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Remember I had written about Jennifer Beals’ role for WIGS? I continue to be impressed with its lineup. Canadian Catherine O’Hara recently tackled an actress-turned-saintly role in a two-episode series penned by Mitch Albom.

In the series launching today, Rochelle, Rosanna Arquette tackles the role of a woman who hires an escort to break her ex-husband’s heart. The 3-episode series is written by Scott Turow and directed by Rose Troche (The L Word, The Safety of Objects).

In a phone interview, Arquette shared her reason for doing the webisodes: The quality of the writing. “Well I’m a huge fan of Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia as directors and then Scott Turow had written this wonderful piece…. It was so wonderful because it was so beautifully and impeccably written. When you have lousy dialogue you can’t remember it.”

She brought her own experience to the role. Rochelle has been betrayed and left for a younger woman; Arquette of course is no stranger to divorce, and she says she brought up those sense-memories to prepare for the role. “That’s the great thing about acting – being there to open up other people in thinking differently or recognizing something in themselves.”

But acting’s taken a back seat overall for Arquette lately. She has a daughter in high school on the east coast, and can’t commit to shooting in L.A. “You can’t leave a newborn and you can’t leave a teenager,” she comments, although she then muses that she sees the empty nest on the horizon.

When I ask her what kinds of roles she’d like to tackle, she answers “I would love to actually play where I’m at in life – I am officially middle aged…. I was looking at Jane Fonda as inspiration – you know, Prime Time [Fonda’s guide to living and aging well] – you don’t have to go down the road of hell, but you can be vivacious and powerful like she is.”

Or like Arquette. Check out the series; it launches today (Monday August 27).

Anne Brodie gives Frank Langella thumbs up.

Opens August 24
Directed by Jake Schreier
Starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden
Genre Sci fi, Comedy, Drama
Rating: 4/5

Frank Langella is spot on as a retired cat-burglar falling into dementia, rattling between his big lonely house and the local library, feeling useless. His only friend the librarian (Sarandon) faces her library’s transformation into a book free, wired “modern” reading experience as books are also useless in this near future. Frank’s stubborn disregard for his well-being alarms his children but their ham-handed efforts to help upset his already precarious state of mind.

One life-changing day his son (Marsden) presents him with a robot health care assistant. Frank resists but soon finds an ally and partner- in-crime in this unassuming new plastic buddy. Together they plot a final burglary which stimulates Frank’s dormant memory and jolts him awake.

It’s a beautifully crafted, superbly acted film that approaches aging with sensitivity, recognizes wisdom and celebrates the indefatigable human spirit and all its kick-ass dreams.

You can also find Anne on Twitter @annebrodie and at her own blog.

If you’re like me and injury-prone we’ve found a cream to help heal all wounds.

Whether it’s blisters from your summer sandals or insect bites from a weekend jaunt, this repair care is your own personal first aid kit for the skin. For use on the face or body, the Bioderma Cicabio Cream uses resveratrol (the anti-ager found in grapes) and copper to help the skin regenerate as well as hyaluronic acid to improve moisture. It also has a copper-zinc complex to control bacteria.

Finally, it uses a special antalgicine complex created by Bioderma to reduce to urge to scratch. It’s fragrance-free and great for adults or kids so pack this in your bag for that camping trip (or that strappy sandal event).

Find it for $20 at your local pharmacy. Bioderma.com.

Lovely freshness on the nose.

Pascual Toso Malbec Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina

Aromas of wild blackberry, toasty oak and cedar forest. Full-bodied and smooth. Decant 2 hours. Pair with lamb with rosemary, prime rib and horseback riding in the Andes.

Drink: 2012-2015
Product No: 183897
Price: $19.95

Score: 89/100

Natalie MacLean is the author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. Check out more of her wines and pairings at www.nataliemaclean.com .

Totally worth checking out: Jennifer Beals and Troian Bellisario star in Lauren, a made-for-YouTube three-episode series for WIGS (Where It Gets Interesting), a channel dedicated to scripted video featuring complex, compelling characters played by female leads. The channel’s the brainchild of Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes) and Rodrigo Garcia (In Treatment).

This web series tackles a tough topic: Lauren (Bellisario) is a member of the United States military who reports sexual assault by three fellow American soldiers. In the first episode, Major Stone (Beals) reviews the report and warns Lauren about the impact of filing a contentious charge.

Good writing – on YouTube
In a conference call about the series, Beals shares that it is the writing that attracted her to the role: “Major Stone thinks within the parameters of the institution and all the kind of acculturated patriarchy that that implies. And then…this other character, the younger character, the Staff Sergeant played by Troian who just really thinks in terms of justice and plain and simple.”

The interplay between the actors is strong on the (very) small screen, and carries the first episode. That’s no surprise for fans of Beals. As we shared in our profile of her in our February/March 2011 issue, she’s an actor who brings fire and intelligence to her roles.

Roles for women over a certain age: Why not sexy?
When I ask her about how she’s finding the options for roles for women over 40, she shares: “One thing I think that needs to be addressed is how roles for older women — which is basically anybody over 30 — become desexualized, because that’s not the case. I’d like to fix that.”

She’s certainly an actor to take that on: She’s a swimmer and a runner, comfortable in her skin. She recently swam Lake Louise: “Man is that cold. But it was so beautiful to be surrounded by that color and to turn and look up at the glaciers. It just knocked me out but I had to grease my face and my hands and my feet and I had a full wet suit…it was really cold ”

But it’s Beals’ performance that brings depth and warmth to her role in Lauren. Check it out:

Lauren
Premiers on YouTube today, with new episodes to launch Wednesday and Friday.

Photo: Kayt Jones

Not pretty, but hopeful.

Hope Springs
In theatres now
Directed by David Frankel
Stars Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell
Rating: 3/5

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) have sunk into a sterile, uncaring routine 30 years into marriage. He recoils from her touch so she stops touching him. Sex is a distant memory. Arnold says their marriage is fine but Kay is ready to walk out.

With heroic effort, Kay convinces him to fly across the country for a week of intensive couple’s therapy with a famous Dr. Feld (Steve Carell in a compelling, compassionate and serious performance), but he fights tooth and claw. There’s wisdom to be gained watching these emotionally crippled characters try to love again.

It’s not pretty — indeed things get pretty ugly as they try to overcome their limitations and years of distance. One step forward, two painful steps back. Hope Springs is tough going but it’s rewarding as a story of courage, backbone … and hope.

You can also find Anne on Twitter @annebrodie and at her own blog.

If you’re as obsessed as we are with all things Olympic then you’ll love what CND Shellac has brought to the field this summer. All the rage on the nails of athletes in London, the medal-worthy designs for the Olympics last 14 days so they are the perfect power polish for those on-the-go.

We love this fun twist on beauty mixed with the games and just had to share the latest designs.

cnd.com


Associate editor Kate Daley (pictured at right) shares weekly beauty junkie picks here on the blog. You can follow her on Twitter: @katedaley1

Whether you’re fending off hot weather (or hot flashes) we understand the need for a foundation that stays put without melting under pressure.

Clinique is known for their problem-solving products and have recently launched a new foundation for controlling oily skin and shine. It contains willow bark extract to absorb oil and in a study found that even in 80 percent humidity there were no signs of streaking –- results we liked to hear!

Find it for $28 at Clinique counters or Clinique.ca.

Associate editor Kate Daley (pictured at right) shares weekly beauty junkie picks here on the blog. You can follow her on Twitter: @katedaley1