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MADONNA’s Chanel handbag sold for almost half a million dollars at a charity auction at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday (22May08).
The pop superstar handed over the black alligator-skin diamond bag she had taken to the amFar Cinema Against Aids benefit in the French resort, complete with most of its contents, including lip gloss "that actually touched my lips"; lip balm; a mirror and throat lozenges.
She removed her two cell phones, insisting, "I’m not going to give up my Blackberry and phone because that’s too expensive for you." But it still sold to a mystery buyer for a staggering $471,000 (£235,500), proving more valuable than even a smooch with silver screen idol George Clooney - which sold for $300,000 (£150,000).
Actress Sharon Stone was one of the night’s biggest givers, handing over a $100,000 (£50,000) personal donation and then auctioning her own vintage Porsche 911 Targa for $810,00 (£405,000).
The event raised more than $10 million (£5 million) for amfAR’s life-saving Aids research programs.

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Actress MISCHA BARTON is developing her own line of handbags.
The former The O.C. star has created a range inspired by "vintage" designs she has discovered while travelling the world.
The bags, which hit stores in Barton’s native U.K. from 2 July (08), will all feature a flower pattern designed by the actress herself.

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Actress and one-time matriarch of the Rockefeller family BARBARA ROCKEFELLER died at her home in Arkansas on Monday (19May08).
Born Jievute Paulekiute, she was a former Miss Lithuania, thanks to her Eastern European heritage, and once sat for a Salvador Dali portrait.
Under her stage name Eva Paul, Rockefeller she was a minor player on the U.S.
stage in the 1930s and 1940s and she turned to Hollywood during World War Two under her married name, Barbara Sears.
But it was her second marriage to millionaire Winthrop Rockefeller which turned her into a star socialite. Her glitzy wedding was attended by British royals the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
But the marriage didn’t last long and the Rockefellers bitterly divorced in 1950. The fact that Barbara gave birth to a Rockefeller child, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, meant she’d be connected to the important family for life.
Barbara Rockefeller was 91 when she died. Details of the cause of death have not been released.

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Actor NEIL PATRICK HARRIS has paid tribute to the mother of his longterm boyfriend, who lost her battle with cancer last week (ends16May08).
The How I Met Your Mother star spoke out on Friday (23May08), during his stint as guest host on U.S. morning TV show Live with Regis and Kelly.
Referring to his partner David Burtka, he said, "David’s mother passed away last week from a leukaemia and pneumonia. It took her out really quickly, in just four and a half weeks. It’s been a really sad time. I just want to wish he and his sister Jen and their amazing dad Dan all the best."

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Former adult film star JENNA JAMESON has given up on marriage - she wants to follow in ANGELINA JOLIE’s footsteps and start a family out of wedlock.
The star is ready to have children with current beau, boxer Tito Ortiz - but two failed marriages have turned her off the idea of ever exchanging nuptials again.
She tells Us Weekly, "I’m gonna stay unmarried, and just go for the babies.
…I’m following in Angelina’s footsteps." Jameson was previously married to wrestler Brad Armstrong and fellow porn star Jay Grdina.

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The director of 1957 AUDREY HEPBURN movie FUNNY FACE is suing Gap clothing company, for using his footage of the actress without his permission.
The company agreed a deal with studio Paramount Pictures to show Hepburn dancing to Back in Black in the advert.
But 84-year-old Stanley Donen wasn’t consulted - and has filed a lawsuit seeking $5 million (£2.5 million), reports TMZ.com.
Donen is famous for directing Gene Kelly in musical Singin’ in the Rain.

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Acting legend BETTE MIDLER stepped out in New York this week (begs19May08) to raise money for her campaign to make the Big Apple more eco-friendly.
Midler set up the New York Restoration Project in 1995, with the aim to plant one million trees in New York’s five boroughs by 2017.
She was joined onstage at the bash by U.S. news anchor Katie Couric, and the pair launched into a series of duets.
Midler says of her cause, "To walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted connects you to the roots of our past and the aspirations of our future."

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Comedian KATT WILLIAMS found himself at the centre of a police raid on Tuesday (20May08), when cops stormed his Los Angeles mansion and arrested his distant cousin in connection to a drug-related shooting.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service, who had been looking for Robert McGhee, targetted Williams’ home after spotting his relative’s car parked outside the property.
McGhee was wanted by Ohio police after allegedly shooting a man in the chest on 24 April (08) in Dayton, following a failed drug deal.
McGhee is said to have fled the state with his girlfriend last week (ends16May08), resulting in a nationwide search for the 31-year-old.
But he was soon tracked down to Williams’ house in the L.A. suburb - and authorities have credited the joint work of various state officials for his arrest.
U.S. Marshal James Wahlrab says, "This arrest highlights why it is critical for federal, state, and local law enforcement to team together to investigate and locate such dangerous fugitives.
“Criminals do not recognise jurisdictional boundaries that often limit our partnering agencies. Through tremendous collaboration and the efforts of our task force officers, we were able to utilise all of the necessary resources across the nation to apprehend this suspect.” McGhee has been charged with felonious assault (causing serious harm), felonious assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
Williams has not been charged with any crime, although police are still trying to determine whether the funnyman was aware of McGhee’s fugitive status and if he was home at the time of the arrest, reports AllHipHop.com.

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R&B/funk group the TIME has become the latest act to gamble on a Las Vegas residency after announcing plans to perform at the Flamingo Las Vegas throughout the summer.
Morris Day’s group, which reunited after 15 years for the Grammys in February (08), will hit the Vegas stage on 24 June (08) and will headline 15 shows there before wrapping up the stint on 2 August (08).
As well as frontman Day, the band, which featured heavily in Prince’s Purple Rain movie, includes top producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

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BLUR bassist ALEX JAMES has fuelled speculation the band will reunite, insisting he would be "surprised" if they never performed together again.
The Britpop pioneers have been on hiatus since 2003, with bandmembers working on side projects and solo projects.
Meanwhile, James has been developing his own range of cheese on his farm in the English countryside.
Frontman Damon Albarn recently dismissed the idea of a Blur reunion, because they don’t need the money - but James disagrees.
He says, "We’re all pretty busy, but I’d be surprised if it never happens, but I would be terrified if it was happening on Monday."

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Rapper/producer RZA has launched his own online community, based around his two favourite passions - hip-hop and chess.
The Wu-Tang Clan star teamed up with the makers of games website Chesspark.com to create WuChess.com.
The new website is the only online chess and hip-hop community where users can create and share profiles with friends, as they play one another on the Internet. (MT/WNWC/IG) WENN - FIFTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 23 MAY 2008

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POISON drummer RIKKI ROCKETT has reportedly been "exonerated" of a felony rape charge dating back to September 2007 - because he wasn’t in Mississippi when the incident is alleged to have taken place in the state.
The 46-year-old - real name Richard Allan Ream - was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Neshoba County, Mississippi. But the charge was dropped this week (ends23May08), after the Neshoba County District Attorney decided he did not believe Rockett had committed the crime.
And, in a post on social networking site MySpace.com, the star claims he had been the victim of an identity mix-up, courtesy of an imposter and "career criminal" called John Minskoff.
Rockett writes: "I want to sincerely thank my lawyers Barry Tarlow and Mi Kim for their commitment to my case and their terrific legal work that exonerated me of any wrongdoing.
"I remain surprised that no member of the educated and savvy press ever Googled the name ‘John Minskoff’! Had they done so, they would have found out that in 1996, John Minskoff claimed to have been involved with the rock band, Whitesnake, when he lured and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl in Reno, Nevada.
Minskoff is a violent career criminal and felon and convicted perjurer with multiple convictions, who has admitted to impersonating "rock stars" to sexually pursue women." Rockett is relieved to be rid of the legal woe and is now looking forward to planning a Poison tour and his forthcoming nuptials to his longterm girlfriend.
He adds, "It’s nice to feel like I can have my life back now. I have a Poison tour to look forward to as well as a wedding to prepare for."

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Rockers GOOD CHARLOTTE have given guitarist BENJI MADDEN’s girlfriend PARIS HILTON a warm welcome into their family, after showing up to watch the heiress shoot the first episode of her new reality TV series.
Earlier this week (begs19May08), Madden and his fellow bandmates were present to lend their support to Hilton as she began filming My New BFF (Best Friend Forever), a TV competition in which 20 hopefuls compete for the chance to be the socialite’s confidante.
And, in an entry posted Friday (23May08) on her weblog, Hilton admits she is grateful for the group’s encouragement: "Him (Madden) and his friends came out to support me. I love how he’s always there for me, he always knows how to make me smile. Life is amazing, couldn’t be happier, excited for what the future holds." Updating his own blog on the same day, Madden hints fans will be pleased with the programme: "When you are part of the GC (Good Charlotte) family, everybody comes out to support. We had a fun night watching them shoot the show.
"I can’t ruin the surprise too much with the show, but I can tell you it’s really funny."

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Rocker RIKKI ROCKETT wants to use his own experience at the hands of a conman to help clear the names of prisoners who have been wrongly convicted for crimes they did not commit.
The Poison drummer, 46, was falsely accused of rape by a woman in Neshoba County, Mississippi last September (07), but was exonerated of the charge earlier this week (ends23May08).
Rockett claims his legal woe was due to the actions of a "career criminal" called John Minskoff, who allegedly impersonated him in a bid to bed women.
And he is now planning to work with specialised organisations to help others in similar situations.
Writing on social networking site MySpace.com, he says: "I… look forward to helping other people who have been falsely accused of committing heinous crimes.
"My lawyers, Barry Tarlow and Mi Kim, are helping me seek out organisations like Centurion Ministries to help if I can. This wonderful organisation works to free innocent people in prison who have done serious time for crimes they did not commit."

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Singer RIHANNA has credited her shorter hairdo with distinguishing her from other pop stars - and for allowing her to discover herself.
The 20-year-old rebelled against her record label’s wishes last year (07) when she chopped her long locks into an edgy pixie cut to coincide with the release of her album Good Girl Gone Bad.
And the Umbrella hitmaker insists the change in style helped her establish her independence.
She says, "I felt like the whole world had long, curly, flowy blonde hair.
Ciara, Beyonce, Mariah, Christina Milian. Everybody wanted to be like everybody else. So I cut my hair and they (Def Jam) made me put my long hair back in (as extensions).
"The second time, I didn’t have any discussions, nothing. I just cut it, I dyed it black, I went into the studio making music my way. I found myself all at once. I like things strong, edgy, a little to the left. I don’t like things that are expected - nothing cliched."

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British royal PRINCE CHARLES has undergone surgery to remove a non-cancerous growth from his face.
The Prince of Wales, 59, has recently been photographed with a small white plaster on the right side of his nose, prompting his press secretary at his official residence of Clarence House to issue a statement, reassuring he is in good health.
According to the brief press release, the surgery was a "routine and minor matter".

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Socialite NICOLE RICHIE will be honoured with a parenting award - just five months into motherhood.
The Simple Life star - who gave birth to her first child, daughter Harlow, in January (08) - will receive a Golden Pacifier Award from Babytalk Magazine, according to its editor-in-chief Lisa Moran.
Moran tells America’s OK! magazine, "Honouring Nicole Richie with a Babytalk Golden Pacifier Award might come as a surprise to some, but we felt that she deserved some recognition for her turnaround since becoming a mom.
"She’s grown up a lot since the arrival of little Harlow, and her creation of the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation has demonstrated her efforts to set a good example by shining a spotlight on important issues affecting today’s families." Also to be recognised is former talk show host Ricki Lake for her 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born, which chronicles her home-birthing experience.

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Supermodel NAOMI CAMPBELL stepped out with a controversial new beau at the Cannes Film Festival in France on Wednesday (22May08) - her date was a convicted swindler.
The runway queen - who has an assault conviction to her name - arrived at the premiere of new movie Che with Christian Rocancourt, a fraudster who has spent five years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from investors.
According to the New York Post, Rocancourt, 40, has impersonated members of Manhattan’s famous Rothschild and Rockefeller families and pretended to be the son of actress Sophia Loren in the past, to dupe investors out of money.
Campbell celebrated her 38th birthday after the premiere, with a party aboard Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ yacht.

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