Archive for February, 2008

Amy WinehouseTroubled singer Amy Winehouse has followed through on her promise to move in a bid to escape her drugs past.

The Back to Black hitmaker refused to return to either of her two London homes after she was admitted to a rehabilitation centre last month  - fearing the temptations of her former party lifestyle will hamper her recent rehab progress.

Actresses Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson passed time on the set of new movie The Other Boleyn Girlby practicing their best dance moves - in 16th-century costumes.

Johansson, who plays Portman’s sister in the historical drama, has described her 26-year-old co-star as a “good dancer” and claims she was the most likely to perform an impromptu routine on set.

But Portman insists it was the Lost In Translation star who stole the limelight with her “booty dance”.

Carly Simon has become the latest star to join the ranks of coffee chain Starbucks’ record label roster.

The You’re So Vain singer has joined former lover James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Sir Paul McCartney after announcing her new album, This Kind Of Love, will be released by Hear Music in April.

The album features collaborations with revered songwriter Jimmy Webb and Frank Filipetti, who joined Simon for her late-1990s Film Noir album, and tracks written by the singer’s children Sally and Ben.

Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis is confident he could win Jungle-based reality TV series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The star, who picked up an Academy Award for Best Actor on Sunday, insists he has learned a slew of skills during his film career which would bode well for an appearance on the jungle-based show, which sees celebrities forced to perform gruesome tasks, including eating live bugs.

William Shatner has chosen not to sell the hip bone he recently had replaced - because it would be in bad taste.

The former Star Trek star sold a kidney stone for $75,000 last year, and donated the proceeds - together with $20,000 from his Boston Legal co-stars, to Habitat For Humanity for the organisation’s house building programme in devastated New Orleans, Louisiana.

Jewish musicians Lou Reed, Billy Joel and Ben Harper will join Justin Timberlake as presenters at next month’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

As previously reported, Madonna has asked Timberlake to honour her at the 10 March ceremony in New York, while Reed will induct Leonard Cohen, Joel will pay tribute to John Mellencamp and Ben Harper will induct Little Walter.

Ben Harper Billy Joel Loud Reed

The producers of West End hit Boeing Boeing have slammed reports SARAH JESSICA PARKER is due to take to the stage in the show when it opens on Broadway this spring (Apr08).

Reports suggested the Sex And The City star would open the comedy, which is currently running in London, when it debuts at at New York’s Longacre Theatre.

Parker has even been quoted, stating she wanted the part - as an Italian air hostess.

Gene SimmonsKiss frontman Gene Simmons says he has long been aware of the tape allegedly showing him having sex with a model - because the people behind it have tried to blackmail him with the footage before.

The rocker, who has been with his long-term partner Shannon Tweed, the mother of his two children, for over 20 years, is currently embroiled in legal action over the video footage, which claims to show Simmons having sex with a model.

Singer-turned-TV presenter Paula Abdul is unfazed by criticism of her lip-synched set at the Super Bowl earlier this month - because she is convinced she gave the performance of a lifetime.

The 45-year-old’s taped performance of new song Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow marked her first singing appearance in more than a decade - and she was determined to prove she is still a first-class entertainer, despite not singing live.

Mark RonsonBrit Awards winner Mark Ronson has hit out at the organisers of the Grammys for not letting celebrities drink alcohol at the music Oscars.

The producer/DJ admits he had much more fun at the Brits - because he was allowed to booze.

“They don’t serve booze in the Staples Center,” he said. “At those awards thingys in Europe, they encourage you to get tanked.”

Mark Ronson

Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis is thrilled his “I drink your milkshake” line from Thyere Will Be Blood has become part of popular culture.

The Internet has been inundated with parodies and imitations and US satirical show Saturday Night Live poked fun at the actor and his phrase on Saturday.

Day-Lewis, who won his Best Actor prize on Sunday for his role as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, insists he doesn’t mind being a figure of fun.

Coen BrothersDark thriller No Country For Old Men was the big winner at the 80th Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday, after claiming four of the eight prizes the film was nominated for.

As well as being named the Best Motion Picture, siblings Joel and Ethan Coen claimed the night’s Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay trophies, and Javier Bardem took home the Best Supporting Actor honour for his portrayal of the film’s psychotic killer, Anton Chigurh.

Natalie PortmanActress Natalie Portman has revealed her all time favourite co-star is Stephen Fry.

“I wanted to spend all my time with him. He is awesome,” the Star Wars beauty revealed to The Times when they shared a screen in V for Vendetta.

Portman says she appreciates his intellect and believes they have a similar personality. “I would much rather read a book or write a letter than watch television or send an e-mail. And I value good spelling. Spelling errors are a total pet peeve, which is embarrassing.”

Gene SimmonsKiss star Gene Simmons is poised to shock the literary world with his latest book - a frank history of prostitution.

The tome - entitled Ladies Of The Night - will offer readers a historical insight into the world’s oldest profession, plus Simmons’ take on the trade from a very personal perspective.

“They (prostitutes) make a very good living doing what biology dictates, which is they charge for their companionship,” he says.