Lightyear’s Chris Evans and Keke Palmer on how to be happy

With Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, and Taika Waititi being just a few of the names lighting up the all star cast, Lightyear is the latest movie in the beloved Toy Story franchise and the first Pixar movie to hit the cinema since 2020. The animated movie follows the story of the ‘real’ Buzz Lightyear (who the toy in the original movie was based on), as he embarks upon an intergalactic adventure. Our inner children are collectively screaming.

The movie has been banned in multiple countries due to the same-sex kiss between two lesbian characters, which is a lovely moment of LGBTQ+ representation to experience in a children’s movie during pride month.

Following the buzz of Lightyear (if you’ll pardon the pun), Woo took to the red carpet to find out what makes the stars happy. What lights them up from within, hm?

For Chris Evans, who stars as our fave Buzz as well as Marvel’s Captain America, he says that “happiness is about trying to live in the moment, and being present.” Evans has spoken openly in the past about his experience of severe anxiety and panic attacks that have almost made him quit acting, leading him to turn down the Captain America opportunity several ties. He cites his friendship with Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jnr., therapy, friends, and family as real pillars of support.

Vlogger Louise Pentland says that, for her, “happiness is feeling calm, feeling safe, feeling secure in where I am and being with my children”, to which her daughter confirms, “a great life and a happy family” is the key to feeling content.

Keke Palmer expresses that family is what makes her happiest, too, “I really have so much pride in my family and how much they’ve sacrificed for me. What they believe in and what they stand for, and their love for the arts... I just want to make them proud”. Aww. The actor, musician, host, and author has spoken candidly about her past struggles with depression, as well as her experience of endocrine disorder polycystic ovary syndrome.

Taika Waititi’s short but sweet answer that “happiness is feeling seen” sums up human nature pretty nicely, and Waititi’s approach to life generally. He’s often highlighted the mental health crisis in his home of New Zealand, and championed hope and joy across his previous films like Jojo Rabbit.