The actor was just coming off the back of The Usual Suspects and was a huge name, arguably bigger than Brad Pitt, who had yet to star in Fight Club.

This was not the choice of the studio either, as Spacey himself demanded to be left off the opening credits for the film.

Se7en, which has been added to Netflix today, stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as police detectives investigating a serial killer.

Spacey plays the serial killer John Doe, with the character being present throughout the first hour and a half of the film.

This is all off screen though, and represented through riddles and crimes, with Spacey not actually appearing on screen until the 90-minute mark.

Spacey, however, wasn’t even director David Fincher’s first or even second choice for the role.

Though Brad Pitt pushed for Spacey to be cast, initially the role was offered to Michael Stipe, the lead singer of R.E.M.

Stipe couldn’t accept however, due to the band’s touring schedule, and so the role was offered to another.

They then cast another actor, who has not been named, but after a week of shooting, they were reportedly fired.

Spacey revealed this on the Lex Friedman podcast, where he also revealed he demanded to be left out the credits.

When the disgraced Oscar winner explained why, however, it actually makes a lot of sense.

He stated that, when told he had actually won the role after another actor was fired, he had them send him the script for him to re-read before agreeing.

He said on the podcast: “I had this feeling that it would be really good if I didn’t take billing in the film.

“The reason I felt was because I knew that by the time this film would come out it would be the last one of the three movies that I just shot, the fourth one, and if any of those films broke through or did well if it was going to be ‘Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey’.

“If you don’t show up for the first 25, 30, 40 minutes people are going to figure out who you’re playing.”

The actor not only didn’t show up in the film’s opening credits, but he also wasn’t in the posters for the movies or VHS.

Spacey said New Line Cinema, the film’s distributor, told him to go ‘f**k himself’.

The actor revealed that Fincher was the deciding vote, claiming he felt it was a ‘cool idea’.

Spacey and New Line Cinema made a compromise, and the actor was the first name to appear in the end credits.

Spacey has remained out of the limelight for some time, after being accused of multiple sexual assaults, of which he was found not guilty in 2023.

After starring as a former US president called upon to help amid a cyber attack in Zero Day, De Niro is back in one of his classic gangster roles.

Although this time, the actor is taking on not just one but two and in the very same film no less.

Written by Goodfellas screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, The Alto Knights is the third script by Pileggi to have been turned into a film starring De Niro – Pileggi also adapting nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas with Martin Scorsese for 1995 crime drama Casino which saw De Niro take on the role of gambling expert Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein.

Diving into the 1950s, The Alto Knights is based on the true story of the rivalry between New York crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese – the almost documentary-style film tracking the pair’s childhood friendship, fallout and near-deadly opposition which ultimately led to the downfall of the American mafia.

For the film, De Niro takes on the challenge of both characters, noting to LADbible playing the opposing sides really helped emphasise and ‘see the difference between the two’ men.

Analysing Nicholas Pileggi’s scriptwriting for the characters and working with director Barry Levinson aided De Niro in figuring out how to make each role ‘distinct enough’.

However, De Niro didn’t just have the characterizations of the pair to think about, but the more ‘technical’ challenge of what happened when the pair appeared in the same scene together and not just same scene, but seemed to appear in the same shot too.

De Niro explains: “When I had scenes with myself, you can’t cross a line visually, because […] it’s like a split screen type thing.

“We had to those technical things of where to stay and how close to the to this chair or something. So if you go past that, you’re not in a shot anymore.”

The actor reflects there were overlaps in speech between Costello and Genovese too which were ‘important’ given it’s the ‘way people talk in life’ which meant they had to get another actor to stand in as both the characters to read back to De Niro.

De Niro says: “I found this one guy, Joe, terrific. […] And he learned both parts, and it was great, great help.”

From the hitmakers behind Goodfellas, Bugsy and The Irishman, The Alto Knights certainly has a lot to live up to – catch it for yourself in cinemas.

We’ve had a couple of false springs already this month, but let’s be honest, many of us are still eyeing up a summer getaway overseas.

Sun, good food, drinks flowing, and nothing to do except relax or let yourself go a bit – it’s all within touching distance.

But before all that, you’ll have to book travel and accommodation and, you know, make the flight.

It can all be a bit of a stressful ordeal, but what if it didn’t need to be?

Getting to the airport on time is always a big worry and while odd social media trends such as the ‘airport theory’ glorify showing up as late as possible, most people try to give themselves ample time just in case.

Obviously, getting there four or five hours ahead of time might be overkill, but a couple of hours is usually standard.

But apparently, you might not even need to do that, as a flight attendant has explained why you should apparently always turn up late.

Before your inner ‘dad’ gets into a panic as ‘dad mode’ is broken, give them a chance.

Previously speaking to The Sun, Kamila Jakubjakova, a former Emirates cabin crew member, revealed you may be better off risking queues and getting to the airport slightly closer to your departure time as there is a chance you may be offered a free upgrade.

She explained: “Sometimes, airlines oversell tickets and don’t expect everybody to show up.

“So if the flight is overbooked, and everyone shows up, they’ll have to move economy passengers into business class, and maybe the last passengers who come to check in for the flight will be chosen, as they’re the extra ones.”

And that wasn’t her only advice as she recommended how passengers can make their flying experience even better.

One way of doing that is by ‘bribing’ the cabin crew, according to Jakubjakova – but not how you may expect.

When you hear the word ‘bribe’ you often think money is involved, but that’s not the case here where manners are currency.

“It always pays being nice to flight attendants,” Jakubjakova explained.

She continued: “If you bring some treats with you to the flight, for example, some candies or some chocolate, and offer them to us, then we will probably try to make your flight a little better or pay you back in some way.

“We are nice to everybody, but, of course, if you go the extra mile, we’ll probably also go the extra mile in return.”

So, there you have it, make sure to keep these tips in mind next time you are on your travels. Although, it’s pretty important to point out that a lot of airlines advise a ‘two-hour rule’ when you’re flying.

The entertainment industry has eaten it up for years, and now more so than ever, with almost every popular live-action film nowadays featuring a sex scene in some capacity.

It’s simple – give the people what they want.

But having a sex scene that’s acted out as part of the plot is completely different to an unsimulated sex scene on screen. This is far more rare, excluding the likes of select romance or art films.

For those who don’t know, the term ‘unsimulated sex’ exists in the film industry as a way to refer to scenes where the actors involved are actually doing the deed with each other.

While most movies may involve actors wearing padding to avoid contact, unsimulated sex can sometimes include penetration in a completely transparent depiction of intercourse.

An increasing number of mainstream films may be experimenting with this method, but the reality is that art films that include these scenes tend to be filmed away from the bright lights of Hollywood.

But there are a few mainstream films that feature unsimulated sex scenes, pushing the conventions of censorship, sex and expression, so without further ado, here is our list of the 10 movies where actors actually carry out the act.

Pink Flamingos – John Waters (1972)

The pioneering writer John Waters is responsible for our first film on the list, which stars drag icon Divine, alongside the likes of Edith Massey, Danny Mills and others.

In the film, we follow a woman (Divine) as she competes with another couple to be the filthiest people in the world.

Known for his transgressive cult films, this Waters black comedy includes close up shots of ‘actual fellatio’, with this extreme film showcasing the bizarre and explicitly crude approach taken by those behind it.

Antichrist – Lars von Trier (2009)

Lead up by Hollywood legend Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, this film follows a couple that carry out acts of sexual behaviour and sadomasochism when they initially sought safety in a cabin.

Director Lars von Trier didn’t hold back in this extreme cinema work, channeling feelings of tension, danger and violence into the film.

With the main theme of religion as its backdrop, the couple are replaced with body doubles and have violent intercourse by a dead tree, where bodies are kept in the exposed roots – an uneasy and gross watch.

Love – Gaspar Noé (2015)

Noé’s junior feature film follows a passionate couple that introduce a third member to their relationship, which they later regret as she falls pregnant.

Starring Aomi Muyock, Karl Glusman and Klara Kristin as the throuple, it follows the characters as they break up and one is left with the third in a loveless relationship.

Known for its unsimulated sex scenes, its intimate scenes hold the erotica together, using a slow soundtrack with lighting and the colour red being used to get the most of those X-rated scenes.

9 Songs – Michael Winterbottom (2004)

This art romance-drama stars Kieran O’Brien and Margo Stilley, a couple that meet at a concert, grow their relationship, and eventually begin an intense affair.

It is one of the most graphic and emotional representation of sexuality in film today, and has been described as stylistic and conceptual, as sex scenes are broken up with concert sequences.

Winterbottom’s use of warm lighting and editing brings out the themes of romance and eroticism, elevating the sex scenes from a voyeuristic perspective.

Nymphomaniac – Lars Von Trier (2013)

Lars von Trier is back in the list once again, this time exploring the psychology, emotion and physicality behind sex in an erotica featuring the likes of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe, to name a few.

It follows the life of a self-diagnosed ‘nymphomaniac’ as it recounts her erotic journeys to an asexual fisherman, with sex scenes (using porn doubles) lacking a sense of emotion or sensual undertones that is caused by the choice of lighting and colour.

The final scene of the film combines a piano being played and shots of wild animals, with sexual acts cut in between these shots, deviating from the genre’s norms.

Enter the Void – Gaspar Noé (2009)

Another by Gaspar Noé, Enter The Void sees police shoot a drug dealer dead, causing him to go through an unbelievable out-of-body experience, with the world going on without him.

Noé has set this film in the ever-bright Tokyo, and it stars Nathaniel Brown, Paz de la Huerta, and Cyril Roy in a film that feels and looks like a psychedelic experience due to the colours used, camerawork and editing.

One scene shows a love hotel that contains various sexualities and those with different interests having intercourse, with its editing lacing each act into one huge erotic landscape.

A certain scene also features the protagonist travelling into female genitalia – unique.

They Call Us Misfits – Stefan Jarl and Jan Lindqvist (1968)

Directed by two Swedish filmmakers, its style and screenplay shows the presentation of two unaccompanied youths, named Kenneth ‘Kenta’ Gustafsson and Gustav ‘Stoffe’ Svensson.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this is the first ever film to ‘depict unsimulated sexual intercourse that managed to avoid getting those scenes censored’.

Svensson is sexually active with several woman, but tells a girl named Eva that he wants just her – exploring the themes of gender dynamics during the sexual liberation in the 60s’.

Lie With Me – Clement Virgo (2005)

Directed by Clement Virgo and based on the 2001 novel of the same name, it stars Lauren Lee Smith across from Eric Balfour, as their relationship makes a turn for the worst as Smith’s character begins an affair.

It turns her world upside down, and the film explores her power over men with sex and how it eventually fades, with the movie’s sex scenes being shown in minimalistic montages.

It symbolises the creativity and expression of sex, but there are more intense and graphic scenes as the film goes on to symbolise the changes in the character’s states.

Female Vampire – Jesús Franco (1973)

This horror film takes place in Europe and stars Lina Romay as the titular female vampire, though she is also bisexual and quenches her desire for blood by, uh, oral stimulation. Cool.

Described as intense without a clear or cohesive plot, the audience will experience transgressive eroticism and benefits from good editing and cinematography.

It is one of the first films of its type, known as revolutionary for its time, combining a number of genres while also featuring a number of authentic sex scenes.

Destricted – Various Directors (2006)

The final film on our list examines the boundaries between art and pornography.

As it is an anthology, there is a lack of a plot, though it is consistent in its presentation of eroticism, coming across as an experiment instead of an actual film, presenting as an art piece more than anything else.

It tries to show the beauty and authenticity in commercialised porn, and set out against locational landscapes to depict an unconventional vision of how sexuality can be placed in our society.The directors listed on this film are as follows; Marina Abramović, Matthew Barney, Marco, Brambilla, Larry Clark, Gaspar Noé, Richard Prince, Sam Taylor-Wood, Marilyn Minter, Cecily Brown, Sante D’Orazio and Tunga.

Trump spoke about the astronauts, who splashed down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday (18 March), during a press conference at the Oval Office on Friday.

The pair were onboard SpaceX’s Dragon space capsule as they made their 18-hour journey back to Earth’s surface after nine months on the ISS.

Originally heading up into the stars in June 2024, technical issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule meant they were stuck in orbit for much, much longer than anticipated.

Just days after their arrival, Trump was questioned about the astronauts’ overtime pay, as some have theorised about whether the NASA employees will get paid more for their time in space, given the mission ran over for such a length of time.

A clip from the encounter with a reporter made the rounds on social media, as the president was told the astronauts would not receive any overtime pay for their stay upon the ISS despite their mission being extended by 286 days.

The pair should be paid approximately $1,430 (£1,106) in overtime, the reporter claimed.

What has NASA said about pay?

A NASA spokesperson told FOX Business that usually, astronauts are paid ‘regular, 40-hour work-week salaries’ when aboard the ISS and ‘do not receive overtime or holiday/weekend pay’.

“They are also on long-term TDY (Temporary Duty), and receive the incidentals amount for each day they are in space. Incidental expenses for travel to any location is currently $5 per day.”

But when faced with the question of whether his administration would do anything about it, Trump said: “Well, nobody’s ever mentioned this to me. If I have to to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket, okay? I’ll get it for them.”

“Is that all? That’s not a lot for what they had to go through,” the 78-year-old pointed out.

Prior to their return to Earth, Trump put the blame on the Biden administration, accusing it of ‘abandoning’ them aboard the ISS, as Elon Musk even alleged that he’d offered to bring them home earlier.

Both NASA and the astronauts denied knowledge of this, but Trump had previously told reporters in the White House: “We have two astronauts that are stuck in space.

“I have asked Elon (Musk), I said, ‘Do me a favour. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes…’ You shouldn’t have been up there so long.”

On Friday, Trump took some time to thank Musk for helping to get the mission over the line.

‘Think if we don’t have him’, he told reporters, as the businessman’s company, SpaceX, had helped to provide a capsule to bring them back to Earth.