Freida Pinto is happy she had so many rejections before becoming famous

The Mumbai-born actress auditioned for hundreds of roles before achieving fame in the 2008 Oscar-winning movie `Slumdog Millionaire’ but insists her bad experiences made her the person she is today.

She said: “I’m glad things happened the way they happened. I needed to be rejected, and I needed to learn that it’s part of the game. I said, `It’s okay. I can have 100 rejections, but I’m sure there’s going to be one particular thing that is almost destined for me to have, and I am going to have it.’

As well as thinking her rejections led her down her current career path, Freida, 26, is relieved about some of the roles she missed out on because they would have left her filled with regret.

She told Interview magazine: “Some of those things I got rejected for, I look back and say, `Oh, my god, I’m so happy that happened. There would be a lot of things I would have regretted.

“I used to go for these crazy auditions and they’d have the most stupid, silly scripts. My heart was never in it. I would go and try to do what I could, and then a short list would come out. Every day I was on the short list I would have a bad day-I’d be very moody and on edge. At the same time, I thought, `What would happen if I made it to the final list? Maybe that would be my ticket.’ But deep down in my heart I always had doubts, and I think when you have doubts, you just say no.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Leona Lewis was mortified when she accidentally flashed her underawear.

The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer was in the middle of a performance which included some wind machines and admits they were a little too powerful for her liking.

She said:”I was singing in front of some wind machines when my dress just blew up! I was only wearing a little pair of knickers, so it was really embarrassing. The wind machines were meant to be blowing my hair, so how did it get up my dress? I was like, ‘Are you doing that on purpose?’

“Everyone pretended they didn’t see, but I know they did.”

Although she was embarrassed about showing her underwear, Leona recently admitted she finds skinny dipping “liberating”.

The ‘Happy‘ hitmaker admitted she and her friends once stripped off and jumped into a swimming pool during a holiday to Portugal in order to cheer up one of their other pals.

She said: “I was with some girlfriends in Portugal. One of my friends was going through a hard time with her boyfriend, so we thought let’s do something crazy. It was liberating.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Leona Lewis won’t ever strip off for  shoots.

The ‘Happy’ singer wouldn’t be comfortable posing in a flesh-flashing outfit and could never follow in the footsteps of her idol Madonna – who is known for her raunchy stage shows and released the infamous ‘Sex’ book, in which she appeared naked.

She said: “I would never do a bikini shoot. It’s too embarrassing. No weird sex books for me either.” Despite her reluctance to de-robe for the cameras, Leona is happy with her body.

She added: “I watch what I eat and I eat really healthily most of the time, but other times, I’ll just eat what I want. But I’ve probably lost a little bit. I’m happy with my figure.”

Although she refuses to strip in public, Leona has previously confessed to finding swimming naked “liberating”. She said: “I was with some girlfriends in Portugal and we went skinny-dipping. One of my friends was going through a hard time with her boyfriend, so we thought let’s do something crazy. It was liberating.”

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The ‘Happy’ singer, who was punched in the face by Peter Kowalczyk as she signed copies of her autobiography ‘Dreams’ on October 14 at a London book store, was left upset and stunned at the time of the incident but has now put it behind her.

Speaking on UK TV show ‘Live From Studio Five’, she said: “At first it was very shocking and I was very upset but you know I’ve kind of put it behind me.

“I just want to keep moving forward and I don’t want it to affect me in any way and it hasn’t either.”

Her attacker pleaded guilty to common assault in court earlier this week. Peter is alleged to say “gotcha” as he punched the pop star.

Leona, 24, also revealed she hasn’t let fame and success go to her head and insists she is still a “normal” person.

Commenting on her good girl image, Leona said: “I think people kind of just see me as kind of the girl next door, which I am kind of normal, very down to earth and I’m glad people see me in that way.

“I think that people are not silly, I’m still a young girl and I do go out and have fun but you know I’m smart with my actions and how I do things.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Happy’ singer was flown by private jet to Monte Carlo for the birthday party of Romania’s richest man on Saturday (05.12.09).

Leona sang a short set for 25 guests in the exclusive show at a private banqueting suite in the state’s Hotel De Paris.

The singer then flew to Germany where she wowed millions of TV viewers with a performance on hugely popular show ‘Wetten Dass’ yesterday (07.12.09), for which she wore a short white dress.

Although she agreed to perform at the private party, Leona has previously turned down other lucrative earning opportunities. Last month, it emerged Leona had been offered over $1.5 million to appear naked in men’s magazine Playboy.

Although she was “flattered” to have been asked to appear in the pages of the publication, Leona is simply too shy to strip off for a shoot.

She has previously said: “I’m not that confident! I just don’t think I could pose nude, because I’m not that brave.”

Leona is not the only pop star to cash in with a private performance.

Rihanna is reportedly set to earn $500,000 to perform at a New Year’s Eve party (31.12.09).

The ‘Umbrella’ singer has been asked to sing at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi to help revellers see in 2010 in what will be her first performance in the Middle East.

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The ‘Happy’ singer is too busy with promotional duties for her own album ‘Echo’ to want to spend time plugging ‘I See You’, which is used in the £300 million film.

Angry director James Cameron has now given the British star a sneak preview of the movie – the most expensive ever made – in an attempt to persuade her to release the song but she is still said to be unable to make up her mind.

A source said: “Leona was delighted to be part of ‘Avatar’ but the song was never supposed to be released. But her cover of ‘Run’ wasn’t meant to be released either – and look how well that did.”

James is said to be particularly disappointed as he believes the track could be as successful as Celine Dion’s 1997 hit ‘My Heart Will Go On’, the lead song on the soundtrack to his blockbuster ‘Titanic’.

‘I See You’ was even produced by James Horner and Simon Franglen, the same team behind Celine’s massive hit.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The singer – who has a song included on the soundtracks to new films ‘Precious’ and ‘Avatar’ respectively – is a huge movie fan and would love to pen a script in the future.

The 24-year-old singer said: “I love movies but I’m more into scriptwriting and the actual story and behind the scenes. But I wouldn’t say no if it was the right thing.”

Leona’s current single ‘Happy’ is featured in ‘Precious’, which tells the story of an overweight, illiterate teenager who dreams of a better life.

The pop star was thrilled when the track got picked to be used in the movie, saying: “I’m just so proud of it because I wrote it, and for it to be associated with a film like ‘Precious’, which is about trying to overcome troubles and trials in your life, is amazing. I’m glad that someone got that message.”

As Leona’s career goes from strength-to-strength, she is attracting a host of star fans.

Rihanna – who was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in February – is a huge admirer and was very upset to hear about Leona being attacked by a fan at a recent book signing.

The ‘Russian Roulette’ singer said: “I got so mad, like it was me. I couldn’t believe it happened to her, of all people. It’s so disappointing when people behave like that. Why? She’s so sweet. She is just a beautiful, beautiful spirit. You don’t want any bad things to happen to her.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Happy’ singer recently met with designer Stella – who shares similar views to Leona on the use of animal products in fashion – to discuss the possibility of her releasing her own branded products.

A friend told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper Leona had said: “I’m on a mission. I’d love to promote a line of non-leather bags and shoes that are affordable. I think more needs to be available and not so expensive.

“There’s so much I want to do. I’ve always wanted to have my own fashion line, and that’s something I want to focus on next year.”

Vegetarian Leona, 24, doesn’t wear suede, leather or other animal products and is public supporter of PETA, while Stella has been a long-time vegetarian – just as her father Sir Paul McCartney and late mother Linda McCartney were.

The source added: “Leona and Stella get on like a house on fire. They met at the recent Children In Need charity show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. They are both vegetarians, don’t wear leather and are huge animal lovers. The line would be very animal friendly.”

Meanwhile, Leona’s new LP ‘Echo’ topped the UK albums charts yesterday (22.11.09).

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I put my heart and soul into it, so it’s great to get this reaction. I spent nearly nine months recording it, so it’s so great to finally let everyone share and enjoy it.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The British singer, who has a reputation for being one of the nicest people in pop, says she only has the good characteristics of a diva – which includes having a big voice.

She said: “The term ‘diva’ has such a negative connotation, but I see myself as a kind of good diva. I’m a next-door diva.”

To further prove her “good diva” credentials, Leona insists she doesn’t make extravagant demands or make expensive purchases like many of her pop star contemporaries.

‘Happy’ singer Leona – who spent several months recording her new album ‘Echo’ in Los Angeles – added in an interview with Petra magazine: “The biggest things I’ve bought are a house and my two cars. One of the cars is a Mini Cooper. But in Los Angeles I always drive a Hybrid Toyota Prius which is very environmentally friendly.”

One star famed for her diva-like demands is Mariah Carey who recently revealed her pet dogs Cha Cha and JJ had their own entourage when she shot a recent commercial.

She previously said: “I had my team with me but the pups had a mini entourage of their own, of course! And why wouldn’t they? It was a big shoot and even my entourage had an entourage – my stylist had an assistant, my security had extra security.

“The shoot was based on the fact that some people think I’m a demanding diva. I have no idea why people have that impression!”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The 24-year-old ‘Happy’ singer – who shot to fame after winning UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2006 – insists she has moved on from her recent assault by a fan because she saw worse things happen in the east London area where she grew up.

She said: “I’m from Hackney, so I’m hard. I’m not going to let something like that bother me. When you grow up where I did you learn to move on. There was always some kind of craziness going on in my neighbourhood.

“The boys were always fighting each other and there was loads of street crime. I know how to look after myself. The part of London where I grew up has the highest crime rates in the country.”

The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer also said her long-term boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa was particularly angry about the attack because he hadn’t been there to protect her.

She added to Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “It brought out his protective side. It’s horrible, no matter who you are, to be physically attacked by someone, but I’m not letting it worry me.”

Following the incident, which took place at a book signing in London last month, Peter Kowalczyk, 29, from Waterloo, south London,  was charged with common assault but later deemed unfit to face magistrates and has since been sectioned.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The 38-year-old star admitted she is still unwilling to have a baby, although model Kris Smith is desperately trying to change her mind – but the Australian singer insists the only way she will agree is if he takes on all parenting duties.

Speaking at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Awards, where she was named Ultimate TV Personality last night (11.11.09), Dannii told BANG Showbiz:  “He’s very keen to be a dad and I’m taking some convincing. I said, ‘If you can have the baby then fine.’ If he does everything basically then maybe.”

She later credited Kris for her happiness and recent successes, saying: ”When you’re having a good time both at work and in your love life, I guess it shows on your face. And it shows even more given that it follows on from some difficult situations last year. You get into a black hole, thinking nothing will ever be the same and you’ll never be happy again, but then good things happen and you finally re-emerge.

“I’m amazed at my own good fortune, and so grateful for it. I feel euphoric.”

Dannii has previously spoken about how she felt she was too busy to have children.

She said: “I never thought I’d be the sort of girl to have kids, it’s not really in my make up. But you never know.”

Other winners at the star-studded event held in Whitehall, London, included Girls Aloud beauty Kimberley Walsh, who was awarded The Ultimate Woman’s Woman prize, ‘Jennifer’s Body’ star Megan Fox, who was named Ultimate Film Actress and ‘Happy’ singer Leona Lewis, who was honoured as Ultimate Music Star.

Celebrity Winners at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Awards:

Ultimate Woman’s Woman:

Kimberley Walsh

Ultimate TV Presenter:

Holly Willoughby

Ultimate Celeb Who Made Us Care:

Brooke Kinsella

Ultimate Love-Your-Body Champions:

Caryn Franklin and Erin O’Connor

Ultimate Newcomer:

Pixie Lott

Ultimate TV Personality:

Dannii Minogue

Ultimate Funny Woman:

Ruth Jones

Ultimate Man of the Year:

Andrew Flintoff

Ultimate TV Actress:

Lacey Turner

Ultimate Music Star:

Leona Lewis

Ultimate Film Actress:

Megan Fox

Ultimate Hottie:

Ricky Whittle

Source: BANG Showbiz