Orlando Family Magazine: Year in Review 2019
A look back at our best interviews from 2019, along with a recap of all our top lists, from physicians, attorneys and dentists to Best of the Best and much more. THEY SAID IT! Memorable quotes from our best interviews in 2019. “As an actress you’re always expected to look perfect, wear the latest design, and always look your best. Sometimes you want to wear a T-shirt and... Read More
Getting Personal
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Eric Jacobson on meeting his wife, spending time in Minnesota every summer and the power of a live musical performance. 1. I am in my fifth season as music director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. I wanted this job because the orchestra has such an amazing history and spirit of openness and adventuresomeness, and because Orlando... Read More
A Good Time
Saint Motel is pushing boundaries and having fun while doing it. Critics have called the music made by Los Angeles-based band Saint Motel many things, including garage glam, indie pop and funk rock. But if you ask lead singer A/J Jackson, he’ll sum it up as “a good time.” And that may just be the most accurate description for everything this band does. With catchy songs, elaborate... Read More
Nothing to Lose
With a heavily established career and a settled home life, Nicole Kidman prefers to just go with the flow. Whoever it was who said “age is nothing but a number” had it right where Nicole Kidman is concerned. The Australian actress, 52, has bucked the trend of female stars finding roles increasingly difficult to come by as their years advance. In fact, one could argue that she’s... Read More
Getting Personal
WFTV’s Action 9 reporter Todd Ulrich on how he likes to start the day, being an avid cook and what he’s learned after 35 years of fighting to get consumers heard. 1. I’ve found consumer reporting very rewarding because of the results we can achieve for someone. And by telling their story, we help other families avoid the same mistake or scam. Despite what some business owners... Read More
Enjoying the Ride
While Matt Damon goes full speed ahead in the new Ford v Ferrari flick, he’s learned over the course of his career to slow down and appreciate the journey. You could never say Matt Damon doesn’t commit to his craft. Whether that entails starving himself for one of his first major films in Courage Under Fire, piling on the muscle for his starring roles in the Bourne franchise,... Read More
Cream of the Crop
These eight standout student-athletes are primed for greatness this winter. Zach Anderson, Apopka basketball A 6-foot-7 senior forward, Anderson is a three-year starter who helped Apopka win a district championship in 2018 and post a 22-4 record last year. He will continue his career at Florida Gulf Coast University. OFM: Last year was a great one for Apopka, although the team battled... Read More
Getting Personal
iHeartRadio host Jana Sutter on getting bit by the radio bug, being on the move and how she likes to start each day. 1. My interest in radio began when I was about to graduate from the University of North Carolina and I found myself winning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see Oasis Unplugged in London. My favorite band and my first trip overseas. It was an MTV contest through a local... Read More
Pulling the Strings
With the stroke of her bow, violinist Lindsey Stirling creates her own multilayered worlds. Lindsey Stirling first stepped into the national spotlight in 2010 on the TV show America’s Got Talent where she impressed the judges with fast-paced violin playing and choreographed dancing, both done simultaneously. It was not something the judges, nor much of America, had ever seen before.... Read More
The Payoff
A star in both Hollywood and the music industry, Jennifer Lopez is reaping the benefits of years of hard work and an unwavering determination to succeed. Jennifer Lopez is much more determined and ambitious than anyone could possibly imagine. Though her public image is that of the poor Bronx beauty who became a mega-selling pop star and movie star, deep down she’s a highly motivated... Read More
Gentle Giant
A self-professed “soft soul” and an imposing star of stage and screen, Terry Crews proves that nice guys finish first. At 51 years old, Terry Crews is an anomaly. He has the energy of someone 20 years his junior. His chiseled frame makes him look as though he still belongs in a National Football League uniform. His articulate speech and booming voice make him seem larger than... Read More
A Lasting Legacy
No one can argue with Annika Sorenstam’s success on the golf course during her playing days, but now she’s working just as hard to inspire the next generation while creating a loving environment for her family. Having stepped away from professional golf more than a decade ago, Annika Sorenstam has had lots of time to reflect on her hall of fame career. There are her 72 LPGA... Read More
Still on Top
With the Backstreet Boys riding high once again, Howie D. talks about Staying Power, the new tour and the inspiration for his first-ever solo children’s album. Howie Dorough is certainly a busy man these days. The Central Florida native, better known as Howie D. and one-fifth of the pop supergroup the Backstreet Boys, is running short on time as he checks in from the car on his... Read More
Getting Personal
Seventeen-year-old performer and Lake Nona native Alyssa Raghu on her recent stint on season 17 of American Idol, admiring Elton John and her newly released single “Criminal.” 1. I never really had that “aha” moment of wanting to become a singer. It was always just a part of me. It grew as I got older into what it is now and I’m so grateful for that. 2. My most memorable... Read More
Ready to Entertain
With a new homewares line and upcoming return to television, Patricia Heaton is back to doing what she does best. Patricia Heaton doesn’t really know the definition of downtime. Having just wrapped nine seasons of The Middle last year, the Emmy-winning actress is doing anything but sitting idly by. This fall, she’ll return to the world of television comedy as the star of a... Read More
Quick on His Feet
Derek Hough dances his way into Orlando with a new tour and plenty of ambition. The world may know Derek Hough as an amazing dancer with lightning quick moves, impeccable timing and a commanding stage presence, but for his latest tour he wanted to kick things up a notch by adding live music as part of the show. The combination of song and dance is a timeless one, and something he... Read More
The Festival with a Heart
The programming director for the 28th annual Florida Film Festival gives us a look behind the curtain. Matthew Curtis’ interest in movies started early. When he was 3 years old, his dad took him to see Pinocchio at the drive-in and, he says, something just clicked. A revelation: this was something he wanted to be a part of. In the 1980s, he cut his teeth at a New York film company... Read More
Getting Personal
Florida House Representative Anna Eskamani on her first job, her love of The Beatles and what got her first interested in politics. 1. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an engineer. My dad is an engineer and worked on Florida’s Space Coast. Once I got to college, I knew there would be a different path for me but I’ve always a held a deep appreciation for the hard sciences and... Read More
Mr. Nice Guy
Tom Hanks has built his career on being the likable everyman and he wouldn’t have it any other way. To say that Tom Hanks has wide-ranging public appeal is a bit of an understatement. In today’s day and age where a portion of the entertainment world’s elite are either embroiled in scandal or viewed as boorish and overly ego-driven, Hanks very much retains his aw-shucks, average... Read More
Shining Stars
Meet eight standout athletes taking Greater Orlando by storm this spring. Bryce Hubbart, Windermere baseball A senior lefthanded pitcher, Hubbart helped lead Windermere to a district championship and an appearance in the region quarterfinals last spring in its inaugural season. He is looking forward to a big senior year before continuing his career at Florida State. OFM: After the... Read More
Under the Sea and Over the Moon
Three decades after the release of The Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson feels more connected than ever to the character of Ariel. Jodi Benson admits that while she was very interested in auditioning for the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid back in the late ’80s, the Broadway star wasn’t as keen on letting it be known to her peers in the industry. “I absolutely had no clue it... Read More
