As the one-year reign of Hugh Jackman as PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive winds down, it's time to pass the crown to a new deserving hunk. So who does the Australian screen star, Oscar host and current Broadway leading man want to see take the title next?
"Me! I want to be the first to have it back to back, buddy," Jackman, 41, told PEOPLE's reporter on Friday in New York, while attending the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert (set to air on HBO Nov. 29). "That would be fantastic!"
Though he would like to reclaim the title, the Steady Rain star (who costars in the Broadway drama with Daniel Craig, certainly another SMA possibility) says it's been quite an exciting year as the Sexiest Man Alive, but also one that's been a little demanding.
"I thought there were thousands of other guys that deserved it, but it's been a great year. But now the pressures off," he said good-naturedly. "I can be a slob again."
Victoria Beckham has apparently admitted that her solo singing career was a mistake, albeit one from which she is happy to learn.
The former Spice Girl said that she was "lost" when she teamed up with Truesteppers and Dane Bowers to launch 'Out Of Your Mind' in 2000 following the group's split.
The 35-year-old told Harper's Bazaar: "People never believed the solo singing career, and it wasn't the real me - I was a little bit lost at the time. I don't mind making mistakes."
The mother-of-three has since launched her own clothing collection and said that fashion is her true calling. "I was always pushed into the theatre and dance - it's just taken me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do," she said.
People in Britain are always complaining how skint they are - and then go throw away what little dosh they have by backing the Grimes twins to win X Factor.
It emerged this week that the twins were both born three months premature - which you have to say is one hell of a coincidence - but whoever is backing them must have been born yesterday.
Haven't they heard of Chico, Same Difference, and the MacDonald Brothers? All played the twins' role of hopeless contestants who couldn't carry a tune; all eventually perished - generally about a fortnight after newspaper campaigns to keep them in.
The raison d'etre of X Factor is not to unearth a superstar, it is to get you to pick up a phone and vote - assuming you can prise it from your teenage daughter. Creating pantomime villains like John and Edward is key. In the first weeks we voted for everybody else to get them out. Now, after hugely sympathetic stories in the press, we vote for them to get everybody else out, especially if it's Danyl.
Pantomime is good for the show's supremos (because of cash raked in); it's good for Simon Cowell (because he's the show's supremo); and it's good for Louis Walsh (because he's BEHIND YOU).
But the pantomime season is a short one, particularly if Les Dennis is in it, and sooner or later the twins will find they have served their purpose. Three weeks from now the stories about the twins will be negatives ones.
Madonna travels with her children Lourdes Leon, Mercy James and David Banda, to vist the Mphandu la Orphanage in the Namitete area outside Lilongwe, Malawi on Thursday (October 29).
The 51-year-old entertainer attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.
Madonna recently blogged to urge people to join her cause. “I’m writing to urge you to join me in saving the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable children. And I’m asking you to do it right away.
Raising Malawi, the organization I co-founded in 2006, is dedicated to ending the poverty and hardship endured by Malawi’s one million orphans. By donating to Raising Malawi, you can literally transform the future for an entire generation. To encourage your involvement, I’ve pledged $100,000 to match your contributions dollar-for-dollar.”
Dannii Minogue has revealed that she decided to bare all for Playboy mag when she found herself in the midst of a financial crisis after her split with ex-hubby Julian McMahon in 1995. The singer then decided to strip her way to money in order to pay her 150,000-pound debt rather then asking her superstar sis Kylie for help.
"My parents didn't want me to do it. My dad was saying, ''Doing this is forever - you can never, ever change it''," the Daily Express quoted Dannii, as saying.
"Kylie knew why I was doing it - I could have asked her for the money, but it wasn't in my nature. I never wanted to admit the trouble I was in. I should have been looking at my finances,” she said.
She added, "I would never disclose how much - but it had to be a lot to look at my parents'' faces and see the anguish in my dad's eyes.
"I don't regret it, but I feel relieved that people know why I did it - it''s a huge weight off my shoulders. It was actually fun and I did feel liberated. I looked at the pictures and thought, ''I look alright!''
"The magazine was the biggest selling title they''d ever had and they had to reprint. My girlfriends went out to buy it and told me I looked beautiful. It then felt like a celebration of me."
Join us all in humiliating the crap out of yourself every Thursday by sharing some completely tasteless, wholly unclassy, “how many readers can I estrange THIS week??” TMI story.
I already regret wondering, just yesterday, what I would write about for you today. Because maybe that brings on embarrassing universe karma, I dunno.
Anyway, here we go.
I really don't know how to tell this story so I'll just share with you the letter I wrote to the other half of my face:
Dear Zit,
Now?
Really?
I gave you a zillion chances.
I begged, cajoled, pleaded, beseeched, demanded, implored, prayed and whined about the release from your death grip on my face.
Did you respond?
NO.
You ignored me.
"Not ready!" you alluded, growing larger and larger until your bloated form hung off my chin like a blood-engorged tick. You even had a face.
It was not smiling.
I gave up on torturing you with sharp objects and heavy machinery and resigned myself to my fate.
I was exhausted.
You won.
This morning, I tiredly smeared foundation over your angrily pulsing form and headed off to work.
Now fast forward:
Five minutes before I have to give a talk IN a conference room with a LOT of people who KNOW me, and will happen to be able to SEE me (specifically, my face), what happens?
There I am in the bathroom checking my teeth (there's nothing more distracting than a speaker with spinach clouding their pearly whites so I always check) when I notice you, yet again, dear Zit. (God, how could I NOT notice you?)
I lightly brush my finger over your shameful bump wishing you were not quite so visible and
BAM!!!
You explode!
You explode and you start bleeding and there I am desperately dabbing at you going OMG not now not now!! And blood is running down my face and threatening to stain my sweater and OH MY GOD wtf IS this, it's like I just murdered a small mammal on my face! But I don't have time for you to clot!! And so I begin running down 5 flights of steps with a bloody napkin pressed into my chin, trying to act all "I'm totally normal!" while streaking around corners with my bloody rag waving like a victory flag of the deranged while pus and blood stream like drool down my chin.
So this is my question, dear Zit.
Were you trying to get me to pay less attention to how nervous I was by confronting me with a disfiguring emergency?
If you're a fellow spleen lover, then just stick with me here, I won't disappoint. ;)
BTW if you're thinking about blogging but not sure how to start, Posterous makes blogging soooo easy. You basically just email your posts. I'm sticking with my current platform, but newbies may want to check it out.
Why am I up so late? I just finished submitting some art to the online art auction 140 Hours (voted by Mashable as an excellent example of using Twitter for branding). I'm entering these flowers, African violets given to me by my mom, shown here in full bloom.
I took the photo first and then digitally reworked it into a dreamy watercolor: I'll keep you posted when it appears on their site. I'm also getting ready to launch a photo blog to portray this and other work. Stay tuned!
Katie Price aka Jordan hates sex and refused to make love to her former husband Peter Andre for four months during the last two years of their marriage, her best friend has alleged.
Jordan’s closest friend for 15 years, Michelle Clack, who was also her chief bridesmaid, made the revelation just days after the glamour girl’s divorce from the singer was finalised.
"Jordan was my best friend but I can't stand by and watch how she's treated Pete. After everything she's been saying I believe the truth about their marriage has to come out,” the News of the World quoted Michelle as saying.
Michelle revealed, "Even though Kate has built her reputation on sex and being sexy, it's all an act for work. She doesn't actually like sex and will usually do anything she can to avoid having it.
"Over the last two years their relationship had become almost entirely sexless. Her excuse would always be that she was working hard and had three kids. She'd always say to me, ''Oh no, I'm always too tired, I can't be bothered''.
"But it didn't sit right with Pete because this all happened at the same time she started to go out on the town much more and dress up very sexily. Jordan was back.
"Kate uses sex to get things she needs. When she first met Pete she said her sex life was awesome - just what she's saying at the moment about her new boyfriend Alex Reid."
Taylor Swift and Dancing With The Stars pal Julianne Hough celebrate Katy Perry’s 25th birthday at Sunset Beach in Los Angeles on Saturday (October 24).
The twosome painted their initials on each other!
Other celebs in attendance and pictured below: Chuck star Zachary Levi, Eastwick actor Matt Dallas and Joel Moore, who played Katy’s date in her “Waking Up In Vegas” music video.
After the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory extravaganza, Taylor tweeted, “@Katyperry knows how to throw a birthday party! I would even go as far as to say it was party-licious. Best EVER. Happy bday, pretty girl!!
It's that time of year again and it is our favorite time of year here at IMPO...Halloween! According to History.com, Halloween's origins date back to ancient Celtic times, over 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland. Originally, this day marked the end of summer and the beginning of the cold, dark winter (which was the time most associated with human death).
The history goes something like this: on the night of October 31st, the Celts celebrated with a Samhain festival because that is when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth! The Celts would dress up in costume, which mainly consisted of animal heads and skins and would listen as the Celtic priests would make predictions about the future. These prophecies were an important source to the Celts as they would bring comfort and direction during the long winter.
By the 800's, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands and November 1st was designated as All Saint's Day or All-Hallows and the night before began to be called All-Hallows Eve.
Dressing in costume on Halloween has both the Celtic roots (as explained above) and European influence. During those long, cold winters, it was believed that ghosts would come back to the earthly world, which made people afraid to leave their homes. Legend says that people would wear masks after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits and leave them alone. People would also place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.
As the Europeans began to settle in America, they brought along with them their tradition of Halloween. "Trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England when poor citizens would beg for food during the festivities and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.
The story of the Jack-o-Lantern is from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." The folklore says that Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him and true to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack kept the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.
Jack would trick the Devil many more times and would bargain with him over and over. Eventually, Jack died and God would not allow such a unsavory figure into heaven nor would the Devil allow Jack into Hell, but instead cast Jack's soul into the darkness with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth in his ghostly state ever since. The Irish refer to him as "Jack of the Lantern!"
The Pros have been busy putting the finishing touches on costumes, makeup looks and hair styles for both our clients and ourselves! What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Do you embrace the traditional, unconventional or both a la Heidi Klum?
"Witch" ever character you choose to be this Halloween please post a picture of your creation on our Facebook page! We love to be inspired by your creativity all year long and if you are having trouble finding a costume that suites your mood, here are a few great how-to Halloween videos from YouTube to get you in the "spirit!"
Watch MAC get freaky:
Watch Pixiwoo transform into a sexy Vampire:
Let Makeup Geek inspire the Hippie in you:
See MisChievous transform into the Corpse Bride:
Let Beauty by Sarah bring out your inner Zombie:
Go Goth with HollywoodNoirMakeup:
Let Petrilude turn you into a big pussy cat:
Creepy Skull makeup by KingHuman:
PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:
The only Pro tip and trick we have for you this Halloween season is to have fun, but be safe! Spooky things happen on All Hallows Eve and we hope all of our readers enjoy this holiday in a responsible manner.
STAY TUNED:
Up next on IMPO:New York Fashion Week is over, but you can recreate the makeup looks that many of the designers sent down the runway this year! From avant-garde to barely there faces, the Pros from IMPO have your “how-tos!”
Sir Elton John scrapped a sell-out gig in Britain at short notice on Friday night (23Oct09) after falling ill with influenza.The Rocket Man was due to play to more than 13,000 fans at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England but pulled out just hours before he was due to take the stage for his Red Piano show.
He has always enjoyed a tremendous reaction from the audiences every time he has performed at the Arena
A spokesman for the star put the cancellation down to a serious bout of flu. The rep says, "Elton is terribly disappointed that he is unable to perform tonight's Red Piano show for the people of Sheffield. He has always enjoyed a tremendous reaction from the audiences every time he has performed at the Arena."
The gig is due to be rescheduled shortly. The singer's other concerts next week (beg26Oct09) remain unaffected.
Madhur Bhandarkar’s film, Jail, has been passed by the Censor Board with a ‘U/A’ certificate. But Madhur isn’t exactly smiling from ear to ear as they gave it a ‘U/A’certificate only after chopping off seven scenes.
The seven scenes that were snapped off include Neil’s nude scene, a homosexual scene, Neil and Mugdha Godse’s love-making scene, a sex joke, etc. Abusive dialogues are also no longer a part of the film. Even though Madhur wasn’t entirely ok with the decision, he didn’t want to release the film with an ‘A’ certificate.
Madhur fought a good bit for Neil’s nude scene as it was already blurred. But the authorities were unwilling to budge.
The Regional Officer of the Censor Board stated that it was necessary to remove some scenes if a ‘U/A’ certificate had to be given.
They would have been more liberal if the director was aiming for an ‘A’ certificate. He feels that the film is well researched and very thought provoking and that the authorities loved the film.
Katrina Kaif is going ga ga over Kareena and their bond. Recently giving an interview to a news channel Kat was excited to talk about her friend. Not many people know that both the vivacious actress shares the same manager too.
“She is very nice girl and I like her as well as her work. We even shares one manager and I am a big fan of her,” says Katrina.
There had been news in the industry about their cold war but with this statement of Kat, she is putting it all the rumours at rest.
Kareena Kapoor was the unchallenged queen of B-Town at as far as her price was concerned. But Katrina Kaif started competing with her at every turn: with the price, the number of film, as well as endorsements.
“Whenever we meet each other she talks with me very nicely and I too love her company. I really do admire her as one of the great actress in the industry,” she states in the interview to the entertainment channel.
Looking at this statement it seems the cold war between the two actresses has ended. All’s well that end’s well is what we can say in this case.
South African-born actress Charlize Theron auctioned off a kiss for $140,000, (Rs 64, 40,000) and the winning bidder was a woman, US magazine reported Friday.
Theron, 34, took part in a live auction during a gala for the charity OneXOne Thursday in San Francisco. She was initially selling a 2010 trip to South Africa that included World Cup tickets, a safari and a meet-and-greet with Nelson Mandela.
But she raised the stakes after bidding stalled at $37,000, far less than actor Jeremy Piven had just raised.
To sweeten the deal, she offered up a seven-second kiss for $130,000 to a male bidder, but a woman in the audience quickly bettered the deal with a $140,000 bid.
Theron is in a long-term relationship with actor Stuart Townsend, 36.
"My boyfriend is not here tonight," she joked before a smooch that lasted 20 seconds.
Sienna Miller hits Broadway for the opening of After Miss Julie at the Roundabout Theater Company’s American Airlines Theater in New York City on Thursday (October 22).
The 27-year-old movie actress plays a rich young woman taking care of her father’s estate in the Patrich Marber’s adaptation.
“This is what I have always wanted, to be on Broadway,” Sienna told NY Times. “I’m living my dream, and that’s all you can ask for. At a certain point, you have to ignore all the rest.”
FYI: Sienna is wearing a gold dress with sexy cut-outs from Balmain.
I've been offline this week - completely swamped. Sorry! Will be back online next week for my regular columns. Today, however, I bring you a short snippet in celebration of TMI Thursday -- since last week's "how people found my blog" post was so popular, here are this week's winners:
Top 7 keywords people used to find my blog recently:
can i put a non poisonous snake in my vagina?
free blowjobs sierra vista
should i take a tamiflu for h1n1 if i lack a spleen
fat plumper vagina pics
i ate tiny brown bugs in my cereal am i going to get sick
ate fly larvae and now my stomach is bad
she finds excuses to grope me
But out of all of these? #1 is my favorite.
Maybe I really didn't want to know how some people celebrated Columbus Day.
Be back online next week... have a great weekend, all!
Karan Johar has made a wise move and decided to release his next production, Kurbaan, a week prior to its original release date.
Kurbaan, starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor was supposed to release on November 27th along with De Dana Dan, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.
However, they shifted the release to November 20th as no other film is releasing on that day and they don’t want to clash with any other film.
Director Rensil D’Silva says, “We will be releasing Kurbaan on November 20 as no other film was scheduled to release on that day. We want to avoid a clash with any other film. Why not release solo when we have an empty slot? Clashes don’t help anyone.”
A new addition to the archives in Invercargill is the talk of the southern city.
A chunk of wall from Invercargill's Civic Theatre is believed to have been signed by the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger nearly 45 years ago.
It is thought he inscribed the signature when the Stones performed at the theatre in 1965.
The etching was discovered in what used to be the band room, during renovations of the theatre.
"As soon as we turned the lights on, there it was sticking out - the signature of Mick Jagger," says Lindsay Frewen from the Civic Theatre.
A contractor involved in the reconstruction has given the old wallboard to the city and it will now remain in the care of the Invercargill City Library.
"There's a lot of story and a lot of obviously speculation around it, and not a lot of other places will have anything like this. It's definitely unique and special for us," says library worker Rebecca Smith.
The plan is to try to confirm the marker as Jagger's - though some people don't need any convincing.
"I think it's exciting really that we've found this. Let's go with it and say yes, it is his signature," says Frewen.
Until now the Rolling Stones' Invercargill visit has been remembered by their description of the city as "the arsehole of the world".
Directly or indirectly, breast cancer affects all of us and that is why October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
There are many events you can participate in this month and many institutes accept donations to help fund the necessary research needed to find a cure for breast cancer, but the Pros wanted to do our part and write a very special post dedicated to our Granny June, who passed away from breast cancer and other medical complications many years ago! We have faith that a cure for this disease is in our future and it starts with proper education.
According to the National Cancer Institute, having a high-quality mammography is the most effective tool currently available for breast cancer screening.A digital mammogram records x-ray images in computer code instead of x-ray film.The images can be enhanced by lightening or darkening and enlarged so radiologists can take a closer look.Plus, images can be stored and retrieved electronically so that doctors can easily consult with other specialists.
I hope that if you are reading this blog and if you are 40 or over or if you have a history of breast cancer in your family that you are having an annual digital mammogram! Since breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death amongst women in the United States, it is imperative you consult with your doctor immediately if you detect a lump or other symptoms which may include: thickening in or near the breast or underarm, nipple tenderness, itchy or scaly areola, discharge (fluid) from the nipple.
Currently, there are over 2 million breast cancer survivors, but let us be perfectly clear when we say that this disease does not discriminate. This cancer does not care how many times you go to the gym in a week, how wealthy you are or if you are famous or not. What it does care about is that you seek treatment immediately and lower the risk for our future generations!
You have to be brave enough to stand up to this cancer and if you think you are alone, think again! We have listed a few famous breast cancer survivors below who were not afraid to battle this disease head on:
Edie Falco, Melissa Etheridge, Gloria Steinem, Olivia Newton John, Jaclyn Smith, Suzanne Somers, Christina Applegate, Kylie Minogue, Cynthia Nixon, Robin Roberts, Sheryl Crow, Anastacia, Carly Simon, Betsey Johnson and Sandra Day O'Connor.
We all want to find a cure for breast cancer, but I love how Glamour Magazine recently stated in their current issue, “wouldn’t it be even more exciting if we knew how to never get the disease in the first place?”
Glamour reports that Dr. Susan Love of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is working on a breakthrough concept of “understanding what makes the environment around your breast cells (and other cells) toxic or healthy – it is called epigenetics.”Dr. Love also states, “through epigenetics, we’re going to know a heck of a lot more about how to prevent breast cancer!”
The Glamour article also lists some great tips on How to Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk by 25% - they include the following:
1.Exercise – lowers your odds of the disease.The American Cancer Society advises women to get at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
2.Watch What You Drink – “alcohol is a double-edge sword, it has been linked to lower risk of heart disease but an increased risk of breast cancer,” says JoAnn E. Manson, M.D.
3.Know Your Own Breasts – we now know that teaching women how to do a monthly breast self-exam (BSE) does not lower the risk of dying from breast cancer, but it lowers anxiety and follow-up tests like biopsies.What a BSE does do is make women feel comfortable in examining their own bodies and bringing possible issues to a doctor’s attention more rapidly.Most women do find their own cancer lumps and it is usually accidental.
4.Make Smart Reproductive Health Choices – “too much estrogen probably plays a greater role in the development of breast cancer than anything else,” according to Dr. Coyle.Here are three well-documented risk factors: starting your period before age 12, reaching menopause after 55 and having your first child after 30.Those all steep breast cells in estrogen for a longer-than-average amount of time.Here is how to lower your risk: breast-feeding and if possible, time your pregnancy by having your first baby in your twenties.As for the pill – this oral contraceptive does slightly increase your risk, but pill users under 40 shouldn’t panic.Risk of developing breast cancer in your 20's or 30's is very low.Older women who need to be on some type of contraceptive may want to steer toward an IUD if possible.
5.Get More Vitamin D – no diet has been proven to lower your risk of breast cancer, but a growing number of studies point to Vitamin D as especially beneficial with a possible 35% lower risk factor.
The Pros here at IMPO like to “think pink” in October and support breast cancer programs all year around and that is why we were excited to support The Estee Lauder Companies, which is dedicated to raising awareness that early detection of breast cancer saves lives.
In 1993, Evelyn H. Lauder founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, as an independent, not-for-profit organization, which funds clinical and translations research worldwide by donating proceeds from the sale of selected products from The Estee Lauder Companies.
Here is a list of participating brands that support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation:
Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Darphin, Donna Karan Cosmetics, Estee Lauder, Jo Malone, Lab Series Skincare for Men, La Mer, Michael Kors Beauty, Ojon, Origins, Prescriptives, Sean John Fragrances and Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries.
Recently, this Pro received a gratis product from The Estee Lauder Companies in order to help promote their plight of raising breast cancer awareness. I was sent Ojon’s Revitalizing Mist to use personally and on my clients.
This product is a weightless, pre-styling, leave-in conditioner that detangles, refreshes and preps hair for styling and it allows for a more even application of styling products.
This Pro used the Ojon Revitalizing Mist on several clients at a recent video shoot by applying it on hair that was not freshly washed as a “pick me up.”It helped alleviate product build-up and prepared the hair to readily accept all other styling product such as serum, hair spray and paste.The mist also helped manage “fly-aways” without weighing the hair down and it helped prevent the hair from looking “greasy!”
During the month of October, Ojon will donate 20% from the sale of this product to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (up to a maximum of $35,000). Available at Sephora, Ultaand online at www.ojon.com.
PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:
This Pro hopes that all our readers take extra special care of themselves this month (and all year long) and to help lighten the mood around here, I am posting a great video from Aerosmith!
It doesn't benefit the awareness of breast cancer, but it is titled "Pink" - maybe Steven Tyler and the gang could donate an amount for every "click" this video gets from IMPO! I am sure Aerosmith is all about "saving the ta-tas!" Hey! Yo! Steven...we need to talk! So blast your volume and dance around to this great video (it will help with your 30 minutes of exercise)!
STAY TUNED:
It's that time of year! Halloween! Up next on IMPO: incredible how-to videos to get you into the spirit!
Sienna Miller poses with designer David Neville at the Rag & Bone Soho store opening on Monday (October 19) in New York City.
The 27-year-old actress was recently featured in the NY Times last week, which talked about her desire to act. “This is what I have always wanted, to be on Broadway,” she said. “I’m living my dream, and that’s all you can ask for. At a certain point you have to ignore all the rest.”
The original article misstated the nature of the relationships that she had with Heath Ledger and Sean Combs. She was friends with both of them; she did not have romantic flings with either of them, as the article originally stated
It might not be a complete Who's Who of Hollywood actress royalty, but it's a darn good effort.
As the cast of new movie musical Nine came together for a photoshoot for US Vogue - shot by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz - one star stood out amongst her esteemed colleagues.
Looking understandably nervous surrounded by Hollywood royalty, is Black Eyed Peas singer Stacy Ferguson aka Fergie.
The new movie is her first big screen role, and seemingly a baptism of fire. Her six female co-stars have not only a handful of Oscars between them – but also decades of experience.
The movie's stars Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Marion Cotillard all have Oscars to their name, and Kate Hudson narrowly missed out on an Academy Award.
Miss Dench, 74, has had six Oscar nominations, and won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for 1998 for Shakespeare In Love.
Miss Loren, the oldest cast member at 75 years old, won the Best Actress Oscar for 1960 movie La Ciociara, better known as Two Women.
Miss Cruz, 35, Miss Kidman, 42, and Miss Cotillard, 34, are also past Oscar winners, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Hours and La Vie En Rose respectively.
Miss Hudson, 30, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 2000 film Almost Famous. And, as the daughter of actress Goldie Hawn, acting is clearly in her blood.
Although she doesn’t have the acting experience behind her, Miss Ferguson should have no trouble when it comes to the music.
The Black Eyed Peas singer, 34, best known for hits like Boom Boom Pow and Where is the Love?, won three Grammy Awards with the band.
Nine tells the story of film director Guido Contini, played by Daniel Day Lewis, and the many women in his life.
The movie explores how Contini confronted a mid-life crisis, with creative troubles and personal woes.
He tries to balance this with his women, including his wife, played by Cotillard, his mistress, played by Cruz, his muse, played by Kidman, and his costume designer, played by Dench.
He must also contend with a fashion journalist, played by Hudson, a prostitute from his youth, played by Ferguson, and his mother, played by Loren.
The original 1982 Broadway production of Nine won five Tony Awards including Best Musical.
The big screen version, directed by Rob Marshall, is due to be released in the UK on Christmas Day.
Lindsay Lohan has started proceedings to file a restraining order against her father.
The 'Mean Girls' actress is said to fear for her safety and has instructed her lawyer Shawn Holley Chapman to begin the paperwork against Michael Lohan.
The filing should be ready within the next 48 hours, according to website RadarOnline.
The 23-year-old star took action against Michael - who she has a turbulent relationship with - over fears he was going to kidnap her.
It is thought she was encouraged to seek the restraining order by her mother, Dina - who is Michael's ex-wife - and wants to be out of Los Angeles and away from her father when the filing becomes legal.
I'm going to see the judge this week. If I can't get a conservatorship, then I'm going to take her to an undisclosed location and get her straight. But I know I'm going to get charged with kidnapping.
A source said: "If Lindsay isn't already in New York City, she is on her way. That was the plan to make sure she wasn't around for any of his crazy antics."
Last week, Michael - who recently claimed the starlet has an addiction to prescription drugs - told gossip website X17 he wanted to "kidnap" his daughter and take her to an isolated location to help "get her straight".
He said: "I'm going to see the judge this week. If I can't get a conservatorship, then I'm going to take her to an undisclosed location and get her straight. But I know I'm going to get charged with kidnapping."
Lindsay has previously completed three stints in rehab in a bid to get help for her addiction to drink and drugs.
So, where I work, people have been talking about the flu. I wanted to check what was really true so looked it up online. Here are answers to some of the common questions (and a link to ALL the FAQs in addition to flu vaccine location info, way at the bottom):
Situation update: Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm (Note: you can sign up for email updates, follow on twitter, etc. — see box at right.)
Can the seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time? Not if they are both nasal sprays. But you can get a shot of one and a nasal spray of the other. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4854
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Who should not get the live nasal spray vaccine?
People younger than 2 years of age;
Pregnant women;
People 50 years of age and older;
People with a medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system;
Children younger than 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing;
Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;
People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder of the nervous system, within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine,
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.
Do you need one or two doses of the vaccine? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
FDA has approved two doses for children 6 months through 9 years of age. As with seasonal vaccine, children 6 months through 35 months of age should get two doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, which contains one-half of the dose used for older children and adults. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4144
Does the H1N1 vaccine contain thimerosal? The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines that FDA is licensing (approving) will be manufactured in several formulations. Some will come in multi-dose vials and will contain thimerosal as a preservative. Multi-dose vials of seasonal influenza vaccine also contain thimerosal to prevent potential contamination after the vial is opened.
Some vaccine manufacturers will be producing 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in single-dose units, which will not require the use of thimerosal as a preservative. In addition, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine, which is administered intranasally (through the nose), is produced in single-units and will not contain thimerosal. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4168
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How have different age groups been affected by H1N1 flu in terms of death? CDC studied the hospital records of 268 patients hospitalized with novel H1N1 flu early on during the outbreak. The number of deaths was highest among people 25 to 49 years of age (39%), followed by people 50 to 64 year of age (25%) and people 5 to 24 year of age (16%) This is a very different pattern from what is seen in seasonal influenza, where an estimated 90% of influenza-related deaths occur in people 65 years of age and older. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4247
What about Guillain-Barre syndrome - is there a risk of getting it after the vaccine? In 1976, there was a small risk of GBS following influenza (swine flu) vaccination (approximately 1 additional case per 100,000 people who received the swine flu vaccine). That number of GBS cases was slightly higher than what is normally seen in the population, whether or not people were vaccinated. Since then, numerous studies have been done to evaluate if other flu vaccines were associated with GBS. In most studies, no association was found, but two studies suggested that approximately 1 additional person out of 1 million vaccinated people may be at risk for GBS associated with the seasonal influenza vaccine. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4178
How long do people remain contagious? People with H1N1 (swine) influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they have flu symptoms and possibly for up to 7 days following the start of illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/3871
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How long can the virus live on a surface outside its host? They're still learning more about the H1N1 virus, but flu viruses in general can live for 2-8 hours on hard surfaces. http://answers.flu.gov/questions/3943
Bosses at a U.S. TV network have apologised to Jessica Simpson after broadcasting a cartoon mocking the star's weight.
The Dukes of Hazzard actress was ridiculed by animated versions of the Dallas Cowboys - her ex-boyfriend Tony Romo's football team - during Fox's Nfl Sunday (11Oct09) skit.
A statement released by a Fox representative reads, Upon reflection, our poor attempt at humour was insensitive and we deeply apologise to anyone who might have been offended
In the clip, running back Marion Barber says, "Man, I still can't believe Tony dated Jessica Simpson, even after she blew up bigger than (teammate) Flozell Adams!", to which player Jason Witten responds "Unlike Tony,at least Jessica comes up big when it counts!"
Their coach Wade Phillips then quips, "Say Tony, is Jessica around? We could use a defensive tackle!"
TV heads have now apologised to Simpson, who was subjected to media criticism for her rounder figure earlier this year (09).
A statement released by a Fox representative reads, "Upon reflection, our poor attempt at humour was insensitive and we deeply apologise to anyone who might have been offended".
Elton John regrets not losing his virginity until he was 23.
The pop legend - who married husband David Furnish in an extravagant civil ceremony in 2005 - wishes he hadn't waited so long until he started having sex.
He said: "I made the mistake of not having sex until I was 23! I loved being with another man and felt relieved that I finally knew who I was. I made the mistake of falling in love too soon because I was naive and romantic. My advice to you is to never chase love. It will find you when you least expect it. Have fun, have lots of safe sex and enjoy your sexuality. Be proud of who you are."
I made a lot of mistakes. Stay away from drugs, they're a waste of time. Stand up for every human being's rights. Be loving, kind and strong. Set an example. You're going to have one hell of a life!
The 'Candle in the Wind' singer revealed his sexual regrets when he was asked to write a letter to his 16-year-old self, to offer advice on how to be happy in life.
He wrote: "I made a lot of mistakes. Stay away from drugs, they're a waste of time. Stand up for every human being's rights. Be loving, kind and strong. Set an example. You're going to have one hell of a life!"
Elton's full note appears in Joseph Galliano's new book 'Dear me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self'.
Black Eyed Peas star Fergie is to release her own perfume through cosmetics company, Avon.
The singer joins Avon's already star-studded line-up, which includes Reese Witherspoon, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Hudson.
Fergie's fragrance is yet to be named, but will hit the market next year.
According to WWD Beauty , the exact composition of the perfume is also yet to be finalised, but Fergie describes the fragrance as "fresh and alluring".
"The vibe for the scent is for the woman who wears it to feel confident and not be afraid to be noticed," she says.
Actress Lindsay Lohan has had her probation for a drink driving conviction extended for one more year.
Lohan was ordered to appear in court after probation officials said she had missed some alcohol education classes.
The actress was told to complete an 18-month alcohol awareness programme in August 2007 after being convicted of drink driving and other charges.
Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, said there was confusion over when she would attend some sessions.
Mr Holley said his client had told officials she was leaving Los Angeles to work on a film in Texas but there was a misunderstanding about when she would return.
Prison time
Los Angeles Superior Court judge Marsha Revel accepted the explanation but added one year to Lohan's three-year probation sentence so that she could finish the programme, suggesting the actress complete it as soon as possible.
"This has to be a top priority," she told Lohan in court.
"I would love to congratulate you rather than admonish you," she added.
Lohan was arrested for driving under the influence in May 2007 and two months later was arrested again, this time for drink driving and cocaine possession.
She was sentenced to one day in jail, community service and three years probation to include the alcohol awareness sessions.
Beyonce attends a meet and greet for Japanese handbag designer Samantha Thavasa at Studio Mouris Roppongi in Tokyo, Japan on Friday (October 16).
The 28-year-old R&B singer is on the last legs of her “I Am” world tour and is currently performing in Asia with a few concerts in Japan followed by performances in China.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Beyonce will be collaborating with Lady Gaga for a video.
Penn Badgley is tall, dark and handsome covering Da Man Magazine’s October/November 2009 issue. Here are some highlights from Hollywood’s Coolest “It” Boy:
On getting (and turning down!) Gossip Girl: “When I was first offered the part, I respectfully declined! I had done a few other teen shows on the same network and was looking for something new, so I said it wasn’t for me. A few months later, [producer Stephanie Savage] came back and urged me to take another look at the script.”
On his most valued possession: “Definitely my turntables and my record collection.”
On how he deals with the craziness of shooting Gossip Girl: “This might sound jaded, but you adapt to it pretty quickly…It’s not something I think about so much anymore. With modern celebrity and the way the media is so hypersensitive these days, you can’t afford to think about it all the time.”
On dating Blake Lively in the spotlight: “Doing what we’re doing, it can be a potentially dangerous thing, but we have something that was worth the risk and have a great trust and passion for each other.”
Actor George Clooney has jokingly said that he’s planning to adopt some of Brad Pitt’s kids. The 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' actor, who has no kids of his own, has claimed that he owes Pitt a favour and is willing to help out with his six children.
"I am planning to adopt. I am going to adopt some of Brad Pitt's kids. I owe him," Contactmusic quoted him as saying. Previously, the actor revealed that he has no plans to become a father, but spends time with Brad and his partner Angelina Jolie and their kids whenever he feels lonely.
"Even one kid running around my villa makes me nervous, so I'm definitely not a candidate for father of the year.
If I need to surround myself with children and feel like I have this big extended family, I can always call Brad and Angelina and ask them to stay with me, just to remind myself why I'm so happy," he said.
Years ago, I became friends with two lovely young girls who worked on the night cleaning crew at my old job. We introduced ourselves with shy smiles over an emptied trash can and over time, something just clicked. We began to share stories (as best as we could through broken Spanish and English) and our talks turned from language lessons into a kind of sisterhood.
They welcomed me into their home, cooked wonderful meals like homemade flan and chicken mole and surrounded me with the kindness, warmth and generosity so characteristic of Mexican culture.
This story is about a mortifyingly embarrassing incident that happened when I helped them move into their new home.
They rented a basement apartment in a home full of other college students. On move-in day, I tried to explain in terribly broken Spanish that they might want to keep their bedroom door closed so no one would "think the wrong thing" if they saw the single tiny, obviously shared, bed. I didn't care that they slept together but I worried they might be treated harshly by homophobic roommates.
It took a long time for me to communicate this.
In my earnestness to protect them from possible prejudice, I pantomimed sex with my hands as stick figures, motioning towards the bed and then pointing out the lack of privacy (since anyone could walk through anytime).
They looked at me blankly, their beautiful dark eyes wide with innocence and eagerness to understand.
I kept working over the motions. Over and over again, the stick figures tangled together in unspeakably graphic acts (for stick figures) while other stick figures walked in on the scene, shocked.
Eventually one of them cocked her head. "Ah," she said, "I understand."
Satisfied, I smiled and relaxed, feeling the warmth that comes with connection and philanthropy, and drove home.
Then I found out they were lesbians.
Already familiar with the obstacles in society gay people face, they had told me they were related when we first met. And I never thought otherwise.
Frak.
I had just instructed two lovers NOT to sleep together.
I probably sounded like the exact homophobe I'd been railing against. I was horrified! Me, with my firm belief in equality, that love should be celebrated, that all people are equal and deserve to pursue happiness. My stick figures hung their heads in shame.
CRINGE.
Growing up Jewish, I have some sensitivity to what it's like to be an outsider.
It can be easier to be a minority if what makes you different doesn't stand out. (Although once in line at a supermarket, a woman in front of me gestured angrily at the slow cashier and remarked, "Those Italians? Almost as bad as them Jews!" (Incidentally, insulting both my nationality [or at least one of them] AND my religion.) But any judgment passed from one human being to another saddens me. And these two sweet girls were not immune.
When my Mexican friends turned to me, hurt at the cold shoulders and unfriendly attitudes of their peers, I didn't have words to explain this harsh aspect of human nature. "It's ignorance," I said gently, wishing the world were kinder. "Ah," they replied, nodding. "Ignorancia."
And that's how our lessons often went.
This story ends well. I cringed. They laughed at me affectionately and forgave me for my own ignorancia. And innocence. And all was right with the world.
But that's the last time I butt into anyone's sleeping arrangements! ;) __________________ More TMI Thursdays?
A former Bahamas senator accused of attempting to extort $25 million fromJohn Travolta has protested her innocence, telling a Nassau court she is"no devil".
Politician and lawyer Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne are on trial in the Bahamas on charges of conspiracy to extort moneyfrom the grieving actor after his teenage son Jett suffered a fatal seizure in January (09).
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport.
Travolta initially believed it would be faster to fly Jett to a hospital in Florida for treatment, but subsequently changedhis mind.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne supposedly planned to leak the document to the press, suggesting Travolta's actions had delayed treatment for his son.
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport
The defendants appeared in court on Wednesday (14Oct09) but refused to take the witness stand, choosing instead to read prepared unsworn statements directly to the jury.
Bridgewater claimed she had been set up by Travolta's legal team and subjected to ridicule since the allegations arose earlier this year (09).
She stated, "I maintain my innocence. I will be the first to say I am no saint. But I am no devil".
Lightbourne also declared his innocence, insisting he had no idea what extortion was and is still unclear as to its meaning.
As the one-year reign of Hugh Jackman as PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive winds down, it's time to pass the crown to a new deserving hunk. So who does the Australian screen star, Oscar host and current Broadway leading man want to see take the title next?
