That’s why, when we spot celebrities making their way through Australia, ticking off some very chic (and delicious) local hot spots on their itineraries we momentarily lose our mind. Curious as to where an A-lister hangs out Down Under? We’ve done the digging, below.

Fred’s, Paddington

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Fred’s is a personal favourite of ours, so we were glad to see none other than Oprah Winfrey understands the hype. In an interview with 7 News, Oprah revealed that she had dined at the Paddington eatery, saying, “They had the best bread of my life. Do you understand? My life. I’m a bread connoisseur. It was the best bread of my life.” We’re told she also ordered

Mr Wong, Sydney

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Where does Lady Gaga eat when she’s in town? At Mr Wong’s of course. Mother Monster wore Balenciaga for a dinner with her fiancée before the Mayhem Tour kicks off. We hope she ordered the duck pancakes.

Donnie’s, Brisbane

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Lewis Capaldi kicked off his Australian tour in Brisbane, and fuelled up before his first show with a visit to Donnie’s in Teneriffe. How good is a pre-show pizza?

Fratelli Paradiso, Potts Point

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According to Nigella Lawson, one of the rules “for a good life” is a visit to this Italian favourite. “Walking through the doors after a year away just felt like coming home. I love everything about this place: great people, great mood, great food,” she gushed about her visit on Instagram. As for exactly what she ordered, Nigella hasn’t left us hungry for information: “Olive Ascolane, my every-time, on-arrival order, those fat and juicy green olives stuffed, here, with sharp cheese before being breadcrumbed then deep fried; Puntarelle, that bitter zigzaggy chicory tangled with anchovies; Fratelli’s signature scampi spaghettini; and a magnificent pork chop with agretti (Monk’s Beard) and white polenta.” And she finished it all off with a Bombe Alaska.

Lulu La Delizia, Perth

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In Subiaco, Perth, you’ll fine Lulu La Delizia — which just so happens to be one of Nigella Lawson’s favourite restaurants Down Under. Her selects included an “awe-inspiring” zucchini orecchiette, “preceded by – as the menu accurately lists them – “bloody good anchovies” and bread, and followed by corzetti (which are a traditional Ligurian pasta shape, like stamped discs/coins) with basil, pine nuts and Parmesan, as well as the beige-but-beautiful and full-flavoured fazzoletti (named for the handkerchiefs the silky wide strips of pasta resemble) with rabbit ragù.”

10 William street, Paddington

We’re so glad Gio Paradiso’s cosy Paddington wine bar found it’s way onto Dua Lipa’s Sydney itinerary. According to reports, the singer and her pals dined on 10 William’s iconic pretzel and whipped bottarga (naturally).

Gelato Messina, Bondi

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Did you really visit Australia if you didn’t indulge in Messina? While on a trip to Bondi, Dua Lipa made sure to stop off for a scoop of their salted coconut and mango.

Cam’s Kiosk, Abbotsford

Over in Melbourne, Dua made a trip to the Abbortsford Convent, which is home to delightful restaurant Cam’s Kiosk. There, she dined on their signature kingfish.

Raes on Wategos, Byron Bay

Few places are as iconic to Australia as Byron Bay, so we’re glad Charli XCX scheduled some time there while on her tour Down Under. And, if you ask us, there’s nothing quite like heading straight from the beach to a meal at Raes on Wategos. The boutique hotel is known for its exquisite fresh fare and ultra luxe vibes. Make like Charli, and order caviar served with cream, chives, and seaweed salt potato crisps. And a martini, naturally.

Napier Quarter, Fitzroy North

This community wine bar is as quaint as it is chic. Perfect for a low-key night when you’re one of the biggest singers in the world, according to Charli XCX. She stopped by dimly-lit neighbourhood haunt for some local wine and delicious snacks, and documented the evening on Instagram.

Bianca, Teneriffe

Brisbane locals know, James Street is home to some of the city’s best restaurants. And clearly, Charli XCX got the memo, stopping in at Italian local Bianca while on the road for Laneway festival. It’s not clear exactly what the singer ate, but we think she would love their burratta with some flatbread and a glass of chilled red.

Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills

For another stop on her tour of Sydney’s East, Gabbriette hit Pellegrino 2000, a neighbourhood Italian restaurant that has played host to several big name celebs in recent years. As for what she ordered, Gabbriette kept things light with a plate of anchovies, roasted peppers and tomato vinaigrette, followed by prawn ravioli in a sage, lemon, and better sauce. Naturally, she finished off the meal with a simple affogato. We’re taking notes.

Teta’s Deli, Potts Point

This cosy, hole-in-the-wall deli has been slinging up delicious Lebanese fare for nearly two years. Named after a beloved grandmother, Teta’s has earnt a cult following for menu items like manoush (a traditional Lebanese flat bread) filled with the likes of lamb or za’atar and a healthy dose of salad. It’s also what Gabbriette ordered when she stopped in at the deli in October, opting for chicken, halloumi, pickles, and toum and chilli on her sandwich, and also taking home a jar of Teta’s homemade pickles.

Real Kings Vintage, Newtown

It felt like an out of body experienced when we saw photos of Zendaya shopping at this vintage store on Newtown’s iconic King Street. The store specialises in premium vintage — a fitting shop for someone who is frequently spotted in the most incredible archival pieces, we’d say.

Chinatown Country Club, Sydney CBD

Squeezing in a little more shopping while in Australia to promote Challengers, Zendaya also stopped by Chinatown Country Club — with stylist Law Roach in tow, obviously. According to reports, the duo picked up vintage pieces from Maison Margiela, Jil Sander, and Comme des Garcons, as well as new styles courtesy of Post Archive Fashion, Amomento, and Strongthe.

Sean’s, North Bondi

As for how Zendaya fuelled up after a day hitting the shops, the actress opted for North Bondi institution, Sean’s. In addition to having one of the best views of Bondi Beach, Sean’s is famous for their simple, farm-to-table offering, with a menu that changes daily according to produce availability.

Cibi, Collingwood

Harry Styles spent a chunk of time in Australia back in 2023, when he brought his show, ‘Love On Tour’ Down Under. In typical Harry fashion, he steered away from mainstream haunts, opting instead to grab his morning coffee from then-relatively unknown cafe Cibi, in Collingwood.

Florian, Carlton North

Nestled on Rathdowne street in Carlton’s North is Florian, a walk-in cafe loved by locals for its delectable offering of sandwiches, salads, sweet treats, and coffee. As it turns out, it’s also the preferred venue of one Jacob Elordi when he returns to Australia. The actor was spotted enjoying coffee as well as soft boiled eggs and bacon here back in 2022.

Hope Street Radio, Collingwood

Hope Street Radio might have started as one of those ‘IYKYK’ locations but, by know, it’s firmly on the map. It helps, of course, that Dua Lipa stopped by while in Melbourne for her ‘Future Nostalgia’ tour. According to reports, she was joined by Melbourne local (and fellow pop star) Troye Sivan, with the pair sipping on Spanish wine and a plate of focaccia. The perfect order, if you ask us.

Feature image: one, two, three.

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Alternatively, you might only be familiar with him as the fiancé of pop sensation Dua Lipa, and that’s okay too. The couple, who have been together for several years now and are fast becoming our favourite celebrity couple, confirmed their engagement in June 2025, with Lipa describing the decision to grow old together as a “really special feeling.”

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Of course, we (along with the rest of the internet) were speculating for quite some time about a possible engagement, long before it was announced — particularly after spotting some very beautiful (and sparkly) jewellery on Lipa’s left hand. As it turns out, Turner is pretty talented in that department, too, having picked the ring in question himself. “It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well,” Lipa said in a new interview. What can we say? He has excellent taste.

So, whether you’re catching him on-screen or crossing paths in East London, here’s your crash course on Callum Turner. It’s called the Law of Attraction for a reason…

He’s a frontrunner to play the next James Bond

Turner is certainly making a name for himself outside of his extremely cute coupling. The latest addition to his CV is a rumoured role as none other than the next 007. The hotly-contested role has bene up in the air ever since it was announced that filmmaker Dennis Villeneuve was taking over the franchise, with several British actors’ names thrown into the mix. But it seems Turner could trump all with The Standard reporting that a source from betting company Coral said that “The British actor is now the red-hot favourite for the role.” Those seem like good odds, we suppose?

A Hometown Glory type of boy…

What is it about a London boy? Turner hails from Hammersmith, Chelsea and was born one day shy of St. Valentine’s Day. (He’s yet another Aquarius, time to gird your loins). After an early rise as a fashion model working in Japan, Europe and America, he decided to make a sharp pivot onto the big screen. He cites his mother for nourishing his interest and love in performing arts.

No social media is a green flag

A man with no digital footprint is a man worthy of betrothal, if you ask us. For any updates or coveted imagery, you’d have to head to one of the many fan-run pages who are gallantly doing his PR on his behalf, or his now-fiancée, Dua Lipa. Here’s one we’ve added to our own roster.

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He’s got a BAFTA….

Turner’s performance in the mystery series The Capture (2019) landed him a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. His role as Major John Egan in Masters of the Air propelled him into BAFTA territory, and his role in Fantastic Beasts raised our heart rates, to say the least.

Turner has royal taste

Before he set his sights on pop royalty Dua Lipa, Turner was associated with The Crown‘s insouciant Princess Margaret Vanessa Kirby. We guess he has a type…

Feature images via @DuaLipa.

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Time spent chopping and frying in our kitchen was time spent worshipping at the church of self-love. And like many, we turned to cooking as a source of comfort over the pandemic and its subsequent years; sharing our culinary endeavours on social media, prowling Bon Appetit for our next household meal. To many a starry-eyed Instagram commenter I replied, “Food is the one of the few pleasures we have left!”.

We started small. A little rock salt, a little goat’s cheese. We worked our hands around homemade pasta dough and freshly pinched gyozas. We weren’t game enough to tackle the sourdough loaf, but many crisp focaccias were made. Our housemate Jack changed our lives with a bowl of smoked pancetta bolognese. Rich, turmeric fish curries slipped into heavy rotation. And then, there was that brief-yet-all-consuming homemade ramen phase.

In the warmth of long autumn afternoons on our front verandah, we debated the merits of vegetarianism, of the garlic bread at our local Dominos, of how a Pet Nat is made and what makes one so good. And the rest of the world seemed to fall away. Our sense of connection to the outside world dissipated, but I was reminded three times a day how much I missed shared love-ins over a dining room table – and how distant the concept of communal cutlery and close seating felt.

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Food had been our solace throughout lockdown; a hobby my housemates and I had half-jokingly labelled our “emotional coping mechanism”. For us, it was the ultimate healer, and a seemingly effortless conduit for connection and conversation. A well-cooked meal could re-inspire the possibility of little miracles – so could it also serve as a means to navigate these strange and melancholic times?

One of my favourite food writers, Adam Gopnik, wrote in his book The Table Comes First, “Eating, once again, is a social act before it is a purely sensory one; it calls on our moral taste more than our measuring tongue”. And for much of my life, this sentiment has rung true.

“A well-cooked meal could re-inspire the possibility of little miracles – so could it also serve as a means to navigate these strange and melancholic times?”

I was raised in a household where eating dinner together as a family was an immoveable pillar that upheld our days. Phones were never present, and TV dinners were a special occasion (usually reserved for a Friday night when we’d swing past our local Blockbuster). But today, the tradition of gathering for dinner as a household has quietly eroded.

Once a near-universal practice, now HelloFresh‘s State of Dinnertime Report has found that fewer than half of Australian families (34 per cent to be exact) are sitting down together most nights of the week. According to their ‘State of Dinnertime’ report, busy schedules, after-hours work, and the lure of screens are pulling people in different directions. And in its absence, the subtle rituals that bind us through food – passing plates, pausing to ask about someone’s day, the unspoken comfort of eating side by side – are slipping away. Plates are now balanced on laps, phones aglow nearby.

Researchers warn that this decline is not just about changing domestic routines, but feeding into a broader epidemic of disconnection. “When families stop eating together, one of the most reliable daily touchpoints for connection vanishes and can increase feelings of loneliness, especially for children and teens,” Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia’s leading psychologists who is working with HelloFresh, tells me. “Sharing food is about so much more than nutrition. It’s a daily dose of joy, presence, and togetherness served around the table.”

“The subtle rituals that bind us through food – passing plates, pausing to ask about someone’s day, the unspoken comfort of eating side by side – are slipping away. Plates are now balanced on laps, phones aglow nearby.”

In Australia, the University of Sydney reports more than 40 percent of young people now report feeling lonely, and those who lack consistent opportunities to share meals or social spaces are more likely to experience long-term psychological distress. “We rely on those moments to catch up and share, as well as bringing moments of laughter and joy into our homes,” continues Carr-Gregg. “We lose the chance to process the day’s stresses in a safe environment, which is critical for resilience. They also miss out on building the micro-connections, like what evolves when families cook and enjoy a meal together, that buffer against anxiety and depression.”

Right now, we’re seeing loneliness, once dismissed as a passing emotion, increasingly recognised as a public health concern, linked not only to mental health struggles but even to physical conditions like vascular dysfunction in young adults. And without spaces to regularly gather around food – whether as families, friends, or communities – we risk losing one of our oldest and simplest tools for belonging.

Eating has always been a communal act; one intricately woven into our memories, emotions and identity. “We recall good dinners as happy days,” Gopnik wrote. Even Nigella concurs: “I know I might seem soupy when I say that I see every mealtime, every mouthful, as a celebration of life, but (with some lamentable exceptions) I do, or I try to. It’s such a waste otherwise.”

“In Australia, more than 40 percent of young people now report feeling lonely, and those who lack consistent opportunities to share meals or social spaces are more likely to experience long-term psychological distress.”

Birthday dinners, wedding cakes, even the solemn clink of champagne in toast at a wake. Our most precious milestones, most intimate moments have always been dogeared by the gustatory. I can still remember the exact Oreo ice cream cake I received every year for my childhood birthdays, and the aroma of the dried spindle of Greek oregano that permeates my Mum’s cooking. When I miss my late Grandmother, I yearn for the fluffy, crisp and honey-drenched Sopapillas that punctuated my trips to visit her in New Mexico.

If these memories remind us of what has been lost, they also sharpen the urgency of finding new ways to restore it. Food alone cannot cure loneliness, but the rituals built around it can offer an antidote to fragmentation. To eat together is to resist disconnection, to carve out a space where presence and care are made tangible. And it is precisely this recognition that is inspiring a new wave of people to create opportunities for gathering, determined to re-establish the table as a site of belonging.

“Food alone cannot cure loneliness, but the rituals built around it can offer an antidote to fragmentation. To eat together is to resist disconnection, to carve out a space where presence and care are made tangible.”

Among them is Melbourne-based Sophie McIntyre, the founder of Club Sup – a now-nationwide Australian supper club that has recently begun branching out abroad. Since its launch in 2021, McIntyre has championed the idea that food is far more than sustenance: it is a powerful conduit for connection and community.

“I loved cooking for my entire life. Still to this day my first instincts are to cook for someone for anything from new babies, heartbreaks or promotions,” McIntyre tells me.

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“There is an immense power in a shared meal, more than we give it credit for,” she continues. “When I started the club I made an active choice to not serve our tables individual meals. We don’t ever serve individual meals except for dessert (because you shouldn’t have to share dessert), because there’s a certain level of care that is required when you’re sharing a meal. You have to make sure everyone has enough potatoes and enough of the main dish.”

“There’s a certain level of care that is required when you’re sharing a meal. You have to make sure everyone has enough potatoes and enough of the main dish.”

McIntyre has spent the last few years first-hand experiencing the ability of food to remedy. “A meal has such power to neutralise everyone from any emotion. From sadness, heartbreak, boredom,” she says. “It also has the power to be the perfect conversation starter, it can be unifying or divisive – some people hate anchovies, some people love coriander. All these little things make up the parts of who someone is and that’s the best way to get to know a stranger.”

But maybe that is precisely why food carries such power: it endures where other rituals fall away. Even as the demands of modern life scatter us across cities, devices, and endless obligations, a shared meal can pull us back into alignment. It reminds us that care does not always need grand gestures. Sometimes it’s as small as refilling someone’s glass without being asked, or silently passing the butter to the person across the table. These ordinary acts become the language of belonging.

“A shared meal can pull us back into alignment. It reminds us that care does not always need grand gestures. Sometimes it’s as small as refilling someone’s glass without being asked, or silently passing the butter to the person across the table.”

And in this language, food transmutes loneliness into communion. To sit across from someone, to chew and sip in time with them. No matter how fractured the world outside feels, the table creates a temporary circle of safety and recognition. It is our oldest tool for weaving together the threads of family, friendship, and community.

For my housemates and I, we began to find our way back to each other through food. Transitioning into new phases of life by the dinner table. Whether a global lockdown or a simple heartbreak, no matter how melancholic, sitting around a table with a glass of wine and a full belly is a difficult place for those feelings to last.

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The sea slaps the rocks, jutting out like coastline claws. Concrete corners clash against the flood of colour – fluoro speedos stretched over bronzed, sun-burnished bodies. The rocks burn beneath my feet; soles stung, forcing a dance, as the crunch of cut watermelon and the juice splashes on white cups sloshing with plastic-bottle wine.

Cards crack against a table, each hand exploding in shouts and mock outrage, gold-adorned hands gesticulating wildly. Peppino Brio songs crooning from the portable speakers. Buckets of fish hauled onto the rocks. Water bombing boys. Young women sucking spaghetti up over plates.

I’ve stumbled into the world of the Beach Nonnos, my name for the local elders of the rocky seafront of the Santa Lucia district in Naples. But there are Nonnas too, and Uncles and Aunties, youth and kids. The women in fuchsia pink, leopard-print bikinis adorned with light pink roses, proudly letting folds of fat hang out. Faces full of thick makeup. But the motley men dominate the scene. I hunt for my local Hinge match’s instructions – how to find these famous locals, immortalised by photographers like Sam Youkilis and Robbie McIntosh.

“Cards crack against a table, each hand exploding in shouts and mock outrage, gold-adorned hands gesticulating wildly. Peppino Brio songs crooning from the portable speakers. Buckets of fish hauled onto the rocks. Water bombing boys. Young women sucking spaghetti up over plates.”

The rock in between two big stands selling drinks and taralli.

The taralli is my North Star. I dodge the clustered crowd and claim a patch of rock, laying down my fire-engine red towel – MARZAMEMI blaring across it in big white letters. I type into my phone: ‘DOES SICILY HAVE FEUD WITH NAPOLI, WILL THEY HATE MARZAMEMI?’

The internet answers confusingly: Not really, but watch your back, paisan.

When I look up, he’s already there: tall, chest puffed, legs like toothpicks in fluorescent green board shorts. I recognised him from the viral Instagram photos. Later I’ll learn they call him Chicken Legs. For now, he’s just a deeply bronzed, leather-skinned demigod staring me down. Possibly judging my ghost-white skin in a frilly cream bikini stands out more than the slabs of stone. Cute in theory, outsider in practice. A rosary bead necklace with a cross dangles on his chest, cheap red Birkenstock-style sandals, and a receding hairline that has no impact on his confidence.

‘Perché sei sola? Vieni, siediti con noi.’

Why are you alone? Come sit with us.

‘Tutto bene, sono felice qui, vicino al mare.’

All good. I’m happy here, close to the sea.

‘Ahhh, la ragazza sa! Sempre vicino al mare, per tuffarse!’

Ahh, the girl knows – always near the sea, ready to dive in.

He beams, triumphant. ‘Va bene, ci prenderemo cura delle tue cose. Ora sei protetto con noi. Io, sono Franco.’

We’ll look after your things. You are protected now with us. I am Franco.

‘Piacere, Franco. Mi chiamo Sheree.’

‘Shri?” He bellows back to the group like he’s announcing a horse race. They howl with laughter.

“Her name is Shrimp!” Suddenly I’m less bikini-clad tourist, more circus sideshow. Step right up, the talking foreigner who burns prawn-pink. They eye me with curiosity, and I grin back, signaling: I’m one of you, just melanin deficient. I see another one shrug and gossip, ‘…and she speaks Italian? What are the chances? This never happens!’

I whip out my trusty SPF 50+ and slather it across my arms. White streaks everywhere. Immediately, as if summoning him, Franco materialises, scandalised by the streaks of white across my body.

‘NONONONO! I GET BABY OIL!’

‘The what? Che?’

‘Don’t worry it’s from Brasil, good quality!’ he calls out, as he vanishes, then reappears with a pink-tipped baby oil bottle, beaming like it’s the Holy Grail. ‘Posso?’ he asks, already squeezing. Before my half-hearted ‘si,’ he’s rubbing it into my shoulders. I’m laughing so hard, I can’t bear to stop him. The other Nonnos shake their heads as if watching a farce they’ve seen a hundred times.

“I’m laughing so hard, I can’t bear to stop him. The other Nonnos shake their heads as if watching a farce they’ve seen a hundred times.”

‘Ehhhh leave the poor girl alone, you creep!’ says one of the Nonnos, who becomes my favourite, always telling the others off for smothering me, and defending me. His face is perpetually perplexed by the world, but gives me a soft smile when he catches me looking.

I quickly learn they can’t speak English, but luckily my high school Italian holds up.

‘Don’t worry about Franco, he’s gay!’ someone else yells.

‘Non e vero!’ Franco shouts back. ‘La mia vita, will you go out with me tomorrow night?’

‘Oh Franco, I’m far too busy,’ I say, thinking of the two Giuseppes with sculpted abs from Hinge, quietly waiting in my phone.

‘Busy?’ He looks betrayed, as though I’ve just rejected the Pope.

‘Where are you from, anyway?’

‘Australia’

‘Australia?! How is this possible? You look like a Neapolitana!’

‘My family is Lebanese’ I offer.

He nods like it’s all finally making sense, the final puzzle piece.

‘Come for a swim with me’ Franco offers.

‘Soon. I don’t want the baby oil to wash off, Franco’

‘Very smart woman’ he offers. ‘Save every drop of gold, you need it! Troppo blanca!! We swim later.’

He pauses then says, ‘very soon’.

Then after less than a minute, ‘now?’

We banter a little more from my little rock perch before they tell me to come over and join them. I’m almost about to do it, when, in the corner of my eye, I notice someone new: a younger man pacing the rocks, stressed, frantic. The Nonnos tease him; Franco smirks.

‘Ehh this guy, he just lost his sunglasses. What a puss!’

‘They’re new! Expensive too,’ the young man protests, collapsing beside me with a theatrical sigh. Curly hair, big brown eyes like an older, more filled out, Timothee Chalamet. He looks up as if seeing me for the first time, really sees and notices me, then brightens like a spotlight’s hit and someone has called ‘ACTION!’

“We banter a little more from my little rock perch before they tell me to come over and join them. I’m almost about to do it, when, in the corner of my eye, I notice someone new: a younger man pacing the rocks, stressed, frantic. The Nonnos tease him; Franco smirks.”

‘I’m an actor,’ he says, chest puffed, like he’s just been knighted.

‘An actor? Anything famous?’

Franco stiffens, eyes narrowing. I can almost hear his thoughts: I just oiled her. Hands off, kid.

‘Do you know Gomorrah?’

‘What?!…Yes, of course! I mean, I know the film, not the show.’

‘I’m in the show. Anyway, are you free tonight? I’ll take you around Napoli on my moto.’

The audacity. I glance at Franco, whose expression is pure murder-over-salami. Like someone is about to sleep with the fishes.

‘Sorry, I’m busy.’ I say, steadfastly, and for his own sake.

‘Number, then?’ He takes my phone before I can protest, saving himself in my contacts with a flourish. Then he combs his hand through his curly hair and dives into the sea, not looking back.

Franco shakes his head slowly, like a disappointed father.

‘That guy is big trouble.’ He claps his hands, breaking the tension.

‘Basta! Andiamo! Now we swim!’

“He takes my phone before I can protest, saving himself in my contacts with a flourish. Then he combs his hand through his curly hair and dives into the sea, not looking back.”

I cannot delay any longer, and so we leap from the concrete into the blue. Salt, sun, chaos. Nothing better. I surface like a mermaid and laugh giddily, like a child. Franco and his friends are sputtering with laughter, cajoling and shouting over each other.

“You swim like a drowning fish!” Cue full slapstick: men flapping, splashing, collapsing across the rocks like tuna on ice. If I don’t understand their dialect, they act it out with exaggerated pantomime until I do. One of the younger guys throws an inflatable donut at Franco. ‘Don’t drown, old man!’ but he uses the donut to continue flapping about like flailing fish.

When I re-emerge, dripping, I catch the glances of the other beachgoers, the ones outside our gang. Their eyes follow me enviously, as if my halting Italian and accidental cuteness were a passport into this exclusive club and they don’t think it’s possible to be part of it. But I know they’re wrong.

Everyone is welcome. Everyone except Mr Gomorrah.

I return the next day but avoid their secret enclave. Shame pricks at me, as though Franco can somehow sense that I went out with the Gomorrah actor against my better judgment. Without them, the beach feels flat, ordinary. I leave promptly after 15 minutes.

The day after, I gather courage to return to their corner. As soon as they see me, the nonnos erupt, cheering and hollering as though Napoli FC has just scored a historic goal. This time, there are no formalities. Franco seizes my hand, dragging me into their circle. A cup of wine is pressed into my palm, taralli and almond biscotti into the other – crunchy rings that remind me of Lebanese kaak. Pasta arrives next: gooey lasagne-like squares, sliding across flimsy plates.

We gather around a table. Franco pretends to ignore me.

‘Perché, Franco? Why?’

His eyes flash. ‘I know you went out with him. Not with me.’

I gasp. ‘How did you know?’

‘I know everything in Napoli. I told you — he is cattivo. Bad man.’

‘You were right, Franco. You were so giusto for that.’ I shake my head ruefully, and I mean it.

He softens, triumphant. ‘It’s okay. You came back to us. Yesterday is gone. Today is now. Tutto passa. Look. Guarda!’

He gestures to the man across from him, with the words tattooed on his chest: TUTTO PASSA. I let out a laugh at how literal it is.

‘Everything passes. And we will protect you now from the nasty Gomorrah wannabe.’

The tattooed man looks up at me, as if from a nap, and nods solemnly, as if granting me absolution, the way a priest forgives you in confession. I nod back. It has already passed. The unease in my gut, thinking of a stranger ending the moto tour at his house, insisting on cooking me pasta and then trying to non consensually kiss me while the pasta boils, has eased. Now Franco seizes the moment. “Anyway, there was another guy here that day with him, did you see him? Ciro? He is a better option! Nice man. Also an actor in Gomorrah, but a good one.”

“The tattooed man looks up at me, as if from a nap, and nods solemnly, as if granting me absolution, the way a priest forgives you in confession.”

I actually did remember him. He did seem better. How did I miss that?

Franco dials his number furiously, then shrugs.

‘He’s not answering. Actors! Always sleeping in. Here you call him…’

‘No no, I can’t….I’m too shy!’

‘SHY?’ he bellows. ‘What’s shy?’

The table dissolves into hijinks, a botched group photo ‘la ragazza looks too blanca! A ghost! No flash!’ My bodyguard, taking the photo, sighs like an Instagram boyfriend. Franco takes a selfie of me and him, and barely a beat passes before he shows me what he’s doing with it – he’s made it his phone background and is using it to post to Instagram Stories with the song ‘La Vita Mia’ by Amadeo Minghi crooning out, the lyrics appearing on the screen as captions.

If this is life, I have touched it,

I felt it on me, I embraced it in you,

I take a better look and there is no

more doubt that you are, you are, my life.

I am laughing so hard at Franco hard launching me with such a dramatic and romantic song. Franco’s nephew has also become my number one fan, a man in his late 40s, insisting I come to dinner at his mother’s house with everyone and giving me her home number and waiting for me to call her and let her know I’m coming. I call and get a frustrated ‘PRONTO?’ before promptly hanging up and apologising to the Nephew, who shakes his head, defeated. His attempt at spontaneity dashed by a mother who’s had enough of his bullshit. The wine flows.

I freeze mid-cackle, suddenly watching myself from outside my own body. A thought dawns on me: I am as alive as I will ever be. The youngest I will ever be. And the oldest I have been. But there are perhaps more years to come, days not entirely promised to us. The vibrancy, the technicolour, the clamour, the community – the way it keeps stretching into old age here, unbroken like well-kneaded pasta dough.

The moment is suspended in time. What really matters remains. Not obsessing over the fat rolls that bulge when you sit. Worrying if your mascara has flaked off in the water, leaving you with panda eyes. When you completely let go and dive in, as the Nonnos (and Zios, let’s be real) showed me, nothing can stop you. The simple rituals. The daily dive towards joy, laughter, sharing what you have, always showing up, welcoming in those around you.

Are we truly free in this life? We work ourselves to the bone, wait for a retirement that is increasingly delayed or never seems to come, before we do anything, by then too bone-creaked and struggling to really do all the things we put off doing until this moment that wasn’t even promised. Then we’re wheeled into fluorescent rooms that smell of disinfectant instead of sea salt, television droning instead of card games and cackling laughter. Even worse, it’s the way aging is treated in this world. The disdain we all have towards it. The dread – as if we were bruised fruit at the bottom of a supermarket crate, waiting to be thrown out. The narratives we indoctrinate ourselves with. But in places like Napoli, your age is worn like a badge, your wisdom a passport to another world, like a stamped ferry ticket crumpled in your pocket after a long day at sea. You squeeze joy from every last drop, keep showing up, keep diving in, until the very end, with salt drying on your skin, the faint taste of espresso still on your tongue, and laughter echoing across the rocks. Not later, not soon, but now. Adesso.

Experience the UNITY! issue in its entirety this November, available on newsstands from Monday 17 November 2025, and through our online shop. Find a stockist near you.

The post Beach Nonnos: Lessons in living from Naples’ rocky shore appeared first on RUSSH.

Hayley Raso is no stranger to challenges, and this Nike athlete always tries to find resilience by drawing on the presence and calm from within herself. When asked about her back injury earlier in her career Raso said, “if you don’t have the mentality, that strong mentality, you probably can’t get through it.” But of course, she credits her mum for staying by her side through it all.

For now, her eyes are set firmly on the 2025/2026 Europa cup – which she is currently competing for with her German club team Eintracht Frankfurt – and the 2026 Asian Cup where the Matildas will compete and Australia plays host. But in the long term, Raso prefers to take things day-by-day. “When I was younger, I had this plan of how I saw my future and how I saw my life going and along the way that path has just changes so so so many times,” she said.

Ahead of the Matildas friendly game against New Zealand, we caught up with the international star player and children’s book author to talk about her favourite part of coming home, the pressure of the game, and what kind of music will be on her Spotify Wrapped.

What’s your star sign?

Virgo.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or extrovert?

An extrovert.

What are you listening to right now? Who do you think will be on your Spotify Wrapped?

The truth is I’ve actually been listening to a lot of Spanish music.

Who on the team do you think has the best taste in music?

Ellie Carpenter.

Who on the team is always up to party?

Who’s always up to party? Sam Kerr.

And who always wants to stay in?

I would probably say Meeks.

What’s the last movie you watched?

I don’t often watch movies. Even when I’m on planes I don’t watch movies. I’m more of a TV series person. The one I watched was the Victoria Beckham documentary. I really liked it, it’s great.

How do you like to get in the zone ahead of a big game? How do you manage any anxiety?

Basically, I just try to keep my days pretty calm so that when I’m arrive to the game I’m really relaxed. I get into the zone once I’m there. It’s about challenging energy and staying present. It’s always really exciting the week we’re training for games actually.

What’s the best part of playing club football overseas?

It’s amazing to play football overseas because the leagues are so great. We’re up against the best teams in the world and the top leagues in the world. And the chance to win trophies – in the domestic league but also in the Champion’s league and Europa Cup where we’ve got that opportunity. We’re [Eintracht Frankfurt] into the quarter finals of the Europa Cup so that’s something we’re chasing.

And what’s the best part about coming home?

Seeing my family, Seeing the sun. Enjoying the weather. Eating Australian food and going to the beach!

You’ve battled injury before? What was that experience like? How did you get through it?

It was tough. Injuries are always tough. They’re part of the game but they’re always very challenging.

I obviously went through my back injury, which was one of the hardest moments of my career for sure.  I think I got through it with the support of my family. I had my mum by my side the whole time. I suppose mindset too, I was very determined to get myself back and to get myself fit again. It’s probably my strong mentality that pushed me through.

Do you think the mental aspect of injury is almost harder than the physical components?

I think that’s what we’re like as athletes. 
It’s very mental and we need to make sure in all moments we’re focussed, whether that’s competing on the field or overcoming injury. If you don’t have the mentality, that strong mentality you probably can’t get through it. Because of course, you will heal. You’re physically gonna be okay. You’re going to play again and your muscles and bones will heal. But you have to have the mentality to get through it.

How do you look after yourself amidst the pressure of the game? Do you have any wellness rituals?

I don’t really have any… rituals, or almost rituals. 
For me its really about staying calm within myself, and staying present in the moment. On the odd occasion I will listen to a wellness-y podcast. Whether that’s one to help you sleep or one that talks about performance or ways to be calm before a game. But for me, it mostly comes from within myself, how I find calm and focus.

You’ve already had an incredible career. What’s a goal that you’re still striving for?

In the near future, the goal that I am striving for is to win the Asian Cup. In terms of club football, to win the Europa Cup. Those are definitely my two short-term goals!

What do you think your younger self would say if she saw you today? And what would you say to her?

I think she would say that she’s proud of me and my resilience. And I would say to her to enjoy the journey and to make sure that I am strong and resilient because I will face a lot of challenges but I will overcome them.

What are you most excited for in the future?

That’s a tough question because I’m not exactly sure. When I was younger, I had this plan of how I saw my future and how I saw my life going and along the way that path has just changes so so so many times. So I don’t have this clear, definite way that I see my future, I just take it day-by-day, year-by-year, step-by-step.

What advice would you give to young people that are wanting to play international football?

To enjoy it, firstly. To be determined, I think it’s really important to be – like the things I would say to my younger self – to be strong, to be resilient, to be determined. And the most important thing, as long as you’re trying your best, you don’t have to be the best player in the world, as long as you’re getting in your best.

Do you have a message for the fans or something that you’d like to say to the fans?

I hope they come out in numbers and support us like they did during the World Cup, because that was absolutely amazing. And we hope to get the same reception, and the same atmosphere and have them spurring us on!

The post Hayley Raso on overcoming injury and what she’d say to Matildas’ fans appeared first on RUSSH.

The Matildas veteran made her international debut at just 16 and was eighth athlete to reach 100 caps for the international women’s team. Since that time she’s added Nike athlete, international club star, and becoming a new mum to her CV. Now reflecting on her career, recognising the way the game has changed and what that means for future female athletes is close to her heart. “The girls that were on this team before us, we’re so thankful to them that we now get to come in and play. We’ve had more investment in our careers as a result.” As for the players that come after her, she says “they’re going to be fine. Which is how it should be.”

Ahead of the upcoming friendly game between Australia and New Zealand in Gosford, we caught up with Van Egmond and talked all things women’s sport, the music she’s listening to and which of her Matildas team would be the most ruthless in a game of Monopoly.

What is something about you that people might not know?

I’m a twin. I have a twin brother.

What’s your star sign?

Cancer.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert is the one that’s not as social? Definitely introvert.

What is your current favourite movie and your favourite artist?

My favourite movie all time is The Fast & The Furious. And my favourite artist right now would have to be… I mean, I have to say Justin Bieber.

Who on the team do you think would be the most ruthless in a game of Monopoly?

Ooh. Maybe Alanna Kennedy. She wouldn’t cheat but she would definitely be the most ruthless.

Who’s always the first to fall asleep on a long bus ride or plane trip?

Mackenzie Arnold.

And who do you think is generally always fashionably late, and then who’s always early?

I’m always early, but fashionably late? I would say Alanna Kennedy.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Just to try to stay happy and be happy.

How do you get into the zone before a match? Do you have a go to song?

We actually usually have a dedicated DJ. We have a playlist that’s quite good. But usually I just try not to think about the game too much. I just try to relax. I think that’s the best.

Do you have any personal heroes?

My Dad.

You’ve had a very successful career, what was that moment that made you realise that you had made it as a professional footballer?

Probably when I made a 2011 World Cup squad. I was young, I was 17 I think. I had actually just missed out on the 2010 Asian Cup squad. And I kind of had a decision ahead of me, do I want to be in the Matildas, or am I going to choose to cruise through. But I worked really hard and I made the 2011 World Cup squad. At that point I thought – okay, this is what I want to do.

In your career, you’ve travelled to some amazing destinations. Do you have any favourites?

Jordan. It was actually amazing. We had a tournament in Jordan and we got to go to the Dead Sea. We were a little bit younger and everyone said you can’t put your head under the water. I thought, okay sure. But quite literally, you can’t go under the water. It was incredible to see it, Jordan was a very cool place. Our parents came and they went to Petra and they loved it.

What’s your proudest achievement to date?

Probably becoming a mum.

What advice would you give to young people who aspire to play sports professionally?

Honestly, I would say, enjoy it. Keep a smile on your face and keep believing in yourself.

How do you feel the women’s game has changed?

There’s so many different elements, but I would say the investment. It’s actually really interesting, I think the women’s game has got such a platform to continue to grow.

I mean when you see sports like tennis and golf and [women’s] sport like this that have been doing well for so many years – I think its really cool to look at the WNBA for example, there’s so much hype and a lot of exposure. Now football is one of those getting a lot of hype and a lot of exposure. It’s good and to have certain people getting behind the sport as a whole. Like Michele Kang for example, she’s invested in a number of teams and put certain leagues on a platform. She’s paving the way and making it all possible.

Also the way America runs their league compared to the way the England does, its like two different products but they’re both so successful. Young, aspiring female athletes can hopefully now see there’s a different pathway for them and if it’s something they want to continue to do, they can.

It’s truly changed so much. The girls that were on this team before us, we’re so thankful to them that we now get to come in and play. We’ve had more investment in our careers as a result. And the players that come after us, from a financial point of view, they’re going to be fine. Which is how it should be.

Is there anything that you would love to tell your fans?

Honestly, just ‘thank you’.

And hopefully they can get out and rally behind the Asian Cup. The World Cup was amazing and we really felt it. We love coming home and playing in front of them all.

The post Emily Van Egmond on her star sign and why women’s soccer still has a potential to grow appeared first on RUSSH.

So, who is the actor we’re about to see everywhere? Everything we know about Zada, below.

Who is Joseph Zada?

While you might not be familiar with his name yet, you’re certainly about to be, with Zada landing the role of young Haymitch in Sunrise On The Reaping. The character was first brought to life by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games books but with this latest instalment, we’ll see a whole new side to him. In the forthcoming film, Zada will play 16-year-old District 12 resident Haymitch, who’s name is reaped in the Hunger Games. But these games feature a twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.

As for Zada, the 20-year-old hails from Sydney, and already has a few film and television credits to his name. Most notably, he starred in the Prime Video series, We Were Liars, which is adapted from E. Lockhart‘s YA novel by the same name. Prior to this, he had a role in Stan’s Invisible Boys, which debuted in February 2025, and appeared in the Australian series Total Control, and the 2019 film, Bilched.

What do we know about his role in Sunrise On The Reaping?

Without giving too much away to those who haven’t yet read the book, we know the role of young Haymitch will ask a lot from Zada. But it seems he’s more than up for the task, apparently beating out hundreds of other actors for the part.

“I’ve seen scripts. I can’t say anything,” Zada said in an interview during the press day for We Were Liars. “I’ve read the book twice already. I’m a very, very, very big fan of everything to do with it and the whole cast and everyone involved.” Zada added: “I’m so ridiculously nervous.”

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Erin Westerman said, “After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, [Zada and co-star Whitney Peak] stood out—not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles. Haymitch has always been a fan favourite, and his origin story is one of the most anticipated in the franchise. His relationship with Lenore Dove is deeply woven into the emotional history of Panem.  We can’t wait for fans to experience the story that shaped one of the most compelling characters in the series.”

Producer Nina Jacobson shared a similar sentiment, saying, “Deb Zane and Dylan Jury oversaw an exhaustive (and exhausting!) search to find a young actor with the skill and imagination to embody young Haymitch. Jo prepared like crazy and stole our hearts. Then Whitney took our breath away as Lenore Dove. When we put the two of them together, it was one of those magical casting moments when you know your search has led you home.”

When will the film be released?

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to arrive in theatres on 20 November 2026.

Feature image: one, two, three.

The post Joseph Zada is “so ridiculously nervous” to play Haymitch Abernathy in the new ‘Hunger Games’ appeared first on RUSSH.

So, who is the woman set to become a fixture on our screens? All your questions answered, below.

A post shared by Veronika Slowikowska (@veronika_iscool)

She’s about to become a movie star

As mentioned, Slowikowska’s latest accolade is a role in  Close to Nowhere, the feature directorial debut of Samantha Carroll. While details are relatively scant, we know that the film is about a small-town girl, Coco (played by Slowikowska), who, “while struggling with unfulfilled artistic ambitions, concocts fake psychic abilities in an effort to impress a famous writer (Luke Kirby).

You probably recognise her from Instagram

Slowikowska is best known by her Instagram handle, @veronika_iscool, where she’s amassed over 1 million followers for her hilarious sketches. They typically feature her roommate (and recently-confirmed boyfriend), Kyle Chase — who is also a comedian. The pair are famous for their surreal, deliberately uncomfortable skits which, until recently, centred on Slowikowska having an unrequited crush of Chase. Perhaps Chase could make a cameo on SNL? A girl can dream…

A post shared by Veronika Slowikowska (@veronika_iscool)

They also have a podcast

Slowikowska and Chase also have a podcast, nevermind. Just recently, they announced they were taking a break from recording, which left fans speculating that perhaps Slowikowska had been cast on SNL. As we now know, these theories proved correct.

She’s already got a few television credits

Before landing SNL, Slowikowska was already making a name for herself as an actor, having graduated from the Canadian Film Centre’s Actors Conservatory in 2020. She starred opposite Leighton Meester and Robbie Amell in Amazon’s Exmas, and had her first lead role in the  Hulu comedy series Davey and Jonesie’s Locker. She’s also had a recurring role on What We Do In The Shadows, CBC’sHomeschooled, and Entertainment One’s Nurses.

She’s originally from Canada

Although she might seem like a New York local from her social media, Slowikowska was actually born in Barrie, Ontario. She’s also the daughter of Polish immigrants, wihth her parents moving to Canada shortly before she was born.

Feature image: one, two.

The post Veronika Slowikowska, our favourite Instagram comedian, just landed a movie appeared first on RUSSH.

The first thing you should know about me is ... I’m chronically five minutes late, but worth the wait.

I’m currently living in … Paris

My favourite thing about it is … Having an evening with friends, wine, and beautiful view of the city.

But if I could be anywhere, I’d be … At home in Los Angeles with my family, enjoying the sunshine – something Paris unfortunately lacks this time of year.

My star sign is … Gemini.

It suits me because … It suits me perfectly because I am multidimensional. People usually associate Gemini’s with being two-faced, but I think it really has more to do with complexity.

My friends would describe me as … Funny, spontaneous, considerate, loyal, and maybe slightly chaotic at times.

I am my most myself when … Whenever I am in nature, whether it be surrounded by trees or resting by the sea. It’s very grounding to me.

I like to start my day by … Having a cappuccino.

And finish it with … Drinking a tea – preferably with ginger and lemon.

I would describe my personal style as … Comfortable, colourful, and ever-changing.

The most special piece in my wardrobe is … My Grandmother’s Hermès scarf.

The best advice I’ve been given is … Mind over matter. The person who knows me best is … My Mum! She can read right through me. All these years, and I still don’t understand how she does it. It’s like she can see into my brain and understand (almost) everything.

Working with Cartier for this cover feels like … I’m stepping into a world that feels timeless.

A song that fortifies me would be … Power by Al Green. One of my favourite songs of all time.

An album I’ve had on repeat is … Anything by Lana Del Rey.

A comfort film I love to rewatch is … Ponyo by Hayao Miyazaki.

A special moment in my career so far has been … Shooting a Mother’s Day campaign with my Mum. Getting to shoot a campaign is already an amazing experience, and having my Mum there felt extra special. It was a day neither of us will forget.

A dream I’m still yet to realise is … I secretly dream of disappearing to a ranch with rescue animals, fruit trees, and a messy flower garden.

When I get a week off, I’m headed to … The south of France.! It’s the perfect getaway from Paris and I love to go visit my family living there.

The future looks … Bright! Who’s to say where I’ll be in five more years, but I can’t wait for what’s in store.

Experience the UNITY! issue in its entirety this November, available on newsstands from Monday 17 November 2025, and through our online shop. Find a stockist near you.

PHOTOGRAPHY Olivia Frølich @ Link Details

FASHION Hannah Cooper

MODEL Olivia Petronella Palermo @ NEXT Paris

HAIR Phillip Fohlin @ Link Details

MAKEUP Kamila Vay

PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS Jacob Carbuhn

DIGITAL OPERATOR Martin Simonic

LIGHTING Jacob Carbuhn

STYLIST’S ASSISTANT Hayley Clutterbuck

CASTING DIRECTOR Neill Seeto @ IMA Casting

Feature image (left): ACNE STUDIOS bodysuit; BALENCIAGA shoes; CARTIER bracelets and rings. Feature image (right): CHRISTIAN DIOR dress; CARTIER bracelets and rings. 

The post Introducing ‘UNITY!’ issue cover star, Olivia Petronella Palermo appeared first on RUSSH.

What makes him so endlessly entertaining is that his unpredictability feels genuine. He’s not performing for viral soundbites – if anything, he seems perpetually caught off guard by the fact that he’s being interviewed at all. From confessing that he lied on live television to laughing his way through lie detector tests with Jennifer Lawrence, Pattinson has mastered the art of self-deprecation and absurdity.

Below, we revisit some of his most bizarre and hilarious interview moments – the stories that blur the line between sincerity and satire, and the moments that remind us why he remains one of Hollywood’s most endearingly strange leading men. If Pattinson’s goal is to keep us guessing, he’s succeeded spectacularly – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

1. The ‘Clown Car’ incident on the Today Show (2011)

During the 2011 press tour for his film Water for Elephants, Pattinson claimed he saw a clown die when his joke car exploded at the circus. However, he later admitted in a 2024 interview, that the story was fabricated and that he often goes into a “fugue state” in interviews where he makes things up because he feels he has nothing interesting to say.

2. Vanity Fair Lie Detector Test with J Law (2025)

The insanity that ensues when you put JLaw and RPatz across from each other was something we didn’t know we needed. But for the press tour of their new film Die My Love, we have been exposed to just that. It feels like Pattinson has finally let his lack of seriousness out in full force.

3. Breaking Down His Most Iconic Characters (2022)

From revealing that he got his role in Twilight because he was high on Valium to the fact that he felt dorky holding the wand so held it like a gun in Harry Potter – this one was enlightening as it was ridiculous.

4. Zoe Kravtiz and Robert being unhinged (2022)

The Batman franchise gave us a lot of things – but one of those was plenty of unhinged interview moments between leads Zoe Kravtiz and Pattinson.

5. Mia Goth telling Pattinson she never liked Twilight

Mia Goth telling Pattinson that she’s never seen or loved Twilight or Harry Potter is more delightful than it sounds. Especially with his sarcastic response that she just doesn’t like anything he’s in.

6. Twilight interview on The Ellen Show

Pattinson and Stewart talk to Ellen about some of the more intimate scenes from the final Twilight film and the hilarious reason it had to be recut.

The post Robert Pattinson’s funniest and most bizarre interviews appeared first on RUSSH.