GreatHollywood.com

London, Feb 25 (IANS) Supermodel Naomi Campbell admires the “Material Girl” singer Madonna’s fashion sense and her ability to reinvent herself time after time.

“I think my style icons are people who reinvent themselves – they come back with a different look, a different vibe, a different sound and Madonna is definitely one of those people”, femalefirst.co.uk quoted her saying.

“It’s just amazing to watch her through all these decades – she just keeps coming back,” the model said.

London, Feb 25 (IANS) Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, who is working with Angelina Jolie for the first time in the movie “The Tourist” is impressed by his co-star and says that she is like a doll.

“I had never met Angelina before, but I found her to be a real treat, I mean a real doll. She is a nice woman, serious about what she does and loves her man and loves her kids. I was very impressed,” starpulse.com quoted Depp as saying.

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) “Slumdog Millionaire” actress Freida Pinto has signed a fantasy-action-drama film “War of Gods” and will portray the character of oracle priestess Phaedra.

Directed by Indian filmmaker Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, the movie is anticipated to be high on action and special effects and might also be made into a 3D movie.

Freida’s spokesperson has confirmed that she (Freida) would be part of the film and refused to divulge any more details about the project.

The film is about Theseus, played by Henry Cavill, a warrior from Greek mythology who takes on the Greek gods. Phaedra is an ally with Theseus in his fight against the titans.

The movie is slated for a 2011 release with production starting in April.

London, February 25 (ANI):
Joely Richardson, Kate Moss and Elizabeth Hurley were rushed from the premises
of a London Fashion Week event following a fire scare.

Guests attending the
evening in aid of the Naked Heart Foundation at the Love Ball London bash were
evacuated when fire alarms went off just minutes after Leona Lewis’ performance
at the fundraiser.

‘Wow fire alarms gone
off at the ball! We all had to evacuate! Standing outside now loads of people
on the street, fire trucks and all!’ the Daily Star quoted Lewis as saying
on her Twitter page.

The stars later returned
to the venue after an hour and a half.

The Daily Mail newspaper
reported the alarms were triggered off by dry ice inside the venue. (ANI)

Nevada (US), Feb 25 (ANI): After Woody Allen’s ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’, BAFTA nominated Freida Pinto has now been reportedly picked up for epic ‘Dawn of War’.

For this Montreal (Canada) based fantasy-action-drama film, she will reportedly play Phaedra, an oracle priestess who joins Greek mythic warrior hero Theseus (portrayed by ‘The Tudors’ star Henry Cavill) who heads a successful war against imprisoned Titans. Studio executives of this most anticipated film full of special effects about ancient Greek epic directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar (The Fall) are reportedly looking into the prospect of filming it in 3D. Written by Charley Parlapanides (Everything for a Reason) and Vlas Parlapanides (Across the Sea), and edited by Robert Duffy (Ambush), it is reportedly slated for a 2011 release with production starting in April. Tarsem has been quoted as describing ‘Dawn of War’ as: ‘hardcore action film done in Renaissance painting style’.

Pinto, 25, besides Allen’s film, is also working as lead in ‘Miral’ (story of a girl raised in a Jerusalem orphanage in 1950s directed by Julian Schnabel) and is rumored to act in ‘American Empire’ (dark comedy centered around betrayal directed by Andy Armstrong and releasing in 2011). She reportedly unsuccessfully auditioned for Bond Girl Camille Montes in ‘Quantum of Solace’ (Marc Forster). Nicknamed ‘Fro’ and belonging to a Mangalorean Catholic family from India, Pinto appeared on People Magazine’s ‘Most Beautiful People List’.

Lauding Pinto on her success in the international film arena, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged Government of India and various Indian film organizations to establish world level training academies in various aspects of Indian cinema. India was a storehouse of cinematic talent and all it needed was channelizing, encouragement, and exposure to global avenues, Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added. (ANI)

Veracruz (Mexico), Feb 25 (IANS/EFE) Mel Gibson visited a prison in the Mexican Gulf state of Veracruz where shooting for one of his upcoming films will take place.

The actor, filmmaker and producer, accompanied by several members of the film crew, Tuesday meticulously toured the grounds of the Ignacio Allende prison in Veracruz, a port city some 400 km east of Mexico City.

Close to 1,000 inmates were relocated to another facility in January to clear the way for the production, sparking protests by relatives of the prisoners.

Filming is scheduled to begin March 22 with Adrian Grunberg directing and Gibson in the starring role; according to Veracruz Governor Fidel Herrera, the project is tentatively titled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”.

Written by Gibson, Grunberg and Stacy Perskie, it will tell the story of a career criminal, played by Gibson, who is finally tracked down by authorities and thrown into a brutal, drug-infested prison where he will need the help of a nine-year-old boy to survive.

Herrera told Mexican media that the shooting will last 12 weeks and that the project will create 11,000 jobs in Veracruz.

“Mel Gibson is delighted when he comes to Veracuz. The people are thrilled. They’re going to hire 11,000 workers, which means income for the extras; and the Mexican actors who arrived with him are pleased with the quality of the Veracruz actors and actresses,” the governor said.

The Australian-American movie star conducted an initial inspection of the prison on Sunday in the company of Herrera, officials said.

The process of choosing at least 5,000 extras to participate in the film began last week. They will be paid between 400-500 pesos (about $39) a day, Casting Director Julio Toledo said.

In 2006, Gibson filmed the Mayan epic “Apocalypto” in various parts of Veracruz state – the jungle regions of San Andres Tuxtla, Catemaco and Nanciyaga, as well as in Paso de Ovejas and La Antigua.

–IANS/EFE

rd/jg

Los Angeles, Feb 25 (DPA) Freida Pinto, the Indian actress who made a splash in “Slumdog Millionaire”, will play the female lead in the new movie “War of Gods”, Variety magazine reported Wednesday.

Pinto will portray the oracle priestess Phaedra in the film about Theseus, a warrior from Greek mythology who takes on the Greek gods.

In the film, Phaedra is an ally with Theseus, played by Henry Cavill, in his fight against the titans.

New York, Feb 24 (ANI): Lady Gaga’s recent revelation that she wrote a thesis on famous photographer Spencer Tunick has made the artist in turn want to read it.

Lady Gaga had told the Telegraph that when she was a student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, she did a “crazy thesis, like 80 pages on Spencer Tunick”.

Tunick, who is the photographer who specializes in gathering together hundreds of people and having them strip naked to pose for group shots, heard about it and wanted to read the thesis.

“Can someone find me that thesis, maybe I can get some tips to financial success in there,” the New York Post quoted Tunick as having e-mailed a friend. (ANI)

London, Feb 24 (ANI): ‘The Wrestler’ star Mickey Rourke has come to the defence of ‘Transformers’ star Megan Fox, saying that her acting skills received undue criticism because she is beautiful.

Rourke, 57, who co-stars with Fox, 23, in new movie ‘Passion Play’, insists that she has a lot of talent.

“She doesn’t drink or do drugs. People say bad stuff about her and how she can’t act but they only say that because she’s beautiful,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

“She’s the most talented actress I’ve worked with. When she cries in a scene, I get emotional,” he added. (ANI)

London, Feb 24 (ANI): Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio is a big fan of James Cameron’s latest movie Avatar, and is full of praise for the helmer’s hard work on the epic.

The 3D film recently sank Titanic’s box office record – a blockbuster film which was also directed by Cameron.

The 1997 disaster movie had set a new high in worldwide takings with 1.8 billion dollars. However, Avatar smashed the massive record – it has pulled in more than 2.4 billion dollars since its release in December last year.

But DiCaprio is not disappointed, reports The Daily Express.

He tells GMTV, ‘It’s an unbelievable film experience, it really is. What Cameron pulled off on that movie – it’s astounding, it blows your mind.

‘I went in to there not knowing much about the world he was going to create – all I heard was 400 million dollars, four years in the making: ‘Alright Jim, let’s see what you’re going to do.’

And the 35 year old is hopeful there will be a sequel to Avatar: ‘It’s the first time I’ve been submerged into a digital 3D world like that, I felt connected to the characters. I hope they keep going and going.’ (ANI)

Melbourne, February 24 (ANI): Singer Lady Gaga has dropped her layers and appeared topless for a new interview with Q magazine.

The 23-year-old star, known for her bizarre outfits and onstage antics, was said to have posed in just a pair of spiky black trousers and metal chains around her neck.

The Poker Face hitmaker continued to insist she’s ‘quite the lady’ despite contradictory perceptions, the Daily Telegraph reported.

She said: ‘Well, I believe in certain institutions: cooking, serving dinner, taking care of my family. So I consider myself quite the lady.’ (ANI)

London, Feb 24 (IANS) After a phenomenal career, singer Lady Gaga now wants a family and a husband.

“I want to have a husband who loves and supports me, just the way anyone else does. I am a very sentimental person and family is important to me”, femalefirst.co.uk quoted her saying.

The singer, who is currently touring Britain, has been linked to her style collaborator Matthew Williams, who she previously dated for over a year.

“Matthew and Gaga have been dating for months. They were together on and off for more than a year, but called it off when mixing work and love became too difficult,” revealed a source.

Gaga also says she is happy with her busy schedule.

“I live out of a suitcase, but I love what I do – I’ve worked my whole life to live like this.”

It has turned out to be an action-packed as well as filmed familiarity in view of the fact that Brangelina as well as family unit have been in Venice in support of the artist’s latest motion picture. Angelina as well as her father, Jon Voight, has been alienated for approximately seven years, on the other hand at present Angelina Jolie and dad join up in the Italian conurbation.

Quite a few years in the past the attractive brunette required to articulate in relation to the father-daughter association she possesses, “My father and I don’t speak. I don’t hold any anger toward him. I don’t believe that somebody’s family becomes their blood. Because my son’s adopted, and families are earned.”

Though something has stimulated Angelina Jolie and her dad join up. Maybe it was the steady backing from her adoring boyfriend, Brad Pitt. On the word of an informant near to the pair, “Since (Pitt and Jolie) have been together, Brad has been encouraging Angie to smooth things over with her dad”. “And when it comes to the kids, Brad wants them to know their grandfather the way the kids know his parents.”

London, Feb 23 (IANS) Late singer Michael Jackson’s estate has once again been slapped with a lawsuit by a US law firm over outstanding dues.

The firm bosses at the organisation, which has not been named, allege the late King of Pop died owing them a sum of $628,718, reports femalefirst.co.uk

The creditors’ claims against the “Thriller” hitmaker’s estate have now exceeded $23 million.

They include legal challenges from Jackson’s former accountant Diane Williams, his spiritual adviser Reverend June Juliet Gatlin, his former skin doctor Arnold Klein, choreographer LaVelle Smith Jr. and the pop superstar’s one-time manager and adviser Dr. Tohme Tohme.

Mumbai, Feb 23 (ANI): Pearls Wave- Ek Leher (NGO) with the slogan Nari Shakti Ko Salam recently celebrated Pearls Wave gala award night to salute and celebrate Indian women against violence.

On this day, women from all walks of life came together. They were entertained, felicitated and honored.

It turned out to be an evening to empower women to take up the cause of ‘Women Against Violence’ and highlighted the efforts of brave people working together to make a safer world free from violence and abuse for women.

Many Bollywood celebrities joined their hands together to support the cause of ‘Women against Violence’.

The evening was started by lighting the lamp by Pearls Wave founders and directors Mr. Bhangu, Mr. Jyoti Narain and Mr. ML SehajPal.

Later it was followed by splendid performances by various Bollywood and Small Screen Stars.

Jyoti Narain, Director of Pearls Broadcasting Corporation Ltd. said: ‘Women are the most essential pillars of our society, who from ages are shaping our society like a nurturer. The initiative PEARLS WAVE has started to provide women their social, economic and political rights. We feel it’s our responsibility to bring women up and give them a reputable position in the society. So, let’s all of us come together to support

Women against Violence and salute women empowerment.’

The Pearls Wave awards winners were:

Draping India Award was presented to Fashion Designer Ritu Kumar.

Power to the Pen Award was presented to Writer Madhu Kishore.

Global Indian Face Award was presented to Actress Freida Pinto.

Young Political Achiever Award was presented to MP Priya Dutt.

Political Achiever Award was presented to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit.

Woman of Steel Award was presented to Social Worker Flavia Agnes.

Small Screen Queen Award was presented to Balika Wadhu Avika Gaur.

Real Women Award was presented to Social Worker Doctor Nayreen Daruwala.

Rising Star Award to Actress Genelia D’souza. (ANI)

London, Feb 23 (IANS) Socialite Paris Hilton is considering marrying beau Doug Reinhardt, who has struck the right chords with her parents.

Hilton, who turned 29 Feb 17, celebrated her birthday with “The Hills” star in Las Vegas and admitted she couldn’t be happier, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Asked about their wedding plans, she said: “We’ll see what happens in the future, but right now we are so happy to be together and we are really in love.”

The duo were joined at nightspot Tao by her parents Rick and Kathy Hilton.

“What a fun night! My mom and Doug were so cute dancing together! I love how my parents love my love! We all had a blast! Great night,” Paris posted on her Twitter page.

London, Feb 23 (IANS) Porn star Bridget The Midget surprised Rihanna by treating the singer with a raunchy lap dance on her birthday.

The “Umbrella” hitmaker celebrated her 22nd birthday in Phoenix, Arizona Saturday. It was a surprise party thrown for her by rumoured new boyfriend Matt Kemp, reports contactmusic.com.

Rihanna, who later moved to a local bar with her friends, was singled out before the adult star began dancing around her chair.

London, February 23 (ANI):
Naomi Campbell will jet to quake-torn Haiti to lend a helping hand to the
victims struck by the massive tremor that shook the Caribbean region in
January.

The supermodel has already
raised money for victims by organising celebrity fashion events in New York and
London.

She has now signed up for
an aid-relief mission in April to help the survivors.

‘I want to do a
really low-key trip and fly on a regular flight without any aides and any fuss
and get on the ground and do some work,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

“I think it’s amazing that
we have raised so much money and, like Sarah, I think that it’s really
important that we see where the money is going. I’m passionate about going over
to help all those children. My heart goes out to all of them,’ she added.

Other stars who have
already visited Haiti since the tragedy include John Travolta, Sean Penn and
Angelina Jolie. (ANI)

Washington, Feb 23 (ANI): Kate Winslet has said she keeps her Oscar award she won for ‘The Reader’ in her bathroom.

The actress has placed the golden statuette in the washroom so that guests ‘can sneakily have a little [hold] and put it back down again.’

‘Because basically everybody wants to touch it, everybody wants to hold it and go ‘Oh, my gosh,’ and ‘How heavy is it?’ So I figured if I put it [in there], then people can avoid the whole, ‘Where’s your Oscar?’ thing,’ People magazine quoted her as saying on the U.K. TV show GMTV.

Winslet further mentioned she likes dressing up during the award season and is looking forward to 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

She said: “It’s great to wear lovely dresses and to just experience those moments of dress up, especially as a mum, because you get so few moments to feel good in your own skin and wear a lovely gown. (ANI)

London, Feb 23 (IANS) Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has sparked rumours of undergoing surgery after she was snapped sporting strange marks on her neck while filming her latest movie in Venice.

The “Tomb Raider” star appeared to have developed two large tucks of skin underneath her right ear. The skin also appeared red and sore.

It is being speculated that the 34-year-old may have had a “ribbon lift” – the latest Hollywood plastic surgery craze, with the 4,000 pounds procedure involving having a small cut made near the earlobe so a thread of absorbable ribbon can be implanted, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The procedure heals within 12 weeks and makes the skin of the neck appear tighter.

An onlooker in Venice said: “She looked very, very odd.

“She is usually flawless but the marks are very peculiar. The two prongs of skin have been stretched off her face towards her neck,” the onlooker added.