Photograph: Vincent Peters

Angelia Jolie is an amazing woman.  Not only is she knock-out dead gorgeous, but a role model humanitarian.

Jolie is a human rights advocate and, in summer action flick ”Wanted,” a remorseless killer. In a frank “Entertainment Weekly” interview, the star with the disarming and dangerous persona talks about sex, tattoos, motherhood, war, and peace

”Brad is the hardest person to shop for,” she says of her partner, Brad Pitt, while checking out a window display of Corum watches at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat in the south of France. ”He has impeccable design taste. And whenever he sees something he likes, he buys it for himself.” Pitt’s most recent gift to Jolie — the gun-charm necklace she wore to her EW photo shoot — is also a tough act to follow.

The 33-year-old Academy Award winner has always cultivated dual identities: On the one hand, she’s been the Mistress of the Dark (as in her fascinations with tattoos, knives, and blood); on the other, she’s the Minister of Light (her work promoting international peace).

Her next starring film roles keep that dichotomy alive: On June 27 she appears as Fox, a morally driven assassin who mentors a shlubby office worker (Atonement‘s James McAvoy) in the graphically violent Wanted, directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch).  Full article

The craze is back. The sexy women from New York City are hitting the big screen. Our favorite gal pals from “Sex and the City” are bigger than ever in the new movie-version of the highly successful HBO show.

The film catches up with Carrie Bradshaw and her friends four years after we last saw them, and promises to answer all our lingering questions: Will Carrie and Big finally tie the knot? Can Samantha really be satisfied with just one man? Will Charlotte ever get pregnant? Can Miranda and Steve actually live happily ever after?

But, before you strap on your Manolos and run out to the theater, here’s a reminder of who the major “Sex and the City” players are – including the drinks and shoes.

THE GIRLS

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker)

“Sometimes it is important to have a 13-year-old moment, to remember a simpler time when the best thing in life was hanging out, listening to records and having fun with your friends.”
The scoop: Carrie’s freewheeling spirit is reflected in her eclectic wardrobe. Think Saks Fifth Avenue meets the YWCA thrift store. A hopeless romantic, her job as a newspaper sex columnist allowed her to ponder the nature of male/female relationships. And Carrie’s on-again/off-again attraction to the charming Mr. Big provided her with plenty of fodder.

When we last saw her: Carrie had left Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov) after moving with him to Paris. After getting the blessings of Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha, Big arrives in Paris just in time to sweep Carrie off her feet. Carrie and Big, realizing they’re meant to be, returned to New York, ready to start over … again.

Now: Carrie is no longer writing her newspaper column, but is a sometimes contributor to Vogue magazine and is working on her fourth book. She’s a more mature Carrie, who’s hiring a personal assistant and still in a stable relationship with Big.

Charlotte York (Kristin Davis)

“… Women just want to be rescued. I’m sorry but it’s true. I’ve been dating since I was 15. I’m exhausted. Where is he?”

The scoop: Charlotte is accustomed to the finer things in life. However, the discerning eye she used to critique artwork in her former job as an art dealer failed her when sizing up men. Charlotte always believed that a Prince Charming – handsome, dashing and, of course, rich – would arrive and together they would live happily ever after.

When we last saw her: Charlotte had converted to Judaism and married her divorce lawyer, Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler). After many thwarted attempts to become parents, she and Harry finally had learned they’d been approved to adopt a baby girl from China.

Now: Charlotte and Harry are proud parents of Lily, the little girl they adopted from China. The newfound happiness has changed Charlotte, who’s now focusing more on other people.

Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall)

“If you’re a successful single woman … you have two choices: You can either bang your head against the wall and try to find a relationship, or you can just say screw it. Just have sex, like a man.”

The scoop: It’s no surprise Samantha’s a success in the competitive, image-conscious world of public relations. She is in her element among the movers and shakers of New York’s high society. Samantha’s a fashion plate whose thirst for designer clothes is matched only by her thirst for men.

When we last saw her: Samantha was facing some hard realities, including a battle with breast cancer, and the realization that she loved Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis).

Now: Samantha is still with Smith and has followed him (and his acting career) to Los Angeles. Living in a beautiful beach house in Malibu, she misses her life back in New York.

Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon)

“I would love to be one of those people who’s all: ‘We loved, thank you, you enhanced my life, now go, prosper …,’ but I’m much more: ‘We didn’t work out, you need not to exist.’ ”

The scoop: Armed with a sharp tongue and a quick wit, Miranda uses her cynicism to shield her from the stress her job (she’s a corporate lawyer) and romantic relationships (or lack thereof) generate. Don’t let her bark fool you. Her sarcastic remarks and serious pantsuits belie a soft, sensitive side. Miranda’s pessimism doesn’t protect her from heartache and insecurity as much as her controlled facade lets on. She always has been a source of strength for her friends.

When we last saw her: Miranda, now a partner in her law firm, had done several things she swore she’d never do: Married bartender Steve Brady (David Eigenberg), had a baby boy (though not in that order) … and moved to Brooklyn.

Now: Still in Brooklyn, Miranda feels cut off from her former life in Manhattan. A working mother going in five different directions, she’s experiencing the pressures of modern life.

THE BOYS

Mr. Big (Chris Noth)

Carrie’s long-time, on-again/off-again love interest Mr. Big is back for the film, although in a new role: fiance. And this time, he’s engaged to Carrie.

Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis)

Boy toy Smith proved his worth and his devotion to Samantha during her bout with cancer. Now his hot acting career has taken him (and Samantha) to L.A.

Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler)

Charlotte’s divorce lawyer turned husband may be the opposite of preppy dream, but he’s all heart and a supportive husband.

Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone)

Charlotte’s former wedding planner turned into Charlotte’s confidant and fashion consultant.

Steve Brady (David Eigenberg)

Miranda’s husband and father of her son, Brady, Steve still is a stand-up guy who will do anything for the people he loves.

Brady Hobbes (Joseph Pupo)

Little Brady is no longer a baby anymore. Now he’s a little boy in Brooklyn.

Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson)

Talent agent Standford comes with a lot of drama, but he may be the only man who has stood by Carrie’s side.

By Wendy Zang and Eric Goodwin

Photo Attribution: Georges Biard

The last year has been a challenging one for mega-star Usher.

He’s had to endure relentless media scrutiny and deal with very personal matters — getting engaged, canceling the Wedding only to finally see it through, falling out with his mother, and seeing the death of his father shortly after becoming one himself.

Usher has also learned to change his lifestyle and settle down.

“I was going out night to night, having a different woman in my bed every time I chose, and I began to wonder: Am I really being a playa or am I a whore?”

Usher (Usher Raymond IV) was born on 14 October 1978 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1994, he released his debut album, Usher.

Usher was able to break into super-stardom with the release of his sophomore album, My Way in 1997. Containing the hit songs You Make Me Wanna and My Way, the album gave Usher a handful of awards including a Soul Train award and 2 Billboard awards.

After a four year break, Usher finally returned with the much anticipated 8701 album, which became multi-platinum and gave Usher his first two Grammys.

In 2004, Usher released Confessions, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts, setting seven Soundscan sales records and selling 1.1 million albums in the first week alone.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Usher feels that he finally has a chance to tell his side of the story and tell all what really happened in both his professional and private life.

”This should be the last time that I have this type of dialogue about my wife or my family, and it’s because I’ve never really had the opportunity to speak,” he says, answering a question that hasn’t even been asked, his smooth Southern drawl infused with a hint of combative aggression. ”But I really don’t wanna make my business the focus of what this is.”

Usher’s new CD, Here I Stand (out May 27), which mirrors the singer’s transformation from carefree bachelor to devoted husband and father.

The album’s first single, the sleek and seductive ”Love in This Club,” is already a ubiquitous dance-floor staple that’s hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and notched 1.5 million digital sales.

Ames Friedman, CC BY 2.0  via Wikimedia Commons

It seems that Ryan Seacrest has a thriving broadcasting career and several ventures in media. Many believe Ryan Seacrest is at the very forefront of the entertainment industry.

This year marks Ryan’s seventh year as the successful host of the #1 TV show, “American Idol.”  Along with his winning personality, the show has become a true cultural phenomenon, making Ryan Seacrest a household name in the process.

In addition to TV, Ryan reaches millions through the world’s most popular radio countdown show, “American Top 40,” He took over the show from radio legend Casey Kasem. “American Top 40″ still remains an institution in radio. With Ryan running the show, it is heard on more stations and in larger markets than ever before.

Ryan states, “When I moved to Hollywood, one of the first people I ever wanted to meet wasn’t a movie star. It was a disc jockey, it was Casey Kasem.  Kasem is a legend, a guy I used to listen to growing up. And not only listen to, but pretended to be.”

In Los Angeles, Seacrest took over DJ role on the Top-40 radio powerhouse, 102.7 KIIS-FM. The program, “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” which broadcasts weekdays from 5:00-10:00 AM, is now the No. 1 morning show in L.A.

On his love for radio, “I love it. I love the immediacy of it. I love the spontaneity of it, … I love the fact that every day you see something on TV that you have an opinion about and you want to talk about and the next day you can get on the air and do it.”

There has been many rumors about Ryan’s sexuality and whether he’s gay or not.

He comments, “I know a lot of gay males who I work with that are fantastic people and I love hanging out with them. But because I hang out and bring gay men into my life, does that mean that I’m gay? I promise you that I very much love women.”

Seacrest continues, “I’ve dated some women who have turned me on to some funny things that are strange for men to actually do, but these things have become part of my process. I think the things I do for my appearance help make me look better. I even colour my hair because I like how it makes me look.”

Ivanka Trump is the daughter of former fashion model and athlete Ivana Trump and multibillionaire business mogul-cum-pop culture celebrity Donald Trump.  Ivanka was born in 1981.

She inherited both the traffic-stopping glamour of her mother and the staggering fiscal wealth of both parents — reason enough for her to be selected as one of the chief participants in the 2002 documentary Born Rich, a glimpse into the lives of some of the wealthiest young heirs and heiresses in the world — helmed by Jamie Johnson, prince of the Johnson & Johnson empire.

Trump landed on the cover of Seventeen Magazine at the age of 16, which marked the beginning of a glossy and prestigious career as a fashion model. She then attended Georgetown University and Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in economics.

As a young adult, Trump became a frequent guest star on talk programs, news magazines, and reality series such as Late Night with David Letterman, Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Project Runway (appearing as a guest host in 2006). She also hosted the 15th Annual Miss Teen USA Pageant in 1997.

In 2005, Ivanka joined her father’s business organization, working in real estate development.

Starting in 2006, Ivanka began to appear on her father’s popular reality show The Apprentice, becoming a regular boardroom judge the following year, replacing Carolyn Kepcher starting with the sixth season of the series.

Kim Kardashian (full name Kimberly Noel Kardashian) was born on October 21, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is the daughter of Robert Kardashian, famous attorney and she is also a socialite.

One of her best friends is Paris Hilton. Just like Paris, Kim was involved in a sex tape scandal after an unknown source sold a tape in which she and her boyfriend, Ray J, were making love. She said she will sue them.

“There is no amount of money that could ever convince me to release any tape, even if I had one. I don’t need the money.”

“I’m not poor; I’m not desperate, I would never attempt to sell a tape,” she says. “It would humiliate me and ruin my family. I don’t need the money. It’s humiliating; it’s embarrassing. It’s something I feel very betrayed by, but I’m not pointing any fingers.”

Kim Kardashian stars in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, now in its second season.

People seem to want to see how this former sex tape star and ex-best friend of Paris Hilton behaves in real life. The truth really is, that despite bringing nothing but some big breasts and a large buttocks to the table, Kardashian isn’t as annoying as most talentless celebrities.

These days, Kim Kardashian is dating NFL star Reggie Bush. She says they hope to get married one day soon.

Sleep off your hard day at the newest luxury hotel in Liverpool – it’s “The Beatles” themed Hard Days Night Hotel.

The hotel is located in the ‘Beatles Quarter’ of the city, and features visually stunning, artwork covering many key events in the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

The numerous artwork, seen throughout the hotel, features the specially commissioned ‘Shannon Collection’ and a unique statue of John Lennon, which greets visiting guests in the hotel atrium.

The hip, 110 room hotel has two extravagant luxury suites. The hotel keeps a wrap on the details of the suites as to amaze the guests of the suites. However, the rumour is that the Lennon Suite features its own white piano – paying tribute to the white piano Lennon plays on the back cover of the Imagine… Album.

John Lennon’s sister, Julia, is quoted saying the $1,300 a night suite is “stunning” and “spectacular”. The other secret suite is the McCartney Suite which is said to pay tribute to his knighthood with the suite’s personal suit of armor.

The hotel isn’t just for Beatles Fans. The four-star hotel, housed within a 19th century mercantile building, also caters to business travelers and tourists with the deluxe rooms which contain en suite bathroom and shower, luxurious double bed, a leather topped desk and panoramic views of the Liverpool skyline.

The Hard Days Night Hotel reservations can be booked on their website http://www.harddaysnighthotel.com or by calling +44 (0)151 236 1964.

Photo by Rueters

The Rolling Stones could very well the best rock ‘n roll band ever. The Beatles are always mentioned in that same breath. Mich Jagger is the Stone’s front man and at age 64, is still going as strong as ever. We should all age like Mick Jagger. His deeply lined face is full of character, he has a full head of remarkably lustrous, seemingly undyed hair, and there isn’t an ounce of fat on his body.

He’s limber and elegant in a dress shirt and sky-blue sweater, suit pants and black high-tops. His face is craggy, but from the neck down, Jagger looks 30.

Jagger’s dancing in performance  has always been like nobody else’s and, incredibly enough, still is. His voice, deeper with age, carries the Stones’ great songs with all the authority it ever had, or more. He is a wonder of nature.

Still, some may see the movie and think: These guys should have hung it up so long ago. Jagger and Keith Richards both turn 65 this year. But to listen to the Stones’ music is to forget all about the idea that rock ’n’ roll was meant only for young people.

The Rolling Stones have always been a law unto themselves. As is Mick Jagger.  Full article

Photo by Rueters

Celine Dion is stepping down after years of success headlining at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Whoever took her place would have some big shoes to fill.  I think Caesars did just fine with their choice.

Cher is the epitome of glitz and glamour and will bring the proverbial house down at Caesars. Las Vegas symbolizes the pinnacle of capitalism where money morphs into a chip in a game, where could you find a more appropriate place for an American icon?

At Caesars Palace Cher won’t just be a former sex symbol and idol from the 1970′s she’ll become enthroned as a immortal siren, glittering and perfect like a rhinestone. Luring you into the place where the basis of our society (money) so clearly becomes an abstraction. All meaning will melt away into an atmosphere of glamour.

Susan S. Kurth of Dallas won a $6,714,119 Wheel of Fortune quarter MegaJackpot at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on Friday.

The 60-year-old homemaker was visiting Lake Tahoe with her husband.

“It’s almost as if I felt the Wheel of Fortune machine wink at me,” she said. “I heard one click, then another, and then I heard music. I realized I had hit the progressive jackpot and all I could think of was finding my husband to share the exciting moment.”

The win will enable the couple to fulfill a lifelong dream, Kurth said.

“My husband is planning to retire soon, and it’s been our dream to build a retirement home in Colorado,” Kurth said. “He’s been telling me that my dream home would cost millions. Winning this jackpot will make our dreams come true.”

Many times in Hollywood or the overall entertainment business, good looks means few brain cells. In the case of supermodel Tyra Banks, that is certainly not the case. Underneath that glamourous exterior lies a fiercely determined businesswoman. Tyra has two hit shows: ”America’s Next Top Model” and ”The Tyra Banks Show”.

But Tyra Banks is not satisfied and has lofty goals. She has designs on building a multimedia empire.  Tyra says, “”Oprah Winfrey is a mogul. Martha Stewart is a mogul. I’m probably a mogul in the making. I’m almost there”

After her unbelievable modeling career wound down, her second life was just starting. The May 2003 debut of her creation America’s Next Top Model, which has grown into a worldwide hit and is embarking upon its 10th cycle (premiering Feb. 20 on The CW) began modestly. The most recent edition was the network’s top-rated series, averaging 5.2 million viewers weekly.

And The Tyra Banks Show — a broad mix of women’s issues and frothy fare — is now a talk-show force to be reckoned with: 4.3 million adult female viewers tuned in weekly this past November sweeps, and, with a median age of 40.

Full article