The Australian Women's Weekly Christmas 2022

Everyone who knows me knows I am an unapologetic Christmas tragic. I love it all, from the cutest kindergarten pageant, to the campiest Christmas panto (thanks, years in London and English husband). I still get teary over It’s a Wonderful Life (watch it every year), giggle over Will Ferrell in Elf (Boxing Day must-see), and Bing, Ella and Mariah (and now Jimmy Barnes, page 58) are on high-rotation on my Christmas playlist. For everyone who loves Christmas, this issue of The Weekly – and our TV special on Network Ten (page 10) – has been created to inspire and delight. You’ll find everything you need for your best Christmas ever, starting with a beautiful table (page 138), and delicious feasts to put on top of it (my hot tip is…

Dame Angela I wish to commend you on your wonderful tribute to Dame Angela Lansbury (A Star Who Forged Her Own Path, AWW, December). I loved her playing Elvis’ mother in Blue Hawaii, even though she wasn’t much older than him at the time! It’s fascinating that she was related to former PM Malcolm Turnbull’s mother and he used to call her “Aunty”. May she rest in peace. L. Morrissey, Strathdale, Vic. The Weekly worldwide I must say AWW has been a boon to many avid readers, including myself, who is from Singapore! What’s not to love, with all the content, bursting with ideas on housekeeping, recipes and all those inspiring stories and articles. Feasting our eyes and mind on this monthly gift to ourselves is always timely, lifting my…

Lights, CAMERA, ACTION! Friends reunited The best part of the Christmas season comes in reconnecting with your nearest and dearest. So it was a real treat when cameras started rolling on this year’s Christmas with The Australian Women’s Weekly TV special. Sarah Harris has returned to host while cover star Jessica Rowe popped by to trial our craft projects. We hit the road to film in Yass and had plenty of celebrity guests – including many featured in this issue – drop in. We hope you enjoy the show as much as we loved filming.…

Anthony & Lucia Field While other dads spend Christmas mornings knee-deep in wrapping paper with their kids, a long-standing tradition means Anthony starts the day with children other than his own. Since co-founding The Wiggles in 1991, Anthony and the band visit the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick each year. “Only the children who are really sick are still in the wards – they do try to get everyone home,” he explains. “We go around and sing Christmas songs. And if the children don’t celebrate Christmas, then we’ll sing their favourite Wiggles song. We all try to hide our emotions. I’m a bit of a downer driving home but then I get there and I’m very grateful to be with my own family.” “I went a couple of times when…

Hall of FAME Dolly changes her tune Dolly Parton initially declined her nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but the honour turned out to be a prompt for the star to record a rock album. “I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it.’ I’d always wanted to. My husband is a big hard rock ‘n’ roll fan,” she revealed to music magazine Pollstar. The irrepressible Dolly, 76, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Pink. New arrivals Three times the love Actress Michelle Williams, 42, has welcomed her third child, her second with hubby Thomas Kail. The new bub is a sibling to Matilda, 17, and Hart, two. Rebel’s reveal! After speaking candidly about her fertility struggle, Rebel Wilson has welcomed a daughter, Royce, via…

winging open her front door, the only thing brighter than the Sydney morning’s unexpected sunshine is Jessica Rowe’s beaming smile. Delivering a flurry of hugs and cheek kisses, Jess’s excitement is palpable as she rushes to offer tea, coffee, water, bustling into the kitchen (which, she says, she cleaned ahead of time for us) to start up a round of refreshments. It’s a gorgeous, open-plan living area that feels light and clutter-free. But look closely and it’s not hard to spot the influence Jess has had on the decor. A cluster of kitsch cat figurines adorn a shelf in the butler’s pantry. Her own devoted menagerie of pets (two cats, one dog) trail her as she wafts through the room. Vibrantly coloured cushions plump up the velvet armchairs in which…