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Multiple celebrities vowed to continue Jane Goodall‘s legacy after the late conservationist and chimpanzee researcher died on October 1, 2025. She was 91 and was on her U.S. speaking tour. From Leonardo DiCaprio to Ellie Goulding, emotional tributes described Jane as a “hero.”
Read on to see how celebrities honored Dr. Goodall.
Leonardo DiCaprio
The Oscar winner and passionate climate change advocate called Jane a “true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend” in a lengthy Instagram tribute.
“My deepest condolences to her family,” Leonardo concluded his statement. “Please join me in honoring her legacy by supporting @janegoodallinst and other conservation groups which she cared about — head to the link in my bio to learn more. My last message to Jane was simple: ‘You are my hero.’ Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home.”
Nikki Reed
Nikki commented on Jane’s institute’s Instagram announcement, calling the scientist her “hero.”
“My hero, thank you for your work. Your heart. And your passion,” the actress wrote. “You will be forever loved, and forever missed…”
Mark Ruffalo
Mark commented under one of the institute’s Instagram posts: “Just one of the greatest people,” the MCU star wrote. “Had the honor to meet with her and speak with her a few years ago. Her bright intellect, decency and love for the planet and creation was extraordinary, inspired and contagious. Rest in Supreme Power, Angel Jane Goodall.”
Ellie Goulding
Ellie also commented under one of the institute’s social media posts. She wrote, “Oh my goodness, this is sad news indeed. An absolutely remarkable woman who is such an inspiration to many …. I pledge to keep her message and mission alive.”
Jane Fonda
Jane, a long-time political activist, penned an Instagram statement for Dr. goodall.
“My heart breaks at the news that the brave, heartful, history-making Jane Goodall has passed,” the actress wrote in her caption. “Through her work with chimps, she did more than any human being has, to let us understand the richness of animal lives: their intelligence, skills, unique personalities, use of tools, empathy, suffering when one of theirs was killed. I loved her very much. I think the best way we can honor her life is to treat the earth and all its beings like our family, with love and respect.”
Chase Infiniti is living the dream she never fully believed would come true.
The 24-year-old Indianapolis native makes her feature debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” stepping into the role of Willa Ferguson, a teenager caught between family legacy and personal identity when a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue her after an enemy resurfaces 16 years later.
“It’s half Paul and half me,” Infiniti says of Willa’s character. “Half of her comes from his writing, and the other half I brought from my own life and experiences.”
Infiniti’s path to Anderson’s sprawling militia epic wasn’t straightforward. Raised in Indianapolis, she studied musical theater at Columbia College in Chicago. Despite her passion, she didn’t land many roles in college productions, instead finding opportunities in summer stock and community theaters. “I never thought this would happen. I would’ve been happy with even one line in a movie,” she says, recalling her early dreams.
Infiniti introduces herself to Hollywood, and the rest of the cinema loving world on the season 12 premiere of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast. Listen below.
Her name, a mash-up of Nicole Kidman’s Chase Meridian from “Batman Forever” and Pixar’s “Toy Story,” feels oddly prophetic for an actor now stepping into Hollywood’s spotlight.
Chase Infiniti in “One Battle After Another”
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
In “One Battle After Another,” Willa is no stock teenager. With a purple belt in martial arts and a razor-sharp sense of agency, she emerges as one of Anderson’s most compelling young protagonists. “She’s assertive, but not pretentious. She’s hopeful. I think she represents the possibility of a better future,” Infiniti explains.
Infiniti prepared for the role by traveling with Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio (who plays her father) to Eureka, Calif. “Meeting people in that town helped me lock Willa in. I noticed how communities interacted, and that grounded her for me.”
Infiniti shares the screen with DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn. A key sequence with Penn, in which Willa undergoes a tense DNA test, became a lesson in restraint and reactive acting. “It felt like sparring,” she describes. “He’s intimidating, but Paul [Thomas Anderson] encouraged us to lean into that raw, natural reaction. It was exhilarating.”
Infiniti is particularly effusive in her admiration for both Hall and Taylor during our sitdown. Speaking about Taylor’s performance, she said she was “so amazing” in bringing the character of Perfidia to life, making her “even more colorful” than what appeared on the page.
When it came to Hall, Infiniti emphasized how much strength and subtlety she brought to the role of Deandra. “Deandra is a quiet character in a sense, but she’s not quiet,” she asserts. “She really is the most central force of strength that’s in the film, and she does a fantastic job of almost honing in every character and being a mother to Willa — a mother that she never got to have.”
Despite the starry company, Infiniti admits she’s still adjusting. “Half of me thought I could be here, half of me thought I couldn’t. I had no industry connections, no on-camera work before this. Paul literally hired me without seeing my first job,” she says. “Now I’m on this press tour and it’s surreal.”
Infiniti’s real-life parents, meanwhile, are taking it all in. “My mom cries every time she sees the trailer. There’s a shot of Lockjaw holding Willa’s baby picture and she always says, ‘That’s my baby.’”
Though she’s only just arrived, Infiniti is already dreaming of future roles. She’d love to work with Greta Gerwig or Steven Spielberg — and she’s vocal about her passion for movie musicals. “If they ever adapt ‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’ into a film, I don’t even need to book it. I just want to be seen for Natasha,” she declares.
As for advice to her younger self, Infiniti borrows wisdom passed down to her: “You have nothing to prove, but everything to show.”
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rapid Fire Questions with Chase Infiniti
Favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film (other than “One Battle After Another”)?
“Boogie Nights.”
Favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performance?
“Catch Me If You Can.”
Favorite Benicio del Toro movie?
“The Usual Suspects.”
Favorite horror film?
“Get Out.” (though she admits she’s a self-described “scaredy cat.”)
Movie that makes you cry every time?
“Toy Story 3.”
Funniest movie of all time?
“One Battle After Another.” (“It’s an action comedy!” she laughs.)
Director you’d most like to work with next?
“Steven Spielberg, Greta Gerwig, or the Daniels. Honestly, anyone who wants to see me.”
Also featured on this episode is Dwayne Johnson, star and producer of Benny Safdie’s dramatic biopic “The Smashing Machine.”
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode, “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts.
Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson‘s knack for casting is one of his (many) strong suits as a creator. From recognizing the dramatic brilliance of someone like Adam Sandler, consistently finding new dimensions of repeat stars like Julianne Moore and John C. Reilly, and discovering brand-new stars like Alana Haim, PTA has one hell of an eye for star power (and all credit to his long-running partnership with casting director Cassandra Kulukundis, who has cast nine of 10 ten films).
For his latest, “One Battle After Another,” PTA again assembles an enviable cast: Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and continuing collaborator Sean Penn, plus Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall making their PTA debut, and breakout star Chase Infiniti. The film is Infiniti’s first — TV fans have already been treated to her work in “Presumed Innocent,” and she will next lead the “Handmaid’s Tale” spin-off series “The Testaments” — and it’s a hell of a debut for the actress.
As IndieWire’s own David Ehrlich noted in his glowing review of the film, Infiniti is “magnetically self-possessed” and an “instant movie star.” (Having seen the film yesterday: when he’s right, he’s right.)
After a special screening of the film in VistaVision held in New York City on Sunday afternoon, DiCaprio, Taylor, Infiniti, del Toro, Hall, and Penn stuck around to chat about the feature in a wide-ranging Q&A. In the film, Infiniti plays the daughter of DiCaprio (as the bomber Ghetto Pat, who eventually goes undercover as “Bob Ferguson”) and Taylor (as the revolutionary leader Perfidia Beverly Hills). DiCaprio shares plenty of screen time with the young star and was eager to talk about her performance, both on and off the screen.
“It was beautiful to watch Chase come into an ecosystem like this, because I remember my first feature-length film and trusting so much in the director, the director is literally everything to you, and that bond started immediately with the two of them,” DiCaprio said.
DiCaprio’s first role was — and this is true! — in the direct-to-video sequel “Critters 3,” but he quickly followed that up with roles in two still-signature films for him: “This Boy’s Life” (directed by Michael Caton-Jones) and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (directed by Lasse Hallström). And it seems that the actor still keenly remembers what it was like on those early sets.
“Benicio likes to say it was like watching a great boxer with the boxing coach, and they gave each other small signals and nods, and yeses and nos,” DiCaprio continued. “And they continued on. They had this sort of unspoken relationship that was beautiful to witness. It reminded me of when I was younger and my first film.”
Asked about her experience, Infiniti was quick to note the support she received from everyone, which engendered a level of trust that seems common on a PTA set.
“I think that the strongest thing that I felt was just love from everybody,” she said. “From Leo and Teyana and Sean and Regina and Benicio, not to mention Paul, I was just surrounded by so much love and support from day one. … Having that, and an overall understanding of trust, and knowing that Paul trusts me, I trust Paul, and then I trust every single one of my scene partners, I think that the love and the trust more than anything made me feel confident to play and thrive in the environment. It was a bit scary walking into, but in the end, it was the best experience.”
Warner Bros. will release “One Battle After Another” in theaters on Friday, September 26.
Christopher Briney and Leonardo DiCaprio are two very, very different individuals. Briney is a 27-year-old at the brink of superstardom thanks to a breakout role as Conrad Fisher on The Summer I Turned Pretty, a TV show that is ostensibly for teens, but in reality has captured the hearts of viewers across generations. DiCaprio, 50, not only has 23 years on Briney age-wise, but an IMDb that reads like a page of a film history textbook.
But there’s something about both actors which has caught the internet’s attention, and it’s not just that Briney bears a slight resemblance to DiCaprio in the ‘90s, when the latter was at the peak of his heartthrob status. (Though, wow, I can’t unsee it.) Briney and DiCaprio also share something more singular, and more rare, than a haircut or a disarming, boyish smile: They have “it”—the intangible star quality that has made them the obsessions of their respective generations.
Comparisons between the two actors began cropping up on my social media feeds in late summer, weeks after the July 16 premiere of the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. However, it wasn’t until Prime Video shared this side-by-side composite of Briney during what fans refer to as “the bathtub scene” (though it’s much more PG than the name insinuates), and DiCaprio in 1997’s Titanic, that the Christopher Briney-Leonardo DiCaprio comparisons really began going viral.
The bathtub scene from TSITP appears to be a shot-for-shot homage to Titanic, with the added bonus that Briney’s tousled mop of hair has beads of ocean water dripping from its tips. The fact that the sexual tension between Conrad and Belly (Lola Tung) is never broken—as is famously the case in Titanic‘s “car scene,” which needs no further description—only adds to the allure of this broody, occasionally “sassy,” but mostly big-hearted character that Briney has brought to life.
Many of the other side-by-sides of the two actors zero-in on Briney and DiCaprio’s physical similarities—the swoopy hair, center-parted and prone to flop, the green-blue eyes, the heart-shaped face—but I find the purely physical comparisons to be missing the point. What really intrigues me about the comparisons is Briney’s skill as an actor. While Jenny Han deserves all the credit for crafting such a rich, complex character, there’s no doubt that Briney’s performance as Conrad elevates the entire show. He can convey pissy immaturity, vulnerability, and heroism all in the same breath, a hallmark of many leading men before him—not just DiCaprio.
That’s not to say Briney is deserving of an Emmy quite yet, but hey—the guy’s got potential. And it’s probably why the Chris and Leo mashups have gone as viral as they have. A specific haircut and the ability to charm on a press tour can make a temporary It boy of any old beautiful man. It’s talent that can keep him there.
Leonardo DiCaprio has hailed Giorgio Armani as a “genius”.
Giorgio Armani has died aged 91
The legendary fashion designer passed away on Thursday (04.09.25), aged 91, and DiCaprio has taken to social media to pay a glowing tribute to Armani, describing the designer as a “visionary”.
The Hollywood star wrote on Instagram: “Giorgio Armani was a visionary whose influence reached far beyond design. I first met him many years ago in Milan and I remember being blown away by his creativity and genius. He was a legendary force who inspired generations, and his legacy will continue to shape and uplift the world for years to come.”
Elsewhere, Michelle Pfeiffer has admitted to feeling “heartbroken” by the news of Armani’s passing.
Alongside several throwback photographs, the actress – who starred in several Armani adverts – wrote on Instagram: “I am heartbroken to hear of Mr Armani’s passing. Kind, generous and loyal. A true pioneer of elegance. A global inspiration. And today, a massive loss for all. Thank you for everything Mr. Armani, it was an honor and privilege to work with you on so many momentous occasions in my life and to witness your craft firsthand. (sic)”
Meanwhile, David Beckham has hailed Armani as a “true gentleman”.
The former soccer star wrote on Instagram: “A very sad day as we say goodbye to a very special man… Kind , generous , humble and a true gentleman… Giorgio Armani One of a kind. (sic)”
Armani’s death was announced by his fashion house.
The company said in a statement that he built the Armani brand with “vision, passion, and dedication”.
The statement read: “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani.
“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family.
“Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”