsteen crafting his 1982 ‘left turn’ album Nebraska, after finding Billboard success with his seminal 1980 album The River.
Based on a book by Warren Zanes, it dramatises Springsteen’s journey to create the album, as he accelerates towards global stardom, which struck in 1984 when his multi million selling album Born in the USA exploded, with hits like Dancing in the Dark.
Springsteen was keen to ensure the movie was an accurate portrayal of this time. But, after showing his faith in White’s singing, the actor says it felt like Springsteen was giving him “permission” to keep going with his interpretation of his life.
In fact, the stars’ backgrounds are not a million miles apart. While Springsteen was born in New Jersey, White grew up in nearby Brooklyn – where he was teased onto the stage, aged around 14, by his parents, who were both former actors.
White, who was trained in ballet, tap and jazz as a child, remembers: “My mom grew up in North Carolina, went to North Carolina School of the Arts and studied acting there. But she moved to New York in the late 70s, early 80s, with the big dreams and my pops too. He grew up outside of Philadelphia and he moved there to pursue acting as well. I grew up in a household that was very supportive of the arts, the passion there, you know what I mean?”
White says he owes his success to a drama teacher, who drew the best out of him as a teenager. He says: “This teacher taught at a school in Brooklyn and I joined the class. And yeah, it was just an improv sort of exercise and in a black box, you know.
“I just remember the feeling of being able to focus, which was very hard for me as a young person and still is. But I remember the attention. I felt the eyes on me. And I felt people were waiting and like connected and wanted to see what was going to happen next. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is pretty cool.’ That space always feels insane. It was my teacher who planted the seed.”
Since his breakthrough in Shameless, White has established himself as one of Hollywood’s rising stars to watch, thanks to his role in the Hulu series The Bear, playing troubled New York chef Carmen Berzatto.
Said to be based loosely on the career of British Michelin star-winning chef Marco Pierre-White, the role won him two Critics Choice Television Awards, as well as three Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild gongs and two Emmys. Then, two years ago, White finally made it onto the big screen, playing the late American pro-wrestler Kerry Von Erich in the biographical sports film The Iron Claw.
And just last year, White graced billboards worldwide when he became global ambassador for Calvin Klein underwear, modelling the brand’s 2024 collection and generating a staggering $12.7m in advertising revenue. Next year looks to be even brighter for the actor, with a role in the Star Wars movie The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Attributing his growing success to his enthusiasm for learning, he continues: “I had a lot of energy as a kid and, like I said, it was very hard for me to focus. “My parents put me through everything. I was wrestling and I was playing soccer, I was playing baseball and doing all the stuff. They were like ‘We got to run this kid out.’
“It was fun. And it was that again, it was ‘eyes on you’. So, anyway, I think I was lucky in the start because I was like, ‘whatever, this is fun.’ And that’s the way to approach this thing. But the older you get, it becomes, ‘Oh, maybe I’m doing this now’, or ‘this is how I make a living’, or ‘this is how people are paying attention’.
For now, his career seems to be achieving perfect harmonies – that is, unless you ask him to sing the Springsteen classic Born in the USA. He laughs: “Doing the Bruce movie wasn’t easy, but I’ll remember recording Born in the USA for the rest of my life. I lost my voice entirely. I needed a nap and I saw Bruce shortly after that recording.
“I just stopped speaking for a couple of days and then my voice started to come back, and I loved the sound of it. I had this real rasp and I was like, ‘Oh, man, how can I capture this or recapture this?’
“I was waking up in the morning and I was screaming into a pillow to try and recapture like a little bit of that rasp, but I think my neighbours were getting nervous and I knew that I couldn’t go on that way.”
With about a week left before shooting on the biopic began, Springsteen had a documentary, Road Diary, coming out on Hulu and was at an event nearby.
White recalls: “I saw Bruce after that. I didn’t have any voice and he said,’What’d you do today?’ I said, ‘I recorded Born in the USA.’ And he said, ‘yeah, that sounds about right!’”
