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<div>With an Academy Award, an Emmy, three BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes and even a Grammy win under her belt, British actress Kate Winslet is perhaps one of the most prolific and successful actresses of her generation. Known for her down-to-earth demeanour, chameleonic onscreen qualities and ability to portray strong, unusual female characters, she has reigned as one of Tinseltown’s favourite leading ladies for over 25 years.&nbsp;</div>
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<div><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54627" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats leonardo di caprio titanic gafencu magazine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-leonardo-di-caprio-titanic-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></div>
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<p>But it seems no one is as surprised by the longevity and success of her career than Winslet herself. “I grew up surrounded by people who would go back to their day job between acting roles. My dad, my sister and my uncle would go and work in the sandwich place or the post office, waitressing or babysitting, and that’s what I did for a bit initially. Straight after&nbsp;<i>Heavenly Creatures</i>, I went back to the delicatessen. I was just very lucky that when I was 20, I was cast in&nbsp;<i>Titanic</i>,” she says, adding modestly, “I didn’t have to go back to the deli after&nbsp;<i>Titanic</i>.”</p>
<p>Her relief is well justified considering the rather impoverished circumstances of her upbringing. Born on 5 October, 1975 in the tiny British borough of Reading to Roger John Winslet, a perpetually struggling actor, and Sally Anne, a waitress and nanny, Kate Elizabeth Winslet and her three siblings were brought up on living hand-to-mouth and often relying on free meal benefits and charity to get by.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54633" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.png" alt="Rose TiRose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats gafencu magazinented Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats" width="600" height="377" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-200x126.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-446x280.png 446w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-120x75.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-500x314.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-320x202.png 320w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-400x251.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p>Growing up in a thespian family, it was unsurprising that Winslet was also bitten by the acting bug when just a child. Sadly, her schoolmates and peers were less than kind about her on-stage aspirations. “They called me ‘blubber’, they teased me for wanting to act and locked me in the cupboard and laughed at me,” she recalls, “I wasn’t the prettiest girl, and I was even told that I’d be lucky in my career if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts. This unkindness made me feel truly horrendous.”</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><i>“They called me ‘blubber’, they eased me for wanting to act and locked me in the cupboard and laughed at me”</i></p>
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<p>Thankfully, these early hits to her confidence didn’t deter the actress from pursuing her passions. Throughout her schooling, she took part in stage productions, television shows and even commercials, though she never landed a plum role due to being overweight. It wouldn’t be until 1994 that Winslet made her movie debut in&nbsp;<i>Heavenly Creatures</i>, a New Zealand psychological thriller directed by&nbsp;<i>Lord of the Rings</i>&nbsp;visionary Peter Jackson based on the real-life events of the 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54628" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats oscar gafencu magazine golden globe" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-oscar-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>Hitherto-unknown to the entertainment industry, her portrayal of teenage murderess Juliet Hume garnered wide critical praise and the film, which was nominated for an Oscar that year, kickstarted the 19-year-old’s career. Merely a year later, she was cast as Marianne Dashwood in the big-screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s&nbsp;<i>Sense and Sensibility</i>&nbsp;alongside fellow British A-listers Tom Wilkinson, Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant, earning her first Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations and taking home her first BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54631" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats titanic gafencu magazine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-titanic-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>It was in 1997, though, that Winslet’s star power finally shone through. This was the year she was cast as Rose in director James Cameron’s mega blockbuster,&nbsp;<i>Titanic</i>, alongside her now-longtime co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. Although it was a commercial and critical success – breaking all previous box-office records to gross some US$2.195 billion against a budget of US$200 million.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54629" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats ralph lauren red carpet gown gafencu magazine" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>Post-<i>Titanic</i>, the actress chose to eschew other popular and potentially lucrative projects in favour of smaller indie films with alternative female roles, including the 1998 biopic&nbsp;<i>Hideous Kinky</i>,&nbsp;<i>Holy Smoke&nbsp;</i>(1999), and 2000’s period drama&nbsp;<i>Quills</i>. In 2001, her embodiment of writer Iris Murdoch in&nbsp;<i>Iris</i>&nbsp;received even more nominations from a slew of prestigious award bodies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kate Winslet continued her proclivity for offbeat roles in 2004, starring in&nbsp;<i>Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.&nbsp;</i>Two years later, she became the youngest actress to acquire five Academy Award nominations with the drama,&nbsp;<i>Little Children</i>. Followed by two more light-hearted endeavours, the rom-com&nbsp;<i>The Holiday</i>, and a voice role for animated film,&nbsp;<i>Flushed Away</i>.&nbsp;However, she returned with a vengeance, first co-starring with DiCaprio in&nbsp;<i>Revolutionary Road</i>, a historic drama directed by her then-husband, Sam Mendes. Then playing the challenging role of an illiterate WWII concentration camp guard in&nbsp;<i>The Reader</i>. For these performances, she finally claimed her first two Golden Globes, as well as her only Academy Award to date.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54632" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats gafencu magazine" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>Since then, she’s continued her chameleonic tendencies by playing the villain in the hit science fiction&nbsp;<i>Divergent</i>&nbsp;series, as an accused murderess in&nbsp;<i>The Dressmaker</i>, tech giant Steve Jobs’ wife in his eponymous 2016 biopic. Speaking of her relentless drive, she says: “My work ethic is no one is bloody going to do it for you. At the end of the day, if the chips are down and something goes wrong, you should only ever have yourself to blame. So dig deep, get on with it and don’t complain.”</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><i>“If the chips are down and something goes wrong, you should only ever have yourself to blame”</i></p>
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<p>Even as the momentum of her onscreen projects presses on relentlessly, outside of the limelight, she still finds time to contribute to various causes. The mother of three is perhaps best known for her commitment to raising awareness about autism through non-profit The Golden Hat Foundation, that she co-founded in 2010 with Margaret Ericsdottir, whom she met while filming A<i>&nbsp;Mother’s Courage: Talking About Autism</i>. She’s also published a book titled&nbsp;<i>The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism</i>, and for her collective charitable works, she was honoured with Spain’s&nbsp;<i>Yo Dona Award for Best Humanitarian Work</i>.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-54630" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet.jpg" alt="Rose Tinted Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown's all-time greats red carpet gafencu magazine" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-red-carpet-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>Most recently, the multi-talented actress received rave reviews for her portrayal of British palaeontologist Mary Anning in&nbsp;<i>Ammonite</i>, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival a few months ago. The controversial film centres around an imagined, passionate romantic relationship between Anning and geologist Charlotte Murchison. Speaking about her decision to accept the role, Winslet says: “We need more films like this so that the world can reach a place that is more equal and compassionate – where LGBTQ relationships are simply normalised and shown without fear or hesitation.”&nbsp;Next, the British actress is set to voice the titular horse in a film adaptation of&nbsp;<i>Black Beauty</i>.&nbsp;</p>
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Rose-Tinted-Kate-Winslet-one-of-Tinseltowns-all-time-greats-ralph-lauren-red-carpet-gown gafencu magazine celebrity feature

Rose Tinted: Kate Winslet, one of Tinseltown’s all-time greats

<div>British-Irish actor Liam John Neeson from Northern Ireland is a household name across the world after nearly 40 years in cinema since his first movie&nbsp;<i>Excalibur</i>&nbsp;in 1981.</div>
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<div><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-52938 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine.jpg" alt="Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></div>
<p>He is best known for his roles in the Oscars-winning&nbsp;<i>Schindler’s List&nbsp;</i>and&nbsp;<i>Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace</i>. His body of work has earned him nominations for numerous awards, including the Oscar. But quite intriguingly he hasn’t won any major acting award, although,&nbsp;<i>Empire Magazine</i>&nbsp;once cited him in its&nbsp;<i>Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time</i>.</p>
<p>At various times in his decades-old acting career, he has been nominated&nbsp;for best actor and other major awards at the prestigious Oscars and Golden Globes. Emerging empty-handed from those nominations must have frustrated and disappointed him to no end.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52941" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (4)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>Born in Ballymena, Ireland in 1952 to Katherine “Kitty” Neeson, a cook, and Bernard “Barney” Neeson, a caretaker at the Ballymena Boys All Saints Primary School, the veteran actor had a chequered young life that included flirting with boxing starting at the tender age of nine.</p>
<p>He was progressing as a boxer and won several regional titles, but opted out of the sport when he turned 17.&nbsp;Neeson also discovered a talent for football and nearly became a professional player in 1971 when he was enrolled as a physics and computer science student at Queen’s University Belfast.&nbsp;He played one&nbsp;game as a substitute but was not offered a contract.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52936" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (8)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-8-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>Acting in school productions during his teens and the positive influence by Democratic Unionist Party founder Ian Paisley were what stoked his interest and eventual decision to pursue acting. “He had a magnificent presence and it was incredible to watch him just&nbsp;<i>Bible</i>-thumping away&#8230; it was acting, but it was also great acting and stirring too,” says Neeson, recalling his impressions of Paisley.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><i>“It was incredible &#8230; it was acting, but it was also great acting and stirring too”</i></p>
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<p>After leaving university, Neeson returned to Ballymena, where he worked in different casual odd jobs, from a forklift operator at Guinness to a truck driver. He also attended teacher training college for two years in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, before again returning to his hometown. In 1976, Neeson joined the Lyric Players’ Theatre in Belfast, where he performed for two years.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52940" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (3)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-3-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>He got his first film experience in 1977, playing Jesus Christ and Evangelist in the religious film&nbsp;<i>Pilgrim’s Progress</i>&nbsp;(1978).</p>
<p>Neeson moved to Dublin in 1978 after he was offered a part in Ron Hutchinson’s&nbsp;<i>Says I, Says He</i>, a drama about The Troubles. He acted in several other small productions until filmmaker John Boorman saw him on stage in 1980 in&nbsp;<i>Of Mice and Men</i>&nbsp;and offered him the role of Sir Gawain in the Arthurian film&nbsp;<i>Excalibur</i>.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52939" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (2)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-2-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>The ’80s saw him team up with big-name Hollywood stars, including Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins and Robert De Niro. High-profile roles started coming from 1986 and in 1988, he starred alongside Clint Eastwood in the fifth Dirty Harry film,&nbsp;<i>The Dead Pool</i>.&nbsp;In 1993, Neeson shot to prominence when he portrayed Oskar Schindler in&nbsp;<i>Schindler’s List</i>. From there, he starred in other successful films.</p>
<p>A major turning point came in 2008 when Neeson starred in the action thriller&nbsp;<i>Taken</i>, a French-produced film based on a script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. The action thriller series brought Neeson back into the center of the public eye and resulted in his being cast in many more big-budget Hollywood movies.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52942" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (5)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-5-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>After&nbsp;<i>Taken</i>&nbsp;in 2008, Neeson almost overnight went from a well-loved star of wrenching dramatic fare (and the occasional rom-com) to a legitimately bankable action hero with one of the most recognizable faces on the planet — all at the ripe old age of 56. In the years since, the star has leaned head-on into his new status, cranking out an impressive array of big, dumb, endlessly enjoyable action fare.</p>
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<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52941" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (4)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></p>
<p>While he has not won any Oscars and any other major acting award, Neeson has been listed this year at number seven on&nbsp;<i>The Irish Times</i>’ list of Ireland’s greatest film actors.&nbsp;</p>
<p>He has garnered various highly prestigious accolades some of which are not commonly available or conferred to performing artists. A case in point was his appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire presented by Queen Elizabeth II in her&nbsp; 2000 New Year Honours. In 2016, Irish President Michael D. Higgins conferred to Neeson the Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award by the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) at the Mansion House in Dublin.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52935" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (7)" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Liam-Neeson-celebrity-feature-Gafencu-Magazine-7-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Neeson has a handful of upcoming action flicks. Expected to hit theatres this month is Honest Thief in which he portrays an ageing bank robber who tries to turn himself over to authorities in an attempt to go straight and live an honest life with the woman he loves. In the action-packed bullet-fest&nbsp;<i>The Marksman</i>, Neeson plays the role of a rancher who takes on murderous Mexican drug cartels.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Now 68, Neeson appears ripe for retirement, especially after more than 40 years in Tinseltown. But gauging from published media reports, the late-bloomer action hero appears to be just warming up for more ass-busting and gun-blasting action flicks in the coming months and in the next few years.</p>
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Liam Neeson celebrity feature Gafencu Magazine (3)

Late Bloomer: A Hollywood stalwart, Liam Neeson has yet to win any major acting awards

<p>It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that 2019 may go down in the annals of history as one of the gloomiest years in Hong Kong. As the city’s denizens look to greet 2020, there may be a budding hope that things could take a turn for the better in the New Year. In preparation for the endless possibilities that might unfold, we at Gafencu have boarded the time machine and skipped a year ahead to a parallel, rose-tinted universe where all frowns have turned upside down. So, indulge us if you will, as we fast-forward to 1 December 2020, and dwell on the ‘what-could-be’s for the 12 months of 2020&#8230;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50095" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-2020-predictions_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
<h2><strong>Universal Studios in Hong Kong</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50105" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Universal-Studios-in-Hong-Kong_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>Get ready to be immersed in the wizarding world of Harry Potter or to shake a leg with King Julien from Madagascar, as Universal Studios has launched its much-anticipated Epic Universe theme park in Hong Kong. Having opened its doors just ahead of the Lunar New Year in January, it looks set to draw thousands of visitors, both locals and tourists alike. Word is, it’s even bigger than the one in Singapore.</p>
<h2><strong>Oscar win for Andy Lau</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50104" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Oscar-win-for-Andy-Lau_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>Hong Kong’s very own actor extraordinaire Andy Lau won one of the highest acting accolades in the world by bagging the coveted <a href="https://oscar.go.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oscars</a> for the Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his stellar performance as a celebrated choir conductor in Cantonese drama Find Your Voice. The film hit a second jackpot the same evening when it won Best Film in a Foreign Language. According to film pundits, this double success is bound to give the local movie industry the leg up that it needs.</p>
<h4>“We have boarded a time machine and skipped a year ahead to a rose-tinted universe”</h4>
<h2><strong>Air Quality Index at 10pts</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50096" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Air-Quality-Index-at-10pts_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>Move over Reykjavík, Wellington and Calgary… Hong Kong is here to grab a much-coveted spot on the list of the top 10 cleanest cities in the world. With the HKSAR government spending billions of dollars on the Care for Air initiative, the Fragrant Harbour’s air has remained consistently within the healthy 0-50 range in the global <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/awair-monitor-air-quality/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Air Quality</a> Index (AQI) and even dropped down to 10pts in March. It looks like the city’s residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief.</p>
<h2><strong>Inbound tourism soars</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50101" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Inbound-tourism-soars_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>The Fragrant Harbour’s population almost doubled, at least temporarily, over the Chinese New Year, as seven million tourists trooped to the city both from the mainland and overseas, spending time and more than HK$5 billion to immerse in the best experiences the 852 has to offer. Needless to say, with hotels booked to maximum capacity and restaurants reserved in advance for weeks, the local F&amp;B industry is laughing all the way to the bank.</p>
<h2><strong>New airport to open</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50103" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-New-airport-to-open_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>Hong Kong’s existing Chek Lap Kok Airport (HKG) has been on the verge of buckling under the pressure of a ceaseless flow of inbound traffic. To ease its burden, the government announced in April that it will unveil a brand new 200,000sq.m airport facility at Discovery Bay by the end of 2021. Designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and filled to the brim with top notch amenities, this is one infrastructure that may even give Beijing’s newly-opened Daxing Airport a run for its money. Small wonder then that luxury brands are vying for space to open flagship stores at the new venue.</p>
<h2><strong>Anti-typhoon missile developed</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50097" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Anti-typhoon-missile-developed_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>T8s and T10s may soon be things of the past, with the scientists at Hong Kong University’s The Swire Institute of Marine Sciences developing a test missile that, if successfully launched, is said to have the ability to divert the path of typhoons. While it’s still in an experimental stage, it’s safe to say that if the project is a success, typhoon season will well and truly be over in the port city. Bye-bye, Mangkhut!</p>
<h2><strong>HKEX jumps 3,000pts</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50100" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-HKEX-jumps-3000pts_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>Hong Kong’s stock exchange bull is charging towards new heights with the city strengthening its position as a financial and technological hub in China’s Greater Bay Initiative. As the year steadily progresses towards the green’ zone, the HKEX is also looking to woo those companies that had, in the recent past, chosen to list in the US’s larger markets.</p>
<h4>“Maybe sooner – rather than later – at least some of our wishful thinking may just come true”</h4>
<h2><strong>Foreign investors queue up</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50099" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Foreign-investors-queue-up_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>With the city’s Closer Economic Partnership with mainland China (CEPA), the Fragrant Harbour is now the obvious first choice for companies looking to enter the China market. The city’s excellent infrastructure, business knowledge of China, as well as no additional levied taxes, all make it a very lucrative place for foreign investors. No doubt it’s a combination of these factors that has led Amazon, the US’s retail megastar, as well as tech giants such as Facebook and Google to look to get listed on HKEX.</p>
<h2><strong>Carrie Lam wins Nobel Prize</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50098" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Carrie-Lam-wins-Nobel-Prize_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>The year was turning out to be peachy so far, but the feather in the cap came in October when it was announced that HKSAR’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam will receive the Nobel Prize for Peace for being instrumental in fostering a feeling of fraternity and harmony between China and Hong Kong. Come 10 December, all Hongkongers will be waiting with bated breath to hear her acceptance speech as she collects the prestigious prize in Sweden.</p>
<h2><strong>Most Instagrammed city</strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50102" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt.jpg" alt="2020" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/700x466-Most-Instagrammed-city_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></h2>
<p>As of December 2020, Guinness World Records has confirmed that Hong Kong is the most <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/hongkong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagrammed</a> city in the world based on the number of geotags used by the platform’s users. This is the first year that an Asian city has nudged New York, the consecutive winner for two years, out of the top spot. With gourmet food choices, landmark locations and a vibrant, upbeat ambience, it’s easy to understand why the 852 bagged the top spot. Way to go, Hong Kong&#8230;</p>
<p>Ah well, it’s time to break out of the reverie and come back to reality. But who knows, maybe sooner rather than later, at least some of our wishful thinking may yet come true. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Tag: oscar

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