Thursday 27 November 2008

Madonna Post-Guy: Drinks with Penn, Mothering Britney?


Now that Madonna is officially free of Guy Ritchie, is she looking to reconnect with a couple of people from her past? Not only was the Big M recently spied having a drink with her first ex-husband, Sean Penn, but she's also believed to be trying to bring Britney Spears back into her inner circle.

On Wednesday night, Madonna, 50, reportedly raised a glass with Penn at the Greenwich Hotel in New York following her weed-whacked appearance (see above) at a Gucci bash.

Their conversation remains a mystery, although perhaps the former flames were reminiscing about their famously volatile four-year union, which ended in 1989, not long after the well-muscled pop icon filed an assault complaint against the ornery actor.

"They have a nice rapport," a mole tells People. "There's nothing romantic there. They're just good friends."

So good that Penn, who reconciled with wife Robin Wright earlier this year, supposedly text-messaged Madonna after filming his lip-lock scene with James Franco in "Milk," telling her, "I just popped my cherry kissing a guy. I thought of you. I don't know why."

Meanwhile, the London Daily Mail speculates that Madonna is looking to lure Britney back into the Kabbalah fold, a rumor that comes a few weeks after the road-to-recovery-walking popster joined her onstage at the Los Angeles stop of her Sticky & Sweet tour

Sources : msn.com

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Michael Jackson reaches settlement with sheik


LONDON - Lawyers for Michael Jackson have reached a settlement with a Bahraini sheik who says the singer owes him $7 million after breaching a signed contract, the pop star’s spokeswoman said Sunday.

The out-of-court settlement means Jackson will not be giving evidence at London’s High Court as scheduled on Monday, Celena Aponte said.

Scores of journalists and fans had been expected to cram the courtroom for the appearance by the always-unpredictable King of Pop. Aponte said Jackson was informed of the deal as he was about to board a flight to London.

“As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle,” Aponte said. “Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday.”

A representative for the sheik could not immediately be reached late Sunday.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa 33, invited Jackson to the small, oil-rich Gulf state to escape the media spotlight.

He said he gave the singer millions and planned a series of collaborations following Jackson’s acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005. Al Khalifa,

The sheik, the second son of the king of Bahrain, said he believed he had formed “a close personal relationship” with the star, whom he referred to affectionately as “my brother.”

Al Khalifa said he gave Jackson millions of dollars to help shore up his finances and subsidize Jackson’s lifestyle in Bahrain — including more than $300,000 for a “motivational guru.” Al Khalifa, an amateur songwriter, says the pair even moved into the same palace to work on music together. Jackson dropped the project in 2006, leaving Bahrain and pulling out of the contract.

Jackson’s lawyers have maintained the money was a gift and argued that the musician wasn’t bound by the deal because the contract was signed on behalf of 2 Seas Records, a venture which never got off the ground.

The singer originally wanted to avoid coming to London to answer the lawsuit in person, seeking instead to give evidence by video link from the United States. His lawyer, Robert Englehart, had claimed that Jackson should be spared the trans-Atlantic trip due to an unspecified illness, but on Thursday the lawyer said the 50-year-old star had been cleared for travel.

The suit is being heard in London by mutual agreement.

Jackson’s purported medical problems — and his sometimes bizarre demeanor — have been a regular feature of previous court appearances. His 2005 trial was punctuated by complaints of back problems, an apparent bout with the flu and visits to the hospital. At one point, the judge had to order the pajama-clad star into court from the emergency room.

Sources : msnbc.msn.com

Tuesday 25 November 2008

2008's Best and Worst Couples


Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel is the best couples.
Justin gives Jessica piggyback rides. Last seen doing so in a small Italian village off the Amalfi coast (the location itself just triples the "aww" factor). Aside from the couple's ability to increase the romance in little ways — like, above, hand in hand campaigning for a new president — the big things also matter. For example, they are were in Italy primarily because Jessica was bridesmaid to her former 7th Heaven co-star, Beverley Mitchell, and it is a BIG DEAL that Justin accompanied Jessica to the wedding. Most boyfriends would dodge that -- and consequently, dodge what-if's about their future wedding. But Justin? He put on a suit and, just for a day, pretended he wasn't the biggest phenom present at those nuptials.

Thursday 20 November 2008

Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples

What happens when you marry an $82 million hip-hop brand and an $80 million R&B empire? You get Hollywood's best-paid power couple. Thanks to a monster year filled with music, movies, fashion and endorsement deals, Jay-Z and his new bride, Beyonce Knowles, collectively raked in $162 million between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. The jaw-dropping sum garners them bragging rights atop our first annual ranking of Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples, a list that also includes A-list pairings Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and ,Katie Holmes, and ,Ben Affleck,and ,Jennifer Garner, among others. In Pictures: Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples "Naturally, powerful people tend to gravitate toward other powerful people," explains clinical psychologist and celebrity researcher Jim Houran, for reasons that range from proximity (stars hang around other stars) to familiarity (people are attracted, at least initially, to others like them) to clearer expectations (shared priorities make it easier for celebrities to relate). No matter how they get together, the results are good for the bottom line. Take Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. They hauled in some $85 million over the past year, making them No. 2 on our list. Though Jada's resume continues to grow, Will's the family breadwinner. He raked in $80 million in the year ending June 2008, thanks to another set of top-performing blockbusters: "I Am Legend," "The Pursuit of Happyness," and this past summer's "Hancock." Together the flicks banked $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office, making him Hollywood's most bankable star. More galleries on Forbes.com
Hollywood's 10 Top-Earning Actresses Jada pulled in $5 million during the same 12-month period, thanks to roles as an actress ("The Women"), producer ("The Human Contract"), and businesswoman (a stake in beauty line Carol's Daughter). Third: David and Victoria Beckham. Conquering fans on both sides of the Atlantic, the power couple brought in $58 million over the year-long period. Becks' share was $50 million, proving the much-covered move to America has paid off for the British soccer star. Though his Los Angeles Galaxy salary was $5.5 million, the sum more than doubled when his cut of the team's ticket, merchandise, and sponsorship revenues were factored in. He also pulled down a cool $35 million from lucrative endorsement deals with Motorola, Adidas, Coty and PepsiCo, among others. His wife, better known by her pop-star moniker, Posh, generated another $8 million, thanks to her cut of a $23 million Spice Girls reunion tour and a slew of product lines, including sunglasses, perfume, couture clothing, and her DVB jeans line. Not far behind are country sweethearts Tim McGraw and, who collectively brought in $35 million over the course of the year. In addition to the big loot they made on their Soul-2-Soul concert tour, he earned millions from festivals and a double-platinum album, Let It Go. Hill recorded another album, The Hits, and the NFL Sunday Night Football theme song. Every time NBC plays the catchy tune, Hill sees a check. Live-in lovers and tabloid staples Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who banked $34 million together, round out the top five. Along with globe-trotting and parenting six, Jolie appeared on screen in the films "Beowulf" and "A Mighty Heart." During the same period, Pitt spent time both in front of the camera ("Oceans 13," "The Assassination of Jesse James") and behind it ("The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," "A Mighty Heart," and "Tree of Life").
Reporting by Lacey Rose and Lauren Streib

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Jessica Simpson wants six children with boyfriend Tony Romo.

The "Do You Know" singer - who recently denied she and the American football star were engaged - is keen to start a family with the sportsman.
Jessica, 28, said: "I'd love six kids running around, but I guess I'll have to start pretty soon. It's a beautiful relationship. Tony is everything I could dream of and I really love him. I'm proud to be his girlfriend."
Jessica insists she is happy to publicly speak about her love life, adding: "Even if things don't work out between Tony and me - though, knock on wood, I believe they will - I don't regret anything I've ever said."
"That's just how I love. I'm all in and I live one moment at a time. If I'm happy, I'll talk about being happy. Maybe I do talk too much, but I still feel as if I'm holding back."
As well as having no problem with sharing her private life with her fans, the blonde beauty is prepared to speak about her divorce from singer Nick Lachey, who she starred with in MTV reality show "Newlyweds."
She told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I don't regret the show or my marriage. Not at all. It made me who I am. I admit I'm a ditz and I've had my moments - I'm the first one to walk on stage, trip up in front of thousands of people and split my pants, but I don't take myself too seriously."

Jessica Simpson Claims Boyfriend Tony Romo "Calms" Her

Jessica Simpson says boyfriend Tony Romo "calms" her. The singer-and-actress - who has been dating the American football star for a year - has revealed one of the reasons she loves him so much is because he helps her relax.

Jessica said: "Tony is the whole package. He has taught me to calm down a lot. I'm not organized and he's not organized either - but he does make me want to be organized for us."
"He is a good guy, and he's really just helped me along in life and taught me a lot about being comfortable being myself."


The 28-year-old star also revealed Tony is not the first member of the Dallas Cowboys team to have caught her eye.
She added: "I grew up in Dallas so I had a crush on Troy Aikman, who was the quarterback at the time. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, I think there's a requirement, like you have to be good looking."
Jessica has recently prompted rumors she may be expecting a baby after she was spotted out in a series of long, floaty dresses and carrying a giant handbag in front of her stomach

Brad Pitt Says Being A Father Has Toughened Him Up

Brad Pitt is "impervious to poo, snot, urine and vomit." The "Ocean's Thirteen" actor - who raises six children with partner Angelina Jolie- revealed becoming a father has toughened him up and ensured he can cope with anything.
He said: "I'm tough as nails. I'm impervious to poo, snot, urine, vomit. You can't get me. You cannot break me down."
Also revealed he and Angelina don't often take their brood shopping because it is such a struggle to get everyone organized.
On Oprah Winfrey TV talk show in an interview which will on-air Wednesday: "We don't go to the mall. It's like a half-an-hour just to get everyone buckled in and make sure they've got their snacks, and Zahara has got a blanket and Shiloh's got her silky."
"Angelina is militant about it. She's right on top of it. Thank God, because I'm always forgetting something!"
Meanwhile, Angelina has revealed she only breastfed her four-month-old twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline for the first three months because she struggled to cope with feeding the babies simultaneously.
She said: "You think, 'Ah, if anybody can do that, I can do that.' There's this football hold - it's a lot harder than it looks in the books. I did that a few times. I would take turns. It just takes a long

Brad Pitt - Mini Biography

Brad Pitt was born in 18 December 1963, Shawnee,Oklahama,USA and raised in Springfield, Missouri. Birth name William Bradley Pitt with 5' 10¾" (1.80 m) height. His mother's name is Jane Etta Hillhouse. His father, William (Bill) Pitt, worked in management at a trucking firm in Springfield. He has a younger brother, Douglas (Doug) Pitt and a younger sister Julie Neal Pitt. At Kickapoo High School, Pitt was involved in sports, debating, student government and school musicals. Pitt attended the University of Missouri, where he majored in journalism with a focus on advertising. He occasionally acted in fraternity shows. He left college two credits short of graduating to move to California. Before he became successful at acting, Pitt supported himself by driving strippers in limos, moving refrigerators and dressing as a giant chicken while working for "el Pollo Loco."
He marry Jennifer Aniston in 29 July 2000 spent $1 million on their weddingand and in 2 October 2005 divorced.

In 1995, Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history


Income :
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) $20,000,000
Troy (2004) $17,500,000
Ocean's Eleven (2001) $30,000,000 ($10m salary + backend participations)
Spy Game (2001) $17,500,000
The Mexican (2001) $10,000,000
Fight Club (1999) $17,500,000
Meet Joe Black (1998) $17,500,000
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $10,000,000
The Devil's Own (1997) $10,000,000
Sleepers (1996) $10,000,000
Se7en (1995) $4,000,000
Kalifornia (1993) $500,000
Thelma & Louise (1991) $6,000
Cutting Class (1989) $12,000

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt Want To Adopt From South America


Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are keen to adopting a child from South America - but they are finding it difficult to negotiate the complicated adoption laws. The couple already have three adopted children, Maddox, seven, from Cambodia, Pax, four, from Vietnam, and Zahara, three, from Ethiopia. They also have three biological children Shiloh, two, and baby twins Knox and Vivienne.
Jolie recently announced that the couple will be ready to adopt another child from abroad as soon as the twins are six months old.
And the couple is already looking into which part of the world they want their next family addition to come from. But the actress admits that they have already run into difficulties.
Jolie says, "We've thought about South or Latin America, but it's very complicated. Brad and I aren't married, so, as a technically single woman, there are lots of countries I can't adopt from. And, as a technically single man, most countries wouldn't allow Brad to adopt at all. Some countries won't let you adopt a child if you already have a child of the same gender at home."

Angelina Jolie - Biography


Born July 01, 1977 - Possessing an unusual beauty marked by perhaps the most distinctive set of lips in the business (an inheritance from father Steven Tyler), Liv Tyler unsurprisingly made her entrance into acting via the world of modeling.
Next to Liv Tyler, Angelina Jolie is the only actress of her generation who can thank her famous father for the lips that have become her trademark. The actress was born Angelina Jolie Voight to the pillow-lipped Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles.Raised mostly by her mother after her parents divorced while she was still a baby, Jolie moved around a lot with her mother and brother. She also did a fair amount of traveling as a professional model, living in such places as London, New York, and Los Angeles before settling for a time in New York as a student at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and New York University, where she first started acting in theater productions. The fledgling actress soon moved on to film with a small role in 1993's Cyborg 2, followed in 1995 by her turn as a computer hacker in the more widely seen Hackers. The film gave her her first taste of recognition, as well as an introduction to Trainspotting's Jonny Lee Miller, to whom she was married for a short time.After appearing in a number of mediocre films, Jolie finally hit it big in 1997 with her Golden Globe-winning performance as George Wallace's wife in the highly acclaimed TV movie George Wallace. The role, coupled with her Emmy-nominated performance in the title role of HBO's Gia, provided Jolie with a new level of professional respect and recognition. She was soon appearing on talk shows and in magazines, answering questions about everything from her multiple tattoos to her famous father to her brief marriage.She was also netting roles in high-profile projects: In 1998 Jolie headlined an ensemble cast that included Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Anthony Edwards, Gillian Anderson, Ryan Phillippe, and Madeline Stowe in Playing By Heart. The following year, she was part of another high-voltage cast in Mike Newell's Pushing Tin, co-starring alongside John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Although the film was neither a critical nor a financial success, it did little to diminish the rapid ascent of the career of the actress, who was in hot demand for projects that would further elevate her already rising star. In 2000, Jolie's star received one of its greatest boosts to date when the actress won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a volatile mental patient in Girl, Interrupted. Later that year, her personal life also got a boost in the form of her April marriage to Billy Bob Thornton.Onscreen, Jolie was hard to miss in 2000. She starred in a number of films, including the crime thriller Gone in Sixty Seconds, in which she co-starred as a car thief alongside Nicolas Cage, and Original Sin, a thriller that featured her as the bad-seed bride of a Cuban tycoon (Antonio Banderas). If she was hard to miss in 2000, Jolie was impossible to escape in 2001 with her turn as shapely video-game adventuress Lara Croft in the long anticipated film adaptation of the popular Tomb Raider video-game franchise. Carrying on the tradition of video-game movies that are light on plot but heavy on the action, Tomb Raider (2001) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life (2003) scored with summer audiences and quickly shot to number one at the box office despite disparaging reviews citing an incoherent story line, unlike Life or Something Like It, the 2002 romantic comedy-drama that critics and audiences alike would rather not have seen. On July 18th, 2002, Jolie filed for divorce from Thornton, claiming that their priorities no longer meshed after having adopted a Cambodian son, Maddox. Though the famously quirky couple were no longer, Angelina's film schedule remained hectic. In 2003 she would play a rich-girl-turned-humanitarian in Beyond Borders, while 2004 saw a host of parts for Jolie, including a role in Oliver Stone's Alexander, an epic biography of Alexander the Great starring Colin Farrell, as well as a turn alongside fellow Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and a role as a tough FBI agent in the thriller Taking Lives. Finally, Jolie closed out the year by lending her voice to Dreamworks' animated kid-flick Shark Tale.While the Jolie-starring Mr. and Mrs. Smith proved one of Summer 2005's biggest money-makers, the actress's name fell on the lips of gossip-mongers for most of the year not for the film itself, but rather for Jolie's relationship with costar Brad Pitt. Though the couple long shirked and denied rumors of an affair, the paparazzi regularly caught them together in public, and Pitt eventually filed for divorce from wife Jennifer Aniston. Subsequently, they not only conceived a child in fall 2005 (whom they named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, but became foster parents to two adopted children, Maddox and an Ethiopian girl, Zahara Marley. Jolie delivered Shiloh in Namibia, via caesarian section, as May 2006 wrapped, and the couple flew an ob-gyn in from Los Angeles to assist with the birth. By mid-2006, Jolie - as an actress, personality, and sex symbol - claimed an almost matchless status in Hollywood popularity, rivaled only by Jennifer Aniston, ironically. That year saw Jolie claim a supporting role in Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd, and announce her forthcoming role in Beowulf. By late 2007, talk had begun to swirl in the trades regarding Jolie's enlistment in a high-budget action franchise based on the life and adventures of U.S. intelligence operative Kathi Lynn Austin. Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide