Welcome to The Come-Up, where rising Gen-Z talent checks in on their way to the top. In this edition, we’re catching up with dynamic duo Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton to talk about what’s giving them joy as well as the mark that they hope to leave on the world.

You can’t talk about tennis without talking about the legacy of Venus and Serena Williams, two of the sport’s greatest players of all time. New film King Richard delves deeper into the origin story of the Compton-based tennis titans, starting with the larger-than-life dreams of their father Richard (played with vim by Will Smith). Believing that his daughters had both the talent and the work ethic to be the best of the best in the game, Richard put all of his energy into fulfilling their true potential. The end result? Thirty Grand Slam titles, millions of dollars, a place in the American Tennis Hall of Fame, and the greatest athlete of all time. 

Venus and Serena’s epic journey to the top is brought to life by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton, respectively, in King Richard, and the universe really couldn’t have put together a better pairing to play the iconic sisters in their youth. Just like Venus and Serena, Saniyya and Demi just click. As if they’ve known each other all of their lives, the stars tease each other, have their own secrets, and even finish each other’s sentences. That bond, formed on the set of the star-studded sports drama, speaks to the shared experience of being a child star in Hollywood — specifically to the uniqueness of growing up in the limelight as a young Black kid. While life as a child star certainly isn’t easy, Saniyya and Demi are taking the ups and downs of their challenging profession in stride, focusing instead on the impact that they believe their work will have on generations to come. The work isn’t easy, but it’s meaningful. And more importantly, they’re having fun with it. 

We linked up with the King Richard stars over Zoom for a hilarious breakdown of all of their favorite things — including Beyoncé’s golden discography and their very specific fast food orders — and the noble dream that keeps them going as actors in Hollywood. 

On Saniyya: Chopova Lowena top; Zara sequin mini skirt, $45.90, available at zara.com; Jeffrey Campbell boots; Swarovski rings. On Demi: NorBlackNorWhite Black Heart tier dress, $285, available at norblacknorwhite.com; Urban Outfitters socks; No Name sandals; Bonnie Clyde Show and Tell sunglasses, $138, available at bonnieclyde.la; Zara choker. 

VITALS

Age
Saniyya: 15
Demi: 14

Hometown
Saniyya: Los Angeles, California 
Demi: I was born in Louisiana, but I’m from New York City.

Pronouns
Saniyya: she/her
Demi: she/her 

IG
Saniyya: @saniyyasidney, but I’m not social media savvy whatsoever. 
Demi: @demisingleton

Sun Sign
Saniyya: Scorpio 
Demi: Pisces — the greatest sign of all!

​​Phone background
Saniyya: High school basketball player Mikey Williams. He’s very…talented.
Demi: That means she thinks he’s cute! Mine is a mirror selfie with my best friend at Flipper’s in New York City.

Where you’ve seen me 
Saniyya: The Roots remake, Hidden Figures, Fences, or American Horror Story: Roanoke
Demi: On Broadway (School of Rock and in The Lion King as young Nala) or Godfather of Harlem

Where you’ll see me next
Saniyya and Demi: King Richard!

NorBlackNorWhite All Hearts tier dress, $320, norblacknorwhite.com; Urban Outfitters stockings; No Name boots; Bonnie Clyde sunglasses.

FAVES

Cause I’m passionate about 
Saniyya: BLM, supporting kids at St. Jude’s Hospital, and alleviating animal endangerment.  
Demi: Feminism and racial equity. 

Fictional character
Saniyya: It’s Princess Tiana and Wonder Woman for me.
Demi: Omg same — I dressed up as Princess Tiana every Halloween and had the bedspread! But I also really love Black Widow from the MCU.

Comfort food
Saniyya: In-N-Out, specifically animal style fries with extra cheese. (I’m a vegetarian.)
Demi: A 12-piece chicken nugget, a large fry, and a lemonade from Chick-fil-A with buffalo, Polynesian, and Chick-fil-A sauce.

Role model
Saniyya: My mom and my manager who’s been like my second mom since we’ve worked together. Professionally, I’d say Kerry Washington and Viola Davis.
Demi: All the women in my family who have molded me into the person I am today and taught me to go after my dreams. But also Beyoncé and Halle Berry.

Song I know all the lyrics to 
Saniyya: I was obsessed with One Direction growing up, so I’d have to say “Drag Me Down.” 
Demi: Literally any Beyoncé song — I’m clearly part of the BeyHive — but I’ll go with “Love Drought.”

Hobby
Saniyya: Baking! Shoutout to my mom for getting me that Easy Bake oven when I was seven.
Demi: Fashion, but specifically shopping and styling clothes.

Leeann Huang coat; Zara turtleneck; Area pants; No Name sneakers; Bonnie Clyde sunglasses; Urban Outfitters earrings, Urban Outfitters rings.  

FIRSTS

Couple I stanned
Saniyya: Darius and Nina from Love Jones.
Demi: Meredith Grey and Derek from Grey’s Anatomy.

Teen show I loved 
Saniyya: Vampire Diaries
Demi: Girlfriends 

Time I saw myself represented in TV/film
Saniyya: Venus and Serena’s tennis matches. I remember watching them play and telling my mom I wanted beads in my hair, too.
Demi: China Anne McClain on Disney Channel’s Ant Farm. I really connected with her being a singer who also loved to act because that’s literally me.

GOALS

How I want to change the world
Saniyya: I want the roles that I take on to inspire people because there are so many actors that have inspired me. I can’t wait for little kids to see Demi and I onscreen and say, “Wow, these girls can be in the movies and do what they love, so I’m gonna go out there and follow my dreams too!” I just want to inspire the younger generations to do what they love. 
Demi: For me, I want to change the world by sharing stories that matter. As an actress, it’s my job to be part of stories and projects that tell important stories, specifically ones by Black writers who haven’t always had the opportunity to share before. I think doing that can educate the world and make it a better place.

Dream role
Saniyya: An action role for sure. I’d love a situation where it’s up to me and another person to save the world from total destruction while lifting cars above our heads. Something where I can kick butt but be very beautiful and poised at the same time. 
Demi: I’m such a big superhero fan, so I think something similar to the storyline of Black Widow would be fun — helping save the world while also figuring out where I fit in in society.

On Saniyya: Sandro trench coat; Zara top; Zara pants; No Name boots; Zara earrings; Zara choker. On Demi: Zara button-down; Dauphinette strawberry chainmail crop, $850, available at nordstrom.com; Double XX Collection jeans; Dr. Martens boots.

If I weren’t acting…?
Saniyya: Hmm. I’d still want to be in the limelight because I want to inspire people…I think a celebrity chef. Maybe having my own cooking show and giving my audience tips on how to become better in the kitchen.
Demi: I’ve really never pictured myself doing anything outside of the arts, honestly. So if not acting, probably something just as creative like a director, producer, or something to do with fashion.

Dream dinner guest
Saniyya: I’d really like to sit down and have a conversation with Princess Diana. When you watch certain documentaries and shows about her life, it’s clear that she felt very misunderstood. I think it’s really important for people to have someone to talk to in times like that, someone who would allow them to let their hair down and be themselves. I’d want to be that for Princess Di and give her the space to be and say whatever she wanted, even just for a little while.
Demi: It would have to be Nina Simone and Maya Angelou. Those two women were just so iconic and gave so much to the Black community. From Maya Angelou, I’d love to pick her brain and just gain some wisdom, and with Nina Simone…I’d just like to make her laugh and give her some happiness. 

On Demi: Serpenti trench; Zara houndstooth blazer dress, $69.90, available at zara.com; Urban Outfitters stockings; No Name boots; Zara beret; Swarovski rings. On Saniyya: Topshop leather jacket; Cult Gaia Vivek top, $358, available at cultgaia.com; Cult Gaia Wynn pant, $458, available at cultgaia.com; No Name sneakers; Bonnie Clyde off-white & pink plum plum sunglasses, $165, available at ssense.com; Urban Outfitters necklace; Urban Outfitters earrings. 

How I want my audience to feel
Saniyya: I really want people to take their kids to see King Richard because it’s an amazing family movie. If you’re between the ages of 6 and 10, you’re growing up and seeing just how different people are and what they expect from you, especially if you’re a young Black girl. We get told so much about what we’re supposed to be in this world, so it’s important to have people around us to lift us up and help us become who we want to be. And for parents, I hope that they view Richard and Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis) as parents who were preparing Venus and Serena to be the best that they could be and then apply that at home with their kids. Like, “When you step out of this house, I want you to have goals like Venus and Serena did.”
Demi: I’d like people to better understand Richard Williams. I feel like he was a misunderstood man, and this movie will finally allow people to see why he did the things he did and how great he actually was. His plan worked — his kids are some of the greatest athletes in the world! — and I think this movie will give people a chance to understand his motives.

Words of advice
Saniyya: Have fun! It’s important for the work to be as fun as it is powerful. That’s also why getting to play Venus and Serena was so much freedom for us — and why Richard made sure they had fun with tennis before it ever became a job. 
Demi: Also, don’t take everything so seriously. You can see that Saniyya and I are just a pair of goofballs. Don’t be so serious in life because…well, being serious all the time just sucks, honestly. Have fun and do what you love. Who cares what anyone says anyway?

Saniyya: Just do you.
Demi: Just do you, boo.

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The Royal Family has announced that its patriarch, Prince Philip, has died at the age of 99. A statement concerning the Duke of Edinburgh’s death was released early this morning, April 9, on the Royal Family’s official website.

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the announcement, posted on the gates of Buckingham Palace, read. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

Philip was born in 1921, a direct descendant of both Greek and Danish royalty. He spent his early years in Greece, France, and Germany, before moving to the United Kingdom to join the Royal Navy in 1939 — the same year that he would begin his courtship with then-princess Elizabeth. Their courtship would span several years (and a World War) before they were engaged and subsequently tied the knot in 1947.

Over the next several years, Philip and Elizabeth had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. When Elizabeth became queen in 1953, the duke devoted his time to helping his wife adjust to life as a monarch, supporting the Crown from behind the scenes. s At the same time, Philip had many duties to fulfill as the “first gentleman of the land,” his responsibilities taking him all around the world before he officially retired from royal life after completing more than 22,000 solo engagements.

But Philip’s life as a royal wasn’t without controversy; the duke was well-known for speaking brashly in public, often making headlines for the problematic comments shared during many of his engagements. Drama also followed him into 2019, when he famously had to surrender his driver’s license after he crashed his car into another vehicle and injured its passengers.

Philip largely stayed out of the public eye following the incident. Early this year, the he spent a full month in the hospital for treatment of an infection as well as a heart-related surgery. He was released on March 16 and sent home, where he would pass peacefully several weeks later as the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

Philip is survived by his wife the Queen, their children, and their many grandchildren.

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When you think of Beyoncé, you can’t help but think of excellence, and the same is true even when she’s not releasing new music. True to the gold standard Beyoncé has set in the many years of her career, she’s still breaking records, the latest of which just took place at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Beyoncé wasn’t even supposed to attend this year’s ceremony; she was rumored to not be attending despite the fact that Megan the Stallion was slated to be blazing the stage with a performance of the Grammy-winning “Savage” remix. As if she knew that a Grammys show without her just wouldn’t be the same, Beyoncé actually showed up, sitting at a socially distanced roundtable with her husband Jay-Z. Unfortunately, she didn’t join Megan on stage for the 1920s-inspired rendition of their H-town collaboration. The 2021 Best New Artist performed her hit songs solo before joining forces with Cardi B for a larger than life performance of their controversial single “WAP.”

But everything Beyoncé does is for a reason. As it turns out, the reason that she came to the ceremony was to support Megan. After winning in the Best Rap Performance category, the H-town Hotties won another Grammy for Best Rap Song. It was a major moment for Megan, who accepted the award with her collaborator and idol cheering her on by her side. And, even though she didn’t know it at the time, it was a big deal for Beyoncé, too.

BEYONCÉ AND MEGAN?! Megan was shook we were ALL SHOOK 😫!! pic.twitter.com/CKohqasGQX

— 𝕵𝖊𝖜𝖑𝖘 👾 (@JewlsTheIcon) March 15, 2021

The Best Rap Song and the Best R&B Performance (“Black Parade”) wins make it official — Beyoncé just broke the record for most total Grammys ever won by a female artist. She’s currently got 28 Grammy wins, breaking the historic record previously held by Grammy-winner Alison Krauss.

Even when she’s inactive, this is still Beyoncé’s world. Thank God we’re living in it.

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When the world was first introduced to duo ChloexHalle in 2012, we first met them as a pair of bright-eyed preteens belting out their favorite songs on YouTube. Over the years, the sisters have grown up, producing and releasing music that touches on everything from partying, romantic relationships, and self-love. But even though Chloe and Halle Bailey are all grown up now, the world isn’t allowing them to come into their own — like clockwork, here comes the misogynoir. 

Chloe and Halle have always been promoted as a package deal, but as of late, the sisters have been forging their own path. To make sure that fans can still keep up with the sisters even while they’re apart, the singers have created their own individual Instagram accounts. Since creating the page two weeks ago, Chloe’s personal page has gone viral. The public’s response to each of the 22-year-old’s updates has been mostly positive, but as usual, there are those insistent on using their energy to be especially disgusting and rude towards the young singer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chlöe (@chloebailey)

Chloe posted a photo of her in a sexy cutout dress, and people attacked her. She participated in TikTok’s popular #BussitChallenge, and they came for her in the comments. She shared some sultry choreography on the feed, and they called her “thirsty for attention.” Are you seeing a common pattern here?

Chloe isn’t the first young Black woman in the entertainment movement to be villainized for embracing her sexy, and she unfortunately won’t be the last. Throughout history, specifically within music, Black women’s bodies and actions have been heavily policed. When Beyoncé first went solo, it didn’t take long before the haters turned out by the masses, incensed by her uniform unitard, her dance moves, and her lyrics. Fellow Houston hottie Megan thee Stallion has been consistently slut-shamed since her career went mainstream. Lizzo’s harmless court side twerking at a 2019 Lakers game had Twitter clutching its pearls. Remember Nipplegate? Janet Jackson was the one punished for it, even though it was all Justin Timberlake’s fault. And that’s just the famous women; the negativity is even more harrowing for the Black women who don’t have the shield of status and influence to (just barely) protect them. 

Society is intrinsically misogynistic, so Black women aren’t the only ones who are heavily hyper-sexualized on a daily basis. But while women like Kim Kardashian and Bella Thorne have been able to lean into their sexuality on their own terms and even capitalize on it as part of their brand, the Chloe Baileys of the world are rarely ever granted that same opportunity. From a young age, everything about Black girls is placed under an intense sociocultural microscope. The way we dance, the clothes we wear — even the way that we style our hair can be seen as “grown” or “fast.” Lust is thrust upon Black girls early on without and follows us throughout the rest of our lives, but racist and sexist social norms don’t allow to fully embrace our sexy side even when we’re full grown adults. So how can one come of age if they were never allowed to be a kid in the first place?

Thankfully, Chloe is wholeheartedly rejecting those limitations. For her, sexual expression is about her personal journey and nothing else. The “Ungodly Hour” singer revealed that what people might see as a brand pivot has nothing to do with getting attention (especially from men) and everything to do with her own path towards self-love and acceptance.

WE LOVE YOU Chloe !!!! She’s currently on IG live talking about why she been posting the content she been posting! ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/C7GoUnifwT

— BlackCultureEntertainment🗣 (@4TheCulture____) February 1, 2021

“When I perform, and make music, and dance, that’s when I get to tap into the sexier side of myself,” the R&B songstress explained during a January 31 Instagram Live. “That’s where I find my confidence. So it really means a lot to me when I can finally get to a place where I share who I really am because I’ve been really insecure for a long time.”

“I’m really happy that I get to share that with you all,” Chloe continued tearfully. “I think it’s so important and so special when a Black woman can be strong and stand in her power in every single way…I feel so badass when I just own who I am in my body.”

In a perfect world, she wouldn’t have to explain why she’s using her Instagram the way she wants or why she’s dressing or dancing in a certain way — her body, her business. But because we live in a culture where policing the lives of Black women is still the norm, Chloe felt like she had to address the haters. Fortunately, she’s also got a team of proud Black women all over the industry and the internet standing in support of her. The world may have something to say, but so do we: go off, sis. Go off!

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After ruling the reality television sphere for over a decade, E! series Keeping Up with the Kardashians will end in 2021, marking the end of an era. 

Kim Kardashian broke the surprising news on Instagram, sharing with her 188 million followers that the show would wrap up after its 20th season airs early next year.

“It is with heavy hearts that we’ve made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye to Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” reads the official statement, shared by the Kardashian-Jenners across their respective social media accounts. “We are beyond grateful to all of you who’ve watched us for all of these years—through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children.” Khloé mirrored her sentiments adding that her own “sappy post” will come soon.

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I am so grateful and thankful to everyone who has supported us and been there through it all. I’m too emotional to fully express myself at the moment. My sappy post will come soon. Change is hard but also needed at times❤️💔❤️💔 I love you all. Thank you for the memories!

A post shared by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on Sep 8, 2020 at 2:43pm PDT

The show first premiered in 2007, giving the world an inside look at the lives of the celebrity family following the painful scandal of Kim Kardashian’s leaked sex tape. As the years went by, the family dynamic changed; we watched the siblings fall in love (and break up and then get back together again), give birth to babies, and grow their respective empires. KUTWK’s sudden ending may come as a surprise to many who believed that the show would simply go on forever — after all, there’s a whole new generation of Kardashian-Jenners to watch grow up!

Luckily for fans of the show, we’ll still get sneak peeks at the stars’ lives here and there thanks to social media. Because even if KUTWK comes to an end, Kylie Jenner will never shut down her Instagram.

The penultimate season of KUTWK will air on September 17 on E!

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If you thought the worldwide panic about the latest coronavirus was only complicating your love life and your plans to inspire FOMO at Coachella next month, think again. The anxiety around COVID-19 is further reaching than many initially thought, and its repercussions are playing out on a global scale.

Hollywood is taking an especially huge hit because of the pandemic. COVID-19, which is spread through respiratory droplets or touching contaminated objects, has film companies rethinking their springtime rollouts. The logic is simple: if people are scared of catching coronavirus, they’ll try to limit their time in large crowds — which includes opting out of movie premieres at their local theaters.

The wildfire spread of the virus and the accompanying panic couldn’t have come at a worse time for the industry. March marks the beginning of blockbuster season, with a stream of exciting new films down the pipelines for audiences to shell out millions to watch. With its most lucrative release season at the mercy of the coronavirus, many films in Hollywood’s powerful 2020 lineup could be at risk of underperforming.

The French Dispatch

Wes Anderson’s “love letter to journalists” The French Dispatch has officially been moved to October 16. The film — which boasts a cast including Frances McDormand, Elisabeth Moss, Jeffrey Wright, and Timothée Chalamet in a bathtub — was originally set to debut July 24, making it one of the most highly-anticipated films of summer 2020. Instead, it will join the legions of other movies debuting when the leaves start to change. At least it gives us time to catch up on all the real-life journalists being depicted in the film, and finish our Wes Anderson summer reading list.

No Time to Die

Originally scheduled to hit theaters in April, the release date for Daniel Craig’s curtain call as the storied super spy has now been pushed back to November. Though the decision was tough to swallow — you mean to tell me that we have to wait eight months to meet the Black, female Bond? —Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Universal Pictures made the right call. China is a huge market for the film, and with the coronavirus currently spreading throughout the country at a rapid pace, it’s unlikely that MGM and Universal will pull the numbers that they need for the 007 flick if they released it right now.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

The world loves the adventures of Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden), but Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation aren’t willing to bet against COVID-19. The world premiere of the second chapter in the mischievous rabbit’s adventure has been moved to August 7, a full five months after its initial premiere date. Executives at both companies made the move after realizing that most of the first film’s viewership came from overseas; without those audiences, the sequel could potentially be a flop.

Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs

Even good causes aren’t taking a chance with coronavirus. The star-studded charity event, Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs, has been canceled in light of the pandemic. Slated to air live on HBO on April 16, the show was to feature standup acts from up-and-coming comedians as well as the greats; former TV host and comedian John Stewart was even supposed to make a rare return to the stage. Thanks a lot, COVID-19.

Sonic the Hedgehog

After being previously delayed due to the public outcry over the titular character’s animation design, Sonic the Hedgehog was not released in China in tandem with its Valentine’s Day premiere in the States.

“Due to the current coronavirus situation, the China release date of the film Sonic the Hedgehog will be postponed, and we will re-announce the new release date at a later time,” Paramount Pictures’ China office announced in a statement. “Sonic will only be slowing down his pace temporarily, and we look forward to bringing him zooming onto the big screen in China once it is appropriate to do so.”

The Climb

This comedy film starred Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin as two friends and biking partners whose relationship is threatened by personal discoveries made on the road. While it premiered at Sundance last year, The Climb was set it hit theaters this July — but that’s not happening anymore.

A Quiet Place Part II

The sequel to the creepy 2018 thriller starring real-life couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski has officially been delayed because of the coronavirus. Part II would continue the silent but deadly journey of the Abbotts through their monster-hunted world, but fans will just have to wait to see how this story plays out because Paramount Pictures is putting its release on hold.

Director and star Krasinski shared a statement about the delay on Twitter. “One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together,” he wrote. “Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that. As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie .. I’m gonna wait to release the film till we CAN all see it together! So here’s to our group movie date! See you soon!”

F9

The ninth and penultimate installment in the beloved action franchise has now been pushed back an entire year, set to premiere in theaters on April 20, 2021. The new date was supposed to be the debut of the final film, but Fast and Furious fans will have to return to theaters in 2022 to find out what happens to the ragtag band of friends. Fortunately, 2022 will not be the end of the franchise as we know it; Fast and Furious will likely continue with endless spinoff films.

Black Widow

After much hesitation, Disney decided to also indefinitely delay Black Widow‘s May 1 premiere. The film mark’s Scarlett Johansson’s last hurrah as the ginger Avenger; it features a time jump after her character’s noble death in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

Mulan

Most devastating could be the now-canceled March 27 release date of Disney’s live action remake of the 1998 animated film Mulan. Re-vamped with a storyline that is more culturally accurate (and a $200 billion budget to match), the new movie was designed specifically with Chinese audiences in mind. Unfortunately, the project’s premiere has now been delayed indefinitely. When it will hit theaters, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed to CNBC, no one knows.

Wonder Woman 1984

If you’re anything like me, you were probably eagerly anticipating Chris Pine’s return to the big screen as the beloved hero Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman 1984 — but you’re going to have to wait a few more months. The summer blockbuster starring Gal Gadot has been pushed back to August 14, with executives keeping their fingers cross that the virus will have cleared out by then.

In the Heights

Lin Manuel-Miranda’s colorful Bronx tale won’t be playing out in theaters anytime soon, either. The film, an adaptation of the original Broadway musical, has been postponed indefinitely.

Antebellum

The timing for Janelle Monae’s new horror flick just isn’t right considering the current pandemic. The slavery-based horror movie was originally set to release in theaters on April 24, but its new premiere date is unknown.

Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel 30 years in the making, has moved its worldwide premiere to December 23, 2020 to ensure that it gets the reception that Paramount believes that it deserves.

No one knows how long COVID-19 will hold people hostage in their homes out of caution, but Hollywood is keeping their fingers crossed that fans of their related franchises will still hit the theaters en masse after the global panic quiets — whenever that is.

COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. Go to the CDC website for the latest information on symptoms, prevention, and other resources.

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In light of the health concerns surrounding the coronavirus, people are being advised to practice social distancing and stay home if they can to help "flatten the curve." But after a few days of eating all your snacks and finally finishing that book that's been on your list for forever, what else is there to do when you're stuck indoors?

Netflix has a few ideas.

The streaming platforms houses thousands of television shows and films that span every genre — including a few pandemic-themed films to get you good and scared — for your viewing pleasure. Though we're clearly spoiled for choice, it looks like Netflix users are still gravitating to the same few titles; on each user's homepage, Netflix shares the top ten projects being streamed worldwide each day.

If you've run through that niche series and are looking for something new to binge during this time, why not check out what the rest of the country is watching? Ahead, the 10 TV shows and movies that Netflix fans in the States are tuning in to right now.

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Update: On February 9, Hildur Guðnadóttir became the first woman since 1997 to take home the Oscar for Best Original Score. In her speech, she said: “To the girls, to the women, to the mothers, to the daughters who hear the music bubbling within, please speak up. We need to hear your voices.” In the last six months, she’s won an Oscar, an Emmy and a Grammy (for Chernobyl). In other words, she’s now only one Tony away from an EGOT.

The 2019 film Joker took a unique approach to telling the famed supervillain’s origin story. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the dark drama introduced us to the tortured man behind the green hair and face paint, recounting the key moments that led to his descent into murderous madness.

Joker chilled audiences to the bone, with many of its viewers leaving theaters with a pit in their stomachs because of the disturbing storytelling. Phoenix’s performance was award-winning, but was undoubtedly elevated by the emotional and gritty sounds narrating his story. Thankfully, Joker’s composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, the genius responsible the sonic magic of Joker, saw her hard work on the film pay off in the form of a history-making Golden Globes win for Best Original Score.

The Icelandic musician and composer is the first woman in 10 years to be shortlisted in the category. Tonight, she became the first solo woman ever to take home the trophy in the category, beating out the talented composers behind Little Women, Marriage Story, and Motherless Brooklyn.

Guðnadóttir’s Golden Globes win puts her that much closer to becoming a member of the EGOT elites; she just needs a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award to complete her prestigious collection. Last year, she won an Emmy for her scoring on HBO’s historical drama mini-series Chernobyl, and the composer is potentially on track to win an Oscar for her work on Joker next month.

Could a Grammy or a Tony win be in her future? Possibly, but only after she takes some time to rest — Guðnadóttir has been very, very busy. “I’m definitely getting a lot of offers. I have been clear about not really wanting to take anything on at the moment; the last year was really intense,” she told Billboard in November. “I just signed a contract with Deutsche Grammophon for a new record, so I’m going to try to create some head space outside of film.”

There have only been two other women to be nominated by themselves in the Best Original Score category since it was added to the Golden Globes in 1948; Guðnadóttir joins the likes of Jocelyn Pook (Eyes Wide Shut) and Rachel Portman (Chocolat).

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Jezebel opens with the seductive purr of a woman’s voice. “Go ahead,” Numa Perrier groans into the phone, twirling the phone cord between her fingers. “Stroke it faster. Faster.” Less than a minute into the indie film, there is no mistaking what the movie is about. We’re talking about sex, people.

But don’t get turned off by the opening, says the actress, who also wrote and directed the film. She entreats viewers to take in each moment of the hour and 25-minute long production with sensitivity and nuance because Jezebel isn’t just a movie — it’s a personal look into what she describes as one of the most transformative periods of her life.

Jezebel tells the true story of a young Perrier’s journey towards womanhood, facilitated by her introduction to the cam girl industry in 1990s Las Vegas. In the film, a young girl (Tiffany Tenille) navigates the fledgling cam girl industry at the encouragement of her sister Sabrina (Perrier), learning about the complicated intersections of of race, gender, and class along the way.

The tale is taken right from a precious chapter in the auteur’s life. As a young woman, she spent a year in Las Vegas and lived under one roof with her sister, her sister’s boyfriend, their son, and her brother. There in that full house of five, Perrier had a front row seat to her sister’s fascinating career as a phone sex operator.

“She would log on the phone for her shifts, and we would either leave or just hear her in background,” the quadruple threat told Refinery29. “It was funny because it was weird and gross but also interesting in an odd way. It was normal for us, but obviously a bizarre circumstance.”

The family gathered together in their Las Vegas home (which Perrier affectionate referred to a “halfway house”) after their mother became gravely ill from complications with diabetes. As they worried about the fate of their family, the matriarch succumbed to her illness, leaving her daughters to take their survival into their own hands.

“My sister gave me the talk like, ‘Hey, you gotta figure out what you’re doing with yourself. You can’t stay in this apartment forever’. And that’s when she handed me the classified ad that was for internet modeling.”

Neither Perrier nor her older sister knew what “internet modeling” meant — it was, after all, the 90s, and the family didn’t have easy access to the technology in their home — but having made other friends in the industry, her sister urged her to pursue the gig. Perrier got hired on the spot, discovering that she was the only Black girl employed at the adult establishment. What followed her first day on the job was a whirlwind of sexual discovery and female empowerment, with the cam girl leaning into her agency as a sex worker more and more as the days passed.

Long after she left Las Vegas to pursue a career in Hollywood, Perrier held on to that chapter in her life knowing that it would make a great film someday. But she held off, choosing to busy herself with other projects in the meantime. Perrier connected with fellow creative Dennis Dortch, and together, they founded the production company and network Black & Sexy TV.

As a network, BSTV would produce some of the most beloved Black web series on the internet. Some of its most popular titles included Roomieloverfriends, Hello Cupid, and Sexless, and many of the network’s stars went on to star in major television in film productions; actors like Ashley Blaine Featherson of Dear White People and Andra Fuller from Netflix’s You Can’t Fight Christmas initially found fame on Black & Sexy TV.

When the collaboration ended suddenly in 2017, Perrier decided to pivot back to her year in Las Vegas. But going public with that time in her life turned out to be more frightening than she had anticipated. “I was so nervous,” she admitted. “Doing the job, I didn’t feel ashamed. But I felt that if I told someone, they would shame me. So for that reason, I didn’t tell anyone and kept it a secret.”

It took her years to finally find the courage to write down her story, but even as Perrier put pen to paper, she had trouble admitting aloud that the script was taken from her personal experience — she initially changed all of the characters’ names and told everyone who read the script that it was just a story. It wasn’t until she was accepted into Through Her Lens (an initiative associated with the Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program dedicated to providing funding and mentorship for aspiring women writers and directors) that Perrier finally felt comfortable enough open up about the subject matter that inspired Jezebel.

“It was thanks to a group of women at the Tribeca Film Institute who were mentoring me in the Through Her Lens program,” said Perrier. “I finally confessed on day three that it was my true story.”

The reception to Perrier’s confession and her 15-page script was overwhelmingly positive, with the women in the program applauding her candor. “Everyone said, ‘Oh my gosh, Numa, you have to say that. That changes everything. It gives us a new context of why you deserve to tell this story and how authentic this is.’ “

“I was able to go deeper with the writing, with the directing, with every detail to make it richer and fuller. It was the best decision.”

Armed with confidence and a new fire for storytelling, Perrier moved forward with the project. For the first time ever in her career, the actress and writer stepped into the director’s seat, taking her small cast and crew back to where it all happened in Las Vegas. There, they shot Jezebel in 10 short days.

The feedback for the film, which premiered at Austin’s South by Southwest festival in 2019 through the machinations of Ava DuVernay‘s independent distribution company, ARRAY Releasing, has been glowingly positive, and for good reason. Jezebel is a textured and carefully constructed film that manages to make an extremely personal story into a relatable and thought-provoking narrative. And its creator hopes that it will add nuance to the way Black women are viewed (and view themselves) in media.

“I want audiences to see Black women in a new and intimate way in film,” said Perrier. “I want for Black women, in particular, to see ourselves in these quiet, beautiful moments in a movie that matters and gets a wide release. I want us to fall in love with that.”

Jezebel is now available for streaming on Netflix.

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The nominations for the upcoming 2020 Academy Awards proved to be very disappointing — as expected. Despite the fact that 2019 was one of the best years ever for women directors, the pool of nominees in the Best Director category didn’t include a single woman. Many of the awards across categories were also pointedly white, with some of the year’s most stunning performances by actors of color somehow not making the cut.

Enter Jordan Peele and his critically-acclaimed horror film, Us.

In March of 2019, fans filed into theaters across the country to watch Peele’s second horror project. Though we didn’t know what to expect, having seen and been scarred by Peele’s debut film Get Out (am I the only one who doesn’t drink tea like that anymore?), we already knew that the movie was going to be a true nightmare. That cursed remix of hip hop duo Luniz’s “I Got 5 On It” didn’t do anything to assuage our fears, but nevertheless, I entered the theater with high hopes.

For context, I am the last person to watch any horror film voluntarily. I am the most sensitive and easily scared person alive — literally everything gives me the creeps. But even my fears couldn’t keep me from supporting my two favorite people in Hollywood, Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke.

I was thrilled to learn that the actors, who I lovingly refer to as WinPita or LupSton, would appear in a film together as a married couple. Looking back, it was foolish of me to expect the duo, who are real-life friends, to be cutesy and couple-y in a horror film, but I was excited by the prospect. Nyong’o has always been my cousin in my head, and Duke…well, that’s my actual boyfriend and one true love. What could go wrong?

As it turned out, everything. In the two hours that I spent watching the film in the iconic Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem, I felt like I was too on edge to take a breath. I was filled with abject fear as I watched the story play out, each act more terrifying than the last.

In Us, Nyong’o takes on the role of Adelaide, a wife and mother whose childhood haunts her. She simultaneously plays the film’s antagonist Red, Adelaide’s bloodthirsty doppelgänger who is leading an underground revolution of Tethereds. She switches between characters with ease, playing Adelaide with anxiety that builds and spills out in a nearly barbaric survival instinct, while Red is played with an eerie and calculated calm. Talk less of Red’s throaty voice ( an artistic choice inspired by Nyong’o’s study of vocal disorders) or that plot twist at the end of the film.

Us gifted audiences with one of the most textured, multi-dimensional, and convincing performances out of Hollywood thus far. I, as a former dues-paying member of Lupita Hive, even had to unfollow the Black Panther starlet on Instagram because I couldn’t look at her without seeing her Tethered and hearing her growl. After a performance that powerful, why didn’t the Academy honor her work with a nomination?

Nyong’o has won an Oscar before; in 2013, she took home the win for her role in 12 Years a Slave, based on the incredible story of Solomon Northup. But, as one Twitter user pointed out, she and the 34 other Black women in Oscar history that were nominated across the Lead/Supporting Actress categories only earned the recognition for roles in which they were either slaves, maids, or burdened by the weight of poverty.

Re-upping this thread.

Dorothy- Vixen*
Diana – Musician/Addict*
Ciely – Poor Farmer
Diahann – Maid
Whoopi – Abused Wife
Angela B- Musician/Abused Wife*
Halle – Poor Mother/Waitress
Gabby – Abused Child
Viola – Maid
Quvenzhané – Poor Child
Ruth – Wife/Activist
Cynthia – Slave https://t.co/7G1WxbpcHQ

— 🍅Jacqueline🍅 (@THATJacqueline) January 13, 2020

Does the refusal to acknowledge the varied narratives of Black women during awards season reflect a general disinterest in our stories? Queen & Slim director Melina Matsoukas says yes. After her film was also snubbed for a Golden Globe, Matsoukas revealed that there were only a few members of the Hollywood Foreign Press who even bothered to take the time to watch it in full.

“It just represents an archaic system that is full of people who don’t value us,” the director said. “They don’t value the stories that represent all of us, and those stories are so often disregarded and discredited, as are their filmmakers.”

While Nyong’o wasn’t totally ignored this award season — the African American Film Critics Association gave her top honors for her dual role of Adelaide and Red — the Academy’s choice to overlook her performance in Us definitely hurts. If they could pay this role dust, we’re worried about what they’ll say about the amazing projects she’s got in the pipeline. Nyong’o is working on a television adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel Americanah as well as a warrior movie with the actor of actors herself Viola Davis.

Even if Hollywood doesn’t give Nyong’o the flowers that she deserves, I will — but from a distance. I’m still absolutely terrified of her.

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