One of my favorite moments in the Obama presidency is when Michelle Obama talked about how debt-ridden she and Barack were when they were younger. It was part of her 2012 Democratic Convention speech. Both Obamas had tens of thousands of dollars in student debt, and from what I understand, they weren’t able to pay off their student loans until Obama became a senator AND his books became bestsellers.

Some people (Elizabeth Warren) believe there is a crisis in student debt, and I tend to agree. College should be much more affordable than it is today. When I think back to how inexpensive it was when I went to college, it’s sort mind-blowing (but then again, I am more than a decade past my college graduation). Anyway, Miles Teller – who really isn’t THAT much younger than me – admitted in a recent interview that he still has student loan debt. It’s not that he doesn’t have the money to pay it off (he’s starred in some big studio films the past few years), but he just doesn’t think it’s any big deal to leave his debt out there. Lingering. Some highlights from Miles’ Vulture interview:

What he learned in college: “I couldn’t tell you a single thing I learned in college. You’re into it at the time and then when you leave, you kind of forget it.”

His scheduling with Divergent & Fantastic Four: “It’s nice, because you can get involved with a project early. You’re not scrambling to figure out what to do. These movies basically only take up my summers, and even then, if a movie wants you bad enough, they’ll work around it. I can do two, three films a year. I know I’ll at least be doing one, so I can balance it from there.”

He still hasn’t paid off his student loans: “That is true. My business manager says the interest is so low, there’s no sense in paying them off. I can, if I want to have that badge of accomplishment, but until then I still very much have my NYU loans.”

[From Vulture]

Ugh, I would hate to have that kind of debt hanging over me. But I’m the kind of person tempted to pay off her credit card bill in full every time. Just sitting here, knowing that I have an outstanding $250 on my Discover card is making me feel itchy. I had to learn that it’s good to have some kind of debt that you pay off gradually, because that helps your credit score. Not that Miles Teller is worried about his credit score, I’m guessing. He probably just does whatever his business manager tells him to do. Still… why not just pay it off? Typical dude, not planning his long-term financial future. Thinking about Miles’ debt is making me itch.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

A few weeks ago, we discussed Cate Blanchett’s Vogue Australia cover and some early excerpts. The cover is… odd. I still think it’s weird. Cate doesn’t look like Cate. She looks like Elizabeth Banks to me, but some of you got Robin Wright vibes. Anyway, I didn’t think the interview was all that noteworthy, quite honestly. I expect more from Cate, although she’s not really famous for giving amazing interviews, preferring instead to keep some mystery about her life. But some new quotes came out, and Cate is talking about the female audience and the market is changing.

Cate Blanchett recently spoke to Vogue Australia about gender inequality in Hollywood, giving her opinion on how women’s roles are changing. Interviewer Anna Funder asked Blanchett, “Tina Fey wrote in Bossypants that any woman in Hollywood who’s no longer considered f–kable is ignored. In the era of Judi Dench and Meryl Streep and other actresses we love, can this really be true, or are they exceptions?”

“Female audiences are driving the change, I think,” responded Blanchett. “Women don’t stop consuming cultural product once they stop menstruating.”

Funder spoke with Blanchett about people being surprised to learn about the wage equality gap for women. “People were surprised?” said Blanchett, “There are countless industries around the world where women in top positions are not equally remunerated for equal work.”

[From Vogue Australia & THR]

I think that’s a good quip – “Women don’t stop consuming cultural product once they stop menstruating” – but the problem is actually worse than that. Cate is right to a certain extent that young women (or girls, really) are being targeted by Hollywood with franchises like Twilight and The Hunger Games. But what about those young women on the cusp? Where are the quality films for a woman of 20, too old for Twilight and the like? The superhero films from Marvel and DC are so clearly aimed at guys aged 12 to 60. But what do the ladies have once they’ve outgrown the PG-13 rated films?

Oh, and Cate wants a part on Downton Abbey’s final season. She’s serious about it too – she says that she’s spoken to some of the Downton people AND her agent about doing a guest role. My opinion: Paul Giamatti was so bizarrely cast, surely they can make room for La Blanchett.

Photos courtesy of Vogue Australia.

Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released on DVD on May 8. They want your money so they’re promising that this version will be “unrated”, with an alternate ending and new scenes.

Like…

Come scenes?

One of my biggest problems (aside from Jamie Dornan’s overal…      

Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released on DVD on May 8. They want your money so they’re promising that this version will be “unrated”, with an alternate ending and new scenes.

Like…

Come scenes?

One of my biggest problems (aside from Jamie Dornan’s overal…      

Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released on DVD on May 8. They want your money so they’re promising that this version will be “unrated”, with an alternate ending and new scenes.

Like…

Come scenes?

One of my biggest problems (aside from Jamie Dornan’s overal…      

Channing Tatum wearing a bowler hat and cuddling a puppy for Vanity Fair.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay! Channing Tatum Day is next month. ???? by @bruce_weber (who else?)

A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on

Mar 23, 2015 at 12:34…      

Channing Tatum wearing a bowler hat and cuddling a puppy for Vanity Fair.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay! Channing Tatum Day is next month. ???? by @bruce_weber (who else?)

A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on

Mar 23, 2015 at 12:34…      

Channing Tatum wearing a bowler hat and cuddling a puppy for Vanity Fair.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay! Channing Tatum Day is next month. ???? by @bruce_weber (who else?)

A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on

Mar 23, 2015 at 12:34…      

34-year-old Fast & Furious star, Jordana Brewster, stepped out to get some groceries yesterday in Brentwood, Calif. with her son, Julian Form. Julian had a smile all over his face as he checked out the cameras taking his picture. He was definitely enjoying some time with his busy mom.

Jordana looked absolutely beautiful in her bell bottoms, dainty purse, and sunglasses. Julian also looked adorable with his overalls, long sleeve shirt, strapped sandals and a smile on his face.

The last time we talked about Jordana Brewster, she was spotted out with her two favorite men — her husband, Andrew form, and her son, Julian. They were enjoying some time off in Malibu.

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Michael Fassbender’s passion project, the Western Slow West, is currently making the festival rounds and is expected in theaters later this year. It’s the feature film debut of Scottish writer/director John Maclean and it’s produced by Fassbender’s shingle, DMC, and it loo…