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Actress SUSAN SARANDON signed up for LISA KUDROW’s hit U.S. family tree s how WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? in a bid to track down details about her my sterious grandmother.
The Oscar winner reveals her mother’s mother "just disappeared" and she wanted to use the show’s resources and experts to find out more about he r - so she could share her findings with her family.
The actress’ gran went missing when her mother Lenora was only two - an d the family owned just one laminated press cutting photo of the woman, A nita Rigali.
The Dead Man Walking star admits she was nervous when she first embarke d on the ancestry investigation because "she (Rigali) was presented as so mebody who abandoned her children, so part of me was fearful for my mom..
.. I think it’s understandably an emotionally-charged search for her." Sarandon started her investigation by visiting her mother in Virginia. Lenora revealed her mum was "a showgirl" in New York, who she thought had died. Mother and daughter met briefly at the 1939 World’s Fair and then lost contact.
The actress teamed up with New York genealogist Megan Smolenyak to begi n her research. The ancestry expert found her grandmother’s birth certifi cate and learned her great-grandfather, Mansueto Rigali, was an Italian s tatue maker.
The couple arrived in Manhattan, New York from Tuscany, Italy, which pr ompted Sarandon to pick up the trail of her ancestors in Europe.
She says, "I’m always happy to be in Italy. The first time I came to It aly I felt inexplicably at home - now I know why; my gene pool was crying out." In Italy, she discovered her great-grandfather was born in Coreglia in July, 1855 and she visited the church where Mansueto and 10 generations o f the Rigali family were baptised - dating back to 1640.
In the hillside village, she also learned that her great-grandfather le ft Italy for the U.S. because life was tough for sculptors and he hoped t o find work and fortune in America in 1888. Unfortunately his trip was on e dogged by tragedy. Sarandon visited the unmarked grave of Mansueto and eight members of the Rigali family in New York.
Sarandon then returned to her search for her late grandmother, who she discovered was pregnant when she wed at 13, deserted her husband and daug hter and wed a Jewish salesman, called Ben Kahn - without getting divorce d.
Research then led the actress to the house where her grandmother lived out her years. One neighbour knew Anita and revealed her gran had helped a young Frank Sinatra land his big break when she was a young dancer.
Anita spent the last 35 years of her life living with Dom Fiorentino an d took his name. That link led Sarandon to her grandmother’s nieces, who showed off family photos and sketches, which featured the family likeness ..
She says, "I’m grateful to have solved the mystery of Anita." (KL/WNV/C

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Rocker P.J. HARVEY has signed on to design the summer 2010 issue of movie maker FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’s Zoetrope: All Story magazine.
In a post to fans online, the Brit reveals she has selected never-befor e-seen artwork, sculptures and drawings for the arty quarterly.
Tom Waits, David Bowie, David Byrne and Lou Reed are among the other mu sic stars who Coppola has asked to design and select artwork for his publ ication.

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TOOL rocker ADAM JONES has teamed up with 30 DAYS OF NIGHT creator STEVE NILES to pen a new comic book tribute to the X-FILES.
The guitarist, who once worked as a set designer on Jurassic Park, and Niles’ new series brings the X-Files and vampire franchise 30 Days of Nig ht together.
Niles says, "Getting a chance to work with Adam Jones is amazing. He=E2 =80=99s a pal, but I am also a huge fan of Tool, as well as his video wor k for the band… He came up with the hook that really made this story co me together." The first book in the series is due out this summer (10).

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BRITNEY SPEARS has taken a big property hit after reducing the price on h er Beverly Hills home in a desperate bid to sell it.
The pop star put the property on the market in early 2008, and even inc reased the price to $7.9 million (=C2=A34.9 million) before the world eco nomic crisis.
But the mansion is still on the market and now Spears has dropped the p rice to $4.85 million (=C2=A33 million), according to website RealEstalke r.com.
The site reports Spears presently stands to lose $1.9 million (=C2=A31.
2 million) on the property.

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SIMON COWELL will not wed his fiance MEZHGAN HUSSAINY this year (10), acc ording to AMERICAN IDOL producer NIGEL LYTHGOE.
The music mogul’s brother Tony insisted Cowell would exchange vows with the make-up artist four times over the next 12 months, at lavish ceremon ies in Britain, the U.S., and the Caribbean.
But Cowell’s pal and colleague Lythgoe, a judge on hit U.S. talent show So You Think You Can Dance, insists the Brit won’t be heading down the a isle in 2010 - because he’s too busy bringing his The X Factor show to Am erica.
Lythgoe tells Britain’s News of the World, "He won’t be getting married this year - and he doesn’t need to rush into it anyway.
"Simon has a lot to do. He has to prepare himself for the American X Fa ctor, to try and create the next biggest show there, and he’ll be fully f ocused." And Lythgoe hints Cowell may be having pre-wedding nerves: "Maybe he’s just gearing himself up (to marry). He hasn’t really known Mezhgan for th at long. But she was my make-up artist for six years and she and Simon ar e a good fit. They can make fun out of each other."

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Irish singer/actress BERNIE NOLAN has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The 49 year old, most famous for being part of all-sister band The Nola ns, was told by doctors last week (begs19Apr10) that she is facing a toug h battle with the disease, and will mostly likely have to have a mastecto my and chemotherapy.
But the singer, who has also starred in British soaps Brookside and The Bill, is adamant she will fully recover for the sake of her daughter.
She tells Britain’s News of the World, "I’m going to kick this cancer’s ass.
"The best thing about having a child is I have the extra strength becau se I want to see her grow up and I have to be strong for her." And Nolan insists she isn’t fazed by the prospect of losing her breasts or hair due to the savage cancer treatment.
She adds, "I’m fighting this. I’m going to kick its ass. Take one breas t, take them both, I don’t care. I’m strong and I’m not going to let this defeat me.
"I’m going to lose my hair - they’ve told me that because of the streng th of the chemo they have to give me… but I don’t care, I’ll wear a wig .." Nolan’s sisters Linda and Anne, who were her co-singers in the group, h ave both won battles with breast cancer in the last decade.

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A representative for ailing rocker BRET MICHAELS has dismissed reports th e star is on good form after suffering a brain haemorrhage on Thursday ni ght (22Apr10) - insisting the POISON frontman is still in a "critical con dition".
Michaels was recovering at his home in Texas after an emergency operati on to remove his appendix when he was hit by a blinding headache.
He was checked back into hospital and doctors discovered the star had s uffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Michaels was put in intensive care to allow medics to determine the cau se of the internal bleeding.
Fans were thrilled when online reports suggested the star was "in good spirits" and "talking" just a day after the scare, but a spokesperson for the musician insists Michaels is still in a vulnerable state.
The rep tells E! Online, "There are several incorrect reports on Bret’s condition. Bret remains in critical condition at an undisclosed location .. Further tests are being ran and information will be updated in the comi ng days."

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Actor ANTHONY ANDERSON has been steadily losing weight ever since landing a role on hit crime show LAW & ORDER - after producer DICK WOLF asked hi m not to pile on any more pounds.
The once overweight star had a heart-to-heart chat with Wolf when he wa s first hired for the show in 2008 - and the producer’s concerns for his health made Anderson kickstart a slim down.
He has since lost 35 pounds (15.8 kilograms) and plans to lose the same amount of weight again this summer (10).
Anderson says, "We sat down and he said, ‘Hey Anthony, I like the way y ou look. Promise me you wont get any fatter.’ "From that day on, I was like, ‘OK, I got your number…’ It was motiva tion."

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Womanising funnyman RUSSELL BRAND was stunned to discover he hated shooti ng sex scenes for his new movie GET HIM TO THE GREEK - insisting it’s not hing like the real thing.
The reformed sex addict had to bed a string of women in the film - in w hich he stars as a hellraising rock star - but Brand insists the experien ce was uncomfortable and unerotic.
Brand - engaged to singer Katy Perry - explains, "Sex scenes are actual ly sort of stressful. Not like actual sex - not as I know it.
"The threesome scene was really awkward and difficult. Because sex, whe n it=E2=80=99s done properly, is about creating a wonderful atmosphere of intimacy, escape and adventure. Sex scenes are about hesitant, angular, choreographed moves.
"And this is a comedy sex scene as well, so it goes on for ages, and yo u=E2=80=99re standing with no pants, hunched over someone. You=E2=80=99re aware of each other=E2=80=99s breath mingling but without the baseline o f lust pounding rhythmically through the act. It=E2=80=99s awful." (IG//J

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Actress DAKOTA FANNING has a bigger dilemma than what to wear to the Osca rs - who to take to the high school prom.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon star, who attends private academy Campbell Hall in California, has revealed her school’s big night is coming up in a few weeks, and she still can’t decide whether or not to attend.
She says, "It’s coming up. It’s on everybody’s minds… I’m not sure ye t (if I’ll be going).
"I don’t have a date. I’m trying to decide if I wanna go with someone o r just go with friends. Sometimes it’s easier to just go with friends." (

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Australian poet PETER PORTER has died following a battle with cancer. He was 81.
The Brisbane-born writer, who emigrated to England in 1951, passed away on Friday (23Apr10) after a year-long fight with liver cancer.
He began his career as a reporter in his homeland, before moving to Bri tain and publishing his poetry in the Times in 1960. His first collection of work, Once Bitten, Twice Bitten in 1961 was critically acclaimed.
He went on to win praise again for 1978’s The Cost of Seriousness, whic h was written after the death of his wife in 1974.
Porter won the U.K.’s biggest poetry honour, the Forward Prize, in 2002 , the same year he was presented with the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
The poet was also made an Order of Australia by British monarch Queen E lizabeth II.
No further details of Porter’s death were available as WENN went to pre ss.

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Acting legend AL PACINO is celebrating his 70th birthday on Sunday (25Apr 10) - marking a stellar film career which spans more than four decades.
The Godfather star has been making movies since 1969 and will spend 201 0 shooting his latest film project, Mary Mother of Christ, alongside Cami lla Belle and Peter O’Toole in Morocco.
To celebrate Pacino’s landmark birthday, WENN has collected 10 fascinat ing facts about the man who brought Michael Corleone to life.
- His full name is Alfredo James Pacino.
- Pacino’s maternal grandparents hailed from Corleone, Sicily - mirrori ng his character’s last name in The Godfather trilogy.
- He has received eight Academy Award nominations over the years, and w on one - he was named Best Actor for his role 1992’s Scent of a Woman. Th e win came 21 years after his first nomination for The Godfather.
- Pacino turned down the role of Han Solo in 1977 sci-fi epic Star Wars - the role gave Harrison Ford his big break.
- He once worked as an usher at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
- During his early years as an actor, Pacino considered changing his na me to Sonny Scott - derived from his childhood nickname.
- The nickname comes from the song Sonny Boy by Al Jolson, which Pacino loved to sing as a youngster.
- Pacino is one of only three screen stars to receive Academy Award nom inations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in the same year - the others are Jamie Foxx and Barry Fitzgerald.
- He has never married.
- An Oscar nomination for 1972’s The Godfather marked a run of four con secutive nominations for Pacino, a feat only managed by four other stars - Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Jennifer Jones and Thelma Ritter. (LR/

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The investigation into JESSE JAMES’ recent run-in with a paparazzo has be en halted - because cops can’t talk to the TV mechanic while he is rehab.
Snapper Ulises Rios was embroiled in a dispute with Sandra Bullock’s es tranged husband last month (Mar10) close to the star’s home in Long Beach , California. Both men made citizen’s arrests, with Rios accusing James o f damaging his car in a scuffle.
James was cited for vandalism, but no charges were made against him.
Police swooped on Rios’ home earlier this month (Apr10) and confiscated several items including videotapes and photographs as part of their ongo ing investigation.
But officers have decided to put any further enquiries on hold until Ja mes is released from a rehabilitation centre next month (May10), accordin g to TMZ.com.
The star’s publicist issued a statement insisting James would spend Apr il (10) in treatment for an undisclosed issue following allegations he ch eated on Bullock.

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ROMAN POLANSKI’s lawyer has ordered Swiss authorities to ignore the "roar and unbearable pressure of an ill-informed public" and release the embat tled director from house arrest in the country.
The Rosemary’s Baby moviemaker has been confined to his Swiss estate si nce December (09) following his September (09) arrest in Zurich stemming from a three-decade old sex crime in America.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office wants Polanski to return to California to be sentenced for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old gir l at a party in 1977.
L.A. officials moved one step closer on Thursday (22Apr10) when they ru led the Oscar winner cannot be sentenced in absentia, but the star’s lawy er Herve Temime is now insisting Swiss officials release Polanski from ho use arrest immediately.
He tells the AFP, "It is up to the Swiss authorities to tell the truth and give back Roman Polanski his freedom once and for all, regardless of the roar and unbearable pressure of an ill-informed public." In February (10), Swiss authorities stated they would not make a decisi on on the extradition of Polanski to the U.S. until all avenues of appeal are exhausted.

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A lawyer for STEVEN SEAGAL has hit out at new allegations the actor sexua lly harassed young starlets on the set of his 1991 film OUT OF JUSTICE - dismissing the accuser as a "resentful one-time actress".
The martial arts hero is facing a $1 million (=C2=A3666,000) lawsuit fr om former female employee Kayden Nguyen, who insists she was used "like a sex toy" during her time working for the Under Siege star.
Her claims were reportedly backed up by two other women, who submitted sworn declarations to boost Nguyen’s case.
The suit is currently on hold after a motion was filed for Nguyen to ha ve her claims heard by an arbitrator under the terms of her employment co ntract with Seagal.
But the actor is facing even more claims of indecent behaviour, with an unnamed actress - who was reportedly hired to star with Seagal in Out of Justice - alleging she was sacked after refusing to entertain the star i n his hotel room.
The woman tells the New York Post’s Page Six column, "Seagal’s type was young, exotic-looking girls. He asked me and three other actresses to pa rade through his trailer, then asked me to stay.
"The wardrobe girl gave me a tacky corset and a tiny skirt and told me, ‘He wants you to try this on,’… (and) led me into the bedroom. As soon as I undressed, he tried to come in. I didn’t have a top on, so I pushed the door closed and screamed. When I came out, my boobs were hanging out .. I was offered a contract.
"At least two other actresses on the set had beepers. He would beep the m to go to his hotel room at night… One night, he called me at home… he said, ‘Do you want to come to my hotel room?’ I said, ‘I don’t feel co mfortable with that.’… Days later I was released - technically, fired." However, Seagal’s attorney Marty Singer shrugs off the new claims as "r idiculous" - and is convinced the unnamed woman is simply jumping on the bandwagon.
He says, "This is totally false. It’s ridiculous that she is coming for ward 20 years later… It is interesting this person doesn’t give her nam e to give her claims legitimacy. I suspect she is a resentful one-time ac tress who has not become a major star."

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USHER’s hit OMG took inspiration from an unusual place - the chart-toppin g track is based on chants by soccer fans.
The R&B superstar was convinced his song would be a hit in Europe after coming up with the chorus, which features cheering heard at soccer match es.
And he credits Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, who raps on OMG, with he lping him score a hit.
He says, "The chants were born in France and sampled by will.i.am but a s soon as I heard them, I thought, ‘This sounds like an English football game.’ "To me the song sounded like the U.K. I had high hopes you guys (in Bri tain) would make the connection and you did. Working with will.i.am was a n exciting process. He’s got this brand new sound and I knew as soon as I heard the record that we’d knocked everything else off the park. It soun ds like nothing else out there."

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Country music star FAITH HILL has been inspired to create her own clothin g line after appearing alongside HEIDI KLUM as a judge on the supermodel’ s U.S. TV fashion contest PROJECT RUNWAY.
The singer judged the season finale of Klum’s hit series, which aired i n America on Thursday night (22Apr10) - and admits giving design critique s came naturally for her.
She tells The Associated Press, "I have always paid close attention to detail in my work, and I understand and relate to big dreams and hard wor k. Fortunately, those things served me well while focusing on each design er. It was actually quite natural for me." And now Hill is keen to design her own line for busy mums just like her ..
She adds, "If the right opportunity presents itself, I can guarantee yo u it would be my passion, and I would put my heart and soul into making i t the best it could possibly be. I would design for the women I know and their kids… busy mums with great style."

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Pop/metal band DEAD BY APRIL has signed on a new vocalist following the d eparture of founding member PONTUS HJELM.
Singer/guitarist Hjelm took a recent leave from the Swedish rock group to focus on songwriting, and now he’s making his departure permanent.
A statement from the band reads: "Pontus has, after some time off from the band, decided to leave Dead By April permanently. He feels that he wa nts to focus on his work as a songwriter, which is where much of his hear t has been since day one." However, his former bandmates assure fans the rock group will continue performing - with Hjelm’s replacement, Zandro Zantiago.
The statement continues: "It is, of course, sad for the band, the fans and everyone involved to see an important member leave, but if that is hi s wish; we accept and respect his decision. We owe it to everyone involve d to continue what has only been started… We decided that we didn’t rea lly need two guitars for the sound and felt that we just wanted to focus on finding a great singer and a great personality who was willing to give this his everything and together take this band to new heights. That guy is that very same some of you might have seen filling in for Pontus befo re: Zandro Zantiago."

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