Russell Crowe Takes Stance Against Slot Machines

Academy Award-winning actor and staunch Rabbitohs supporter, Russell Crowe, has succeeded in his campaign to remove more than a hundred slot machines from the premises of his of South Sydney Rugby league club. The “Gladiator” star and his business partner Peter Holmes a Court had been pushing the club’s members to remove the gambling machines, which they said were a “distraction” from the club’s real purpose.

Despite the fact that the machines were contributing to a major percentage of the club’s annual revenue, the club’s board members on Thursday yielded to Crowe’s purpose and agreed to remove 160 “pokies” from the club.

Crowe and Holmes a Court had been pressing for the machines’ removal because of the negative social impact they were having.

In a letter to club members in September, the duo said, “We are not moralizing here, we just believe that low-income areas like Redfern need [fewer] poker machines rather than more. We believe a club can be successful if it caters for our members and the broad community; is a place where families can gather for conversation and good food; and the distracting din of pokies doesn’t stop the conversation or drown out live music.”

It is not for the first time that Crowe has taken an unconventional step for the betterment of the club. Earlier this year, he axed cheerleaders from the rugby league club and replaced the girls with a drumming band.

The club plans to cover A$1m in deficit by attracting new members.

Eva Longoria’s Husband Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Website

Tony Parker, the French basketball star and newly married husband of “Desperate Housewives” star Eva Longoria, has sued a celebrity gossip Web site for publishing “false” stories of his affair with a French model. The lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at least $40 million in damages.

The lawsuit comes just few days after X17online.com posted an interview with French model Alexandra Paressant in which she allegedly revealed her two-month affair with Parker. The story said Paressant had told X17 that she became acquainted with Parker through French soccer star Thierry Henry, who introduced her to the basketball star at his wedding last summer.

However, Parker has rejected those claims and blamed the site for not having done enough to check the “credibility of its supposed source,” the lawsuit said.

"X17 had to know that the story was false, or, at the very least, it had to have entertained serious doubts about the credibility of the supposed source,” the case said.

Parker, 25, married 32-year-old Longoria in Paris in July.

Jodie Foster Nearly Admits Being Lesbian

Two-time Academy Award-winning American actress, Jodie Foster, has spoken publicly for the first time about her relationship with film producer Cydeny Bernard. Although several gossip magazines have long speculated about the actress’ sexual orientation, “The Accused” star has always shunned the calls to discuss her private life.

The speculations over Foster’s homosexuality were validated during the Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast at Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. In her emotional speech, the 44-year-old actress revealed a vulnerable side of her as a star.

"I feel fragile, unsure, struggling to figure it all out, trying to get there even though I'm not sure where there is,” she said after thanking her "beautiful Cydney” who had stuck with her “through all the rotten and the bliss.”

"I've been working in this business for 42 years and there's no way you can do that and not be as nutty as a fruitcake,” Foster said.

According to reports, Foster and Bernard met on the set of the film Sommersby in 1993 and are raising Foster’s two sons, Charles, 9, and Kit, 6, at their Malibu home.

While critics are still contemplating the actress’ move to reveal her relationship at this point of time, her fans have applauded her decision.

On American website Gay.com, a reader posts a comment: “It is her life to live as she pleases. Why do so many gays worry about who is and who is not gay?”

“Whether or not Jodie comes out is definitely her own decision, but she would provide an excellent positive role model to GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender] people everywhere. I think that is why we get excited when someone comes out,” writes another.

Foster is also the proud winner of two Golden Globes, three BAFTA awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award, making her one of the few select actors to have won all four major motion picture acting awards.

China Imposes Three Month Ban On Hollywood Movies

American studios would have to wait, this time a little long, before they release their movies to theatres in the mainland China. The delay comes as the Chinese government has issued an order banning the screening of U.S. films in the country until at least February 2008.

According to Variety, the ban was announced through the State Administration for Film Radio and Television or the Film Bureau – an executive branch which supervises movie industry policy and application in China.

While it is well known that China has some of the stiffest rules in place when it comes to importing a foreign film (not more than 20 a year making it to Chinese screens), this time around the ban is thought to be an outcome of a mix of political and economic issues.

The trade paper listed out three major factors that could have prompted the ban – including the U.S.’ tirade against China through the World Trade Organization over the country’s anti-piracy laws, restrictions on the sale of American movies, music and books there; the success of American movies at the expense of Chinese films; and other tit-bit political and social issues such as the U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan and honor to Dalai Lama.

Although the WTO has knocked down the main Chinese trade barriers, the ones protecting the entertainment industry are still standing strong. Some Chinese sources revealed to Variety that the ban that started on Dec 1 could continue until May.

China most recently banned Martin Scorsese's crime thriller “The Departed” because a scene in the film pointed to Chinese plot to purchase American military equipment. Last year, “Memoirs of a Geisha,” was banned from screening in the country, amid speculations that portrayal of Japanese escorts by Chinese actresses may spark Sino-Japanese tensions.

Josh Brolin In Talks To Play Harvey Milk’s Assassin

The Goonies star, Josh Brolin, is reported to be in final talks to join the cast of Gus Van Sant's bio-pic "Milk." If things materialize, the 39-year-old actor will portray Harvey Milk's assassin Dan White. (Earlier reports indicated that Matt Damon was considered for the role, but the “Good Will Hunting” scribe pulled out because of scheduling conflicts.)

The film will see Brolin playing alongside Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn, set to play the central character of first openly gay politician Harvey Milk.

Milk was a San Francisco City Supervisor who along with Mayor George Moscone was fatally shot in 1978 at the City Hall by his former co-worker Dan White.

Meanwhile, Emile Hirsch and James Franco are also negotiating to join the cast as Milk's political ally, Cleve Jones, and Milk’s lover and campaign manager, Scott Smith, respectively.

The film is based on Randy Shilts' 1982 biography of Milk, titled, “The Mayor of Castro Street.” A documentary film based on Milk's life, "The Times of Harvey Milk," won an Academy Award in 1985.

Angelina Jolie To Play U.N. Spy In Paramount’s Upcoming Thriller

Angelina Jolie is up and about for another U.N. duty, but this time in reel life. The Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency has signed on to play the real life adventures of a former U.N. intelligence operative in Paramount’s as-of-yet untitled action thriller.

To be produced by Jolie’s manager and Media Talent Group's Geyer Kosinski, the film is reportedly inspired from the life of Kathi Lynn Austin, who as a contract based U.N. spy dealt with arms trafficking and terrorism in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and Central America.

The film will have Angelina as Austin put up a tough fight against a fictional arms dealer also inspired by a real life figure, Victor Bout, a shadowy Russian who is considered one of the world's most prolific dealers in illegal munitions, reports Variety.

A writer for the project will be chosen as soon as the WGA strike is over.

Meanwhile, Jolie is busy shooting for the Clint Eastwood’s true life drama “The Changeling,” in which she plays a mom who becomes a victim of the corruption in the police department.

“Batman Begins” Star Christian Bale Takes On As Next John Connor

Christian Bale is said to be final negotiations to star in the next installment of Warner Bros.' Terminator franchise. If everything goes well, the British actor will play the role of human warrior John Connor, the central character on the film.

Bale is already working for the studio on its Batman sequel, “The Dark Knight,” scheduled for a summer 2008 release.

According to trade paper Variety, "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," would feature a revised storyline and set the precedent for two future films. Based on the post-T3 events, the film will focus mainly on the war between man and Skynet, the fictional, computer-based military defense system.

"Multi-Facial" actor Vin Diesel is expected to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the title role in previous three films.

McG is directing the project, with the production due to begin in Budapest in April next year.

Reese Witherspoon Tops Hollywood’s Highest Paid Actresses Roster

Reese Witherspoon has grabbed the seat of Hollywood’s highest paid actress despite the cold response to her latest political thriller “Rendition.” The “Legally Blonde” actress is believed to be netting around $15-20 million per film, beating out an apparently busier Angelina Jolie who earned around $8 million for her latest release, "Beowulf.”

Former fashion model Cameron Diaz came in third on the list complied by the Hollywood Reporter, earning over $15 million per film.

While Nicole Kidman dropped two places on the list, with an asking price of $10-15 million a film,
Renee Zellweger, Sandra Bullock and Hollywood Queen Julia Roberts join the multi-million dollar club at an asking price of $10 million-15 million.

Rounding out the list of Hollywood's highest paid actress are curvaceous beauty Drew Barrymore, "The Accused" actress Jodie Foster and Acadedmy Award winnng Halle Berry who get around $10-12 million paychecks

Pantomime Star Biggins Make Big At Celebrity Show

English television presenter and pantomime actor Christopher Biggins has been crowned the winner of ITV’s jungle reality show “I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!“ The 58-year-old actor became the fifth male winner of the show beating out former U.S. supermodel Janice Dickinson and boy band “Five” singer Jason "J" Brown.

The “Porridge” star broke down in tears as he was named the “king of jungle.”

“It's been a wonderful, wonderful experience and I can't believe that I'm here, that I've done it,” an emotional and a bit shocked Biggins said.

'I've made wonderful friends and I've done wonderful things that I never thought I would do. Unbelievable fun, it was just the best.”

The results came a day after Biggins successfully completed the show's infamous Bushtucker trial, where he was asked to eat a crocodile's foot, three cockroaches, a kangaroo penis and the marsupial testicles.

Biggins joined the jungle as late arrival on day 5. The public did not vote for him to take part in the trial, but he participated in the trial as a lifeline for Janice. He became the bookies’ favorite after winning six stars for the camp during the Jungle Jeopardy trial.

Welsh singer Cerys Matthews was voted off the show on Thursday night, coming fourth.

Health Scare Casts Shadow On Spice Girls' Reunion Tour

The Spice Girls' upcoming reunion tour may be in jeopardy because of a health scare. According to a British newspaper, Geri Halliwell’s 18-month old daughter is sick with chicken pox and terrified by the idea of risking the health of her band members and their children the Ginger Spice has flown her kiddo back to the U.K. to be looked after by her family.

A source close to the girls' band told the Sun that Halliwell was specifically concerned about the virus spreading to Beckham boys Cruz and Romeo with whom little Bluebell had been playing around all the time as their moms rehearsed.

“Bluebell has played a lot with Victoria's sons Cruz and Romeo lately. Mel B's baby Angel could get the bug too, and she is only eight months old,” claims the source.

The girl band - which comprises of Melanie C (Sporty Spice), Brown (Scary Spice), Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) and Geri Halliwell - split in 2000 two years after Geri left citing "differences" between the band members. Since then the group hasn't performed together on one stage.

"The Return of the Spice Girls" kicks off in Vancouver, Canada on Dec 2. The tour will support the band's "Greatest Hits" album released on Nov 5.

Grieving Kelly Brook Pulls Out Of Dancing Show

British actress Kelly Brook has withdrawn from BBC1's reality show Strictly Come Dancing following the death of her father on Monday. The 28-year-old model had been one of the favorites to win the series with her professional ballroom dance partner Brendan Cole.

Brook had vowed to continue competing in the show despite her father passing away, but the “House of 9” star had been too upset to continue with the rehearsals, a BBC spokesperson said on Friday.

"Sadly Kelly Brook has taken the decision to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing following the loss of her father this week," the BBC said. "Kelly has done some training as she had hoped to continue with the show in his memory. However, understandably she has found it too difficult.

"Kelly has been a fantastic part of the program and she will be sorely missed by everyone on the show who would also like to express their deepest sympathy to Kelly and her family at this difficult time."

With Brook’s exit, the celebrities that remain in the competition are Singer Alesha Dixon, actress Letitia Dean, former rugby star Kenny Logan, Blue Peter host Gethin Jones and EastEnders actor Matt D'Angelo.

The grand final of the fifth series of the dancing show will take place on December 22.