WORLD FAMOUS BIOGRAPHY

Jack Black

2011-09-12T01:28:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
28 August 1969, Hermosa Beach, California, USA

Birth Name
Thomas Jacob Black

Nickname
JB
Jables

Height
5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography
Jack Black was born in California, and attended the University of California at Los Angeles. While at UCLA, he was a member of Tim Robbins's acting troupe and it was through this collaboration that led to his 1992 film debut in Bob Roberts (1992). Although he was just a background voice in his first film, Jack's appearances in such television shows as "The X-Files" (1993), his breakthrough performance in High Fidelity (2000), and his rock-comedy band, Tenacious D, have created an ever-growing cult following.

Spouse
Tanya Haden (14 March 2006 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark
His comedy rock band Tenacious D and his scat type singing.

Starts speaking in a slow, quiet tempo and begins to sing in a faster louder cadence.

Often plays slackers or sloppy infantiles

Trivia
Member of the band Tenacious D.

Filmed a television pilot called Heat Vision and Jack (1999) (TV) co-starring Ron Silver, and Christine Taylor, and directed by Ben Stiller. The show was a parody of "Knight Rider" (1982), as well as other action/ adventure shows, and featured a talking motorcycle voiced by Owen Wilson.

Discovered he could act when he played a game of Freeze after a Passover seder.

Revealed on an Australian late night variety show that his favorite KISS rock song is 1982's "I Love it Loud," where he began singing parodied lyrics to the first verse.

Often competes for the same parts with Philip Seymour Hoffman. On the The School of Rock (2003) DVD audio commentary, he jokingly calls Hoffman "my nemesis."

Shares a birthday with Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes and Daniel Stern.

Born on the same day as Jason Priestley.

Attended Crossroads High School for the Arts and Sciences.

Is a member of, what the media refers to as the Frat Pack along with Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Steve Carell and Luke Wilson. The Frat Pack name is a reference to the film Old School (2003), which features Vaughn, Ferrell, and Wilson, due to the wide number of films featuring the seven actors. Black's "Frat Pack" films include The Cable Guy (1996), Envy (2004), and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).

Starred in a management training film "Manager of the Year - Effective Listening (1987)" as a teenager who tells his father that the family car has been stolen.

Had his gall bladder removed.

Hosted the MTV Movie Awards in 2002 along with Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sang backup vocals for the songs in Bob Roberts (1992).

One of his closest friends is David Grohl.

Is good friends with Tim Robbins and Will Smith.

Attended Poseidon School in Santa Monica, California.

Despite poking fun at the genre, he is actually a very knowledgeable fan of a lot hard rock/metal music from the 1970s and 1980s. He even appears as part of Tenacious D in the Ronnie James Dio video for the song "Push.".

Appears in a parody of the Council of Elrond scene shown during the MTV movie awards. Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson later cast him in King Kong (2005).

His parents, who were both rocket scientists, divorced when Black was 10. His mother, Judith Love Cohen, worked on the Hubble space telescope.

Originally met his wife in high school. They both attended Crossroads, a private school. They met again 15 years after they graduated high school at a friend's birthday party.

Wife, Tanya Haden, is a cellist. She is the daughter of jazz great Charlie Haden.

His wife is a triplet. Her sisters, Petra Haden and Rachel Haden, also musicians, used to be members of the band "That Dog". Petra was also a former member of the band The Decemberists. Their brother is Josh Haden.

He and his wife eloped after dating less than a year. They were married in Big Sur, California by the same minister who performed Shane Stanley and Val Barri's ceremony in 2005.

He and his wife, Tanya Haden, became the parents of a boy, Samuel Jason Black, on June 10th, 2006.

Auditioned for the role of "Cubby Barnes" in Ransom (1996).

Mentioned in the song "High School Never Ends" by Bowling for Soup, as "the clown".

Huge fan of Professional Wrestling.

Was considered for the role of Freddy Lounds in Red Dragon (2002).

Jack and his wife, Tanya Haden, became the parents of their second son, Thomas David Black, on May 23rd 2008.

Said he considers The Who to be the greatest band of all time, explaining that "they were the first ones to ever rock HARD... the recklessness, the deliciousness!".

Was engaged to actor/comedian/producer Laura Kightlinger, previously. They were together from 1997 to 2005.

Was considered for the role of Hal Jordan / Green Lantern in an un-produced script by Robert Smigel. The idea was ultimately scrapped by Warner Brothers for a less comedic script.

Personal Quotes
[on filming the love scene in Shallow Hal (2001)] It was just strictly professional. It was like a doctor or a carpenter plying his trade. I received no pleasure whatsoever . . . I requested 32 takes for the perfection of the craft.

Never for a second did I think of myself as the sexiest guy in the world. When I was a kid, I thought I was the strongest man in the world. Then, the fastest runner and then the smartest person in the world. One by one my delusions got shut down. Now I just see myself as the lamest guy in the world.

[on co- starring with Gwyneth Paltrow for the first time in Shallow Hal (2001)] You know, I WAS a little afraid that she would fall head-over-heels in love with me, like she did [when co-starring] with Brad Pitt in Se7en (1995).

I'd just like to be in films that I would like to see. I think of myself as an entertainment arsenal. Like I have my acting bazooka and my music machete. And you don't know what I'm going to come at you with.

I was a little worried about working with kids. I wanted to make sure we didn't approach it tip-toeing around the stuff that would normally be funny, or make it gentle, rock-a-bye-baby bullshit.

I'm no Matt Damon, my goal was to be a character actor. I never thought I would get leads the way that I've been able to in the past two years.

I'm hungry for rock 24/7.

The movie This Is Spinal Tap (1984) rocked my world. It's for rock what The Sound of Music (1965) was for hills. They really nailed how dumb rock can be.

I'd rather be the king of kids, than the prince of fools.

There's nothing you can really do to prepare to rock. Do you prepare to eat a delicious meal? Are you hungry? Then you're gonna eat it.

You must never underestimate the power of the eyebrow.

I played, like, a year of piano until I learned The Pink Panther (1963) theme. That was my goal. Once I was good enough, I quit. Now, my music has to have some rock.

If Beethoven and Bach hooked up with Mozart and made a band, they COULD be a distant runner up to The D.

[talking about his experiences early on in his career] It wasn't about control. It was about the co-lla-bo. There's great directors who treat actors like cattle, but I hated it, and I knew if I ever had a choice, I didn't want to work with those guys. Who said that thing about actors and cattle? Hitchcock [Alfred Hitchcock]? Yeah, I don't want to work with that dude."

[on his part and his tights in Nacho Libre (2006)] At first I would have rather been naked to tell you the truth, because I just look so goddang ridiculous. But then I thought, "Wait, that's my job. The stretchy pants are my friends. I love the stretchy pants!" It just took a little mental adjustment, because I know that when I'm embarrassed and scared about acting, that means I'm going to get some good life-nugget knowledge out of it. And I love the knowledge nuggets."

I should take down someone who is strong, so Steven Seagal would be perfect - with his ridiculous Indian gear, ponytail and swagger. He's the best fighter in the world in his own mind, so I'll take him down two notches with my Anaconda Squeeze and Face Melter.

[when asked about his cooking skills] I make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

[about Shallow Hal (2001)] I wasn't proud of it, and I got paid a lot of money, so in retrospect it feels like a sell-out.

[Of his role in Margot at the Wedding (2007)] I had to show some darker sides of myself than I have in roles past. It was challenging. I was most worried about the crying scenes and the nudity. But I sucked it up and went to those places because I just had to look over at Jennifer [Jennifer Jason Leigh] who was so fearless in her performance.

Nobody cares about my babies. It's all about Angelina's babies.

I said I named the baby after me. I didn't say that my actual name is Thomas.

When I was ten years old, I fell in love with The Who. I saw the film Tommy (1975) on cable television and despite Jack Nicholson's heinous rendition of "Go to The Mirror!", I was deeply moved by the music and the story. I wasn't deaf, dumb or blind but I could relate to Tommy. I too wanted to be seen, felt and healed. Seriously, not going for the laugh [directed to audience]. I had a supportive family but growing up can be tough no matter what your upbringing. And no other band had the courage or sensitivity to write those kinds of emotionally raw songs. Achingly beautiful melodies touched by the hand of god. Or the devil. Or both. Or neither. I must say neither. Just a collection of ass-kicking songs, the likes of which will never be seen again! On the battlefield of rock, they went toe to toe with the likes of Hendrix and emerged unscathed. Triumphant dragon-slayers of emotionality. And about know they're probably wondering why I was chosen to give this speech. Surely there was someone more qualified. "Why is this moron talking about dragons and emotions?! Who does he think he is?". Who? I'm just one of the millions. Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend. Thank you for blowing our minds and touching our hearts.

I like to improv. If I'm not feeling a scene down to Po's panda bones, I'll just keep tweaking it.

Salary
Orange County (2002) $2,000,000
Shallow Hal (2001) $2,000,000
Saving Silverman (2001) $1,000,000

Where Are They Now
(July 2005) Shooting Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005) in New Zealand.

(August 2008) Filming Year One (2009) in New Mexico, USA.

Sandra Bullock

2011-09-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
26 July 1964, Arlington, Virginia, USA

Birth Name
Sandra Annette Bullock

Nickname
Sandy

Height
5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Mini Biography
Sandra Bullock was born in a Virginia suburb of Washington, DC, to a German opera singer and a voice teacher. She grew up on the road with her parents and younger sister. She often performed in the children's chorus of whatever production her mother was in. That singing talent later came in handy for her role as an aspiring country singer in The Thing Called Love (1993). Her family moved back to the Washington area when she was a teenager. She later enrolled in East Carolina University in North Carolina, where she studied acting. Shortly afterward she moved to New York to pursue a career on the stage. This led to acting in television programs and then feature films. She gave memorable performances in Demolition Man (1993) and Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993), but did not achieve the stardom that seemed inevitable for her until her work in the smash hit Speed (1994/I). She now ranks as one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood.

Spouse
Jesse James (16 July 2005 - 28 June 2010) (divorced)

Trivia
Her mother, opera singer Helga Bullock, died in Arlington, VA. [April 4, 2000]

On People (USA) magazine's '50 Most Beautiful' list. [1999]

Ranked #58 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world [1996]

While working on Two If by Sea (1996), discovered she is allergic to horses.

She replaced Demi Moore in While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Wrote and performed her own song "Heaven Knocking On My Door" in The Thing Called Love (1993).

Replaced Lori Petty in Demolition Man (1993).

Daughter of a German opera singer and voice teacher, Helga Bullock (1942-2000) and an American voice coach, John W. Bullock (born 1925).

Attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

Graduated from Washington-Lee H.S. in Arlington, Virginia in 1982. She was a cheerleader. (Shirley MacLaine (who was also a cheerleader) and Warren Beatty also attended this high school).

Voted best actress by the readers of the "US Magazine" in 1995.

Voted "Best Actress" by viewers of MTV's "The Big Picture" in 1994 and 1995.

Friends with Samantha Mathis.

Voted "Most Likely To Brighten Up Your Day" by her high school class.

Received the scar on her head when she fell into a lake and cut her head on a rock.

Her younger sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, broke Sandy's nose with her elbow while opening a garage door when they were kids.

Spent time at a Rehabilitation Clinic to research her role in 28 Days (2000).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#27). [1995]

Was considered for the lead in Runaway Bride (1999).

Is fluent in German.

Was engaged to Tate Donovan.

Owns a home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Born at 3:15 AM.

Appeared in Bob Schneider's video 'Round and Round' (2000).

While filming 28 Days (2000), in New York, she stayed in former co-star Dennis Hopper's apartment.

Her favorite perfume is Dune, by Christian Dior.

Replaced Nancy McKeon in the sitcom "Working Girl" (1990).

Her younger sister is Gesine Bullock-Prado, a lawyer and Vice-President of Fortis Films, aged 33 (2001).

Studied ballet when she was a child.

Her favorite time of the day is dusk.

Loves horses but is extremely allergic to them.

1998: Golden Globes Awards Presenter: "Best Movie Comedy/Musical"

Her favorite drinks are beer (Heineken and Rolling Rock) and tequila.

Owns a house in Austin, Texas where she filmed some scenes in Miss Congeniality (2000).

Measurements: 33B-24-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Uses the ancient Chinese technique of accupuncture as a form of weight loss.

Is from the same Metro Area as Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Mya, Regina Hall, Alan Heitz and Dwayne Winstead.

Began a relationship with "Monster Garage" (2002) actor Jesse James (December 2003).

Was considered for the role of Lois Lane in a proposed relaunch of the Superman franchise by Warner Brothers and was also considered for the role of Wonder Woman in a film adaptation that was never made.

Has a house on Tybee Island, Georgia.

Sister-in-law of Raymond Prado.

She was originally cast as Rafi in Prime (2005) but two weeks before principal photography, was dropped due to script differences between her and writer/director Ben Younger. Uma Thurman stepped in quickly to replace her.

Shares a birthday with Kevin Spacey, Kate Beckinsale and Jeremy Piven.

Known for her generous donations, she donated $1 million to the American Red Cross after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Did the same, again donating $1 million to the Red Cross, after the tsunami- disaster in Asia in 2004. She again donated $1 million, this time to Doctors Without Borders, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

At 40, she was voted sexiest female celebrity in a 'Naughty Forties' poll conducted for UK television station FX.

After college, she moved to New York to waitress.

Ranked #18 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]

Stepmother of Jesse James' children Chandler, Jesse Jr. and Sunny.

Married actor Jesse James in a sunset ceremony on a ranch outside Santa Barbara, California. They celebrated with several hundred guests including Jamie Lee Curtis, Hugh Grant, Keanu Reeves, William Shatner, Regina King and some member of the Hell's Angels.. [16 July 2005]

Was considered for the role of "Harper Lee" in Capote (2005), and later got the role in Infamous (2006). Both films concern Truman Capote's researching and writing of In Cold Blood (1967).

Often said to be one of the last actors to have studied with the great teacher Sanford Meisner, who trained Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Joanne Woodward at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Sandra most likely did not work with the great man himself but with a number of actors who did: Ron Stetson, Richard Pinter and Dan Biehn, the latter taught her at East Carolina University.

Played the love interest of both stars of "Nip/Tuck" (2003). She played the girlfriend of Dylan Walsh's character in The Lake House (2006) and the wife of Julian McMahon's character in Premonition (2007/I).

Named Empire Magazines #66 in the list of 100 Sexiest Stars (2007).

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $10 million.

Sandra and her husband, Jesse James, were unhurt after a head-on crash with a drunken driver in Massachusetts on April 18, 2008. Both vehicles were totaled but no one was hurt.

Has designed special seat-belts so her pet dogs, Ruby and Poppy, can ride safely in her car [April 8, 2009].

Hates musicals and vows to never participate in one.

Was considered for the role of Helen Lyle in Candyman (1992).

Was bullied in school, as a kid, for wearing frumpy clothes bought in Germany.

By starring in The Blind Side (2009) she became the only actress to date to have a film marketed with her name solely above the title (i.e. based on her star power alone, and not a franchise or tentpoll picture) pass the $200 million mark in domestic gross.

Is one of four actresses to win both, the Oscar for Best Actress and the Razzie for Worst Actress, along with Halle Berry, Faye Dunaway and Liza Minnelli. Bullock is the only one to be nominated for and win both awards in the same year (for The Blind Side (2009) and All About Steve (2009)). She was presented with the awards within two days in 2010.

Introduced to salsa by Robert Duvall.

Was jokingly thrown in a pool by George Clooney and Tom Cruise at Joel Schumacher's birthday party in 2000. She talked to InStyle magazine about this story in 2005 and also mentioned it in her Oscar acceptance speech in 2010.

Co-owner, with Jesse James, of "Cisco Burgers" in Long Beach, California.

Was in a relationship with Ryan Gosling, who was more than 16 years her junior (May 2002-July 2003).

Separated from husband Jesse James following the revelation of his 11-month affair with tattoo model Michelle McGee (15 March 2010).

She is one of 14 actors to win the Academy Award for playing a real-life person who was still alive on the evening of the award ceremony for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009).

Has directed only one film, the 1998 movie Making Sandwiches (1998) (she also wrote it). Bullock said in a Reader's Digest interview that she directed the film to "educate herself" about directing and came away concluding that while she enjoys producing and acting, she does not have the talent to "lead" a film by being a director.

Canceled her appearances at the British and German movie premiere of The Blind Side (2009) in the wake of model Michelle McGee's claims that she had an affair with Bullock's husband Jesse James while she was working on the set of The Blind Side (2009). After she backed out of the premieres, both events were canceled as a red carpet event. [March 2010]

Revealed in People magazine in April 2010 that she started to adopt a one-week-old baby boy, named Louis Bardo Bullock, from New Orleans in January 2010. Initially began adoption proceedings with husband Jesse James before they split in April 2010 and going on to adopt Louis as a single parent after they divorced.

Merited a place in Time magazine's - The 100 Most Influential People in the World ("Artists" category) - with an homage penned by Betty White. [May 10, 2010]

Lived shortly in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria as a child.

Lived in Nuremberg, Germany until the age of 12, where her mother performed at the Staatstheater Nürnberg.

Was a cheerleader in high school.

Her maternal grandfather was a rocket scientist from Nuremberg, Germany.

Filed for divorce from Jesse James in April 2010.

Received the American Riviera Award at the 2010 Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2010.

Named person of the year for 2010 by People Magazine.

Returned to work twelve months after adopting her son Louis in order to begin filming Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011).

Universal Pictures wanted to cast Sandra Bullock in the role of Karen Sisco in Out of Sight. However, director Steven Soderbergh decided to cast Jennifer Lopez in the role because he thought that Jennifer and co-star George Clooney had the intense chemistry together needed for the film.

When she "won" the Razzie Award as Worst Actress for All About Steve, Bullock became one of the few in the awards' 30 year history to accept the $4.97 dis-honor in person. A video of her speech can be seen on the Razzie® You Tube channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghS98BKy29Q&feature=channel_video_title).

Despite being born in the USA, her mother tongue was German. When she returned to the United States at age 13, she spoke English with a very strong German accent.

Personal Quotes
(on marital plans) "I've always been very sceptical about marriage, because I only want to do it once; I want to do it the right way."

I've learned that success comes in a very prickly package. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you. It's what you choose to do with it, the people you choose to surround yourself with. Always choose people that are better than you. Always choose people that challenge you and are smarter than you. Always be the student. Once you find yourself to be the teacher, you've lost it.

"I remember sitting down in Joel Silver's office and Joel going, "Do you want to do this film?". I remember going, "I would like to do it, but I would love to talk about the character, and it was almost like I had said the biggest joke".

The only reason I haven't married yet, is because I take it too seriously.

Fame means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes out to your house a little faster.

I have no desire to maintain a lifestyle. I am a horrible celebrity. If I am out in public I dress like a pig.

"The Acadamy Awards shouldn't even nominate Meryl Streep anymore. She should just be given an award every year. There should just be the Meryl Streep category".

"Everyone told me to pass on Speed (1994/I) because it was a 'bus movie'".

I'd rather take risks than make something that's cookie cutter.

The first Miss Congeniality (2000) gave me the chance to do broad comedy that had nothing to do with being the romantic interest. The girl-next-door thing went away with that film and I tend to do characters that I want to be more like. In the beginning, though, I was sort of the 'action girl'. And then with While You Were Sleeping (1995), I was the romantic-comedy girl. But when I took time off, I thought, 'There's something I'm missing here.' I literally had to start from scratch.

I don't like to talk about personal things. ... And by keeping it private, you have a better shot at a healthy relationship. I learned at a young age that there are certain things you just don't talk about.

I don't think there's ever what could be called a 'chilled state' in my head.

"My goal now is to remember every place I've been, only do things I love and not say yes when I don't mean it." quoted in WOMAN'S WORLD (7-5-05)

"If I'm blessed with that, I hope I am the best version of me that I can possibly be." - on motherhood to People Magazine.

Movie sex scenes are never romantic, and you're never swept off your feet. It's always very technical....I'm counting the beats: Okay, we're supposed to kiss for two beats, then I say my line, then they want another kiss for four beats. I'm going, One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three and break. It's like choreography. Sometimes you have actors who feel it's their job to get as far down into your throat as possible. You're like, Excuse me, I like you, but not that much.

Why do you need one? I don't understand why there needs to be a love interest to make women go see a film. I think society sort of makes us feel that way - that if you don't have a guy, you're worthless.

On Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997): That was a mistake but, in retrospect, how are you supposed to know?

(On how it felt and what it said about life that she was nominated for a Razzie and an Oscar for Best Actress within 2 days in 2010): That life is perfectly balanced.

I used to be an optimist, but now I know that nothing is going to turn out as I expect.

[Contrasting highs in her professional life with lows in her private life] Whoever established the high road, and how high it was going to be, should be fired.

Salary
The Blind Side (2009) $20,000,000 (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $309 million, plus share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
Murder by Numbers (2002) $15,000,000
28 Days (2000) $12,500,000
Hope Floats (1998) $11,000,000
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) $11,000,000
In Love and War (1996) $10,500,000
A Time to Kill (1996) $8,000,000
The Net (1995) $250,000
While You Were Sleeping (1995) $1,200,000
Speed (1994/I) $500,000

Where Are They Now
(March 2003) Producing "George Lopez" (2002).

(October 2003) Preparing to star in and produce Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005).

(April 2010) Adopted baby boy named Louis Bardot Bullock from New Orleans, Louisiana

Nicole Kidman

2011-09-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
20 June 1967, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Birth Name
Nicole Mary Kidman

Nickname
Nic

Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography
Elegant redhead Nicole Kidman, known as one of Hollywood's top Australian imports, was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Australian parents Anthony (a biochemist and clinical psychologist) and Janelle (a nursing instructor) Kidman. The family moved almost immediately to Washington, DC, where Nicole's father pursued his research on breast cancer, and then, three years later, made the pilgrimage to her parents' native Sydney. Young Nicole's first love was ballet, but she eventually took up mime and drama as well (her first stage role was a bleating sheep in an elementary school Christmas pageant). In her adolescent years, acting edged out the other arts and became a kind of refuge -- as her classmates sought out fun in the sun, the fair-skinned Kidman retreated to dark rehearsal halls to practice her craft. She worked regularly at the Philip Street Theater, where she once received a personal letter of praise and encouragement from audience member Jane Campion (then a film student). Kidman eventually dropped out of high school to pursue acting full-time. She broke into movies at age 16, landing a role in the Australian holiday favorite Bush Christmas (1983). That appearance touched off a flurry of film and TV offers, including a lead in BMX Bandits (1983) and a turn as a schoolgirl-turned-protester in the miniseries "Vietnam" (1987) (for which she won her first Australian Film Institute Award). With the help of an American agent, she eventually made her US debut opposite Sam Neill in the at-sea thriller Dead Calm (1989).

Kidman's next casting coup scored her more than exposure. While starring as Tom Cruise's doctor/love interest in the racetrack romance Days of Thunder (1990), she won over the Hollywood hunk hook, line, and sinker. After a whirlwind courtship (and decent box office returns), the couple wed on December 24, 1990. Determined not to let her new marital status overshadow her fledgling career, the actress pressed on. She appeared as a catty high school senior in the Australian film Flirting (1991), then as Dustin Hoffman's moll in the gangster flick Billy Bathgate (1991). She reunited with Cruise for Far and Away (1992), the story of young Irish lovers who flee to America in the late 1800s, and starred opposite Michael Keaton in the tear-tugger My Life (1993/I). Despite her steady employment, critics and moviegoers still hadn't quite warmed to Kidman as a leading lady. She tried to spice up her image by seducing Val Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995), but achieved her real breakthrough with Gus Van Sant's To Die For (1995). As a fame-crazed housewife determined to eliminate any obstacle in her path, Kidman proved that she had an impressive range and deadly comic timing. She took home a Golden Globe and several critics' awards for the performance. In 1996, Kidman stepped into a corset to work with her countrywoman and onetime admirer, Jane Campion, on the adaptation of Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady (1996). A few months later, she tore across the screen as a nuclear weapons expert in The Peacemaker (1997), adding "action star" to her professional repertoire.

She and Cruise then disappeared into a notoriously long, secretive shoot for Stanley Kubrick's sexual thriller Eyes Wide Shut (1999). The couple's on-screen shenanigans prompted an increase in public speculation about their sex life (rumors had long been circulating that their marriage was a cover-up for Cruise's homosexuality); tired of denying tabloid attacks, they successfully sued The Star for a story alleging that they needed a sex therapist to coach them through love scenes. Family life has always been a priority for Kidman. Born to social activists (mom was a feminist; dad, a labor advocate), Nicole and her little sister, Antonia Kidman, discussed current events around the dinner table and participated in their parents' campaigns by passing out pamphlets on street corners. When her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, 17-year-old Nicole stopped working and took a massage course so that she could provide physical therapy (her mom eventually beat the cancer). She and Cruise adopted two children: Isabella Jane (born in 1993) and Connor Antony (born 1995). Despite their rock-solid image, the couple announced in early 2001 that they were separating due to career conflicts. Her marriage to Cruise ended mid-summer of 2001.

IMDb Mini Biography By: IMDb Editors

Spouse
Keith Urban (25 June 2006 - present) 2 children
Tom Cruise (24 December 1990 - 8 August 2001) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark
Often plays cold, emotionally vacant characters.

Trivia
Listed in "People Weekly"s "Most Intriguing People" list. (December 25 1995/January 1 1996 issue)

2000: She and her husband Tom Cruise donated to Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate representing New York state.

Suffered a broken rib while rehearsing a dance routine for the movie Moulin Rouge! (2001). Production was halted while she recovered.

1999: Chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

1996: Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

Wore a corset while filming The Portrait of a Lady (1996) to take her waist down to 19".

Spent two weeks in bed after filming of The Portrait of a Lady (1996) - diagnosed as suffering from "emotional stress".

10/99: Crusader against child abuse. "Children should be allowed to grow up without fear of cruelty.".

In Moulin Rouge! (2001) Kidman sang alongside Ewan McGregor.

She has two adopted children with Tom Cruise: Isabella Jane Cruise (born December 22, 1992) Connor Antony Cruise (Connor Cruise) (born January 17, 1995).

Scared of butterflies.

Named one of People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People of 2001.

2001: Named E!'s Celebrity of the Year.

2001: Named Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of The Year.

Played a young girl named Grace on a sketch on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) with Mike Myers, the next time she played a character named Grace was her 2001 movie, The Others (2001). She played a character named Grace for the third time in Dogville (2003).

She was supposed to be the star of Panic Room (2002), but she hurt herself in a stunt for Moulin Rouge! (2001). So, she played the voice of Jodie Foster's divorced husband's wife.

2002: Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine.

Sister of Australian television personality Antonia Kidman.

Although naturally left-handed, she taught herself to write right-handed for her role in The Hours (2002), where she played the right-handed author Virginia Woolf.

On, January 13, 2003, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Found out about her first Academy Award nomination, for Moulin Rouge! (2001), while shooting Dogville (2003) in Sweden.

2003: Ranked #31 in Premiere's annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #83 in 2002.

First Australian actress to win the Best Actress Academy Award.

August 2008, was voted the fifth Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine.

Measurements: 34B-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

In recent polls, she was elected alongside fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman as one of the favorite upcoming romantic couples on screen.

Originally cast as Mrs. Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005).

Has appeared in My Life (1993/I) with Michael Keaton, Batman Forever (1995) with Val Kilmer, The Peacemaker (1997) with George Clooney and The Portrait of a Lady (1996) with Christian Bale. All four actors have played Batman in a movie.

She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1999 (1998 season) for Best Actress for her performance in "The Blue Room".

1998: She was awarded the Special Award at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her special and significant contributions to London Theatre for her performance in "The Blue Room".

A very tall woman at nearly 5' 11", she actually stood about 4 inches taller than ex-husband Tom Cruise, and rarely wore heels when seen publicly with him so that they could appear similar in height. Since their divorce, she is rarely seen on the red carpet without high heels, and she often meets 6' 4" actors in the eye.

Scored an IQ of 132+

While she usually commands $10 million+ for a movie, she was willing to receive only $500,000 for her role in "Eucalyptus (2006)". Produced by Fox Searchlight, its financing guideline shows that each actor signed on to the project can receive no more than $500,000, to keep costs low. This movie will be produced in Australia, another reason she decided to accept it. She was slated to star alongside Russell Crowe in the movie, but the project was ultimately dropped.

Frequently does her own nude scenes, declining to use body doubles.

Replaced Rene Russo as Dr. Chase Meridian in Batman Forever (1995) when Val Kilmer replaced Michael Keaton.

Likes the poetry of Anne Carson and the writing of Phillip Larkin.

Writes short stories in her free time and hopes to publish them one day.

Is in the 50th-anniversary edition of the Guinness Book Of Records as the highest-paid actress in a commercial. She netted $3.71 million for her part in a four-minute Baz Luhrmann-directed Chanel No. 5 movie ad. The ad, costing $11 million a minute, is a short film titled "No 5: The Film". Guinness book editors noted the actress earned $928,800 per minute. Costumes designed by Karl Lagerfeld and score by Debussy.

Was considered for the role of Catwoman (2004).

Had played a witch twice. Once in Practical Magic (1998) and again in Bewitched (2005).

2005: Premiere Magazine ranked her as #48 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature.

2004: One of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People for most wanted skin.

Good friends with Renée Zellweger, Jim Carrey, Russell Crowe and Meryl Streep.

Is a pianist, and did her own piano-playing in Cold Mountain (2003).

Is highly conscious of avoiding excessive sun exposure, and is rarely seen during her downtime without a hat, sunglasses and wearing sunscreen. In fact, best friend Naomi Watts has said that "Nicole won't cross the street without a hat."

In addition to having worked with all four of the most recent Batmans, she has also worked with both of the most recent actors to play Alfred Pennyworth. In Batman Forever (1995), she appears with Michael Gough. In Bewitched (2005), her father is played by Michael Caine.

Shares her birthday with Brian Wilson, Josh Lucas, Tina Sinatra, Lionel Richie, Olympia Dukakis, Martin Landauand Errol Flynn.

Has one niece: Lucia (b. 1999) and two nephews: Hamish (b. 2001), James (b. 2003).

August 2004: Australian business magazine Business Review Weekly listed Kidman as the richest Australian woman under age 40, estimated at a worth of $155 million (Australian).

Is a childhood friend of Peter Overton, a reporter for the Australian "60 Minutes" (1979) program. Both lived in the same suburb of Sydney when they were children.

Has Irish ancestry.

She and ex-husband Tom Cruise made 3 movies together: Days of Thunder (1990), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and Far and Away (1992). They met on the set of Days of Thunder (1990).

Attended the same high school attended by Catherine Martin (two time Oscar winner for costume design and direction on Moulin Rouge! (2001) and wife of Baz Luhrmann) and legendary Australian actress Ruth Cracknell.

Godmother of Harry (b. 19 September 2001), the son of Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg. Riggs and Kidman are close friends.

Named goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Was listed as a potential nominee on both the 2006 and 2008 Razzie Award nominating ballots. She was suggested in the Worst Actress category on the 2006 ballot for her performance in Bewitched (2005). And she was suggested again two years later on the 2007 ballot in the Worst Actress category again for her performance in The Invasion (2007/I). She failed to receive either nominations.

2006: Her performance as Suzanne Stone Maretto in To Die For (1995) is ranked #40 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time.

2006: Accompanied her boyfriend Keith Urban to the Grammy Awards. It was their first public appearance together.

2005: Ranked as #69 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.

Is allergic to strawberries.

Wore a wedding gown at her wedding to Keith Urban by the label Balenciaga.

Married Keith Urban in the St. Patrick's church in Manly, a suburb of Sydney.

230 guests attended her wedding to Keith Urban. Among them were her best friend Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe, Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman and Nicole's two children Isabella and Conor. Jim Carrey was invited and greatly wanted to come, in fact he booked plane tickets to Australia, but last minute scheduling conflicts stopped him from going.

She asked her wedding guests not to buy any presents for her and Keith Urban but to donate the money instead to some humanitarian organization.

She and Keith Urban honeymooned in Tahiti -- more precisely the St Regis in Bora Bora. Eva Longoria and her boyfriend Tony Parker were also coincidentally staying there at the time. (So much for "getting away from it all".).

Her second wedding ceremony lasted 35 minutes.

Baz Luhrmann read a love Psalm by New Zealand writer Joy Cowley (a nod to Urban's birth place) at her wedding to Keith Urban.

Three star performers sang at her wedding reception to Keith Urban. Hugh Jackman sang "Tenterfield Saddler", a favorite of Urban's. Keith Urban sang his hit song "Making Memories of Us" to her. Neil Finn sang "Fall At Your Feet".

Dropped out of the role of Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator (2004) due to scheduling conflicts.

Ex-girlfriend of Lenny Kravitz.

Author Philip Pullman requested her specifically to play the role of Marisa Coulter in the movie adaptation of his book "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass".

Studied ballet and drama in Australia.

Keith Urban's brother Shane Urban was best man at their wedding.

Keith Urban gave Nicole a first edition of Emily Brontë's novel, "Wuthering Heights", purchased from Sotherby's for $200,000 as a wedding present.

Keith Urban's brother Marlon Holden was best man at their wedding.

Wrote the introduction to the book "Truth: Personas, Needs, and Flaws in the Art of Building Actors and Creating Characters" by her friend and acting consultant Susan Batson.

2004: Topped The Hollywood Reporter's list of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood .

9/01: Attended the Royal Premiere of Moulin Rouge! (2001) alongside Kylie Minogue, Prince Charles and Ewan McGregor.

Was considered for the lead role in The Painted Veil (2006), which eventually went to her best friend Naomi Watts.

Is a fan of actress Aishwarya Rai, and her film Bride & Prejudice (2004). Nicole got to meet Aishwarya for the first time at the 2005 Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world dinner held in New York City.

Was cast as Ulla in The Producers (2005), but backed out due to scheduling conflicts.

The bridesmaids at her wedding were her adopted daughter Isabella Jane Cruise, her sister Antonia Kidman and her niece Lucia.

In honor of her June 2006 wedding to singer Keith Urban, Australian TV presenters Simon Reeve and Nelson Aspen teamed up to sing Nicole a live rendition of the theme song "Bewitched" on the morning news program "Sunrise" (2003).

On April 13, 2007, she was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia, which is Australia's top civil honor, at a ceremony in Canberra. She was honored for her contribution to cinema as well as her charity work with women, children and cancer research.

Wore a red wig for her role in Moulin Rouge! (2001).

2006: Presented her The Peacemaker (1997) co-star George Clooney his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Was cast in Baz Luhrmann's doomed Alexander the Great-project.

2004: Presented her The Interpreter (2005) co-star Sean Penn his Best Actor Oscar.

December 2007: According to Forbes, her movies averaged $8 of gross income for every dollar the actress got paid.

Earns $4 million per year endorsing Chanel No. 5 perfume. Her three year contract is up for renewal in 2007.

Turned down the lead role of "Roxie Hart" in Chicago (2002) because she had just completed Moulin Rouge! (2001) and did not want to do two musicals in a row. Her friend, Renée Zellweger, won the role of Roxie and an Oscar nomination for her efforts.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year to be $28 million.

She and husband Keith Urban, purchased a farm near Leipers Fork, Tennessee, which they are now renovating. (November 2007).

Was originally cast in Ridley Scott's Emma's War (????).

Moved in together with Jack Black and Jennifer Jason Leigh during filming Margot at the Wedding (2007), because they wanted to perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family.

Welcomed her first child with Keith Urban, a daughter named Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, on Monday July 7, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. Kidman has said Sunday is the couple's favorite day of the week because it can be both lonely and happy depending on whether "you've got your family" around. They also found inspiration in Aussie art collector Sunday Reed, whose first name Kidman's father suggested as a possibility. The baby's second name is a tribute to Urban's grandmother, Rose.

To prepare for her role in The Human Stain (2003) she visited women's shelters and talked to former victims of abuse for inspiration.

Her and Tom Cruise's high profile divorce was finalized the same week that her horror movie The Others (2001) was released.

When she went to Sweden to shoot Dogville (2003), it was the first time in 15 years that she had flown on a public plane.

For her role in Birthday Girl (2001) she went to the Russian Embassy in Australia for help in speaking Russian. She didn't work with any other coach on the set except the woman from the embassy.

Got the role as Diane Arbus in Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006) after Samantha Morton backed out.

To make the character 'Marisa Coulter' in The Golden Compass (2007) so good as possible, she read the whole His Dark Materials trilogy, and wrote small notes, whenever she found something personal about the character.

While filming The Invasion (2007/I) she was involved in an accident while riding with others in a picture car mounted on trailer being towed by a camera truck rig. While filming a stunt in downtown Los Angeles, the truck took a turn too wide, slid on wet pavement, and collided with a light standard. Several stunt artists on the picture car were injured in the accident. Ms. Kidman was brought to the hospital as a precaution, but was able to return to the set the next day.

With a beautiful letter, Philip Pullman convinced her to take the role as Marisa Coulter in The Golden Compass (2007).

Just like Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, and Robin Williams she did her own singing for Happy Feet (2006).

While reaching a divorce from Tom Cruise, Nicole lived with her friend Naomi Watts.

Her friend Naomi Watts turned down the female lead in The Interpreter (2005) because she knew Nicole wanted the role.

Has always dreamed of working with her friend Steven Spielberg.

Like to work with costume designer Ann Roth, with whom she worked on Margot at the Wedding (2007), Cold Mountain (2003) and The Hours (2002).

One of her favorite movies is Gone with the Wind (1939).

Became good friends with Daniel Craig after working with him on The Invasion (2007/I) and The Golden Compass (2007).

She loved wearing the prosthetic nose, that she originally used in The Hours (2002) and wore it in private too, mainly as she was undergoing a divorce from Tom Cruise at the time and was attracting a lot of paparazzi interest. Much to her delight, by wearing her fake nose out and about, she found she could easily evade the paparazzi as they didn't recognize her.

She decided not to imitate Virginia Woolf's actual tone and voice because she feared people thought it would be comic.

She is distantly related to Isabel Kidman, the second wife of Jack Lee.

Return to work two months after giving birth to her daughter Sunday in order to begin filming Nine (2009).

Replaced Catherine Zeta-Jones in the role of Claudia in Nine (2009) after she quit due to scheduling conflicts.

Dyed her hair dark brown during the nineties.

Became pregnant twice by Tom Cruise during their marriage. In 1991 she suffered an ectopic pregnancy, resulting in their decision to adopt, and then in 2000, prior to their separation, she suffered a miscarriage.

Refused to screen test for the part of Jenny in Forrest Gump (1994). The part went to Robin Wright.

Auditioned for the role of Molly in Ghost (1990) which went to Demi Moore.

Turned down Jodie Foster's role in The Brave One (2007).

Is very close friends with fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman, her Australia (2008) co-star.

Was two months pregnant with her daughter Sunday when she completed filming on Australia (2008).

With her performance as Virginia Wolf in The Hours (2002) lasting around 25 minutes, she has one of the shortest Best Actress Oscar wins in history.

Her daughter Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, with husband Keith Urban, was born at the Centennial Women's Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee via a surrogate. It has been confirmed that the couple are the child's biological parents (28 December 2010).

Returned to work two months after the birth of her daughter Faith in order to begin filming Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012) (TV).

Personal Quotes
[August 2000, on her marriage to Tom Cruise] Every day there is a compromise. Living with somebody requires a lot of understanding. But I love being married. I really love it. Sometimes I try to downplay it a bit because people are like, "God you guys!" I just feel so fortunate that I have found someone who will put up with me and stay with me.

[on husband Tom Cruise] I wouldn't want to be married to me, but luckily he does.

[8/01, commenting on her break-up with Tom Cruise] Now I can wear heels.

It's so bizarre, I'm not scared of snakes or spiders. But I'm scared of butterflies. There is something eerie about them. Something weird!

[on winning the Academy Award for The Hours (2002)] And I am standing in front of my mother, and my whole life I have wanted to make my mother proud. And now I'm going to make my daughter proud.

When I heard about the Suzanne role in To Die For (1995), I thought, "I'll never get it - it'll be offered to someone else." So I called Gus [Gus Van Sant] at home, and he took my call, thank God. I told him I'd seen Drugstore Cowboy (1989), and I really wanted to work with him. I said I was destined to work with him.

I think it's important that we don't all have to hold our heads high all the time saying everything's fine.

These different people that I play become the loves of my life.

The split [from Tom Cruise] left me very fragile but I'd love to marry again.

I would love to have boobs and a butt like Jennifer Lopez but I'm not having surgery so there it is.

[on receiving her star on the Walk of Fame] I've never been so excited to have people walk all over me for the rest of my life.

You want to take some responsibility in your choices so that it sets the groundwork for that next generation of actresses - so for me working with Lars von Trier, I would hope that says to another generation: "go and seek out those directors, it's ok"

[on Dogville (2003)] One day it would be a fairy tale, the next it was a nightmare. Lars [Lars von Trier] was gentle with me - he was gentle and soft, then he would beat me up emotionally when he felt he needed that. I did not always register what was happening until afterwards but you shouldn't have too much awareness as an actor, I don't think.

I have a boy's body. I would prefer to have more curves because I think that's more beautiful. I would much rather have J. Lo's [Jennifer Lopez] body than mine.

[on filming The Interpreter (2005) at UN headquarters in New York] As a backdrop for a thriller, it's fantastic, but also since I'm Australian and I've always worked internationally and this is an international place in New York, I really like the kind of communication it represents. I know I sound very much like my character now, but I do believe in this place.

[on Cold Mountain (2003), The Human Stain (2003) and Dogville (2003) being released within months of each other] It's weird because they're all coming out at once. But I made them over 2-1/2 years.

You look at somebody's work as an actor and you can see their emotional life being fed into it and you can kind of feel them through it. That's far more interesting than anything I could say about where I'm at or who I'm with. It's good to have a little distance. If you discuss your love too much, it just damages it.

[on the troubled The Stepford Wives (2004)] It's a comedy. We hope.

Even from a very early age I knew I didn't want to miss out on anything life had to offer just because it might be considered dangerous.

Cinema is a director's medium, so you're saying, "What do you want?" Being an actor is about adapting - physically and emotionally. If that means you have to look great for it and they can make you look great, then thank you. And if you have to have everything washed away, then I'm willing to do that too.

[on Birth (2004)] This is a film about love. What is a great love? Is there a love of our life? Do you ever recover from the loss of somebody that was so important to you?

Stanley Kubrick taught me to believe in myself artistically. I spent my 20s raising my children, and wanting to, and being married. That was my driving force. And then he said to me, "No, you have to respect your talent, and give it some space, and give it some time." Which was a lovely thing to be given. And my children were a little older then.

It was by chance that The Hours (2002) came along. Was I in a place where I could say, "I'm going to go to England and make this?" Yes. Could I do that earlier, when I was married? No, I couldn't travel like that. We had a thing where we couldn't be separated for more than two weeks. So that made a lot of work just not possible. Which was fine by me.

I have moments where I've said, "Don't tread on that crack in the pavement, don't have a black cat walk in front of you." Deep down am I superstitious? No. Do I believe in trying to be as kind as possible and as compassionate as possible because ultimately you're alone with yourself and your own conscience, and you want that to be as clear as possible? That's not superstition. You have to just try and stay pure and know what you value.

Usually, a young actress can't deliver because she doesn't have the emotional baggage, really, to play those things. That's something that's very beautiful about becoming a woman, and becoming a woman in your 30s. If you've lived your life, and lived it where you've said, "I want to be a participator and not a voyeur", then you have an enormous amount to pull on.

I'm still just finding my way through. I don't actually see a path in front of me. I can see not ever doing it again, and I can also see other things pulling me away from this. It's strange, because I know it's in my blood in terms of having to somehow act or express myself creatively, but I'm willing to do it different ways if need be. And I think that's partly because when I went through my divorce I dealt with the idea of never ever working again, and never being here and never able to be an actress, and went through an enormous amount of soul searching, and at that time, I was very ready to give it all up, and dealt with that emotionally. I was going, "Well, I'll never be able to do this again." And that was OK. And, strangely, as life is so strange, that was when everything exploded.

I never feel like I'm in control. There's a certain type of actor that relinquishes control when they act, and then there's another type who ends up being a producer and director and they're more someone that likes to take control. I fall in the first category, where I like to relinquish control, and fit into somebody else's world. And that's just lately, but you never feel like you are making choices. You feel like they're finding you in a strange way. That's why when people say, "What role do you want to play next?", I say, "I don't know". I never know. It's about responding to things rather than planning.

I think someone said my career defies all logic [laughs]. Because I choose the sort of strange little films, and somehow they're the things that make my career.

So if you talk about a box-office career, then I'm a disaster. But somehow, you know, I still manage to find my way to work.

I think actors are getting so much more power these days, but I'm not. I stay very much away from the decisions, the way in which things are orchestrated, what's been changed. I just try to stay completely in the role as the actor and as the character.

I'm at a time of my life now where, for me to want to go back and work, it'd have to be something that I really feel passionately about.

Regrets are ridiculous, so I don't regret, no.

[talking about her character from Batman Forever (1995)] Chase is attracted to the darker side of life. Batman is very appealing to her.

To be an actor you have to have a certain amount of madness in you. That's why, when people meet you and you seem very together, they are quite surprised--they don't see you behind closed doors.

[speaking of her father Antony Kidman] He's a great father, I can call him at three in the morning and he's there for me.

By the time I was a teenager, I had developed skills as a writer, and my father encouraged me to think about a career in journalism. I began keeping a diary, which I maintain to this day. I used to fill whole notebooks with my writings.

My parents thought it was nice to develop my imagination, but they never seriously thought that anything would ever come of it. They said that I couldn't be an actress because I would be taller than all my leading men, so I thought I would be a writer instead.

It was very natural for me to want to disappear into dark theater, I am really very shy. That is something that people never seem to fully grasp because, when you are an actor, you are meant to be an exhibitionist.

Do you know I'm always scared that one day I'll look back and say "God they were the best years of my life and now what?" There are moments when you feel as if you have been blessed for a while, moments when you think this is perfect, moments when you start to believe that even for an hour, even for a year, it might all happen. So I'm determined to keep making it get better and better.

It's a very brave thing to fall in love. You have to be willing to trust somebody else with your whole being, and that's very difficult, really difficult and very brave.

[about her first role at the age of five] I was one of those terrible kids who said everyone's lines.

Since I have fair skin, I have to stay out of the sun. I can't stand the sun. I dyed my hair red for a while during the 1990s but I'm actually a natural blonde.

I'm very close to my sister, Antonia [Antonia Kidman]. Every day we swim together. I love my sister.

When I was a child, I was a natural towhead. Now my hair is naturally a darker shade of blonde.

I'd like to be wise. You have to go through a lot to get there, but I'm willing to go through a lot.

What's the point of doing something good if nobody's watching?

Even from a very early age, I knew I didn't want to miss out on anything life had to offer just because it might be considered dangerous.

I believe that as much as you take, you have to give back. It's important not to focus on yourself too much.

I love acting but I don't like all of the other stuff associated with it. The interest in celebrities, the press, the Internet, when your identity becomes mixed up in the way people are perceiving you.

I have a little bit of a belly, a tiny bit of pooch. It's the one thing I don't want to lose. I just like having some softness. If I lose that, then Tom [husband Tom Cruise] might leave me.

I never knew I'd be in a musical, let alone win an award for one.

There's no drugs, no Tom [Tom Cruise] in a dress, no psychiatrists.

Having gone through all of this, I feel in some ways calmer now. It's strange, but sad. I think I'll always be sad.

I love acting, but it's much more fun taking the kids to the zoo.

[on her split with Tom Cruise] My life collapsed. People ran from me because suddenly it was, "Oh my God! It's over for her now!"

I love working with people who are inspired and obsessive.

As a child my hair was naturally red, but since I was 13 my hair turned light blonde naturally. It's really strange but it happened. Ever since Chase through the night, the directors made me dye my hair red, as they all thought it suited me at the time. Even for Dead Calm (1989), Phillip Noyce made me dye my hair red. Now the directors and studios just let me keep my natural blonde hair.

For an actor, facial expressions and emotions are really important. That's why I'll never have Botox. I've always been against that and seeing Botox on TV with all the swelling and pain put me off it anyway. The directors always allow actors with Botox but I just say. "No way, not for me". Drinking lots of water, eating fruit and doing yoga is what keeps me looking young naturally. I swear by it. I also use creams with natural ingredients to make wrinkles less visible. Everybody should try these things rather than going the plastic route, which I just hate.

You don't have to be naked to be sexy.

I'm a person that carries everything that happened to me in my past, with me into the future. I refuse to let it make me bitter. I still completely believe in love and I remain open to anything that will happen to me.

If I packaged toothpaste and told you you were gonna get half the toothpaste in the tube, you probably wouldn't buy it.

It would be far easier to go, "Oh, I wish I loved women," but I don't. I love the way a man thinks. I love the way a man smells. I love the way men look. And I'm hooked on the male physique - hooked on it.

You're either going to walk through life and experience it fully or you're going to be a voyeur. And I'm not a voyeur.

On living in Nashville: It's the warmest, loveliest community I've ever set foot in. For me, it's the perfect place to live. To me, it's the best part of America...It's the easiest place to live. Keith's lived there for 20 years. The country music community is very tight. I like the polite nature of it. No traffic. I'm a big Southern girl now. It's just suits me.

Salary
Australia (2008) $13,000,000
The Golden Compass (2007) $15,000,000
Margot at the Wedding (2007) $6,000
The Invasion (2007/I) $16,000,000+
Bewitched (2005) $17,500,000
The Interpreter (2005) $15,000,000
Birth (2004) $15,000,000
The Stepford Wives (2004) $15,000,000
Cold Mountain (2003) $15,000,000
Dogville (2003) $2,800,000
The Hours (2002) $7,500,000
Birthday Girl (2001) $1,500,000
The Others (2001) $7,000,000
Moulin Rouge! (2001) $7,000,000
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) $6,500,000
Practical Magic (1998) $6,000,000
The Peacemaker (1997) $5,000,000
The Portrait of a Lady (1996) $2,500,000
Batman Forever (1995) $2,500,000
To Die For (1995) $2,000,000
My Life (1993/I) $500,000
Far and Away (1992) $250,000
Billy Bathgate (1991) $200,000
Days of Thunder (1990) $200,000

Where Are They Now
(January 2011) Nashville, Tennessee

Oprah Winfrey

2011-09-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
29 January 1954, Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA

Birth Name
Orpah Gail Winfrey

Nickname
O
Deepak Oprah (a sendup of Deepak Chopra, a self-help guru)
Lady O

Height
5' 6½" (1.69 m)

Trivia
She permanently withdrew herself and her show from consideration for a Daytime Emmy Award after being awarded the Lifetime Achievement in 1998. She was quoted as saying, "After you've achieved it for a lifetime, what else is there?"

In addition to being a news anchor on WJZ-TV13 in Baltimore, Maryland, Winfrey was co-host with Richard Sher (a reporter) on a local talk show called "People are Talking" on that station.

Graduated from East Nashville High School in Nashville, Tennessee (1971), where she was voted most popular.

Was sued by Texas cattlemen who claimed that Oprah defamed beef on her talk show. The case went to trial, causing Oprah to have to relocate her show's production to Amarillo, Texas, for the duration of the trial. She was found not liable.

She was ranked first in Entertainment Weekly's 1998 list of the most powerful people in show business, but dropped to sixth in the 1999 list. Still, she was the highest ranking performer, as well as the highest ranking woman, and the only African-American to make the list.

Graduate of Tennessee State University, with a degree in Speech and Performing Arts.

Is the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.

The given name on her birth certificate is Orpah, but the spelling was eventually changed to Oprah after others had difficulty pronouncing her name.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37.

Announced that Oprah would receive $130,000,000 for continuing her talk show through the 1999-2000 TV season. [15 September 1997]

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1997.

Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca, New York. [1994]

She and Stedman Graham are teaching "Dynamics of Leadership" class at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. [Fall 1999]

Given an honorary National Book Award for her "influential contribution to reading and books". [October 1999]

Awarded (lst) 50th anniversary medal by National Book Foundation, NYC. [November 1999]

Her immensely popular TV talk show is a Harpo Production. Harpo is Oprah spelled backwards. Harpo is also the name of a character in The Color Purple (1985) (Oprah's film debut) played by Willard E. Pugh.

Gave birth to a baby boy when she was just 14. The baby died after 2 weeks, from complications of being born 2 months premature.

Was instrumental in the passage of the Oprah Bill, in the early 1990s. The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, and is aimed at stopping child abuse.

Raised in abject poverty, she received her first pair of shoes in 1959 at age 6. She learned to read at age 2½. In fact, when it was time for her to start kindergarten, she wrote a note to her teacher insisting she should be in first grade. The teacher agreed and after finishing that grade she was then skipped to third grade.

Partner is Stedman Graham. [1986 - present]

Born at 7:51 PM EST

She and her former personal trainer, Bob Greene, announced they are buying seven shoreline lots from Getty Family Trust to build several homes, including one on 102-acre lot for Oprah. They plan to put conservation first and keep site development low key. [April 2002]

Added to Forbes Billionare list, making her the first African American woman to do so. [February 2003]

Ranked #1 on VH1's list of the "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons" (2003)

Measurements: 36-25-37 (as 18 year-old pageant contestant), 44D-29-40 (in 1990 at 200#+), 36C-25-35 (after 1995 diet), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY

Ranked #1 Pop Culture Icon on VH1's "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons" (2003), beating out Superman and Elvis.

Net worth is estimated to be US$1.1 billion. [2004]

Purchased a house at 3330 Radcliffe Avenue, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This superb 11,000 sq ft waterfront property was on sale for Cdn $18 million, at the time British Columbia's most expensive house, but she paid Cdn $17 million (US$13 million). [June 2004]

Natural daughter of Vernon Winfrey by Vernita Lee (born 2 May 1935).

According to Forbes magazine, her 2005 net worth is $1.3 billion. She was the first African-American women to make the list of billionaires, in 2003.

Was a guest at friends Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger's star-studded wedding

First African-American woman to become a billionaire in American history.

After years of publicly criticizing David Letterman's late-night television show, "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993), she and Letterman finally settled their differences when she agreed to appear on the December 1, 2005 episode, during which time she was to be in New York to promote her musical of The Color Purple (1985). During the Superbowl of 2007, they appeared in an advertisement together for Letterman's show. In the ad, they sat together on a couch watching the Superbowl, wearing opposing team jerseys. [2005]

Has a cameo playing herself in Throw Momma from the Train (1987). In a "clip" from her show, she interviews a writer (the ex-wife of Billy Crystal's character) whose plagiarized and embellished "life story" is at the top of the bestseller lists (foreshadowing the James Frey controversy twenty years later).

Was #3 on the annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list in 2006

Collapsed from heat exhaustion during a recent visit to her hometown of Kosciusko, Mississippi. [October 2006]

Winfrey's name was originally "Orpah," after the biblical figure in the book of Ruth. Several different stories allude to the fact that either a misspelling on her birth certificate or a struggle with the pronunciation of her name eventually led to "Oprah" being adopted as her given name.

Has Native American ancestry.

Appearing on the annual "Time 100" list, Time's ranking of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2007 again, she is the only person who has been on that list five times (May 2007).

Her two-year-old golden retriever, Gracie, died after accidentally choking to death on another dog's ball [July 2007].

In 2006, she gave $58,300,000 to charity to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah's Angel Network, and other groups.

In 2006, she earned an estimated $260 million in salary from her various interests including syndication, cable television, and print magazines.

Thanked by Shawn Colvin in the liner notes of her album "A Few Small Repairs".

Had two half siblings from her mother. Her half brother passed away from AIDS in December 1988 and her half sister, Patricia, died under mysterious circumstances in 2003.

Ranked #1 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.

Has size 10 feet.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 2009 and was the 2009 Commencement Speaker.

Jeff Bridges, Michael Douglas, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Costner, Steve Martin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Carol Burnett, John Cleese, Rob Lowe and Ivan Reitman are among her various Southern California neighbors.

World's first black billionairess with an estimated worth of $2.3 billion as of 2009.

Her personal chef until 2007 was Art Smith.

Recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors; other recipients that year were Jerry Herman, Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, and Bill T. Jones.

With ratings at an estimated 6.5 million viewers per day, her show is the most popular talk show in the world.

Aunt of Chrishaunda Lee, the daughter of her deceased half-sister Patricia. Oprah walked Chrishaundra down the aisle at her wedding in 2005.

Her idol is Diana Ross.

Attended Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin for a short period of time in her teenage years.

Is of African descent.

Personal Quotes
Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.

Lots of people want to ride with you in the Limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the Limo breaks down.

All my life I have always known I was born to greatness.

The essential question is not, "How busy are you?' but 'What are you busy at?' 'Are you doing what fulfills you?'

"What matters is how you feel inside, because feeling beautiful on the inside is key to looking good." quoted in Woman's World 9-20-05

The expectation of my life was that I might be able to work for some good white folks. Now I got some good white folks working for me.

Some women have a weakness for shoes... I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books.

My philosophy is that doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.

Just want to say how deeply saddened I am, we all are, by the sudden passing of actress Natasha Richardson yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Liam Neeson, their two sons, the rest of their family and friends. Yet another reminder of how fleeting life can be and how precious. We need to value every moment (On Natasha Richardson's tragic death).

Part of her 2009 commencement speech at Duke: Of all the wonderful things that have happened including getting a doctorate, an honorary doctorate from Duke, what really makes me feel successful is being able to use my life in service to someone else. And I will have to say, it is a wonderful thing to have a beautiful home or homes, a wonderful thing to have a beautiful home which just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara. And it is really fantastic to have your own jet and anybody who says it isn't is lying to you. The jet thing is really good. But you haven't completed the circle of success unless you can help somebody else move forward.

On personal power: I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.

On strategy: Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.

Having the best things is no substitute for having the best life.

Reaching your true potential is more than an ideal. It's the ultimate goal.

When the odds are against you and you have the depth of clarity to listen to your own instincts and follow what is true for you, you may not become a Jay-Z, but you will become the best thing that you can be.

Salary
The Color Purple (1985) approx. $35,000

Brad Pitt

2011-09-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
18 December 1963, Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA

Birth Name
William Bradley Pitt

Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography
Brad Pitt was born in 1963 in Oklahoma and raised in Springfield, Missouri. His mother's name is Jane Etta Hillhouse. His father, William (Bill) Pitt, worked in management at a trucking firm in Springfield. He has a younger brother, Douglas (Doug) Pitt and a younger sister Julie Neal Pitt. At Kickapoo High School, Pitt was involved in sports, debating, student government and school musicals. Pitt attended the University of Missouri, where he majored in journalism with a focus on advertising. He occasionally acted in fraternity shows. He left college two credits short of graduating to move to California. Before he became successful at acting, Pitt supported himself by driving strippers in limos, moving refrigerators and dressing as a giant chicken while working for "el Pollo Loco."

Spouse
Jennifer Aniston (29 July 2000 - 2 October 2005) (divorced)

Trade Mark
Laugh

Cheekbones

Often works with David Fincher

Often plays rebellious characters with noticeable mental problems

Frequently plays intense and troubled individuals

Often stars in risky independent Films with provocative storylines

Trivia
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#23). [1995]

Turned down a role as an astronaut in Apollo 13 (1995) to accept his role in Se7en (1995).

Posed for a campus calendar in college.

A girl went to Pitt's Hollywood-area home shortly after midnight Jan. 7, 1999 and crawled in through an open window, dressed herself in his clothes and stayed for 10 hours before the alarm went off. Athena Rolando, 19, was ordered not to contact the actor and to stay 100 yards away from him for three years. [1999]

Ranked #32 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Mutally agrees to split with Gwyneth Paltrow. [June 1997]

Banned from entering China because of his role in Seven Years in Tibet (1997). [1997]

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1997]

Engaged to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. [20 December 1996]

Donated $100,000 to the Discovery Center - a children's learning museum in his hometown of Springfield, Missouri. [June 1996]

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1996]

His first starring role in a feature film was in The Dark Side of the Sun (1988), shot in pre-war Yugoslavia during the summer of 1988. As editing neared completion, civil war broke out in the region and much of the footage was lost. In 1996, after a five-year search, all of the lost footage was found and returned to producer Andjelo Arandjelovic, who is working on getting a distribution deal. Pitt was paid $1,523 per week for seven weeks. He played a young American taken by his family to the Adriatic Sea to search for a cure for a rare skin disease.

Purchased a mansion is Southern California from the actress who portrays "Elvira" (Cassandra Peterson). He reportedly paid $1.7 million for the house. This mansion is filled with antiques and has a "vampirish" look to it. [1996]

1994: Given title "Sexiest Man Alive" from People Magazine, after making Legends of the Fall (1994).

May 1992: Lived in Southern California with friend Buck Simmonds, who starred with him in A River Runs Through It (1992).

Dated Juliette Lewis. They met on the set of the NBC movie of the week Too Young to Die? (1990) (TV). They also did Kalifornia (1993) together.

He was the third choice for the role of J.D. in Thelma & Louise (1991). William Baldwin, the first choice, left to star in Backdraft (1991).

Had to learn to fly-cast for his role in A River Runs Through It (1992). He practiced on top of buildings in Hollywood. During these practices he frequently hooked himself in the back of his head.

Voted "Best Actor" by viewers of MTV's "The Big Picture" (1988) in 1995.

Was a journalism major in college with an advertising focus.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 43. [1991]

Graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo. [1982]

Dropped out of the University of Missouri School of Journalism (Columbia, Missouri).

In high school was a member of the golf, tennis, and swim teams.

Belonged to the Key Club and the Forensics Club in High School.

Listed in "People Weekly"s "Most Intriguing People" list. (December 25, 1995/January 1, 1996 issue)

He has a brother, Doug, born in 1966 and a sister, Julie Pitt, born in 1969.

Given title "Sexiest Man Alive" from People Magazine, Mr. Pitt was also People's choice in 1995. [2000]

Was considered for the lead in The Matrix (1999).

Has his teeth capped.

Sued Damiani International, the company which created the wedding ring he gave Jennifer Aniston. According to Pitt, the ring was his design and was to be exclusive. The company has since been selling replicas and indicating Pitt/Aniston's endorsement of the ring. [18 July 2001]

He and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston spent $1 million on their wedding. [2000]

He and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston reached a settlement with Damiani International. The pair claimed the company agreed to never reproduce their wedding rings, but it manufactured and sold "Brad and Jennifer" rings in 18 karat white or yellow gold, featuring either 12 or 13 diamonds and costing about $1,000 apiece. Under the settlement, Pitt will now design jewelry for Damiani that Aniston will model in ads, and Damiani will stop selling the Pitt and Aniston copies. [11 January 2002]

For the last couple of years he has been the spokesman for Edwin Jeans ads in Japan. In 2001 he was also the face of the ads for a new Japanese canned coffee which is named Roots. Was replaced in these tv ads (2002) by Kevin Costner.

Studied acting with the late Roy London.

Did TV commercial for Toyota (Altis model) that aired only in Asia. The car became very popular and its sales resulted in Toyota getting an almost 32% share of the passenger car market.

Has a home at Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey.

Auditioned for the role of "J.D." in the 1988 cult classic film Heathers (1988) and, though he showed talent, casting directors thought him to be "too sweet" for the role, which later went to Christian Slater. He would later go on to a very similar role in the horror film Cutting Class (1989) in 1989.

Is mentioned by name in the Shania Twain hit song, "That Don't Impress Me Much."

He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The Xi Xi chapter at The University of Missouri - Columbia.

After watching Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Pitt asked director Guy Ritchie if he could be in his next film. He couldn't master the English accent, so Ritchie gave him the role of Mickey the One Punch Pikey, an Irish fighter, in Snatch. (2000).

With Brad Grey's departure for Paramount and after the divorce settlement with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, he now solely owns Plan B Entertainment.

Tore his Achilles tendon during the production of Troy (2004), in which he plays, ironically, Achilles. His injury caused the production of Ocean's Twelve (2004) to be pushed back to April 2004. [2003]

Is the first man ever to be named "Sexiest Man Alive" twice by "People Magazine." (1994 and 2000).

He and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston campaigned in the United States to save "EastEnders" (1985) from being axed there [2003].

Showed his parents the "Chemical Burn" scene to convince them not to watch Fight Club (1999).

Got into better shape and eventually gained over 20 pounds of muscle for Troy (2004).

He has appeared in three movies with the number seven in the title (Se7en (1995), Seven Years in Tibet (1997), and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)). He has also appeared in two movies with the number twelve in the title (Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Twelve Monkeys (1995)).

He was ranked #6 on VH1's "100 Hottest Hotties."

His high school nickname was Brad the "Pitt-bull."

He took Greek language lessons in secret to surprise his then-wife Jennifer Aniston who is of Greek ancestry.

Voted #1 in Company magazine's annual "100 Sexiest Men" poll, 2004.

His favorite movies are Planet of the Apes (1968) and Saturday Night Fever (1977).

Announced on January 7, 2005 that he and Jennifer Aniston are separating after 4 1/2 years of marriage.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2005 Razzie Award nominating ballot. He was listed as a suggestion in the Worst Actor category for his performance in the film Troy (2004). He did not receive a nomination, however.

Dianne Wiest is his favorite actress.

Premiere Magazine ranked him as #50 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

A short while after completing A River Runs Through It (1992), he fled to Amsterdam where he briefly lived for three months by himself in a small basement apartment before returning to the USA to film Kalifornia (1993).

He and his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston met on a blind date, which was arranged by their agent

He and his Ocean's Eleven (2001) / Ocean's Twelve (2004) co- stars, Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Elliott Gould, all have guest-starred on the TV show "Friends" (1994), though not in the same episodes

Owns and plays Taylor Guitars

In 2001 renowned architect Frank O. Gehry renovated the wine cellar in the home in which Pitt and wife Jennifer Aniston lived. Pitt subsequently did an informal apprenticeship in Gehry's Los Angeles office.

Owns the rights to the Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs (2002). He wanted it to be remade with he and Tom Cruise in the leading roles. The movie was eventually remade as The Departed (2006). Pitt served as a producer on the movie.

On the invitation of Virgin CEO Richard Branson, he visited over 100 orphans affected by HIV at a facility run by The Salvation Army in South Africa as well as personally meeting Nelson Mandela and discussing Mandela's 46664 campaign (named for his prison ID number) to call attention to South Africa's devastating AIDS epidemic. After South Africa, he then flew to Ethiopia on behalf of DATA, a third-world lobby group co-founded by U2's Bono. [November 2004]

Has appeared in eight movies with a number in the title - and only one of them uses an actual number rather than spelling the word out. That is Se7en (1995), which is a combination of the two, He has appeared in 1 movie with the number Zero in the title, 1 with the number Two in the title, 3 with the number Seven in the title, 1 with the number Eleven and 2 with the Twelve.

He is a big fan of MTV's "Jackass" (2000). He even asked the cast if he could join them during on of their stunt jokes. He eventually made an appearance dressed in an ape outfit, in order not to be recognized, which would have ruined the joke.

Raised in Springfield, Missouri, and is an alumni of Kickapoo High School. Other alumni include Adrienne Wilkinson and Jay Kenneth Johnson.

Broke his arm during the filming of Se7en (1995). The injury was written into the movie.

Adoptive father of Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Zahara Jolie-Pitt with Angelina Jolie.

Wanted to play Darcy in Bride & Prejudice (2004), but wasn't able to work out the filming dates.

Daughter (with girlfriend Angelina Jolie) Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born 27 May 2006 in Namibia, Africa.

Ranked #15 on Premiere's 2006 "Power 50" list. Had ranked #31 in 2005.

Was considered for two roles which went to Johnny Depp: Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow (1999) and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Both were directed by Tim Burton.

The first commercial that Brad Pitt ever booked was through Matrix Talent Agency, Los Angeles. His agent was Linda Olhava, sister of film director Jody Lee Olhava.

Has Single Engine Land pilot license.

Occasionally flies a Cessna 208B Caravan belonging to Chivan Productions.

Initially didn't want to appear in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), although it was he who gave the script to director Doug Liman.

Originally cast as Colin Sullivan in The Departed (2006), but later dropped out. He continued to produce the film under his (and his then wife Jennifer Aniston's) production company, Plan B.

His first job was dancing in a chicken suit to draw in customers at an El Pollo Loco restaurant on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

March 2007 - he and girlfriend Angelina Jolie adopted a 3-year-old boy named Pax Thien from Vietnam (born November 29th 2003).

Made a cameo appearance with Matt Damon for free in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) as a favor to Ocean's Eleven (2001) costar and close friend George Clooney - the film was Clooney's directorial debut.

Has been in 7 movies where the title contains the name of the character he plays: Johnny Suede (1991), Meet Joe Black (1998), Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Chad Schmidt (2010).

Considered for the role in Crimson Tide (1995) that eventually went to Denzel Washington.

Voted #6 in Elle (France) Magazine's "15 Sexiest Men" poll (June 2007).

Mentioned in the song High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup, as "the quarterback".

Was trained to handle weapons by renowned Hollywood gun coach Thell Reed, who has also trained such actors as Val Kilmer, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Sam Elliot, Girard Swan, Ben Foster and Kurt Russell.

He and Russell Crowe were director Ridley Scott's first two choices for the lead in American Gangster (2007). Crowe was eventually cast.

Used to act at the Vandevort Theater in Springfield, Missouri. He still visits and donates to the theater.

Donated 5 million dollars of his own money to rebuild homes in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.

In 2005, he earned $4,500,000 for a Heineken commercial that aired during the 2005 Super Bowl.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year to be $35 million.

He is a Patron of the "Mineseeker Foundation" and the "Sole of Africa", a campaign dedicated to detecting and removing land mines in Africa. The Foundation's patrons include Nelson Mandela, Sir Richard Branson, Queen Noor, 'Graca Machel' and John Paul DeJoria.

Ranked #10 in the 2008 Forbes' The Celebrity 100 list. His girlfriend, Angelina Jolie, ranked #3.

On July 12th 2008, his longtime girlfriend, Angelina Jolie, gave birth to twins - a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne Marcheline.

In Nov. 2005, he visited Pakistan with Angelina Jolie to see the impact of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. In 2006, Jolie and Pitt also went to Haiti where they visited a school supported by Yéle Haïti, a charity founded by Haitian-born hip hop musician Wyclef Jean.

Was officially in the BAFTA long-list for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Babel (2006), however he did not get the nomination.

Considers Fitzcarraldo (1982), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) among his personal favorite movies.

Domestic Partner: Angelina Jolie (2005 - present).

Auditioned for the role of Mike in Phantasm II (1988) but director Don Coscarelli instead chose James LeGros.

Along with Angelina Jolie, he traveled to Syria and Jordan on a United Nations Goodwill visit to displaced Iraqi civilians. [October 2009]

Friends with Clint Eastwood.

Met ex-fiancée Gwyneth Paltrow on the set of Se7en (1995).

Was in a relationship with singer Sinitta Renay for two years during the 1980s.

Lives in Los Angeles, Malibu, Goleta, California, Benerville, France and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Ex-son-in-law of John Aniston and Nancy Dow.

Ex-stepson-in-law of Sherry Rooney.

Appears in two films that take place in the Northwest during the first decades of the 20th Century, and in which he defends a Native American's right to be served alcohol in a bar: "A River Runs Through It" (1992) and "Legends of the Fall" (1994).

Personal Quotes
[US Weekly, 9/18/00] Being married means I can break wind and eat ice cream in bed.

I'm gonna design my own fleet of trailers. No! I'm gonna record an album like Jennifer Lopez. It'll be an acoustic version of KC & The Sunshine Band. Then maybe I'll design a line of clothes like [Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs] but all in synthetic fur.

I'd like to design something like a city or a museum. I want to do something hands on rather than just play golf which is the sport of the religious right.

[Viasat magazine, 5/01] Fame is a bitch, man.

[on what keeps him humble] You know, I telephoned my grandparents the other day, and my grandfather said to me, "We saw your movie." "Which one?" I said, and he shouted, "Betty, what was the name of that movie I didn't like?" I thought that was just classic. I mean, if that doesn't keep your feet on the ground, what would?

I'm one of those people you hate because of genetics. It's the truth.

Success is a beast. And it actually puts the emphasis on the wrong thing. You get away with more instead of looking within.

[Time magazine, 10/13/97] You shouldn't speak until you know what you're talking about. That's why I get uncomfortable with interviews. Reporters ask me what I feel China should do about Tibet. Who cares what I think China should do? I'm a f---ing actor! They hand me a script. I act. I'm here for entertainment. Basically, when you whittle everything away, I'm a grown man who puts on makeup.

When you see a person, do you just concentrate on their looks? It's just a first impression. Then there's someone who doesn't catch your eye immediately, but you talk to them and they become the most beautiful thing in the world. The greatest actors aren't what you would call beautiful sex symbols. I'll tell you who my favorite actress is, Dianne Wiest, and you wouldn't call her a sex symbol. Dianne Wiest is, to me, the most beautiful woman on the screen.

[when asked by Conan O'Brien how he got into character as stoner Floyd in True Romance (1993)] I'm a method actor.

[In May, 2005, on his impending divorce to Jennifer Aniston] The thing I don't understand is looking at this as a failure. It's talked about like it failed, I guess because it wasn't flawless. Me, I embrace the messiness of life. I find it so beautiful, actually.

[2003] It's amazing what an impending midlife crisis will do for you, really. It got me motivated, having turned 40 in December.

[on having children] It really changes your perspective on the world. You know, I've had my day. I made some films, and I've really had a very fortunate life, and it's time for me to share that a little bit. Having children takes the focus off yourself, which I'm really grateful for. I'm so tired of thinking about myself. I'm sick of myself. You feel you want to be there and not miss out on anything. It's a true joy and a very profound love. You can write a book, you can make a movie, you can paint a painting, but having kids is the most extraordinary thing I've ever taken on.

[On how his children will influence his future roles] My thoughts these days are, "Oh, my God, what did I do? What are they going to see from the past?" It definitely colors what I'll approach in the future. I'll try to be a little bit more mature about my decisions.

[on how his earlier, lesser film roles ultimately improved him as an actor]: I believe I'm quite capable and we, as people, can learn to do anything, and that's proof of it! And my education is on film, on record! Now I can take on anything that comes my way and find truth in it an do a pretty good job.

[About Quentin Tarantino) The set is heaven and he is God. Heretics are not allowed

(2010 - on New Orleans) Truthfully, my favorite sound in the entire world is opening up the balcony doors in the French Quarter and hearing four different sounds playing at once from the apartments across the way or down the street. It's a balmy night, twilight, and I'm drinking a beer, and this feeling just falls over me, of contentment. It gives me goosebumps to talk about it.

(On being dumped by ex-fiancee Jill Schoelen in 1989) She called me up in Los Angeles and was crying on the phone. She was lonely and there was a huge drama. At this point I had $800 to my name and I spent $600 of it getting a ticket from Los Angeles to Hungary to see her. I got there, went straight to the set where she was filming and that night we went out to dinner. She told me that she had fallen in love with the director of the film. I was so shocked I said, 'I'm outta here.' I spent my night in Budapest, sitting on a bench, smoking, with just a local bum to talk to who couldn't speak English. These are the days and nights you remember when you have success. I returned to America absolutely broke. This is why recognition does not bother me too much.

Fame makes you feel permanently like a girl walking past construction workers.

(2009) What's valuable to me has become clearer as I've got older. To me, it's about the value of your time and your day and the value of the people you spend it with. It's about me being a strong father and guide and a good match for my significant other. Then, if I'm going to go to work, it must be something of value to me. I'm much more experienced now, so I can find films that are interesting quicker and cut out the films that don't really matter. It means more to me now because my kids are going to see them, and I want them to be proud.

(1998, on why he moved to L.A.) A lot of the attraction before I came out was the fame, the lifestyle...now my motivation is more, 'I want to be good!'.

We make breakfast like everyone else and it's chaos and pancake batter splashed all over the place and bath time at night. Ultimately, I'm dad. I have the concerns a dad has. Is everyone safe? Am I spending enough time with them? These are the things that keep me awake.

[on comparing his own parenting style with that of his character in 'The Tree of Life']: They say actions speak louder than words. It's even more true with my kids. And so it's quite important to me not to put my frustrations on them or bring them in the door. I want to keep them to be free and not encumbered with my junk. In the film it's the exact opposite. I find it very sad, a very sad man who was embittered by his situation, doesn't feel he can get ahead, always feels like he's on the losing end, feels quite oppressed by his surroundings and predicament, doesn't know why it isn't working out for him and why is it working out for other people. That poisoned view of things.

There are no secrets in our house. We tell the kids, 'Mom and Dad are going off to kiss.'

Salary
Inglourious Basterds (2009) $10,000,000
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) $1,000,000
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) $20,000,000
Troy (2004) $17,500,000
Ocean's Eleven (2001) $30,000,000 ($10m salary + backend participations)
Spy Game (2001) $17,500,000
The Mexican (2001) $10,000,000
Fight Club (1999) $17,500,000
Meet Joe Black (1998) $17,500,000
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $10,000,000
The Devil's Own (1997) $8,000,000
Sleepers (1996) $10,000,000
Se7en (1995) $4,000,000
Kalifornia (1993) $500,000
Thelma & Louise (1991) $6,000
Cutting Class (1989) $12,000
Less Than Zero (1987) $38

Where Are They Now
(May 2003) Filming Troy (2004) in Malta.

(May 2004) The cast of Ocean's Twelve (2004) are currently filming in Amsterdam.

(January 2006) His girlfriend Angelina Jolie is expecting their first biological child.

(May 2006) Girlfriend Angelina Jolie gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, on May 27, 2006 in Namibia, Africa.

(October 2006) In India with girlfriend Angelina Jolie, who is shooting for A Mighty Heart (2007).

(July 2008) Angelina Jolie gives birth to the couple's fifth and sixth children, son Knox Leon and daughter Vivienne Marcheline, in Nice, France.

(May 2009) In Mato Grosso, Brazil, filming The Lost City of Z (2012).

Juan Manuel Marquez

2011-08-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Juan Manuel Marquez comes from a strong boxing pedigree. His brother, Rafael Marquez, is a former world champion who has won world titles at the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions. Marquez had an amateur record of 35-1 that included two Golden Glove tournament wins. He made his professional debut at the age of 19 on May 29th, 1993 and lost his first bout by way of disqualification to Javier Duran.
Marquez wouldn’t lose again for another six years as he compiled a record of 29-1 that included a win over future champion Agapito Sanchez, and former champion Julio Gervacio and Alfred Kotey. In 1997, Marquez won the NABO featherweight title, which he defended seven times.
Marquez earned his first shot at a world title on September 11th, 1999, when he lost a controversial 12 round decision to then unbeaten champion Freddie Norwood.

On November 20th, 1999 Marquez stopped Remigio Molina in eight rounds. In August of 2000, Marquez defeated former champion Daniel Jimenez and five fights later, he stopped future champion Robbie Peden in ten rounds for the NABF and USBA featherweight titles.

In May of 2004, Marquez fought the man recognized as the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao to a draw; in the fight Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round. Marquez was never able to overcome those early points deficit which many believe is the reason the fight ended in a draw. The result was controversial as judge Burt Clements scored the first round as 10-7 for Pacquiao instead of what normally would have been 10-6; this was the anomaly that caused the fight to be called a draw instead of a split decision for Pacquiao. The final scores on the judge’s cards were, John Stewart had it 110-115 for Marquez, Guy Jutras had it 115-110 for Pacquiao and Burt Clements had it 113-113.

On September 18th, 2004, Marquez defeated future champion Orlando Salido. In 2005 Marquez was stripped of his WBA and IBF belts for his inability to defend them against various boxers after potential bouts failed to draw a bid. In 2006 Marquez attempted to regain the WBA featherweight title coming up short in a controversial decision loss to Indonesian boxer Chris John. The disputed decision led to Ring magazines removal of Marquez from their top ten pound for pound list.

In August of 2006, Marquez captured the WBO Interim Featherweight title when he stopped Terdstak Jandaeng of Thailand in 7 rounds. Three months later Marquez successfully defended the title with a 9th round knockout of Pilipino boxer Jimrex Jaca in Hidalgo, Texas. Later that same year Marquez was promoted to world champion status when the previous champion Scott Harrison vacated the title. Than in March of 2007 Marquez vacated the same title to challenge Marco Antonio Barrera for the WBC Super Featherweight title. Marquez ended up outpointing Barrera to win a unanimous decision.

In September of 2007 Argentinean boxer Jorge Rodrigo Barrios was scheduled to fight Marquez for the title but withdrew due to a last minute injury. American fighter Rocky Juarez took the challenge to no avail losing a 12 round unanimous decision.

In late November of 2007 the Marquez-Pacquiao rematch was announced. In a highly disputed split decision, Juan Manuel Marquez lost the Super Featherweight title to Manny Pacquiao on March 15th, 2008. According to Compubox scoring Marquez landed 42/201 (21%) of his jabs compared to Pacquiao’s 114/305 (14%) of his jabs. They also had Marquez landing 130/310 (42%) of his power punches compared to just 114/305 (37%) for Pacquiao. In spite of all this Pacquiao landed a powerful left that decked Marquez in the third round. The knockdown proved to be the deciding factor in the fight as the remaining rounds were scored even. The fight was controversial with some Filipino boxing analysts saying Marquez should have won the fight. Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, offered a $6 million guarantee to Pacquiao for a rematch. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said, “I’m not saying they’ll never fight again, but you have to let it bake for a while”. Pacquiao, for his part said, “I don’t think so, this business is over” as he plans have been to move up to the lightweight division.

On September 13th, 2008 Juan Manuel Marquez moved to the lightweight division to fight the linear champion Joel Casamayor. Marquez defeated Casamayor when referee Tony Weeks called a halt to the fight after 11 rounds declaring Marquez the winner by way of an 11th round TKO. In the 11th round Marquez twice landed two perfectly timed right hand punches that caught Casamayor flush on the chin both flooring the champ causing Weeks to stop the fight 2:55 in the 11th round.

Many Casamayor fans were not happy with the early stoppage but Joel himself was gracious in defeat saying, “Marquez was the better man this night”. At the time of the stoppage the official judge’s cards read Glen Feldman 97-93 for Marquez, both judge’s Patricia Morse Jarman and Paul Smith had it scored even at 95-95.

The betting odds in Las Vegas at this time are all very close giving Juan Diaz a slight edge due to the “hometown advantage.” The fight at this time is still a full month away and I’m sure odds will change the closer we get to the opening bell.

Lady Gaga

2011-08-30T03:35:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
28 March 1986, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

Nickname
GaGa

Height
5' 1" (1.55 m)

Trade Mark
Her hair bow.

Platnium blond hair.

Her futuristic outfits.

She carries a glow-in-the-dark disco stick during performances.

Rhythmic hooks and choruses

Always features two Great Danes in her music videos

Refers to all her fans as "Monsters"

Often portrays herself as a rebel in her videos

In her videos, she often ends up killing someone - usually her boyfriend

Various colored wigs

Her tattoos

Revealing outfits

Wild charismatic dancing

Trivia
Has three tattoos, one her on wrist, shoulder blade, and lower back.

Is of Italian descent.

Used to be a go-go dancer.

The album's lead single, "Just Dance", was released on April 8, 2008 and had reached number one in five countries.

Went to the same school with Paris Hilton.

She has been influenced by Madonna, David Bowie, Judy Garland, Grace Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Freddie Mercury, Björk, Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.

At seventeen, she was one of twenty people in the world to have gained early admission to the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Her stage name, Lady GaGa, is a reference to the song "Radio Ga-Ga" by Queen.

Interscope music executive Vincent Herbert hired her in January 2008 as a music writer.

She states that she is "very into fashion" and that it is "everything".

Her song "Boys, Boys, Boys" was inspired by Mötley Crüe's hit "Girls, Girls, Girls".

She learned how to play the piano at the age of four, wrote her first piano ballad at 13, and began performing at open mic nights by the age of 14.

Her parents are Joseph, an Internet entrepreneur, and Cynthia, a telecommunications assistant.

She makes mention of the band, The Killers, in her song "Boys, Boys, Boys".

On February 20, 2009, she donated tickets and a meet and greet, for any show on her Fame Ball tour, in the US or Canada, to raise money for Odyssey Charter School and elementary schools in Los Angeles affected by budget cuts.

Has a younger sister.

Is a natural brunette.

Attended Sacred Heart School, a private Catholic school in New York City. Her classmates included Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton.

Bleached her hair blonde in light of the fact that she was being mistaken for Amy Winehouse by interviewers while trying to make it big.

Has a contralto vocal range.

Her song "Telephone" was originally written for Britney Spears's sixth album Circus. However, after it failed to make the album's final track listing, Gaga recorded the song as a collaboration with 'Beyonce Knowles' for her second album, The Fame Monster.

Is a big fan of Britney Spears.

Made the cover of Time magazine's double issue - The 100 Most Influential People in the World - alongside Bill Clinton and Didier Drogba. In the magazine's "Artists" category (which she headed), the singer's tribute was written by Cyndi Lauper. [May 10, 2010]

Is good friends with Deepak Chopra and has stated he is one of the most influential people in her life because of the spiritual guidance he gives her.

In high school, one of her nicknames was "The Germ".

A staunch supporter of LGBT Rights.

Her sister Natali once dressed as her for Halloween.

Her album "Born This Way" (2011) sold over 1 million copies in the first week. Amazon sold 440,000 copies of the album in its first two days at a price of 99 cents (at a loss of over $3 million). This contributed to the album's 662,000 digital sales. However, in the second week the album experienced an 84% sales decrease and a 94% digital sales drop. In it's third week the album had a 42% sales decrease and, in the fourth week sales of of the album decreased by another 33%.

Her second album "Born This Way" (2011) is the seventh album to sell 1 million copies in 1 week. Gaga is the 5th woman to sell 1 million album copies in a week, after Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Norah Jones and Taylor Swift.

Ranked #99 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women". Ranked #92 in the 2010 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women".

Personal Quotes
On Donatella Versace: She's iconic and powerful, yet people throw darts at her. She's definitely provocative.

Some artists are working to buy the mansion or whatever the element of fame must bear, but I spend all my money on my show.

I was the arty girl, the theatre chick. I dressed differently and I came from a different social class from the other girls. I was more of an average schoolgirl with a cork.

On her style: My grandmother is basically blind, but she can make out the lighter parts, like my skin and hair. She says, "I can see you, because you have no pants on." So I'll continue to wear no pants so that my grandma can see me.

You must never ever let a guy know how much you like him, because then he'll run in the other direction ... Well, I just sign that when you don't play hard to get, if you're too easy or you come off too eager, they run away so you gotta keep your pokerface on.

I love Dolce & Gabbana. I love Versace. I love the crazy, more eccentric stuff. I can't pay my rent, but I'm f---ing gorgeous.

I dropped out of NYU, moved out of my parent's house, got my own place, and survived on my own. I made music and worked my way from the bottom up. I didn't know somebody, who knew somebody, who knew somebody. If I have any advice to anybody, it's to just do it yourself, and don't waste time trying to get a favor.

Writing a record is like dating a few men at once. You take them to the same restaurants to see if they measure up, and at some point you decide who you like best. When you make music or write or create, it's really your job to have mind-blowing, irresponsible, condomless sex with whatever idea it is you're writing about at the time.

My album covers are not sexual at all, which was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings. They didn't think the photos were commercial enough... In my opinion, the last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.

[on Britney Spears] Britney's a real class act in terms of the way she handles herself in the media and embraces new artists. She's always really kind, I've always admired that about her.

[on Britney Spears] It was awesome seeing the song change when she put her touches on it. I'm just really grateful that she loves the music and she's so supportive of me. She's a fan of my stuff and to write a song that she loves and to know she loves me as an artist, you can't ask for anything better than that.

[on Britney Spears] She's gonna kick everybody's ass. She's awesome, as far as I'm concerned Britney never left.

[on writing the song Quicksand for Britney Spears] She was very sweet and she was very excited to do this song. It's an honor to do anything for Britney Spears - she is such an iconic pop figure for my generation.

I am not sexy in the way that Britney Spears is sexy - which is a compliment to her because she's deliciously good-looking.

[on writing songs for Britney Spears] She's a nice girl - I just feel very honored that she wanted to sing my song. I used to scream for her in Times Square and now I work for her. When I was 13 she was the most provocative performer of my time. I love her so much!

[on Britney Spears] Britney certainly doesn't need any freaking tips from me! Britney Spears is the queen of pop. I was learning from her.

I would rather die than have my fans not see me in a pair of high heels. I'd never give up my wigs or hats for anything. You see legendary people taking out their trash, I think it's destroying show business.

[about her experience at school] I had a very big nose, very curly brown hair and I was overweight. I got made fun of.

Pop music will never be low brow.

[on how to be glamorous for a photo shoot] Just look straight into that lens and be yourself.

Be yourself and love who you are and be proud. Because you were born this way baby.

People assume that when I'm off stage I transform back into someone else. But I truly believe in the glamorous lifestyle that I present to the outside world. I love glamor. A glamorous life is quite different to a life of luxury. I don't need luxury. For years I was practically broke but I was still vain and glamorous.

[on Freddie Mercury]: Freddie was unique - one of the biggest personalities in the whole of pop music.

Everywhere I go a Gaga fairy has been there before me and left a cupboard full of wonderful clothes that I'm allowed to borrow and wear. When I move on to the next city, the next cupboard is waiting. I haven't been shopping myself for over a year now.

She is the queen, Madonna is the queen. I have so much adoration for her. Being compared to her is unbelievably flattering, but in truth there is no one that can compare with Madonna. She is the queen!

First thing in the morning, try to think compassionate thoughts about yourself for five minutes. I don't always do it, but I try to.

[on sleeping with her makeup still on] I've got to wash my face at some point. I do get laughed at quite a bit by all my friends because they say I go to sleep a lot with my make-up on. But I say that I have to be ready for the men in my dreams!

They'd say, 'Why do you do your make-up like that, what's with your eyebrows?' I used to do these really big Evita brows. I used to self-tan, and I had this really intense tan in school, and people would say, 'Why the fuck are you so orange, why do you do your hair that way, are you a dyke?' I used to be called a slut... I didn't even want to go to school sometimes.

Where Are They Now
(January 2010) Named the new face of "Polaroid".

Taylor Swift

2011-08-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
13 December 1989, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA

Birth Name
Taylor Alison Swift

Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)

Trade Mark
Her long, curly blonde hair.

She often wears dresses with cowboy boots.

She often mentions the name of the person she's singing about in her songs.

Trivia
The love interest in her song, "Tim McGraw", is named Johnny.

Taught herself to play guitar.

Has a little brother named Austin.

With her first No. 1 song "Our Song", at age 18 years and 9 days, became the fifth teen-aged female singer to top the Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs chart. The others were Jean Shepard (19 years, 9 months in August 1953 with "A Dear John Letter"), Tanya Tucker (14 years, 7 months in May 1973 with "What's Your Mama's Name"), Marie Osmond (14 years, 1 month in November 1973 with "Paper Roses") and LeAnn Rimes (14 years, 4 months in December 1996 with "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)").

Was ranked #57 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 of 2008 list.

She grew up on a Christmas tree farm and her job was to rake Praying Mantis pods off the trees.

Was in a relationship with Joe Jonas [June 2008 - October 2008].

Best friends with Selena Gomez and Emma Stone.

She won the award for Best Female Video at the 2009 Video Music Awards.

Good friends with Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams, Kellie Pickler, and Emma Watson.

On November 11th, 2009, Taylor became the youngest singer to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award.

She spent her summers through the age of 14 at the Jersey shore. Her family owned a home in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, an upscale South Jersey resort town north of Cape May and south of Atlantic City.

Had a cameo in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009).

She credits LeAnn Rimes as her main influence into a country music career. Swift stated on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) that she wanted to be a country singer after attending Rimes' concert.

She was a member of a local SNL-inspired kid's sketch comedy group TheatreKids Live! while growing up in Pennsylvania.

Her music influences include Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Patsy Cline, and her grandmother, who was a professional opera singer.

Taylor's best friend Abigail Anderson, whom she's known since ninth grade, is mentioned in her song "Fifteen" from her Fearless album.

She graduated from high school in July 2008 from Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Named a spokeswoman for Cover Girl [May 4, 2010].

Was in a relationship with Taylor Lautner [July 2009 - December 2009].

When she appeared at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (2009) (TV), she assisted magician David Copperfield with two illusions. First, he made her appear inside an apparently empty glass elevator, and in the second he sawed her in half in the same glass-sided boxes he used to saw Claudia Schiffer in half in his 1990s stage shows.

Ranked #31 in Maxim magazine's "Hot 100" Women of 2010.

Was in a relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal [October 2010 - December 2010].

Holds the rare distinction of having all of her released singles (excluding promotional singles and singles as a featured artist) reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Of those twelve singles, five of them have reached the Top 10, and three of those five singles have reached the Top 5.

Friends with Justin Bieber.

Went to the same high school in Wyomissing, PA, as Jillian Murray.

When Beyoncé Knowles won the MTV Music Video award for Video of the Year, she set aside her acceptance speech in order to allow Taylor to finish her acceptance speech, for best female video, which had been interrupted by Kanye West hours earlier.

She won the 'Entertainer of the Year' award at the 46th American Country Music Awards.

Ranked #20 in Maxim magazine's "Hot 100" Women of 2011.

Her first song was called "Lucky You".

Her grandmother was an opera singer.

It took three attempts to get her driver's permit when she was 15.

Graduated from home schooling in 2008.

Ranked #61 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

Ranked #53 in the 2011 FHM Australia list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

It took her 3 attempts to get her driver's permit.

Nicknamed her car "Toyoat" because it is a Toyota.

Personal Quotes
[on working with David Copperfield at the 2009 CMA awards] Working with David was a lot of fun, especially being sawed in half. A couple of my friends were there watching us rehearse the sawing. After David had cut me in two and pushed my halves apart, he invited them up on stage to take a closer look at me and they were totally blown away, because they could see right inside the boxes and see that I wasn't curled up inside the top one. One of them looked at me laying there in two pieces in front of them and said "Whoa, Taylor - He really has sawn you in half, hasn't he??!!".

[on the Britney Spears perfume she wore] The coolest girl in school wore Britney Spears' Fantasy, and I had to copy her.

People haven't always been there for me, but music always has.

I never want to change so much that people can't recognize me.

When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he's everything you ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he's not easy to spot; he's really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair.

There's more to life than dating the boy on the football team.

I'm intimidated by the fear of being average.

Everyone I know has had fair warning! I've always written about who's spending time with me, so if they get into any kind of a relationship with me, they know what they're getting into.

There is a strength in letting bygones be bygones. It was therapeutic to write and perform. Sometimes it's best not to say anything. I just save it for the music.

Manny Pacquiao

2011-08-26T03:33:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth
17 December 1978, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines

Birth Name
Emmanuel Pacquiao

Nickname
Pac Man
The Destroyer

Height
5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography
Voted "Person of the Year 2003" in Philippines, beating out President Arroyo for the award. Enjoys huge celebrity status in his native Philippines and therefore trains in the United States with trainer Freddie Roach at Wildcard Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, California. Formerly the champion of the OPBF & IBF Flyweight; WBC International & IBF Super Bantamweight; The Ring Featherweight; WBC & The Ring Junior Lightweight; WBC Lightweight; and current The Ring Light Welterweight champion.

Spouse
Jinky Pacquiao (? - ?) 4 children

Trivia
Children (with Jinkee): Jemuel and Michael

Performs with the hip-hop group Black-Eyed Peas on their hit single, Champion.

First boxing defeat was a KO in the hand of Rustico Torrecampo early in his career (his 12th fight on February 9th 1996)

Lost his bid for the congressional seat of his province of South Cotabato in the Philippine general election of May 2007. Incumbent congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio won by a landslide with a final tally of 139,061 votes over Pacquiao's 75,908 votes.

After arriving home from his victorious rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, he revealed that he is still interested in Philippine politics.

Signed an exclusive contract with Philippine television giant GMA Network. He will star in a sitcom and a reality show with them. [2007]

On September 1, 2008, Pacquiao announced that he will retire from boxing in 2009 and try his luck again in politics by running for a government post in the 2010 Philippine general election. At the same time, he took his oath in joining President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's political party.

Founder and president of the People's Champ Movement (PCM), a political party focused on government posts in General Santos City (South Cotabato province) and Saranggani province.

His political party, the People's Champ Movement (PCM), was approved by the Philippines' commission on elections as a legitimate entry for the 2010 elections (local and provincial levels).

In addition to boxing, he is also a movie star, a television show host, movie producer, businessman, a political candidate, and a founder of his own political party.

Closely associated with Philippine politicians Lito Atienza, Luis "Chavit" Singson and president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2007, he appeared on a television political ad in support of Singson's bid for the senate.

He founded the Manny Pacquiao Foundation to help uplift the lives of Filipinos as well as people from other parts of the world who encounter problems like poverty and sickness. As such, he has invested in many projects such as a cancer research and treatment center in Mindanao. He has organized related activities such as medical missions, granting scholarships, and promoting environmental awareness.

He won major/The Ring world titles in seven weight classes.

On February 2011, Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee visited the White House and United States President Barack Obama.

In the Philippine general elections of 2010, Manny Pacquiao won in his second bid for the House of Representatives as he won by a landslide over Roy Chiongbian for the lone congressional seat of Sarangani province. Pacquiao's term as congressman will last until mid-2013.

As a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, Pacquiao has been declared as the richest congressman based on the legislators' Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Pacquiao declared that his net worth is over one billion Philippine Pesos.

Manny Pacquiao was born into a poor family in General Santos City in Mindanao and was raised alone by his mother after his parents separated when he was in sixth grade.

Personal Quotes
"Twenty years have passed with no change here. The only new thing here is my mansion. I left this place but still nothing changed." (a political statement directly attacking South Cotabato's political dynasty for neglecting the development of the province)

I am not hiding that. I still want to enter politics. There is nothing wrong with it. I sincerely want help my constituents in General Santos City. (statement about his future after he defeated Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera again)

He was wary of my right hook. He was avoiding it and he lost his focus on my left. (on Hatton)

I felt sorry for him because he's friendly, he's a good guy. It's the trainer who talks too much. (on Hatton and trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr.)

It was a hard fight tonight and I needed time to test his power. (referring to his opponent Miguel Cotto)

This is the last weight division for me. It's history for me and more importantly, a Filipino did it. (on becoming the first man in boxing to win seven titles in seven weight divisions.)

When I listen to music, all the stress is gone. I feel stronger.

I never believed that you had to say bad things about your opponent to make yourself bigger.

You can be popular, or be a champion, without trash talking. And you can be a good example for people, especially children.

I'll always have a killer instinct.

It's important to me to give happiness, enjoyment to people, to keep improving myself always.

It's very important to me to announce unity to help poverty and help the people in my country. We can help people if we work together.

I'm not aiming for a knockout. I focus on doing my best. If the knockout comes, fine. If not, that's OK.

I'm so happy for this fight because there is no trash talk.

So this Saturday I will wear yellow gloves as a symbol of unity.

The fight will happen without the trash talk and it's a good example to the children who idolize the fighters. In my life it's my experience that the best promotion has been the Shane Mosley fight because everybody is friends.

I believe this world needs new heroes. The biggest fight in my life is not in boxing but it is now to end poverty in my country.

All my life I have had to fight. At first as a child I had to fight just to get something to eat.

I'm not going to fight anybody as long as there is a problem with the decision of the promoter.

I'm satisfied with what I've done in boxing. I want to fight Mayweather because the people want it.

I want to entertain the fans.

Where Are They Now
(May 2007) Taking a rest and spending more time with his family after losing the election.

(October 2007) Currently taking up a three week special business administration course in General Santos City.

Jason Mraz

2011-08-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

Birth Name
Jason Thomas Mraz

Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)

Spouse
Sheridan Edley Mraz (2001 - ?) (divorced)

Trade Mark
Red hat tipped to the right

Frequently ad-libs and improvises clever lines in his songs when performing them live

Clever, quick-witted, and fast-paced lyrics

Sometimes performs barefoot

Trivia
His last name is of Czech origin, it means "frost".

Former cheerleader

Used to play weekly shows at the world-famous Java Joe's in Ocean Beach, CA.

Lives in northern San Diego, California. Was in a long-term relationship with San Diego singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman. On February 14, 2006, he announced on stage at a show in the UK that she had broken up with him earlier that day by e-mail.

Became engaged to Tristan Prettyman on December 24, 2010.

Owns an avocado farm.

Will Smith

2011-08-07T23:44:00.000-07:00

Will Smith started off with a successful rap career, which he parlayed into the successful television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Since then, Will Smith has become a huge movie star with big box office returns.

Will Smith Quote
" I love being black in America, and especially being black in Hollywood."
81 MAGNETISM

He is the ever-faithful husband despite the daily temptations thrust upon him by groupies. He was a self-proclaimed womanizer, but family life has domesticated him considerably.

"I honestly believe there is no woman for me but Jada [Pinkett Smith]. ...As fine as other women can be, as tempting sexually, I'm not going anywhere. This is it. I can't imagine what anyone else could offer."
90 SUCCESS

He has Grammy Awards and Billboard album sales plaques, but where is the Oscar? He has accomplished a lot in a very short time, but Will Smith is a perfectionist and he won't rest until an Oscar is sitting on his mantel. He was nominated for one for his role in Ali (2002), but lost that to Denzel Washington. Even before the release of The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), there were whispers of his contention for the coveted award, but it stopped at another nomination.

Regardless of how many awards decorate Will Smith's home or sit in the closet, he has an indelible face that is recognized the world over.

WILL SMITH BIOGRAPHY

Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother was an employee with the school board and his father was an owner of a refrigerator company, and together they provided Will Smith with a reasonable middle-class upbringing. Will was a bright student and a smooth-talking charmer, an ability that led to his “Prince” moniker. His father often pushed him to pursue academics, but when the time came, Will turned down a scholarship to M.I.T. in favor of a career in music.

Will’s music career began at the age of 12 when he met Jeff Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff) at a party. They hit it off instantly and began creating demo tapes with the goal of emulating their heroes Run DMC. By the time Will Smith was 20 he produced the Grammy-winning album He's the DJ I'm the Rapper, which included the hit song "Parents Just Don't Understand." This song, and the album, became a cult classic among teenagers at the time, not so much for the musical excellence, but for its comedic overtones. Smith came to represent a new breed of rappers that did not need explicit language or violence to entertain listeners.

Will Smith Becomes The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Fortune accompanied Will Smith’s music career, which included No. 1 hit songs, million-selling albums and a Grammy. As such, Will Smith purchased a home, cars, jewelry, and all the other extravagances that a successful hip-hop artist needs. Unfortunately, by 1990 his spending spree nearly landed him in a position next to MC Hammer -- or bankrupt.

As fate would have it, Will Smith met the mastermind behind The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Benny Medina. Contrary to popular belief, the show was actually based on Benny’s life; he was born poor and went on to live with a rich Beverly Hills family. The idea was pitched to NBC; the network immediately bought the concept and brought Quincy Jones in as producer. The show hit a chord and lasted six years before Will Smith decided to call it quits.

Will Smith Becomes A Bad Boy
Still, before the show ended in 1996, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff released two albums: Homebase (1991), which included the No. 1 Rap Single and No. 4 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Summertime” and Code Red (1993). Also, Will Smith began his movie career with an appearance in Six Degrees of Separation (1993) as a homosexual con artist and in Bad Boys (1995), which costarred Martin Lawrence and Tea Leoni. Will Smith’s performance in Six Degrees was hailed as an incredible rookie performance. The dark subject matter of the film didn't stop him from doing the movie, but he quickly realized that his chosen movie roles would have an effect on the image he projects through his music.

As a result, Will Smith started taking on roles in action movies such as Bad Boys, and the megahit Independence Day (1996), which also starred Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Vivica A. Fox. The role cemented his stature among moviegoers and substantially raised his asking price to a level similar to that of Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise. In 1997, Will Smith followed up with another summer blockbuster in Men in Black with Tommy Lee Jones. He also provided the title song, which became the theme song of the summer.

Will Smith Marries Jada Pinkett
The success of the song “Men in Black” sent Will Smith back to the studio as a solo artist to make the well-received album Big Willie Style. The album peaked in the U.S. at No. 8 and went on to be certified platinum nine times. The success of the album no doubt had something to do with the two chart-topping Grammy-winning songs “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” and “Men In Black,” and the pull-at-your-heartstrings track “Just the Two of Us.” The video for “Just the Two of Us” featured Will Smith’s first son Willard Christopher III from his first wife Sharee Zampino, whom he divorced in 1995.

In 1997, Will Smith married his second wife, Jada Pinkett, who actually had to encourage Will Smith to accept the role for Men In Black. Originally the two met when she auditioned for a part on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The couple has since produced two children, Jaden Christopher Syre and Willow Camille Reign.

In 1998, Will Smith starred in the action-drama Enemy of the State and in 1999 he turned down the role of Neo in the commercial goldmine The Matrix. Will Smith has since expressed regret for turning down the role in favor of Wild Wild West (1999), but contends that he probably wouldn’t have been as “right” for the role as Keanu Reeves was.

Despite the box office success and cinematic failure of Wild Wild West, Will Smith continued his music career and released the double platinum Willennium in 1999. The album featured the title track for the movie and went on to become a No. 1 pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 1999, Will Smith picked up three American Music Awards.

Will Smith Gets Oscar Nods
In 1998, Will Smith did a highly publicized interview with Barbara Walters in which he openly criticized other rappers for encouraging youths to speak in Ebonics instead of correct English. He also revealed his paranoia about the government in a very X-Files-like manner. One could argue that he took his Men In Black role a little too seriously; nonetheless, the interview resulted in further criticism from fellow hardcore rappers.

Will Smith’s next big picture was the biopic Ali (2001) in which he portrayed boxing legend Mohammad Ali. Despite the films lackluster performance at the box office, it did garner Will Smith an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Unfortunately, he lost the Oscar to Denzel Washington for his performance in Training Day (2001). In preparation for the role, Will Smith underwent a strict diet and workout regime, which also gave him additional energy in bed: "I'm human Viagra. I'm Willagra. I'm a sex machine now. I'm raring to go every second of the day. My wife's loving it."

Will Smith Does Sequels In Men In Black Ii And Bad Boys Ii
Will Smith remained gainfully employed every year since the turn of the century. In 2002, he released the album Born to Reign, but it peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. charts and has only been certified gold. Thankfully his movie career hasn’t suffered the same fate.

In 2002 and 2003, Will Smith appeared in a couple sequels: Men In Black II and Bad Boys II respectively. Though neither movie flopped, one could argue that they paled in comparison to the first installments.

Not one to stray from a working formula, Will became the techno-phobic cop Del Spooner in I, Robot (2004), which was Alex Proyas’ version of the Isaac Asimov book. In a surprise move, Will Smith did the voice for Oscar in the 2004 children’s movie Shark Tale; perhaps this was done on the advice of his children.

Nonetheless, Will Smith returned to form and Fresh Prince style in Hitch (2005), which costarred the gorgeous Eva Mendes and the hilarious Kevin James. In this film, Will Smith plays Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a confidence builder who teaches his male clients how to behave with, approach and pickup women. In the process he loses his swagger and trips over himself to patch things up with the Eva Mendes.

Will Smith In The Pursuit Of Happyness
On the heels of his successful return to comedy, Will Smith took yet another turn and accepted a dramatic role in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). The film also stars Thandie Newton and his son Jaden, which certainly added to the dramatic element. Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a salesman who struggles with his career and receives custody of his son. The onscreen chemistry and heartwarming tale earned Will Smith Oscar whispers even before the film was released.

In 2007, Will Smith worked on I Am Legend, another sci-fi action flick.

Will Smith In Hancock And The Trial Of The Chicago 7
In 2008, Will Smith added Hancock to his growing resume, which costarred Jason Bateman. He also worked on the flick Seven Pounds with Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson. Will Smith was nominated for AM's Top 49 Men of 2008.

His 2009 movie projects include the flick The Trial of the Chicago 7 with Kevin Spacey.

Winona Ryder

2011-08-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

Even though it might be hard to believe if you're an avid reader of supermarket tabloids, Winona is known for her impressive movie career and not just for shoplifting. She was in Beetle Juice (1988), Heathers (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Reality Bites (1994), Alien: Resurrection (1997), and Mr. Deeds (2002). Winona Ryder Quote
" For a long time I was almost ashamed of being an actress. I felt like it was a shallow occupation. People would be watching my every move."

78 SEX APPEAL

Winona's sexiness is very discreet. It's obvious that being sultry isn't one of her priorities in life and that's why we find her so hot.

It is also the reason why periodicals like FHM, Empire and Stuff have often ranked her among the sexiest women in the world. We also like the fact that she claims to not be attracted to older men like Richard Gere. Hey, it's one less guy for us to beat up to get to her.

81 SUCCESS

Winona's career began in her teenage years when she appeared in the coming-of-age story Lucas (1986) alongside Corey Haim, Charlie Sheen, and Courtney Thorne-Smith. Two other small movies soon followed: Square Dance (1987) and 1969 (1988) with Kiefer Sutherland.

From that moment on, she no longer lived in Hollywood obscurity. After the successful Beetlejuice (1988), she was in the cult classic Heathers and the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire!, both released in 1989.

She continued to make offbeat films the next year with Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. Following the independent film Night on Earth (1991), she snatched the lead role in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1993, she was in two period films: Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence and The House of the Spirits with Antonio Banderas and Maria Conchita Alonso.

Ben Stiller's Reality Bites (1994) came next and Little Women was released the same year. After the chick flick How to Make an American Quilt(1995), she was in Boys (1996), The Crucible (1996) and Alien: Resurrection (1997).

Woody Allen next signed her up for Celebrity (1998), after which she appeared in and executive produced the Angelina Jolie vehicle Girl, Interrupted (1999). In 2000, she appeared in Autumn in New York and the supernatural thriller Lost Souls.

She was the love interest in Adam Sandler's Mr. Deeds and a difficult actress in S1m0ne, both 2002 features. Her next moves were to produce and narrate the documentary The Day My God Died (2003) and to play a psychologist in The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004).

Twice nominated for an Oscar, she has also guest-starred on TV shows such as The Simpsons, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, The Larry Sanders Show, Strangers with Candy, and a popular episode of Friends in which she shared a kiss with Jennifer Aniston.

WINONA RYDER BIOGRAPHY

This talented actress has graced the screen and entertainment news for the past two decades, thanks to her roles in more than 25 films and her comprehensive dating history, which is probably just as long as her movie credits.

Winona Laura Horowitz was born October 29, 1971, in Winona, Minnesota (hence her first name). The daughter of Michael and Cindy Horowitz, hippy, free-spirited parents to say the least, Winona's surroundings and childhood were far from normal.

The Horowitz family relocated to an electricity-free commune in Northern California, where Winona and her siblings (Sunyata, Jubal and Uri) did not have the luxury of television. Young Winona instead watched films at a movie theatre that her mother ran in a barn, and delved into literature. Watching classic films piqued her interest in becoming an actress, while her fascination with Holden Caulfield, the alienated hero from The Catcher in the Rye, apparently influenced her choice of childhood and alternative film roles.

When Winona was eight, her parents decided to move back to city life in Petaluma, California. Thin and tomboyish, Winona was bullied by thugs during her first week of school because they mistook her for an effeminate, scrawny boy. This incident led to Winona being home-schooled and eventually studying at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

winona takes on the big screen

While performing on the American Conservatory Theater stage, Winona was spotted by talent scouts who wanted her to audition for a role in Desert Bloom, starring legendary actor Jon Voight. She did not get the part, but her tape made its way to Triad Artists.

Thanks to the agency, Winona was cast in the 1986 film Lucas. Though it was not a very successful film, it was a stepping-stone in Winona's career. At her request, she was credited as Winona Ryder, after a Mitch Ryder album her father owned.

Several forgettable films followed, but Winona finally became recognized after her role in the 1988 Tim Burton comedy Beetlejuice. Her role as the ghost-friendly, dark teen marked the beginning of a string of dark roles for Winona, all of which she portrayed to a tee. Heathers (1989), in which Winona played an equally dark role in an even darker movie, is often considered by her fans to be her best film.

After her performance in Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Winona teamed up with Tim Burton again in what can be considered one of her most memorable parts as the love interest of the freak in the off-beat Edward Scissorhands (1990). That same year, she starred as Cher's daughter in Mermaids.

winona gets serious

Winona was then on to the next chapter of her life, including more mature roles and period films. After her part in the independent film Night on Earth (1991), Winona was cast as what could have been another career-defining role -- Michael Corleone's daughter in The Godfather: Part III. Unfortunately for Winona and the film, the actress had to withdraw from the project due to a respiratory infection.

Winona signed with Creative Artists Agency and got her hands on the script for the Francis Ford Coppola vehicle Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). She approached the legendary director and was cast in the film as the love interest of the bloodsucking count. Winona was all grown up and her career was on the fly.

Donning corsets once again, Winona next starred in The Age of Innocence (1993), co-starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Her work garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Next, Winona juggled the modern times as a Gen-Xer in Reality Bites (1994) with period films, such as the adaptations of The House of the Spirits (1993) and Little Women (1994), which garnered her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. She dedicated Little Women to Polly Klass, a girl from her hometown who was kidnapped and killed.

winona produces her first movie

After roles in the female-bonding flick How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Boys (1996), the adaptation of The Crucible (1996), a visit in space with Alien: Resurrection (1997), and Woody Allen's star-studded Celebrity (1998), co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Famke Janssen and Charlize Theron, Winona starred and acted as executive producer in 1999's film adaptation of Girl, Interrupted, co-starring Angelina Jolie.

Although Winona has been in the Hollywood scene since the mid-'80s, she only made her first talk show appearance in December 1999 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, to promote Girl, Interrupted. Subsequently, she was seen in the tearjerker romance Autumn in New York (2000), co-starring the much older Richard Gere, and appeared soon after in the thriller Lost Souls (2000).

winona is arrested

As she was taking a break from acting, she got herself into trouble. In December 2001, she was shopping at a Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue when she was caught with shoplifted merchandise and illegal pharmaceutical drugs.

At the ensuing much-publicized trial, she was found guilty of vandalism and grand theft and sentenced to $3,700 in fines, 480 hours of community service, three years' probation, and $6,355 in restitution fees.

winona in mr. deeds

After a two-year hiatus, she returned to the big screen in the Adam Sandler comedy Mr. Deeds (2002) and the fantasy S1m0ne (2002). Then, she produced and narrated the child sex slave trade documentary The Day My God Died (2003) before returning to fiction in a small part in Asia Argento's The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004).

Named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1997, it's safe to say that not only People finds Winona beautiful, considering the long list of boyfriends and flames she has had. The actress had a three-year engagement to Johnny Depp, a long courtship with David Pirner, and has dated Christian Slater, Daniel Day-Lewis, David Duchovny, Chris Noth, Matt Damon, and Beck... to name a few.

There is more to be said about Winona than her beauty; her wide variety of movie roles, off-screen charm and talent explain her long-term appeal.

Johnny Depp

2011-08-04T00:07:00.000-07:00

WHY IS HE FAMOUS

It's hard to believe it all started with 21 Jump Street. If Hollywood was a long-jump, then Johnny Depp has jumped far beyond the sandpit. Platoon, Donnie Brasco, Pirates, Blow, Sweeney Todd, and now Public Enemies -- Johnny Depp can pretty much do anything. The fact that he's had a champagne bubble bath with Kate Moss and used to enjoy the odd hotel trashing only makes him cooler. We'd love talk to him about his movies over whiskey, and then throw chairs around a Ritz Carlton room with him.
Johnny Depp Quote
" The only gossip I'm interested in is things from the Weekly World News -- 'Woman's bra bursts, 11 injured.' That kind of thing."
90 MAGNETISM

He's mysterious, brooding and a movie star. He once played guitar in a band (quite well, apparently), and he owned the infamous Viper Room, a club in Los Angeles. It doesn't get more badass than that, and while we can pretend that women really want the nice guy, you know your lady would hop on the back of his motorcycle and leave you in the dust if he asked her to. He's had more ex-fiancées than most guys have had girlfriends.

The fact that he's attached to Vanessa Paradis and has two children doesn't seem to deter the legions of adoring females that want to get deep with Johnny Depp.

82 SUCCESS

Johnny Depp once said of himself: "I'm not Mr. Blockbuster." Nonetheless, his movies usually fare quite well with audiences and critics alike, only not always in tandem. His starring role on 21 Jump Street made him a sensation among teenage girls and paved the way for more serious roles in film. He snagged a small part in Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning Vietnam film Platoon (1987) alongside Charlie Sheen before moving on to leading roles in other big-budget movies.

He drew praise for his performances in Donnie Brasco (alongside Al Pacino), Ed Wood (1994), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), and his almost silent tour-de-force, Edward Scissorhands (1990). He's also done well in a few romantic roles, playing Don Juan DeMarco (alongside Marlon Brando) in the film of the same name, and in Chocolat (2000) with Juliette Binoche.

Of all his roles, however, Johnny Depp became a family favorite in his role as swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy -- a role which garnered him his very first Oscar nomination, as well as two Golden Globe nominations in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

With Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and more recently Public Enemies and six other films in the works. Johnny Depp has the kind of staying power that Emilio Estevez cries about at night. But he's still cool enough to lend his voice to SpongeBob SquarePants.

JOHNNY DEPP BIOGRAPHY
John Christopher Depp III was born June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky. The son of John Christopher, a city engineer and Betty Sue Palmer, a waitress and homemaker (Johnny Depp has a tattoo of his mother's name on his left arm), young Johnny relocated to Florida shortly after the death of his grandfather, with whom the future actor was very close, with his three older siblings.

Never the studious teenager, and even more distraught by the divorce of his parents, Johnny Depp delved into the world of experimental drugs and picked up a whole new passion: the guitar. The high-school dropout spent his days playing guitar in a garage band after he taught himself how to play with the instrument his mother bought him.

Johnny Depp On Elm Street

Johnny Depp joined a rock band called The Flame, with whom he toured the Florida nightclub circuit. The Flame eventually dubbed themselves The Kids, and the band was hired as the opening act on an Iggy Pop tour. Hoping to strike a chord as famous rockers, The Kids moved to Los Angeles. Johnny Depp took a job selling ballpoint pens over the phone in order to support himself, but he and his fellow rockers decided to break up and move on.

Bigger and better things awaited Johnny Depp, who at the time was married to makeup artist Lori Allison. Their marriage was short-lived, but it did lead to something: Lori introduced Johnny to Nicolas Cage, who saw star potential in the young Depp. Thanks to their encounter, Johnny Depp was cast in his feature film debut -- the slasher Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984.

After a starring role in the campy Private Resort, a bit part in 1986's Platoon and acting lessons at L.A.'s Loft Studio, Johnny Depp was cast as Officer Tom Hanson in the teen crime drama 21 Jump Street. He initially refused the role, but eventually accepted it and remained on the show -- and on the cover of every teen magazine -- for three years. To his dismay, Johnny Depp became a heartthrob posted on the wall of every teenage girl, a role he wanted no part in.

Johnny Depp In Cry-Baby
Johnny Depp was given the opportunity to prove his worth as the eccentric title role in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands in 1990. He starred in Cry-Baby that same year, and even made an appearance in the final installment of Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, in which he was credited as Oprah Noodlemantra.

The brooding actor made it a point to always take on different characterizations. He certainly never became pigeonholed, despite the oddball, wacky characters he usually portrayed, as seen in 1993's Benny & Joon and 1994's Ed Wood. Johnny Depp made Hollywood and critics take notice with his incredible portrayal of a guy tired of his small-town lifestyle in 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape, also starring a then up-and-comer, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Johnny Depp In Donnie Brasco
While his work in 1995's Don Juan DeMarco and Nick of Time didn't garner much attention, Johnny Depp was highly praised for his turn as an FBI undercover agent who infiltrates the mob opposite Al Pacino, in 1997's Donnie Brasco. He also took time to write, direct and star in The Brave that year.

In 1998, Johnny Depp starred as the alter ego of buddy Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, costarring Benicio Del Toro, and tried his hand at sci-fi in 1999's The Astronaut's Wife, along with gorgeous Charlize Theron. He re-teamed with Tim Burton to star in the magnificently Gothic adaptation of the Halloween legend, 1999's Sleepy Hollow, in a brilliant portrayal of constable Ichabod Crane.

Johnny Depp began 2000 with roles in The Man Who Cried (costarring good friend Christina Ricci), Before Night Falls, and the small film that could, Chocolat, as a gypsy who falls for Juliette Binoche.

Johnny Depp And Vanessa Paradis
While Johnny Depp has had his share of beautiful costars, he also had a wide variety of leading ladies in his own life, such as ex-fiancées Sherilyn Fenn, Jennifer Grey and Winona Ryder, with whom he was engaged for three years. The tattoo in honor of his Edward Scissorhands costar once read Winona Forever; it has since been laser-altered to read Wino Forever. Besides Winona, Johnny Depp's most famous ex-fiancée is Kate Moss. He and the waifish model were engaged from 1995 to 1997, and had an on-again/off-again relationship.

Johnny Depp shares a house in France with Vanessa Paradis, a French actress and singer, and the mother of their children, Lily-Rose Melody and Jack. The only reason Johnny Depp is ever away from home is in order to fulfill his film contracts.

Johnny Depp's Oscar And Golden Globe Nominations
Johnny Depp's critical acclaim as an actor has garnered him a slew of nominations and awards. He was honored with the 1990 ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow award, the 1996 London Critics Circle Actor of the Year award for Ed Wood and the 1998 Honorary Cesar. He was nominated for an unprecedented seven Golden Globes, including four consecutive nominations between 2003 and 2006, and two Oscars for his performances in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Finding Neverland (2004).

Johnny Depp In Sweeney Todd
In 2005, Johnny Depp appeared in three flicks: The Libertine, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (he played Willy Wonka) and the Academy-Award nominated stop-motion-animation film Corpse Bride.

Johnny Depp only appeared in one movie in 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. However, 2007 was a year of major blockbusters for the talented actor.

The third installment of Pirates was released, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. He also appeared in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The film reunited Johnny Depp with film director Tim Burton and won Johnny Depp the Golden Globe for Best Actor, as well as an Academy Award nomination in the same category.

Johnny Depp In Public Enemies
In 2009, Johnny Depp co-produced Shantaram. He also performed in Public Enemies, a gangster flick opposite Christian Bale, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, assuming a role Heath Ledger originally played. We can't really think of anyone better to take over for Heath.

Ara Mina

2011-08-02T17:13:00.001-07:00

Hazel Reyes-Mathay, who is better known by her screen name Ara Mina (born May 9, 1979 in Manila, Philippines), is a Filipina actress, model and singer. She is a grand daughter of former Quezon City mayor Ishmael Mathay, Jr. She won the Golden Screen Award in 2004 for Best Actress in a drama in the Philippines. Since 1998, Mina has been a regular cast member of Bubble Gang, a sketch comedy television show in the Philippines. She is the daughter of Chuck Mathay, a former Philippine congressman from Quezon City. Her sister Cristine Reyes is also an actress with GMA Network. She had to leave GMA and her show Bubble Gang due to ABS-CBN’s exclusive contract and having her show Prinsesa ng Banyera as Angelika de la Cruz’ replacement for her role.

Ara Mina is a mixture of everything nice and not. You can see her answer with straightforwardness all the intrigues thrown upon her, yet her sweetness reflects by her princess-style bedroom in her lucky house, which, unfortunately, is up for sale as of press time. But what makes Ara totally unique from all other sexy actresses and starlets emerging today?

Ever since, Ara Mina wanted to become part of the entertainment industry, perhaps inspired by her mother. At an early age of 7, she was already joining pageants sponsored by her school, where her usual talents will either be singing or acting. However, it was only in her stint in That’s Entertainment, hosted by German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, that she got the first taste of show business. She was 13 years old then.

Like any other alumna of the youth-oriented show, she was trained in numerous artistic crafts, like singing, acting, dancing, and hosting. Yet despite her exposure, her career never took full flight.

Then sexy roles started pouring in. Hardly thin but very voluptuous, Ara Mina was considered very appealing and sensual by a variety of directors. She also decided to keep her present name, which was derived from the names of her other two sisters.

Ara Mina started appearing in numerous X-rated movies, such as Init Sa Tag-ulan, Sagad Sa Init, Pahiram Kahit Sandali, Tatlo Magkasalo, Banatan, Phone Sex, and Maldita. She was also a famous covergirl for a number of men’s magazines in the Philippines such as FHM.

But Ara Mina is known to be a very patient and determined woman. Her luck turned positive when she was offered the role of a Chinese woman named Richelle Go who was in love with a Filipino man (played by Richard Gomez ) in Mano Po. She was able to bag a Best Actress Award for her subtle yet very strong performance. This was followed by her portrayal as a woman who’s lost faith in religion in Ang Huling Birhen Sa Lupa, which shares a similar plot with Himala of Ishmael Bernal.

Ara Mina is also a regular cast of Bubble Gang, GMA 7’s comedy show, which is on its way of celebrating its 10th year anniversary. She was able to showcase her comic side, which could be far-fetched from the roles she currently plays in other TV shows and in the movies. She’s also a singer too, whose first single Ay Ay Ay Pag-ibig became an instant hit among the masses with its catchy lyrics and tune. Meanwhile, she considers her second album, Moving On, as her way of going past all the intrigues that may be surrounding her private life, including a public spat with Aiko Melendez, the erstwhile wife of her then beau Jomari Yllana. Her third album will be released soon.

Entrepreneurship is also one of Ara Mina’s expertise. If she’s not taping any shows or movies, or if she’s not abroad doing concerts, she keeps her hands full in her number of businesses. She owns Osteria 88, an Italian restaurant, and is a co-owner of Bubble Gang Toppings, whose other managers include the rest of her show’s co-stars. She is also managing Posh, a talent agency, for over a year.

Ara Mina is also an avid collector of things. She has toy cars, angel figurines, and more than 200 bottles of perfume.

Anne Curtis

2011-08-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Anne Curtis was born and raised in Australia by a Filipina mother and an Australian father.
She lived in Australia until her lawyer father, James Curtis, moved to the Philippines when she was 12 years old. It is a move that Curtis is thankful for. “I am so happy that I’m here. If I were in Australia I’d have been in a boarding school! My dad was strict when it came to education. He kept on discouraging me when I tried doing commercials, saying that they are just tricking me to get out of school. We lived in the country, so we’d be asleep around 8 or 9 p.m. It was really boring. But here there are so many gimmicks. As of now, being young, I prefer living here (in the Philippines) but maybe when I settle down, I’ll move back to Australia.
A. Basic Info
Real Name: Anne Ojales Curtis Smith
Screen Name: Anne Curtis
Birthday: February 17, 1985
Father: James Curtis (lawyer)
Mother: Carmen Curtis
Favorite food: lamb chops with vegetables.
B. Interesting Facts
- dream role is to play a mermaid
- plans to take up law after highschool
- studied at Angelicum College
- has 8 siblings (Jasmin, Michelle, Thomas, Kate, Jamie, Louise, Emma and Jo)
- fond of Julia Roberts
- Magic Kingdom is Anne’s first movie and favorite as well aside from Ika-13 Kapitulo
- Her first exposure was in a promotional activity of Batman and Robin, the one giving away promo items. She was only twelve years old then
- You will find in her CD rack the records of Freestyle, Destiny’s Child and The Corrs
- Kenzo and Issey Meyaki are just two of her favorite perfumes
- Track and Field and Tennis are Anne’s favorite sports. She used to play marathon back in Australia when she was in elementary
C. Relationships
With Oyo Boy Sotto
After a six-month courtship, Curtis entered into a two-year relationship with now ex-boyfriend Oyo ‘Boy’ Sotto, son of well-known showbiz personalities Vic Sotto and Dina Bonnevie. Oyo ‘Boy’ Sotto himself is an actor. Curtis describes her relationship with Sotto as her first brush with genuine love, saying of him: “He was the one who I really loved.”[6] By June 2003, the relationship was officially over. In a later interview, Sotto blamed “immaturity and possessiveness” as the reasons their relationship did not work out.[7]
With Richard Gutierrez
Curtis also had a well-publicized relationship with fellow actor Richard Gutierrez in 2004. The two had worked together on the TV shows Nuts Entertainment and Love to Love.
With Paolo Araneta
Curtis later became involved with Paolo Araneta, a relationship that lasted for two years. By January 2006, however, the local entertainment press confirmed that Curtis and Araneta had parted ways.[8]. No official reason was given.
With Sam Milby
And some links were connected with Sam Milby. The loveteam partner of Anne Curtis in the teleserye Maging Sino Ka Man. Which has ended this year. But there will be a book 2 coming soon later in the year. She is quoted to have said that they are just friends and who knows what will happen in the future. She also stated she was attracted to Sam.
Unconfirmed relationships… Curtis categorically states in interviews that she has only had three boyfriends, but this does not stop the entertainment press from linking her to other men, especially when she became officially single again after her break-up with third boyfriend Paolo Araneta.
The men who have been linked to her are:
* Luis Manzano, son of actress and now mayor Vilma Santos and actor/host Edu Manzano. Curtis publicly acknowledges Manzano as her bestfriend and ‘soulmate’.[9] Curtis and Manzano have worked together in several shows, including Star Circle Summer Kid Quest and Qpids (where they were co-hosts), as well as Kampanerang Kuba and the movie All About Love, where they were loveteam partners.
* Champ, lead singer of the local band Hale, whom Curtis was frequently linked to shortly after her break-up with ex-boyfriend Paolo Araneta. Curtis has categorically denied a relationship with him
Filmography
Television
Year Title Role
2008 The Wedding (TV series)
2008 Love Spell Presents: The Face Shop Pearl
2007 Maging Sino Ka Man: Book 2 Celine Magsaysay
2007 Your Song: Ikaw Allison
2007 Sineserye Presents: May Minamahal Monica Fernandez
2007 Your Song: Someone In The Dark Lalaine
2007 MTV Gimme Ten VJ
2007 MTV Timeout VJ
2006 Maging Sino Ka Man Celine Magsaysay
2006 Star Circle Summer Kid Quest Host
2006 Love Spell Presents: Wanted Mr. Perfect Rowena
2006 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bisikleta
2006 Komiks: Alpha Omega Girl Alpha Omega Girl
2006 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Salamin Moni
2006 Komiks: Mamayang Hatinggabi Beba
2006 Your Song: I’ll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me) Ana
2005 Pinoy Big Brother Buzz Host
2005 The Buzz Segment Host
2005 Kampanerang Kuba Imang/Fatima/Bernadette
2005 Qpids Host
2004 Hiram Stephanie Borromeo
2004 ASAP Host/Performer
2003 Nuts Entertainment Herself
2003 Love To Love: My 1, 2 Love! Casey de Leon
2002 SOP Performer
2002 Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Rosana
2001 Kakabakaba: Chaka Doll Monica
2001 Beh! Bote Nga!
2000 Hati-hating Kapatid
1999 May Bukas Pa Karen
1997 Mornings at GMA Host
1997 Ikaw na Sana Jasmin
1996 Anna Karenina Ginny
1995 TGIS Emily/Em
Filmography
Year Title Role
2008 Waiting For Your Love TBA with (Aga Mulach)
2007 Ang Cute ng Ina Mo Christine
2006 Wag Kang Lilingon Melissa
2006 All About Love Badong
2003 Filipinas Lyra
2003 Alab Ng Lahi
2003 Lastikman Young Linda
2002 Akala Mo
2002 Mahal kita: Final Answer! Leslie
2000 Juan & Ted: Wanted Ibong Adarna
2000 Ika-13 Kapitulo Angela
1999 Honey, My Love, So Sweet
1997 Magic Kingdom

Angelina Jolie

2011-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS
When she's not busy adopting third-world children and making the world a better place, Angelina Jolie is making the world a prettier place. She has starred in thrillers like The Bone Collector (1999) and Taking Lives (2004), as well as blockbusters such as Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), A Mighty Heart (2007), Wanted (2008), and she's currently filming Salt (2010) opposite Liev Schrieber. But it's her relationship with Brad Pitt, their UNICEF poster of a family and the blame Angelina gets for ruining Jennifer Aniston's life that have made her the tabloid favorite that she is.
Angelina Jolie Quote
"I don't believe in guilt, I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person. And don't judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free."
92 SEX APPEAL
When both men and women consistently rate you as the woman they'd most like to sleep with, you know you're sexy, possibly even the sexiest woman alive. Esquire at least thinks so, and Peoplemagazine once voted her the Sexiest Person Alive. Whether she's a blonde, a brunette or she has "Billy Bob" tattooed across her arm and a vial of blood hanging from her neck, Angelina Jolie always looks hot, even when she's not trying.

As far as we know, Angelina Jolie hasn't mauled herself via plastic surgery just yet. She is the epitome of beauty whether she's wearing a headscarf in an African refugee camp or she's donning a designer gown on the red carpet.

And those lips...

87 SUCCESS

We hate the expression "more than just a pretty face," but there's a poster girl for it, it would have to be Angelina Jolie. Jolie managed to put an Oscar up on her mantle when she won Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted in 2000, which is more than most other actresses have achieved.

Unfortunately, Angelina Jolie's highly publicized antics attracted more attention than her movie roles for many years. She seemed to be more famous for having kissed her brother at the Academy Awards than for having won one. And the fact that she and Billy Bob Thornton carried around each other's blood and admitted to having wild sex every chance they had made them demigods to tabloid writers worldwide. Then, after filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt, when he was still Mr. & Mrs. Pitt with Jennifer Aniston, she fell in love. Apparently he did too.

Controversy continued to follow Angelina Jolie in 2005, when she was accused of breaking up Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's marriage. However, now that the dust has settled, the world has finally begun to see Angelina's positive side, including all the selfless humanitarian work she does around the world, not to mention the three children she adopted from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam.
ANGELINA JOLIE BIOGRAPHY

Angelina Jolie Voight was born on June 4, 1975, to Oscar-winning actorJon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand. At age 11, four years after making her film debut opposite her father in Lookin' to Get Out, Angelina Jolie began studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

Although her dream as a child was actually to become a funeral director, 16-year-old Angelina Jolie worked as a professional model in London, New York and Los Angeles. Musical groups and singers such as the Rolling Stones, Lemonheads, Meatloaf, and Lenny Kravitz cast her in their music videos, and even her brother James Haven Voight directed her in his student films for the USC School of Cinema.

Wishing to get even closer to pursuing an acting career, Jolie studied at L.A.'s MET Theatre Company, which also counts Ed Harris and Holly Hunter among its alumni.

Angelina Jolie In HackersAngelina Jolie's first foray into film was of a sci-fi nature, with a supporting role in 1993's Cyborg 2, which didn't even make it to the big screen, and a lead role in Hackers (1995) where she met her future ex-husband, British actor Jonny Lee Miller ofTrainspotting fame. They were separated within the year and filed for divorce in 1999.

Angelina Jolie's career as an actress, however, was flying high. She received critical acclaim for Without Evidence (1995) in which she portrayed a drug-addicted teen, as well as for her roles as a rebellious teen known as Legs in Foxfire (1996) and as an Italian girl in love with the son of her family's rival in Love Is All There Is(1996).

In 1997, she had a supporting role in the box-office bomb Playing God, starring David Duchovny and Timothy Hutton.

Angelina Jolie Wins A Golden GlobeAngelina Jolie's television roles were what gained her the ultimate respect of critics. She was honored with a 1997 Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination for her role as Cornelia Wallace in the TV movie George Wallace, costarringGary Sinise. But the best was yet to come for Angelina Jolie.

She won her second Golden Globe for her role as model Gia Carangi in HBO's biopic Gia. Her intense portrayal of the drug-addicted model who was diagnosed with AIDS was highly deserving of the Best Actress Golden Globe and Emmy nomination.

Angelina Jolie In The Bone CollectorsOn the big screen, Angelina Jolie was well-received by audiences for her role in 1998's Playing By Heart with Sean Connery,Gillian Anderson and Ryan Phillippe. She also played Billy Bob Thornton's seductive wife in 1999's Pushing Tin and starred opposite big-leaguer Denzel Washington in the thriller The Bone Collector later that year.

However, it was her supporting role in 1999's Girl, Interrupted that showed audiences her dramatic skills, garnering her a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Angelina Jolie created controversy when she showed up at the Oscars with her brother James and kissed him as though he was her boyfriend. The two later denied rumors that they had in an incestuous relationship.

Angelina Jolie Marries Billy Bob ThorntonIn 2000, Angelina Jolie eloped with her Pushing Tin costar Billy Bob Thornton, but after they adopted a Cambodian boy named Maddox Chivan Thornton Jolie in 2002, their marriage fell apart and they filed for divorce. While it lasted, their sexually charged marriage was the subject of much tabloid fodder; the eccentric couple carried vials of each other's blood around their necks and were prone to public displays of affection.

In 2001, Angelina Jolie was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Angelina Jolie Is Lara Croft In Tomb Raider
During that time, Angelina Jolie also starred in a slew of films, including Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) with Nicolas Cage, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), for which Angelina is proud to say she did her own stunts, Original Sin (2001) with Antonio Banderas,Life Or Something Like It (2002), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), and Beyond Borders (2003).

In 2004, Angelina Jolie was busy starring in Taking Lives, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Shark Tale, and as Olympias in Oliver Stone's Alexander.

Angelina Jolie Meets Brad PittAfter Angelina Jolie starred alongside Brad Pitt in the romantic comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), rumors began to circulate that the two were an item, even though Brad was in the process of separating from his wife, Jennifer Aniston.

Although the pair denied the rumors, pictures of them playing with little Maddox on the beach in Kenya emerged in April 2005, and several more tabloid photos in the months that followed confirmed they were indeed a couple.

Angelina Jolie Adopts Zahara
On July 6, 2005, Angelina Jolie adopted her second child, a 6-month-old girl named Zahara Marley from Ethiopia. Months later, it was revealed that Brad and Angelina had made the decision to adopt Zahara together. Just eight days later, Brad's request to legally adopt Maddox and Zahara went through, and their last names were changed to Jolie-Pitt.

After much media attention, on May 27, 2006, Angelina gave birth to Brad Pitt's child, a girl named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, in Namibia.

Among all the action in her personal life, Angelina Jolie amazingly managed to get some work done. In 2006, she appeared in theRobert De Niro-directed The Good Shepherd.

Angelina Jolie Adopts PaxIn March 2007, Angelina Jolie adopted a 3-year-old boy from Vietnam, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, who was born on November 29, 2003, and was abandoned at birth at a local hospital. Angelina named him Pax, which was suggested by her mother before she passed away.

Angelina Jolie Is Named No. 35 In 2008 Top 99
2007 was another jam-packed year for this busy mom. She appeared in A Mighty Heart and did voice work alongsideAnthony Hopkins in Beowulf. She was also named one of the Entertainers Of The Year by Entertainment Weekly. With a "tail" such as Angelina Jolie's in Beowulf, it's no wonder she landed in the No. 35 position on our list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women in 2008.

Angelina Jolie In WantedAngelina Jolie "unofficially" announced she was pregnant by wearing a form-fitting dress at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards, indirectly confirming the rumors circulating that she was with child. In July she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl.

That year, Angelina Jolie was involved in several film projects, including Wanted starring Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy,Kung Fu Panda and Changeling.

Angelina Drops On AM's Top 99 List In 2009It's not that we don't love her, but sometimes you have to remind the ladies out there that they need to keep it together if they want to keep their rank. Angelina Jolie's drop from the No. 35 spot to No. 46 should serve to remind the actress that she looks her best when she has some curves, as she did in Tomb Raider.

Angelina In SaltWe kind of love it when she plays badass power chicks, so we're looking forward to seeing Angelina as a CIA agent in Salt (2010), opposite Liev Schrieber. Check out photos from the production set, featuring Angelina in wig that looks a little like something you'd wear to an underground S&M party. Turns out she looks good with black hair too.

2011-07-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

Angel Locsin (born Angelica Colmenares on April 23, 1985), is a popular television and film actress,commercial model, film producer and fashion designer in the Philippines who was introduced in GMA Network’s youth-oriented program, Click. Angel rose to prominence after being cast as one of the lead stars in the fantasy-themed television seriesMulawin in 2004.
Soon after, she starred as thesuperheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the popular Mars Ravelo comics hit.Angel Locsin top-billed in several films and is known as the screen love interest of Richard Gutierrez and Dennis Trillo. When her contract expired last March 2007, Angel did not renew her contract to her mother studio, GMA Network and signed an exclusive contract in ABS-CBN despite her booming career in GMA. According to her its just a career move. She is now the lead star in the most awaited soap opera of ABS-CBN, Lobowhere she paired to Piolo Pascual.

Angel Locsin was recently awarded in Yes Magazineas the Most Beautiful Woman in the Philppines. She was also awarded in 38 Box Office Entertainment Awards as the Princess of Philippine Movies.

Adam Sandler

2011-07-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

WHY IS HE FAMOUS

After becoming a mainstay on SNL, Adam Sandler moved on to make comedy classics like The Wedding Singer (1998), Anger Management (2003), Click (2006), and You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008). His CDs also popularized his style of immature, creative jokes, bringing in platinum sales for each album he released. "The Chanukah Song" is arguably the best holiday jingle ever. Adam Sandler Quote
"I'm just a buffoon. That's all. I look in the mirror, I see a buffoon. That's all I want to see."

71 MAGNETISM

Women always say that humor is one of the most important things they want in a man, which says a lot for Adam Sandler's appeal. Other than that, let's just say he has not done much to impress the ladies, from being Alec Baldwin's object of affection on SNL to playing Satan's demented son in Little Nicky. However, his quiet, everyday manner appeals to a great deal of female fans, including former girlfriend Alicia Silverstone. By and large, his quick wit wins them over and it's an enviable asset to have in your arsenal.

80 SUCCESS

Starting out as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 1990, Adam Sandler was quickly recognized as a natural in front of the camera. It only took him a year to become a full-time actor on the show and he quickly gained acclaim for his recurring roles as Canteen Boy and Cajun Man. As many rising SNL stars have done, Adam Sandler began to branch out into bigger things, starting with the release of Billy Madison in 1995. It was a huge success among the high-school crowd (and we'll admit it, with us too) and subsequently Adam Sandler knew where his future lay. Bulletproof (1996) with Damon Wayans and Happy Gilmore (1996) (where Bob Barker beats the crap out of him) were both box-office hits the following year.

It was soon apparent that Adam Sandler was the new king of comedy. He continued to produce success with The Wedding Singer (1998), opposite Drew Barrymore, The Waterboy (1998), Big Daddy (1999), Mr. Deeds (2002), 50 First Dates (2004), The Longest Yard (2005), Click (2006), and more. During that time, his comedy CDs also became huge hits: two of his five albums have gone double platinum and 1999's Stan & Judy's Kid set a record for most records sold for a comedy album in its first week of release. In Eight Crazy Nights (2002), Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Spanglish (2004) he experimented quite effectively with two new forms of cinema, which further proved that the sky is the limit for Adam Sandler.

ADAM SANDLER BIOGRAPHY

Adam Richard Sandler, not surprisingly, was the odd one in his family. Born September 9, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, Adam grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire after parents Stan and Judy relocated there. Sandler stood out, in part, because unlike his two sisters and brother, he did not excel in school.

Always the clown, Adam Sandler reached a crossroads at 17 years old, unsure of whether to continue his education or not. His brother, having observed Adam Sandler's behavior, suggested he become a stand-up comedian and dared him to take the stage during amateur night at a Boston comedy club.

Adam Sandler On Saturday Night Live
Although he did not start off well, Adam Sandler got the taste for comedy and knew he wanted to be successful. The achievements of people like Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi (all SNL members) motivated him, but at times he would get so nervous after a poor performance that he would begin stuttering uncontrollably. His brother then offered another piece of advice; he suggested singing as a way of controlling his jumpy nerves. It was at NYU, where Adam Sandler was earning a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, that his act, now replete with funny songs, caught someone's eye.

Adam Sandler soon landed a recurring role on The Cosby Show as Theo's friend Smitty. He began performing in bigger venues, but it was at a Los Angeles improv club where then Saturday Night Live cast member Dennis Miller saw his act and immediately put in a word for him with the show's producer, Lorne Michaels. Pulling strings worked, and Adam Sandler quickly rose from SNL writer in 1990 to full-time performer a year later.

Adam Sandler In Billy Madison And Big Daddy
With characters like Canteen Boy, Opera Man and Cajun Man, Adam Sandler became a perennial favorite and enjoyed huge success alongside Rob Schneider, Chris Farley and Phil Hartman. In 1993, Adam Sandler released They're All Gonna Laugh at You!, his first step outside of TV that sold record amounts and was even nominated for a Grammy.

Following in many SNL alumni's footsteps, Adam Sandler realized that his contribution to comedy could extend to movies. Billy Madison (1995), often recognized as his first big movie after doing bombs like Airheads (1994) and Mixed Nuts (1994), created a large fan following in 1995. Feeding off the acclaim, Sandler starred in Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, and Big Daddy from 1996 to 1999. The Waterboy and Big Daddy both earned over $160 million each -- Adam Sandler was now arguably the comedian box-office king, commanding more than $20 million per film.

Adam Sandler In 50 First Dates And Spanglish
With Little Nicky and Mr. Deeds in the books in 2000 and 2001, the writer and actor soon realized that there was more he could do. He started putting more work into Happy Madison Productions, and created an animation company as well, called Meatball. Creating an even fuller and more meaningful life, he also proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Jackie Titone, in 2002. The couple married in 2003 and in 2006 they had their first child, daughter Lola Marie Titone-Sandler aka Sadie Madison Sandler.

Adam Sandler proved that he could go the route of Jim Carrey and do dramatic acting aside from the usual comedy in the 2002 release Punch-Drunk Love. His holiday movie, 8 Crazy Nights, was also a change from the usual; an animated film where Adam Sandler's voice was used for the three main characters. He returned to his particular brand of humor in Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard (2005), and Click. That's not to say that he forgot about his dramatic success -- in 2004 he starred in another drama/comedy, Spanglish.

In 2006, Adam Sandler completed work on Reign Over Me (2007) and he also filmed I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007).
Adam Sandler In You Don't Mess With The Zohan
Adam Sandler had two 2008 projects: You Don't Mess With The Zohan costarring Emmanuelle Chriqui and Bedtime Stories with Keri Russell.

Adriana Francesca Lima

2011-07-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

Birth name Adriana Francesca Lima
Date of birth June 12, 1981 (1981-06-12) (age 28)
Place of birth Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Hair color Brown
Eye color Blue
Measurements 86-61-89 (34-24-35)
Dress size 4 (US)
Shoe size 9 (US)
Agency Marilyn Agency
Spouse(s) Marko Jaric (2009–present) Adriana Francesca Lima (born June 12, 1981) is a Brazilian model best known as a Victoria's Secret Angel since 2000 and a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics from 2003 to 2009. At age 15, Lima finished first place in Ford's "Supermodel of Brazil" competition and took second place the following year in the Ford "Supermodel of the World" competition before signing with Elite Model Management in New York City.
Lima never thought about being a model, although she had won many beauty pageants in elementary school.However, she had a friend at school who wanted to enter a modeling contest and didn't want to enter alone, so Lima entered with her. Both sent in pictures, and the contest sponsor soon asked Lima to come out for the competition. Soon after, at the age of 15, she entered and finished in first place in Ford's "Supermodel of Brazil" model search. She subsequently entered the 1996 Ford "Supermodel of the World" contest and finished in second place. Three years later, Lima moved to New York City and signed with Elite Model Management. After acquiring representation, Lima's modeling portfolio quickly began to expand, and she appeared in numerous international editions of Vogue and Marie Claire. As a runway model, she has walked the catwalks for designers such as Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Ralph Lauren and Valentino, among others. Lima became a GUESS? girl in 2000, appearing in that year's fall ad campaign. She also appeared in the book A Second Decade of Guess? Images.

Lima continued to build upon her portfolio, doing more print work for Maybelline, for whom she worked as a spokesmodel from 2003 until 2009, the same year she appeared in the company's first calendar, a limited edition run also featuring Kemp Muhl, Jessica White, Julia Stegner, and Anna Wang.Lima has also worked for notable fashion brands bebe, Mossimo, Armani, Bulgari, De Beers, FCUK, Intimissimi, Keds, Swatch, Versace, and BCBG. She also appeared on the covers and in the editorials of other fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, GQ, Arena, Cosmopolitan, and Esquire. Her April 2006 GQ cover was the highest-selling issue that magazine for the year,while her April 2008 cover brought a record number of hits to the magazine's website.[citation needed] She also appeared in the 2005 Pirelli Calendar and became the face of Italy's cell phone carrier, Telecom Italia Mobile, a move that earned her the nickname, "the Catherine Zeta-Jones of Italy."

In February 2008, Lima was featured on the cover of Esquire, re-creating the classic 1966 Angie Dickinson cover on Esquire's 75th anniversary along with fellow Victoria's Secret Angels Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolina Kurkova, Izabel Goulart and Selita Ebanks. She appeared only in shoes, diamonds and gloves for the November 2007 issue of Vanity Fair celebrating 20 years of supermodels with her fellow Angels.In February 2008, she was chosen to be the face of Mexico's Liverpool department store chain and launched the partnership with a press conference, runway show, and summer campaign. Lima returned to the high fashion runway in 2009, walking for Givenchy.That same year, after visiting Turkey, Lima signed a contract with Doritos to appear in print campaigns and commercials which began airing in Turkey in April. She is also one of the faces of Givenchy for the Fall/Winter 2009 season, alongside Mariacarla Boscono and Iris Strubegger.

In 2006, Lima ranked as the fifth highest paid supermodel. In 2007 and 2008, she ranked as the world's fourth highest paid supermodel by Forbes Magazine.

Lima is probably best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. Her first fashion show for the company came in 1999, and since being contracted as an Angel in 2000, she has appeared on subsequent shows ever since, opening the show in 2003, 2007, and 2008, in which she also closed the opening segment. Lima has appeared on several television ads for the brand, including the praised and criticized "Angel in Venice" commercial of 2003 with Bob Dylan and her solo Victoria's Secret's Super Bowl XLII ad, the single most-seen ad of the game, watched by 103.7 million viewers.2008 continued for Lima with hosting the What Is Sexy? program for the E! Entertainment Network and a July tour for the BioFit Uplift Bra launch, with stops in Long Island, Boston, and Miami Beach. She was also featured in November's Miracle Bra relaunch.Topping the year off, Lima wore the "Fantasy Bra" for the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. In 2009, Lima launched the company's new makeup line, "Christian Siriano for VS Makeup."

Lima's first acting role was the wife, alongside Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker, in The Follow (2001), a short film in BMW's series The Hire, starring Clive Owen. She also appeared with her fellow Angels in a guest spot playing herself in the series How I Met Your Mother in November 2007.

In 2008, Lima appeared on the American television series Ugly Betty, where she played herself and made friends with the series' title character, played by America Ferrera. According to her publicist, Liza Anderson, "Adriana has always been a huge fan of Ugly Betty and is thrilled for the opportunity to make a guest star appearance."

Since her rise to fame, Lima is often cited by popular media as one of the world's sexiest women. Lima was listed in the 2005 Forbes' edition of The World's Best-Paid Celebrities Under 25.Also, she ranked No.99th in the 2006 Forbes' edition of The Celebrity 100 (Forbes' Highest Paid and Powerful Celebrities in the World). Lima was chosen to be a part of People magazine's 100 most beautiful people in the world list, sharing that space with the Angels, with whom she also received a star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame" prior to the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. That same year, she ranked 7th on FHM's "100 Sexiest Women 2007" list and was awarded as the "Hottest Girl on the Planet" at the first Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards, although the category was not mentioned in the actual broadcast. Lima was also voted on the Maxim "Hot 100" 2007 at the #53 spot. She was voted #1 as the Most Desirable Woman in 2005 by visitors of the men's lifestyle website, Askmen.com (she placed 4th in 2006 and 2007, 10th in 2008, and 19th in 2009). In November 2008, Models.com featured her at number one on the list of the "Sexiest Models."In 2009, she was voted sixth in "FHM's Sexiest Women In The World".

Victoria's Secret Angels Adriana Lima (left), Marisa Miller and Selita Ebanks ride in the Guantanamo Bay Christmas Parade Dec. 1, 2007

In addition to her native Portuguese, Lima speaks English, French, and a bit of Italian. Lima was shy around boys when she was younger, not receiving her first kiss until she was 17 years old. Afterward, the boy went directly to her mother to ask if he could marry her.She is a devout Catholic who attends church every Sunday.In April 2006, she told GQ that she was a virgin. "Sex is for after marriage," she explained. "They [men] have to respect that this is my choice. If there's no respect, that means they don't want me." Staying true to her religious roots, she is known for taking a Bible backstage to read.

She has been romantically linked to musician/singer Lenny Kravitz and Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein.On Valentine's Day 2009, she married Serbian basketball player Marko Jarić, whom she began dating in November 2007.They wed in a private civil ceremony in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.The couple originally planned on a large wedding in Salvador in June 2009, but the couple decided to opt for a wedding in each of their hometowns; both are scheduled to take place at the end of 2009.

The couple had their first child, a daughter named Valentina Lima Jarić, on November 15, 2009.Lima's representative told People magazine: "Adriana and Marko are overjoyed that they are expecting their first child together and are excited to share the happy news and start their family together."She has also recently applied for Serbian citizenship.

Lima does charitable work helping with an orphanage, "Caminhos da Luz" (Ways of Light), located in her hometown. She helps with construction to expand the orphanage, and buys clothes for poor children in Salvador, Bahia.She appeared on Var mısın? Yok musun?, the Turkish version of Deal or No Deal, where her prize money went to a hospital in Istanbul for children fighting leukemia.