ABU DHABI // While one of the biggest names appearing at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival is only in the capital for a couple of nights, she still intends to squeeze in visits to two of its landmarks.
"I'm definitely going to go to the mosque," said Evan Rachel Wood, talking to The National on Saturday afternoon and pointing at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from her eighth-floor suite in the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. "And then I think I'm going to go on the fastest roller coaster in the world at Ferrari World."
The 24-year-old American, who stars alongside George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the political thriller The Ides of March, which was screened at the Abu Dhabi Theatre on Friday night, said it had been incredible to work alongside such names.
"All the people working on Ides are at the top of their game. It's really an honour."
Wood is no stranger to fame, having appeared in such films as Thirteen and The Wrestler, and more recently landing a role on the US television vampire hit True Blood, which airs in the Emirates on OSN.
She still said it was a shock to see herself on promotional posters. "When I see the poster and see my name on it it's just unreal."
With roles in a Hollywood film littered with A-list talent and in one of the biggest shows on television, Wood hinted that she might consider another area of the entertainment industry at some point in the future. "I'd love to get more into music eventually," she said. "I just don't think I'm ready yet."
In The Ides of March, which will launch commercially across the UAE next week, Wood plays Molly Steams, an intern for a US politician on the campaign trail (George Clooney) who becomes embroiled in a sex scandal.
"I think it's a great movie," she said. "And not just because I'm in it. I've willingly sat through three of four screenings of it."
Due in the capital for today's film festival events is the British actress Lily Cole, who is set to appear on the red carpet for the screening of the coming-of-age drama The Moth Diaries, in which she stars.
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Company%20Profile
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Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
'Midnights'
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
