Movie hardman Russell Crowe hugs a delighted young boy as they go for a meal – fuelling rumours he may be the latest celebrity to adopt a child.
Fooling about in a fast food restaurant the blond, pony-tailed Gladiator star dotes on his mystery young friend as the little fella’s guardian looks on.
Russell spent Saturday with the youngster in Los Angeles.
The fiery star travelled across town from his Beverly Hills hotel to watch his pal play baseball at a YMCA in the city’s rundown Westchester district.
Eating at Mexican-styled Baja Fresh later, Russell cuddled and kissed the boy.
An onlooker said: "Russell was amazingly affectionate to the kid. There was a strong bond there and he was really getting a kick out of it.
"Sometimes the most difficult people only really open up properly when they are around children. That certainly seems to be the case here.
"The two of them looked just like a father and son playing in the restaurant and Russell was pretty upset when the boy left."
A number of US celebrities have adopted children and showbiz insiders are predicting that more are set to do the same.
Angelina Jolie adopted Cambodian orphan Maddox before her split with hubby Billy Bob Thornton.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne recently took on their daughter’s best friend Robert Marcato after his mum died of cancer. Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart adopted son Liam more than a year ago.
Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer have also adopted children in the past.
Russell has been filming Napoleonic sea drama The Far Side Of The World in Mexico over the summer.
Last month he signed up to present a series of radio shows for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation aimed at increasing youngsters’ interest in the arts.
The actor, who caused outrage at this year’s BAFTAs in London when he pinned a telly executive against a wall for cutting his Best Actor acceptance speech, was talked into giving up his time by girlfriend Danielle Spencer, whose dad Don set up the foundation.
Could it possibly be that the Kiwi-born king of moody is getting broody?
"I Think I Love You!" That's the tune Enrique Iglesias wanted to warble when he chatted up former "Partridge Family" heartthrob David Cassidy's 15-year-old daughter Katie, who just covered her dad's signature hit. Iglesias, who was sans sweetie Anna Kournikova, cornered comely Katie at the Tribeca Rooftop Wednesday night to chat about her fledgling music career. Our spy swears overhearing the skirt-chasing crooner ask Katie, "And when will you be 16?"
Welcome to the bungle: Axl Rose appears to have pulled a Mickey Rourke and gotten enough plastic surgery to make him look more like a muppet than the sneering Guns & Roses frontman we know and love. The reclusive rocker understandably didn't want to, uh, face the press last night at his Video Music Awards after-party at the Old Homestead and barred journalists from attending. That's fine with us. We'd rather remember the way Axl looked when his rugged mug charmed the likes of Stephanie Seymour and countless big-haired groupies.
Þetta getur ekki verið hann. Hann sem var svo sætur og mikill töffari. Ég er sko ekki ánægð!
Country crooner Shania Twain is saying so long to her manager of six years, Jon Landau, after she accused him of spending too much attention on his other client, Bruce Springsteen. "Shania threw a fit," one insider said. "Her new album is coming out in November, her single drops on Sept. 23, and she felt he was spending too much time with Bruce and his 'Rising' tour." Landau tried to talk to the demanding diva, but when Twain tried to cut his rates from 20 percent to 10 percent, he "told her to go scratch." The outraged music industry insider added: "Jon helped her sell 30 million albums, and she repays him by trying to skimp on his salary - nice, huh." Twain has now signed with Q Prime management - a heavy metal company that represents Metallica, Def Leppard and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "This should be interesting," our source added. A rep for Landau Management said: "It was a joint decision among friends to part ways."
HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) - Actors Billy Connolly ("White Oleander"), Timothy Spall ("Vanilla Sky") and Tony Goldwyn ("Bounce") have joined the cast of Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai" for Warner Bros.
Directed by Edward Zwick and written by John Logan, the film centers on 19th century colonial Nathan Algren (Cruise) who goes to Japan to train the Japanese emperor's troops, which represent a major cultural shift from the samurai warriors that feudal lords used to employ. Algren watches from the front lines as the honorable yet contradictory samurai are systematically dishonored and eradicated by their country. He is subsequently captured by the warriors, taught their ways of honorable battle and ends up siding with them.
Goldwyn will play Agren’s commanding officer during the Civil War who gets him the job, while Connolly will play Agren’s best friend and Spall will play an English translator, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Production on "The Last Samurai" is set to begin later this year in New Zealand, Japan and the U.S.
HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) - Following her Oscar-nominated performance for "Moulin Rouge," Nicole Kidman may soon be signing up another musical.
The actress is in negotiations to star in a remake of the 1972 classic "Cabaret," reprising the role of German club singer Sally Bowles, according to London's Daily Star.
Originally starring Liza Minnelli and directed by Bob Fosse, the story centers on a cabaret entertainer in Weimar Republic-era Berlin who romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them. Producers are reportedly courting Britain's "Pop Idol" winner Will Young, who scored two number one hits in his native country following his triumph, to play Bowles’ love interest, posh English professor Brian Roberts, in the film.
"Will is talented -- 'Pop Idol' proved that and that's why Hollywood came calling. This could be his biggest break yet," a film insider is quoted saying.
Will Young?? Af öllum þá vilja þeir Will Young? Hvað er að?
Madonna and Guy at loggerheads over their film’s ending
Pop icon Madonna’s new flick Swept Away has not only upset film critics - she and her husband Guy Ritchie bicker constantly over the movie's ending.
Madonna, who stars as stranded snob Amber alongside Adriano Giannini, as fisherman Pepe, admits that she and her British director spouse are in eternal disagreement over the way the romance should have worked out between the two characters, who develop a relationship on a deserted isle.
Ritchie says, "The ending is where me and the wife disagree. Madonna loves the idea that Amber and Pepe's relationship will work." Madonna retaliates, "Yes, I believe Amber and Pepe could make it together. Because I believe that both of them underwent a major transformation on the island."
But Ritchie fires back, "Madonna thinks Amber would go back home, see the error of her ways and fly out to Pepe again. If Pepe tried to move with her, the little fisherman would be f***ed when he got to civilisation. Once Amber's fallen back into Manhattan life, the dream will just evaporate. No, no. Pepe can't go to Manhattan. It could only work if Amber went his way."
Madonna adds her last word on the matter: "I'm not saying they wouldn't be challenged, but I am an optimist and a romantic, and by the time they got off that island they were friends and they had things in common, which are two key ingredients for a successful friendship." (wenn)
Led Zeppelin Lose Copyright For Houses Of The Holy
Rock legends Led Zeppelin have lost the copyright to their 1973 album ‘Houses Of The Holy’ - with ownership going to Atlantic Records instead.
The United States Copyright Office rejected a request issued by surviving bandmembers and the widow of the late drummer John Bonham in December 2001 to renew the rights, listing the group as owners.
The Office went on to grant the renewal to Atlantic, who have held the rights since the LP's original release, because the recording's registration lists it as a work made for hire.
It is expected Led Zeppelin's lawyers will try to reach a negotiation with Atlantic.(WENN)
Guests invited to Sean 'P Diddy' Comb's post-MTV Video Music Awards party were given fashion tips to ensure they'll be allowed in.
The hip-hop mogul teamed up with Madonna's Maverick record label partner Guy Oseary to stage a lavish after-show party, and he was determined to make it a stylish affair.
All potential guests were sent a list of fashion dos and don'ts, with Diddy making it clear that if you're improperly dressed, you won't get past the door.
His 'in' list of fashion includes his Sean John range and Dolce & Gabbana. Diddy was hoping to score a coup by playing host to both Justin Timberlake and his ex Britney Spears, who the rap star sat next to at the VMAs last night, 29 August 2002.
Stars who managed to get past the fashion police at the door were rewarded with snowboards and lingerie - part of the goody bag booty handed out at the party. (WENN)
Mér var boðið.. ég bara nennti ekki að fara. P Diddy er alltaf að reyna við mig, ég er bara orðin leið á því.
Bush star Gavin Rossdale has joined the cast of London gangster movie Red Light Runners.
The rocker will make his big screen debut opposite Harvey Keitel, Martin Kemp, Vinnie Jones and Minnie Driver in the film, which will be produced by Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen.
Rossdale, who is set to wed No Doubt girlfriend Gwen Stefani next month recorded a solo song earlier this year for the soundtrack to hit movie XXX. (WENN)
Mary J Blige would quit music if she had kids because having children is more important than her career.
The 31-year-old hip-hop-soul diva, who is engaged to longtime boyfriend Kendu Isaacs, thinks that once you have children, they should come before everything else.
She says, "I'd like a couple of kids - a boy and a girl. And if they require all my time, then my career will just have to go on hold, because I'm not handing them over to a nanny."
"My focus will be on creating a stable environment for them and giving them all the positive stuff I didn't have as a kid." (WENN)
Pop trio Atomic Kitten have been offered US$1.5 million (S$2.6 million) to make a fitness video. The band - Jenny Frost, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton - plans to release Atomic Dance, a workout to remixes of their hits, in time for Christmas.
The girls are waiting to see how Natasha recovers from the birth of baby Josh last weekend. The group are also releasing "Right Now Live" in October - which will feature exclusive footage of their tour from February this year.
A spokesperson says, "There's some great footage for fans of the girls with their boyfriends, in their plush hotels and just before they perform." (WENN)
Soccer Ace Sol Campbell 'Too Cool' For Christina Milian
Sexy singer Christina Milian was unimpressed when she met soccer star Sol Campbell - because he simply passed over his phone number expecting her to call instead of chatting to her.
Campbell had already told friends that he was attracted to the singer. They reported he was impressed by her short skirts and high heels when the Arsenal player met her in a London restaurant earlier this year.
However, Christina, who had a hit with "AM to PM", refused to phone Campbell because she felt he did not make enough effort with her.
She says, "If he had only stopped to chat, things might have worked out differently. He passed me his number but I never phoned him because he didn't make the effort."
But the soccer star may still stand a chance due to his star performances for England in the soccer World Cup over the summer. Christina reveals, "I was impressed with how well he did in the World Cup. But he would have to get in touch and actually go to the trouble of speaking to me the next time if anything is going to happen." (WENN)
Australian pop beauty Holly Valance has joined Gwyneth Paltrow and Heather Graham in taking a dig at British men.
Holly, who releases "Down Boy", her follow up to British number one "Kiss Kiss", in the UK next month says she prefers her rugged, sun-kissed Aussie compatriots.
She says, "I prefer Aussie men to British ones. I've never met any British boys that I've thought, 'Not bad, not bad.' I'm going to be patriotic. I love the Australian sense of humour." (WENN)
Lyrics by controversial rapper Eminem could have inspired a sex attack on a nine-year-old boy, a Manchester, England court has heard.
An older boy, now 13, was convicted of indecent assault after twice ordering the younger child to perform a lewd sexual act, threatening the boy with a piece of metal and saying he would kill the boy's dog unless he complied with demands.
Before the teenager's conviction, the jury was played Ken Kaniff from the hip-hop star's 1999 album The Slim Shady following prosecutor William Baker saying, "One possibility is that the adolescence heard the track and thought it would be a good idea to make someone do that to him." Michelle Elliott, director of child protection charity Kidscape remarks, "There is something disturbing about a record or video egging people on to behave outside social parameters. I personally find them disgusting and don't think we should give them a platform. If you are already disturbed, listening to something particularly unpleasant could give you the rationale to think it is ok." (wenn)
Sexy singer Kylie Minogue turned to her famous sister Dannii for support after discovering her on/off boyfriend James Godding spent two nights with former soap actress Davinia Taylor.
Model James stayed with Davinia, best pal of Atomic Kitten star Jenny Frost, at the actress' Belsize Park, London home on Monday and Tuesday.
After seeing James' indiscretions in the tabloids on Wednesday, Dannii rushed round to her sibling's Chelsea apartment to console her. A friend says, "Kylie and Dannii are very close. It's only natural Kylie would want to pour her heart out to someone she trusts. She's just finished an exhausting tour and enjoyed a lovely break in Bali with James so this is the last thing she wants." (wenn)
Winona Ryder has reportedly decided to plead guilty to shoplifting charges in an effort to avoid jail time. Sources report the actress is close to reaching a settlement, which would see her receive a sentence of community service in exchange for a guilty plea. "I don't know if anybody welcomes going through a trial. A lot of that depends on factors beyond her control," Ryder's lawyer told reporters. "Winona definitely doesn't want to go to trial," an insider confirms to imdb.com. "There are a lot of things she'd never want discussed in court."
Are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck planning to head down the aisle? Reports from across the pond claim that the Latina diva will tie the knot in a lavish $1.5 million Valentine's Day Puerto Rican extravaganza. Lopez is said to be eager to return to her roots for her third marriage and has consequently taken over the super-luxe Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Juan, the island of her parents' birth. "This will be one of the most glorious weddings in Hollywood history," an insider tells reporters. "Jennifer is telling friends that she wants to go all out for this wedding and money is no object." As the ink on her divorce settlement from Cris Judd is still drying, a plethora of designers and decorators will envelope the hotel ballroom with Lopez's signature white silk and chiffon drapes. There will also be top-notch security costing $100,000 at the bash. The newly married pair are expected to arrive at their reception in a horse-drawn carriage.
Eminem was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards last night scooping four of the top prizes, dotmusic can report.
The rapper increased his already impressive tally of awards by picking up the four gongs for his recent 'Without Me' video including the converted Video of The Year award.
Fresh from their Reading/Leeds Festival appearances last weekend, The White Stripes - dressed in their trademark colours - were the nights other big winners taking home three awards for their 'Fell In Love With A Girl' video.
No Doubt, Pink, Kylie Minogue and Coldplay - the only British winners - were also recipients of a VMA this year.
The winners in full:
Video of the Year: Eminem - Without Me Rap Video: Eminem - Without Me Direction: Eminem (Director Joseph Kahn - Without Me) Male Video: Eminem - Without Me Editing: The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl Special Effects: The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl Breakthrough Video: The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl Pop Video: No Doubt - Hey Baby Group Video: No Doubt - Hey Baby Rock Video: Linkin Park - In the End Viewer's Choice Award: Michelle Branch - Everywhere R 'n' B Video: Mary J Blige - No More Drama Hip-Hop Video: Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real Female Video: Pink - Get The Party Started Dance Video: Pink - Get The Party Started New Artist in a Video: Avril Lavigne - Complicated Video from a Film: Chad Kroeger feat Josey Scott - Hero (Spider-Man) MTV2 Award: Dashboard Confessional - Screaming Infidelities Choreography: Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head Art Direction: Coldplay - Trouble Cinematography: Moby - We Are All Made Of Stars
Miss Congeniality star Sandra Bullock is the most desirable lady in Hollywood, according to a US TV poll. The 38-year-old tops the list of 25 actresses in the list, with Bridget Jones's Diary actress Renee Zellweger in second place. Newly-single Moulin Rouge screen siren Nicole Kidman came in third. The full list is: 1. Sandra Bullock, 2. Renee Zellweger, 3. Nicole Kidman, 4. Gwyneth Paltrow, 5. Janet Jackson, 6. Kirsten Dunst, 7. Jennifer Love Hewitt, 8. Beyonce Knowles, 9. Lara Flynn Boyle, 10. Kristin Davis.
DiCaprio Pulls Out of World Summit
Hollywood hunk Leonardo DiCaprio has cancelled an appearance at the World Development Summit - despite calling on American President George W. Bush to attend. The Beach star, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Stewart and Bob Geldof were all expected in Johannesburg, South Africa for the summit, which started earlier this week. Earth loving Leo was to support a project to save great apes, but pulled out at the last minute because of "contractual obligations" in his native America. At a rally earlier this month, DiCaprio pleaded with Bush to "please go prepared to join the vast majority of nations in constructing a concrete plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Organizers of the summit are disappointed at the turnout. They hoped the presence of international celebrities could raise the media profile of the event.
'Big Fat Greek' Star Stunned by Success
The star and writer of America's sleeper summer movie hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding is still stunned her film is fast becoming the most profitable movie ever made. Newcomer Nia Vardalos turned her hit play into a movie script when Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson fell in love with the story of a frumpy Greek girl and her wacky family. The film is currently third on America's box office list, five months after its release. And, with a $63.7 million take so far, the film has made a huge profit. It cost just $5 million to make. Industry watchers claim the profit margin is the equivalent of the latest Star Wars movie making back $1 billion. Vardalos says, "All I ever wished was that we would make our $5 million back. If it had been shown in the basement of Greek churches, I would have been happy." Vardalos is now working on a sequel to the hit, based in Greece.
Harris's 'Harry Potter' Role in Doubt Over Health Fears
Veteran actor Richard Harris may have to be replaced in the third installment of the Harry Potter films as fears for his health grow. The famously hard-drinking Irishman was admitted to a London hospital last week, reportedly suffering from pneumonia. He completed filming of the second Harry Potter flick, The Chamber Of Secrets, although a double was needed for some scenes when he was feeling ill. The 71-year-old plays Professor Albus Dumbledore in the tales of the schoolboy wizard, but bosses at Warner Brothers will decide next month if he is fit enough to reprise the role in the next movie, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, which starts shooting in January. If Harris is deemed too ill to continue the role - he is signed up to appear in all seven mooted films based on J.K. Rowling's books - the favorite to take over is a virtual unknown. Harry Robinson, 72, is the spitting image of Harris and has appeared as his double in the previous two films. A source on the set says, "The producers are not confident Richard will be well enough and have told Harry there's an 80 per cent chance of him getting the part. He's already been told to start practicing Dumbledore's distinctive deep voice." Last night Robinson said, "I'd love the role but I can't talk about it." A spokesperson for Harris says, "He is still in hospital with a chest infection. It's too early to talk about Harry Potter."
Nicole Kidman Buys New York Flat
Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has splashed out on an exclusive $7.5 million flat in New York. The leggy Australian star's new pad, in the trendy West Village area, is in a block with a restaurant, gym and 24-hour security. The Birthday Girl's neighbors will include fashion king Calvin Klein, who lives in the penthouse suite. On a clear day, Nicole, should she want to, would be able to make out the flat ex-husband Tom Cruise shares with lover Penelope Cruz in the city.
'Buffy' Is 'Most Immoral TV Show'
Hit TV program Buffy The Vampire Slayer is the most immoral show on TV, according to right-wing American group, the Parents Television Council. The reactionary pressure group also claims that last year Buffy "became more graphic in its depictions of violence and sex." The organization criticized American comedy Friends for its depiction of promiscuous lifestyles, such as Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel Green having a baby out of wedlock. Another comedy, Will And Grace, was also slammed for its depiction of a gay man and his straight female best friend. The PTC instead want to see more of a TV shows like Doc, which is about a country doctor living in the city.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been named the Best Band In The World at the annual Kerrang Awards, dotmusic can report.
The US funk-rock heroes sealed a remarkable return to prominence in recent years with the honour, which was announced at a ceremony in London last night.
The band accepted their award via a video link from the US, as did Marilyn Manson, who won the award for Best Video for his new version of 'Tainted Love'.
Other winners at the event, which is co-ordinated by the UK's biggest selling music weekly, included Muse, who took the honour for Best British Live Act and A for Best British Band.
On a more international tip, the Foo Fighters were installed into the Kerrang Hall of Fame, Best Single went to Puddle Of Mudd's 'Blurry' and Sum 41 were named Best International Newcomer.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Best international newcomer: Sum 41 Best single: 'Blurry' - Puddle of Mudd Classic songwriter: The Offspring Best British live act: Muse Best video: Marilyn Manson Best British band: A Best international live act: Rammstein Best new British band: The Cooper Temple Clause Best Album: 'Ideas Above Our Station' - Hundred Reasons Best band in the world: Red Hot Chili Peppers Spirit of Independence Award: Alec Empire Hall of Fame: Foo Fighters
Eminem is set to antagonise his fiercest critics once again as the video for 'White America' is made available online for the first time.
The Flash-driven animation - currently showing during his set on the Anger Management Tour - is based around the various attacks Eminem has come under from pressure groups who cite him as a cause of America's social problems.
Viewing the media-drenched world through Eminem's eyes, the video is populated by expressionless teenagers and features some particularly un-PC scenes including a police beating, Uncle Sam swearing, abuse of teachers, and a suburban lynch mob firing their guns in the air.
Marshall is wanted for excessive profanity on billboards and Eminem crops up in mock news bulletins that report school shootings and the rise of drug use by Eric and Erica - young Eminem look-alikes.
Eminem extends his list of victims to include politicians with the President depicted as a pig and racist record company executives who won't sign him because of his skin colour. He also attacks restrictions on freedom of speech especially with the manipulation of the media shown in the video as propaganda in newspapers and fighter planes dropping TVs instead of bombs on the city.
The video was the work of Guerrilla News Network, an US underground news organization who say their mission is to "expose people to important global issues through guerrilla programming on the web and on television."
On his last album, the track 'The Way I Am' examined similar themes attacking the media's reaction to the Columbine school shooting where Marilyn Manson's music and image was alleged to have been a major cause of the tragedy.
What's the one TV show you secretly love? You know, the one you can't wait to watch, but would never tell a soul you religiously follow it?
Well, we found out Jennifer Aniston's guilty pleasure, and boy, is it a good one.
"Trading Spaces!" she laughed when we asked her which show she couldn't live without.
It seems that Mrs. Brad Pitt is spending her down time watching the hit TLC remodeling show. She also admitted that she loves the Biography and Discovery channels. Could we be seeing her and Brad on a future cover of Better Homes and Gardens?
Guy Ritchie may be keeping his options open, as he has devised a TV series for Channel 5. The show, to be called Swag, described as 'a cross between Police Camera Action and Trigger Happy TV', will feature reconstructions of absurd crimes where members of the public are tempted to get involved in the crime. Ritchie is the brains behind the practical-joking series, but will not be involved in the production. 'The show is about getting your own back on people who are not necessarily criminals but are a little bit greedy,' said the Channel 5 entertainment controller, Andrew Newman. 'We'll have reconstructions of classic stupid crimes, such as the bank robber who robbed a bank the day he got out of prison and left a finger at the scene of the crime.' Swag will be co-produced by Ritchie's company, Ska, and Monkey (owned by Will MacDonald, Chris Evans's side-kick on TFI Fridays and David Granger, another ex-Ginger employee). Even Andrew Newman admits the programme is not going to be too taxing on the audience's brain cells, describing it as 'dumb but life-affirming'.
Will someone please tell us what is going on in the McCartney household? In the latest twist to this familial tale, Sir Paul's new wife, Heather, has been waxing lyrical about her "close bond" with his daughters. "You have absolutely no idea," she enthused to a US magazine. "I speak to Heather, the eldest, especially, 40 minutes every day. Every day! And Stella and I get on brilliantly." This seems to be a dramatic turnaround from rumours of increasingly frosty relations between Mills and the McCartney girls. To make matters worse for Lady Mac, her claim that Sir Paul's fashion designer daughter recently issued a press statement to say how well the pair got on, seems to be false. "Stella never discusses her private life, so a press release would never have been issued," spokesperson Mesh Chhibber tells New York magazine. The plot thickens...
The James Bond star makes the revelation in a forthcoming biography.
He said he was confused about his sexuality when he was a 16-year-old.
"I was young, frivolous and full of abandon, a hippie with long hair down to my shoulders and a little goatee beard," he said.
"Why? Because I thought I was gay.
"But," he added, "I'm not gay."
"Why? Because I thought I was gay. But no, I'm not gay."
Photographer Colin Curwood recalls in the book how he photographed the future action hero taking part in a street carnival dressed in the kind of outfit even Q could not persuade Bond to get into: ballet tights and a tutu.
Brosnan was picked on by bullies for his artistic temperament and Irish accent as a teenager in London when he wrestled with his sexuality, and seemed unlikely to perform the death-defying feats which are run of the mill for 007.
The 007 star recently completed filming his fourth instalment as Bond in Die Another Day which hits cinemas at the end of the year.
New Madonna movie ‘Swept Away’ has hit further problems, journalists in director Guy Ritchie's native Britain think it's a terrible film. The celebrity couple's remake of the 1975 Italian film ‘Travolti Da Un Insolito Destino Nell'azzurro Mare D'Agosto’ has been universally panned by industry audiences in London, following months of speculation that the movie was so bad it would not be granted a cinema release.
The film was deemed unremarkable by film writers, who were more intrigued by the sight of a massively muscle bound Material Girl at the screening, however some conceded the drama had got better following extensive changes after its first disastrous screenings. A source says, "It might not be very good but I can tell you it's improved immeasurably from the edit I saw before. The problem for Columbia Tri Star is they can't 'bury' it. They're under pressure to promote the film properly because Guy and Madonna live in London."
Guy Ritchie has hit back at journalists in his home country saying, "There's a problem with the Brits. I don't know what it is, but they kick the s*** out of anyone who does well. I guess they do it everywhere. It's so vindictive. The press in the UK has kicked the s*** out of ‘Swept Away’ so far. No one had even seen it there, and every day there was another article about what a terrible movie it is. There was an article by a chap who, by the way, has always blown so much smoke up our a** it's absurd. And he wrote that this movie will never get released, it's absolutely awful. He said everyone argued, and we're gonna get divorced. And they dedicated a page to that. You could warm your hands off the hatred and resentment. I knew we were setting ourselves up for the s***, but in a way it stimulates you to do it." (wenn)
Britney Spears' ex Justin Timberlake is following his former girlfriend's lead by going to America's showbiz magazines to clear up rumours about his lovelife.
Spears opened up to People magazine last week and now the 'N Sync star has revealed all to rival US Weekly - laughing off reports of romances with Christina Aguilera and Janet Jackson and insisting he's happy to be single.
Timberlake chose to speak to the media about his personal life after reading reports about him fathering a child for Jackson and smooching with Aguilera at a club.
He says, "Make out in a club? I didn't do that when I was with Britney. Why would I do it with somebody I just met? That's the thing I laugh at and sometimes I cry about it too. It has happened for at least six months now, this whole image of everybody portraying me as a playboy. That's not me."
On his split from Spears, Timberlake only reveals, "Something happened. Something very bad happened." (WENN)
Multi-talented star Jennifer Lopez is on the lookout for teenage girls to star in her forthcoming NBC sitcom.
The singer-actress is writing and producing a show based on her upbringing in the Bronx borough of New York.
J.Lo's Nuyorican Productions are holding open auditions in Metropolis Studios in New York and Design Center Of The Americas in Dania Beach, Florida next week.
Producers are looking for Latina girls, aged between 13-16 who are fluent in English and can sing. (WENN)
Her solo career may have been something of a disappointment, but Victoria Beckham's fashion game has gone from strength to strength. The former Spice Girl has been voted the world's best-dressed celebrity in a nationwide survey of more than 1000 women. It is a dramatic change of fortune for Mrs. Beckham, who earned the ignominy of worst-dressed star for two years running. Posh, whose second child is due in a matter of days, knocked Catherine Zeta-Jones off the top spot with 26 per cent of votes. While Zeta-Jones came second with 22 per cent of votes, Kylie Minogue was third followed by Madonna (who also took second place on the worst dressed list), and Nicole Kidman. Britney Spears was predictably named most sartorially-challenged celeb, with Madonna, Jordan and Helena Bonham Cartner hot on her heels.
Actress Winona Ryder is thought to be attempting to strike a deal over her current shoplifting case. Legal experts were surprised the star successfully asked for another postponement of a hearing in the long-running case last week, whilst at the same time insisting through her lawyer she was seeking a swift conclusion to the legal action. However, it is now believed the time granted by the postponement, from yesterday to the September 5, will be used by her legal team to plea bargain. A spokeswoman for the District Attorney's office believes secret negotiations have been going on for some time. The Reality Bites star is due to stand trial on four serious charges - grand theft, second-degree burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance after being arrested after removing security tags on clothing in a Beverly Hills, California boutique, and then attempting to leave the shop without paying. The September hearing is expected to set a date for a trial - but Ryder is said to be keen to avoid a "messy" court process.
Jacko Goes MTV for Birthday
Superstar Michael Jackson is celebrating his 44th birthday by going to this year's MTV Video Music Awards. The "Dangerous" hitmaker is flying from his current vacation spot in Las Vegas to New York for the bash at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday. Reports suggest the music video network will present the King of Pop with a special honor to coincide with his celebrations. However, one of Jackson's closest friends, psychic Uri Gellar, cannot be with the star for his celebrations, as he is in Australia filming a Survivor-type celebrity TV program, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! for British network ITV.
Orlando The Matchmaker
Hollywood couple Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts have one person to thank for their new romance - Lord Of The Rings dreamboat Orlando Bloom. Sexy Brit Orlando, who plays Legolas in the J.R.R. Tolkien film trilogy, decided to play Cupid while the trio were filming The Kelly Gang in Australia. Not satisfied with bringing the pair together, the 25-year-old actor then acted as a decoy so they could get to know each other away from the watchful eye of the media. A friend says, "Orlando loved being part of it. He'd arrive at nightclubs with Heath knowing that once inside the VIP room, he'd be dumped for Naomi. He thought it was a hoot." Orlando is pleased to hear that the A Knight's Tale star, 23, has asked the Mulholland Drive beauty, 33, to move into his Hollywood home.
Margot Kidder Recovers From Accident
Troubled actress Margot Kidder has hit more bad luck - she's suffered a broken pelvis in a highway accident in the state of Maine. The 53-year-old actress, who played Lois Lane in the Superman movies of the late 1970s and early '80s, was injured on Sunday when her GMC Yukon hit a raised pavement and rolled over several times. Kidder, who lives in Montana, had been in Maine to host the 15-Minute Festival, a series of original plays staged at the National Theater Workshop Of The Handicapped. She was on her way to Montreal, Canada, when the accident happened. Kidder's friend, David Stuckey, says that the actress - who went bankrupt after a 1990 car crash stopped her from working for two years and also suffered from manic depression in 1996 - won't require surgery but will remain for several days at Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast, Maine. Stuckey says Kidder was in a lot of pain, adding, "But she's in good spirits. She's okay."
Lopez and Affleck in Fire Drama
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were forced to flee his New York loft apartment when a fire broke out. The showbiz couple were enjoying a quiet night in with Ben's brother Casey and Joaquin Phoenix when the blaze started on Monday. The four escaped unhurt from the building and called firefighters. An onlooker says, "They were all sitting outside the apartment on the street. It was strange to see celebrities sitting around and talking to the neighbors as the blaze was dealt with. Luckily it was just a small fire that was controlled in no time."
My Big Fat Box Office
Defying all of Hollywood's rules, My Big Fat Greek Wedding has a shot at becoming the No. 1 film at the box office this weekend as it adds an additional 200 screens in its 20th week, the New York Post reported today (Wednesday). The newspaper attributed the film's "sleeper" success to "the incredibly positive word-of-mouth that even the most expensive marketing campaign can't buy." The film, made for $5 million, had earned $64.6 million through Monday (and had already risen to the top three, behind Signs and XXX, despite playing on one-third the number of screens). "There's definitely a chance of Wedding hitting the top spot," analyst Gitesh Pandya of boxofficeguru.com told the Post. Meanwhile, Bob Berney, formerly of ICF Films, which is distributing the film, predicted in an interview with USA Today: "Wedding is going to be one of the most profitable films of all time."
Stunning and single American pop star Anastacia is finding it impossible to get a date because she's too successful.
The singer believes men find it difficult to accept independent and successful women - so, with her newfound stardom, has been scaring off potential suitors.
She says, "It is kinda hard to get dates because men are easily intimidated. I think that is a shame, because it should be about what you're like as a person, not how much you earn."
"It's getting harder for me to meet someone. The average Joe doesn't interest me. A relationship takes a lot of time, energy and passion so it has to be worth the effort." (WENN)
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are set to buy a property down under. The Hollywood lovebirds have set their sights on a pad overlooking Sydney harbour and have allocated a budget of £6 million for the purchase. They have requested that the property boasts both water and city views with a large entertaining area. And they will certainly put the place to excellent use. Pitt will be in Oz from October to film The Fountain alongside native Antipodean Cate Blanchett, who conveniently lives in Brad's desired district, Mosman.
It may only be August, but Hollywood is already abuzz with Oscar talk. So far Salma Hayek is being given the thumbs up for Best Actress for her role as the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in Frida, while Nicole Kidman and Renée Zellweger, (who were both nominated last year), are hotly tipped for their respective parts in The Hours and Chicago.
Anna Kournikova's poor form continues - she was booed out of the US Open after again losing in the first round.
The blonde stunner was dumped 6-3 6-0 by Angelique Widjaja of Indonnesia, making her first senior appearance at Flushing Meadows. She has now been eliminated from the first round of every Grand Slam this year.
The Russian was roundly jeered as she left the court after making 40 unforced errors in the 44-minute mis-match.
Vilified for not winning a tournament during her seven-year career, Kournikova had been working hard since coming back from a broken foot.
She had linked up with coach Harold Solomon, who helped Jennifer Capriati get back on track, and the work was showing results.
She ended a five-match losing streak last month in Stanford before reaching the quarter-finals and built on that result by reaching the semi-finals at San Diego.
"I didn't expect it to be this way at all," said a visibly upset Kournikova. "I thought I had a pretty good draw. I didn't play well at all. I wasn't in the match. I was just not there."
Australian Nicole Pratt, who lost to Sovakian Daniela Hantuchova, said: "I think it (her match) was sad," Pratt said.
"It's sad in the respect that Anna's such a good tennis player, but there's just been so much pressure on her to perform. Her performance today was just all mental."
Michael Jackson has announced that he is to play Edgar Allan Poe, 18th century horror tale writer, in a new film. The pop singer most often described as 'eccentric' has disclosed that he is in talks to star in the film, The Nightmare of Edgar Allan Poe, which will follow the writer's final days before his death. His good friend, the ever-increasing Marlon Brando, will coach him for the part. Jacko has been determined to forge his way into the film world – he is to co-direct a film, Wolfed, reprising his Thriller days with tales of werewolfs rampaging around London. The father of three has also bought himself an Oscar, which stands, prize of place in his sitting room. Maybe, with Brando's help, Jacko could earn one for real. Don't hold your breath.
Hræðilegt. Hverjum datt þetta í hug? Mér lýst ekkert á þetta.
Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke have bought themselves their very own island in Tracadie Harbor, Nova Scotia. The 9-acre expanse comes complete with two cottages and is accessible from land via the couple's own bridge. Although the pair are staying tight-lipped about how much they paid for their private escape, Canadian real-estate sources claim such islands typically go for between $800,000 and $2 million.
R&B singer and actress Aaliyah was remembered by fans in a candlelight vigil in New York's Times Square on Sunday night, 25 August 2002 on the first anniversary of her death.
The beautiful starlet, 22, was killed alongside seven others passengers and a pilot when a plane crashed in the Bahamas on the way to Florida following a video shoot for "Rock The Boat" on 25 August 2001.
Superfans Ron Hall and Quinn Mallory organised the touching remembrance and told fans who could not make it to the Manhattan service, to stand outside their homes with a candle in tribute.
Hall says, "I think it's something that will continue to grow in the coming years. I think that Aaliyah fans are going to share in a lot of what John Lennon fans and Elvis (Presley) fans share in. The John Lennon fans make their pilgrimage every year, and Elvis fans made theirs through the rain last week. (WENN)
Upcoming singer Vanessa Carlton is well on her way to finding a celebrity boyfriend - in the form of Third Eye Blind frontman Stephen Jenkins.
The 21-year-old singer/songwriter was spotted kissing the rockstar, who used to date Hollywood babe Charlize Theron, at a party in New York's 60 Thompson hotel last week.
The pop beauty has been smitten with Jenkins since he presented her with a raccoon bone amulet as a gift. (WENN)
Coldplay front man Chris Martin has slammed reports he is dating Gwyneth Paltrow. And the singer is getting increasingly frustrated about tabloid reports about his love life. He says, "It's really mad, fame. One paper even said I was going out with Natalie Imbruglia. "Another said Gwyneth Paltrow. I was really p***ed off with them because it's not true. The only person I've ever been pictured embracing in public was (British politician) Mo Mowlam and I'm fine with that." (wenn)
Rapper and actor Will Smith gave A$222,000 to charity after losing a bet with a Los Angeles radio DJ.
Will initially suggested to KWPR-FM presenter Big Boy, whose real name is Kurt Alexander, that he could lose some weight after being astounded by Big Boy's 231 kilograms frame. The Oscar-nominee went on to bet Big Boy A$2,000 to charity for each pound lost. Will was astounded when the radio host went on to lose 50.3 kilograms and now weighs 180.9 kilograms. (wenn)
It seems that the tempestuous relationship between Madonna and Guy Ritchie is spiralling out of control. News reaches us that just days after a bust up concerning Ritchie's forthcoming movie, Swept Away, the showbiz duo had a furious row about where to go for dinner. Tensions started to rise when the Material Girl, accustomed to getting her own way, announced that they were to dine at London's exclusive Nobu. However, Guy was having none of it and declared that they were headed to the equally salubrious Ivy restaurant. "They were shouting and fighting like little kids," an insider tells the Daily Mirror. "Madge refused to back down and was convinced that Guy would eventually give in. But he didn't and told her he had had enough. He then ran upstairs and packed a small overnight bag and drove to Matthew Vaughn's place for the night." But Madonna needn't have worried. After just one night apart, a sheepish Guy returned home. "They were all over each other. It was as if an argument had never happened," the source explains.
Þvílíkt og annað eins. Hafa þessir fréttamenn ekkert betra við tímann að gera en að búa til sögur um Madonnu?
The prospects for another series of hit sitcom Friends being made are even more remote - star Matthew Perry has dismissed any possibility of the show returning. Despite the upcoming new series being billed as the last installment of the American TV show, there has been intense speculation that, as has happened before, the six lead stars will be lured by a pay hike to embark on yet another run of the New York-based show. Not so says Perry, who continues, "Friends will definitely end this year and if someone came to us and offered us $20 million to do a movie I'm telling you I don't think anyone will do it."
Perry and Hurley Rumors Quashed
Bedazzled beauty Liz Hurley has stamped out any rumors of romance between her and Friends star Matthew Perry. The pair met on the set of forthcoming movie Serving Sara, but Liz reveals she did not get to know Matthew very well. She says, "I think Matthew is very special. I don't know him off set, really. Sometimes, when you do movies, all the actors and crew hang out together, but that never happened on this film. We were all very separate, so I've only ever seen him on duty." Hurley also reveals that she comforted Perry when he was having personal problems and says, "Even when he was going through some painful times of his own, he was always incredibly funny and up and cheerful. And always making me laugh. I think it's just ingrained in him. I don't know if there's a real sad Matthew who goes home and stops being funny, but I have a feeling there isn't."
Paltrow Dating British Rocker
Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is dating British rocker Chris Martin - just a week after complaining British men were too "nervous" to ask her out. The Shakespeare In Love star, currently living in London, has reportedly started seeing the Coldplay frontman, who has also been linked to Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia - and the hunky Brit declared his feelings by dedicating a song at a recent New York show to the onlooking Paltrow. A source in British newspaper the Daily Star says, "Gwyneth was singing along to the band's songs and seemed mesmerized by Chris. When he devoted the song to her she was thrilled and couldn't wipe the smile off her face. He's obviously got a thing for her."
Ralph Fiennes: 'Red Dragon' Will Return To Terror of 'Lambs'
Ralph Fiennes has touted the new Hannibal Lecter movie as a return to the "psychological terror" of The Silence Of The Lambs. The English actor, who plays murderer Francis Dolarhyde in the new prequel, insists Red Dragon will be more like the Oscar-winning first film about the evil serial killer than its less successful sequel Hannibal. Fiennes says, "I was quite skeptical when I first heard about the film but then I read the script and it was really good. I looked at the cast that was already in place, Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and I thought I wanted to be alongside that quality. I think the character in Red Dragon is similar to the one I played in Schindler's List, they both have similar paths. You have to enter into the way they see the world, which is weird and disturbing."
Lucas and Coppola's Fantastic Journey
Movie makers George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola went on a mammoth trip this summer - a 2,719 mile train ride across Canada. Lucas, the maker of the Star Wars saga, and Coppola, director of The Godfather series and Apocalypse Now, rented a vintage train for the six- day vacation which cost the heavyweight pair upwards of $600,000. The duo, friends for more than 30 years, left Toronto on August 13 with their families on the chartered Royal Canadian Pacific train for the week-long trip to Vancouver. The train features three luxury cars with four bedrooms and three members of staff per passenger.
'N Sync's Lance Bass Experiences Zero-Gravity in Russia
Lance Bass has experienced his first zero-gravity training session as he bids to become the first boyband singer in space. The 'N Sync hunk, who wants to make a week-long trip to the Mir space station with Russia's team of cosmonauts, learned how to cope with the conditions he will face in Star City, Russia. During the training flight, Bass and other wannabe cosmonauts floated weightlessly for 30-second intervals. Bass, 23, is still awaiting word on funding for the mission, which begins on October 22.
Tensions and Water Rises on Connery Film Set
Tensions has risen with the water on the set of flood-threatened film The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - director Stephen Norrington has requested lead star Sean Connery punch him in the face. The pair's angry confrontation came after filming on location in Prague, Czech Republic, was thrown into chaos by severe flooding. An anonymous actor on the set reports that a frustrated Norrington walked up to the legendary star and shouted, "I'm sick of it. Come on, I want you to punch me in the face!" However, Connery declined, and left the set until the film-maker had calmed down. The source adds, "It's been a tough shoot. One of the film's sets in Prague was ruined because of the floods and Norrington was under pressure. It's not helped by the fact that he's always shouting and screaming at people, and some of the cast and crew are sick of it."
Samuel L. Jackson's a Wig-Wearer
Actor Samuel L. Jackson's secret is out - he's been donning a wide variety of wigs in movies to combat the onset of baldness. The Pulp Fiction star admits that his thinning follicles have forced him to trawl through publications every time he lands a film deal, so that he can pick out his new temporary hairstyle. He says, "I'm follicly challenged, but I work at it! With my make-up artist and my hairdresser, we create a look for each of my movies by checking out some magazines. We'll see a guy and we'll go, 'His hair!'" And the screen star has even gone as far as to wear the hair of his associates. He adds, "In the case of The Negotiator, it was the hair of my hairdresser's sister. Once we pick a style, we call the wigmaker and she makes the wig." And in the new blockbuster XXX, Jackson went all out with his bodily accessories, when he not only donned a wig, but also a huge fake scar for his role. He explains, "The bad guy always has a scar. So I figured I'd be a good guy with a scar. When you look at me from one side you see this guy who's debonair. But when he turns around, you gasp."
R&B star Ashanti put aside outrage at her Soul Train Lady Of Soul Entertainer of The Year honours to provide Saturday night's, 24 August 2002 event highlight and she thanks her critics for giving her the incentive to shine.
The singer/songwriter was crowned the Aretha Franklin Entertainer of The Year despite protests that she wasn't deserving of the title. Critics flooded the Soul Train website earlier this month after learning that Ashanti was to be the recipient of the revered prize.
But she insists the controversy only served to make her give her very best at the event at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California.
She says, "I wanted to show people that I am deserving of this. I've worked very hard to get where I am and I'm not about to let the doubters get to me. It's definitely an honour to just be recognised for such a prestigious award and I'm just so happy to be here with all my people who have been supporting me."
Soul legend Patti LaBelle, who presented the 21-year-old newcomer with her award, also hit back at the 28,000 people who petitioned against Ashanti, saying, "She's extremely deserving of this wonderful recognition. I got on the plane this morning to come here from Philadelphia because it's worth it. We have to support our babies."
Ashanti also picked up one competitive award for Best New Solo Artist. Tragic star Aaliyah, who was killed in a plane crash a year ago, also picked up two awards for Best R&B Solo Single and Song Of The Year - both for her posthumous hit "Rock The Boat".
Other big winners were Destiny's Child, who won the Best R&B/Soul Album of the year for Survivor, and Best R&B Single for "Emotion".
Alicia Keys picked up the R&B/Soul Album Of The Year for her debut album Songs In A Minor; Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott went home with the R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video prize for "One Minute Man", and Yolanda Adams picked up the Best Gospel Album award for Believe.
Actress Angela Bassett was also honoured with the Lena Horne Award For Outstanding Career Achievement. (WENN)
Pop heart-throb Robbie Williams has had a special secure room built in his London home so he can hide from intruders.
The star is terrified that fans could attack him at home and has increased security at the A$9 million house. The impenetrable basement room, like the one in Jodie Foster film The Panic Room , has CCTV, a special phone line and an alarm with a direct link to the police.
A friend of the star says, "Before he left for Los Angeles he was really concerned about some of the fans outside his house. He was especially freaked out by a group of foreign fans that even came down his drive and tried to look into the house. Rob got so worried that he called the police and asked what could be done. They said there wasn't much they could do unless threats were made or someone was caught trespassing. But he called them back to inquire about having a panic room installed. He also wanted to make sure there would be a quick response procedure so that if he raised the alarm, the cops would be round within minutes."
Panic rooms are a growing trend in America where rich householders fear attack from intruders. Robbie plans to return to England from Los Angeles just before his new album Escapology comes out in three months. (wenn)
Kylie denies wedding rumors and meets up with Hutchence’s father
Rumors are flying left right and centre at the alleged news that Kylie has married James Gooding.
The couple reportedly held hands and made a pledge of eternal love on the Indonesian island Bali. But a spokesman for Minogue denied reports they had revived their relationship by tying the knot in Bali. He said, "They haven't got married and they haven't exchanged any vows in a Balinese ceremony." Instead, the couple are said to be "enjoying each other's company" after Gooding flew out to be with her following the end of her Australian tour. In May, Minogue and Gooding announced they had split up, blaming hectic schedules.
Sexy superstar Kylie Minogue has had a tearful reunion with her late ex-lover Michael Hutchence’s father - five years after the rocker was found dead. The pop pixie was told that Kell Hutchence had continued to follow her career since the death of his son, so she sent him tickets to her Sydney concert. Although both attended the INXS star's funeral in 1997, the emotion of the occasion prevented the bereaved pair from having a long conversation.
Kell says, "It was an emotional moment. There alone sat Kylie. She was sitting there quietly in her robe, pretty exhausted from the show, but just glowing. She was very gracious and just the same sweet girl I remembered, so friendly and good-natured. It's so easy to see why Michael loved her. I kept thinking 'If only Michael could see her now...'"
In other Minogue news, Kylie has rubbished rumours that she begrudges her little sister Dannii Minogue’s success - insisting she loves her comeback single. Kylie is fully behind Dannii's new track ‘Put The Needle On It’ and forthcoming album - and is even helping promote it. She says, "I've heard a few songs from her album and they're great. I've been bigging her up all over the place. I love her new single; I can't get it out of my head! She's earned some success and joy, I'm thrilled. Our new singles won't be out at the same time - I'm sure the papers would love to have some war between us, but it won't happen." (wenn)
Wild pop princess Christina Aguilera stormed out of a New York night club after the DJ played a record by arch rival Britney Spears.
The pop diva failed to see the funny side when the mix-meister played the offending track and gave him a glare.
Aguilera finally stormed out when staff asked her to leave the Flow club. A witness says, "A waitress told her it was after hours - so they left in a huff. She was disgusted at the DJ's gag and made her feelings known." (WENN)
Eminem is aiming to be single for the rest of his life - and insists daughter Hailie will be his only child.
The rapper says he has no interest in romance because he wants to ensure he's able to lavish all his time and attention on his six year old. He says, "I'm a father before anything. I'm a father before I pick up the mic. I'm a father before I'm Eminem. I'm not looking for a new woman. I'm cool being single - not to say I don't get down. But as far as a relationship or getting married again, I'm cool, man. I learned my lesson and I've seen what it is and what it can and can't be and I feel like I've learned enough from my first mistake. Let that be the last one and keep moving forward."
And he adds, "No more kids. I'm good with Hailie. I'll spoil her and give her everything I never had. I have other family members that I take care of and want to take care of, but as far as kids, I'm cool. No more, one is enough."
The rapper, who is set to appear in the forthcoming 8 Mile movie, reportedly based on his rise from a little-known Detroit white rapper to global fame, admits he's not the perfect parent. He says, "There may be things I'm doing wrong and I'll find out in 10, 15 years, but right now I'm doing the best job I can and that's all I can do." (wenn)
Britney Spears became the latest victim of a pair of radio pranksters when she was persuaded to sing with a fake version of golf superstar Tiger Woods.
Canadian comics Marc Audette and Sebastien Trudel, known as the Masked Avengers, persuaded Spears to sing a track called "Let's Make A Hole In One" with Woods.
They later posed as singer Celine Dion, asking Britney about a bogus charity event. Audette, imitating Dion's voice, chatted with Spears on the telephone about each woman's charity foundations.
After a few minutes of mutual admiration, Audette invited Spears to come to Montreal and visit "her club" which is actually a popular Montreal strip club.
He also said, "Tiger Woods, one of my personal friends, promised me he's going to sing a very special song in duo with you and it's going to be called 'Let's Make a Hole in One'."
Spears replied "Oh, I would so be interested, oh my goodness, definitely. When do you all want to do it?"
Audette, who calls the singer a "good sport", adds, "She first had a little bit of an aggressive reaction but then she was laughing. She didn't even think it was a gag. I think she was so impressed to speak to Celine Dion."
Audette and fellow comic Trudel are well-known for fooling famous people on their radio show. The pair played an April Fool's Joke on Microsoft millionaire Bill Gates earlier this year when they pretended to be Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. (WENN)
Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton is celebrating after giving birth to a baby boy. The 20-year-old singer gave birth to son Josh on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the band said mother and baby were "both doing very well." The tot weighed 7lbs 12 ozs.
Natasha's fiance Fran Cosgrave, a former security guard for the boy band Westlife, was with her at the hospital, the location of which was being kept secret. The spokesperson said she had had a caesarian.
The baby's full name is Joshua Hamilton Cosgrave. Natasha said the name 'Josh' was her grandfather George's nickname.
The delighted glamour model said "yes" when Matt Peacock popped the question during a romantic holiday abroad, The People magazine said.
A close friend said Jordan, 24, was "truly smitten". Tanning shop worker Matt, 19, was also said to be thrilled.
"She can't shut up about marrying him. She's bubbling - acting like a schoolgirl," the source said.
But the paper said Matt's parents, both strict Catholics, had doubts. Jordan and Matt have been seeing each other for just three months after meeting at a Birmingham car show.
The friend said: "They like Jordan but fear the proposal has come too soon. And they are worried that at 19 he may be too young for her."
Former art student Matt has become a "rock" to Jordan - real name Katie Price - since it emerged her baby son Harvey is blind - and she has a rare form of cancer.
The pair reportedly held hands and pledged eternal love but decided not to use chicken's blood to seal the pact.
"We sometimes sacrifice a black chicken and scatter the blood to purify the building. But they didn't want a big fuss," a local told the News of the World.
The couple's union was blessed by Amir Rabik, who once conducted a similar ceremony for Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall.
Kylie, 34, has said she wants children with her model boyfriend, 24, who have been dating for two years.
The couple are due back in London after the singer's sell-out tour of Australia.
Friends say the pair may now marry for real.
Ég er orðlaus. Hefði ekki búist við þessu þó mig hefði dreymt fyrir því. Ekki að ég sé berdreymin.
(Katrillion) -- James Franco may have some big green shoes to fill in the upcoming "Spider-Man" sequel.
The Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated actor recently talked to SciFi Wire about the big-screen parallels between his role as Harry Osborn, and the character in the Spiderman comic book.
"All I can say is the first film was pretty loyal to the storyline of the comic book, and I assume the second will be, and that Harry does take a turn for the dark side," he hinted.
Fans of the original Spider-Man comic books know that after the violent demise of Harry's father, Norman Osborn, at the hands of Spider-Man, his son takes up his evil cause and becomes the next Green Goblin.
So what sets Harry off on the path to becoming a supervillain? "There were three episodes of Spider-Man that were banned by the comic board where Harry indulges in some form of narcotic," Franco said. "That might happen in the second (movie)."
Franco may be on to something, but you might want to hit the comic books if you want the inside scoop. "Spider-Man 2" isn't scheduled to hit theaters until May 2004.
Marilyn Manson to Battle Batman?(Katrillion) -- It was only a matter of time before Marilyn Manson joined the list of rockers who are crossing over into Hollywood.
The Goth king is currently in talks to star in "Batman: Year One." According to Variety, Manson is being considered to play the role of the big baddie, Scarecrow. It's no wonder that other news reports are calling this the perfect casting choice; Manson's tall gawky figure is very Scarecrow-esque.
In the Batman tale, Scarecrow is a former professor at Gotham State University who gets fired because he terrifies his patients and students. He then gives himself the name Scarecrow, which is what he used to be called by his classmates in grade school.
The new mystery brunette in Billy Bob Thornton's life has been revealed - and she's less than half his age. The actor, who is currently being divorced by his wife Angelina Jolie, has been spending intimate evenings with blue-eyed 23-year-old actress Danielle Dotzenrod. The couple have been spending time dining, shopping and drinking together in Thornton's favorite Hollywood haunts, and were recently spotted at his bungalow at the Sunset Marquis hotel. Meanwhile, friends claim Thornton's 'Angelina' tattoo on his bicep has been covered over by what looks like a new design.
Carrie of 'Sex and the City' Will Stay Single
Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie will be the last single girl when Sex And The City finishes. The tale of four beautiful New York women and their love lives is set to close within its next two seasons, and while Carrie's pals Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes will all end up with men, Parker says her character has other priorities. She says, "People have this idea that contentment is a man and a child. I respect that, but it should not be defined in such narrow terms. Contentment and triumph and joy for Carrie is having a career that she really loves and is proud of and having friendships that are meaningful. And hopefully, having a man who brings those same qualities to the relationship."
Clint Eastwood Fuming with Warner Brothers
Clint Eastwood is upset by the way Warner Brothers have marketed his new film Blood Work. The movie, starring Anjelica Huston and written by the man responsible for L.A. Confidential, only made $7.5 million in its first weekend release. The Dirty Harry star is fuming that the film did not get a New York premiere, and many critics didn't get a chance to review it because there were not enough press screenings. This follows the debacle surrounding Eastwood's previous film for Warner, True Crime, which the actor also claims was not marketed properly and subsequently failed at the box office.
Jack Nicholson Lied About Huston To Bed '70s Supermodel
Jack Nicholson told '70s supermodel Janice Dickinson he was single in a bid to bed her - even though he was dating Anjelica Huston at the time. But Dickinson has got her own back after telling all about her love affair with the One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest star in a revealing new autobiography. The reformed hellraiser also brags about bedding leading men like Bruce Willis, Warren Beatty and Mick Jagger in her new book No Lifeguard On Duty, in which she also details her drug abuse and modeling career. And she admits some sexploits were earth-shattering, especially the magic moments she shared with Jagger. She reveals, "It was Greek gods in the skies exploding. There was lightning and thunder. It was cool." Nicholson was a great lover too - even though he lied about his relationship with then-girlfriend Huston: "I'm sorry Anjelica, but he made it very clear that they weren't together. It was a night of romance and he was Jack." Few stars come out of the memoirs favorably, but Dickinson still has a soft spot for Beatty: "He's a consummate gentleman, the smartest man I know." And she uses the book to apologize to Sylvester Stallone for dragging him through the law courts over the paternity of her son. She says, "There was a DNA test and it proved that Sylvester Stallone wasn't the father but according to when I ovulated I really thought he was. I made a mistake on that."
Julia & Danny Move Out
Julia Roberts and new husband Danny Moder have abandoned their rented Los Angeles home after learning it has a no-dog policy. The Moders packed up all their belongings and, with the help of an assistant, moved to Venice - to a new home with a yard. The reason for the move: Julia's Labrador puppy Louie, which was a wedding gift from her husband.
'90210' Star Priestley Stable
Canadian heart-throb Jason Priestley is in stable condition and has been moved out of intensive car following a serious car accident last Sunday. The Beverly Hills 90210 star suffered a spinal fracture, head injury, a broken nose and foot bones after his race car spun out of control at 180 miles per hour in Kentucky. On Tuesday the actor was moved from intensive car to his own private room in Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital following facial surgery on Monday on his nose and fractured eye-orbital. Hospital spokesman Jon Mills says, "The surgery was a complete success," adding the star "continues to make very solid progress and continues to steadily improve." Last week Priestley underwent successful surgery on his fractured feet and broken back. Doctors expect the actor to remain in hospital until the end of the month before beginning months of rehabilitation.
Billy er ekki lengi að finna nýja.. eða að losa sig við tattúið. Þau ná þá sennilega ekki aftur saman. Því miður?
Former virginal star Britney Spears has shockingly admitted she drinks, smokes - and has sex.
The curvy singer, whose virginity has been the source of constant speculation since she claimed she would stay chaste until marriage, has finally blown away her clean cut image by admitting to her adult vices - even though she insists she exercises moderation in everything she does.
She says, "Who cares if I've had sex? It's nobody's business. When my tour ended I was so excited I was off that I partied every night. I drink. "Everything in moderation. Smoking, drinking, sex - why is it such a big deal for me? As you get to 20 you grow up, you experiment. "If I mess up, I'm human. If I have a drink or I'm with someone, I'm human."(WENN)
Af hverju er það svo mikið sjokk? Hún er orðin tvítug stúlkugreyið, má hún ekki fá smá action?
British pop hunk Robbie Williams has caught the eye of yet another admiring young lady - teen pop singer Mandy Moore.
The pop princess, 18, admits that she has a huge crush on the former Take That heart-throb, who has been spending a considerable amount of time in Los Angeles this year.
She says simply, "He's totally cute." And Moore is sure that Williams would easily fit the requirements of her perfect boyfriend, "A sense of humour is imaportant. I like someone who is not very complicated, but not simple either. Somebody trustworthy and honest, intellectual and definitely a music lover." (WENN)
Jennifer Lopez has come under fire from officials in Florida for using the local police as cut-price bodyguards.
The star spent some time in her new Miami Beach home with actor beau Ben Affleck earlier this month, and requested protection from the local lawmen.
Since she's bought a US$9.5 million mansion in the tropical paradise, Lopez figured she could hire off-duty, uniformed Miami Beach officers to stand guard on their boats on the wide canal in her backyard but the price she is paying for the Miami Police Department is causing an uproar.
The singer and actress, who made US$37 million last year, had a marine patrol float outside her dock with the engine switched on for nine hours on 8 August 2002.
The total cost, according to MBPD spokesman Bobby Hernandez, was US$405 - US$225 for the officer and US$180 for the boat. In the area, renting a similar boat to go fishing costs that much per hour.
Miami Beach City Commissioner Matti Herrera Bowler, who is looking into the practice, says, "Nothing against Ms Lopez. I've never even seen a film by her. But I'm wondering if there isn't something better we can do with out police boats. It sounds like it would cost more than US$180 just for the gas." (WENN)
Singer Pink wants to replace Madonna at the top of the pop charts after years of worshipping the pop diva.
Pink says she used to be Madonna's number one fan, but now she believes the pop queen should make way for younger stars.
She says, "She was definitely my role model. When I was eight I thought I was her. I went into my mom's closet and did my best to look like her but, you know, everybody has their time and I think I'm into more hardcore stuff now." She adds, "I'm out to make people forget about Madonna." (WENN)
Britney Spears is nursing cuts and bruises after a prank outside Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Hollywood home went wrong. The prankster pop superstar and a pal drove up to the Hollywood couple's home and decided to have a peak over the wall, from the roof of her car. Unfortunately, as Britney steadied herself, Brad started driving out through the estate's gates. The pop singer was so shocked, she fell off the roof and then sped off before she was spotted. She says, "I felt like the biggest dum-**s ever.
The 20-year-old pop babe has had a tough time since her painful split from Justin Timberlake and has drowned her sorrows in a round of parties and late nights. Recently Britney's realised that her popularity is slipping, so she's determined to get back on track. A friend reveals, "A few months ago the press noted that she had piled on the pounds. That hurt Britney and she vowed to get trim. She has decided she wants to be like her heroine Madonna and have staying power in the business. She knows by partying hard she runs the risk of burning herself out. She has been reading about Madonna's fitness regime and how she loves yoga and now Britney has decided that she is going to take up the exercise too. (wenn)
Það virðist bara ekkert vera í fréttum af Milian :(
Geri Halliwell's friendship with fellow singer George Michael is officially over, following his latest anti-war single Shoot The Dog. Halliwell, who has performed for British troops waiting to fight in Afghanistan last year, has reportedly taken exception to the tracks strongly anti-Western sentiments following the Afghani conflict, and, despite Michael claiming he'd cleared it with her first, Geri is upset at being made fun of in the animated video accompanying the song.
A source tell British newspaper the Daily Mail, "Having entertained our Boys out on the battlefield, Geri took exception to the anti-war overtones of George's record. She was personally hurt by her attention-seeking cartoon counterpart in the video. She didn't know she was going to be included, and wasn't amused."
The claims contrast sharply with Michael's, who claimed he had the blessing of Geri, with whom he has had a tempestuous friendship, when the single was released last month. He said, "She was fine with appearing in the video, in case people think we're not mates. I checked with her and she has a sense of humour." (wenn)
It seems that Gwyneth Paltrow has found a British man brave enough to take her out after all. After complaining that the famous British reserve left her high and dry on her recent sejourn in London, the willowy Oscar winner is now rumoured to have been dating Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. It seems she was spotted coyly smiling as he dedicated a song, In My Place, to her at a recent concert.
HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) - To smoke or not to smoke? This is the question plaguing celebrities recently.
Actor Johnny Depp has joined several other celebrities in not supporting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his crusade against public smoking, reports New York Daily News gossip columnists Rush and Molloy.
"In Paris, they practically encourage you to smoke," says Depp. "I've always thought of starting my own airline called Air Smoke. We'd make smoking mandatory."
Meanwhile Sopranos star Drea de Matteo recently learned that her 40-cigarette-a-day habit had caused her lungs to sprout nodules which can potentially lead to cancer.
And Mel Gibson said a few months ago he's weaning himself off nicotine. But recently he was fined $60 by the Australian Environment Protection Authority after he was filmed throwing a butt on the street an Australian city.
Ég horfði á From Hell í gær og hafði bara gaman af. Johnny er án efa einn fallegasti maður sem til er. Hann er nánast fullkominn!
NEW YORK (AP) - Britney Spears is far from upset over her parents' recent divorce.
"It's the best thing that's ever happened to my family," the pop singer told People magazine for the cover story of its Sept. 2 issue. "My mom and dad, bottom line, do not get along. When I was a baby, they argued. I wanted this to happen 10 years ago."
Spears' parents - Lynne, 47, and Jamie, 50 - divorced in May after 30 years of marriage.
But the singer describes her own breakup with 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake five months ago as "horrible."
"Very upsetting and it took a lot out of me," said Spears, 20. "He was my first real love, and I doubt I'll ever be able to love anyone like that ever again."
Spears also addresses the criticism she's received as she's gotten older and shed her good-girl image.
"Smoking, drinking, sex - why is it such a big deal with me? As you get to 20, you grow up, you experiment," she said. "You feel more comfortable in your skin."
Friends star Jennifer Aniston has saved a man from choking to death in a restaurant, according to reports.
As other diners panicked, the actress leapt into action and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on the stranger, who had got some food lodged in his throat.
Jennifer, 33, and a male companion were having dinner on Tuesday night at a Mexican restaurant in Hollywood when the man started gasping for breath, reported the Daily Star.
An eyewitness said: "Jennifer saw the man struggling for breath and made a beeline for him and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre.
"She's a heroine - she undoubtedly saved the guy's life. Everyone else was rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.
"Thanks to her cool thinking she stopped this guy from dying.
"After recovering, the man couldn't believe what had happened - that Jennifer Aniston had saved his life."
After she performed the life-saving technique, the Hollywood star calmly continued with her meal.
But Jennifer confessed she had been a little anxious and had to have a cigarette to calm her nerves.
A friend of Jen's said: "She learned how to perform the Heimlich years ago, but had never had to use it before.
You can imagine Madonna and Guy Ritchie having some enormous rows, and according to sources one particularly heated argument erupted on Madge's 44th birthday. The sparks flew a few hours before the couple opened the doors of their Beverly Hills mansion to pals, including Gisele Bundchen, Jason Stratham and Kelly Brook, over their film Swept Away. Relations between the two were extremely frosty throughout the night, and Guy was so angry he flew back to London the next day. A well-placed source said of the barney, 'Guy had been working flat out on the film. He has been under a lot of pressure. All this has understandably put a strain on his relationship with Madonna. Unfortunately for Madonna, it just happened to be her birthday.'
The Irish rock heavyweights have long been rumoured to be on the verge of releasing new material, to accompany the new Greatest Hits collection.
'Electrical Storm' will feature on the collection of music from the period 1990 2000, which is released on DVD on November 4 and CD a week later.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on planet U2, drummer Larry Mullen has been selected to help judge the 'Shortlist Music Prize', the US version of the Mercury Music Prize.
He joins the likes of Alanis Morissette, Iggy Pop, Beck, Mos Def, India.Arie, Paul Oakenfold, The Neptunes, Jill Scott, Baz Luhrmann, The Strokes and Sonic Youth on the panel.
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has shunned modes of transportation usually preferred by rock stars, and is living life in the fast lane on a funky new moped.
The "Under The Bridge" heart-throb was snapped enjoying a speedy afternoon ride in Beverly Hills on his new toy.
One onlooker says, "It was funny seeing Anthony driving by on a small bike. I think of him as a big tattooed rock star in leather. I would have expected a Harley-Davidson, not a small moped."
But a friend reveals, "Anthony likes getting away from it all when he gets the chance. Riding his moped is the best way he can do it."(WENN)
It might be fair to say Jacko has put himself up for more accusations of child abuse after naming his son Prince Michael Jackson II, ensuring the six-month old a difficult childhood. The pop fruitcake dreamed up the name, which follows a 'family tradition'. Jackson already has a five-year-old son called Prince Michael Jackson and a four-year-old daughter called Paris Michael Katherine, both from his marriage to ex-wife Debbie Rowe. Their marriage ended in 1999 and Michael Jackson adopted the baby boy earlier this year.
It would seem that Michael Jackson is doing a good job of convincing people that he has lost the plot of late. Recently Michael Jackson topped a new Rolling Stone poll of Rock's Greatest Meltdowns. The King of Pop's recent claim that Sony Music boss Mottola is the devil, part of his attack on racism in the music industry, beat off Madonna's antics in her 1992 SEX book and Rolling Stone Keith Richards' Toronto drugs bust in 1977, when he requested some of his drug supply back upon posting bail, as rock's most bizarre moment. Also featuring in the top 10 are Ozzy Osbourne's 1982 bat attack, Garth Brooks' odd decision to become Chris Gaines, George Michael's lewd behaviour in a Los Angeles public toilet and the Bee Gees' 1978 flop Sgt Pepper movie. (wenn)
Shakira has leapfrogged Britney Spears to become the third most downloaded pop star on the internet.
The latest cyber information confirms visitors to Britney's official site have tailed off in recent weeks, while fans of Shakira are keen to know more about the Colombian.
Only Jennifer Lopez and Alicia Keys are more popular in cyberspace. (WENN)
Pop rebel Pink has labelled chart rival Britney Spears "a puppet" and accused the bubbly blonde of miming her songs.
Despite claiming she likes the "Boys" hitmaker, Pink hates what Britney represents.
Pink moans, "To me, she represents puppets on a string and lip-synching.
"She's very sweet to me, either she's completely terrified or she just gets it. I don't think she hates me. If she does, she's very good at faking it."
In Pink's hit tune "Don't Let Me Get Me", she namechecks the starlet, saying, "Tired of being compared to damn Britney Spears. She's so pretty, that just ain't me." (WENN)
Over 20,000 people have signed a petition to denounce music show Soul Train's decision to honour R'n' B newcomer Ashanti with its Lady Of Soul entertainer of year award. Ashanti's achievement has been bashed by thousands of music fans on website petitiononline.com, despite having old over 2.3 million copies of her self-titled debut album this year.
The Lady of Soul Awards are in their eighth year and will present Ashanti it her gong on Saturday. The singer's critics moan the 21-year-old is not talented enough to deserve the award, especially since it is named after soul legend Aretha Franklin. Previous winners of the coveted trophy are Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, TLC and Jill Scott. The petition states, "It is an insult to other entertainers who are more deserving of this award and Aretha Franklin. Ashanti simply lacks singing ability and stage presence."
Soul Train officials responded to the petition on their official website, complaining "over the fact that a people, whose ancestry suffered 400 years of slavery, can be herded so easily into a virtually bottomless mud hole and be taught to sling such mud therein." (wenn)
Pop star Robbie Williams may snub a multi-million dollar deal from some of the world's biggest record labels - to set up his own label. The 28-year-old is in a bidding war between Sony, BMG, Warner, EMI and Universal, who are all desperate to sign the star up for more than U.S million.
But an industry source tells the Daily Star newspaper, "Going it alone would be pretty logical for Robbie and his people, giving them more and more power. Obviously it would also give them more and more of the money as long as Robbie's records keep selling, and there's no reason why that should stop happening."
Since Robbie's deal with EMI ended this year, a number of music giants have offered him more than U.S $90 million for a three-album deal, a record for a British star.
During a year-long break, the ex-Take That star recorded an album in Los Angeles. The CD, which is called Escapology, is set to be released in November and a Christmas single is also planned. The star's management company has already asked an independent British CD manufacturing plant about the possibility of pressing more than one million CDs in the next few months. (wenn)
Scooby-Doo co-stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. are set to marry this weekend in a romantic beach-side ceremony. The pair, who have been engaged since last April, are reportedly planning to jet off to the Caribbean with a selection of family and friends for an intimate ceremony - but the exact location is currently being fiercely protected. A source tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "Sarah and Freddie are doing their best to keep their romantic plans a secret. They are a very private couple and they've even sworn their family to secrecy." However, Freddie apparently told pals when discussing his expensive plans, "Money is no object. This is the most important day of our life together, so we just want it to be perfect."
Jolie Ignores Voight's Plea for Reconciliation
Heartbroken Lara Croft: Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie has refused to let her actor father Jon Voight back into her life despite his public plea. The Midnight Cowboy legend went on US TV to plead for a chance to comfort his daughter following her split from Billy Bob Thornton, but the gorgeous actress won't risk letting him get close to herself or her adopted son Maddox. Voight left Jolie's actress mother Marcheline Bertrand when his now famous daughter was just a baby, and pals say she doesn't trust him to stay around now that she's grown. A source told American supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer, "He figured that if he went on TV, she'd get angry and call him. Well, he miscalculated. Angelina doesn't want her son to go through the same pain of abandonment she did. She's vowed, 'My father did it to me. He's not doing it to Maddox. I'm not letting him get close so he can break our hearts again.'" Another source adds, "She also feels her father's comings and goings over the years have hurt her far more than helped her. And she doesn't want the same emotional harm to come to Maddox."
Battle to Get Superhero Flick into Cinemas First
The battle to film the next movie about the Man of Steel is hotting up following reports that Superman V is set to be released before the much-vaunted Batman Vs. Superman film. Director Wolfgang Peterson has reportedly put the superhero spat on hold to concentrate on a film about ancient Greece, and the makers of the fifth solo Superman flick now look set to get their movie into cinemas first. According to film website Coming Attractions, the script for the film is so good that producers are confident enough to rush it into production. As previously reported, Batman Vs. Superman is set to star Christian Bale as the caped crusader, with Josh Hartnett reportedly in the running to play his alien rival from the planet Krypton.
Crowe's 'Alamo' Dumped
Russell Crowe's new movie has been unceremoniously dumped by Disney after the studio balked at the star's cash demands. The Gladiator hunk's $19.5 million salary demands, coupled with director Ron Howard's $10 million and producer Brian Grazer's $6.75 million - with demands of generous bonuses on top - warned Disney off plans to remake 1960's American Independence drama The Alamo. The studio will now proceed with the project, but will now produce a low budget version without the stars. It was reported last month that Howard, who worked with Crowe on last year's Oscar-winning A Beautiful Mind, had left the project because screenwriters were taking too long to finish the script, but that Ethan Hawke was still attached.
Harrison Wants To Be Father to Calista's Child
Harrison Ford wants to become a father again at 60, according to US gossip magazine The National Enquirer. The Star Wars legend is currently dating Ally McBeal actress Calista Flockhart, and wants to become the legal dad of her adopted son Liam. But, the tabloid claims, Flockhart is caught in a dilemma over whether to agree in case the relationship doesn't work out in the long term. A source says, "On one hand, Calista would love for Liam to call Harry 'daddy'. But what if their romance doesn't work out in the long run? Liam would suffer, and that's the last thing she would ever want to happen." The pair, who began dating in January, have been talking about marriage since April. The source adds, "Calista has never been happier. She loves how much attention Harrison has been giving Liam. Harrison would be the perfect dad, probably because he's had so much experience." Ford has two sons - Ben, 35, and Will, 33 - by first wife Mary Marquardt, and a son Malcolm, 15, and daughter Georgia, 12, by second wife Melissa Mathison. He would need to finalize his divorce from Mathison before embarking on any marriage plans with Flockhart.
Kudrow Plans for Another Baby
Friends star Lisa Kudrow has caught the baby bug from the show - she wants a second child. The actress, who plays ditzy Phoebe, admits she and husband Michel Stern have started talking about a brother or a sister for their son Julian after watching Friends' last season finale, in which Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel gave birth. She says, "I like the idea of Julian having a brother or a sister. I'll bring it up and he'll say, 'I'll have a brother, I'll have a sister. We need a baby.'" Kudrow is sure of one thing - should she have another child, she won't be breastfeeding. She explains, "I didn't care for it. No one told me anything. I'd see the baby coming and I'd be like, 'Damn, f**k, let it be over, let it be over.' I hated it and we stopped after three weeks."
Grant: Sandra Bullock Best for Laughs
Hugh Grant touts Sandra Bullock as the best actress he has ever worked with on a romantic comedy. The idiosyncratic Englishman, who stars with the Speed babe in the forthcoming Two Weeks' Notice, rates her above former co-stars such as Julia Roberts and Andie MacDowell. He says, "Working with her just felt like I'd come home in some weird way, like she was the actress I was always supposed to do romantic comedies with. It was just bang on." Movie-goers will be the judges of that when the lawyer and client comedy goes on release at Christmas.
Jamie Lee Bares All To Declare Her Beauty a Myth
Scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis has stripped off for women's magazine More - to show other ladies that she's not a perfect 43-year-old. The movie star approached mag bosses with a view to righting wrongs about her glamorous image. The ballsy Halloween actress insisted on posing with no make-up, no hairdressing and no touch-ups for the unflattering shot, in which she wears nothing but a sports bra and spandex briefs. She says, "I don't have great thighs, I have big breasts and a soft fatty little tummy. I don't want the unsuspecting 40-year-old to think I've got it going on. It's such a fraud and I'm perpetuating it." In the accompanying article, Curtis admits she had cosmetic surgery 10 years ago to have fat removed from under her eyes, and she has since had liposuction and Botox treatments. She adds, "None of it works."
Hewitt Denies Baldwin Romance
Jennifer Love Hewitt insists her reported romance with Alec Baldwin was completely blown out of proportion - she was actually trying to help him be a better dad. The actress admits Baldwin turned to her during his marriage split from Kim Basinger last year - because he wanted to make sure a divorce wouldn't affect his daughter Ireland too badly. Hewitt reveals, "His main thing was wanting to remain a good dad, and he looked at me as somebody who had been through what his daughter was going to go through. He would say to me, 'What can I do to not screw this up and have her feel bad?' I took that as, 'Oh my God, I have the chance - when maybe my dad didn't handle the situation the right way - to fix it now for someone else.'" The actress also insists that her alleged romance with pal Enrique Iglesias was way off the mark. She adds, "We've been friends for a really long time. I don't think Enrique would ever go out with me. I'm too big of a dork."
Friends star Matt LeBlanc, who plays dim-witted Joey, has announced that he is to marry his long-term girlfriend Melissa McKnight at Christmas. The pair met in 1998 and got engaged shortly after; British model Melissa has two children from a previous relationship. In a recent interview, Matt spoke about settling down, saying, 'My buddy Michael Douglas told me, "Marriage is the way to go" and I agree with him 100%. There were times when I ran around town chasing skirts, but those days are over. Some of my buddies ask if I yearn for the good old days. They laugh when I tell them, "The good new days are better."' With Matt hitting the aisle, it leaves David Schwimmer as the only Friend left who has not tied the knot.
Æji, ég sem hélt að við ættum svo vel saman. O, jæja...
NEW YORK (AP) - Robert De Niro filed notice of a $1 million lawsuit Monday over a photograph of him and fellow actor Sean Penn blowing out their birthday candles at a private party last year.
De Niro and Penn share the same birthday - Aug. 17. De Niro was celebrating his 58th birthday and Penn his 41st at a rooftop party at De Niro's loft in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of TriBeCa.
A photograph of the two actors was offered for sale by photo agency Celebrity Vibe, and appeared in at least one newspaper and one national magazine, said De Niro's lawyer, Tom Harvey, who filed initial paperwork in the case in Manhattan Supreme Court.
"Our contention, as we hope to prove in the lawsuit, is that someone snuck into a private residence and took unauthorized pictures for profit," Harvey said.
Jeffrey Boyard, a co-owner of Celebrity Vibe who is named in the legal filing, said the agency did nothing wrong. "Our photographer was invited," he said.
De Niro won a best-supporting Oscar for 1974's "The Godfather: Part II" and a best-actor Oscar for 1980's "Raging Bull." Penn's films include "I Am Sam,""Sweet and Lowdown" and "Dead Man Walking."
Madonna took a trip to the Orient to celebrate her 44th birthday on Friday, 16 August 2002 - with a fancy dress party.
The pop diva invited 50 friends, including actress Demi Moore and supermodel Gisele Bundchen, to the bash at her Beverly Hills mansion on Saturday, 17 August 2002.
All the guests dressed in oriental style - with Madonna coming as a Geisha girl and Gisele sporting a stunning Japanese-style gown. (WENN)
Pop singer Kylie Minogue has been consoling herself during her love troubles with boyfriend James Gooding by tucking into comfort food.
The star is currently estranged from the British male model while she completes her world tour in her native Australia, but Kylie is delighted at how well her performances have been going, but she still needed consoling.
A source in British newspaper Daily Star claims, "Kylie is still as sexy as ever, but she's not defined as she was before she came back to Oz and has gained a few pounds."
Kylie has enjoyed the month she's been touring Oz and she's blissfully happy with the way her career is going, but her emotions are in tatters.
"She and James have been talking on the phone and he is considering coming out to visit her, which should cheer her up a bit. While she's been performing it's kept her mind off her personal problems, but she misses James immensely and hasn't been herself lately." (WENN)
Mariah Carey has rejected a cameo in medical drama ER, because the role of a singer suffering a breakdown is too similar to her own real life mental problems.
The curvy songbird, who is now branching out into acting following her poorly-received movie debut Glitter, had been approached to appear on the hit American show as a singer who is rushed to hospital who goes "off the rails" during a concert, which spookily reflected her own problems last year, when she suffered several breakdowns herself. Carey, outraged at the proposed part, rejected the offer - sending the script back with a angry note saying she didn't know whether to be "flattered or insulted".
A source reveals, "Mariah needs to redeem herself because Glitter flopped. She is a huge fan of ER, which is still the top rated show in the US, so she was obviously delighted when they asked her to take part in an episode or two. But she couldn't believe how insensitive they were when they asked her to play a loony-tune pop star. Someone was being very mischievous, or they have very short memories." (wenn)
Garbage singer Shirley Manson is heading for Hollywood, if she can curb her temper. The singer says she's been approached to star in a forthcoming film based on a book by acclaimed author JT Leroy. But flame-haired Scot Shirley's not certain she'd be well suited to a career in Hollywood, because of her fiery temper.
She says, "JT Leroy, the guy who inspired our song Cherry Lips, was desperate for me to play the part of his mother in a forthcoming film, but nothing official has been discussed. I think I would rub Hollywood directors up the wrong way. Let's face it, if Russell Crowe is cast as the villain for pushing a producer up against the wall at some posh party then, good God, I would've been slapped and beaten within a week!" (wenn)
Moby had an unpleasant meeting with Hollywood star Russell Crowe who threw him against a wall and racially abused him. According to the star, he bumped into the Oscar winning actor in a bar in Sydney, and was greeted with a response in keeping with Crowe's bullyboy reputation.
Moby recounts, "It was 4am and I had to go to the bathroom. Russell Crowe was in there with his friends, and they were in the way of the door, but I really had to have a pee. So I pushed the door open a bit, and he grabbed me and threw me against the wall. He was saying, 'You f***ing Americans. You think you rule the world!' I just wanted to say to him, 'Listen, I'm not here as a representative of my country, I'm here as someone who really has to take a pee. He was so obnoxious, arrogant and aggressive." (wenn)
Australian Kylie Minogue fans are fighting for possession of massive photos of the star - in just her underwear.
The billboards of the singer in her Love Kylie X range of lingerie have to come down at the end of August in an advertising deal, so fans are advantage of the chance to get their hands on the giant images.
A source says, "Fans have gone mad for these snaps. They are ripping them down and fighting over them. They are the sexiest photos of Kylie ever and fans are doing anything to get them. All posters must be taken down next week and the lads are desperate." (WENN)
Britney Spears is taking advantage of her a six-month sabbatical from showbiz to get a style make-over. Reports from the States claim that the exhausted star will leave her mother's house next month to make an appearance at New York Fashion Week. Britney's stylists, Kurt and Bart, have booked her in to observe and take notes at Matthew Williamson and Brazilian design sensation Carlos Miele's shows. "She is taking a break, so that's why she could go to the shows," Kurt tells New York Magazine. "Every time we tried before, she was too busy… She'd also love to do the Europe thing too. Hit Versace and Roberto Cavalli, all those designers who have been so good to her."
Liz Hurley has been waxing lyrical about her new vocation - being a housewife. The former Estée Lauder model claims that motherhood has sparked off a latent passion for housework. "I love ironing his romper suits. I don't think I ever ironed in my life," she says. "I didn't even know I had an iron. I didn't know I liked changing nappies. Now I love sterilising his bottles. It's brought out the housewife in me." Currently doing the publicity rounds for her latest film, Servicing Sara, in which she stars alongside Matthew Perry, Liz remains tight-lipped about her relationship with Steve Bing, the father of four-month-old Damian. "I'm not gong to refute insanely inaccurate, untruthful stories," she said. "I want to get back some kind of privacy that was lost for Damian."
Kommon, það finnst engum skemmtilegt að strauja, eða skipta um bleyjur. Ég trúi ekki svona bulli.
Hollywood muscleman Vin Diesel has managed to win the affections of a TV reporter - while she was interviewing him. The XXX hunk, 35, is reportedly besotted with Entertainment Tonight reporter Maria Menounos - and they began dating after the actor relentlessly chased the former teen beauty. Menounos, 24, a former Massachusetts Teen Usa winner, scored a one-on-one interview with New Yorker Diesel on 29 July. During their chat, the subject of dating came up. She asked Diesel if he was "available." When he said that he was, a pleasantly surprised Menounos reportedly responded, "You are?" before the actor quickly asked if she was single too. A week later, at the 5 August premiere of XXX in Westwood, California, the two met again. A source tells American tabloid the Star, "There were 100 reporters around, but when he saw Maria, they just fell into each other's arms. They were holding hands and whispering to each other. It's obvious something was going on. He then promised he'd see her a day later and I don't remember any other public appearances scheduled for Vin."
Elvis Lives On
Thousands of Elvis Presley fans have descended on his famous Graceland mansion for a candlelit vigil commemorating the star's life and death. More than 7,000 devoted fans brought colorful wreaths and their love of The King to Presley's gravesite at the Memphis mansion yesterday, the 25th anniversary of his death. The gravesite isn't the only part of Memphis that's getting the attention this week. The entire town has become the site of a massive Elvis-mania style fan reunion, with banners everywhere welcoming the fans and the local airport greeting travelers with Elvis tunes. Wreaths have arrived from as far away as Brazil and Japan, while fans heading into Memphis include a British group with their own special bus and American fans who been to vigils for the king virtually every year since his death.
Paltrow Finally Gets a Date
Hollywood superstar Gwyneth Paltrow has finally been asked out on a date in London - but not by a Brit. The Oscar-winning star has been complaining this week that no- one in London, where she is promoting her new film Possession, has had the courage to ask her out. Well, someone finally has, but in keeping with Gwyneth's low opinion of local men it isn't a shy Brit, but Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. Earlier this week the Shakespeare In Love star complained, "British people don't seem to ask each other out on dates. I did get asked out a couple of times on my last trip to London - and I went out on both. But if someone asks you in England, they're really going out on a limb, whereas in America it happens all the time."
Nicole Kidman Goes for Hooker Role
Australian stunner Nicole Kidman is getting ready to turn tricks as a Hollywood madam - on screen, at least. The sexy ex-wife of Mission: Impossible hunk Tom Cruise has her eye on a script that will allow her to explore the kinky fetishes of the rich and famous in Tinseltown. The proposed project, called Pay The Girl, chronicles the rise and fall of a Hollywood hooker who keeps her men very satisfied. According to American tabloid the Star, 35-year-old Kidman and her agent have met with the screenwriter and agent who are trying to shop the script - and they're attempting to convince them that Moulin Rouge beauty would be perfect for the part.
Perry Loves To Read About His Sexploits
Friends star Matthew Perry loves reading the reports of his sexual exploits because they make him seem like a superstud. The actor has learned not to get upset when he's romantically linked with his co- stars and friends, and admits he now finds speculation about his love life amusing. He says, "If I've read correctly, I'm the father of Liz Hurley's baby and I've dated 19 women I've never met. It has been an exhausting four months." He's particularly amused at ongoing speculation about his friendship with tennis pal Jennifer Capriati. He adds, "Actually, Jennifer Capriati is really the father of Liz Hurley's baby. I like what it says about my sexual prowess - apparently I can impregnate women without sleeping with them."
Colin Finds His Name Boring
British heart-throb Colin Firth finds his first name a burden - because it's boring. The Bridget Jones's Diary actor, who set millions of female hearts a-flutter as wet-shirted sex symbol Mr. Darcy in Pride And Prejudice, thinks his name is just too comic. The 41-year-old actor moans, "Well it doesn't exactly have a ring to it, does it? It's more the sort of name you'd give to your goldfish for a joke. In fact, I saw an episode of (British comedy) Black Adder the other day and there was a dachshund in it called Colin. It seems that his name alone was supposed to reduce you to fits of laughter."
Colin er sætur. Ég held að ég verði að beina sjónum mínum frá Vin, sem er augljóslega bara að nota mig, og reyna að finna góðan mann sem reynir ekki við alla fréttamenn sem koma nálægt honum. Hjarta mitt er í molum. Tár renna niður kinnar mínar. Hugur minn er í uppnámi og það er á tali hjá öllum sem ég reyni að hringja í.
Já og það var keyrt aftan á mig í dag þegar ég var á leið heim úr vinnu. Ekki góður dagur.
Williams, who has worldwide album sales of more than 19 million, complained to the United Nations copyright agency.
He said Southampton man Howard Taylor had no right to www.robbiewilliams.info and said he was using the site in bad faith.
The site pointed users to the website of rival rock group Oasis. Williams and Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher have had a long-running rift.
Taylor said his intention was to run an unofficial Robbie Williams fan club from the site. He said he thought the bad blood between the two stars was a public relations exercise.
Anyone who knew about it would see the humour, he claimed.
But the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation, which protects trademarks and patents, ruled against him.
It said Taylor had not demonstrated any rights or legitimate interest in the site. The body also said it had been registered in bad faith.
Taylor has been ordered to transfer the website back to Williams.
Sexy rock star Sheryl Crow is set to give a private performance to the contestants of America's Big Brother 3 TV show.
When the hit reality TV show first debuted in America in 2000, one of the many no-nos for the housemates was music, as bosses believed it would distract them from entertaining the television audience.
But now CBS, the network which broadcasts the show in the United States, has changed the rules and has asked Crow to give a surprise televised concert especially for the residents, which will be part of a two-hour episode on Wednesday, 21 August 2002.
The Grammy winner and her band are slated to perform three songs from her current album, C'mon, C'mon, as well as her 1994 hit "All I Wanna Do". Interscope spokesman Dave Tomberlin says, "She's a fan of the show. And when was the last time she got to play for eight people in a backyard setting?" (WENN)
Jennifer Lopez has slammed the brakes on her plans to wed Ben Affleck this spring - because she's scared of making another mistake.
Pals of the singer and actress say she is very much in love with the star, but she's determined not to be a three-time loser in marriage.
A source says, "Ben swears that he loves her and wants to settle down just as soon as possible and have children."
"But her family and pals are begging her to be cautious. She loves him, but she doesn't want to make another mistake."
The acting pair met when they filmed the flick Gigli late last year and Affleck has since met Lopez's family members, who have cautioned the ex-girlfriend of Sean 'P Diddy' Combs about rushing to the altar too soon.
A pal says, "At first, she didn't want to hear it. She wanted to walk down the aisle with Ben next spring. She swore it would be her third and final marriage. But as the weeks went by, she reluctantly gave in."
Pals tell America's Globe magazine that J.Lo is also intimidated by Affleck, who is rich and famous like her ex Combs, and a far cry from her first two husbands Ojani Noa and Cris Judd.
The friend says, "Her previous husbands were poor by comparison - Ojani was a simple waiter and Cris was an unknown dancer. She could wind both of them around her little finger, but with Ben it's going to be different. The fact that he's an equal, that he's a real 'player' with the ladies, has slightly unnerved her."
"She also backed away from Sean because he was just as rich and powerful as her and too much for her to handle." (WENN)
British singer Sir Elton John has a fantasy he'd very much like fulfilled, he's eager to see Hollywood hunk Matt Damon naked. The openly gay superstar admits that a viewing of the actor in the buff would prove to be a very exciting experience for him.
The singer made the astonishing revelation during a celebrity survey by America's Allure magazine, which asked a range of stars which famous people they would most like to see naked.
Sexy actress Selma Blair says she'd most like to see the curves of A Beautiful Mind star Jennifer Connelley uncovered, while Jennifer Love Hewitt put a vote in for Benjamin Bratt. Will & Grace star Debra Messing opted for rocker Lenny Kravitz, while Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler confessed to wanting to see Once & Agains Sela Wrad's bare flesh. Melissa Etheridge went for Ellen DeGeneres, while P Diddy' pitched a vote in for pop beauty Janet Jackson. But strangest of all was Moulin Rouge hunk Ewan McGregor, who chose himself as the most desirable nude option. (wenn)
Kannski horfir Ewan aldrei í spegil þegar hann er nakinn?? Gott svar hjá honum samt, nú langar mig að vita hvers vegna hann velur sjálfan sig :)
'N Sync star Lance Bass's bid to rocket ride into space is causing a rift between him and his bandmates. Bass was picked to blast off in a Russian rocket on 28 October and soar to the orbiting International Space Station for a five-day stay. But his bandmates, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone, are reportedly upset about the star's shift in priorities required to prepare for the mission.
A source tells American tabloid the Globe, "No one in the band is happy about it. They're all giving him a rough time about how long he'll be away from the group. But Lance doesn't give a damn. He says they're all jealous of the publicity he's getting and the fact that he's emerging as the most talked-about member of the group."
The 23-year-old reportedly shelled out U.S $20 million for his ticket to ride and managed to beat two others vying for the trip, which he says will "complete a lifelong dream". (wenn)
Robbie Williams has reportedly completed work on a new studio album, Escapology. The former Take That hunk has been living in the US, the official line being that he is taking time out from the music industry. However, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper, the singer has now completed the project in Los Angeles and is set to spark a bidding war for the record.
The paper claims that all the major labels are interested in signing him, and Williams wants to use the record to attempt to break the US market. Escapology has a tentative release date of 18 November, with a single, possibly titled Feel, released in time for Christmas. (wenn)
Hot on the heels of their Hawaii wedding, Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley are preparing for parenthood. Sources say that the couple, who wed in a secret ceremony last weekend, are desperately trying to have a baby. "She worries that time is running out for her to be a mom again. She already has two children from her first marriage, but she wants to have at least two more, and she feels Nic would be the perfect dad," an insider tells imdb.com. "He reminds Lisa of her father, and nothing would please her more than to have a son with him, a little Elvis. She desperately wants to hold another baby of her own in her arms. She is very much in love with Nic and she feels a baby would make her relationship with him complete and bring some much-needed stability. Nic still has a wild side."
Julia Roberts has demanded that new hubby Danny Moder leave his bachelor pad because she is fed up of living in a "rat trap". The Oscar-winning actress had been living in Danny's $1,600-a-month apartment on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, to prove that she's devoted enough to adapt to his less glitzy lifestyle. But now that the couple have tied the knot, Julia has decided that she's made her point and she has instructed her people to look for a more suitable, multi-million dollar residence. "Now that she and Danny are married, Julia has told him what she really thinks about living in his Brentwood bachelor pad," a friend tells msnbc.com. "Before the wedding Julia wanted to show she was just a simple girl with simple tastes. She wanted to prove how dedicated she was to her man by living in his world and experiencing his lifestyle."
Doctors have told her they may have to cut off her hand if a malignant lump returns.
She told the News of the World: "If all else fails it's the only way to make sure the cancer won't spread.
"It's a horriible thought, losing your hand, but if it's to save my life what else can I do?
"I'd just have to hold my arm behind my back when I'm modelling."
Jordan had a lump removed from her hand after it was discovered during a manicure.
The lump was diagnosed as the rare cancer leiomyosarcoma, also known as LMS.
She is now awaiting test results on skin tissue removed from areas around where the lump was found.
Jordan, real name Katie Price, has suffered a string of blows recently. Her three-month-old son Harvey, whose father is soccer star Dwight Yorke, is blind and suffering from a growth defect.
The star has secretly finished his new album Escapology.
The album is tipped to be the one that will finally see him take America by storm and earn millions from the lucrative US market.
The big four record labels Sony, BMG, Warner and Universal are now battling with his old label EMI to secure the star, according to The Sun.
Robbie's deal with EMI ran out this year and the music giant is keen to re-sign him. But the star is said to unhappy with how it has pushed his music in the US.
A bidding auction is set to draw offers of up to £75million, The Sun said.
Þetta er engir smápeningar. Robbie, hringdu í mig, við þurfum aðeins að ræða saman ;-)
Reyndar ætla ég að tala um MSX. Hvað er það? Jú það er hinn leikurinn á HSX.com. Þar fær maður að leika sér með hlutabréf í tónlistarmönnum og veðja á hversu vel plöturnar þeirra seljist í fyrstu viku og svo hvort þær nái platínusölu á fyrstu 6 mánuðunum.
Þið skuluð ekki halda að þetta sé svipað og HSX. Í MSX er nefnilega meira um leik með tölur að ræða en nokkuð annað. Virði hlutabréfanna byggist ekki á neinu sem listamennirnir gera. Ef þú finnur trend í hvora átt sem er þá skaltu halda þér fast alveg þar til það snýst við. Sum hlutabréfin eru nefnilega þeim gæðum gædd að halda stefnu sinni í viku eða meira og þá getur maður grætt. Best er að forðast þau hlutabréf sem rokka mikið upp og niður, enda gera þau ekkert nema gera mann gráhærðan fyrir aldur fram, sérstaklega ef maður er svo vitlaus að fjárfesta mikið af platpeningum í þeim. Ég tala af reynslu. Skoðið chartin sem sýna sveiflur bréfanna og ákveðið út frá þeim hvort þið viljið taka áhættuna. Einnig getiði farið á þessa síðu og downloadað excel-skjali (það er undir Current) og í því sést hvernig hlutabréfin hafa hreyfst undanfarna 2 mánuði. Eftir að hafa skoðað það þá getiði gert upp hug ykkar hvort þið teljið að hlutabréfið sé á uppleið, niðurleið eða rokki bara fram og til baka.
Ef ég ætti að gefa eitthvað ráð í sambandi við MSX, en sennilega er það ekki mikils virði þar sem ég á ekki nema rúmar 11 milljónir (og virðist ekki ætla hærra), er það að skoða vel sögu hlutabréfanna, hvernig þau hafa verið að þróast undanfarið og svoleiðis. Fréttir af hljómleikaferðum, plötuútgáfum og slíku hafa lítil sem engin áhrif, stundum hafa þær fréttir jafnvel öfug áhrif miðað við það sem heilbrigð skynsemi segir manni.
Svo eru það option-in, þau eru það eina sem er raunveruleikatengt í þessum leik. Album Options eru gefin út til að spilarar geti giskað á heildarsölu platna í fyrstu viku. Einn hollívúdd-dollari jafnast á við 100.000 selda diska. Þannig að ef eitthvað option selst þessa stundina á 2 dollara en þú heldur að platan seljist í fleiri eintökum en 200.000 þá kaupirðu, annars shortaru. Simpelt.
Verð Platinum Warrants byggist á því hversu mikið er selt af plötunum fyrstu 26 vikurnar í sölu. En einungis er borgað út miðað við það sem RIAA segir að platan hafi selst. Þannig að ef RIAA gefur listamanninum gullplötu (500.000 seld eintök) þá borgast út 5 hollívúdd-dollarar en 10 ef platan nær platínusölu (1.000.000 seld eintök). Tvöföld platínusala jafnast á við 20 hollívúdd-dollara í bankann og svo framvegis.
Ef þú átt t.d. Platinum Warrant í Sheryl Crow disknum sem hefur ná einfaldri platínusölu áttu alveg inni 10 hollívúdd-dollara. Hins vegar selst Warrantið á H$27,21 og því verður maður að gera upp við sig hvort maður telji að kella nái að selja tvær milljónir eintaka í viðbót eður ei. Ef hún nær því verður Warrantið 30 dollara virði en annars bara 10 og þá er betra að sjorta. Gott er líka að vita hvenær Warrantið verður fryst, en það gerist í Október, þann 15.
Jæja, farið nú lömbin mín og vinnið ykkur inn margar milljónir. Til þess er leikurinn gerður.
Hollywood babe Gwyneth Paltrow is recovering from the shock of seeing her director quit her latest movie. Just weeks before shooting starts on Ted And Sylvia - a twin biopic about the lives of literary giants Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes - director Pawel Pawlikowski has left after a disagreement with the script. The hunt is now on to find a replacement to shoot the $10.5 million film starring 29-year-old Paltrow as poet and author Plath, who committed suicide, aged 31, in 1963. A production executive explains, "Pawel was very much a man from the documentary school and his one previous feature film relied greatly on improvisation. As time went on it became clear he was not happy working with a script that didn't leave room for that."
Thornton To Re-Marry Wife Number Four?
Billy Bob Thornton is reportedly planning to remarry wife number four - just months after splitting from his fifth spouse, sexy actress Angelina Jolie. Thornton divorced Pietra Dawn Cherniak, mother of Billy's two children William, nine, and Harry, eight, in April 1997, but was seen with her again shortly before his split from Tomb Raider star was officially announced last month, with Jolie citing Thornton's selfish, philandering ways as the cause of the break-up of the passionate marriage. Now Cherniak's husband, TV journalist David Bryson, has filed for divorce - leaving Thornton free to tie the knot for a sixth time. A source is quoted in British tabloid The Daily Star saying, "There is a deep bond of love between the them like never before. It could lead to a second spin down the aisle."
Law Left in the Dark by Lopez Power Bid
Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher got a nasty shock when interviewing Jude Law for her TV series - all the lights suddenly went out thanks to Jennifer Lopez. The chat with the British actor, for her Conversations From The Edge series, was taking place in New York's Waldorf hotel, where Lopez and Ralph Fiennes were also filming scenes for their film The Chambermaid on the same floor. So when Lopez and co needed more power they simply unplugged the Fisher set, leaving interviewer and interviewee in darkness for half an hour.
Pacino Plays Hitler
Acting legend Al Pacino is to star as Adolf Hitler in a revival of a play about the reviled German dictator's rise to power. The Heat star, considered by many to be the greatest living Hollywood actor, will take the lead role in Arturo Ui, a satirical play by Bertolt Brecht. The show, which will have a limited three-week run at New York's Pace University towards the end of the year, was written in the late 1930s and received mixed reviews when first produced on Broadway in 1963. Critic and Brecht expert Eric Bentley says Arturo Ui is "a very poor play but very good theatre, especially with a brilliant actor as Hitler." Chazz Palminteri, Steve Buscemi and Charles Durning have also signed up for the production, which will be directed by Simon McBurney.
Courtney Close To Settling Court Cases
Courtney Love is close to settling her court case with Universal Music without it going to trial. Sources claim talks between the former Hole rocker and her record company to settle the breach of contract case are progressing well and court hearings scheduled for next week could be called off. A source close to the case says, "The next hearing is 20 August, but I think it's going to be resolved." Another adds, "Negotiations are going well." The August 20 hearing was to set a trial date for the case, in which a unit of Universal claims that Love owes it five records and Love claims she was cheated out of substantial royalties. Industry analysts are closely monitoring the lawsuit, pitting the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain against the world's largest record group, as a pop artist-led movement challenging the terms of recording contracts gains momentum. In a separate bitter legal dispute in Seattle over the management of Nirvana's back catalogue, sources claimed Love has made a written settlement proposal. Love is suing the remaining members of Cobain's grunge band, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, over ownership of the group's recordings and songs. U2 singer Bono has been asked to testify for Love, while earlier this year Grohl and Novoselic questioned Courtney's mental stability. However, sources say that Love has recently made a written settlement proposal to the band's members. One says, "They have not responded yet, but lawyers for Love were told to expect a response soon."
Ford Buys Snap of Himself for Calista
Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford bought a snap of himself from a autograph hunter - so he could give it to his adoring girlfriend Calista Flockhart. When a fan approached the star as he was strolling with the Ally McBeal actress in Los Angeles Ford recognized the picture as one Calista wanted for herself - so snapped it up for $112. An eyewitness says, "Calista was positively beaming and couldn't believe what he'd done. The fan seemed happy too."
Lopez Matches Affleck's Car Gift
Jennifer Lopez has returned the favour to new boyfriend Ben Affleck - she's splashed out on a new $150,000 Aston Martin car for the actor. Lopez, 32, returned to the same Coral Gables, Florida dealership where the Good Will Hunting star, 29, bought a $225,000 Ferrari Spider for his beau last week. However, the vehicle gifts aren't unique - singer and actress J.Lo bought her ex- husband Cris Judd, who she divorced last month, a Mercedes during their short-lived relationship.
Jeremías. Konan bara orðið 44 ára gömul. Það er eins og það hafi verið í gær sem hún leit út svona eins og á myndinni. Glæsilegt lúkk, ekki satt :)
Ég hef verið aðdáandi þessarar konu síðan árið 1985 þegar hún gerði garðinn frægan í myndinni Desperatly Seeking Susan og átti 3 lög á topp 20 eða eitthvað álíka. Snilld, pjúra snilld er þessi kona.
Allavegana, þá langaði mig bara að óska henni til hamingju, og vonandi að hún sjái sér fært að þiggja heimboðið sem ég sendi henni um árið. Reyndar bý ég ekki á sama stað lengur, en þú hringir þá bara, Madonna mín, og færð nýja heimilisfangið. Ég verð búin að baka handa þér smá afmælistertu og hita kakó. Ég veit hvað þér finnst heitt kakó gott. Enn og aftur, til hamingju með afmælið. Hugs and kisses.
Millions of Elvis Presley fans are marking the singer's death exactly 25 years ago.
They include the thousands who have travelled to his former home, Graceland in Memphis, to stage a candleit vigil.
Elvis - "The King of Rock 'n Roll" - died there, aged 43, on August 16 1977 - but his popularity has never faded.
He is still the most imitated star in the world, with an estimated 35,000 Presley impersonators, both amateur and professional.
Born in Janury 1935 in Tupelo Mississippi, he made his first single for RCA Records in 1956.
Heartbreak Hotel became his first-ever gold, reaching number one in the US. A string of huge hits worldwide followed, as well as often less memorable films.
This year, a re-mixed version of his A Little Less Conversation stayed at number one in the UK for a month. This gave him his 18th UK number one - allowing him to top the Beatles' overall record for British hit singles.
Some 4.4 million Elvis CDs were sold last year alone. A recent survey has shown him to be the highest-earning dead celebrity, his estate raking in just over £24m last year.
Geri Halliwell is leaving Britain so that she can spend more time with her millionaire boyfriend, Damian Warner. The couple met when they were both attending Cottonwood rehabilitation clinic in Tuscon, Arizona, where Geri was being treated for an eating disorder and Damian was battling against drug addiction. Since then, the couple are said to have spoken to each other every day without fail. Geri's fellow judges on Pop Stars: The Rivals, which is currently being filmed around the country, have revealed that Geri has told them that she will be based in Los Angeles from the beginning of next year. A senior executive on Pop Stars also said that Geri had been 'amazing' and 'an absolute Godsend on the show'. He added that ITV were disappointed that she might not be available for another series of the show.
Destiny's Child babe Beyonce hates her name and wishes she'd been born with something more conventional.
The 20-year-old pop sensation, currently starring alongside Mike Myers in Goldmember, was christened Beyonce because it was her mother's maiden name, but does not relish her part in keeping the family flame burning.
The stunning singer admits, "I hated my name. I just wanted to blend in. I kept asking, 'Mama, why is my name Beyonce?' It was interesting to see how teachers would pronounce it on the first day of school - Bianca, Bee-yonk, Bee-yon-chee. But once I tell people it rhymes with fiance, they get it." (WENN)
Slimline Sugababes Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena have disclosed their secret method for keeping their stunning figures - stuffing themselves with junk food.
But whilst these two pop stunners have hit upon a way of sustaining figures that are mouth-wateringly hourglass-like, new band girl Heidi Range has confessed to waging a continual battle with the bulge.
Keisha explains, "Everyone knows I eat like a pig - say four packets of crisps at a time. I love KFC in the morning and McDonald's for lunch, then I'll go to a Caribbean shop for my dinner." But Heidi moans, "The other girls are so lucky. I'm on a diet." (WENN)
Mariah Carey's much-maligned acting skills have received the thumbs up from Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino.
The actress stars in the forthcoming mob movie Wisegirls alongside the singer, who was roundly knocked by journalists following her starring role in the box office flop Glitter.
Now Sorvino says critics may have to eat their words after watching the new film. She says, "She's very talented actually. I don't think people have yet given her credit as an actress, but they will when they see this."
Sorvino also pours scorn on suggestions that she failed to get on with her co-star on the set of the David Anspaugh-directed flick. She says, "Mariah was out of town a lot promoting her album. When she was around, we were friendly but there wasn't much time - I was in every scene of the movie." (WENN)
Hverju ætli Miru hafi verið hótað ef hún myndi ekki segja að Carey væri góð leikkona? Kannski að hún fengi aldrei vinnu í Hollívúdd aftur? Ég sé enga aðra ástæðu fyrir því að halda þessu fram.
BTW, Wisegirls fer sennilega beint á videó, þannig að það segir ýmislegt um trú manna á þessari mynd.
R &B star Christina Milian has only one body part she'd like to improve - her bottom is too small.
The 20-year-old stunner is renowned for having a near perfect physique and is the object of many eligible men's affections - British soccer ace Sol Campbell for one - but would much prefer it if her bottom was far larger and obvious.
Gorgeous Christina moans, "I'd change my bum. I wish it was much bigger. Whenever I start exercising it just seems to disappear and I'm always moaning to my trainer about that. I want a really huge bum!" (WENN)
Director Guy Ritchie is to return to the gangster movie genre which made his name with a story about a London mobster who's desperate to go straight.
Fresh from fending off suggestions that his latest flick Swept Away, which stars his wife Madonna, is going straight to video, the British film maker has signed up the screen rights to the book Layer Cake.
It's the tale of a gangster who wants to leave his old life behind but must complete one last job before he's able to extricate himself.
Ritchie and producer pal Matthew Vaughn, who recently married supermodel Claudia Schiffer, will make the movie via their Ska Films production company. Filming will take place in and around the British capital after Christmas. (WENN)
Ricky Martin: Entertainers Must Speak Out For Peace
Ricky Martin has spoken at a peace conference in Puerto Rico in a bid to highlight the importance of celebrities promoting anti-war politics.
The Latin singer drew loud applause from the audience when he said that he and other entertainers have a responsibility to speak out for peace.
He also blamed the media for desensitizing people toward violence. He said, "On my recent visit to India, I internalised that we cannot distance ourselves from the dispossessed, which need voices like ours so that the whole world can know their reality via the mass media."
"Entertainers have a prime responsibility to rescue the highest human values and translate them into a positive message of well-being, happiness, and peaceful co-existence." (WENN)
Sir Elton John Voted Top Of Male Fashion Disasters
Flamboyant rocker Sir Elton John has been crowned the biggest fashion disaster in the male celebrity world. The star, often noted for his eye-catching, elaborate outfits, beat the likes of glove-toting pop singer Michael Jackson, wacky actor Nicholas Cage and all of boyband 'N Sync to the dubious honour, which was awarded by the American edition of men's magazine FHM.
Writer Simon O'Connell observes, "The list of Elton's fashion mistakes would take weeks to read. From spangly suits to diamond tiaras, there appears to be no hope for the Rocket Man."
The full list of 'winners' is as follows:
1. Sir Elton John 2. Arnold Schwarzenegger 3. Leonardo DiCaprio 4. Christian Slater 5. Nicholas Cage 6. 'N Sync 7. Jim Carrey 8. Michael Jackson 9. Russell Crowe 10.Billy Zane. (wenn)
Russell minn í flauel-skyrtunni? Er það nú orðið púkó? Iss, piss, okkur Russell er alveg sama sko þó hann sé á þessum lista :Þ
Pint-sized pop babe Kylie Minogue's relationship with on-off boyfriend James Gooding has hit the rocks again. While the diminutive Aussie continues to stun her home crowd with sensational concerts Down Under, love-rat James is having fun in the Ibiza sun with a mystery girl called Chloe.
Gooding and his stunning new friend have been spending their days lounging in the sun and their nights in the top clubs on the raunchy isle. A hotel guests reveals, "They are having a great time. The place is buzzing at the moment and James and his companion are making the most of it. They are getting on really well." (wenn)
Meira um Kylie. Pressan fær bara ekki nóg af þessari stelpu :)
Dance band Faithless have given up touring and will never play live again. The band's Sister Bliss has revealed that their last gig will be at Creamfields in Ireland two weeks on Saturday. One of the most exciting live acts of the past decade and a highlight at this year's Glastonbury festival, Faithless, will still make studio albums, but now feel too old to carry on touring.
God Is A DJ star Bliss explains, "Being on the road is not conducive to making music or even to having a life. We all need time to enjoy living. When you're away life goes on without you, and we're not 15 any more. (wenn)
Kylie Minogue is reportedly furious about her new waxwork in Madame Tussaud's. The queen of raunchy moves is said to be livid over the pouting dummy that presides in the museum, which displays her most famous asset – her ultra-pert behind. Currently in Melbourne for the final leg of her world tour, the petite popstrel furiously declared: "This just goes to show you can't relinquish control of your image. I didn't pose for it. I knew they were going to mould it from the photograph of me on all fours but I certainly didn't realise people were going to walk around it." What's more, Kylie was so enraged with the unapproved tribute that she has instructed her management that she will never again agree to any deal unless she has total control over everything.
En rassinn á henni hefur gefið henni mikla athygli. Hvers vegna ekki að leyfa honum að njóta sín?
Winona Ryder's trial date on shoplifting charges has been set back by a Beverly Hills judge. The 30-year-old Heathers star is accused of leaving a Saks Fifth Avenue department store in December without paying for nearly $6,000 worth of goods. But Judge Elden S. Fox yesterday ruled that a pre-trial hearing to decide what evidence can be admitted must be staged before the full trial can go ahead. That hearing will now take place on August 26. Ms Ryder, who has pleaded innocent to charges of second-degree burglary, grand theft, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance and is free on $13,000 bail, did not attend the hearing. She could face more than three years in prison if convicted. Ryder's lawyer Mark Geragos said at an earlier hearing that the actress had a prescription for a generic form of the painkiller Percocet when she was arrested outside the Wilshire Boulevard store on December 12.
Car Trouble for Pacino
Al Pacino was forced to hail a cab on his way to the premiere of his new film Simone in Los Angeles on Tuesday night when his limousine broke down. The movie star arrived at the premiere with his 12-year-old daughter Julie in the back of a taxi. He said, "My limo just conked out. It just stopped in Santa Monica. Those things happen to me all the time." Pacino had another surprise in store for fans on the red carpet - he has gone blond. He added, "They dyed my hair grey for a part I was playing. They actually bleached it and when it hits the sun it just goes blond. I actually like it." Meanwhile, producers paid extras to stage a fake demonstration about the digitalization of Hollywood - the theme of his film - outside the cinema before Pacino arrived.
'Straw Dogs' Set for a Remake
Controversial 1971 movie Straw Dogs is to be remade thanks to actor Edward Norton - a lifelong fan of the violent Dustin Hoffman film. The Sam Peckinpah movie, which features a graphic rape sequence, has only recently been released on video in America after years of controversy, but now the Fight Club star is masterminding a remake. Norton will produce and possibly star in the film, renamed Fear Itself, which will be directed by John Polson.
Kidman's Swedish Swimsuit Up For Grabs
Hollywood star Nicole Kidman's swimsuit is up for sale - after she left it behind at a Swedish swimming baths. Businessman Po Johansson claims the statuesque redhead was a regular visitor to his baths near Gothenburg when she was in the country to film new movie Dogville, and forgot her bathing costume on one occasion. Johansson, who says he has already received one bid of $2,025, says, "Nicole rented the whole pool every Sunday and was in a hurry one day and left it behind. I wasn't thinking of giving it back - she can afford a new one!"
Gorgeous Aussie Holly Valance makes every red-hot blooded man’s eyes go pop as she chews on bubble gum.
The sexy star jetted in to Britain on Monday to set up home in London and concentrate on her singing career.
Holly said a tearful goodbye to her Neighbours co-stars last week when she quit her role as Flick Scully. And she has already adopted a sexier look since arriving here, as my exclusive pictures show.
In her latest photo she blows bubbles while wearing a skimpy outfit. No wonder her new single, to be released next month, is called Down Boy.
Holly, who had a No1 hit in May with her debut track Kiss Kiss, told me: "I love Britain. I always get a great reception when I perform here so I feel right at home. I’m looking forward to trying out some of your famous clubs."
Geir, ég myndi klikka á linkinn, það er nefnilega önnur mynd af Holly fyrir utan þessa og þær eru báðar stækkanlegar :)
(Katrillion) -- You might want to take a weekend trip to Toronto in September.
If you want to catch Reese Witherspoon, Eminem, Mandy Moore or Heath Ledger in their new movies before all your friends do, then make plans to attend the 27th annual Toronto International Film Festival, taking place from Sept. 5 to Sept. 14.
The film fest will be showcasing some of the hottest films of the fall and winter seasons, and many of them will have your favorite stars. In a special presentation will be "8 Mile," Eminem's highly anticipated movie debut that co-stars Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer and Kim Basinger. "8 Mile," which tracks the life of a struggling artist during the mid-'90s Detroit hip-hop scene, will be shown as a work in progress.
The world premiere of "Try Seventeen," a new comedy starring Elijah Wood and Moore, will be part of the festival's Discovery Program, which features 16 films from the world's hottest new filmmakers.
Also premiering at the fest is the Ledger period piece, "The Four Feathers." Also starring Kate Hudson and Wes Bentley, "Four Feathers" tells the tale of a British war hero who must overcome his cowardice and fight to save his friends and family from the Sudanese rebels.
And no festival would be complete without Witherspoon. Hollywood's hottest actress will be heading up to Toronto to screen her upcoming comedy, "Sweet Home Alabama."
Other premieres include Denzel Washington's directorial debut, "Antwone Fisher," the Antonio Banderas noir flick, "Femme Fatale," and the Salma Hayek biopic "Frida," based on the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
For more information on obtaining tickets to the 27th annual Toronto Film Festival, go to www.e.bell.ca/filmfest.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Three days after his race car smashed into a wall at Kentucky Speedway, actor Jason Priestley had surgery Wednesday on his broken back and feet.
The former "Beverly Hills 90210" television star had the operation at Methodist Hospital, where he was taken by helicopter on Monday. No update of Priestley's condition following surgery was expected until Thursday morning, hospital spokesman John Mills said. Before the operation, Priestley was listed in serious condition - unchanged from Tuesday.
Doctors have said they expect him to make a full recovery.
The 32-year-old Priestley was badly hurt Sunday when his open-wheel car spun out of control on Turn 2 and hit the wall nearly head-on during practice for the Kentucky 100.
Besides fractures to both feet and to his spine, Priestley also had a moderate concussion, a bruise around his left eye and cuts on his nose, left cheek and neck.
Priestley had qualified second for the race, and even after crashing, he stands seventh in the Infiniti Pro Series, a developmental circuit for the Indy Racing League.
Pældu í því, þrátt fyrir að lenda í árekstrinum var hann í sjöunda sæti. Hann er þá betri keppnismaður en leikari, það er alveg ljóst.
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, one of the best known characters in American professional wrestling, surrendered to law enforcement officials in Texas on Tuesday on a charge of beating his wife.
He posted $5,000 bond and was released pending future legal action, said a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff's Department.
Austin, 36, a Texas native whose real name is Steve Williams, turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued charging him with assault causing bodily injury on a spouse.
Police were called to Austin's upscale San Antonio home in June by wife Debra Williams who told police the World Wrestling Entertainment star beat her on the head, back and legs, then fled.
Williams, 42, is a former beauty queen also affiliated with WWE.
En skemmtilegt. Hann var heldur aldrei neitt í uppáhaldi hjá mér. The Rock er minn maður sko, enda lemur hann bara vondu kallana í bíó núorðið. Af því hann er sko hættur í WWE, eða WWF eða hvað þetta heitir allt.
Popstars judge and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has brought her multi-millionaire American boyfriend across the Atlantic to keep her company during the new Popstars series.
The 30-year-old is holed up with Damian Warner in a five-star Manchester hotel while she is working on The Rivals, which will create two bands to battle it out in the Christmas charts.
The Daily Express quotes a source as saying: "They have tried not to be seen together but when they are, it's clear they only have eyes for one another. After a few heartbreaks, Geri is now finding true romance with someone who makes her happy."
The singer, who is judging with Peter Waterman and Louis Walsh, has already sparked a controversy during the auditions for the series by making a comment which appeared to be a jibe about a contestant's weight.
Shop assistant Carol Lynch said: "When I finished singing, Pete or Louis said I was a larger-than-life character.
"Then Geri said: 'Yeah, very larger than life' in a sarky way. I was all smiles and just walked out, but I couldn't believe it."
A Popstars spokeswoman later claimed that Geri had been referring to her personality.
Geri færi nú ekki að gera lítið úr keppanda. Hehe, gera lítið úr feitum keppanda. It can't be done!
Is there no limit to what the producers of Sex and the City will do to make a quick buck? According to reports from across the pond, the reigning powers at the HBO network have gone heavily into product placement. Suspicions were aroused after recent, prominent and favourable mentions of a number of brand names, including AOL, Weight Watchers and Amazon.com appeared in the series. "Whenever you see a brand name product in a movie or TV show and it's that obvious, it's pretty safe to assume it's a product placement," one media buyer tells msnbc.com. "The consumer-oriented audience of Sex and the City would make it an excellent placement vehicle. However, a spokeswoman for HBO insists that this is far from the truth. "The stories are totally driven by what the writers like and what they use," he maintains.
British dating mores have come under fire once again. On this occasion Gwyneth Paltrow has criticised the reluctance of English gents to ask a girl on a date. "British people don't seem to ask each other out," the Oscar-winning actress rants. "If someone asks you out they're really going out on a limb, whereas in America it happens all the time... It's only dinner for God's sake." Paltrow, who recently starred in Proof at London's Donmar Warehouse, was only escorted to dinner twice during her stint in London. One of her outings was on the arm of Brit actor James Purefoy, while the identity of the other date remains a mystery.
Vesalings Gwyneth. Ég vorkenni henni alveg svakalega. NOT!
David Beckham's voice has been bought by Vodafone for its mobile phone voicemail for a staggering £2 million. The England skipper, whose greeting message and image will be available to the company's 104 million subscribers worldwide, is the first celebrity to allow his voice to be used in such an endorsement. His famous face will also be used for mobile phone screen savers, games and quizzes and he will appear in TV ads for the communications giant, which already has a separate £30 million sponsorship deal with Manchester United. "He is the ideal person to promote our services globally," a Vodafone spokesperson says.
Sugababe singer Keisha Buchanan still has nightmares about her horrendous encounter with a knife-wielding stalker.
The singer was walking home from a recording session in North London with bandmate Mutya Buena when she realised she was being followed by a "strange-looking man".
She shudders, "He came up to me and, indicating he had a knife, said, 'You'll only see it if I have to use it.' He told me to give him my mobile phone and to pay for his train home."
"The guy wanted me to come back to his hotel but it wasn't a hotel, it was a block of flats. He said if I wanted my mobile back I had to go with him but I didn't care about the phone. It was really scary. He had a knife and he was really menacing. I couldn't get rid of him for five hours."
After finally managing to shake the man off, Keisha alerted the police. She continues, "Apparently he's being deported. But I still get panic attacks. Any time I see a guy with a particular kind of cap, I get scared." (WENN)
Pop babe Kylie Minogue has received a surprise 'Welcome Home' present in her Aussie homeland - a dressing room decorated almost entirely in pink.
The star has just taken her Fever tour back to Australia and found that her dressing room at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena had been specially designed by top interior specialist Stuart Rattle.
Rattle explains, "The theme is pink. Normally we use stage props but for Kylie, it's the genuine article. The crystal lamps are covered with cream silk shades and the Brunschwig & Fils fabric was air-freighted specially from New York." (WENN)
One of Madonna's dancers has inadvertently revealed rumours that the pop queen is expecting her third child are correct.
Nikki Harris, who is pregnant herself, let the secret slip whilst being interviewed on the British TV network BBC's showbusiness show Liquid News when excitedly speaking of the bond between her and her long-time chum.
She said, "We're even having babies together!" and she quickly tried to retract her mistake by adding, "Sssh, I didn't say that!"
Madonna, 43, who is married to British film director Guy Ritchie, is already mother to Lourdes and Rocco. (WENN)
Hún er ekki ólétt. Nikki hefur bara verið að grínast í blaðamönnunum. Ég trúi þessu ekki.
Pop princess Britney Spears has gone to the extraordinary length of imposing on-the-spot fines on her promoter for intrusive phone calls made to her dressing room before a concert.
The singer has made the outrageous demand on her tour rider that she is to receive US $4,950 for every phone call made to her dressing room, even wrong numbers, because it interferes with her concentration.
The sexy singer has made demands before. In 1999, she demanded a special tortilla chip and on her last tour Gummie Bear sweets. And according to explosive new book Show The Girl The Door by road manager Bill Kesler, Britney is not the only superstar who demands star treatment. For a recording session in Florida, Jennifer Lopez reportedly demanded her dressing room be decked out in white and fitted with US $15,000 worth of furniture, crockery, flowers and carpeting. Janet Jackson requires a medical team on stand-by, including a doctor, nurse, throat specialist and masseuse, and Whitney Houston not only demands the largest room in the theatre, but insists that it be fitted with an independent electricity supply in case of a general power failure. (wenn)
Rap star Eminem has helped bring a teenager who "died" five times out of a coma. The outrageous musician sent 17-year-old Claire Derbyshire of Manchester, England, a bandana, CDs, signed pictures of himself and a limited edition doll to aid her recovery. Claire's relatives also played the star's tracks as the teenager lay almost lifeless in a hospital bed and were amazed when the songs appeared to miraculously stir her back to life. Claire's aunt Julie Widall explains, "Her eyes lit up and she was overcome, especially when she received the gifts from Eminem. He's her hero. It was the first time in 17 weeks that she was awake. It was just unbelievable."
In other Eminem charitable acts, the rapper has sold his purple Ford Mustang which he bought with his first royalty cheques. The sum of $10,000 of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Macomb Literacy Partners, an organisation that teaches adults to read.
The unlikely new owner is a 12-year-old girl whose dad bought the car for her. The car will now sit in Courtney Wittenberns' garage in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after her generous dad paid US $27,900 the vehicle. She is apparently delighted with daddy's gift even though she won't actually get to drive it until 2006. She says, "I'll just sit in the garage and listen to music in the car and wash it." (wenn)
Einmitt það. Eminem lætur bara gott af sér leiða, ekki satt?
According to Variety, Alcon Entertainment has set a cast and an Oct. 9 start date for a remake of Can't Buy Me Love, the 1987 James Foley-directed film about an unpopular kid who hires a cheerleader to be his bogus girlfriend in order to improve his social status.
The film will star Nick Cannon and Christina Milian. The project was written and will be directed by Troy Beyer (Let's Talk About Sex). Warner Bros. will distribute the film in the fall of 2003.
Ég man eftir þessari mynd. Hún var uppáhaldsmyndin mín í einhvern tíma og Patrick Dempsey var goðið samhliða því.
(Katrillion) -- It's going to be a busy season for the gang at "Smallville."
While things were definitely heating up during the season finale, the cast of the WB hit series assures us that things are going to get even more intense.
"There's a lot of stuff going on in 'Smallville''s second season," star Michael Rosenbaum told us. "There's going to be some death, some disappearances, some fast driving (and) a little sex added."
Sounds like an action-packed season for Clark and company, but with all this activity, does the cast ever get time to chill out? Well, let's just say that in between takes, the place sounds like a karaoke bar.
"I like karaoke," Rosenbaum admitted. "I'll start singing 'You are the woman that I always dreamed of.'"
Rosenbaum. Er það sköllótti kallinn sem leikur Lex? Hinn er ekkert smá sætur, þessi sem lék boytoyið hennar Judging Amy. *slef*
Bobby Gillespie has revealed how Kylie Minogue rejected an offer from Primal Scream for a lethal combination of drugs including ecstasy, speed and cocaine. Gillespie explained that he and the other drug-loving Scream Team members met Minogue some eight years ago, for a debauched article alongside Kylie in the now defunct UK music magazine Select.
He said they tried to persuade Minogue to consume a rather potent mixture of drugs. We did try. We tried to give her an LDC - a lethal drug cocktail. Ecstasy, speed cocaine, methadone, valium, all crushed up.
One of the guys offered it to her, but she said, 'thanks, but no thanks'. She was very ladylike, Gillespie told Q Magazine. Minogue was famously introduced to ecstasy by tragic INXS frontman Michael Hutchence.
Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant are getting close again - they live three houses from each other. The former lovers share the same postcode in London, and Hurley admits she loves being close with her ex, the godfather of her son Damian. She says, "He lives three houses away. If I go out on my roof terrace I can see his roof terrace and we can do semaphore to each other, which is quite sweet. I said, 'We should get those walkie talkies so we can talk to each other, ' and he said, 'Can't we afford to use the phone?'"
Public Appearance For Woody Allen
Veteran film maker Woody Allen will make a rare public appearance in New York to discuss an aspect of his film making. The pint-sized neurotic will discuss the role of psychoanalysis in Annie Hall and Manhattan at a 92nd Street venue. Also, The American Museum Of The Moving Image in Queens will mark the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the city with a free screening of Allen's 1979 ode to the city Manhattan.
Vin Diesel: Bond Has Had His Day
Vin Diesel has fired the opening salvo in the battle between his spy thriller XXX and the forthcoming James Bond movie Die Another Day - by labeling 007 outdated. The hunky 35-year-old, whose new film is top of the US box office chart, says his high-octane character Xander Cage is the type of secret agent who will appeal to a generation raised on skateboarding and extreme sports. He says, "To take nothing away from the Bond movies - I loved them - the Bond character is about as relevant to young audiences as someone like Clark Gable. I mean, Bond wears a suit. No kid today wears a suit. Xander Cage doesn't have a lot of hangups - he's not going to a therapist. He's a doer of deeds and makes no bones about being the new breed of superagent. In that respect, I think he is the voice of the younger generation."
Moynahan Gets Steamy With Affleck And Pacino
Bridget Moynahan has had the pleasure of acting out steamy love scenes with hunky stars Ben Affleck and Al Pacino recently - and she loved it. The Coyote Ugly actress stars opposite Affleck in new spy thriller The Sum Of All Fears - and director Phil Alden Robinson insisted that all their love scenes be filmed in one day. The 30-year-old former model reveals she and Jennifer Lopez's new boyfriend found it an unusual process, explaining, "We had a good time rolling around, that's for sure. "But it's weird when the director says, 'Cut', and you have to sort of get untangled. You just get your bits back into place and gear up for the next one. It was more awkward than embarrassing. On the first day there was literally an introduction, then we sat down with a glass of wine and kissed." The lucky lady, who has also been in Sex And The City, has since managed to get her hands on Hollywood legend Al Pacino. Though, while filming The Recruit with the Scarface star she was considerably more nervous. She says, "I was so shy around him. I was like, 'It's Al Pacino. It's Scarface! But he's such a sweet man and he's so willing to fool around and drop lines like the rest of us. By the time we had to do those intimate scenes, we were so comfortable. We got on so well."
Northam Worried About Dean Martin Role
British actor Jeremy Northam is terrified America will hate his portrayal of Dean Martin in a new TV biopic. The Gosford Park star will play the crooner opposite Will & Grace's Sean Hayes in Lewis & Martin- about the life behind the smiles and the songs of top double act Jerry Lewis and Martin. And he admits he's far from convinced he has pulled off Dean Martin's famous drawl in the project, which wrapped at the weekend . He says, "Fortunately they used Dean's own voice, so I was just stuck with doing a bad impersonation of him talking. I had to have a go." Northam admits he has always been fascinated with Martin's life away from the movies and TV - and says the personalised biopic fills in the gaps. He adds, "This is the story of their working relationship and the gaps in between their lives. They became this $20 million industry by the time they split up and they turned their backs on it all."
Julia Stiles Is Ready To Look Like A Girl
American actress Julia Stiles has decided it's time to finally alter her dress sense - because she's fed up with looking like a boy. Growing up in New York's SoHo neighborhood, where her parents own and run a pottery business, the O star chose to wear clothes that would gain her the least attention from men. She explains, "That is the weird thing about growing up in New York City - at a very young age you have to learn how to protect yourself walking down the street. It used to make me feel uncomfortable to have guys commenting on me, so I tried to avoid that by looking like a tomboy. But now I'm not scared of it. I've come into my own. I'm in a girlie phase."
Arquette's Toys Troubling Courteney
Scream star David Arquette's hobby of collecting dolls is causing friction with his wife Courtney Cox Arquette. The Friends star is insisting that David get rid of his bizarre collection - particularly his memento from eighties classic TV series The A Team. However, David refuses, "She was this close to throwing away my Mr. T doll. I just told her, 'I pity the fool who throws away my Mr. T doll.'"
The duo have known each other for some time but sparks first started to fly when they met again at a social event hosted by actress Amanda Peet, who appeared with Perry in the film The Whole Nine Yards.
The Daily Star quotes a fellow party guest as saying: "Matthew and Renee only had eyes for each other. Matthew arrived first and hung out with a group of buddies - but when Renee walked into the room he made a beeline for her.
"Matthew and Renee were giggling and playfully touching each other like schoolkids in love."
The pair are said to have already been on a dinner date. A source is quoted as saying: "It's too soon to call it a relationship but they make each other happy."
Zellweger recently split up with Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney while Perry's life in recent months has been dogged by an addiction to prescription drugs.
The saga between film producer/love rat Stephen Bing and model/actress/mother Elizabeth Hurley continues. Liz is in LA at the moment, publicising her film Servicing Sara, and was to introduce her son, four-month-old Damian to his father. Only it seems that the warring ex's can't agree on anything. 'Liz was planning to introduce Damian to his father when she got to LA but it doesn't look like it's going to happen now,' a source commented. 'They have spoken on the phone, but there is so much bitterness there that it's almost impossible for them to agree on anything.' During Hurley's pregnancy Bing described Hurley as 'that bitch who is trying to ruin my life' and Hurley responded 'If you've been brought up not to sink to a lower level of humanity, then you don't'. Liz has vowed to bring up her baby on her own - without receiving a penny from Bing, who is heir to a £300 million property fortune.
Amazonian beauty Shakira can't understand why the American and British press compare her to Britney Spears. The vocalist says she is not subject to such comparisons in her native Colombia.
She says, "My Latin people understand me little by little with each album. They don't compare me to Britney, you know."
"They'd be like, 'What? Britney?' Nothing wrong with Britney, she's a great artist and very beautiful, but I was pretty surprised to be compared to her in America and Britain."
"But I think that's because there isn't a full understanding of my musical proposal here. That's just a matter of time though." (WENN)
Baby Spice Emma Bunton has been trying to secure discounts at exclusive fashion stores.
The blonde haired singer and multi-millionaire demanded a discount at a top shoe shop on London's fashionable Kings Road - explaining that Gucci has afforded her a similar deal.
The owner of R Soles Douglas Berney duly obliged the songbird with a US$68 discount on a pair of US$293 boots.
However Bunton protested that, "Gucci give me fifty." When asked why she needed to haggle over a measly US$7.5, she said, "Not US$75, 50 per-cent." (WENN)
Foolish singer Ashanti has embarrassing memories of her high school graduation because she forgot the American national anthem when she took to the stage to sing it.
The New York native, 21, was strictly told to by her choral instructor to keep hold of the words when performing at the ceremony and she quickly learned why it was a bad move to sing without the back-up.
She says, "I sang the national anthem at the ceremony and forgot the second verse. I had it written on a piece of paper and my choral instructor told me, 'Shan, don't lose that paper.' I'm like, 'I'm not going to lose it!' and then five seconds before I was to sing, I lost it!" (WENN)
Once bankrupt R&B diva Toni Braxton experienced serious deja vu in a department store when her credit card was declined.
The vocalist, who was declared insolvent in 1998, was worried that the shop assistant would think she was still penniless.
She explains, "I had this credit card that I hardly ever used, and I charged some home-furnishing things that were probably US$8,000."
"The sales person was like, 'Sorry, your credit card is not working.' I just wanted to melt. So I said, 'You know what, why don't we try another one?' I thought, 'Oh my God, is it going to work?' It did. But they are all going to think I am still broke." (WENN)
Pop star Mya is reteaming with her "Lady Marmalade" supergroup stars for tracks on her third album.
Pink and Missy Elliott will appear on the untitled CD, which Mya is putting the finishing touches to now.
Pink has written her a song, Take A Picture, and Elliott will appear on a tribute to drag queens, called "Whatever B****".
Mya explains, "It's strictly for the drag queens. I just like to sit and watch them. My dancers introduced me to that world a long time ago. I've incorporated some of it in my show."
The new album will also feature a "ladies' anthem" titled :Unless My Period's Late: and a Caribbean-style duet with Sean Paul called "Things Come And Go".
She also plans to cover 1983 Rick James song "Cold Blooded". Mya's scheduled to work with Dr Dre this month on one of the LP's final cuts. The singer, who's in talks to appear on the next Santana album, says her first single will be out in September, followed by the album in time for Christmas. (WENN)
After the revelation that superstar Madonna wrote a song for her, Kylie Minogue is giving something back to younger pop wannabes - she's penned a tune for Atomic Kitten.
The Aussie vixen gave them the single "Feel So Good" after revealing to aides that she's a huge fan, and the girlband are so flattered by Kylie's attention that they've named their second album after the track.
Pregnant bandmember Natasha Hamilton says, "Oh my god, I just went crazy. I've grown up loving Kylie's stuff. She's a real inspiration to me." (WENN)
Rocker Lenny Kravitz picked up a love of performing live during his teen days of touring as a choirboy.
The 38-year-old star has fond memories of his time spent with the California Boys' Choir and he's certain they've had a heavy influence on his penchant for performing live.
He recalls, "I learned a lot in the boys' choir, before and during puberty. It was crazy. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I got to work with some of the greatest artists in the world."
"I sang with the New York City Opera Company and the Joffrey Ballet. I recorded with Zubin Mehta. I performed live with conductors Erich Leinsdorf and Michael Tilson Thomas."
"I learned so much about music and got to perform these great pieces - my first professional concert was opening night at the Hollywood Bowl, Mahler's Third Symphony with Erich Leinsdorf and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and it was like, wow!"
But his choral dreams came to an abrupt end when puberty hit. He adds, "Once you can't sing the second alto parts, you're gone. All of a sudden your voice starts cracking and breaking. It goes from soprano to second alto. There are no tenors." (WENN)
Elizabeth Hurley seems to have put the traumas of the past year behind her and is even considering having more children. "It was great and I would definitely do it again for sure," she enthuses to the Evening Standard. One aspect of her pregnancy that Liz particularly enjoyed was being able to indulge in all her favourite foods. "I put on 53 pounds and it was heaven," the 37-year-old model and actress, who has fully regained her super-svelte frame since giving birth to Damian Charles, declares. "I was like 'Sure, I will have doughnuts for breakfast, hot dogs at 11am is fine. Bring them on.'" But the minute Damian was born, Hurley cast aside those nine months of throwing caution to the wind and embarked on a serious regime. "I just went healthy the minute Damian was born," she explains. "It was a very strict diet."
So much for sticking to your beliefs. Drew Barrymore has announced that she is giving up her vegetarian lifestyle because she tired of shopping in the same places. Although the Charlie's Angel still boycotts products from cosmetic companies that test on animals, she isn't averse to sampling some carnivorous delights. "I still don't eat a ton of meat, and I don't wear a ton of leather," she tells imdb.com. "But I just don't put strict limitations on myself anymore. I don't beat myself up. I didn't wear certain designers because I didn't want any animals to suffer for beauty and stuff, and so I literally was dressed by Old Navy at one point. Eventually I got tired and wanted to play again. Dressing is like an art form - it's so much fun."
The two Aussie actors are eager to work in a film together, and have had discussions about co-starring in a film, to be shot in Australia and directed by Crowe, according to Kidman.
"I want Russell and me to do an Australian film together," the "Moulin Rouge" star told Empire magazine. "We’re waiting for that perfect script. It’d be cool for us to come back to Australia and do something together. Russell might direct something and maybe I’d do something in that. . . . Both of us love Oz so much, and we both feel very protected when we’re home."
One person who may not be thrilled about the possible collaboration is Danielle Spencer, Crowe’s long-suffering, on-again-off-again girlfriend. There has long been speculation about the personal relationship between Crowe and Kidman, who once dated each other. The buzz is that one of Crowe’s songs, "Somebody Else’s Princess," was written about Kidman and not long ago, he flew to Sweden to see her.
(Katrillion) -- Vin Diesel is officially an action star.
The spy thriller "XXX," which stars the musclebound actor, had a $46 million debut. It bumped last week's top draw, "Signs," down to No. 2.
"Signs" earned $30 million in its sophomore weekend. The sci-fi flick starring Mel Gibson made just under $120 million in its first 10 days.
Rounding out the top three was the much-anticipated sequel, "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams." The junior spy adventure flick debuted with $17 million in receipts.
Holding strong was "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." The comedy that features Joey Fatone of *NSYNC just made the top 10 in front of "Stuart Little 2."
Hip Hop super-producer and the man behind Eminem, Dr Dre is going to retire. The controversial artist is to give up rapping to focus on his production work after he completes his forthcoming third album.
A hip-hop musical, Detox is to be Dre's most ambitious album to date. He says, "I've been blueprinting, getting ideas together for the past six months or so, just trying to figure out which direction I want to take and how I'm gonna present the project. I want this one to be really over the top."
Industry insiders have greeted Dre's announcement of retirement with some scepticism. A source told British music bible New Musical Express, "I have yet to actually see someone (in hip-hop) retire and not come back to the game." (WENN)
Country Grammar singing rap star Nelly is a unlucky in love. The word smith who implores ladies to "take off all their clothes" repeatedly on his new "Hot In Herre" single, confesses he's had very few long term relationships.
He says, "I've only had three girlfriends in my whole life. I think it takes a lot for me to fall in love. If it happens, it happens."
But the Southern American rapper reveals he is too focused on his career to let his lack of relationship worry him. He says, "I'm in love with what I do right now." (WENN)
Bush star Gavin Rossdale is stressing out over his planned September wedding to Gwen Stefani because he's determined to make sure their big day is extra special.
The rocker admits he could do without the constant attention of paparazzi photographers trying to capture the couple's most intimate moments.
He says, "We were sitting in an outdoor cafe in London a few days ago with our dog, trying to be subtle while having lunch, and we realised four cars had pulled up and six lenses were aimed at us."
"I said to Gwen, 'I know, why don't you stab me with your fork and give them something interesting to photograph.' It's tough because I don't want to be stressed out for the wedding. That's so unsexy. I want to enjoy it and have fun, but I'm also trying to do it the right way."
"We're doing things like deciding which wine goes with this and that, and working on the guest list. It's very daunting because it's like the guest list of life - you don't want to screw up and leave anyone out."
And Rossdale is determined to make sure his marriage is a lasting one. He adds, "Instead of whirlwind romances, celebrities have whirlwind marriages these days." (WENN)
South American singing sensation Shakira is the first to admit she always does things her way - no matter what other people think.
The Latin American singer, who had a worldwide hit with "Whenever, Wherever", won't be swayed by other people's views if she's set on a particular course of action.
She says, "If something doesn't feel comfortable, then I won't do it, no matter what. I'm very hard on myself as well. I always want to improve and better myself and make everything I do better than the last time." (WENN)
Hollywood's golden girl is quitting Tinseltown for the sake of her son. "It's Wyatt's dream to be a hockey star," Goldie Hawn explains to a US magazine. Consequently Hawn and her partner Kurt Russell are leaving Pacific Palisades and moving to British Columbia so that Goldie can become a "hockey mom" to her 17-year-old son. "It'll be an adventure," she bravely says. "We'll get out of this town, I'll have time to write. We're going to have fireplaces in every room… it's going to be a whole different phase in our lives."
Tobey Maguire has fallen for a contestant in the American version of Pop Idol. The Spidey star, who has been linked to a stream of A-listers, including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Heather Graham, has been pursuing sexy songstess, Ryan Starr. "He got her phone number," an insider tells the US tabs. "He's been calling her."
Það gæti verið að ég fari að sjá Spiderman aftur í dag.
Jennifer Lopez has sent the rumour mills into overdrive after she enjoyed a clandestine date with a former flame. The super-star set tongues wagging when she was smuggled onto ex-lover P Diddy's luxury yacht off the coast of Ibiza for an intimate lunch liaison. "The pair were always going to meet at some point but were desperate to ensure that nobody knew about their lunch date," a source tells the Daily Mirror. "They met just after midday on Thursday and she didn't leave until after dark. They were very pleased to see each other."
Madonna has paid Kylie the ultimate compliment by penning a song for her to record. The track, entitled Alone Again, was written by Madge and her producer Rick Nowels and Kylie is due to release it as a double A-side single alongside Come Into My World. "I don't think Madonna has ever given a song to another artist," an elated Minogue tells reporters." This is the second time Madonna has given Kylie's career a boost. The Material Girl sparked off a fashion trend when she wore a T-shirt with Kylie's name emblazoned on it at an awards ceremony two years ago.
Jennifer Lopez is being sued by California-based company Glow Industries, Inc. because of the name of her new perfume, Glow By J. Lo. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court's Central District of California on Wednesday (August 7), claims Lopez and fragrance company Coty, Inc. engaged in trademark infringement, dilution of trademark, unfair competition, and that they violated the Lanaham Act.
Glow Industries, Inc. manufactures fragrances, skin lotions, skin moisturizers, scented mists, soaps, candles, scented oils, and bubble baths under the Glow name and sells them in department stores nationwide. Lopez currently has her J. Lo By Jennifer Lopez clothing line selling in some of the same stores.
Meanwhile, Lopez held a huge party on July 3 at Trump World Tower in New York City to celebrate her perfume line and her new collaboration with Coty, Inc.'s Lancaster Group. Lopez intends to launch her Glow By J. Lo fragrance this fall. Coincidently, Glow is also the name of Jennifer's sister Lynda Lopez's beauty-themed program on cable's Style Network.
Hvað mun ilmvatnið þá heita? Blow, eða kannski slow?
Busy singer Michelle Branch will appear on the new NBC drama "American Dreams" this fall.
On the blast-to-the-past show, Branch -- who is currently promoting her new single "Goodbye to You" -- will play '60s pop star Leslie Gore, who sang hits such as "You Don't Own Me" and "It's My Party."
Starting Sept. 29, "American Dreams" will air Sunday nights on NBC. Michelle will appear in one episode.
Branch isn't the only pop star headed to network TV. Former teen heartthrob Joey McIntyre will star in Fox's "Boston Public" this fall. He will play the new teacher on the block.
And as previously reported, Jessica Simpson will appear in three episodes of "That '70s Show."
Michelle Branch er á samningi hjá Maverick plötufyrirtækinu. Hún er alls ekki slæmur tónlistarmaður.
The actress-turned-singer wept as she said farewell to her Ramsay Street co-stars after three years of playing schoolgirl Flick Scully in the Aussie soap.
Holly will continue to be on our screens until February next year.
She was presented with a gold bracelet by her co-stars and production crew as her leaving gift, reports The Sun.
Now that she has quit Down Under, she is moving to London to concentrate on her pop career.
Her debut single, Kiss Kiss, went straight in at No. 1 when it was released in April.
The singer is due to film the video for her follow-up track, Down Boy, later this month.
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale have finally announced details of their wedding, which will take place next month. The rock 'n' roll couple, who front No Doubt and Bush, are apparently set to mark the occasion with two ceremonies.
The first is to take place on September 14 in London, while a second - to allow members of both families to enjoy the occasion - has also been pencilled in.
According to music website worldpop.com, Gwen will wear a dress designed by John Galliianio especially for the wedding.
Meanwhile, Rossdale is also rumoured to be considering a solo career, with a single, entitled 'Adrenaline', scheduled for release at the end of the year.
Soul superstar Diana Ross has checked back into California's, Promises rehab clinic, after abruptly canceling her summer tour.
The singer's kids persuaded her to seek counseling help at Promises before her tour began, and now she's back on the centre's programme to conquer her exhaustion and depression.
The 58-year-old pulled the plug on 20-plus concerts after telling friends she couldn't go on, and then checked into the celebrity rehab, according to American tabloid Globe.
A pal says, "She's telling people she feels like a piece of meat that's been put through the grinder. She wants to rest and be taken care of. Diana's angry that she doesn't have Cher's spectacular career - while Cher is selling out huge stadiums and scoring number ones, Diana's having trouble filling small venues." (wenn)
British director Guy Ritchie doesn't like anyone getting too close to his superstar wife Madonna even if it is in the name of work.
The director, who has been married to the material girl for two years, has confessed that directing her love scenes in their new collaboration Swept Away was an uncomfortable experience for him.
Guy says, "I had to point toward the bloke's hand and then poke her on the bum and say 'put hand on bum. I had to look like I wasn't finding it awkward."
Ritchie, however, insists he loved collaborating with his wife on the film which is due to hit cinema screens later this year.
He adds, "I wanted to do something completely different, the wife was available and cheap, one thing led to another." (WENN)
Britney Spears' Mexican dash may have been caused by an overdose of laxatives.
The superstar claimed an incoming thunderstorm prompted her to controversially halt her show in Mexico City on 28 July 2002, but insiders claim the rumbling she heard might have been from her own stomach.
American tabloid gossip Lycia Naff claims Britney is using laxatives in a bid to stay slim and may have taken one too many before her show at the Foro Sol Stadium.
Spears left the stage after just four songs and didn't come back. She later explained that her concerns about the storm prompted her to call off the show.
A source says, "When the laxatives kicked in after the fourth song, Britney was stuck between a rock and a very embarrassing place. She had to abandon the concert and run to the bathroom."
"She has taken laxatives before and often jokes about surprise bathroom attacks causing unplanned costume changes." (WENN)
Superstar queen of pop Madonna has prompted rumours she's expecting her second child with movie-maker husband Guy Ritchie after being spotted sporting a fuller waistline.
The pop diva who married Ritchie in December 2000 was seen outside a friend's home in Los Angeles wearing a black jumper and looked like she has abandoned the trim figure she is usually so proud of.
But, despite months of rumours, aides have refused to confirm rumours Madonna is pregnant.
A source told British tabloid the Sun, "Madonna seems to be keeping mum about her weight gain. There's been lots of rumours that she is expecting. Nothing has been confirmed, but there's no denying that she's put weight on." (WENN)
Colombian superstar Shakira loves the fact her job takes her all over the world because she gets to meet so many different people.
The singing sensation enjoys globetrotting so much that she doesn't see it as work anymore and she believes music helps to bridge the culture gap.
Sexy Shakira says, "To some, yes, it may be work. But I just feel that my playground is larger now."
"I now talk to people from different cultures and I hope that I can bridge those gaps and differences between us. It's an adventure, a dream...I feel like I'm on an anthropological mission." (WENN)
Pop beauty Christina Aguilera has been warned to stay away from British pop prince Robbie Williams - by her worried family.
According to British tabloid the Sunday Sport, the sexy singer's relatives have become increasingly worried about her wild behaviour and are convinced her friendship with Williams is to blame.
The former squeaky clean pop princess has been spending increasing amounts of time with Robbie when current beau Rachel Hunter is away.
But even without Robbie's encouragement, Aguilera's naughty behaviour has hit headlines. She was booted out of a hotel in Los Angeles after downing numerous bottles of Cristal champagne with pals and blasting out heavy metal music which disturbed other guests. (WENN)
Angelina Jolie's mother has lashed out at claims that her daughter is in need of psychiatric help. Marcheline Bertrand was furious after reading her ex-husband, Jon Voight's comments about Jolie's poor state of mind. "My daughter is magnificently healthy," Bertrand states. "There is nothing wrong with Angelina's mental health. Over the next few months people will see how strong and beautiful and healthy she is." Voight shocked America with his tearful TV plea to Angelina, whose marriage to Billy Bob Thornton had just broken down, to seek urgent help.
Nicolas Cage has reportedly tied the knot with Lisa Marie Presley. The couple are said to have exchanged vows in a private ceremony in Hawaii this weekend a week before the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death. The Oscar-winning actor was accompanied by his 12-year-old son Weston and Lisa Marie's two children, Danielle, 13, and ten-year-old Ben. The course of true love has not always run smoothly for the famous couple, who met at a party in Los Angeles last year. After dating for just a few months they parted, despite rumours that they were engaged, but re-kindled their romance in May.
Robbie Williams has pledged his allegiance to America by making it his permanent home. The chart-topping singer, who is currently romancing Rachel Hunter, has instructed estate agents to find him a suitable property in the Hollywood Hills. However, it is not only the allure of the beautiful Hunter that is keeping Robbie stateside. "I came to the US to stay sober and it really is the best place for me," he told a confidante. "Now I've met Rachel I'm totally convinced this is where I want to be." The former Take That-er, whose estimated personal fortune is £30 million, regularly attends AA meetings in Los Angeles and encourages Rachel to abstain from alcohol when they are together.
Loquacious toddler Brooklyn Beckham has inadvertently revealed the name of his unborn sister. The family's closely-guarded secret was blurted out by the three-year-old during a trip to Mothercare with his aunt Louise and cousin Liberty. "My mummy said I am going to have a sister called Paris," Brooklyn is said to have announced. "He was quite sure," a bystander told the Evening Standard. "We were all really surprised, especially since children of his age don't make that kind of stuff up."
Demi Moore is to return to the big screen, playing a fallen angel in Charlie's Angels 2. The Indecent Proposal actress has only been in one film in the past five years (the missable Passion of the Mind), blaming Hollywood's ageism for a lack of strong roles for 40-year-old actresses, such as herself. While playing the baddie in Charlie's Angels is unlikely to provide her with the credible role she desires, it is rumoured that the financial rewards persuaded her to come out of semi-retirement. Other actors in the film include the original high-kicking trio - Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore - and Friends actor Matt LeBlanc. Her ex- husband, peanut-head Bruce Willis, has recently moved into a house opposite Demi and their three daughters, who -poor unfortunates- are called Rumer, Larue and Tallulah Belle Willis.
The 21-year-old is taking a break of at least six months while she debates her future. Some reports say she may be out of action for as long as two years.
Britney's spokesman said she would be spending her time off at her family home in Louisiana. Spears - already worth £40m at the age of 21 - has had a difficult few months.
She faced booing fans in London when she failed to pose for photos or sign autographs at the premiere of her movie Crossroads.
Her health has been in question too, with her allegedly fainting after taking up a fad diet and she also split up with her childhood sweetheart, N'Sync singer Justin Timberlake.
Sources told the Daily Mail: "She's tired of being under constant pressure to perform. She's exhausted and she's still broken up about Justin."
Other reports say Britney is now keen to date Leonardo DiCaprio. One US music industry insider was less than sympathetic about this.
He said: "She is desperate to hook up with someone who will make Justin jealous. She's 21 going on nine years old, and just can't get over the fact that he has moved on."
Ja hérna. Tími píkupoppsins er liðinn (þar til annað kemur í ljós) og nú hefst tími rokkaranna. Ekki satt?
Geri Halliwell helped reunite a lost child with his frantic parents. The former Spice Girl spotted two-year-old George Illingworth after he wandered away from a beach carnival near Torquay, Devon, England.
The singer had heard a description of the toddler in a public announcement. George's dad Peter, 40, says, "I was so relieved to see George I didn't notice it was Geri with him at first."
"Then I recognised her and I was amazed. She said she was glad we had George back safe and well." (WENN)
Hún er ekkert smá fit á þessari mynd. Manni langar bara í ræktina sko.
Bidding Frenzy For Affleck And Lopez Kissing Pictures
Affleck and Lopez mania has hit America's top showbiz magazines with one splashing out a reported US$75,000 for the first snaps of the couple kissing.
Bosses at Peopleoutbid rivals US Weekly for the set of nine pictures taken of the couple sharing an intimate moment in Beverly Hills on 31 July 2002, and plan to show four of them in their new issue, which hits newsstands tomorrow, 9 August 2002.
Affleck's publicist David Pollick admits he's amazed at all the press interest into Hollywood's latest hot romance, which began last month. He says, "They're dating, plain and simple. It's nothing to get hysterical about." (WENN)
Actress-turned pop wannabe Jennifer Love Hewitt has slammed claims her new single "BareNaked" is just a bid to capitalise on her famously pneumatic figure.
The curvy brunette, who appears to strip off in the video for the comeback track - she made an abortive attempt at chart stardom in the early nineties - says the song's title refers to her own insecurity about herself.
She says, "Do you ever have that dream where you're walking naked down the street and everyone just stares? It is a song for every 14-year-old girl who starts school this year to know there is someone else in the world who is just as insecure, and it's me."
"I don't think kids think that we get insecure, 'cause we kind of have these amazing lives, but I'm 23 and I'm pretty much the same as them."
Hewitt has written the lyrics for every song on her forthcoming album, also titled BareNaked, which she's worked on with producer Meredith Brooks. (WENN)
Christina Aguilera will continue with the raunchy image she debuted on last year's "Lady Marmalade" collaboration with her comeback single "Let's Get Dirty".
The skinny singer, who, dressed as a courtesan for the Moulin Rouge promo along with Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink, has recorded the sexy new song with rapper Redman.
Other collaborations for her forthcoming album, expected in October, include Alicia Keys and guitarist Dave Navarro, while producers include Glen Ballard of Alanis Morissette and Aerosmith fame, and Pink cohort Linda Perry. (WENN)
Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles has managed to make good business out of her bad moods - her best performances and songs have come about when she's upset.
The 20-year-old Texan says that rather than waste her time moping around whenever anything upsetting has happened to her, she uses the time productively to give her fans an even stronger dose of her talents.
She explains, "I always go to the studio when I get sad. I wrote 'Independent Women' when I was mad because people misunderstood 'Bills, Bills, Bills'."
"They thought I was saying guys should pay our bills - when it was really about a guy running them up. It made me mad because we're not the type of girls that want guys to take care of us. I buy my own gas and pay my own bills. And the jewellery we have, we bought ourselves!"
She adds, "Very successful people are able to focus and separate the personal from the business. Guys do it all the time. Like basketball players - when they're stressed, and they get on the court to play, they use that frustration to make them play harder. When I'm mad, I get on the stage and perform even harder." (WENN)
Hollywood is rife with rumour that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are planning to head to the altar soon. However, there's one person who will be less than pleased with the prospect of their union. Sources in the know claim that Gwyneth Paltrow is appalled that her ex-lover has been dating her one-time foe, J-Lo. According to local reports, Paltrow has never forgiven Lopez for unchristian remarks she made to Movieline magazine in 1998. Lopez slammed Gwynnie's acting ability, saying: "I don't remember anything she was in. Some people get hot by association. I heard more about her and Brad Pitt than I ever heard about her work." To make matters worse, Jennifer was also quoted as rubbishing Paltrow's bosom buddy, Madonna. "Do I think she's a great actress? No. Acting is what I do," she declared. "I'm like, hey, don't spit on my craft."
In yet another attempt to find spiritual enlightenment, Geri Halliwell has enlisted the help of a psychic. The 29-year-old twiglet started seeing the Los Angeles-based therapist in a bid to sort out her troubled life and his solution to her problems was to become a TV presenter. Geri is so besotted by her new-found pal that she has even persuaded co-presenter of Popstars: The Rivals, Davina McCall, to accompany her to all her sessions. According to reports, the lovely Davina is also hooked on Halliwell's latest fad. It looks like this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
Liz Hurley has flown out to Los Angeles to enable Damian Charles to meet his father for the first time. The 37-year-old actress, who is back to her pre-pregnancy glory, is expected to arrange a rendez-vous with Steve Bing over the next few days. "She doesn't want Damian to suffer just because his parents don't get along," a friend tells the Daily Mail. "She wants them to get to know each other, although she isn't interested in Bing's money." Hurley, whose latest film, Servicing Sara, is about to open, is determined to teach her son to respect his father. "If you've been brought up not to sink to a lower level of humanity, then you don't," she commented.
Eminem is throwing his lot in with voyeuristic video phenomenon "Girls Gone Wild." The ribald rapper is the newest host of the home video series, in which libertine lasses are persuaded to flash their breasts for the camera. Eminem and "GGW" founder Joe Francis hit the Hamptons beaches last weekend to film some exhibitionist East End-ettes, and then flew back to the city on Francis' Lear Jet to gape at the strippers at Privilege in Chelsea. Francis, 29, tells Chaunce Hayden's Steppin' Out magazine that rappers like Eminem and Snoop Dogg are uniquely qualified to host the videos. "I think the hip-hop community is very sexual and edgy," he declared. "They don't seem to have a problem with us or our content." Francis revealed that both Mark McGrath and Tommy Lee inquired about the hosting gig, but were turned down. "Who cares about Tommy Lee?" Francis snickered. "We only want the best of the best. That's why we got Eminem." Asked if he ever tires of ogling breasts, Francis said: "I don't think that's possible . . . I swear, every time I see a naked girl, it's like seeing my first!"
The man attempting to rescue Mariah Carey's career has revealed how he plans to turn her fortunes around.
Lyor Cohen, president of Island Def Jam records, is one of the most powerful men in the music business. He called Mariah after her much publicised departure from EMI and the accompanying multi-million dollar payoff, determined to set her straight.
Mariah is now working on a new album on the island of Capri, after Cohen's belief in her star power changed her luck.
He explains, "I cold-called her and I said, 'I think you are an unbelievable artist and you should hold your head up high. If you have this magnificent voice and you write such compelling songs, why are you dressing like that, why are you using all these collaborations? It's like driving a Ferrari in first.'" (WENN)
Nei, nei, nei, nei og aftur nei! Hvað er að fólki?
Justin Timberlake took a sly dig at his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, proving he's well and truly over her at this year's 'N Sync Challenge For The Children celeb basketball game.
Last year, Justin and Britney showed their affection for each other by having special shirts made for the game with their cutesy pet names for each other emblazoned on the back. Justin's read 'Stinky', and Britney's read 'Pinky'.
But just one short year later, Justin showed the world who the most important person in his life is these days: his 2002 shirt for the Orlando, Florida event had the word 'Me' written on the back.
And Justin's not the only one taking pot shots at Britney. His 'N Sync bandmate Joey Fatone was recently spotted wearing a T-shirt bearing the cheeky legend, "Carton of eggs... $3. Ski mask... $14. Tickets to a Britney concert... $54. Egging the c*** out of America's Pop Princess... Priceless." (WENN)
Eminem insists his hatred of Moby isn't malicious - because he couldn't ever bring himself to beat his chart rival up.
The pop superstars have been waging a war of words for years and it has heightened of late following Eminem's fierce lyrics about the dance star in his hit 'Without Me".
But the rapper says he couldn't actually get violent with Moby. He says, "How ridiculous would it look if I was really serious about kickin' Moby's a**? It's like stepping on a flea." (WENN)
Dance music star Moby is sick of pop's domination of the music world, and he's singled out the culprits - the music TV and radio stations that fill the airwaves with cheesy tunes.
The star has given up ranting at pop acts and record labels, and has decided to focus his attention on channels like MTV and VH1, insisting that if they just played better music, the face of the industry would change.
In a plea aimed at those who run music stations, he says, "You could start by limiting the amount of airtime given to stuff you find c***py or distasteful."
"In the future we're all going to regret the period in music where our tastes were determined by 11-year-old girls and wrestling fans." (WENN)
Colombian pop star Shakira has found the perfect way of relaxing - she paints fried eggs. The Latina diva loves nothing more than to create paintings of eggs when she's trying to unwind.
She explains, "I have a full collection of fried eggs. I painted Sherlock Holmes with a fried egg in his brain and I called it Fried Sherlock Holmes. I did a pregnant woman with a fried egg inside her belly."
"I cannot say I'm a good painter, because I'm not, but it's a way that I have to decompress myself." (WENN)
(Katrillion) -- Ashanti is probably not "happy" about this.
More than 9,000 people have signed a growing online petition speaking out against the R&B singer's Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award, which she will receive at the upcoming Lady of Soul Awards.
"We, the undersigned, feel that there are many superior entertainers that are more worthy of this award than Ashanti," the petition reads. "It is an insult to other entertainers who are more deserving of this award and Aretha Franklin. Ashanti simply lacks singing ability and stage presence.
"She doesn't demonstrate the qualities of an entertainer and hasn't been out in the public for a full year," the petition continues. "Better candidates for this award should be Faith Evans, Alicia Keys, India.Arie or Aaliyah."
"Soul Train," which is behind the ladies only R&B awards show, has no plans to change its pick for Entertainer of the Year. The ceremony will be taped Aug. 24 in Los Angeles.
(Katrillion) -- Tom Green and Drew Barrymore have reunited ... well, sort of.
The actors are working together for the first time since their divorce on the highly anticipated sequel "Charlie's Angels 2."
As expected, things aren't as comfy and fun for the two the second time around. "It's a little hard to be working with Drew because we're not married anymore," Green told us. "But it's cool because we're still friends and I'm really excited to be in the new 'Charlie's Angels.'"
Green, who has a few weeks of production to do on the film, will reprise his role as the Angels' quirky friend, "The Chad."
If you've been missing Tom, you can relax because he'll be back in action next month in the comedy "Stealing Harvard."
Noel Gallagher and two other members of Oasis have been involved in a car crash. The band, who are currently on tour in the US, were in central Indianapolis yesterday afternoon, when a taxi they were travelling in was involved in a head on collision with another car. Noel, Andy Bell and Jay Darlington were taken to hospital by ambulance where they were treated for shock and cuts and bruises. Noel, who was travelling in the front of the car, suffered heavy facial bruising and seat belt cuts. Doctors have ordered that the three rest for 48 hours and their planned concert at Indianapolis tonight (Wednesday) has been scrapped.
British pop trio Atomic Kitten will be steering clear of showbiz parties because they find them boring. Pop trio say they'd rather go to the pub than hang out with A-list stars.
Natasha Hamilton says, "They just make you realise, in case you for one second forget, how stupid they really are. They're just so like nothing you'd think they'd be. And all your mates are just like 'that was absolutely crap - let's go home and go to the pub!'
"I'd say one in 10 is something to tell your mates about and the other ones are just boring - people stood round, eyeing each other's outfits up or people who've got boyfriends and girlfriends at home chatting other people up..." (WENN)
Singer Samantha Mumba has extended a hand of friendship to Jennifer Lopez's abandoned husband Cris Judd - by giving him his first post-J.Lo job.
Judd, who met Lopez as a dancer on one of her videos, worked as her creative director during their short-lived union.
But now that the marriage is over and J.Lo's moved on to Ben Affleck, the work seemed to have dried up for shaven-headed Judd - until Sam came along.
The young Irish pop star has hired Judd to star in her latest video "I'm Right Here" - playing her love interest. But unfortunately for Judd, he's not as popular with music moguls as he once was.
A source reveals, "A lot of his performance has ended up on the cutting room floor. Obviously as one of his first jobs since breaking up from J.Lo there's going to be a lot of interest - but they don't want his appearance to overshadow Samantha." (WENN)
An American tycoon is planning to build an Elvis Presley theme park in the king of rock'n'roll's home city. Property magnate JD Stacy wants to erect a US $500 million development, called the Elvis Presley Ranch, on the land in Memphis Tennessee, where the be-quiffed singer honeymooned with wife Priscilla in 1967.
Elvis, who died 25 years ago next week, once owned a ranch on the land, which is a short drive from the jump-suited crooner's Graceland home, but he sold it in 1974 when his marriage to Priscilla ended.
Stacy hopes to create his own shrine to the rocker, in the shape of a fun-packed theme park. But he looks certain to face opposition in the shape of Elvis' family, whose permission is needed before the singer's name and image can be used, and Priscilla and daughter Lisa-Marie are reportedly not happy with the plans. Jack Soden, the president of Elvis Presley Enterprises, says, "We have no intention of issuing any licenses." (wenn)
Antonio Banderas isn't in the least perturbed by the intimate photos of wife Melanie Griffith with Gabriel Byrne that circulated the world's press last week. "Gabriel is an old friend of us both," he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "They were going to a funeral for a friend they both knew. After she called me and said they were going to have dinner together." Banderas also discussed Griffith's less-than-accelerating career. "Melanie can't get any film roles," he moans. "But she isn't the only one affected. Jessica Lange is another. Hollywood doesn't want to give women over 40 a job. It's a scandal."
Ultra-curvy widow Anna Nicole Smith nearly lost her 16-carat diamond necklace last week on a shopping spree in New York's SoHo. "She had taken it off to try on a turquoise Noir necklace, and forgot about it," a witness at the exclusive Big Drop Boutique tells pagesix.com. The former Playmate left the store with her camera crew, sans diamonds, and it was only after "an assistant had to run after her" that they were retrieved. To add insult to injury, on the way to the Tardini shop to continue the spree, she tripped and broke her heel. In other news, Anna Nicole Smith's new reality show has been slated as the worst programme of all time. The New York Post called it a "historic disaster", while TV critic Adam Buckman stormed: "If The Osbournes is responsible for the spectacular birth of the reality sitcom, then Anna Nicole just killed it."
Pop queen Madonna has hit back at reports her new movie is on the verge of being scrapped.
The singer stars alongside Jennifer Aniston in the film - directed by her husband, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels movie maker Guy Ritchie.
But, since the project's completion in March, the rumour-plagued flick has been beset with problems - with some newspaper reports claiming the film may go straight to video release and others insisting it may not be released at all, after test audiences reportedly didn't like seeing Madonna fall in love with a man who was abusive to her.
The pop diva, however, is adamant the show will go on and that Swept Away is still on schedule to hit cinema screens in October.
Madonna's spokeswoman told one American gossip site, "I've been in LA all week working on the marketing of the film, and it went really well. People should at least see the film before they decide to hate it." (WENN)
Ég er sko ekkert búin að gera upp hug minn varðandi þessa mynd. Þetta er eflaust hin ágætasta skemmtun.
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Creator David E. Kelley will be stepping down as executive producer and head writer of "Boston Public," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is shifting his focus away from the FOX high school drama to focus on his other two series, "The Practice" on ABC and the new legal drama, "girls club" on FOX.
Kelley won't be abandoning the show entirely; he will be an executive consultant on "Boston Public" from now on. Kelley adds, "I believe that this is in the best interest of all of these shows. I still expect to write episodes for 'Boston Public' and will continue to contribute to the show on a regular basis."
Writer-producer Jason Katims will be replacing Kelley. No stranger to high school angst, Katim developed and executive produced the teen alien drama, "Roswell." In 1994, he was a writer on ABC's cult hit teen drama, "My So Called Life." Katim will be the show's new head writer and will executive produce "Boston Public" along with longtime Kelley collaborator Jonathan Pontell ("Ally McBeal," "The Practice").
Britney Spears made sure she avoided ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, 4 August 2002 by leaving early.
The pop superstar was in Hollywood to hand out the Choice TV Show Award to Friends stars Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry and was then thrilled to be named Best Female Artist.
But she dashed from the prizegiving ceremony at Universal Studios shortly afterwards to make sure there was no embarrassing encounter with her ex, who was among the presenters at the event. (WENN)
Soul stunner Alicia Keys has gone against the grain of most of her celebrity counterparts by refusing to use bodyguards while wandering the streets of New York.
The singer, 21, prefers to spend her downtime alone when she's in her home city's Central Park or on the subway - shunning the obligatory star entourage of bodyguards, assistants and fame-seeking friends.
Her mother, Terri Augello, says, "Alicia's very unwilling to give up her right to go and do what she wants. She doesn't like restrictions. If you don't act grand and attract attention, people don't really get crazy." (WENN)
Neighbours beauty Madeleine West has revealed how she broke down in tears when she returned to filming after a horror road smash.
The 22-year-old, who plays Ramsay Street blonde Dee Bliss, suffered a brain haemorrhage when she was knocked down at a crossing in Sydney.
She told fans during an Internet chat show that doctors have banned her from flying because the accident left her with air bubbles in her brain.
"There have been a few ups and downs, but that is the the nature of brain trauma," Madeleine said.
"One week you'll feel good, the next you'll feel bad. The first two weeks were pretty bad at times and I just pushed through.
"When I've had too much, I have to say I've had too much. That's the only way that I'm going to get through."
Madeleine, whose plans to launch a singing career have been put on hold by the accident, said she was sleeping much more than normal because her painkillers were so strong.
"I know I'm very lucky. It's taught me to really appreciate every day and to remember to tell people that you love them," she said.
Ég á ekki til orð. Vonandi að hún jafni sig af þessu sem fyrst.
Actress Jennifer Aniston says her Hollywood heart-throb husband Brad Pitt is a "goofball" who wants to have seven children.
"Brad is the kindest person I know and the sweetest goofball on the planet," Aniston said.
The actress, who plays Rachel in the top-rated US comedy series "Friends", told the Daily Mirror they planned to start a family within the next year or two.
"I always thought two children, but Brad wants seven," she said.
The 33-year-old said the couple have lived a normal life in the two years since they married in California under the glare of the world's media.
"People think we have a life that is so glamorous, but it couldn't be more normal," she said. "We paint, read scripts, read books, watch movies and have quiet dinners."
After nine series of "Friends" Aniston says leaving the show will be tough. The show is due to end after the ninth series, but producers NBC have not ruled out more episodes.
"We want to bow out gracefully," she said. "It is going to rip my heart out, but change, when it is necessary, is always a good thing."
One of the biggest changes is likely to be more appearances on the big screen. Aniston plays a married woman who has an affair with a young supermarket worker in "The Good Girl", released in America this week
She's only been doing auditions for a day but already Geri Halliwell has got herself into hot water. The perma-tanned waif has incurred the wrath of a wannabe singer, who performed for her and judges Pete Waterman, Louis Walsh, for ITV's Popstars: The Rivals. Size 16 Carol Lynch was highly commended by the two other judges for her vocal talent and "larger than life personality". However, on hearing this remark Geri, unable to restrain herself, retorted: "Oh yeah, very much larger than life." "I really didn't appreciate Geri's jibe," Carol rants to the Daily Mirror today. "She's 30 and she's got the body of an eight-year-old. It's not sending out the right message."
Spare a thought for Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie. Still reeling from her shock separation from Billy Bob Thornton, the perfectly-proportioned star has embarked on a gruelling shooting schedule for the sequel to Tomb Raider. In London for the first leg of filming, Jolie's first thought was to get in touch with her British ex-husband, Jonny Lee Miller. The heartbroken actress repeatedly called the Trainspotting star's production company, Natural Nylon, pleading with anyone who would listen to pass on her message. "Angelina was so desperate to talk to Jonny," a member of staff reveals to the New York Post. "She stressed that she was in London and would be able to meet him whenever he was free." However, it was to no avail. Miller, who is now engaged to Holby City's Lisa Faulkner, refused to return any of Jolie's calls.
Drew Barrymore has lashed out at Hollywood actresses who adopt children to prevent any post-pregnancy shape slippage. "Do you think they do it because of their bodies?" the outspoken star muses. "That is so f****d up. I would never adopt because I was vain." Mothers who should watch out for Drew include Michelle Pfeiffer, Angelina Jolie and Calista Flockhart, who have all opted for the adoption route.
Is Kate Winslet heading down the aisle for the second time? If reports from across the pond are to be believed, the Titanic star has accepted a marriage proposal from her director beau Sam Mendes only weeks after their year-long affair was rumoured to have hit the rocks. According to New York gossips, Mendes presented Kate with a beautiful three-carat diamond and ruby ring this weekend. "They are being very coy but you don't give a girl a ring and tell her you want to be with her forever if you don't mean it," an insider tells the Daily Express. "Kate was bowled over. She is very much in love with Sam."
Family get-togethers in the Minogue house will never be the same again. Kylie's little sister Dannii is planning to get the better of her pert-bottomed elder when she releases her new single in October. "Kylie's had a complete transformation, so I feel it's time for me to have a different look now," she tells The Daily Mirror. "It's my turn to make this work. I want to get this single and album finished and then, depending on how it goes, do a tour." Kylie better watch her backside...
Madonna has splashed out on a sporty Mini Cooper car - proving her love for all things British is still going strong. The pop diva had her US$30,000 electric blue car delivered last week.
And workers at the Cowley car plant in Oxfordshire gave it the personal touch by signing their names on the underside of the chassis.
Madonna's choice of the Mini - a classic British icon, despite being owned by BMW - shows just how much the superstar singer, married to British film-maker Guy Ritchie, feels at home in the UK. (WENN)
Hip-swinging singer Ricky Martin heads the list of five winners of the 16th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards.
The trophies will be presented on 20 September 2002 at the John F Kennedy Centre For The Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Others honoured are speed skater Derek Parra, theologian the Reverend Virgilio Elizondo, novelist Julia Alvarez and magazine publisher Liza Quiroz.
Pedro Jose Greer Jr, chairman of the board of the Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation, says, "Ricky, Derek, Liza, Father Elizondo and Julia serve the needs of the disenfranchised in America, and in some cases all over the world, beyond the immense talents for which they are commonly known."
Martin, 30, was born and brought up in Puerto Rico. (WENN)
Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles has blasted critics who say her raunchy image contradicts her religious morals.
The devoted Christian, 20, who stars as Foxxy Cleopatra in the new Austin Powers flick Goldmember, is more than happy with her sexy style and rejects accusations of hypocrisy.
She says, "I don't think women who dress sexily are sacrificing their principles. They do say it's hypocritical to wear sexy clothes then sing about God, but it's not like that at all. We're just expressing ourselves." (WENN)
Hit R&B act TLC's new album is set to be called 3D. A fan site dedicated to the group, CyberTLC, reveals the band's record label, Arista Records, registered the website name TLC3D.com on 5 June 2002.
CyberTLC.com also reports that HMV Japan have confirmed the girls' new album will be called 3D. However, a spokesperson for Arista Records denies that any decision has been made on the album's final title.
The album will be TLC's first release since group member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes died in a car crash in May 2002 - Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins decided to finish off the album as a duo with Rozonda declaring, "You can't replace a TLC girl. The chemistry we have is something God gave us. You can't put that together." (WENN)
The romance between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck may be confirmed, but the pair's ex-loves Gwyneth Paltrow and P Diddy are not happy about it.
The attractive couple was pictured across the world's press at the weekend in a public display of affection that left nobody in any doubt as to their feelings for each other.
But Affleck's ex-fiance Paltrow and Lopez's former lover Sean 'P Diddy' Combs are both reportedly unhappy about the relationship.
According to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, Oscar-winner Paltrow is distraught at Affleck's choice of new girlfriend and is worried the Latin lovely is "not good enough for him".
A close friend of Paltrow's says, "Gwyneth is really upset about Ben and Jennifer. She still has strong feelings for him and she doesn't think Jennifer is right for him, or good enough."
"She still adores Ben but she can't stand Jennifer. She believes Ben, who is from a nice middle class family and is cultured, would be better off with someone more like himself. She has been crying down the phone about it to her friends and she is threatening to ring him up and have it out with him."
Meanwhile, Combs, who like Paltrow remains close to his ex, has warned Affleck to treat J.Lo right or answer to him. According to Britain's Daily Star newspaper, the rap star even called Affleck to set the actor straight about his responsibilities to Lopez.
A source says, "P Diddy still loves J.Lo but knows his time with her has passed. He considers her a very good friend and wanted to check if everything will be okay."
But Ben told Combs, "I know how much you care but I love J.Lo and would never do anything to hurt her." (WENN)
Enn meira drama. Þetta verður skemmtilegt. Vonandi hringir Gwyneth í Ben og Ben hættir með J.Hó og þá verður J.Hó brjáluð og... Möguleikarnir eru endalausir.
Pop babes Britney Spears and Beyonce Knowles are fighting over hunky pop boss Pharrell Williams. Both girls have been dating the top man of R&B production team The Neptunes.
Britney met Pharrell when they were working on her new album and they hit it off immediately, but Destiny's Child beauty Beyonce has been seeing Williams for several months already.
A friend of Pharrell reveals, "He has been bragging about going out on dates with Britney. We were all really shocked, because everyone thought he was seeing Beyonce at the time."
"Both are very determined women who won't give him up easily - so there could be some fireworks between the two of them." (WENN)
Pop diva Kylie Minogue has stunned friends and family by insisting on staying at the Sydney hotel where former lover Michael Hutchence killed himself.
The diminutive singer has taken a room on the same floor just a few doors from where the INXS singer was found hanged with his belt in November 1997.
She has shunned many of the city's top hotels to stay in the Stamford Laza in the posh Double Bay while she performs six sell-out gigs at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
A tour insider says, "Sydney has more than 20 four-star hotels but this is where she wants to be. She feels a strange connection to the hotel but it is not anything weird or spooky. She has confronted all her demons and has no fears about being in this hotel or on the same floor. She enjoyed good times with Michael here."
The hotel, which was the Ritz Carlton at the time of Michael's death, was a favourite hideaway for the couple during their two-year relationship in the early '90s.
Kylie checked into the hotel last week and will stay for another week. The room where Michael was found dead is now used for storage as a result of so many people wanting to hold séances there.
An inquest found the singer had committed suicide but many close to him believe it was an act of auto-erotic asphyxiation which went tragically wrong. (WENN)
Æ, hún vill bara heilsa upp á hann og muna. Ekkert hneykslanlegt við þetta.
Pint-sized diva Christina Aguilera has furiously refused to team up with Brit boy band Westlife, even though they may be an important step in her career path. Record bosses believe a collaboration would boost Christina in Europe, where she falls far below rival Britney Spears’ superstar status, and give Westlife the US profile that even their teaming up with Mariah Carey couldn't achieve.
However, the animosity between the performers is long-standing - Westlife have blasted Christina several times for her diva-like behaviour at a London club, while the pop babe's spokespeople have countered, "It's bad that a band with so little talent finds it necessary to try to get the press to bad-mouth another artist with real talent."
And not even the chance of cashing in on Westlife's cult UK and European following will change the Lady Marmalade singer's mind - despite personal calls from RCA record bosses and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, she's refusing to have anything to do with the lads. (wenn)
IS trouble brewing in the land of Cruise and Cruz? Whispers started up again about the strength of Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz's relationship when Cruise showed up alone in the Hamptons last weekend. "Tom stayed with Steven Spielberg," our source said. Spielberg and Cruise, who have cameos in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," saw the movie in Southampton with Spielberg's wife Kate Capshaw. Cruz and Cruise "are only ever seen together at movie premieres or other photo ops," pointed out one skeptic. But Cruz's rep assures us all is OK.
Hvenær ætli að hann losni við þessar spangir. Þær eru geðveikt turn-off :(
Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington will bring his directorial debut The Antwone Fisher Story to this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Festival organizers say the flick will have a gala presentation. It tells the story of a hot-tempered sailor whose visit to a naval psychiatrist starts him on the road to emotional healing. The film, in which Washington also stars, will be released in selected US cities in late December. Washington attended last year's festival to promote Training Day, the crime drama for which he won the best-actor Oscar this year. The 27th Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 5 to 14.
J.Lo Set For Spring Wedding With Affleck
Jennifer Lopez is set to seal her fledging romance with movie hunk Ben Affleck by marrying him next spring. The Latina superstar took the Good Will Hunting hunk to meet her family in New York at her 32nd birthday party on July 24 and, according to friends, she plans to march down the aisle with him after her divorce from her husband of just eight months, Cris Judd, is finalized in January. During the party at the Park restaurant, Affleck stood up after the meal to tell the crowd, which included J.Lo's mother Guadalupe, dad David, sister Lynda and grandmother, that he'd fallen deeply in love with Lopez. A friend tells American tabloid the Star, "It was an incredibly romantic moment. Ben was very charming and bold. It took guts for him to stand up and make an announcement like that in front of Jennifer's whole family. Her party was clearly a chance for Jennifer's friends and family to spend some time with her new love. And they all got along great." The pal adds, "Jennifer is saying she'll make a formal announcement about her and Ben to her fans when the time is right. They know getting married is a big step, but they're convinced they're meant for each other." J.Lo's first marriage to restaurateur Ojani Noa in 1997 barely lasted a year.
Britney Defends Rudeness And Gig Cancellation
Britney Spears has explained her finger-flipping incident and concert cancellation in Mexico - and she says she'll do it all again if she has to. The pop superstar caused controversy after she halted her Mexico City concert on Sunday after just four songs, prompting devotees to boo and dub her a "fraud." The 20-year-old had come under fire by Mexican fans and media earlier in the week after she showed her middle finger to paparazzi upon arrival. And now she feels the 50,000 Mexican fans who attended the sold out show deserve a full explanation for her actions. She says, "I think it's kind of sad they booed. They told us not to go on stage at the very beginning because of a storm but I said, 'I have to go out there and make an effort.' The whole stage was all lit up by lightning actually while we were performing, and three of the dancers slipped and almost fell off the stage. Then the stage actually got hit by lightning. The stage is made out of metal and it just wasn't safe." Britney admits the finger-flipping incident was unfortunate, and even her mother has complained to her about it - but she insists it was warranted after Mexican paparazzi tried to run her car off the road. She adds, "I wasn't flipping off my fans, I love my fans. I don't want to go out and do anything crazy. I was basically protecting myself. My mom said, 'What were you thinking, why did you do that?' It just happened, it was a moment, but if I had to I'd do it again."
Jodie Foster: I Will Not Dumb Down New Nazi Flick
Actress Jodie Foster promises she will not dumb down her new movie about controversial Nazi film-maker Leni Riefenstahl. The star and director of the movie is keen to point out that she is determined not to whitewash the life and work of Hitler's favorite film-maker, who produced propaganda such as Olympiad and Triumph Of The Will. And Panic Room actress Jodie, 39, has already felt a backlash from The Jewish Defence League, who protested at the making of the film outside the gates of Paramount Studios, Los Angeles. She says, "I hope people will trust that I'm strong enough morally to know how to take on something and guide it meticulously where it has something to say. If I was going to make a movie about Hitler or Mussolini would they all be happier because it's a guy? She p***** people off because she never said she was sorry."
Ricci Determined To Get Her Man - Josh Hartnett
Actress Christina Ricci has her sights set on Black Hawk Down star Josh Hartnett as her next boyfriend - even though he's dating his Minnesota childhood sweetheart. The movie hunk might seem devoted to his girlfriend Emily, but Ricci is committed in her quest to make him her man. She says, "He'd be one hot date. I've met him, so I know what I'm talking about here. Josh is a nice home-loving boy with a great body. I know he's got a girlfriend but I could so corrupt him."
Mike Walker reports in his All the Gossip column in The National Enquirer that Portia de Rossi ("The Invisibles"), 29, was dining with her girlfriend at an L.A. eatery and intermittently also smooched and cuddled the girl which apparently did not sit well with all diners. De Rossi looked up and said, "God, have people never seen lesbians making out before?" and got right back to her heavy petting and feeding frenzy.
Mad dogs and Irishmen
In her Hollywood's Hottest Gossip column in Globe magazine, Shelby Loosch claims that Colin Farrell ("Ordinary Decent Criminal"), 26, blew a gasket in Manhattan’s Penn Station while, at first, happily signing autographs until one woman asked what it was like being married to Brooke Shields. The head-shaven star put a stop to the signing session and snapped, "I’m not Andre Agassi! I’m so fed up hearing that."
Charlie's Angels stunners Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore shot steamy scenes for their new movie yesterday - at a car wash.
Passing fellas were left foaming at the mouth as the scantily-clad trio rubbed down a sleek black Porsche.
And traffic ground to a halt around the Hollywood car wash as drivers stopped to cheer the girls, who happily waved back.
Drew, 26. Lucy, 33, and Cameron, 29, are currently filming Charlie’s Angels 2.
After the soggy car wash scene, Lucy donned a blonde wig and tight sheriff’s outfit to chase a villain on horseback through the streets of Beverly Hills.
She finally felled her man with a well-aimed lasso shot.
The film, due out next year, also stars Matt LeBlanc.
Angelina Jolie, who has recently split from her husband Billy Bob Thonton has confirmed that she is estranged from her father, actor Jon Voight. After Voight emotionally appealed to his daughter on TV for her to get in touch recently, Angelina issued a statement saying, 'I don't want to make public the reasons for my bad relationship with my father. After all these years, I have determined that it is not healthy for me to be around my father, especially now that I am responsible for my own child.' The father and daughter teamed up not so long ago to make Tomb Raider but mysteriously, have not been speaking since. Voight has in the past blamed his own separation from Jolie's mother Marcheline Bertrand for his problems with his daughter.
U2 frontman Bono may be an international superstar, but he still has ordinary marital tiffs in public.
The singer and his devoted wife Ali Hewson were holidaying in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence, Italy, and were spotted exchanging angry words during a trip to a museum.
Their fury didn't last long, however - the loving pair soon kissed, made up and continued enjoying their break. (WENN)
Eminem's bigoted, homophobic and sexist persona is just an act - the controversial rapper claims his offensive image is aimed at humiliating his critics.
The rap star has been consistently attacked by critics and politicians since bursting onto the hip hop scene in 1998 for his macabre, expletive-strewn lyrics, as well as his run-ins with the law and his torrid relationship with ex- wife Kim.
But the Detroit native claims his bad behaviour on stage is specifically designed to be satirical, to humiliate his critics when they assume it's for real.
He says, "On stage I'm the average small-minded, conservative American who rejects anything that is different. I like taking on this role in order to show people just how ridiculous they are."
"What these idiots doing? They just don't understand me and they take my irony at face value." (WENN)
Kelly Osbourne is heading for Hollywood stardom - she's set to star in a remake of the '70s hit Freaky Friday.
The pink-haired daughter of rocker Ozzy Osbourne is currently in negotiations with Disney Pictures, who have earmarked her for the part of the film heroine's musically inclined best friend.
The original 1976 feature starred Jodie Foster as a teen who always argues with her mother. The pair, after revealing a desire to escape their lives, suddenly find themselves exchanging bodies.
Lindsay Lohan and Annette Bening have been cast in the starring roles this time round. Meanwhile Kelly, who shot to fame in the hit MTV reality show The Osbournes, is expected to contribute at least one song to the film's soundtrack. (WENN)
Kelly þessi hefur nú ekki heillað mig með söng sínum, sérstaklega ekki þar sem hún valdi Madonnulag til að nauðga, við skulum bíða og sjá hvort henni takist að eyðileggja þessa klassík líka.
Meg Ryan is carving out quite a reputation for herself. Hollywood's former golden girl was recently browsing in a Greenwich Village deli when she was approached by a female photographer who was not carrying a camera. "Excuse me, Ms Ryan, I just wanted to say how much I admire your work," the snapper said. To which Meg retorted: "If you come one step further, I'll scream." A far cry from the loveable characters Ryan plays on screen.
Beyoncé Knowles was reportedly a little too bootylicious for a recent shoot for a US men's magazine. After posing in scanty clothing, the Goldmember star caused the art department to "work overtime" to slim down her thighs and hips. "She's a healthy, big-bottomed girl," a source tells msnbc.com. "She out-J-Los J-Lo in the behind department. They thought it was maybe a little too much of a good thing."
Catherine Zeta-Jones has turned down a multi-million dollar advertising contract out of respect for her husband. The Welsh star had been approached by US underwear chain Victoria's Secret to model a range of raunchy thongs and bras for their forthcoming campaign. However, her husband of two-years, Michael Douglas, was reportedly outraged by the plan and banned her from baring her panties to the world. "Michael couldn't stand the thought of guys running to the mailbox each morning to get a glimpse of his wife," a source tells the Daily Mail. "He was so relieved when she turned it down that he presented her with a consolation gift of a Celtic cross with six canary diamonds."
Kylie Minogue has issued a stark warning to all journalists who fail to write the truth about her. The pint-size popstrel, who is about to kick off her Fever Tour in Sydney, recently came to blows with US hack Bill Stultz at a Saturday Night Live after-show party. The trouble began when Kylie read a report by Stultz which claimed that she had dabbled in hard-core drugs such as ecstasy during her fling with Michael Hutchence. Although she had originally been happy to grant Stultz an interview, she later felt that her remarks had been dramatically taken out of context. So, when the diminutive diva next saw him, she gave him a piece of her mind - and, according to Stultz, a stinging slap in the face to boot. Meanwhile Kylie's people insist that it was purely a "verbal assault". As Miss Minogue's spokesperson tells today's Daily Mirror: "She told him he needed a slap across the face."
Hún hefði átt að gefa honum á kjammann ef hún gerði það ekki. Ef hún gerði það, þá segi ég bara, gott hjá henni.
For those who like their Madonna nasty, gorgeously dressed, and (eventually) naked, you're gonna love her in "Swept Away." This remake of Lina Wertmuller's 1975 film has discontented rich-bitch Madonna browbeating her yacht minions in an eye-popping wardrobe, cast-away on an island in little more than a bikini, and then subjugated, vulnerable and bare-naked, in an artistic, shadowed way. Madonna's hubby, Guy Ritchie, who directed the pic, is a secure man to have allowed his wife so many intimate scenes with co-star Adriano Giannini (he is the son of the original male star of "Swept Away" Giancarlo Giannini). But maybe watching the Mrs. cavort stoked the old home fires - a bit of married fantasy, you know? Critics will say what they will, but Madonna can't be faulted physically in "Swept Away." Her abs alone - after two children - take Best Actress honors. In October, Madonna appears on the cover of Vanity Fair, photographed by Craig McDean and profiled by Stephan Daly. He did an excellent appreciation of Madonna last year in VF's music issue. Mrs. Ritchie, press-bruised, never forgets a kind remark.
It looks like Madonna and Guy Ritchie's ill-fated movie collaboration, Swept Away, might be heading straight to video after the release date was postponed for a second time. Ritchie, Madonna's husband and the director of the hits Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, is thought to have washed his hands of the movie, which stars his 'missus' as a spoilt heiress who gets shipwrecked. 'It was incredibly hard to finance because it was considered a hot potato,' he said. 'It's set on an island and she [Madonna] has to snog people and get beaten up.' Test audiences were said to have found the film confusing, disturbingly violent and misogynistic, and said that the humour was too dark. Although originally scheduled for general cinema release in the spring of 2002, the date was put back to October. It has now been postponed until an unspecified future date.
Þetta eru sorgartíðindi fyrir alla Madonnu-aðdáendur um heim allan.
Hollywood newlywed Julia Roberts has been accused of stealing lucrative voice-over work from lesser known actors. The Oscar winning star has just released an audio tape of The Nanny Diaries - having been chosen to provide the narration over more experienced but lesser known actors. Leading industry figures insists that to ensure maximum sales of the tapes, a celebrity name is essential, but expert "voice" actors have reacted angrily to Roberts' tape. Carrie Kania, associate publisher of Harper Radio, explains, "We can definitely say that celebrities are being used more and more than in the past. A recognized name can be the tipping point for a consumer in the store." But actor George Guidell, who has made over 800 tapes for Recorded Books, suggests, "Publishers are star-crazy. Some celebrities can't read to save their souls. People don't say, 'Give me a book read by Julia Roberts'."
Liv Tyler To Get New Step-Dad
Lord Of The Rings beauty Liv Tyler is about to get a new step-dad. Her mom, famed 60s party animal Bebe Buell, is about to tie the knot with rocker Jim Wallerstein, who band Vacationland recently won a Boston Phoenix Music Poll award for best group and best song. Buell, one-time lover of such big names as Jack Nicholson, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop and Jimmy Page, recently published a tell-all book, Rebel Heart: An American Rock'n'roll Journey, detailing her wild exploits with various legendary rockers, including Liv's Aerosmith dad Steve Tyler. Sexy Liv and her rocker fiance Royston Langdon - whose band Spacehog has just split to pursue solo careers - will be in attendance for the August nuptials.
Diesel Gets A New Car
Bosses at General Motors' Pontiac division are so impressed by Vin Diesel's new action movie XXX, they're designing a souped-up supercar for the sequel. The film is a week away from release in America , but already film experts are expecting it to set the box office alight and end Austin Powers' run at the top of the movie charts. And Pontiac whizkids are hoping to cash in on the film's success by designing a new car for the 2004 sequel, which will also star Diesel. A 1967 edition of the motor features heavily in XXX, and now Pontiac designers are hoping XXX will do for their sports cars what James Bond has done for Aston Martin and BMW. Hunky Diesel will debut the new Pontiac design at the Nascar Daytona 500 race in 2003. Meanwhile, bosses at Revolution Studios - the film company behind XXX - are currently auditioning cars to appear as an updated KITT in a big screen adaptation of 1980s TV show Knight Rider.
Farrell And New Love Sizzle All Over Town
Irish heart-throb Colin Farrell has been wining, dining and smooching his new love Maeve Quinlan all over Los Angeles. The Minority Report dreamboat, 26, started dating Maeve, the ex-wife of Tom Sizemore, after the break-up of his four-month marriage to Amelia Warner, which ended in November. A source says, "They almost eat each other everywhere they go. Even when they get back to his hotel, Chateau Marmont, their passion is unbridled. And that's in the lobby."
England captain David Beckham has been voted the world's sexiest man, knocking Robbie Williams off the top spot.
The ex-Take That singer has dominated Company magazine's readers poll for four years but has to be content with being runner-up this year. Beckham moved up from last year's number seven to top the list ahead of TV, pop and movie hunks.
The Manchester United ace, the first man to feature on the cover of Company in 25 years, has won a legion of fans for his soccer skills and original style.
New entries in the top 10 include Pearl Harbour star Josh Hartnett at number four, singer Enrique Iglesias at nine and teenage Pop Idol Gareth Gates at 10.
Gates's pal Will Young came in at number 13, with many women impressed by his looks despite him being gay.
Hugh Grant's performance in About A Boy seems to have increased his sexiness, taking him from last year's 49 to five in 2002.
Jamie Theakston's popularity shot up in the past 12 months, despite his admission that he visited a brothel earlier this year. He rose 57 places to number 24.
Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes have confounded cynics by buying a £3 million love nest. The famous duo, who were denying reports of a split, have actually been house-hunting together and were so taken with one fabulous Gloucestershire property that they paid well over the asking price of £2.7 million. What's more, Kate and Sam will have to spend in excess of £1.5 million to make their, eight-bedroom, dream home habitable. "The house has been neglected and the place is in a very sorry state," a local tells this morning's Sun. "It's a wonderful place and full of character but they'll have to spend a small fortune putting everything right."
Shakira Shuns Security Quit Threat For Mardi Gras Madness
Columbian diva Shakira daringly ignored her security guard's threat to quit, so she could join the street carnivals in Brazil earlier this month - and managed to samba unnoticed.
The star was watching the ecstatic Mardi Gras masses from her hotel window in Rio as the drums punched out their intoxicating rhythm, and the sexy singer found herself irresistibly drawn to the thrusting gyrations on the street - even though her personal guard warned her that he would quit if she risked getting swept up in the potentially uncontrollable situation.
She explains, "I wanted to dance because they were playing drums in the street. The music was really fabulous. My bodyguard was going, 'No way! If you go down I quit today!'"
"I was like, 'OK!' I went down wearing a baseball cap and some dark glasses. A few people looked at me, wondering, but I walked amongst the crowd and it was great."
And the hard-working singer has no regrets about her decision to risk being mobbed by her carnival crazy Brazilian fans. She says, "I'm not willing to miss these kinds of moments in life." (WENN)
Bush singer Gavin Rossdale is the envy of men everywhere - his fiance Gwen Stefani had on-lookers gasping during her glamourous appearance in a London park.
No Doubt diva Gwen, who's set to wed Gavin once in England and again in Los Angeles later this year, enjoyed the British capital's uncharacteristic sunshine on Tuesday, 30 July 2002 by basking in a north London park wearing a chic polka-dot dress.
An onlooker says, "Gwen looked even more stunning in that tiny dress than she does in her normal punky outfits. And neither of them seemed to mind the attention they were getting. Gavin is one lucky fella." (WENN)
Gavin er langt frá því að vera ljótur sjálfur sko.
R&B princess Christina Milian finds being a style icon puts enormous pressure on her to look trim and perfect when she's in the public eye.
The Cuban-American stunner - who cites Madonna, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez as her major fashion influences - admits she's proud of her stunning body, but confesses she's always looking to perfect and hone it.
The singer reveals, "If there's a moment where I feel, 'Oh, I'm a little too chubby here,' I always fix it. Sometimes I'm in shape, sometimes not. I love food and I'm not gonna hold back from eating. I've been taking these Tai-bo classes, too - it's like kickboxing and aerobics."
"And I'll be honest with you. Who knows when I'm old, maybe I'll want to nip and tuck in a couple of things." (WENN)
Jeee, þessi stúlka er alls ekkert slor, hefur góðan smekk og allt :)
Lopez Wants Everyone To Know About Her Romance With Ben
Jennifer Lopez's publicists are desperately trying to keep her romance with Ben Affleck under wraps, but the beauty herself wants everyone to know she's dating the movie star.
News broke last week that the couple were spending time together - as J.Lo filed for divorce from her husband Cris Judd.
And confirmation of their romance was issued last Friday, 26 July 2002 after the couple spent Lopez's birthday together last Thursday, 25 July 2002 after Affleck bought her a US$22,500 (S$39,493) diamond bracelet to celebrate.
But J.Lo isn't as keen as her publicists seem to be at keeping things quiet. During a recent dinner with Affleck at Robert De Niro's New York restaurant Nobu, she was spotted kissing her new beau in full view of everyone.
And then as she got up to leave, she was wearing a pair of J.Lo By Jennifer Lopez sweatpants with her name on the rear - just in case people weren't sure it really was her with Affleck. (WENN)
Rocker Anthony Kiedis has denied he's dating movie star pal Demi Moore because he's still getting over the heartbreak of splitting from designer Yohanna Logan.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman has been spotted at parties with the Hollywood star, who recently turned up at the group's concert in New York.
But Kiedis insists Moore is simply offering him a shoulder to cry on after his love split from Logan.
He says, "I broke up with my girlfriend about a year and a half ago. I got back together with her, and now we've broken up again. It's a silly saga, but my heart is crushed. I'm getting on with life. I have a lot of love in my heart. Hopefully, it'll find a place." (WENN)
Reyndar ætla ég að tala um MSX. Hvað er það? Jú það er hinn leikurinn á HSX.com. Þar fær maður að leika sér með hlutabréf í tónlistarmönnum og veðja á hversu vel plöturnar þeirra seljist í fyrstu viku og svo hvort þær nái platínusölu á fyrstu 6 mánuðunum. 
Jeremías. Konan bara orðið 44 ára gömul. Það er eins og það hafi verið í gær sem hún leit út svona eins og á myndinni. Glæsilegt lúkk, ekki satt :)
Movie hardman Russell Crowe hugs a delighted young boy as they go for a meal – fuelling rumours he may be the latest celebrity to adopt a child.
"I Think I Love You!" That's the tune Enrique Iglesias wanted to warble when he chatted up former "Partridge Family" heartthrob David Cassidy's 15-year-old daughter Katie, who just covered her dad's signature hit. Iglesias, who was sans sweetie Anna Kournikova, cornered comely Katie at the Tribeca Rooftop Wednesday night to chat about her fledgling music career. Our spy swears overhearing the skirt-chasing crooner ask Katie, "And when will you be 16?"
Welcome to the bungle: Axl Rose appears to have pulled a Mickey Rourke and gotten enough plastic surgery to make him look more like a muppet than the sneering Guns & Roses frontman we know and love. The reclusive rocker understandably didn't want to, uh, face the press last night at his Video Music Awards after-party at the Old Homestead and barred journalists from attending. That's fine with us. We'd rather remember the way Axl looked when his rugged mug charmed the likes of Stephanie Seymour and countless big-haired groupies.
Country crooner Shania Twain is saying so long to her manager of six years, Jon Landau, after she accused him of spending too much attention on his other client, Bruce Springsteen. "Shania threw a fit," one insider said. "Her new album is coming out in November, her single drops on Sept. 23, and she felt he was spending too much time with Bruce and his 'Rising' tour." Landau tried to talk to the demanding diva, but when Twain tried to cut his rates from 20 percent to 10 percent, he "told her to go scratch." The outraged music industry insider added: "Jon helped her sell 30 million albums, and she repays him by trying to skimp on his salary - nice, huh." Twain has now signed with Q Prime management - a heavy metal company that represents Metallica, Def Leppard and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "This should be interesting," our source added. A rep for Landau Management said: "It was a joint decision among friends to part ways."
HOLLYWOOD (
HOLLYWOOD (
Pop icon Madonna’s new flick Swept Away has not only upset film critics - she and her husband Guy Ritchie bicker constantly over the movie's ending.
Rock legends Led Zeppelin have lost the copyright to their 1973 album ‘Houses Of The Holy’ - with ownership going to Atlantic Records instead.
Guests invited to Sean 'P Diddy' Comb's post-MTV Video Music Awards party were given fashion tips to ensure they'll be allowed in.
Bush star Gavin Rossdale has joined the cast of London gangster movie Red Light Runners. 
Mary J Blige would quit music if she had kids because having children is more important than her career.
Pop trio Atomic Kitten have been offered US$1.5 million (S$2.6 million) to make a fitness video. The band - Jenny Frost, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton - plans to release Atomic Dance, a workout to remixes of their hits, in time for Christmas.
Sexy singer Christina Milian was unimpressed when she met soccer star Sol Campbell - because he simply passed over his phone number expecting her to call instead of chatting to her.
Australian pop beauty Holly Valance has joined Gwyneth Paltrow and Heather Graham in taking a dig at British men. 
Lyrics by controversial rapper Eminem could have inspired a sex attack on a nine-year-old boy, a Manchester, England court has heard.
Sexy singer Kylie Minogue turned to her famous sister Dannii for support after discovering her on/off boyfriend James Godding spent two nights with former soap actress Davinia Taylor.
Winona Ryder has reportedly decided to plead guilty to shoplifting charges in an effort to avoid jail time. Sources report the actress is close to reaching a settlement, which would see her receive a sentence of community service in exchange for a guilty plea. "I don't know if anybody welcomes going through a trial. A lot of that depends on factors beyond her control," Ryder's lawyer told reporters. "Winona definitely doesn't want to go to trial," an insider confirms to imdb.com. "There are a lot of things she'd never want discussed in court."
Are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck planning to head down the aisle? Reports from across the pond claim that the Latina diva will tie the knot in a lavish $1.5 million Valentine's Day Puerto Rican extravaganza. Lopez is said to be eager to return to her roots for her third marriage and has consequently taken over the super-luxe Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Juan, the island of her parents' birth. "This will be one of the most glorious weddings in Hollywood history," an insider tells reporters. "Jennifer is telling friends that she wants to go all out for this wedding and money is no object." As the ink on her divorce settlement from Cris Judd is still drying, a plethora of designers and decorators will envelope the hotel ballroom with Lopez's signature white silk and chiffon drapes. There will also be top-notch security costing $100,000 at the bash. The newly married pair are expected to arrive at their reception in a horse-drawn carriage.
Eminem was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards last night scooping four of the top prizes, dotmusic can report.
Friends star Matthew Perry has revealed how he thought 
Miss Congeniality star Sandra Bullock is the most desirable lady in Hollywood, according to a US TV poll. The 38-year-old tops the list of 25 actresses in the list, with Bridget Jones's Diary actress Renee Zellweger in second place. Newly-single Moulin Rouge screen siren Nicole Kidman came in third. The full list is: 1. Sandra Bullock, 2. Renee Zellweger, 3. Nicole Kidman, 4. Gwyneth Paltrow, 5. Janet Jackson, 6. Kirsten Dunst, 7. Jennifer Love Hewitt, 8. Beyonce Knowles, 9. Lara Flynn Boyle, 10. Kristin Davis. 
Hollywood hunk Leonardo DiCaprio has cancelled an appearance at the World Development Summit - despite calling on American President George W. Bush to attend. The Beach star, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Stewart and Bob Geldof were all expected in Johannesburg, South Africa for the summit, which started earlier this week. Earth loving Leo was to support a project to save great apes, but pulled out at the last minute because of "contractual obligations" in his native America. At a rally earlier this month, DiCaprio pleaded with Bush to "please go prepared to join the vast majority of nations in constructing a concrete plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Organizers of the summit are disappointed at the turnout. They hoped the presence of international celebrities could raise the media profile of the event. 
Veteran actor Richard Harris may have to be replaced in the third installment of the Harry Potter films as fears for his health grow. The famously hard-drinking Irishman was admitted to a London hospital last week, reportedly suffering from pneumonia. He completed filming of the second Harry Potter flick, The Chamber Of Secrets, although a double was needed for some scenes when he was feeling ill. The 71-year-old plays Professor Albus Dumbledore in the tales of the schoolboy wizard, but bosses at Warner Brothers will decide next month if he is fit enough to reprise the role in the next movie, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, which starts shooting in January. If Harris is deemed too ill to continue the role - he is signed up to appear in all seven mooted films based on J.K. Rowling's books - the favorite to take over is a virtual unknown. Harry Robinson, 72, is the spitting image of Harris and has appeared as his double in the previous two films. A source on the set says, "The producers are not confident Richard will be well enough and have told Harry there's an 80 per cent chance of him getting the part. He's already been told to start practicing Dumbledore's distinctive deep voice." Last night Robinson said, "I'd love the role but I can't talk about it." A spokesperson for Harris says, "He is still in hospital with a chest infection. It's too early to talk about Harry Potter." 
Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has splashed out on an exclusive $7.5 million flat in New York. The leggy Australian star's new pad, in the trendy West Village area, is in a block with a restaurant, gym and 24-hour security. The Birthday Girl's neighbors will include fashion king Calvin Klein, who lives in the penthouse suite. On a clear day, Nicole, should she want to, would be able to make out the flat ex-husband Tom Cruise shares with lover Penelope Cruz in the city. 
Hit TV program Buffy The Vampire Slayer is the most immoral show on TV, according to right-wing American group, the Parents Television Council. The reactionary pressure group also claims that last year Buffy "became more graphic in its depictions of violence and sex." The organization criticized American comedy Friends for its depiction of promiscuous lifestyles, such as Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel Green having a baby out of wedlock. Another comedy, Will And Grace, was also slammed for its depiction of a gay man and his straight female best friend. The PTC instead want to see more of a TV shows like Doc, which is about a country doctor living in the city. 
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been named the Best Band In The World at the annual Kerrang Awards, dotmusic can report.
Eminem is set to antagonise his fiercest critics once again as the video for 'White America' is made available online for the first time.
What's the one TV show you secretly love? You know, the one you can't wait to watch, but would never tell a soul you religiously follow it?
Guy Ritchie may be keeping his options open, as he has devised a TV series for Channel 5. The show, to be called Swag, described as 'a cross between Police Camera Action and Trigger Happy TV', will feature reconstructions of absurd crimes where members of the public are tempted to get involved in the crime. Ritchie is the brains behind the practical-joking series, but will not be involved in the production. 'The show is about getting your own back on people who are not necessarily criminals but are a little bit greedy,' said the Channel 5 entertainment controller, Andrew Newman. 'We'll have reconstructions of classic stupid crimes, such as the bank robber who robbed a bank the day he got out of prison and left a finger at the scene of the crime.' Swag will be co-produced by Ritchie's company, Ska, and Monkey (owned by Will MacDonald, Chris Evans's side-kick on TFI Fridays and David Granger, another ex-Ginger employee). Even Andrew Newman admits the programme is not going to be too taxing on the audience's brain cells, describing it as 'dumb but life-affirming'.
Will someone please tell us what is going on in the McCartney household? In the latest twist to this familial tale, Sir Paul's new wife, Heather, has been waxing lyrical about her "close bond" with his daughters. "You have absolutely no idea," she enthused to a US magazine. "I speak to Heather, the eldest, especially, 40 minutes every day. Every day! And Stella and I get on brilliantly." This seems to be a dramatic turnaround from rumours of increasingly frosty relations between Mills and the McCartney girls. To make matters worse for Lady Mac, her claim that Sir Paul's fashion designer daughter recently issued a press statement to say how well the pair got on, seems to be false. "Stella never discusses her private life, so a press release would never have been issued," spokesperson Mesh Chhibber tells New York magazine. The plot thickens... 
Pierce Brosnan has reportedly admitted 
New Madonna movie ‘Swept Away’ has hit further problems, journalists in director Guy Ritchie's native Britain think it's a terrible film. The celebrity couple's remake of the 1975 Italian film ‘Travolti Da Un Insolito Destino Nell'azzurro Mare D'Agosto’ has been universally panned by industry audiences in London, following months of speculation that the movie was so bad it would not be granted a cinema release.
Britney Spears' ex Justin Timberlake is following his former girlfriend's lead by going to America's showbiz magazines to clear up rumours about his lovelife. 
Multi-talented star Jennifer Lopez is on the lookout for teenage girls to star in her forthcoming NBC sitcom. 
Her solo career may have been something of a disappointment, but Victoria Beckham's fashion game has gone from strength to strength. The former Spice Girl has been voted the world's best-dressed celebrity in a nationwide survey of more than 1000 women. It is a dramatic change of fortune for Mrs. Beckham, who earned the ignominy of worst-dressed star for two years running. Posh, whose second child is due in a matter of days, knocked Catherine Zeta-Jones off the top spot with 26 per cent of votes. While Zeta-Jones came second with 22 per cent of votes, Kylie Minogue was third followed by Madonna (who also took second place on the worst dressed list), and Nicole Kidman. Britney Spears was predictably named most sartorially-challenged celeb, with Madonna, Jordan and Helena Bonham Cartner hot on her heels.
Actress Winona Ryder is thought to be attempting to strike a deal over her current shoplifting case. Legal experts were surprised the star successfully asked for another postponement of a hearing in the long-running case last week, whilst at the same time insisting through her lawyer she was seeking a swift conclusion to the legal action. However, it is now believed the time granted by the postponement, from yesterday to the September 5, will be used by her legal team to plea bargain. A spokeswoman for the District Attorney's office believes secret negotiations have been going on for some time. The Reality Bites star is due to stand trial on four serious charges - grand theft, second-degree burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance after being arrested after removing security tags on clothing in a Beverly Hills, California boutique, and then attempting to leave the shop without paying. The September hearing is expected to set a date for a trial - but Ryder is said to be keen to avoid a "messy" court process. 
Superstar Michael Jackson is celebrating his 44th birthday by going to this year's MTV Video Music Awards. The "Dangerous" hitmaker is flying from his current vacation spot in Las Vegas to New York for the bash at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday. Reports suggest the music video network will present the King of Pop with a special honor to coincide with his celebrations. However, one of Jackson's closest friends, psychic Uri Gellar, cannot be with the star for his celebrations, as he is in Australia filming a Survivor-type celebrity TV program, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! for British network ITV. 
Hollywood couple Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts have one person to thank for their new romance - Lord Of The Rings dreamboat Orlando Bloom. Sexy Brit Orlando, who plays Legolas in the J.R.R. Tolkien film trilogy, decided to play Cupid while the trio were filming The Kelly Gang in Australia. Not satisfied with bringing the pair together, the 25-year-old actor then acted as a decoy so they could get to know each other away from the watchful eye of the media. A friend says, "Orlando loved being part of it. He'd arrive at nightclubs with Heath knowing that once inside the VIP room, he'd be dumped for Naomi. He thought it was a hoot." Orlando is pleased to hear that the A Knight's Tale star, 23, has asked the Mulholland Drive beauty, 33, to move into his Hollywood home. 
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were forced to flee his New York loft apartment when a fire broke out. The showbiz couple were enjoying a quiet night in with Ben's brother Casey and Joaquin Phoenix when the blaze started on Monday. The four escaped unhurt from the building and called firefighters. An onlooker says, "They were all sitting outside the apartment on the street. It was strange to see celebrities sitting around and talking to the neighbors as the blaze was dealt with. Luckily it was just a small fire that was controlled in no time." 
Stunning and single American pop star Anastacia is finding it impossible to get a date because she's too successful. 
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are set to buy a property down under. The Hollywood lovebirds have set their sights on a pad overlooking Sydney harbour and have allocated a budget of £6 million for the purchase. They have requested that the property boasts both water and city views with a large entertaining area. And they will certainly put the place to excellent use. Pitt will be in Oz from October to film The Fountain alongside native Antipodean Cate Blanchett, who conveniently lives in Brad's desired district, Mosman.
It may only be August, but Hollywood is already abuzz with Oscar talk. So far Salma Hayek is being given the thumbs up for Best Actress for her role as the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in Frida, while Nicole Kidman and Renée Zellweger, (who were both nominated last year), are hotly tipped for their respective parts in The Hours and Chicago.
Anna Kournikova's 
Michael Jackson has announced that he is to 
Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke have bought themselves their very own island in Tracadie Harbor, Nova Scotia. The 9-acre expanse comes complete with two cottages and is accessible from land via the couple's own bridge. Although the pair are staying tight-lipped about how much they paid for their private escape, Canadian real-estate sources claim such islands typically go for between $800,000 and $2 million.
R&B singer and actress Aaliyah was remembered by fans in a candlelight vigil in New York's Times Square on Sunday night, 25 August 2002 on the first anniversary of her death.
Upcoming singer Vanessa Carlton is well on her way to finding a celebrity boyfriend - in the form of Third Eye Blind frontman Stephen Jenkins.
Coldplay front man Chris Martin has slammed reports he is dating Gwyneth Paltrow. And the singer is getting increasingly frustrated about tabloid reports about his love life. He says, "It's really mad, fame. One paper even said I was going out with Natalie Imbruglia. "Another said Gwyneth Paltrow. I was really p***ed off with them because it's not true. The only person I've ever been pictured embracing in public was (British politician) Mo Mowlam and I'm fine with that." (
Rapper and actor Will Smith gave A$222,000 to charity after losing a bet with a Los Angeles radio DJ.
It seems that the tempestuous relationship between Madonna and Guy Ritchie is spiralling out of control. News reaches us that just days after a bust up concerning Ritchie's forthcoming movie, Swept Away, the showbiz duo had a furious row about where to go for dinner. Tensions started to rise when the Material Girl, accustomed to getting her own way, announced that they were to dine at London's exclusive Nobu. However, Guy was having none of it and declared that they were headed to the equally salubrious Ivy restaurant. "They were shouting and fighting like little kids," an insider tells the Daily Mirror. "Madge refused to back down and was convinced that Guy would eventually give in. But he didn't and told her he had had enough. He then ran upstairs and packed a small overnight bag and drove to Matthew Vaughn's place for the night." But Madonna needn't have worried. After just one night apart, a sheepish Guy returned home. "They were all over each other. It was as if an argument had never happened," the source explains.
The prospects for another series of hit sitcom Friends being made are even more remote - star Matthew Perry has dismissed any possibility of the show returning. Despite the upcoming new series being billed as the last installment of the American TV show, there has been intense speculation that, as has happened before, the six lead stars will be lured by a pay hike to embark on yet another run of the New York-based show. Not so says Perry, who continues, "Friends will definitely end this year and if someone came to us and offered us $20 million to do a movie I'm telling you I don't think anyone will do it." 
Bedazzled beauty Liz Hurley has stamped out any rumors of romance between her and Friends star Matthew Perry. The pair met on the set of forthcoming movie Serving Sara, but Liz reveals she did not get to know Matthew very well. She says, "I think Matthew is very special. I don't know him off set, really. Sometimes, when you do movies, all the actors and crew hang out together, but that never happened on this film. We were all very separate, so I've only ever seen him on duty." Hurley also reveals that she comforted Perry when he was having personal problems and says, "Even when he was going through some painful times of his own, he was always incredibly funny and up and cheerful. And always making me laugh. I think it's just ingrained in him. I don't know if there's a real sad Matthew who goes home and stops being funny, but I have a feeling there isn't." 
Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is dating British rocker Chris Martin - just a week after complaining British men were too "nervous" to ask her out. The Shakespeare In Love star, currently living in London, has reportedly started seeing the Coldplay frontman, who has also been linked to Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia - and the hunky Brit declared his feelings by dedicating a song at a recent New York show to the onlooking Paltrow. A source in British newspaper the Daily Star says, "Gwyneth was singing along to the band's songs and seemed mesmerized by Chris. When he devoted the song to her she was thrilled and couldn't wipe the smile off her face. He's obviously got a thing for her." 
Ralph Fiennes has touted the new Hannibal Lecter movie as a return to the "psychological terror" of The Silence Of The Lambs. The English actor, who plays murderer Francis Dolarhyde in the new prequel, insists Red Dragon will be more like the Oscar-winning first film about the evil serial killer than its less successful sequel Hannibal. Fiennes says, "I was quite skeptical when I first heard about the film but then I read the script and it was really good. I looked at the cast that was already in place, Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and I thought I wanted to be alongside that quality. I think the character in Red Dragon is similar to the one I played in Schindler's List, they both have similar paths. You have to enter into the way they see the world, which is weird and disturbing." 
Movie makers George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola went on a mammoth trip this summer - a 2,719 mile train ride across Canada. Lucas, the maker of the Star Wars saga, and Coppola, director of The Godfather series and Apocalypse Now, rented a vintage train for the six- day vacation which cost the heavyweight pair upwards of $600,000. The duo, friends for more than 30 years, left Toronto on August 13 with their families on the chartered Royal Canadian Pacific train for the week-long trip to Vancouver. The train features three luxury cars with four bedrooms and three members of staff per passenger. 
Lance Bass has experienced his first zero-gravity training session as he bids to become the first boyband singer in space. The 'N Sync hunk, who wants to make a week-long trip to the Mir space station with Russia's team of cosmonauts, learned how to cope with the conditions he will face in Star City, Russia. During the training flight, Bass and other wannabe cosmonauts floated weightlessly for 30-second intervals. Bass, 23, is still awaiting word on funding for the mission, which begins on October 22. 
Tensions has risen with the water on the set of flood-threatened film The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - director Stephen Norrington has requested lead star Sean Connery punch him in the face. The pair's angry confrontation came after filming on location in Prague, Czech Republic, was thrown into chaos by severe flooding. An anonymous actor on the set reports that a frustrated Norrington walked up to the legendary star and shouted, "I'm sick of it. Come on, I want you to punch me in the face!" However, Connery declined, and left the set until the film-maker had calmed down. The source adds, "It's been a tough shoot. One of the film's sets in Prague was ruined because of the floods and Norrington was under pressure. It's not helped by the fact that he's always shouting and screaming at people, and some of the cast and crew are sick of it." 
Actor Samuel L. Jackson's secret is out - he's been donning a wide variety of wigs in movies to combat the onset of baldness. The Pulp Fiction star admits that his thinning follicles have forced him to trawl through publications every time he lands a film deal, so that he can pick out his new temporary hairstyle. He says, "I'm follicly challenged, but I work at it! With my make-up artist and my hairdresser, we create a look for each of my movies by checking out some magazines. We'll see a guy and we'll go, 'His hair!'" And the screen star has even gone as far as to wear the hair of his associates. He adds, "In the case of The Negotiator, it was the hair of my hairdresser's sister. Once we pick a style, we call the wigmaker and she makes the wig." And in the new blockbuster XXX, Jackson went all out with his bodily accessories, when he not only donned a wig, but also a huge fake scar for his role. He explains, "The bad guy always has a scar. So I figured I'd be a good guy with a scar. When you look at me from one side you see this guy who's debonair. But when he turns around, you gasp." 
Reality TV star Kelly Osbourne asked Madonna to appear in the video for her cover version of "Papa Don't Preach".
R&B star Ashanti put aside outrage at her Soul Train Lady Of Soul Entertainer of The Year honours to provide Saturday night's, 24 August 2002 event highlight and she thanks her critics for giving her the incentive to shine.
Pop heart-throb Robbie Williams has had a special secure room built in his London home so he can hide from intruders.
Rumors are flying left right and centre at the alleged news that Kylie has married James Gooding. 
Wild pop princess Christina Aguilera stormed out of a New York night club after the DJ played a record by arch rival Britney Spears.
Eminem is aiming to be single for the rest of his life - and insists daughter Hailie will be his only child.
Britney Spears became the latest victim of a pair of radio pranksters when she was persuaded to sing with a fake version of golf superstar Tiger Woods.
Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton is celebrating after giving birth to a baby boy.
Jordan is to 
Australian pop star 
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The new mystery brunette in Billy Bob Thornton's life has been revealed - and she's less than half his age. The actor, who is currently being divorced by his wife Angelina Jolie, has been spending intimate evenings with blue-eyed 23-year-old actress Danielle Dotzenrod. The couple have been spending time dining, shopping and drinking together in Thornton's favorite Hollywood haunts, and were recently spotted at his bungalow at the Sunset Marquis hotel. Meanwhile, friends claim Thornton's 'Angelina' tattoo on his bicep has been covered over by what looks like a new design.
Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie will be the last single girl when Sex And The City finishes. The tale of four beautiful New York women and their love lives is set to close within its next two seasons, and while Carrie's pals Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes will all end up with men, Parker says her character has other priorities. She says, "People have this idea that contentment is a man and a child. I respect that, but it should not be defined in such narrow terms. Contentment and triumph and joy for Carrie is having a career that she really loves and is proud of and having friendships that are meaningful. And hopefully, having a man who brings those same qualities to the relationship." 
Clint Eastwood is upset by the way Warner Brothers have marketed his new film Blood Work. The movie, starring Anjelica Huston and written by the man responsible for L.A. Confidential, only made $7.5 million in its first weekend release. The Dirty Harry star is fuming that the film did not get a New York premiere, and many critics didn't get a chance to review it because there were not enough press screenings. This follows the debacle surrounding Eastwood's previous film for Warner, True Crime, which the actor also claims was not marketed properly and subsequently failed at the box office. 
Jack Nicholson told '70s supermodel Janice Dickinson he was single in a bid to bed her - even though he was dating Anjelica Huston at the time. But Dickinson has got her own back after telling all about her love affair with the One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest star in a revealing new autobiography. The reformed hellraiser also brags about bedding leading men like Bruce Willis, Warren Beatty and Mick Jagger in her new book No Lifeguard On Duty, in which she also details her drug abuse and modeling career. And she admits some sexploits were earth-shattering, especially the magic moments she shared with Jagger. She reveals, "It was Greek gods in the skies exploding. There was lightning and thunder. It was cool." Nicholson was a great lover too - even though he lied about his relationship with then-girlfriend Huston: "I'm sorry Anjelica, but he made it very clear that they weren't together. It was a night of romance and he was Jack." Few stars come out of the memoirs favorably, but Dickinson still has a soft spot for Beatty: "He's a consummate gentleman, the smartest man I know." And she uses the book to apologize to Sylvester Stallone for dragging him through the law courts over the paternity of her son. She says, "There was a DNA test and it proved that Sylvester Stallone wasn't the father but according to when I ovulated I really thought he was. I made a mistake on that." 
Julia Roberts and new husband Danny Moder have abandoned their rented Los Angeles home after learning it has a no-dog policy. The Moders packed up all their belongings and, with the help of an assistant, moved to Venice - to a new home with a yard. The reason for the move: Julia's Labrador puppy Louie, which was a wedding gift from her husband. 
Former virginal star Britney Spears has shockingly admitted she drinks, smokes - and has sex.
British pop hunk Robbie Williams has caught the eye of yet another admiring young lady - teen pop singer Mandy Moore.
Jennifer Lopez has come under fire from officials in Florida for using the local police as cut-price bodyguards.
Singer Pink wants to replace Madonna at the top of the pop charts after years of worshipping the pop diva.
Geri Halliwell's friendship with fellow singer George Michael is officially over, following his latest anti-war single Shoot The Dog. Halliwell, who has performed for British troops waiting to fight in Afghanistan last year, has reportedly taken exception to the tracks strongly anti-Western sentiments following the Afghani conflict, and, despite Michael claiming he'd cleared it with her first, Geri is upset at being made fun of in the animated video accompanying the song.
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Dame Judi Dench became Dame Judi Drench when she was covered in champagne naming a new ship.
Friends star Jennifer Aniston has saved a man from choking to death in a restaurant, according to reports.
You can imagine Madonna and Guy Ritchie having some enormous rows, and according to sources 
U2 have 
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has shunned modes of transportation usually preferred by rock stars, and is living life in the fast lane on a funky new moped.
It might be fair to say Jacko has put himself up for more accusations of child abuse after naming his son Prince Michael Jackson II, ensuring the six-month old a difficult childhood. The pop fruitcake dreamed up the name, which follows a 'family tradition'. Jackson already has a five-year-old son called Prince Michael Jackson and a four-year-old daughter called Paris Michael Katherine, both from his marriage to ex-wife Debbie Rowe. Their marriage ended in 1999 and Michael Jackson adopted the baby boy earlier this year.
Shakira has leapfrogged Britney Spears to become the third most downloaded pop star on the internet.
Pop rebel Pink has labelled chart rival Britney Spears "a puppet" and accused the bubbly blonde of miming her songs.
Over 20,000 people have signed a petition to denounce music show Soul Train's decision to honour R'n' B newcomer Ashanti with its Lady Of Soul entertainer of year award. Ashanti's achievement has been bashed by thousands of music fans on website petitiononline.com, despite having old over 2.3 million copies of her self-titled debut album this year.
Pop star Robbie Williams may snub a multi-million dollar deal from some of the world's biggest record labels - to set up his own label. The 28-year-old is in a bidding war between Sony, BMG, Warner, EMI and Universal, who are all desperate to sign the star up for more than U.S million.
Friends star Matt LeBlanc, who plays dim-witted Joey, has announced that he is to 
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Madonna took a trip to the Orient to celebrate her 44th birthday on Friday, 16 August 2002 - with a fancy dress party. 
Pop singer Kylie Minogue has been consoling herself during her love troubles with boyfriend James Gooding by tucking into comfort food.
Mariah Carey has rejected a cameo in medical drama ER, because the role of a singer suffering a breakdown is too similar to her own real life mental problems.
Garbage singer Shirley Manson is heading for Hollywood, if she can curb her temper. The singer says she's been approached to star in a forthcoming film based on a book by acclaimed author JT Leroy. But flame-haired Scot Shirley's not certain she'd be well suited to a career in Hollywood, because of her fiery temper.
Moby had an unpleasant meeting with Hollywood star Russell Crowe who threw him against a wall and racially abused him. According to the star, he bumped into the Oscar winning actor in a bar in Sydney, and was greeted with a response in keeping with Crowe's bullyboy reputation.
Australian Kylie Minogue fans are fighting for possession of massive photos of the star - in just her underwear.
Britney Spears is taking advantage of her a six-month sabbatical from showbiz to get a style make-over. Reports from the States claim that the exhausted star will leave her mother's house next month to make an appearance at New York Fashion Week. Britney's stylists, Kurt and Bart, have booked her in to observe and take notes at Matthew Williamson and Brazilian design sensation Carlos Miele's shows. "She is taking a break, so that's why she could go to the shows," Kurt tells New York Magazine. "Every time we tried before, she was too busy… She'd also love to do the Europe thing too. Hit Versace and Roberto Cavalli, all those designers who have been so good to her."
Liz Hurley has been waxing lyrical about her new vocation - being a housewife. The former Estée Lauder model claims that motherhood has sparked off a latent passion for housework. "I love ironing his romper suits. I don't think I ever ironed in my life," she says. "I didn't even know I had an iron. I didn't know I liked changing nappies. Now I love sterilising his bottles. It's brought out the housewife in me." Currently doing the publicity rounds for her latest film, Servicing Sara, in which she stars alongside Matthew Perry, Liz remains tight-lipped about her relationship with Steve Bing, the father of four-month-old Damian. "I'm not gong to refute insanely inaccurate, untruthful stories," she said. "I want to get back some kind of privacy that was lost for Damian."
Hollywood muscleman Vin Diesel has managed to win the affections of a TV reporter - while she was interviewing him. The XXX hunk, 35, is reportedly besotted with Entertainment Tonight reporter Maria Menounos - and they began dating after the actor relentlessly chased the former teen beauty. Menounos, 24, a former Massachusetts Teen Usa winner, scored a one-on-one interview with New Yorker Diesel on 29 July. During their chat, the subject of dating came up. She asked Diesel if he was "available." When he said that he was, a pleasantly surprised Menounos reportedly responded, "You are?" before the actor quickly asked if she was single too. A week later, at the 5 August premiere of XXX in Westwood, California, the two met again. A source tells American tabloid the Star, "There were 100 reporters around, but when he saw Maria, they just fell into each other's arms. They were holding hands and whispering to each other. It's obvious something was going on. He then promised he'd see her a day later and I don't remember any other public appearances scheduled for Vin." 
Thousands of Elvis Presley fans have descended on his famous Graceland mansion for a candlelit vigil commemorating the star's life and death. More than 7,000 devoted fans brought colorful wreaths and their love of The King to Presley's gravesite at the Memphis mansion yesterday, the 25th anniversary of his death. The gravesite isn't the only part of Memphis that's getting the attention this week. The entire town has become the site of a massive Elvis-mania style fan reunion, with banners everywhere welcoming the fans and the local airport greeting travelers with Elvis tunes. Wreaths have arrived from as far away as Brazil and Japan, while fans heading into Memphis include a British group with their own special bus and American fans who been to vigils for the king virtually every year since his death. 
Australian stunner Nicole Kidman is getting ready to turn tricks as a Hollywood madam - on screen, at least. The sexy ex-wife of Mission: Impossible hunk Tom Cruise has her eye on a script that will allow her to explore the kinky fetishes of the rich and famous in Tinseltown. The proposed project, called Pay The Girl, chronicles the rise and fall of a Hollywood hooker who keeps her men very satisfied. According to American tabloid the Star, 35-year-old Kidman and her agent have met with the screenwriter and agent who are trying to shop the script - and they're attempting to convince them that Moulin Rouge beauty would be perfect for the part. 
British heart-throb Colin Firth finds his first name a burden - because it's boring. The Bridget Jones's Diary actor, who set millions of female hearts a-flutter as wet-shirted sex symbol Mr. Darcy in Pride And Prejudice, thinks his name is just too comic. The 41-year-old actor moans, "Well it doesn't exactly have a ring to it, does it? It's more the sort of name you'd give to your goldfish for a joke. In fact, I saw an episode of (British comedy) Black Adder the other day and there was a dachshund in it called Colin. It seems that his name alone was supposed to reduce you to fits of laughter." 
Robbie Williams has won his battle to 
Sexy rock star Sheryl Crow is set to give a private performance to the contestants of America's Big Brother 3 TV show.
Jennifer Lopez has slammed the brakes on her plans to wed Ben Affleck this spring - because she's scared of making another mistake.
British singer Sir Elton John has a fantasy he'd very much like fulfilled, he's eager to see Hollywood hunk Matt Damon naked. The openly gay superstar admits that a viewing of the actor in the buff would prove to be a very exciting experience for him.
'N Sync star Lance Bass's bid to rocket ride into space is causing a rift between him and his bandmates. Bass was picked to blast off in a Russian rocket on 28 October and soar to the orbiting International Space Station for a five-day stay. But his bandmates, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone, are reportedly upset about the star's shift in priorities required to prepare for the mission.
Robbie Williams has reportedly completed work on a new studio album, Escapology. The former Take That hunk has been living in the US, the official line being that he is taking time out from the music industry. However, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper, the singer has now completed the project in Los Angeles and is set to spark a bidding war for the record.
Hot on the heels of their Hawaii wedding, Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley are preparing for parenthood. Sources say that the couple, who wed in a secret ceremony last weekend, are desperately trying to have a baby. "She worries that time is running out for her to be a mom again. She already has two children from her first marriage, but she wants to have at least two more, and she feels Nic would be the perfect dad," an insider tells imdb.com. "He reminds Lisa of her father, and nothing would please her more than to have a son with him, a little Elvis. She desperately wants to hold another baby of her own in her arms. She is very much in love with Nic and she feels a baby would make her relationship with him complete and bring some much-needed stability. Nic still has a wild side."
Julia Roberts has demanded that new hubby Danny Moder leave his bachelor pad because she is fed up of living in a "rat trap". The Oscar-winning actress had been living in Danny's $1,600-a-month apartment on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, to prove that she's devoted enough to adapt to his less glitzy lifestyle. But now that the couple have tied the knot, Julia has decided that she's made her point and she has instructed her people to look for a more suitable, multi-million dollar residence. "Now that she and Danny are married, Julia has told him what she really thinks about living in his Brentwood bachelor pad," a friend tells msnbc.com. "Before the wedding Julia wanted to show she was just a simple girl with simple tastes. She wanted to prove how dedicated she was to her man by living in his world and experiencing his lifestyle."
Glamour model Jordan has revealed she 
Victoria Beckham will 
Destiny's Child star 
Robbie Williams is 
Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher got a nasty shock when interviewing Jude Law for her TV series - all the lights suddenly went out thanks to Jennifer Lopez. The chat with the British actor, for her Conversations From The Edge series, was taking place in New York's Waldorf hotel, where Lopez and Ralph Fiennes were also filming scenes for their film The Chambermaid on the same floor. So when Lopez and co needed more power they simply unplugged the Fisher set, leaving interviewer and interviewee in darkness for half an hour. 
Acting legend Al Pacino is to star as Adolf Hitler in a revival of a play about the reviled German dictator's rise to power. The Heat star, considered by many to be the greatest living Hollywood actor, will take the lead role in Arturo Ui, a satirical play by Bertolt Brecht. The show, which will have a limited three-week run at New York's Pace University towards the end of the year, was written in the late 1930s and received mixed reviews when first produced on Broadway in 1963. Critic and Brecht expert Eric Bentley says Arturo Ui is "a very poor play but very good theatre, especially with a brilliant actor as Hitler." Chazz Palminteri, Steve Buscemi and Charles Durning have also signed up for the production, which will be directed by Simon McBurney. 
Courtney Love is close to settling her court case with Universal Music without it going to trial. Sources claim talks between the former Hole rocker and her record company to settle the breach of contract case are progressing well and court hearings scheduled for next week could be called off. A source close to the case says, "The next hearing is 20 August, but I think it's going to be resolved." Another adds, "Negotiations are going well." The August 20 hearing was to set a trial date for the case, in which a unit of Universal claims that Love owes it five records and Love claims she was cheated out of substantial royalties. Industry analysts are closely monitoring the lawsuit, pitting the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain against the world's largest record group, as a pop artist-led movement challenging the terms of recording contracts gains momentum. In a separate bitter legal dispute in Seattle over the management of Nirvana's back catalogue, sources claimed Love has made a written settlement proposal. Love is suing the remaining members of Cobain's grunge band, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, over ownership of the group's recordings and songs. U2 singer Bono has been asked to testify for Love, while earlier this year Grohl and Novoselic questioned Courtney's mental stability. However, sources say that Love has recently made a written settlement proposal to the band's members. One says, "They have not responded yet, but lawyers for Love were told to expect a response soon." 
Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford bought a snap of himself from a autograph hunter - so he could give it to his adoring girlfriend Calista Flockhart. When a fan approached the star as he was strolling with the Ally McBeal actress in Los Angeles Ford recognized the picture as one Calista wanted for herself - so snapped it up for $112. An eyewitness says, "Calista was positively beaming and couldn't believe what he'd done. The fan seemed happy too." 
Jennifer Lopez has returned the favour to new boyfriend Ben Affleck - she's splashed out on a new $150,000 Aston Martin car for the actor. Lopez, 32, returned to the same Coral Gables, Florida dealership where the Good Will Hunting star, 29, bought a $225,000 Ferrari Spider for his beau last week. However, the vehicle gifts aren't unique - singer and actress J.Lo bought her ex- husband Cris Judd, who she divorced last month, a Mercedes during their short-lived relationship. 
Millions of Elvis Presley fans are marking the singer's death exactly 25 years ago.
Geri Halliwell is 
Destiny's Child babe Beyonce hates her name and wishes she'd been born with something more conventional.
Slimline Sugababes Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena have disclosed their secret method for keeping their stunning figures - stuffing themselves with junk food.
Mariah Carey's much-maligned acting skills have received the thumbs up from Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino.
R &B star Christina Milian has only one body part she'd like to improve - her bottom is too small.
Director Guy Ritchie is to return to the gangster movie genre which made his name with a story about a London mobster who's desperate to go straight. 
Ricky Martin has spoken at a peace conference in Puerto Rico in a bid to highlight the importance of celebrities promoting anti-war politics.
Flamboyant rocker Sir Elton John has been crowned the biggest fashion disaster in the male celebrity world. The star, often noted for his eye-catching, elaborate outfits, beat the likes of glove-toting pop singer Michael Jackson, wacky actor Nicholas Cage and all of boyband 'N Sync to the dubious honour, which was awarded by the American edition of men's magazine FHM.
Pint-sized pop babe Kylie Minogue's relationship with on-off boyfriend James Gooding has hit the rocks again. While the diminutive Aussie continues to stun her home crowd with sensational concerts Down Under, love-rat James is having fun in the Ibiza sun with a mystery girl called Chloe. 
Dance band Faithless have given up touring and will never play live again. The band's Sister Bliss has revealed that their last gig will be at Creamfields in Ireland two weeks on Saturday. One of the most exciting live acts of the past decade and a highlight at this year's Glastonbury festival, Faithless, will still make studio albums, but now feel too old to carry on touring.
Kylie Minogue is reportedly furious about her new waxwork in Madame Tussaud's. The queen of raunchy moves is said to be livid over the pouting dummy that presides in the museum, which displays her most famous asset – her ultra-pert behind. Currently in Melbourne for the final leg of her world tour, the petite popstrel furiously declared: "This just goes to show you can't relinquish control of your image. I didn't pose for it. I knew they were going to mould it from the photograph of me on all fours but I certainly didn't realise people were going to walk around it." What's more, Kylie was so enraged with the unapproved tribute that she has instructed her management that she will never again agree to any deal unless she has total control over everything.
Controversial 1971 movie Straw Dogs is to be remade thanks to actor Edward Norton - a lifelong fan of the violent Dustin Hoffman film. The Sam Peckinpah movie, which features a graphic rape sequence, has only recently been released on video in America after years of controversy, but now the Fight Club star is masterminding a remake. Norton will produce and possibly star in the film, renamed Fear Itself, which will be directed by John Polson. 
Gorgeous Aussie Holly Valance makes every red-hot blooded man’s eyes go pop as she chews on bubble gum.
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Popstars judge and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has brought her multi-millionaire American boyfriend across the Atlantic to 
Is there no limit to what the producers of Sex and the City will do to make a quick buck? According to reports from across the pond, the reigning powers at the HBO network have gone heavily into product placement. Suspicions were aroused after recent, prominent and favourable mentions of a number of brand names, including AOL, Weight Watchers and Amazon.com appeared in the series. "Whenever you see a brand name product in a movie or TV show and it's that obvious, it's pretty safe to assume it's a product placement," one media buyer tells msnbc.com. "The consumer-oriented audience of Sex and the City would make it an excellent placement vehicle. However, a spokeswoman for HBO insists that this is far from the truth. "The stories are totally driven by what the writers like and what they use," he maintains.
British dating mores have come under fire once again. On this occasion Gwyneth Paltrow has criticised the reluctance of English gents to ask a girl on a date. "British people don't seem to ask each other out," the Oscar-winning actress rants. "If someone asks you out they're really going out on a limb, whereas in America it happens all the time... It's only dinner for God's sake." Paltrow, who recently starred in Proof at London's Donmar Warehouse, was only escorted to dinner twice during her stint in London. One of her outings was on the arm of Brit actor James Purefoy, while the identity of the other date remains a mystery.
David Beckham's voice has been bought by Vodafone for its mobile phone voicemail for a staggering £2 million. The England skipper, whose greeting message and image will be available to the company's 104 million subscribers worldwide, is the first celebrity to allow his voice to be used in such an endorsement. His famous face will also be used for mobile phone screen savers, games and quizzes and he will appear in TV ads for the communications giant, which already has a separate £30 million sponsorship deal with Manchester United. "He is the ideal person to promote our services globally," a Vodafone spokesperson says.
Sugababe singer Keisha Buchanan still has nightmares about her horrendous encounter with a knife-wielding stalker.
Pop babe Kylie Minogue has received a surprise 'Welcome Home' present in her Aussie homeland - a dressing room decorated almost entirely in pink.
One of Madonna's dancers has inadvertently revealed rumours that the pop queen is expecting her third child are correct.
Pop princess Britney Spears has gone to the extraordinary length of imposing on-the-spot fines on her promoter for intrusive phone calls made to her dressing room before a concert.
Rap star Eminem has helped bring a teenager who "died" five times out of a coma. The outrageous musician sent 17-year-old Claire Derbyshire of Manchester, England, a bandana, CDs, signed pictures of himself and a limited edition doll to aid her recovery. Claire's relatives also played the star's tracks as the teenager lay almost lifeless in a hospital bed and were amazed when the songs appeared to miraculously stir her back to life. Claire's aunt Julie Widall explains, "Her eyes lit up and she was overcome, especially when she received the gifts from Eminem. He's her hero. It was the first time in 17 weeks that she was awake. It was just unbelievable."
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Bobby Gillespie has revealed how Kylie Minogue rejected an offer from Primal Scream for a lethal combination of drugs including ecstasy, speed and cocaine.
Veteran film maker Woody Allen will make a rare public appearance in New York to discuss an aspect of his film making. The pint-sized neurotic will discuss the role of psychoanalysis in Annie Hall and Manhattan at a 92nd Street venue. Also, The American Museum Of The Moving Image in Queens will mark the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the city with a free screening of Allen's 1979 ode to the city Manhattan.
Bridget Moynahan has had the pleasure of acting out steamy love scenes with hunky stars Ben Affleck and Al Pacino recently - and she loved it. The Coyote Ugly actress stars opposite Affleck in new spy thriller The Sum Of All Fears - and director Phil Alden Robinson insisted that all their love scenes be filmed in one day. The 30-year-old former model reveals she and Jennifer Lopez's new boyfriend found it an unusual process, explaining, "We had a good time rolling around, that's for sure. "But it's weird when the director says, 'Cut', and you have to sort of get untangled. You just get your bits back into place and gear up for the next one. It was more awkward than embarrassing. On the first day there was literally an introduction, then we sat down with a glass of wine and kissed." The lucky lady, who has also been in Sex And The City, has since managed to get her hands on Hollywood legend Al Pacino. Though, while filming The Recruit with the Scarface star she was considerably more nervous. She says, "I was so shy around him. I was like, 'It's Al Pacino. It's Scarface! But he's such a sweet man and he's so willing to fool around and drop lines like the rest of us. By the time we had to do those intimate scenes, we were so comfortable. We got on so well." 
British actor Jeremy Northam is terrified America will hate his portrayal of Dean Martin in a new TV biopic. The Gosford Park star will play the crooner opposite Will & Grace's Sean Hayes in Lewis & Martin- about the life behind the smiles and the songs of top double act Jerry Lewis and Martin. And he admits he's far from convinced he has pulled off Dean Martin's famous drawl in the project, which wrapped at the weekend . He says, "Fortunately they used Dean's own voice, so I was just stuck with doing a bad impersonation of him talking. I had to have a go." Northam admits he has always been fascinated with Martin's life away from the movies and TV - and says the personalised biopic fills in the gaps. He adds, "This is the story of their working relationship and the gaps in between their lives. They became this $20 million industry by the time they split up and they turned their backs on it all." 
American actress Julia Stiles has decided it's time to finally alter her dress sense - because she's fed up with looking like a boy. Growing up in New York's SoHo neighborhood, where her parents own and run a pottery business, the O star chose to wear clothes that would gain her the least attention from men. She explains, "That is the weird thing about growing up in New York City - at a very young age you have to learn how to protect yourself walking down the street. It used to make me feel uncomfortable to have guys commenting on me, so I tried to avoid that by looking like a tomboy. But now I'm not scared of it. I've come into my own. I'm in a girlie phase." 
Scream star David Arquette's hobby of collecting dolls is causing friction with his wife Courtney Cox Arquette. The Friends star is insisting that David get rid of his bizarre collection - particularly his memento from eighties classic TV series The A Team. However, David refuses, "She was this close to throwing away my Mr. T doll. I just told her, 'I pity the fool who throws away my Mr. T doll.'" 
Bridget Jones star 
The 
Amazonian beauty Shakira can't understand why the American and British press compare her to Britney Spears. The vocalist says she is not subject to such comparisons in her native Colombia. 
Baby Spice Emma Bunton has been trying to secure discounts at exclusive fashion stores.
Foolish singer Ashanti has embarrassing memories of her high school graduation because she forgot the American national anthem when she took to the stage to sing it.
Once bankrupt R&B diva Toni Braxton experienced serious deja vu in a department store when her credit card was declined.
Pop star Mya is reteaming with her "Lady Marmalade" supergroup stars for tracks on her third album.
After the revelation that superstar Madonna wrote a song for her, Kylie Minogue is giving something back to younger pop wannabes - she's penned a tune for Atomic Kitten.
Rocker Lenny Kravitz picked up a love of performing live during his teen days of touring as a choirboy.
Elizabeth Hurley seems to have put the traumas of the past year behind her and is even considering having more children. "It was great and I would definitely do it again for sure," she enthuses to the Evening Standard. One aspect of her pregnancy that Liz particularly enjoyed was being able to indulge in all her favourite foods. "I put on 53 pounds and it was heaven," the 37-year-old model and actress, who has fully regained her super-svelte frame since giving birth to Damian Charles, declares. "I was like 'Sure, I will have doughnuts for breakfast, hot dogs at 11am is fine. Bring them on.'" But the minute Damian was born, Hurley cast aside those nine months of throwing caution to the wind and embarked on a serious regime. "I just went healthy the minute Damian was born," she explains. "It was a very strict diet."
So much for sticking to your beliefs. Drew Barrymore has announced that she is giving up her vegetarian lifestyle because she tired of shopping in the same places. Although the Charlie's Angel still boycotts products from cosmetic companies that test on animals, she isn't averse to sampling some carnivorous delights. "I still don't eat a ton of meat, and I don't wear a ton of leather," she tells imdb.com. "But I just don't put strict limitations on myself anymore. I don't beat myself up. I didn't wear certain designers because I didn't want any animals to suffer for beauty and stuff, and so I literally was dressed by Old Navy at one point. Eventually I got tired and wanted to play again. Dressing is like an art form - it's so much fun."
Oscar-winning actor Ben Affleck has come up with 
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Hip Hop super-producer and the man behind Eminem, Dr Dre is going to retire. The controversial artist is to give up rapping to focus on his production work after he completes his forthcoming third album. 
Country Grammar singing rap star Nelly is a unlucky in love. The word smith who implores ladies to "take off all their clothes" repeatedly on his new "Hot In Herre" single, confesses he's had very few long term relationships.
Bush star Gavin Rossdale is stressing out over his planned September wedding to Gwen Stefani because he's determined to make sure their big day is extra special.
South American singing sensation Shakira is the first to admit she always does things her way - no matter what other people think.
Hollywood's golden girl is quitting Tinseltown for the sake of her son. "It's Wyatt's dream to be a hockey star," Goldie Hawn explains to a US magazine. Consequently Hawn and her partner Kurt Russell are leaving Pacific Palisades and moving to British Columbia so that Goldie can become a "hockey mom" to her 17-year-old son. "It'll be an adventure," she bravely says. "We'll get out of this town, I'll have time to write. We're going to have fireplaces in every room… it's going to be a whole different phase in our lives."
Tobey Maguire has fallen for a contestant in the American version of Pop Idol. The Spidey star, who has been linked to a stream of A-listers, including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Heather Graham, has been pursuing sexy songstess, Ryan Starr. "He got her phone number," an insider tells the US tabs. "He's been calling her."
Jennifer Lopez has sent the rumour mills into overdrive after she enjoyed a clandestine date with a former flame. The super-star set tongues wagging when she was smuggled onto ex-lover P Diddy's luxury yacht off the coast of Ibiza for an intimate lunch liaison. "The pair were always going to meet at some point but were desperate to ensure that nobody knew about their lunch date," a source tells the Daily Mirror. "They met just after midday on Thursday and she didn't leave until after dark. They were very pleased to see each other."
Jennifer Lopez is being 
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Holly Valence 
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale have finally 
Soul superstar Diana Ross has checked back into California's, Promises rehab clinic, after abruptly canceling her summer tour.
British director Guy Ritchie doesn't like anyone getting too close to his superstar wife Madonna even if it is in the name of work.
Britney Spears' Mexican dash may have been caused by an overdose of laxatives.
Superstar queen of pop Madonna has prompted rumours she's expecting her second child with movie-maker husband Guy Ritchie after being spotted sporting a fuller waistline.
Colombian superstar Shakira loves the fact her job takes her all over the world because she gets to meet so many different people.
Pop beauty Christina Aguilera has been warned to stay away from British pop prince Robbie Williams - by her worried family.
Angelina Jolie's mother has lashed out at claims that her daughter is in need of psychiatric help. Marcheline Bertrand was furious after reading her ex-husband, Jon Voight's comments about Jolie's poor state of mind. "My daughter is magnificently healthy," Bertrand states. "There is nothing wrong with Angelina's mental health. Over the next few months people will see how strong and beautiful and healthy she is." Voight shocked America with his tearful TV plea to Angelina, whose marriage to Billy Bob Thornton had just broken down, to seek urgent help.
Robbie Williams has pledged his allegiance to America by making it his permanent home. The chart-topping singer, who is currently romancing Rachel Hunter, has instructed estate agents to find him a suitable property in the Hollywood Hills. However, it is not only the allure of the beautiful Hunter that is keeping Robbie stateside. "I came to the US to stay sober and it really is the best place for me," he told a confidante. "Now I've met Rachel I'm totally convinced this is where I want to be." The former Take That-er, whose estimated personal fortune is £30 million, regularly attends AA meetings in Los Angeles and encourages Rachel to abstain from alcohol when they are together.
Demi Moore is to 
Britney Spears is 
Geri Halliwell helped reunite a lost child with his frantic parents. The former Spice Girl spotted two-year-old George Illingworth after he wandered away from a beach carnival near Torquay, Devon, England.
Affleck and Lopez mania has hit America's top showbiz magazines with one splashing out a reported US$75,000 for the first snaps of the couple kissing.
Actress-turned pop wannabe Jennifer Love Hewitt has slammed claims her new single "BareNaked" is just a bid to capitalise on her famously pneumatic figure.
Christina Aguilera will continue with the raunchy image she debuted on last year's "Lady Marmalade" collaboration with her comeback single "Let's Get Dirty".
Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles has managed to make good business out of her bad moods - her best performances and songs have come about when she's upset.
In yet another attempt to find spiritual enlightenment, Geri Halliwell has enlisted the help of a psychic. The 29-year-old twiglet started seeing the Los Angeles-based therapist in a bid to sort out her troubled life and his solution to her problems was to become a TV presenter. Geri is so besotted by her new-found pal that she has even persuaded co-presenter of Popstars: The Rivals, Davina McCall, to accompany her to all her sessions. According to reports, the lovely Davina is also hooked on Halliwell's latest fad. It looks like this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
Eminem is throwing his lot in with voyeuristic video phenomenon "Girls Gone Wild." The ribald rapper is the newest host of the home video series, in which libertine lasses are persuaded to flash their breasts for the camera. Eminem and "GGW" founder Joe Francis hit the Hamptons beaches last weekend to film some exhibitionist East End-ettes, and then flew back to the city on Francis' Lear Jet to gape at the strippers at Privilege in Chelsea. Francis, 29, tells Chaunce Hayden's Steppin' Out magazine that rappers like Eminem and Snoop Dogg are uniquely qualified to host the videos. "I think the hip-hop community is very sexual and edgy," he declared. "They don't seem to have a problem with us or our content." Francis revealed that both Mark McGrath and Tommy Lee inquired about the hosting gig, but were turned down. "Who cares about Tommy Lee?" Francis snickered. "We only want the best of the best. That's why we got Eminem." Asked if he ever tires of ogling breasts, Francis said: "I don't think that's possible . . . I swear, every time I see a naked girl, it's like seeing my first!"
The man attempting to rescue Mariah Carey's career has revealed how he plans to turn her fortunes around.
Justin Timberlake took a sly dig at his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, proving he's well and truly over her at this year's 'N Sync Challenge For The Children celeb basketball game.
Eminem insists his hatred of Moby isn't malicious - because he couldn't ever bring himself to beat his chart rival up.
Dance music star Moby is sick of pop's domination of the music world, and he's singled out the culprits - the music TV and radio stations that fill the airwaves with cheesy tunes.
Colombian pop star Shakira has found the perfect way of relaxing - she paints fried eggs. The Latina diva loves nothing more than to create paintings of eggs when she's trying to unwind.
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Noel Gallagher and two other members of Oasis have been involved in a car crash. The band, who are currently on tour in the US, were in central Indianapolis yesterday afternoon, when a taxi they were travelling in was involved in a head on collision with another car. Noel, Andy Bell and Jay Darlington were taken to hospital by ambulance where they were treated for shock and cuts and bruises. Noel, who was travelling in the front of the car, suffered heavy facial bruising and seat belt cuts. Doctors have ordered that the three rest for 48 hours and their planned concert at Indianapolis tonight (Wednesday) has been scrapped. 
British pop trio Atomic Kitten will be steering clear of showbiz parties because they find them boring. Pop trio say they'd rather go to the pub than hang out with A-list stars.
Singer Samantha Mumba has extended a hand of friendship to Jennifer Lopez's abandoned husband Cris Judd - by giving him his first post-J.Lo job.
An American tycoon is planning to build an Elvis Presley theme park in the king of rock'n'roll's home city. Property magnate JD Stacy wants to erect a US $500 million development, called the Elvis Presley Ranch, on the land in Memphis Tennessee, where the be-quiffed singer honeymooned with wife Priscilla in 1967.
Antonio Banderas isn't in the least perturbed by the intimate photos of wife Melanie Griffith with Gabriel Byrne that circulated the world's press last week. "Gabriel is an old friend of us both," he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "They were going to a funeral for a friend they both knew. After she called me and said they were going to have dinner together." Banderas also discussed Griffith's less-than-accelerating career. "Melanie can't get any film roles," he moans. "But she isn't the only one affected. Jessica Lange is another. Hollywood doesn't want to give women over 40 a job. It's a scandal."
Ultra-curvy widow Anna Nicole Smith nearly lost her 16-carat diamond necklace last week on a shopping spree in New York's SoHo. "She had taken it off to try on a turquoise Noir necklace, and forgot about it," a witness at the exclusive Big Drop Boutique tells pagesix.com. The former Playmate left the store with her camera crew, sans diamonds, and it was only after "an assistant had to run after her" that they were retrieved. To add insult to injury, on the way to the Tardini shop to continue the spree, she tripped and broke her heel. In other news, Anna Nicole Smith's new reality show has been slated as the worst programme of all time. The New York Post called it a "historic disaster", while TV critic Adam Buckman stormed: "If The Osbournes is responsible for the spectacular birth of the reality sitcom, then Anna Nicole just killed it."
Pop queen Madonna has hit back at reports her new movie is on the verge of being scrapped.
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Britney Spears made sure she avoided ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, 4 August 2002 by leaving early.
Soul stunner Alicia Keys has gone against the grain of most of her celebrity counterparts by refusing to use bodyguards while wandering the streets of New York.
Neighbours beauty Madeleine West has revealed how 
Actress Jennifer Aniston says her Hollywood heart-throb husband Brad Pitt is a "
Is Kate Winslet heading down the aisle for the second time? If reports from across the pond are to be believed, the Titanic star has accepted a marriage proposal from her director beau Sam Mendes only weeks after their year-long affair was rumoured to have hit the rocks. According to New York gossips, Mendes presented Kate with a beautiful three-carat diamond and ruby ring this weekend. "They are being very coy but you don't give a girl a ring and tell her you want to be with her forever if you don't mean it," an insider tells the Daily Express. "Kate was bowled over. She is very much in love with Sam."
Family get-togethers in the Minogue house will never be the same again. Kylie's little sister Dannii is planning to get the better of her pert-bottomed elder when she releases her new single in October. "Kylie's had a complete transformation, so I feel it's time for me to have a different look now," she tells The Daily Mirror. "It's my turn to make this work. I want to get this single and album finished and then, depending on how it goes, do a tour." Kylie better watch her backside...
Madonna has splashed out on a sporty Mini Cooper car - proving her love for all things British is still going strong. The pop diva had her US$30,000 electric blue car delivered last week.
Hip-swinging singer Ricky Martin heads the list of five winners of the 16th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards.
Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles has blasted critics who say her raunchy image contradicts her religious morals.
Hit R&B act TLC's new album is set to be called 3D. A fan site dedicated to the group, CyberTLC, reveals the band's record label, Arista Records, registered the website name TLC3D.com on 5 June 2002. 
The romance between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck may be confirmed, but the pair's ex-loves Gwyneth Paltrow and P Diddy are not happy about it.
Pop babes Britney Spears and Beyonce Knowles are fighting over hunky pop boss Pharrell Williams. Both girls have been dating the top man of R&B production team The Neptunes.
Pop diva Kylie Minogue has stunned friends and family by insisting on staying at the Sydney hotel where former lover Michael Hutchence killed himself. 
Pint-sized diva Christina Aguilera has furiously refused to team up with Brit boy band Westlife, even though they may be an important step in her career path. Record bosses believe a collaboration would boost Christina in Europe, where she falls far below rival Britney Spears’ superstar status, and give Westlife the US profile that even their teaming up with Mariah Carey couldn't achieve.
IS trouble brewing in the land of Cruise and Cruz? Whispers started up again about the strength of Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz's relationship when Cruise showed up alone in the Hamptons last weekend. "Tom stayed with Steven Spielberg," our source said. Spielberg and Cruise, who have cameos in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," saw the movie in Southampton with Spielberg's wife Kate Capshaw. Cruz and Cruise "are only ever seen together at movie premieres or other photo ops," pointed out one skeptic. But Cruz's rep assures us all is OK.
Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington will bring his directorial debut The Antwone Fisher Story to this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Festival organizers say the flick will have a gala presentation. It tells the story of a hot-tempered sailor whose visit to a naval psychiatrist starts him on the road to emotional healing. The film, in which Washington also stars, will be released in selected US cities in late December. Washington attended last year's festival to promote Training Day, the crime drama for which he won the best-actor Oscar this year. The 27th Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 5 to 14. 
Jennifer Lopez is set to seal her fledging romance with movie hunk Ben Affleck by marrying him next spring. The Latina superstar took the Good Will Hunting hunk to meet her family in New York at her 32nd birthday party on July 24 and, according to friends, she plans to march down the aisle with him after her divorce from her husband of just eight months, Cris Judd, is finalized in January. During the party at the Park restaurant, Affleck stood up after the meal to tell the crowd, which included J.Lo's mother Guadalupe, dad David, sister Lynda and grandmother, that he'd fallen deeply in love with Lopez. A friend tells American tabloid the Star, "It was an incredibly romantic moment. Ben was very charming and bold. It took guts for him to stand up and make an announcement like that in front of Jennifer's whole family. Her party was clearly a chance for Jennifer's friends and family to spend some time with her new love. And they all got along great." The pal adds, "Jennifer is saying she'll make a formal announcement about her and Ben to her fans when the time is right. They know getting married is a big step, but they're convinced they're meant for each other." J.Lo's first marriage to restaurateur Ojani Noa in 1997 barely lasted a year. 
Britney Spears has explained her finger-flipping incident and concert cancellation in Mexico - and she says she'll do it all again if she has to. The pop superstar caused controversy after she halted her Mexico City concert on Sunday after just four songs, prompting devotees to boo and dub her a "fraud." The 20-year-old had come under fire by Mexican fans and media earlier in the week after she showed her middle finger to paparazzi upon arrival. And now she feels the 50,000 Mexican fans who attended the sold out show deserve a full explanation for her actions. She says, "I think it's kind of sad they booed. They told us not to go on stage at the very beginning because of a storm but I said, 'I have to go out there and make an effort.' The whole stage was all lit up by lightning actually while we were performing, and three of the dancers slipped and almost fell off the stage. Then the stage actually got hit by lightning. The stage is made out of metal and it just wasn't safe." Britney admits the finger-flipping incident was unfortunate, and even her mother has complained to her about it - but she insists it was warranted after Mexican paparazzi tried to run her car off the road. She adds, "I wasn't flipping off my fans, I love my fans. I don't want to go out and do anything crazy. I was basically protecting myself. My mom said, 'What were you thinking, why did you do that?' It just happened, it was a moment, but if I had to I'd do it again." 
Actress Jodie Foster promises she will not dumb down her new movie about controversial Nazi film-maker Leni Riefenstahl. The star and director of the movie is keen to point out that she is determined not to whitewash the life and work of Hitler's favorite film-maker, who produced propaganda such as Olympiad and Triumph Of The Will. And Panic Room actress Jodie, 39, has already felt a backlash from The Jewish Defence League, who protested at the making of the film outside the gates of Paramount Studios, Los Angeles. She says, "I hope people will trust that I'm strong enough morally to know how to take on something and guide it meticulously where it has something to say. If I was going to make a movie about Hitler or Mussolini would they all be happier because it's a guy? She p***** people off because she never said she was sorry." 
Actress Christina Ricci has her sights set on Black Hawk Down star Josh Hartnett as her next boyfriend - even though he's dating his Minnesota childhood sweetheart. The movie hunk might seem devoted to his girlfriend Emily, but Ricci is committed in her quest to make him her man. She says, "He'd be one hot date. I've met him, so I know what I'm talking about here. Josh is a nice home-loving boy with a great body. I know he's got a girlfriend but I could so corrupt him." 
Charlie's Angels stunners Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore shot 
Angelina Jolie, who has recently split from her husband Billy Bob Thonton has confirmed that she is 
U2 frontman Bono may be an international superstar, but he still has ordinary marital tiffs in public.
Eminem's bigoted, homophobic and sexist persona is just an act - the controversial rapper claims his offensive image is aimed at humiliating his critics.
Kelly Osbourne is heading for Hollywood stardom - she's set to star in a remake of the '70s hit Freaky Friday. 
Meg Ryan is carving out quite a reputation for herself. Hollywood's former golden girl was recently browsing in a Greenwich Village deli when she was approached by a female photographer who was not carrying a camera. "Excuse me, Ms Ryan, I just wanted to say how much I admire your work," the snapper said. To which Meg retorted: "If you come one step further, I'll scream." A far cry from the loveable characters Ryan plays on screen.
Beyoncé Knowles was reportedly a little too bootylicious for a recent shoot for a US men's magazine. After posing in scanty clothing, the Goldmember star caused the art department to "work overtime" to slim down her thighs and hips. "She's a healthy, big-bottomed girl," a source tells msnbc.com. "She out-J-Los J-Lo in the behind department. They thought it was maybe a little too much of a good thing."
Catherine Zeta-Jones has turned down a multi-million dollar advertising contract out of respect for her husband. The Welsh star had been approached by US underwear chain Victoria's Secret to model a range of raunchy thongs and bras for their forthcoming campaign. However, her husband of two-years, Michael Douglas, was reportedly outraged by the plan and banned her from baring her panties to the world. "Michael couldn't stand the thought of guys running to the mailbox each morning to get a glimpse of his wife," a source tells the Daily Mail. "He was so relieved when she turned it down that he presented her with a consolation gift of a Celtic cross with six canary diamonds." 
Kylie Minogue has issued a stark warning to all journalists who fail to write the truth about her. The pint-size popstrel, who is about to kick off her Fever Tour in Sydney, recently came to blows with US hack Bill Stultz at a Saturday Night Live after-show party. The trouble began when Kylie read a report by Stultz which claimed that she had dabbled in hard-core drugs such as ecstasy during her fling with Michael Hutchence. Although she had originally been happy to grant Stultz an interview, she later felt that her remarks had been dramatically taken out of context. So, when the diminutive diva next saw him, she gave him a piece of her mind - and, according to Stultz, a stinging slap in the face to boot. Meanwhile Kylie's people insist that it was purely a "verbal assault". As Miss Minogue's spokesperson tells today's Daily Mirror: "She told him he needed a slap across the face."
For those who like their Madonna nasty, gorgeously dressed, and (eventually) naked, 
It looks like Madonna and Guy Ritchie's ill-fated movie collaboration, Swept Away, might be heading straight to video after the release date was postponed for a second time. Ritchie, Madonna's husband and the director of the hits Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, is thought to have washed his hands of the movie, which stars his 'missus' as a spoilt heiress who gets shipwrecked. 'It was incredibly hard to finance because it was considered a hot potato,' he said. 'It's set on an island and she [Madonna] has to snog people and get beaten up.' Test audiences were said to have found the film confusing, disturbingly violent and misogynistic, and said that the humour was too dark. Although originally scheduled for general cinema release in the spring of 2002, the date was put back to October. It has now been postponed until an unspecified future date.
Hollywood newlywed Julia Roberts has been accused of stealing lucrative voice-over work from lesser known actors. The Oscar winning star has just released an audio tape of The Nanny Diaries - having been chosen to provide the narration over more experienced but lesser known actors. Leading industry figures insists that to ensure maximum sales of the tapes, a celebrity name is essential, but expert "voice" actors have reacted angrily to Roberts' tape. Carrie Kania, associate publisher of Harper Radio, explains, "We can definitely say that celebrities are being used more and more than in the past. A recognized name can be the tipping point for a consumer in the store." But actor George Guidell, who has made over 800 tapes for Recorded Books, suggests, "Publishers are star-crazy. Some celebrities can't read to save their souls. People don't say, 'Give me a book read by Julia Roberts'." 
Lord Of The Rings beauty Liv Tyler is about to get a new step-dad. Her mom, famed 60s party animal Bebe Buell, is about to tie the knot with rocker Jim Wallerstein, who band Vacationland recently won a Boston Phoenix Music Poll award for best group and best song. Buell, one-time lover of such big names as Jack Nicholson, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop and Jimmy Page, recently published a tell-all book, Rebel Heart: An American Rock'n'roll Journey, detailing her wild exploits with various legendary rockers, including Liv's Aerosmith dad Steve Tyler. Sexy Liv and her rocker fiance Royston Langdon - whose band Spacehog has just split to pursue solo careers - will be in attendance for the August nuptials. 
Bosses at General Motors' Pontiac division are so impressed by Vin Diesel's new action movie XXX, they're designing a souped-up supercar for the sequel. The film is a week away from release in America , but already film experts are expecting it to set the box office alight and end Austin Powers' run at the top of the movie charts. And Pontiac whizkids are hoping to cash in on the film's success by designing a new car for the 2004 sequel, which will also star Diesel. A 1967 edition of the motor features heavily in XXX, and now Pontiac designers are hoping XXX will do for their sports cars what James Bond has done for Aston Martin and BMW. Hunky Diesel will debut the new Pontiac design at the Nascar Daytona 500 race in 2003. Meanwhile, bosses at Revolution Studios - the film company behind XXX - are currently auditioning cars to appear as an updated KITT in a big screen adaptation of 1980s TV show Knight Rider. 
Irish heart-throb Colin Farrell has been wining, dining and smooching his new love Maeve Quinlan all over Los Angeles. The Minority Report dreamboat, 26, started dating Maeve, the ex-wife of Tom Sizemore, after the break-up of his four-month marriage to Amelia Warner, which ended in November. A source says, "They almost eat each other everywhere they go. Even when they get back to his hotel, Chateau Marmont, their passion is unbridled. And that's in the lobby." 
Austin Powers may be coming back for an 
England captain David Beckham has been voted 
Columbian diva Shakira daringly ignored her security guard's threat to quit, so she could join the street carnivals in Brazil earlier this month - and managed to samba unnoticed.
Bush singer Gavin Rossdale is the envy of men everywhere - his fiance Gwen Stefani had on-lookers gasping during her glamourous appearance in a London park.
R&B princess Christina Milian finds being a style icon puts enormous pressure on her to look trim and perfect when she's in the public eye.
Jennifer Lopez's publicists are desperately trying to keep her romance with Ben Affleck under wraps, but the beauty herself wants everyone to know she's dating the movie star.
Rocker Anthony Kiedis has denied he's dating movie star pal Demi Moore because he's still getting over the heartbreak of splitting from designer Yohanna Logan.