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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Pro-cash advocates are calling on the federal government to expand the cash mandate to big businesses including Bunnings, McDonald’s and Kmart to protect its future.
Under new cash rules, most retailers that sell fuel and groceries must accept cash payments for in-person purchases of $500 or less between the hours of 7am and 9pm.
Advocates for cash transactions, such as Jason Bryce, who established Cash Welcome, are pushing for a broader inclusion of businesses in a new mandate that aims to safeguard the use of cash for those who depend on it.
Cash supporters are calling on the federal government to expand the cash mandate. (AFR)
The mandate currently exempts small businesses with annual revenues under $10 million, unless they are affiliated with a larger retail brand through a shared trademark.
Previously, Australian regulations did not require businesses to accept cash payments, leaving consumers without legal recourse if their preferred method of payment was declined.
According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, businesses have been able to choose whether to accept cash or card payments, or both.
Advocates want to see more businesses forced to accept cash to guarantee its future. (Domain)
The government plans to reassess the effectiveness of this cash mandate three years after its implementation to ensure it meets its objectives.
In a statement to Cash Welcome supporters, Bryce emphasized that the mandate should, at the very least, encompass all major retail chains.
“Ideally we want all retailers to be accepting cash,” he said in his latest newsletter.
“The costs of distributing cash needs to be shared by the big merchants so banks, consumers and small business don’t end up paying all the costs.
“The best thing that could happen for small businesses who like to accept cash is that big businesses all support the cash system.
“Big business, utilities and government agencies have escaped from this proposed cash mandate scot-free with no obligation to accept cash and support the cash system.
“Large brands like Bunnings, McDonalds, KFC, Kmart, Big W, AGL, Tyrepower, Telstra, Optus need to be captured by this cash mandate.”
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has launched a motion to overturn the new cash rules, claiming the laws are a “back-handed” attempt to phase out the use of cash.
The sentate is set to vote on the motion tomorrow.
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A grandmother at the age of 38 is turning heads as she and her 20-year-old daughter are frequently mistaken for twins.
Brittany Desborough has captured the attention of social media, earning the nickname “world’s hottest grandmother” after her daughter, Makenzie, became a mother herself two years ago.
Hailing from California, Brittany, a mother of four, had her first child at 17. As Makenzie grew into her teenage years, the two began attracting significant attention for their remarkably similar appearances whenever they were out in public.
“Many people assumed we were sisters or even twins and were shocked when I clarified that we are actually mother and daughter,” Brittany shared.
She went on to mention that some people were so confused by their youthful looks that they mistook Makenzie for her mother, adding a humorous twist to their story.
‘Luckily, she always found it hilarious – and I found it incredibly flattering.’
Brittany met her husband Chris, now 39, at a school party. Just eight months into their whirlwind romance, the teenagers became engaged.
Then, just a few months later, Brittany discovered she was pregnant.
Brittany Desborough (right) who became a grandmother in her 30s has revealed how she and her 20-year-old daughter Makenzie (left) are often mistaken for twins
The mother-of-four, from California , fell pregnant with Makenzie at just 17 years old,. By the time Makenzie entered her teenage years, the pair would often receive ‘a lot of attention’ for their uncanny looks while out together in public
Recalling her initial fears that having a baby in her teenage years would ‘ruin’ her life, Brittany said: ‘I knew Chris wanted to have kids right away, but we were both so young. Thankfully, he was over the moon.’
Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Brittany added: ‘While most of my friends were partying and applying for university, I had no choice but to grow up.’
The loved-up pair later went on to have Savannah, 11, followed by Charlie, nine and finally Hunter, born in 2024.
Meanwhile, Brittany stuck to a rigid daily skincare routine to keep her youthful looks in check.
Such routine consisted of cleanser, glycolic acid, niacin amide and zinc, gel moisturiser, squalene oil, Vaseline and crows-tape feet.
But just a few months after Brittany welcomed her youngest son, she made the surprising discovery that her teenager daughter, then aged 18, was pregnant.
Just a few months after Brittany welcomed her youngest son, she made the surprising discovery that her teenager daughter, then aged 18, was pregnant
Now, Brittany and her partner Chris are working towards building an annex for Makenzie and her son, Banks, while they navigate their expanding family. Pictured: Brittany and Chris with their four children, alongside Makenzie’s son Banks
‘I found her curled up in bed staring at the wall. It was like deja vu,’ recalled Brittany.
‘All I felt was sympathy. Myself and Chris supported her and she seriously knuckled down.’
Now, they’re working towards building an annex for Makenzie and her son, Banks, while they navigate their expanding family.
Brittany added: ‘It was strange having a grandson and a son less than a year apart, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Hunter loves his nephew very much.
‘People are even more surprised now when I tell them I’m a grandma.
‘But it goes to show; us grannies come in all shapes, sizes and good looks.’
UPDATE, March 30, 5:41 AM – In a collaborative effort with the Georgia State Patrol, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office successfully apprehended Derrion Daquan Yorker, 22, at a home on West Brown Drive in Davisboro.
Yorker was sought in connection with a major hit-and-run incident and is now facing a range of charges, including:
Hit and Run Serious Injury (Felony)
Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree – Hit and Run (Felony)
Failure to Maintain Lane (Misdemeanor)
Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits (Misdemeanor)
Additionally, authorities have arrested 22-year-old Isaiah Kelik Tarver, also from Davisboro, who is charged with harboring a fugitive, a felony offense.
Both individuals have been detained, and the investigation remains active. Authorities indicate that more charges or arrests may follow as the case develops.
Courtesy of: Washington Co. Sheriff’s OfficeCourtesy of: Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to the Georgia State Patrol for their crucial role in the suspect’s capture.
Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 478-553-0911.
***
WASHINGTON COUNTY () – According to Sherrif Joel Cochran, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department is on the hunt for an individual believed to be linked to deadly hit and run,
The person of interest, Derrion Daquan Yorker, age 22, of Tennille, is wanted in connection to the Fatal Hit and Run on last date on Waco Mill Road in Tennille.
Waco police are asking the public if anyone has any information regarding the accident and or the location of Mr. Yorker to come forward.
Please contact Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 478-552-0911.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WCIA) – The Illinois men’s basketball team now has clarity on whom they’ll face in the Final Four showdown.
The Fighting Illini are set to clash with the second-seeded UConn Huskies on Saturday, April 4, during the national semifinals hosted in Indianapolis.
UConn secured their spot in the Final Four following a thrilling victory over Duke on Sunday. They edged out the Blue Devils with a nail-biting 73-72 win, thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Earlier this season, the Illini and Huskies crossed paths in New York City, where Dan Hurley’s squad triumphed with a 74-61 victory.
Moreover, Illinois’s journey in the NCAA Tournament has been halted by UConn before. In the only other instance under coach Brad Underwood that Illinois progressed beyond the initial weekend, they were ousted by UConn in the 2024 Elite Eight with a decisive 77-52 scoreline.
Illinois and UConn will play for the right to move on to the National Championship game. The winner will advance to meet either Arizona or Michigan – both one seeds.
Illinois is 1-4 all-time against UConn, with the meetings in 2024 and 2025 being the only two times these programs played in the 21st century.
Illinois opens as a 2.5-point favorite against the Huskies, according to ESPN/DraftKings at the time of this article’s publishing.
Saturday’s game between Illinois and UConn is set to tip-off at 5:09 CT/6:09 ET.
MADRID – In a significant move, Spain has prohibited U.S. military aircraft involved in the Iran conflict from flying through its airspace, as confirmed by Defense Minister Margarita Robles on Monday. This decision underscores Spain’s firm stance against the ongoing hostilities involving the U.S. and Israel in the Middle East.
Previously, Spain had already restricted the United States from utilizing their jointly managed military bases for operations linked to the Iran war. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly criticized the conflict, labeling it as illegal, reckless, and unjust.
On Monday, Defense Minister Robles reiterated the nation’s position, emphasizing that the same principles guiding the base restrictions apply to the airspace prohibition.
“This has been communicated clearly to the American military from the start. Therefore, neither the use of the bases nor the Spanish airspace is permitted for any activities associated with the war in Iran,” Robles stated to reporters. The Spanish newspaper El Pais initially reported on Spain’s decision to close its airspace, citing military sources.
Under Prime Minister Sánchez, Spain has emerged as the most vocal European critic of U.S. and Israeli military initiatives in the Middle East.
After Sánchez’s government denied the U.S. use of the Rota and Morón military bases in southern Spain, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade with Madrid.
Sánchez was also among the most vocal critics of Israel’s actions in its war in Gaza.
“I think everyone knows Spain’s position; it’s very clear,” Robles said, calling the war in Iran “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A new book reveals that Prince Philip privately endured an eight-year struggle with pancreatic cancer before his passing. The revelation comes as part of a biography that sheds light on the final years of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, who died in 2021 at the remarkable age of 99, just a year before the Queen.
According to royal historian Hugo Vickers, Prince Philip was diagnosed with an inoperable form of pancreatic cancer in June 2013. Despite the gravity of his condition, he chose to keep his health battle largely private, a testament to his enduring stoicism. These insights are part of Vickers’ latest book, “Queen Elizabeth II,” which is currently being serialized by the Daily Mail.
Prince Philip is said to have lived with pancreatic cancer for eight years
Vickers paints a poignant picture of the Duke of Edinburgh’s last moments at Windsor Castle. He describes a man who, on the eve of his death, managed to evade his nurses, navigate the corridor with a Zimmer frame, and enjoy a final beer in the Oak Room. The following morning, he reportedly bathed, expressed that he was unwell, and then peacefully passed away.
Prince Philip’s nearly decade-long battle with pancreatic cancer is notable, given that it far exceeds the typical survival expectancy following such a diagnosis. His quiet resilience and determination remain a significant part of his legacy.
“The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away. By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years – far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis.
“The Queen was not there when he died. There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told: ‘His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago’ … [She was] absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye”.
The revelation comes after it revealed a planned national memorial to Queen Elizabeth will also pay tribute to her husband.
A team led by architect Lord Norman Foster has been selected to create a memorial in tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch – who passed away at the age of 96 in 2022 – in St James’s Park in London.
The winning design features a translucent bridge inspired by the late Queen’s wedding tiara and includes a separate statue of the Queen and Prince Philip, gardens and a Prince Philip Gate – to go with the main monument of the late sovereign.
Lord Robert Janvrin, chair of the memorial committee and the late Queen’s former private secretary told the BBC: “I think the location is something which would have appealed to her. You can see the bridge from the room where she often sat for paintings.”
Lord Foster said Prince Philip’s inclusion highlighted the “inseparable quality” of the royal couple – who were married for 73 years until the Duke’s death.
He explained: “We showed them together and, in a way, there was this inseparable quality which we sought to convey.”
In a shocking incident from August 2025, an individual identified as Freeman, associated with the sovereign citizen movement, fatally shot two police officers and critically injured another. Prior to this event, Freeman had attempted to charge former premier Daniel Andrews with treason, faced arrest while protesting outside a courthouse, and referred to law enforcement officers as “terrorist thugs.”
The overall movement is an uncentralised belief system but is generally characterised by an anti-authority idea that they are not under the jurisdiction of the government and the law does not apply to them.
Dezi Freeman, shown here being arrested outside court during the pandemic, is a sovereign citizen who murdered two police officers and injured one more. (David Estcourt)
Long before he murdered Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart in Porepunkah, Freeman himself had a run-in with police when he was pulled over for driving at 76km/h in a 60 zone.
According to court records, when asked to show his driver’s license, Freeman retorted, “I don’t give a s—. Leave me alone, you terrorist. Get the hell away from me and go.”
During an appearance at Wangaratta Magistrates Court, Freeman brazenly attempted to detain a magistrate and several police officers, declaring, “You must stand down. You’re now in my custody and under arrest. You are not free to leave.”
Freeman’s violent actions underscore the potential threat posed by those adhering to sovereign citizen ideologies, which are often dismissed as mere courtroom antics or confrontations with traffic officers.
Extremists have carried out violent crimes both in Australia and overseas, and the movement has received a significant influx of followers following the COVID-19 pandemic as people retaliated against lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccination requirements.
This brings us to the question: what exactly does it mean to be a sovereign citizen? Here’s what you need to know.
The sovereign citizen movement received a boost in profile during COVID-19 restrictions. (Photograph by Chris Hopkins)
What do sovereign citizens believe?
Sovereign citizens – or “SovCits” – is a term for people who hold extreme anti-government views, essentially believing laws and regulations don’t apply to them.
The idea is that, in the same way a country is a sovereign nation unconstrained by other nations’ laws, a person is themselves a sovereign unconstrained by the laws of a government.
“It’s a spectrum,” David Heilpern, dean of law at Southern Cross University, told Today Extra.
“On the one hand, there are those who want to challenge the law by raising old doctrine common law doctrines and concepts of sovereignty. That’s probably a positive thing.
“At the other end, there are those who simply refuse to comply with laws that apply to you and I. They see themselves as separate and different. They say they don’t consent to the jurisdiction.
“And by their own declaration, they’re not bound by laws.”
Redemption Theorists claim everyone has a monetary value stored in a secret US Treasury Department account. (AP)
The exact reasoning behind this varies within the movement – no surprise given its uncentralised nature – but the idea of false governments is a common one for sovereign citizens around the globe.
One prevalent thought is Redemption Theory, which asserts the US (which is where the movement began) went bankrupt in 1933 when it abandoned the gold standard. It claims the government then began using its citizens as collateral in agreements with other nations.
Redemption Theorists go on to claim each person, therefore, has a monetary value – up to millions of dollars – stored in a secret US Treasury Department account listed under someone else’s name.
Some followers will also avoid entering into “contracts” with the government.
It’s why many of them are pulled over for driving without a licence or vehicle registration – or for just failing to produce such documents or provide their name and address when pulled over – and why you’ll hear phrases like “I do not consent” during exchanges between sovereign citizens and police officers.
Firefighters responding at the fire-damaged front entrance of Old Parliament House following a protest, which ASIO believes sovereign citizens were a part of. (Andrew Ellinghausen)
So are they actually exempt from taxation and able to drive without a licence?
No. Just like anyone else, sovereign citizens must abide by the laws of the country they live in, including Australia.
“I was a magistrate for 22 years I saw a lot of these sovereign citizen arguments,” Heilpern said.
“They hold no weight whatsoever. It’s legal gobbledygook.”
That means they need to have a driver’s licence, pay their taxes, register their vehicle, and otherwise obey the law.
In a 2021 case in Queensland, a sovereign citizen charged with two drug offences tried to argue that the charges didn’t apply to him.
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Judge Glen Cash gave his arguments – and that of the entire movement – a scathing appraisal.
“Merely setting out the argument is sufficient to show it is nonsense,” he wrote in his decision.
“It is apparent that the applicant is one of a group of people who for some years have attempted, universally without success, to avoid the operation of laws with which they do not wish to comply…
“Recognising that the arguments presented by [such] litigants are largely incoherent, if not incomprehensible, courts have been increasingly willing to dismiss their claims summarily.”
So no, sovereign citizens are certainly not exempt from the law.
Where did the movement start and why can it be dangerous?
The sovereign citizen movement arose in the 1970s in America following the founding of anti-government group Posse Comitatus by William Porter Gale – a group which had “racist and antisemitic” origins, according to the Southern Poverty Law Centre, a social justice organisation in the US.
The movement rose in prominence and spread to different countries, including Australia, in the following decades, and has since received a notable boost during the pandemic.
“It’s fair to say that one of the recalls of COVID was a disillusionment by a significant proportion of the public with government and with health, with law, with their connection with society,” Heilpern said.
“They’ve gone looking elsewhere for justification for their views of ‘these laws don’t apply to me’.”
While it’s not necessarily inherently violent, extremists within the movement have committed violent crimes.
Mike Burgess, the ASIO director-general, brought the risk of sovereign extremists to the attention of Australia in his 2022 threat assessment speech.
Mike Burgess has warned about the danger posed by sovereign citizens. (Alex Ellinghausen)
“Some of the alleged violent acts at the recent Old Parliament House protest are a case in point,” he said.
“The individuals involved were driven by a diverse range of grievances, including anti-vaccination agendas, conspiracy theories and anti-government sovereign citizen beliefs.”
Burgess isn’t the only top intelligence official to warn of the dangers of such beliefs.
Back in 2011, the FBI’s Counterterrorism Analysis Section stated it “considers sovereign-citizen extremists as comprising a domestic terrorist movement”, and it remains a serious issue today.
“We know there’s been many cases of violence from sovereign citizens in the US including shootings of police,” political sociologist and Associate Professor from Deakin University Dr Josh Roose said in 2023.
“About 15 per cent of domestic terrorism load, according to the FBI, in the US over the last five years was sovereign citizens.”
It’s also reached Australia with deadly consequences, most recently with Freeman’s deadly attack on the police officers from the sexual offences and child investigation team who had been sent to arrest him on a warrant.
The deadly ambush attack on police officers in Wieambilla, Queensland, in late 2022 was also linked to sovereign citizens. (9News)
Previously, the Wieambilla shooting in December 2022 – the ambush killing of Queensland police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare, by Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train – was linked to sovereign citizens.
Gareth’s internet behaviour unearthed after the shootings showed him promoting anti-government and anti-law enforcement ideologies.
“At that more extreme end, (the beliefs) can end up being pretty dangerous as we see in … the connections between those involved with the sovereign citizen or pseudo law movement and horrible incidents like we saw in Queensland involving police late last year,” Heilpern said.
Notable extremist sovereign citizens from the US include Terry Nichols, who helped plan the Oklahoma City bombing, and Jerry R. Kane Jr and 16-year-old Joseph T. Kane, a father-son pair who killed two police officers in a traffic stop in Arkansas in 2010.
Notable extremist sovereign citizens include Terry Nichols, who helped plan the Oklahoma City bombing. (AAP)
For the most part, though, the movement has a legal focus, with followers using certain phrases in an attempt to demonstrate laws don’t apply to them, and even conducting what’s known as “paper terrorism” – filing bogus, frivolous and often excessive legal paperwork to harass and intimidate someone.
“They bombard big firms with pseudo-legal paperwork, file bogus legal claims, they talk about arresting the police or the governor general or storming parliament and taking over,” Roose said.
“So there’s different dimensions. It is a significant concern, as we’ve seen… up in Queensland.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also warned about the movement.
“(Followers of) this ideology don’t see themselves being subject to our laws and our society,” he said.
“We’ve seen people here, in Canberra as well, put forward those positions, who have demonstrated outside the parliament.
“It is of real concern, and ASIO have warned that this threat is very real, and that we need to be very vigilant about it.”
Israeli oil refinery hit by missile in latest Iran attack
A missile strike earlier today ignited a fire at an Israeli oil refinery, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
Video footage, widely circulated by Israeli media, shows intense flames engulfing the Bazan refinery located in Haifa, a port city that has previously been targeted amid conflicts involving Iran.
According to reports from Channel 12 News, the attack was allegedly carried out by Iran and Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon, which has been engaged in hostilities with Israel from southern Lebanon.
Authorities are currently investigating whether the blaze resulted from a direct missile impact or was triggered by debris following an interception attempt.
Despite the alarming incident, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen assured the public that the production facilities remain unharmed and that fuel supplies will continue uninterrupted.
The refinery in Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, is located in a large industrial zone.
‘Search and rescue forces, both reserve and regular forces, are on their way to a site in northern Israel where reports of impact have been received,’ Israel’s military said in a statement, without specifying the precise location.
Israeli media said the site was also hit on March 19 when Iran fired missiles towards Israel.
The weekend was particularly harsh for St. John’s fans, from the longtime supporters to those who joined during the team’s thrilling journey to the Sweet 16. It was almost too much to bear, witnessing Braylon Mullins’ breathtaking 35-foot shot clinch victory at Capital One Arena. This marked the end of UConn’s 19-point comeback, a feat that had eluded the Red Storm against Duke just two days earlier. Once again, UConn, those perennial Huskies, secured a spot in the Final Four for the third time in four years, underscoring that despite St. John’s season successes, the path through the Big East still inevitably leads to Storrs.
In the grand scheme, UConn’s narrow 73-72 victory over Duke, just 48 hours after Duke had bested St. John’s 80-75, resonates more powerfully than any back-to-back Big East Tournament titles won by Rick Pitino’s squad. The Huskies’ prowess on the national stage is undeniably impressive, as they head to the final weekend of college basketball, a familiar rendezvous for them in this bracket season. Meanwhile, St. John’s continues to strive for a return to this stage, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1975.
The drama of Mullins’ game-winning shot was unexpected. Alex Karaban, aiming for his third national title, had possession with a chance for a last-second shot. Yet, he passed to the freshman Mullins, who, despite not having hit a 3-pointer all game and tallying just 10 points, released a shot so smoothly it seemed destined to score even from 45 feet out. Throughout the season, this team had been led by Karaban, Taris Reed Jr., and Solo Ball. It was a UConn squad that had stumbled twice against St. John’s.
Yet, in this moment, it was Mullins, the former five-star recruit who bypassed offers from his home-state Indiana and North Carolina for Danny Hurley’s program, who carved his name into the annals of March Madness history.
Jeffrey Donovan, well-known for his role in “Burn Notice,” has decidedly opted out of returning to Los Angeles.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, the 57-year-old actor shared insights about his relocation to Colorado, a decision that followed meeting his wife on the set of one of his projects.
“I encountered my future wife while wrapping up a job, and with her being a Colorado native, my visits there became constant,” Donovan revealed. “It’s a remarkable place, and I’m committed to raising my children there indefinitely.”
Donovan and Michelle Woods crossed paths in 2011 and tied the knot a year later in a modest ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, in August 2012.
Since their marriage, the couple has been blessed with three children: Claire, Lucas, and Ethan. Embracing Colorado as their home, Donovan humorously refers to it as the real sunshine state, in contrast to Florida, which he jokingly dubs “the thunderstorm state.”
“Colorado, secretly, is the sunshine state,” he said. “It’s a beautiful part of the country that gets more sunshine than maybe even Arizona and New Mexico. It’s incredible. So that’s why we’re there. And it’s really healthy living.”
The “Sicario” star shared that although he grew up in Boston, many of his friends currently live in Los Angeles and are raising children there.
While he does miss his friends, he says they all agree that raising children is “a challenge,” and that for him, being in Colorado makes it less so.
“I find it less challenging in Colorado, which plays to my talent level of raising kids,” Donovan explained. “If it’s not hard raising kids in Colorado, then that’s where I wanna be.”
The actor first gained national attention with his breakout role in “Burn Notice” in 2007. He played Michael Westen on the show, a blacklisted former CIA operative who works to find out who was behind the burn notice and why, without any of his usual contacts or resources.
He starred on the show for seven seasons and even went on to direct some episodes.
“I feel very fortunate about the show, but I also know that at the time it was the most grueling to this day job I’ve ever had,” he told Build in November 2017. “It was difficult, but I look back at if I didn’t take that job, and I wasn’t there, I would never have met my future wife and had my three beautiful children.”
Donovan is currently starring in the three-part series “The Faithful,” which tells story of the Book of Genesis from the perspective of five women at the center of those stories.
The actor stars on the show as Abraham, one of the most iconic figures in the Bible, telling Fox News Digital he thought taking on the role would be “a big swing.”
“There’s a part in the first hour where I actually talk with God and Minnie [Driver] is playing Sarah and I, to be honest, I was lost,” he recalled. “I felt the enormity, the pressure of how do I convey that I literally am talking to God to an audience that wants to talk to God or has talked to God, or wants to believe there is a God. And so I did feel that pressure.”
He then credited his co-star Driver for getting him in the right mindset, saying “she kind of grabbed me” and told him he was “enough,” with Donovan saying, “It was really powerful for me to feel that connection.”
When it comes to portraying the marriage between Abraham and Sarah, Donovan said he “tried to approach it as realistically as possible,” adding that playing a couple who have been married for that long, reinforced to him “that marriage is complicated.”
“It’s challenging, and if you and your partner, whoever that might be, can come to some sort of agreement that we are in it for the long haul, that our children, if you’re blessed enough to have children, are even more important than you, and you put all your eggs into that basket of going, ‘We are the providers, we are their educators, and they learn humanity from us,’ and if you go from that kind of premise, I think your children and your family will end up all right,” he said.
