Keanu Reeves is a Canadian actor, director, producer, and musician. Filming in the trilogy “The Matrix” brought world popularity to the actor, since then Keanu has been a favorite of the public and a Hollywood star.

Keanu Reeves is not a typical Hollywood actor, having millions in his personal account, he rides the subway and dresses more modestly. The actor even earned the title of the kindest actor in Hollywood.

Name: Keanu Charles Reeves

Date of birth: September 2, 1964

Occupation: actor, producer, director, and musician

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Height: 186

Marital status: not married

Childhood and school years

Keanu Charles Reeves was born on September 2, 1964, in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Keanu became the first child in the family of Samuel Reeves and Patricia Bond. My father was a geologist, and my mother was a costume designer and dancer. Reeves’ father did not have a higher education; it was difficult for him to find a decently paid job. Samuel received his certificate in prison, where he ended up for drug trafficking.

Keanu owes his unusual name to his Hawaiian father, which means “wind over the mountains.” The boy mixed several types of blood – Hawaiian, Chinese, English, Portuguese and Irish.

When Keanu was two years old, his younger sister Kim was born. And a year after the birth of the baby, the father left Patricia with one of two children. Since then, the children have not communicated with him.

Three years later, Keanu, his mother, and his sister moved to live in New York. Patricia began working as a costume designer and met Broadway director Paul Aaron, whom she married. Soon the family decided to move to Toronto. After that, Patricia had another marriage, in which two Keanu sisters were born – Karina and Emma.

Reeves’ home in Toronto was opposite the music studio where Alice Cooper often recorded his songs. The boy came to listen to his favorite songs, so they became friends.

Keanu had a hard time learning at school. The reason for the failure was dyslexia, a disorder in which it is difficult for a person to write and read. This not only caused poor grades, but also ridicule from classmates. But Keanu was great at chess. He played so well that he asked for a dollar from anyone who wanted to beat him.

Keanu Reeves changed several educational institutions. Having left the Catholic school for boys, the young man went to study at a free school, where he could play hockey. On the ice, Keanu became the best player in the school and was nicknamed “the wall” by his comrades for his excellent role as a goalkeeper. He seriously thought about devoting his life to hockey, but an injury closed his road to the future of a sport forever.

As a result, Keanu dropped out of school without getting his diploma. As a young man, he went on a free voyage. For some time, the future actor lived independently and worked part-time in several places at once: he sharpened skates, sold souvenirs, and starred in commercials.

Actor career

At school, Keanu tried himself in theatrical productions. The first serious role went to him in the musical “Damn Yankees” when the actor was 9 years old. Later, he played the role of Mercutio in the play, Romeo and Juliet.

For the first time in front of television cameras, Keanu Reeves appeared on the set of commercials. Then he considered the work of an actor just an opportunity to earn extra money. Then Keanu began acting in short films and soon he was offered small roles in TV shows.

Reeves got his first major role in Youngblood (1986). There he tried on the already familiar image of a hockey goalie. After the release of the picture, the young actor decided to go to Los Angeles to build a career in cinema. With this, he was helped by his stepfather, who found an agent for him.

The agent was Erwin Stoff, who to this day collaborates with the actor and sometimes acts as a producer of his films. He advised Keanu to take a pseudonym, as he considered his name too exotic. Therefore, at the beginning of his career in the credits, Keanu could be listed as Norman Reeves or Chuck Speed.

After several cameo roles, Reeves was offered to play one of the main characters in the film “By the River”. Critics responded positively to the work of an aspiring actor and he continued to work in similar films aimed at teenagers and young people. So he starred in the drama “Eternal Song” and the comedy “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

Soon Keanu began to offer more serious roles in highly paid projects. So in 1991, the actor starred in the film “On the crest of a wave.” For this role, Reeves received an MTV Award nomination for Most Desirable Actor. He then starred in the independent film My Own Private Idaho, along with his close friend River Phoenix.

The project “Dracula” directed by Francis Ford Coppola turned out to be successful, where the actor got one of the main roles. Then Reeves reincarnated as Buddha in Bernardo Bertolucci’s film Little Buddha.

In 1994, Keanu Reeves was offered to shoot in the action movie Speed. The actor’s partner in the film was Sandra Bullock. Box office receipts were impressive – more than $1 million. The action film received two Oscar nominations for editing and sound engineering, and also entered the top 100 most spectacular films of the 20th century.

Another successful work in the career of Keanu Reeves was the film “Johnny Mnemonic”, based on the novel by William Gibson. The film was shot in the genre of fantasy and tells the story of an alternative future. The main character, played by Keanu, is an information courier whose brain has been implanted with a chip for transporting data. The original script for the movie didn’t have as many action scenes, but they decided to add them after Reeves’ huge success in Speed.

In 1997, it was decided to shoot a sequel to the film “Speed” and Keanu Reeves was called to the site again, but the actor refused. Even $ 11 million did not convince the actor. The reason for this decision was another project in which Keanu could star with Al Pacino himself. It was in order to work with the cinema meter that Reeves turned down the invitation. Al Pacino’s The Devil’s Advocate won the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film.

Forever the life of Keanu Reeves was changed by the film “The Matrix”, which was released in 1999. The role of Neo brought Keanu Reeves worldwide fame and popularity. However, this might not have happened, because the role was originally offered to Will Smith, but he considered the film unpromising.

The Matrix marked a new era and entered the list of cult films. In 2003, two more parts of the action movie came out. In general, Keanu Reeves received a fee of more than $ 200 million for his work on three films. But the actor did not waste his fortune, he gave almost 80% to the technical team of the film and spent it on charity.

The success of The Matrix not only made Keanu Reeves a Hollywood star but also played a cruel joke on him. Many subsequent projects with the participation of the actor were already perceived biased. The audience expected to see a character similar to Neo on the screen, and in other roles of Reeves caused criticism and discontent.

Soon the actor managed to “rehabilitate himself” in the film “Konstantin”. The mystical thriller was released in 2005. Keanu Reeves played the main role – the exorcist and medium Constantine, who saves humanity from demons.

On January 31, 2005, Keanu Reeves received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2006, a film adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s book “The Blurred” was released. Richard Linklater’s film was not quite ordinary, it was drawn. Talented actors gathered on one set – Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, and Keanu Reeves in the title role.

In the same year, the melodrama Lake House was released, where Keanu again worked with Sandra Bullock. The audience liked the touching story of the main characters and the dramatic plot.

This was followed by several more successful films with Keanu. And in 2013, fans saw another side of Reeves – directorial. His first film, Master of Tai Chi, was released. In general, reviews of the film are positive and Reeves’ directorial debut can be called successful.

In parallel with the work on his project, Keanu Reeves starred in the film “47 Ronin”. Among the film’s actors, Keanu was the only American, the rest of the actors were Japanese. A dynamic fantasy action movie that was liked by viewers and critics alike.

In 2014, the action movie John Wick was released. A tense plot, epic shootouts, and emotional characters brought the film a success. At the box office, the picture collected almost $ 90 million.

After such success, everyone was waiting for another high-quality picture, but it did not work out. The film “Daughter of God” was a failure. Reeves’ fans were upset that the actor agreed to shoot on a project that was immediately doomed to failure.

The film “Neon Demon” once again returned the fans’ faith in Keanu Reeves. The picture tells about the reverse side of the modeling business, which so attracts young girls. Critics were surprised that the plot, hackneyed at first glance, was so successfully beaten. The film was included in the list of contestants at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2017, the long-awaited sequel John Wick 2 was released. Again, great story and great acting. At the box office, the picture collected almost twice as much as the first part – $ 171 million. The ending of the film was left open, so the audience is looking forward to the continuation of the action.

In parallel, Keanu starred in the film “To the Bone”. His sister Karina made her debut in the project as a producer. The film tells about a girl suffering from anorexia and her treatment under the special program of Dr. Beckham. Keanu Reeves played the doctor, and young actress Lily Collins played the losing weight patient. The premiere took place at the Sundance Independent Film Festival, where the film was presented in the competition program.

As you know, not only the best are rewarded in the cinema, but also the worst. Despite many successful roles and box office projects, Keanu managed to earn a nomination for the Golden Raspberry anti-award 7 times and become one of its leaders. In 2005, the actor was nominated for the title of “Worst Loser in the First 25 Years”. 10 years later, after the release of the film “Don Wick”, the actor “cleared” his name and received a prize for restoring his reputation.

Music

Keanu Reeves is not only an actor but also a musician. He played bass in the rock band Dogstar. The musical group was founded in 1991 and for all its activities has released only 2 albums. At the same time, the group was quite popular. In 1995, they were invited to act as the opening act for Bon Jovi on a tour of Australia.

Interestingly, in ordinary life, Keanu is left-handed, but when he performed on stage, he played the guitar with his right hand. His musician friends said that Keanu was always very modest and restrained on stage, as in other things and always.

Personal life

Unlike their career, Keanu Reeves’ personal life is very tragic. He has always been withdrawn and not sociable. Even at school, he had many complexes, some of which have remained with him to this day.

In 1993, the first tragedy in the life of Keanu Reeves happened. His best friend River Phoenix died at the age of 23. The cause of death of the actor was a drug overdose.

The actor’s first serious relationship was with Jennifer Syme. They met through friends in 1998. And it was definitely love at first sight. The lovers began a serious relationship and soon they began to live in a civil marriage. A year later, Jennifer became pregnant.

The couple was looking forward to the birth of their daughter Ava Archer. But a week before the expected birth, a misfortune happened – the baby’s heart stopped beating. With the help of artificial childbirth, Jennifer gave birth to a dead girl. Keanu also attended the operation.

The tragedy had a profound effect on both parents. Jennifer tried to forget herself in noisy companies, and Keanu got depressed. Only 2 years have passed since another grief happened – Jennifer died. The girl was in a car accident. Due to not wearing a seat belt, she flew out through the windshield of her car and died immediately. After the tragedy, Keanu filmed a public service announcement about the importance of wearing a seatbelt while driving.

The actor’s depression worsened and he even tried to take cocaine but stopped in time. In 2003, fate brought him a new test – his sister Kim had an exacerbation of leukemia, which she had suffered for 10 years. Keanu spared no effort or money to somehow help his sister. Fortunately, the disease has receded. Keanu constantly donates money to funds to help people with cancer.

After Jennifer, the actor did not have a serious relationship. In 2010, Keanu and Charlize Theron were rumored to be dating, but the actors are just good friends. Charlize supported a friend during her depression.

In 2013, magazines were full of headlines about Reeves’ new romance with Russian actress Anna Skidanova. The reason was the photo of Anna and Keanu on a walk with friends on a yacht. Later, the actress said that they were just talking and nothing more.

Friends of the actor say that he is afraid of a serious relationship. The tragedies that happened in his life forever changed his attitude towards marriage and children, in one of his interviews, Keanu said that it was too late for him to be a father.

In 2010, Keanu became the subject of a meme. Who filmed him sitting on a park bench eating a sandwich. At the same time, the actor looked very sad. The photo quickly spread on the network and they began to call him “Sad Keanu.” Reeves fans have declared July 15 as Keanu Reeves Cheer Up Day.

Big fees did not “spoil” the actor, he continues to ride the subway, dress in ordinary stores, and communicate with ordinary people. Keanu does not like to advertise his charitable activities, but the actor spends almost all of his money on helping others. He repeatedly gave his fees to the workers of the set, who, in his opinion, did much more than the actors.

Filmography of Keanu Reeves

• 1986 – Youngblood
• 1986 – Act of Retribution
• 1986 – Disneyland
• 1986 – Flight
• 1986 – Brotherhood of Justice
• 1986 – Influenced
• 1986 – Children in Toyland
• 1987 – On the riverbank
• 1987 – Hard Times
• 1988 – Last night
• 1988 – Eternal song
• 1988 – Prince of Pennsylvania
• 1988 – Dangerous Liaisons
• 1989 – Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
• 1989 – American Theater
• 1989 – Parents
• 1990 – I love you to death
• 1990 – Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
• 1990 – Tune in for tomorrow
• 1991 – On the crest of a wave
• 1991 – The New Adventures of Bill and Ted
• 1991 – My Own Private Idaho
• 1991 – Providence
• 1992 – Dracula
• 1993 – Much Ado About Nothing
• 1993 – Poetic Justice
• 1993 – Image
• 1993 – Little Buddha
• 1994 – Even cowboy girls get sad sometimes
• 1994 – Speed
• 1995 – Johnny Mnemonic
• 1995 – A walk in the clouds
• 1996 – Chain Reaction
• 1996 – Feeling Minnesota
• 1997 – Suicide
• 1997 – The Devil’s Advocate
• 1999 – The Matrix
• 1999 – Me and Will
• 2000 – Doubler
• 2000 – Observer
• 2000 – Dar
• 2001 – Sweet November
• 2001 – Hardball
• 2003 – Animatrica
• 2003 – Entering the Matrix
• 2003 – The Matrix Reloaded
• 2003 – The Matrix: Revolution
• 2003 – Love by the rules and without
• 2005 – Constantine: Lord of Darkness
• 2005 – Echo
• 2005 – Bad habit
• 2005 – Ellie Parker
• 2006 – The Great Warming
• 2006 – House by the lake
• 2006 – Turbidity
• 2008 – Street Kings
• 2008 – The Day the Earth Stood Still
• 2009 – The Private Life of Pippa Lee
• 2009 – Easy Assembly
• 2011 – Henry’s Crime Feature
• 2012 – Three in New York
• 2013 – Master of Tai Chi
• 2013 – 47 ronin
• 2014 – John Wick
• 2015 – Who’s there
• 2015 – Only the truth
• 2015 – Daughter of God
• 2016 – Neon Demon
• 2016 – Rhine
• 2016 – Bad Batch
• 2017 – John Wick 2
• 2017 – – To the bone
• 2018 – How to marry a bachelor
• 2018 – Reproduction
• 2018 – Professional
• 2019 – John Wick 3

Marlene Dietrich is a German and American actress and singer. In the 30s of the twentieth century, Marlene becomes a real sex symbol and the embodiment of the era. Every woman from Berlin to Los Angeles dreamed of being like Marlene.

Name: Maria Magdalena Dietrich

Date of birth: December 27, 1901

Occupation: actress, singer

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Marital status: widow

Date of death: May 6, 1992

Childhood and youth

Maria Magdalena Dietrich was born in Schöneberg, Berlin on December 27, 1901. Marlene’s father, Louis Otto Dietrich, served in the Uhlan regiment before the birth of his daughter, and then was a police lieutenant. Mother Josefina Felzing was the daughter of famous entrepreneurs, her parents owned a jewelry and watch shop.

Mary Magdalene had an older sister, Liesel. As a child, the sisters were friendly, but when, during Nazi Germany, Liesel and her husband opened a cinema with a cafe for concentration camp workers, Marlene stopped calling her her sister. But, despite this, the Dietrich sisters always communicated.

The Dietrich family were far from poor people, so Liesel and Maria Magdalena studied foreign languages ​​and the humanities from early childhood. The girls’ mother, Josefina, was very strict and did not give her daughters any concessions. But, like any mother, she wanted the best for her children and therefore raised her daughters according to all the rules of high society.

When Mary Magdalene was 6 years old, her father died of syphilis. A few years later, her mother married a second time to a teacher from the gymnasium where her daughters studied. This marriage turned out to be short-lived, two years later Josefina found herself a new gentleman – Lieutenant Eduard von Losch.

While studying at the gymnasium, the future actress became seriously interested in music. The girl mastered playing the piano, flute, and violin. There, Mary Magdalena decided to shorten her name and became Marlene.

The usual life of the family was changed by the First World War. During the war, Josefina and her daughters moved to the small town of Dessau, where the girls began to go to the lyceum. At this time, Josephine’s third husband, Eduard, died at the front. At the end of the war, Dietrich again began to live in Berlin.

At the age of 16, Marlene decided to leave school, so she never received a certificate. The mother decided that her daughter should devote her life to music and was not against it when she went to Charlotte von Stein’s boarding house and took private music lessons.

In 1921 Marlene returned to Berlin and began to play in an orchestra. Violinist career ended due to inflammation of the tendons of the fingers. But for Marlene, it was a great chance to start a new life.

A year later, Marlene began taking private lessons from the director of the acting school Max Reinhart at the Deutsches Theater Bertolt Held. Six months later, Marlene mastered the choreography and decided to study vocals.

Marlene Dietrich in cinema and music

Marlene often performed on stage with the violin, sometimes she sang. Dancing lessons allowed her to earn some extra money as a dancer in one of the clubs in Berlin. Marlene Dietrich’s acting debut happened on the stage of the German Theater in the play Pandora’s Box.

In the cinema, Dietrich did not appear without outside help. Her uncle had a good friend, a director, to whom he introduced her to. So Marlene got a small role in the film “These are the men.” Then the actress received another episodic role in the film “The Tragedy of Love” (1923).

In connection with her marriage, Marlene took a break from acting for two years. In 1925, the actress again appeared on the theater stage and with small roles in the cinema. Marlene Dietrich’s first leading role was in the film The Electrician’s Cafe (1927), followed by another in Kiss Your Hand, Madame, with actor Harry Liedtke.

In 1928, the voice of Marlene Dietrich sounded from her first disc, It’s in the Air.

Director Joseph von Sternberg saw Marlene Dietrich in one of the films and offered her cooperation. The Blue Angel of 1930 opened the doors to a big movie for her. The film was shot in two languages ​​- German and English and was being prepared for worldwide distribution. Marlene managed to outshine everyone and become the highlight of the picture, and the songs she performed in the film became hits. After the release of The Blue Angel, Marlene leaves for Hollywood. There she signs a contract with the famous Paramount Pictures company and continues to work with director Sternberg.

Her first Hollywood film was the melodrama Morocco. After the film was released, everyone was shocked – Marlene appeared on the screen in a men’s trouser suit. For that time it was a real revolution. Many women followed the example of the film actress and also began to introduce men’s clothes into their wardrobes. For her role in Morocco, Marlene Dietrich received her only Oscar nomination.

After “Morocco” Marlene and Stenberg made 5 more films. All of them received good reviews from critics and viewers. The last joint film of the actress and director was released in 1935 under the title The Devil is a Woman.

While Marlene shone in Hollywood in her homeland, the rule of the Third Reich and active propaganda of National Socialism began in Germany. Adolf Hitler saw in Marlene Dietrich the face of the Third Reich. German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels offered the actress 200,000 Reichsmarks for a film with her participation. Marlene herself could choose which film to shoot and who would be the director. Dietrich refused and applied for American citizenship.

In 1937, Marlene Dietrich starred in the film “Angel”. The film turned out to be a failure, and the actress decided to take a break in her career for 2 years.

In 1943, Marlene Dietrich again made a choice, not in favor of cinema. The actress for three years sang for the soldiers of the Entente in France, Africa, and Italy. For this, Marlene Dietrich was awarded honorary awards: the Medal of Freedom, the title of Chevalier, and then officer and commander of the order of the Legion of Honor.

After traveling with concerts, Marlene returned to the cinema. Her most successful role since her return was the title role in Foreign Romance. Dietrich’s former popularity returned – her voice was listened to on the radio, and glossy magazines published her articles.

In the 50s, Marlene nevertheless decided to act as a performer. She went on tour in America and then came to her native Germany.

There, the artist was met with a hostile attitude. In Germany, Dietrich was considered a traitor to her homeland because she so defiantly renounced German citizenship. Marlene went through humiliation – they threw eggs at her during a performance, and after one of the concerts, some girl spat right in the singer’s face. But Marlene Dietrich was warmly received in the USSR. She came with concerts in Moscow and Leningrad. During a performance in Moscow, Marlene met her favorite writer, Konstantin Paustovsky.

Marlene Dietrich played her last film role after a 16-year break in the film Beautiful Gigolo, Poor Gigolo. But critics considered the role a failure. In 1982, Maximilian Schell made the documentary film Marlene about Marlene Dietrich. The actress refused to appear in the frame but agreed to an off-screen interview.

Personal life of Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich had only one marriage. On the set of the film “The Tragedy of Love,” Marlene met the site administrator Rudolf Sieber. In May 1923, the couple got married, and a year later their daughter Maria Elisabeth was born.

The relationship between Marlene and Rudolph actually lasted only 5 years, after which the couple stopped living together, but never divorced. They kept in touch, Marlene even helped Rudolf financially when he was battling cancer. Unfortunately, the disease won and the man died in 1976. Receiving American citizenship, Marlene also indicated her husband’s surname – Maria Magdalena Sieber.

The daughter of Marlene and Rudolf followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an actress. All over the world, she is known as Maria Riva.

In 1934, Marlene met the famous writer Ernest Hemingway. It was a real pen-pal that lasted from the first day they met until Ernest’s death in 1961. The touching lines of their letters went down in history.

“I can’t understand how it is that every time I hug you, I feel at home.” – from Ernet Hemingway’s letter to Marlene Dietrich.

After 3 years, Marlene began a new romance, and also with a writer. Erich Maria Remarque and Marlene Dietrich met when the actress was still living in Germany, but the passion between them broke out in Venice in 1937. The writer called Marlene Puma, a wild cat. When Remarque is deprived of citizenship in Germany, Dietrich helps him get an American visa and move to the United States. Marlene and Erich’s relationship soon fades away. Marlene Dietrich became the prototype of Joan Madu, the heroine of Remarque’s novel Arc de Triomphe.

In 1941, another man appeared in the life of the actress – Jean Gabin, a French actor. The relationship lasted 6 years, but they cannot be called happy, they brought a lot of suffering to both lovers.

Last years

A terrible injury put an end to the career of an actress. At a concert in Sydney in 1975, Marlene Dietrich fell and broke her hip. The artist was urgently hospitalized in a New York hospital, where she spent almost a year.

After being discharged, Marlene came to Paris to her apartment on Avenue Montaigne. There, the actress began to live in seclusion. She did not want to be seen with a cane, so she did not appear in public and communicate with everyone but her closest ones on the phone. To cope with the pain in her leg, Marlene drank a lot of painkillers, and due to depression, a lot of alcohol. This caused a malfunction of the kidneys and heart.

On May 6, 1992, at the age of 90, Marlene Dietrich died in her Paris apartment. Thousands of fans came to say goodbye to their favorite actress. 2 flags were laid on the coffin of the actress – American and French, and she was buried in her hometown of Schöneberg, next to her mother’s grave.

Filmography of Marlene Dietrich

• 1922 – These are the men
• 1923 – The tragedy of love
• 1923 – Man on the road
• 1924 – Leap into life
• 1926 – Manon Lesko
• 1926 – Modern Dubarry
• 1926 – Keep your head up, Charlie!
• 1926 – Madame does not want children
• 1927 – His greatest deceit
• 1927 – Cafe Electric
• 1929 – I kiss your hand, madam
• 1929 – A woman who is desired
• 1929 – Dangers of mating season
• 1930 – Blue Angel
• 1930 – Morocco
• 1931 – Dishonored
• 1932 – Blonde Venus
• 1932 – Shanghai Express
• 1933 – Song of Songs
• 1934 – Dissolute Empress
• 1935 – The Devil is a Woman
• 1936 – Desire
• 1936 – Now Allah
• 1937 – Knight without armor
• 1937 – Angel
• 1939 – Destry back in the saddle
• 1940 – Seven Sinners
• 1941 – Energy
• 1942 – So the lady wants
• 1942 – Scoundrels
• 1942 – Pittsburgh
• 1942 – New Orleans Light
• 1944 – Kismet
• 1944 – Following the boys
• 1946 – Martin Rumagnac
• 1947 – Gold Earrings
• 1948 – Foreign novel
• 1949 – Puzzle
• 1950 – Stage Fright
• 1951 – There is no highway in the sky
• 1951 – The Notorious Ranch
• 1956 – Around the world in 80 days
• 1957 – Monte Carlo
• 1957 – Witness for the Prosecution
• 1957 – Seal of Evil
• 1961 – Nuremberg Trials
• 1962 – Black Fox. The True Story of Adolf Hitler
• 1964 – Paris, when it’s hot
• 1978 – Beautiful gigolo, poor gigolo
• 1984 – Marlene

We all know very well that the knife must be held in the right hand, and the fork in the left, and that it is impossible to come to visit without a call. But the rules of good manners are not limited to this. 

We talk about the rules of modern etiquette that will help you always be on top and avoid embarrassing situations. We are sure that something from our list will surprise you!

1. Don’t say you’re on a diet and don’t drink alcohol.

Talking at the table that you are on a diet and that you “can’t do all this” is a bad form. It is especially ugly to refuse the offered dishes at a party under this pretext. Be sure to praise the culinary talents of the hostess, while the food on the plate can remain untouched. The same should be done with alcohol. There is no need to tell everyone why you can not or do not want to drink. Order a dry white wine and just sip a little.

2. Sushi umbrella correctly

When you enter a room with a wet umbrella, do you immediately open it to dry it? According to the rules of etiquette, this is not allowed. After all, it creates inconvenience for everyone else. The umbrella must be folded (but not twisted) and placed on the umbrella stand. If there is no stand, you can lean the umbrella against the wall.

3. Put your bag on the floor

We are accustomed to holding a bag on our laps or putting it on a chair that stands nearby. Meanwhile, this is contrary to the rules of etiquette. Bags must be hung on the back of the chair on which you are sitting, or placed on

4. Be careful with perfume

In no case should you overdo it with perfume and toilet water, especially in the theater, at a concert, in a hospital, restaurant, at an exhibition, or social reception? The rule here is simple: if by the evening you can still smell the aroma of your perfume, you can be sure that everyone else has already suffocated.

the floor, where they definitely will not interfere with anyone. A small clutch can be placed on the table next to you. By the way, in Europe, everyone has been doing just that for a long time.

5. For a video conference, choose business images

Lockdown dictates new rules for business negotiations. For the next call with work colleagues, choose adequate clothes, but not frankly homemade or pajamas in general. If you have an important videoconference or a meeting with management, put on a shirt, jumper, or turtleneck – clothes that would be suitable for the office.

6. Eat Sushi Properly

Don’t like or don’t know how to use chopsticks for sushi? Well, at home you can afford to eat sushi with a fork or even with your hands. But in a restaurant, you still need to use only chopsticks. And never lick your sushi chopsticks – that’s unacceptable!

7. Don’t abuse audio messages

Send audio messages only to people you know well. Many of them have a very ambiguous attitude. You should not send them to colleagues, clients, and even housemates. It may not be possible for a person to listen to an audio message, and in general, it is considered unethical.

8. Don’t keep your smartphone on the table

If during a meeting with friends or a business lunch your phone lies in front of you, and besides, you are constantly distracted by it to scroll the feed or take a picture of food, then your interlocutors are completely uninteresting to you and you clearly demonstrate this.

9. Don’t fix other people’s social media mistakes

Only a few shine with impeccable literacy today. But correcting mistakes in other people’s posts or Stories is the height of bad manners. So you demonstrate your narcissism and elementary disrespect for a person. In addition, this is a sign of interference in the personal territory of the individual.

10. Don’t use shopping bags

Cellophane bags are allowed only upon returning from the supermarket, the same applies to branded bags with the names of fashion brands. Carrying them with you later as a bag is just redneck. For a lot of things, use a fabric shopper or a large bag.

World Children’s Day is celebrated annually on November 20, on this day the “Declaration of the Rights of the Child” was approved, as well as the “Convention of the Rights of the Child”.

On this day, many organizations hold charity events and help needy children. Join and you! Send any amount to the account of a charitable organization dealing with children’s problems, and you can congratulate your loved ones with the help of postcards, pictures, and SMS from our article.

World Children’s Day – congratulations in verse

We will celebrate World Children’s Day with
the whole planet, may all children on Earth
be healthy.

May those who are always surrounded
be love and kindness, may every house be filled with
fun and din.

Let our children grow under a peaceful sky, and let our planet
spin like a bright ball.

Congratulations on the Children’s Day in prose

Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on World Children’s Day! Let your life be bright, sonorous, and the days will always be good! I wish a lot of sun in your life, a lot of tenderness, joy, and warmth, and that the golden carriage always brings happiness to the appointed goal! I wish that the desires of our children are always fulfilled, and do it even without magic words and that they are always admired both at school and at home! Congratulations!

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Congratulations to everyone on World Children’s Day! Let every adult see the sparkle of happy children’s eyes! May our children be happy and healthy, may they always succeed in life, and most importantly, I wish them success in all their endeavors! Dear mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, and uncles, enjoy children’s laughter, answer all the questions of tomboys, and also – be their support and never let us lose heart! I congratulate you!

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I want to congratulate the whole world on World Children’s Day! My brothers and sisters may quiet and badass, babies, teenagers, and very little ones are happy, healthy, and may they always be lucky. May the curious why children always find answers to their questions, and most importantly, may their childish irrepressible energy and thirst to explore this world never fade away, and charge adults with positive!

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I wish on World Children’s Day that every baby be happy and healthy, that he is always surrounded by care, and true love, and never sad. Children are the flowers of life, and adults are gardeners. So, I wish flowers to always be beautiful and bright, and gardeners to be caring and not too strict! Congratulations!

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The most precious thing any parent has is their children. Today we are celebrating World Children’s Day, in honor of which I want to wish every kid to be obedient, happy, bright, and creative, and to every parent to understand and support any undertakings. Let the child’s smile fill you with energy and joy, let the sonorous laughter of the baby always, please! I congratulate you!

 sincerely and from the bottom of my heart congratulate you on World Children’s Day! May every day be met by you with a smile, a good mood, and fun. May every moment of your baby’s childhood be filled with happiness, miracles, and irresistible joy, and may all the dark days recede!

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I wish with all my might to love and pamper the child, and to remain an adult child in my soul. Children believe in miracles and sometimes they embody these miracles in our lives, like real little wizards. I wish your little wizards happiness, health, joy, and cheerful friends! Congratulations on World Children’s Day!

Pictures and cards: World Children’s Day

Do not forget to congratulate your loved ones on the holiday, and we will prepare for you the most beautiful and original postcards:

In modern Ukrainian society, there are many stereotypes that limit women. Ukrainian women still face stereotypes about women and gender inequality – this applies to various areas of life: family, work, society.

To get to know Ukrainian women better, Avon conducted a large-scale national study of the modern woman, which involved 1,000 Ukrainian women aged 18-65. The company supports girls in their quest to be happy and healthy, successful and financially independent, creates beauty accessible to everyone. Avon is committed to eradicating gender stereotypes that prevent women from believing in themselves and showing the world what they are capable of.

The majority of Ukrainians believe that gender equality is ensured only at the level of civil rights and freedoms: the opportunity to vote, work and study under the same conditions. At the same time, in everyday life, women face infringement and stereotypes in relation to themselves. The most common of them:

• A woman should be attached to the house and to her family: to raise children and care for family members, while a man may not do this. A woman is responsible for all household chores (44% faced the stereotype)

• A woman must be monogamous, while a man can be polygamous. Misdemeanors of a man are justified, and women are condemned

• A woman is perceived as weaker and less intelligent – she cannot occupy leadership positions and highly intelligent positions (28% said that women need to put in more effort, 25% – a man is more likely to get a job). Men are more often hired, as women are forced to take sick leave due to children’s illnesses and maternity leave (30% of women said they were scolded for sick leave). Women are paid less (35% experienced

• A woman should always be attractive and well-groomed, while she should not go out with friends, go to parties – this is unacceptable for her, but for a man it is the norm. There is a stereotype that a woman cannot drive a car.

Most often, modern Ukrainian women have to deal with inequality in the professional sphere. Despite the fact that work is recognized as an individual choice for everyone, Ukrainian women agree that a woman should work. Women are afraid not to reveal their potential, plunge into depression due to lack of self-realization or financial and psychological dependence

Some stereotypes in the professional sphere are supported by women themselves: more than half (57%) of women believe that a man should earn more than a woman, 69% agree that there are “male” and “female” professions. Overwhelming opinion: a woman should earn as much as she can, and as much as necessary for personal expenses. It is important for a man to earn more to maintain self-confidence. Those who attach less importance to finances in the family still talk about the dominance of men in other areas. At the same time, young Ukrainian women are less inclined to the gender division of professions and more often talk about gender equality.

Among the stereotypes of Ukrainian women is also the fear of going to work with a small child. Many people believe that leaving early and prioritizing their careers leads to feelings of guilt or regret about wasted time. This is not surprising, because every 3rd woman puts children in the first place in her life. 32% of women put themselves in 1st place. Parents and husbands for Ukrainian women are often in 2nd and 3rd place. 14% of women put themselves even below 5th place.

About the study

The All-Ukrainian Women’s Study was commissioned by Kantar and commissioned by Avon in July 2020 to identify the most significant opportunities and barriers for Ukrainian women in order to help them. The survey involved 1000 respondents, women aged 18-65, represented by a representative population of Ukraine by age, region, type of settlement.

Avon is the #1 beauty brand in Ukraine. The mission of the company is to create the best solutions and opportunities for women. Since 2019, Avon has announced a global platform – “ZaradiNeї”, which is designed to improve the lives of 100 million women annually. Until 2030, Avon will work globally to ensure that women around the world have equal business opportunities, feel secure, healthy, and free from the pressure of stereotypes about beauty. In September 2020, the company in Ukraine rebranded. In the “Axis What I Can” communication, Avon inspires women to do what is usually not expected of them – to change their lives and be successful in all important roles at once: mother, wife, professional.

For infographic

• 79% of Ukrainian women have personally encountered or heard from friends about gender inequality

Some stereotypes in the professional sphere are supported by women themselves:

• 57% of women believe that a man should earn more than a woman

• 69% agree that there are “male” and “female” professions

Ukrainians tend to self-sacrifice:

Every 3rd person puts her children in the 1st place in her life. For 32% of women, they are in first place for themselves. Parents and husbands for Ukrainian women are often in second and third place. 14% of women rank themselves even below 5th place

The rich and beautiful also cry and suffer from complex, harmful diseases.

Constant stress, low self-esteem, close attention of millions of people to their person. The rare human psyche can withstand such pressure.

We found 5 of the most famous and beautiful who once brought themselves to anorexia, but were able to get out of it. 

Angelina Jolie

The example of Angelina Jolie is very bright and illustrative. The most desirable and beautiful girl of several decades. She is a true icon and role model. However, not all so simple. 

In 2007, the actress survived the death of her mother and began to rapidly lose weight. The loss unsettled the girl, and the famous beauty began to fade noticeably. 

The girl was accused of promoting excessive thinness, and Angelina simply asked to be left alone. 

Angelina Jolie really faded away and spent a lot of time and effort trying to recover. After all, anorexia is not about a slender figure, but about real health problems. 

Victoria Beckham 

Victoria Beckham is a true adept of a healthy lifestyle and beauty. She does not smile in order to protect her face from mimic wrinkles, sits on strict diets, and goes to the gym to wear the smallest clothing size. 

However, even during her participation in the Spice Girls, Victoria was advised to “lose ten kilograms to increase her popularity.” The girl brought herself to an eating disorder and big health problems.

Lady Gaga

Calling Lady Gaga slim is hard. The girl constantly loses weight, then gains weight. Because of this, she is often the victim of jokes and media scrutiny.

However, at the age of 15, under the influence of constant billing at school, Lady Gaga suffered from anorexia and bulimia. Weight is still a big problem and pain for the singer.

Mary-Kate Olsen

The star of the “zero”, Mary-Kate Olsen could not withstand the hardships of popular life. The girl did not cope and suffered greatly psychologically. 

From stress and busy schedules, Mary-Kate developed anorexia due to which she spent several months in a rehabilitation center and almost died. 

Amy Winehouse 

The popular singer, who tragically died at the age of 27, also suffered from anorexia and eating problems. The disease noticeably spoiled her appearance, making a haggard, gloomy girl out of a sex symbol. But it wasn’t the anorexia that killed her. 

All the alarms went off this Wednesday when the Ukrainian authorities warned about the consequences of the ‘blackout’ suffered at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant; however, the experts send a message of calm and affirm that the situation is not so critical.

Next April will be the 36th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. An old fear that the war between Russia and Ukraine has revived in recent weeks, especially after Vladimir Putin‘s troops invaded the facilities and remained in Russian hands. At that time, the Ukrainian government already warned of the danger of the situation, warning of a new nuclear catastrophe. Yesterday, the Executive launched new alarm messages, reporting the power cut and a possible radioactive leak if the problem is not fixed “immediately”, calling for a ceasefire.

Shortly after, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) lowered the tension stating that it does not have a “critical impact on the safety” of the plant

, although he was concerned about the consequences that the conflict may have on the 15 reactors of 5 active nuclear facilities that are scattered throughout the Ukrainian territory. But what real danger exists for a nuclear catastrophe to be triggered again in Chernobyl? And for the rest of the plants? Could we be facing a new and dangerous scenario?

Chernobyl: inactive, but not abandoned

Although no longer a working power plant, Chernobyl was never fully abandoned. In fact, even after the disaster, which affected reactor four, reactors one, two, and three continued to function. It was not until the year 2000 when the last one was closed. And today, the facility still requires constant management, with around 2,400 employees working there, including scientists, technicians, cooks, doctors, and other support staff, as well as members of the National Guard.

“Routine activities, maintenance, and repair of systems and equipment of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant facilities, which must be carried out by day staff, have not been carried out since February 24, 2022, due to occupation. In addition, the activities to be carried out with the participation of the contracting organizations are not carried out, ”said the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine (SNRIU) in a statement, who ensures that these operators have not rotated and slept on the premises since the takeover by the Russian army.

The critical point, the fuel used to trigger the fission processes, has not been in the reactors for more than two decades, so the heat, which is what would activate the reaction, is relatively low. Specifically, it is found in cooling pools that have an electrical power system that is mainly connected to the Ukrainian network. With the cut, energy now depends on internal diesel generators that have autonomy of several days, and that feeds the electricity supply in exactly the same way. “In other words, the danger is extremely low, as low as it was a few weeks or a few months ago,” explains Luis Enrique Herranz Puebla ., of the Department of Energy, Nuclear Safety Unit, of the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (Ciemat).

But what would happen if that diesel fuel ran out? The expert affirms that “the filtering capacity of the water would be lost” and, likewise, “the capacity to cool that water”, but that in such a case, there would still be “a temporary margin of days, perhaps weeks, before a significant increase of radioactivity in the environment of the facility.

“The stress tests carried out after Fukushima showed in 2012 that in the face of loss of cooling, the pool would not exceed 70ºC. The fuel is designed to work at more than 300ºC, so its integrity would not be affected, “explained Alfredo García, reactor operator and supervisor, through his Twitter account, who stated that even so, the loss due to evaporation could compensate with other means, such as the assistance of fire trucks.

If in the worst case, this scenario were to occur, the consequences would be far from the same as in 1986: after two decades of inactivity, the most dangerous radioactive isotopes, such as I-131 (iodine), have almost completely disappeared, while other isotopes, such as Cs-137 (cesium), have reduced their incidence very significantly. “In short, the potential emissions of radiologically hazardous agents will be drastically lower than in the case of freshly extracted fuels from the reactors.”

When asked if these hypothetical emissions would threaten our country, the experts agree: the probability that amounts dangerous to the environment or public health will reach Spain “is extremely low.” “Of course, the ideal would be to recover the external electricity supply through the external lines that reach the facilities, but in the current circumstances in Ukraine, it may be easier to feed the diesel generators,” says Herranz Puebla.

A Chernobyl is another nuclear power plant?

While the risk at Chernobyl is relatively low, eyes now turn to the country’s five other active nuclear power plants. In fact, in the largest of all, Zaporizhzhya -which has six reactors- a fire was recorded last week in one of the adjoining buildings of the facilities as a result of the impact of a missile. «The fire, suffocated by the personnel of the facilities, has not affected its operation. No variations in radiation levels have been observed either,” the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) said in a statement.

“According to the information provided by the SNRIU, the operation of unit 1 of the plant has been interrupted and units 2 and 3 have been disconnected from the network and the cooling of these nuclear facilities is being carried out. Unit 4 continues to operate with a power of 690 MW, just over 60% of its capacity, to guarantee a safe source of electrical energy for all the security systems on the site. Units 5 and 6 are stopped and in the cooling process. The cooling of nuclear fuel in the power units of the Zaporizhzhya NPP is guaranteed by the electrical supply systems provided for in their design in accordance with the requirements of the procedures for safe operation,” it was reported at the time.

However, the risk of another Chernobyl in one of these plants grew among the world population. Could a similar event occur? “From a safety point of view, the plant’s reactors have characteristics that are very similar to those in the West and very different from those of the Chernobyl graphite-moderated boiling water reactors (RBMKs).», they affirm the CSN. Herranz Puebla agrees: «Many things were learned from that tragedy and the direct consequence was the increase in safety in all the world’s nuclear power plants, although Chernobyl was closely associated with the use of a nuclear power plant of defective design in carrying an experiment ‘out of design’ and without any observance of the established protocols, even for this type of plant. The design of Ukrainian nuclear power plants today is radically different from that of Chernobyl.”

Fortunately, in more than three decades, and despite the consequences that are still palpable today, society is more prepared so that an event like Chernobyl does not happen again. Different experiments have been carried out to find out the limit and the possible mishaps in these installations. «To give an illustrative example, experiments carried out in the North American desert, showed that the collision of a medium-sized aircraft against a containment enclosure at speeds of about 700 km/h would produce negligible effects on the integrity of the containment enclosure» . At the moment, it seems that the threat of a nuclear catastrophe in one of these plants is much more unlikely compared to the human barbarity of war.

Despite their enormous popularity, Yuri Shatunov always managed to keep his personal life secret. Very little is known about the family of the 48-year-old artist. At the end of 2000, Yuri met his future wife Svetlana and they began to live together in Germany. In 2006, the couple had a son, Dennis, and six months after that, the lovers officially got married. In 2013, Yuri and Svetlana had a daughter, Estella. Shatunov also said that his wife is focused on raising children, while he provides for his family through his creativity.

There are almost no photos of Yuri Shatunov with his wife and children on the Web. In open sources, there are only a couple of shots taken many years ago. Perhaps in the future, the singer’s relatives will still come out of the shadows and talk about how Yuri was not in public. Shatunov himself assured that he and his wife agreed not to show their personal lives on social networks. And do not publish photos of children until they are 18 years old.

However, it was difficult for a happy father not to boast of the successes of his heirs. In the spring of 2022, during a concert tour in Russia, Shatunov turned on the audience to a video in which his 9-year-old daughter sings the Russian folk song “Am I to blame.” The artist did not show the image of the girl – but the fans were glad to at least hear Estella’s voice.

“My daughter likes some of my songs. Still, sometimes we sing together, to the harmonica, folk songs. This, here, is the answer to your questions, what language do my children speak!” Shatunov shared with fans.

Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine members of the royal family talking about their psychological problems, although Diana found the strength to confess much earlier.

 Now it has become the norm (and it is very good!). Let’s hear what the princes and their wives have to say about themselves.

Princess Diana

Two years before her tragic death, Diana spoke about her struggle with postpartum depression. In 1995, it was unexpected, and even more so from such a positive person as she: “I suffered from postpartum depression, they don’t talk about it … It was a hard time. You wake up and don’t want to get out of bed, no one understands you, you think badly of yourself… My life quickly changed, turned upside down, there were both wonderful and terrible moments… I sobbed a lot because I wanted to get better, because I had to get up and continue to fulfill the duties of a wife, mother, and Princess of Wales … I scolded myself for not being able to cope with the circumstances.

Prince Harry

When Princess Diana died, both of her sons were teenagers. Harry was 12 years old. “I hid my head in the sand and forbade myself to even think about my mother, how will this help me? Harry recalled in 2017. “Just another reason to be upset, it won’t bring her back.” That is, I tried not to let my emotions out. And then it turned out that if you keep everything in yourself, then new problems begin that need to be solved … My brother supported me, he was a real support. He told me not to hide my feelings.”

In another conversation, he admitted: “Hiding your emotions for 20 years has had a big impact not only on your personal life but also on your work. I have been on the verge of collapse several times. And when you start talking about it, you understand that you are not alone, but a member of a huge club. It’s time to consider such conversations as the norm: a person sits opposite, drinks coffee, and admits that he had a bad day and wants to talk about it. Relieve your soul and you will feel better.”

Harry is well aware of the importance of such conversations: “Mental health needs to be taken care of, just like physical health. Depression, anxiety, and other disorders are also diseases.”

Prince William

“It was Katherine who at one time forced both me and my brother to deal with mental problems,” William said. “She is well versed in issues of addiction, family breakdown, unresolved childhood problems.”

In another interview, William remarked, “Kate and I want our children to be able to freely talk about their feelings and emotions. We also went through difficult times, but men are more likely to say that everything is fine so as not to show that they are weak. In fact, talking about problems is a sign of strength.”

“Balancing work with my personal life is not easy for me,” the prince admitted at a mental health conference in 2018. “I have feelings that I didn’t have before, I became sad and absent-minded … I take my work too close to my heart.”

In the documentary Football, Prince William and Our Mental Health in May 2020, he shared his feelings about Diana’s death: “When you go through a traumatic experience – my mother died when I was 15 – emotions can be difficult to contain. And there is literally no one to help you, sometimes it seemed to me that this state was insurmountable.

From the same film, you can learn that William does not like public speaking: “An unexpected thing helps me: my eyesight decreases over the years, I don’t wear lenses, and during a speech, I don’t see anyone’s faces. It helps — the blurry audience doesn’t get in the way of talking.”

Kate Middleton

“Mental health is a reflection of our feelings and thoughts,” the Duchess said in 2017. “It’s something you can’t see, but it affects us every day. It can be difficult to talk about it, but sometimes a friendly conversation is enough to make you feel better.”

The mother of three children understands well how important it is to support women with children: “In the first months you can get a lot of help, but after a year of a child, it becomes scarce. And most mothers experience similar difficulties.”

“It is very important to understand that these feelings and sensations are normal, that they will not last forever,” says Kate. “Helping others, we can forget about ourselves, do not give ourselves time for what makes us happy: play our favorite game, go for a walk, communicate with friends … Look at yourself, determine when you need help.”

Megan Markle

Last year, the Duchess spoke candidly about a time when she didn’t feel very well: “Every woman, especially during pregnancy, is vulnerable. This in itself is difficult, and after the birth of a child it becomes even harder … You try to be both a mother and a good wife.

Meghan also worries about the effect of social media: “A lot of people have a hard time sorting it out. You see a photo on social media and you don’t know if it’s real or a filter. Evaluating your worth becomes something weird when it’s based on likes.”

Jackie Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are often compared – not in favor of the latter. But in vain!

Nina Kukharchuk, who later married Nikita Khrushchev and became Nina Khrushcheva, is the first “first lady” of our country. The years in this status coincided with a similar position in the society of the first lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy. 

Women are constantly compared, and most often it is Nina Petrovna who loses. The criteria are the figure and sense of style: Kennedy in this sense is slimmer, more elegant, and more fashionable. Yes, and she looks much more well-groomed. 

You can’t argue with this fact, but we suggest looking at the two first ladies from the other side. Namely, with the human. 

People who knew Kennedy or at least once crossed paths with her noted her coldness and tightness. Jacqueline always looked closed and tense, it seemed that she felt insecure, from this she was even more removed from others. 

Nina Petrovna, on the contrary, beamed with self-confidence. In any company and at any event, she felt like the mistress of the situation, behaved uninhibitedly, moved freely, and openly reacted in dialogues with her interlocutors. 

No, she was not intrusive or tactless. Khrushchev cannot be convicted of impoliteness or bad manners. On the contrary, the first lady of the USSR impressed the Americans with her manners and brilliant ability to support any secular conversation. It was interesting with her, people were drawn to her. This is how she disposed of herself, adding points to her husband. 

Her self-confidence did not require any special shell or protection in the form of well-adjusted suits, in which Jacqueline Kennedy shone. And if Jackie was always second after her husband, then Nina Petrovna was on an equal footing with her husband – her faithful companion and partner.