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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.
The share of households in England without access to a car has climbed to its highest level in a decade, fuelling fresh criticism of what opponents describe as Labour’s “war on motorists”.
New official figures show that 25 per cent of households did not own a vehicle last year — the largest proportion recorded since 2015. The number has risen sharply since 2020, when around one in five households, or 21 per cent, were car-free.
However, the data does not point to a major shift towards greener forms of travel. Rates of walking and cycling remained flat, while public transport use also showed little change, suggesting many financially squeezed families may simply be giving up cars as running costs continue to rise.
Critics argue the trend shows motorists are being priced off the road, pointing to a wave of policies they regard as anti-car since Labour entered government. Among the measures cited are the expansion of 20mph zones, which has been linked to a sharp increase in speeding fines.
Since winning the 2024 general election, Labour has also brought in a new pay-per-mile charge for electric and hybrid vehicles. Ministers are additionally preparing a Fuel Duty move in the New Year, which critics warn could push petrol and diesel prices even higher after costs surged in the wake of the Iran war.
In July, the Mail revealed how parking tickets could more than double outside of London under proposals being considered by ministers.
At present, tickets are capped at £70 but could soar to £160 under the proposals.
Around 42 per cent of households in England had one car last year, according to the annual National Travel Survey data
Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said ‘it could not be clearer that Labour are waging war on motorists’
Last year, around 31 per cent of trips were made by active travel – where cycling or walking is the main mode of travel – which was broadly similar to the year before
Many councils have also hiked parking charges in a bid to replenish their coffers, with some even considering a tax on workplace parking spaces. Others have introduced low emission zones, which charge older vehicles, or congestion levies.
Today’s figures were revealed in the annual National Travel Survey.
It found cars and vans by far remain the most popular form of transport, accounting for more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of all miles travelled by the public in England in 2025. They also accounted for 58% of all trips.
But it also showed the proportion of households with access to at least one car or van has fallen, with one in four (25 per cent) now saying they don’t have access to one.
This was up from 22 per cent the year (2024) before and 21 per cent in 2020.
Meanwhile, 44% of households in the lowest income quintile had no access to a car, compared to 17% in the highest income quintile.
Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said: ‘It could not be clearer that Labour are waging war on motorists. The Left think cars are a luxury.
‘The rest of us know cars are a necessity to get to work, drop the kids at school, do the family shop and so much more.
‘Labour needs to drop the anti-car measures and get on the side of real people trying to live their lives.’
Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: ‘Labour is waging a war on motorists and working families are paying the price.
‘Driving is not a luxury for millions of people, it’s how they get to work, take their children to school and run their lives.
‘Reform UK will stand up for motorists and protect people’s freedom to travel.’
Around a third (33 per cent) of households had two or more cars last year, while 42 per cent had one.
About 57% of cars were petrol, 28% diesel, 8% hybrid, 5% fully electric and 2% plug-in hybrid.
Average trips decreased compared to 2024 with 323 car driver trips per person (9% decrease) and 166 car passenger trips per person (12% decrease).
But trip rates also remained around the same or fell for other modes of transport.
Last year, around 31 per cent of trips were made by active travel – where cycling or walking is the main mode of travel – and 10 per cent by public transport. This was broadly similar to 2024.
Trips on buses outside London remained unchanged between 2024 and 2025, at 28 trips per person, while in London they increased slightly from 13 to 15 trips per person.
But trips on mainline rail decreased from 21 to 18 trips per person in 2025, a fall of 11% compared to 2024. This was despite Labour freezing rail fares.
The Department for Transport was contacted for comment.
Jorgie Porter has opened up about a painful pregnancy symptom she says “no one ever talks about,” sharing an honest video with her Instagram followers on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old actress, who is pregnant with her second child with fiancé Oliver Piotrowski, was filmed doubling over as she described experiencing “lightning crotch” in the later stages of her pregnancy.
In the candid clips, the Hollyoaks star appeared to be getting on with everyday tasks before suddenly crouching down and clutching herself as the sharp discomfort hit.
Wearing a fitted black romper that showed off her growing baby bump, Jorgie was seen relaxing on the sofa, hanging up laundry and washing dishes as she highlighted how the pregnancy pain can strike without warning.
BabyCenter describes lightning crotch as “a sharp, shooting pain that starts in the groin and can travel down the thigh.”
Jorgie Porter has revealed she is suffering from a painful pregnancy condition that ‘no one ever talks about’ as she shared a video to her on Instagram on Tuesday
The actress, 36, who is expecting her second child with fiancé Oliver Piotrowski, was seen bending over in pain as she revealed she keeps experiencing ‘lightning crotch’
Pregnant women ‘may start to feel the pain which can be slight or take your breath away occasionally in your third trimester’.
The pain typically lasts no more than a few seconds and is not dangerous but is uncomfortable.
Jorgie wrote: ‘Why don’t more women talk about this in pregnancy? Minding my own business, trying to go about my day… then bam!
‘I had totally forgotten alllll about this. What other pregnancy symptoms did no one warn you about?’
The clip comes days after Jorgie dashed out of filming to go for a baby scan while wearing a full face of Hollyoaks makeup and shared the results on Instagram.
The star posted a series of snaps with her followers proudly displaying her bump while lying back on a medical bed waiting for her check-up.
She was dressed in character as Theresa McQueen, for the health update and was wearing false eyelashes and a bright red lip while pulling her crop top up.
In the snaps, where the star cheekily posed smiling and pouting, she explained that she has been feeling very anxious about her pregnancy.
The Hollyoaks star was seen in a number of clips performing daily jobs before she suddenly ended up crouched over grabbing her crotch
Jorgie showed off her baby bump in a fitted black romper in the clip as she relaxed on the sofa, hung laundry up and washed dishes
According to BabyCenter, lightning crotch ‘feels like a sharp, shooting pain that starts in the groin and can travel down the thigh’
Jorgie has previously suffered a devastating loss after she miscarried quadruplets in 2021 and went on to have son Forest, who is now 20 months old.
She suffered another loss when she was just six weeks pregnant before having Forest.
In one photo, she added a message which read: ‘All is goooooood! Baby is a little wriggler. Feel so happy knowing all is ok. Waiting for scans can make me feel so anxious.’
She captioned the post: ‘Scan update. I’ve genuinely messed up this appointment so many times. Baby brain is real!
‘Middle of a filming day (Theresa makeup still on), mad dash to the scan and we made it just on time. Now it’s time to pee. IYKYK’
Despite her difficulties, the Hollyoaks actress has said she’s excited about her pregnancy and has been showing off her bump on red carpets and social media snaps.
The clip comes days after Jorgie dashed out of filming to go for a baby scan while wearing a full face of Hollyoaks makeup
A transgender woman embroiled in a contentious breastfeeding dispute has been directed to disclose the hormones she uses and identify the contents of the liquid she gave her baby.
Jennifer Adrian Buckley has launched legal action against Jasmine Sussex, a counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), over remarks that allegedly described her as a “man pretending to be a woman,” “a child abuser,” and as someone promoting a “delusional queer theory take” on breastfeeding.
Ms Sussex secured an important victory last week after a Queensland tribunal reversed a crucial earlier decision in the high-profile vilification case.
Senior Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) members Ned Aughterson and Samantha Traves ruled that tribunal member Peter Bridgman had made legal errors serious enough to amount to a “substantial miscarriage of justice.”
The Appeal Tribunal overturned Mr Bridgman’s conclusion that information about Ms Buckley’s induced lactation and the substance fed to her child was irrelevant to determining whether Ms Sussex had unlawfully vilified her.
Mr Bridgman previously ruled it was Ms Sussex’s ‘acts that are tested’ and not those of Ms Buckley. He said medical treatment, the composition of fluids produced through induced lactation, and the qualifications of her practitioners were ‘simply not relevant to the matter’.
Mr Bridgman also found the requests were ‘unnecessarily intimate’, and described them as a serious intrusion into Ms Buckley’s privacy.
However, the Appeal Tribunal disagreed and found the information could be relevant to aspects of Ms Sussex’s defence, including whether her conduct was reasonable, undertaken in good faith, and in the public interest.
Transwoman Jennifer Buckley (right) is pictured with her newborn son and wife, Sandi in 2019
Jasmine Sussex (pictured) was sacked from her role as a volunteer councillor for the Australian Breastfeeding Association after refusing to use transgender-neutral language
Senior QCAT members overturned a January ruling by fellow tribunal member Peter Bridgman (pictured) finding he made errors of law that resulted in a ‘substantial miscarriage of justice’
Ms Buckley, who transitioned from male to female and is the biological father of the child, has until September 16 to provide details about the induction of lactation, including whether hormones were used, the nature of any medical supervision, and the composition of the substance produced and fed to the baby.
Ms Buckley has previously claimed she successfully induced lactation and breastfed her newborn son in 2019 under the supervision of endocrinologist Naomi Achong.
The paramedic previously posted on social media that she had taken hormones to grow breasts and the drug domperidone to increase prolactin in an attempt to induce lactation.
Dr Achong, whose PhD research focused on breastfeeding, previously said her experience with breastfeeding by transgender women had been positive.
The vilification dispute has been making its way through QCAT since Ms Buckley lodged a complaint with the Queensland Human Rights Commission in late 2023 over online comments made by Ms Sussex between 2021 and 2023.
As part of her defence, Ms Sussex’s legal team sought details about the treatment used to induce lactation, the qualifications of treating practitioners and the composition of the bodily fluid produced.
The information sought included the nature of the medical supervision, who provided it, how the lactation was induced, what qualified it as ‘lactation’ and how it was determined the fluid produced was ‘breast milk’.
In January, Mr Bridgman dismissed the application, ruling the material had ‘no bearing’ on whether Ms Sussex had ‘incited hatred’ against Ms Buckley or transgender women as a class and was therefore irrelevant to the case.
However, the Appeal Tribunal disagreed and found the information could be relevant to aspects of Ms Sussex’s defence, including whether her conduct was reasonable, undertaken in good faith and in the public interest.
Ms Buckley is pictured with her newborn son whom she breastfed after her endocrinologist prescribed medication to help her to begin lactation
The ABA publishes a guide, Breastfeeding, chestfeeding and human milk feeding: Supporting LGBTQIA+ families, which provides practical advice on feeding babies with human milk
The judges also referred to evidence from a medical doctor and bioethicist that ‘no evidence-based protocol to support the process of inducing lactation in a transgender woman has been published in academic literature and no longitudinal research exists regarding whether it is nutritionally adequate, nor whether there are any negative outcomes for the child’.
Ms Buckley has been contacted for comment through her solicitor, Kathleen Foley SC.
Ms Sussex has also been contacted for comment.
The ABA publishes a guide, Breastfeeding, chestfeeding and human milk feeding: Supporting LGBTQIA+ families, which provides practical advice on feeding babies with human milk.
The guide includes a chapter on lactation for transgender and gender-diverse people, stating it is possible for someone who has never been pregnant or given birth to produce milk.
Addressing hormone use, the booklet says induced lactation is a relatively new area of study and recommends a cautious approach.
It notes there may be unknown risks associated with lactating during or after hormone treatment, while also recognising the risks that can arise from stopping or delaying hormones prescribed to treat gender dysphoria.
The guide advises that decisions about hormone use and infant feeding should be made carefully and with the support of a medical professional.
A Massachusetts mother accused of killing her two young children broke down in court Thursday morning, sobbing and trembling as a judge ordered her held without bail.
Janette MacAusland, 49, entered not guilty pleas after her arrest on two murder charges. Authorities say she allegedly strangled her son and daughter inside the family’s $1.5 million home in an upscale suburb west of Boston.
Police said Kai MacAusland, 7, and Ella MacAusland, 6, died on April 24 at the Wellesley residence. Investigators allege the killings occurred as MacAusland was involved in a contentious divorce from the children’s father.
MacAusland appeared in Dedham District Court for Thursday’s hearing wearing a red jail jumpsuit, black glasses and handcuffs.
During the proceeding, MacAusland, an acupuncturist, repeatedly nodded, cried and appeared to wince whenever her children were referenced, at times using her arms to wipe tears from her face.
Her lawyer, Joseph Krowski Jr, suggested a $25,000 bail, 24/7 GPS surveillance, home confinement and a probation period.
Krowski Jr added that MacAusland ‘should not be deprived of her liberty while they get their act together – medical examiner’ as the cause of her children’s death remains unclear.
‘We are really in an intermediate state of limbo,’ the lawyer added.
Acupuncturist, Janette MacAusland, was seen sobbing in Dedham District Court during her Thursday morning hearing
MacAusland’s lawyer, Joseph Krowski Jr, suggested a $25,000 bail, 24/7 GPS surveillance, home confinement and a probation period
MacAusland will be held without bail. After a conference held yesterday, the Commonwealth said that they needed two more months. The judge granted an additional time of six weeks to move forward
The defense said that they are ready to determine probable cause but the prosecution stated they are not just yet. Krowski Jr asked for it to be dismissed or for the judge to ‘propose a reasonable bail.’
A conference was held yesterday where the Commonwealth said that they needed two more months. The judge granted an additional time of six weeks to move forward.
MacAusland’s lawyer also asked to waive her presence in court on October 29.
During this time MacAusland will be held without bail.
After the hearing, her lawyer said: ‘This is not Lindsay Clancy 2.0.
‘Jeanette MacAusland is her own woman, but there’s been a discussion, a discourse that’s opened up in this country about whether or not we want to criminalize mental illness.’
A funeral for Kai and Ella MacAusland was held in May, weeks after their mother, Janette MacAusland, allegedly killed them
Many recalled the late brother and sister sharing a special and close bond that was very strong
Krowski Jr further claimed mental health insittutions, legal institutions and criminal justice institutions for ‘failed’ MacAusland.
He also said that he thinks the case could not be decided ‘in this building,’ adding that it should be brought to the Dedham Superior Court.
The killings came as MacAusland was in the middle of a turbulent separation from her husband, Sam MacAusland, 62.
Following the children’s deaths, MacAusland drove to her aunt’s home in Bennington, Vermont, where she was arrested and confessed to taking her children’s lives, saying she wanted the three of them ‘to go to God together,’ according to a police report obtained by The Boston Globe.
Migrant shelters along Mexico’s border are now standing largely empty after the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown, marking a sharp shift in the flow of people who had been waiting near the US-Mexico border.
Reporter’s note: If you served on the jury and would like to share your account, please contact me at Adam.Sabes@fox.com.
A fellow juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial said the panel’s lone holdout used an exercise band and a water bottle during deliberations to demonstrate how Clancy’s children were strangled.
Clancy, 36, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her three young children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, each under the age of 6 — who were found strangled inside the family’s home in January 2023. On Friday, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision, with the panel reportedly deadlocked 11-1.
Lindsay Clancy looks at jurors as Judge Sullivan asks them to begin a sixth day of deliberations during her murder trial on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Plymouth, Mass.(Pool Photo by Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger)
Nick Dargie, 25, told ABC News that the holdout juror at one point tried to re-create the manner in which Clancy killed her three children, using an exercise band and a water bottle as props.
“He took the exercise band out of the bag, grabbed an empty water bottle and tied the band around the water bottle and pulled it,” Dargie said. “I was just so shocked that he did that.”
“I was shocked, it didn‘t make any sense to me. Like, we‘re not in here to play detective or it‘s not a game of Clue. like, this is serious. I asked him why,” he added.
Lindsay Clancy was indicted on three counts each of murder in the 2023 deaths of her 5-year-old daughter Cora, 3-year-old son Dawson and 7-month-old son Callan. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.(Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool)
Dargie said the holdout juror refused to explain how witness testimony helped prove his stance.
“There was several times I would ask him to show us evidence or, you know, describe a witness testimony that helped to prove what he was saying, and … he couldn’t,” Dargie said. “There wasn’t a single piece of evidence or witness testimony that he used to prove why he was thinking the way he was, which is why we ultimately sent in that note.”
Callan, left, Dawson and Cora Clancy. The three children were killed at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023.(Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook)
He was referring to the note sent by the jury foreperson, who reported that one juror was refusing to follow the court’s instructions on reasonable doubt.
After several jurors came forward about what went on in the deliberation room, Clancy’s defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, told “CBS Mornings” Wednesday that he would be filing a new motion to dismiss based on double jeopardy.
Kevin J. Reddington addresses the media as he arrives at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass., on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Reddington is representing Lindsay Clancy on murder charges for the deaths of her three children.(David McGlynn for News Media)
“I would defend that person’s right to be a holdout for a month,” Reddington said. “That’s what the system is based on, but when the forelady indicated clearly and unequivocally in the jury question that this person had doubt, reasonable doubt as we know now, and just refused to listen to the judge’s instruction on the law, that’s when I was upset.”
While Plymouth County District Attorney Timmothy Cruz hasn’t indicated what he will do with Lindsay Clancy’s case after the mistrial, Sullivan set a status hearing for Sept. 29.
Republicans still appear reluctant to let go of the idea of Marco Rubio as a future presidential contender, even as he repeatedly says he has “no plans” to seek the White House.
The secretary of state was more than 2,000 miles from the political spotlight in Ecuador on Wednesday, and he has made clear he would not challenge JD Vance for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
Still, just hours before the vice president was set to address a crowd in Dallas on Thursday, several attendees said Rubio would be their choice for president if he decided to enter the race.
Missy Walker, who was attending the convention, said she was especially eager to hear Vance speak, but admitted she would probably favor Rubio in a presidential matchup.
“You know, they’re both great, I might lean a little bit more toward Rubio. Gosh, he’s so good,” Walker said.
‘He doesn’t get rattled, he doesn’t get flustered. Neither does JD, but I just think sometimes Marco is just… I don’t know.’
Michael Caffey of Rockwall, Texas, was even more direct.
‘I like both a lot but I think Rubio would be a great choice. Vance would be great too, but I really like Rubio,’ he said, referring to how impressed he was by a recent United Nations speech the secretary of state delivered.
While Vice President JD Vance is preparing to take the stage in Dallas, several convention-goers said they would choose Rubio if they had to pick the Republican they want to see in the White House in 2028
‘JD Vance is running to make sure that we win the midterm elections. I like that,’ former Georgia Representative Vernon Jones told the Daily Mail
For attendees at the GOP midterm convention, Cruz was their top contender for president
Fred Farrin of Missouri also picked Rubio ‘if I had to choose.’
Lisa Stone went further, saying she wants Rubio at the top of the ticket with Vance beneath him.
Jeannie Elliott didn’t much care about the order. ‘Whichever one, the other is hopefully going to be vice president,’ she said.
The enthusiasm runs well ahead of the numbers.
A Financial Times/Focaldata poll conducted last week found 43 percent of Republicans backing Vance for the 2028 nomination. Rubio drew 21 percent.
Rubio has privately told at least one person in recent months that he has no plans to run, NBC News reported.
But that same person, familiar with his thinking, said the secretary of state is ‘keeping his options open for the future.’
He tried to shut the talk down himself on Tuesday.
‘I don’t know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time,’ Rubio told Colombian broadcaster RCN. ‘I’m not a candidate for anything right now. And I’m 100 percent focused on my job, and I have to be because I have two jobs.’
Not every Republican in Dallas wanted him on the stage. Former Georgia Rep. Vernon Jones said Rubio’s absence was exactly right.
‘I don’t want him here. He’s the Secretary of State. He’s handling American business around the globe,’ Jones said. ‘JD Vance is running to make sure that we win the midterm elections. I like that.’
Attendees queued for hours outside the American Airlines Center on day one, most of them there for the president.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds also spoke.
Erika Kirk was in the crowd alongside Trump administration officials and Republican members of Congress.
Trump gave Vance a brief shout-out during his convention speech on Wednesday, complimenting Vance for identifying billions of dollars in fraud.
Retired FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Miller has spent much of his life stepping forward when duty called.
His path to federal service began in the Air Force, continued on the streets as a Pittsburgh police officer, and eventually led to his selection for the ranks of the FBI.
It was during his years with the bureau that Miller first became directly involved in the fight against al-Qaeda.
In 1998, he was among the agents deployed to Africa after the coordinated bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, attacks that killed 224 people, including 12 Americans.
As a member of the FBI’s evidence response team, Miller was also on the ground in 2000 after al-Qaeda suicide bombers attacked the U.S.S. Cole, killing 17 sailors and leaving the destroyer badly damaged.
Retired FBI special agent Jeffrey Miller is seen in this still image from an ABC News interview.
And 25 years ago, he answered the call again when al-Qaeda terrorists weaponized four passenger jets
Dale, the scene-stealing town hall staffer who quickly became a favorite among Widow’s Bay viewers, was originally headed for a much shorter stay on Apple TV’s acclaimed horror comedy.
Creator Katie Dippold initially brought in her longtime friend Jeff Hiller for what was meant to be a small part — and she made it clear from the start that Dale was not expected to survive Season 1. But once Hiller got on set, the plan changed. His easy chemistry with the ensemble, gift for turning throwaway lines into big laughs, and infectious presence convinced Dippold to rewrite the character’s fate. Dale lived, and Hiller was later promoted to series regular for Season 2.
“I was initially just there to be a character who reveals that Richard Warren dying didn’t kill the curse. I was just supposed to be in the background. I didn’t really matter,” Hiller told DECIDER over Zoom. “And then in Episode 4, there was supposed to be a bad DJ there who ruined Patricia’s party, and Sam Donovan, who directed that episode, was like, ‘What if it was Dale? And that’s why he’s bad…’”
Hiller opened up about Dale’s unexpected evolution while speaking with DECIDER about his guest role on Pluribus, which earned him his second Emmy nomination. The conversation also turned to Widow’s Bay and its impressive awards showing: 19 Emmy nominations in total, including eight early wins, a nod for Outstanding Comedy Series, and acting recognition for Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, and Dale Dickey.
“Right now it’s so rare that people will do anything that’s not an IP. And it’s cool that I’m on these two completely new shows, not IP stuff, and that people are excited about them,” Hiller reflected.
Read the rest of our Widow’s Bay conversation below to hear Hiller dish on some of his greatest Dale improv moments, the beloved standout episode “Beach Reads,” his viral finale line, his hopes for Season 2, and more.
You were nominated for your iconic guest role in Pluribus, but you’re also in Widow’s Bay, which received an incredible19 Emmy nominations. The show has been such a word-of-mouth sensation. Was there a moment where you remember thinking, “Oh, this is a hit!”
Honestly, not the first time I thought it, but the first time I said it — we were at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. There was this huge crowd with all these people, and Stephen Root goes, “Man, people are excited.” And I was like, “We’re in a hit!”
The cemetery convincing you instead of the 19 Emmy nominations is so Widow’s Bay.Your friend and Widow’s Bay showrunner Katie Dippold thankfully promised we’ll see more of Dale than ever in Season 2. What’s your dream storyline for him?
I think it would just be fun to reveal what it’s like on this island every day. If Tom is driving down the street and meets a sea hag, what happens when Dale gets coffee at the Salty Whale or whatever? I think Dale is definitely not like Joel [from Somebody Somewhere]. At home, [Joel would] have all sorts of live, laugh, love signs and joyous things like that. And I think Dale is like, “Oh, I didn’t know about art. I don’t have any.” But I do think it’d be fun to have some really gross dark secret in the basement, like a twin that he’s hiding down there.
Yes! Oh my god, yes, the Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? pitch. And then you get to play a twin.
Oh yeah! I would be the twin!
Photo: Apple TV
Two of your main scene partners, Dale Dickey and Kate O’Flynn, received their first Emmy nominations for Widow’s Bay this year. What was it like collaborating with them?
Well, Dale Dickey, I’ve been a fan of forever. She used to do these Del Shores movies back in the day. And she played Patty, the daytime hooker, in My Name Is Earl. I remember I geeked out because she was in this movie called A Love Song, where she was so good. And Winter’s Bone and Breaking Bad! So I was so excited to work with her, and she didn’t disappoint. She’s so great, and so down, and just in the pocket. But I didn’t know Kate at all. That scene in the pilot when Tom says, “We gotta impress this New York Times person,” and she goes, “What are you asking me to do?” I was watching from the monitors and started laughing so hard because she was so serious and so funny. Kate is also just a great person. You know she’s British, and Matthew is Welsh, so Matthew will be like, “Should we go and run these lawns a bit?” And then Kate will be, “That would be actually wonderful, thank you.” The best British thing she’s ever said was, “Oh, that’s right. Your show’s on HB-ho.” [Laughs]
She and Patricia are both icons. Naturally, I have to ask about the party of the year, Sunset Cocktails. Take me back to shooting that standout episode. What were the most memorable moments for you?
I do remember sitting in the holding area, and we were just running through the scene — it was right before the scene where Patricia realizes she’s wearing the headdress — and some sort of bell ringing. I was like, “That is so crazy. Why do you think Rosemary didn’t say anything?” And Dale goes, “I said I had my qualms.” It was really, really hilarious. I was like, “Oh my God, that is so funny.”
And the Sunset Cocktails karaoke was the most fun. That was all scripted. I didn’t improvise any of that, but the fact that Dale doesn’t have premium… [Laughs] And I loved the dancing. I mean, I cannot say enough about Kate O’Flynn. If you look at the scene when everybody’s supposed to be dancing, you’ll see her, and she’s going crazy. And you’ll see that some of the background folks are just a mess. Cause we had been doing it for so long. But every single time Kate did it, her energy was contagious. And I was trying to dance like Dale would dance. It was really a very fun episode and scene.
Photo: Apple TV
I was so locked in on her dancing the first time I watched the screener that I didn’t even notice the jaws drop the first time. I saw them in the mirror, but when I rewatched the dance circle scene again and caught it, I was like, “Wow. I was just looking at Kate.”
That scene is so creepy, and I have to tell you, they told me that I had a very good open mouth. And you don’t even see it in the dancing scene! But we saw it in the water.
I was really stressed out by the open mouths. I was like, “I hope they don’t have TMJ.”
[Laughs] There was this one poor person. She was like, “I am opening my mouth!” She just had a very small mouth.
Another fan-favorite performance of yours is Episode 5 when Tom is tripping on shrooms. What can you tell me about those creepy facial prosthetics and somehow playing it straight opposite Matthew Rhys’ hilarious performance?
Where I scream and stuff — that wasn’t scripted. He screamed, and then I screamed, and it was really that shrill in real life. It was so fun for me, and he was having so much fun with it too. There was even more on the cutting room floor of him just doing weird things that were so hilarious. And then the mask — it’s harrowing to see your flesh in front of you and see all of the blemishes, and freckles, and things. I was like, “Oh, I need a laser.” But you know what? It opened my phone!
[Laughs] No way, that’s crazy. That mask is like an omen for Dale’s twin in the basement.
Oh my god, right. We’ll just get a dummy and put that thing on it.
Photo: Apple TV
I know you and Katie have such strong improv backgrounds, so was there a favorite improv this season that made the final cut?
You know, the one that I am kind of proud of that literally no one has mentioned to me? People talk about the “Oh, no, Rosemary!” line when the painting falls. And they were like, “Yes, you can do that one.” But the one that I thought was really funny that nobody ever mentions is when Tom is at the inaugural swim, and he’s talking. I was like, “I can hear you with that,” when in truth, I couldn’t hear him in real life. [Laughs]
That whole scene was incredible. I know you and Katie revealed that Dale was supposed to die, and I think I heard you say he wasn’t originally going to be in Episode 4, so does that mean you were getting killed earlier? Was the sea hag taking Dale out?
[Laughs] I do know how I was supposed to go out, but Katie has been very firm that I’m not supposed to say it, because she might use it in another episode, which is a very funny episode. I wasn’t supposed to get killed by the sea hag; I’ll tell you that. Although that’s so funny if gay Jeff was getting smothered. I’d flip her off even without scaring. I was initially just there to be a character who reveals that Richard Warren dying didn’t kill the curse. But I won’t say how I died. It was just supposed to be in the background. I didn’t really matter. And then in Episode 4, there was supposed to be a bad DJ there who ruined Patricia’s party, and Sam Donovan, who directed that episode, was like, “What if it was Dale? And that’s why he’s bad.” And I was like, “You guys, I love that.”
Thank you, Sam! I can’t imagine this show without you. I know the incredible finale wasn’t eligible for Emmy consideration this year, but it did give us one of the show’s most iconic lines: “This place is a death trap! Run!” Were you aware of how powerful that would be in the moment, and have you seen it blow up online? It’s a bit concerning how spot-on it is as a reaction to our real-world horrors.
[Laughs] Well, yes. I am concerned. When we were shooting it, I was thinking, “You know, maybe I’ll get a bit of a bigger part.” I’m an actor. But I definitely wasn’t thinking, “This’ll probably get Emmy nominations!” That was before I was even nominated for Somebody Somewhere, so the Emmy thing wasn’t in my mind at all. But after I shouted, all of the background folks and the crew and everyone laughed and clapped. And I was like, “Maybe it was funny!”
Photo: Apple TV
Since you were nominated for an Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series for your role as Larry in Pluribus, what’smore terrifying to you: living on a cursed island or the Pluribus hive mind situation?
Nobody’s asked me that yet. That’s such a good question. I think [I’d] probably [prefer] the hive mind. Because the reason Katie loves taking me to haunted houses and horror movies is I scream so much all the time, and I’m just so scared. We’ve gone to Universal Horror Nights for many, many years, and I always need a week to recover. [Laughs] There’s just like a ringing in my ears afterwards from the stress of it. So I think being on the island, I would have a heart attack by the time I was 26, whereas in the Hive Mind, I’d be like, “Eh, just take me. Let’s go.” [Laughs]
Since you’re on such an Apple TV hot streak, is there another series from the streamer you’d love to join next?
Oh my god, they have so many. I love Severance. I really love Severance. And I love The Studio. And I love [Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed] with Tatiana Maslany. That one’s so weird. But I would be on anything.
Widow’s Bay/Severance director Sam Donovan can hook you up. The Severance potential is endless. For all we know, you could be the person Irving’s on the phone with who we haven’t seen yet.
[Laughs] I’ll be the DJ to make Tramell Tillman dance.
You absolutely need to act opposite Tramell in this lifetime. In Somebody Somewhere, Joel was big on vision boards. At this point in your career, if you made a vision board, are there any roles, genres, or collaborators you’d put on it?
Here’s a weird one: I’d like to work with Annie Potts.
Oh, we’re getting you on Best Medicine!
I did audition for Best Medicine! And they gave it to Stephen Spinella, just because he’s a Tony-winning actor!
Oh my gosh! Let’s call Josh Segarra and get you on as a guest to work with Annie. We’re manifesting!
Oh my gosh, I love him too. He’s so sweet. I just love Annie Potts, and I love her career. She and David Hyde Pierce are two people that I’m always like, “I’d like to have careers like them, where they just play off of these different, weird things.” They go to the theater, they go to film, they go to TV. I think it’s just so cool.
Before we wrap, any final thoughts on Widow’s Bay or Pluribus you’d like to share?
I just feel so excited that the world gets to see the truth inside Katie Dippold. It’s her personhood on the page. And I feel like it’s so rare that people can do that. And I feel like Vince does that. He takes this truth of himself and puts it on the page. I’m not saying that he dealt meth or whatever. [Laughs] But I think it’s so cool that Apple allows these creators to do that. I have such respect for both of them, and for Apple, too. Right now it’s so rare that people will do anything that’s not an IP. And it’s cool that I’m on these two completely new shows, not IP stuff, and that people are excited about them.
