Meg Ryan (born November 19, 1961), is an American actress and producer. She began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles, before joining the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982. Subsequently, Meg began to appear in supporting roles in big screen films during the mid-1980s, achieving recognition in several independent films such as Promised Land (1987), before her performance in the Rob Reiner-directed cult comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989) brought her widespread attention and her first Golden Globe nomination.

She starred in a string of popular romantic dramas and comedy films in 1990s, including Sleepless in Seattle (1993), French Kiss (1995), Addicted to Love (1997), City of Angels (1998), and You’ve Got Mail (1998), whose total gross was over $870 million worldwide. At that time, TIME critic Richard Corliss called her “the current soul of romantic comedy.” In addition to these romantic comedy roles, she garnered critical acclaim for her work in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), in which she played an alcoholic, and in Courage Under Fire (1996), portraying a captain in the Gulf War.

Her first full-blown hit in a leading role was the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989), which paired her with comedic leading man Billy Crystal. Her portrayal of Sally Albright, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination, is memorable for her depiction of a theatrically faked orgasm in Katz’s Delicatessen in Manhattan. She then starred in The Doors and in Prelude to a Kiss. Both films were moderately successful.

Meg starred alongside Kristen Bell, and Justin Long in the independent comedy film Serious Moonlight in 2009. Directed by actress Cheryl Hines and based on a screenplay by late writer Adrienne Shelly, who was murdered a year prior to filming, in the film, she portrayed a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband, played by Timothy Hutton, is about to leave their troubled marriage, and decides to hold him captive by duct-taping him to a toilet. Picked up by Magnolia Pictures, the production received a limited release throughout North America only, and grossed less than US$150,000 worldwide. Critical reaction to the project was generally mixed-to-negative, although Ryan was praised for her “terrific” performance.

Heidi Klum (born June 1, 1973), is a German American model, actress, television host, business woman, fashion designer, television producer, artist, and occasional singer. She is married to British singer Seal. She has been on the cover of fashion magazines, including Vogue, ELLE and Marie Claire. Heidi became widely known after appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and for her work with Victoria’s Secret as an “Angel”.

Heidi has hosted the 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows. On October 1, 2010, the New York Post reported on it’s six page gossip collumn that Heidi Klum would be leaving Victoria’s Secret. “Heidi Klum is quitting Victoria’s Secret after 13 years, Page Six has learned. The supermodel has told bosses she’s hanging up her wings and won’t be walking in the November show. Klum, 37, told us”.

In 2004, Heidi became the host, judge and executive producer of the reality show Project Runway on the U.S. cable television channel Bravo, (airing on Lifetime television beginning in 2009) in which fashion designers compete for the opportunity to show their line at New York Fashion Week and receive money to launch their own fashion line.

Heidi received an Emmy Award nomination for the show for each of the first four seasons. In 2008, she and Project Runway received a Peabody Award, the first time a reality show won the award. Heidi was nominated for an Emmy in 2008 for “outstanding host of a reality or reality-competition show” for Project Runway, the first year that category was recognized by the Emmys.

Source: Wikipedia

Michael Jackson is the highest earning dead celebrity of the past year.

The ‘Thriller’ singer – who died in June 2009 from an acute overdose of the anaesthetic Propofol – has earned $275 million since his death, putting him at the top of Forbes list of the Top Earning Dead Celebrities.

Michael’s earnings were more than the other 12 people on the list combined, including Elvis Presley and John Lennon, thanks to the “shrewd negotiations” of his estate.

Forbes said: “Jackson’s posthumous earnings have been bolstered by shrewd negotiations by his estate, including a merchandising deal and the rights to his name and likeness for the Sony film ‘This Is It’, which grossed over a quarter of a billion dollars.”

‘Hound Dog’ singer Elvis came second in the list with earnings of $60 million, while ‘Lord of the Rings’ writer J. R. R Tolkien was third with $50 million.

Discussing Elvis – who died in 1977 – Forbes said: “His portfolio of more than 200 licensing and merchandise deals got a nice boost from the late star’s 75th birthday celebrations. Commemorative events included Graceland exhibits, touring tribute concerts and an Elvis-themed cruise to the Bahamas.”

Other deceased stars in the list of 13 include ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ author Stieg Larsson and scientist Albert Einstein.

Full list of Forbes Top Earning Dead Celebrities:

1. Michael Jackson – $275 million

2. Elvis Presley – $60 million

3. J. R. R. Tolkein – $50 million

4. Charles Schulz – $33 million

5. John Lennon – $17 million

6. Stieg Larsson – $15 million

7. Dr. Seuss – $11 million

8. Albert Einstein – $10 million

9. George Steinbrenner – $8 million

10. Richard Rogers – $7 million

11. Jimi Hendrix and Steve McQueen – $6 million each

12. Aaron Spelling – $5 million

Source: BANG Showbiz

Amanda Tapping (born 28 August 1965 in Rochford, Essex) is an English-born Canadian actress, producer and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Currently she stars as Dr. Helen Magnus in the Syfy Channel series Sanctuary.

Amanda appeared in several television commercials and played a variety of roles in television and film productions, such as The Outer Limits and The X-Files. She also formed a comedy troupe, the “Random Acts”, with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 1990s.

She is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which debuted in 1997. After SG-1 aired its final episode, Tapping reprised the role of Samantha Carter on Stargate Atlantis as the new commander of the Atlantis expedition.

In season five however, Tapping’s role on the show was reduced to that of “special guest-star” with only occasional appearances due to her choosing to focus attention on the development of a new series for Syfy called Sanctuary. The show consists of 26 episodes over 2 seasons, which expanded on an original show released on the internet in 2007 as a series of eight webisodes, where the bulk of the scenery and characters are entirely green screen and CGI creations. Tapping serves as both star and executive producer of the show. Sanctuary has been renewed for a third season due to air during fall of 2010. Amanda won a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Actress for her role in the short film Breakdown in 2007.

Source: Wikipedia

David Arquette — Moving … But Not Moving Out

David Arquette called a U-Haul truck to his home in Beverly Hills this morning … but TMZ has learned, it has nothing to do with his relationship with Courteney Cox.

We’re told David was moving a few mini-cars from his home to the theater at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to prep for “Beacher’s Madhouse” – a variety show he’s heavily involved with.

Why the mini-cars?? Let’s just say the show features a bunch of mini-stars.

Source: TMZ

Gloria Allred To Throw the Book at ‘Conviction’

Gloria Allred has the movie “Conviction” in her crosshairs, and will go after the star/Executive Producer Hilary Swank for not bothering to speak with the children of the murder victim before shooting the flick … TMZ has learned.

Allred will hold a news conference today at 11 AM PT, with “particularly strong words for Hilary Swank.“

The movie is based on the story of Kenneth Waters, who was convicted of brutally murdering Katharina Brow in 1980. Waters was released from prison after serving 18 years when DNA showed the blood samples used to convict him were not a match.

The flick — which opens Friday — chronicles the steps Waters’ sister took to free him, but Swank and company never contacted Brow’s kids.

Allred says, “The murder victim’s children feel that no proper respect or compassion has been shown by Ms. Swank for the murder victim and her family.”

We’ll be live streaming the news conference at Gloria’s law office at 11 AM PT.

Source: TMZ

Charlize Theron (born August 7, 1975) is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model. She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil’s Advocate and The Cider House Rules.

Charlize received critical acclaim and an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, for which she became the first African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category. She received another Academy Award nomination for her performance in North Country.

At the age of 16, she travelled to Milan on a one-year modeling contract, after winning a local competition. Charlize went to New York with Pauline’s Model Management. She decided to remain after her contract ended, attending the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury closed this career path when Theron was 19.

Charlize was cast in her first film part, a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film Children of the Corn III (1995). Her breakout role was a supporting but significant part in 2 Days in the Valley, but larger roles in widely released Hollywood films followed, and her career skyrocketed in the late 1990s with box office successes like The Devil’s Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998) and The Cider House Rules (1999). She was on the cover of the January 1999 issue of Vanity Fair as the “White Hot Venus”.

Source: Wikipedia

Cheryl Cole sent Simon Cowell three singing dwarves for his birthday yesterday

The Girls Aloud star – who became close friends with the music mogul after working on ‘The X Factor’ judging panel together – splashed out on an unusual gift to celebrate Simon turning 51.

The three performers – who were armed with a violin, drum and an accordion – wore grey T-shirts and jeans to copy Simon’s sense of style.

However, the tops were decked out with a cheeky message from his pal, reading: “Happy Birthday, Love Cheryl.”

As the trio sang the classic ‘Happy Birthday’ song, even nearby photographers joined in the performance.

Simon was so thrilled by the gesture, he invited the group, actor Phil Holden and friends Ray Griffiths and Darren Horan to spend the day with him.

Phil told The Sun newspaper: “Simon saw us and asked, ‘Are you for me?’ before bursting out laughing. He thought it was the best present he’d ever had.

“Cheryl said she thought it would funny for us to annoy him.

“But it back-fired a bit because after we finished he said, ‘Right then, lads, you’re spending the day with me’.”

Simon also made a point of celebrating his special day – by splashing out £144,000 on a brand new black Ferrari California sports car.

He smiled: “I got myself a birthday present!”

Simon – who has a large collection of the high-speed vehicles – decided to treat himself to the latest convertible model, which features a retractable hard-top roof, and other customised extras.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Mark Ronson cries at chick flicks

The ‘Bike Song’ artist – who grew up splitting his time between New York and London – said he enjoys taking trans-Atlantic flights because it means he can properly relax and watch something he doesn’t have to concentrate too hard on.

Explaining why he enjoys long flights, he said “It’s seven hours where no one can touch you and no one can reach you. It’s such decompression for me. I love watching those c****y Sandra Bullock movies. There was a study recently that said the altitude when you’re flying makes you more sensitive, emotionally.

“It must be true because I always cry during those movies when I’m on the plane.”

Mark added that he loves the solitary nature of travelling on the plane, and the fact nobody can email or call him.

The ‘Stop Me’ hitmaker also revealed he recently got rid of his Blackberry mobile communication device so he didn’t have to have his life invaded by e-mail.

He added: “Empires were governed where it would take five days to send a letter to the generals at war.

“The world does not end if you don’t answer an e-mail in three minutes about whether you’re going to wear a plaid shirt on a TV show.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Shakira Mebarak (born February 2, 1977), is a Colombian singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, and philanthropist who emerged in the music scene of Latin America in the early 1990s. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, She revealed many of her talents in school as a live performer, demonstrating her vocal ability with rock and roll, Latin and Middle Eastern influences with her own original twist on belly dancing.

Shakira released Pies Descalzos in 1995, which brought her great fame in Latin America and Spain, and her 1998 album ¿Dónde Están los Ladrones? was a critical success. Since then she has gained many fans in semi-Hispanophone countries, and many non-Spanish-speaking countries, especially the United States. In 2001, aided by the extreme popularity of the music video for “Whenever, Wherever”, she broke through into the English-speaking world with the release of Laundry Service, which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Four years later, she released two album projects called Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Both reinforced her success, particularly with the best selling song of the century to date, “Hips Don’t Lie”.

Her debut album, Magia, was recorded with Sony Music in 1990 when she was only thirteen years old. The songs are a collection penned by her since she was 8, mixed pop-rock ballads and disco uptempo songs with electronic accompaniment, however it was hampered by a lack of recording and production cohesion. The album was released in June 1991 and featured “Magia” and three other singles. Though it fared well on Colombian radio and gave the young Shakira much exposure, the album did not fare well commercially as only 1,200 copies were sold worldwide. After the poor performance of Magia, Shakira’s label urged her to return to the studio to release a follow-up record.

During an online chat with her fans in El Heraldo in February 2008, she revealed that work on her sixth studio album was about to begin. Furthermore, at Shakira’s cousin Isa Mebarak’s album release party in Colombia, Shakira’s father William Mebarak stated that Shakira was currently at work writing and producing new songs for her upcoming album. This was being done in “her own studio”, which many fans thought to mean the studio at her home in the Bahamas. Shakira recorded 2005’s Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and 2006’s Oral Fixation Vol. 2 there as well.

Source: Wikipedia

Sharon Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in Casino.

She won the title of Miss Crawford County in Meadville. One of the pageant judges said she should quit school and move to New York City to become a fashion model. When her mother heard this, she agreed, and, in 1977 Stone left Meadville, moving in with an aunt in New Jersey. Within four days of her arrival in New Jersey, she was signed by Ford Modeling Agency in New York.

Sharon appeared in three episodes from the eighth season of The Practice, in 2003. For her performances, she received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She attempted a return to the mainstream with roles in the films Cold Creek Manor (2003) with Kristen Stewart and Catwoman (2004) with Halle Berry; however, both movies were critical and commercial flops.

After years of litigation, Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction was released on March 31, 2006. A reason for a long delay in releasing the film was reportedly Sharon’s dispute with the filmmakers over the nudity in the movie; she wanted more, while they wanted less. A group sex scene was cut in order to achieve an R rating from the MPAA for the U.S. release; the controversial scene remained in the U.K. version of the London-based film. Stone told an interviewer, “We are in a time of odd repression and if a popcorn movie allows us to create a platform for discussion, wouldn’t that be great?”

Source: Wikipedia

Mark Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971) is an American actor, rapper and producer of film and television. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years and became famous in his 1991 debut as a rap musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He has appeared in numerous films, including Boogie Nights (1997), The Departed (2006)—for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—and The Other Guys (2010). He also serves as one of the co-executive producers for the HBO television series Entourage.

Mark was assisted to fame as the younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg of the successful 1980s and 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block. Mark, at age thirteen, had been one of the group’s original members, along with Donnie, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight, and Jonathan Knight. Uninterested in the group’s bubblegum pop style, however, he soon quit. It was his departure that eventually allowed Joe McIntyre to take his place as the fifth member of the group.

Mark then began an acting career, making his debut in the 1993 TV movie The Substitute. His big screen debut came the next year, with the Danny DeVito feature Renaissance Man. A basketball fanatic, he caught the attention of critics after appearing in The Basketball Diaries in 1995, playing the role of Mickey alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, in a film adaptation of the Jim Carroll book of the same name. He also starred in the 1996 James Foley thriller Fear.

Mark earned many positive reviews after successful movies like Boogie Nights as Dirk Diggler, Three Kings, The Perfect Storm, The Italian Job, and Four Brothers. His performance in I ♥ Huckabees was voted best supporting performance of the year in the 2004 Village Voice Critics Poll. Although Wahlberg was originally cast as Linus Caldwell in Ocean’s Eleven; Matt Damon was recast in the role. The two later worked together in The Departed.

Source: Wikipedia

Will Smith (born September 25, 1968)[1] is an American actor, film producer and rapper. He has enjoyed success in music, television and film. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor on the planet. Will has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammy Awards.

In the late 1980s, Will achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show ran for nearly six years (1990–1996) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then.

In the mid-1990s, Smith transitioned from television to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films that received broad box office success. In fact, he is the only actor in history to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office as well as being the only actor to have eight consecutive films in which he starred open at the #1 spot in the domestic box office tally.

He started as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, with his childhood friend Jeffrey “DJ Jazzy Jeff” Townes as turntablist and producer as well as Ready Rock C as the human beat box. The trio was known for performing humorous, radio-friendly songs, most notably “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime”. They gained critical acclaim for winning the first ever Grammy in the Rap category (1988).

He was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending a record breaking three premieres in a 24-hour time span in 2005. He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series It Takes a Thief. He was recognized at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in 2007. Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the world renowned theater in front of many fans. Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews, its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December.

Source: Wikipedia

Ex-Bad Boy Exec: Diddy Fired Me Because I’m Old!

A woman who claims she launched Puff Daddy’s career is suing the hip-hop mogul for $12 million — claiming he fired her from his Bad Boy record label because she was old and disabled.

Francesca Spero just filed a lawsuit in federal court in NY — in which she describes herself as a “51-year-old white woman” who served as a high ranking exec for Diddy since 1998.

In the docs, Spero claims she and Diddy — aka Sean Combs — butted heads after she informed him that she needed major hip surgery in 2008 … and then later “suffered a relapse” to an addiction to prescription medication and alcohol.

According to the docs, Spero claims Diddy was “unsympathetic to her condition” — and ultimately tried to freeze her out of the company.

Spero says she continued to do her work — signing new artists — but was eventually fired in March 2010 … and replaced by a woman 10-15 years younger who “lacked the skill set and experience Spero brought to the position.”

Spero now claims Diddy — along with his publishing and management companies — owe her $12 mil in damages for age and disability discrimination.

Source: TMZ

Jay-Z plans to get fat

The 40-year-old rapper – who ‘retired’ from music in 2003 to take up the position of CEO of Def Jam records before making a comeback –already has a “Marlon Brando retirement plan” in mind for himself and wife Beyonce Knowles in the future.

Explaining he wants to live on a private island, employ a “genius chef”, smoke cigars, drink fine wines and get fat, the ‘99 Problems‘ star said:  “That’s what I enjoy. That’s the payback for all the hard work.

“Beyonce will be on the island too. But I don’t think she plan to get as fat as me. I’m gonna be fat.”

The music mogul – real name Shawn Carter – also revealed one of the high points of his career was when U2 frontman Bono invited him and Beyonce to holiday at the ‘One’ hitmaker’s home in St. Tropez, France.

Jay-Z added to Q magazine: “That’s an invite everyone cherishes. Bono is an ambassador for the game. He’s not, ‘I’m Bono. F**k off’. He’s still a musician trying to make the ultimate album.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Michael Bay’s Lawyer: Apologize, Or Else!

Michael Bay’s lawyer is red-faced angry over a lawsuit filed against him … alleging his bodyguard pistol-whipped two dudes outside a Hollywood nightclub.

Legal pit bull Marty Singer has fired off a letter — obtained by TMZ — to lawyers for the two alleged pistol-whipped dudes, claiming their lawsuit is “false and fabricated” and if it isn’t dismissed immediately … Singer will file a mega-suit of his own.

Singer claims Bay was not even at the nightclub in question on August 24, 2008.  What’s more, Singer says Bay has never had a bodyguard, so the whole thing is bogus.

But wait, there’s more.  Singer not only wants the lawsuit against Bay dismissed, he wants “a sincere public apology” for what he calls “malicious prosecution.”

Source: TMZ

Timbaland 911 Call — ‘We Can’t Find Him’

TMZ has obtained the Timbaland 911 call, in which his mother-in-law desperately declares an emergency — stating the rapper/producer was “tired of the stress” and by a cliff in a canyon.

TMZ broke the story, after receiving the call, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher sent out a “possible suicide attempt” APB.  A helicopter spotted Timbaland, deputies came, took him home and determined his life was not in danger.

The Sheriff’s Department tells TMZ … “Initial information provided to the Sheriff’s dispatch suggested that Mosley [aka Timbaland] might have taken some sort of medication that would make finding him more urgent.”

Source: TMZ

Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979) is an American actress, television director, voice actress, singer-songwriter, author, and film and television producer. She began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated. Jennifer rose to fame in teenage popular culture in her roles in the Fox series Party of Five, as Sarah Reeves, and films I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel, as Julie James.

As a singer, Jennifer has been signed by Atlantic Records and Jive Records. She is primarily known for her recordings in the pop genre. Her most successful single on the Billboard Hot 100 is the 1999 release “How Do I Deal”, which peaked at No. 59. In addition, she has contributed music to the promotion or soundtracks of acting projects.

Her appearance has been the subject of media attention throughout her career. Jennifer has been lauded as one of the most attractive women in the entertainment industry by publications such as Maxim, in which she was named the sexiest woman in the world in 1999, and TV Guide, which named her the sexiest woman on television in 2008. In 2007, paparazzi photos of Hewitt on a beach led to a much-publicized matter in which she defended her weight, and was supported by other celebrities. These incidents received coverage from People magazine.

Jennifer has also served as producer on some of her film and television projects. She can be seen on the CBS television program Ghost Whisperer as Melinda Gordon, a young woman who can communicate with ghosts. She won a Saturn Award in 2007 and 2008 for Best Actress on Television.

After moving to Los Angeles, she appeared in more than twenty television commercials. Her first break came as a child actor on the Disney Channel variety show Kids Incorporated (1989–1991), where she was credited as just Love Hewitt. During this time she danced in and sang all the songs for a live action video called Dance! Workout with Barbie released by Buena Vista.

In 1993, Jennifer played Pierce Brosnan’s daughter in a pilot for NBC called Running Wilde, which featured Brosnan as a reporter for Auto World magazine whose stories cover his own wild auto adventures. However, the series was not picked up and the pilot never aired. She later had roles in several short-lived television series, such as Fox’s Shaky Ground (1992–1993), ABC’s The Byrds of Paradise (1994), and McKenna (1994–1995), and finally became a young star after landing the role of Sarah Reeves on the popular Fox Television show Party of Five (1995–1999). Jennifer assumed the role of Sarah after joining that show during its second season and continued it on the short-lived Party of Five spin-off, Time of Your Life (1999), which she also co-produced. The show was cancelled after half a season.

Meldac funded the recording of Jennifer’s first album Love Songs in 1991, when she was 12. The album was only released in Japan in 1992 where Hewitt became a pop star. Her explanation for her success in Japan is that the Japanese “love perky music. The poppier the music, the better.”

After she joined the cast of Party of Five in 1995, she signed to Atlantic Records, who rushed her first single and second album, Let’s Go Bang, out in October.

Juggling her music career with her acting career, Jennifer recorded her follow-up in 1996. The first single, “No Ordinary Love”, failed to chart and led to the album doing the same. Atlantic dropped Hewitt, who didn’t return to the music scene for three years.

Source: Wikipedia

Charlize Theron (born August 7, 1975) is an South African actress, film producer, and former fashion model.Charlize rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil’s Advocate, and The Cider House Rules.

Charlize received critical acclaim and an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, for which she became the first African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category. She received another Academy Award nomination for her performance in North Country.

At the age of 16, Charlize traveled to Milan on a one-year modeling contract, after winning a local competition. She went to New York with Pauline’s Model Management. Charlize decided to remain after her contract ended, attending the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury closed this career path when Theron was 19.

Unable to dance, Charlize flew to Los Angeles on a one-way ticket her mother bought her. During her early months there, she went to a bank to cash a check her mother had sent her to help with the rent. When the teller refused to cash it, she immediately started a shouting match with her. Afterwards, a talent agent in line behind her handed her his business card and subsequently introduced her to some casting agents and also an acting school. She later fired him as her manager after he kept sending her scripts for films similar to Showgirls and Species.

After eight months in the city, she was cast in her first film part, a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film Children of the Corn III (1995). Larger roles in widely released Hollywood films followed, and her career skyrocketed in the late 1990s with box office successes like The Devil’s Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999). Charlize was on the cover of the January 1999 issue of Vanity Fair as the “White Hot Venus”.

Source: Wikipedia

Alanis Morissette (born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards. Morissette began her career in Canada, and as a teenager recorded two dance-pop albums, Alanis and Now Is the Time, under MCA Records Canada.

Her worldwide debut album was the rock-influenced Jagged Little Pill, which remains the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the U.S., and the highest selling debut album worldwide, selling 30 million units globally. Her following album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in 1998 and was a success as well. Alanis took up producing duties for her subsequent albums, which include Under Rug Swept, So-Called Chaos and Flavors of Entanglement. She has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. In February 2005, Alanis became a naturalized citizen of the United States while maintaining her Canadian citizenship.

MCA Records Canada released Alanis’ debut album, Alanis, in Canada only in 1991, and Morissette co-wrote every track on the album with its producer, Leslie Howe. By the time it was released, she had dropped her stage name and was credited simply as Alanis. The dance-pop album went platinum, and its first single, “Too Hot”, reached the top twenty on the RPM singles chart. Subsequent singles “Walk Away” and “Feel Your Love” reached the top forty. Her popularity, style of music and appearance, particularly that of her hair, led her to become known as the Debbie Gibson of Canada; comparisons to Tiffany were also common. During the same period, she was a concert opening act for rapper Vanilla Ice. She was nominated for three 1992 Juno Awards: Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year (which she won), Single of the Year and Best Dance Recording (both for “Too Hot”).

Alanis released her second album in 1992, Now Is the Time, a ballad-driven record that featured less glitzy production than Alanis and contained more thoughtful lyrics. She wrote the songs with the album’s producer, Leslie Howe, and Serge Côté. She said of the album, “people could go, ‘Boo, hiss, hiss, this girl’s like another Tiffany or whatever.’ But the way I look at it … people will like your next album if it’s a suck-ass one.” As with Alanis, Now Is the Time was released only in Canada and produced three top forty singles—”An Emotion Away,” the minor adult contemporary hit “No Apologies” and “(Change Is) Never a Waste of Time.” It sold a little more than half the copies of her first album, however, and was a commercial failure. With her two-album deal with MCA Records Canada complete, Alanis was left without a major label contract.

Source: Wikipedia

Channing Tatum (born April 26, 1980) is an American actor and film producer. He began his career as a fashion model and now appears in film roles. He has appeared in a number of films, including She’s the Man (2006), Step Up (2006), Fighting (2009), Public Enemies (2009), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), and Dear John (2010).

Channing started his acting career in 2004, appearing in an episode of the television series CSI: Miami. His first feature film role was in 2005’s high school drama, Coach Carter, playing Jason Lyle, a basketball player opposite Samuel L. Jackson; He also appeared in rapper Twista’s “Hope” music video, which accompanied the film. In the same year, Channing had a role as a factory endorsed top motocross racer in Supercross, and part of the supporting cast in Havoc. Although Tatum has said that he loves modeling, he has taken a break from the profession to concentrate on his acting career, saying that he prefers making more mature films.

Channing was originally scheduled to play Genghis Khan in the film Mongol, but was replaced by actor Tadanobu Asano. He was eventually cast in the film She’s the Man, where he plays Duke, the love interest of Viola Hastings Amanda Bynes’s character. The film opened on March 17, 2006, and it was a modest success at the box office, grossing about $57 million worldwide.

Channing co-starred in director Kimberly Peirce’s film Stop-Loss in 2008, about soldiers returning home from the Iraq War, and in director Stuart Townsend’s film Battle in Seattle, about the 1999 protest of the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. He played in the indie film The Trap, which directed by Rita Wilson. He was chosen for a role in the film Poor Things, starring Lindsay Lohan, Shirley MacLaine, Rosario Dawson, and Olympia Dukakis, but had to turn it down because of scheduling conflicts.

Source: Wikipedia

Drew Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress, film producer and film director. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was eleven months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered States in 1980. Afterwards, she starred in her breakout role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Drew quickly became one of Hollywood’s most recognized child actors, going on to establish herself in mainly comic roles.

Following a turbulent childhood which was marked by drug and alcohol abuse and two stints in rehab, she wrote the 1990 autobiography, Little Girl Lost. Drew successfully made the transition from child star to adult actress with a number of films including Poison Ivy, Bad Girls, Boys on the Side, and Everyone Says I Love You. Subsequently, she established herself in romantic comedies such as The Wedding Singer and Lucky You.

Drew and partner Nancy Juvonen formed the production company Flower Films in 1995, with its first production the 1999 Barrymore film Never Been Kissed. Flower Films has gone on to produce the Barrymore vehicle films Charlie’s Angels, 50 First Dates, and Music and Lyrics, as well as the cult film Donnie Darko. Drew’s more recent projects include He’s Just Not That into You, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Everybody’s Fine. A recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Barrymore appeared on the cover of the 2007 People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful issue.

Drew was named Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Since then, she has donated over $1 million to the program. In 2007, Drew became both CoverGirl’s newest model and spokeswoman for the cosmetic and the face for Gucci’s newest jewelry line. In 2010, she was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of Little Edie in Grey Gardens.

Source: Wikipedia

Salma Hayek (born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican actress, television director, and television and film producer. She is the first Mexican national to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Salma is one of the most prominent Mexican figures in Hollywood since silent film actress Dolores del Río. She is also, after Fernanda Montenegro, the second of three Latin American actresses to achieve a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

At the age of 23, Salma landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful Mexican telenovela that made her a star in Mexico. In 1994, Hayek starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema. For her performance, Hayek was nominated for an Ariel Award.

Salma moved to Los Angeles, California in 1991 to study acting under Stella Adler. She had limited fluency in English, which was attributed to her suffering from dyslexia. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave her the break she needed, a starring role opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995’s Desperado. The movie caught Hollywood’s attention, as moviegoers proved to be dazzled by Hayek as Rodriguez had been. Due to Salma’s loyalty to the director, she would later decline playing the role Catherine Zeta-Jones eventually took in The Mask of Zorro after Rodriguez abandoned the project. She also appeared in the Spy Kids trilogy.

Around 2000, Hayek founded film production company Ventanarosa, through which she produces film and television projects. Salma’s first feature as a producer was 1999’s El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba, Mexico’s official selection for submission for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.

Source: Wikipedia

Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American R&B, pop and hip hop singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Mariah made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records established her position as Columbia’s highest-selling act. According to Billboard magazine, Mariah was the most successful artist of the 1990s in the United States.

Mariah co-wrote the tracks on her 1990 debut album Mariah Carey, and she has co-written most of her material since. She establishes a strong standard of comparison for other breakthrough artists of this genre.” Backed by a substantial promotional budget, the album reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, where it remained for several weeks. Critics rated the album highly, assisting Carey’s Grammy wins for Best New Artist, and—for her debut single, “Vision of Love”—Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds consulted on the album Music Box, which was released later that year and became Mariah’s most successful worldwide. The album maintained a presence on the Billboard 200 for a staggering 128 weeks. It yielded her first UK Singles Chart number-one, a cover of Badfinger’s “Without You”, and the U.S. number-ones “Dreamlover” and “Hero”.

Source: Wikipedia

Seth MacFarlane — Rollin’ Like Marty McFly

Seth MacFarlane is one Flux Capacitor away from being able to travel back in time — because TMZ has learned he’s the proud new owner of an exact replica of the DeLorean from “Back to the Future.”

Seth’s people confirm the “Family Guy” mastermind purchased the DeLorean earlier this month. A source tells us Seth is having about $20,000 worth of customized equipment installed … making it the coolest thing on wheels since the motorized bar stool.

One source — who was lucky enough to sneak a peak at MacFarlane’s unfinished DeLorean — said the car already looks “insane.”

Note to self: Don’t bet against MacFarlane on any sporting events from now on.

Source: TMZ