January 14, 2011

The first official picture of Chris Evans' Steve Rogers in full costume has made its way out via Entertainment Weekly. The costume itself has been previously seen being worn by Evans' stunt double on the set of "Captain America: The First Avenger", but it is the first time that the actor is shown in the suit complete with his helmet and shield. Also seen in the newly-unveiled picture are two heavily armed characters who stand behind Evans.

Captain America's fans might easily notice that the costume looks strikingly different than the classic Captain America get-up seen in the comics. Regarding this, director Joe Johnston has previously claimed, "You can't really take him seriously in his flag pajamas." Evans takes about 25 minutes to suit up and "he likes to do it all by himself," costume designer Anna Sheppard revealed.

Cher Lloyd is on the move to secure A-list collaborators for her upcoming debut album. Just recently, the outcast of "The X Factor" is spotted meeting Lil Wayne in a studio. She excitedly tweeted, "Had an amazin meet with lil wayne last night,the guys a genius!"

Days before, the 17-year-old singer was pictured having a lunch with RedOne, the same man who is responsible for some of Lady GaGa's hit singles. A few days prior, she also hooked up with will.i.am to lay down their duet track.

Mel Gibson's 2011 is already looking a lot brighter than his 2010. His new movie "The Beaver" has been snapped up as a world premiere event at the upcoming South By Southwest Festival in Texas.

Additionally, "Paul" is announced to have its North American premiere at the festival. The sci-fi comedy stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as sci-fi geeks who unexpectedly meet an alien named Paul who later hitches a ride with them.

What if a reality show turns to be reality? Perhaps inspired by "Survivor", After Dark Films presents "The Task" which revolves around six young students joining a new reality show in which their only task is to survive. A red band trailer for the movie is now available for preview.

Having to face terrifying missions within the confines of an abandoned prison hoping to win a hefty cash prize, the youngsters are not prepared when malicious spirits take over the game. Unable to escape the labyrinthine prison, the contestants become unwitting pawns caught at the center of a blood-soaked night of terror.

Dita Von Teese had unveiled that CBS executives banned her "offensive cleavage" on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" but they certainly don't mind bare legs and the act of pulling one's pantie down. In the preview of the January 20 episode, Von Teese guest stars as a schoolteacher moonlighting as burlesque dancer.

In "A Kiss Before Frying", the CSIs link a body with severe burn marks to possible execution by electric chair - and to a legendary Vegas murder. Meanwhile, Greg asks out Ellen Whitebridge, a pretty schoolteacher and forensics enthusiast who has been touring the crime lab.

The fifth music video from Mitchel Musso's eight clips filmed for his extended play "Brainstorm" has come out. It picks up right where "Just Go" video left off, revolving around the Disney actor as he is left heartbroken after breaking up with his girlfriend.

Talking about the eight music videos, he stated to MTV, "These music videos are very under-toned. I didn't go in there with putting $3 million into each of these music videos. So what I did was got as real as I could. ... It's more about creating this baby and making it this big deal. So we shot eight music videos in three and a half days. It was wild. [The videos are] intimate and quiet."

The thug who stabbed U.K. rapper Professor Green in the neck was jailed for eight years on Thursday, January 13. Anthony Jones, 26, slashed the hip-hop star with a broken bottle during a scuffle at London's Cargo nightclub in 2009.

The "I Need You Tonight" hitmaker - real name Stephen Manderson - feared he was dying as blood gushed from a six-inch wound, and even phoned his family to say goodbye. "I was scared. Having been cut in the neck - I know what tends to happen when people get cut in the neck. I was extremely lucky. I phoned my mother and grandmother and said goodbye. I had been stabbed in my neck," he said when testifying at the court.

The Veronicas star Jessica Origliasso is stranded at her mother's house in Australia after the country was hit by some of its worst floods on record. The singer, whose twin sister and bandmate Lisa is currently overseas, was able to stock up on supplies before rising water levels trapped her inside her mum's Brisbane home with no power.

Origliasso tells Austereo radio, "We headed out yesterday and stocked up as much as we could. We were actually told that our area wasn't going to lose power so we prepared a little, but it suddenly went out, and we're not sure if it will get turned back on - it probably won't for a fair few days."

Actor Christian Slater's "Star Trek" dreams have come true on the set of his new TV drama "Breaking In" - his character owns Captain Kirk's chair. Slater was a huge fan of the sci-fi series growing up and when producers and writers of his new show, in which he plays a high-powered security hacker, asked for his input as they were crafting his character, Oz, he suggested they should get him the chair from the Starship Enterprise.

Slater tells WENN, "I would make suggestions for the character of Oz and they would incorporate things that made me very happy. Some of the things that I wanted to incorporate were very difficult and you would have to have approvals and trademark elements - Star Trek being the main thing. For me the idea of getting to sit in Captain Kirk's chair was a personal fantasy."

Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek is set to become the latest movie star to embark on a literary career after completing her memoirs. The "Carrie" star will open up about her upbringing and early career in "Barefoot Stories", which is to be published in spring 2012.

And Spacek insists her tome will be different from the regular celebrity biographies on the bookshelf. She tells USA Today, "I want it to be a collection of non-fiction short stories, so it's not linear. You can pick it up just anywhere and read a story about some part of my life with images and photographs and artwork and things that I have done and collected and mean something to me."

Marilyn Monroe looks set to make a screen comeback from beyond the grave after the rights to her image were snapped up by a branding expert. Jamie Salter plans to use high-tech imaging technology to revive the tragic actress on the big screen after purchasing her "name and likeness" in a multi-million dollar deal last week.

According to Britain's Independent newspaper, Salter bought the rights from Anna Strasberg, whose late husband, actor Lee Strasberg, was Monroe's acting teacher and beneficiary of her will. The exact sum he paid has not been disclosed.

One more name is tossed into the bowl as the search for Andy Whitfield's replacement continues. Following the report that "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" producers preferred to pick a relatively-unknown actor like Whitfield when he first started, a new report surfaces that they are considering the otherwise.

"Prison Break" star Dominic Purcell has reportedly sent them a screen test video for the titular role last Friday, January 7 while he was vacationing in Australia. Deadline said Starz has approached actor for the part although they already had another actor in mind, Liam McIntyre.

Walt Disney Pictures apparently has started working on "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" while the fourth film has not been unleashed into theaters yet. According to Deadline Hollywood, the studio has tapped Terry Rossio who has written all four "Pirates of the Caribbean" films to pen the fifth installment, but his writing partner Ted Elliot will not be joining him this time.

The studio is allegedly also trying to seal a deal with Rob Marshall to return to the helming duty for the second time. The director, who is best known for his work on musical "Chicago" and "Nine", is currently on post-production of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

In anticipation of Lady GaGa's first single from her much-awaited album "Born This Way", a snippet of never-heard-before song called "Animal" has just hit the web. Making its way out via iLeaks, it's a drum-driven song with mid-tempo beat.

There is no word on whether it is taken from recording session of the upcoming album which is due May 23, or simply lifted from a leftover pile. Regardless, fans are encouraged to hit the "like" button on Facebook and unlock the full version of the song if it reaches a certain number of "likes."

Fashionable hip-hop star Kanye West has celebrated the success of his latest album by splurging $180,000 on a diamond-studded watch featuring an image of his own face.

The rapper's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" disc has been hailed as a modern-day classic by music critics around the world since its release in November, and he ended 2010 on a high by having his project named album of the year in a variety of polls.

Rock veterans Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks are teaming up to tour together. The two stars appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in America on Thursday, January 13 to announce the Heart & Soul tour and Nicks revealed the British hitmaker was one of the icons of rock when she started out in Fleetwood Mac - and she wanted to emulate his flamboyant style.

She explained, "Rod Stewart was a huge rock 'n' roll star before (Fleetwood Mac bandmate and ex-lover) Lindsey (Buckingham) and I even moved to Los Angeles... He was incredibly inspiring to both of us."

Soul queen Aretha Franklin's recent surgery has added at least 15 years to her life, according to the singer's doctor. The "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." singer is addressing reports she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, insisting the health crisis that prompted her to pull out of a string of end-of-year shows was not that serious.

Franklin is refusing to divulge details of exactly what was wrong with her, but she insists she is now in recovery and looking forward to a long life. Calling into U.S. news show Access Hollywood on Thursday, January 13, she said, "That's what my doctor said. He said, 'The surgery that you just had is going to add 15 or 20 more years to your life'."

American football Hall of Fame legend Lawrence Taylor has pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and soliciting a prostitute in a bid to stay out of jail. The former New York Giants linebacker was initially charged with raping a 16-year-old Bronx runaway, criminal sexual acts, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child after he was arrested at a Ramapo, New York hotel last May.

In July, Taylor, 51, entered a not guilty plea. Taylor will be sentenced in March and is expected to be put on probation for six years with sex offender conditions, and fined. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he would argue at the hearing against Taylor's having to register as a Level 1, or low-risk, sex offender, as recommended under New York's Megan's Law Statute.

U.S. lifestyle queen Martha Stewart is recovering after clashing with one of her dogs. The TV personality needed nine stitches to close up a wound on her upper lip after accidentally headbutting her French bulldog, Francesca. Stewart was leaving her home on Tuesday, January 11 when the accident happened and her driver took her to a nearby hospital, where she was treated by plastic surgeon Dr. William Nolan.

Blogging about the incident, she writes, "I must have startled her, because she bolted upright with such force that she hit me in the face like a boxing glove hitting an opponent's face. I was entirely startled and my neck snapped back. I felt a bit of whiplash as blood gushed forth from my split lip."

The first offering of Timbaland's "Thursday" catering has arrived. Titled "Take Ur Clothes Off", the new song reunites the top-notch producer with none other than his longtime collaborator Missy Elliott. She namedrops Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey in her verses.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself/ My name's Missy, rockin' like no one else/ I don't need no one cause I'm feelin' myself," she throws her rhymes. "Been rapping since ya'll were little babies ... Been hot before Michael Jackson wore loafers/ Been rich before you even knew about Oprah."

Beloved U.S. TV star John Dye has died at the age of 47. The actor, best known for playing angel Andrew in the drama "Touched by an Angel", passed away at his San Francisco, California home on Monday, January 10 after suffering heart failure.

Dye racked up a number of TV credits during his career with appearances on shows including "Murder, She Wrote", "Promised Land" and "The Young and the Restless". His "Touched by an Angel" co-star Valerie Bertinelli has since taken to her Twitter.com page to pay tribute to Dye, writing, "Dear, sweet John Dye, rest in peace."

CBS Films once again moves the release date for "Beastly". After it was pushed back from the original 2010 slot to March 18, 2011, the movie is now scheduled to open two weeks earlier on March 4 in theaters across the nation, according to Box Office Mojo.

With the new release date, the drama starring Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer will face a competition with "The Adjustment Bureau", "Apollo 18", "Rango", and "Take Me Home Tonight". "Beastly" was previously retracted from July 30, 2010 line-up because CBS Films did not want Hudgens and her then boyfriend Zac Efron's fans to choose between his film "Charlie St. Cloud" and her own movie.

British actress Carey Mulligan is set to go mad on the New York stage - the "An Education" star will play a mentally ill woman in a theatrical adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's 1961 movie "Through a Glass Darkly".

The 25 year old, who made her Broadway debut in "The Seagull" in 2008, will put her film career on hold for the production. She tells the Associated Press, "It's thrilling. All I literally as a child wanted to do was be in a Broadway play and live in New York. I'm kind of on cloud nine."

Actor Kelsey Grammer's plans to marry new fiancee Kayte Walsh have been thwarted by his estranged wife - she won't grant him a quickie divorce. Reality TV star Camille Grammer has asked a judge to deny the former "Frasier" star's request to dissolve their legal marital status while the divorce fight continues.

She insists her estranged husband's request is "solely for the reason that he intends to remarry as soon as possible." She adds, "I do not believe his is a sufficient reason to prejudice my rights to the community estate, especially given the large and complex nature of our estate."

"The Office" is going to say goodbye to Michael Scott sooner than expected. Although Steve Carell's contract will have him until the end of seventh season, the producers decide to let him go several episodes before the finale so that viewers will have the time to adapt to Dunder Mifflin sans the annoying but lovable boss.

At NBC's star party after the TCA Press Tour was held, executive producer Greg Daniels told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the departure will take place in a late-April episode. Beside giving the taste of Michael-less, the absence will also provide a better platform for new characters and other regulars to shine.

Rihanna's new fragrance has been given the thumbs up by animal rights activists at PETA - they love the scent and the fact the R&B beauty has teamed up with a cruelty-free company to create it. Reb'l Fleur, which will hit store shelves on January 25, was created by Rihanna and the nose experts at Parlux, who have been on PETA's 'good list', for refusing to test products on animals, for years.

PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews is so impressed by the singer's choice, he sent her a big bouquet of flowers to thank her for putting animals first. He tells WENN, "Rihanna's decision to team up with Parlux is as kind to animals as her music is to your ears. By renouncing animal tests, Parlux is proving that beauty doesn't have to have an ugly side."

Backstreet Boys' singer A.J. McLean has confirmed reports he has checked into rehab. The 33 year old is seeking treatment for undisclosed issues. In a statement to People.com, he says, "For personal reasons, I've checked myself into a rehab clinic. With 2011 being a busy year for Backstreet (Boys), I want to be healthy and at my best. Thank you for all of your support and respecting my family and friends' privacy during this time. I'll see you really soon."

McLean previously appeared to reference a return to rehab in a post on his Twitter.com blog on January 9, writing, "I love u all and wish me luck! I start my sober journey tomm (tomorrow)!" The singer has battled addiction for years and enrolled in treatment programs in both 2001 and 2002 for alcohol and cocaine abuse.

Golden Globes Awards has just gotten bad publication just a few days before its 68th annual ceremony takes place this Sunday. Cinepoint Productions, a public relations firm which claims they did publicity work for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for 17 years, has just filed a lawsuit against the association in L.A. County Superior Court on January 13.

In the suit, Cinepoint accuses HFPA for not honoring their promise. The company claims they were promised that when their "contract with HFPA expired in 2009 it would be renewed, and Cinepoint did a lot of hard work relying on the promise," so TMZ reports. However, the association never fulfilled that promise and Cinepoint's contract was not renewed.

Lindsay Lohan reportedly has violated her DUI probation by partying with some friends at Hal's Bar & Grill in Venice. The troubled artist, who just left rehab last week, "was out partying until 1AM last night and needed a police escort to get home," Hollyscoop reported on Thursday, January 13.

Around the day she was released from rehab, Lindsay actually promised herself to start a new life. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life. The future depends on what we do in the present.' -Mahatma Gandhi... One step at a time...," so she tweeted back then. But action speaks louder than word.

Five days away from its debut on Monday, January 17, MTV's "Skins" is deemed "the most dangerous show for teens." Watchdog organization Parents Television Council is not pleased with the way the network markets the U.S. version.

"Despite the MA-rating for Skins, MTV appears to be deliberately targeting teens with its marketing campaign," said PTC president Tim Winter. "Skins may well be the most dangerous show for children that we have ever seen."

Ben Stiller is currently busy filming "Tower Heist" and he has given sneak peek to the upcoming movie by sharing an on-set picture. Posted on his Twitter page on January 13, the shot features his co-stars Casey Affleck and Michael Pena at what looks like an eatery.

"Tower Heist" has "X-Men: The Last Stand" helmer Brett Ratner serving behind the lens, with a script written by Noah Baumbach, Ted Griffin, Stiller, Russell Gewirtz and Rawson Marshall Thurber. The likes of Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe and Judd Hirsch are also starring in the movie.

Following a short snippet earlier this week, Alesha Dixon debuts "Every Little Part of Me" music video in full. The clip features Jay Sean and follows him and Alesha as they run into trouble with law and get busted in a parking lot. It ends with cliffhanger suggesting there will be continuation to this sad-ending story.

"Every Little Part of Me" is the third single from Dixon's now-in-store album "The Entertainer". The video was filmed in Miami last month, during which she spared time between her tight working schedule by enjoying winter sun on the beach.

Lady GaGa is set for another chart-topping feat in 2011 - she's predicted to be the year's highest-earning act. The "Just Dance" hitmaker banked a whopping $64 million in 2010, and the 24 year old is expected to nearly double her earnings this year with an expected haul between $100 million and $130 million.

Fuelling her climb to the top is her ongoing Monster's Ball arena tour - which reportedly grosses $2 million per show. Meanwhile, GaGa's planned May 23 release of her sophomore album, "Born This Way", reportedly stands to bring in another $20 to $30 million, and her merchandising deals could add another $10 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Funnyman Kevin James has embarked on a healthy new lifestyle in a bid to shed weight for the sake of his family. The "Hitch" star tipped the scales at 302 pounds (137 kilograms) last year, and decided to get serious about slimming down for his health.

He says, "It got to a point where I hit my all time high... I got on the scale and it read 290 pounds (131.5 kilograms). Not good, not good at all. I realized I'm only 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) away from 300 (136 kilograms). I got to 302."

Some cast of "Glee" have been Simpsonized and it's time for them to be Clevelanized. Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and even Jane Lynch are animated for an episode of "The Cleveland Show" called "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?"

The first clip from the episode has been offered ahead of the Sunday, January 16 premiere. It shows Cleveland watching a made-up episode of "Glee" when Mr. Schue encourages the New Direction to brainstorm of what they would perform next. At the end of the scene, Lynch's Sue walks in and smirks.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's eldest son is stepping away from the family's acting legacy - he's styling himself as an aspiring rapper. Chester Hanks, known by pals as Chet, is a theater student at Northwestern University in Illinois and previously landed a small role in action adventure "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

But the 21 year old is moving away from Hollywood and has reinvented himself as Chet Haze - and is creating an internet buzz with his remix of rapper Wiz Khalifa's underground hit "Black and Yellow". Adapting the lyrics to pay tribute to his school and its distinctive colors, "White and Purple (Northwestern Remix)" sees the celebrity offspring rhyme about college life - but his lyrical content and his references to marijuana are unlikely to win the approval of his parents.

Actor Mark Feuerstein's baby daughter has been battling a rare heart defect since birth. In 2009, the "Royal Pains" star and his wife Dana Klein thought then six-week-old Adelaide was suffering from colic until medications failed to work.

The parents took Adelaide to a cardiologist in March 2010, and the baby was rushed to the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, where she stayed for three months. After various tests, the tot was diagnosed with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery, or ALCAPA - a rare but potentially fatal heart defect.

Cancer survivor Michael Douglas is set to undertake piano lessons in preparation for his role as flamboyant musician Liberace in a new biopic. The "Wall Street" star declared he was disease-free earlier this week, six months after he was diagnosed with a tumor in his throat.

Douglas admitted he would have to work hard to build up his strength before returning to Hollywood after dropping so much weight during his health crisis, but he's eager to return to work and start production on "Liberace", in which he will appear opposite Matt Damon. He said, "I lost a lot of muscle mass, so I'm going to work on that. I'm going to get my fingers ready for 'Liberace'."

As Grammy performers continue to leak in the past few days, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science finally come forward to give their announcement. Musical guests like Arcade Fire, Lady GaGa and Katy Perry have already been rumored before, but the others like Eminem, Miranda Lambert and Cee-Lo Green were not mentioned until the official statement.

The Slim Shady is a Grammy vet who has repeatedly performed at the event in the previous years. The Gnarls Barkley star also has previously been invited to the Grammy stage as a musical act. But for 27-year-old Lambert, this will mark her first Grammy performance ever.

The few moments before Ted Williams signed off from his short days of fame have been captured in a video by ET. The 53-year-old who went from homeless to famous due to his golden voice shed a tear because he did not want to leave. But once he gathered his emotion, Williams promised that he would be back "bigger and better than ever".

The ET camera followed Williams on Thursday, January 13 afternoon as he was shuttled to Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank. Stopping by to see his grandchildren in Ohio first, Williams then headed straight to the airport for a flight to Texas. After a heart-to-heart talk, Dr. Phil has recommended him to enter a facility in South Padre Island called Origins Recovery Center.

Nominations list of 2011 BRIT Awards has just been revealed. U.K. rising star Tinie Tempah leads the battle with multiple nods alongside big international artists like Katy Perry and Eminem. Tempah is up for four categories including British Male Solo Artist and British Album of the Year.

On the heels of his domination are Plan B, The xx and Mumford & Sons who receive three nominations each. Along with Ellie Goulding, Cheryl Cole, Take That, Cee-Lo Green and Arcade Fire, Perry and the Slim Shady follow with double nods.

"Tron Legacy" does not perform as well as people expected. But with its current worldwide cume which almost passes $300 million, Walt Disney Pictures reportedly thinks there is still a bright future for this franchise that they are going to make the follow-up. Ain't It Cool News reports that the sci-fi fantasy movie "is getting close, incredibly close to having its sequel announced."

Previously, it has been said that Disney is aiming to make a trilogy with "Tron Legacy" as the first film. They reportedly have even hired "Lost" writers/co-executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz to pen the sequel, but it has not been made official yet.

Oprah Winfrey has opened up about the disappointment she felt after her 1998 movie "Beloved" bombed at the box office, admitting the flop film left her fighting depression. The media mogul produced and starred in the big screen adaption of Toni Morrison's spooky novel, alongside Danny Glover and Thandie Newton.

However, the $80 million movie pulled in just $22 million in takings - and Winfrey was hit hard by the negative feedback. Speaking on the first episode of new U.S. talk show "Piers Morgan Tonight", she says, "I don't want to call it a turkey, but it didn't work, and it sent me into a massive, depressive, macaroni and cheese-eating tailspin - literally!"

Kelly Osbourne feels under pressure to maintain her new slim figure - because she'd hate to be compared to 'yo-yo dieter' Kristie Alley. The singer/reality TV star dropped several dress sizes after appearing on U.S. reality show "Dancing with the Stars" in 2009, and continued to work out after the series ended, losing a staggering 50 pounds.

Osbourne was delighted to receive Fitness magazine's Best Celebrity Body 2010 award and admits seeing the criticism aimed at actress Alley - whose weight has fluctuated regularly since she found fame - is an incentive to keep the pounds off.

Pop star Sinitta has failed in her bid to adopt a third child because of strict official rules about working parents. The singer took in Zac and Magdalena in 2008, while she was with her then-husband Andy Willner. They have since split, but Sinitta forged on with her plans to make an official application to adopt the younger sister of her two children after learning their biological mother was pregnant again.

She explains, "From that moment on, rightly or wrongly, I started to look on the baby as mine. (I felt) an overwhelming emotional attachment." However, officials from Britain's Social Services rejected her bid to take in the baby, because she would not be able to give up work for the 18 months required of an adoptive parent.

Wyclef Jean is adamant he has no plans to revive The Fugees since making amends with former bandmate Pras Michel - insisting a reunion is "not meant to be". The rappers - and singer Lauryn Hill - went their separate ways in 1997, before getting back together in 2004 for a short-lived reunion.

The pair subsequently went five years without speaking and Michel refused to back Jean's failed bid for the Haitian presidency last year. Jean was stunned to find himself sat next to his old pal on a flight to Haiti on Wednesday, January 12, and told fans on Twitter.com that they used their time mid-air to make peace.

Plans to reboot 1970s TV drama "The Rockford Files" have been shelved for a second time after producer David Shore was forced to return to writing duties on his hit medical drama "House M.D.".

Shore had planned to script and produce a rejuvenated "Rockford Files", which originally starred James Garner as private investigator Jim Rockford, and was rumored to be in talks to sign up "Lost" hunk Josh Holloway for the lead role.

Gwyneth Paltrow has given fans a glimpse into her daily routine in a bid to advise other working mothers on how to juggle their jobs with family life. The Hollywood actress has two children, Apple and Moses, with her rocker husband Chris Martin, and she has addressed the topic of parenthood in her latest Goop.com lifestyle newsletter.

In a lengthy essay about a day in her life, Paltrow goes into detail about her routine of taking the kids to school, working out and conducting press interviews, and gives tips to mums who find it difficult to find a balance between their professional and personal lives.

Sir Ian McKellen considered turning down his part in "The Hobbit" after beginning to question whether he wanted to make such a huge movie commitment at the age of 71. The British actor confirmed this week that he will be reprising his role as wizard Gandalf in the long-delayed "Lord of the Rings: prequel, which will be split into two films.

But McKellen reveals he thought about handing the job over to another actor so he could concentrate on theater roles while he is still fit enough to continue working. In a post on his official blog, he writes, "All I had to decide was what to do with the time that is given me. I'm 71 and fit: though at my age who knows what accident is 'round the next corner?' For a year or more, I have been arranging my professional commitments around the possibility of The Hobbit films starting at almost anytime..."

Rocker Sting and wife Trudie Styler have showcased their famously passionate relationship in a series of saucy shots for Harper's Bazaar magazine. The stars, who wed in 1992, have previously discussed their bedroom antics in detail, claiming they enjoy hours of Tantric sex.

They have further shown their lust for each other in a sexy photoshoot for the latest edition of the fashion bible, posing in a series of provocative pictures and talking about their "tawdry" love life. In one snap, Styler straddles the singer on a bed, while another shows the pair smooching as Sting puts his hand suggestively on the top of his wife's thigh.

Colin Firth has probably made the best of himself at the age of 50. Generating praise for his performance in "The King's Speech" which could land him an Oscar nod, the actor has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, January 13.

Colin's star is the 2,429th and is located in front of the Pig 'N Whistle pub on Hollywood Boulevard, right next to British actress Emma Thompson's. He was accompanied by wife Livia Giuggioli when receiving the star, crediting her for his achievement so far.

Mary J. Blige's 40th birthday party was an emotional affair - the singer broke down in tears after her husband organized a surprise performance from her idol Anita Baker. The "No More Drama" hitmaker celebrated the milestone on Tuesday, January 11, and was stunned to discover her husband Martin 'Kendu' Isaacs had planned a star-studded bash at New York's Skylight West that evening.

Blige's superstar pals Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles were in attendance at the desert-themed party, but the real shock came when Blige's longtime musical inspiration Baker started singing "Caught Up In the Rapture" for the birthday girl.

British rockers Muse were the big winners at the European Festival Awards on Wednesday, January 12, taking away the Best Headliner and Festival Anthem of the Year prizes. The awards celebrate the best of Europe's outdoor music events, and festival stalwarts Muse came out on top at the ceremony in Groningen, The Netherlands.

Their performances won them the Best Headliner honor, while the group's track "Uprising" was named Favorite Festival Anthem of 2010. Florence and the Machine scooped the Best Newcomer title at the prizegiving, while trophies were also handed out to organizers of Ireland's Oxegen festival, Poland's Heineken Open'er and Germany's Rolling Stone Weekender.

British singers Pixie Lott and Jamelia were forced to halt their birthday celebrations on Wednesday night, January 12 following a bomb threat in London's West End. Jamelia reached the age of 30 on Tuesday, January 11, while the "Mama Do" hitmaker turned 20 years old on Wednesday, and they both headed to Movida nightclub in the U.K. capital to mark the milestones.

However, the parties were abandoned when police were called to a store on nearby Regent Street after a man allegedly broke in and threatened to blow himself up. The singers and their guests were all evacuated from the club as the area was closed off, but Jamelia refused to let the incident ruin her night.

The rumors are true, Russell Hantz and Rob "Boston" Mariano are the two mystery cast to return to the latest "Survivor" edition. These two have appeared in the franchise more than once. Hantz, was the runner-up of "Samoa", and second runner-up of "Heroes vs. Villains". Boston finished 10th in "Marquesas", 13th in "Heroes vs. Villains" and 2nd in "All-Stars".

"Having never been awarded the title of Sole Survivor, Hantz and Mariano return to compete for the $1 million prize and one last shot at redemption," CBS said in a statement. "They will each join a separate tribe of all new castaways at the start of the game, but it is the tribe who will ultimately decide if they will welcome the knowledge of an experienced veteran, or view these former castaways as a threat."

R&B star Usher pulled out of a concert in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday night, January 12, after falling ill with a sinus infection. The "Yeah!" hitmaker was scheduled to perform at the city's O2 World venue, but scrapped the gig at the last minute after he was diagnosed with a paranasal sinus infection, according to local reports.

Usher has rescheduled the show for Thursday, January 13 and taken to his Twitter.com page to apologize to fans. In a series of posts on the microblogging site, the star writes, "I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show."

Busty beauty Dita Von Teese was forced to cover up for her guest appearance on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" - because TV executives feared viewers would find her cleavage "offensive". The star plays a shy teacher with a secret life as a stripper, called Rita Von Squeeze, in a new episode, due to air in the U.S. next week, January 20.

Von Teese has now revealed show bosses asked her to tone down her usual raunchy look to avoid upsetting viewers. She tells America's TV Guide, "There was a lot of network talk about my 'offensive cleavage', which I found interesting considering how much blood and gore there is."

Model/actress Devon Aoki is pregnant with her first child. The "Sin City" star became engaged to her boyfriend James Bailey over the summer and the pair was delighted to discover they are set to become parents later this year.

A representative for Aoki tells the New York Post's gossip column PageSix, "Devon and James are extremely happy. They became engaged over the summer, and she has just found out she is pregnant." The 28 year old is now planning to take time off from her busy schedule to prepare herself for motherhood.

Boxing legend Micky Ward has abandoned promotional duties for biopic "The Fighter" after his mother suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday, January 12, according to a U.S. report. Mark Wahlberg brings the real life story of the former world champion to the big screen in the new picture, which has won rave reviews and a number of high profile awards nominations.

Ward has been helping Wahlberg promote the film, but the fighter has halted his appearances after his mother fell seriously ill in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe reports Alice Ward, played by Melissa Leo in the movie, was placed on life support in hospital after she stopped breathing - but has now regained consciousness and is speaking to her loved ones.

Legendary R&B star Etta James is gravely ill and is battling leukaemia. The 72-year-old icon has suffered from Alzheimer's disease since 2009, but her health problems have worsened and new court papers reveal she is currently undergoing cancer treatment. It is not known when she was diagnosed with the latest ailment.

The cancer revelation came to light in legal documents filed by her husband of 41 years, Artis Mills, who has asked a California judge to grant him control of her finances. Mills claims the "At Last" singer is gravely ill and has become too sick to manage her own money.

Backstreet Boys' pop comeback has hit a stumbling block - singer A.J. McLean has reportedly returned to rehab to conquer his drug and alcohol demons once and for all. The singer has battled addiction for years and enrolled in treatment program in both 2001 and 2002 for alcohol and cocaine abuse.

But a source tells TMZ.com McLean has struggled with sobriety in recent months and is now "out of control", threatening to derail the group's plans to hit the road for their upcoming joint tour with New Kids On The Block. A spokesperson for the singer had yet to comment on the report as WENN went to press.

Sony has released the first official picture of untitled Spider-Man Reboot which is currently in production. Answering fans' curiosity, the photo shows Andrew Garfield who portrays the titular character in Spider-Man costume. Battered and messy, the depicter of Peter Parker is also seen carrying a bag which highlights his status as high school student.

The suit, as can be seen in the image, has been designed to be different than the one worn by Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" trilogy. Those changes include the spider symbol on the chest and the material used. It additionally presents Garfield with slender physique than Maguire's.

Justin Bieber was hospitalized in Burbank, California on Wednesday, January 12 night after suffering an allergic reaction on the set of TV drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". The pop star was wrapping up a day on the set, where he was reprising his role as troubled teen Jason McCann, when he experienced breathing problems and was taken to Providence St. Joseph's Hospital.

Sources tell Life & Style magazine Bieber met his doctor at the hospital, where he was treated and discharged 30 minutes later. A representative for the Baby singer has confirmed the hospital visit, telling the publication, "He's fine now and back on set."

"Hellboy" star Selma Blair is pregnant with her first child, according to U.S. reports. Fashion designer Jason Bleick, the actress' boyfriend of less than a year, is the father.

A source tells Star magazine, "Selma and Jason are ecstatic. It's still early on but they have started telling family members and close friends. Selma never thought she could be this happy. Her life right now is a dream come true!"

Taylor Swift asks for forgiveness from her ex-boyfriend in "Back to December" music video directed by Yoann Lemoine. The poor boy braves the cold weather and looks frustrated as he wanders through snowy landscapes. Despite staying in her cozy home, she is freezing along with him as snowflakes fall inside the house.

"So this is me swallowing my pride/ Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night/ And I'd go back to December all the time/ It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you/ Wishing that I'd realized what I had when you were mine," she sings about how sorry she was for what she did to him.