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British acting legend JOANNA LUMLEY became so enamoured with Emmy-nominated U.K. TV hit DOWNTON ABBEY, she demanded its creator give her a cameo.
The Absolutely Fabulous star missed out on the period drama, set around the home of an early 20th century aristocratic family, on its original U.K. run because she was starring in a Broadway play, but fell in love with the series when she returned home - watching every episode in one sitting.
Lumley was so impressed with the programme she pestered its creator Julian Fellowes to write her a part.
She says, "I can’t measure how much I want to be in it. But I have had a word with the writer (Fellowes) and I put his arm behind his back - and I’m certain to be in one of the future series.
"I didn’t see it when it came out because I was in the States. So I came back and sat down to watch all the episodes one after the other, like eating a box of chocolates." Downton Abbey is up for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Elizabeth McGovern at this year’s (11) Primetime Emmy Awards.

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NIKKI BLONSKY’s representative has confirmed the HAIRSPRAY star is "happily single", just weeks after she was rumoured to be dating an aspiring actor/model.
The 22-year-old actress was last month (Jun11) linked to Tommy Potoeski after they were reportedly spotted kissing in New York.
However, a spokesperson for Blonsky has now confirmed she is unattached, telling New York Post gossip column Page Six, "She is openly and happily single."

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Veteran supermodel STEPHANIE SEYMOUR recently called police after an argument with her teenage son.
The 42-year-old beauty, who last year (10) reconciled with her estranged husband Peter Brant and called off their divorce, fell out with 18-year-old Peter Jr. after allegedly cancelling a 4 July (11) family visit.
Local police lieutenant Richard Cochran, of Greenwich, Connecticut, has now confirmed cops were called, but the incident was deemed to be a civil matter.
He tells the New York Post’s gossip column Page Six, "The son was going to visit with the mom, and the mom cancelled… It was all civil in nature."

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A request to extradite RANDY QUAID and his wife Evi to America from Canada has been turned down.
The couple left the U.S. last year (10) after officials in California issued a warrant for their arrest on charges including trespassing and vandalism after they were found living in the guest house of a property they formally owned.
The Quaids later turned up in Canada and applied for refugee status, claiming they were being persecuted by "Hollywood star whackers", and Evi, whose father is Canadian, was subsequently granted citizenship.
Officials at the district attorney’s office in Santa Barbara County, California pursued the matter and filed an extradition request with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), but it has now emerged the request has been denied.
District attorney Joyce Dudley says in a statement, "In declining to seek extradition, the USDOJ noted the resource intensive and lengthy process involved in seeking extradition from Canada. They further stated that extradition is generally reserved for more serious offences." Dudley also warned the warrants remain active and the couple will be arrested if they return to their native country, adding, "Should the Quaids return to the United States, they will be arrested."

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JANE FONDA has accused bosses at TV network QVC of cancelling her appearance after viewers threatened to boycott the show.
The Oscar winner was due to promote her upcoming book Prime Time on the home shopping channel on Saturday (16Jul11) but the segment was called off at the last minute.
In a post on her website, Fonda claims QVC executives were inundated with calls about her anti-war activism in the 1960s and 1970s, prompting them to axe her programme.
She writes, "The network said they got a lot of calls yesterday criticizing (sic) me for my opposition to the Vietnam War and threatening to boycott the show if I was allowed to appear.
"I am, to say the least, deeply disappointed that QVC caved to this kind of insane pressure by some well funded and organized political extremist groups. And that they did it without talking to me first." The Barbarella star goes on to defend her Vietnam War stance and declare her love for the U.S.
She adds, "I have never done anything to hurt my country or the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for us. I do not understand what the far right stands to gain by continuing with these myths." A spokesperson for QVC insists Fonda was cancelled due to a "programming change", adding: "It’s not unusual to have a schedule change with our shows and guests with little or no notice."

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British singer LILY ALLEN has dismissed reports she has been forced to shut her clothes shop in London.
The pop star hung up her microphone last year (10) to start a family and open a designer boutique, Lucy in Disguise, with her half-sister Sarah Owen.
Britain’s Mail on Sunday reports Allen is closing the store and opening a "pop-up shop" as a "last-ditch attempt to save things".
But the singer, who is expecting her first child with husband Sam Cooper, insists her business will only be running from the temporary site before moving to another location next month (Aug11).
In a post on her Twitter.com page, she writes, "Lucy in Disguise has NOT closed, it has moved to a temporary pop up on Lowndes st, before we move to our permanent premises… which will be on Lexington Street W1 from August." And Allen is taking measures to prevent any further speculation that her boutique is in trouble.
She adds, "If any other publication wants to write deliberately misleading articles about Lucy in Disguise, feel free, I WILL sue you."

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Opera star KATHERINE JENKINS suffered a nightmare journey to South America earlier this week (begs11Jul11) - her first flight was cancelled and then her elaborate stage dresses went missing in a baggage mix-up.
The Welsh singer kicks off a tour of the region this weekend (16-17Jul11), starting with a planned show at the Coliseo Theatre in Argentina on Saturday (16Jul11).
But Jenkins endured one travel disaster after another when she jetted off to Buenos Aires.
In a series of posts on Twitter.com, Jenkins wrote, "Disastrous journey… 1st flight cancelled, finally got here and where’s our luggage?? London! My poor dresses are sitting all by themselves somewhere in Heathrow airport! Still no sign of any luggage." But Jenkins’ was breathing a sigh of relief soon afterwards when her clothing was finally returned to her.
She tweeted, "Thanks for all your concerns about the luggage… Yes, they finally all turned up at 1am this morning! 30 hours after us!"

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INCUBUS star MIKE EINZIGER has shrugged off reports of a planned protest at an upcoming concert in the Philippines, insisting it’s "kind of an honour".
A group of religious advocates is set to demonstrate at Incubus’ gig at the Araneta Coliseum on 28 July (11), over fears the rockers will have a bad influence on young fans and alleging the band’s name literally means "a male demon".
But Einziger plans to take any potential disruption in his stride, admitting he’s flattered by the attention.
He tells Rolling Stone, "I’ve heard people were worried us about bringing our evil music to the holy land there. In a certain way, it’s kind of an honour and I do very much treat it with a sense of humour." The guitarist also insists he feels "sorry" for the fanatics, adding: "Unfortunately the people who are sending those kinds of messages, they’re not treating it with a sense of humour. They’re very serious about it and I think it’s just a part of a larger problem that affects us on a global scale, which is that religious extremism runs rampant…
"I feel sorry for them. I’m just glad I’m not them because if they actually took a second to listen to any of our music or speak to any of us they could see that we’re actually promoters of peace and we’re huge environmental activists, advocates of social justice."

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Welsh star DUFFY has been hit with a lawsuit from her former business manager for $320,000 (£200,000).
Angela Becker has begun High Court proceedings in the U.K. over claims she is owed outstanding payments from the Mercy hitmaker.
Becker, who began managing the pop star last year (10), alleges their partnership was due to end after Duffy finished promoting her album Endlessly.
But in December (10), the 27 year old moved to terminate their agreement early, according to Britain’s Mail on Sunday.

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Grammy award-winning songwriter JERRY RAGOVOY has passed away at the age of 80.
He died of complications from a stroke on Wednesday (13Jul11), according to the New York Times.
Ragovoy composed a number of hit songs including Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart and Time Is On My Side, made famous by The Rolling Stones. He also penned tunes later recorded by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, B.B. King, Bette Midler and Faith Hill.
Ragovoy won a Grammy in 1973 after producing the score for musical revue Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.
He is survived by his wife Beverly and twin daughters, Melissa and Gillian.

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star VANESSA HUDGENS has ditched her glamorous look for her new movie GIMME SHELTER to play a dishevelled, pregnant tomboy with piercings.
Zac Efron’s ex-girlfriend, 22, shocked onlookers in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday (14Jul11) when she showed up onset dressed in baggy clothes with short, greasy hair - worlds apart from her usual red carpet look.
Hudgens portrays a pregnant teen whose rich father disowns her, forcing her to live on the streets, when she decides to keep her baby.
Brendan Frasier will play the actress’ dad. Rosario Dawson also stars.

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Former Congressman PATRICK KENNEDY wed his fiancee at the family compound in Massachusetts on Friday (15Jul11).
Patrick, the son of late U.S. senator Ted Kennedy, married schoolteacher Amy Petitgout in Hyannis Port.
He tells People.com, "This is a day that’s a beautiful day, not only in weather but just for my family. And I’m the luckiest guy. She’s the best I could have ever imagined, and I’m lucky to be able to share this day with her." The couple announced its engagement in March (11).

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DONALD TRUMP’s daughter IVANKA has become a first-time mum.
The socialite and her husband, Jared Kushner, welcomed a baby girl in New York City on Sunday (17Jul11).
The Celebrity Apprentice star, who previously announced her pregnancy via Twitter.com, also took to the social networking site to announce the joyful news.
She wrote, "This morning (Jared) and I welcomed a beautiful and healthy little baby girl into the world. We feel incredibly grateful and blessed. Thank you all for your support and well wishes!" The couple wed in 2009.

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HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 has cast a spell over the U.S. box office - the film has smashed the record for the best opening weekend in movie history after raking in $168.6 million (£105.3 million).
The final installment in the popular boy wizard franchise, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Potter, was released across America at midnight on Friday (15Jul11) and ticket sales for the first showings of the film soared way past the $30 million (£18.75 million) record held by last summer’s (10) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
And it’s continuing to captivate cinema-goers - early weekend (15-17Jul11) estimates for the movie easily beat the 2008 Batman film The Dark Knight, which previously held the title with takings of $158.4 million (£99 million).
Shia LaBeouf’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a very distant second place in the U.S. box office chart with $21.3 million (£13.3 million), and Jennifer Aniston’s comedy Horrible Bosses is at three with $17.6 million (£11 million).
Family movies Zookeeper and Cars 2 round out the weekend’s (15-17Jul11) top five in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

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CHARLIE SHEEN’s estranged wife BROOKE MUELLER is entering a rehab centre in Mexico, according to a U.S. report.
Mueller is heading to a treatment facility in Cancun for an intensive seven-day stint in a bid to finally overcome her addiction demons, according to TMZ.com.
The 33 year old, whose substance abuse problems began when she was a teenager, completed her latest rehab stay in May (11).

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British pop stars TAKE THAT were forced to cancel a concert in Denmark on Saturday (16Jul11) after ROBBIE WILLIAMS suffered food poisoning.
The band apologised to fans after calling off the show in Copenhagen, the first time they’ve ever scrapped a gig.
According to an official statement, doctors told Williams he was unfit to perform after he became "violently ill" on Friday (15Jul11).
The message from Take That states, "We are truly devastated to have had to cancel tonight’s show in Denmark. This is the first show that we have ever had to cancel in our career as a band. It was a horrible decision to make and one we agonized over." Singers Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Mark Owen considered performing without Williams but ultimately decided "it would be wrong to go ahead" without the Angels hitmaker, who returned to the original line-up last year (10).
The five-piece adds, "We would like to say from the bottom of our hearts that we are truly sorry to all of you who have bought tickets for tonight’s show." The band’s next scheduled stop is in Amsterdam, Holland on Monday (18Jul11).

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DAVID HASSELHOFF knew he’d found his ideal woman when his new girlfriend revealed she was clueless about his infamous BAYWATCH character.
The actor began dating Welsh model Hayley Roberts earlier this year (11) after meeting her during the audition stages of reality show Britain’s Got Talent.
Now Hasselhoff has opened up about the blossoming romance and revealed he fell for the 31 year old when she asked him who he played on his most famous show, because she had no knowledge of his career.
He tells British talk show host Alan Carr, "I asked her to dinner and she asked me an amazing question… and that question was what did you play on Baywatch? I love that. I love that…
"That was exactly the right question because I knew that maybe she liked me for me and not because I was on TV."

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Proud parents DAVID and VICTORIA BECKHAM have shown off their baby daughter in intimate family photos shared online.
Former Spice Girls star Victoria gave birth to the couple’s first daughter, Harper Seven, on 10 July (11).
But instead of debuting their little girl in a magazine spread, the couple has taken to its social networking pages to post tender shots of the new arrival.
David published a black and white photo of his wife resting with her newborn, with the caption, "I took this picture of my two girls sleeping." Meanwhile, new mum Victoria uploaded a snap of the soccer star cradling Harper, writing: "Daddy’s little girl!"

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