Abbie Cornish : Madonna is a Natural Director / film maker

Madonna is a "natural" filmmaker.

Abbie Cornish - who stars the singer's new directorial effort 'W.E.', about the story of Britain's King Edward VIII and his American wife Wallis Simpson - confesses she was great to work with because she really "loves" learning and was "very well read".

She revealed: "Madonna is natural director. It's in her nature. She's a Leo and she really represents the Leos very well.

"She's a very smart woman, very well read. She really absorbs a lot about whatever she's involved in.

Madonna is natural director. It's in her nature. She's a Leo and she really represents the Leos very well.

"I think she really loves learning. It was interesting to see her evolve throughout the filmmaking process. She's such a cool woman."

Abbie, who plays Wally Winthrop in the two-tier story taking place over separate timelines, also reveals Madonna's 14-year-old daughter Lourdes portrays a younger version of her character in the movie.

She added to MTV.com: "She actually plays a younger version of my character. She's a super-cute, younger version of my character."

Music producer William Orbit - who has provided two songs for the score of the movie - recently claimed the movie was Oscar-worthy and could see Madonna land a nomination for Best Director at the Academy Awards next year.

He said: "It's definitely Oscar-worthy and I'm not just saying that. I wouldn't comment on her past acting abilities so you know by me saying what I have that it's really a great film. I definitely think Madonna could be up for an Oscar for Best Director."

Tags: Abbie Cornish, Madonna, Director, Film Maker, Natural, King, Interesting, Character, Producer

Madonna Prepares to Launch Fitness Chain

Fitness fanatic Madonna is preparing to open the doors to her first gym in Mexico City next month (Nov10).

The pop superstar, famed for her toned physique, is making plans to open Hard Candy Fitness global gyms in major cities around the world and will fly to Mexico to officially launch her first centre in Bosques de las Lomas.

Her manager Guy Oseary says, "Madonna's world tours have taken us to many of our favourite cities around the world. We are looking forward to opening Hard Candy Fitness in many of these same places".

Madonna's world tours have taken us to many of our favourite cities around the world. We are looking forward to opening Hard Candy Fitness in many of these same places

The gym will be equipped with dance, bike and yoga studios, saunas and steam rooms, as well as a juice bar.

The Material Girl also hopes to open 10 more locations in Argentina, Russia, Brazil and throughout Europe and Asia.

Tags: Madonna, Mexico, Studios, Argentina, Russia, Brazil, Europe, Asia

Madonna prowls around with eye-popping cleavage on show in Dolce&Gabanna advert

Madonna prowls around with eye-popping cleavage on show in Dolce&Gabanna advert

Just in case anyone needed reminding, Madonna has once again set out to prove she's not letting age change her ways.


The 52-year-old has posed for yet another racy Dolce&Gabanna advert, this time while wearing an incredibly low-cut black body suit and hold-up stockings.


Accessorised with sunglasses, a crucifix and a red string Kabbalah bracelet, she prowls around an unmade bed with her cleavage threatening to spill out of her lingerie.


In another frame, she reclines on white sheets accompanied by a black and white cat.


Madonna struck up a friendship with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana while she was filming Dick Tracy in the early Nineties and they were invited to designer her costumes for The Girlie Show tour in 1993.


The Italian designer duo announced their new collaboration with Madonna last year, which came after she spent her birthday with the pair on-board this yacht in Italy last August.


They said at the time: 'To have Madonna in our campaign is a dream come true.'


Madonna has since launched a fashion label of her own with her teen daughter Lourdes called Material Girl.


Meanwhile, there are mounting rumours Madonna will be performing on the X Factor's first live broadcast on October 9.


The show is already renowned for drawing in some of the biggest names in the music business, with past performers including Beyonce, who dueted with 2008 winner Alexandra Burke on the programme.


A source told the Daily Mirror that she has verbally agreed to appear on the show, saying: 'Madonna would be perfect to kick-off the last stage of the competition.'

Madonna in sexy shoot without airbrushing

Hollywood stars are often criticised for resorting to airbrush to look picture perfect but in a rare move 'Queen of Pop' Madonna decided to ditch retouching for a magazine spread.

The 50-year-old singer seductively tugs at her underwear, kisses a crucifix and puts on an eye-patch for a series of flattering photographs for Interview magazine. But judging by the indentations left by fishnets still visible across her midriff, it seems that Madonna did not go for airbrush this time, Daily Mail reported.

The photographs come as a surprise as Madonna has appeared in so many airbrushed campaigns over the years, recently for the likes of Louis Vuitton.

The recent pictures show Madonna in all her glory and a dash of good lighting has ensured that the singer looks youthful.

The photographs were shot by Mert Atlas and Marcus Piggot for a spread in the June edition of Interview magazine.

Other celebrities, who have ditched photoshop, to appear natural include Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, who went make-up free for a magazine cover

Madonna Is Raising Malawi

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.”