Known for her roles in such American classics as as Bugsy and American Beauty, Annette Bening is an actress who gets better with age. She’s a powerhouse on screen and stage and even saved the worst film I have seen in years, The Kids Are All Right, from being a total waste of time. Born [...]
Alainn or Appalling
Alainn or Appalling: Annette Bening
Álainn or Appallin’: Heather Peace
Lip Service season one may be at an end but before we try to move on I have to include the lovely Ms Heather Peace into our coveted Alainn or Appalling section. After all, if she wasn’t so damn sexy Cat’s dilemma wouldn’t have played out with any real conviction. Born the same month as [...]
Alainn or Appalling: Laura Fraser
Born only a month after my good self (that was a good year) Laura Fraser is a Scottish actress with some fancy credentials. Her resume includes such films as A Knights Tale, Vanilla Sky and the wonderful Nina’s Heavenly Delights. Not to mention her exploits on the small screen which include the title role in [...]
Alainn or Appalling: Imelda May
You know the way we all have that certain voice that just flicks our bean? That just seems to be have the same resonance as the strumming within? Well, word in Gaelick Towers has it that Imelda May’s voice does just that to our fearless Webmaster. Johnny may have a boom boom, but Webbie got a throb throb. I know I’ll suffer for that sentence.
Álainn or Appalling: Kathryn Thomas
For the discerning appraisal of our Álainn or Appalling readers this week is RTÉ’s peripatetic pretty lady, Kathryn Thomas. The tantalizing Mzz Thomas has trekked far from her native Blockbog Road, County Carlow, at the helm of RTÉ travel show No Frontiers. But Thomas has definitely not been the sluggish sun-lounger type
Alainn or Appalling: Joan Jett
Ask anybody today “Who is Joan Jett?” and you’ll more than likely get the same response. “That ‘I Love Rock n Roll’ one yeah?” More often than not that’ll be the most that people know of her, the one song in the 80s that was actually a cover. But if you look her up, you’ll see she’s so much more than a one-hit-wonder from two decades ago.
Álainn or Appallin’: Lucy Kennedy
She may be best known for gracing our tellies and enduring the potty-mouthed Podge and Rodge on The Podge and Rodge Show as co-host. Apart from her stint there, Kennedy has presented The Ex-Files, Livin’ with Lucy, her own chat show The Lucy Kennedy Show and Charity Lords of the Ring, among others. Filming of the third series of Livin’ with Lucy starts this month, apparently. Pick me! Pick me!!
Alainn or Appalling: Chely Wright
Who is this woman who is now courageously flying the flag for us in the country music scene? Well, she was born in 1970 in Kansas City, Missouri into a musical family. By 11 Cheyl was singing in local bands, and by the time she was 22, she had signed for Mercury/Polygram.
Alainn or Appalling: Stockard Channing
First things first, I think it only fair if I warn you that this AorA will be biased, in Chez HAL we call her Stockard “The Goddess”. So, with that admission out in the open, I ask you; what not to love about Stockard? She’s in her 60′s, looks amazing, managing to look more desirable than actresses half her age, and she can out-act anyone in the business.
Alainn or Appalling: Marina Diamandis
Arguably the biggest thing to come from Abergavenny in Wales, Marina Diamandis was born to a Greek father and Welsh mother. When they split, she lived for a couple of years with her dad but moved home to finish school.
Álainn or Appallin’: Amanda Seyfried
It’s hard to believe that we’ve only been aware of doe-eyed Amanda for two years. Two years! She seems to have been around much longer, taking her place in the pantheon of stars with ease.
Alainn or Appalling: Sally Hawkins
Sally Hawkins will always be Sue from the TV adaptation of Sarah Water’s Fingersmith. Well she will be to me anyway, sorry Sue, Sally, I mean Sally.
Alainn or Appalling: Jennifer Beals
We all have our ‘roots’ when our sexuality became obvious. There was that moment in Flashdance. Jennifer Beals, on a chair, water cascading down her young body. What a feeling indeed.
Alainn or Appalling: Faberry
This AorA is all about Glee. We love it, you love it and what’s not to love? It’s guaranteed to put a big, stupid grin on your face. However, here is our conundrum; with so much goodness, who do we ask you to vote for? Why choose just one when we can plumb for a double order of yummy?
Álainn or Appallin’: Queen Latifah
Born Dana Elaine Owens, Queen Latifah is a woman of many talents. As a rapper, actress and singer she has won many an award including a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy, not to mention her Oscar and Emmy nominations.
Alainn or Appalling: Susan Sarandon
You know you’ve enjoyed a good year if Susan Sarandon is in there, she’s never been bad in anything, from romcom to drama, the woman can do anything. Recently she’s been busy dragging bad writing up into come classy roles. She’s at that stage in her life where Hollywood has no idea what to do with her.
Alainn or Appalling: Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway is one of those movie stars who seem as normal as is possible when you’re a movie star. She comes across as down-to-earth, good craic and lacking in diva overtones. If this is the product of PR, I don’t really care to be honest; she’s a cutie.











