Russell 'Robin Hood' Crowe

Actor Russell Crowe will no longer play both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham in a new movie. The Gladiator star will soon begin filming Ridley Scott's latest movie, which has been retitled 'Robin Hood' from 'Nottingham', but will see his part dramatically scaled down.

Ridley revealed: "Russell in both roles was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright'.

"It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end."

"The Sheriff of Nottingham is always a kind of an amusing character in most of the movies, who represents the hierarchy in the story at that point." Instead of the Sheriff, the country of France will be Robin's nemesis.

The director also denied Russell is too out-of-shape to play Robin after piling on the pounds for his last film 'Body Of Lies', insisting the actor has been hard at work preparing for the part.

He added: "All that stuff is a lie. He is going to be totally fit. That is not a problem at all. And he's been working on his bow and arrow for about four months. He sends me tapes of him hitting targets at about 45 meters. He's pretty good."

Slumdog Millionaire Star Has Secret Husband

Freida Pinto has a secret husband, it has been claimed. The 'Slumdog Millionaire' star allegedly tied the knot with Rohan Antao in December 2007.

Last week, it was reported Freida had dated Rohan for four years before dumping him to further her career. It was believed the pair had been engaged, not married.

Freida and Rohan fell in love at college and were extremely close. They were great together. The marriage was an impulsive decision. They were deeply in love.

But she just stopped calling him around the time of the Golden Globe Awards, when the film started making waves internationally. He is completely shocked at being dumped and is heartbroken.

They had decided to keep the marriage a secret until they felt ready to talk about it openly. The 24-yar-old beauty has refused to comment on the speculation, and friends insist Rohan will not speak out either.

Freida's agent in India, Meenakshi Gehani, said: "We do not want to comment. However, if she is married then whoever is claiming it should produce a marriage certificate."

Rihanna Photo Prompts LAPD Probe

The department is investigating whether the image of the battered singer was leaked from within. She was allegedly assaulted by her pop star boyfriend Chris Brown.

Los Angeles Police Department officials on Friday were interviewing officers and scouring electronic records amid growing suspicion that someone inside the department leaked or sold to a celebrity website a photo of the singer Rihanna that depicted injuries to her face she suffered during an alleged assault by her boyfriend.

Police officials said it appears the photo is part of the LAPD's ongoing investigation of Chris Brown, the pop star who allegedly assaulted the singer in the early morning the day of the Grammy Awards two weeks ago.

Nicollette Sheridan And Her Men

Nicollette Sheridan is always looking for a man. Although the 'Desperate Housewives' actress, who split from fiance Michael Bolton last year, wants to find love, she is only interested in men who will treat her well.

She said: "I'm always looking for a man. But please, only princes should talk to me." Nicollette insists she is nothing like her character Edie Britt in the hit US show, and doesn't want potential love interests to confuse her with the man-eater.

She added that she's totally different from the character, and besides, she'll die next season anyway. The actress has been spotted with several men since the breakdown of her relationship with Michael and is set to attend the Vienna Opera Ball which takes place tonight, with Austrian businessman Richard Lugner, 76.

Last year, it was revealed Nicollette was so desperate to find a lover she offered to pay her co-stars to hunt one down for her. "They are all desperately going through their phone books because they all want to win the prize".

George Clooney To Meet President Obama

Actor George Clooney is scheduled to have a discussion with President Barack Obama next week.

In a segment featured on Friday's 'Today' show, NBC's Anne Curry caught up with Clooney in Chad, Africa, where the star was visiting a camp of refugees.

"We want the president to appoint a high-level, full-time diplomat to negotiate for a peace treaty in the war-torn Darfur region".

Clooney is a U.N. Messenger of Peace.

Heath Ledger Scholarship Winner Announced

The inaugural recipient, Aussie actor Oliver Ackland 29, was the winner of a scholarship created in Actor Heath Ledger's name was introduced Thursday night while Ledger's family, including his father Kim and mother Sally, looked on.

There were five judges, including actress Rachel Griffiths, deciding on the $10,000 scholarship, whose goal is to assist one emerging Australian actor to pursue a career in the United States. Also included: Round-trip airfare to and from Australia. The event was held at one of Ledger's favorite haunts, Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd., and was attended by several members of his family (12 of them have travelled to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards on Sunday, as Ledger is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as the Joker in Dark Knight.)

"When I first got here, I stayed in a youth hostel down on Melrose [Avenue] and caught a bus to my auditions," House's Jesse Spencer, 30, told WHO. "It was ridiculous. So with this scholarship and airfare it will make a huge difference. He won't be staying on the hostel on Melrose - which has pretty clean rooms by the way - but it's great and hopefully it helps him."

Ackland, who was flown from his native Sydney and told he was only one finalist among several, was shocked to learn he was actually the winner. "When I got to my Beverly Hills hotel I was thinking, who are the other guys and where are they?. "It was a genuine shock. I'm still getting my head around what it means."

He also has a special appreciation for Ledger's work. "We were a similar age. He was someone I looked up to. He was someone who was doing it, and doing it his own way. He definitely inspired me."

Benefactors of the scholarship, which honours the memory of the late Dark Knight actor, include Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra Lee Furness, Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams.

John Travolta Announces Foundation

The Jett Travolta Foundation has been established in memory of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett, who passed away last month at the age of 16.

John Travolta's official Web site says the foundation will work to 'assist and provide relief to children with vision, hearing, mobility, communication, behavioral learning impairments or other special medical, environmental, health or education needs.'

Alyssa Milano Shows Off Ring

Actress Alyssa Milano shows ET her new engagement ring while attending the Children Mending Hearts event alongside celebrities Joel Madden, Ben Affleck, Sheryl Crow and Kate Walsh.

She admits the most romantic part was having no idea whatsoever,told of the proposal from her beau David Bugliari. "The hard part was finding him. The rest is icing on the cake."

Celebs attended the Children Mending Hearts event to honor the International Medical Corps for rebuilding healthcare in war torn areas such as the Congo.

Ellen And Portia About To Start A Family

TV's daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her Aussie partner, actress Portia de Rossi are about to start a family.

Ellen has been keen to have a family with Portia and told in an interview in 2007 that there are times when she thinks she would be really selfish not to adopt a child. That it would be great to spend lives with somebody, and a little child that really needs a home.

The couple have decided to commence IVF and try for a biological child first. A source tells that: "Ellen and Portia are mad about each other. And having a child together will only strengthen their bond. They would love a boy. But would truly be happy with any healthy baby."

"Portia de Rossi is prepared to go through IVF 10 times if she has to. Whatever it takes to get pregnant, she'll do it. She's been changing her eating habits. Her goal is to gain a few pounds before they start the IVF process."

William Shatner For Prime Minister

The Star Trek actor, who played Captain Kirk in the hit sci-fi TV show, is planning to make a dramatic career change and help lead his native country.

The 77-year-old star said that his intention is to be Prime Minister of Canada, not Governor General, which is mainly a ceremonial position.

Shatner revealed his lofty ambition in response to a letter from a fan who urged him to put himself forward for the Governor General of Canada.

The Governor General is appointed by the monarch, which in Canada is currently Queen Elizabeth II, to perform the constitutional duties of the sovereign on her behalf.

In his letter, Shatner had regretfully added that he must with my deepest thanks, turn down the honourable intent to advance him as Governor General. And besides which, he don't have time to be Governor General.

Despite his busy schedule, the actor is confident he has what it takes to run the country, explaining that as him being Prime Minister, he can lead Canada into even greater exploits.

Mischa's Fitness Addiction

The 23-year-old actress who has sparked concerns for her health after displaying an increasingly thin physique lately, claims the low-impact exercise regime is the secret to her slim frame.

She told that for herself, it's all about Pilates recently. She's obsessed with Pilates and thinks it's so fun.

Mischa Barton also hit out at critics of her weight loss, insisting she has never embarked on faddy diets or extreme exercise regimes.

She mentioned that she does more cardio because she works long hours. Jogging, running and stuff like, is really good before doing a film and gives you more energy.

Mischa, who found fame playing Marissa Cooper in US TV show 'The O.C.', also revealed she would consider starring in a remake of the popular programme.

Conan O'Brien to take over Tonight Show

O'Brien's last show is Friday. Then, he and most of his staff, including band-leader Max Weinberg, will head west.

'Late Night' will be in reruns for a week and then on March 2, former 'Saturday Night Live' staffer Jimmy Fallon begins as host. Current 'Tonight' host Jay Leno says farewell May 29, with O'Brien talking over June 1. Leno moves to 10 p.m. in the fall.

O'Brien's departure from 'Late Night' marks the most significant shift in the late-night television landscape since he landed in the time period as an unknown.

A virtual unknown, O'Brien got 13-week contracts, which are normal for people on prime-time series, but hardly the norm in late night. Eventually, NBC brass broke down and gave him a six-month deal and finally contracts measured in years.

Delta Goodrem's Secret Baby Wish

Singer Delta Goodrem’s appearance during the Perth, Australia, leg of her Believe Again tour has sparked talk her next production may be of the non-musical variety.

And the relaxed-looking Aussie singing sensation did little to dispel the pregnancy rumours when she told a group of young fans during a rehearsal at the city’s Kings Park just how much she adores kids.

Delta, 24, is already primed for motherhood as the star will become a stepmum to her fiance Brian McFadden’s daughters Molly, seven, and Lilly-Sue, six, when they wed.

But for now, all eyes are on Delta. That is, except for Brian’s – who was more intent on improving his soccer skills by kicking plastic bottles around during Delta’s rehearsal.

Although Delta’s management say she’s not pregnant, perhaps Brian, 28, is hoping to have a son to play with sometime soon.

Next Sex And The City Movie

Sarah Jessica Parker says the next 'Sex and the City' movie will be a "romp".
The actress, who is set to reprise her role as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, wants the script to be packed with steamy scenes and funny storylines.

She said: "I think we want this one to be a romp. The last one, we got to tell a really mature sophisticated story that had real heartbreak in it, and this time, I think we want a romp. We want our audience to have a massive romp."

Parker also refused to give away what will happen next for Carrie and her new husband Mr. Big, played by Chris Noth.
She added that not in a million years she'll give you an indication. She wants someone to show up that first weekend.

The 43-year-old actress, who will team up again with Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon for the next big screen installment, admits the movie will have to be sensitive to the growing global financial crisis.

She added that there is a lot that they have to think about because times are very different. And these are seen as nice challenges, seen as good challenges.

Hugh Jackman's Makes Fan Faint

The Australian actor decided to pay the woman who works as a switchboard operator for US TV programme 'The Tonight Show', a surprise visit after he discovered she wasn't allowed to leave her post to meet him when he appeared on the show.

Her friends told Hugh (who was voted the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine last year) it was her birthday, so he crept up behind her whispered "Happy Birthday" and then kissed her on the neck.

The girl immediately span round, but upon coming face-to-face with her idol she turned bright red and fainted in his arms.

The girl was eventually brought round with the aid of smelling salts and cold compresses. Once she had composed herself she happily posed for a photograph with Hugh.

Tiger Woods Takes Family Photo

Golfer Tiger Woods and wife Elin release one of their first family photos with their daughter Sam Alexis and new baby boy, Charlie.
Tiger recently wrote on his blog that his second child takes precedent over anything he does golf-wise.

Woods has yet to return to competitive golf since his knee surgery in June of last year and may have a slow return to pro golf with the new baby. He is going to take it tournament to tournament. With his new addition, it's going to be a hectic spring.

Mickey Rourke's Dog Dies Before Oscars

Mickey Rourke, who is nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his role in the movie "The Wrestler," always thought that he'd get a second chance at success in Hollywood.

The 52-year-old actor told that his performance as aging professional wrestler Randy "the Ram" Robinson represents the best work of his career.

Rourke, who thanked his dogs, "the ones who are here and the ones who aren't here anymore", in his Golden Globes acceptance speech, said goodbye to one of his best friends this week. Rourke's Chihauhau Loki died early Tuesday morning.

Usher's Wife Out Of Hospital

Tameka Foster-Raymond, Singer Usher's wife, was released from a hospital in Brazil after spending 11 days recovering from a cardiac arrest she suffered shortly before she was about to undergo plastic surgery.

The doctor who was to perform the plastic surgery, told that Foster-Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest while being anesthetized ahead of a simple liposuction at Sao Paulo's Sao Rafael Hospital.

Foster-Raymond, 38, who never had the procedure, and after the cardiac arrest, doctors immediately put her into a medically induced coma to stabilize her. Foster-Raymond spent a day in the intensive care unit and was transferred to another hospital, considered to be one of Brazil's finest. After a week of recovery, she is doing very well.

Upon learning of his wife's condition, Usher, 33, canceled his performance at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala on Saturday night and flew to Brazil to be by Foster-Raymond's side. Davis had told the crowd at the party that Usher had to leave town due to a serious injury in the family.

Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen Engaged

Actress Rachel Bilson and her longtime beau, Actor Hayden Christensen, got engaged quietly over the holidays.

According to a friend of the actress, the two, who costarred in 2008's Jumper, got engaged in December.

Father Flies To See Amy Winehouse

The father of singer Amy Winehouse has flown to see her in St Lucia, as he is concerned about her drinking.

The ‘Back to Black' singer collapsed on Saturday and was hospitalised after running out of drug replacement medication, prescribed as part of her treatment for her heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

Amy, 25, is now said to be in a stable condition, and was discharged from hospital on Sunday. Mitch has travelled to the Caribbean island where his daughter is holidaying to offer support, but also to see how much she is drinking.

Amy has been in St. Lucia since New Year on an extended holiday. It has been rumoured Amy will return to the United Kingdom in April and could possibly move away from the London district of Camden where she has a home, to a quieter area in the suburbs.

It was also rumoured she could record her new album in Jamaica and possibly even set up a home there.

Singer Michael Jackson Sells To Fight Disease

Michael Jackson is selling personal items including his famous jewelled white glove and a robotic head. The ailing pop icon is holding a five-day public auction at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles in April.

More than 2,000 possessions and memorabilia from his career will go on sale, including sequined socks, a portrait of himself dressed as an Elizabethan king, a collection of Pope-mobile buggies with Jackson's face painted on them and the glove featured in his ‘Billie Jean' video.

The items included are so extensive, a six-volume book has been printed to detail every lot and US TV channel The Auction Network will broadcast the event live.

Even the entry gates, arcade games, fixtures, fittings and amusement rides from Jackson's abandoned Neverland ranch will also be available for purchase.

Jackson who was once worth $1 billion but is now facing severe financial problems, is said to be battling a potentially flesh-eating superbug.

The 50-year-old singer reportedly contracted the skin infection (which is resistant to conventional antibiotics) while having surgery to reconstruct his nose.

Ronnie Wood Faces Axe From The Rolling Stones

The 61-year-old rocker who has been treated for alcoholism several times over the last 30 years, has been warned to curb his partying or risk being banned from a proposed autumn tour of America with bandmates Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts.

Ronnie had failed his medical for the 2002/2003 tour because he was drinking seven times the recommended number of alcohol units a week. He had to spend months drying out at a clinic in Arizona.

Ronnie was most recently treated for his alcohol addiction last August at the Life Works clinic in Surrey, England, following a 10-day drinking binge in Ireland with Russian girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova, 20.

If he is banned from touring, Ronnie risks losing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The ‘Satisfaction' rockers' ‘Bigger Bang' world tour, which took place between August 2005 and August 2007, was the highest-grossing of all time, generating $558,255,524.

The group were also named the highest-paid private performers last year, commanding a staggering $7 million per private show.

Oprah's 55th Birthday Bash

Oprah Winfrey blew out 55 candles on her birthday cake, it was just a low-key affair. Preferring not to make a fuss, the star who was casually dressed in figure-hugging beige pants and a bright yellow cardie, invited just a few close friends, who included Gayle King, to her mansion in California to celebrate.

Sadly, there was one notable absentee, her long-time partner Stedman Graham. He stayed in Chicago, eager to put distance between them while their relationship faces a new hurdle.

Donald Trump Casinos To File For Bankruptcy

American real estate magnate Donald Trump's casino group, Trump Entertainment Resorts, is expected to file for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday.

The filing would mark the third appearance in bankruptcy court for the company, which operates the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is struggling under $US1.7 billion in debt. The company, which had $US960 million in sales last year, most recently emerged from bankruptcy in 2005.

The decision to seek protection was reached following months of negotiations between Trump and his casinos' bondholders. Trump resigned as chairman of the board on Friday saying he disagreed with the bondholders' decision to seek an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding.

The US casino industry has been rocked in recent months as Americans have cut back substantially on casino visits and spending in the midst of the worst economic crisis in generations.

Family Guy Pokes Fun At Christian Bale's Rant

US animated comedy series Family Guy, has jumped on the Bale bandwagon with a new episode of the show which aired this week.

Poking fun at actor Christian Bale's over-the-top rant on the set of 'Terminator: Salvation', the episode reveals what the real reason was as to why Bale lost it.

The video can be found on youtube.com here.

Tom Cruise And Keith Urban Race Off

Actress Nicole Kidman's ex-husband Tom Cruise, along with her son Connor Antony and her current husband Keith Urban, all came together for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Cruise hopped in the car that was used in his film 'Days of Thunder' while Urban performed as part of the pre-race activities in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Actor Kevin Costner Has New Addition

Kevin Costner's wife Christine gave birth to a baby boy, Hayes Logan Costner, on Thursday night.

The baby is a healthy 8 pounds, 15 ounces, and everyone is said to be doing great. The couple has been married since 2004 and the new baby will join four other children, including the couple’s baby Cayden Wyatt born in May 2007, and Costner’s three older kids with Cindy Silva; Annie, 24, Lily, 22, and Joe, 20.

Bristol Palin Said Wait 10 Years On Teen Pregnancy

Governor Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol, gave her first television interview since the birth of her baby boy Tripp, talking about motherhood and offering her personal views on abstinence.

She mentioned that teens should just wait ten years and that it would just be so much easier regarding teen pregnancy. As for abstinence, she supports it but sometimes finds it unrealistic.

During her interview, Governor Palin showed up with her new grandson.

Singer Jessica Simpson Splits Pants

Jessica Simpson admits that every time she performed at Madison Square Garden, her pants have completely ripped in half while singing and has had to adapt her stage wardrobe accordingly.

There have been times when the pants have split right down the middle when she bent down to reach a note.
The US singer has now taken to wearing a skort (not a skirt, not a short) to prevent the embarrassing problem happening again.

On a side note, Jessica revealed from a recent interview that she's planning to launch a clothing line to flatter women of all shapes and sizes.

Actress Salma Hayek Marries On Valentine's Day

The Mexican actress Salma Hayek has married French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault in the City Hall of the Sixth Arrondissement in central Paris on Saturday the 14th of February.

Mr Pinault, 46, is CEO of the luxury giant PPR (makers of prestigious luxury brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent), and is the son of one of France's richest men, Francois Pinault, whose fortune last year was estimated to be $16.9 billion by Forbes magazine.

Salma Hayek>, 42, became famous after starring in a telenovela in her native Mexico when she was 22 years old, before moving to Hollywood.

The couple had met in Italy in 2006 and their daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, was born in Los Angeles in September 2007.

The two had originally announced their engagement in March 2007.