As a young girl, Oscar-winner Charlize Theron wanted to be a dancer, not an actor.
But at the Film Independent/Los Angeles Film Festival's "Spirit of Independence Award" dinner, she didn’t dance around why she ditched her ballet slippers for a Hollywood film career.
“I think I loved to dance because it was telling stories without speaking. I wasn’t the best dancer and I would never have made a good ballerina because I was too tall. But if you put me on a stage and told me I was a dying swan, I f-----ing died!”
Theron definitely didn’t die during her conversation with NPR’s Elvis Mitchell at the lavish poolside dinner at the W Hotel in Westwood Wednesday. But she was so funny, she should probably do more comedy.
After a montage of clips from her past films – “North Country,” “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,” “Aeon Flux,” “Monster” and “Cider House Rules,” the chameleon-like actress marveled, “Wow. That was amazing! You tend to forget so much about your films. And boy, I went to the hairdresser a lot.”
Theron, wearing tousled hair, a very sexy slit-sleeved gown and a huge gold necklace, spoke of her admiration for Tom Hanks (“If he ever wants to do a remake of “Splash,” I’m in!”) and why she improvised cigarette-rolling in “Cider House Rules.” “I was supposed to be this worldly, intimidating woman and rolling my own cigarette conveyed that.”
She also explained why “Monster” writer/director Patty Jensen forced her to do endless takes of a scene in which her character, convicted serial killer/prostitute Aileen Wuornos, shoots a man in the back.
“It was the longest day of shooting and we had one more scene to do. And it was the toughest. I told Patti when we first met, if I was gonna do this, she had to kick my ass. And she did. Instead of letting me go home and do that last scene the next morning, she made me do seven more takes and I’m so grateful for that.”
As well she should be. After all, the film won her an Oscar.
But the comedy continued.....
Photo Credits: Charlize Theron poses doggy-style with the Target pooch at the Spirit of Independence Awards at the W Hotel. WireImage/Jim DeGuire
Get ready for the big "Blood Diamond " PR War between Team De Beers and Team Zwick.
Nelson Mandela will act as a spokesman for the international diamond cartel to defuse any negative publicity caused by Ed Zwick's new film “The Blood Diamond,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimoun Hounsou, due out in December.
The film, a fictional tale, is set during the all-too-real ‘90s decade of African civil wars when rebel armies seized control of diamond mines, traded conflict diamonds for arms and murdered, raped and mutilated thousands of innocent people.
The film’s barely finished shooting but the World Diamond Council has already asked Zwick, the film’s producer/co-writer/director to add a disclaimer at the end that puts the nasty rough diamond trade in the past and the current industry in a better light.
Honest, those creepy rebels with nasty amputation habits are gone. Today's mining conditions are way improved and diamonds are now carefully documented thanks to the Kimberly Process, a voluntary industry agreement made in 2000, which tracks and certifies the movement of rough diamonds.
A bitter battle is clearly brewing. But how will Team De Beers, headed by Mandela, do against Team Zwick? Let’s compare the players. Ready for their turn at bat are the “Blood” actors, all politically active and involved with a variety of humanitarian causes.
DiCaprio is outspoken about ecology and global warming issues. His website was redesigned and launched in 2004, the same year he joined the boards of NRDC and Global Green USA. Hounsou was born in Benin, near Niger. He participated in Amnesty International’s Live for Darfur concert series last fall. It's safe to say that he has strong opinions on the illicit diamond trade’s impact on Africa peoples. And Jennifer Connelly was just named Amnesty International USA's (AIUSA) Ambassador for Human Rights Education last winter.
But Zwick may also have a trump card, an actress who could give his team an unbeatable hand....
One of Oscar nominee Keira Knightley’s fave British designers - Jenny Packham - will have a special fashion show in Los Angeles in October, just in time for 2007 award season shopping. The show will be sponsored by BAFTA/LA.
Packham, who usually parades her wears on London and Paris runways, has been dubbed "the first lady of partywear" by British Vogue, who certainly should know.
No doubt a few of her fervent fans like Nicole Kidman, Mandy Moore, Kate Moss, Mena Suvari, Brittany Murphy, Heidi Klum and Scarlett Johansson, who just wrapped the new Woody Allen film "Scoop" in London, will show up for Packham's show.
Knightley and Packham just worked together on a photo to aid Fresh2o, a campaign to promote WaterAid, which provides African and Asian communities safe domestic water supplies. In this eerie underwater shot by aquatic photographer Candice, Knightly (gulp) manages to hold her breath beautifully in a frothy cream Packham gown.
Just so you know, Knightley, who walked the red carpet wearing white Chanel at Saturday's premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" at Disneyland, flew back to jolly old England the very next day to keep filming Ian McEwan’s “Atonement,” which has, to say the least, an impressive female cast.
On the "Atonement" roster: Emily Watson, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave, Kristin Scott Thomas and... Betty White.
Yes,thatBetty White, best known for playing sexually voracious Sue Ann Nivens on the '70s TV series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and for her loveable ditzy Rose on the early ‘90s hit series, “Golden Girls.” Who knew?
Photo Credits: Keira is a bathing beauty for charity in a Jenny Packham gown. Courtesy of WaterAid.
First he's a big winner at the 2006 Black Entertainment Television Awards at the Shrine, grabbing two major awards, one for Best Duet/Collaboration and one for Best Video of the Year.
Then he scoots across town and shows up right after the show looking totally chill at Charlize Theron's big Africa Outreach fundraiser at the hot new venue, Social Hollywood.
Foxx partied along with Eve, Nicole Richie, Serena Williams, Russell Simmons and Lindsay Lohan, who apparently needed an event/excuse to wear this wrinkled white satin skirt suit, shiny silver expensive bag and bright red gooey lips.
We want the number for Foxx's limo service. Either they know the best El Lay backroads or he's being beamed across town "Star Trek" style. Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio and that wild “Lost” child, Michelle Rodriguez recently hit a big sale at the DKNY boutique in Las Vegas.
But according to WWD, only Leo rated the store’s “special star treatment.”
Some day, Jessica, you may receive such treatment. But you'll have to do more than wear a bikini in "Into the Blue," shimmy in "Sin City 2" or kill villains in the upcoming "Fantastic Four 2," to reach Leo's status.
We're talking two Oscar acting noms, three Golden Globe noms and one Globe win here. Hey, maybe it's not that far out of reach. As for Michelle, well, she's got her plate full just staying out of jail. Day at a time, darling.
Here's a fashion news flash: from now on, Paris Hilton will not wear fur. Seriously. She will, however, continue to carry it. Sorry, Tinker Bell. Photo Credits: Bet Jamie Foxx left his two BET awards in the limo when he hit Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach fundraiser after the show. WireImage/Steve Granitz
Photo Credits: Lindsay shows off her shiny new Manhattan hooker look at the Social Hollywood Africa Outreach bash. WireImage/Eric Charbonneau
Photo Credits: Forget wearing dead mink. Terrified Tinks wants Paris to stop carrying fur! Somebody please call PETA. WireImage/Seth Browarnik
What they’re talking about... Why didn’t the Lord our Father who art in heaven smite Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman - divorced from Tom Cruise - for getting rehitched in a Catholic Church?
Next thing you know these girls will be trying to outsmart the pesky paparazzi by using Superman's fool-proof ploy: Clark Kentish black nerd glasses.
Now, listen up...
To this astonishing comparison of Madonna’s “Holiday” and Jessica Simpson’s brand new single, “Public Affair.” Then you decide.
Photo Credits: Nicole flees the scene of the crime after her church wedding to Keith Urban in Darling Point, Australia. WireImage/Don Arnold
Photo Credits: Talk about a Sister Act. Paris is the mirror image of pal Caroline d'Amour at the 02 Wireless festival in Hyde Park, London. But forget the black wig. It's the matching tongue action that's really creepy. WireImage/Don Arnold
Disney Studio's publicity department had a very full Monday morning, fielding questions about Saturday’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” PR nightmare at Disneyland.
Disney's head of publicity Dennis Rice was busy making amends to disenchanted print, internet, radio and TV press who’d waited for five hours on the premiere red carpet and never got to interview the film's main star, Johnny Depp.
“I had a big fallout with the press and I’m prepared to deal with it today,” Rice confirmed.
What Disney was simply not prepared for was the overwhelming number of fans who bought tickets to the park to see their favorite stars arrive for Saturday's premiere.
“We knew Johnny Depp had a huge fan base but we were simply not prepared for the number of fans who showed up,” Rice admitted. "And for Johnny, it’s all about the fans." According to Disneyland sources, five thousand fans camped out Friday night outside the park in order to get in at 6:30 a.m. to stake out spots on the carpet so they could see – and possible shake hands with - the “Pirates” star.
“Unlike some stars, Johnny Depp is very appreciative of and loyal to his fans and he always makes time for them at his public appearances,” says a Depp source. “They all know this and that's why they show up in droves. He started signing autographs for fans in the front of the park around 6:45 and spent two hours doing it. He didn’t even do his first interview with ET until 8:45.”
Unfortunately, his two hours of devotion to his fans up front left scant time for the countless others lining the carpet further inside the park. Or the patiently waiting reporters further down the line who were not told until after 9 p.m. that Depp would not have time to talk.
But the tremendous turn-out is proof that Depp’s popularity with fans of all ages and both genders has now hit superstar status. And he didn’t even have to jump on Oprah’s couch to get up there.
And it turns out that Depp had an even fuller plate on Saturday than most people knew. He arrived at the park at noon with his family to do press photos on the updated Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Then, according to inside sources, he spent several hours more on a “personal obligation” that Disney has refused to confirm or comment on in order to respect the actor’s privacy.
But a Hollywood Bytes investigation has uncovered that Depp’s time-consuming “obligation” was actually an unpublicized lengthy lunch/meeting with several children with life-threatening illnesses whose dream was to meet the actor. Depp's publicist Robin Baum's office confirmed the report. Depp has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation since his days on the late 80's TV series "21 Jump Street."
Well, this totally defuses any annoyance about Depp's subsequent truncated time on the red carpet. Choosing to make seriously ill kids happy over inane pointless press interviews? Hard to argue with that.
Photo Credits: Nice guy Johnny Depp arrives a little late to the Pirates premiere. But when you find out why, you'll understand why so many people love this guy. WireImage/Eric Charbonneau
Whew. Some highlights from the Los Angeles Film Fest’s first weekend:
Jason Alexander, Donald (You’re Fired!) Trump, and Perry Reeves, who plays Ari Gold’s wife on HBO’s “Entourage,” hung out at the “Ira and Abby” Los Angeles Film Festival’s premiere after-party at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica Friday night.
The man himself, Leonard Cohen, looking trim and healthy, showed up for the premiere of “Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man” on Saturday June 24, at the John Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Also on hand, Robin Tunney, Lian Lunson, the film’s tall statuesque blonde director and Kevin Beggs, president of Lionsgate Television.
Fest honorary co-chair Allison Janney, Catherine Bell, Amy Smart, Peter Horton, Kelly Rutherford, Lisa and Dean Devlin, Frances Fisher and Summer Glau, best known for her role on the cult hit series, “Firefly,” kicked off LAFF’s June 24th Green Day festivities at the screening of “Who Killed the Electric Car” along with the entire cast and crew.
Former Vice President Al Gore and former Second Lady Tipper Gore, Dawn Hudson and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended the Los Angeles Film Festival’s biggest event yet, a special Green Day outdoor screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” Saturday at the California Plaza.
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora rocked out, and Truth’s director Davis Guggenheim spoke to the crowd of several thousand about the importance of taking environmental protection action. Like now.
Photo Credits: "Ira and Abby”screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt with Jason Alexander from the film at the Viceroy Hotel. WireImage/Arun Nevader
Photo Credits: Singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen with director Lian Lunson at the LAFF screening of “Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man.” WireImage/John Sciulli
Photo Credits: Film Independent’s Dawn Hudson with Al and Tipper Gore at the screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” at the California Plaza. WireImage/Amy Tierney
The most popular ride at Disneyland Saturday was the red carpet for the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”
And the longest. The red carpet was over 1,000 ft. long, rolling down Main Street, snaking by Fantasyland and ending at Adventureland. But for hundreds of international TV, radio, internet and print reporters and thousands of fans who'd come to see “Pirates” stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, the carpet ride became pretty disappointing by the end of the night.
Fans staked out coveted spots along the carpet when the park opened at 6:30 a.m. The press arrived at 3 p.m. to prepare for celebrity arrivals from 5-6. But by 6:30, only a few non-famous guests came wandering in.
Since the premiere invite stressed ‘pirate garb,' there were more eye patches, head bandanas, gold earrings, skull 'n crossbones, puffy shirts, and pirate hats - not to mention dark sooty Jack Sparrow eyeliner - than you could shake a saber at.
Early on, the throng of fans – most wearing Disney's pirate mouse ears (gold hoop earring in one ear) – were hopeful and enthusiastic, shouting, screaming, holding up banners and photos of Depp and Bloom and ‘We Love You Johnny!’ posters. They were only too happy to jump and scream to create B-roll color for the camera crews and applaud the professional Disneyland pirates who were singing, playing accordions, juggling balls and knives and walking on stilts up and down the carpet.
There was a pre-party with grog and grub at the Blue Bayou and Café Orleans for the premiere guests. They could also ride the new Pirates ride that features characters from the film (Jack Sparrow, his nemesis Captain Barbossa and the squid-faced Davy Jones) and then fill three huge red, yellow and green bleachers to view the film scheduled to be shown on an outdoor screen at around 9 p.m.
But by 7:30, the fans out on the carpet were getting hungry and hoarse, children began whimpering and even the seasoned press was turning surly.
“We’ve been standing here 5 hours and we’ve not seen a single lead actor from the film,” groused a KTLA reporter. “This is insane. Why would they make us stand out here this long?” Even a befuddled German reporter asked, “Is this normal?”
“Is Johnny here?” reporters pestered the nervous Disney publicists. “Where’s Keira?” "Has anyone seen Orlando?” "Will they talk to us?”
“They’re here,” one publicist promised. “Johnny’s doing the new Pirates of the Caribbean ride and they’re taking photographs. But he’ll be here. Just be patient.”
So reporters relaxed and chatted up non-Pirate people to kill time. “Entourage” star Kevin Dillon told press that his fans scream “Drama!” and “Viking Quest!” wherever he goes. Director James Cameron, who has a cameo on “Entourage,” plugged his new film “Avatar,” a sci-fi flick set on another planet that will be released next year in 3-D HD. But he admitted he’d probably do better with a real “Aquaman” since it’s gotten built-in buzz from the show.
Jon Voight stammered when a reporter asked if he’d seen his new grandchild. The answer was “No” but he’s, um, “very proud of Angie and all the work she's doing.” And he hasn’t sent a baby gift. And he’d really rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.
Holly Robinson Peete was very popular with press because she actually knows Depp from his “21 Jump Street Days.” “Who would you like to have a pirate adventure with?” queried a TV reporter. “Well, not Johnny. He’s a friend. Unlike every other woman in the world, I just don’t feel that way about him,” Robinson-Peete explained.
Marilyn Manson – dressed not like a pirate but like Marilyn Manson – was also a hot interview once word spread on the line that he actually knows Depp, who may star in a movie he’s making about Lewis Carroll. “I’m just here to see Johnny. He’s my friend. He’s a real pirate. I’ve got absinthe in my boots and I’m a pirate, too.” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed autographs, talked to a few TV reporters and tried to ignore the smattering of loud “boos” from the crowd. Inexplicably, his wife Maria Shriver wore a Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt emblazoned with Michelangelo’s David wearing a sequin fig leaf.
Finally, around 8 p.m., a few actors who actually appear in “Pirates” made their way down the press line. Bill Nighy, who plays the octo-pussed Davy Jones, said it was surreal having to play piano with his face tentacles. Vanessa Branch, who plays the wench Giselle, revealed how much fun she had slapping Depp in all three films.
All three? ...
Photo Credit: Keira Knightley faces what Disney called the longest red carpet in the world. WireImage/Lester Cohen
Photo Credit: Johnny Depp signs autographs for fans at the Disneyland premiere of "Pirates." WireImage/Lester Cohen
Photo Credit: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver walk the "Pirates" plank. Wire/Image/Gregg DeGuire
The big question at Thursday night’s LA premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada” was “Where’s Meryl Streep?"
Turns out the Oscar-winning actress - who plays the film’s formidable fashion editor - was at home celebrating her 57th birthday.
That made her "Devil" co-stars Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci the biggest celebs at the 12th annual Los Angeles Film Festival’s opening night in Westwood.
Except for Adrian Grenier, who plays Hathaway’s boyfriend in the film. If you’ve been keeping up with the ratings for HBO's "Entourage," Grenier may be the hottest actor in Hollywood. This week.
And there was also a brief but thrilling Nicole Richie moment. Wearing a demure white lace high-necked mini dress, Richie posed for the photographers but then turned and ran down the red carpet to avoid nosy reporters who wanted to ask who designed her dress. She trotted so fast on her peep toe black Jimmy Choos that she dropped her T-Mobile Sidekick in the process. No worries, her faithful assistant picked it up for her.
Since “Devil” is the story of an intern at a fash rag working for a spot-on facsimile of real-life “Vogue" editor Anna “Nuclear” Winter, the flap was mostly about, duh, fashion.
Grenier wore a dark Gucci suit, explaining, “I’m in pre-school when it comes to having fashion sense. I can’t even pronounce designer’s names.” Repeat after me, Goo-Chee.
Tucci was in his fave designer - Hugo Boss - and credited “Devil’ costumer Patricia Fields for helping him “find” his magazine art director character through the clothes she put him in. As you might imagine, it would be very hard to act like a fashion fop if you aren’t dressed like one.
The very sweet Hathaway – who plays the very sweet intern – was hard to miss in a taxi cab yellow Prada bubble dress, talking about how the film “increased my appreciation for fashion as a business.” Oh dear. Someone needs to go to Sound Bite 101.
Even Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa looked pretty slick in a dark suit with a shiny peach tie. I tried to find out who designed it, but Mr. V said he had “no idea." Yeah, right. Frankly, I think he did know but didn't want to seem too, you know, metro.
The fest’s honorary co-chair Allison Janney wore a short sparkly black Heike Jarick dress that she bought five years ago at Jennifer Nicholson’s shop on Montana. And I was very impressed that Janney’s publicist, Karen Samfilippo, was wearing cool Prada shoes and even carrying a Prada purse. She fessed up, “The bag was a gift and the shoes were on sale.” Well, I'm still impressed.
“Desperate Housewives” Andrea Bowen admitted that while she enjoys getting designers clothes to wear for big events, “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good.” She really loves Urban Outfitters. Me too. No, really. I bought my 2006 Oscar dress there. Scoff if you will, but it was on sale for $129 and no one laughed at me. Or if they did, I didn’t hear them.
Oh, before I forget, Film Independent's exec director Dawn Hudson looked pretty hot in a black halter top and slacks.
But all Hudson wanted to talk about was the popularity and growth of the darn festival. And she was all hopped up about Saturday’s big Green Day activities starting with a 12:45 p.m. screening of “Who Killed the Electric Car” at the Landmark Regent and ending with a free screening of of “An Inconvenient Truth,” former Vice President Al Gore’s environmental film, at 8 p.m. at the California Plaza downtown. And of course, Al will be there.
Jeez, like the environment is more important than fashion.
Photo Credits: Anne Hathaway celebrates with her "Devil" boyfriend, Adrian Grenier at the LAFF opening night. WireImage/Lester Cohen
Photo Credits. Nicole Richie, doing what she does best, posing at the LAFF opening night premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada."
Two-time Oscar nominee Leslie Caron, most famous for “American in Paris" and “Gigi,” is following in Elton John’s footsteps and cleaning out her closet.
Paris-based Caron, 74, will auction off a portion of her couture collection at Sotheby’s in London on June 26. For more information, go to www.kerrytaylorauctions.com.
Over 60 pieces from Givenchy, Dior, Saint Laurent and other top designers from the ’50s-‘80s will go on the block. Estimated prices: $570-$5700.
Some - like the tangerine silk Saint Laurent gown she wore to the Cannes Film Festival with Kirk Douglas and the Dior frock she wore to present Steve McQueen with a Henrietta Award (World Film Favorite Actor) at the Golden Globes - also come with photos of Caron in the gowns.
“My sale starts at 4 p.m.,” Caron, said from her Left Bank abode that she shares with her dog, Prunella. “Before me, they’re selling valuable antique textiles. And after me, there are some very special items being auctioned – a dance costume that was worn by ballerina Margot Fonteyn, a pinstriped suit and nightshirt that belonged to Sir Winston Churchill and one of Princess Diana’s cocktail gowns! Isn’t that wonderful? I’m sure that will interest your readers,” Caron added, with unabated "Gigi" spirit.
Caron was a young dancer in Paris when Gene Kelly discovered her. She's had a long career and though she's been off the celeb radar, she still acts occasionally.
She almost got the role of the murdered nun in "The Da Vinci Code.” “They told me I looked too worldly.” And she recently shot an upcoming episode of “Law and Order – Special Victims Unit,” playing a woman much like Teri Hatcher, who testifies against a man who raped her when she hears he has more victims.
And she’s already met Hollywood’s hottest couple. In March, Caron dined at the Hotel de Crillon with LA painter Don Bacardi and his friends, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. They had invited Bacardi, a friend of Angelina’s mother, to come to France and paint a portrait of the pregnant actress/activist.
“I like them very much,” Caron said. “They’re bright, interested in what’s going on, open to everything, ready to grab everything they can out of life. They’re not wasting a lot of time being movie stars. They’re taking advantage of it to see, listen and learn. Their love affair is obviously not for the benefit of the press; they seem extremely happy and comfortable together.”
There was only one awkward moment, when Leslie innocently asked where the baby would be born.
“They were perfectly mute,” she says. “I wasn’t thinking! They were being stalked everywhere by the paparazzi.”
More on Caron's clothes calls...
Photo Credits: Leslie Caron in Dior by Marc Bohan at the Golden Globes, presenting a Henrietta award to Steve McQueen. Courtesy of Leslie Caron
Get the newsletter
Get it on wireless
RSS Feed
As a young girl, Oscar-winner Charlize Theron wanted to be a dancer, not an actor.
