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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Friends of the Famous - K



A long way from her first acting role as a bleating sheep in an elementary school Christmas pageant, the Hawaiian-born Australian import Nicole Kidman is considered one of Hollywood’s finest actresses after getting her first American break opposite Sam Neill in Dead Calm. She went on to appear in such films as Days of Thunder, and Billy Bathgate. Ms. Kidman required a little time off after breaking a rib while filming Moulin Rouge, had to wear a corset for The Portrait of a lady, and taught herself to write right-handed for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours. She’s also played opposite four leading men who’ve played Batman in movies and once plucked a scorpion from Hugh Jackman’s leg, claiming “that one didn’t belong in Hugh’s bags”. Incidentally, though spiders and snakes don’t bother her a bit, she is frightened by butterflies. This and more is surely the reason she was proclaimed “Most Intriguing” by People Weekly in 1995, though she’s indeed one of the most private celebrities.  When she’s not busy filming—or recovery from an injury—Ms. Kidman can be found relaxing on a Tennessee farm she shares with her husband Keith Urban, where they’re raising two kids and a herd of Alpacas, for “their gentle natures”.  

Easily one of the cutest members of the Camelidae family, Alpacas also bear some of the silkiest fibers found in nature. Warmer than sheep’s wool, but not itchy, their fleece is hypoallergenic, flame-retardant, water-resistant and comes in a rainbow of hues, including white, light rose/grey, dark fawn and other blends, thus reducing the need for pollution-intensive dying. Alpacas are considered somewhat house-trainable as by nature, they use a common ‘bathroom’, and among other endearing traits is that they hum! Whether content or curious, distressed or cautious, they emit a musical purring sound that is generally described as humming. ∞

Well known for her recordings of “Santa Baby” in the 50’s and 60’s, Orson Wells once called her “a most exciting woman” as Eartha Kitt indisputably embodied the feline persona throughout a career that seemed determined to encage her. When she sang, she purred, when scorned, she hissed. And when displeased, sometimes she scratched. Yet through it all, she managed to leave a warm place where the Cat remains curled in our hearts when she died at her home in Connecticut on (ironically) Christmas Day of 2008.

Would you keep a herd of Alpacas? What do you remember most about Eartha Kitt?



7 comments:

  1. Hi, dear Diedre!

    Nicole Kidman is one of my favorite actresses. (Her Aussie friend Naomi Watts is my #1.) My favorite Nicole Kidman movies are Flirting (which also has Naomi in the cast), Far and Away, Malice, To Die For and Eyes Wide Shut. I love llamas and alpacas and we have them on ranches here in Central Florida. I agree that Eartha Kitt was very catlike. My dad also died on Christmas Day and so did his dad, my grandfather! (Ever since, my brother and I have avoided activities like skydiving and bungee jumping on Christmas Day :)

    Thank you very much, dear friend Diedre!

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    1. Hi Shady!
      All great movies you've named:-)
      There is actually a day set aside in September (I think) just for Alpacas and supposedly, the ranches all offer a fun visiting day to the public :-)
      Holy cow, dear Shady! I hope you and your brother stay away from ladders, too;-) It's almost eerie that both family members died on that day.
      Have a sunny day, my friend:-)

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  2. Alpacas sound like wonderful creatures but I wonder what the reaction would be from my landlord if I were to keep a herd of them in my basement. Which, ironically, has green astro-turf. Don't ask, it was there when I moved in and I don't feel like paying to have it removed.

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    1. Golf, maybe?
      I think Alpacas would make sweet pets;-)
      I'm glad you came by, Jeffrey:-)

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  3. Eartha Kitt is a nice and suitable name for a singer to have.

    I remember seeing Nicole Kidman in The Others. It was a spooky movie but her acting was fantastic in that one.

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    1. Hi Cynthia!
      I was surprised to discover Ms. Kitt was a stand-up comedian as well as a singer and stage actor.
      I haven't seen The Others yet, but I plan to;-)
      Have a great day, Cynthia:-)

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  4. Nicole Kidman is a great actress and her hubby can sure play a mean guitar. Thanks for the info about Alpacas. How cool that they hum. ☺ Eartha Kitt was a fascinating woman and a fabulous singer. Loved her as CATWOMAN (of course!) in Batman.

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