Tuesday, March 29, 2011

'Black Swan' Director Darren Aronofsky Defends Natalie Portman's Dancing

Golden Globe Nominations 2011 List Announced

Darren Aronofsky has put his foot down in the "Black Swan" ballet dancing controversy.
The film's director released an extensive statement on Monday, hitting back at Sarah Lane, star Natalie Portman's dance double who claimed that she had done 95% of the actual dancing in the film.
Aronofsky's statement reads:
"Here is the reality. I had my editor count shots. There are 139 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math that's 80% Natalie Portman. What about duration? The shots that feature the double are wide shots and rarely play for longer than one second. There are two complicated longer dance sequences that we used face replacement. Even so, if we were judging by time over 90% would be Natalie Portman. And to be clear Natalie did dance on pointe in pointe shoes. If you look at the final shot of the opening prologue, which lasts 85 seconds, and was danced completely by Natalie, she exits the scene on pointe. That is completely her without any digital magic. I am responding to this to put this to rest and to defend my actor. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don't want anyone to think that's not her they are watching. It is."
Lane's accusations hit hard at the public perception that Portman, who trained for over a year for the role, did most of the complicated dancing seen on screen.
"They wanted to create this idea in people's minds that Natalie was some kind of prodigy or so gifted in dance and really worked so hard to make herself a ballerina in a year and a half for the movie, basically because of the Oscar," Lane told Entertainment Weekly. "It is demeaning to the profession and not just to me. I've been doing this for 22 years... Can you become a concert pianist in a year and a half, even if you're a movie star?"
Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as paranoid, self-destructing ballet dancer Nina Sayers; Aronofsky was nominated for Best Director.
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Over the weekend, producing studio Fox Searchlight released a statement defending Portman, as well. Benjamin Millepied, the film's choreographer, and now Portman's fiance, expounded on Portman's transformation and dancing ability in an interview with the Los Angeles Times last week.
"It was so believable, it was fantastic, that beautiful movement quality," he told the paper. "There are articles now talking about her dance double that are making it sound like [Sarah Lane, her body double] did a lot of the work, but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouettés, and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio. Honestly, 85% of that movie is Natalie."
For more on Aronofsky's statement and the controversy, click over to Entertainment Weekly.
READ MORE - 'Black Swan' Director Darren Aronofsky Defends Natalie Portman's Dancing

Tom Cruise & Son Connor At Lakers Game

Tom Cruise and his son Connor, 16, took in the Lakers Game Sunday night. They were snapped chatting with David Beckham and his son Brooklyn, and Tom whispered something in the ear of Vanessa Hudgens, who was there with her new boyfriend Josh Hutcherson.
PHOTOS:




READ MORE - Tom Cruise & Son Connor At Lakers Game

Monday, March 28, 2011

Freida Pinto: The Slumdog Millionaire siren on finding fame and falling for her leading man

The story of her overnight transformation from unknown to A-list celebrity mirrors the plot of Slumdog Millionaire, the film that catapulted her to fame. Freida Pinto tells Jane Gordon about sudden superstardom, falling for her co-star and why she’s learning how to say no
 Freida Pinto
'I couldn't work with Dev again - the magic of Slumdog is too much to live up to,' says Freida
Freida Pinto is so busy on the afternoon we meet that she has forgotten today
is her birthday. The 26-year-old actress – whose role as Latika in the 2008
Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire turned her into an A-list star – has been working so hard (on a clutch of roles in a range of diverse new films) that there has been no time for personal celebrations. Apart, that is, from a morning phone call from her British boyfriend – and Slumdog co-star – Dev Patel, 20.
‘He was the first person I spoke to this morning but he is away filming in India so we will celebrate later. It’s fine, birthdays come and go, and right now I am going where the work takes me,’ she says with a slightly weary smile that lights up a face frequently described as ‘the most beautiful in the world’.
The work Freida speaks of has taken her to places she never imagined she would see, and brought her into contact with people she never thought she would meet. These roles have involved her filming in Canada alongside Mickey Rourke in Immortals, in San Francisco with James Franco and Andy Serkis for her part in Rise of the Apes (playing, needless to say, a glamorous scientist rather than an ape) and in London (where we meet) in Woody Allen’s new film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. 
Freida is, she freely admits, a little overwhelmed by the speed with which she went from being a Mumbai-based model aspiring to be an actress to becoming the kind of celebrity who is pursued by the paparazzi and features on the cover of GQ.
‘There is always this fear that your moment is here and that it will never come again. Being in the right place at the right time – and being cast as Latika – is the story of my life as well as that of Slumdog Millionaire,’ she says.
Freida Pinto
Freida Pinto
From left: Freida with Woody Allen; on the red carpet with boyfriend Dev Patel
Freida Pinto
Freida as Latika in Slumdog Millionaire
The younger of two daughters born into a privileged middle-class family – her mother Silvia is principal of a high school in Mumbai, and her father Frederick is a retired banker – she became a model after gaining a BA in English Literature from St Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Determined to move from modelling to acting, Freida experienced, she says with a sigh, more than her fair share of rejection, auditioning for ‘hundreds’ of roles before Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire, cast her as Latika. Boyle says that the moment he saw her – among hundreds of girls on tape – he
thought, ‘That’s her.’
The fact that the love story in the film – between Latika and Jamal – was echoed in real life with a romance between Freida and Dev Patel has, Freida concedes, added to their growing mutual celebrity. Six years her junior, Dev’s post-Slumdog success has not equalled that of his girlfriend (his role as Prince Zuko in last year’s The Last Airbender was nominated for the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie at this year’s Golden Raspberry Awards) but the couple remain very much an item even if their working schedules make time together difficult.
‘It’s about respecting each other’s work and respecting the relationship. We have to think, “OK, you are working there and I am working here but we are going to have to make time for each other.” We have the same attitude to our work. When I am filming I can’t be thinking about him, and when he is filming he can’t be thinking about me,’ she says with a resigned grin.
‘There is always this fear that your moment is here and
that it will never come again’
Freida is very grateful for her success – her life, she says, is ‘amazing’ – but she does sometimes resent paparazzi intrusion into her private life.
‘I am fine with them when I am working or promoting a film, but they get annoying when the two of us are together. There is double the interest and that’s sad because you realise it’s not about the work, it’s about the gossip.’
When they are apart the couple keep in contact by text or phone, and when they are together they try to keep out of the public gaze.
‘My parents have met his parents. It’s an Indian thing; it’s very much a part of our culture to meet your friends’ parents. I hope they like him and are not pretending. But Dev is so chilled out, there is nothing not to like about him. I don’t know a single soul on the set of Slumdog, or after that, who has come up to me and said, “Oh, he is a brat” because he is so not like that. He is the easiest person to get along with, and so funny,’ she says.
The relationship seems to be strong enough to withstand the long periods apart and any resentment or jealousies that might naturally arise when two people are working in the same industry. Dev is apparently happy about his girlfriend posing for glamorous – and slightly suggestive – pictures for the US edition of GQ.
‘The decision to do those pictures was mine. I definitely knew how I wanted to look. A stylist may have chosen the clothes but the decision to wear them was mine. I would hate to feel that I was being objectified. I have always said that a woman’s sexuality should not be used in a way that is demeaning to her. But, you know, I don’t think this is a sexist issue any more because actors are strutting their stuff in photo shoots just as much as actresses now,’ she says (perhaps alluding to naked shots of Dev from his days as the star of the Channel 4 series Skins).
Whether by design or just good fortune (her agent, she says, is one of her ‘best friends’), Freida has gained some plum roles – from highly anticipated blockbusters such as Immortals and Rise of the Apes (both scheduled for release in November) to her title role in Julian Schnabel’s controversial arthouse film Miral, which is due for release on DVD in April. Miral tells the story of the Dar al-Tifl orphanage in Jerusalem – and was shot on location in Israel. Freida plays a 17-year-old Palestinian orphan who falls in love with a political activist and is drawn into the conflict.
‘I was brought up as a Catholic in India, and as a child I read all these stories about the birthplace of Jesus. You read stories about the Mount of Olives and you build up this image in your head that the Holy Land is going to be a certain way. When you get there all you see are walls and checkpoints. It was a bit of a surprise but, if you can ignore all that, it is such a beautiful place you want to do something to restore the peace,’ she says.
Freida Pinto
Freida’s most recent film is Woody Allen’s new comedy of manners You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. She plays Dia, a beautiful cellist who becomes an object of desire for Roy, played by Josh Brolin, who is married to Sally (Naomi Watts).
‘It was nerve-racking. Working on Miral was magical, I felt that I was that person; but in You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, my third-ever film, I was just so nervous. Doing all my scenes with someone as amazing as Josh Brolin made me very anxious. By the time I got over my nervousness the film had wrapped – I won’t make that mistake again.’
The pressure of work in the past year has been so great that recently Freida became unwell (she won’t reveal the nature of her illness) and she has now resolved to slow down a little.
‘I worked with this fabulous costume designer on Immortals and she said something so important, but at the same time harsh, to me. She said, “Freida, you have to learn to be selfish – you have to learn to say no.” I know that I have to master the art of saying no without offending people because I have to protect myself. I am coping with everything that is happening but when I got sick I thought that was my body’s way of saying, “Slow down, there is no rush. You are only 26.”’
As charming as she is beautiful, Freida attributes her ability to stay grounded in the wake of her sudden success to the support of her family. She is very close to her sister Sharon – who is an associate producer for Indian-based news channel NDTV – and is accompanied in London today by her mother and father.
‘My sister is like my best friend and I feel the need to drag her to every new place I go because I want her to experience it along with me,’ she says.
Apart from her work, family and Dev, she also loves fashion (she is wearing a bright orange Dior dress today because she loves to ‘play with colour’ and refuses to take a stylist’s advice to ‘only ever wear black or grey when you are in London’). Indeed, one of the more unusual benefits of her fame and her nomadic lifestyle is the ability to add to her ‘crazy shoe collection’ because back home in India – she confesses with a giggle – it’s difficult to find any shoes in her size.
‘I have unusually big feet for India – 41, which is a size 10 in America and a size 7 in the UK – so I just go crazy when I come here or to the US. I buy three pairs for me, three pairs for my sister, three pairs for Mum. Sometimes I just look at them, I don’t even get to wear them, which is so sad,’ she laughs as she looks down at the stunning Roger Vivier pair she is wearing today.
Regardless of her avowed intention to ‘slow down’ and turn off her phone (which is propped beside her during our interview), the work keeps on coming – she is rumoured to have been offered a role in the next Bond movie and is said to be taking the lead role in Trishna, Michael Winterbottom’s modern retelling of Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
There will not, however, be a sequel to Slumdog Millionaire, and no chance of Dev and Freida being cast together in the foreseeable future.
‘I wouldn’t want to work with him, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. He said something similar in an interview that was misinterpreted. What he was trying to say is that so much happened on Slumdog Millionaire, in terms of it becoming so big, that if the two of us were paired in a film as a couple again it wouldn’t live up to that. Nothing ever could. It’s too much magic to live up to on screen,’ she says.
But off screen, I quickly ask as we part, could they live happily ever after like Latika and Jamal?
‘Who knows?’ she says, shrugging her shoulders and laughing. 
Miral will be released on DVD by Pathé Productions on 4 April. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is in cinemas now
READ MORE - Freida Pinto: The Slumdog Millionaire siren on finding fame and falling for her leading man

Kendra Wilkinson hosts Las Vegas pool party in tiny white shorts

Apparently all those rehearsals are working wonders for Kendra Wilkinson's physique.
And just in case we didn't know it, the Dancing With The Stars contestants wore the skimpiest of outfits as she hosted a pool party this weekend.
Taking a break from her arduous dance practise sessions, the 25-year-old reality star looked stunning in her white ensemble.
Wet and wild: Kendra Wilkinson hosts a pool party at the MGM Grand Resort hotel and casino in Las Vegas yesterday
Wet and wild: Kendra Wilkinson hosts a pool party at the MGM Grand Resort hotel and casino in Las Vegas yesterday

The blonde bombshell slipped into a pair of impossibly short shorts, which she teamed with a loose top and platform heels.
Kendra, who was pictured leaving DWTS rehearsals on Friday wearing one of her husbands zip-up sweaters, made the trip to Las Vegas on Saturday to host a Spring Break pool party.
It was being held at the MGM Grand Resort hotel and casino in the Nevada state, which neighbours California.
Refreshing dip: The Dancing With The Stars contestant showed off her long legs in tiny white shorts, teamed with a loose top
Refreshing dip: The Dancing With The Stars contestant showed off her long legs in tiny white shorts, teamed with a loose top

Ready for my close-up: Kendra happily showed off her toned dancers' legs for the cameras by the Wet Republic pool and bar at the resort
Ready for my close-up: Kendra happily showed off her toned dancers' legs for the cameras by the Wet Republic pool and bar at the resort

After posing on the red carpet, the former Playboy playmate joined the bold and the beautiful at the resort's Wet Republic pool and bar.
Ahead of the start of DWTS last week, Kendra suffered the misfortune of almost losing a  toe nail and during a practise session.
'I wasn't wearing my closed-toe ballroom shoes. I was wearing the cha-cha shoes, and I jammed my freakin' toe in his foot. It hurt really bad', she explained, adding: 'No pain, no gain, right?'
Kendra has promised to tittilate in a series of skimpy outfits for her performances on the ABC reality show.

Walking tall: She teamed her look with killer platform heels
Walking tall: She teamed her look with killer platform heels
Walking tall: She teamed her look with killer platform heels

And apparently her husband Hank Baskett does not mind his wife showing off her body.
'He's like, "If you're going to do this, go all in, and don't be shy about anything."'
Kendra is being partnered by Louis Van Amstel for the competition. The Dutch ballroom champion has previously danced with Kelly Osbourne, Priscilla Presley, and Lisa Rinna, among others.
Her husband Hank has been taking charge of parental duties while she struts her stuff on the dance floor.
Casual: Seen here leaving Dancing With The Stars rehearsals on Friday wearing her husband Hank's zip-up sweater
Casual: Seen here leaving Dancing With The Stars rehearsals on Friday wearing her husband Hank's zip-up sweater
The 28-year-old has been busy looking after the couple's adorable 14-month-old son Hank Baskett IV.
The couple have been married for just under two years, and Hank IV was born in December 2009.
They both starred in Kendra, a spin-off of the former Playboy model's first reality show, The Girls Next Door.
The show focused on Kendra's life after leaving the Playboy Mansion and getting engaged and then married to Hank.
READ MORE - Kendra Wilkinson hosts Las Vegas pool party in tiny white shorts

Britney is back, but can she compete with Gaga?

London: As Britney Spears prepares to launch her seventh studio album "Femme Fatale" on Tuesday, the pop star faces keen competition from Lady Gaga, Katie Perry and Rihanna, who reign atop Billboard's Hot 100 singles ranking.
Her younger rivals' dominance this week may be coincidental -- indeed, Spears also topped the ranking recently with "Hold It Against Me." -- but the chart is a reminder of how crowded the pop diva market has become since Spears rose to fame as a teenager.
There is little doubt her fans will ensure brisk sales -- Spears has sold nearly 70 million albums, according to label Jive Record -- and her music is making headlines again instead of personal meltdowns, a custody battle and rehab stints.
Britney is back, but can she compete with Gaga?
Spears kicked off a string of promotions for the album on Friday with a performance at a Las Vegas nightclub. On Sunday in San Francisco she will record a sold-out mini-concert to be aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" TV show on Tuesday.
Yet after more than 10 years in the music business, Spears, now 29, may have to do more to remain relevant in the era of Gaga, critics say.
"As far as novelty goes, her natural demographic now has an icon as quirky and characterful as Lady Gaga to fascinate and fuss over," said Andy Gill of Britain's Independent newspaper.
"Gaga's music, let's be frank, is not that much better than, or even different to, that on 'Femme Fatale', but she knows the lingering appeal of playing dress up," he added in a two-out-of-five star review of Spears' record.
Adrian Thrills of the Daily Mail added: "The one-time gymslip diva has had to contend with the emergence of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna -- a brash new wave of female performers who have made their mark while seemingly exercising far more creative control."
REVIEWS RANGE WIDELY
Reviews of "Femme Fatale" have been mixed.
Among the most positive was Rolling Stone Magazine, which awarded the album four stars. "Femme Fatale may be Britney's best album," wrote Jody Rosen, describing it as "a party record packed with sex and sadness."
Hitmaking producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin were responsible for seven of the 12 tracks, while the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am was behind "Big Fat Bass" and Sweden's Bloodshy worked on "How I Roll" and "Trip To Your Heart."
Critics singled out "Hold It Against Me", with its dubstep influence, and "Inside Out," as well as "Till the World Ends," which Spin magazine called Spears' "first truly synapse-sizzling single since (2004's) 'Toxic.'"
While there was broad agreement that the electro-pop, ballad-light record would be a dancefloor hit, critics felt Spears was in danger of disappearing as a voice and personality.
Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper awarded the album three stars, giving much credit to the producers for creating music that was "genuinely exciting."
But he reflected negatively on Britney's voice, saying it was "as anonymous as ever, a state of affairs amplified by the lavishing of Auto-Tune."
Spears' has said little about the album that has been two years in the making, although she has called "Femme Fatale," "my best work yet" on a recent radio appearance and stressed its dance roots.
"It's definitely something that you want to work out to," Spears said. "I'm a dancer so it's definitely something I can work with. It's just really fun."
READ MORE - Britney is back, but can she compete with Gaga?

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Kim Kardashian takes protégé Kendall under her wing as they jet into New York for a photo shoot

Kendall Jenner is emerging as the new star of the family, and it seems her sister Kim Kardashian is happy to show her the ropes.
The siblings were spotted arriving at New York City’s JFK Airport together, where the 15-year-old was seen minicking her sister's pouty look and fashion choices - albeit without the high heels.
Dressed in skinny jeans, knee-high lace-up boots and an oversized black sweater, Jenner looked polished and much older than her years.
Posh and Polished: Kim Kardashian and her younger sister, Kendall Jenner, look hip and cool as they wait for their luggage at JFK Airport in New York
Sibling revelry:  Kendall Jenner and her older sister Kourtney Kardashian wait for their luggage at JFK Airport in New York today
Strike a pose: Jenner shows off her best model poses as she makes her way through the airport
Following in her footsteps: The teen is eager to be a big star just like her famous sibling
Following in her footsteps: The teen is eager to be a big star just like her famous sibling
From flipping her hair to strutting with her hands on her hips, it appeared Kendall is already well schooled in the art of posing for the paparazzi.
Older sister Kim, 30, arrived looking fashion savvy in electric blue pants, studded boots and a black leather jacket.
Stunning: Jenner took to her Twitter to share he favourite photo from her shoot with famed celebrity photographer Fadil Berisha
Stunning: Jenner took to her Twitter to share he favourite photo from her shoot with famed celebrity photographer Fadil Berisha
Supportive: Kim is not jealous of Kendall's success and regularly takes to her Twitter to show her support of her little sister's success
Supportive: Kim is not jealous of Kendall's success and regularly takes to her Twitter to show her support of her little sister's success
Kim, however, doesn’t feel threatened by her sister’s burgeoning career and even voiced her support on Twitter.
‘So excited to be here in NYC with @KendallJenner! Its gonna be a fun modelling fashion weekend! Big shoot tomorrow so early night! Xo’
 
Kendall echoed her older sister’s excitement tweeting: ‘Woohoo! Helloooo New York!’
The young model’s career has been taking off since she signed with Wihelmina Models.
And Jenner is already working with the best in the industry spending the day working with famed celebrity photographer Fadi Berisha.
Berisha has had everyone from the famous to the infamous pose in front of his lenses including Halle Berry, Donald Trump and Snoop Dogg.
Jenner was so impressed with Bershia’s photographs she event tweeted one from the photo shoot saying: ‘One of my fav pics’.

Matriarch: Kris Kardashian leaves the set of The Today Show where she co-hosted with Kathie Lee Gifford on Friday
Matriarch: Kris Kardashian leaves the set of The Today Show where she co-hosted with Kathie Lee Gifford on Friday
READ MORE - Kim Kardashian takes protégé Kendall under her wing as they jet into New York for a photo shoot

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Chris Brown parties the night away with semi-naked women after Good Morning America meltdown

Chris Brown declared yesterday that he 'couldn't care less' what people think of him.
And given his carefree behaviour in the hours directly following his Good Morning America meltdown, he really means it.
The singer ended a controversial day surrounded by semi-naked women at a party to mark the release of his new album, F.A.M.E. at New York's Webster Hall.
Debauched: Chris Brown parties at Webster Hall last where he partied with a gaggle of semi-naked women
Debauched: Chris Brown parties at Webster Hall last where he partied with a gaggle of semi-naked women
The 21-year-old star, who appears to be resolutely unapologetic about the incident, performed on stage with dancers who were wearing no more than their underwear.
Chris spent most of the evening partially clothed himself and was spotted dancing shirtless on stage.
His mother Joyce is said to be 'very disturbed and upset' over her son's recent behaviour, according to Radar Online.
What meltdown? The singer was pictured just hours after his violent outburst at Good Morning America
What meltdown? The singer was pictured just hours after his violent outburst at Good Morning America

Too hot: Chris removed some of his own clothes and spent most of the evening shirtless as he danced on stage
Too hot: Chris removed some of his own clothes and spent most of the evening shirtless as he danced on stage
Too hot: Chris removed some of his own clothes and spent most of the evening shirtless as he danced on stage
'Joyce spoke with Chris immediately after he left the studio in midtown,' a source close told the U.S. website.
 
'She was very, very upset with him. Joyce isn't only his mother, but his manager as well.'
Earlier in the night Brown enjoyed a romantic dinner with his girlfriend Karrueche Tran.
No such thing as bad publicity? The singer's album went to number one on iTunes yesterday
No such thing as bad publicity? The singer's album went to number one on iTunes yesterday
The couple, who have largely kept their romance out of the spotlight, left their hotel hand-in-hand in a show of unity.
'Shocked': Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts was taken aback by the singer's backstage antics
'Shocked': Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts was taken aback by the singer's backstage antics
He had also visited the Opera Gallery and enjoyed a game of basketball at Manhattan's Greenwich Village.
While Brown didn't skip a beat, GMA anchor Robin Roberts is still reeling from the drama.
She said today: 'Anytime we have a guest here on the program, we let them know ahead of time the subject matter.. the topics that we're going to discuss, and even right before the interview, I said that to Chris, and I was shocked, like everybody else, because we've had a wonderful relationship.
'I've spent time with him... at his home. He was very gracious and we had a very easy conversation.
'You saw me laughing during the interview because when he was doing that I thought he was joking about some things because of the easy relationship that we have, and I'm glad that we've extended an invitation, we'd love to have him back. And that he's seriously considering that.'
The media attention helped send Brown's new album F.A.M.E. to the top downloaded album on Apples' iTunes store yesterday, an Apple spokesman said.
He had angrily stormed out of the Times Square studio yesterday after Roberts quizzed him on the status of the restraining order taken out by pop star Rihanna.

Business as usual: The 21-yaer-old visited an art gallery yesterday afternoon and then played a game of basketball
Business as usual: The 21-yaer-old visited an art gallery yesterday afternoon and then played a game of basketball
Business as usual: The 21-year-old visited an art gallery yesterday afternoon and then played a game of basketball
Brown, who has struggled to repair his image after hitting and punching his then girlfriend two years ago, left behind a smashed window in his dressing room after dodging questions about the incident.
ABC has decided not to press charges over the trashed room, according to celebrity website TMZ.
It means the star, who is currently probation related to the Rihanna attack, is unlikely to face any legal ramifications.
Brown's appearance on Lopez Tonight has been cancelled however he is still scheduled to sing on Dancing With the Stars next week.
Backstage rage: Brown stormed out of the GMA studio yesterday morning leaving behind a trashed dressing room
Backstage rage: Brown stormed out of the GMA studio yesterday morning leaving behind a trashed dressing room
Backstage rage:  Brown stormed out of the GMA studio yesterday morning leaving behind a trashed dressing room
READ MORE - Chris Brown parties the night away with semi-naked women after Good Morning America meltdown

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor Dead: Actress Dies At 79

Elizabeth Taylor Dead
Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor has died at age 79 of congestive heart failure.
The passing was first reported ABC's Good Morning America. In a tweet sent out at 9 am on Wednesday, the show wrote: "Breaking: Elizabeth Taylor has died, @GMA confirms."
Taylor had been hospitalized in February for congestive heart failure, a condition she learned she had in 2004. A two time Oscar winner (for "Butterfield 8" in 1960 and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1966), Taylor was also known for her eight high profile marriages.
In mid-March, her publicist, Sally Morrison, said she was in stable condition at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Taylor's son, Michael Wilding, released a statement on the passing:
"My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."
READ MORE - Elizabeth Taylor Dead: Actress Dies At 79

Chris Brown: Singer Explodes Off Stage, Breaks Window

It was a less than good morning for Chris Brown.
The R&B star joined "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts for an interview on Tuesday morning, as part of a promotion of his brand new album, F.A.M.E.. The interview didn't go so well, and TMZ reports that, after a brief performance, Brown went into a rage off stage, shattering a window, perhaps with a chair, and leaving ABC's studio without his shirt, all without completing a second scheduled performance.
During the interview, Roberts jumped right into a number of questions about Brown's 2009 arrest for the savage beating of his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. She mentioned that the restraining order that resulted from the incident had recently been relaxed, to which Brown responded: "I mean, it's not really a big deal to me now, as far as that situation, and I think today's the album day, that's what I'm focused on."
When asked what the acronym in the album name stands for, Brown said, "Forgiving all my enemies, and definitely, fans are my everything. That meaning, being able to go through everything I went through and show my fans that I love them."
That opened another opportunity for Roberts to try to bring the beating up, which Brown again preempted by very pointedly emphasizing his album. As the interview ended, Brown emphasized that he couldn't care less what others thought.
For her part, Roberts insists that Brown pre-approved the questions before the interview, TMZ also reports.
Later, ABC News released a statement saying, "As always, we ask questions that are relevant and newsworthy, and that's what we did in this interview with Mr. Brown."
READ MORE - Chris Brown: Singer Explodes Off Stage, Breaks Window

Kirstie Alley, Kendra Wilkinson, and the Karate Kid Kick Butt on 'Dancing With the Stars'

(ABC)
Maybe Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian should have joined dancing with the stars this year, because it seemed every contestant whose name began with a "K" did great on the show's premiere.
The 12th season of "Dancing With the Stars" began its latest season Monday with performances by its new cast of 11 stars. Actor Ralph Macchio -- that's right, the Karate Kid (two K's) -- was the night's top scorer with 24 points out of 30. 
Kirstie Alley came in second place with 23 points.
And former "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilson won the crowd over, and also impressed the judges, with a score of 19.
Radio host Mike Catherwood (Who? Yeah we never heard of him either) finished last with 13 points. 
Talk-show host Wendy Williams did one point better.
Ouch.
The other contestants are actress Chelsea Kane, singer Romeo, model Petra Nemcova and athletes Sugar Ray Leonard, Hines Ward and Chris Jericho.
All will dance again on March 28. One contestant will be eliminated from the show on March 29.
READ MORE - Kirstie Alley, Kendra Wilkinson, and the Karate Kid Kick Butt on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Kate Winslet coaches Evan Rachel Wood on nude scene in HBO special


Evan Rachel Wood in 'Mildred Pierce.' (HBO)
Evan Rachel Wood got some sage advice from Kate Winslet about her first full-frontal nude scene: Just do it.
“I was a lot more nervous than I thought I was going to be,” Wood explained to xfinityTV.com about her role as Veda Pierce Forrester in the upcoming HBO miniseries, “Mildred Pierce.”
“I looked at Kate and she was like, ‘You’ve got to do it. Trust me, it’s so brave. Put a merkin on and you’ll be fine.’”
Wood had to delicately explain that because of the depression-era setting, she had to wear a hair piece, but—um, not for her head.
“Let’s just say, I had to wear a wig because it was in the '30s, and everything had to look like it was in the '30s,” Wood said with a laugh. “Kate helped me. She gave me strength. She kind of dared me. I also felt I had to prove it to myself. I had to do it at least once—get it all on film now so when I’m eighty I can look back at it and say, ‘Yeah! I did that!’”
Winslet, who plays the title role originated by Joan Crawford in the 1945 classic, is an old hand at baring all on screen. The Oscar winner disrobed for “The Reader” and famously posed au natural for Leonardo DiCaprio in “Titanic.”
"I think it's important that women on screen are portrayed as real women,” Winslet told People. “I'm comfortable in my own skin and I'm comfortable with all the imperfections that I have."
READ MORE - Kate Winslet coaches Evan Rachel Wood on nude scene in HBO special

Another Injury Rocks 'Spider-Man' Broadway Musical

In this Feb. 8, 2011 photo, actress T.V. Carpio, who is playing Arachne in the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", poses for a picture in New York. Producers of the $65 million musical said Tuesday, March 22, 2011, that Carpio, who plays an evil spider woman called Arachne, was hurt last week during an onstage battle scene. She will be out for the next two weeks. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In this Feb. 8, 2011 photo, actress T.V. Carpio, who is playing Arachne in the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", poses for a picture in New York. Producers of the $65 million musical said Tuesday, March 22, 2011, that Carpio, who plays an evil spider woman called Arachne, was hurt last week during an onstage battle scene. She will be out for the next two weeks. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEW YORK -- An actress who had stepped in to replace another actress injured in Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has now herself been sidelined after an accident.
Producers of the $65 million musical said Tuesday that T.V. Carpio was hurt last week during an onstage battle scene. She plays an evil spider woman called Arachne and will be out of the show for the next two weeks.
Carpio was elevated from a smaller role when her predecessor, Natalie Mendoza, pulled out. She suffered a concussion in December when her head was hit offstage by rope.
The show is the most expensive in Broadway history. It's being reworked after director Julie Taymor was fired. Its opening has been delayed and several actors have been injured.
READ MORE - Another Injury Rocks 'Spider-Man' Broadway Musical

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Stephanie Seymour abandons her bikini top on St Barts break

After days relaxing in the St Barts, Stephanie Seymour attempted to banish those troublesome tan lines during a sun-baking session yesterday.
The former supermodel, who is in the Caribbean with her family, did away with her bikini top as she soaked up the rays on a pool lounge.
The 42-year-old frolicked around in chocolate brown bikini bottoms and not much else, but at one point she did grab hold of a red T-shirt of clothing to cover up her chest. 
Red alert: Stephanie Seymour opted for a topless sun-baking session in St Barts today
Dare to bare: Stephanie Seymour revealed her incredible topless figure to indulge in a sun-baking session in St Barts, today
The mother-of-four's love of tanning has certainly been evident during her latest jaunt in the Caribbean. 
 
For days she has been slipping into an array of bikinis to spend time with her family as they holiday on the French island.
The same day as her topless tanning session, Stephanie also sizzled on the sand in a florescent lime green bikini that equally flaunted her killer curves.
Sun lover: The former Victoria's Secret model soaked up the rays by the pool
Ample: The mother-of-four showed off her ample cleavage as she bent over

The former Victoria's Secret model confidently strode out of the water to reveal the flattering two-piece.
She also had her husband Peter Brand entranced, with the billionaire barely unable to keep his hands nor his lips off his wife of 15 years.
Tan lines be gone! The 42-year-old wore just her chocolate brown bikini bottoms
Tan lines be gone! The 42-year-old wore just her chocolate brown bikini bottoms
The couple embraced in a lingering kiss in the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean.
Later as they left the beach, the 63-year-old followed his wife closely as she covered up in a tiny floral sarong.
Peter is renting one the most expensive houses on the island known as The Dune.
It costs 20,000 Euros ($28, 000) a day and hosted many star-studded parties over the recent New Year period.
And while Stephanie and her husband were enjoying some alone time yesterday, they have mostly been spending time with their children, Harry 13 and Lily, 6.
The doting mother and father have been spotted numerous time tending to the two kids as they continued their extended holiday.
Last week Stephanie also caught up with friend and fellow beach-goer Yves Saint Laurent designer Stefano Pilati, who was enjoying a spot of nude-bathing nearby.
The fashionista wrapped himself up quickly for his encounter with the former model and her children.
Stephanie has been spending a lot of time in St Barts since being spotted in the arms of her paper magnate husband on the French island in December.
It was a big turnaround after early last year when the couple were in the throes of one of the ugliest celebrity divorce battles.
They revealed in September that they were calling off their acrimonious divorce despite already spending millions each on legal fees and had got back together.
They first announced their split in March 2009 and embarked on a bitter battle rife with allegations of infidelity, drug abuse and wild spending sprees and embroiled their children in the process.
Police were called to the couple's home following Seymour's complaint that Brant's security assaulted her, Brant accused the model of drug use and was seeking sole custody of their three children.
Dangerous curves: The same day as her topless tanning session, Stephanie also sizzled on the sand in a florescent lime green bikini that also flaunted her killer curves
Dangerous curves: The same day as her topless tanning session, Stephanie also sizzled on the sand in a florescent lime green bikini that also flaunted her killer curves

Appearing on the Oprah show in February, Stephanie candidly discussed her efforts to repair her rocky marriage.
She told Oprah the night before she and her husband were due in court to finalise their divorce she had a change of heart: ‘I had an epiphany.  I went to my husband’s house with a sort of peace offering... and we just decided then and there to reconcile and work things out between us.’

Stephanie’s renewed commitment to her husband and marriage were not the only topics she openly discussed with the talk show host.
Poise: The former Victoria's Secret model confidently strode out of the water to reveal the flattering two-piece
Poise: The former Victoria's Secret model confidently strode out of the water to reveal the flattering two-piece
Poise: The former Victoria's Secret model confidently strode out of the water to reveal the flattering two-piece

Bottom's up: Stephanie showed that like most women she too sports some cellulite
Bottom's up: Stephanie showed that like most women she too sports some cellulite
Bottom's up: Stephanie showed that like most women she too sports some cellulite
She also spoke about the racy photos of herself and 18 year old son, Peter, hugging and kissing which created a media firestorm around the family.
She explained: ‘We had no idea one second would be turned into something that could ever be thought if as inappropriate.  He’s my baby.  He’s a gorgeous young man, but he’s my baby.’
Seymour has been a top model since she was 16. She later went on to be a coveted Victoria's Secret Angel and a Sport's Illustrated swimsuit model.
She has since grace more than 300 magazine covers and considered the world's most celebrated swimsuit models.
She dated rock star Axl Rose in the early 1990s and starred in two Guns N' Roses videos.
Sealed with a kiss: Stephanie and her billionaire husband Peter Brand embraced in a lingering kiss in the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean
Sealed with a kiss: Stephanie and her billionaire husband Peter Brand embraced in a lingering kiss in the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean
Seymour then met Brant who was married and had five children.
Brant made his fortune with his White Birch Paper Co and operates six pulp and paper mills.
He was jailed briefly in 1990 for failure to keep good tax records.
Cover-up: Later as the couple left the beach, the 63-year-old followed his wife closely as she covered up in a tiny floral sarong
Cover-up: Later as the couple left the beach, the 63-year-old followed his wife closely as she covered up in a tiny floral sarong
READ MORE - Stephanie Seymour abandons her bikini top on St Barts break

Monday, March 21, 2011

Katherine Schwarzenegger out from Arnold's shadow


Katherine Schwarzenegger poses for a portrait in Los Angeles March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

By Zorianna Kit
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Katherine Schwarzenegger is not your average 21 year-old college student. She is the first-born child of ex-California Governor and Hollywood movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver.

But in her own right, Katherine is an author, and she raises money for charities including her uncle Anthony Shriver's group, Best Buddies, a volunteer program to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Recently, Schwarzenegger teamed with luxury goods company Montblanc to promote a partnership in which Montblanc will donate to Best Buddies 11 percent of the money it earns from 11 stores over an 11-day period in March. She spoke with Reuters about it, her book, and what life is like now that her famous dad is back home after his term as governor.
Q: Both your parents have accomplished a lot in life. What traits do you think you inherited from them?
A: "They're both so similar in their working minds. I think my dad is the kind of person who, no matter how much criticism he gets, keeps trucking right through and does exactly what he sets his mind to. So the ability to follow your dreams and your heart, I probably got from him. But I also got that from my grandma (Eunice Kennedy Shriver). When she was starting Special Olympics, people thought she was insane for doing it."
Q: Your dad was a Hollywood star and governor. What was the difference in the two, for you?
A: "It's definitely different going to visit your dad at work on a movie set and visiting him in the state Capitol. I was in 7th or 8th grade when he ran for governor. The biggest change for me was having California Highway Patrol officers follow us everywhere, which was a huge thing to get used to for me and my siblings (laughs)...I also think being a politician's child brings more pressure to be on your best behavior than being an actor's child."
Q: Has life returned to what it was, pre-governor?
A: "I don't think it can ever go back. We can't get rid of the fact that for seven and a-half years our dad was a politician. In those seven and a-half years we became the people we are today...Then, of course, coming home and having my dad always there is another interesting adjustment (laughs). He has to keep in mind I'm not 13 anymore like I was when he ran for governor. I live in my own apartment. I am in college.
Q: For you, has your name been a help or a hindrance?
A: "It depends if people like my dad or not. If they don't like him, you're totally in trouble because you're related. If they do like him, then they automatically love you."
Q: Other than being a supportive family member, why get involved in this venture with Best Buddies and Montblanc?
A: "Many people are afraid of those who have intellectual disabilities. I remember in high school my friends were terrified. It's important to show that they are normal people who enjoy friendship and sports and working on projects."
Q: How did you go about showing that?
A: "I was in charge of the Best Buddies group in high school and recall many times where my friends were out of their comfort zone when they partnered with someone on an art project or participated in a soccer game. But 45 minutes out of their day playing kickball makes the other person's entire week."
Q: You published a book last year about body image called "Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who's Been There and Back." At 21, don't you think you're a little young to have "been there and back"?
A: "In high school I was absolutely miserable with my body and my appearance and didn't feel confident in my own skin. Then I went off to college and realized what a waste of time it was to focus on that. I think the reality is that if you're 20, 25 or 30 years-old, you've been there and back, hopefully."
Q: Was there an incident prompting you to write the book?
A: "I have so many young girls in my family and in my life and I saw how they talk about their bodies and their appearance. Eight-year-old girls looking in the mirror and saying 'I'm fat.' At that age you shouldn't have those concerns. I knew I had to write something."
Q: You could do so many things. Why go to college?
A: "I would never not think of getting a college education. I've taken several classes that have sparked my interest in the issue of body image and women's role in the media. That definitely drove my interest in writing parts of the book."
Q: What is your ultimate goal?
A: "I want to leave my footprint in the world and change something for the better. I don't know if it's going to be by talking to young girls or my various other interests. If I've helped one person or more, that's my biggest goal."
(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
READ MORE - Katherine Schwarzenegger out from Arnold's shadow

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Miley Cyrus & Bret Michaels Duet To Be Released As A Single

Miley Cyrus and Bret Michaels
Miley Cyrus and Bret Michaels' version of Poison hit "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is finally to be released as a single.
Cyrus and Michaels teamed up rework his classic anthem but the song's release was stalled after infidelity rumours between Michaels and Cyrus' mom, Tish, hit the tabloids - and reportedly broke up her marriage to Billy Ray Cyrus.
Now the Cyruses have halted divorce proceedings and reconciled, the track is back on the slate for Miley and Bret.
The song was supposed to be the Disney star's second single released from her album "Cant' Be Tamed."
Michaels tells E!, "The record label was supposed have to this huge humongous release of 'Every Rose.' It was going to be Miley's next-step song, but, because of that (affair rumors), they stepped back. It really bummed me out. I worked hard on that."
Michaels now expects the song to be released over the summer while Poison are on tour with Motley Crue and the New York Dolls.
He adds, "I think this is the song that will cross her over. If it happens, it's going to be a big hit."
READ MORE - Miley Cyrus & Bret Michaels Duet To Be Released As A Single

Amanda Seyfried Says It's 'Easy' To Fall In Love On A Movie Set

Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried, who is currently rumored to be dating actor Ryan Phillippe ("Um, yeah. I've been 'seen' with him"), opened up in the new issue of ELLE magazine about botox, on-screen kisses and how easy it is to fall for a co-star on the set of a movie.
The Red Riding Hood star was recently told she needed to get botox, which upset her at first, but now she can sympathize a little with those types of comments.
She says, "I was like, Damn you! But we're in Hollywood. I'm on a huge screen. With these new digital cameras, you can see the peach fuzz on my face."
The blossoming young star also shared her thoughts about kissing her recent co-stars Channing Tatum and Justin Timberlake, who she stars alongside in Dear John and the upcoming Now, respectively.
"I can't lie. It didn't suck making out with Channing and Justin."
And who's next? "I'd really love to make out with Michael Fassbender. Put me in a movie with that guy. I'm serious. Wow," she gushes.
But she also thinks all that smooching can lead to love on set, and says it's very easy for that to happen.
"[It is] one of the easiest things in the world. You're both open. You're put in a situation where you have to make out with each other. It's easy for things to get carried away."
And who is Amanda's biggest inspiration as an actress? "Meryl [Streep]," she says, "She makes herself very accessible right away, almost too accessible. That's what I do. And it totally works. My thing about meeting people-men, women, people in general - is to desensitize them, kind of shock them a little bit, to make myself accessible."
Check out more Amanda in the April issue of ELLE magazine and at ELLE.com.
Amanda Seyfried
READ MORE - Amanda Seyfried Says It's 'Easy' To Fall In Love On A Movie Set