Maxim Australia

Killer Elite’s Yvonne Strahovski

MAXIM — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:41:29 +0000

Status Update
HOMETOWN: Sydney, NSW.
BIRTHDAY: July 30, 1982.

PARTY SPOT: Las Vegas. “I get bored gambling, but I love dancing. Last time I went I pulled an all-nighter.”
SIGNATURE DRINK: “Tequila on the rocks with a splash of fresh pineapple juice and fresh lime.”
TIME WASTER: Angry Birds. “I’m obsessed. I have all my watermelons and three stars in all the seasons, which I think is impressive.”
GUILTY PLEASURE: [TV show about children’s beauty pageants] Toddlers & Tiaras. “It’s pretty educational... That’s my way of justifying it.”
LAST MEAL: “Sugar cookies, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and a jar of Nutella. Just a mass hit of sugar.”

There are precious few actresses with the acting and action chops to stand up to big boys Robert De Niro and Jason Statham. Yvonne Strahovski is one of them. Playing a farm girl who gets caught up in a web of violence in Killer Elite, she adds some much-needed sexiness to an otherwise testosterone-heavy movie. Yvonne, who left Australia to play a dorky spy’s CIA contact in TV show Chuck, has more than just looks and talent. Just check out her three-in-one parody of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Ke$ha on the College Humor comedy website to witness the dazzling, down-to-earth Aussie’s (literally – she’s from Sydney’s beachside suburb Maroubra) sick sense of humour

They say you’ve only truly made it in Hollywood if you call Robert De Niro “Bob.” Did you?
I’ve called him Bob, so I guess I’ll tick that one off the bucket list.

How was meeting him?
I just knocked on his trailer door and there he was! I felt like a kid in a candy store – I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Is Jason Statham a total badarse?
No, he’s not Mr Tough Guy or anything. He’s not ready to punch someone at all times.

As far as love interests go, you could do worse than him.
Yes, you certainly could! But we sort of had a brother-sister thing going on, which is gross, because we play lovers in Killer Elite.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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You’ll Never Smoke Alone

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:29:49 +0000

The sound of soft reggae playing from an iPhone can be heard coming from a corner of the team locker room. In the heart of Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, world famous hippie neighbourhood Christiania’s football team are gearing up for an important match – and they have a most unusual warm-up regime. “I’d say that 85 per cent of the team are cannabis or hashish smokers,” says striker Philip as he walks onto the pitch, armed with a wide smile and a lit joint. His 10 teammates congregate languorously in the stands, in various states of happy highness. With a first aid kit brimming with rolling papers, and local bar Woodstock as its official sponsor, this club is a team like no other.
CSC’s coach, Peter – small, but with an insatiable appetite for hashish – arrives an hour before kick-off. The panniers of his traditional Christiania cargo bike, a hippie rebuild of the classic Long John bicycle, are packed with spare balls and brightly coloured cones (no, not those cones). Peter is confident ahead of today’s match. His team is riding on a wave of glory, having
not lost a single game the previous year.
Christiania undoubtedly has a less rigorous training regime than your average competitive team, but they nonetheless play excellent football. With slogans ranging from ‘Joint the club!’ to ‘You’ll never smoke alone’, their advertising material accurately reflects their sense of humour and team spirit.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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A Polar Bear Ate My Head

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:27:50 +0000

The explorer stood on the damp, cool sand and listened to the waves lapping at the shore as the sun began to rise over the horizon, casting long shadows across the beach. But this was no picture-postcard moment – it was a scene of utter carnage. To his left he could see the rampaged remains of his tent; to his right lay the body of a 360kg polar bear. And at his feet, the battered form of his expedition partner, whose head lay in a steaming puddle of syrup-thick blood. He knew the situation was critical. If he were to save the life of his friend, he would have to move fast.
Sebastian Plur Nilssen and Ludvig Fjeld had set out on a world-first attempt to kayak around Svalbard, the isolated archipelago that sits in the Arctic Ocean between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The rocky outcrop consists of four main islands – a round trip of more than 2000km. There are two reasons why no-one had managed this feat: In the winter the weather is brutal, with savage, sub-zero gales; and in the summer the Austfonna glacier ‘calves’ (or, in layman’s terms: Spits hull-shredding icebergs into the sea).
The glacier squats over the northeast coast and is so prolific in its berg birthing that it makes it impossible to come ashore for some 120km. Nevertheless, the pair of Norwegians elected for a two to three month summer expedition, heading out on July 5, 2010.
Mountainous, beautiful, and treacherous, the surface of Svalbard consists of nearly 65 per cent protected areas, including three nature reserves, six national parks, and 15 bird sanctuaries. The summer thaw offers enough respite to allow humans to inhabit the islands and would make it easier for the explorers to make occasional forays into the isolated villages that dot the landscape. Additionally, the relentless 24-hour sunlight would illuminate a safe path through the icebergs.
The flip side of travelling this time of year was the presence of predators – and not just any predators – but polar bears, the world’s largest land carnivores. Capable of speeds of up to 40km/h, able to eviscerate a man with a single swipe of a razor-sharp claw, and with the power to crush through bone with their jaws, polar bears are the top of the Svalbard food chain.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Annette Melton

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:25:54 +0000

Status Update
BIRTHDAY:
July 11, 1985.
HOMETOWN: Sydney, NSW.

FAVOURITE DRINK: “I really like cocktails – Velvet Passion is my favourite. I’m not really sure what’s in it but there are passionfruit and mango flavours. And it’s served ice-cold.”
SPECIAL DANCEFLOOR MOVE: “You know when you put your hand in the air and pump it like you’re in a mosh pit? That’s my move.”
EMBARRASSING iPOD TRACKS: “My classical music selection, like Schubert or Pavarotti or Sarah Brightman. It’s the worst when I’m driving with my friends and that comes on.”
MOST EXTREME THING YOU’VE DONE: “I did a lot of stuff in Bali because it’s so cheap. My favourite was bungee jumping and tubing. I’ve got a video on my blog (annettemelton.com) and the soundtrack is the Indiana Jones theme. Such a nerd.”
FAST FOOD INDULGENCE: “I’m terrible. I eat anything chocolate-related. And I’m really bad with ice cream.”

Welcome to MAXIM – glad you could join us. How’s it feel to be doing your first feature with us?
I’m really flattered. Everyone knows MAXIM has the sexiest girls, so I feel honoured. Thanks for asking me to be a part of it.

What was your favourite part of the shoot?
We shot it at this crazy-big, seven-million dollar mansion. It had a pool and waterfront views. It was awesome.

We’re sure you hear this on an hourly basis but you’ve got an exotic look. What’s your background?
My mum’s Filipino and my dad’s Australian. I guess I get all my exotic features, like the dark hair and really dark eyes, from mum.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Mark Wahlberg

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:23:37 +0000

Does playing a character like Chris Farraday, a reformed smuggler, make you think about your past?
You know, I have changed – obviously, drastically – but it’s pretty easy to tap back into that mentality and that mindset. And I love the parts where I get to go off and be a little crazy and beat the crap out of people, especially Giovanni [Ribisi] and Ben [Foster].

What’s the one thing you regret from your past?
There are many things but I can’t really do anything to change it now, so I just try to move forward and better myself as an individual.

What would you illegally smuggle out of or into America if you had the all-clear?
Why would I smuggle anything into the States? I’ve got everything I need here. We used to – back in the day – bring marijuana to other places when we didn’t know how to get it there. But I wouldn’t carry it myself because that would not be a good idea, having been a convicted felon.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Milla Jovovich

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:21:42 +0000

Status Update
HOMETOWN:
Kiev, Ukraine.
BIRTHDAY: December 17, 1975.

HOLIDAY FROM HELL: “I had a gruelling trip to Peru once. I was in the middle of nowhere with my mum and a couple of friends, and we just weren’t prepared for the intensity of the hikes. At one point my mum was like [in Russian accent], ‘They must send helicopter, or I will have heart attack.’”
WONDER WOMAN: “Yeah, you know, I have an action hero part of me. Since I was little, I always wanted to be a ninja.”
DIET UPGRADE: “I was a big pizza and burger person when I was younger. Now I eat a lot, but it’s good stuff, like
sushi or chicken.”
WEIRD HOBBY: “I collect dollhouses – I have, like, nine. I’m really into creating worlds. I’ll just sit for hours putting up the wallpaper and hooking up the electricity.”

Hey Milla, love the shoot. It’s very… nude.
It was really funny, ’cause the stylist was like, “So, it’s up to you how far you wanna go. We have dresses here and all that.” I was like, “Look, I do Vogue, OK? I’m not doing this to advertise a designer – I’m doing this to show my body. Lingerie and a sheet, OK?” She’s like, “Oh my God, most actresses are so, like, ‘Nooo! I don’t want to put on lingerie!’ I was like, “Uh-uh, it’s all about my body, OK?”

You’ve been working since you were very young...
I’ve been modeling since I was 11 years old.

...yet compared with other young celebrities, you pretty much stayed out of trouble. What was the most rebellious thing you did?
Probably being on the cover of High Times as a teen.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Seth Green

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:18:26 +0000

So, how do you want to go?
Either peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, or flung from a massive slingshot into a helicopter.

Do you have any deathbed confessions?
I probably shouldn’t say this till I’m dead, but I coined the phrase “cha-ching.”

Will you be going to Heaven or Hell?
If I understand the rules correctly, probably Hell. Although I’ve lived morally and ethically as an adult, my youth was spent spinning in an angst-fuelled rage.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Hannah Simone

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:16:15 +0000

How’s this for a recession-proof résumé? Hannah Simone has moved from working as a model and doing humanitarian work with the United Nations to starring as Zooey Deschanel’s scene-stealing sidekick on the quirky sitcom New Girl. And like her street-smart character, Cece, the talented Ms Simone has the brains to back up her beauty.

Are you excited to be in MAXIM?
I’m very excited to be in MAXIM. Of course I am! When I got the call, I was so flattered.

So you’re a loyal reader?
When I’m flying I’ll pick it up, and I’ll get the most interesting looks from men. Like, why is a girl buying MAXIM to read on the plane? The women always look so beautiful.

We hear you have a degree in international relations and have worked with the UN. Could we possibly see a President Simone sometime soon?
I’m more interested in humanitarian issues than going into politics. I worked as the human rights and refugees officer for the United Nations Association of the UK, and it’s one of my great passions.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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The World Testicle Cooking Championships

MAXIM — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:13:56 +0000

Six things you need to know about the WTCC

In 2004, the first “BallCup” was held in the idyllic forests of Serbia. Today, the festival, a “cultural exchange” that celebrates testicles, food, and partying, spans three days – location, weather, and successful organisation permitting (it’s run entirely by volunteers) – and attracts between 1,000 and 4,000 people. Countries that have been represented include: America, Australia, Ireland, Brazil, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, and South Africa.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records: “The world’s largest and longest-running testicle-cooking championship is the World Ball Cup, held each year since 2004 in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia.” It’s estimated the amount of balls used at the 2011 event was around the 100kg mark.

Besides those from a human, all animal testicles can be consumed. And there’s a rich history of it: the Greeks used to eat sheep’s balls prior to battle for strength; the Romans believed dining on the balls of a healthy animal could heal a man of his own testicular problems; and the Chinese used them as a libido booster.

In Serbia, balls are affectionately known as “white kidneys.” The reasoning behind eating them? The WTCC organisers told us that testicles are the only meat that can be eaten while the animal donor remains alive. In addition to that, they look to promote the responsible consumption of animal meat i.e. If an animal is killed for its meat, why not eat the whole animal?

Generally, in Serbia, the price of testicles is much cheaper than ‘regular’ meat. In fact, depending on your level of enthusiasm, butchers have been known to give them away for free. The Serbs have various specialties based on offal, and sack Skittles, which were a favourite of the Serbian Royal Family, are no exception. Since they’re packed with minerals and cholesterol, testes are to be consumed in moderation.

Sixteen species of animal donate their testicles to the WTCC's culinary cause. The array of options available is impressive: boar, bull, donkey, kangaroo, ostrich, rabbit, deer, shark, ram, horse, rooster. The majority of balls are from either boars or bulls.

For the full feature and images grab the March issue of MAXIM, in stores Feb 17 – Mar 21, 2012.

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Sophie Monk – Article

MAXIM — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:51:44 +0000

You’ve been in LA for ages now. Still liking it over there?
I’ve been here nearly seven years but I love Australia. If you go to LA for a holiday, it’s awesome. It reminds me of Movie World, where I used to work. But in terms of living here, everyone’s just trying to get ahead. Nobody’s here to settle or have a family. I’ve noticed that everyone drives around solo and it’s a very single town. I don’t think I know any couples.

So you’d return here to settle down?
Absolutely. I always look forward to coming home – I miss my Aussies so much. I get a lot of paparazzi attention in LA and I wouldn’t want that for my children. It’s not a healthy way to live. I can’t really have any privacy unless I’m in my house.

What’s the difference between LA dudes and Aussie blokes?
There’s no comparison. In LA the guys are very feminine – even more than I am. They get manicures and pedicures and will always be looking in the mirror. I’ll be ready to go in 10 minutes but it’ll take them an hour-and-a-half. It’s a vain town.

For the full feature and images grab the February issue of MAXIM, in stores Jan 18 – Feb 15, 2012.

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