Penelope Cruz is very competitive

The Spanish actress and her husband Javier Bardem are among a group of actors – including Eva Longoria and Antonio Banderas – who meet weekly to play a murder mystery role-playing game called Wolves and her friends say she often gets carried away with her determination to win.

Antonio told Harper’s Bazaar magazine: “We play games. We love that. We play one called Wolves. Penelope, Javier and now Eva Longoria comes too. We get together once a week. Penelope and Javier are both very good at Wolves.

“I have seen Penelope doing things that you wouldn’t believe to win, picking huge fights with dear friends of hers, unbelievable!”

Penelope isn’t the only star who is competitive in their leisure time.

Christina Aguilera has previously spoken of her love of video games and desire to win against whoever she plays.

She said: “I’m a huge game nerd. I have a mini-arcade in my house, but it’s like old school games like ‘Donkey Kong’ and ‘Mario’.

“I hold the record for all of them. Everyone who has a little gamer in them comes over and tries to beat my score, and I get a little competitive. I’m number one on ‘Galaga’.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz asks to be made ugly in her movie roles

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ actress – who has a five-month-old son, Leo, with husband Javier Bardem – insists she isn’t vain about her appearance and is happy to change her looks to suit her characters.

She said: “I’m not scared to be ugly when I work – so I often ask for more moustache or black bags under my eyes.”

The Spanish beauty also revealed she prefers to be asked to change her accent for her movie roles because she becomes less critical of herself and more open to experimenting with her characters.

She explained to Closer magazine: “I love to spend hours with the dialogue coach because it creates a distance from myself. That way I don’t hear Penelope talking – I don’t criticise myself so much and have more freedom to try things.

“My grandmother was very gypsy in her spirit and she taught me to love words, especially poetry and flamenco and music and drama.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz wants to “slap” women who worry about getting old.

The 37-year-old actress – who gave birth to her first child Leo with her husband Javier Bardem in January – can’t wait to have wrinkles because she believes they tell a person’s life story.

She said: “When I hear a woman who is in her early 30s is worrying about growing old, I just want to slap her.

“When I’m 80, I want to look in the mirror and see an 80-year-old woman. My grandmother had so many wrinkles and every wrinkle told a story. I want to experience every year of my life for what it is. It doesn’t mean I am against somebody who does a little retouch or [has] plastic surgery. I don’t judge people who do it. I just don’t like how women complain about growing old.”

Family is clearly very important to Penelope who is current starring in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ with Johnny Depp and she revealed she turned to her younger sister Monica for help when her baby bump got in the way of shooting stunts.

She added to the Metro newspaper: “My sister is actually a very good sword fighter because she had done this before in a film and she was very gracious to help me out with the sword fighting scenes in London when I became rounder.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz has been “transformed” by motherhood

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ actress – who gave birth to son Leo, her first child with husband Javier Bardem, in January – explained becoming a mother has been a “revolutionary experience”, which has changed her life forever.

She said: “From the first second, you feel so much love. It is a revolutionary experience. That’s the best way I can describe it. It transforms you completely, in a second. Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment, when you see that face, you are transformed forever.”

The 37-year-old Spanish star admitted she found it “hard” to initially understand what becoming a mother would mean to her until she held baby Leo in her arms.

She added to US Vogue magazine: “Even if you have heard from all your friends and family, ‘This is what’s going to happen’, until it happens to you, it’s hard to understand in your soul.”

However, Penelope and Javier are hoping their son will be able to lead as normal a life as possible as he grows up.

She said: “I want my son – and my kids if I have more – to grow up in a way that is as anonymous as possible.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Johnny Depp sent his fans into hysterics at the UK premiere of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ last night (12.05.11)

The Hollywood superstar – who returns to his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the fourth instalment of the Disney franchise – spent almost two hours chatting to his screaming followers and signing autographs and some were so overcome with meeting their idol they broke down in tears.

A source told BANG Showbiz: “Johnny was great with his fans and was happy to sign autographs and greet everyone he could.”

Johnny was joined on the special blue carpet at Westfield London’s Vue Cinema by his glamorous co-star Penelope Cruz, who looked stunning in a long white lace Givenchy gown.

The Spanish beauty – who gave birth to son Leo in January – is making her debut in the franchise and said it was a dream come true because she had always wanted to be a pirate when she was little.

Penelope – who plays Angelica – said: “I loved playing a pirate as when I was a little girl I always used to play pirates so it’s like a dream come true!”

The 37-year-old actress was also overwhelmed with the reaction she got at the UK premiere.

She said: “The welcome I’ve had in London today has been amazing and I thank everyone.”

Other stars from the movie to attend the premiere included Ian McShane, who plays Blackbeard, Geoffrey Rush, who reprises his role as Barbossa, and British newcomer Sam Claflin, who takes on the part of Philip.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ is in UK cinemas in Disney Digital 3D and 2D from May 18.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz “screamed” when she was offered a role in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’

The Spanish actress had previously worked with the movie’s star Johnny Depp on ‘Blow’ and director Rob Marshall on ‘Nine’ and was overjoyed to be given the chance to team with the pair again.

She said: “Rob and I were eating together and he turned to me and said, ‘I have this question to ask you but I don’t know if I’m brave enough to ask as you may say ‘No’.

“‘Well Rob, you have to ask me,’ I said. And he turned and asked, ‘Would you like to do ‘Pirates’ with me and Johnny?’ I heard this and screamed. A very good scream.

“I really love Rob and have longed to work with him again. I want to kiss his feet.”

Penelope also described her previous experience working with Johnny as “very rock ‘n’ roll.”

She said: “Johnny is a great friend, so genuine and unique. My memories of ‘Blow’… Wow that was such an extreme period. It was a wild set, very rock ‘n’ roll. I had missed working with him.”

Penelope also spoke of how her career choices have changed as she has established herself as an actress, admitting in her early days she never turned down work.

She explained to GQ magazine: “When I started, when I was 16 or 17, I never even considered not doing a project. I just wanted to work. I knew who some of those I would work with would be pleasant, and others would be these huge assholes.

“But now, if there’s one thing I can afford to do, having worked so hard for all of these years, it’s that if I go into a meeting with someone that is offering me a movie and I can clearly see they are going to be an asshole, I will not do the movie. No matter what it is.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Kate Moss’ wedding dress will be designed by John Galliano

The supermodel is tying the knot with rocker Jamie Hince on July 2 and has asked her long-time friend to create her bridal gown.

The 37-year-old catwalk queen reportedly announced her choice of designer at a Topshop dinner during London Fashion Week.

Galliano has created wedding outfits for numerous stars, including Emily Blunt, Penelope Cruz and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen – who wore a custom-made dress with spaghetti straps and a unique veil when she and her husband Tom Brady held a second wedding ceremony in Costa Rica in April 2009.

He also created a gown which had a finish that looked as though it had been dipped in pink paint for Gwen Stefani’s 2002 nuptials to Gavin Rossdale.

Kate and Galliano have been close friends since she started out in the fashion business in the early 90s.

She recently praised the 50-year-old creative – who is the head designer as Christian Dior – revealing their relationship is based on “mutual admiration”.

Kate said: “Since starting out in the fashion industry I’ve been close to the House of Dior and particularly to John Galliano. Our long friendship is built on mutual admiration and loyalty to each other. Dior has such a luxurious and feminine image.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Halle Berry has been named as one of the 50 Most Beautiful Women In Film

Compiled by the Los Angeles Times Magazine, the Oscar-winning actress landed the number five spot thanks to her role as a Bond girl in ‘Die Another Day‘, closely followed by new mother Penelope Cruz – who gave birth to her first child with Javier Bardem last month – in 11th place.

With the likes of Jennifer Connelly, Kim Basinger and Anne Hathaway all making the top 20, the trio were joined by Hollywood legends Farrah Fawcett, Ava Gardner and Faye Dunaway, while Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe were voted in at number 22 and 32 respectively.

‘Gossip Girl‘ actress Blake Lively was the youngest star on the list at the age of 23, while Oscar-nominated ‘Black Swan’ star Natalie Portman, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ beauty Freida Pinto and Julia Roberts also made the top 50.

However, 55-year-old French actress Isabelle Adjani – known for her roles in ‘Queen Margot’ and ‘Possession‘- eclipsed all the other women in the poll by claiming the top spot.

Los Angeles Times Magazine’s Top 50 Most Beautiful Women In Film 2011:

1. Isabelle Adjani

2. Brigitte Bardot

3. Kim Basinger

4. Monica Bellucci

5. Halle Berry

6. Louise Brooks

7. Claudia Cardinale

8. Julie Christie

9. Jennifer Connelly

10. Joan Crawford

11. Penelope Cruz

12. Dorothy Dandridge

13. Catherine Deneuve

14. Faye Dunaway

15. Farrah Fawcett

16. Greta Garbo

17. Ava Gardner

18. Eva Green

19. Anne Hathaway

20. Salma Hayek

21. Rita Hayworth

22. Audrey Hepburn

23. Angelina Jolie

24. Grace Kelly

25. Beyonce Knowles

26. Nicole Kidman

27. Hedy Lamarr

28. Vivien Leigh

29. Virna Lisi

30. Blake Lively

31. Jennifer Lopez

32. Sophia Loren

33. Ali Macgraw

34. Marilyn Monroe

35. Kim Novak

36. Merele Oberon

37. Michelle Pfeiffer

38. Frieda Pinto

39. Natalie Portman

40. Julia Roberts

41. Jean Seberg

42. Brooke Shields

43. Sharon Stone

44. Elizabeth Taylor

45. Charlize Theron

46. Gene Tierney

47. Lana Turner

48. Rachel Weisz

49. Natalie Wood

50. Catherine Zeta-Jones

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are celebrating the birth of their first child

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ actress is believed to have given birth at Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai hospital yesterday (25.01.11), Spanish newspaper El Pais has revealed.

The sex or name of the baby is not yet known.

For 41-year-old Javier, the child came on the same day he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role in Spanish drama ‘Biutiful’.

Penelope, 36, started dating Javier after they worked on ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ in 2007, and the pair – who had been friends for over 12 years before they embarked on a relationship – married in a low-key ceremony in the Bahamas in July 2010.

Although the pair have always been keen to keep their private lives away from the public eye, she has previously admitted she was looking forward to have children, even if it meant adopting.

She said: “I’d love to have kids. Maybe I’ll adopt about 20 children – that’s been my dream since I was a little girl. I want to have my own kids, but also adopt. For a while I’ve had the feeling that my life won’t be complete if I don’t adopt.

“I think I would be a perfect mother. I love babies.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz constantly struggled not to laugh when filming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ with Johnny Depp

The Spanish actress plays pirate’s daughter Angelica in the latest instalment of the swashbuckling movie franchise and she admits serious scenes were tough because her co-star is so convincing as hapless Captain Jack Sparrow.

She said: “Johnny is such a funny person, he has created this amazing character. “The main problem is that he’s so funny it was hard to film the dramatic scenes, because I could not stop laughing. You never know what will happen next.”

Penelope previously starred with Johnny in 2001 movie ‘Blow’ and says they always have a good time together. She added to Empire magazine: “Both times have been amazing. The funny thing is, we were saying to each other, we get along so well but we play characters who always fight.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

2011 Oscar Predictions: For Best Actor Nominations

Its time to make an early prediction for the 2011 Oscar Race. The guesses for Best Actor Nominations will really be exciting this time !

The 83rd Academy Awards will take place on February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Our list of favourites comprises of some of the renowned actors who have already captured the imagination of movie fans!

Our Predictions for 2011 Oscar Best Actor Nominees are:

Jeff Bridges For ‘True Grit’

Bridges will play U.S. Marshal Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn in the upcoming 2010 Western film, written and directed by the Coen brothers, named ‘True Grit’. The character was portrayed by John Wayne in the 1969 film, a performance which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film is an adaptation of the 1968 novel by Charles Portis.

James Franco for ‘127 Hours’

James Franco stars as a real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston, in 2010 drama thriller film directed by Danny Boyle, ‘127 Hours’. In May 2003, hiker Aron Ralston became trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah for nearly five days in 2003. The film was written by Boyle and Simon Beaufoy and produced by Christian Colson. 127 Hours met with critical acclaim.

Jesse Eisenberg for ‘The Social Network’

Jesse Eisenberg appears as Mark Zuckerberg in ‘The Social Network’. The movie is about the founding of the Internet social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits. The Social Network has been received with critical acclaim. As of October 31, 2010 the film has grossed $79.7 million in the United States and $32.2 million overseas.

Colin Firth for ‘The King’s Speech’

‘The King’s Speech’ stars Colin Firth as King George VI. The film won the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award. The movie is directed by Tom Hooper from a script by David Seidler.

Robert Duvall for ‘Get Low’

Robert Duvall stars as Felix Bush in ‘Get Low’. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Robert Duvall won the Hollywood Award (Best Actor). The film has had positive reviews from all critics.

Penelope Cruz’s Scenes in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ had to be “tweaked” so as not to reveal her baby bump

The Spanish actress revealed earlier this week she is four and a half months pregnant with husband Javier Bardem, and producers of the pirate adventure film were said to initially be worried as to whether they could schedule her role as Blackbeard’s daughter in the film before she began to show.

A source told LifeandStylemag.com: “The film company was worried about scheduling because of Penelope’s pregnancy but tweaked some of the scenes to make it work.”

The 36-year-old actress is presently scheduled to be on her way to London, where filming of some final scenes will take place before the movie wraps later this month.

Although little is known about Penelope’s character, Angelica, in the film, it has also been revealed she becomes romantically involved with Johnny Depp’s character Captain Jack Sparrow.

The source added: “There’s a little romance between Captain Jack and the character that Penelope plays.”

Penelope’s role in the fourth instalment in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise is also likely to include some action sequences and rope work, which the actress is no stranger to, and enjoyed thoroughly when she performed them for the film ‘Nine’- even though they left her with rope burns and bruises.

Of her rope routine she explained: “I was dancing in the dark with one spotlight on me, so I had to be extremely alert and focused.

“There were other things to think about, so I was not in pain while dancing – I was just praying not to fall!

“But on the last day of filming I couldn’t stop crying, because I had been doing dance classes and rehearsals for so many months. I was addicted to it!”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz is pregnant

The Spanish actress has released a statement through her spokesperson confirming she is expecting her first child with husband Javier Bardem.

The 36-year-old beauty was photographed recently with what seemed to be a baby bump while shooting scenes for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ and it has now been revealed she is four-and-a-half months pregnant.

Penelope has been notoriously private about her life, marrying 41-year-old Javier in a secret ceremony in the Bahamas in early July.

However, she has previously confirmed her desire to have children, although she confessed she would be happy to adopt.

She said: “I’d love to have kids. Maybe I’ll adopt about 20 children – that’s been my dream since I was a little girl. I want to have my own kids, but also adopt. For a while I’ve had the feeling that my life won’t be complete if I don’t adopt.

“I think I would be a perfect mother. I love babies.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penélope Cruz (born April 28, 1974), better known as Penélope Cruz, is a Spanish actress. At 15, she was signed by an agent. Penélope made her acting debut at 16 on television, and her feature film debut the following year in Jamón, jamón (1992), to critical acclaim. Her subsequent roles in the 1990s and 2000s included Open Your Eyes (1997), The Hi-Lo Country (1999), The Girl of Your Dreams (2000) and Woman on Top (2000). Cruz achieved recognition for her lead roles in Vanilla Sky and Blow. Both films were released in 2001 and were commercially successful worldwide.

Penélope has appeared in films from a wide range of genres, including the comedy Waking Up in Reno (2002), the thriller Gothika (2003), the Christmas movie Noel (2004), the action adventure Sahara (2005), the animated G-Force and the musical drama Nine. Her most notable films to date are Volver (2006), for which she earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), for which she received an Academy Award. Penélope was the first Spanish actress in history to receive an Academy Award, and the sixth Spanish actor overall. G-Force (2009) is her most commercially successful film.

Source: Wikipedia

Javier Bardem could “fall in love” with Brad Pitt.

The ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ actor – who recently married long-term partner Penelope Cruz in a secret ceremony – felt like a teenage girl when he met the ‘Inglourious Basterds’ star because he couldn’t believe how handsome he was.

He told Elle magazine: “I had the great opportunity to meet Brad Pitt a couple of times… what a beauty. He is beautiful and his physicality is so amazing to see.

“But the beauty really comes from different places – the way he talks, the way he’s interested in what you’re saying. And that body is like – wow! It’s amazing, no? He really made me feel very, like… I don’t know, like, I could fall in love with him!

“Like a teenage girl getting crazy and screaming like that. I met him only twice, but he was so nice, so generous and very true to himself, and I don’t know him that well, but I would say it’s a good self. And that is when the beauty comes, voom! And if you have a body besides that, then it’s like, ‘F**k!’ ”

Just as Javier is full of praise for Brad Pit, the 41-year-old Spanish star has been praised by his castmates for being a fun-loving guy.

Recalling a trip to a karaoke bar with Javier and Woody Harrelson, ‘No Country For Old Men’ actor Josh Brolin said: “We were at a Cowgirl BBQ, and Javier got up and sang karaoke. Spaniard that he is, he was singing and dancing all over the stage. He stage-dived at one point! Woody and I couldn’t believe it. We were laughing so hard we were on the floor. Javier has an inner diva – some Barbra Streisand or Mariah Carey inside him.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The world’s most stunning and anticipated glamorous show is on, consisting of endless stars in the Kodak Theatre.

And the Oscar goes to ..

The 82nd Academy Awards full list of Winners:

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

Jeff Bridges – ‘Crazy Heart’- Won

George Clooney – ‘Up in the Air’

Colin Firth – ‘A Single Man’

Morgan Freeman – ‘Invictus’

Jeremy Renner – ‘The Hurt Locker’

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Presented By Penelope Cruz

Matt Damon – ‘Invictus’

Woody Harrelson – ‘The Messenger’

Christopher Plummer – ‘The Last Station’

Stanley Tucci – ‘The Lovely Bones’

Christoph Waltz – ‘Inglourious Basterds’ – Won

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Sandra Bullock – ‘The Blind Side’ – Won

Helen Mirren – ‘The Last Station’

Carey Mulligan – ‘An Education’

Gabourey Sidibe – ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’

Meryl Streep – ‘Julie and Julia’

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Penelope Cruz – ‘Nine’

Vera Farmiga – ‘Up in the Air’

Maggie Gyllenhaal – ‘Crazy Heart’

Anna Kendrick – ‘Up in the Air’

Mo’Nique – ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’- Won

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year:

‘Coraline’

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

‘The Princess and the Frog’

‘The Secret of Kells’

‘Up’- by Pete Docter – Won

Achievement in Art Direction:

‘Avatar’- by Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair – Won

‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’

‘Nine’

‘Sherlock Holmes’

‘The Young Victoria’

Achievement in Cinematography:

‘Avatar’- by Mauro Fiore – Won

‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

‘The Hurt Locker’

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘The White Ribbon’

Achievement in Costume Design:

‘Bright Star’

‘Coco before Chanel’

‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’

‘Nine’

‘The Young Victoria’ by Sandy Powell – Won

Achievement in Directing:

‘Avatar’ – James Cameron

‘The Hurt Locker’ – Kathryn Bigelow -Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’ – Quentin Tarantino

‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’ – Lee Daniels

‘Up in the Air’ – Jason Reitman

Best Documentary Feature:

‘Burma VJ’

‘The Cove’- by Louie Psihoyos, Fisher Stevens – Won

‘Food, Inc.’

‘The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers’

‘Which Way Home’

Best Documentary Short Subject:

‘China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province’

‘The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner’

‘The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant’,

‘Music by Prudence’- by Roger Ross Williams, Elinor Burkett – Won

‘Rabbit a la Berlin’

Achievement in Film Editing:

‘Avatar’

‘District 9′

‘The Hurt Locker’ – by Bob Murawski, Chris Innis – Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year:

‘Ajami’ – Israel

‘El Secreto de Sus Ojos‘ – Argentina – Won

‘The Milk of Sorrow’ – Peru

‘Un Prophete’ – France

‘The White Ribbon’- Germany

Achievement in Make-up:

‘Il Divo’

‘Star Trek’- by Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, Joel Harlow – Won

‘The Young Victoria’

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score):

‘Avatar’

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

‘The Hurt Locker’

‘Sherlock Holmes’

‘Up’- by Michael Giacchino – Won

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song):

‘Almost There’ from ‘The Princess and the Frog’

‘Down in New Orleans’ from ‘The Princess and the Frog’

‘Loin de Paname’ from ‘Paris 36′

‘Take It All’ from ‘Nine’

‘The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)’ from ‘Crazy Heart’-Won

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

‘Avatar’

‘The Blind Side’

‘District 9′

‘An Education’

‘The Hurt Locker’-Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’

‘A Serious Man’

‘Up’

‘Up in the Air’

Best Animated Short Film:

‘French Roast’

‘Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty’

‘The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)’

‘Logorama’- by Nicolas Schmerkin – Won

‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’

Best Live Action Short Film:

‘The Door’

‘Instead of Abracadabra’

‘Kavi’

‘Miracle Fish’

‘The New Tenants’- by Joachim Back, Tivi Magnusson – Won

Achievement in Sound Editing:

‘Avatar’

‘The Hurt Locker’ by Paul N.J. Ottosson – Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Star Trek’

‘Up’

Achievement in Sound Mixing:

‘Avatar’

‘The Hurt Locker’- by Paul N.J. Ottosson & Ray Beckett – Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Star Trek’

‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

Achievement in Visual Effects:

‘Avatar’ – by Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andy Jones – Won

‘District 9′

‘Star Trek’

Adapted Screenplay:

‘District 9′

‘An Education’

‘In the Loop’

‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’- Won

‘Up in the Air’

Original Screenplay:

‘The Hurt Locker’- Won

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘The Messenger’

‘A Serious Man’

‘Up’

The actress – who is among the nominees for Best Supporting Actress at the forthcoming Academy Awards for her role in ‘Nine’ – didn’t find out she had received the nod for over an hour after everyone else because she recently changed her phone number.

She is quoted as saying: “I had a new phone line installed and so almost no one had the new number of the house. Only my agent had it and she was in Australia. So they had to get a hold of her first so she could give them the number of the house, and I found out an hour later.

“I had 19 missed calls and 120 emails and text messages. So for two hours I was returning calls.”

Despite taking up so much of her time responding to messages, Penelope – who is believed to be engaged to Javier Bardem – says it was a “beautiful” day.

She added: “It is beautiful to talk to all the people that love you and care for you and get excited for you about something like this. It was a beautiful day.”

Penelope, 35, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar last year for her performance in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and recently admitted she loves the gold statue so much, she even takes it on day trips.

She said: “My Oscar lives in my house, but it changes rooms all the time. I’m looking at it in different places to make the final decision.

“I even took it to the beach one day. It’s like being five when you finally get a toy you’ve been asking for.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Penelope Cruz says winning an Oscar was like getting the best toy ever.

The ‘Nine’ star scooped the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress last year for her performance in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and admits receiving the gold statue was one of the happiest moments in her life.

Penelope is proud to show off her prize at her home and once even took her Oscar to the beach.

She said: “My Oscar lives in my house, but it changes rooms all the time. I’m looking at it in different places to make the final decision. I even took it to the beach one day. It’s like being five when you finally get a toy you’ve been asking for.”

Since winning the prestigious prize, the 35-year-old actress insists she doesn’t feel any extra pressure when making her films, because she has always worked hard.

Penelope – who is believed to be engaged to Javier Bardem – added to Stylist magazine: “I’ve always felt under pressure and had a lot of insecurity, so that doesn’t change and I don’t want that to alter. I don’t want to get to the set and feel too secure. I’ve worked for so many years feeling a lot of respect and healthy fear of the work and I don’t feel I can change that now.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Basic Instinct’ actress says she struggles to put on weight and has to fight hard to maintain her size six/eight frame.

She said: “I have to watch not getting too skinny. I’m a mover. I’m not one of those people who can survive on salad. I love a big steak dinner and I’m obsessed with finding the perfect hamburger.

“They do one at the Tower Bar here in Los Angeles which come son an English muffin with arugula and brie, and they serve it with French fries and truffle oil. That really sends me.”

As well as eating a lot so as not to get too thin, the 51-year-old star – who has adopted children Roan, nine, Laird, four, and Quinn, three – makes sure she exercises regularly to stay in shape.

She added to Tatler magazine: “I do pilates. I bike, I canoe, I walk. I try to take the stairs more than the elevator and I chase my children.”

Sharon is not the only star to confess to a love of the calorific food.

‘Nine’ actress Penelope Cruz recently reveals she eats fast food every week and even stopped off for a snack  before winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ last year.

She said: “I ate an In-N-Out burger and then I went to the red carpet. What’s so surprising about that? I do it, like, once a week or once every two weeks. It’s my little treat for myself. I love the Double-Double with fries.”

During her second pregnancy, Nicole Richie – who has 23-month-old daughter Harlow and son Sparrow, three months, with Good Charlotte star Joel Madden – regularly made the rocker make late night trips to buy burgers for her.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony may be one of the longest with 10 best picture nominees. It is more tough now to guess the contenders for Best Picture Nominations. The predictions will really be interesting this time !

We have sorted out ten movies as the contenders for Best Picture Nominees of 82nd Academy Awards.

Our Predictions for 2010 Oscar Best Picture Nominees are:

Avatar

Avatar is centered around the themes of imperialism and biodiversity. The movie had been in development since 1994 by Cameron, who wrote a 114-page scriptment for the film. Cameron explained that the delay in producing the film since the 1990s had been to wait until the technology necessary to create his project was advanced enough. The film received generally positive reviews from film critics.

Nine

The screenplay of this musical-romantic film is based on Arthur Kopit’s book for the 1982 Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. The star-studded cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren.

The Hurt Locker

The story of this American war thriller was written by Mark Boal, a freelance writer who was embedded with a bomb squad in the war in Iraq. The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, was shot in Jordan, within miles of the Iraq border. The movie has received widespread acclaim from film critics.

Precious

A film adaption of the award-winning 1996 novel Push: A Novel by Sapphire. Precious, directed by Lee Daniels, received largely positive reviews from critics. Precious has multiple producers – with twelve in total which includes     Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Heller and Tyler Perry.

Invictus

Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, is a biographical drama film based on Nelson Mandela’s life during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Morgan Freeman stars as the then South African President Nelson Mandela.

Up in the Air

‘Up in the Air’, directed by Jason Reitman, is about a corporate downsizer and his travels. George Clooney plays the role of Ryan Bingham, a man who travels around the country to various workplaces, a career transition counselor. the review for this movie have been generally positive.

Inglourious Basterds

Inglourious Basterds, directed by Quentin Tarantino, tells the story of two plots to assassinate the Nazi political leadership. This film is set in German-occupied France. Inglourious Basterds is currently Tarantino’s highest grossing film.

Brothers

Directed by Jim Sheridan, ‘Brothers’ is a drama-war film starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman. The film take inspiration from Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’.

The film is about relationship- between brothers, husband and a loving father of two, in a very sweet American family. Suddenly everything changes when Capt. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) goes missing in Afghanistan and everyone assumes he is dead. Actually he was captured by Afgan rebels were he was forced to kill one of his own soldier.

In the meanwhile his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) gets attached to his brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal). But his unexpected return brings a twist in the story. At the end Sam says “only the dead has seen the end of war, I have seen the end of war ….. can I live again ?”

The Last Station

German biographical film about Leo Tolstoy, based on a 1990 biographical novel of the same name by Jay Parini. This movie is directed by Michael Hoffman.

Public Enemies

American crime film, co-written and directed by Michael Mann, focuses on the true story of Bureau of Investigation agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale)’s attempt to stop criminals John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham), and Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum).

The film portrays American crime scenario of 1933 which was referred as “the golden age of bank robbery” for John Dillinger, Alvin Karpis and Baby Face Nelson, but they were hunted down by federal agent Melvin Purvis . The flims ends with the dying words of John Dillinger – “bye bye black bird”  the last message for his girlfriend Billie Frechette.

Lets find out how many of our guesses are going to match the list in this category. The nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday February 2, 2010.

‘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 slender star doesn’t follow a strict diet and indulges in her favourite fast food treats regularly – even stopping off for a calorific meal before winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ earlier this year.

She said: “I ate an In-N-Out burger and then I went to the red carpet. What’s so surprising about that? I do it, like, once a week or once every two weeks. It’s my little treat for myself. I love the Double-Double with fries.”

The actress also revealed she relies on her iPod to get her through working on a film.

The ‘Nine’ actress always creates a soundtrack to help connect with the character she plays in all her movies and only listens to a limited selection of songs to help keep focused on what she is doing.

She explained to Parade.com: “It helps me very much to have my iPod. It’s always with me on the set. Music is very important to me because it goes directly to your heart. I always have, like, 20 songs that I pick for the character, and that’s all I listen to while I’m making the movie. I try to stay in the zone and not let my attention be distracted.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The Spanish actress – who won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award earlier this year for her role in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ – has revealed she has no recollection of the evening because she felt faint with tension.

She explained: “I feel frustrated that I can’t remember, because it was beautiful how your family and your people can feel so happy for you. I felt I was on the border of passing out from tension. That I can remember very well.”

However, the brunette beauty can recall tucking into 300 canapes, crying for half and hour and being confused about what was going on.

She explained to Britain’s The Times newspaper: “I remember thinking, ‘What am I doing here? How did this happen?’ ”

Despite her glowing movie career, the 35-year-old starlet still has problems with her self-esteem.

She explained:  “I don’t want to like myself too much in my work, because if the camera sees that, it’s the thing it will hate the most, seeing an actor that likes himself too much.

“I have always been very self-critical. It’s one of those things I don’t feel I should try to change. I think you need that to keep growing and improving.

“It is in my nature to worry, about anything. I have always been like that, but now I try to control it and to be more positive. But I worry a lot.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Speaking on the red carpet at the London premiere of the musical movie in Leicester Square last night (03.12.09), the 35-year-old Spanish actress admitted her singing was a bit rusty because she hadn’t done it in public for years.

The 35-year-old star told BANG Showbiz: “Singing was terrifying because it was new and because it was my first time.

“It was like doing theatre, but I only did theatre as a student in Spain.”

Penelope – who plays seductress, Carla Albanese, who seduces Daniel Day-Lewis’ character, director Guido Contini, in the film – also revealed her sexy look in the movie was aided by some very good costume designers.

She said: “The woman who designed the costumes for every one of us, I think she really must be one of the most amazing artists.”

Penelope was joined on the red carpet by several of her co-stars, including Nicole Kidman, 42, Kate Hudson, 30, and Dame Judi Dench, 74.

Judi admitted she was surprised by how well all the actresses got along, saying: “They’re wonderful, I mean every single one, I swear you’re going to be surprised. They’re going to surprise everyone.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The Spanish actress put in weeks of training for one particular scene in the musical movie – about a film director struggling in his relationships with women, in which Penelope plays the central character’s mistress – where she had to slide down a rope.

Describing the scene, Penelope said: “They mapped it out and showed me how it was done. I said I would never be able to do it but I worked and worked and regained the memory of muscles in my legs I hadn’t used since I was a teenager studying ballet.”

Penelope, 35, was rehearsing for the film’s rope scenes for three months before they were eventually completed, and was left with calluses on her hands and bleeding digits from sliding down the ropes so often.

She added to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper: “I was stretching, running and going to the gym to get my arms strong to support me on the ropes. But with my hands, after a while you don’t feel the pain. I had the wounds dressed and carried on.”

Source: BANG Showbiz