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Actress VIOLA DAVIS is desperate to lose weight before Sunday’s (22Feb09) Academy Awards, because she was so "stressed" starring opposite MERYL STREEP in new movie DOUBT, she piled on an extra 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms).
Davis beat TV queen Oprah Winfrey to land a role in the critically-acclaimed film, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress last month (22Jan09).
But the Tony Award winner admits the anxiety of appearing opposite her idol, Streep, caused her to over eat - and she’s put herself on a strict diet to prepare for the star-studded ceremony.
She tells the New York Post, "I’d never solicited myself for any role before. I did for this. To be an African-American actress in a scene with Meryl Streep?! Through the grapevine, I heard every black actress in captivity was coming out of the woodwork.
"But boy, did I look crappy in this movie. From stress I gained 17 pounds (7.7 kilograms). I ate bagels, cream cheese, crap. If Meryl offered a doughnut, I took it. Chocolate? I took that, too." And Davis confesses it isn’t the first time she has shown physical signs of stress.
She adds, "I’m 43. At 30, I won a Tony for King Hedley II. From that nervousness, I lost my hair. Another time when I was nominated I lost all my hair. Clean as a baby’s butt. I needed wigs, cortisone injections. And now with all the parties and wine and cheese, I have to watch myself. Can’t be going bald and shovelling it in with all those skinny-a** gorgeous girls at the Oscars."

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

Russian ballerina MARINA SVETLOVA has died, aged 86.
Svetlova passed away on 11 February (09) at her home in Bloomington, Indiana. Her longtime friend Lawrence Davis claims her health had steadily declined after she suffered a stroke several years ago.
A celebrated dancer, she made her professional debut in 1931 with an experimental troupe directed by Ida Rubinstein in Paris, France, and in 1939 became a soloist with the Original Ballet Russe, where she danced until 1941.
Svetlova then joined the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera as a ballerina, and toured internationally with her own concert group from 1944 to 1969.
She later became a prominent figure in the dance world as a teacher, serving as professor of ballet and chairwoman of the ballet department at Indiana University from 1969 to 1992 and as director her own summer school, the Svetlova Dance Center in Dorset, Vermont, from 1965 to 1995.

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MICKEY ROURKE is mourning the death of his beloved pet Chihuahua LOKI.
The Oscar-nominee has frequently credited his precious pooches with saving his life during his years in the Hollywood wilderness, following a series of bust-ups with film makers and run-ins with the law.
But Rourke has been left heartbroken after 18 year old Loki passed away in the early hours of Tuesday (17Feb09).
Confirming the news, the actor told TMZ.com on Tuesday, "(She died at) 5am this morning. I don’t have any (words). Thank you for being sorry, thank you very much." Little Loki’s death is particularly hard on Rourke; the Angel Heart star recently insisted he owed his life to the Chihuahua’s late father, Beau Jack, who died in 2002 - because the dog once convinced the actor not to take his own life as depression took a stranglehold.
In his acceptance speech at January’s (09) Golden Globes ceremony, when he took home the Best Actor award for The Wrestler, Rourke dedicated the accolade to his prized pets, telling the crowd: "I’d like to thank all my dogs; the ones who are here and the ones who aren’t here anymore.
"Sometimes when a man’s alone, that’s all you got is your dog. And they’ve meant the world to me."

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The widower of the woman killed in a car crash with singer BRANDY in December 2006 will be needing new representation in court - his lawyers want to drop him after he rejected a large insurance settlement.
R&B star Brandy had offered to pay Marouane Hdidou $200,000 (£142,860) on top of the $1 million (£714,000) he was offered by an insurance company for the loss of his wife Awatef Aboudihaj, who died in a pile-up on a Los Angeles freeway.
But Hdidou turned down the settlement earlier this month (Feb09) - and now his attorneys no longer want to argue his case as he refuses to listen to their counsel, according to TMZ.com.
They claim their client would have received $300,000 (£211,270) in the deal, a sum they call "excellent".
No further information was available as WENN went to press.

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New mother M.I.A. is determined to perform at the Oscars on Sunday (22Feb09), just 11 days after giving birth to her first child - even if it means appearing as a hologram.
The singer is booked to take the stage at the ceremony and sing the track she co-wrote with A.R. Rahman for movie Slumdog Millionaire, which is nominated in the Best Song category.
Academy bosses recently revealed they had offered the British-born singer a bed to sing from, if she needs to rest after the trauma of delivering her baby son last week (11Feb09).
And Rahman reveals M.I.A. is considering every option, so she can sing O Saya at the Hollywood bash.
The songwriter says, "That’s the million dollar question. She wants to. In fact, she said she’ll do it with a hologram. She has all these ideas. I don’t know how it’s going to be possible, though. Having a baby is such an important thing in your life - more important than winning an Oscar."

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Veteran rapper LUTHER CAMPBELL has been arrested by Florida authorities after allegedly failing to make child support payments.
The 2 Live Crew star, 48, was taken into custody at a pre-trial detention centre in Miami-Dade County on Tuesday (17Feb09).
The arrest follows a court order issued on 6 February (09) demanding payment in a paternity case filed against Campbell by ex-lover Shakera Morgan.
Campbell will only be released after he posts $10,200 (£7,200) in child support fees, according to county jail spokesperson Janelle Hall.
Further details were unavailable as WENN went to press.

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DIANA ROSS is set to be a grandmother - the legendary singer’s eldest daughter is reportedly pregnant.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick, who is married to jazz musician Rodney Kendrick, is expecting a child, according to Fox News columnist Roger Friedman.
Kendrick, 37, is Ross’ daughter with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.

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Australian rockers INXS have kicked singer J.D. FORTUNE out of the band - leaving him broke and homeless.
The Canadian artist, real name Jason Dean Bennison, was chosen as the replacement for late rocker Michael Hutchence after winning a reality TV search in 2005.
But, after completing a world tour with the New Sensation hitmakers, 35-year-old Fortune claims he was simply abandoned - and is now living in his car.
He tells Canada’s Entertainment Tonight, "I was in an airport (in) Hong Kong and literally got a handshake. They said, ‘Thank you very much.’ "I found myself really alone because I had travelled with these guys for 23 months.
"I don’t know where I am going from sofa to sofa, from night to night. I am trying to get through my life." However, Fortune admits he was probably responsible for his own firing - because he developed a serious cocaine addiction while with the band. He has been clean for two years, but he acknowledges his drug habit is likely to have contributed to INXS’ decision to ditch him.
He adds, "It got as bad as it needed to be for me to numb out the fact that I knew this was going to come to a screeching halt."

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Rock and roll legend ELVIS PRESLEY has beaten MADONNA as the pop idol fans would most love to meet.
The legendary singer, who died in 1977, topped the list in a poll by digital broadcaster Music Choice, with the Material Girl in second place.
Former Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and Beatles legend John Lennon came third and fourth respectively, while U2 singer Bono rounded out the top five.
A spokesman for Music Choice says, "Classic hits hold more memories the older they are."

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Comic actors OWEN WILSON and PAUL RUDD are set to team up on the big-screen - the pair have reportedly signed on to star alongside REESE WITHERSPOON in an upcoming romantic comedy.
The duo are in discussions to feature in James L. Brooks’ latest movie, tentatively titled How Do You Know? Rudd will play the part of a businessman vying for Witherspoon’s affections, while Wilson is slated for the role of a professional baseball pitcher out to steal her heart.
Shooting is scheduled to start in the summer (09), which could cause a conflict for Rudd, who is also slated to star in DreamWorks’ upcoming offering Dinner For Schmucks, according to Variety.

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star ZAC EFRON has treated himself to a $1 million (£700,000) luxury home - but sleeps on the floor because he has no bed.
The Hollywood hearthrob, who is dating co-star Vanessa Hudgens, has bought a sprawling mansion in Los Angeles, much to the envy of his pals.
He says, "It’s pretty cool. A lot of my friends were like, ‘Dude I want to own a house’." But the actor has yet to purchase any accessories for the property, adding: "I don’t have a bed. I’m on an air mattress! I’ve just moved in, I have no furniture. But I’ve got a decorator. He’s kind of a friend."

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CHRISTINA AGUILERA’s steamy promo for hit single DIRRTY has topped a poll of the sexiest female music videos ever.
The singer’s bikini-clad performance in the 2002 film topped an MSN Music survey of more than 1,000 fans, grabbing 41 per cent of the votes.
Aguilera’s chart rival Britney Spears came second with her I’m a Slave 4 U video, which received 19 per cent of the votes.
Kylie Minogue was placed third for her iconic, gold hotpants-wearing turn in the Spinning Around promo, while Beyonce’s Crazy in Love and Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha rounded out the top five sexiest videos.

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British pop star LILY ALLEN has credited her late grandmother for providing the inspiration for her new album.
The singer’s new record, It’s Not Me, It’s You, is currently at number one in the U.K. album charts and number five in the U.S.
And she is adamant the hit record is a result of the heartache she suffered at losing her grandmother last year (July08).
Allen says, "A lot of people I knew died last year. My grandmother passed away so it was a really tough year. But in the end I got an album out of it. I was able to be creative and achieve something."

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LILY ALLEN has explained her recent Internet spat with PEREZ HILTON, insisting she verbally attacked the gossip blogger because he is a "negative, horrible" person.
The pair engaged in a war of words on the social networking site Twitter.com earlier this week (begs16Feb09), with the pop star branding Hilton a "little parasite" and a "bitter lonely old queen".
Now the Fear singer has admitted she sparked the web-based warfare because she can’t stand Hilton or his blog, where he pokes fun of celebrities.
She tells Access Hollywood: "(We fought) because I hate him. He really pushes my buttons sometimes.
"I think he’s just a really negative, horrible person. And I think that he’s really mean to young successful women and he calls, you know, women… trying to enjoy themselves ’sluts’ and ‘trainwrecks’ and I think it’s just a really vile way of carrying on, I don’t think it’s responsible in any way." Hilton, meanwhile, is adamant that it’s his job to report on Allen’s behaviour.
He counters: "She’s just upset that I point out every time she’s a hot mess, which is quite often. She’s a bit of a boozer, actually a very big boozer and repeatedly loves to talk about drug use and she doesn’t like having her own words and actions thrown back at her, but that’s my job."

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LINDSAY LOHAN has blasted reports she is romancing CHACE CRAWFORD after ending her relationship with SAMANTHA RONSON.
The Mean Girls star sparked speculation she and the Gossip Girl actor were an item after they enjoyed a night out with pals at New York City restaurant Southern Hospitality on Sunday (15Feb09).
Lohan was later filmed by paparazzi at Crawford’s apartment building in the early hours of Monday morning.
But the actress is adamant the visit wasn’t a romantic one - and insists she is still committed to her DJ girlfriend Ronson.
She says, "It’s not true. I am happy with Samantha. Chace is a mutual friend of ours. It was just a bunch of people hanging out, nothing more. I’m back home with my girl now."

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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER is heading back to the big-screen - he has signed up to appear in fellow muscleman SYLVESTER STALLONE’s upcoming film THE EXPENDABLES.
Schwarzenegger put his acting career on hold when he was elected Governor of California in 2003.
But he is set to make a return with a brief appearance playing himself in Stallone’s star-studded movie.
The film, about a team of mercenaries heading to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator, will also star Ben Kingsley, Eric Roberts, and Mickey Rourke.
Filming is scheduled to start shooting next month (Mar09).

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JENNIFER ANISTON and JOHN MAYER showed the world their on-off romance is definitely back on - with a very public display of affection at an airport.
The former Friends star was spotted kissing and cuddling her rocker boyfriend in the Bahamas after a surprise trip to the paradise island of Eleuthera.
Mayer reportedly organised the Valentine’s Day holiday to mark Aniston’s 40th birthday last week (11Feb09).
A source tells x17 Online, “John decided to surprise her on her birthday, by telling Jennifer he had organised a romantic getaway for the two of them for Valentine’s Day. Jennifer usually goes to Cabo or to Hawaii so the Bahamas was something new for her." The pair reportedly stayed in a private villa at the exclusive Pink Sands Resort, costing up to $2,650 (£1,800) a night.

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LINDSAY LOHAN’s mother DINA is urging her daughter to scoff a hamburger or two - after noticing the actress has once again shed her shapely curves.
The Mean Girls star addressed the subject earlier this week (16Feb09), assuring fans she had recently finished off a Big Mac but was losing weight due to the stress of working.
But her mother Dina has admitted she is worried about the 22-year-old’s thin frame - and advised her to eat fast food to pile on the pounds.
She tells U.S. news show Access Hollywood, "I’m a mom. If I see my daughter a little thin, I say, ‘Eat more McDonald’s.’ I told Lindsay I think she’s a little thin." But Dina insists the gossip columns and blogs shouldn’t be concerned with her daughter’s health issues.
She adds: "We go through this every couple of months. My daughter is happy and healthy and that’s all that really matters.
"We try to keep it at bay and not really read it or engage in it because it’s just other people’s opinions. We’ve got hit pretty hard in the past, so we don’t really go there."

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