Actress Natalie Portman is said to have been disappointed she was not invited to attend the 30th anniversary of Star Wars in Los Angeles earlier this month, because she would have loved to join in the celebrations.

The 25-year-old Israeli-born beauty plays Queen Amidala in the three film prequels, and is saddened she was snubbed for California’s five-day Star Wars Celebration IV last week.

Jazz songstress Amy Winehouse is set to duet with music legend Sir Elton John.

According to an industry insider, Sir Elton is smitten with the recently wed north Londoner and wants to work with her.

Earlier this month, Winehouse apologised to the Rocket Man hitmaker for cancelling a gig which he was going to see her perform in London.

Actress Maureen Lipman has been awarded by the British Listening Books charity for setting an example of the perfect English language role model.

The Pianist and BT television commercial star was honoured for using the language “as an instrument of gaiety and fun as well as learning” at the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts in Hay-on-Wye in Wales.

She is only the third person to be awarded the annual prize by the charity.