Much like 'Behind the Candelabra,' 'Brokeback Mountain' was a film about gay relationships that featured two straight men in the lead roles. We already know about Jake Gyllenhaal, but Heath Ledger's casting as Ennis Del Mar was perhaps an even bigger risk for the producers. Back in 2003, Ledger was known more for his good looks and his appeal to teenage girls than he was for his abilities in grittier parts, but the performance he gave was a revelation.
Everybody knows what happened to Ledger next; he went on to give a definitive performance as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' before his life was tragically cut short. 'Brokeback Mountain' may be the movie we should remember him for best, as it defined his career and brought him an Oscar nomination. Ledger is survived by a daughter who'd never have been born had he not taken this part; the mother is Michelle Williams, who he met while making the movie.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.