SPOTLIGHT: CONNIE BRITTON

spotlightConnie Britton

TH E WH ITE LOTUS STA R SH A RES H ER CU RRENT PO P CU LTU RE PI CKS

1 THEATER The Nutcracker (1) “We would frequently spend Christmas in New York City when I was growing up, so when I think about the holidays now, that’s what comes to mind. With the return of live performances, I’m dreaming of the New York City Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker—but I hope people can enjoy local productions in their towns too.” The Magic Flute and Cinderella “The Metropolitan Opera in N.Y.C. is doing some abridged operas specifically for younger audiences. These are two of the shows coming up in December.” MOVIES Sing 2 and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2) “Most of my entertainment lately revolves around my 10-year-old son, Yoby, and we’re pretty excited for both of these.” West Side Story (3) “I saw a stage production of this when I was young, and it inspired me to become an actor. Steven Spielberg has directed an adaptation that will be thrilling to see, particularly with its ethnically appropriate cast, music on a Spielberg scale, and a relevance at this moment that will hopefully resonate with kids all over again. Also, Rita Moreno is in it—enough said.” House of Gucci (4) “You had me at Lady Gaga. And Gucci.” BOOK Stacey’s Extraordinary Words (5) “Stacey Abrams has written a children’s book, and I’m just as excited to read it myself as I am for Yoby to read it. Inspiration from my girl crush!” TV Colin in Black and White (6) “I am so happy Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick joined forces to explore Colin’s upbringing [in this Netflix series]. It’s another one I look forward to sharing with my son, and one that I imagine will be inspiring and illuminating to many.”

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Tick, Tick…Boom! Based on a musical by Jonathan Larson, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut follows an aspiring theater composer (Andrew Garfield) in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. Robin de Jesus, Mj Rodriguez, and Ben Ross also star. (Nov. 19, Netflix) Nightmare Alley A former carnival worker (Bradley Cooper) teams up with a corrupt psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) to scam the rich in Guillermo del Toro’s noir thriller. (Dec. 17) Cyrano Too self-conscious to send love letters to the woman of his dreams (Haley Bennett), wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) helps another man win her heart in this musical drama. (Dec. 31, select theaters) Bruised In the first film she’s directed, Halle Berry portrays a disgraced former MMA fighter staging a comeback who suddenly finds herself responsible for the 6-year-old son she had abandoned as an infant. (Nov. 24, Netflix) Don’t Look Up After discovering a comet set to destroy Earth, a grad student (Jennifer Lawrence) and an astronomy professor (Leonardo DiCaprio) embark upon a media tour to warn mankind. Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, and Timothée Chalamet are among the cast. (Dec. 10, select theaters; Dec. 24, Netflix) The Lost Daughter Inspired by an Elena Ferrante novel, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directoral debut centers on a college professor (Olivia Colman) forced to reckon with her past as she becomes obsessed with a woman (Dakota Johnson) and her young daughter during a Greek vacation. (Dec. 31, Netflix) The Unforgivable Sandra Bullock plays a newly released prisoner searching for the sister she left behind as she reenters a society that won’t forgive her violent past. Viola Davis, Jon Bernthal, and Vincent D’Onofrio are also featured. (Dec. 10, Netflix) Swan Song A terminally ill man (Mahershala Ali) grapples with pursuing an experimental solution that could shield his family from grief in this sci-fi drama starring Glenn Close, Naomie Harris, and Awkwafina. (Dec. 17, theaters and Apple TV+)

Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture Justine Picardie details the life of Catherine Dior, the Resistance fighter, concentra- tion camp survivor, and gardener who inspired her couturier brother Christian’s fragrance, Miss Dior. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $40; fsgbooks.com.

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience Drawing on two decades of extensive research, Dr. Brené Brown explores 87 emotions and experiences that define being human and shares an actionable framework for building connections. Random House, $30; penguin randomhouse.com.

Feel Your Way Through: A Book of Poetry In her first series of poems, musician Kelsea Ballerini gets candid about body image, sexuality, and finding her confidence as a woman in today’s world. Ballantine Books, $25; penguinrandom house.com.

Peter Marino: The Architecture of Chanel A behind- the-scenes look at the 25-year partnership between Chanel and architect Peter Marino, showcasing the modern design of 16 of the fashion house’s most luxe retail locations. Phaidon, $125; phaidon.com.

Call Us What We Carry Presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman’s debut collection tackles history, identity, and erasure while delivering a timeless message of hope. Viking Books, $25; amandagorman books.com.

Going There Katie Couric leaves no stone unturned in her tell-all memoir, reflecting on the highs and lows of four decades in journalism and sharing new details about her life outside of the spotlight. Little, Brown and Company, $30; littlebrown.com.

Bulgari Magnifica: The Power Women Hold A celebration of jewelry through the feminine lens, this book (edited by Tina Leung) commemorates Bulgari’s new collection dedicated to trailblazing women, with text contributions from Mia Moretti, Amanda Nguyen, Noor Tagouri, and more. Rizzoli New York, $95; rizzoliusa.com.