BBC.CNN WORLD NEWS
Showing posts with label celebrity news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrity news. Show all posts

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Celebrity personal trainer threw herself from Beachy Head cliffs after losing job and having problems with girlfriend

Celebrity personal trainer threw herself from Beachy Head cliffs
Tragic suicide: Angie Dowds was a health guru on ITV show The Biggest Loser
A celebrity personal trainer jumped off Beachy Head after losing her job and having problems with her girlfriend, an inquest heard yesterday.

Angie Dowds, 42, sent a text in her final moments at the notorious Sussex suicide spot saying: 'My heart is broken; my spirit is broken'.

At the time of her death last November, presenter Davina McCall, who she appeared on hit ITV show The Biggest Loser with, led tributes to her.

She said: 'Rest in peace Angie Dowds. So so sad.'

The inquest heard that Miss Dowds had drinks and drugs in her system, a combination described as 'severely toxic', when she threw herself off the cliff.

Her GP said she had experienced ongoing addictions to alcohol and drugs and had taken overdoses and made a number of suicide threats in the past.

The award-winning fitness guru had contact with mental health services and had refused treatment at one point.

After her death, it was revealed that local health services had neglected to book an outpatient's appointment for her after she declined treatment.

It was put down to an 'administrative error' initially, but a 'serious untoward incident' inquiry has since begun into what happened.

Yesterday, her brother Kevin Dowds accused doctors of letting down his younger sister.

He said: 'I feel she's been failed. Letting her decide whether she continues with mental health doesn't seem appropriate to me.'

He also vowed to further investigate the failure to book the appointment.

In the days and weeks prior to her death, Miss Dowds told friends and family she was worried about having lost her job.

She was also concerned about where to live as she did not intend to continue living with her girlfriend Edwina Benson, with whom she was having 'troubles'.

Miss Dowds had a meeting with a housing officer to discuss where to live and had also discussed claiming benefits.

Her girlfriend Miss Benson, an administrator at a primary school, said that she exchanged texts with her shortly before she jumped.

Miss Dowds sent a series of heartbreaking texts to her partner, including one saying: 'My heart's broken; my spirit's broken'.

She added: 'On your head be it' and 'I'll be at peace very soon.'

Miss Benson then called the police after her partner revealed she was at Beachy Head.

Miss Dowds' body was discovered hours later.

Catherine Palmer, assistant deputy coroner for East Sussex, returned a verdict of suicide.


News by Mashable

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Disco Queen Donna Summer dies at 63

Disco singer Donna Summer dead
Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco
NEW YORK (AP) -- Like the King of Pop or the Queen of Soul, Donna Summer was bestowed a title fitting of musical royalty - the Queen of Disco.

Yet unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was a designation she wasn't comfortable embracing.

"I grew up on rock `n' roll," Summer once said when explaining her reluctance to claim the title.

Indeed, as disco boomed then crashed in a single decade in the 1970s, Summer, the beautiful voice and face of the genre with pulsating hits like "I Feel Love," "Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance," would continue to make hits incorporating the rock roots she so loved. One of her biggest hits, "She Works Hard for the Money," came in the early 1980s and relied on a smoldering guitar solo as well as Summer's booming voice.

Yet it was with her disco anthems that she would have the most impact in music, and it's how she was remembered Thursday as news spread of her death at age 63.

Summer died of cancer Thursday morning in Naples, Fla., said her publicist Brian Edwards. Her family released a statement saying they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy."

Luminaries from Aretha Franklin to Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand mourned the loss, as did President Barack Obama, who said he and Michelle were saddened to hear of the passing of the five-time Grammy winner. "Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna's family and her dedicated fans."

It had been decades since that brief, flashy moment when Summer was every inch the Disco Queen.

Her glittery gowns and long eyelashes. Her luxurious hair and glossy, open lips. Her sultry vocals, her bedroom moans and sighs. She was as much a part of the culture as disco balls, polyester, platform shoes and the music's pulsing, pounding rhythms.

Summer's music gave voice to not only a musical revolution, but a cultural one - a time when sex, race, fashion and drugs were being explored and exploited with freedom like never before in the United States.

Her rise was inseparable from disco's itself, even though she remained popular for years after the genre she helped invent had died. She won a Grammy for best rock vocal performance for "Hot Stuff," a fiery guitar-based song that represented her shift from disco to more rock-based sounds, and created another kind of anthem with "She Works Hard for the Money," this time for women's rights.

Elton John said in a statement that Summer was more than the Queen of Disco.

"Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock `n' Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted," he said. "She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly."

Summer may not have liked the title and later became a born-again Christian, but many remembered her best for her early years, starting with the sinful "Love to Love You Baby."

Released in 1975, a breakthrough hit for Summer and for disco, it was a legend of studio ecstasy and the genre's ultimate sexual anthem. Summer came up with the idea of the song and first recorded it as a demo in 1975, on the condition that another singer perform it commercially. But Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart liked the track so much that he suggested to producer Giorgio Moroder they re-record it, and make it longer - what would come to be known as a "disco disc."

Summer had reservations about the lyrics - "Do it to me again and again" - but imagined herself as a movie star playing a part as if she were Marilyn Monroe. So she agreed to sing, lying down on the studio floor, in darkness, and letting her imagination take over. Solo and multitracked, she whispered, she groaned, she crooned. Drums, bass, strings and keyboards answered her cries. She simulated climax so many times that the BBC kept count: 23, in 17 minutes.

What started as a scandal became a classic. The song was later sampled by LL Cool J, Timbaland and Beyonce, who interpolated the hit for her jam "Naughty Girl." It was also Summer's U.S. chart debut and the first of 19 No. 1 dance hits between 1975 and 2008 - second only to Madonna.

Summer, real name LaDonna Adrian Gaines, was born in 1948 in Boston. She was raised on gospel music and became the soloist in her church choir by age 10.

"There was no question I would be a singer, I just always knew. I had credit in my neighborhood, people would lend me money and tell me to pay it back when I got famous," Summer said in a 1989 interview with The Associated Press.

Before disco, she had already reinvented herself several times. She sang Motown songs with local groups in Boston as a teenager, then dropped out of school in the late 1960s and switched to pyschedelic rock after hearing Janis Joplin. An attempt to get a part in the musical "Hair" led her to get the principal role in Munich. She stayed in Germany for five years, worked in other productions and modeled.

Meanwhile, she was performing in operas, singing backup for Three Dog Night and other groups and releasing songs of her own. A marriage to Helmuth Sommer didn't last, but the singer did hold on to her ex-husband's last name, changing it to "Summer." By 1974, she had met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and released her first album, "Lady of the Night," to success in Europe.

Then came "Love to Love You Baby," her memorable U.S. debut. Through the rest of the disco era she burned up the charts: She was the only artist to have three consecutive double-LPs hit No. 1, "Live and More," "Bad Girls" and "On the Radio." She was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in a 13-month period, according to the Rock Hall of Fame, where she was a nominee this year but was passed over.

Musically, she began to change in 1979 with "Hot Stuff," which had a tough, rock `n' roll beat. Her diverse sound helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.

Summer said grew up on rock `n' roll and later covered the Bruce Springsteen song "Protection."

"I like the Moody Blues, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as well as Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, the Supremes and Temptations," she said. "I didn't know many white kids who didn't know the Supremes; I don't know many black kids who don't know the Moody Blues."

Warwick said in a statement that she was sad to lose a great performer and "dear friend."

"My heart goes out to her husband and her children," Warwick said. "Prayers will be said to keep them strong."

Summer later became a born-again Christian and was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic - a particular problem for a woman who was and remains a gay icon. Summer denied making the comments, but became the target of a boycott.

Religion played an important role in her later life, said Michael Levine, who briefly worked as her publicist.

"Her passion in her life, besides music, was God, spirituality and religion. She held a bible study class at her home every week," he said.

Summer released her last album, "Crayons," in 2008. It was her first full studio album in 17 years. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants.

Summer is survived by her husband, Bruce Sudano, and three daughters, Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda.


News by AP

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Is Prince Harry back with lingerie model Florence Brudenell-Bruce?

prince harry
Prince Harry and model Florence Brudenell-Bruce
After swinging back into London town for the Christmas break it seems Prince Harry has been meeting up with some old acquaintances.

The young royal has reportedly rekindled his relationship with lingerie model Florence Brudenell-Bruce whom he broke up with in August this year.

According to Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, the couple have been spending some intimate time together.

Spencer claimed to The People newspaper that he knows 25-year-old Florence well and has heard that she and the prince are still romantically linked.

He told the newspaper: 'I know Flee quite well and from what I've heard there's still something going on.

The reality TV star continued: 'She and Harry have enjoyed a few nights in together with a DVD on the sofa - stuff we all do.'

The blonde haired model features on the front cover of this month's Tatler and speaks about her brief dalliance with the 27-year-old prince.

She explained that she found the public attention quite 'full on' and that had dies down since they stopped seeing each other.

In her first interview since the split Florence, who grew up in Fulham, south-west London, revealed that she is keen to pursue a different career as 'one day everything will drop and I won’t be able to earn my living in a bikini.'

In the shoot she swaps her standard converse and skinny jeans for some feminine designs, featuring sheer fabrics and flattering cuts, with her long blonde hair naturally styled.

Prince Harry ended his short romance with Flee after just two months and sources revealed that the prince just didn't want to be 'tied down'.

Miss Brudenell-Bruce, who used to go out with Formula 1's Jenson Button, is said to have been visited by Harry at her father's £2.5million home in Notting Hill, West London.

News by Dailymail




Saturday, December 17, 2011

Chloe Green shows off her curves in a black bikini

sexy girls
Chloe Green
Her father is known for his rotund appearance but that clearly isn't something that runs in the family.

Chloe Green hit the beach today in a revealing bikini that showed off her enviable body.

The 20-year-old wore a black strapless bikini and had her hair in a long single plait before tying it up into a loose bun.

It wasn't long ago that she was surrounded by her new best friends on reality show Made In Chelsea.

The multi-billion pound heiress is in Barbados for her annual Christmas trip to the island.

The former reality TV star didn't seem to mind being on her own but didn't venture very far into the sea and only got her legs wet.

Chloe, who previously dated Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke, was on the same beach this time last year.

With no family or friends in sight the budding fashion designer splashed in the waves by herself.

She kept all of her jewellery on including a necklace, earrings and a large silver watch.

Chloe must like all things nautical as her bikini revealed a tattoo in the shape of an anchor.

The design sits on her right hip and is an indication that she enjoys spending time in the sea.

Unfortunately for Miss Green her sunny escape hadn't gotten off to the best start as the Caribbean weather turned sour.

She tweeted: 'So nice to be away! Can't believe it raining :( just my luck luckily its just day 1 #christmasholiday XXX (sic).'

Her mood changed later in the day however when she posted: 'Sun is out so happy!! Xxx.'

The Green family usually spend the Christmas and New Year period at the five-star Sandy Lane Hotel in a $25,000-a-night villa.

Along with annual Christmas visitors Simon Cowell and Michael Winner, other celebrity guests who have spent Christmas on the island include Gary Lineker, The Sugababes and Rihanna.

News by Dailymail

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

'Strong is the new sexy': Fitness guru Jennifer Nicole Lee shows off her muscular physique on the beach

Jennifer Nicole Lee
Jennifer Nicole Lee
Jennifer Nicole Lee is once again intent on sending out her inspirational fitness messages.

And she was doing it the best way she knows how today, by flaunting her extremely toned and tanned figure in very little.

The 36-year-old raised temperatures in Miami by slipping into a pair of red bikini bottoms.

And instead of wearing the matching top, she pulled on a white cropped vest instead, with the words 'Strong is the new sexy' emblazoned across the chest.

The attire left little to the imagination, mostly due to the fact it was see-through, especially after getting drenched from the sea water.

Not content with just relaxing on the sand, Jennifer indulged in some fitness moves, stretching out in a back-bend.

Later she washed off the sand by stepping under an outdoor shower alongside other beachgoers.

The fitness model is no stranger to attention grabbing and skimpy attire.

Earlier this week she slipped on a very small metallic bikini to go for a ride on a green bike.

Maneuvering her mode of fitness transport along the boardwalk, she wore the swimsuit and a pair of sandals and nothing else.

News by Dailymail




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Who wore it better? Bikini battle as Lindsay Lohan slips into same two-piece modelled by Victoria's Secret beauty Maryna Linchuk

Maryna Linchuk
Maryna Linchuk


Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Over the weekend she caused waves as she hit the Hawaii surf, spilling out of a skimpy bikini.

But Lindsay Lohan could have just been wiped out.

Step forward Victoria's Secret beauty Maryna Linchuk who - at a year younger than 25-year-old Lohan - modelled the very same two-piece first.

The Eastern European beauty - born in landlocked Belarus - is seen here parading her killer figure in the $50 electric leopard print design in an ad campaign for the lingerie firm.

Lohan was spotted in the bathing attire during her short stay in Hawaii where she was holidaying with sister Ali.

Maryna, meanwhile, is building quite a portfolio for herself, having walked the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the past four years now.

She has also featured in campaigns for Versace, Donna Karan, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gap and H&M among others.

The Belarusian fashion model has also made the covers of Italian and Portuguese Vogue while Vogue Paris declared her as one of the top 30 models of the 2000s.

News by Dailymail


Sunday, December 04, 2011

Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, Arrested On Drunk Driving Charges

miss usa 2010
Rima Fakih, Miss USA of 2010
From the moment she received her Miss USA crown, Rima Fakih has been embroiled in controversies.

She initially grabbed headlines in 2010 when she became one of the only, if not the first, Arab American and Muslim to win the Miss U.S. crown. Hailing from Michigan since 2003, Fakih is a Lebanese immigrant who moved here when she was a baby and celebrates both Muslim and Christian faiths.

But despite the feel-good nature of her 2010 win, Fakih got caught up in scandal after scandal -- including a new one just last night.

TMZ reports that the beauty queen was arrested in Highland Park, Michigan on Saturday for suspicion of drunk driving. Fakih tried to deny the incident initially, tweeting on Saturday, "Let's clear things up now.... I'm NOT in Michigan and I'm NOT in jail! Wrong Fakih."

But Doraid Elder, her attorney, told the Detroit Free Press, "Unfortunately she was." The tweet has since disappeared and Elder commented that Fakih is "very saddened and very apologetic for the situation that she is in right now."

We should say so, given the trouble she's gotten in before. Just the day after winning the Miss USA title, Rima was exposed as a former pole dancer by radio show MojoInTheMorning.com, which posted photos of the pageant winner participating in the "Stripper 101" contest at a Detroit gentlemen's club three years earlier. She later came under fire for some late-night partying, which doesn't seem like a big deal to us but had some critics wagging their fingers.

Now she's actually gotten into trouble with the law. But her lawyer tells the Detroit Free Press that the arrest was based merely on "allegations." Further investigation by the Highland Park police will happen tomorrow.

In the meantime, take a look at the pure, unblemished moment in time when Rima Fakih won her Miss U.S. crown. 

News by AOL


Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Hope Solo says DWTS told her she ‘had too much muscle’

hope solo
Hope Solo
Coming off the high of last summer's second-place finish at the Women's World Cup, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy made it to the semi-finals of televised celebrity ballroom dancing spectacle Dancing with the Stars before being eliminated.

Between gossip mongers pushing stories of problems between Solo and Chmerkovskiy and the show's judges upsetting the goalkeeper with their harsh critiques early on in the competition, it was clear that this wasn't always a fun experience for Solo even before it was over. But in her first interview since the end of the competition, Hope said that the show's criticisms of her ran deeper than opinions on dance technique. She told Anderson Cooper:

    "I was told I had too much muscle and I was too intense and wasn't very dainty. Well, hello -- you cast a female professional athlete. Help me get better as a dancer. There's no hard feelings at all. I understand that it's television."

Six of the show's 13 winners have been athletes, but only two of those winners have been female athletes: Kristi Yamaguchi and Shawn Johnson. And the figure skater and Olympic gymnast are much more in line with the judges' narrow vision for "dainty" female dancers than the 5'9" shot stopper, who recently showed off her impressive form in ESPN The Magazine body (read: naked) issue. However, in season four of the show, former boxer Laila Ali (who is 5'10") was also paired with Chmerkovskiy, finished third in the competition and received the first perfect "10" from judge Len Goodman for their rumba dance.

It does seem Solo has calmed down a bit since her reaction to the judging of her final performances got her branded as a "sore loser," though. From People:

    In a video recap of Monday's performances, Solo, 30, complained about her scores: "Sevens? The same thing I got in week one. Kiss my booty," she said, adding, "The scores at this point, the judges at this point mean nothing." The pair were also heard swearing about the judges as they awaited their second set of scores: "F——— 'em," they said, with Solo also tossing in that she didn't even want to look at the panel.

Solo also told Cooper that she was "a little naive" going into the "reality show." It sounds like the same (as well as a few other choice words Hope already used) can be said for the show's producers.

News by Yahoo



Friday, November 18, 2011

Demi Moore announced that she divorced from Ashton Kutcher

demi moore
Demi Moore
AFP - U.S. actress Demi Moore has put a formal end to her marriage to Ashton Kutcher, after weeks of rumors that the actor had cheated on his wife last September, the day of their sixth wedding anniversary. "It is with great sorrow and heavy heart that I decided to end my marriage to Ashton," says the actress of 49 years in a statement. "As a wife, mother and wife, there are certain values ​​that I consider sacred, and in this spirit that I take the decision to move forward independently," she adds.

A few minutes after the announcement, Ashton Kutcher released a message on Twitter: "I will cherish forever the time spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the hardest things on earth, and unfortunately sometimes it fails." The actor of 33 years just to replace Charlie Sheen in the TV series hit "My Uncle Charlie" is known to be the first person to have more than one million subscribers on Twitter. It has 8.36 million today. In other words, his reaction did not leave the canvas with marble. Between messages of support and disapproval, several hundred people had already responded to tweet just two hours after its publication.

Contrary to his habits, Demi Moore was in turn published anything about him entitled "@ mrskutcher". The actress is known for her roles in movies "Ghost" (1990), "A Few Good Men" (1992), "Indecent Proposal" (1993) and "A level playing field" in 1997. Rumors of the couple's separation had inflamed after Ashton Kutcher had been suspected of having had a relationship with Sara Leal, a blonde Texan, 22, during a trip with friends last September. The girl said later that Kutcher told him not to be related to his wife.

He is known for his appearances on television and for his roles in major productions cinema as "What happens in Vegas" (2008) or "it is not binding" most recently with Natalie Portman.

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Friday, November 11, 2011

Madonna angry over new song leak

Madonna
Madonna

Madonna's manager says the singer is "very upset" after a demo of her new song Give Me All Your Love was leaked online.

The song, which hit the web on Wednesday and has been listened to by fans around the world, is expected to be the debut track from Madonna's upcoming album, her first studio release since leaving Warner Bros to join Live Nation.

"Madonna told me this morning 'my true fans wouldn't do this' ... whoever is responsible for this leak, we ask that you please stop!" manager Guy Oseary wrote via Twitter.

"Im very happy with the positive reaction to the demo, but we are very upset with whoever leaked the song!!!!!!!!" he added.

Addressing questions tweeted by fans, Oseary said the new album should be finished "in the next month or so", and that it did not yet have a title.

He added that the 53-year-old star, whose hits include Like a Virgin, Vogue and Hung Up, had penned a "beautiful ballad" for her upcoming movie W.E.

The picture, Madonna's second feature film as director, follows the life of Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee whose relationship with King Edward VIII sparked a constitutional crisis in Britain and led to his abdication.

The film, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, hits US theatres in December.

Madonna's new record will be her first studio album since 2008's Hard Candy, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.

In 2007, Madonna dropped her long-time music label Warner Bros and signed a deal with concert promoter Live Nation - reported to be for 10 years and worth $US120 million.

The deal, part of a recent trend in the struggling music industry, involved not only record sales, but also touring and merchandising.

News by ABC


Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com



Jackson's death bed on auction

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's death bed will go under the hammer, along with other personal items from the LA mansion where he died, the auctioneer behind the sale said.

The sell-off, which comes after doctor Conrad Murray was convicted this week over Jackson's 2009 death, also includes a kitchen chalkboard note by one of his children, reading "I (heart) Daddy!"

Auction house chief Darren Julien said he preferred not to highlight the morbid aspect of the sale, which involves the contents of the mansion in the plush Holmby Hills area of LA where Jackson died on June 25, 2009.

"It includes all the items that surrounded him and his family in the last part of his life," he said, adding: "It's the first time that items like this, fine decorative art, have been sold that's associated with him."

As well as the bed and crime scene photos which were shown during Murray's six-week trial, complete with medical paraphernalia, the sale will also include a mirror from Jackson's private bathroom.

On the mirror, the star had written "March, April" and then "May - Full on" - an apparent reference to the gruelling rehearsals he was attending in early 2009 for a series of comeback concerts in London.

From the kitchen there is the chalkboard note saying "I (heart) daddy," and one saying "Hugs are for free," while auctioneers recently found a candle that Jackson's son Prince carved his name into.

A bench from the shower in Jackson's private bathroom has stick figures etched into it.

"We know this from when we cleared out Neverland, that Michael would draw and etch into furniture often," said Julien, referring to when Jackson left his infamous ranch in 2004 amid child molestations charges.

Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of anesthetic propofol at the LA mansion where the star was living while preparing for the ill-fated London shows.

Julien said he did not want the sale to dwell on Jackson's death.

"We ourselves are trying to stay away from the morbid side of it," he said, adding: "We would never do anything against the (Jackson) estate or the family."

A catalogue being prepared will be like a memento of the entire contents of the house.

"People haven't seen the inside of the house, other than some of the crime scene photographs," he said.

The auction of the contents of the mansion is scheduled to take place on December 17. Items will go on display when the house is "recreated" at the celebrity auctioneer's gallery on December 12.

News by ABC

Read current News at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Original 'Hulk' actor turning 60

Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno
Don't make him angry: The body-builder turned actor most famous for his role as "The Incredible Hulk" turns 60 on November 9. The Brooklyn-born muscleman first appeared on TV as the mad green monster back in 1978, and he's been going strong ever since.

The larger-than-life figure (he's 6-foot-5) first came to notice in the 1977 documentary "Pumping Iron," which follows the Mr. Olympia competition. The quiet, partially hard-of-hearing upstart attempts to unseat the reigning champ: charismatic, outgoing, confident Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ferrigno does not succeed, placing third.

The docudrama did lead to Ferrigno's show-business start on the small screen, and made Ah-nold a star.The bodybuilding king went on to movies and finally into politics as governor of California. Ferrigno became famous playing himself.

The muscular actor could be found in guest appearances as himself on the show "The King of Queens." The "Incredible Hulk" alum also had a cameo as a security guard in Ang Lee's CGI version of "Hulk" in 2003, and played himself in the comedy "I Love You Man." The guy can't get away from that original role: The actor will be voicing the part of the Hulk in the 2012 movie "The Avengers."

Ferrigno knows he's tied to the green fellow because of the fans. He said in an interview at the 2010 New York Comic Con, "Everybody just loves 'The Hulk.' They keep telling me they liked the original series better [than] they all liked the movies [with] the CGI or that kind of stuff." Maybe so, but no actor could match the bodybuilder's workout: At the age of 25, Ferrigno benched-pressed 560 pounds. Even at 50, he was still lifting 400 pounds.

The still-fit sexagenarian even served as Michael Jackson's trainer in the 1990s, as well as for his comeback tour in 2009. And watch for Ferrigno competing for a different kind of victory on next season's "Celebrity Apprentice."

Even at 60, Ferrigno is still hulking out.

News by Yahoo

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com





Robert Pattinson: 'I Am Living a Life I Didn't Know Existed'

robert pattinson
Robert Pattinson

Anna Kendrick’s character (Jessica) makes a witty toast where she calls Edward Cullen, "The Hair."

Until the world fell in love with the 25-year-old actor, people used to talk a lot about Robert Pattinson’s hair. Now, they talk about his star quality and his jump-through-the-screen charisma.

Pattinson talked to Parade.com about the long-awaited next chapter in the Twilight Saga, his steamy scenes with Kristen Stewart, and embracing old-fashioned romance.

It's not as romantic as it looks.

"We show romance in the bedroom and also in a nice ocean setting. It was impossible in the waves. We were trying to kiss each other and we misjudged the strength of the tide and so it was absolutely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do in my life. There were big waves and Kristen and I were standing on boxes tied down to the shore. God, it was absolutely impossible. One thing I have to say, we shot those scenes in the Caribbean, so the water was warm."

On Edward's sex appeal.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen a vampire movie where I think the vampires are attractive. OK, girls are sometimes kind of sexy, but guys end up looking worse than they do in their real life with the pale make-up and the fangs. I’ve watched True Blood and all those guys are great looking, but you put vampire make-up on them and they look less handsome on the show than they do in reality."

On his steamy scenes with Kristen Stewart.

"I think the more comfortable you are with each other, the harder it gets to do any kind of really intense relationship scene. You’re kind of thinking, 'I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of this person,' 'I know what she’s thinking now,' so it becomes ridiculous after awhile. Watching other people have sex is never going to be that spectacular anyway. It’s a strange thing when there’s so much hype about it. You are like, 'God, I hope this lives up to it.' The toughest part was avoiding an R-rating. It’s funny when people talk about the sex scenes in the book because there are no sex scenes in the book. Go back and read. They always fade to black."

On his impressive six-pack.

"There are so many descriptions in the book of Edward’s statuesque body — it’s all made of marble, blah blah blah. I managed to get through the entire series without taking my shirt off the whole time. I was like, ‘Nah, I’m not taking it off ever, and I’m not working out!’ Then, when we did Breaking Dawn, I thought, ‘It’s the last one, I might as well.’ So I kind of worked out to bulk up a little for those scenes with my shirt off. I stopped literally the day afterwards. I find it very boring to work out."

The spotlight wasn't on him during the big wedding scene.

"The majority of guys who are getting married would have the same experience that I did, which is that you’re just standing there waiting at the altar. It’s not about you at all. Kristen has to do all the heavy lifting. She’s having to go through everything walking down the aisle, and I’m just standing there, ‘You look really good! Let’s get married! Cool!’ It was quite simple for me."

When it comes to love and marriage, just call him old-fashioned.

"I guess I must be because everyone is always telling me that Edward is kind of old-fashioned, but I always see him as fairly normal. I mean, he just knows what he wants. He’s in love with someone and he just likes the idea of getting married to them. I guess I kind of agree with that."

On becoming a daddy.

"Nobody really knows how to be a father, there’s no way to prepare for it. But it’s quite easy to play in a film when you are holding a baby. The little person is crying in your arms and you end up being very careful. When you portraying a father, you can kind of avoid all the annoying parts of having a kid because there’s someone else to take care of it."

On Twilight coming to an end.

"The one time we filmed in nice weather was literally the last day of production. Kristen and I were on the beach and just making out all night. That’s not too bad. It was just the two of us and it was really nice. Everybody stayed to watch the sunrise, which was really beautiful. It was a nice ending."

As for the future.

"I feel like I’ve kind of been in a whirlwind for so long, even though I’ve done other movies in between. Whenever you promote something, they always want you to talk about Twilight, so it’s kind of constant. I am living a life which I didn’t really know existed. You can kind of delay being an adult for quite a while."

News by Yahoo



Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com


Monday, November 07, 2011

Taylor Swift Before She Was Famous: Not Too Different From The Girl You Know Today

taylor swift
Taylor Swift
It's hard to believe that Taylor Swift--the world-dominating superstar who's currently up for entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards this week--wasn't always, well, Taylor Swift.

It's true, the 21-year-old singer has spent a mind-boggling third of her short life in the spotlight, so it's easy to forget that her fairy-tale story had to start somewhere. For Swift, we have to go all the way back to her preteen years to dig up the days before anyone knew who she was.

Swift's narrative tunes such as "Mean" hint at an outcast childhood growing up in Pennsylvania.  "I had a lot of trouble in school," she told us back in 2006. "I was different."

She managed to take control of her destiny with rapid efficiency, though, singing in public by the age of 11 and learning to play guitar at 12. From there she caught the eye of Britney Spears's manager while performing the National Anthem at the U.S. Open, signed a publishing deal at age 14, and followed that shortly after with a Nashville record deal. So, as one might imagine, not much pre-fame documentation exists of Swift--simply due to her early ascent to the spotlight.

What is out there, however, proves a startling fact. The Swift we know now really isn't too much different from the girl she was back then.

Here's a few points to consider:

1) Swift has kept a standard "look" which has not varied over the years--most notably (and unusually for a teenager) she seems to have never messed around with her hairstyle. Swift's signature towhead curls can be seen all the way back to her earlier days in vintage family footage. Whether pulled back or left loose about her face, long and blond rules year after year.

2) Swift's fashion sense has remained stable as well. Her frocks and shoes may now be on the high-end designer side--but flirty, feminine styles with a slight bohemian edge have consistently defined her style.

3) Although she's now legally an adult, Swift still has not seemed to grow out of her adolescent heart-on-the-sleeve personality that has fueled tens of millions of album sales in less than a decade. Back in 2004, she told Good Morning America, "When I go through something, I have to write a song about it, I have to write a poem about it. Writing is everything to me." Seven years later, she told In Style, "I'm always going to feel everything. It's my nature."

4) Finally, and probably most endearingly, Billboard's 2011 Woman of the Year has maintained the seemingly endless well of enthusiasm that's carried her upwards to her currently astronomical level of fame. Can you think of any star besides Swift who has remained relentlessly upbeat, out of trouble, and perpetually in love with her fans?

Swift has a simple explanation as to how she's done it, all these years. "It's continued to stay exciting, all of this," she told Good Morning America. "Everything feels new, all the time even though it's been happening since I was 14."

Here's a vintage interview with Swift circa 2006, back when she visited Yahoo! Music for the first time--and was just on the verge of becoming the Taylor Swift we all know today. Enjoy!
News by Yahoo


Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com


Saturday, November 05, 2011

The Miss World contest back in London, where it was launched 60 years ago

miss world 2011
Miss World 2011
AFP - For its 60th anniversary, the Miss World contest returns to Britain where it was created in 1951 with 122 competitors including Miss Venezuela, the favorite for the title awarded Sunday evening at a final followed by about a billion viewers. The number of candidates is a record in the history of the competition to be held in a sold-out exhibition center in London. Young women, elected Miss of their respective countries, have spent the last two weeks traveling across Britain, fueling interest in this contest will be broadcast in 150 countries.

Step one in Scotland where they visited the Edinburgh Castle and Stirling, and were introduced to traditional Highland games, like throwing tree trunk, brought for the occasion at the size of logs, they have then returned to the prestigious University of Cambridge, eastern England, where they participated in a debate on "social responsibility" and a racing boat. In London, they played the tourists, with a cruise on the Thames, a city tour by bus to imperial passage by the Tower of London and a trip on the London Eye, where the view on the Capital is breathtaking.

In the final, scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (GMT), they perform national dances and parade before the announcement of the lucky winner. If beauty is in the heart of the event, the organizing committee also emphasizes the academic background of young women. This year, more than half are trained at university, one in four earned a university degree and more than half speak at least three languages. "All the beautiful women need a purpose. Make your time worthwhile," threw the chair of the Miss World, Julia Morley, the participants at the start of UK tour.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the competition, former Miss World is expected in London, the 2010 winner of the U.S. Alexandria Mills. The competition was launched under the name "bikini contest" in 1951, when Sweden's Kiki Haakansson was crowned at 25 other participants. Several former competitors have been shown in film, Halle Berry as the American, a finalist in 1986 and Oscar for Best Actress in 2009, and 1994 Miss World, Aishwarya Rai became the Indian Bollywood star. Twelve participants have also appeared in James Bond. Venezuela, India and the UK have distinguished themselves by winning five individual titles, and the chains of British paris expect a sixth crown for Venezuela this year.

"The favorite Ivian Sarcos, has it all," said Craig Hares Ladbrokes. "Miss Venezuela, a large family of 12 brothers and sisters, has a degree in human resources and currently works for a media company. It is seven against one." Until 1989, the final was held in London, before being relocated in the world, including Hong Kong, Atlanta USA, Sanya China, Warsaw or Johannesburg.

The last final held in London dates back to 2002 when the competition had to be repatriated at the last minute of Nigeria, after having given rise to inter-religious violence responsible for the deaths of more than 200 people. The disturbances broke out following an article suggesting the Prophet Muhammad would have taken one of the participants as a woman if he were alive. Miss World competition is older than its rival Miss Universe crowned in September that the Angolan Leila Lopes.

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com