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SCARLETT JOHANSSON has brushed off comparisons to the late MARILYN MONROE, insisting she shares very little with the screen siren.
Johansson was likened to Monroe after an advertising campaign for Dolce & Gabbana was revealed last month (Jan09), in which the actress poses seductively across silk bedsheets wearing just a corset.
But the Lost In Translation star is adamant she wasn’t trying to channel Monroe in the shots.
She explains, "We really weren’t trying to recreate any particular image. It was just their idea of the iconic blonde, and naturally people think that’s Marilyn Monroe.
"Having said that, I love Marilyn. I think she was incredibly beautiful and a very underrated actress. I am a curvy woman who is blonde, and perhaps we are both comfortable in our femininity, but I think that is as far as the comparison goes."

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO’s supermodel girlfriend BAR REFAELI has landed the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED magazine’s 2009 swimsuit edition.
Refaeli’s steamy bikini cover shot was revealed on Monday (09Feb09) night’s episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, when the talk show host unveiled a billboard of the new magazine in New York City’s Times Square.
The 23-year-old Israeli was rumoured to have been chosen as the 2008 cover girl, but was ditched at the last minute and replaced with Marisa Miller after the news was leaked to American media outlets before the unveiling took place.
Supermodels Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Rebecca Romijn, Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley have all graced the cover of the magazine, which first hit newstands in 1964.

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Comedy actor DANNY MCBRIDE had to fight for the right to use his own name, after moving to Hollywood and discovering it was already taken.
When McBride landed his first big screen role in 2003 film All the Real Girls, he had to go under the name Danny R. McBride - because he shared his name with a member of the Sha Na Nas, the band made famous in 1978 movie Grease.
And the other Danny McBride wasn’t happy about sharing his moniker with a new wannabe.
The Tropic Thunder star reveals, "We had this conversation where he told me that the town was not big enough for the two of us." But the new McBride won the right to use his real name, after landing more big screen credits than his namesake.
He adds, "I don’t know what happened. One day I got a call saying I’d won my name. I had out-credited him."

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Jailed actor LILLO BRANCATO JR.’s performance has been chopped from the last movie he shot before his arrest for a burglary that ended with the murder of an off-duty New York cop.
The former Sopranos star wrapped his part in comedy Saturday Morning before the December 2005 incident, in which officer Daniel Enchautegui was fatally shot.
Brancato Jr. was later cleared of murder and last month (Jan09) jailed for 10 years for the lesser charge of attempted burglary.
But Saturday Morning director Rob E. Greenberg has reduced the star’s role to a series of walk-ons in time for the film’s DVD release next month (Feb09).
Greenberg - whose brother is a New York cop - tells the New York Post, "I didn’t want to promote or showcase Brancato."

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African singer CESARIA EVORA has been awarded France’s highest civilian accolade, the Legion d’Honneur.
The 67-year-old, nicknamed the "barefoot diva" for her habit of performing on stage without shoes, was presented with the accolade on Tuesday (10Feb09) in Paris.
Contralto vocalist Evora, from the Republic of Cape Verde, won acclaim for her 1992 album Miss Perfumado and has been hailed as the best in morna, a genre likened to blues.
Previous recipients of the Legion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) include Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, American actor Jerry Lewis, director Steven Spielberg and singer Barbra Streisand.

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British pop star SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR has given birth to her second child - nine weeks before her due date.
The singer was suffering from the dangerous condition pre-eclampsia, but on Saturday (07Feb09) she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who weighed in at two pounds, 10 ounces.
Ellis-Bextor’s mum Janet says, "Sophieâ��s just had her second little boy. He was nine weeks early, but he is doing fine. He is doing very well.â�� The Murder on the Dance floor hitmaker and her rocker husband Richard Jones, the bassist for The Feeling, already have a four-year-old boy, Sonny, together.

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Hollywood star JOAQUIN PHOENIX is so serious about pursuing a career as a rapper, he’s had a high-tech recording studio installed in his house.
The Walk The Line Oscar winner shocked fans last year (08) when he announced his plans to step away from the cameras and pick up a microphone.
Director James Gray, who worked with Phoenix on his latest film Two Lovers, insists Phoenix is doing everything possible to ensure he gets the best shot at his new music career, and has been laying down tracks in the comfort of his own home studio.
Gray says, "If he’s not serious about it, then he really went to ridiculous lengths." Phoenix admits he has no desire to return to the big screen anytime soon - because he wants to focus on his new musical direction.
He reveals, "I’m not one of those people, like, when I break up with my girlfriend, I don’t ever see her again. I see her as friends, but do I ever think about getting back together? No, when I do something, I do it. So I have no intention (to return to acting)."

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Hip-hop star DJ KHALED has denied reports he was shot and killed after a four-hour police chase in Los Angeles on Monday (09Feb09).
Internet rumours claimed a man resembling the Miami, Florida native - a member of Fat Joe’s Terror Squad - had led cops on a race on the Hollywood Freeway late on Monday night.
The driver of the Bentley at the centre of the incident, who was wanted by police for reportedly assaulting his girlfriend with a deadly weapon, suffered a fatal gunshot wound after police stormed the vehicle.
But DJ Khaled has blasted reports he was involved in the chase, calling into Los Angeles radio station Power 106 on Tuesday (10Feb09) to insist he was alive and well and "making hits in Miami".

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MILEY CYRUS has hit out at rumours her younger sister NOAH has been groomed to take her place in teen TV show HANNAH MONTANA - but admits the nine year old would love the role.
As superstar Cyrus takes on more TV and movie roles, it has been rumoured her stint playing the teenage pop star with a double-life is coming to an end.
And her youngest sibling - who has made a number of guest appearances on the kids show - is hotly tipped to take her place.
But Miley insists as much as Noah would love to replace her, she’s not ready to give up Hannah Montana yet.
The 16-year-old says, "It’s not true, but she’d like it. She likes the wig (that Hannah Montana wears) a little too much. She’s turning into me slowly but surely."

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Canadian singer/songwriter LEONARD COHEN is donating a six-figure sum to aid victims of the bushfires devastating Australia.
Cohen is currently touring Down Under with Aussie musician Paul Kelly. The pair will perform their final gig on Tuesday (10Feb09) in Melbourne in the state of Victoria, where more than 180 people have lost their lives in hundreds of blazes, many of which were caused by arson.
As the death toll approaches 200, Cohen, Kelly, AEGLive UK and The Frontier Touring Company have announced a donation of AUS$200,000 ($134,000/£91,000) to the victims and the families of those affected.
Promoter Michael Gudinski says, "Leonard has loved his time in Australia on this tour and is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the fires. Leonard, Paul, their touring parties and everyone at AEGLive UK and The Frontier Touring Company wish to extend their heartfelt sympathies to those that have suffered the loss of loved ones or their homes through this terrible tragedy.â�� The musicians will also collect donations from fans during their concert in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

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Welsh soul singer DUFFY is set to turn her back on her trademark retro sound - and channel that of pop stars CHRISTINA AGUILERA and MARIAH CAREY, according to reports.
The 24-year-old’s 2008 debut album Rockferry was filled with soulful ditties, prompting critics to compare her to 1960s icon Dusty Springfield.
But now the star is ready for a change of direction - and wants to emulate Carey and Aguilera’s more poppy sound, reports Britain’s Daily Star.
A source tells the publication, "Duffy and the team around her are very aware at how successful she has been by channelling the ’60s vibe, but they are already starting to think about album number two.
"She is keen to explore a Mariah (Carey) or Christina Aguilera style of album. On the next record Duffy can afford to be a bit more experimental now that she is assured her position as a singing force to be reckoned with."

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RIHANNA has postponed her sold-out concert in Malaysia after reports of a fight with boyfriend CHRIS BROWN.
Brown, 19, was arrested for felony battery after an incident with an as yet unidentified woman in a vehicle in Los Angeles in the early hours of Sunday morning (08Feb09).
But while there has been no official confirmation of the alleged victim, the Los Angeles Times reports it was Rihanna who told authorities Brown had struck her.
She was reportedly discharged from L.A. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was escorted out of a back exit.
And now the singer’s representatives have informed Malaysia’s Pineapple Concerts that the 13 February (09) show will have to be rescheduled.
Bosses at the Umbrella hitmaker’s music label have also called off celebrations for her 21st birthday on 20 February (09), due to be held in New York City, according to E! Online.
Pineapple Concerts managing director Razman Razali says in a statement: "In light of recent events involving Rihanna, (William Morris Agency) will confirm within two weeks from now on a replacement date to be mutually agreed (upon by the organiser and the singer’s team). We sincerely regret this unavoidable shift in schedule and apologise to the fans for any inconvenience caused." Malaysia’s Islamic party had previously called for the performance to be banned, claiming Rihanna’s sexy stage outfits would be an insult to local values - despite the star’s promise in January (09) to tone down her live show.

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COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN recommends fans take media reports about him with a pinch of salt - insisting most of the stories are made up.
The star and his Hollywood actress wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, are constantly dogged by rumours their five-year marriage is on the rocks.
And the singer’s British band has also been rocked by reports that they are set to split within the next two years, after Martin declared: "I’m 31 now and I don’t think that bands should keep going past 33." But the Yellow hitmaker has laughed off the reports about his life’s woes - insisting that none of the tales are true.
He says, "One week you are divorced, the next week your band has broken up. It’s terrible. I’m glad I’m not me! All I can tell you is that it is news to me."

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SHARON STONE is on the lookout for a new toyboy - the Hollywood actress made a play for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star DEV PATEL at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards on Sunday (08Feb09).
Stone, 50, reportedly dated 24-year-old Chase Dreyfous last year (08) before their relationship cooled.
And Stone proved she is keen on another young man - after the Basic Instinct star flirted with newcomer Patel, 18, on the red carpet at the prestigious film event.
He says, "Sharon’s great, she’s been flirting with me all night. She was chasing me around earlier, slapping me. Sharon Stone! Can you believe it?"

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HUGH JACKMAN hailed GERALD SCHOENFELD as a representative of "the very, very best of Broadway" at an all-star tribute to the late theatre legend on Monday (09Feb09).
The actor was joined by a team of stars including Jeremy Irons, Dame Helen Mirren and Whoopi Goldberg as he presented the event honouring Schoenfeld, who died in November (08) aged 84.
Schoenfeld brought dozens of hit shows to New York, including A Chorus Line, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera as the chairman of the Shubert Organization, which owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres.
During the two-hour memorial, held at New York’s Majestic Theatre, the X-Men star recalled how Schoenfeld would stand in the wings several nights a week while Jackman performed the lead in the musical The Boy from Oz in 2003.
The star then told the crowd that Schoenfeld particularly liked his play’s final number Once Before I Go, which he sang for Schoenfeld one last time.

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British actor CLIVE OWEN has discovered the pitfalls of fame - his daughters keep hassling him to set up a meeting with JENNIFER ANISTON.
The Closer star became pals with Aniston during filming for their 2005 movie Derailed.
And when his daughters Hannah, 12, and Eve, nine, realised their dad knows the Friends actress, they hoped he could use his influence to arrange a meeting.
He tells USA Today, "Weirdly, they’ve become obsessed by Friends. My oldest daughter is obsessed, and she knows I worked with Jennifer Aniston, so she’s like, ‘Call her up, call her up’. I’m not calling her up. What are you going to say to her? They hit me up for weird things like that." But despite the strains of bringing up two girls, Owen insists he loves fatherhood - and is determined to devote even more time to his family.
He says, "I’ve been travelling so much that I want to hang at home. We used to take the family on holidays and adventures, but more and more, I want to go home and stay at home.
"I love getting up in the morning and taking them to school and picking them up and hanging with them. In the last year or two, if I go away for a certain amount of time to make a film, I make sure I have down time at home to keep the balance right." And although the girls love having a famous father, Owen insists they will not be allowed to watch all his movies until they are old enough.
He adds: "They’ve started to understand what I do. They come to every film. They meet everybody. But they’re not allowed to see the film. Most films I do are not appropriate. When they turn 18, they can watch Closer."

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Broadway playwright ROBERT ANDERSON has died, aged 91.
The author, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, died of pneumonia at his Manhattan, New York home on Monday (09Feb09).
Anderson wrote several Hollywood screenplays, TV scripts and novels but was best known for his Broadway hit Tea and Sympathy as well as You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running.
Tea And Sympathy debuted on Broadway in 1953, with Deborah Kerr and John Kerr taking the starring roles. The actors reprised their parts for a 1956 film adaptation, which was directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Anderson wrote the screenplays for the 1957 movie Until They Sail, 1966’s The Sand Pebbles, and The Nun’s Story, for which he received an Oscar nomination in 1959.
A memorial service for Anderson is due to take place on Friday (13Feb09).

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Actor PHIL CAREY has lost his battle with lung cancer. He was 83.
Carey passed away at his home in New York on Friday (06Feb09), following a long struggle with the disease.
The star was best known for playing formidable business tycoon Asa Buchanan in the U.S. TV soap opera One Life To Live, first appearing on the show in 1980 before making his last appearance on 29 December (08).
He also appeared on the big screen, with roles in films such as This Woman Is Dangerous, Calamity Jane, Pushover and Monster.
He is survived by his wife and their two children as well as another three children from a previous marriage.
Carey’s One Life to Live co-star Clint Ritchie passed away on 31 January (09) following a brief illness, aged 70.

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