Actress who played Hilary Duff’s mum shares throwback film snap and where she is now

It’s always fun to re-watch our favourite films from when we were younger and one actress has reminisced on when she played the mother of character played by Hilary Duff, in a film people insist is ‘so underrated’

With so much choice nowadays, it can be hard to choose which film or TV show to watch – and if you venture back into an old but gold film, you might discover actors who were in smaller roles before they became famous. Rita Wilson reminisced recently on her time starring alongside Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff in the movie Raise Your Voice. People insist the film is “so underrated”.

Rita, known for her roles in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Jingle All The Way, played Francis Fletcher, Terri Fletcher’s mum. Recently, the 68-year-old actress and singer shared a post on Instagram recently, and said: “Back in 2004, I played Francis Fletcher, mom to the wonderful Hilary Duff in Raise Your Voice.”

Sharing snaps of scenes, Rita added: “That film has always stayed with me because it celebrates the courage it takes to chase music and dreams. Now Hilary’s returning to music in real life, and I couldn’t be more excited to hear what’s next. Sending love (and an early happy birthday) to you, Hilary! You continue to inspire.”

Hilary commented: “RITAAAAAA.”

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While the film didn’t do well in the box office, many people shared how much they adore the picture. Fans rushed to comment, as one said: “Still my favourite movie till this day.”

Another said: “One of the best movies of allllll time. I cry every time throughout. Someone’s watching over me is SO POWERFUL. Love to all.” “This movie is so underrated.”

Another agreed, writing: “This was one of Hilary Duffs best films and it was so underrated I have no idea why.” One other said: “You were amazing in this movie. The part where you are crying about your son in his room, brings me in to tears. You are an amazing actress and woman. Beautiful.”

“This movie was everything to me as a kid, thank you for being in it,” added another. Another said: “Thank you for making my favourite movie together! Great acting and beautiful storyline.”

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Hilary has become a mum-of-four since then and gone on to have a fantastic acting career – starring in beloved films like Cinderella Story, Cheaper By the Dozen 2, Material Girls, The Last Summer and more. Now, she is following in the footsteps of her film co-star Rita as she returns to the music world.

Rita, who is married to Tom Hanks, has since released five studio albums. It was not until she was in her late 50s that she began to seriously pursue music.

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The superstar, who was an executive producer for the Mamma Mia films, has since gone on to perform at huge venues and gained a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

JENNIE BOND: ‘Kate Middleton’s new move is one of her best but Meghan must think harder’

The Princess of Wales made an urgent plea about the harm smartphones are playing in family life – just as Prince Harry and Meghan also gave a warning about the dangers online

The Princess of Wales’s warning about the harm caused by smartphones could be one of her most important, according to an expert.

Kate aired her concerns about the problems posed by modern technology at the expense of family life in an essay where she warned about the “epidemic of disconnection” created by smartphones and other gadgets and urged society to “invest in the relationships you have with each other”. It came just hours before Prince Harry and Meghan also spoke out about how the impact of social media on children is “one of the most pressing issues of our time”.

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In her essay, Kate explained: “When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners, or respond to e-mails while playing with our children, we’re not just being distracted, we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires.”

And for former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, tackling this issue could be one of Kate’s biggest missions. She told the Mirror : “I think this could be one of the most important campaigns that Catherine has so far spearheaded. As a society, we are grappling with the very real challenges that modern technology has thrown at us: trying to live in two, three, even multiple worlds at the same time.

“Writing in collaboration with a Harvard professor gives an extra dimension to words that will ring true in almost every household up and down the country. How many of us are constantly distracted by our phones, “physically present but mentally absent”as Catherine puts it?

“I think she’s entirely right: we have to lead by example when it comes to family life. Children need to know and feel that they come first — and that simply can’t come across if their parents are constantly distracted by their screens.

“It is a modern-day crisis in which so many of us are, as she says, ‘simply no longer able to engage fully with people who are right in front of us’.

“William has told us that none of his children is allowed a smartphone yet, and more and more schools are now banning them. If Catherine and William continue to voice these concerns, they will be doing all of us – and particularly the young children of the next generation— a huge service.”

Kate’s plea came just hours before Harry and Meghan also spoke about a similar topic as they picked up a humanitarian award at the Project Healthy Minds Gala.

Citing that 4,000 families are taking legal action through the Social Media Victims Law Centre, the duke said more needed to be done to protect young people from online dangers.

“Tonight, we are all here together to focus on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time,” Harry said. “Let me share a number with you: 4,000. That’s how many families the Social Media Victims Law Centre is currently representing – families whose children have been harmed or lost forever to social media.

The couple’s stance on social media comes just months after Meghan returned to Instagram with a personal account after several years off the platform.

Last week she drew criticism on a trip to Paris where she filmed herself being driven at night through the French capital with her feet on the seat, near where the late Princess Diana was involved in a fatal car crash.

Jennie added: “I think Meghan’s Instagram post of being driven at night so close to the tunnel where Diana died was highly insensitive — but unintentionally so. She should have thought about it harder but, like so many people these days, it’s all about sharing your life instantly without considering the implications.

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“I’m sure it’s the last thing Meghan meant to do, why would she want to upset her husband? But perhaps she should have posted a follow-up explaining her mistake, and apologising.”

Jane Austen has audiobook revival as ‘yearning’ becomes the hottest dating trend

It turns out modern dating and the 19th-century marriage market may have more in common than you realise as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice sees an unexpected popularity boom

It’s hard to imagine Jane Austen flicking through Hinge on her third glass of wine trying desperately not to get the “ick” or end up ghosted by her latest situationship – but a newfound readership is realising the nineteenth-century author has more to teach about Gen Z dating woes than you’d imagine.

Some of the British author’s most famous works include Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion. According to Spotify data, there’s been a 75% jump in streams of Pride and Prejudice on the platform. And, of those listeners, the average age skews slightly younger than the general average audiobook listener.

It’s probably no too much of a surprise, given that Austen has left a pretty enduring legacy. Her novels have been adapted multiple times across various media, with Pride and Prejudice alone having been reimagined in at least 17 different movies since 1938 – more than proving their ability to resonate with readers across generations.

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She’s even been credited with shaping the modern romcom: the idea of two people meeting who clash, only to end up falling in love with each other. After all, Pride and Prejudice features the quintessential narrative of two characters who must overcome their initial dislike for each other, suffering intense angst and painful miscommunication along the way.

It’s little wonder, on top of the novel’s audiobook resurgence, it’s also gone viral on social media platforms championing “men who yearn”.

On TikTok, the #yearning features tens of thousands of posts – many of which use Mr Darcy, the heartthrob of Pride and Prejudice, as their poster child. Popular clips feature Matthew Macfayden from the 2005 film adaptation casting forlorn glances at Kiera Knightley (playing the novel’s heroine Elizabeth Bennet).

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Josh Pullinger, one of the founders of the book club It’s Hardback Out Here, also pointed out how Austen’s work resonated with him as a queer reader. Persuasion, which tells the story of a 27-year-old Englishwoman who regrets breaking off an engagement, captures the similar feelings many queer people experience of yearning for forbidden romance.

“There is something so nice as a queer person reading a piece about longing and wanting something so bad but following societal pressures has forced that away,” he said.

But more than just yearning, Austen fan and host of the podcast Sex Talks Emma-Louise Boynton believes the novels have a few important lessons to teach about modern dating – particularly when it comes to getting the “ick” too soon. She said: “People dating today should revisit Jane Austen to be reminded that often it’s the dark horse that ends up being the one you really like.”

She added: “Just because you didn’t like the t-shirt in the profile pic, you might be missing out on your Mr Darcy.”

Hitting a little close to home? Maybe before you update your Hinge profile, you might want to see what the 1800s author has to say about your dating choices.

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Frail Katie Price showcases surgically enhanced figure after weight loss concern

Katie Price looks very thin in a new photo as the former glamour model continues to go for hospital check-ups due to not knowing why she is losing weight

Katie Price has sparked new concerns among fans after sharing a photo of herself looking noticeably thinner just days after facing a major financial setback in court.

The reality star, 47, took to Instagram to post a picture of herself wearing a pink crochet bralette. Her bronzed skin and long blonde locks were on display, but so was her completely flat stomach and visible collarbones.

Katie captioned the post: “Bit of fun on tour. Well needed time off until the next show on Monday.” The image comes amid growing concern over her rapid weight loss, which has left the former glamour model feeling “terrified”.

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In late September Katie was spotted with a large white plaster on her hand after a hospital visit, where she had several blood tests done in a bid to find out the cause of her unexplained weight loss.

Speaking to fans on Snapchat, she explained: “I’ve been up early at the doctors so she could do some bloods and because my veins are so rubbish they had three attempts. They could only fill two tubes up, so I’ve got to go back in two weeks.”

She added that she would also be having stitches removed after cutting herself while cooking. “The reason I’m going to the doctors is because I keep losing weight and I don’t know why,” she admitted.

The former I’m A Celebrity star, who has battled body image issues for a long time, recently opened up about her fears that her health concerns may be linked to a past cancer scare.

Katie was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer in her finger, known as leiomyosarcoma, while pregnant with her oldest son, Harvey.

“The same finger – this is about three weeks ago – I thought, have I knocked it? Because it hurts when I push it, but there’s no lump,” she said on her podcast, The Katie Price Show. “I hope it’s not that again.”

A source close to the star told OK! magazine that Katie is “terrified” about her health. “She’s fretting that this new lump is another cancer. She has been desperate to have another baby and it’s worrying knowing that her health isn’t where it needs to be,” they said.

The worrying Instagram post also comes as the mum-of-five faces a significant financial blow. A court has ruled that 40 percent of her monthly income from multiple companies must go toward paying creditors until 2027, after a judge criticised her “extravagant pattern of expenditure”.

The ruling has come after years of financial turmoil for the former model, who has already been declared bankrupt twice, first in 2019 and again in 2024 over an unpaid £750,000 tax bill.

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Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Stephen Baister said: “The bankrupt’s expenditure seems to have exceeded her income, but that is only because she has adopted an extravagant pattern of expenditure, that of course she is now going to have to trim somewhat.”

Despite her struggles, Katie is still continuing with her UK tour alongside her close friend Kerry Katona.

Reese Witherspoon tears up as she honours Diane Keaton after star’s death

Iconic actor Diane Keaton died at the age of 79 after an impressive acting career, which included an Oscar win and Reese Witherspoon became emotional as she discussed the star

Reese Witherspoon has paid an emotional tribute to her “mentor” Diane Keaton after her death at the age of 79. The Legally Blonde actress got emotional on stage as she spoke about Diane.

It was announced on Saturday that Diane had died after he health reportedly went downhill in recent months. Reese was just 15 when she first crossed paths with Diane, who directed Wildflower in 1991.

Reese was at the Hello Sunshine expo when she reminisced about her and the legend’s friendship. She said that Diane “changed the way we all saw women on screen – smart, funny, stylish, and completely original”.

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Speaking on stage, Reese said: “I’m going to try and get through this without tearing up, but I don’t know if you guys heard that Diane Keaton passed today. Diane was really important. She was one of my first mentors in this business. I was 15 years old and I was from Nashville, Tennessee, and I didn’t know anybody.

“And I came in, it was my second, maybe third movie audition ever, and I came in with this big country accent, and I was playing this little southern girl, and she goes ‘Who are you?’ And I said ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon and I’m from Nashville, Tennessee’.

‘”And she said ‘Are you making that up? That accent that you’re doing’. And I said ‘No ma’am I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, and I’m here. And I’d love to be in your movie’. And she was like ‘Well, you’re hired. You’re hired today, tomorrow and the next day. I don’t know who you are but I am so excited to have you’.”

Reese added: “She is just incredible and indelible and just a truly original person. So for Diane, watch one of her movies. And wear like a really cool, interesting outfit. Black and white. Take a picture and just live your dream. Just be your unique, interesting self. I think Diane would be really happy.”

It has been reported that Diane’s health had declined rapidly in recent months. More details have since emerged, with friends saying that it was “heartbreaking” to see that Diane wasn’t well.

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.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

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Victoria Beckham says ‘absolutely not’ as she candidly opens up on ‘worries’ for children

Pop superstar turned top fashion designer Victoria Beckham has confessed that she worries about her and husband David Beckham’s children just as much today as she did when they were very young

With three sons in their twenties, and a teenage daughter who’s determined to carve out her own identity, Victoria Beckham could be forgiven for losing track of her kids’ movements from time to time.

But the pop star turned fashion designer has rejected any suggestion that she might not know where Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper might be at any given moment: “Absolutely not,” she told the Daily Mail, “we have a family chat group, and we all know where each other are.”

Victoria, 51, explained she and husband David check in with their kids at least once a day, every day via the WhatsApp group.

“David and I like to check in with them all before we go to bed at night and check everybody’s home,” she said.

“Romeo might not live with us any more but we like to make sure he’s home and safe. You don’t stop worrying about your kids, even when they’re grown up.”

The former Spice Girl says that she worries about her children’s welfare as much today as she did when they were very young: “That’s something that will never change,” she said.

Victoria went on to confess that, at the moment, she’s particularly worried about her daughter, who at 14 is growing up in a world where intense pressure is placed on young girls to conform to unattainable beauty standards.

Admitting that she’d had her own personal struggles with an eating disorder, Victoria said she had spoken to Harper about it before the premiere of a new Netflix documentary about her life: “We just had a really honest conversation, and I explained that when you have issues with food, it is all consuming,” she said.

“It is sad. It’s a very lonely place. I thought it was important that she heard it from me before she saw it at the theatre.”

Victoria, who denied having anorexia when directly asked about it on the late Sir Michael Parkinson’s BBC chat show in 2000, says she’s been talking to her daughter about the issue of eating disorders for quite some time, “because that is a conversation that’s flying around at school.”

However, in the new Netflix documentary, she admitted: “I could control my weight and I was controlling it in an incredibly unhealthy way.

“When you have an eating disorder, you become very good at lying. And I was never honest about it with my parents. I never talked about it publicly.”

That’s why she’s determined to have an open dialogue with her daughter: “The one thing that doesn’t seem to change is that little girls think a lot about food as they’re growing up, and when their bodies are changing and when they’re going through puberty.

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