Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Introducing Felix

I have been very fortunate in life both professionally and personally. I have had untold number of opportunities to work with inspiring people, on great projects as an actress, and I have had a fantastic long term relationship of nearly 20 years with my now husband, Max.

The one true hurdle I've faced in life is that I have a broken belly. After years of trying to get pregnant, exploring the range of fertility treatments, all unsuccessful, our journey led us to gestational surrogacy: we make a "baby cake" and bake it in another woman's "oven".

From that came two miracles. The first was meeting our carrier and her husband who were truly humbling in their decency and generosity. And the second miracle was the birth of our baby boy, Felix Handelman. Felix means "happy" and "lucky" in Latin. And true to his name, Felix is a very happy baby and a blessing on our life.

We have maintained a great deal of privacy throughout this process, and hope to continue to honor Felix's privacy going forward.

Thanks to all our friends, family, and fans for your support.

If you need me, I'll be changing dirty diapers and trying to get some sleep.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Cat + Email Chain = Hilarity

From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Poster


Hi


I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.



This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.


Thanks, Shan



From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Poster


Dear Shannon,


That is shocking news.


Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up?


I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"


Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.


Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Poster


yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.


From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster


Dear Shannon,


I never said I don't like cats.


Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short.


As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet.


Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me.


An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a foul stain down the back of his beige cargo pants.


I liked that cat.


Poster as requested.


Regards, David



From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster


yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?



From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am

To: Shannon Walkley

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster


Dear Shannon,


It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.


Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am

To: David Thorne

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster


Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please.


Thanks.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism

I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.

I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.

Regards, David


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,

I don't have a cat.

I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it.

If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke.

A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.

I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.

Regards, David



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute.

As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.

I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work.

I would call it Steven.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

Monday, November 30, 2009

NEW YORK/ESQUIRE magazine articles

http://nymag.com/news/features/62379/?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10


http://www.esquire.com/features/abortion-doctor-warren-hern-0909?click=main_sr

RE: NEW YORK's "The Abortion Distortion" by Jennifer Senior &
ESQUIRE's "The Last Abortion Doctor" by John H. Richardson

These two articles, taken together, add much to the debate over reproductive rights in America today. The authors both had access to clinics in Midwestern cities and saw firsthand the need for access to reliable doctors, clinics and most importantly, information about family planning.

Whatever your thoughts on reproductive rights, MORE information, education and access to family planning services will REDUCE the number of abortions performed each year and that should be the goal of both sides in this debate. Please encourage funding to these clinics so that they may continue to service the needs of American women.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

WRITE YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE!!

Feel free to copy & paste:


Dear Senator Feinstein:


Please don't eliminate legal family planning procedures such as abortion from a federally-funded healthcare plan.


This will force lower- and middle-income women to use extreme measures to end unwanted pregnancies, endangering more lives. This also creates two classes of women: those who can afford legal abortions no matter their insurance and those who cannot. This is a dangerous proposition for our country.


Sincerely,


Elizabeth Banks

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

New Role, New hair

Some before and after pics - I'm a brunette again!


I'll be playing a convicted murderess opposite Russell Crowe in Paul Haggis's new film. He did "Crash". Psyched to be back in Pittsburgh where we shot Zach & Miri Make a Porno. Thanks Rain, for coming down to welcome me, remind me just where I'm at and which season I'm entering. Just so I won't be confused with my home in LA where it's sunny and 90 degrees.

The G20 is here this week and there is a military-like staging area just behind where I'm staying. There's cops everywhere. Riot gear. Let's hope for a peace-filled week.

Thanks to the Allegheny County Jail staff for allowing me an all-access tour of their facility today. They have an immaculate, well-run institution. It was fascinating. And thanks to the inmates with whom I spoke so candidly. I wish them well, whatever brought them to that place. They were watching a Cuba Gooding Jr. movie when I came in but nobody minded when we paused it.

Note in the brunette pic - no make-up!


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Pics by Matthias Vriens

It was a photo shoot all about Max Mara coats, which, as you can see, are sublime.


Gotta get back to work - shooting The Details in Seattle with Tobey Maguire, Laura Linney and Dennis Haysbert.

New pics


This is one of the coolest pics ever taken of me - thanks Matthias Vriens, photog and Max Mara. This is running in Italy.


Italy, where I would like to be right now. Haven't been since 03. Highly recommend.