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The inaugural scholarship established in late actor HEATH LEDGER’s name has been awarded to Australian performer OLIVER ACKLAND.
The $10,000 (£7,000) fund, established by Ledger’s ex-fiancee Michelle Williams and friends following his death last year (08), was given to Ackland at a party for Australian Oscar nominees at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont Hotel on Friday (20Feb09).
Ackland was hand-picked from a pool of 150 applicants by The Dark Knight star’s pals and colleagues, including actress Rachel Griffiths.
In presenting the award, filmmaker Greg Jordan, who directed Ledger in Two Hands, told the crowd: "Rachel Griffiths said ‘How do we judge this? Are we looking for the next Heath Ledger?’ "We all said ‘No. There is no next Heath Ledger, but there’s plenty of other people.’" And for rising star Ackland, 29, the prize was especially meaningful - Ledger has always been one of his role models.
He said: "The fact that it is in his name means the world. I admired Heath and I admired the work that he chose, the path he created for himself. It shows a lot of integrity on his behalf." Australian stars Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Hugh Jackman all contributed to the bursary, which includes flights to Los Angeles and introductions to agents and casting directors.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

JESSICA SIMPSON has received words of encouragement from her idol DOLLY PARTON after she was recently mocked by the press for her fuller figure and stage blunders.
Simpson attracted criticism when she was pictured looking notably curvier on-stage at a concert last month (Jan09).
The pop star made headlines again days later when she broke down onstage while supporting Rascal Flatts in Michigan, forgetting her lyrics and eventually walking off in tears.
But Parton, who collaborated with Simpson on her country album Do You Know, is defending her fellow superstar, insisting she has been victimised by the media.
The 9 To 5 hitmaker tells U.S. talk show host Larry King, "I say people always treat her bad. They always talk bad about her. I just recorded a song with her a few months ago. And I’ve never had - I’ve never been around a person any sweeter in my life. And she’s a great singer.
"And I’ve been fat and I’ve been skinny. And I’m not about to say something about somebody else’s weight because I know how hard it is when you gain, you know, five or six pounds, and certainly 10 or 12…
"But I know that Jessica is a good girl. She’s beautiful to me. And I’m sure that she’s going to get some weight off just because people won’t leave her alone." Parton also defended Simpson’s stage antics: "I think every entertainer’s had nights when things go wrong. I mean you can’t remember everything all the time, and especially if you’re having hard times personally."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY’s ex-wife HEATHER MILLS has opted to shun attorneys and represent herself as she goes head to head with a former nanny in court.
The ex-model will present her defence case in a hearing over Sara Trumble’s constructive dismissal and sexual discrimination claims later this year (09).
Trumble alleges she was expected to work as late as midnight, blow dry Mills’ hair at 7.30am and even give her naked spray tans while employed as a carer for Beatrice - Mills’ daughter with McCartney.
Mills represented herself in her high-profile divorce from the former Beatle, which saw her awarded $35 million (£24 million).

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The ex-fiance of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star FREIDA PINTO blames the hit movie for wrecking their romance - insisting the actress is "infatuated" with co-star DEV PATEL.
Rohan Antao proposed to Pinto just days after she won the role of Latika in the Oscar-nominated film.
But he alleges movie bosses insisted Pinto keep the engagement under wraps - to emphasise her on-screen relationship with Patel’s character Jamal.
Antao insists the close friendship between the two stars led to his split with Pinto last month (Jan09).
And now he is refusing to watch the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday (22Feb09), where the Mumbai-based film is nominated in several top categories.
He tells British tabloid the News of the World, "The film bosses didn’t want her to be engaged. It would affect the whole emphasis of the film, the love story. I had no say in it.
"I didn’t go with her (on promotional tours). I had my own work to do and and we weren’t supposed to be seen together. She told me it was a requirement, so I had to get on with it.
"I asked Freida to spend less time with Dev, but she refused. She was comfortable with him and we were talking over the phone less and less. I was ticked off with Dev - and her.
"She is infatuated with Dev. I don’t know if they were having a sexual relationship but if I came face to face with him I would have things to say… Now everywhere I go I see them on billboards. I am devastated.
"I wish her success in her career, but I can’t watch the Oscars, and I don’t want to watch the film - it wrecked our love."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

MICKEY ROURKE paid a bizarre tribute to actor pal ERIC ROBERTS at the Independent Spirit Awards - urging film makers to give him a chance and cast him in movies.
After taking to the stage to collect the Best Male prize for his role in the Wrestler, Rourke addressed Roberts in the crowd.
Referring to his own dramatic comeback, he begged directors to give Roberts - his co-star in 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village and 2002’s Spun - a similar second shot at fame.
He said, "I just want to say one thing about Eric Roberts. Eric Roberts is probably the best actor I have ever worked with. I don’t know why, in the last 15 years, no one has given him the chance to show his s**t again." Rourke then alluded to Roberts’ 1987 arrest for harassing a woman and striking a police officer, by adding, "Whatever he did 15, 20 years ago should be forgiven.
"He deserves, like I got, a second chance.
"I wish there would be one god damned film maker in this room that would let him fly because the man is something else." Roberts, red-faced, responded by yelling at Rourke to "accept your award".

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

MIKE MYERS was shamed as the "worst actor in Hollywood" at the 2009 Golden Raspberries, a spoof movie awards ceremony.
The comedian’s film The Love Guru dominated the 29th annual event, taking home Razzies for worst picture, screenplay and actor on Saturday (21Feb09) - a day before the Academy Awards celebrates Tinseltown’s finest.
Paris Hilton scored a triple dishonour, winning awards for worst actress for her part in The Hottie and the Nottie and worst supporting actress for her cameo in Repo! The Genetic Opera.
Hilton was also included in the worst screen couple alongside her Hottie co-stars, Christine Lakin and Joel David Moore.
Neither the heiress nor funnyman Myers were present to collect their gold spray-painted Raspberry statuettes.
Pierce Brosnan was named worst supporting actor for his singing turn in Mamma Mia!, while the worst-director Razzie went to Uwe Boll for his three films In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, 1968 Tunnel Rats, and Postal.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

MICKEY ROURKE added to his award season haul and stole the show at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday (21Feb09) with a hilarious and rambling acceptance speech.
A starstudded crowd at the Santa Monica, California ceremony gave the 56-year-old actor a standing ovation when he stepped onstage to collect the Best Male prize for his role as a washed up grappler in The Wrestler.
During a bizarre speech, he dedicated the award to his beloved pet dog Loki, who died this week (15Feb); threatened to beat up comedian Rainn Wilson, who had impersonated him in an earlier skit; forgot the name of his The Wrestler co-star Marisa Tomei; and broke his microphone.
He said, "That little blond dude who did that thing (Wilson), I’m going to beat your ass when I get out of here..
. I’ve got thousands of letters about my dog that died six days ago
. Loki, Loki, this is for you baby." And he needed help from the audience when he forgot to thank Tomei, who played a stripper in the film
. He said, "My memory ain’t that good
. I want to thank….." and paused, prompting the crowd to yell "Marisa"
. He responded by saying, "Melissa? Marisa? Marisa Tomei
. She had to do all this bare-a**ed
. Not many girls can climb the poll
. She climbed the poll and she did it well." The Wrestler also lifted the Best Feature award and the Best Cinematography prize for Maryse Alberti.
There were also big wins for Best Female Melissa Leo, Best Supporting Female Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Male James Franco and Best Director Tom McCarthy.
The full list of winners is as follows: Best Feature: The Wrestler Best Director: Tom McCarthy (The Visitor) Best First Feature: Synecdoche, New York Best Screenplay: Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Best First Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black (Milk) Best Female Lead: Melissa Leo (Frozen River) Best Male Lead: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) Best Supporting Female: Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Best Supporting Male: James Franco (Milk) Best Cinematography: Maryse Alberti (The Wrestler) Best Documentary: Man On Wire Best Foreign Language Film: The Class Robert Altman Award: Director Charlie Kaufman and the ensemble cast of Synecdoche, New York Someone To Watch Award: Lynn Shelton (My Effortless Brilliance) Truer Than Fiction Award: Margaret Brown (The Order Of Myths) Producers Award: Heather Rae (Frozen River and Ibid)

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Pop sensation LADY GAGA has refused an offer to pose naked for Playboy.
The Just Dance hitmaker, known for her revealing stage outfits, often performs and hits the town in just corsets and stockings.
But the star has turned down an invite to strip for the raunchy men’s magazine - insisting her focus is on her career.
She says, "I mean, if I was a glamour model, I would be delighted (with Playboy’s offer), but for me it’s all about the music." But the singer hasn’t ruled out baring all for Hugh Hefner’s publication in the future.
She jokes: "Ask me again, though, when I have a new album to plug."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Rocker GAVIN ROSSDALE is preparing to introduce his son KINGSTON to the world of rock ‘n’ roll by taking the tot on tour.
The former Bush frontman, who also has a six-month-old son Zuma with singer Gwen Stefani, will hit the road for a gruelling solo tour this April (09).
And the couple has agreed that two-year-old Kingston can accompany Rossdale on the road - much to the singer’s delight.
He tells People.com, "I’ll take Kingston for as long as he wants, so I try to drum that into him: ‘Are you ready to go on tour? Are you ready to go on tour?’ It’s going to be fun! Just get him bunks (a bunk-bed on the bus) so he won’t fall out - that’s the main thing."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Fans of British band THE CURE have been assured they can attend a forthcoming gig, after a ticket agency went bust.
Approximately 500 people feared they would miss the concert at London’s O2 Arena - which will also feature Franz Ferdinand and Crystal Castles - after U.K. firm Trinity Street announced earlier this week (begs16Feb09) it was closing, rendering past purchases invalid.
But now event promoters AEG have brokered a deal with Trinity Street, promising fans they will make the event.
A statement from AEG reads: "New tickets will be despatched to you on Monday, by registered post… We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience that you may have experienced." The show is due to take place on 26 February (09).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)