A-list Confidential: Sophie Monk drops new wedding detail
Almost a year after getting engaged, Queensland golden girl Sophie Monk has dropped a new detail about her intimate wedding plans
U on Sunday
Don't miss out on the headlines from U on Sunday. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sophie Monk has revealed a new detail about her upcoming wedding to Joshua Gross.
After meeting Gross on a plane in 2018, a year after her season of the Bachelorette, Monk got engaged on Christmas Day last year.
While the pair will have a low-key wedding with just the two of them, she plans to wear a wedding gown supplied by an Australian designer.
“I am disorganised. We thought we’d just do it together. Get a really nice photo, but I haven’t got around to it,” she told Confidential.
Asked whether wedding companies were sending in offers, she replied: “Not many people are asking. There are designers (offering gowns) which is lovely. It’ll be an Aussie designer.”
The Gold Coast-raised singer and actor, who now hosts Love Island and Beauty and the Geek, said the couple would invest in a holiday honeymoon around Australia rather than a large wedding.
“I think because of job, every day on set is like a wedding, I’m lucky in that way, I get to do dress ups all the time,” Monk said.
“We had an engagement party but I didn’t even see Josh because you’re entertaining.”
Monk, who returned to Australia after a number of years living in Los Angeles, shifted from the Gold Coast and bought a home on the Central Coast of NSW last year.
She has recently teamed up with Amazon to teach Alexa, the AI voice assistant, classic Aussie phrases.
She said during her time in the US she was forced to change how she spoke because people couldn’t understand her Australian accent.
“I had some guy ask me, do I sing in my native language,” Monk said. “It got a bit painful; I would speak more American because it got so frustrating.”
The collaboration with Alexa had its benefits for Monk, who said “I used to have a different brand and ... it only recognised Josh.”
CUSTOMER COMES FIRST
On a mission to prove swimwear is for every body shape, Brisbane swimwear brand Une Piece has swapped out models for their own customers in their new campaign.
Une Piece, now in their fifth year, featured 21 different Queensland-based women wearing the brand’s iconic swim silhouettes for their annual little black swimsuit campaign, which dropped this week.
“As a team and as a business we are super passionate about celebrating and empowering all women and we always have been,” founder Carly Brown said.
“Our Little Black Swimsuit campaign and the incredible group of women featured in the campaign are the embodiment of this important core brand value.”
“It was so exciting to welcome 21 women from our Une Piece women community – who are a combination of personal friends and friends we have made through the brand – to share in it.”
The campaign was shot at the iconic Belleview House in Ascot.
Une Piece, which recently showed at the finale runway of Brisbane Fashion Month, was overwhelmed with interest after the brand’s signature original sexie rashie was worn by Nicole Kidman in the hit Amazon series, Nine Perfect Strangers.
ON THE RISE
Queensland actor Elizabeth Cullen was given a dose of hope this week when she was named on a coveted rising stars list.
The 24-year-old was one of ten actors named on the Casting Guild of Australia’s 7th annual list of CGA Rising Stars, the alumni of which, including Katherine Langford and Eliza Scanlan, have gone on to launch successful international acting careers.
The coup was a source of validation for Cullen, who missed out on two major roles due to the limitations caused by the pandemic in the past year.
“I was just completely floored,” she said of the award.
“It can be a struggle. You can have really dry spots and sometimes you don’t hear back, so it’s an indication you are doing good work and to keep going and … it’s that feeling of there’s something good to come, that bit of hope.”
Cullen, who grew up in Cairns, got her breakout role alongside her brother Julian Cullen in children’s series The Bureau of Magical Things in late 2017, which returned for season two on the Gold Coast last year.
She then landed a role in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie when it resumed filming in Queensland.
“It was such a contrast because it was such a huge prestigious set,” she said. “Working with Baz and Austin (Butler) it was such a wonderful experience, I learnt so much.”
She added: “I have been really lucky to have work this year but also disappointed because I missed out on two big opportunities. I was pretty devastated. Looking back, it was a real learning curve. I have a grown up a lot from it.”
With international borders opening again, Cullen hopes to be able to work both at home and overseas, now with an extra spring in her step.
WARM WELCOME
Brisbane Broncos star recruit Adam Reynolds hasn’t started pre-season with his new club but he’s already stepping into official duties.
The halfback was on hand to launch the new Rebel Sport store at Garden City on Thursday, alongside new Broncos teammates Kurt Capewell and Corey Oates, in his first outing meeting Brisbane fans.
“It’s been unreal. From the moment I signed that contract with the Broncos the support has been second to none,” Reynolds said. “On social media I’m getting messages left right and centre; it’s hard to keep up with. Suncorp is a great stadium, great atmosphere, finally be good to get cheered on instead of booed.”
After the NRL grand final in Brisbane, Reynolds, his partner Tallara and their four children spent time touring the Whitsundays before setting up stumps in Brisbane.
“We had a little holiday and now just living in the city until our house settles in December so still feels a little like a holiday but … it’s starting to feel like home,” he said.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
A slice of Hollywood was on hand for the Queensland premiere of scif-fi blockbuster Dune on Wednesday. Actor Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in the original Dune film in 1984 and wrapped his part in NBC series Joe Exotic in Brisbane on Friday, hit the black carpet at Reading Cinemas Newmarket with Joe Exotic co-executive producer Dan Kaplow and cinematographer Jules O’Loughlin, as well as friend and coffee roaster Dimitri Piliouras and his son Elias for a last hurrah before heading back to the US.
Photos: Alex Nisiriou, Vethaak Media
10 QUESTIONS WITH... KATHERINE PARKINSON
1. Who was your teen idol/ crush? My teen idol was Elvis Presley. I especially loved him in King Creole.
2. Who are your three ideal dinner guests? (My co-stars) Katrina Milosevic, Stephen Curry and Robbie Magasiva – but the lockdown prevented it.
3. What’s your worst date experience? I love dates with almond butter.
4. What’s the movie that made you cry? The Elephant Man always makes me cry. Also the movie Up.
5. Which song do you sing in the car? Shout out to my Ex
6. What’s your favourite movie or TV series you never admit to loving? I love Escape to the Country but feel no shame!
7. What’s the most sentimental thing you own? I keep the hair and teeth of loved ones!
8. What was the last thing you Googled? I last Googled Maltipoo puppies.
9. What’s your most embarrassing moment? I once phoned the hairdresser to book a blowjob...
10. What’s on your bucket list? I really want to visit Tasmania
Parkinson stars in comedy series Spreadsheet, which is screening now on Paramount+
‘We tell stories like nowhere else’: New Queensland Theatre Artistic Director reveals future plans
Queensland Theatre’s new artistic director has revealed his ambitious plan for the arts in 2025.
Christmas confession: I suffer from Perfect Ornament Placement Disorder
Are you waiting until your children fall asleep then re-arranging their Christmas decorations? You might be suffering from POPD, Frances Whiting writes.