The Biggest Stories of 2013
What's enthralled, disgusted and delighted us over the last 12 months
Getty ImagesThe Year of The Split
The year of romance 2013 was not. Some of the biggest couples in Hollywood came a cropper to this year’s break-up curse, including Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr, Kris & Bruce Jenner, Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas and Clint & Dina Eastwood. Let’s hope love in 2014 fares a little better.
PA PhotosMiley “Controversial” Cyrus
If there was one performer hogging all the column inches this year, it was Miley Cyrus. No sooner had we erased the image of her and Robin Thicke twerking at the MTV Awards from our memory, than she was swinging around naked on a Wrecking Ball and writing open letters here, there and everywhere. It wasn’t just us who were shocked: Liam Hemsworth called off their engagement too.
PA PhotosKim Sears’ Hair
With Kate Middleton on maternity leave, we were looking for a new blow-dry to aspire to. And it came in the light, floaty waves of Andy Murray’s girlfriend Kim Sears. Whether watching her BF win from Wimbledon’s royal box, or walking their dogs and being all-outdoorsy, Kim could always be relied upon to give great hair at a moment’s notice.
Rex FeaturesBiopic Bonanza
Was it just us or was everyone making a biopic? From royals (Princess Diana and Grace Kelly) and divas (Elizabeth Taylor and Liberace) to racing champs (James Hunt) and even porn stars (Linda Lovelace), just about everyone seemed to want to tell someone else’s story.
We FINALLY got to see The Great Gatsby
After its release date was moved more times than we’ve had glasses of Champagne, Baz Luhrmann’s eagerly anticipated Great Gatsby finally went public. The reviews were mixed but with Jay-Z lyrics, a Disney-style Gatsby mansion, vintage Prada costumes and Leonardo DiCaprio back to his sexy best, we enjoyed all 143 minutes of it.
Sexy Superheroes
No longer the premise of the comic-book-reading geek, 2013 saw superheroes suddenly become cool again. Superman made a revival, this time as Man of Steel, while Thor, Iron Man, Kick-Ass and Spider-Man were all back battling it out in sequels. Ker-Pow!
PacificCoastNews.comMan Knots
Even if your feeling, as regards man knots, was that you’d rather not, there was no hiding from this unlikely trend. Chris Hemsworth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper and Tom Sturridge all tied themselves up into miniature buns, with mixed results.
Rihanna/InstagramThe Evolution of the Selfie
2012 was the year of the Selfie but, this year, we saw its evolution with a number of celebs taking belfies, that’s bottom selfies for the uninitiated. As with so many things, Rihanna was the first to kick-start this trend, but Kim Kardashian followed suit, nearly crashing Twitter with her post-baby backside.
PA PhotosThe Royal Baby
After what seemed like weeks of watching people go in and out of the Lindo Wing on various live cams, the world got its first glimpse of the next king-in-waiting. For the first time in history, it didn’t matter if it was a girl or a boy (in your face Henry VIII) but, as luck turned out, there didn’t need to be a constitutional change as little Prince George was born.
Kim Kardashian/InstagramDue North
But Prince George wasn’t the only famous baby to be born. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcomed daughter North West into the world in June, and the Kardashian circus - and comedic quips about her name - began in earnest.
PA PhotosYeah for Jennifer Lawrence
We actually found we could love Jennifer Lawrence even more this year. Not only did she beat Academy darling Meryl Streep to win the Best Actress Oscar, but she managed to fall over as she climbed the steps to accept the gong. “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell which is so embarrassing,” she said in her typically refreshing fashion.
Getty ImagesCory Monteith RIP
There was sad news too though, as Cory Monteith was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room from a suspected heroin and alcohol overdose. Glee responded with a tribute episode and mourned through the medium of song.
Rex FeaturesThe Prodigal Beckhams Return
They’re been away a long, long time but finally it was time for the Beckhams to return to our fair isle. And, no sooner had they touched down, the rumours started that a knighthood was on the cards for David. But we’ll have to wait till 2014 to see if it’s really going to be “Arise, Sir Becks” and Lady Vic.
Rex FeaturesWe Heart Burberry
Love was in the air at Burberry as the fashion brand brought out the print of the year, the heart. It wasn’t just women who were getting all lovesick about the design; Harry Styles had us swooning as he stepped out in one of the label’s shirts.
Frank OckenfelsIt’s Official: We’re Telly Addicts
Staying in was the new going out this year as TV got seriously good. Game of Thrones, Homeland, Girls and Breaking Bad all became televisual events that you missed at your peril, especially if you happened to come across a spoiler on Twitter or the Daily Mail’s Side Bar Of Shame.
R-Patz Made His Fit Comeback
The last two years have been a bit of a mixed bag personally for Robert Pattinson. But no one could deny he was looking suitably hot in Dior Homme’s black and white advert. The various scenes saw R-Patz crashing a black-tie ball, and getting steamy in a lift, underwater and in amongst some dishevelled bedclothes, all to Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love.
Rex FeaturesRyan Gosling Retires (Dry Your Eyes)
We couldn’t get enough of Ryan Gosling in 2013, which made the news that he was planning to retire all the harder to take. The Gos claimed he needed a break to “reassess” why he’s doing it. That’s all very nice, Ryan, but what about us?
PA PhotosAngelina Jolie’s Mastectomy
Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a preventative double mastectomy to decrease her chance of getting the breast and ovarian cancer that claimed her mother was applauded the world over. “I do not feel any less of a woman,” she wrote in her letter to the New York Times. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.” Hospitals described an emergence of “The Jolie Effect”, after the number of women asking about mastectomies quadrupled following her announcement.
Rex FeaturesThe Return of the Mullet
One of 2013’s more unexpected trends was the return of the mullet in both hair and fashion form. Rihanna and Marc Jacobs led the comeback in the locks department – although it was only a daring few that followed them. Mullet dresses were much easier to pull off, with Erdem, Alice Temperley, Diane Kruger and Jessica Paré all opting for front cut-aways on their red carpet gowns.
PA Photos2013 Belonged to Cara Delevingne
You couldn’t open a newspaper without coming face-to-beautiful face with Cara Delevingne and her impressive eyebrows. As well as sightings on the Chanel runway, at Glasto, advertising DKNY and on the arm of Harry Styles, Cara popped up on the latest version of the Grand Theft Auto video game. You know you’ve made it when…
David Beckham Bodywear at H&MDavid Beckham for H&M
Thank you Guy Ritchie for all your great movies but especially for the short film you made of David Beckham getting locked out of his Beverly Hills home in only his underpants. Plenty of bum shots, a bit of action and even a few footballing skills; click here on the rare chance you’ve forgotten the ad.
Getty ImagesNo More Page 3 Campaign
2013 was a year where the sexualisation of women was a hot topic. The No More Page 3 campaign, launched after Jessica Ennis won her gold medal at London 2012, gathered pace, with the team petitioning The Sun Editor Dominic Mohan to stop putting topless women in his newspaper. He hasn’t backed down…yet but there have been a few successes for NMP3, including persuading 25 universities to boycott the paper and gaining support from the Scottish Parliament.
PA PhotosWhy Email When You Can Pen An Open Letter?
First there was Miley Cyrus and Sinead O’Connor on the sexualisation of young women in the music industry, then Peep Show’s Robert Webb got in on the act, hitting back at Russell Brand for telling people not to vote. Who said letter-writing was dead?
PA PhotosThe Leg Veil
The phase “show a bit of leg” really came into its own this year as 2013’s hemline of choice involved a demure glimpse of the legs, behind a sheer curtain of fabric. Of course fashion trailblazer Diane Kruger was one of the first to try the trend, but she was quickly followed by Ellie Goulding, Allison Williams and Isla Fisher.
The Perfect Pixie
When Jennifer Lawrence and Beyoncé get the same haircut, it’s time to start taking notes. Forget crazy hair colours and elaborate up dos, if you wanted to make a statement on the red carpet, this year was about doing something drastic with a pair of scissors.
FRANK OCKENFELS for EW50 Shades: A Grey Area
Just when we got over our excitement about the casting news for the 50 Shades of Grey film, Charlie Hunnam confirmed that he’d pulled out due to “scheduling conflicts”. The search for another Christian was ON and Keira Knightley’s ex, Jamie Dornan calmly stepped into the billionaire’s breach.
Rex FeaturesJane Austen’s Banknotes
Jane Austen was revealed as the new face of the £10 bank note, but only after an online campaign led by Caroline Criado-Perez. With Winston Churchill replacing Elizabeth Fry on £5 notes, the sterling had potentially been left without a female face (except for the Queen of course). George Osborne even had to contend with his 10-year-old daughter berating him for the lack of a feminine presence.
Tinder
Dating went mobile circa 2013 with Tinder becoming the app du jour of single, sexy young things, who swapped their online profiles for a couple of photos and a quick “tagline”. The app, which saw users swipe through singletons based on their mutual Facebook friends and geographic location, brought finding your perfect match to the touch of a button (or two).
Rex FeaturesLorde of All
She might have hailed from the far-flung reaches of New Zealand but Lorde was the musical name on everyone’s lips. Her single Royals made it to No1 in the US, the first New Zealand solo artist to achieve such a feat, and her refreshing electropop sound had influences from everyone from Kanye West and writer Raymond Carver to Otis Redding and Prince.
Rex FeaturesPaul Walker’s Tragic Crash
Fast & Furious fans were left devastated after it emerged that star Paul Walker had been killed in a car crash, following a charity event. The 40-year-old was remembered at a memorial car rally by over 1000 fans, who drove their souped-up cars in tribute to the star.
Rex FeaturesNigella’s #Courtface
If you weren’t impressed by Nigella Lawson’s cooking in 2013, you certainly were by her court entrance. The TV chef confidently strode into Isleworth Crown Court to give evidence against two of her former PAs. During the seven-hour testimony, she refused to sit down or be embarrassed by her ex-husband’s drug allegations against her.
