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Hollywood actor ELIJAH WOOD is set to play punk rocker IGGY POP in a movie about his life.
The Lord Of The Rings star will take the lead role in the biopic, entitled The Passenger, which follows Pop’s early career with The Stooges.
According to Daily Variety, Pop has "given his blessing to the project but will not take part in it". Filming is expected to begin within six months.
Pop recently reunited with The Stooges and the band have just completed a tour in support of their first album in over 30 years, The Weirdness.

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LILY ALLEN has hit out at U.S. immigration officers, claiming she was interrogated on her arrival in the country about newspaper allegations made against her.
After a similar incident occurred during her last trip to America, the British singer is convinced authorities are following all her tabloid gossip.
Allen - who arrived in Seattle at the weekend (12-13May07) to promote her album Alright, Still - writes on her website blog, "It seems that the American Immigration peoples know things about me that I don’t. Twice now I have been questioned over things that are a little dubious.
"I haven’t even been arrested, not even questioned. I have never even spoken to a policeman in regards to this incident.
"I doubt that a United States Government agency would use unreliable sources, quoting tabloid gossip and lies as factual evidence, would they?"

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NORAH JONES was "terrified" of filming a kissing scene with co-star JUDE LAW in new movie MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS.
The singer-turned-actress says she was nervous about the on-screen kiss in her movie debut - but Law was on hand to put her at ease.
She says, "I was very nervous and excited at the same time. I went into it totally blind.
"As soon as I saw the cast list I thought ‘What am I doing?’ It was very real.
"But on the second day Jude came in and he was really encouraging. On my first take with him my voice was really high. We had to do the kissing scene and from that moment the director, Wong Kar Wai, was so excited. He made us shoot the kiss for a long time."

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Hollywood actor TOM CRUISE’s intense drive for success stems from his poor childhood and love of the movies.
The actor and boss of studio United Artists spoke of his upbringing during a conference with the heads of UA parent company MGM.
In the talk, leaked on HollywoodInterrupted.com, he said, "I was raised by a single mother with three sisters and I would save my money to go to the movies.
It was very much part of my childhood. So when the opportunity came to start up the studios I had to do it. The cinema is something I value and reminds me of my childhood." Cruise also revealed he feared he would never make it as a Hollywood businessman - frequently doubting his ability throughout his career.
He adds, "I wanted the studio to make money. But what was important to me was to be good at making films. I often asked myself ‘Am I any good? Can I do this?’ I just wanted to make the best films."

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LATEST: MICHAEL JACKSON has been warned not to stand in the way of a planned charity auction of his belongings, because it could cause the singer more embarrassment than it’s worth.
The Thriller star and his family have threatened legal action against bosses at Universal Express, who are planning to hold the Jackson Family Memorabilia Auction later this month (30-31May07) in Las Vegas. Among the items going under the hammer are a number of costumes from him and his siblings’ Jackson 5 days.
The Jacksons are contesting ownership of a number of lots in the auction, which company chairman Richard Altomare claims to have purchased from the pop superstar’s former business partner Henry Vacaro, who was awarded the memorabilia as part of a bankruptcy case against Michael.
But Altomare has called upon the Jackson family to reconsider their pending lawsuit, because Universal Express have held back a number of items, including portraits of naked boys and sex toys, which could prove highly embarrassing to the star.
Altomare tells PageSix, "There are a couple of paintings Jackson made of children, of boys - naked. And there are some of his whitening creams, some sex aids… some of the old records in his sealed (sexual molestation) court case.
"This is stuff we have kept from the auction out of respect to Mr. Jackson.
The guy has troubles. We all have skeletons in the closet and, if Michael hadn’t put up a fuss, I might have quietly, discreetly, just given it to him.
"I’m a gentleman… But if he p**ses me off, I may end up auctioning them." The Jackson family are due in court for a closed hearing in Las Vegas tomorrow (18May07), where Altomare will argue he is the rightful owner of the collection, which is estimated to sell for more than $100 million (£50 million).
Jackson’s spokesman, William Marshall, has refused to comment.

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Former supermodel JANICE DICKINSON is in awe of music mogul SIMON COWELL and would jump into bed with him if she was given the chance.
Dickinson describes American Idol judge Cowell as her ideal man.
She says, "I can compete with Simon because we’re both authorities in our industry. I like Simon. I’d sleep with him in a heartbeat, he’s sexy."

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American TV veteran ROBERT VAUGHN finds getting into his character as a conman on TV hit THE HUSTLE easy, because he has spent his life tricking directors and producers in Hollywood.
Vaughn, 74, plays Albert Stroller in the hit British TV drama, as part of a team of London-based hustlers.
The Magnificent Seven star says, "I’ll let you into a little secret - I’ve been known to do a little conning in my time as well.
"I spent years conning people. I did it constantly during my first five years in TV, in America in the 1950s.
"Eighty per cent of the dramas were set in the Wild West and I convinced people I could ride when I was actually frightened of horses.
"I only learned to ride by playing cowboys, so by the time I appeared in The Magnificent Seven I was competent but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed it!"

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TV networks ABC and Univision have teamed up to produce a Spanish version of hit TV show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.
The hit series - which follows the lives of women residing in fictional street Wisteria Lane - will make its debut on Spanish TV under the banner Amas de Casa Desesperadas.
Although Latina actress Eva Longoria takes the lead role in the U.S series, it is not yet known who will be cast for the Spanish version.
Meanwhile, Univision has also agreed to air a five-part mini series produced by Latina singer/actress Jennifer Lopez.

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Movie giant Disney is set to make its first Chinese-language movie - about an enchanted vegetable.
The studio is teaming up with the China Film Group (CFG) to bring The Magic Gourd to the big screen.
The movie - a mix of live action and animation - is based on the book by late author Zhang Tianyi, and tells the story of a young boy who discovers a gourd (Chinese vegetable) that grants him wishes.
The project marks a significant strategy change in the way Disney markets its products in China, choosing to collaborate with the state-run CFG instead of flooding the market with their existing works.
Announcing the project yesterday (16May07), Stanley Cheung, the managing director of Disney China, said the company "respects and appreciates the deep-rooted, rich Chinese local culture", and will aim to reflect that in The Magic Gourd.

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The identity of JANE FONDA’s mystery new lover has been revealed, he is a 72-year-old retired management consultant called Lynden Gillis.
The 69-year-old former silver screen siren recently revealed she had met a new man at a book signing event - but refused to disclose his identity during televised chats with talk show hosts David Letterman and Larry King.
Now the National Enquirer has uncovered the mystery man’s name. After spotting them together, a source tells the tabloid, "I saw them together, and they looked very happy and snuggly." A representative for Fonda has refused to deny the claim, describing it as "not inaccurate".

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THE OFFICE star JENNA FISCHER has fractured her back in four places after falling down a set of stairs in a New York bar on Tuesday (15May07).
The actress, who plays Pam Beesly in the U.S. comedy, was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan after the fall at Buddakan.
Her representative tells the New York Daily News, "She avoided anything scary near the spine and she’ll make a full recovery in time to shoot season four of The Office this summer."

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THE KILLERS frontman BRANDON FLOWERS still gets starstruck when he’s socialising with his childhood idols SIR ELTON JOHN and BONO.
The rocker met the music superstars when The Killers hit the big time, and he admits he still has to pinch himself when he’s out partying with his new celeb pals.
He says, "It’s all a bit unreal. I grew up worshipping U2. These days, I hang around in bars with the band and Bono invites me backstage to sing with him. I also get to hang out with Elton John. I’m such a fan that it’s hard not to act like a teenage girl in his company."

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Former EURYTHMICS star ANNIE LENNOX won’t give up on finding love - because she’s "hooked" on men.
The Scottish singer has been married twice, splitting from her second husband Uri Fruchtmann in 2000 after 12 years of marriage. But despite her history of failed relationships, the 52-year-old is still determined to find happiness.
She says, "My overall experience of men has been disappointing, but I still seem to be hooked; I’m still up for more disappointment." (MT/WNTMA/IG) WENN - FOURTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 17 MAY 2007

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Scottish rockers THE FRATELLIS have pulled out of tonight’s (17May07) scheduled performance at a London awards ceremony, but have failed to give a reason for the cancellation.
The Chelsea Dagger stars were due to headline the 3 First Cut Awards at the University of London Union, but cancelled at the last minute, pledging to make it up to fans at a later date.
A message posted on their official website yesterday (16May07) reads, "The Fratellis will not be appearing as the headline act at the 3 First Cut Awards in London, Thursday 17th May but will play a rescheduled show for ticket holders who attend the show." Earlier this month (May07), the group cancelled a series of U.S. gigs, citing exhaustion.

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ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS rocker TYSON RITTER is being stalked by an airline employee who brings cookies to his gigs, he claims.
The singer alleges the woman, who he claims is a Delta Airlines worker called Dawn, obtained his contact details from flight booking information and regularly gets in contact with him to chat and even visits him at concerts.
Ritter tells the New York Daily News, "She calls me on the ground between connections to ask me how the flights are going. She called me on my birthday.
She comes to concerts and brings cookies.
"She’s like this bag lady with a big thing of cookies. She calls me and says, ‘When are you coming back to Connecticut?’ I’m a little less honest about my phone number now when I make reservations."

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Singer NATASHA BEDINGFIELD has hit out at Hollywood women, ridiculing them for having Botox and branding them "fake".
The Unwritten hitmaker recently spent time in Los Angeles songwriting and, although she had "fun with friends", she was not impressed with the city’s females.
She says, "There is a bit of fakeness. Everyone looks like they’re smiling, but it’s Botox. They’re like, ‘My Mum’s died’ and they’re smiling."

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Soul legend ARETHA FRANKLIN is reportedly set to wed for the third time - to longterm boyfriend Willie Wilkerson Jr.
The Respect star, 65, has been spotted attending wedding dress fittings in New York, with the ceremony expected to take place next month (Jun07).
Franklin has been married twice before: to former manager Ted White between 1962-1969, and to Glynn Turman from 1978-1984.

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LATEST: British pop star CHERYL COLE is confident LILY ALLEN’s musical success will never match that of GIRLS ALOUD.
The long-running war of words between the pair was reignited this month (May07) when Cole referred to Allen as "a chick with a d**k".
Allen retorted with a dig at Cole’s sexy pop star persona and relationship with England soccer star Ashley Cole, saying, "I must say taking your clothes off, doing sexy dancing and marrying a rich footballer must be very gratifying, your mother must be so proud, stupid bitch." But Cole has hit back again, fuming, "I’m currently on a big arena tour with the girls singing live each night.
"Lily, I could find you a spare ticket if you’d like to come and experience what a live arena tour is like… as that’s the closest you’ll get to it.
"I can’t stand people who give it but aren’t prepared to take it back. If that’s the case, she should keep her mouth shut instead of feeling sorry for herself. I could go on, but I left school a long time ago and have no time for this."

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