Christopher Bucktin on Jolie, Cameron - and why Prince Harry might be a new American idol...
By making her story public over how she dealt with the high risk of getting cancer Angelina Jolie has done something exceptional.
In many respects the actress is no different from the 17,000 courageous women – and 1,000 men – in our country (海角视频) who face the gruelling operation each year.
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I think we all know someone either directly or indirectly who has undergone a mastectomy to remove one or both of their breasts.
But in talking about her plight so candidly she has helped inform millions with a history of cancer in their families about the need to go and get tested.
In her statement – written like it was her public duty – the 37-year-old said: “I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy.
“But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 per cent to under five per cent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.
“I chose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know they have strong options.”
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Jolie is without question the most high profile woman to speak out. As far as acting talent goes she may never be in the same league as Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren or Kate Winslet.
But as a star whose career is built upon her appearance she could arguably have the most to lose.
After being voted the world’s sexiest woman on countless occasions her body has not only been photographed millions of times, every inch of it has been scrutinised too.
She is the only woman I know whose legs have had their own Twitter feed.
Yet in revealing she had had reconstructive surgery to her breasts she knew she would challenge the Hollywood cliche of what makes a woman appealing. She could have jeopardised any future work in the shallow puddle that is Tinseltown.
But did that matter to her? The answer was clearly no. For in Jolie, here is a woman who continually puts celebrity and its values to shame.
She had nothing to gain by speaking out. There was no monetary value to be gained. Interviews with her, unlike others in Hollywood, are extremely rare. The times she does speak is to highlight her work as a UN ambassador discussing such things as extreme rural poverty, landmines or “forgotten emergencies”.
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You won’t catch her talking about her latest diet fad or how Brad comes home drunk at 3am.
Whatever the issue, she famously donates any fee to charity.
So in closing, as far as Hollywood is concerned, Jolie is a refreshing force for good.
Her story has the made the world sit up and take notice.
While here in America, where everything costs, the current push for health reform has been dealt a telling reminder the system should cover prevention not just cure.
I just hope Mr Cameron and the health secretary Mr Hunt are reading this as they look upon the NHS with pound signs in their eyes.
David Cameron’s visit this week to the White House should have been the opportunity to tackle the ongoing bloodshed in Syria and furthering trade agreements between Britain and the US.
However a long shadow was cast over the Prime Minister’s trip to Washington as divisions at home over Europe turned toxic.
Cameron must have held his head in hands on the eight-hour flight over the Atlantic after two of his cabinet, Michael Gove and Philip Hammond, indicated they would be happy to leave the European Union if a referendum was held today.
It is clear where President Obama’s mind is at.
Despite saying any decision was for the British people he urged: “You probably want to see if you can fix what is broken in a very important relationship before you break it off.
“That makes sense to me.”
It clearly reflected his ever growing concern that one of America’s closest allies could be leaving the 27-strong state Union.
Obama needs Britain at the table a feeling the Prime Minister knows only too well.
In his address to America Captain Cameron was quick to try and steady the ever listing Conservative Government ship.
He pushed for a free-trade area between the US and the European Union saying such a deal could add as much as £10 billion to the British economy and £63 billion to U.S.
“The rest of the world,” he argued, “would benefit, too, with gains that could generate 100 billion euros worldwide.”
But the PM will need allies much closer to home then Obama to help right the boat especially when you consider deckhands Gove and Hammond are ready to jump overboard if a vote was called.
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Throughout my life I’ve struggled to count – even on Captain Hook’s bad hand – how many times it has been beneficial to be ginger as a man.
Constant teasing at school and the work place, daily name calling and the odd drunken offer of a fight for my colouring have been part and parcel of growing up.
However, all that changed this week thanks to a new American idol – Prince Harry.
With his sharp tailored suits, ever grinning face and the ability to charm everyone he meets, the 海角视频 rightly has an ambassador to be proud of.
If there were any lingering doubts, his tour of the US this week proved the younger prince has truly stepped outside the shadow of his older brother and heir to the throne, William.
Britain would do well to think how we could exploit America’s obsession with Harrymania.
His appeal knows no bounds.
Clothes or no clothes Harry is box office.
Never did I thought cool Britannia would be ginger in colour.