Tuesday 29 March 2011

McAvoy's Been Keeping Busy


Another man who's had no time for idleness is Scottish actor James McAvoy. He has four films out this year, two being animated offerings Gnomeo and Juliet and Arthur Christmas, along with The Conspirator, and the the one that's getting the most media attention at the moment, X Men: First Class, due out in June.

A prequel to the original X Men film, First Class charts the beginning of the saga, when the young Magneto and Charles Xavier were still close friends discovering their powers. McAvoy takes on the role of Xavier and has said it was an exciting opportunity to do a completely different take on the character, while also citing Patrick Stewart and being a fan of the comic book series from a young age as reasons for taking the role.
I can't wait to see him in the role, being a fan of the series myself, although nothing he could do will ever top his turn as the charming, well dressed and all round amazing Tom Lefroy in Becoming Jane.

James has hinted at the fact that he may take a break from filming for a while, in order to spend more time with his wife Anne-Marie Duff and their little boy Andrew. Although he does have a couple more projects lined up before then. Hopefully it won't be too long a break, but atleast he's left enough McAvoy action to keep us sated for a while!

Monday 28 March 2011

Gary Oldman Named Film Icon


Gary Oldman recieved the Film Icon Award at this years Jameson Empire Awards, held exactly a month after the Oscars.
Joking backstage after the event, Oldman said the award proved he was still in the game, going on to say Jonathan Ross had told him it was the 'You're still alive award.'
 Oldman was presented the award by fellow actor Colin Firth, who awas also a winner on the night, taking home the Best Actor award for his role in The Kings Speech.

Other winners included Chloe Moretz for Best Newcomer, Noomi Rapace for Best Actress, Keira Knightley for The Empire Hero Award and Edgar Wright, who had a double win, with Best Director and the Inspiration Award.

Reese Ties the Knot


Reese Witherspoon married agent Jim Toth in a relatively intimate ceremony (by Hollywood standards anyway) at her home in Ojai, California on Saturday.
The couple exchanged vows in front of around 120 friends and family, including Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughy, Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. Reese wore a custom gown by Monique Lhuillier and walked down the aisle to the traditional bridal chorus. Obviously not averse to a bit of wedding cheese, 80 white doves were released into the California sunshine as Tennessee Waltz played, after the couple said their 'I do's'

This is Jom Toth's first marriage and Witherspoons second, having previously been married to Ryan Phillipe, with whom she has two children, Deacon and Ava.

Congratulations Reese and Jim!


James Franco is at it Again


Never one to shy away from self promotion, Mr Franco has been at it again. This time, he's showing off his painting skills. Seen in this short clip painting a self portrait entitled James 'The Thinker' Franco, he shows off not only yet another artisitic talent (that is if he actually painted it himself), but also, hopefully, that he doesn't take himself too seriously. Well, that's how i'm choosing to read it anyway.

Inbetween painting, hosting the Oscars and working on a few advanced degrees, Franco has comedy Your Highness set for release soon, and has just signed on to play an illusionist and con man in the Sam Raimi directed Oz: The Great and Powerful, alongside Mila Kunis.

Sunday 27 March 2011

Ed, Where Have You Been?




My friend Clare mentioned recently, on hearing about my blog and the people I'd been writing about that I had missed someone very important out, Edward Norton. It got me thinking that, although he's never been one to grace the pages of Heat magazine like so many other celebs, I haven't seen him in the news much at all recently.
So I started digging around, and sure enough, he's been there, keeping himself busy under the radar.

Focusing more on charity work than films in recent years, most recently Norton has been campaigning to raise funds for those affected by the Japan Earthquake. To find out more visit the website Crowdrise, where Norton, and many others are doing a fantastic job of raising money and awareness, but having fun at the same time. He didn't become the 'Tsar' of charity for nothing you know.

Norton's most recent films, Leaves of Grass, and Stone, with Robert De Niro, have bypassed cinemas completely, heading straight for dvd shelves instead. He's not particularly bothered by this, although will sand behind and support both films, claiming De Niro in Stone is at the best he's been in years.

And what's in the pipeline for Ed besides doing good things for the world? He's signed on for the new Wes Anderson project, Moonrise Kingdom, alongside a host of others, including longtime Anderson collaborator's Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray, as well as Bruce Willis and Tilda Swinton. Moonrise Kingdom is set for release in 2012.

Friday 25 March 2011

Jake Friday!


I couldn't possbly let another Friday pass without a Jake Gyllenhaal update. Thankfully, to help me along a little, he's been in the news quite alot recently. My favourite of it all must be his interview on Jimmy Kimmel though. For anyone who wasn't in love with him before, you will be after this. Doing these interviews are often, I imagine, a chore for many actors. They have to do it, as they have films to promote (Jake's being The Source Code, his new Sci-Fi Thriller), but I'm sure they'd much rather be somewhere else.
Gyllenhaal on the other hand, acts as if there's nowhere he'd rather be. Of course, the man has won a BAFTA, so it could all be an ac, but I'd like to think he was enjoying it.

Anyway, watch it, or at least part one, which I'll post at the end of this.
In other news, the gay rumours are back again, because he happens to have a good friend who is male, and a stylist. Just because he played a gay man on tv, doesn't make him one. And gay or not, really, what difference does it make, he's still beautiful.

Probably not helping the gay rumours much is his recent admission that he likes singing along to Whitney whilst playing a spot of tennis on the Wii, with I Will Always Love You, from The Bodyguard being his personal favourite. Now thats a sight I'd like to see!

Fashionably Late until the End


Elizabeth Taylor's funeral was hld yesterday, a day after she passed away at the age of 79.
The world has lost another, and sadly one of only a handful of the great goddesses of the silver screen, but as only she could, Liz went out in style.
Fashionably late style in fact, as Taylor left instructions stating she would like to arrive 15 minutes late for her funeral in Los Angeles. A goddess until the end.

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Ann Ward is America's Next Top Model


I know I'm a little behind, and this isn't news to anyone except me, as series 16 is already halway through in the US, but I watched the final episode of America's Next Top Model series 15 yesterday and all I have to say is yay for Ann!!

She was my favourite from the beginning, awkward but beautiful, and amazingly photogenic. I was quite literally hiding my face under the covers last night waiting for the results announcement, that's how wrapped up in the show I had become.
As amazing as Chelsea was, (and I'm sure she has a fantastic modelling career ahead of her as well) Ann won my heart with her story of childhood bullying and insecurity. Winning must have felt, I'm sure, like her own personal finger to all of those people. Go Ann!

Here's a video from her Vogue Italia shoot







Wednesday 16 March 2011

No, It Can't Be True...



I refuse to believe the Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn rumours. Not because of the 24 year age gap or anything like that, but purely because Miss Johannson has had far too much good luck already, not only on the acting front, but the man front as well, so really, she ought to leave some (or just Sean, who is a particularly good catch) for the rest of them.

If it is true however, which it's not, I wish them the best of luck. Having both come out the other end of divorces, a little fun may be just what they need.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Another Hollywood Meltdown...


I've always been a bit more of a 'dirty' girl than a slave for...well, anyone and because of that, am ever so slightly more interested in Miss Aguilera's career than some of her former pop rivals.
Never more so than now, with tales of public intoxication arrests and overeating. Apparently, Christina is having a hard time dealing with the after effects of her divorce from Jordan Bratman, and although she's moved on to another man Matthew Rutler, he doesn't seem to be helping much. No surprise really, considering he was arrested for DUI at the same time as Christina's misdemenour.

Now, I'm not going to say anything about the apparent overeating, I think Christina can eat what she likes, and if she puts on a few pounds, well, who cares, nothing wrong with a curvy lady, she still looks great. But if the heartbreak rumours are true, I hope she manages to get out of her funk soon.

Anjelica Huston to Pen Memoirs


Due in 2013, to be publishd by Simon and Schuster here in Britain and Scribner in the US, Anjelica Huston is expected to detail her not always easy relationships with her father, John Huston and with Jack Nicholson, who was involved with Anjelica from 1973 to 1990.

Huston has said she wanted to look back on the landscapes that formed her and the 'exceptional highs and lows' she has experienced. Her early life as a model while attempting to break into Hollywood may also be covered, as well as her relationships with Ryan O'Neal and photographer Bob Richardson, who was 23 years her senior.

Having been a fan of Huston and her character Morticia since seeing the Addams Family movies years ago (pretty sure any of my slight attempts to be gothic can be accredited to that), I for one can't wait for this book to be published. Famous families, turbulent relationships and Academy Awards, what more could you want from a celebrity memoir?

Monday 14 March 2011

Zombie Nominated for Two Golden Gods


Being slightly obsessed (read, hugely obsessed, but trying to keep it under control) with Rob Zombie at the moment after seeing him play his UK return show at Brixton Academy, it made me insanely happy to find out that he's nominated for two awards at this years Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.

El Superbeasto is nominated for Event of The Year for his return, as well as Best Live Band. I think he's more than worthy of both, and will be rooting for him all the way, but he faces some stiff competition from the likes of System of a Down, Machine Head and Devildriver.

The awards will be held at the IndigO2 on June 13th. Now...how do I get a ticket?

You've got to love Steve-O


Funnily enough, I was just wondering the other day what happened to Steve-O, that crazy, masochistic, but still, for some unknown reason, lovable prankster from Jackass.
Seems he's been keeping himself busy with an altogether healthier pursuit, recently leading a PETA Protest outside the Edmonton Valley Zoo, asking zoo officials to allow Lucy, the lonely elephant at the zoo, to retire to an elephant sanctuary.

Elephants in their natural habitat are able to walk many miles a day, and need to be able to move freely to stay healthy. Obviously the conditions in the zoo, and the harsh winters. mean this is impossible for Lucy, and she often has to spend many months inside a barn. Couple this with arthritis, respiratory ailments and loneliness, and it's no wonder Steve-O and many others are concerned about Lucy.

For more information, or for how you can help. visit PETA's website.

Sunday 13 March 2011

Go Brad!







No, not that Brad, but Bradley Cooper, star of The Hangover and The A-Team.
I'm pretty sure he scored massive bonus points with girlfriend Renee Zellweger a couple of nights ago, when describing her as an 'enchanting and gifted actress' while appearing on Inside the Actors Studio.
Cooper pointed Renee out in the audience, before going on to gush even more, saying 'I can't say enough about her...I just love her.'

After all the on again off again rumours, as well as those about love triangles with Jennifer Aniston. It's great to see that they're firmly and officially on again

The Trousersnake is Free Again



It was officially confirmed this week that Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake have split up.
Jessica was seen out for the first time since the announcement last night, as she arrived for her brothers birthday party. I know pictures can't say everything, but she seems pretty happy to me, and rightly so. With all the rumours of him cheating, flirting, and generally living up to his nickname for pretty much the entirety of their relationship, I think Miss Biel is better off without him.

Having recently featured in a pretty gorgeous photoshoot for GQ, as well as starring in upcoming film Powder Blue as a stripper, Rose Johnny, I don't think it'll be long before she's snapped up by someone better.

Saturday 12 March 2011

The New Royal..To Be


I'm not a big follower of the royals, I loved the queen mum, and Queen Elizabeth is pretty awesome. But other than that, my interest has really only been in the occasional faux pas of Prince Philip and Harry.

I must admit though, the Royal Wedding coming up in April has got me interested, as much as I'd like to pretend it hasn't. Kate, or Catherine as people seem to want her to be known now, is pretty, intelligent, and seems to be emerging as the new style icon of the family. They're in desperate need of it, as no one has really filled the fashion void left by Diana.

Her stlye may not be anything new, and she has been criticised for this by the likes of Vivienne Westwood, but I doubt very much she'd be allowed to get away with anything more out there or fashion forward than Whistles or Burberry. Her clothes may not necessarily be to everyones taste, but I think she's going to make a beautiful and stylish Princess

Gyllenhaal's a Little Ruffled...


And with good reason too. At Friday nights world premiere of his new film Source Code, which also kicked off the film portion of SXSW, Jake was involved in a scuffle with an unidentified man, after he tried to take a picture of Jake...in the mens loo.
Jake threw him up against the wall, cops were called, and instead off Twitter being filled with reviews of the film, the focus was unfortunately more bathroom oriented.
Jake Day (as Friday's have officially become known in my office) will never be quite the same again.

Apparently, the film is worth seeing though, despite all that, so don't miss it when it opens.

Foo Fighters Release Special Covers Album


Didn't think I'd be back to the Grohl so soon, but he seems to be in the news alot lately.
This time, for music, rather than tales of getting his wife to be drunk. Foo Fighters are releasing a special limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day on April 16th.

The album, 'Medium Rare' will consist entirely of covers, rangin from Thin Lizzy, Gary Numan and Husker Du, to Prince and Pink Floyd. Not sure if it'll make it over here, but I'd love to get my hands on a copy of it!

Foo Fighters will also be releasing their latest studio (or garage rather, as that's where it was recorded) album, 'Wasting Light' hits stores April 11th.

It's a Girl!


My favourite royals, David and Victoria Beckham officially announced at an LA Galaxy gathering yesterday that their fourth child will be a girl. Although the secret was out in January that Victoria was pregnant, this is the first time either of them have mentioned whether or not they'd be adding another boy to their brood.
The couple already have three children, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and the new, more feminie addition is expected in July

Friday 11 March 2011

Franco and Agyness?



After being asked by some of my colleagues to investigate the James Franco dating situation, I was surprised to discover that only a few hours ago, the author, model and star of poempic Howl sparked rumours of a new relationship with our very own Agyness Dean after posting footage of the two of them together on Twitter.
Is it true? Or is it a friendship blown completely out of proportion? Time will tell...

Who better to start with than Dave?


Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters head honcho and undoubtedly my number one choice for someone to have a drink with. Or, by the sounds of this story, more than one! Reading it did make me love him even more though.

According to the man himself, in an interview with this month's Elle magazine, the first time he met his wife he was looking far from his best, and so did the only thing he could think of - got her drunk.
Ever the romantic, he also wrote her a note stating 'You're my future ex-wife' before they started dating.

No happily married with two kids, Violet and Harper, there's thankfully no sign of that happening anytime soon!

After much procrastination...

I'm finally starting my gossip blog.
I always seem to store useless information about celebrities in my head, rather than anything I'm studying or that could be vaguely helpful in my day to day life, so it's time I put it to use.
This then, will be my celebrity diary for lack of a better word. Everything will be things I read or hear, some of it may not be true, but none of it will be made up by me.
The stories may not be controversial, or explosive, but they will contain celebrities I enjoy reading about. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading about them too (and i'm hoping you wouldn't have already read the same story in the daily tabloids!)