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Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (July 2, 2010)

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Vests, Top Chef and flashing La Roux – all of these topics and more were Tweeted about by out women in entertainment this week.

If you come across tweets that you think we should feature in “Tweets of the Week” or if you find (verified) Twitter accounts for out lesbian/bi women in entertainment who you think we should follow, please send us that info at [email protected].

THIS JUST IN: PHYLLIDA LLOYD AND MERYL STREEP TAKE ON MARGARET THATCHER

What do a lesbian, the music of ABBA and Margaret Thatcher have to do with Meryl Streep earning what will almost certainly be her 17th Academy Award nomination? Well, the actress is in talks to star in a biopic about the former British prime minister that is helmed by her Mamma Mia! director and out lesbian Phyllida Lloyd. So that old saying really does hold true: Behind every great woman playing a great woman is a great big lesbian.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Streep is in talks to star in the new biopic The Iron Lady based on the tense 17 days preceding the 1982 Falklands War. The period was a crucial time in Thatcher’s first term. After the victorious campaign, her approval ratings doubled and she went on to a second (and a third) term and BFF status with Ronald Reagan.

Jim Broadbent is in talks to play Thatcher’s husband, Denis. Pathe and BBC Films are developing the film, which is being described as “the story of a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, and is a surprising and insightful portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman.”

This, of course, isn’t Meryl’s first foray into playing real-life heroines. She played nuclear whistleblower Karen Silkwood in Silkwood, author Karen Blixen in Out of Africa, super chef Julia Childs in Julie & Julia and author Susan Orlean in Adaptation. She has also played gay in The Hours. Not that Thatcher is gay, just being thorough. Now, of course, we can certainly quibble with Thatcher’s politics. But the woman had an unmistakable impact on the UK, and the world.

Lloyd, who in 2006 was named No. 56 on The Independent’s Pink List of the most influential GLBT people in the UK, is known primarily for her work on serious theatrical fare including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Way of the World. So while at first to have the director of the all-singing, all-dancing musical romp tackle tough political drama might be odd, her resume more than measures up to the task.

With 16 Oscar nominations, and two wins, under her belt, Meryl, too, seems custom-built for this role. She can show steely resolve and given her skill at voices, Thatcher’s upper crust British accent should be a breeze. Plus, God, are you not just dying to see Meryl in that hair?

– by Dorothy Snarker

WORKING THE POLL: OH CANADA

This week we celebrated Canada Day – which should really be celebrated every day, don’t you think? There are so many fabulous things that hail from the country – bacon, maple syrup, Degrassi. But even more than that, Canada has given us some some beautiful women.

We narrowed it down a bit, but we picked the ones we thought might make it a little more interesting. (Sorry, Celine, you didn’t make the cut.) Is Halifax’s Ellen Page your favorite export? How about Tegan and Sara, who live in Vancouver and Montreal, respectively? Anna Paquin was born in Winnipeg, and k.d. lang of Alberta sang for her country at this year’s Olympic Games. Finally, we have Toronto to thank for giving us Mia Kirshner.

So who is your favorite, Canuck, eh?

<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3417884/”>Who is your favorite Canadian export?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>online surveys</a></span>

In our poll last week, we asked you to name your favorite Emily.

Not so shocking, but Emily from Pretty Little Liars is doing pretty well for herself, considering we’re only three episodes into the new series. Watch your back, Emily Fitch!

LESBIAN VIDEO OF THE WEEK: JANE LYNCH WANTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING

Check out these new promos for VH1’s upcoming Do Something Awards show. The spots feature host (and “self-proclaimed humanitarian”) Jane Lynch.

Here’s one more, because who doesn’t enjoy a little “Jane Gravy” now and then?

You can watch the rest of the spots here. The show airs air live from Hollywood on VH1 on July 19th at 9/8 c.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Lady Gaga performed a new ballad, “You and I,” at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball last week in New York City. She said that it will probably never make it to an album because it’s less synthpop and more solo piano, but she Tweeted a bootleg version and invited her fans to enjoy it: “New Song. Written in NY on the piano I grew up on.” On a related note, a mysterious model named Jo Calderone is credited as the model in the shoot for Vogue Hommes Japan, but everyone and their sister is certain it’s the Lady herself.

AfterEllen.com reader El Canguro Rojo told us that Las Aparicio will launch in August at Telemundo.com on a new HD broadband player developed specifically for Telemundo and supported by Microsoft. It will be Telemundo’s “first premiere of a primetime novela across the network’s digital platforms via a hybrid distribution model before the serial’s broadcast debut.” Speaking of Las Aparicio, we’ll be running recaps every Tuesday and Friday until we catch up with the broadcast schedule of the show.

“Skins” writer Jack Thorne talked to our own Heather Hogan this week about Naomily, dinosaurs, and why he’s more of a teenage girl than you’ll ever be. By the way, voting is open for the final round of the UK TV Choice Awards and Skins is up for Best Drama Series (along with Torchwood: Children of Earth and Ashes to Ashes).

Oxygen has optioned the syndication rights for Glee (to begin airing in 2011) and they’re developing a Glee reality series.

GLAAD is reporting that the Today Show’s wedding contest, “TODAY’s Wedding: Modern Love,” is only open to heterosexual couples. In 2005, Today opened up its “Hometown Wedding” contest to same-sex couples in states where they could legally marry. This time around, the actual wedding for the contest is going to take place at a venue in New York and the couple must be able to legally marry in the state. Sounds like the Today Show’s love is not so “modern” after all.

Have you seen Sia‘s new ad encouraging us to spay and neuter our pets? (The other model in the ad is named Pantera.)

Out rocker Amy Ray recently talked to SheWired.com about the new Indigo Girls album, Staring Down the Brilliant Dream, and why Angelina Jolie is her hero.

Lisa Cholodenko, the writer/director of The Kids Are All Right, talked to us this week about what makes a successful lesbian film and why star Julianne Moore is so good at playing gay. Cholodenko was also a guest DJ on KCRW this week, playing some of the songs that inspired her films.

In India this week at the Boroplus Gold Awards, actress Kavita Kaushik asked Kamya Punjabi what woman she would sleep with (“if she had no choice.”) Kamya’s answer: Chandramukhi Chautala, the character Kavita plays on the show F.I.R.. The crowd went wild.

Are you looking for another way to survive The Real L Word? Well, don’t worry; Ilene Chaiken, benevolent benefactor of lesbians everywhere, anticipated your need! The Domenico Winery in San Carlos, California is now selling three different TRLW wines!

While hosting the BET Awards and introducing Diddy, Queen Latifah told the audience, ” This next performer is only seen in the company of fine women, just like me!”

Ally Sheedy (High Art) attended a gala for The Trevor Project in NYC this week with her lesbian daughter, Rebecca Lansbury. Sheedy’s mom, literary agent Charlotte Sheedy, is also a lesbian.

Wired.com has a nice review of Batwoman: Elegy, including several pages from the comic. The comic will be published on July 6, look for Heather Hogan’s review coming soon!

AfterEllen.com reader and intrepid detective Stephanie I let us know that there’s a new bisexual house guest on this season of American Big Brother. Her name is Annie Whittington and she’s a bartender from Tampa, FL who describes herself as “outgoing, over dramatic and loyal” and whose life motto is, “When life give you lemons, say f–kthe lemons and bail.” Intrigued? Big Brother premieres Thursday, July 8, on CBS.

CW announced that Hellcats’ lesbian cheerleader will make her debut on September 8th at 9pm (right after the launch of the 192nd cycle of ANTM). Gossip Girl, 90210, Life Unexpected and the new Nikita will premiere the following week.

Pretty Little Liars has been picked up for 12 more episodes and out filmmaker Jamie Babbit will be directing Emily’s coming out episode.

AfterEllen.com reader JoSchmo let us know that lesbian chef Courtney has been reinstated into the competition on MasterChef Australia. Unfortunately, out Top Chef contestant Tracey got the axe this week, as well as a harsh comment from judge Tom Colicchio on her italian sausage slider: “If that’s what you call Italian food, then it’s almost insulting to Italians, including me.” Ouch.

Iceland’s Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir ushered in a marriage equality bill – without a single dissenting vote – then married her partner, writer Jonina Leosdottir, last weekend.

Lesley Goldberg (for Frontiers) recently talked with Kristin Bauer about playing the Sapphic vamp Pam on True Blood.

Sad to say that Crystal Chappell did not win the Daytime Emmy for Best Actress in her role as Olivia on Guiding Light. Even the L.A. Times thought she’d take home the trophy, but it went to Maura West of As the World Turns.

Mexican actress Kenia Gazcón has come out of the closet. AfterEllen.com reader Paolo translated Gascon’s statement for us. Gazcón said, “I spent all my life pretending, being someone else to please everyone or because I was afraid of lose job opportunities. Sometimes, you just do everything to stay in the business and at the end you lose yourself.”

Paper magazine is running a new web series, Muscle Top, from director Ry Russo-Young. Her moms are lesbians and she grew up in the LGBT community, so she was inspired to create the series that follows gay Cyrus and lesbian Debbie as they find each other in NYC and create an all gay pop band. Ry also makes a cameo as Susan, Debbie’s ex.

Last week, Chely Wright attended an LGBT reception at the White House, in honor of Pride Month, and later wrote about her experience on Facebook. She was given a private tour of the White House, where Michelle Obama “looked at [her] dress and shoes (I swear to heaven above!).” She met Harvey Milk‘s nephew, who is continuing his uncle’s fight for equality. She signed the White House wall, and President Obama mentioned her by name in his speech.

You only have two days left to vote for out comic Bridget McManus to get a show on Oprah’s new TV network (OWN). The polls close at midnight this Saturday, July 3, so vote (often!) for Bridget’s show, Now or Never, while you still can!

We’ll be shutting down a little early today and taking Monday off, all in observance of the U.S. July 4 holiday weekend. We’ll have a bit less content than usual on Monday, but we’ll resume our normal publishing schedule on Tuesday, July 6. Have great weekend!

That’s it for this week! Got the inside scoop on a hot new lesbian/bi actor/musician/TV show/film? Tell us at [email protected]. Check back next Friday for another edition of Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever.

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