Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs praises JK Rowling for her political commentary

Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs said JK Rowling’s magical stories will always be relevant to audiences as he praised the writer for her political commentary. Speaking about how she combined serious themes with fantasy in both the seven-book series about the boy wizard and the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them screenplay, he said she had a “rare gift” that keeps fans engaged.

Maya Angelou embraced San Antonio’s diversity

Maya Angelou in Sonoma, Calif., which she called home during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Her multi-faceted life, which took her from Missouri to Georgia to Europe and even to the Alamo City, is depicted in the fascinating PBS documentary “And Still I Rise.”

Veteran British actor John Hurt dies

John Hurt attends a news conference for the film “Only Lovers Left Alive” during the 66th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes May 25, 2013. Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt, known for his roles in Elephant Man and Harry Potter , has died aged 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, reports said Saturday citing his agent.

Will he go for the gold? Donald Trump’s redecorating plans for the White House

Will he go for the gold? Donald Trump’s redecorating plans for the White House If he does some ‘touch up’ in family quarters, will it look like his Trump Tower digs? Check out this story on ydr.com: http://usat.ly/2k1lECk Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver says he believes that president-elect Donald Trump will retain Michelle Obama’s White House vegetable garden.

Viola Davis ‘had issues’ with big break movie The Help

Oscar nominated actress Viola Davis admits she had “a lot of issues” with the film that gave her her big break, but said she knew it would change her career. Davis played maid Abileen Clark in the big screen adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling book The Help – which also starred Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain.

Books: New and noteworthy

Books: New and noteworthy Look for new books by Chris Bohjalian and Brad Taylor. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2i6vJQj What it’s about: Annalee Ahlberg, a notorious sleepwalker, disappears one night, leaving her husband and daughters to wonder if she’s dead.

Becoming Michael Lewis

Author Michael Lewis, center, with writer-director Adam McKay, left, and actor Brad Pitt at the premiere of “The Big Short,” based on Lewis’s book, in 2015 in New York. Walter Isaacson, the CEO of the Aspen Institute, is the author of ” The Innovators ” and biographies of Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs.

a oeHow I Met Your Mothera Star Josh Radnor Is Happy to Have Met Meditation

Josh Radnor is best known for starring in the hit TV series How I Met Your Mother, but since the show wrapped two years ago, Radnor has been focusing on going beyond being a TV star, crediting meditation for helping him figure out what he wants. “Meditation is something that gets me back to being ‘quiet’ so I can hear that kind of guidance,” Radnor told ABC News’ Dan Harris during his 10% Happier podcast.

Josh Radnor on Moving Past ‘How I Met Your Mother’

Josh Radnor is best known for starring in the hit TV series ” How I Met Your Mother ,” but since the show wrapped two years ago, Radnor has been focusing on going beyond being a TV star, crediting meditation for helping him figure out what he wants. “There were things I did that were really small that have been so meaningful to me and just a couple of people will see them but it doesn’t matter to me because it altered me and changed me,” Radnor told ABC News’ Dan Harris during his “10% Happier” podcast.

Best-sellers

5.”Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis,” by Anne Rice Vampire Lestat discovers the ancient sea powers of Atlantis. 6.”Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” by J.K. Rowling Magizoologist Newt Scamander’s magical creatures escape in New York City.