Eindayfe At Home

Cameron Diaz Bemused By Monogamy

2010-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cameron Diaz doesn't believe in sharing her bed with the same person for her "whole life".

The 37-year-old actress - who has most recently been romantically linked to baseball player Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez - believes monogamy is an outdated concept and says it's perfectly acceptable not to spend your life with one partner.

She said: "Relationships can last two, five or 20 years. I don't believe in sharing your bed with the same person your whole life, though. That might be a reality for some, but it surely isn't for me."

Cameron - who has enjoyed a string of high-profile romances with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Matt Dillon and Jared Leto - believes society puts too much pressure on people to get married and says there is nothing wrong with staying single.

She added in an interview with German magazine Bunte: "You don't find true love, it finds you. Somewhere out there, there's someone you can share your love with. Our society tries to makes us believe you're ready for love at 18, have to get married and spend the rest of your life with the same man. Bullshit! That's not the ideal anymore these days. Some people find their true love at 50 and with today's life expectancy you could live another 50 years with that person. Just imagine having to sleep with the same guy for 20, 30 or even 50 years. If you can't you shouldn't go there." The Himalayan

Mariah Carey Gets Lambchops Dog

2010-06-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey have got a new dog - who they have called Jackie Lambchops.

The Jack Russell terrier puppy is just three weeks old and is the puppy of ChaCha, Mariah's long-time pampered pooch.

Nick said: "The new dog is amazing. It is all cute right now."

The 'America's Got Talent' presenter also revealed he and Mariah got the inspiration for the dog's moniker while watching Mafia drama 'The Sopranos'.

He explained: "We were watching 'The Sopranos' and Mariah took a couple of words that she always uses and it came together - Jackie Lambchops."

Although the animal-loving couple are happy with their new pet, they are still keen to have a baby in the near future.

Nick told People: "Some day, absolutely. That's definitely something we've got in mind. But we've got to stop working so much. When you're parents, that's a full-time gig. Each of us have several jobs, so we'd have to make some sacrifices when we're ready to do that." China Daily

Oprah knocks Angelina off the top of the Forbes celebrity power list

2010-06-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Superstar US talkshow host Oprah Winfrey regained the title of the world’s most powerful celebrity in her fourth appearance in the top spot, said a survey Forbes magazine published on Monday.

With $315 million in earnings, Winfrey, 56, who next year is set to launch her own television channel, ousted Angelina Jolie as the top power player with the actress slipping from last year's number one to the 18th spot.

In second place to the enduring talkshow diva, popular singer Beyonce Knowles jumped two positions with earnings of $87 million, following a profitable year for her growing entertainment and fashion empire.

Director James Cameron, fresh from the success of his record-breaking movie Avatar, came in third with earnings of $210 million.

The top rankings are based on income over the past 12 months, as well as web references, press clippings, broadcast mentions and major magazine covers devoted to the celebrity, Forbes said.

At number four was the list's highest-ranked newcomer - singing sensation and one-woman fashion whirlwind Lady Gaga.

With huge tours and successful music ventures, the New York-born entertainer earned $62 million in the past year.

Golfer Tiger Woods kept his high standing despite sensational reports of his extra-marital affairs, maintaining the number five position and raking in $105 million even in the wake of his self-imposed six-month break from the game.

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao made it to number 55 on the list, up two notches from number 57 last year.

He is ranked higher than Hollywood superstars Tom Cruise (No. 56), Adam Sandler (No. 57), George Clooney (No. 58), Leonardo DiCaprio (No. 71), Robert Downey, Jr. (No. 73) and Julia Roberts (No. 77).

According to Forbes.com, the Filipino boxing icon earned the No. 55 ranking after earning $42 million in the past year. He ranked 47th in the list according to pay rank; 52nd in TV, radio and press mentions; and 60th in social media mentions.

Others in the top 10 included pop singer Britney Spears at six, and Irish rockers U2 at seven.

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock, whose cheating husband kept her in the tabloid limelight, soared from last year's 92nd spot to be this year's number eight, with $56 million dollars in earnings.

Actor Johnny Depp was at number nine, while singer Madonna fell seven positions over her 2009 spot to round out the top 10 with $58 million in earnings. Gulf News

Sharapova Not Worried By Serena Power

2010-06-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Russian was 17 when she thrashed Williams 6-1 6-4 to land her first grand slam, and the result was hailed at the time by Martina Navratilova as "the best thing" that could have happened to the women's game.

At the time, the Williams sisters were the dominant force in the game, closely followed by the Belgian pair of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.

Six years on and little has changed in that respect.

Sharapova has won two more slams, at the US Open in 2006 and Australian Open in 2008. But for injuries, she might have had more, and a fourth may not be far away. However few have tipped her for Wimbledon glory this year.

Shoulder trouble has been her most recent problem, but the 23-year-old has shown outstanding form so far in these Championships and should ask more questions of Williams than the defending champion's three opening opponents.

So far, Williams has won each first set 6-0. Her phenomenal force on the court has blown away opponents but Sharapova should be able to live with it better than Michelle Larcher De Brito, Anna Chakvetadze and Dominika Cibulkova have managed.

"Tennis is obviously not just about power," Sharapova said. "I think on grass it's a big key to the game. But I don't think that's everything in tennis."

Finesse and teenage appetite won out six years ago, but Sharapova also hits the ball more heavily than most so should not be smashed off court.

She remembers well the clash which made her an overnight superstar, but insists it will have no bearing on the outcome on Monday.

"I think that was our last meeting on grass," Sharapova said. "It's tough to take anything away from that match as it was many years ago. This will be a new day. I don't really think about yesterday or the day before.

"Whoever I play when I go out there, it's a new match. You have to take it as a new day.

"There are always wonderful memories. But when you step out on the court, it's new. You've got to start from scratch. The score is 0-0."

If the incredible happens and Williams wins another first set by a whitewash, she will know what to expect in the next, and has taken on board the suggestions of a legend in how to combat the reaction.

"I was talking to Billie Jean (King) in the locker room," Williams, 28, said.

"She said when a player wins 6-0 over your opponent, you've got to expect them to really come out loose, like they have absolutely nothing to lose, just start going for shots.

"I think that was really good advice. So if that happens again, I'll be ready."

Like Sharapova, Williams will not be looking back to 2004 when she determines how to tackle her opponent.

But she suggests the defeat that day was shaped in her mind.

"I just remember I was really nervous," Williams said. "I think I put too much pressure on myself. It didn't work out. That was that."

While both Sharapova and Williams know how Wimbledon triumph feels, neither Clijsters or Henin have had the privilege.

On Monday they duke it out for a place in the quarter-finals, the draw having been cruel, in the first full year of their comebacks from retirement, by putting them on an early collision course.

Henin has been runner-up twice, to Venus Williams in 2001 and Amelie Mauresmo in 2006, while Clijsters has won two US Opens and reached finals of the French and Australian slams but has yet to experience a Wimbledon final.

"I have to be very aggressive if I want to have a chance," Henin said. "I know what I'll have to do. But it's not that easy to do it on the court."

With many expecting a classic, Henin pointed out: "I would say in our first career, we've never played our best tennis against each other."

With Serena at the top of the draw, five-time champion Venus Williams is in the bottom half, along with Clijsters and Henin.

Venus faces Jarmila Groth, the Slovakian-born player who married Australian player Sam Groth and gained Australian citizenship last year.

Unseeded Groth has not dropped a set so far, and knocked out American seed Melanie Oudin in the second round.

Venus said: "I played her before when she had a different last name. It's been a while. But I know that she definitely likes to go out there and hit the ball hard." Orange News

Nadal Dismisses Gamesmanship Claim

2010-06-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

Rafael Nadal defended himself over accusations that he bent the rules during his third-round win over Germany's Philipp Petzschner.

The world number one gained a 6-4 4-6 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 6-3 victory over the 33rd seed to set up a fourth-round clash on Monday with Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu but the win was not without controversy.

The Spaniard, whose knee injury flared up again during the match, received an official warning from umpire Cedric Mourier in the deciding set.

Mourier believed he was receiving tips from his coach and uncle Toni Nadal, who was in the players' box, and Petzschner suggested Nadal may have not really needed to take a medical time-out.

Nadal flatly denied receiving any on-court coaching and said he intends to take up the matter with Championships referee Andrew Jarrett.

"Sometimes in the past Toni would talk - maybe too much - and the referee or the umpire would give me advice and, if it continued, a warning, but he didn't talk too much today in my opinion," he said.

"I told him (the umpire) we're going to talk to the supervisor and we will be doing. Toni wasn't giving me any tip, he was only supporting me."

Petzschner, who produced some inspired tennis to lead by two sets to one before tiring, denied any suggestion that he had complained about coaching and sprang to the defence of his conqueror.

"I just heard words but it could have been 'vamos' (let's go) or whatever," Petzschner said. "It's tough to hear if you're down on the court because the whole arena is pretty loud.

"I don't know why he gave the warning or if it was coaching or not. I have absolutely idea. I think there was no coaching involved."

Petzschner, who also had courtside treatment for an old hip injury after feeling the effects of a third consecutive five-set match, blamed himself for losing his concentration during Nadal's medical time-out, suggesting it was a clever tactical ploy by his opponent.

"I'm pretty sad that I couldn't hold the focus," Petzschner said. "It was pretty clever, I think.

"Right now I'm not happy. This will maybe come tomorrow or in two days. Right now I'm just sad that I lost the match."

Asked if Nadal had resorted to gamesmanship, Petzschner replied: "I cannot say this. You have to ask him what it was. But I didn't feel any difference afterwards or before.

"I thought he was moving great. If I was injured like this once, I would be happy.

"Maybe he had something, maybe it was just a clever part to take a time-out there, I don't know.

"I don't assume that he just did it to break my rhythm but that's what happened and that's mostly my fault. That's what I have to work on.

"I just can tell you how it felt and it felt like he was still running the same for five sets and I think he could run another two or three sets.

"Ask him. He's the fittest player on tour and he's moving great around on the court."

Nadal, who also had to win a five-setter against Robin Haase in the last round, dismissed the suggestion that he was not seriously injured.

"I never call the physio when I don't have anything, not one time in my career," he said.

"If I call the physio today, it was because the knee was bothering me a lot."

The second seed, who was unable to defend his Wimbledon title last year because of a knee injury, initially summoned the trainer to attend to an issue with his left arm but said the problem quickly resolved itself.

He explained the knee injury was serious enough to force him to withdraw from Spain's Davis Cup team for their quarter-final with France but hopes it will not prevent him making further progress at Wimbledon.

"I am a little bit scared about the knee," he admitted.

"I had treatment after Monte Carlo and I had the problem against Roddick in the semi-finals of Miami.

"I don't like to say anything because, when you lose, it always looks like an excuse.

"I am here to try my best and to try to keep in the tournament and playing well. I am not thinking about retiring or anything like this. That's not going to happen.

"I have one day and a half to get recovered." Orange News

Cutting Teeth

2010-06-26T18:10:00.001-07:00

“Hey, I am naked for you,’’ Kellan Lutz said with the same smoldering expression that stares out from those Calvin Klein underwear ads of his.

OK, not really. Lutz wasn’t technically naked, just shirtless. But, as anyone who’s seen those ads knows, that’s plenty enough. And, truth be told, he was more nonchalant than anything. Caught bare-chested while changing clothes between appointments — and yes those were CK boxers peaking out from his low-slung navy slacks — Lutz looked like a young man who’s used to having people look at his abs.

But he was sweetly goofy about his physical perfection, too. “Ta da! I’m so pale,’’ he said at another point, lifting his white polo shirt upon request and slapping his six-pack. Then he mentioned his mom and how much he loves to eat and how he’s so lucky the vampires don’t go shirtless like the werewolves do.

The vampires would be the Cullen clan of the wildly popular “Twilight’’ franchise, whose third and latest installment opens Wednesday. Lutz plays Emmett, one of the lesser vampires in “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’’ a Cullen brother/bloodsucker to be sure, but one with few lines and nothing close to the screen time of pasty-white star Robert Pattinson. In the movie, Lutz is mostly used as muscle. He hulks around a lot.

Still, “Twilight’’ has changed his life, and certainly his acting options. It has for many of the young actors associated with the films. The white-hot light of celebrity doesn’t shine much brighter than it has on them, with their every move now chronicled and caught on cellphone cameras.

Lutz says he welcomes the attention, for the most part (a publicist cautioned “no personal questions’’ when he was asked about the actress with the equally flat stomach he is allegedly dating). There’s none of Pattinson’s moodiness, or Kristen Stewart’s crankiness, from him. He says he doesn’t even mind the changes he’s had to make to his old routine. (Those would include no longer jogging in his Speedo, the 6-foot-1 former swimmer said.)

“I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve been acting for numerous years and doing other projects before ‘Twilight’ came,’’ Lutz said. “I think it would be different for someone who hasn’t been acting, going from zero to hero. It’s hard to maintain oneself when you have the world at your feet saying how great you are.

“Thank God,’’ he added, “we’re all at the age where we know who we are.’’

Lutz is 25. Much of the cast is early- to mid-20s, with the obvious exception of those who play the parents in the movie (vampire and human), as well as Stewart, 20, and 18-year-old Taylor Lautner, the good-guy werewolf whose wardrobe consists mainly of his smooth chest and butt-hugging shorts. Until the first “Twilight’’ in 2008, none of them was a star and, some movie and TV work aside, most were unknown.

Michael Welch, who plays an absolutely normal high-school student named Mike Newton — no fangs, no extra body hair — is 22 with a long acting resume that dates back to when he was in elementary school. His first role was as a young Niles on the “Frasier’’ TV show in 1998. But “Twilight’’ has been something else altogether, even for a character as minor as his.

“I do get some of that, certainly not to the degree of the big three stars of the film, which is fine by me,’’ Welch said of weepy, shrieking female fans. “One thing that keeps me grounded, I know that it’s the franchise and it’s not me. I’m just a lucky guy who got to be part of this journey. . .

“I know that when you are thrust into fame without having a foundation that you’ve built over the years, it can become very difficult to sustain that,’’ he added. “I don’t doubt I can make the transition into other work and I hope the same for all of my castmates and I wish them well, but probably some of them are going to have a hard time of it.’’

For now, however, the saga goes on. And on. Summit Entertainment is splitting the final novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s series into two installments, with the story slated to come to a close in 2012.

Director David Slade (“Hard Candy’’) inherited most of his “Eclipse’’ cast, although a villainous new vampire (Aussie actor Xavier Samuel) was his call. He jokes about them appearing at “Twilight’’ conventions years from now (“Come and sit on Batman’s lap. Is that your mom?’’) but stresses that he has no concerns that any of them will implode or be unable to make a living acting, if they want.

“What advice would I give these kids? It’s impossible to give them advice,’’ Slade said. “They’re all down to earth. They’re all hard-working, without exception, and I think that will do them fine. The main thing is that all these actors . . . know their craft and if they’re early in their careers, they’re well on their way to learning it.

“I don’t think,’’ he added, “that you’ll fill up your gas in 10 years and find one of them. They’ll all be just fine.’’

For his part, Lutz describes himself as a man with a plan. Vampiric victories and his stint opposite Lisa Kudrow on HBO’s “The Comeback’’ aside, his true aim is to be an action star. Sure there have been horror flicks (the remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street’’ earlier this year) and there are romantic comedies coming (“Love, Wedding, Marriage’’). But what gets him going — and gets him to lift up his shirt again — is his role as Poseidon in next year’s “Immortals,’’ where he gets to play gladiator in the digital age. And he bears the (albeit small) scars of that shoot, literally, where he was sliced with a machete.

“I don’t have tattoos, but I wear these scars as tattoos,’’ he said, almost giddily. “I just love them. And that movie was my dream role. I did so much fighting in it.’’

Unlike his recurring character on the CW spinoff series “90210,’’ Lutz comes off less like arrogant athlete George Evans and more like an oversize everyman. He’s huge but huggy. He seems perfectly happy to be sitting in a swank hotel room talking about the franchise yet again — and uses the opportunity to highlight his pet projects: Royal Family Kids’ Camps for abused and abandoned children, and the St. Bernard Project, helping to rebuild housing post-Katrina. He can also be a bit geeky, and once considered becoming a chemical engineer. He still invents things and holds two patents.

“I really don’t care about fame,’’ Lutz said, diving into a plate of cookies. “Being a middle man in this franchise, it’s a blessing. Yeah, I’d enjoy being in Rob’s shoes or Taylor’s shoes, but it’s even better to benefit from it under the radar.’’

Lutz agrees with Welch, who says the entire cast shares a self-mocking camaraderie that makes any level of celebrity easier.

“We talk about the ridiculousness of the whole thing from our perspective,’’ Welch said. “I’m not saying it’s ridiculous but, yes, we know we’re not that big of a deal but other people think we are.’’ Boston Globe

Mariah Carey Sued By Vet After She Fails To Pay $30k Bill For Saving Jack Russell Puppy

2010-06-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Mariah Carey is being sued by her vet after failing to pay a five-figure bill for nursing back to health her Jack Russell puppy.

The vet and her staff slept with the dangerously ill newborn as they provided 24-hour care during the two-and-a-half week assignment, even making videos of the dog's recovery to send to the singer.

But multi-millionaire Mariah only paid $8,231 of the $37,790 bill, according to a suit filed by vet Condy Bressler at Manhattan's Supreme Court.

According to the New York Post Dr Bressler was called in to help when Mariah's dog Cha Cha, only six months old herself, gave birth to her first puppy.

Newborn Dolomite needed intensive care following the birth, and Dr Bressler left her New York practise to move into Mariah's mansion.

A source told the Post: 'We were up all night caring for and tube-feeding the puppy. Mariah loves her dogs and requested the best care and that's what she got.'

Following the birth animal lover Mariah had tweeted: 'ChaCha just had her baby! Its a girl! Anybody want a beautiful Jack Russell puppy?!'

But despite her initial interest, according to court papers, Mariah only paid a fraction of the final bill.

'She [Bressler] is a doctor and Mariah acted like Dr Bressler was one of her hair or makeup people,' said the source.

Dr Bressler did not comment, but her attorney said she 'provided life-saving, round-the clock medical care.'

'The costs were clearly communicated costs associated with this level of treatment,' he added.

Mariah's attorney said she intended to fight the lawsuit, which he described as a 'crass publicity stunt'. The Daily Mail

Kevin Jonas Sends Wife Danielle on Treasure Hunt for Anniversary

2010-06-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Kevin Jonas surprised his wife Danielle with a treasure hunt to celebrate their six-month wedding anniversary.

Kevin, 22, married the former hairdresser just before Christmas last year in front of their friends and family at Oheka Castle in New York.

Danielle, also 22, posted pictures on her Twitter page of the hunt that she was sent on by her new hubby.

A note from her husband Kevin read: 'Hey Baby Treasure hunt time! Happy 6 months baby I love you so much its crazy.

'So here are your instructions. Grab your new camera and film when you can and head to your first stop!

'Hurry I'm waiting. Just ask for your next clue.' By Sophie Eager, m&c

Tiger, Lefty And Ernie Can't Make Open Charge

2010-06-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

They did the same every time Ernie Els or Tiger Woods made a move, creating a rumble of energy through Pebble Beach on Sunday at the U.S. Open.

By the end, those roars were reserved for unknown Graeme McDowell on the 18th green as the new U.S. Open champ. Lefty, Ernie and Tiger were nowhere to be found.

"It just wasn't there. Other than the first six or seven holes, it just wasn't there," Mickelson said. "It got progressively tougher, the pins placements got progressively more difficult. And there just wasn't the opportunities really for birdie."

When third round leader Dustin Johnson faltered early bringing the likes of Els, Woods and Mickelson closer to the front, it was expected the champion would come from that group.

It had to. Pebble dictated it, seeing as the previous four Open champs at Pebble had the names Nicklaus, Watson, Kite and Woods.

But there was no repeat for Tiger, with faulty iron shots either finding the rough or landing in the wrong spots on the greens.

There was no third title for Els when after a strong start, he was forced to his knees on a grassy cliff to search for his ball.

And there was no first Open crown for Mickelson with makable birdie putts skittering past on the holes vulnerable to scoring at Pebble.

McDowell's final round of 3-over 74 had the consistency that Woods, Els and Mickelson lacked. He shot even par on the front nine, then withstood Pebble's treacherous back nine with his hard fairways, firm greens and tucked pins.

Even McDowell was surprised to see the name challenging him on the leaderboard over the finally few holes was that of Frenchman Gregory Havret, not one of the big three.

"I was surprised that Gregory Havret was the guy closest to me. No disrespect to Gregory, he's a great player, but when you have Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els obviously there, you're not expecting Gregory Havret to be the guy you've got to fend off," McDowell said.

Els made the biggest charge. The South African who last won an Open title in 1997, birdied three of his first six holes to reach 3 under and move into a tie for the lead. He saved par with a testy putt at the eighth, but then let his round slip away over the next three holes.

Woods couldn't mount a charge either. A day after making five birdies and shooting 31 on the back nine, Woods' bogeys at Nos. 10 and 12 only amplified his bogeys earlier in the round at Nos. 1, 4, 6 and 8. The 4-over 75 by Woods was his second-highest final round in a major.

Asked if he was surprised a marquee player wasn't going home champion, Woods said he believes the most open championship in golf now caters to more of the field.

"Because of what (USGA's) Mike (Davis) has done with the setup. He's given more guys the chance to win the golf tournament," Woods said. "It's more open now. With the graduated rough, being firm and fast like this, it brings a lot more players into play who have a chance to win."

Mickelson's day started the best with his birdie at the first, yet he could never find the putting touch. He missed a short birdie chances at Nos. 2 and 3, three-putted for par on the fourth and had to scramble to make par on the par 5 sixth.

By the time Mickelson reached the difficult cliffs of Nos. 8, 9 and 10, and a back nine where Mickelson was 3 over on Sunday, his chances at making a serious charge were gone.

"I had opportunities. I had a 15-foot eagle putt on 4, and I make par. That was frustrating. I have a 5-iron into 6, and I make par. That was frustrating," Mickelson said. "But at the turn, I was still under for my round. ... All I had to do was shoot even par in the back, and I'm in a playoff. I wasn't able to do it, obviously, it was tough." By Tim Booth, WPXI

Sharapova Is Trying to Regain Her Edge

2010-06-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Not sadder but a bit wiser, a struggling Maria Sharapova has returned Wimbledon, where she recorded a breakthrough victory in 2004 that launched a highly lucrative dual career of tennis and business endorsements.

Winning lower-level tournaments in Memphis and Strasbourg, the 16th-seeded Sharapova holds a 17-5 record for the year but no victories over former rivals like top-seeded Serena Williams, whom she defeated in the 2004 Wimbledon final for her first major title.

Sharapova, trying to regain her physical prowess after shoulder surgery, is attempting to return to the top levels of a sport that has grown more competitive.

Hitting a powerful serve, Sharapova fought her way to the finals of the Birmingham, England, warm-up tournament a week ago. She lost in the final to Na Li of China, 7-5, 6-1.

“The game is really deep now,” she said Saturday. “You have to be ready from the first round. You have to have that intensity and belief in yourself, absolutely.”

Sharapova said her first-round opponent, Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine, “plays really solid tennis, plays really great on grass. It’s going to be a touch match.”

What of the hill she is climbing to regain her standing?

“Everyone is going to have setbacks,” she said. “I certainly knew that some people have never come back from it.” The thought “always crosses your mind.”

Sharapova said that traveling back from extended injury layoffs in 2008 and 2009 had strengthened her love of the sport.

“When you’re on the court, you have to put many things in perspective and realize that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, that you’re going to have your days and moments when it’s not gonna be so fun.”

Then she said, “But we hit a tennis ball for a living, so, can’t be that bad.”

Notes: Dinara Safina, who was seeded 20th, has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a lower-back injury. Her position in the draw will be taken by the American Melanie Oudin, the 33rd seed. Oudin’s place in the draw was taken by the lucky loser Stephanie Dubois of Canada. By John Martin, The New York Times

Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston: Sneaking Around Behind Angelina Jolie's Back!?

2010-06-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

OMG ... Are Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston back together at last?!?!?!

No.

You'd think at some point, Star could come up with some new stories, or at least put a new twist on the whole Brad and Jen thing, like a love child or something.

Instead, the tabloid's new issue gives us what we always get when they can't find anything else - anonymous claims that Jennifer Aniston took back what's hers!

Yup, at long last, America's Sweetheart has gotten revenge and stabbed the evil vixen in the back. Figuratively, of course. And by figuratively we mean not at all.

Backstabbing Jen!

BEHIND HER BACK: But for how long? Just wait 'til Angie reads this!

The cover teases an intimate encounter in Brad Pitt's private office, which sounds particularly hot, as well as calls, texts and e-mails. Jen just wants to start over!

Come on, people.

Angelina Jolie turned 35 last week, and as we said in our birthday tribute, you may hate her for breaking up Brad and Jen, but it doesn't make her all bad.

In fact, she's pretty awesome compared to most celebrities. Those reports of lies, drugs and lovers may make great headlines, but they're likely all BS.

She and Brad have been together for years now. We felt bad for Jennifer Aniston too, but isn't it time we put this behind us? Can't we all just get along?

World Cup 2010: France Must Show Something Against South Africa - Raymond Domenech

2010-06-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

Speaking after France’s defeat against Mexico on Thursday night, Raymond Domenech indicated that he still has confidence in his team and that he still has a belief that they can yet show something positive at the World Cup.

After two fixtures, France have yet to score a goal. A 0-0 draw with Uruguay set the tone, and that was swiftly followed by a tame 2-0 reverse against Mexico, during which the players quickly lost heart.

“The dominant feeling is sadness,” he said, according to France Football. “I have confidence in this team. It has potential, it has quality. I'm disappointed.”

Domenech was keen to look to the future and to next Tuesday’s match with South Africa, which may prove to be his last in charge of les Bleus.

“There's still a match and we must react, and show something,” he explained. “We must go out with dignity, show that the France team can score. A miracle is what we’re playing for – and our pride. A miracle is possible... but hey, when it doesn’t depend on us, we should not dream.”

It would appear that Domenech, who spoke in a resigned fashion, already has his thoughts on retirement after six years leading France. By Robin Bairner, Goal

Brad Pitt's Plan B acquires screen rights to The Imperfectionists

2010-06-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hollywood star Brad Pitt's production company Plan B Entertainment, under its creative partnership with Reliance BIG Entertainment have acquired the screen rights of Tom Rachman's novel, The Imperfectionists.

The Imperfectionists centres on people who write and read an international newspaper based in Rome - from the obituary reporter who will do anything to avoid work, to the young freelancer who is manipulated by an egocentric war correspondent, to the dog-obsessed publisher who seems less interested in his struggling newspaper than in his magnificent basset hound.

Rachman drew from his experience as a former wire service reporter at the Associated Press office in Rome to set the stage for The Imperfectionists.

On the acquisition, Reliance BIG Entertainment's chairman Amit Khanna said that 'The Imperfectionists' will make a commercial and extremely relevant film which will play well to an international audience.

This is one of several projects acquired by Plan B under their creative partnership with Reliance.

Last year the company announced Dark Void, based on Capcom's acclaimed video game and being developed as a sci-fi action franchise and potential starring vehicle for Pitt, he said. DNA India

Wozniacki Loses At Eastbourne But Clijsters Through

2010-06-16T04:12:00.000-07:00

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki and French Open winner Francesca Schiavone both suffered shock defeats.

British number one Elena Baltacha lost a first set tie-break to Li Na but went through after the seventh seed retired.

Baltacha was beaten by Li in the first round last year but went 2-0 up before the Chinese player fought back to win the tie-break 8-6.

However, Li failed to appear for the second set after treatment on a leg injury, giving Baltacha her second victory over a world top-10 player.

Baltacha, who was forced to retire from her first-round clash in Birmingham with heatstroke last week, will now face Li's compatriot Zheng Jie, who beat Shahar Peer 1-6 6-1 6-3.

Guernsey's Watson had already beaten world number 81 Tsvetana Pironkova in one of three qualifying wins to reach the main draw, and will now play world number 15 Victoria Azarenka.

"I'm so, so happy," said Watson, the world number 344. "I was really happy to get through qualifying but I didn't want to stop there. She's a very good player, she came through three qualifying matches, so I knew I'd have to work hard.

"I love playing in front of a crowd, it's so much fun, especially at home and I just want to get through a few more rounds and the ranking points will also be very helpful.

"I've got a big player next round. She's very experienced and I'll give it my all. I've just been playing so well and it has made me really happy, and it shows me that I can compete with these girls."

Azarenka, of Belarus, caused an upset of her own by beating fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (7-2) 6-1.

Kim Clijsters outplayed her 20-year-old fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, completing a 6-1 6-1 victory in 54 minutes in her first grass-court tournament for almost four years.

The 27-year-old US Open champion last played in a grass event at the 2006 Wimbledon semi-finals where she was beaten by compatriot Justine Henin.

World number three Wozniacki struggled with the blustery conditions and the attacking, powerful game of France's Aravane Rezai, who won 6-4 1-6 6-3.

"She played well, she tried to take the ball early and hit every shot," Wozniacki said.

"Definitely I would like to have got some more matches here but I just need to keep my head up and play some practise matches and prepare for Wimbledon that way," added the 19-year-old, who reached the fourth round at SW19 last year.

Second seed Schiavone was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Sorana Cirstea of Romania in her first match since defeating Sam Stosur to claim the French title at Roland Garros. BBC News

Katy Perry Might As Well Be Naked

2010-06-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

Katy Perry has officially returned to the US after a trip to London, but she's still wearing PVC dresses! This time we spotted the "California Gurls" singer in a tight turquoise dress as she left her hotel in New York City today. Look at that - her lipstick matches the hot pink palm trees on her dress.

Katy Perry surprised her fiance Russell Brand earlier this month with an out-of-this-world birthday present - the pop star bought him a trip into space.

A source tells Britain's The Sun, "Halfway through the dinner she walked in wearing a full astronaut outfit to give Russell the space trip. Everyone cheered for the Brit cake. Katy knows how proud he is of his roots."

Katy wore a half and half American/English flag dress in London on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton leads McLaren 1-2 at Canadian GP

2010-06-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

Lewis Hamilton took the lead in the drivers' championship on Sunday when he led teammate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button home in a dramatic one-two for McLaren at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The 2008 champion benefited from a well-judged two-stop strategy after starting on the softer tyres, his smooth-driving teammate Button looked after his tyres well while rivals Red Bull duo Australian Mark Webber and German Sebastian Vettel struggled with tyre degradation.

All eyes were on Hamilton to see how he coped with his tyres during the first stint of the race with Vettel behind him, in second place, after Webber was put back to seventh on the grid after changing his gearbox on Sunday morning.

Webber was leading into the final stint of the race but suffered from tyre degradation and was eventually overtaken by Hamilton, then Alonso and Button who took second place from the Ferrari driver with twelve laps remaining.

Double champion Fernando Alonso also benefited from starting with the softer tyres and claimed the final podium position ahead of Webber and teammate Vettel in fourth and fifth.

German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes finished sixth followed by Pole Robert Kubica of Renault.

Hamilton's win means he now leads the drivers' championship on 109 points ahead of Button on 106. Webber dropped to third with 103 points.

In the constructors' championship McLaren extended their lead over Rivals Red Bull to 22 points.

The results: 1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), 1hr 33min 53.456sec; 2. Jenson Button (McLaren) 2.254; 3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 9.214; 4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 37.817; 5. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 39.291; 6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP) 56.084; 7. Robert Kubica (Renault) 57.300; 8. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) 1 lap; 9. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India) 1 lap; 10. Adrian Sutil (Force India) 1 lap;11. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP) 1 lap; 12. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) 1 lap;13. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams F1) 1 lap; 14. Rubens Barrichello (Williams F1) 1 lap; 15. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1 lap; 16. Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) 2 laps; 17. Vitaly Petrov (Renault) 2 laps; 18. Karun Chandhok (Hispania) 4 laps; 19. Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin Racing) 5 laps

Overall standings: Drivers: 1. Lewis Hamilton 109.0 pts, 2. Jenson Button 106.0, 3. Mark Webber 103.0, 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 4.0, 5. Sebastian Vettel 90.0, 6. Nico Rosberg 74.0, 7. Robert Kubica 73.0, 8. Felipe Massa 67.0, 9. Michael Schumacher 34.0, 10. Adrian Sutil 23.0, 11. Vitantonio Liuzzi 12.0, 12. Rubens Barrichello 7.0, 13. Vitaly Petrov 6.0, 14. Sibastien Buemi 5.0, 15. Jaime Alguersuari 3.0, 16. Kamui Kobayashi 1.0, 17. Nico H|lkenberg 1.0.

Constructors: 1. McLaren 215.0pts, 2. Red Bull 193.0, 3. Ferrari 161.0, 4. Mercedes GP 108.0, 5. Renault 79.0, 6. Force India 35.0, 7. Toro Rosso 8.0, 8. Williams F1 8.0, 9. Sauber 1.0 . The Hindu

Winslet In Basketball Mishap

2010-06-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

Filming on Kate Winslet's new TV mini-series has been suspended after the actress fell over and hit her head during a game of basketball with her kids.

The Titanic star has been shooting new HBO show Mildred Pierce in New York City, but production was halted on Monday after she suffered a mishap while playing with Mia, nine, and Joe, six - her two children with estranged husband Sam Mendes.

Winslet reportedly bumped her head when she fell over and was left badly bruised, forcing TV bosses to shut down production on the series.

A source tells New York Post gossip column PageSix, "She fell after being hit by a basketball and suffered bruising that couldn't be covered with make-up, so the entire production was halted (on) Monday."

A representative for Winslet confirmed the incident, and insisted the star "is fine". Jam Entertainment

World Cup Finally Gets Under Way

2010-06-11T17:48:00.000-07:00

The first World Cup ever held in Africa opened Friday in a dazzling burst of joy, color and noise – and just a tinge of sadness.

Before a jubilant, horn-blowing crowd at Soccer City, the spectacular stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto, hundreds of African dancers in vivid greens, reds and yellows paraded onto the field for the opening ceremony of the month-long tournament.

Most of the fans were in the yellow jerseys of Bafana Bafana, the host country’s team. There were a few pockets of green – fans of Mexico, South Africa’s opponent in the opening match.

The elation was tempered by news that Nelson Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid leader and former president, would not attend the ceremony. The 91-year-old Mandela is frail and decided not to come after his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way home from Thursday night’s World Cup concert.

South African President Jacob Zuma, a scarf in national colors around his neck, told the crowd just before kickoff that he had a message from Mandela: “The game must start.

You must enjoy the game.” Zuma was joined at midfield by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who depicted this World Cup as a triumph for Africa, and added “The spirit of Mandela is in Soccer City.” The crowd then rose for the Mexican and South African national anthems – the latter a fusion of the main hymn of the anti-apartheid movement and the anthem of the former white-minority government.

Then it was time for kickoff – and the horns sounded louder than ever, like a swarm of bees amplified to near-deafening levels.

Several icons of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa were on hand – including Mandela’s former wife, Winnie, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who at one point was dancing in his seat to the music.

Former South African President F.W. De Klerk, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for negotiating an end to white-minority rule, also was present, organizers said. Other VIPS included the presidents of South Africa and Mexico – Jacob Zuma and Felipe Calderon – and US Vice President Joe Biden.

It was not an occasion for those who dislike noise. Many of the fans came equipped with vuvuzelas – the plastic horns which emit a loud and distinctive blare. Incredibly, the din from the horns was briefly drowned out by the over flight of military jets just before the ceremony started.

The public address announcer then pleaded with the crowd to ease up on the horns so the global television audience could hear the music. The plea met with limited success.

An all-star cast of musicians, including South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American singer R. Kelly, performed. Cast members brought out large placards with the flags of the 32 nations competing in the tournament, holding them high as a final burst of fireworks ended the show.

Soccer City, which seats more than 90,000, wasn’t yet full at the start of the ceremony.

Thousands of fans were stuck in traffic jams on roads leading to the stadium – regaled along the way by groups of dancing, chanting young people in Bafana shirts and by vendors selling the multicolored South African flag. By David Crary, Daily Star Lebanon

Taylor Swift Turns On The Waterworks: Country Superstar Brings Her Act To A Dramatic Climax With An On-Stage Downpour

2010-06-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

Taylor Swift has quickly become one of the country music scene's biggest stars and she has a extravagant stage show to match, as she proved when she performed in Toronto last night.

Not content with an array of different outfits, the 20-year-old incorporated a Singing In The Rain inspired routine into the show at the Air Canada Centre, which was part of her Fearless Tour.

Taylor performed her final song as a cascade of water poured from above, drenching her while she sang the final encore - Should've Said No.

Initially dressed as a majorette, Swift emerged from beneath her bright, colourful set - featuring a T-shaped catwalk at the front - with her dancers dressed as cheerleaders, and her band in school band regalia.

But she soon exchanged the dorky look for a sexier vamped out style in black leather boots.

Swift ripped off the bandleader coat to reveal a sparkly silver mini-dress underneath.

She told her excited audience: 'I think it's entirely possible that I've fallen in love with you after two songs. And I think that it's that kind of deep, pure love, that lasts forever. I love you like I love burning my ex-boyfriend's pictures.'

The singer has been on the road almost relentlessly since last year in support of her multi-platinum, Grammy-winning second album, 2008's Fearless.

After a costume change into a red sequined mini-dress, then launched into Forever And Always, a song written about Jonas as a last-minute add-on to Fearless.

Later in the show Swift appeared in the audience stands to sing, Hey Stephen, in a new blue dress and brown cowboy boots and, according to reports, the crowd was besides themselves as she shook hands with and hugged as many of them as possible en route back to the stage.

She also wore an old country maid style dress during the Fearless mega-hit Love Story, and used two different guitars, one of which was covered in glittering gems.

The singer performed a variety of her songs at the sell out concert, with a set list consisting of 18 tracks in total.

This included Love Story, White Horse, You Belong With Me and, of course, the title track from the album Fearless.

According to reports Taylor helped Demi Lovato, after the Disney Channel star was recently dumped by her boyfriend Joe Jonas.

The country star apparently felt she had some experience, once being the victim of Joe Jonas break-up herself.

'Taylor sent Demi a quick text message, saying that everything happens for a reason, and it will only make her stronger,' a close friend of Swift's is alleged to have said to Angry Ape.

'She told Demi if she ever needed anything, to just ask.'

The Camp Rock co-stars dated for around two months before Jonas called split with Lovato over the phone.

This could be considered to be a step up from the text message he used to break up with ex-girlfriend Swift two years earlier. The Daily Mail

Britney Spears Accused Of Sexual Assault

2010-06-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears has been accused of sexually harassing her minder.

Former policeman Fernando Flores, 29, has quit his job as the pop superstar's head bodyguard after the mother-of-two allegedly paraded around naked in front of him on numerous occasions.

Flores is now reportedly considering a sexual harassment lawsuit against the 'Toxic' singer.

A friend of the father-of-two said: "She was always giving him the come on and he felt if he didn't reciprocate he could lose his job. He finally handed in his notice last week and is considering legal action.

"Working for Britney is tough. She's a nightmare to deal with and her emotions are totally out of control. She runs round the house naked and yelling at staff."

The situation had increasingly become "unbearable" for Flores, but he was finally motivated to quit when he was blamed by Britney's father Jamie for the singer going out without any underwear.

The pal explained: "Unfortunately for Fernando, she took a liking to him, so he was under more pressure than most. He wanted to be a good security guard and look after her but the situation became unbearable.

"It was embarrassing to tell her to put on underwear. Some guys would do it but others were too ashamed." The Himalayan

Sarah Polley Puts A “Splice” In Hollywood Career

2010-06-08T05:51:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, actress Sarah Polley became a bonafide filmmaker, walking Oscars’ red carpet with her 2006 directing debut “Away From Her,” which earned her a best adapted screenplay nomination.

With that kind of success, one might think the former child star, now 31 years-old, would give up life in front of the camera and take a permanent seat in a director’s chair, but Polley has a mind of her own. She wants both.

Friday, she stars in sci-fi horror thriller “Splice,” portraying a scientist in a human engineering experiment run amok. It is her first major movie acting role since the success of low-budget Alzheimer’s drama “Away From Her.” And working on the film was a chance for Polley to take a break and follow someone else’s lead, she said, before returning to directing.

“It was great to abdicate control over everything,” she told Reuters in a recent interview.

In “Splice,” Polley takes the part of Elsa, who teams with another scientist, played by Adrien Brody, to splice human DNA and create a being that is both human and beast.

Dren possesses some human features but also has hoofs and a tail, and as the movie unfolds,

Dren grows other appendages and shows abilities that inevitably lead to big trouble.

The scientists’ dream of creating a superhuman being, as represented by Dren, slowly becomes a nightmare and they have to either contain it or kill it.

“The film explores what would happen if science was totally unregulated and two people could go into a back room and do whatever they wanted,” Polley said. “Elsa is almost insane with her vision and ambition, and I’m not like that at all. To play someone who is driven like that was fascinating. She’s probably the most interesting character I have ever played as a woman.”

Child Star, Actress, Director

Polley began acting in her hometown Toronto, Canada, at the tender age of four. She first appeared in Disney film “One Magic Christmas” and quickly moved on to more prominent roles in films like “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen” and the television series “Road to Avonlea.”

Throughout her career, she’s worked consistently in both Canadian and U.S. films including Atom Egoyan’s “The Sweet Hereafter,” Doug Liman’s “Go” and the 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead.”

Though women directors have always been few and far between in Hollywood, Polley knew she wanted to eventually direct. At age 21, she had just finished her first short film when she was cast to star in Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Weight of Water.”

“We had a lot of great conversations about what it meant to be a female filmmaker,” recalled Polley. “She gave a lot of advice, was hugely supportive and showed such an active interest in my work. She took the idea of mentorship seriously, which was great for me.”

Bigelow, of course, won the most recent Academy Award for directing Iraq war movie, “The Hurt Locker,” and Polley is no stranger to critical success with “Away From Her,” in which a man watches his wife slip away due to Alzheimer’s.

While she lost the adapted screenplay Oscar to Joel and Ethan Coen and “No Country for Old Men,” Polley made Canadian history when she was the first woman to win a Genie (Canada’s equivalent of the Oscars) for directing “Away From Her.”

Though she acknowledges, “symbols are always helpful and good for the next generation of female filmmakers,” Polley said awards are not something she ever focused on.

“I’m not ambitious in an overall sense, nor do I feel the need to achieve things,” she said. “I guess I feel like you can’t ultimately control a career, so why try.”

But movies are another matter.

This July, Polley begins shooting her follow-up directorial feature, “Take This Waltz,” starring Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Sarah Silverman and Luke Kirby. She also wrote the script about what happens when the honeymoon period of a new relationship is over. Khaleej Times

Cheryl Cole's Cannes debut

2010-06-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Cheryl Cole made her Cannes debut not on the red carpet, but on the stage. She was the guest of honour at the de Grisogono party at the Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc, where, in between arriving in a stunning Roberto Cavalli dress and performing for the gathered celebrity crowd — which included Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell and Lionel Richie — she received a set of earrings and a bracelet from the jeweller.

Paradis does Langerfeld bash

Hello, Johnny! The Pirates of the Caribbean star and his partner Vanessa Paradis finally put in a Cannes appearance at the Chanel/Madame Figaro party on Tuesday night. The couple live in France with their two children (when they're not on their private Caribbean island, of course). Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld was on hand to dish out style advice and honour Paradis, who is the face of the French label's new lipstick, as well as appearing on the cover of May's Madame Figaro magazine photographed by Lagerfeld, naturellement.

Paparazzi free parties!

It was the kind of bash where you can just forget about being cool. As someone put it: "I've been to some parties in my life, but Jesus... this is something else..."

Welcome aboard the Octopus, Microsoft founder Paul Allen's superyacht and the location of the most star-studded gathering at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the final port of call after an unprecedented night of celebration along La Croisette.

The guests, fuelled by pink and white champagne, dined at sushi bars, with waitresses dressed in kimonos.

Cannes juror Kate Beckinsale looked amazing in floor-length pink silk, while Meg Ryan wore a simple black trouser suit as she tapped her feet to the band's tunes.

Kevin Spacey was bear-hugging Benicio del Toro as if they were recreating a scene from The Usual Suspects. Dominic Cooper, star of Mamma Mia!, was cutting shapes on the dancefloor. Others having fun included Lady Victoria Hervey.

Meanwhile in an even more exclusive location a few miles down the coast from the main action, guests partied in the vast gardens of Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc d'Antibes.

The villa, a hideaway for celebrities since the Fifties, is valued for its secrecy and the closest the paparazzi can get is floating off the cliffs near the diving boards. Here, at the Charles Finch dinner for his publication Finch's Quarterly, were Glenn Close, Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott who was looking spectacular in fuchsia pink.

Iron Man 2 actress Scarlett Johansson snaps up Louisiana farmhouse (complete with rusty old barn)

2010-06-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

When most Hollywood stars decide to buy a house in the country, it's fair to say they opt for a substantial pile complete with all the trimmings of pool and tennis court.

But a small farmhouse with a rusty old barn? In Louisiana?

Well, that's what Scarlett Johansson and husband Ryan Reynolds have plumped for in their latest real estate acquisition.

Even by U.S. standards, the two-storey building with a separate garage is fairly small. But this seems to be the kind of house the couple, who married in 2008, prefer.

Their previous Los Angeles home had only four bedrooms and five bathrooms, which was considered to be conservative for the Hollywood scene.

The 25-year-old Lost In Translation actress and her husband had restored the colonial style building to its former glory as well as updating it with a variety of eco-friendly touches such as solar heating.

Having a smaller home means fewer household chores which is a consideration for Scarlett.

The Iron Man 2 actress has suggested that she even leaves some domestic duties to Ryan.

She said: 'I wouldn't say that cleaning is something I like to do, or ironing. I can't remember the last time I ironed, actually. Does anybody actually iron any more? Men iron more than women these days.'

But while doing the cleaning might not be her bag, the actress insists she does 'love' cooking.

The actress said: 'I love to cook and bake, I love to be domestic in that way because you know what goes into the food you eat.

'I like cooking alone - I find it very therapeutic. I put on some music, maybe have a glass of wine and make something like a turkey Bolognese or a nice frittata.'

Whatever his chores in the house, Ryan had better be pretty handy with a mower as the farmhouse is surrounded by extensive, lush lawns.

Although Louisiana is constantly in the news because of the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico it is growing in popularity with a number of celebrities including Sandra Bullock as well as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Bullock bought a 6,000sq ft home in New Orleans which is where her adopted son Louis is from.

Team Pitt-Jolie also own a house in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Both Brad and his son Maddox are big fans of New Orleans Saints football team so living close by is useful when it comes to seeing a game. The Daily Mail

Ash You Like It…

2010-06-04T02:55:00.000-07:00

Bollywood star couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan come together in Mani Ratnam's much-awaited magnum opus Raavan. As the film gets ready to hit the screens shortly, Aishwarya, who plays Ragini, a classical dancer, opens up on a range of topics. Excerpts from the interview:

Are you nervous about Raavan ? We will see you onscreen after almost two years.

I don't know if other actors experience nervousness, but I don't. The entire making of Raavan has given me an adrenaline rush. We have made the film to share it with the audience, but sometimes we over-analyse a film as it nears its release. When Vikram sir and I were on stage, it was the first time we spoke about the film.

That's remarkable. But surely you must have had long discussions about it with Abhishek.

After pack-up, we would be husband and wife. We would not discuss ‘this scene' or ‘that scene'.

Do you find it unusual that your husband is playing someone who kidnaps you in the film?

Many directors with whom we have worked have been progressive and have not cast us conventionally as husband and wife.

How much is Raavan based on the epic?

Mani has shared with his team that he is not making a statement on the current social scenario or drawing parallels with the political scenario viz-a-viz the epic Ramayana. This fashions the way we view the film. As a viewer, I think there is a reason why our epics are called epics — because you can draw parallels in most of our stories.

How would you define your character Ragini?

I'm glad I got to do a role such as this. She has all the elements in her — she is fiery, she is earthy. I completely relate to her. She is a spirited fighter, somebody who is constantly trying to get away. And yet she is all woman. She draws energy and strength from all the resources within her from time to time. She challenges Beera (Abhishek) and I love that. I thought it was a fantastic character to play in these times.

The film was shot in hostile terrain. Did you ever feel like just throwing up your hands?

No, Mani is there with you, always calm and concerned. After the take, if you freak out or break down, he asks ‘Ok, na?' and you are like ‘Yeah'. I remember we were shooting at the waterfalls near Athirapally, and suddenly one afternoon he said, ‘Now you will climb the falls.' We thought he was joking as the light was fading, but we soon found ourselves in harness, doing the shot. The rocks were very slippery with moss and we had no grip. Mani took us really close to the waterfall and then asked us to scale it. At the end of the shot, I felt like I was a superhero!

Did you train hard for the classical dance in the film?

With Mani, there is no time … you are just there.

How tough was it to shoot each scene a second time over for the Tamil version and dub the lines in Tamil?

Mani has made me confident of my ability to speak Tamil. Now when I go to the Robot shoot, I say, ‘Bring it on'. On the first two days of the Raavan shoot, I got the scene the night before so I thought I would write the lines myself for the phonetics. Also, I wanted to know the meaning of what I was speaking. But after the first two days, there were last minute changes and he started giving me the scene on the sets. He would quip, ‘Direct tava se'. I would do an entire scene in Hindi and then it would be ‘Quick, shoot for the Tamil version, the light is going'. I felt like I was giving my final exams every day.

Can you work under such pressure?

I have been lucky to do films that require a lot of hard work. Be it historicals, period dramas or theatrical dramas such as Devdas. Raavan was a one-off, and it was a pleasure to be part of it. The content of the film is unique.

Finally, this is Abhishek's third film with Mani. Do you feel jealous of the Mani-Abhishek combo?

Mani and Abhishek are a fantastic combination, and I'm saying this as a wife. When I saw Yuva, I was not Abhishek's wife, but I still felt proud of him because we had always been good friends. And, I have always had an affinity for Mani, so I am happy to see them together. The Hindu

I Dont Have Great Fashion Instincts, Says Biel

2010-06-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Jessica Biel says she is not a natural fashionista, declaring: “I’m not someone who has this amazing instinct about fashion.”

“Sometimes I cannot be bothered, kind of like today. [Biel is wearing a grey T-shirt, J Brand jeans and Roger Vivier flats.] I just throw on whatever is comfortable. Other days I will torture myself — do I want to do funky and cool, or feminine?” the actress told Glamour magazine.

The star of the upcoming action movie The A Team has also spoken about the experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

“I learned that when my head is pounding and I’m nauseous and I feel like I cannot walk another step and it’s pouring down snow … I’ve learned that I can push forward, which was exciting for me,” Us magazine reports Biel as saying.

On what her experience in Africa had taught her, the 28-year-old confided: “When you get out into the wilderness and strip [away] all of the stuff in your everyday life, you really gain a great respect for your own life, simply as it is. Needing things starts to feel like, Oh, I kind of have everything, don’t I? It’s pretty great.” By Daniela Elser, m&c

Lucky Schoolgirl Dakota Fanning

2010-06-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

Dakota Fanning feels "lucky" to have been able to attend high school. The 16-year-old 'Twilight: Eclipse' actress was delighted to have still been able to lead a normal teenage life and insists none of her classmates treat her differently, despite her celebrity status.

Dakota - who is a cheerleader at her school - said: "I've been able to have a really great experience and it's almost over. I can't believe it!"

The teenage star was particularly delighted to attend her school prom recently.

She added to People magazine: "I went with a group of friends, I think you put more effort into getting ready before than actually you spend at the place. But it was so much fun."

Dakota also spoke about how much she enjoys working on the 'Twilight Saga' - in which she plays the villainous Vulturi Jane - because she gets to spend so much time with her close friend and 'The Runaways' co-star Kristen Stewart

She said: "It's so fun. I've done a few movies with Kristen Stewart now, and she's become one of my best friends, so it's always fun to be with her. The cast is also fun and so nice and [we] have really become very close." China Daily

Celine Dion Pregnant With Twins

2010-05-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

Celine Dion is pregnant with twins. The ’Think Twice’ singer and her husband Rene Angelil, who already have nine-year-old son Rene-Charles together, are preparing to extend their brood after their sixth round of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) was successful. Celine is currently 14 weeks pregnant and the couple are expected to find out the se of their babies next month.

Rene told People.com, “We’re ecstatic. Celine is just hoping for a healthy pregnancy. She was hoping for one baby and the news that we are having two is a double blessing!”

The 42-year-old songstress has had an emotional few months as she tried to have more children with her 68-year-old spouse. Last August the couple announced they were expecting a child following a successful round of IVF, but in November her spokesperson confirmed the pregnancy had failed.

Just days ago Celine hinted there was some “good news” to come about a second pregnancy. She said, “Well we’re crossing our fingers. We’re waiting for good news hopefully. I don’t want to talk about it so much because I’m superstitious, but I know people have been very wonderful for us and praying for us. Right now we are crossing our fingers, we hope for the best and I can’t wait to give people good news.”

The French-Canadian star deliberately didn’t want to release information about her bump until she was sure she was pregnant. She added, “Once you live in showbusiness and everything spreads out so quick and every pregnancy you have to wait three months to make sure it’s all ok and it’s nerve racking. We’re not getting any younger and you always think it’s your last chance, you’re last try.” The Inquisitr

Rachel Weisz On Why She Signed Up For The Brothers Bloom

2010-05-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz has revealed that she chose to do Brothers Bloom because she wanted to try her hand in comic roles.

The 39-year-old plays child-like millionairess Penelope in the film.

"I wanted to do comedy and when I came across this it seemed like this was what I'd been looking for," the Mirror quoted her as saying.

Weisz believes that with the new movie she has moved over the image of Fernando Meirelles, the role she played in 2005 film The Constant Gardener, which landed her an Oscar.

She added, "Penelope, in my mind, is very, very different from the character in The Constant Gardener, so I don't feel in a box at all. I feel like I'm roaming around all over the place." DNA India

Drake's Leaked 'Fireworks' Addresses Rihanna Relationship

2010-05-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

In the last week, two new songs from Drake's highly-anticipated debut, "Thank Me Later," have leaked on the internet: the hyped track with Jay-Z titled "Light Up" and "Fireworks," featuring Alicia Keys. But The Toronto MC's manager, Al Branch, says they anticipated the leak and are prepared for it with yet another musical video.

"I think honestly it's sad because I know the album's going to leak -- it happens to everyone," Branch, General Manager of Hip-Hop Since 1978 -- the company that manages Drake -- told Billboard earlier this month. "Me knowing that, I'm prepared for it. We prepared the third single with Lil Wayne called 'Miss Me.' Wayne shot his part [of the video before going to jail] and Drake's doing his part in a couple weeks."

A rough draft of "Miss Me" has already leaked -- it was one of the first songs from the album to hit the net a few months ago, although it's been dubbed "All Night Love" by fans. "Shut It Down" also leaked.

As for the latest leaks -- the symbolic "Fireworks" starts with the pop of fireworks as Keys' sings over a piano, "All I see is fireworks, every night is fireworks."

"I took the time on that song and every single verse to be really honest about questions that I never, ever answer," Drake told Billboard.com earlier this month about "Fireworks." "I guess the sort of fear that me and Wayne will be driven apart by the fact that I actively did gain success as an artist, and I always worry that sometimes that might drive a wedge between us, which I pray it never will and which I say in the song. In the second verse, I address the relationship that I'm often questioned about and I duck and dodge questions about it. In the third one, I talk about my parents. So really, it's just one of those songs where to listen to it in a room full of people makes me feel awkward, and that's a good thing to me. I'm really proud of that song."

"And my dreams is who I'm racing with, but you can see I'm pacing it, so that I'm always chasing it / Wayne put me here, that's who I get the paper with / I hope that my success never alters our relationship," Drake raps about his mentor Lil Wayne atop violins and drums.

The second verse finds Drake speaking about his rumored, short-lived rendezvous with pop star Rihanna, rhyming, "I could tell it wasn't love, I just thought you'd fuck with me / who could've predicted Lucky Strikes would have you stuck with me?

"What happened between us that night it always seems to trouble me," he continues. "Now all of a sudden these gossip sites wanna cover me / and you making it seem like it happened that way because of me / but I was curious and I never forget it, baby, what an experience / you could've been the one, but it wasn't that serious."

In the third verse, Drake addresses his parents' divorce and how he hopes to one day find true love for himself.

"Me and my realtor, we built up a better rapport, got my mother in a nice place with some better décor / She searched the entire city, I let her explore / and now she saying she more lonely than ever before," he raps. "I wanna witness love, I never see it close, but I guess I gotta find it first / That's why I'm really going off, fireworks."

"I kept having this reoccurring dream that I was standing in this field by where my uncle used to play golf and coincidentally, where my uncle played golf and where my grandfather is buried are right beside each other," Drake told Billboard.com earlier this month about the track. "I kept having this dream that I was standing in the middle of that field and watching these fireworks go off. For a really long time I was trying to figure out what it all meant, and I guess the conclusion that I came to was, I'm at a very triumphant point in my life. I think I can make a lot of things happen for not only myself but a lot of people around me."

"Light Up" finds Drake promising to never let fame change him, and Jay-Z giving him a few words of advice.

"They always tell me nobody's working as hard as you / And even though I laugh it off, man, it's probably true / Cause while most of my closest friends are partying, I'm just here making all the music that they party to," Drake rhymes in the first verse atop thumps and a daunting, elevating piano.

Then Jay jumps in the second verse, with some words of wisdom. "Drake, here's how they gonna come at you, With silly rap feuds trying to distract you/ In disguise in the form of a favor The Barzini meeting, watch for the traitors/ and I've seen it all done it all, That's why none of these dum dums could done him off."

"Who would've thought I'd be caught in this life, let's celebrate with a toast and get lost in tonight / and make it all light up," Drake sings on the chorus. By Mariel Concepcion, Billboard

Rihanna Took Helicopter To Gig While Entourage Got Bus

2010-05-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Singer Rihanna failed to mention to her entourage that she took a helicopter to a recent gig when they all came on a bus.

The 21-year-old recently made her way to North Wales for Radio 1's Big Weekend and took the easier option by air while her dancers and band took a long trip by bus.

She said to DJ Scott Mills: 'The band and dancers came on the bus. They got up at 6am, got on a ferry, had no sleep and then drove for hours.

'I took a 30-minute helicopter ride and slept the whole way. They don't know. They'll be really upset.'

Rihanna added that she still makes mistakes and it never goes unnoticed with her band.

She said: 'If I hit a bad note, I look back and I know my bass player is laughing at me.

'It's a thing with us. We know each other so well.' By Sophie Eager, m&c

Britney Spears Is Big Fan Of Glee

2010-05-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

Singer Britney Spears has revealed she is a big fan of US show Glee and said the cast are 'so talented'.

The 28-year-old star recently celebrated becoming the most popular celeb on Twitter by having a chat with her fans over the social networking site.

Asked if she liked the TV show Glee, she said: 'I love Glee, the cast is so talented.'

The Womanizer star was also asked by a follower who she would love to do a duet with the most.

She said: 'Would love to do a duet with Robbie Williams... where are you? lol.'

Spears added which of the Sex and the City ladies is her favourite.

She said: 'I like Carrie - I love her clothes and shoes!' By Sophie Eager, m&c

Lohan To Undergo Weekly Drug Testing

2010-05-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

Actress Lindsay Lohan was fitted with an alcohol monitoring device yesterday and ordered to undergo weekly random drug and alcohol testing after failing to appear for a probation hearing last week in a 2007 drunk driving case. Brushing aside objections that the device would interfere with Lohan's upcoming projects, Beverly Hills judge Marsha Revel said the 23-year-old actress must now be tested for drug and alcohol use every week in Los Angeles. Revel also ordered a probation violation hearing for July 6 that could result in further sanctions against the Mean Girls actress, whose movie career has fallen on hard times. Lohan claimed she missed last week's probation hearing because her passport was stolen in France. Judge Revel said Lohan has failed to complete alcohol education classes imposed as part of a 2007 sentence for reckless driving, drunken driving and driving under the influence of cocaine. National Post

Teenagers Text More Than They Call

2010-05-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

OMG, W8 til U read this: one in three teenagers sends more than 100 text messages a day, and 72 percent are now text-messagers, compared with 51 percent in 2006, according to a recent Pew Internet report. Nearly half who take phones to school text at least once a day in class.

Texting trumps all other forms of communication, with only 38 percent and 30 percent of teenagers talking daily on a cellphone or landline, respectively. One quarter of teenagers interact daily on social networks, and just 11 percent e-mail each other daily. Teenagers with unlimited texting plans text 14 times as often as those who pay per message.

Although accessing the Internet on a cellphone is often expensive, teenagers with black and Hispanic parents are nearly twice as likely as teenagers with white parents to do so, as are teenagers from households making under $30,000 a year. This may be because of lack of Internet access on computers in these households.

Even with unlimited plans, “adults aren’t texting in the same way adolescents are,” Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew, said. “Teens don’t expect people to call — texting has become the default way to connect.” By Teddy Wayne, The New York Times

Kidman Follows 3-Day Rule With Hubby Urban

2010-05-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

She is a globe-trotting Hollywood actress married to an equally busy singing star, but Nicole Kidman says that she and husband Keith Urban never spend more than three days apart. The couple who have a two year-old daughter, together put their family before everything and plan accordingly. Kidman, 42, schedules her film roles around her husband’s successful career as one of America’s top selling country music artists while he accompanies her on overseas shoots, reported Daily Mail online.

“My priority is very much keeping my family together and not being away from them,” she said. The ex-wife of Tom Cruise, revealed her recipe for a happy marriage while in Hong Kong to attend a fund raising banquet for the UN Development Fund for Women. She was accompanied by Urban who she wed in Sydney, Australia, in June 2006.

But the marriage appeared to be in trouble less than four months when Urban checked into a rehab clinic to fight addiction. Deccan Chronicle

Lohan To Appear In Court On Monday

2010-05-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan is expected in a Los Angeles court next week after missing a mandatory hearing on Thursday. Lohan’s attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, says the 23-year-old actress will return to Los Angeles today and appear in court Monday morning. After days at the Cannes Film Festival, where she attended events to promote her Linda Lovelace film and partied into the wee hours the day she was supposed to be in court, Lohan comes home to a litany of legal woes. She was to be arrested upon her return to Los Angeles for missing the hearing, but a judge recalled the warrant late Thursday after Lohan posted bail. “If she wanted to be here, it looks to the court that she could have been here,’’ Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel said. Holley said Lohan’s passport was stolen while in Cannes and she was unable to return to Los Angeles in time for Thursday’s hearing. The Boston Globe

Jude and Sienna in ‘blazing row’ at top nightspot

2010-05-21T03:21:00.000-07:00

So far, so very typical. Since rekindling his on-off romance with Sienna Miller late last year, Jude Law has played the role of attentive suitor to perfection.

The textbook courtship has prompted friends to suggest that, four years after breaking off their engagement, Sienna was once again prepared to marry the Hollywood heart-throb.

But what’s this? Just a fortnight after their choreographed coming out at New York’s Met Ball, I can reveal the two have had an equally public and spectacular falling out.

The couple’s quarrel erupted two nights ago as they partied at fashionable private members’ club Shoreditch House, in East London, when they began rowing after a game of snooker. ‘It was like old times,’ says a club member.

Onlookers could not avoid the scene. One tells me: ‘They had this blazing row in front of everyone, and Sienna walked out. I couldn’t tell you what the row was about, but Sienna had a huge tantrum.

‘It was quite dramatic. As soon as she left, Jude started blatantly chatting up another girl in the club at the bar. She was very pretty and was clearly delighted that this huge movie star was making a move on her.

Then, after a while, Sienna came back. You should have seen her face when she saw Jude and this other girl.’

But as quickly as it began, the row was over. Says my mole: ‘It was extraordinary. By the time I left, they seemed to have made up.’

Law, 37, who has three children by his ex-wife Sadie Frost, has had a rocky relationship with Sienna, 28, who broke off their engagement after he admitted an affair with his children’s nanny, Daisy Wright.

The actress went on to enjoy relationships with Welsh screen stars Matthew Rhys and Rhys Ifans, before beginning a relationship with yet another actor, married father-of-four Balthazar Getty.

Meanwhile, Law was also no stranger to the spotlight as American model Samantha Burke gave birth to his daughter, Sophia, last September — the product of a brief affair. Despite this, Miss Miller and Law remained close, and they revived their romance while both starring in plays in New York.

They then spent Christmas and their birthdays together while on holiday in the Caribbean with Law’s children. Miss Miller has since been spotted wearing her engagement ring again, but on her right hand. The Daily Mail

Mahima Hates Talking About Her Comeback

2010-05-20T03:23:00.000-07:00

Not all actresses are as lucky as Kajol or Aishwarya Rai when it comes to bagging lead roles in films following marriage, and in Kajol’s case, motherhood.

Mahima Chaudhary, who is yet to be offered a worthwhile movie proposition, hates being asked about her comeback. “The only question I hate being asked is ‘When are you coming back?’ Honestly, I don’t have an answer. I don’t plan my life, which is why it has been such a roller coaster. Whatever I plan goes worse than how it is going,” she reveals.

“I don’t plan. All I can say is that if there is something wonderful for me I will take it!” adds the actress who was last seen in Hope and a Little Sugar and Gumnaam — the Mystery, both of which were released in 2008 after delays. Deccan Chronicle

Mariah Carey Puts Out Fire Before Show In Egypt

2010-05-19T00:39:00.001-07:00

Mariah Carey saves the day! Just before she lit up the stage for a show in Egypt, the star put out a very literal fire. The singer tweeted about the incident as it was happening.

"In Egypt getting ready to go on stage and suddenly there was a surge of power and an electrical fire started under my feet! Wtf?!" she tweeted on Monday. "Naturally, my emergency instincts kicked in and I put out the flames w/a towel. Lol (yet true)," she tweeted.

Carey seemed to have a pretty good sense of humor about the incident. "The funny thing about this is an ol'skool radio station in the other room started playing 'aww freak out!' @ that exact moment!"

She then tweeted her friend, Jasmine Dotiwala, saying, "@jasminedotiwala. Appalled U didn't tweet to see if I'm ok after the fire incident in Egypt! (Said in my diva theatrical accent: )"

Carey also posted a photo of the surge protector that caught fire. "These r the charred remains of my fire on the Nile," she wrote.

This actually isn't the first time Carey has acted as her own personal firefighter. Hubby Nick Cannon revealed that on one Valentine's Day, Carey saved the holiday from turning into a burning inferno. "So you walk into this room and all you see is red and lights and candles. We were opening gifts and I smell smoke ... the whole room was on fire," he recalled to MTV News. "And I screamed like a little bitch. Mariah, being a hero that she is, put the fire out. She's my hero. She's my Valentine hero, so hopefully this year we won't set nothing on fire." MTV

boring time

2010-05-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

i'm staying at home with my kids today, having a terrible headache due gas spasm.. lying in bed while typing this message. wish to get well soon to play tennis this afternoon and make bonding with my friends there. playing tennis is my outlet of my boredom in life since my hubby worked in the ship. although the situation falls like this i'm still thankful and happy with my family...