Keira Knightley Opens Up About 2007 Hiatus

Keira Knightley Opens Up About 2007 Hiatus

Actress Keira Knightley has opened up about her decision to take a hiatus after filming The Duchess in 2007, revealing she reached a breaking point with the paparazzi and needed to step back from the spotlight to protect her image.
The 27 year old's popularity surged after taking on a leading role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and she was constantly followed by snappers, who turned her private life into a living hell.
Knightley reveals she grew so tired of the press watching her every move, she packed a suitcase and went on a railway tour across Europe for nine months.
She tells fastmazaa.blogspot.com, "There was a time when the price of photographs were going up for (famous) women in any state of undress or mental turmoil or anything. The men who get paid for taking these pictures were getting incredibly hostile - nearly violent - and we're talking about packs of about 20 of them, shouting at me, spitting at me, trying to pick fights with every guy you're out with, in order to produce a picture and get a lot of money.
"And it was getting particularly nasty. The price of everybody's head was going up. Some people went the legal route. And I ran... I'd hit a wall and needed to step back in order to learn the things I needed to learn."
And the actress insists she enjoyed her time away from the spotlight: "(I) looked out of windows. Read a lot of books."

Ian Mckellen To Receive Honorary Doctorate From Irish University

Ian Mckellen To Receive Honorary Doctorate From Irish University

Sir Ian Mckellen is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Ulster in Ireland.
The Lord of the Rings icon will be made a doctor of letters for his services to acting, and he will have an old pal on hand to help celebrate his win - his co-star in the highly-anticipated The Hobbit movies, James Nesbitt, serves as the school's chancellor.
The veteran star will also step up to the podium in February (13) to deliver a speech to students at the university's Magee campus.
University pro-vice chancellor Professor Deirdre Heenan says, "The university is delighted to recognise an actor of Sir Ian's standing with an honorary doctorate and that he has also agreed to deliver next year's Chancellor's lecture."

John Lithgow Prepped Son For Off-broadway Debut

John Lithgow Prepped Son For Off-broadway Debut

Tony Award winner John Lithgow's son is following in his father's footsteps after signing up to star in a new Off-Broadway play.
Ian Lithgow leads the cast of new family drama The Outgoing Tide at New York City's 59E59 Theater and the Harvard University graduate reveals his dad helped him prepare for the part.
He tells the New York Post, "Back aways my father did theatre all the time, and for me it was playtime. I soaked it all in and hung out backstage with the crew, playing cards and (word board game) Scrabble.
"My father and I ran lines together. I held the book for him."
But it's unlikely his proud father will get a chance to catch his son in action - he is currently onstage in London in a production of Sir Arthur Wing Pinero's The Magistrate, which runs until January (13).
Ian adds, "Unfortunately, he's in England so he hasn't seen the play."

Ed Burns Contemplating Bar Venture

Ed Burns Contemplating Bar Venture

Actor and moviemaker Ed Burns is contemplating becoming a bar owner - so he will always have an easy location shoot for his films.
The Brothers MCMullen director and star's character owns a bar in his latest film, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, and he admits it sparked an idea.
Burns tells Wenn, "I'm thinking I should become a bar owner for no other reason than to use for locations for my movies.
"I've thought about it for years but I've never got around to exploring what that would take. It's enough work trying to write and direct and mount one of these films every year that I'm afraid becoming the owner of a bar would probably become a distraction."
If he was to follow his dream, Burns wouldn't be the only star to take over a bar - Channing Tatum recently opened Saints & Sinners in New Orleans, Jay Z owns New York bar and club 40/40 and Sex & The City star Chris Noth is set to re-open his Cutting Room bar in the Big Apple in the coming months.

Angus T. Jones apologises

Angus T. Jones apologises

Angus T. Jones has released a statement in which he praises the cast of and crew of 'Two And A Half Men', just days after he slammed the show as ''filth''.

Angus T. Jones is ''grateful for the extraordinary opportunity'' to star in 'Two And A Half Men'.

The 19-year-old actor - who recently filmed a video urging people not to watch the show because it goes against his religious beliefs - released a statement to apologise to the cast and crew if he offended them.

In the statement released to gossip website Fastmazaa.blogspot.com , he said: ''I have been the subject of much discussion, speculation and commentary over the past 24 hours.

While I cannot address everything that has been said or right every misstatement or misunderstanding, there is one thing I want to make clear. Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and Half Men with whom I have worked and over the past ten years who have become an extension of my family.

''Chuck Lorre, Peter Roth and many others at Warner Bros. and CBS are responsible for what has been one of the most significant experiences in my life to date. I thank them for the opportunity they have given and continue to give me and the help and guidance I have and expect to continue to receive from them.

''I also want all of the crew and cast on our show to know how much I personally care for them and appreciate their support, guidance and love over the years. I grew up around them and know that the time they spent with me was in many instances more than with their own families. I learned life lessons from so many of them and will never forget how much positive impact they have had on my life.

''I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that (sic).''

It is believed Angus' role on the show is safe despite the outburst in a video to promote Forerunner Christian Church which where he called 'Two And A Half Men' ''filth''.

Elizabeth Hurley gets swimwear line advice from Shane

Actress-and-model Elizabeth Hurley consults her cricketer fiance Shane Warne on her swim wear collection.
Elizabeth Hurley's fiancé Shane Warne contributes to her swimwear line.
The actress-and-model consults the Australian cricketer on her luxury beachwear collection and says he gives her confidence to model the line.
She told Fastmazaa : ''I always ask Shane for his opinion on the colours and prints and always take them on board. The first time I went to stay with him in Australia must have been an eye opener as I arrived with a suitcase of Lycra and silk swatches and covered his entire drawing room with them.''
Elizabeth, 47, added Shane is ''terrific'' at encouraging her to model the skimpy outfits herself.
She said: ''Shane is terrific at making me feel good about myself and is extremely supportive in every way.''
The 'Bedazzled' star feels her latest collection is bolder and has pieces for women of all shapes and sizes.
She said: ''We have used more prints and more bright colours in this collection. We've already virtually sold out of everything purple and our peacock print has also been a best seller. I'm in love with purple - whether it's in the home or in fashion - and am glad that others seem to agree.
''We have itsy-bitsy bikinis as well as great cover-ups and one-pieces. We're very mindful of the fact that most of us have areas we want to minimise, so we have plenty of kaftans and sarongs that cover your bottom, your arms and your tummy.''

Katie Holmes spending Christmas with Suri Cruise

Katie Holmes has agreed with her ex-husband Tom Cruise that their daughter Suri Cruise will spend Christmas with her after she spent Thanks giving with him in London
Katie Holmes will reportedly spend Christmas with Suri Cruise and her own family.
The 'Dead Accounts' Broadway star - who split from 'Mission Impossible' actor Tom Cruise in June after six years of marriage and has sole custody of their six-year-old daughter - is said to have agreed that Suri will spend the festive season with her after she spent Thanksgiving with him in London last week.
A source told the Fastmazaa : ''Katie and Tom are focused on Suri and as part of their divorce agreement, Suri will spend Christmas with Katie.
''They are trying to be amicable and Tom will see Suri over the holidays - but on Christmas, Suri will be with Katie and her family.''
The little girl was spotted back at her New York school yesterday (26.11.12) after spending last week in England with Tom, who has been shooting a movie there and prior to last week's visit hadn't seen her for three months.
A source told the Fastmazaa that Tom hired four guards to protect Suri and treated her to a day at the Harry Potter World theme park in Hertfordshire on Friday (23.11.12).
Katie, 33, spent the holiday with her own family in her native Ohio.
She previously opened up about her plans, saying: ''We have Thursday off, so I'm going to have a chance to go home with my family.
''My sister makes a really good sausage stuffing and my mom makes a great turkey. Many years ago, my dad started this tradition where we all do this run in the local park.
''It's a three mile run called the Turkey Trot. There's even a prize, which I haven't won yet. But it's really fun.''