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Jeremy Renner gives poignant reason he was 'pissed off' to be 'brought back' from snowplow accident

"It's a wonderful, wonderful relief to be removed from your body."

Gage skidmore/Wikipedia, Photo credit: Canva

“I came back, I'm like, ‘Aww!’”

Countless people who have encountered a near-death experience, or NDE, have reported feeling incomprehensible levels of tranquility and freedom from pain. Which is, at the very least, an intriguing thought. As scary as death is, we can maybe take comfort in the fact that bliss beyond our wildest imagination might await us once we cross that threshold.

This certainly seems to be the case for Jeremy Renner. Following his nearly fatal snowplow accident in 2023, the Hawkeye actor has been getting candid about how it initially felt to return to his mortal coil. Turns out, it wasn't as great as the alternative.

Speaking to Kelly Ripa on a recent episode of her Let’s Talk podcast, Renner called going past the veil a “great relief.”

@tmz #JeremyRenner ♬ original sound - TMZ


“It's a wonderful, wonderful relief to be removed from your body,” he told Ripa. “It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel. You don't see anything but what's in your mind's eye. Like, you're the atoms of who you are, the DNA, your spirit. It's the highest adrenaline rush, but the peace that comes with it, it's magnificent. It's so magical.”

The euphoria was so potent, in fact, that Renner “was so pissed off” when doctors resuscitated him.

“I came back, I'm like, ‘Aww!’” he recalled. “I saw the eyeball again, I’m like, ‘Oh, s---, I’m back,’ Saw my legs. I'm like, ‘Yeah, that's gonna hurt later.’ I'm like, ‘All right, let me continue to breathe.'"

Renner also had another poignant note to make. While many people who have had NDEs also remember seeing or sensing the presence of deceased loved ones, when asked by Ripa if he had such an occurrence, Renner replied, “You don't need to. That's a human experience.”

“Time is a human construct," he continued. “It's useless. It's not linear. It's not how it exists. It's just like the most remedial version of your spirit's existence is being on Earth. This is so remedial, language, all these things and blah, blah, blah… It's all knowing, all experiencing, all at the same time, all at once.”

Or course, not every NDE includes such positive, affirming sensations. According to Scientific American, they can also be “frightening, marked by intense terror, anguish, loneliness and despair,” though these types of NDEs might not receive as much press “because of shame, social stigma and pressure to conform to the prototype of the ‘blissful’ NDE.”

As the outlet noted, this could perhaps indicate that the quality of a person’s NDE—whether they go through heaven or hell before entering the great beyond—depends heavily on the stories that shape the individual’s mind.

And on a hopeful note, the research by and large seems to indicate that “the experience of death” frequently leads to “positive long-term psychological transformation and growth,” helping people to become more loving, compassionate, grateful, joy, and fulfillment.

It’s not exactly a subject that’s easy to measure and study, but from the countless stories we’ve heard just like Renner’s, maybe we can take solace in the very real possibility that there is more to life than the time we spend on this planet.

Listen to the full podcast episode below:

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Staff floored as Keanu Reeves randomly drops into their small town U.K. pub

"He marched into the kitchen, shook their hands, and praised them for the food they had prepared."

Gordon Correll (left), Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors (right)

Keanu Reeves popped into The Robin Hood pub for lunch.

Who doesn't love Keanu Reeves? He has a well-deserved reputation as one of Hollywood’s nicest celebrities. Recently, he cheered up an 80-year-old fan who had a crush on him by calling her on the phone. He’s also bought an ice cream cone for a fan to give an autograph on the receipt and crashed a wedding to take photos with the bride and groom. He’s also an incredible humanitarian who gave up a big chunk of his money from The Matrix to a cancer charity.

The John Wick star was his usual gracious self over a random weekend in 2023 when he and a friend walked into The Robin Hood pub in Tring, Hertfordshire, about 30 miles outside of London.

Keanu Reeves, beer, pubKeanu Reeves popped in for a drink.Giphy

The employees at the pub in the picturesque, small market town with a population of 12,000 were shocked to see such a high-profile celebrity walk through its doors—especially one who is known for being such a humble, likable guy.

Pub staff posted a photo of chef Scott Valentine, 18, and The Matrix star on The Robin Hood’s Facebook page.

“So today we had a surprise visitor for lunch,” they shared. “What a lovely man he was too. Laura asked if he would be ok with taking photos with the kitchen lads. He marched into the kitchen, shook their hands, and praised them for the food they had prepared. Suffice to say he made their days!!!”


According to the staff at the restaurant, Reeves ordered traditional English fare. "He came to the bar and ordered a beer (Seafarers Ale) and just walked over to the corner. He ordered fish and chips and Nat's shepherd's pie,” Laura Rolfe told The Mirror.

Valentine told the BBC he was scared to cook for such a big star. But Reeves was appreciative of the staff and liked the food.

"It was a bit worrying because I had to cook for him, but we took it out to him and he said thank you and was really nice," said Valentine. “He came into the kitchen, shook our hands and said the food was lovely."

keanu reeves, kindnessKeanu Reeves has a reputation as a kind celebrityGiphy by Sky

The folks at The Robin Hood aren’t sure why Reeves was hanging out in Tring, but The Mirror speculated he was working on a Disney Plus docuseries about Formula 1.

In 2022, it was announced that Reeves was producing a documentary about Jenson Button’s unlikely victory for Brawn GP in 2009. “Our story is about Honda withdrawing from F1 and Ross Brawn who had joined Honda a year and a half earlier,” Reeves said according to TalkSport.

“How did they race a world championship? It’s certainly a people story. It’s about passion,” Reeves added. "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story" came out as a 4-episode TV mini-series in 2023 and won the International Emmy Award for Best Sports Documentary that year.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

More recently, Reeves has been busy filming John Wick sequels with "John Wick: Chapter 5" in the works in 2025. The 60-year-old is also reuniting with his "Speed" co-star Sandra Bullock for a romance thriller produced by Amazon MGM, but details are under wraps.

Whatever the reason that Reeves showed up to a small town pub, it’s great that everyone who met him came away with warm feelings about the man. Reeves clearly knows that by being a humble, nice guy to people, he can make someone else’s day and give them a great story to tell forever. Kudos to Reeves for using his fame to touch other people’s lives. With all the stories we’ve reported about him being cool to fans, it seems like he never lets anybody down.

This article originally appeared two years ago and has been updated.

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Hugh Grant reveals the 'manly' reason his favorite film could be an issue for his wife

"I was a von Trapp daughter at the age of 12."

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Hugh Grant poses on the red carpet.

Notorious lovable grouch, Hugh Grant, might have had a bit of a 'bad-boy' reputation in the past. And he doesn't often hold back in terms of what's really on his mind. But when it comes to 1960s musicals about an Austrian family, he has quite the soft spot.

On numerous occasions, Hugh has been asked to reveal his favorite film. His answer never wavers and it's unequivocally The Sound of Music. Based on the 1949 real-life story of Maria von Trapp's memoir, this became a Tony Award-winning Broadway hit in the late fifties, followed by the film adaptation in the mid-sixties. It follows the life of Maria Rainer, who while training to be a nun, is sent to be the governess of seven children of a widowed father - all on the cusp of the second World War in Austria.

On a recent Q and A for Outstandingscreenplays.com, however, Hugh added that his love for this film has become a bit of an issue.

@outstandingscreenplays

#HughGrant was playing a girl in #SoundofMusic and now it's his Favorite Film ever 😉 #screenwriting #screenwriter #screenplay #fyp #shorts #filmtok #author #writer #films

In various clips put together for the site, Hugh explains, "I was a von Trapp daughter in The Sound of Music at the age of 12. I was Brigitta. I remember very well my white dress with blue satin sash. And I remember my line: 'I'm Brigitta. I'm 12. And all I want is a good time.'" This is followed by laughter, with Hugh adding, "I was rather good."

He then charmingly shares, "It's a difficult situation. I'm married to a Swedish woman. She comes from the north of Sweden, where men are REALLY men. They're so manly, they hardly speak. And they chop wood. What they don't do is watch The Sound of Music in the afternoons and sing along with the Mother Superior when she sings 'Climb Every Mountain.'

And they certainly don't cry when the father is touched by his children singing and then joins in." The clip then cuts to a quick clip of Christopher Plummer singing as Baron von Trapp. Hugh buttons it up by assuring, "But I do cry."

- YouTube, Christopher Plummer, The Sound of Musicwww.youtube.com

Hugh's wife, Anna Eberstein, is a Swedish producer, who also happens to be the daughter of an extremely accomplished Swedish politician. She and Hugh share three children, and he has gushed over her in the many years they've been linked.

The comment sections seem to adoringly swoon over both Hugh's love for the movie and the playful ribbing of his wife. A common theme? He's too irresistible to ever not admire. "He's just so adorable (however much he pretends not to be)." Another: "I've tried not to love him, but he keeps pulling me back in."

This TikToker has a wish, which frankly seems rather attainable: "I'd love to see Hugh Grant meet Julie Andrews."

Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music, Hugh Grant, Films, MusicalsJulie Andrews spins in the Sound of Music Giphy The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization

Others can relate to his unapologetic adoration of the film . "To be fair, it's impossible not to cry on that scene. LOVE The Sound of Music."

One person jokingly comments, "Actually accurate—in northern Sweden, people don’t talk, they just inhale air to communicate. True story." But there's pushback on the notion that a man can't love this musical AND chop wood. "I made my Irish husband come live with me in north Sweden. He loves Sound of Music. He also chops wood."

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Selma Blair shares incredible update on her health 7 years after being diagnosed with MS

“Getting out and going out isn’t so scary.”

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Selma Blair announces she is "truly relapse free" from MS symptoms.

Actress Selma Blair has claimed a major victory in her battle with multiple sclerosis. The Legally Blonde star, 55, who was diagnosed with the neurological disorder that effects the nervous system in 2018, shared in a new interview with PEOPLE that she has been "truly relapse-free" from her multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. She told the publication, "I've been feeling great for about a year."

Blair struggled for years to pinpoint what had been causing her ailments due to on and off MS symptoms. "It's like relapse remitting, so it can relapse and it can remit, and so as a kid you'd get something checked and then you'd go back [and] it's not quite there, but you're left with the shadow of it," she shared with PEOPLE in April 2025. When she finally received an MS diagnosis, Blair was "thrilled." She told the publication, “I finally just felt seen."

Her MS symptoms previously required her to use a cane for support. In May 2023, she posed for Vogue UK with her cane, telling the publication that it was "an extension of me." Instead of her cane being a source of shame, she chose to also use it to advocate for others who used them. "So many younger people have started publicly embracing their sticks more. I do think representation matters. If I can help remove stigma or over-curiosity in a crowd for someone else, then that's great."

selma blair, ms, celebrity, gif, famous, healthEmmy Awards GIF by EmmysGiphy

Blair also got a service dog named Scout to help with her mobility. Blair referred to Scout as a "tremendous gift" in another interview with PEOPLEin May 2022. She added, "He's with me all the time. If I fall into a big [muscle] spasm or have some trouble moving and need to recalibrate, he can get between my legs, help me get up, and balance me. It's given me a lot of independence."

Now, nearly seven years later, her health has vastly improved. "I always try and feel my best, but now that I actually have stamina and energy and getting out and going out isn't so scary," she recently told PEOPLE.

selma blair, cane, ms. multiple sclerosis, health, celebrityPeoples Choice Awards GIF by NBCGiphy

With her MS symptoms at bay, Blair added that her focus can now turn back to her career--something that has been on the backburner as her health took precedence. "You're just tired all the time. I spent so much of my life so tired from being unwell that I think I just was trying to get through the day," she shared.

Now that she is feeling better, Blair plans to get back into acting and "would like to write now a young adult book." And without her daily battles with MS symptoms, she has also started to think more about the future. "It's funny, I haven't spent enough time having dreams. And now it's like, what are my dreams?" she said.

Selma blair, actress, MS, health, wellnessseason 1 celebration GIF by PortlandiaGiphy

Although Blair's MS symptoms have subsided, she added that she will continue to speak up about those still struggling with chronic health problems. "I still am advocating for people with chronic illness and getting better, and what that looks like when you haven't made your wishes. How do we give ourselves a new life force?" she shared.

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