Tuneless Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese will never be a pop star because she can't sing and dance at the same time.

The burlesque dancer - who was previously married to goth rocker Marilyn Manson - has refused offers to launch a music career because she can't multi task on stage.

She said: "I'm not a good singer. I have recorded some songs in that Marilyn Monroe style but I lip synched them when I performed them at The Crazy Horse Paris. It would be much too difficult to sing and dance burlesque at the same time!

"I know myself and what makes me different. No one could sell me an idea of a formula for success for a pop star. No one could talk me into that."

Dita has also slammed the new crop of rival burlesque performers, claiming she is more committed to the profession because she was in the industry before it became popular.

The 37-year-old brunette beauty explained to graziadaily.co.uk: "I started performing in 1991 before it was cool. I've loved it and worked hard. It could be that or it could be luck and being in the right place at the right time. But I like to think it's because I've worked hard and not just cashed in on what's cool at the time."

taken from : China Daily

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Vince Vaughn victorious with "Couples Retreat"

Cast member Malin Akerman poses at the premiere of the movie "Couples Retreat" at the Mann's Village theatre in Westwood, California, October 5, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 9. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - The critically maligned Vince Vaughn comedy "Couples Retreat" easily took the top spot at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, helped by the absence of any other new releases.

The film earned $35.3 million during the three days beginning on Friday, confounding industry forecasts of an opening in the $20 million range.

Paradoxically, the Universal Pictures project was released four days after studio chiefs David Linde and Marc Shmuger were ousted from the General Electric Co unit in the wake of a dismal summer at the box office.

Vaughn stars as one half of a couple who join three other couples on a tropical island for some counseling. He co-wrote the script with his "Swingers" co-star Jon Favreau, who also appears, alongside the likes of Kristin Davis and Jason Bateman.

It marks Vaughn's best opening since "The Break-Up" launched with $39 million in 2006. But critics overwhelmingly trashed the picture. Time magazine said it was "offensive." USA Today said it was "tedious."

Universal said women accounted for 61 percent of the audience, while 56 percent of the audience was aged 30 and older.

One other film arguably made a bigger splash, a low-budget horror flick driven almost exclusively by fan-driven word-of-mouth. Paramount Pictures' "Paranormal Activity" jumped 15 places to No. 5 after earning $7.1 million in just 160 theaters. The top three films, by contrast, were each in about 3,000 theaters.

For the past two weekends, the scary-house film played to sellout crowds at midnight-only screenings in a handful of markets determined by online balloting.

Taking a page from the playbook of the underground smash 1999's "The Blair Witch Project," the Viacom Inc unit is letting the fans do the marketing through such social-networking sites as Twitter. Its own marketing costs have been minimal.

"Most people found out about this through the recommendation of a friend," said Rob Moore, the studio's vice chairman.

Paramount bought the $15,000 movie last year at the Slamdance Film Festival, an indie rival of the concurrent Sundance festival in Utah.

Last weekend's top film, "Zombieland," slipped to No. 2 with $15 million, while past two-time champ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" was down one to No. 3 with $12 million. The respective totals for the Columbia Pictures releases stand at $47.8 million and $96.3 million. Columbia is a unit of Sony Corp.

Walt Disney Co's 3D reissue of the hit Pixar cartoons "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" was also down one, to No. 4, with $7.7 million; its 10-day tally rose to $22.7 million.

taken from : China Daily

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Jude Law's family apology

Jude Law has reportedly apologised to his family after DNA tests "conclusively" prove he has fathered another child.

The 36-year-old actor has been officially told that he is the father of Samantha Burke's daughter Sophia, who was born last month following a brief fling with the aspiring actress.

Samantha's agent Eileen Koch said: "Samantha can confirm that DNA testing has conclusively established that Jude Law is Sophia's father. Check back in six months. Maybe she and Jude will be getting married."

Jude now faces paying maintenance for Sophia's upbringing, which experts expect will total over £2 million, prompting the 'Sherlock Holmes' star to reassure his children Rafferty, 14, Iris, eight, and Rudy, seven - his kids with former wife Sadie Frost - that the news will not affect his relationship with them.

A source told the Mail Online website: "He told Sadie that he only slept with her once. But now he has confirmed to her and his children that the child is his. He has reassured the children it will not affect their family times together."

Another source added: "Sadie is livid. She feels that he has put unnecessary pressure and upset on to the children and has put himself under financial strain, which impinges on their life."

A spokesperson for the star said she was aware of the DNA test statement but refused to comment further.

She said: "We don't discuss this. We consider it an entirely private matter."

Jude and Sadie divorced six years ago, but remain close friends.

The actor met Samantha, 24, while he was filming in New York late last year.

A few months later, she phoned to tell him she was pregnant.

taken from : China Daily

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Robert Pattinson's Jackman karaoke

Robert Pattinson lost a karaoke contest to Hugh Jackman.

The British actor is set to star in 'Unbound Captives' with the 'X Men Origins: Wolverine' star and revealed they bonded by seeing who could perform the best renditions of classic tracks by Swedish group Abba.

Robert said: "We met up in Japan and we went karaoke singing. We were singing Abba songs, it was pretty funny. It was sort of an Abba song sing-off, you know, last man standing.

"I think he won, only because he can drink more than me and still sing in tune. He's a cool guy and I'm really looking forward to that film."

Robert has previously shown his musical side by recording songs for the 'Twilight' soundtrack and, despite also featuring in the music for sequel 'Twilight Saga: New Moon', says he felt like "a t****r" when the movie came out.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: "When the first film came out I felt like a complete t****r. It looked like I was trying to be cool or something, like Eminem. You know, be in a movie and then do a song for the soundtrack. But I didn't look cool, I just looked ridiculous."

taken from : China Daily

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Katie Holmes chooses Suri school

Katie Holmes has enrolled her daughter in a Catholic school.

The 'Thank You For Smoking' actress reportedly infuriated Scientologist husband Tom Cruise with her insistence that three-year-old Suri attend the Catholic Charities Yawkey Centre For Early Education And Learning in Boston, Massachusetts.

A source close to the couple - who are living in Boston while Tom shoots his latest movie 'Wichita' - told the Mail Online website: "Katie has been listening to her parents who are devout Catholics.

"She is not convinced by Scientology and has told Tom that she wants Suri to be educated as a Catholic - as she was.

"They had been having huge problems agreeing on her school. To say they were having arguments it putting it mildly - but Tom came around to the idea in the end."

Katie has reportedly not been seen at the Church of Scientology for more than five months.

Tom was raised Catholic but converted to the bizarre sci-fi cult in 1990.

taken from : China Daily

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Stella McCartney show taps into family memories

A model presents a creation by British designer Stella McCartney as part of her Spring/Summer 2010 women's collection during Paris Fashion Week October 5, 2009.[Agencies]

PARIS - Stella McCartney paid homage to her famous parents with a collection of 1970s bohemian dresses, loose jumpsuits and high-waisted trousers on Monday.

Her father, former Beatle Paul McCartney, sat beaming in the front row, watching models sashay past in vibrant red ruffled sun dresses and low cork wedge heels named after his late wife Linda, the designer's mother.

"It was as fabulous as ever, it was inventive, beautiful and feminine -- and she's my baby," Paul McCartney told reporters after the show.

The collection featured plenty of Stella McCartney's trademark casual, wearable clothes, which is likely to cheer executives at the Gucci Group, owner of the brand.

Masculine blazers, shirt dresses and a loose jumpsuit were meant to evoke a "summer elegance and energy," she told Reuters, while the shoes were inspired by her mother.

"I'm always inspired by my mum," Stella McCartney said backstage. "I wanted to capture a woman that's naturally confident enough with herself to wear a lower heel, and I think we got that, and that's the Linda shoe."

There have been few surprises at the spring/summer 2010 shows, with designers following a commercial lead, digging into their archives and opting for flattering, feminine cuts.

One of the more challenging looks for next summer is the 1950s-style high-waisted culotte, which was seen in Milan and re-appeared in Paris at a series of shows including McCartney, Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Ron Frasch, president and chief merchandising officer of Saks Fifth Avenue, said buyers for the big department stores were still cautious and looking for clothes with an emotional appeal to consumers.

"Designers are going back to what they do well," he told Reuters at the Giambattista Valli show on Monday.

taken from : China Daily

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Guy Ritchie still loves Madonna

Guy Ritchie says he still loves "retarded" Madonna.

The British film director has deep feelings for his ex-wife - who he split from last year after almost eight years of marriage - and admits he has found the separation extremely difficult.

He said: "Here you go: I still love her. Of course, but she's retarded, too.

"You can't tell someone when they're getting divorced that their pain is an illusion. I'm f***ing telling you, I feel it. I've been through that... No one can say you don't feel that."

The 41-year-old star - who raises three children with Madonna - also hugely admires the 51-year-old singer's work ethic.

He added to Esquire magazine: "She's a manifester, if there ever was one. First-rate manifester. Madonna makes things happen. Put Madonna up against any 23-year-old, she'll outwork them, outdance them and outperform them."

Guy insists he never thought of her as a superstar when they were together, because to him she was just the woman he was in love with.

Discussing their decision to live in London, Guy revealed: "Madonna, when she came to the UK, it was old-school London. No one bothered her. 'Hello, darling. How are you, darling? What can we get you?' It was fundamental, old-school. It didn't matter who she was. She was my wife."

taken from : China Daily

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Kate Hudson's A-Rod wedding

Kate Hudson is set to marry Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez.

The 'Fool's Gold' actress is delighted with the way her romance with the baseball star - who she has been dating since May - is progressing and friends are expecting the couple to announce their engagement in the near future.

A source said: "Kate is head over heels for Alex and he feels the same way. As long as things continue to be so great, they will get married. They are practically there already with the shared homes, the children and balancing work."

Kate and Alex have just moved in together in New York and are taking steps to help their children bond.

Kate has a five-year-old son Ryder with her ex-husband, Black Crowes rocker Chris Robinson, while Alex is father to Natasha, four, and 16-month-old Ella, his kids with former spouse Cynthia.

The source added to the FOX 411 blog: "Kate will spend every free minute with him and she happily brings her son along with her to games and on trips to be with Alex.

"They are sharing one of her Los Angeles homes and his New York bachelor pad, but recently they have moved into a second home in Purchase, New York. Alex has to be close to New York for work and his daughters.

"Kate wanted Ryder to meet Alex's daughters, and now the three kids play together. They make an adorable family. He makes plenty of time for family meals, and especially dates with Kate."

taken from : China Daily

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Madonna wins damages in UK over wedding pics

Madonna speaks about Michael Jackson at the start of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, September 13, 2009.[Agencies]

LONDON - Madonna won substantial damages from a British paper on Tuesday for breaching her privacy and infringement of copyright by publishing "purloined" photos of her 2000 wedding to film director Guy Ritchie.

The singer, who has just completed her "Sticky & Sweet" year-long world tour, was not at London's High Court for the settlement of her action against the publishers of the Mail Sunday tabloid.

Her lawyer John Kelly told the court she would be donating the undisclosed damages to her Raising Malawi charity.

Kelly said the singer had gone to great pains to ensure that her wedding to her now ex-husband Ritchie in December 2000 had been wholly private.

But in 2003 an interior designer, who was working on her home in Beverly Hills, surreptitiously copied at least 27 photos from the wedding album and provided them to a third party who, in June 2008, offered to sell them to the Mail Sunday.

Kelly said that the newspaper did not purchase them at that time but waited until October 2008, when Madonna had announced that she was divorcing the British director and there was huge media interest about her marriage.

Just three days after she had announced her divorce, the paper published 10 of the photos.

Kelly said Madonna had chosen not to sell her wedding photos to the media.

"It was far more important to the claimant that the privacy of the occasion was maintained," he said, adding that until the newspaper's actions, no photos of the wedding had been published anywhere in the world.

A lawyer for the Mail on Sunday said it accepted that it had been wrong and offered its sincere apologies to Madonna and her family.

taken from : China Daily

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Michael Jackson 'controlled' by staff

Michael Jackson's thoughts and actions were "controlled" by his team of minders.

The late pop star's sister La Toya broke down October 5 as she revealed Michael's staff had brainwashed the timid singer.

She told UK TV show 'GMTV': "Michael was very meek and very kind and people would just barge their way into his life. People controlled him. They did what they wanted and it was very difficult for him to say no. We've tried so many times to intervene but they keep everybody at bay, they keep everyone away actually."

When asked exactly how Michael's staff had influenced him, La Toya replied: "By controlling him. By controlling his thoughts, controlling what he does, not letting anyone through the gates. We couldn't even get near security."

Michael - who was allegedly addicted to prescription medications - passed away aged 50 on June 25 from acute Propofol intoxication.

Propofol is a powerful anaesthetic used to put surgery patients to sleep in hospital.

Los Angeles police are currently carrying out a homicide investigation into Michael's death.

La Toya said the family is pleased with how this is progressing and are looking forward to the truth about the 'Thriller' singer's life.

She said: "I think the police are doing an absolutely wonderful job. You guys are going to get really, really different information and news that you're not aware of. More will be revealed probably within the next month or two."

taken from : China Daily

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Video shown in John Travolta case

Jurors in the John Travolta extortion trial have been played videos of the defendants planning the £18 million payout plot.

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne - who treated Travolta's 16-year-old son Jett after the seizure which ultimately killed him in January - and his lawyer Pleasant Bridgewater are seen discussing their alleged demands with Travolta's attorney Michael McDermott in the secretly-taped footage.

McDermott - who was wearing a wire in co-operation with Bahamian police - is seen in a meeting with Lightbourne with Bridgewater on the phone.

McDermott said: "You know what were both doing here, OK?"

Lightbourne nodded and replied: "Yes."

McDermott added: "It's a criminal offence."

Lightbourne said: "Yes."

McDermott replied: "OK. If we get caught, we're both in trouble."

Lightbourne and Bridgewater both deny charges of attempting to extort and conspiring to extort by means of threats.

The footage is being used to show Lightbourne and Bridgewater tried to force Travolta to pay them to stop them releasing a document the actor had signed which said he didn't want Jett taken to a nearby hospital in the Bahamas for treatment.

Travolta, 55, has already testified that Jett was actually taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In the first tape, which was recorded on January 19, Bridgewater discusses Lightbourne's request for money.

In the second, made on the following day, Lightbourne and McDermott are seen trying to make the deal.

McDermott says to Bridgewater: "That's like a pick-up truck full of money."

Bridgewater is seen calling Lightbourne to tell him McDermott has offered £156,000, but he turns down the offer.

After offering more money, McDermott became exasperated and said: "If that ain't going to do it for the guy, then to hell with him. We will make sure that he's a pariah in the Islands of the Bahamas, OK? We will make sure that he doesn't go anywhere people don't know who he is. The name of Benedict Arnold will be, you know, pale in comparison with the name of Tarino Lightbourne."

The trial continues.

taken from : China Daily

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Cruise family takes a stroll

Tom Cruise with Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise seen walking in Boston, Massachusetts, USA,October 04, 2009.[CFP]

taken from : China Daily

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"Zombieland" top destination at box office f

Cast member Jesse Eisenberg attends the premiere of the film "Zombieland" in Los Angeles September 23, 2009. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES– Woody Harrelson scored the biggest opening of his career at the North American box office, as "Zombieland" stormed theaters with weekend ticket sales of $25 million, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.

The comedy ended the two-week reign of children's comedy "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," which slipped to No. 2 with $16.7 million. Both films were released by Columbia Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.

Four other new releases entered the top-10. A 3-D reissue of the Pixar cartoons, "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," opened at No. 3 with $12.5 million. The release was designed to stoke anticipation of the June 2010 arrival of "Toy Story 3."

British comedian Ricky Gervais' "The Invention of Lying" followed with a modest $7.4 million, slightly ahead of Bruce Willis' "Surrogates," which is in its second weekend. Rankings could change when final data are released on Monday.

Two entries tied at No. 7: Drew Barrymore's directing debut, "Whip It," and documentary filmmaker Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" each reported about $4.9 million in ticket sales.

"Capitalism" played in almost twice as many theaters as "Whip It," which had been expected to open in the high-single-digit millions ahead of the Gervais comedy.

"Zombieland," bolstered by strong reviews and advance buzz, matched its modest production budget.

Harrelson, who rose to fame in the sitcom "Cheers," stars as a gung-ho zombie killer who joins an obsessive-compulsive nerd, played by Jesse Eisenberg, during a worldwide zombie epidemic. It marks the debut of director Ruben Fleischer.

"It's an action-driven road-trip buddy comedy, and the icing on the cake is that it's got zombies in it," said Rory Bruer, Columbia's president of worldwide distribution.

Harrelson has kept a low profile at the box office in recent years, living in Hawaii with his wife and daughters and advocating for the legalization of marijuana. His best opening until now was the $18 million debut of "Indecent Proposal" in 1993.

"Toy Story/Toy Story 2" was released by Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. "The Invention of Lying" was released by Warner Bros Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

"Capitalism: A Love Story" was released by Overture Films, a unit of Liberty Media Corp. "Whip It" was released by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.

taken from : China Daily

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Justin Timberlake 're-evaluates' romance

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are "re-evaluating" their relationship.

The couple, who have been dating for around two-and-a-half years, are believed to be going through a rocky patch, but friends have denied claims they have already split. A source said: "Things have been a bit up in the air recently.

They've been spending more time apart - more time with each of their friends, and they've been re-evaluating their relationship." Last month, 27-year-old Jessica attended the Los Angeles wrap party for new movie 'Valentine's Day' alone. Justin, 28, was spotted partying with pals in West Hollywood days later. Another source claimed: "They're together.

They're not breaking up. Any time they spend time apart it's because they're working." Recent reports have claimed the pair split up to a month ago, but are not ready to go public with the news.

Us Weekly magazine claims: "After nearly three rocky years, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have called it quits. "A mutual pal of the pair tells us that Justin has told friends, 'It's over,' and that he ended it for good - over the phone." It has also been suggested Justin has grown close to singer Rihanna, 21, while they have been working on new music together.

The star's close friendship reportedly put increased strain on his relationship with Jessica. Justin and Jessica are currently in Santa Barbara together, and were spotted enjoying a romantic meal on Monday night (28.09.09).

A source told gossip website X17Online: "They tried to fly under the radar when they sat down for their meal, but they certainly didn't act like a couple who had just broken up! Justin and Jessica held hands and gazed into each others eyes during dinner, and they seemed very relaxed. No signs of drama here!"

taken from : China Daily

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Kendra Wilkinson's ballooning breasts

Kendra Wilkinson thinks her breasts are "gross". The former Playboy playmate - who is due to give birth to her first child, a boy to be called Hank IV, with her American football star husband Hank Baskett on Christmas Day (25.12.09) - is devastated with the effect pregnancy has had on her assets.

She said: "I want my boobs to stop growing. They're kind of gross. I know they'll shrink after I breastfeed, but if they don't, I might get a breast reduction." However, the 24-year-old star is thrilled with the way other parts of her body have changed.

She has piled on 40lbs during the pregnancy, and revealed she now has a much curvier posterior. She explained to Us Weekly magazine: "I'm so happy. Hank checks out my butt. He's like, 'Yeah, look at this baby now!' " Kendra and Hank are currently house hunting in Indiana after Hank moved teams from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Indianapolis Colts.

Kendra revealed Hank's teammates' wives have helped her find a new doctor, and she is sure all the excitement has had an effect on Hank IV. She said: "It's so weird. His eyes are starting to open, his lungs are fully developed, and he's antsier. He's kicking!"

taken from : China Daily

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Madonna races away from marriage

Madonna would rather "get run over by a train" than marry again.

The 'Celebration' singer - whose eight-year marriage to movie director Guy Ritchie ended in December - has dispelled rumours she is planning to wed her 22-year-old boyfriend Jesus Luz and claims marriage is the last thing on her mind.

When US talk show host David Letterman asked about possible future nuptials, she replied: "I think I'd rather get run over by a train." However the 51-year-old star - who has daughter Lourdes, 12, son Rocco, nine, and adopted children, David and Mercy, both four - admitted there are some aspects of married life she misses.

She said: "Being a single parent means you're kind of in charge of everything. You can't say, 'Hey, can you give the kids a bath while I do something else.' There's no job sharing." The pop star - who was previously married to actor Sean Penn - also revealed she looked like a "fool" when she appeared on David's show in the 90s because she had smoked a "joint", a slang term commonly used for a cannabis-laced cigarette, before the interview.

She said: "I think I may have made a fool of myself once or twice on your show. But it wasn't that I was excited about you. I think it may have had something to do with the joint I smoked before I came on. But I didn't inhale so it doesn't count really!"

taken from : China Daily

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Kanye West, Lady Gaga tour canceled

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kanye West’s tour with Lady Gaga has been canceled.

“Live Nation announced today that the Kanye West and Lady Gaga ‘Fame Kills’ tour has been canceled,” the tour promoters said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

No details were available to explain the cancellation.

The three month-long trek was set to begin on Sunday.

Last month, the rapper interrupted 19-year-old Taylor West as she accepted her Best Female Video award at the MTV Video Music Awards. A day later, while on “The Jay Leno Show,” the rapper told the host that he planned to take a break.

“I need to, after this, just take some time off and analyze how I’m [going to] make it through the rest of this life, how I’m [going to] improve and because I am a celebrity and that’s something I have to deal with,” Kanye previously told Jay. “And if there’s anything I can do to help Taylor in the future or help anyone I like, ‘cause you know, I [want to] live, this thing is hard.”

taken from : China Daily

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Kristen Stewart on ‘The Twilight Saga’: I take Bella ‘to the next level’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- “Twilight” fans who think they’ve seen it all should get ready for more, according to franchise star Kristen Stewart.

In the October issue of Interview magazine, the star told interviewer Dennis Hopper – in a conversation conducted before the actor’s recent hospital stay – that she’s taking her character up a notch.

“Usually, at the end of a film it’s like I’ve finally gotten to know this person completely, and then we’re done,” Kristen explained. “That actually happened on the set of ‘Twilight,’ and then it happened again on ‘New Moon.’ Each time my character Bella [Swan] became a different person, and I got to know that person and take her to the next level.”

But with millions of fans of the books and film franchise waiting to see where the movies will go next, Kristen said being Bella isn’t easy.

“I have a responsibility… to everyone who has personal involvement in the books—and now that spans the world. It’s an insane concept,” she said. “All of these girls who are fans personally feel like they encapsulate that character. So it’s like, ‘How the hell am I going to do that for all of them? It’s impossible!’ But I’ve decided, if you’re just unabashedly honest all of the time, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

With filming in progress for the third installment, “Eclipse,” Kristen said that though the movies are filled with vampires and werewolves, they could’ve gone even darker.

“The movies aren’t that dark, as much as we’d all have loved to have made those films,” she said, explaining that they had to connect with fans of every age. “You always have to realize that the story needs to make sense to the 11-year-olds who read the book and aren’t necessarily going to be viewing a scene as foreplay. But then there is the other segment of the audience—a large percentage—who does see the scene as foreplay. And it’s pretty deep, heady foreplay. So it’s fun to play it both ways.”

Being in the public eye – and the tabloids – has been less fun for the actress, who said she spends most of her nights in her hotel room.

“The only way for me not to have somebody know where I went the night before is if I didn’t go out at all. So that’s what I’m trading. It depends what mood I’m in,” she said. “Some nights, I think, ‘You know what? I don’t care. I’m just going to do what I want to do.’ Then the next day I think, ‘Ugh. Now everyone thinks I’m going out to get the attention.’ But it’s like, no, I actually, for a second, thought that maybe I could be like a normal person.”

The next installment in “The Twilight Saga,” “New Moon,” hits theaters on November 20.

taken from : China Daily

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LeBlanc to play LeBlanc in TV spoof "Episodes"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Matt LeBlanc is reteaming with "Friends" co-creator David Crane for "Episodes," a Showtime/BBC comedy series spoofing the TV business.

Showtime has ordered six half-hour episode of the series, which Crane created with Jeffrey Klarik, for a 2010 premiere on Showtime and BBC Two.

"Episodes," which will start production in January in London and Los Angeles, centers on a successful British husband-and-wife comedy team thrilled by the prospect of producing an U.S. version of their hit series. But they are soon forced to replace the erudite British lead in the original with the quintessential U.S. comedy star, Matt LeBlanc, who will be playing a version of himself. They sink deeper into the quicksand that is the Hollywood TV business, ruled by a legion of network and studio executives.

"We jumped at the chance to get involved with this cockeyed look at network television told through the eyes of unsuspecting British producers who don't know what hit them when they enter the lion's den of Hollywood," Showtime entertainment president Robert Greenblatt said.

TV veterans Klarik and Crane said they will draw upon their experiences of dealing with "too many cooks" in bringing a series to the screen.

LeBlanc's role was written for him after Crane and Klarik approached the actor early in the process. He came on board right away. "I am so glad I got the part; seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating," he quipped.

The plot of "Episodes" is not without real-life parallels; for example, NBC struggled to adapt the U.K. hit "Coupling" before scoring gold with its version of British favorite "The Office."

Skewing show business has been a popular comedy theme for the premium cable networks, which have been populated by shows such as "Entourage," "Extras," "The Comeback" (which starred another former "Friends" star, Lisa Kudrow) and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO and "Fat Actress" on Showtime."

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)

taken from : China Daily

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A-list young actors have thirst for "Wettest County"

U.S. actress Scarlett Johansson poses for photographers at Selfridges department store in Oxford Street where she made a promotional appearance, in central London July 31, 2009. REUTERS/Stefan WermuthReuters

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "The Wettest County in the World," a film project about Depression-era bootleggers, is making waves among some of Hollywood's leading young actors, who are drawn to its colorful setting, mystery elements and meaty roles.

"Wettest" is a sweeping, historical crime drama of the American South, based on author Matt Bondurant's grandfather and two great-uncles -- three brothers who made up a fierce criminal gang at the center of the country's moonshine trade. The book also tracks a parallel story involving the writer Sherwood Anderson, who was on the trail of the bootlegging story, reporting on the moonshine trade and researching his novel "Kit Brandon," published in 1936.

The movie, from Red Wagon and "The Road" director John Hillcoat, was set up at Columbia Pictures about a year and a half ago but has since been dropped by the studio. It's now in the process of being reconfigured as an indie, with financing still coming together.

But the project's ups and downs haven't stopped it from becoming the brass ring for the next generation of Hollywood A-listers.

Shia LaBeouf, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Gosling are among the actors whose names have been presented to talent representatives and Hollywood executives as being associated with the project, though none is officially on board. Paul Dano and Michael Shannon are two other actors whose names have surfaced in connection with the project.

These actors, none of whom is over age 35, have seven Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and three of the top 10 highest-grossing movies since 2007 to their credit.

The project, observers say, shows that even as studios take fewer risks, worthy projects will be sustained by actors.

Red Wagon is the Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher banner that was behind such pictures as "Jarhead" and "Girl, Interrupted" and two upcoming films -- the "Jekyll" reboot at Universal and the Adam Shankman-produced new take on "Bye Bye Birdie."

taken from : omg.yahoo.com

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