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Actor/musician RHYS IFANS is calling for marijuana to be legalised - describing the banned drug as a "beneficial herb".
The Notting Hill star, who is currently filming Mr Nice - a biopic of notorious British drug smuggler Howard Marks - is adamant cannabis is less harmful than alcohol.
He says, "A lot of people like dope in Wales and Howard is its champion. The reason why he sold it is because he thinks, and I agree, that it’s a beneficial herb.
"I feel marijuana should be legalised. Not so that people get high all over the place, but so it can be controlled. Drugs have been legal longer than they have been illegal, and it’s just hypocrisy to be able to sell alcohol to children while marijuana is illegal."

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FROST/NIXON Oscar-nominee FRANK LANGELLA is forging ahead with plans for an autobiography - 18 months after scrapping it for fear of embarrassing his kids.
Speaking back in November 2007, the 71-year-old insisted he would wait until he was 80 before putting pen to paper, claiming the explosive details of his eventful life would be too much for his two children.
He said, "My biography has been cooking for years. It won’t come out until I’m 80 because there’s too much in it that would be very revealing and racy. I feel if you’re gonna write an autobiography you have to write the truth and I want to be a very old person. I want my kids to be very settled and mature when they read what a dog their dad was." But in a new interview with film journalist Liz Smith, Langella reveals he "will be writing his memoirs" soon.

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NATASHA RICHARDSON is "still alive" despite online reports she has died following a skiing accident in Canada.
The 45 year old fell on the slopes while taking a ski lesson at Station Mont Tremblant near Montreal, on Monday (16Mar09).
She was taken to Montreal’s Centre Hospitalier Laurentien, before being transferred to the nearby Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal with a serious head injury.
The actress’ husband, actor Liam Neeson, rushed to her side on Monday from the set of his film, Chloe, currently shooting in Toronto.
On Tuesday (17Mar09) Time Out New York broke the news online that Richardson had died, claiming its editors had been tipped off by a close family friend.
The item disappeared from Time Out’s website shortly afterwards and editors sent out an apology for reporting her death, but insisted, "We stand by our new statement that she is brain dead and not expected to survive." Representatives for the star have yet to release any information about her status - but she is believed to have been flown to a second hospital.
Clinic sources tell TMZ.com that Richardson has brain swelling, but is not brain dead.
Meanwhile, a representative for the ski resort has revealed Richardson was not wearing a helmet when she fell, but "did not show any visible sign of injury" shortly afterwards.
Lyne Lortie tells Usmagazine.com, "(She was) accompanied by an experienced ski instructor who immediately called the ski patrol.
"The ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor.
"As an additional precautionary measure, the ski instructor, as well as the ski patrol, accompanied Mrs. Richardson to her hotel. They again recommended she should be seen by a doctor.
"Approximately an hour after the incident Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good. An ambulance was called and Mrs. Richardson was brought to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe and was later transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur."

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Singer ENRIQUE IGLESIAS prepared for a grisly death on a recent transatlantic flight when his jet lost an engine, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.
The incident, which took place during a flight to England last year (19Oct08), left the Hero hitmaker shaking with fear - and even the pilot suggested he have a drink to calm his nerves.
Iglesias tells British chat show host Paul O’Grady, "Last time I came here we were gliding over the Atlantic and one of the engines blew up. And I’m a freak about flying. If I hear any type of noise I get really scared.
"But the pilot said it was fine. He just said, ‘Pray a little and have a few shots of vodka.’ The noise completely changed and it freaks you out, but we got through it thanks to the pilot." It wasn’t the first near miss the star has had in the air - he encountered similar traumas on a trip from London to Germany.
He continues, "The windshield broke. There were German pilots that started freaking out. The flight attendant ran back and she was crying and I said, ‘Are we going to die?’, and she goes, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know!’ "I’m going, ‘Oh my god…’ and the pilots were just screaming and I didn’t know what the hell they were saying. It wasn’t very nice."

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Veteran folk singer BOB DYLAN will release his first album of new music in three years this spring (09).
Dylan has a tough record to follow after his 2006 release Modern Times won two Grammys and became his first number one record in the U.S. since 1976.
In an interview on his website BobDylan.com, the 67-year-old singer compares the sounds of Together Through Life, his 33rd studio album, to the 1950s sounds of blues singers Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf.
He says, "I like the mood of those records - the intensity… The whole vibration feels like it could be coming from inside your mind. It’s alive. It’s right there. Kind of sticks in your head like a toothache." Together Through Life is scheduled for U.S. release on 28 April (09).

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PIERCE BROSNAN has topped a poll to find the sexiest Irish celebrity.
The James Bond star scored 26 per cent of the vote, held to mark St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday (17Mar09).
Hollywood lothario Colin Farrell ranked second with 10 per cent, tying with singer Andrea Corr from Irish family band The Corrs.
Rounding out the top five were Boyzone star Ronan Keating with seven per cent, and Girls Aloud stunner Nadine Coyle with six per cent, in the survey by communications consultancy Eulogy!.

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Veteran actor SIR SEAN CONNERY has been cleared of allegations he made millions of dollars in profit from a loan deal struck with a late friend.
The former James Bond star was accused of loaning businessman Jean-René Canela $4 million (£2.8 million) and then selling off the assets provided as security on the loan for a huge profit, when Canela could not make the repayments.
The businessman died of cancer in 2002, but his son Christian began legal proceedings earlier this month (Mar09) - claiming Connery had sold off a portfolio of shares, property and gems worth $10 million (£7 million), which would now be worth $50 million (£35 million), giving the actor far more than his original investment.
Reports surfaced last week (02Mar09) that Connery had been summoned to give evidence at a court in Switzerland as part of the case.
But judges in Geneva, Switzerland ruled on Tuesday (17Mar09) that there was no case for Connery to answer.
The star’s agent Nancy Seltzer says, "I am pleased to announce the Tribunal of First Instance of the Republique and Canton of Geneva has entirely found in favour of Sir Sean and Lady Connery and has declared the demand the petition of the son of Jean-René Canela totally inadmissible."

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JENNIFER ANISTON and OWEN WILSON’s family film MARLEY & ME has shot to the top of the U.K. box office chart in its debut week.
The dog drama garnered $6.1 million (£4.4 million) in ticket sales - edging comic book blockbuster Watchmen into second place, with takings of $1.9 million (£1.4 million).
Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino held onto third position with $1.1 million (£818,576) while Slumdog Millionaire dropped to fourth in its 10th week of release, taking $1 million (£755,379).
Costume drama The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, was the fifth most popular film in British cinemas.

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BRITNEY SPEARS has dismissed reports she will be joined onstage by MADONNA at an upcoming New York concert.
Reports suggested the pair would perform a medley of their hits on Spears’ ongoing Circus tour after a man claiming to be her stylist told a U.S. tabloid about the "surprise" performance.
The news followed Madonna’s show of support for the Toxic singer last week (11Mar09) when she arrived at New York’s Nassau Coliseum to watch Spears live.
But Spears has urged fans not to hope for a collaboration when she returns to the Big Apple on 23 March (09), insisting claims made by ’stylist’ David Alexander are false.
A statement on her website BritneySpears.com reads: "Despite rumours otherwise, at the moment Britney has no plans to collaborate with anyone in the near future at any of her upcoming performances. PS- David Alexander is not Britney’s stylist nor have we ever heard of him." The pair last performed together when Spears joined Madonna on stage in November (08) for a show at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

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British rockers THE STONE ROSES have fuelled rumours they are set to reform this summer (09) - after frontman IAN BROWN reportedly agreed a lucrative deal to return to the group.
The Fools Gold hitmakers split in 1996 and frontman Brown went on to carve out a successful solo career, while bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield joined Scottish rockers Primal Scream.
The band were recently rumoured to be planning a comeback this summer (09) at a series of U.K. festivals - before Brown reportedly decided to opt out of the reunion.
But now Mounfield, along with guitarist John Squire and drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Renn, have convinced the singer to join them for at least 21 forthcoming U.K. gigs (09), according to British newspaper The Daily Mirror.
A source tells the publication, "It’s taken a lot of time to get Ian (Brown) to agree but he’s finally signed on the dotted line. The rest of the band were really up for it, especially when they realised the amount of money on the table." The newspaper also reports that the band is being lined up to perform at U.S. festival Coachella.

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Canadian actor WILL ARNETT is returning to the small screen in a comedy thriller - three years after ending his run in U.S. sitcom ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.
The 38-year-old actor has made guest appearances on TV shows including 30 Rock and lent his voice to several films and small screen projects since the comedy’s 2006 finale.
But Arnett is eager to line-up his next recurring role, and insists he’s "working" on a new pilot with the Arrested Development creator, Mitch Hurwitz, reports the New York Daily News.
Arnett says, "Mitch Hurwitz and I are developing a new show for Fox. It’s a comedy thriller, a thrill a second. God, I hope people don’t think it’s terrible."

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STAR WARS actor DAVID PROWSE has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 73-year-old, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, revealed he was battling the disease during an interview with U.K. radio host Christian O’Connell.
He said: "I’m undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, would you believe. I’m having my very last treatment this morning. I’ve had two months of radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden (in London), it’s the most fantastic hospital. I feel fantastic, no problems whatsoever.
"The only thing I’ve had is hot flushes. I’ve also lost some of my hair on my legs and the hair on my chest has all got very fine. But other than that I’ve had no after effects." Although Prowse portrayed Vader in the movies, the legendary baddie’s voice was added by American actor James Earl Jones.
The Brit is also well known in the U.K. for being the Green Cross Code Man, a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in 1975.

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WATCHMEN star PATRICK WILSON is to be a father again - his wife is expecting their second child.
The actor’s wife, actress Dagmara Dominczyk, is due to give birth in June (09).
Wilson tells Us Weekly, "Yes, we’re about halfway there." The couple, who married in 2005, already have a 2-year-old boy, Kalin - who can’t wait for the new arrival, according to Wilson.
He adds, "He’s very excited. I think he’ll make a great older brother."

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Troubled singer AMY WINEHOUSE has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault over claims she punched a fan.
The Rehab hitmaker appeared at London’s City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (17Mar09) morning, where she entered a formal plea to the charge.
It is claimed the star lashed out at Sherene Flash during the End of Summer Ball in London last September (08) when the fan asked for a photograph.
Flash claims Winehouse punched her in the eye and ran away, shrieking: "Life can’t go on. I can’t do this any more." Winehouse was subsequently charged with common assault earlier this month (05Mar09) but denied the accusation during her brief appearance in court on Tuesday.
Wearing a floral mini-dress and her trademark beehive wig, the singer spoke only to confirm her name and enter a not guilty plea.
Winehouse, who was accompanied in court by her father Mitch, apologised through her lawyer after she arrived late for the case.
She is due back in court at a later date.

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The ex-girlfriend of model JESUS LUZ has hit out at his new lover MADONNA - blasting the singer as a "ridiculous old bag".
The 50-year-old Holiday hitmaker reportedly began dating 22-year-old Brazilian model Luz earlier this year (09) following her split from moviemaker Guy Ritchie.
Luz’s former lover, actress Catharina Franca, 18, has expressed her shock at discovering they were in a relationship - and has blasted Madonna for dating someone less than half her age.
She says, "When I heard about him and Madonna I couldn’t believe it. I think the age makes a difference and it is ridiculous for her. It’s like my mum with a boyfriend my age, or even my grandmother. I think it’s very weird. She is a ridiculous old bag, jumping around on stage at her age.
"I think she has some kind of an age complex, she still thinks she is a young woman, she can’t accept her age. I can’t remember him ever speaking about her or listening to her music. She is famous but she is from a different generation altogether." And Franca also insists Madonna is simply using Luz to make Ritchie jealous.
She adds, "I think Madonna is just with him for the attention, to make someone else jealous. Maybe her ex-husband (Guy Ritchie) or somebody else."

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The PET SHOP BOYS have vowed never to work with KYLIE MINOGUE - after the Aussie singer snubbed them during recording of her last album.
The British duo - comprising Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe - offered to write material for Minogue’s 2007 X record, but were ignored by the star.
Tennant says, "We never heard anything back. I think every songwriter in London wrote songs for Kylie’s last album. When we were on tour, we had two male backing singers and both had submitted songs for Kylie’s album as well. They never heard anything either." And the pair insist they will not offer their services to Minogue in future, with Lowe adding. "We won’t be doing it again."

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OWEN WILSON is reportedly heading back to the Wild West for a movie adaptation of cult TV series ALIAS SMITH & JONES.
The Marley & Me star recently confirmed plans were afoot for the project, based on the hit 1970s show about a pair of outlaws.
Wilson says, "We’re thinking about (doing) the Western Alias Smith and Jones.
The TV series featured Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes (aka Joshua Smith) and Ben Murphy as Jed ‘Kid’ Curry (aka Thaddeus Jones) and ran for 50 episodes between 1971 and 1973.

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MELANIE BROWN has warned GIRLS ALOUD star CHERYL COLE she must improve her singing skills if she wants to make it big in the U.S.
Cole is reportedly planning a solo assault on the American charts, with the help of Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am.
And former Spice Girl Brown believes Cole has what it takes to be a success in the States - but insists the singer needs to work on her vocal chords.
She says, "Brits can do well out here if they have drive, talent and determination, and it seems she has. The only advice I’d give is that out here, you have to prove yourself. You can’t just come out and tell everyone you’re going to be a star. She should get her vocal cords in order and blast herself off with a big show."

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