Black Widow (Natasha Romanova) Black Widow ( Чёрная вдова , transliterated Chyornaya Vdova ) ( Natalia Alianovna `` Natasha '' Romanova , Russian : Наталья Альяновна '' Наташа '' Романова , also known as Natasha Romanoff ) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee , scripter Don Rico , and artist Don Heck , the character first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 ( April 1964 ) . The character was first introduced as a Russian spy , an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man . She later defected to the United States , becoming an agent of the fictional spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. , and a member of the superhero team the Avengers .   Scarlett Johansson portrayed the character in the films Iron Man 2 ( 2010 ) , The Avengers ( 2012 ) , Captain America : The Winter Soldier ( 2014 ) , Avengers : Age of Ultron ( 2015 ) and Captain America : Civil War ( 2016 ) as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise .


Casey Ryback Casey Ryback is a fictional character and action hero from the Under Siege films of the 1990s . Played by Hollywood action star Steven Seagal , Ryback is a Chief Petty Officer and former Navy SEAL operator turned chef with top training in martial arts , explosives , special-weapons and tactics . He is a master of unarmed combat , highly skilled with firearms , knives and other forms of combat which enables him to defeat mercenaries/terrorists with ease . He appears in the 1992 film Under Siege and its sequel , Under Siege 2 : Dark Territory , in 1995 .


Christina Aguilera lived in Boston her whole life.

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera ( born December 18 , 1980 ) is an American singer , songwriter , actress and television personality . Born in Staten Island , New York and raised in Rochester and Wexford , Pennsylvania , she appeared on the television series Star Search and The Mickey Mouse Club in her early years . After recording `` Reflection '' , the theme for Disney 's 1998 film Mulan , Aguilera signed with RCA Records . She rose to prominence with her 1999 self-titled debut album that spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number one singles ; `` Genie in a Bottle '' , `` What a Girl Wants '' , and `` Come On Over Baby ( All I Want Is You ) '' . The following year , Aguilera released two studio albums ; the Spanish-language album Mi Reflejo and the holiday album My Kind of Christmas . She assumed creative control for her fourth studio album , Stripped ( 2002 ) , which produced `` Dirrty '' , `` Beautiful '' , and `` Fighter '' . Aguilera 's fifth studio album , Back to Basics ( 2006 ) , debuted at number one on the album charts of ten countries and spawned the tracks `` Ai n't No Other Man '' and `` Hurt '' . In 2010 , Aguilera released her sixth studio album Bionic and starred in the film Burlesque . The following year , she debuted as a coach on the reality competition television series The Voice ; she has since appeared on six of its twelve seasons . Her seventh studio album , Lotus , was released in 2012 . Aguilera has also been featured on several successful collaborations during her career , including `` Lady Marmalade '' , `` Moves like Jagger '' , and `` Say Something '' .   Aguilera has been recognized as a pop icon and earned the title `` Pop Princess '' in her early years . Her work has earned her five Grammy Awards , one Latin Grammy Award , and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . She has sold over 17.9 million albums in the United States as of 2014 and 50 million albums worldwide as of 2015 . In 2009 , she ranked at number 58 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time , thereby becoming the youngest and the only artist under 30 to be named . Billboard recognized her as the 20th most successful artist of the 2000s , and Time listed Aguilera among the top 100 Most Influential People in the World of 2013 . Aside from her work in the entertainment industry , Aguilera is involved in charitable activities through human rights , world issues , and her work as a UN ambassador for the World Food Programme .


Charles Marie de La Condamine was a French explorer.

Charles Marie de La Condamine Charles Marie de La Condamine ( 28 January 1701 -- 13 February 1774 ) was a French explorer , geographer , and mathematician . He spent ten years in present-day Ecuador measuring the length of a degree latitude at the equator and preparing the first map of the Amazon region based on astronomical observations . Furthermore he was a contributor to the Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences , des arts et des métiers .


Ellen Pompeo married a producer in Iceland.

Ellen Pompeo Ellen Kathleen Pompeo ( -LSB- pʌmˈpɛoʊ -RSB- , born November 10 , 1969 ) is an American actress and producer . Born in Everett , Massachusetts , Pompeo moved to New York City at 26 where she was discovered by a casting director who signed her for an advertisement campaign for L'Oreal . She made her screen debut with NBC 's legal drama Law & Order , and then guest-starred in other television shows , including the comedy Strangers with Candy , the medical drama Strong Medicine and the sitcom Friends .   Pompeo made her feature film debut in 1999 with the romantic comedy Coming Soon , and went on to play minor roles in films like In the Weeds and Mambo Café but found little success initially . A turning point came in her career in 2002 , when she gained wide recognition for her starring role in Brad Silberling 's drama Moonlight Mile . Pompeo then starred in ABC 's popular medical drama Grey 's Anatomy ( 2005 -- present ) , and garnered worldwide recognition for her portrayal of the title character Dr. Meredith Grey . The role on the long running series earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress -- Television Series Drama nomination , and the Screen Actors Guild Award . The character became widely popular , making Pompeo one of the most popular television actresses .   In 2015 , Pompeo was ranked fourth in the list of highest paid TV actresses by Forbes , with the earnings of $ 11.5 million , a spot that she held on to the following year with the earnings of $ 14.5 million . Pompeo 's other notable film roles include the comedy Old School ( 2003 ) , the superhero film Daredevil ( 2003 ) , the caper film Art Heist ( 2004 ) , and the comedy drama Life of the Party ( 2005 ) . In October 2007 , she was honored with Special Achievement in Entertaining by the National Italian American Foundation for her achievement in the entertainment industry . Pompeo married producer Chris Ivery in 2007 and the couple have three children together .


Jeff Bezos Jeff Bezos ( -LSB- ˈbeɪzoʊs -RSB- born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen ; January 12 , 1964 ) is an American technology and retail entrepreneur , investor , and philanthropist who is best known as the founder , chairman , and chief executive officer of Amazon.com , which is the world 's largest online shopping retailer . The company began as an Internet merchant of books and expanded to a wide variety of products and services , most recently video streaming and audio streaming . Amazon.com is currently the world 's largest Internet sales company on the World Wide Web , as well as being the world 's largest provider of cloud infrastructure services , through its Amazon Web Services arm .   Bezos 's other diversified business interests include aerospace and newspapers . He is the founder and manufacturer of Blue Origin ( founded in 2000 ) with test flights to space which started in 2015 , and plans for commercial suborbital human spaceflight beginning in 2018 . In 2013 , Bezos purchased The Washington Post newspaper . A number of other business investments are managed through Bezos Expeditions .   With an estimated net worth of US$ 82 billion as of May 2017 , Bezos is currently the third-richest person in the world , just behind Bill Gates and Amancio Ortega in first and second places , and just ahead of Warren Buffett in fourth place . His rise to this position occurred after Amazon registered a 67 % jump in share price .


Johan Heldenbergh starred in Moscow, Belgium.

Johan Heldenbergh Johan Heldenbergh ( born 9 February 1967 ) is a Belgian actor , playwright , screenwriter , theatre director and film director . He gained international fame by starring in films such as A Day in a Life ( 2007 ) , Moscow , Belgium ( 2008 ) , The Misfortunates ( 2009 ) and The Broken Circle Breakdown ( 2012 ) , as well The Zookeepers Wife ( 2017 )


The Formula (1980 film) was directed by John G. Avildsen.

The Formula (1980 film) The Formula is a 1980 American mystery film directed by John G. Avildsen and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . It features a preeminent cast including Marlon Brando , George C. Scott , John Gielgud , and Marthe Keller . Craig T. Nelson also makes a brief appearance as a geologist .


The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962 . The original line-up consisted of Brian Jones ( rhythm guitar , harmonica ) , Mick Jagger ( lead vocals ) , Keith Richards ( lead guitar , backing vocals ) , Bill Wyman ( bass ) , Charlie Watts ( drums ) , and Ian Stewart ( piano ) . Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985 . Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969 , having already been replaced by Mick Taylor , who remained until 1974 . After Taylor left the band , Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since . Following Wyman 's departure in 1993 , Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist . Other touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins ( 1967 -- 82 ) , Billy Preston ( through the mid-1970s ) and Chuck Leavell ( 1982-present ) . The band was first led by Jones , but after teaming as the band 's songwriters , Jagger and Richards assumed leadership while Jones dealt with legal and personal troubles .   The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in 1964 , and identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s . Rooted in blues and early rock and roll , the group began a short period of musical experimentation in the mid-1960s that peaked with the psychedelic album Their Satanic Majesties Request ( 1967 ) . Subsequently , the group returned to its `` bluesy '' roots with Beggars Banquet ( 1968 ) which along with its follow-ups Let It Bleed ( 1969 ) , Sticky Fingers ( 1971 ) and Exile on Main St. ( 1972 ) is generally considered to be the band 's best work and is seen as their `` Golden Age '' . During this period , they were first introduced on stage as `` The World 's Greatest Rock and Roll Band '' . Musicologist Robert Palmer attributed the `` remarkable endurance '' of the Rolling Stones to being `` rooted in traditional verities , in rhythm-and-blues and soul music '' , while `` more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone '' .   The band continued to release commercially successful records in the 1970s and sold many albums , including Some Girls ( 1978 ) and Tattoo You ( 1981 ) , which were their most popular albums worldwide . From 1983 to 1987 , tensions between Jagger and Richards almost caused the band to split . However , they managed to patch up their friendship in 1987 . They separated temporarily to work on solo projects and experienced a comeback with Steel Wheels ( 1989 ) , which was followed by a large stadium and arena tour . Since the 1990s , new recorded material from the group has been less well-received and less frequent . Despite this , the Rolling Stones have continued to be a huge attraction on the live circuit , with stadium tours in the 1990s and 2000s . By 2007 , the band had four of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time : Voodoo Lounge Tour ( 1994 -- 95 ) , Bridges to Babylon Tour ( 1997 -- 98 ) , Licks Tour ( 2002 -- 03 ) and A Bigger Bang Tour ( 2005 -- 07 ) .   The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 . Rolling Stone magazine ranked them fourth on the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' list and their estimated album sales are above 250 million . They have released 30 studio albums , 18 live albums and numerous compilations . Let It Bleed ( 1969 ) was their first of five consecutive No. 1 studio and live albums in the UK . Sticky Fingers ( 1971 ) was the first of eight consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the US . In 2008 , the band ranked 10th on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart . In 2012 , the band celebrated its 50th anniversary .


Their Satanic Majesties Request Their Satanic Majesties Request is the sixth British and eighth American studio album by the Rolling Stones , released in December 1967 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States . Recording sessions saw the band experimenting widely with a psychedelic sound in the studio , incorporating unconventional instruments , sound effects , string arrangements , and African rhythms . The album 's title is a play on the `` Her Britannic Majesty requests and requires ... '' text that appears inside a British passport . It is the first Stones album to feature the same track listings in both its UK and US versions .   Upon its release , Satanic Majesties `` drew mixed reviews from the critics as well as some mixed reactions within the group itself '' . The album was criticised for being derivative of the contemporaneous work of the Beatles , particularly their June 1967 release Sgt. Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band , with the similarities extending to the LP 's lenticular cover . In subsequent decades , it has gradually risen in critical reputation . Following the album 's release , the Rolling Stones abandoned their psychedelic style for a stripped-down return to their roots in blues music .


Let It Bleed Let It Bleed is the eighth British and tenth American album by English rock band the Rolling Stones , released in December 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States . Released shortly after the band 's 1969 American Tour , it is the follow-up to 1968 's Beggars Banquet and the last album by the band to feature Brian Jones as well as the first to feature Mick Taylor .


Some Girls Some Girls is the 14th British and 16th American studio album by the Rolling Stones , released in 1978 on Rolling Stones Records . It reached number one on the Billboard 200 album chart , and became the band 's top selling album in the United States , certified by the RIAA as having six million copies sold as of 2000 . It was a major critical success , becoming the only Rolling Stones album to be nominated for a Grammy in the Album of the Year category . Many reviewers called it a classic return to form and their best album since 1972 's Exile on Main St.


Sticky Fingers Sticky Fingers is the ninth British and 11th American studio album by the English rock band The Rolling Stones , released in April 1971 . It is the band 's first album of the 1970s and its first release on the band 's newly formed label , Rolling Stones Records , after having been contracted since 1963 with Decca Records in the UK and London Records in the US . It is also Mick Taylor 's first full-length appearance on a Rolling Stones album , the first Rolling Stones album not to feature any contributions from guitarist and founder Brian Jones and the first one on which singer Mick Jagger is credited with playing guitar .   Sticky Fingers is widely regarded as one of the Rolling Stones ' best albums . It achieved triple platinum certification in the US and contains songs such as the chart-topping `` Brown Sugar '' , the country ballad `` Dead Flowers '' , `` Wild Horses '' , `` Ca n't You Hear Me Knocking '' , and `` Moonlight Mile '' .


BRIT School maintains status as an independent institution.

BRIT School The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology is a British performing arts and technology school located in Selhurst , Croydon , in the London Borough of Croydon , England , with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts , media , art and design and the technologies that make performance possible . Selective in its intake , the school is notable for its numerous famous alumni including Marsha Ambrosius , Adele , Tara McDonald , Leo the Lion , Stefan Abingdon , Katy B , The Feeling , Imogen Heap , Jessie J , Cush Jumbo , Rizzle Kicks , the Kooks , King Krule , Loyle Carner , Leona Lewis , Eman Kellam , Raye , Ashley Madekwe , Katie Melua , Kate Nash , Shingai Shoniwa , Amy Winehouse , Ella Eyre , Rainy Milo , Antonio Orozco , and Tom Holland .   Established in 1992 under the CTC programme , the school is funded by the British Government with support from the British Record Industry Trust and maintains an independent school status from the local education authority . The school is remarkable as being one of only two performing arts and technology schools in the country that are free to attend , the others being both in the West Midlands . Walsall Studio School and Birmingham Ormiston Academy .


Sage Stallone was only a film distributor.

Sage Stallone Sage Moonblood Stallone ( May 5 , 1976 -- July 13 , 2012 ) was an American actor , film director , film producer , and film distributor . He was the son of Sylvester Stallone .


Maggie Gyllenhaal was nominated for an award.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Margalit Ruth `` Maggie '' Gyllenhaal ( -LSB- ˈdʒɪlənhɑːl -RSB- born November 16 , 1977 in New York City ) is an American actress . Part of the Gyllenhaal family , she is the daughter of filmmakers Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Achs and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal .   She began her film career as a teenager with roles in her father 's films and appeared alongside her brother in the psychological horror film Donnie Darko ( 2001 ) . She garnered critical praise for starring as Lee Holloway in Secretary ( 2002 ) , for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award . For her performance in Sherrybaby ( 2006 ) , she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama . She also received recognition for starring as Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight ( 2008 ) . For her performance in the musical-drama Crazy Heart ( 2009 ) , she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She subsequently starred in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang ( 2010 ) , Wo n't Back Down ( 2012 ) and Frank ( 2014 ) , for which she was nominated for a BIFA Award .   In 2014 , she made her Broadway debut in a revival of The Real Thing , and also starred in the television BBC miniseries The Honourable Woman . For her performance in the latter she won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award .


Take Me High was included with the Daily Mail on 4 September 2010.

Take Me High Take Me High is a 1973 British feature film , directed by David Askey , written by Christopher Penfold and starring Cliff Richard in his final film role , with Deborah Watling , Hugh Griffith , George Cole and Anthony Andrews .   Set and filmed in Birmingham , it featured many landmarks from the city , including Gas Street Basin , Alpha Tower , the Council House ( as a hotel ) , Spaghetti Junction , New Street , Corporation Street , Central Library and the Hall of Memory .   It was released on Warner Home Video in 1988 as a VHS tape , but has never been given a retail release on DVD , however a free DVD of the film was issued with The Daily Mail on 25 September 2010 .


Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Dee Lohan ( born July 2 , 1986 ) is an American actress and singer . Lohan began her career as a child fashion model when she was three , and was later featured on the soap opera Another World for a year when she was 10 . At age 11 , Lohan made her motion picture debut in Disney 's commercially and critically successful 1998 remake of The Parent Trap . Her next major motion picture , Disney 's 2003 remake of Freaky Friday , was also a critical and commercial success . With the release of Mean Girls ( 2004 ) , another critical and commercial success , and Disney 's Herbie : Fully Loaded ( 2005 ) , another commercial success , Lohan became a teen idol sensation , a household name and a frequent focus of paparazzi and tabloids . However , Lohan 's next starring role in the romantic comedy Just My Luck ( 2006 ) , received poor reviews and was only a modest commercial success . Following Just My Luck , Lohan focused on smaller , more mature roles in independent movies , receiving positive comments on her work , including A Prairie Home Companion ( 2006 ) , Bobby ( 2006 ) and Chapter 27 ( 2007 ) .   After recording several songs for her movie soundtracks , Lohan signed with Casablanca Records . Lohan 's debut studio album , titled Speak , was released in December 2004 and became the first high-seller from Casablanca in several years , selling 1 million copies in the United States alone and peaking at number four on the Billboard 200 . Though the album received mostly lukewarm reviews , it was certified platinum and sold over 4 million copies worldwide . Lohan 's second album , titled A Little More Personal ( Raw ) , was released in December 2005 and featured darker material than her debut had . That album received mixed reviews , and it was certified gold .   In 2007 , two driving under the influence incidents led to Lohan being put on probation , and together with three visits to rehabilitation facilities caused the loss of several movie deals . In 2008 and 2009 , Lohan worked as a fashion model and launched the clothing line 6126 . She resumed her acting career with TV work in 2008 , and starred in the TV film Labor Pains ( 2009 ) . She appeared in Robert Rodriguez 's feature film Machete ( 2010 ) . Between 2010 and 2013 , Lohan went into rehabilitation three times , and spent much of her time entangled in legal problems stemming from misdemeanors and probation violations . In 2012 and 2013 , she did further television work , including starring as Elizabeth Taylor in the biographical TV film Liz & Dick ( 2012 ) . In 2013 , she starred in Paul Schrader 's independent film The Canyons . In 2014 , the docu-series Lindsay aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network , and Lohan made her stage debut in the London West End production of Speed-the-Plow .


Henry V (2012 film) Henry V is a 2012 British television film based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare . It is the fourth film in the series of television films called The Hollow Crown produced by Sam Mendes for BBC Two covering the whole of Shakespeare 's Henriad . It was directed by Thea Sharrock and stars Tom Hiddleston as Henry V of England .   Henry V is the fourth play in Shakespeare 's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II , Henry IV , and Henry V.


Lightning rods are all made of non-conductive materials.

Lightning rod A lightning rod ( US , AUS ) or lightning conductor ( UK ) is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike . If lightning hits the structure , it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire , instead of passing through the structure , where it could start a fire or cause electrocution . Lightning rods are also called finials , air terminals or strike termination devices .   In a lightning protection system , a lightning rod is a single component of the system . The lightning rod requires a connection to earth to perform its protective function . Lightning rods come in many different forms , including hollow , solid , pointed , rounded , flat strips or even bristle brush-like . The main attribute common to all lightning rods is that they are all made of conductive materials , such as copper and aluminum . Copper and its alloys are the most common materials used in lightning protection .


Audrey Horne was introduced in anything except the pilot episode.

Audrey Horne Audrey Horne is a fictional character from the ABC television series Twin Peaks , played by Sherilyn Fenn . The character was created by David Lynch . She was introduced in the pilot . The daughter of Ben ( Richard Beymer ) and Sylvia Horne , sister of Johnny Horne ( Robert Bauer ) and half-sister of Donna Hayward ( Lara Flynn Boyle ) , her storylines focused on her infatuation with the series protagonist Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) , infiltrating the brothel/casino One Eyed Jacks and becoming an activist through civil disobedience .


Guyana Guyana ( pronounced -LSB- ɡaɪˈɑːnə -RSB- or -LSB- ɡaɪˈænə -RSB- ) , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana , is a sovereign state on the northern mainland of South America . It is , however , included in the Caribbean Region due to its strong cultural , historical , and political ties with other Anglo Caribbean countries and the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) . Guyana is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north , Brazil to the south and southwest , Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west . With 215000 sqkm , Guyana is the fourth-smallest country on mainland South America after Uruguay , Suriname and French Guiana ( an overseas region of France ) .   The region known as `` the Guianas '' consists of the large shield landmass north of the Amazon River and east of the Orinoco River known as the `` land of many waters '' . Originally inhabited by several indigenous groups , Guyana was settled by the Dutch before coming under British control in the late 18th century . It was governed as British Guiana , with mostly a plantation style economy until the 1950s . It gained independence in 1966 , and officially became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970 . The legacy of British rule is reflected in the country 's political administration and diverse population , which includes Indian , African , Amerindian , and multiracial groups .   Guyana is the only South American nation in which English is the official language . The majority of the population , however , speak Guyanese Creole , an English-based creole language , as a first language . In addition to being part of the Anglophone Caribbean , Guyana is one of the few Caribbean countries that is not an island in the West Indies . CARICOM , of which Guyana is a member , is headquartered in Guyana 's capital and largest city , Georgetown . In 2008 , the country joined the Union of South American Nations as a founding member .


Wild (2014 film) Wild is a 2014 American biographical survival drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée . The screenplay by Nick Hornby is based on Cheryl Strayed 's 2012 memoir Wild : From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail . The film stars Reese Witherspoon as Strayed , alongside Laura Dern ( as Strayed 's mother ) , with Thomas Sadoski , Michiel Huisman and Gaby Hoffmann among several others in supporting roles . The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 29 , 2014 , and was released theatrically on December 3 , 2014 , in North America .   Wild opened to positive critical reviews , with much praise going toward the performances of Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern . Both actresses received Academy Award nominations for their performances , in the categories of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress , respectively .


Ramayanam was directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Reddy.

Ramayanam (film) Ramayanam is a 1996 mythological Telugu film directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Reddy . The film starred N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Lord Rama . It received the National Film Award for best children 's film .


Father of the Bride (1991 film) Father of the Bride is a 1991 American comedy film starring Steve Martin , Diane Keaton , Kimberly Williams ( in her film debut ) , George Newbern , Martin Short , B. D. Wong , and Kieran Culkin . It is a remake of the 1950 film of the same name .   The film inspired a series of Hallmark commercials that featured the smiling faces of the happy couple and sneak-peeks at the backs of numerous greeting cards . It is number 92 on Bravo 's `` 100 Funniest Movies '' .   Martin portrays George Banks , a businessman and owner of an athletic shoe company ( called Side Kicks ) , who , when he finds out his daughter is getting married , does not want to give her away . He eventually learns to live with his new son-in-law and realizes that as long as his daughter is happy , he is happy .   The film opened to positive reviews , and became a major box office success , earning more than four times its budget . With its success , a sequel , Father of the Bride Part II was released in 1995 .   This was Nancy Meyers and Diane Keaton 's second film together , the first being Baby Boom ( 1987 ) ; the others were Father of the Bride Part II ( 1995 ) and Something 's Got ta Give ( 2003 ) .


Matt Smith's first television role was as Darth Vader.

Matt Smith (actor) Matthew Robert `` Matt '' Smith ( born 28 October 1982 ) is an English actor . He is best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who , for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination in 2011 .   Smith initially aspired to be a professional footballer , but spondylolysis forced him out of the sport . After joining the National Youth Theatre and studying Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia , he became an actor in 2003 , performing in plays like Murder in the Cathedral , Fresh Kills , The History Boys , and On the Shore of the Wide World in London theatres . Extending his repertoire into West End theatre , he has since performed in the stage adaptation of Swimming with Sharks with Christian Slater , followed a year later by a critically acclaimed performance as Henry in That Face .   Smith 's first television role came in 2006 as Jim Taylor in the BBC adaptations of Philip Pullman 's The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North , while his first major role in television came as Danny in the 2007 BBC series Party Animals . Smith , who was announced as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor in January 2009 , is the youngest person to play the character in the British television series . He left the series at the end of the 2013 Christmas Day special , `` The Time of the Doctor '' . He portrayed both the physical embodiment and a holographic version of Skynet in Terminator Genisys ( 2015 ) . Since 2016 , he portrays Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh in Peter Morgan 's Netflix biographical drama series The Crown , opposite Claire Foy as Elizabeth II .


Svitavy Svitavy ( -LSB- ˈsvɪtavɪ -RSB- ; Zwittau ) is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic . The town has a population of 18,000 and is also the district administrative centre . It is the birthplace of Oskar Schindler and an important center of the Czech Esperanto movement , with an Esperanto museum that is part of the city museum .


Technologic `` Technologic '' is a song by French duo Daft Punk from the album Human After All . It was released as the second single on 14 June 2005 . The music video for `` Technologic '' was directed by Daft Punk .


Get Lucky (Daft Punk song) `` Get Lucky '' is a song by French house music duo Daft Punk , featuring Pharrell Williams and co-written by the duo , Williams , and Nile Rodgers . It is the lead single from Daft Punk 's fourth studio album , Random Access Memories ( 2013 ) . Before its release as a single , `` Get Lucky '' was featured in television advertisements broadcast during Saturday Night Live , after which Rodgers and Williams announced their involvement in the track . Small excerpts also appear throughout the promotional video series The Collaborators .   `` Get Lucky '' is a disco song with lyrics that , according to Williams , are about the fortune of connecting with someone , as well as sexual chemistry . After it leaked in mid-April , the single was released as a digital download on 19 April 2013 . `` Get Lucky '' has since received acclaim from critics , and has spawned numerous cover versions and parodies . The single reached the top ten in the music charts of over 32 countries , and has sold more than 9.3 million copies , making it one of the best-selling songs of all time . The song won awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards , during which Stevie Wonder joined Daft Punk , Williams and Rodgers onstage to perform the song .


Daft Punk Daft Punk are a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . The duo achieved significant popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement and had continuous success in the years following , combining elements of house music with funk , techno , disco , rock music and synthpop influences . They are also known for their visual stylization and disguises associated with their music ; the duo have worn ornate helmets and gloves to assume robot personas in most of their public appearances since 2001 and rarely grant interviews or appear on television . The duo were managed from 1996 to 2008 by Pedro Winter ( also known as Busy P ) , the head of Ed Banger Records .   Bangalter and de Homem-Christo were originally briefly in an indie rock band named Darlin ' . When the group disbanded , it left the two to experiment musically with drum machines and synthesisers . The duo released their debut studio album Homework through Virgin Records in 1997 to highly positive reviews . The duo 's next album Discovery ( 2001 ) was even more successful , driven by the release of the hit singles `` One More Time '' , `` Digital Love '' and `` Harder , Better , Faster , Stronger '' . In March 2005 , the duo released their third album Human After All to mixed reviews . However , the singles `` Robot Rock '' and `` Technologic '' achieved considerable success in the United Kingdom .   Daft Punk toured throughout 2006 and 2007 and released the live album Alive 2007 , which won a Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album . The duo later composed the score for the Disney film Tron : Legacy in 2010 , and released its soundtrack album that same year . In January 2013 , Daft Punk left Virgin for Columbia Records , and released their next album Random Access Memories in 2013 to worldwide critical acclaim . The album 's lead single `` Get Lucky '' became an international success , peaking on top 10 charts in 32 countries . Random Access Memories won five Grammy Awards in 2014 , including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for `` Get Lucky '' . Daft Punk later gained their first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song `` Starboy '' , a collaboration with The Weeknd .


Random Access Memories Random Access Memories is the fourth studio album by French electronic music duo Daft Punk . It was released on 17 May 2013 , by the duo 's imprint Daft Life and Columbia Records . The album pays tribute to the late 1970s and early 1980s American music , particularly from Los Angeles . This theme is reflected in the album 's packaging , as well as its promotional campaign , which included billboards , television advertisements and a web series .   Unlike their previous albums , Daft Punk recruited session musicians to perform live instrumentation and limited the use of electronic instruments to drum machines , a custom-built modular synthesizer , and vintage vocoders . The album features collaborations with Giorgio Moroder , Panda Bear , Julian Casablancas , Todd Edwards , DJ Falcon , Chilly Gonzales , Nile Rodgers , Paul Williams and Pharrell Williams . It is the first Daft Punk album released by Columbia Records .   Random Access Memories received critical acclaim , scoring an 87 out of 100 on review aggregator site Metacritic and appearing on many music critics ' year-end lists . It is one of Daft Punk 's most commercially successful albums , topping the charts in more than 25 countries worldwide . It was their first album to top the United States Billboard 200 chart , selling more than 339,000 copies within its first week . The lead single `` Get Lucky '' was a critical and commercial success , topping the charts in more than 30 countries and becoming one of the best-selling digital singles of all time . The album won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year , Best Dance/Electronica Album and Best Engineered Album , Non-Classical , and `` Get Lucky '' won for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014 .


Starboy (song) `` Starboy '' is a song recorded by Canadian singer The Weeknd for his third studio album of the same name . It features French electronic duo Daft Punk and was written by the trio alongside Doc McKinney , Henry Walter and Jason Quenneville , being produced by Daft Punk and co-produced by The Weeknd , McKinney and Cirkut . It was released as the first single from the album on September 22 , 2016 , by XO and Republic Records . It is an R&B and electropop song with lyrics that contain themes of extravagance of a celebrity life .   `` Starboy '' topped the charts in countries such as Canada , France , Netherlands , New Zealand and Sweden , as well as the US Billboard Hot 100 , where it became The Weeknd 's third chart-topper , and Daft Punk 's first chart-topper . The music video for the song was directed by frequent collaborator Grant Singer , who directed The Weeknd 's previous music videos for `` Ca n't Feel My Face '' and `` The Hills '' . In the music video , The Weeknd is shown trying to destroy evidence of his previous self , including his own awards from his past album , Beauty Behind the Madness . The video has been described as The Weeknd 's attempt to murder his former persona .


Human After All Human After All is the third studio album by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk , released on 14 March 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States by Virgin Records . With this album , the duo took a more minimalistic and improvisational approach to their music using a mixture of guitars and electronics . A remix album , Human After All : Remixes was released exclusively in Japan . Human After All was Daft Punk 's last studio album to be released by Virgin Records .   Human After All received mixed reviews from critics , who derided its minimalistic and repetitive nature and its reported six-week creation , which was particularly short compared to the production of Discovery and Homework . However , the singles `` Robot Rock '' and `` Technologic '' charted in several countries while the title track `` Human After All '' charted in France . The album 's songs would later be incorporated into Daft Punk 's Alive 2006/2007 tour which received critical acclaim . Human After All reached number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart , and was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album .


Digital Love `` Digital Love '' is a song by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk . It was released as the third single from the album Discovery . As part of the album , the song is featured in the film Interstella 5555 : The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem .


Alive 2006/2007 Alive 2006/2007 was a concert tour by French electronic music duo Daft Punk , their first tour as a duo since 1997 . While the 2006 concerts were not given a formal title , the 2007 performances were advertised as `` Alive 2007 '' . The 2006 performances and 2007 tour as a whole was later retroactively named `` Alive 2006/2007 '' .   The tour was met with praise and critical acclaim . The Times described Daft Punk 's set as a `` memorable sensory spectacle , both dazzling and deafening '' .


Tron: Legacy (soundtrack) Tron : Legacy is the soundtrack album to the 2010 film of the same name , released by Walt Disney Records on December 3 , 2010 . It is the first film score by French music duo Daft Punk .


Homework (Daft Punk album) Homework is the debut studio album by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk , released on 20 January 1997 by Virgin Records and Soma Quality Recordings . The album revived house music and departed from the Eurodance formula . The duo produced the tracks without plans to release an album . After working on projects that were intended to be separate singles over five months , they considered the material good enough for an album .   Homework success brought worldwide attention to French house music . Homework charted in 14 different countries , peaking at number 3 on the French Albums Chart , number 150 on the United States Billboard 200 and at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart . By February 2001 , the album had sold more than two million copies worldwide and received several gold and platinum certifications . Overall , Homework received positive critical response . The album features singles that had significant impact in French house and global dance music scenes , including the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play number-one singles `` Da Funk '' and `` Around the World '' , the latter of which reached number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 .


Empress Matilda moved to England as a child.

Empress Matilda Empress Matilda ( c. 7 February 110210 September 1167 ) , also known as the Empress Maude , was the claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy . The daughter of King Henry I of England , she moved to Germany as a child when she married the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V . She travelled with her husband into Italy in 1116 , was controversially crowned in St. Peter 's Basilica , and acted as the imperial regent in Italy . Matilda and Henry had no children , and when Henry died in 1125 , the crown was claimed by Lothair II , one of his political enemies .   Meanwhile , Matilda 's younger brother , William Adelin , died in the White Ship disaster of 1120 , leaving England facing a potential succession crisis . On Henry V 's death , Matilda was recalled to Normandy by her father , who arranged for her to marry Geoffrey of Anjou to form an alliance to protect his southern borders . Henry I had no further legitimate children and nominated Matilda as his heir , making his court swear an oath of loyalty to her and her successors , but the decision was not popular in the Anglo-Norman court . Henry died in 1135 but Matilda and Geoffrey faced opposition from the Norman barons and were unable to pursue their claims . The throne was instead taken by Matilda 's cousin Stephen of Blois , who enjoyed the backing of the English Church . Stephen took steps to solidify his new regime , but faced threats both from neighbouring powers and from opponents within his kingdom .   In 1139 Matilda crossed to England to take the kingdom by force , supported by her half-brother , Robert of Gloucester , and her uncle , King David I of Scotland , while Geoffrey focused on conquering Normandy . Matilda 's forces captured Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 , but the Empress 's attempt to be crowned at Westminster collapsed in the face of bitter opposition from the London crowds . As a result of this retreat , Matilda was never formally declared Queen of England , and was instead titled the Lady of the English . Robert was captured following the Rout of Winchester in 1141 , and Matilda agreed to exchange him for Stephen . Matilda became trapped in Oxford Castle by Stephen 's forces that winter , and was forced to escape across the frozen River Isis at night to avoid capture . The war degenerated into a stalemate , with Matilda controlling much of the south-west of England , and Stephen the south-east and the Midlands . Large parts of the rest of the country were in the hands of local , independent barons .   Matilda returned to Normandy , now in the hands of her husband , in 1148 , leaving her eldest son to continue the campaign in England ; he eventually succeeded to the throne as Henry II in 1154 . She settled her court near Rouen and for the rest of her life concerned herself with the administration of Normandy , acting on Henry 's behalf when necessary . Particularly in the early years of her son 's reign , she provided political advice and attempted to mediate during the Becket controversy . She worked extensively with the Church , founding Cistercian monasteries , and was known for her piety . She was buried under the high altar at Bec Abbey after her death in 1167 .


Laura Dern has not won multiple Golden Globe Awards.

Laura Dern Laura Elizabeth Dern ( born February 10 , 1967 ) is an American actress . For her performance in the 1991 film Rambling Rose , she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress , while for her performance in the 2014 film Wild , she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . Her other film roles include Mask ( 1985 ) , Smooth Talk ( 1985 ) , Blue Velvet ( 1986 ) , Wild at Heart ( 1990 ) , Jurassic Park ( 1993 ) , Citizen Ruth ( 1996 ) , October Sky ( 1999 ) , I Am Sam ( 2001 ) , Inland Empire ( 2006 ) , The Master ( 2012 ) , The Fault in Our Stars ( 2014 ) , and Star Wars : The Last Jedi ( 2017 ) .   Dern won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress -- Miniseries or Television Film for the 1992 film Afterburn , and guest starred in the 1997 `` Puppy Episode '' of the sitcom Ellen . She went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the 2008 TV film Recount , and the 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series for her role as Amy Jellicoe in HBO 's Enlightened ( 2011 -- 13 ) . She is known for her collaborations with filmmaker David Lynch , having appeared in three of his films and the revival of Twin Peaks .


The Prestige is a movie that David Bowie acted in.

The Prestige (film) The Prestige is a 2006 British-American mystery thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan , from a screenplay adapted by Nolan and his brother Jonathan from Christopher Priest 's 1995 World Fantasy Award-winning novel of the same name . Its story follows Robert Angier and Alfred Borden , rival stage magicians in London at the end of the 19th century . Obsessed with creating the best stage illusion , they engage in competitive one-upmanship with tragic results . The film stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier , Christian Bale as Alfred Borden , and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla . It also stars Michael Caine , Scarlett Johansson , Piper Perabo , Andy Serkis , and Rebecca Hall . The film reunites Nolan with actors Bale and Caine from Batman Begins and returning cinematographer Wally Pfister , production designer Nathan Crowley , film score composer David Julyan , and editor Lee Smith .   The film was released on October 20 , 2006 , receiving positive reviews and strong box office results , and received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction . Along with The Illusionist and Scoop , The Prestige was one of three films released in 2006 to explore the world of stage magicians .


David Bowie David Robert Jones ( 8 January 1947 -- 10 January 2016 ) , known professionally as David Bowie ( -LSB- ˈboʊi -RSB- ) , was an English singer , songwriter and actor . He was a figure in popular music for over five decades , becoming acclaimed by critics and other musicians for his innovative work . His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation , his music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music . During his lifetime , his record sales , estimated at 140 million worldwide , made him one of the world 's best-selling music artists . In the UK , he was awarded nine platinum album certifications , eleven gold and eight silver , releasing eleven number-one albums . In the US , he received five platinum and seven gold certifications . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 .   Born in Brixton , South London , Bowie developed an interest in music as a child , eventually studying art , music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963 . `` Space Oddity '' became his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart after its release in July 1969 . After a period of experimentation , he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust . The character was spearheaded by the success of his single `` Starman '' and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , which won him widespread popularity . In 1975 , Bowie 's style shifted radically towards a sound he characterised as `` plastic soul '' , initially alienating many of his UK devotees but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single `` Fame '' and the album Young Americans . In 1976 , Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station . The following year , he further confounded musical expectations with the electronic-inflected album Low ( 1977 ) , the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that would come to be known as the `` Berlin Trilogy '' . `` Heroes '' ( 1977 ) and Lodger ( 1979 ) followed ; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise .   After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s , Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single `` Ashes to Ashes '' , its parent album Scary Monsters and Super Creeps , and `` Under Pressure '' , a 1981 collaboration with Queen . He then reached his commercial peak in 1983 with Let 's Dance , with its title track topping both UK and US charts . Throughout the 1990s and 2000s , Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles , including industrial and jungle . He also continued acting ; his roles included Major Celliers in Merry Christmas , Mr. Lawrence ( 1983 ) , the Goblin King Jareth in Labyrinth ( 1986 ) , Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ ( 1988 ) , and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige ( 2006 ) , among other film and television appearances and cameos . He stopped concert touring after 2004 , and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006 . In 2013 , Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the release of The Next Day . He remained musically active until he died of liver cancer two days after the release of his final album , Blackstar ( 2016 ) .


Evelyn Frechette Mary Evelyn `` Billie '' Frechette ( September 15 , 1907 -- January 13 , 1969 ) was an American Menominee singer , waitress , convict , and lecturer known for her personal relationship with the bank robber John Dillinger in the early 1930s .   Frechette is known to have been involved with Dillinger for about six months , until her arrest and imprisonment in 1934 . She finished two years in prison in 1936 , then toured the United States with Dillinger 's family for five years with their `` Crime Did Not Pay '' show . She married and returned to the Menominee Indian Reservation , where she was born , for a quieter life in her later decades .


Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard ( -LSB- ma.ʁjɔ̃ kɔ.ti.jaʁ -RSB- ; born 30 September 1975 ) is a French actress , singer-songwriter , musician , environmentalist and spokesperson for Greenpeace who achieved international fame with the film La Vie en Rose ( 2007 ) . She is the recipient of an Academy Award , a BAFTA Award , a Golden Globe Award , two César Awards , a European Award , and a Lumières Award . Cotillard has appeared in more than 50 feature films and is also known for being the face of Lady Dior handbags since 2008 . She became a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2010 and promoted to Officer in 2016 . Was named `` The Most Bankable French Actress of the 21st Century '' in 2014 , and described as `` the great silent film actress of our time '' by The Daily Telegraph 's Robbie Collin , for her ability to show emotions only with her eyes and facial expressions , although she has never appeared in a silent film . She received France 's highest honor and was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2016 .   Cotillard had her first English-language role in the TV series Highlander in 1993 , made her film debut in The Story of a Boy Who Wanted to Be Kissed ( 1994 ) , her first leading role in the TV film Chloé ( 1996 ) , and made her breakthrough in France playing Lilly Bertineau in the action-comedy Taxi ( 1998 ) , which earned her a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress and was her first box office hit . She made her Hollywood debut as Joséphine Bloom in Tim Burton 's Big Fish ( 2003 ) .   Since 2003 , Cotillard has alternated between French and English-language roles in mainstream and art-house productions , and has received international acclaim and awards for her performances in films such as Tina Lombardi in A Very Long Engagement ( 2004 ) , for which she won her first César Award for Best Supporting Actress . For her portrayal of the French singer Édith Piaf in the biopic La Vie en Rose ( 2007 ) , Cotillard achieved worldwide recognition and won her second César Award , a BAFTA Award , a Golden Globe Award , a Lumières Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress , becoming the first and ( as of 2017 ) only actor to win an Academy Award for a performance in French , and also the second actress and one of only six actors to have won this award for a part spoken in a foreign language . Her performance of Luisa Contini in the musical film Nine ( 2009 ) , earned her a second Golden Globe nomination . She next starred in Michael Mann 's Public Enemies ( 2009 ) as Billie Frechette , and played Mal in Christopher Nolan 's Inception ( 2010 ) .   In 2012 , she received widespread critical acclaim for her performance as the double amputee orca trainer Stéphanie in Rust and Bone ( 2012 ) , and was nominated for the Golden Globes , BAFTAs , Critics ' Choice , Screen Actors Guild and the César Awards . She was highly acclaimed and awarded for her lead performances in The Immigrant ( 2013 ) and Two Days , One Night ( 2014 ) , receiving a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the latter , which was also her second nomination for a French-language film and the first time an actor was nominated for a Belgian film . Cotillard became one of only six actors to receive multiple Academy Award nominations for foreign-language performances .   Cotillard played Joan of Arc on stage in different countries between 2005 and 2015 in the oratorio Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher . Her English-language roles include Fanny Chenal in A Good Year ( 2006 ) , Adriana in Midnight in Paris ( 2011 ) , Dr. Leonora Orantes in Contagion ( 2011 ) , Miranda Tate in The Dark Knight Rises ( 2012 ) , Lady Macbeth in Macbeth ( 2015 ) , Marianne Beausejour in Allied ( 2016 ) and Dr. Sofia Rikkin in Assassin 's Creed ( 2016 ) . She provided voice acting for animated films as The Rose in The Little Prince ( 2015 ) , April in April and the Extraordinary World ( 2015 ) and Scarlet Overkill in the French version of Minions ( 2015 ) . Her other notable French and Belgian films include La Belle Verte ( 1996 ) , Furia ( 1999 ) , War in the Highlands ( 1999 ) , Lisa ( 2001 ) , Pretty Things ( 2001 ) , Love Me If You Dare ( 2003 ) , Innocence ( 2004 ) , Toi et Moi ( 2006 ) and Dikkenek ( 2006 ) .


Robert Downey Jr. has portrayed the character Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows is a 2011 British-American period action mystery film directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver , Lionel Wigram , Susan Downey and Dan Lin . It is the sequel to the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes , and likewise features the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . The film 's screenplay was written by Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney . Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as Holmes and Watson , and were joined by Noomi Rapace as Simza , Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes and Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty . The film follows an original premise incorporating elements of Conan Doyle 's short stories `` The Final Problem '' and `` The Empty House '' . In the film , Holmes and Watson travel across Europe with a Gypsy adventuress to foil an intricate plot by their cunning nemesis , Professor Moriarty , to instigate a war .   Upon its release , the film received mixed to positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful , with a worldwide gross of over $ 545 million .


Sherlock Holmes (2009 film) Sherlock Holmes is a 2009 British-American neo-noir mystery period action film based on the character of the same name created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . The film was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Andrew Kosove , Broderick Johnson , Susan Downey and Dan Lin . The screenplay , by Michael Robert Johnson , Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg , was developed from a story by Wigram and Johnson . Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law portray Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson respectively . In the film , set in 1890 , eccentric detective Holmes and his companion Watson are hired by a secret society to foil a mysticist 's plot to expand the British Empire by seemingly supernatural means . Rachel McAdams stars as their former adversary Irene Adler and Mark Strong portrays villain Lord Henry Blackwood .   The film went on general release in the United States on 25 December 2009 , and on 26 December 2009 in the UK , Ireland , the Pacific and the Atlantic .   Sherlock Holmes received mostly positive critical reaction , praising the story , action sequences , set pieces , costume design , Hans Zimmer 's musical score , and Downey 's performance as the main character , winning Downey the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy . The film was also nominated for two Academy Awards , Best Original Score and Best Art Direction , which it lost to Up and Avatar , respectively .   A sequel , Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows , was released on 16 December 2011 .


Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. ( born April 4 , 1965 ) is an American actor . His career has included critical and popular success in his youth , followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles , and a resurgence of commercial success in middle age . For three consecutive years from 2012 to 2015 , Downey has topped the Forbes list of Hollywood 's highest-paid actors , making an estimated $ 80 million in earnings between June 2014 and June 2015 .   Making his acting debut at the age of five , appearing in his father 's film Pound ( 1970 ) , Downey Jr. appeared in roles associated with the Brat Pack , such as the teen sci-fi comedy Weird Science ( 1985 ) and the drama Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) . He starred as the title character in the 1992 film Chaplin , which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role . After being released in 2000 from the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison where he was on drug charges , Downey joined the cast of the TV series Ally McBeal playing Calista Flockhart 's love interest . This earned him a Golden Globe Award . His character was written out when Downey was fired after two drug arrests in late 2000 and early 2001 . After his last stay in a court-ordered drug treatment program , Downey achieved sobriety .   Downey Jr. 's career prospects improved when he featured in the mystery thriller Zodiac ( 2007 ) , and the satirical action comedy Tropic Thunder ( 2008 ) ; for the latter he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . Beginning in 2008 , Downey began portraying the role of Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , appearing in several films as either the lead role , member of an ensemble cast , or in a cameo . Each of these films has grossed over $ 500 million at the box office worldwide ; four of theseThe Avengers , Avengers : Age of Ultron , Iron Man 3 and Captain America : Civil Warearned over $ 1 billion . Downey Jr. has also played the title character in Guy Ritchie 's Sherlock Holmes ( 2009 ) and its sequel ( 2011 ) .


Tate Ellington James Tate Ellington ( born 1979 ) is an American actor . He portrayed Aidan Hall , the best friend of Tyler Hawkins ( Robert Pattinson ) in the 2010 romantic drama film Remember Me . Ellington starred as Oliver Hunt in The Elephant King ( 2006 ) , and has appeared in television shows such as The Unusuals , Rescue Me , The Good Wife , and Do n't Trust the B -- in Apartment 23 . He appeared in the 2009 Broadway production of The Philanthropist , which starred Matthew Broderick . He is best known for his role as FBI recruit Simon Asher on the ABC thriller Quantico .


Ingólfr Arnarson was the first permanent American on Iceland.

Iceland Iceland ( -LSB- ˈaɪslənd -RSB- -LSB- ˈistlant -RSB- ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean . It has a population of and an area of 103000 km2 , making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe . The capital and largest city is Reykjavík . Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population . Iceland is volcanically and geologically active . The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields , mountains and glaciers , while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands . Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate , despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle . Its high latitude and marine influence still keeps summers chilly , with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate .   According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók , the settlement of Iceland began in the year 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island . In the following centuries , Norwegians , and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians , emigrated to Iceland , bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin . The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the Althing , one of the world 's oldest functioning legislative assemblies . Following a period of civil strife , Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century . The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway , Denmark and Sweden . Iceland thus followed Norway 's integration to that Union and came under Danish rule after Sweden 's secession from that union in 1523 . Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550 , Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence . In the wake of the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars , Iceland 's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944 . Until the 20th century , Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture , and was among the poorest in Europe . Industrialisation of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity , and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world . In 1994 , it became a part of the European Economic Area , which further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance , biotechnology , and manufacturing .   Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries . It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens . Iceland ranks high in economic , political and social stability and equality . In 2013 , it was ranked as the 13th most-developed country in the world by the United Nations ' Human Development Index . Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy . Affected by the ongoing worldwide financial crisis , the nation 's entire banking system systemically failed in October 2008 , leading to a severe depression , substantial political unrest , the Icesave dispute , and the institution of capital controls . Some bankers were jailed . Since then , the economy has made a significant recovery , in large part due to a surge in tourism .   Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation 's Scandinavian heritage . Most Icelanders are descendants of Germanic and Gaelic settlers . Icelandic , a North Germanic language , is descended from Old Norse and is closely related to Faroese and West Norwegian dialects . The country 's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine , Icelandic literature and medieval sagas . Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army , its lightly armed coast guard being in charge of defence .


The Dark Knight is dedicated to the legacy of Ledger.

The Dark Knight (film) The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed , co-produced , and co-written by Christopher Nolan . Featuring the DC Comics character Batman , the film is the second part of Nolan 's The Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005 's Batman Begins , starring an ensemble cast including Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Heath Ledger , Gary Oldman , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman . In the film , Bruce Wayne/Batman ( Bale ) , James Gordon ( Oldman ) and Harvey Dent ( Eckhart ) form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City , but are menaced by a criminal mastermind known as the Joker ( Ledger ) who seeks to undermine Batman 's influence and create chaos .   Nolan 's inspiration for the film was the Joker 's comic book debut in 1940 , the 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke , and the 1996 series The Long Halloween , which retold Two-Face 's origin . The nickname `` the Dark Knight '' was first applied to Batman in Batman # 1 ( 1940 ) , in a story written by Bill Finger . The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago , as well as in several other locations in the United States , the United Kingdom , and Hong Kong . Nolan used IMAX 70 mm film cameras to film some sequences , including the Joker 's first appearance in the film . The film is dedicated to the memory of Ledger , who died on January 22 , 2008 , some months after the completed filming and six months before the film 's release , from a toxic combination of prescription drugs , leading to intense attention from the press and movie-going public . Warner Bros. initially created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight , developing promotional websites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Ledger as the Joker .   A co-production of the United States and the United Kingdom , The Dark Knight was released on July 16 , 2008 in Australia , on July 18 , 2008 , in North America , and on July 25 , 2008 , in the United Kingdom . Considered by film critics to be one of the best films of the 2000s and one of the best superhero films ever , the film received highly positive reviews and set numerous records during its theatrical run . The Dark Knight appeared on more critics ' top ten lists ( 287 ) than any other film of 2008 with the exception of WALL-E , and more critics ( 77 ) named The Dark Knight the best film of 2008 than any other film released that year . With over $ 1 billion in revenue worldwide , it is the 29th-highest-grossing film of all time , unadjusted for inflation . The film received eight Academy Award nominations ; it won the award for Best Sound Editing and Ledger was posthumously awarded Best Supporting Actor . The Dark Knight Rises , the final film in the trilogy , was released on July 20 , 2012 .


David Harbour David Harbour ( born April 10 , 1974 ) is an American actor who has performed in film , television , and the theatre . He currently stars in the Netflix TV Series Stranger Things as main character Police Chief Jim Hopper .


Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( -LSB- ˈbɒzniə_ənd_ˌhɛərtsəɡoʊˈviːnə , _ - ˌhɜːrt - , _ - ɡə - -RSB- or -LSB- ˌhɜːrtsəˈɡɒvᵻnə -RSB- B&H ; Bosnian , Croatian , Serbian : Bosna i Hercegovina / Боснa и Херцеговина -LSB- bôsna i xěrt͡seɡoʋina -RSB- ) , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina ( BiH ) , and , in short , often known informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeastern Europe located on the Balkan Peninsula . Sarajevo is the capital and largest city . Bordered by Croatia to the north , west , and south ; Serbia to the east ; Montenegro to the southeast ; and the Adriatic Sea to the south , with a coastline about 20 km long surrounding the city of Neum . In the central and eastern interior of the country the geography is mountainous , in the northwest it is moderately hilly , and the northeast is predominantly flatland . The inland is a geographically larger region and has a moderate continental climate , with hot summers and cold and snowy winters . The southern tip of the country has a Mediterranean climate and plain topography .   Bosnia and Herzegovina is a region that traces permanent human settlement back to the Neolithic age , during and after which it was populated by several Illyrian and Celtic civilizations . Culturally , politically , and socially , the country has a rich history , having been first settled by the Slavic peoples that populate the area today from the 6th through to the 9th centuries . In the 12th century the Banate of Bosnia was established , which evolved into the Kingdom of Bosnia in the 14th century , after which it was annexed into the Ottoman Empire , under whose rule it would remain from the mid-15th to the late 19th centuries . The Ottomans brought Islam to the region , and altered much of the cultural and social outlook of the country . This was followed by annexation into the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy , which lasted up until World War I . In the interwar period , Bosnia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and after World War II , the country was granted full republic status in the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia , the country proclaimed independence in 1992 , which was followed by the Bosnian War , lasting until late 1995 .   Today , the country maintains high literacy , life expectancy and education levels and is one of the most frequently visited countries in the region , projected to have the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020 . Bosnia and Herzegovina is regionally and internationally renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage inherited from six historical civilizations , its cuisine , winter sports , its eclectic and unique music , architecture and its festivals , some of which are the largest and most prominent of their kind in Southeastern Europe . The country is home to three main ethnic groups or , officially , constituent peoples , as specified in the constitution . Bosniaks are the largest group of the three , with Serbs second and Croats third . A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina , regardless of ethnicity , is identified in English as a Bosnian . The terms Herzegovinian and Bosnian are maintained as a regional rather than ethnic distinction , and the region of Herzegovina has no precisely defined borders of its own . Moreover , the country was simply called `` Bosnia '' until the Austro-Hungarian occupation at the end of the 19th century .   Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature and a three-member Presidency composed of a member of each major ethnic group . However , the central government 's power is highly limited , as the country is largely decentralized and comprises two autonomous entities : the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska , with a third region , the Brčko District , governed under local government . The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is itself complex and consists of 10 cantons . The country is a potential candidate for membership to the European Union and has been a candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership since April 2010 , when it received a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Tallinn . Additionally , the country has been a member of the Council of Europe since April 2002 and a founding member of the Mediterranean Union upon its establishment in July 2008 .


David Hasselhoff has acted in Knight Rider and Baywatch.

David Hasselhoff David Michael Hasselhoff ( born July 17 , 1952 ) , nicknamed `` The Hoff '' , is an American actor , singer , producer , and businessman , who set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV .  He first gained recognition on The Young and The Restless , playing Dr. Snapper Foster . His career continued with his leading role as Michael Knight on Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch . Hasselhoff produced Baywatch from the 1990s until 2001 when the series ended with Baywatch Hawaii . On screen , he appeared in films including Click , Dodgeball , The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie , and Hop .   In 2000 , he made his Broadway debut in the musical Jekyll & Hyde . Following his debut , he starred in other musicals including Chicago and The Producers .


Steven Knight Steven Knight ( born 1959 ) is a British screenwriter and film director . He read English at University College London ( UCL ) . Knight has written the screenplays for the films Closed Circuit , Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises , and also directed as well as written the films Locke and Hummingbird ( a.k.a. Redemption ) . Knight is also one of three creators of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? , a game show that has been remade and aired in around 160 countries worldwide , and has written for BBC 's Commercial Breakdown , The Detectives , Peaky Blinders and Taboo .


David Koepp wrote the 2017 film The Mummy.

The Mummy (2017 film) The Mummy is a 2017 American action-adventure horror film directed by Alex Kurtzman and written by David Koepp , Christopher McQuarrie and Dylan Kussman , with a story by Kurtzman , Jon Spaihts and Jenny Lumet . It is a reboot of The Mummy franchise and the first installment in the Dark Universe film series . The film stars Tom Cruise , Annabelle Wallis , Sofia Boutella , Jake Johnson , Courtney B. Vance , Marwan Kenzari and Russell Crowe .   The Mummy premiered at the State Theatre in Sydney , Australia on May 22 , 2017 and is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 9 , 2017 in 2D , 3D and IMAX 3D .


The Uruguay national football team defeated a football team.

Uruguay national football team The Uruguay national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association , the governing body for football in Uruguay . The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez . The Uruguayan team is commonly referred to as La Celeste ( The Sky Blue ) .  The Uruguayan team recently won the 2011 Copa América . They have won the Copa América 15 times , being the team that has won the tournament on most occasions . The team has won the FIFA World Cup twice , including the first World Cup in 1930 as hosts , defeating Argentina 4 -- 2 in the final . They won their second title in 1950 , upsetting host Brazil 2 -- 1 in the final match , which received an attendance higher than any football match ever .   They have won the Gold Medals in football at the Summer Olympics twice , in 1924 and 1928 recognized by FIFA as World Cup , before the creation of the World Cup . Uruguay also won the 1980 Mundialito , a tournament among former World Cup champions . In total , Uruguay have won 20 official titles , a world record for the most international titles held by any country .   Another unique achievement of Uruguay is that it ´ s the only nation in world football to organize multiple major international tournaments in own country and win them all . La Celeste won 7 Copa América tournaments , 1 World Cup and Mundialito , all staged in Uruguay .   Their success is amplified by the fact that the nation has a very small population of around 3.4 million inhabitants ( 2011 est. ) . Uruguay is by far the smallest country in the world to have won a World Cup in terms of population , 1.75 million inhabitants in 1930 . The second-smallest country , by population , to have won the World Cup is Argentina with a population of nearly 28 million people in 1978 . Uruguay is also the smallest country ever to win any World Cup medals ; only five nations with a currently smaller population than Uruguay 's have ever participated in any World Cup : Northern Ireland ( three times ) , Slovenia ( twice ) , Wales , Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago .


John Mayer appeared at the 2001 South by Southwest Festival.

John Mayer John Clayton Mayer ( -LSB- ˈmeɪ.ɚ -RSB- born October 16 , 1977 ) is an American singer-songwriter , guitarist , and producer . He was born in Bridgeport , Connecticut , and raised in nearby Fairfield . He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston , but disenrolled and moved to Atlanta in 1997 with Clay Cook . Together , they formed a short-lived two-man band called Lo-Fi Masters . After their split , Mayer continued to play local clubs -- refining his skills and gaining a following . After his appearance at the 2001 South by Southwest Festival , he was signed to Aware Records , and then Columbia Records , which released his first EP , Inside Wants Out . His following two full-length albums -- Room for Squares ( 2001 ) and Heavier Things ( 2003 ) -- did well commercially , achieving multi-platinum status . In 2003 , he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the single `` Your Body Is a Wonderland '' .   Though Mayer started his career mainly performing acoustic rock , he began moving towards the blues genre that had originally influenced him as a musician . By 2005 , he was collaborating with blues artists such as B. B. King , Buddy Guy , and Eric Clapton . Forming the John Mayer Trio , he released a live album in 2005 called Try ! , and his third studio album Continuum in 2006 . Both albums received wide critical acclaim , and Continuum earned Mayer a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album . He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for `` Waiting on the World to Change '' . That album was followed by Battle Studies in 2009 , a return to pop , with a number-one grossing tour .   After having several controversial incidents with the media , Mayer withdrew from public life in 2010 and began work on a follow-up album , called Born and Raised , that would draw inspiration from the 1970s pop music of Laurel Canyon . However , the discovery of a granuloma on his vocal cords delayed the release of the album until May 2012 , and ultimately forced him to cancel the planned tour . Even so , the album enjoyed a generally favorable reception , though was less commercially successful than his previous work . After extensive treatments for his vocal problems -- and a two-year hiatus -- Mayer began performing as a singer again in January 2013 , and that year released the album , Paradise Valley . The album is named for where he lives in Montana and features country music influences . By 2014 , he had sold a total of over 20 million albums worldwide . After developing an interest in the Grateful Dead and connecting with Bob Weir , Mayer formed Dead & Company with three former Grateful Dead musicians . After two well-received tours in the fall of 2015 and summer of 2016 , the band has already committed to another tour for the summer of 2017 .   Mayer 's secondary career pursuits extend to television hosting , comedy , and writing ; he has authored columns for magazines such as Esquire . He supports various causes and has performed at charity benefits . He is a watch aficionado ( with a collection he values in the `` tens of millions '' of dollars ) , and has been on the jury at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève . He currently lives in Montana . His latest song is `` Love on the Weekend '' .


Alpha House is inspired by Democratic legislators who share a row house.

Alpha House Alpha House is an American political satire web television series produced by Amazon Studios . The show stars John Goodman , Clark Johnson , Matt Malloy and Mark Consuelos as four Republican U.S. Senators who share a house in Washington , D.C. . It was created by Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau . The show premiered on Amazon.com on April 19 , 2013 .   The series is inspired by several actual Democratic legislators who share a row house in D.C. : Senator Dick Durbin ( D-IL ) , Senator Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) , and Representative George Miller ( D-CA ) . The series has a number of cameos from celebrities such as Bill Murray ( as Senator Vernon Smits ) and politicians such as Schumer as himself .  Amazon Studios offered the first three episodes of Alpha House for free , with each subsequent episode released weekly thereafter for Amazon Prime members on Amazon Video .   On February 11 , 2014 , the series was renewed for a second season . Production for the second season began filming in July 2014 , and the entire second season became available on Amazon.com on October 24 , 2014 . The series was canceled after the second season .


In & Out (film) In & Out is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Kevin Kline , Tom Selleck , Joan Cusack , Matt Dillon , Debbie Reynolds , and Wilford Brimley . It is an original story by screenwriter Paul Rudnick . Joan Cusack was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance .   The film was inspired by Tom Hanks 's tearful speech when he accepted his 1994 Oscar ( for his role in Philadelphia ) , in which he mentioned his high-school drama coach Rawley Farnsworth , and his former classmate John Gilkerson , `` two of the finest gay Americans , two wonderful men that I had the good fortune to be associated with . '' The film became one of mainstream Hollywood 's few attempts at a comedic `` gay movie '' of its era , and was widely noted at the time for a 12-second kiss between Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck .


Ryder Ryder System , Inc. , or Ryder , is an American-based provider of transportation and supply chain management products , and is especially known for its fleet of rental trucks . Ryder specializes in fleet management , supply chain management and dedicated contracted carriage . Ryder operates in North America , the United Kingdom and Asia . It has its headquarters in suburban Miami , Florida within Miami-Dade County .


Catherine Tregenna pitched episodes of Torchwood.

Catherine Tregenna Catherine Tregenna is a Welsh playwright , television scriptwriter and actress .   She wrote the play Art and Guff , co-wrote the series Cowbois ac Injans and four episodes of the BBC 's science fiction drama Torchwood : `` Out of Time '' , `` Captain Jack Harkness '' , `` Meat '' and `` Adam '' . As well as co-writing Meat , she also created the meat props shown in the episode . `` Captain Jack Harkness '' was nominated for the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation , Short Form .   She has also written episodes for EastEnders , Casualty , and for the first four series of ITV1 crime drama Law & Order : UK , which began transmitting in February 2009 .   She played the character Kirsty McGurk , for several years , in Pobol Y Cwm and a doctor in Satellite City .   In November 2014 , it was confirmed that she would be writing an episode for the ninth series of Doctor Who , later confirmed to be titled `` The Woman Who Lived '' .


Ellen Burstyn has spent her career in film, television and theater.

Ellen Burstyn Ellen Burstyn ( née Edna Rae Gillooly ; December 7 , 1932 ) is an American actress . Her career began in theatre during the late 1950s , and over the next decade included several films and television series .   Burstyn 's performance in the acclaimed 1971 ensemble drama The Last Picture Show brought her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination , after which she moved from supporting to leading film and stage roles . Burstyn received a second Academy Award nomination for her lead performance in The Exorcist ( 1973 ) , and won the Academy Award for Best Actress the following year for her work in Martin Scorsese 's Alice Does n't Live Here Anymore .   In 1975 , she won the Tony Award for her lead performance in the Broadway production of Same Time , Next Year , and received a Golden Globe Award and a fourth Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 1978 film version of the play .   Burstyn has worked consistently in film , television , and theatre since , receiving multiple awards and nominations along the way , including seven additional Golden Globe Award nominations , five Emmy Award nominations ( two wins ) , and two more Academy Award for Best Actress nominations for her performances in the films Resurrection ( 1980 ) and Requiem for a Dream ( 2000 ) .   Burstyn is one of the few performers to have won the Triple Crown of Acting . In 2013 , she was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame .


United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , commonly known as the United Kingdom ( UK ) or Britain , is a sovereign country in western Europe . Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland , the United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain , the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands . Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign statethe Republic of Ireland.Although Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state , two of its Overseas Territories also share land borders with other sovereign countries . Gibraltar shares a border with Spain , while the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia share borders with the Republic of Cyprus , the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the UN buffer zone separating the two Cypriot polities . Apart from this land border , the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean , with the North Sea to its east , the English Channel to its south and the Celtic Sea to its south-south-west , giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world . The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland . With an area of 242500 km2 , the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe . It is also the 21st-most populous country , with an estimated 65.1 million inhabitants . Together , this makes it the fourth-most densely populated country in the European Union ( EU ) .   The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance . The monarch is Queen Elizabeth II , who has reigned since 6 February 1952 . The capital of the United Kingdom and its largest city is London , a global city and financial centre with an urban area population of 10.3 million , the fourth-largest in Europe and second-largest in the European Union . Other major urban areas in the United Kingdom include the conurbations centred on Birmingham , Leeds , Glasgow , Liverpool and Manchester . The United Kingdom consists of four countries -- England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland . The last three have devolved administrations , each with varying powers , based in their capitals , Edinburgh , Cardiff and Belfast , respectively . The nearby Isle of Man , Bailiwick of Guernsey and Bailiwick of Jersey are not part of the United Kingdom , being Crown dependencies with the British Government responsible for defence and international representation .   The relationships among the countries of the UK have changed over time . Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 . A treaty between England and Scotland resulted in 1707 in a unified Kingdom of Great Britain , which merged in 1801 with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Five-sixths of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922 , leaving the present formulation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed on 6 December 1921 to resolve the Irish War of Independence . When it took effect one year later , it established the Irish Free State as a separate dominion within the Commonwealth . The UK 's current name was adopted to reflect the change . There are fourteen British Overseas Territories . These are the remnants of the British Empire which , at its height in the 1920s , encompassed almost a quarter of the world 's land mass and was the largest empire in history . British influence can be observed in the language , culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies .   The United Kingdom is a developed country and has the world 's fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest economy by purchasing power parity . The UK is considered to have a high-income economy and is categorised as very high in the Human Development Index , ranking 16th in the world . It was the world 's first industrialised country and the world 's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries . The UK remains a great power with considerable economic , cultural , military , scientific and political influence internationally . It is a recognised nuclear weapons state and is seventh in military expenditure in the world . The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946 . It has been a leading member state of the EU and its predecessor , the European Economic Community ( EEC ) , since 1973 . However , on 23 June 2016 , a national referendum on the UK 's membership of the EU resulted in a decision to leave , and its exit from the EU is currently being negotiated . The UK is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations , the Council of Europe , the G7 finance ministers , the G7 forum , the G20 , NATO , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , and the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) .


Galaxy Quest Galaxy Quest is a 1999 American comedy science fiction film directed by Dean Parisot and written by David Howard and Robert Gordon . Mark Johnson and Charles Newirth produced the film for DreamWorks Pictures .   Parodying television series such as Star Trek and its fandom , the film stars Tim Allen , Sigourney Weaver , Alan Rickman , Tony Shalhoub , Sam Rockwell , and Daryl Mitchell as the cast of a defunct television series called Galaxy Quest , in which the crew of a spaceship embarked on intergalactic adventures . Enrico Colantoni stars as the leader of an alien race who ask the actors for help , believing the show 's adventures were real . The film 's supporting cast features Robin Sachs as an alien warlord and Patrick Breen as another alien . Justin Long makes his feature film debut as an obsessed fan of the television show .   The film received critical praise and reached cult status through the years , becoming popular with Star Trek fans , staff , and cast members for its affectionate parody . It won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation , the Nebula Award for Best Script , 26th Hochi Film Award for Best International Picture and was also nominated for ten Saturn Awards including Best Science Fiction Film , Best Director for Parisot , Best Actress for Weaver and Best Supporting Actor for Rickman , winning Best Actor for Allen . The film was included in Reader 's Digests list of The Top 100 + Funniest Movies of All Time .


Andrew Wood (singer) Andrew Patrick Wood ( January 8 , 1966 -- March 19 , 1990 ) was an American musician best known as the lead singer for alternative rock bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone . Wood was also known for his flamboyance .   Wood formed Malfunkshun in 1980 with his brother Kevin and Regan Hagar . The band used alter ego personas onstage , with Wood using the name Landrew the Love Child . Though the band only had two songs released , `` With Yo ' Heart ( Not Yo ' Hands ) '' and `` Stars-n-You '' , on the Deep Six compilation album , they are often cited as being among the `` founding fathers '' of the Seattle 's grunge movement . During his time in Malfunkshun , Wood started relying heavily on drugs , entering rehab in 1985 .   By 1988 , Malfunkshun had disbanded and Wood began jamming with Green River members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament . They soon began writing original material and formed Mother Love Bone the same year , adding guitarist Bruce Fairweather ( also a former member of Green River ) and drummer Greg Gilmore to the lineup . The following year , the band signed a deal with PolyGram , issuing a six-song EP , Shine , before going on to tour , supporting The Dogs D'Amour . Towards the end of the year , the band recorded their debut album , Apple , which was scheduled for release in 1990 .   Due to his struggle with drug addiction , Wood checked himself into rehab in 1989 , hoping to get clean for the release of Mother Love Bone 's debut album . On March 16 , 1990 , Wood was found in a comatose state by his girlfriend , Xana La Fuente , having overdosed on heroin . Wood was taken to the hospital and placed on life support . Wood 's condition had shown signs of improvement but he died three days later .


Ethiopia Ethiopia ( -LSB- ˌiːθiˈoʊpiə -RSB- ኢትዮጵያ , , ) , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ( የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ , yeʾĪtiyoṗṗya Fēdēralawī Dēmokirasīyawī Rīpebilīk ) , is a country located in the Horn of Africa . It shares borders with Eritrea to the north and northeast , Djibouti and Somalia to the east , Sudan and South Sudan to the west , and Kenya to the south . With over 100 million inhabitants , Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world , as well as the second-most populous nation on the African continent after Nigeria . It occupies a total area of 1,100,000 km2 , and its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa .   Some of the oldest evidence for anatomically modern humans has been found in Ethiopia . It is widely considered as the region from which modern humans first set out for the Middle East and places beyond . According to linguists , the first Afroasiatic-speaking populations settled in the Horn region during the ensuing Neolithic era . Tracing its roots to the 2nd millennium BC , Ethiopia was a monarchy for most of its history . During the first centuries AD , the Kingdom of Aksum maintained a unified civilization in the region , followed by the Ethiopian Empire circa 1137 . Ethiopia derived prestige with its uniquely successful military resistance during the late 19th-century Scramble for Africa , becoming the only African country to defeat a European colonial power and retain its sovereignty . Subsequently , many African nations adopted the colors of Ethiopia 's flag following their independence . It was the first independent African member of the 20th-century League of Nations and the United Nations . In 1974 , at the end of Haile Selassie 's reign , power fell to a communist military dictatorship known as the Derg , backed by the Soviet Union , until it was defeated by the Ethiopian People 's Revolutionary Democratic Front , which has ruled since about the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .   Ethiopia 's ancient Ge'ez script , also known as Ethiopic , is one of the oldest alphabets still in use in the world . The Ethiopian calendar , which is approximately seven years and three months behind the Gregorian calendar , co-exists alongside the Borana calendar . A majority of the population adheres to Christianity ( mainly the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and P'ent ` ay ) , while around a third follows Islam ( primarily Sunni Islam ) . The country is the site of the Migration to Abyssinia and the oldest Muslim settlement in Africa at Negash . A substantial population of Ethiopian Jews , known as Bete Israel , resided in Ethiopia until the 1980s , but most of them have since emigrated to Israel . Ethiopia is a multilingual nation with around 80 ethnolinguistic groups , the four largest of which are the Oromiffa , Amhara , Somali , and Tigrayans . Most people in the country speak Afroasiatic languages of the Cushitic or Semitic branches . Additionally , Omotic languages are spoken by ethnic minority groups inhabiting the southern regions . Nilo-Saharan languages are also spoken by the nation 's Nilotic ethnic minorities .   Ethiopia is the place of origin for the coffee bean which originated from the place called Kefa ( which was one of the 14 provinces in the old Ethiopian administration ) . It is a land of natural contrasts , with its vast fertile West , jungles , and numerous rivers , and the world 's hottest settlement of Dallol in its north . The Ethiopian Highlands are Africa 's largest continuous mountain ranges , and Sof Omar Caves contain Africa 's largest cave . Ethiopia has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa .   Ethiopia is one of the founding members of the UN , the Group of 24 ( G-24 ) , the Non-Aligned Movement , G-77 and the Organisation of African Unity . Ethiopia 's capital city Addis Ababa serves as the headquarters of the African Union , the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry , the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa , African Aviation Training HQ , the African Standby Force , and many of the global NGOs focused on Africa . In the 1970s and 1980s , Ethiopia suffered from civil wars and communist purges which devastated its economy . The country has begun to recover recently however , and now has the largest economy ( by GDP ) in East Africa and Central Africa . According to Global Fire Power , Ethiopia has the 42nd most powerful military in the world , and the third most powerful in Africa .


Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa ( Geeska Afrika , Gaaffaa Afriikaa , የአፍሪካ ቀንድ yäafrika qänd , القرن الأفريقي al-qarn al - ` afrīqī , ቀርኒ ኣፍሪቃ ) ( shortened to HOA ) is a peninsula in Northeast Africa . It juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean , lying along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden . The area is the easternmost projection of the African continent . The Horn of Africa denotes the region containing the countries of Djibouti , Eritrea , Ethiopia , and Somalia .   It covers approximately 2,000,000 km2 ( 770,000 sq mi ) and is inhabited by roughly 115 million people ( Ethiopia : 96.6 million , Somalia : 12.3 million , Eritrea : 6.4 million , and Djibouti : 0.81 million ) . Regional studies on the Horn of Africa are carried out , among others , in the fields of Ethiopian Studies as well as Somali Studies .