Celebrate

Zoological Society of London commissions poet laureate for animation to mark its 200th anniversaryOver its two centuries, acclaimed writers and artists have found inspiration at London zoo, from Edwin Landseer’s Trafalgar Square lions, to AA Milne’s naming “Winnie” after resident bear Winnipeg, and Sylvia Plath’s poem Zoo Keeper’s Wife.Plath’s husband, Ted Hughes, who would become poet laureate, worked at the zoo briefly as a dish washer, an experience said to have helped fuel his inspiration for The Thought-Fox. Continue reading...

Exclusive: pendant appears in 1635 painting Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of His Wife that hangs in the Manchester Art GalleryA Hamnet-era mourning jewel has been rediscovered four centuries after it was immortalised in one of Britain’s most enigmatic and celebrated 17th‑century family portraits.The heart‑shaped pendant was depicted in Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of His Wife, the 1635 life‑size, mourning masterpiece that was painted predominantly in black and white by the Cheshire artist John Souch. It hangs in the Manchester Art Gallery. Continue reading...

Leaders of Poland and Germany hail Péter Magyar’s majority as a turning of the tide – but analysts say there were other reasons for defeat of prime ministerFor Poland’s Donald Tusk, the crushing defeat of Hungary’s illiberal prime minister, Viktor Orbán, after 16 years in office was evidence that the world was “not condemned to authoritarian and corrupt governments”.Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also believes the two-thirds majority secured by Orbán’s centre-right challenger, Péter Magyar, in Sunday’s elections was “a clear signal against rightwing populism” that showed “the pendulum is swinging back”. Continue reading...

BFI and National Portrait Gallery to mark centenary of the film star’s birth with ‘the summer of Marilyn’Though often reduced to a sex symbol frozen in time, or a tragic figure at the centre of several scandals, Marilyn Monroe was something far more subversive, according to two exhibitions that will herald what has been nicknamed “the summer of Marilyn”.To mark the centenary of her birth, Monroe is being celebrated by leading British cultural institutions as a performer of sharp comic intelligence, a canny architect of her own image, and a woman who reshaped the possibilities for female stardom on screen. Continue reading...

• International superstar Celine Dion, legendary guitarist Eric Clapton, and acclaimed actor-director Warren Beatty all celebrate birthdays on March 30, 2026. • The three iconic figures represent decades of achievements across music, rock, and cinema, with each marking another year in their storied careers. • The celebration highlights the cultural impact of artists born on this date who have shaped entertainment across multiple generations and mediums.

• Celebrated comedian Eric Idle of Monty Python fame turns a year older today, March 29, 2026, joining other stars in Hollywood's birthday spotlight. • Actor Brendan Gleeson, known for roles in In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin, is also marking his birthday alongside comedy icon Amy Sedaris. • Bored Panda highlights 10 familiar faces born on this date, emphasizing their enduring contributions to film, TV, and stage entertainment.

• Elton John turns 79 on March 25, 2026, while actress Sarah Jessica Parker celebrates her 61st birthday on the same day. • Other notable celebrities sharing March 25 birthdays include Marcia Cross (64), Big Sean (38), Jenny Slate (44), and comedian Nate Bargatze (47). • The musical icon was recently featured at the 2026 Elton John AIDS Foundation's 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party charity event.

France’s Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders among speakers praising prime minister at Budapest eventMarine Le Pen has called Viktor Orbán “an exceptional leader” and Geert Wilders hailed “a lion on a continent led by sheep” as Europe’s far-right figureheads rallied round Hungary’s prime minister before an election that polls suggest he may lose.“Hungary has become a symbol in Europe of a proud and sovereign people’s resistance against oppression,” Le Pen, the parliamentary leader of France’s National Rally (RN), told a gathering of EU-sceptical leaders in Budapest on Monday. Continue reading...

• American actress Victoria Pedretti celebrates her 31st birthday on March 23, 2026, continuing her career in psychological thrillers and acclaimed television work. • Pedretti gained widespread attention for her roles in popular Netflix series, where she anchors narratives with raw emotional intensity and has earned critical praise and a dedicated fanbase. • The actress was diagnosed with ADHD at age seven and expressed early interest in musical theatre before pursuing her successful acting career.

• Reese Witherspoon turns 50 on March 22, 2026, evolving from 'Legally Blonde' star to influential producer behind hits like 'Big Little Lies' and 'The Morning Show.' • The Oscar winner has amplified female-driven stories through Reese's Book Club, turning picks into award-winning adaptations and reshaping media tastemaking. • Fellow celebrities marking birthdays include William Shatner at 95, Cole Hauser at 51 for his 'Yellowstone' role as Rip Wheeler, and Constance Wu at 44.

• Gary Oldman turns 68, Matthew Broderick 64, Rosie O'Donnell 64, and Timothy Dalton 80 on March 21, 2026, marking milestone birthdays for Hollywood icons. • Broderick famously turned down the Family Ties role that launched Michael J. Fox, opting to stay in New York. • Rosie O'Donnell shared a humorous quote: 'I'm too old to learn how to drive on the left!' reflecting her theater-loving persona.

Show in part a rediscovery of more than 40 mostly forgotten women who plied their trade in the Low CountriesJudith Leyster, an artist of the Dutch golden age, was thought to be about 21 when she painted her self-portrait in 1630. In the picture she presented to the world, Leyster exudes cheerful confidence. Clad in shimmering silks and a stiffly starched lace collar, she leans back in her chair, palette and brushes in hand, a painting by her side.This work, completed in the year she was admitted to a painters’ guild in Haarlem, proclaimed her arrival as an established artist. It was one of the first self-portraits by an artist in the Dutch republic, a device most male painters did not adopt until years later. Continue reading...

• Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber were among the Hollywood stars attending the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty on March 15, 2026, following the 98th Academy Awards ceremony. • The post-Oscars celebration featured stunning gowns, iconic fashion moments, and celebrity glamour as attendees continued the evening's festivities in Los Angeles. • The afterparty drew major celebrity attendees including award winners like Michael B. Jordan, who showcased his Best Actor Oscar in a brown suit at the event.

Beloved entertainers Billy Crystal turns 79, Michael Caine celebrates 93, and rising star Ansel Elgort hits 32 today, March 14, 2026, sparking fan tributes across social media. Bored Panda highlights their iconic careers from Crystal's Oscar-hosting gigs to Caine's two Best Supporting Actor wins and Elgort's Baby Driver breakout. These milestones coincide with Oscars buzz, amplifying Hollywood nostalgia. Fans share rare photos and clips honoring their US entertainment legacies.