Six degrees
Olivia Rosenman
Joan of Arc (below), the French heroine and Catholic saint, tonight plays out her star-crossed story in Cantonese, in a production at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Almost 600 years after the 19-year-old was burned at the stake, her legacy lives on in countless plays, films and even computer games. From the Nintendo to the PlayStation, the Maid of Orleans has all the consoles covered. She has been co-opted by advertisers, too. In a 2010 ad for adult nappies, Joan (with a bladder leakage problem) was played by Whoopi Goldberg …
Five-term NRA president Heston stood down from his big gun role when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, aged 80. Heston's chiselled face, dark eyes and sonorous voice set him up for several epic movie roles, from El Cid to Michelangelo and even Moses. When he died, in 2008, United States president George W. Bush paid tribute to the "man of character and integrity". It's unclear whether Bush was a fan of Heston's films or his firearms. Heston lived in the Manhattan neighbourhood of Hell's Kitchen, known for interesting food and other famous inhabitants, such as R&B singer Alicia Keys …
The British writer suffered mental-health issues throughout her life; it is now generally agreed she suffered from bipolar disorder. The diagnosis came too late for Woolf, who committed suicide by drowning aged 59. Despite her illness, Woolf became a revered author and is considered one of the most important figures in modernist literature. In one of her most famous works, , protagonist Judith illustrated the limitations women faced in society. With a brother called William, Judith was the fictional sister of Shakespeare …
