Gia Mantegna has been named Miss Golden Globe 2011

The 20-year-old actress – who is the daughter of former award nominee Joe Mantegna and his restaurateur wife Arlene – feels “honoured” to have been awarded the prestigious title by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

She said: “I have grown up watching the Golden Globes with my family and feel so fortunate to be part of such a magical evening, so early on in my career.”

Previous Miss Golden Globes include Melanie Griffith – daughter of Hitchcock’s leading lady Tippi Hedren - who gave out the awards in 1975.

Rumer Willis – whose parents are Bruce Willis and Demi Moore – was named Miss Golden Globe in 2008, but the subsequent ceremony was cancelled due to the Hollywood writer’s strike.

Kevin Costner’s daughter Lily was Miss Golden Globe in 2004 and in 1995 the title was given to a boy, Clark Gable’s son John.

Gia – who is dating ‘Hannah Montana’ actor Mitchel Musso – started her acting career at the age of 13 when she appeared in the film ‘Uncle Nero’ alongside her father.

She has since appeared on ‘Secret Life of the American Teenager,’ ‘Criminal Minds’ and NickTeen series ‘Gigantic’ alongside Meryl Streep’s daughter Grace Gummer.

The president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, commented: “We are thrilled to have Gia as this year’s Miss Golden Globe.

“She is just as talented as she is beautiful and will surely be a great addition to the show.”

The 68th Golden Globe Awards – which honour the best in film and television – will be presented on January 16 at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Shia LaBeouf is the “best value” actor in Hollywood

The star – who has featured in ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ and the third film in the ‘Transformers’ franchise during this year alone – represents the best value for money in the film industry for the second year running, a new list compiled by Forbes magazine has revealed.

According to the study of stars who offer the most “bang for the buck”, the 24-year-old actor generates an estimated $81 for every dollar he is paid.

To compile the list, the media magazine assessed 36 of the highest earners in Hollywood who have starred in at least three major film releases over the past five years.

The actors’ earnings were then added to worldwide box office and home video sales and subtracted from the movie’s overall budget.

With ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ notching up a total of $836 million and $787 million respectively in the past two years, Shia was found to deliver a better financial return than any other actor in the industry.

Anne Hathaway came in second place largely thanks to the worldwide success of Tim Burton’s remake of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, bringing in around $64 per dollar, just a few dollars more than ‘Harry Potter’ actor Daniel Radcliffe, whose figure came in at $61.

Robert Downey Jr. and Cate Blanchett were placed fourth and fifth, generating $33 and $27 per dollar respectively.

Jenifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker rounded up the top 10.

Best value actors according to Forbes magazine:

1. Shia LaBeouf – $81

2. Anne Hathaway – $64

3. Daniel Radcliffe – $61

4. Robert Downey Jr. – $33

5. Cate Blanchett – $27

6. Jennifer Aniston – $21

7. Meryl Streep – $21

8. Johnny Depp – $18

9. Nicholas Cage – $17

10. Sarah Jessica Parker – $17

Source: BANG Showbiz

Emily Blunt felt like there was an “imposter” living inside her when she had a stutter

The ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star – who developed a speech impediment at the age of seven – revealed that even though she has since overcome the condition, she sometimes struggles to even say her own name.

She said: “It was awful, absolutely awful. You feel like there’s an imposter living inside of you who is misrepresenting who you really are. You don’t want to be accepted for being that person but at the same time you do, and you don’t want someone to finish your sentences, yet you breathe a sigh of relief when someone does.

“It’s very common for stutterers to not be able to say their own name, and when someone asks who’s calling, I’ll be like ‘F**k!’ ”

The actress – who won a Golden Globe award for her role in ‘Gideon’s Daughter’ – revealed despite achieving critical acclaim, there are still other female actresses she looks up to and admires.

She explained: “Cate Blanchett is wonderful. Rachel Weisz is delicious. And Meryl Streep, of course. She’s such a free spirit, so intuitive, she’s got balls, and she manages to maintain a mystique and a wonderful sense of humour.

“She’s someone who I admire not only for what she can do – that’s a given – but for who she is.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

It seems that most of the actress who are likely to be contending for the Best Actress Nominations in ‘The 82nd Academy Awards’ have received widespread acclaim from film critics. Our list of favourites compirses of some of the renowned actress who have already captured the imagination of movie fans!

The nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced live on Tuesday February 2, 2010.

Our Predictions for 2010 Oscar Best Actress Nominees are:

Meryl Streep for ‘Julie & Julia’

She portrayed the character of the late Julia Child in the comedy-drama film written and directed by Nora Ephron, ‘Julie & Julie’. In 2004, Child was the inspiration for The Julie/Julia Project, a popular cooking blog by Julie Powell that, along with Child’s own memoir, in turn inspired the 2009 feature film Julie & Julia.

Carey Mulligan for ‘An Education’

She gained widespread recognition for playing the role of Jenny Miller in 2009 British coming-of-age drama film directed by Lone Scherfig, ‘An Education’. Mulligan was twenty-two when she was cast as Jenny; who is sixteen in the film.

Marion Cotillard for ‘Nine’

She played Luisa Contini in the film adaptation of the Tony Award for Best Musical-winning musical ‘Nine’. The film has received moderate reviews from critics.

Hilary Swank for ‘Amelia’

Swan played the lead role in 2009 dramatized biographical film of the life of Amelia Earhart, ‘Amelia’. Hilary Swank took on the role of Executive Producer, working closely with Director Mira Nair.

Gabby Sidibe For ‘Precious’

American actress who made her acting debut in the role of Claireece “Precious” Jones in the 2009 film ‘Precious’. The film portrays 16-year-old Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) who lives in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem with her dysfunctional family.

The 60-year-old actress – who stars in new romantic comedy ‘It’s Complicated’ where she plays a woman who has an affair with her ex-husband – said she doesn’t mind acting out sex scenes because it’s “authentic”.

She said: “Sex scenes, love scenes. Yes, at this age it’s unusual for somebody to do a love scene, to be making love. Yeah, that is unusual. But that is just how benighted we are. Because, you know, we still are alive. It’s you and I, baby. It’s authentic.”

The Hollywood star – who acts alongside Alec Baldwin in the film – said she doesn’t understand why some people are so surprised she is still happy to go so far at her age.

She said: “The whole idea that you have to look a certain way and be a certain age to earn love is ridiculous. We love what we love. It doesn’t matter what shape it is. It’s thrilling to see real people on screen.”

Meryl also said it was her role in ‘Julie and Julia’ where she played the chef Julia Child that “broke that little barrier” for her.

She told the Sunday Times: “Everyone said, ‘Isn’t it remarkable that a tall overweight woman and a short bald man could be in love?’ Well, yeah? You know what I mean? You’re alive.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

‘Up in the Air’ star George Clooney is up for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham, while the film’s female stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick will both battle it out for the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role prize.

‘Inglourious Basterds’ sees its’ stars up for the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Christoph Waltz and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Diane Kruger.

‘Precious…’ – full title ‘Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire’ – will compete with ‘Inglourious Basterds’ for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture accolade, while Gabourey Sidibe competes with Diane for the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role gong.

Mo’nique earns the film its final nomination after being listed in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role category.

The nominees were announced by Chris O’Donnell and Michelle Monaghan this morning (17.12.09) and the televised ceremony takes place on January 23 at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

The SAGs are considered a good indication of who will win Oscars at the Academy Awards the next month.

16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards full list of nominees:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Jeff Bridges – ‘Crazy Heart’

George Clooney – ‘Up In The Air’

Colin Firth – ‘A Single Man’

Morgan Freeman – ‘Invictus’

Jeremy Renner – ‘The Hurt Locker’

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Sandra Bullock – ‘The Blind Side’

Helen Mirren – ‘The Last Station’

Carey Mulligan – ‘An Education’

Gabourey Sidibe – ‘Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire’

Meryl Streep – ‘Julie and Julia’

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Matt Damon – ‘Invictus’

Woody Harrelson – ‘The Messenger’

Christopher Plummer – ‘The Last Station’

Stanley Tucci – ‘The Lovely Bones’

Christoph Waltz – ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Penélope Cruz – ‘Nine’

Vera Farmiga – ‘Up In The Air’

Anna Kendrick – ‘Up In The Air’

Diane Kruger – ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Mo’nique – ‘Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire’

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:

‘An Education’

‘The Hurt Locker’

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Nine’

‘Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire’

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Betty White

Source: BANG Showbiz

The comedy drama – in which Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizer who travels the country delivering bad news – is up for six awards, including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor for Clooney and Best Director for Jason Reitman.

Reitman said: “I can’t put into words how exciting it is to feel and to know that I’ll be going to the Golden Globes with everyone I worked with on this film.

“This was one of those ensembles that we really enjoyed working together. We’re a tight-knit family. The idea that we’re going together is just wonderful.”

‘Up in the Air’ is closely followed by new musical movie ‘Nine’ which is named in five categories and science fiction film ‘Avatar’ and Quentin Tarantino’s World Ward II parody ‘Inglourious Basterds’ which both have four nods.

Up for Best Actress are Emily Blunt for her performance in ‘The Young Victoria’, Sandra Bullock for ‘The Blind Side’, ‘Last Station’ actress Dame Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan for her role in ‘An Education’ and Gabourey Sidibe, who starred in ‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push By Sapphire’.

In the equivalent male category, Morgan Freeman, Tobey Maguire, George Clooney, Colin Firth and Jeff Bridges are all vying for the prize.

Commenting on his nomination, Morgan – who was nominated for his performance in ‘Invictus’ – said: “I suspect we will do a little bit of celebration, not a whole lot, you know. But it’s wonderful.”

Meryl Streep has been nominated twice in the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical category for her roles in ‘It’s Complicated’ and ‘Julie and Julia’.

The ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on January 17 and will be hosted by Ricky Gervais.

Main list of nominees for the 67th Golden Globe Awards:

Best Motion Picture:

‘Avatar’

‘The Hurt Locker’

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Precious

‘Up In The Air’

Best Actress:

Emily Blunt – ‘The Young Victoria’

Sandra Bullock – ‘The Blind Side’

Helen Mirren – ‘The Last Station’

Carey Mulligan – ‘An Education’

Gabourey Sidibe – ‘Precious’

Best Actor:

Jeff Bridges – ‘Crazy Heart’

George Clooney – ‘Up In The Air’

Colin Firth – ‘A Single Man’

Morgan Freeman – ‘Invictus’

Tobey Maguire – ‘Brothers’

Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical:

‘(500) Days Of Summer’

‘The Hangover’

‘It’s Complicated’

‘Julie and Julia’

‘Nine’

Best Actress – Comedy Or Musical:

Sandra Bullock – ‘The Proposal’

Marion Cotillard – ‘Nine’

Julia Roberts – ‘Duplicity’

Meryl Streep – ‘It’s Complicated’

Meryl Streep – ‘Julie and Julia’

Best Actor – Comedy Or Musical:

Matt Damon – ‘The Informant’

Daniel Day-Lewis – ‘Nine’

Robert Downey Jr. – ‘Sherlock Holmes’

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – ‘(500) Days Of Summer’

Michael Stuhlbarg – ‘A Serious Man’

Best Animated Feature Film:

‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’

‘Coraline’

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

‘The Princess And The Frog’

‘Up’

Best Supporting Actress:

Penelope Cruz – ‘Nine’

Vera Farmiga – ‘Up In The Air’

Anna Kendrick – ‘Up In The Air’

Mo’nique – ‘Precious’

Julianne Moore – ‘A Single Man’

Best Supporting Actor:

Matt Damon – ‘Invictus’

Woody Harrelson – ‘The Messenger’

Christopher Plummer – ‘The Last Station’

Stanley Tucci – ‘The Lovely Bones’

Christoph Waltz – ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow – ‘The Hurt Locker’

James Cameron – ‘Avatar’

Clint Eastwood – ‘Invictus’

Jason Reitman – ‘Up In The Air’

Quentin Tarantino – ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Source: BANG Showbiz

The legendary entertainers were praised by the US President Barack Obama at the Kennedy Center Honours yesterday (06.12.09), where they were presented with their accolades at a black-tie event for transforming the arts in America.

US leader Obama told the 300 celebrity guests – which included Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Edward Norton, Matthew Broderick and Philip Seymour Hoffman – at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that the entertainers were being honoured because they were “the best”.

He said: “These performers are indeed the best. They are also living reminders of a single truth — and I’m going to steal a line from my wife Michelle here — the arts are not somehow apart from our national life, the arts are the heart of our national life.”

Veteran actress Meryl Streep was one of many stars to praise the award-winners.

Speaking about Robert, she said: “Bob has earned the respect he enjoys around the world in the thousands of little bitty details.”

Legendary rocker Bruce said it was “satisfying” for his music to be recognised because he and his group, E Street Band, have worked hard for their fans.

He said: “We worked really hard for our music to be part of American life and our fans’ lives.

“So it’s an acknowledgment that you’ve kind of threaded your way into the culture in a certain way. It’s satisfying.”

As well as rewarding actor Robert, musician Bruce and funnyman Mel, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry were also honoured.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The Oscar-winning actress can’t believe she’s still be offered roles in high-profile movies now she’s reached 60 as she knows Hollywood discriminates against older women.

She said: “It’s incredible – I’m 60, and I’m playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave.

“I’ve been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my ‘sell by date’. I remember saying to my husband Don when I was 38, ‘Well, it’s over.’ And then we kicked the can down the road a little further.”

Meryl – who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Sophie’s Choice’ and the Best Supporting Actress for ‘Kramer Vs Kramer’ – also says she’s given up worrying what people think of her.

She told Vanity Fair magazine: “I can’t remember the last time I really worried about being appealing. I think it was a really long time ago. It’s freeing as an actress, but whether a director likes it or not is a different thing. I remember [director and co-star] Albert Brooks saying to me in ‘Defending Your Life,’ ‘Could you just make it a little sweeter?’ And that’s been repeated by other people in the years since then.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The comedians will be the first people to co-host the ceremony as a pair since the first Oscars show in 1929.

Steve joked: “I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin.”

Steve – who has presented the show twice before – earned an Emmy Award nomination for his first turn in 2001, but this will be the first time ‘30 Rock’ star Alec has taken on hosting duties.

Referring to Steve’s musical abilities, Alec joked: “I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Oscars producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic said: “We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars.

“Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.”

Baldwin was Oscar-nominated in 2004 for his role in ‘The Cooler’ and won consecutive Emmy awards for his role in ‘30 Rock’, which Martin has also guest-starred in.

Among the actors expected to receive nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards, which take place on March 7, are Meryl Streep for ‘Julie and Julia’, Christoph Waltz for ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and George Clooney for ‘Up In The Air’.

Critically acclaimed drama ‘Precious’ – starring singer Mariah Carey – is widely-tipped to receive the nod for Best Picture.

Source: BANG Showbiz