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Actress KATE WINSLET is delighted with her nod for Best Actress at next month’s (Feb09) Academy Awards and has praised THE READER’s production team for finally making Oscar glory a possibility for her.
The British beauty was nominated on Thursday (22Jan09) for her role in the post-war drama, with the film also competing in the Best Picture category.
The Titanic star, who has failed to pick up a single Oscar in her career despite being shortlisted five times, is ecstatic to have been recognised for her portrayal of a former Nazi concentration camp guard.
She tells OK! magazine, "I’m extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate. Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever been blessed with." The movie was also nominated in the Achievement In Directing, Adapted Screenplay and Achievement In Cinematography - and Winslet has nothing but praise for the people who had a hand in making it.
She adds, "I’m genuinely thrilled not just for myself but for the wonderful Stephen Daldry (director) and David Hare (screenwriter). These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film. And I’m also very happy for all the people in Germany whose hard work on The Reader has been rewarded by these nominations." And Winslet also pays a moving tribute to two filmmakers who helped produce the movie but passed away during its creation: "Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today!" It tops an extraordinary month for the star; she walked away with two gongs, for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, at the Golden Globes on 11 January (09) and received two nominations in the Best Actress category at the upcoming British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTAs).

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BRAD PITT’s THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON co-star TARAJI P. HENSON has dedicated her Oscar nomination to her late dad, who died just before she started making the movie.
Henson won a Best Supporting Actress nod on Thursday (22Jan09) for her portrayal of Pitt’s mother in the film, and reveals her dearly departed dad always told her she’d be considered for an Oscar one day.
She says, "I’m still in shock. I haven’t had a moment really to let it all sink in… This is an incredible year in film in general.
"My dad passed away a year before we started filming the movie and he always said this was going to happen… He didn’t get to see it. But come Oscar night, he’ll have the best seat in the house. This is for my dad."

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SCRUBS star SARAH CHALKE is so accident prone, she had her fiance’s phone number inscribed on her engagement ring, in case she loses it.
The actress has already lost one ring since lawyer Jamie Afifi popped the question back in December 2006 - and she’s determined not to go through the trauma again.
She reveals, "I’m on my second engagement ring, with the same person I lost my first one to.
"Now his cellphone number’s on the inside."

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Classic cartoon characters TOM AND JERRY are aiming to replicate the success of the SCOOBY-DOO film franchise by starring in a live-action movie remake.
The cat and mouse comedy duo became family favourites when they made their small screen debut in the 1940s, and an animated feature-length version, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, was released in 1992.
And now they’re going one step further, with a live-action remake set to hit theatre screens.
Bosses are hoping the film will achieve similar success to the 2002 Scooby-Doo movie and the 2004 sequel, Monsters Unleashed, which grossed $457 million (£330 million) at the global box office.
The new film will centre on how Tom and Jerry met and their subsequent rivalry, according to Daily Variety.

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JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT’s fiance ROSS McCALL is dismissing reports the couple has split - insisting they are "working it out".
Love Hewitt, 29, became engaged to the Scottish actor, 32, in November 2007 after two years of dating, but reportedly broke off the relationship over Christmas (08).
However, McCall is adamant that he’s working on a reunion with the actress, despite Love Hewitt having stepped out without her engagement ring.
In a statement to U.S. magazine UsWeekly, he says: "We are working it out. We are both still wearing our rings." News of the broken engagement came three months after Love Hewitt was snapped sobbing as he packed luggage into the back of a vehicle outside her home, sparking initial reports their romance was in trouble.

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Singer/actress HILARY DUFF has reportedly landed her sister HAYLIE a role alongside her in new sitcom BARELY LEGAL.
Hilary, 21, was recently handed the lead in the show, about a hot shot teen who becomes a lawyer at 18.
And sources claim she insisted her 23-year-old sister Haylie be given a recurring part too.
An insider tells OK! magazine, "Haylie will play the big sister who visits from time to time."

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Rapper BOW WOW has teamed up with basketball player STEPHON MARBURY to create a new collection for the sportsman’s clothing brand.
The Like You hitmaker, who owns a shoe store in Atlanta, Georgia, was recruited by the NBA star to design a line of clothing and footwear for his range.
The New York Knicks player partnered with American chain Steve & Barry’s in 2006 to produce a line of affordable leisurewear for youngsters, under the brand name Starbury - and he was quick to sign up the 21-year-old hip-hop star to help him create pieces.
Bow Wow tells AllHipHop.com, "I think families should have a real choice. I want my fans to be able to wear nice shoes and clothing and to also have money in the bank. The smart consumer can have both." The new Starbury collection, which will include garments for men, women and children, is set to debut in November (09).

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MOTLEY CRUE frontman VINCE NEIL is to play a free gig on the streets of West Palm Beach, Florida to celebrate the first anniversary of his rock bar.
The singer set up Dr. Feelgood’s a year ago and to mark the occasion he will shut down the street outside the venue on Saturday (24Jan09) night and take to the stage for a concert.
It is the second time the star has played for free in the area, Neil performed a similar stunt in April 2008, according to Blabbermouth.com.

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SLIPKNOT star CHRIS FEHN is adamant the band will eventually become more successful than METALLICA.
Frontman Corey Taylor announced earlier this month (Jan09) he is taking a break from performing with the rockers so he can put out a solo album - but the percussionist is already looking to the future for the group.
Fehn has high hopes for them - and is certain they will end up being even more famous than the Nothing Else Matters hitmakers.
He tells KansasCity.com, "I think we’re going to overtake Metallica. We’re going to overtake any band that sells out soccer arenas in Europe. We’re going to do it. We’re the last chance as far as the world goes.
"They (fans) keep showing up, and it’s getting better and better every year." And Fehn is sure the rockers have yet to reach their peak - because they haven’t made a record as iconic as Metallica’s self-titled 1991 LP.
He adds, "We haven’t even made our Black record yet. Wait until we do that.
It’s over, dude."

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Former SKID ROW frontman SEBASTIAN BACH has hit out at fans who post his music on the internet without permission.
Bach has been in touch with officials at videosharing website YouTube.com in a bid to remove any fan-created content featuring his work.
And the rocker has defended his actions, insisting that the unauthorised use of his music online is damaging his career as an artist.
He writes on his official website, "I know you don’t mean any harm in using my music for your videos, but we make our living by making music. No one has the right but us, the musicians, to upload our music to the Internet! If you upload our song to your site, why would someone go buy the CD? "If I put a CD out or a DVD, and put my name on it, it makes me furious to see it all being given away for free and there is next to nothing I can do about it. No one has intentionally done anything wrong; it’s just assumed these days if you make music then it should be free. This does NOT exactly make us all run skip and jump into the studio as quick as we can.
"I would suggest if you want music for your video game videos, learn how to play an instrument, write a song, record it, and use it in your video. Because I have to feed my children and pay my bills with mine."

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The New York City apartment where HEATH LEDGER died has been completely sealed off by its owner - one month after he pulled it off the real estate market.
The Brokeback Mountain star died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in the SoHo loft last January (22Jan08), aged 28.
The building’s owner, millionaire philanthropist Donald Burns, took the apartment off the market in December (08), after failing to attract a tenant with rent listed at $26,000 (£18,905) per month.
According to the New York Post all furniture, including the bed where Ledger’s body was found, has been removed from the three-bedroom home.
A source tells the newspaper, "It’s completely empty. Everything’s been taken out. Nobody is allowed up there."

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HEATH LEDGER fans have called on Academy Awards bosses to hand the late star a special tribute at this year’s (09) Oscars.
In a online poll carried out on Wednesday (21Jan09), the eve of the anniversary of Ledger’s death, more than 3,000 WENN readers logged onto PopEater.com to answer the question: "What would the most fitting tribute to Heath Ledger be, a year after his death?" Fifty-eight per cent called for a special tribute to the star at the Hollywood ceremony on 22 February (09).
Twenty-seven per cent asked Academy members to nominate Ledger for an Oscar for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, which he received on Thursday (22Jan09).
A further fifteen per cent asked movie bosses to make a biopic about the tragic star’s life.
Ledger was found dead at his New York home on 22 January 2008. He had suffered an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, aged just 28.

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Late actor HEATH LEDGER has been nominated for an Academy Award for his role in THE DARK KNIGHT - exactly a year after his tragic death.
The Brokeback Mountain star passed away from an accidental drugs overdose at his New York apartment on 22 January (08), shortly after completing filming of the Batman blockbuster.
And a year to the day after the tragedy (22Jan09), the late star has been granted a posthumous nod from the Academy Awards board, with his performance as comic book villain The Joker shortlisted in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Ledger will compete against Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) and Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) for the coveted prize.
The late actor has been nominated for a clutch of posthumous awards for his turn in the superhero adventure, having already won a prestigious Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award.
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on 22 February (09).

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KEVIN FEDERLINE is considering a return to his dancing roots - after TV bosses reportedly tapped him to appear on hit U.S. show DANCING WITH THE STARS.
Federline met ex-wife Britney Spears when he began working for the star as a back-up dancer before their 2004 engagement.
According to U.S. tabloid Star, Federline has entered talks with TV executives to appear on the ballroom dance show’s next season, beginning in March (09).
The 30-year-old, who has danced alongside Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani among others, has piled on the pounds in recent months fuelling speculation he’ll sign the TV deal in a bid to get his dancer’s body back.
A source tells the magazine, "His career isn’t exactly where he wants it to be. Kevin wants to get back into shape and welcomes anyone who can help him."

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BRAD PITT’s THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is the film to beat at the 2009 Academy Awards after scooping an astounding 13 Oscar nominations.
The Hollywood superstar is nominated in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of a man who ages backwards
. The film also received nods for Best Picture, Best Director for David Fincher, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Taraji P
. Henson.
It is an impressive haul of nominations for the movie - only 1997 blockbuster Titanic and Bette Davis’ 1950 classic All About Eve have achieved more, with 14 nods each.
Other actors competing with Pitt for the Best Actor prize include Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor).
Kate Winslet picked up her sixth Oscar nomination, recognised in the Best Actress category for The Reader, and will battle against Pitt’s partner Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Meryl Streep (Doubt), and Melissa Leo (Frozen River) for the award.
Late star Heath Ledger won a nomination for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight exactly a year after his tragic death.
He will compete in the Best Supporting Actor category against Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr
. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), and Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Frost/Nixon and Milk will all vie for the coveted Best Motion Picture gong at the forthcoming ceremony on 22 February (09).
And each of the film’s directors - David Fincher, Danny Boyle, Stephen Daldry, Ron Howard and Gus Van Sant respectively - are up for the Achievement in Directing prize.
The award nominations were announced at a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday (22Jan09) morning by Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker, who took home the Best Actor Oscar in 2007 for his role in The Last King Of Scotland.
The full list of nominations is as follows: Best Actress: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married Angelina Jolie - Changeling Melissa Leo - Frozen River Meryl Streep - Doubt Kate Winslet - The Reader Best Actor: Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Sean Penn - Milk Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler Richard Jenkins - The Visitor Best Actress In A Supporting Role: Amy Adams - Doubt Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona Viola Davis - Doubt Taraji P
. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler Best Actor In A Supporting Role: Josh Brolin - Milk Robert Downey Jr
. - Tropic Thunder Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road Best Picture: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Slumdog Millionaire The Reader Frost/Nixon Milk Achievement In Directing: David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon Gus Van Sant - Milk Stephen Daldry - The Reader Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth, Robin Swicord - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button John Patrick Shanley - Doubt Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon David Hare - The Reader Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt - Frozen River Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky Martin McDonagh - In Bruges Dustin Lance Black - Milk Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter - Wall-E Best Animated Feature Film: Bolt Kung Fu Panda Wall-E Achievement In Art Direction: James J
. Murakami, Gary Fettis - Changeling Donald Graham Burt, Victor J
. Zolfo - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando - The Dark Knight Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway - The Duchess Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt - Revolutionary Road Achievement In Cinematography: Tom Stern - Changeling Claudio Miranda - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight Chris Menges, Roger Deakins - The Reader Anthony Dod Mantle - Slumdog Millionaire Achievement In Costume Design: Catherine Martin - Australia Jacqueline West - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Michael O’Connor - The Duchess Danny Glicker - Milk Albert Wolsky - Revolutionary Road Best Documentary Feature: The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Encounters at the End of the World The Garden Man on Wire Trouble the Water Best Documentary Short Subject: The Conscience of Nhem En The Final Inch Smile Pinki The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306 Achievement In Film Editing: Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall - Bottom of Form 1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Lee Smith - The Dark Knight Mike Hill, Dan Hanley - Frost/Nixon Elliot Graham - Milk Chris Dickens - Slumdog Millionaire Best Foreign Language Film: The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) The Class (France) Departures (Japan) Revanche (Austria) Waltz with Bashir (Israel) Achievement In Make-up: Greg Cannom - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button John Caglione, Jr., Conor O’Sullivan - The Dark Knight Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz - Hellboy II: The Golden Army Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score): Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button James Newton Howard - Defiance Danny Elfman - Milk A.R
. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire Thomas Newman - Wall-E Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song): Down to Earth - Wall-E Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire Best Animated Short Film: La Maison de Petits Cubes Lavatory - Lovestory Oktapodi Presto This Way Up Best Live Action Short Film: Auf der Strecke (On the Line) Manon on the Asphalt New Boy The Pig Spielzeugland (Toyland) Achievement In Sound Editing: Richard King - The Dark Knight Frank Eulner/Christopher Boyes - Iron Man Tom Sayers - Slumdog Millionaire Ben Burtt/Matthew Wood - Wall-E Wylie Stateman - Wanted Achievement In Sound Mixing: David Parker/Michael Semanick/Ren Klyce/Mark Weingarten - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Lora Hirschberg/Gary Rizzo/Ed Novick - The Dark Knight Ian Tapp/Richard Pryke/Resul Pookutty - Slumdog Millionaire Tom Myers/Michael Semanick/Ben Burtt - Wall-E Chris Jenkins/Frank A
. Montaño/Petr Forejt - Wanted Achievement In Visual Effects: Eric Barba/Steve Preeg/Burt Dalton/Craig Barron - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nick Davis/Chris Corbould/Tim Webber/Paul Franklin - The Dark Knight John Nelson/Ben Snow/Dan Sudick/Shane Mahan - Iron Man
.

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Actress SIGOURNEY WEAVER made an embarrassing slip-up on U.S. TV on Wednesday (21Jan09) - by accidentally flashing her underwear to millions of viewers.
The Alien star was appearing on daytime talk show The View, sitting on a row of chairs with hosts Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
But none of the presenters noticed when Weaver, wearing a short blue dress, accidentally uncrossed her legs - leaving her undergarments exposed to the studio audience and TV viewers.
Weaver continued her appearance on the programme unaware of the incident.

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Actress SUSAN SARANDON was reluctant to appear in new film THE GREATEST - until co-star PIERCE BROSNAN persuaded her to take on the role with an unexpected phone call.
The Oscar-winner admits she was hesitant to appear in the movie, until writer and director Shana Feste hired the former James Bond star to play her husband.
She tells the New York Daily News, "I was debating doing the movie, but it was near my house, it wasn’t that long a shoot, and (Feste) was so passionate about it.
"I said we’d have to get a great male lead, and I thought Pierce was a good suggestion. So one day I get a voice-mail, and it was Pierce. He said ‘This is Pierce Brosnan….’ And I was in."

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Actress RACHEL McADAMS has moved on from her turbulent romance with RYAN GOSLING - she is reportedly dating actor JOSH LUCAS.
McAdams and Gosling first got together after meeting on the set of their 2004 film The Notebook, but split for good in November (08) after a four month reunion.
According to the New York Daily News, McAdams is now said to be involved with Lucas, after the pair was spotted together celebrating the inauguration of U.S.
President Barack Obama at the Purple Ball in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (20Jan09).
A source tells the newspaper, "They were so lovey-dovey, nibbling on each other’s necks, gazing into each other’s eyes and doing a lot of flirty touching."

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