That was, however, two years ago and Russell Beale concedes that the announcement by Sir Nicholas Hytner, the boss of the National, was a little premature, not least because he had only lately played Hamlet.
Russell Beale says he believes Mendes had got it into his head he would make a good Lear when he saw how the make-up artists had aged him for his performance in The Life of Galileo in 2006.
“We were having a drink afterwards, and he said: 'I really do think we should do King Lear before it is too late.’ I said: 'I am 44.’”
For all that, Russell Beale says the idea is “still there”. But don’t hold your breath.
Man of the world
Mandrake was interested to hear Alan Cumming, appearing in Question Time this week in Inverness, announce during a discussion about the question of Scottish independence: “I do pay tax in this country, I am a citizen of this country, I am a resident of this country.”
Panelists on the show always try to find common ground with the audience, but the truth in the 47-year-old actor’s case is somewhat more complicated. In 2008, Cumming became a dual-national and was sworn in as an American citizen at a ceremony in New York City. In 2012, he announced that he would be returning to live in Scotland so as to be eligible to vote in the referendum on independence, which is scheduled to be held in 2014. His spokesman declines to comment on the matter.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
BUMGARDNER: Divorce doesn't have to derail your financial security - News-Herald
Divorce is rarely a life event that one plans for, but while many couples live happily ever after, some undoubtedly will go their separate ways. A divorce can be emotionally devastating, but it doesn’t have to derail your long-term financial security. If you’re facing a divorce, consider these steps to protect and claim what’s yours:
•Understand your assets. A divorce can be expensive, especially if you fail to spend the appropriate amount of time reviewing and discussing your finances as you go through the process. Educate yourself by examining investment and bank statements, qualified plan and pension information, tax returns, mortgage information and insurance policies.
Before you can begin to split the assets you’ve accumulated as a couple, you should know your total net worth so that you’ll be able to assess how the divorce will impact your financial goals.
•Consider the big picture. When deciding how to split the nest egg, it helps to look into the future and think about how your lives will look postdivorce. Will you have short-term needs — like buying a home and furniture, new or continued child care costs or paying an attorney — that require immediate funding? Will you be able to replenish your retirement assets if you must use them to pay for these unexpected expenses?
Develop a detailed written financial plan as a soon-to-be single so that you can act in your best interest when deciding which assets will best fit your needs.
•Think about tax consequences. Most retirement plans are made up of pre-tax dollars, meaning your contributions won’t be taxed until you withdraw them. This can be beneficial if you believe your income and tax rate will be lower in retirement — but it also means the amount of cash you’ll be able to use to meet your day-to-day expenses will be less than what you actually withdraw.
Be sure you’re aware of how taxes can affect your retirement income as you divide assets with your former spouse. Trusted financial, tax and legal advisers are especially valuable as you make such important decisions.
•Follow the rules. If you decide that it makes sense to divide funds from you and your former spouse’s 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts, it’s important to carefully follow state and local guidelines. This process is complicated, so be sure that your divorce settlement states specifically how assets are to be divided and transferred.
Dividing a pension or 401(k) plan might require a qualified domestic relations order, which allows funds to be withdrawn without penalty and deposited into a separate retirement account. Make sure that you discuss preparation of such an instrument with your attorney.
•Update your financial accounts. Once your divorce is final, revise the beneficiaries on your checking and savings accounts, investments, retirement plans and life insurance. Also re-evaluate your insurance policies and confirm that you still have adequate coverage for you and any dependents. Nothing can undermine your financial security faster than an uninsured accident or illness. Once the dust has settled on your divorce, create a new will or update the existing document to reflect your new marital status. Continued...
Source: www.thenewsherald.com
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