‘I THOUGHT THE HEIGHT OF MY CAREER WOULD BE SINGING IN A HOTEL BAR IN HAWAII!’
Tia Carrere never expected to have a 41-year acting career. Now starring as Mrs. Kekoa in the live-action Lilo & Stitch (after voicing Nani in the animated versions), the Wayne’s World actress, 58, looks back on her Hollywood journey.
How did you get into acting? I was discovered at a Waikiki grocery store at 17 when the parents of a movie producer approached me. They said, “Darling, you’re gorgeous. You should be the lead in our son’s movie [Aloha Summer].” That changed my life, which was good, because I couldn’t afford college, and my grades weren’t good enough for a scholarship.
As a Filipino, did you experience racism in the business? Producers couldn’t see a lead role going to someone “ethnic or exotic.” I’m from Hawaii, where everyone looks like me. It took a while for the rest of the world to be reflected onscreen.
You look fantastic—any secrets? During COVID I was cooking and eating and getting fatter. I decided if I was going to sit and watch Netflix, I’d do it while spinning. Now my boyfriend’s into swimming, scuba diving and mountain biking. We do all of that together, and it makes fitness fun. Being in nature is therapy to me. —GILLIAN TELLING
Icing OutFRIENDS OF BILL BELI CHICK’ SEX‘ DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO’ WITH JORDON HUDSON Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson, 24, is ruffling feathers of residents on Nantucket, where his ex-girlfriend Linda Holliday has major social status. “Most of Linda’s friends don’t want anything to do with Jordon,” a source says. “They are not interested in socializing with Jordon, especially those who are friends with Linda.” Despite the exclusion from his former social circle, Belichick, 73, and Hudson “don’t have time to worry about who accepts them or not,” another source close to the UNC coach says. —NATASHA DYE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES; PAUL MAROTTA/GETTY IMAGES; DISNEY; ZACH DOUGAN/DISNEY; EVERETT; CHRISTIAN JAY BULDA/CRSTNBDA