Candidates must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format, according to Academy rules.

Early favourites include Up In The Air and The Hurt Locker - the two films have won the bulk of the season's big honours so far.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on 2 February. The Academy Awards will take place on 7 March. …

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Law Is Open To Broadway Musical
7 hours ago

British actor Jude Law would consider a return to Broadway in an all-singing, all-dancing musical.

The star recently completed his stint on the New York stage in a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet and he's interested in treading the boards once more - but this time in a more light-hearted show.

He tells WENN, "Maybe (I'd do a musical), I don't know. I'm not bad at singing and dancing. Maybe Shrek! Nah, I'm joking!" …

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Wayans Brothers Facing Plagiarism Lawsuit
7 hours ago

Comedic clan the Wayans Brothers are facing legal action amid accusations from a former assistant they copied portions of the book 101 Ways To Know you're A Golddigger and published it as their own.

Jared Edwards, who worked for the family from 1995 to 2005, filed suit against Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans and St. Martin's Press in Manhattan federal court in New York on Thursday .

Edwards claims he wrote jokes about women who seek wealth and status through romance for his You Know You're a Golddigger... book in 2005. He states the brothers rejected the book before they published their own tome in May.

He is seeking unspecified damages. …

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Theron Launches Shoe Range For Charity
7 hours ago

Actress Charlize Theron has launched a new collection of footwear to raise money for impoverished children in her native South Africa.

The Monster star debuted her eco-friendly limited-edition footwear, designed with Toms Shoes, on Friday.

The range includes slip-on sneakers for men and women, embellished with an image of an African baobab tree.

Proceeds from sales will benefit the star’s non-profit charity, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, which is dedicated to improving the health, education, and social development of high school children in the country.

Additionally, 10,000 pairs of shoes will be given to impoverished children living in remote communities in her homeland. …

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Morgan Engaged
10 hours ago

America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan is to marry his long time girlfriend.

The former newspaper editor proposed to journalist Celia Walden during a holiday in France last week (beg07Dec09) while they were celebrating her birthday.

The TV star, who has been dating Waldon since 2006, revealed the happy news in a post on his official website.

The statement reads, "Piers has taken the plunge and proposed to his girlfriend of four years Celia Walden - and she said yes!

"The happy event took place last week in that most romantic of cities - Paris, where the couple were celebrating Celia's birthday."

Morgan divorced Marion Shalloe in 2008, they have three sons together. …

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Blunt's Mum Pressuring Her To Set Wedding Date
10 hours ago

Emily Blunt is under pressure to start planning her wedding to actor fiance John Krasinski - because her mother is constantly asking about the ceremony.

The Devil Wears Prada actress accepted Krasinski's proposal in August after a whirlwind 10-month romance.

But Blunt admits she's yet to even pick up a wedding magazine, let alone choose a date for her big day.

She says, "I literally don't know. My mother has been asking that question (when they're getting married). We've just being very irresponsible in pinning down a date."

Blunt previously dated singer Michael Buble, before settling down with The Office star. …

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Strong Found Fighting Downey, Jr. 'Quite Scary'
10 hours ago

Actor Mark Strong was hesitant to fight Robert Downey, Jr. for their new movie Sherlock Holmes, because the Iron Man star is so good at martial arts, the idea of getting beaten up was "quite scary".

Strong portrays villain Lord Blackwood in Guy Ritchie's action adventure and is pitted against Downey, Jr.'s character Holmes in numerous scenes.

But the Brit confesses he did little to prepare for the physical aspect of the role - so the experience was a little daunting at first.

He tells WENN, "I watched boxing on the telly (television)! I play soccer twice a week, but that's about it. I'm not a gym bunny. Robert is a fantastic martial artist, so initially it was quite scary, but the fight scenes went off Ok."

And Strong insists the battle was not as one-sided as he had expected: "I knocked the hell out of my knuckles a few times, and his, I have to say, so it was a bit of give and take." …

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Cameron: 'Terminator: Salvation Needed Schwarzenegger'
10 hours ago

The Terminator creator James Cameron has criticised the recent sequel, insisting the new movie didn't feel "authentic" because Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't in it.

Cameron wrote and directed the original 1984 movie which starred Schwarzenegger as a futuristic robot sent back in time, and returned to direct Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1992.

The moviemaker sat out the third movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines in 2003 and had no involvement with the most recent installment, this year's Terminator: Salvation.

Cameron admits the director, McG, did a good job reworking the story - but felt the movie was a disappointment without Schwarzenegger, who only made a brief cameo appearance in the new film.

He tells Ugo.com, "Interestingly, I think McG did a good job. I think he was almost too referential to the myths of the first and second film. He over-quoted them in a way. It didn't feel to me to be enough of a reinvention. The thing we did with the second film is that we reinvented the first film completely; spun it on its a** and made the Terminator the good guy, and came up with a whole new concept for a villain, it felt fresh.

"I didn't feel the fourth picture was fresh enough. It also lacked a certain stamp of authenticity because Arnold wasn't in it. I mean, he was in it briefly, digitally, but that's not the same thing." …

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Law: 'Spying Students Were Peeping Toms'
10 hours ago

Actor Jude Law has defended his decision to pelt a group of students with oranges after he caught them "spying" on him in his New York apartment, insisting they were acting like "peeping Toms".

The Alfie star has been renting a luxurious pad in Manhattan's Washington Square since the summer, when he began performing in Broadway play Hamlet.

But Law was annoyed to discover his home was so close to New York University student dormitories, and fans would regularly camp out on their balcony just to catch a glimpse of the British hunk.

However, one group of adoring students got a shock in November when Law took aim at them after tiring of the teenagers snapping pictures of him through his window.

Law insists the fruity attack was all in jest - but admits he was driven to act because he felt his privacy was being invaded.

He says, "It was of course, (all for fun), I just got a bit upset. They were spying on me while I was hanging out with the kids and working out...

"It got to the point where I truly felt like (they were) peeping Toms. And where I come from, peeping Toms have things thrown at them - they were lucky I'd run out of eggs!"

But Law wasn't entirely happy with the way he reacted - because he barely hit his target: "My aim was really bad. Only one (orange) landed and six hit various other spots!" …

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Fry & Brand Lose Out On Twitter List
14 hours ago

An unknown businessman has beaten Stephen Fry and Russell Brand in a rundown of the most influential Twitter users in Britain.

The stars are regular users of the microblogging site, 'Tweeting' their thoughts to their loyal followers.

But they only came second and third respectively in a poll to find the most influential person on the site - Scottish entrepreneur Pete Cashmore, who has 1.8 million followers, came out top.

Singers Dougie Poynter and Tom Fletcher, from British boyband McFly, rounded out the top five. …

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Worthington Stripped Off For Avatar
14 hours ago

Sam Worthington was shocked after signing up to appear in Avatar - because he had to film most of his scenes semi-nude.

The Australian stars in James Cameron's epic movie as Jake Sully, a paraplegic ex-soldier.

The director painted the actors blue and used special computer-generated imagery (CGI) techniques to capture their movements for the film.

And Worthington reveals he was forced to strip off on set every day, with only a loincloth to spare his blushes.

He tells Access Hollywood, "I had nothing on. I had a loincloth on and they painted me blue. I was thinking if this is how you make a big budget movie, then I'm mad enough to be a part of it. I do that (strip off) most times, doesn't matter if James Cameron wants me to do it. I do it most times. He had to struggle to put clothes on me today!" …

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Godfather Duvall Is Gilliam's Don
14 hours ago

Robert Duvall has agreed to resurrect Terry Gilliam's floundering movie about Spanish literary hero Don Quixote following the departure of Johnny Depp.

Director Gilliam lined up Depp in 2000 to star as advertising executive Tony Grisoni in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, but a series of disasters including scheduling conflicts, financial issues and weather-damaged sets delayed production of the oddball epic, prompting the Pirates of the Caribbean actor to bow out.

Gilliam is determined to make sure the film finally goes into production in 2010, and he's hoping the addition of The Godfather star will finally help the project get off the ground.

He says, "Well, it's up, we're getting going again. As Bobby (Duvall) says, we don't have the money, yet. I just think he's phenomenal. I sent him the script, he's so excited by it. If I get Robert Duvall talking as he was on the phone, with that kind of excitement, energy and childish enthusiasm, I thought, 'This is going to be great.' I just think he's extraordinary." …

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Arterton Swaps Hollywood For London Stage
14 hours ago

Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton is returning to her theatre roots with a role on the West End stage.

The British actress, best known for her role in 007 movie Quantum of Solace, began her career with an appearance in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost in London in 2007, just months before she won her first big screen role in St Trinian's.

And now the 23 year old is set to return to the theatre in The Little Dog Laughed, a satire about Hollywood, alongside The Young Victoria star Rupert Friend.

Arterton says, "There were many reasons for doing this play, but one of them was, 'Oh I've just done these Hollywood movies - and now I can do a play about some aspects of Hollywood and some of the things I've seen.' I've had a taste of it (fame) and I don't want it. I would rather do a play in England, thank you very much."

The Little Dog Laughed will begin previews on 8 January. …

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Moore Defends Herself Over Age Jibes
14 hours ago

Demi Moore has defended the way she looks in photos for a second time, after a fan criticised her for looking "old."

The Ghost star posted a picture of herself from a recent photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar magazine on her Twitter.com page, writing, "Had the priviledge (sic) of working with a giraffe yesterday he was beautiful gentle and so amazing!"

But Moore was shocked to receive a series of unfriendly messages, with one post reading, "Sorry but you look old. Especially your neck & checks at the second shot."

The actress was quick to respond to the remark, retorting, "I'm 47 how am I supposed to look?"

Last month, Moore was at the centre of controversy over her covershoot for America's W magazine, which saw her looking super-slim in a revealing, skintight green dress.

Critics hit out at Moore, claiming bosses at the publication had airbrushed the actress beyond recognition, but she insisted the pictures were untouched.

And Ashton Kutcher's wife refuses to let her followers put her down. After one fan posted a message, writing, "Sorry Demi that your self esteem is so low you can't admit to a little Photoshopping (airbrushing). And Ghost sucked."

Moore simply replied, "Thank you." …

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Williams Facing Large Wage Bill
14 hours ago

Comedian Katt Williams is facing a $232,000 (£145,000) bill from a former assistant, who alleges she was never paid for a 10-month stint working for the star.

Jacqueline Gutierrez, who claims to have been employed by Williams during a recent stand-up tour, has filed a complaint with the California Labor Commission against the star's company, Kattpack Investments, Inc.

The documents, obtained by TMZ.com, allege Gutierrez is owed a total of $232,000 (£145,000), including $100,800 (£63,000) in wages, $32,000 (£20,000) in expenses and $58,645 (£36,653) in hotel bills among others. …

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Critics Maul Knightley's West End Debut
14 hours ago

Keira Knightley's fears over her West End debut proved well-founded after she was hit with a slew of bad reviews, with one critic insisting the actress "has all the charisma of a goldfish."

The Pirates of the Caribbean star landed a role in a London adaptation of Moliere classic The Misanthrope, opposite Damian Lewis and Tara Fitzgerald.

Knightley previously spoke of her worries about her performance, fearing she would be "burned alive" by the critics.

And when the curtain went up for the reviewers on Thursday, Knightley's predictions turned out to be all too accurate.

Quentin Letts, who reviewed the play for Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, wrote, "Keira Knightley may be one of 21st century cinema’s revered objects but on stage she proves little better than adequate.

"Her arrival on the West End in an interesting (but intellectually disingenuous) treatment of Moliere’s Le Misanthrope is, well, on the dull side. She has all the charisma of a serviceable goldfish. Miss Knightley has a flawless face but it does not move about much."

While the Daily Express' theatre critic, Paul Callan, adds, “Her lack of stage experience is sometimes painfully evident. It is rather sad that the heart-wrenchingly beautiful Miss Knightley does not come up to scratch." …

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Alien Writer O'Bannon Dies
14 hours ago

Sci-fi screenwriter Dan O'Bannon, who wrote Alien and Total Recall, has died.

O'Bannon passed away at the age of 63 in Los Angeles following a short illness.

He got his big break in the movie business with 1974's Dark Star, which he edited, starred in and co-wrote with director John Carpenter, who he met as a student at the University of Southern California's film school.

O'Bannon then went on to join the visual effects team for George Lucas' Star Wars, before writing the initial script for sci-fi classic Alien, originally titled Star Beast, with Ronald Shusett.

The duo later re-teamed to work on 1990's Total Recall, an adaptation of a short story by Philip K. Dick.

He also ventured into directing, making his debut in 1985 with Return of the Living Dead, a follow-up to George Romero's 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead.

His writing credits also include Blue Thunder, Screamers and Bleeders.

O'Bannon is survived by his wife Diane Louise Lindley and their son Adam. …

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Grant Must Have Favourite Pillow And Marmite When He Travels
18 hours ago

Hugh Grant refuses to go anywhere without his favourite pillow and a jar of yeast extract Marmite.

The Music & Lyrics star admits he's very particular about what he packs for trips abroad and can't bare to be without two vital items.

He tells WENN, "I can't sleep without my pillow, so that would have to go in. It's non-allergic and I've had it for a long time. It has a name but we won't go there.

"I have to have Marmite. That gets sent around the world with me. I can't get the day going without Marmite and, if I'm feeling very sad, I eat it straight out of the pot." …

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Bullock Named Entertainer Of The Year
18 hours ago

Sandra Bullock has beaten TV's favourite vampires to top U.S. magazine Entertainment Weekly's Entertainers of the Year list.

The star of hit 2009 films The Proposal and The Blind Side beat the cast of True Blood to the top spot, while Lady Gaga came in third.

Also making the top 10: Taylor Swift, Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Ryan Reynolds, American Idol star Adam Lambert and moviemaker James Cameron. …

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Russo Joins Hemsworth & Hopkins In Thor
18 hours ago

Rene Russo has signed on to play Thor's mum in Kenneth Branagh's blockbuster movie adaptation of the Marvel comic book story.

Russo will portray Frigga opposite Chris Hemsworth, as Thor, and Anthony Hopkins, who will portray her husband Odin.

Natalie Portman is also part of the all-star cast.

The film goes before the cameras in January. …

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Parker 'Sounds Silly' Swearing
18 hours ago

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker avoids using curse words because she's convinced it "sounds silly" when she swears.

The Sex and the City star has no issues with others swearing around her, but she admits she's not "comfortable" turning the air blue herself.

She tells TheDailyBeast.com, "No, I’m not a prude at all. I’m delighted for anyone to use any kind of language they want to use. To be off-colour. To work blue. Honestly, I have no objections. I love that people have and use all the choices in the world.

"I just have not for many, many, many, many, many years been someone who uses salty language. I don’t think it suits me. I’m not comfortable with it. Can you picture me using the F-word? Listen: 'What the f**k!' See? It doesn’t work for me. It sounds silly in my mouth." …

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Winfrey Donates $1.5 Million To Atlanta School
18 hours ago

Talk show queen and famed philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has proved her generosity once again - after donating $1.5 million (£937,500) to an inner-city school in Atlanta, Georgia.

Winfrey donated $365,000 (£228,125) to The Ron Clark Academy, a private middle school in one of the city's poorest neighbourhoods, just last December - and she has welcomed school founder Ron Clark onto her U.S. talk show twice.

Now the media mogul has upped her generous efforts, to help bankroll the school's $2.8 million (£1.75 million) operating budget.

Winfrey's donation will be used to expand the school's campus with plans to build a cafeteria, gymnasium and theatre. …

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Lumley Continues Gurkha Campaign
18 hours ago

British actress Joanna Lumley has launched a $16 million (£10 million) campaign to improve the lives of poverty-stricken Gurkha veterans in Nepal.

The Absolutely Fabulous star, whose dad Major James Rutherford Lumley fought alongside the Nepalese soldiers in the British army, has campaigned tirelessly for veteran Gurkhas to be allowed to stay in the U.K.

Her work paid off earlier this year, when British officials agreed by to give 36,000 Gurkha soldiers and their families the right to live in Britain.

But Lumley is back on the campaign trail - she wants veterans living in Nepal to receive cash to improve their quality of life.

She says, "Our debt of honour to the Gurkhas remains. They helped fight our wars and keep our peace. They stood up for us and now is the time to stand up for them. There are 10,000 very elderly veterans in Nepal who need our support right now." …

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Downey Jr. Inspired Law To Take Sherlock Role
18 hours ago

Jude Law only agreed to star in Sherlock Holmes because he was desperate to work with Robert Downey Jr.

The British actor was unsure whether to take the role of Holmes' sidekick Dr. Watson in the Guy Ritchie picture - but when he discovered Downey Jr. was playing the leading man, he jumped at the opportunity.

He says, "I don't want to get to an age where I look back and say, 'Oh, I never did that.' That was in my mind when I met Robert Downey Jr. for the first time. I wanted to work with him, so I said I'd do Sherlock Holmes.

"Then, of course, two days later I thought, 'What am I doing? I'm going to play Dr Watson and this is insane because is it what I really want to do?'

"Luckily it evolved into a wonderful experience, but initially I took it on because of Robert Downey, loving him as a man and the way he talked about how he was going to work." …

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Ferguson Facing Legal Battle Over Book
18 hours ago

British royal Sarah Ferguson has filed a lawsuit in a bid to stop a controversial book from hitting U.K. shelves.

The Duchess of York went undercover to film 700 disabled children at a Turkish orphanage for a TV documentary earlier this year.

Her expose sparked controversy, with officials from Turkey demanding Ferguson be extradited for breaching laws by filming minors at the home.

Journalist Chris Rogers interviewed the royal for Under Cover, a book on the subject of orphanages, and Ferguson even agreed to write the preface for the tome, based on her experience.

However, following the scandal surrounding her documentary, she has filed legal documents to try and stop the book from being published, according to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

But officials from the book's publishing house, Authentic Media, are adamant they will fight Ferguson's legal bid.

A spokesperson for the company says, "We are 100 per cent confident that the book will come out. If necessary, we will fight through whatever court it takes. Conversations are going on between Chris Rogers and Buckingham Palace." …

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Grant: 'I Won't Put Fans Through Bad Plays'
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Hugh Grant refuses to hit the Broadway stage - because he's convinced fans don't want to see him in a play.

The Four Weddings & A Funeral star has always enjoyed theatrical pursuits but admits he hates sitting through dull plays featuring others.

He tells WENN, "I can't quite justify it in my head because I know what misery it is for the audience.

"I personally find going to theatre is enjoyable about one time in 20, and the other 19 you're just going, 'Oh, come on. Let's get to the end of it and have a drink.' I'm honest. I think there's a lot of piety about the theatre, really." …

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Beckham Uncomfortable With Cruise's Singing Games
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Model and soccer stud David Beckham hates playing games with famous pals like Tom Cruise and Eva Longoria Parker because they always seem to revolve around trying to make him sing.

The Brit and his wife Victoria have become part of the Hollywood scene since arriving in Los Angeles in 2007 and Beckham loves hanging out with his superstar pals - until they start planning game night.

He explains, "Eva's got this whole thing... about playing games and game night, and that's one of my worst (nightmares). I get so uncomfortable with, like, crowd participation.

"I kinda stay out of it... We was (sic) at dinner once with Tom and Katie (Holmes) and a few of our friends... and we were sat there (sic) and everyone was like, 'Ok, let's play a music game, let's start a singing game.'

"We was (sic) in a restaurant, playing this game and I'm, like, texting one of my friends who was in the same restaurant. I was like, 'Please invite me onto your table.'"

Beckham admits he only sings in the shower. …

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Avatar Set For $100 Million Weekend
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Christmas has come early for moviemaker James Cameron - his new big-budget blockbuster is set to be another titanic hit in America.

Movie experts expect Avatar, which opens on Friday, to be one of the year's biggest debuts, pulling in almost $100 million (£62.5 million) over the weekend (18-20Dec09).

If it hits the magical number, the sci-fi film will be halfway towards making its $200 million (£125 million) budget back.

Cameron broke box office records back in 1997 when his film Titanic became the most successful movie of all time. …

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Stewart Becomes Left-handed For Jett Portrayal
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Twilight star Kristen Stewart went all out to portray rocker Joan Jett in the new Runaways biopic - even becoming left handed.

The young actress spent time with Jett, who was a consultant on the film about her famous girl band, and studied the rocker.

Impressed Jett says, "I'm a lefty too - not guitar wise - but in my handwriting and so she switched that up too; she started writing left handed." …

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Sobieski Gives Birth
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Eyes Wide Shut star Leelee Sobieski has become a Christmas mum after giving birth to her first child on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old actress gave birth to a baby girl in New York.

The father is Sobieski's fashion designer fiance Adam Kimmel.

The couple, who became engaged in June, plans to wed in 2010. …

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Blunt Embarrassed By Timberlake's Golden Globes Quip
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Emily Blunt cringed when she watched Justin Timberlake announce her nomination for the 2010 Golden Globes ceremony on Tuesday - because he made a saucy comment after reading out her name.

The British star's fiance, John Krasinski, joined Timberlake for the big reveal and the pop star poked fun at The Office actor by making a passing comment to his new pal about how the couple might celebrate Blunt's Best Actress nomination for her role in The Young Victoria.

Timberlake smiled cheekily and quipped to the crowd, "Ho ho ho! Somebody's gonna have a good night tonight!"

Blunt learned about her nomination via text message and made sure to catch the video footage of her announcement - but the coverage left her blushing, because she couldn't help but wonder what her future mother-in-law would think of Timberlake's raunchy suggestion.

She says, "My make-up artist sent me a text as I was sitting getting my hair done on set, so I found out that way. But when I saw that (footage with Timberlake), I was like, 'His (Krasinski) mother has to watch that!'"

Blunt will find out if she triumphs over Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Helen Mirren (The Last Station), Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire) for the award when the ceremony takes place on 17 January in Los Angeles. …

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Worthington Angry About Hollywood Photographers
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Aussie actor Sam Worthington has served up a warning to Hollywood's paparazzi, insisting they treat him with respect or else!

The Avatar star got his first real taste of the nasty side of fame on Wednesday night shortly before he arrived at the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of the sci-fi blockbuster - and it ruined his big night.

On the red carpet, he growled, "I've just taken on the American photographers and they can get a bit disrespectful and a bit abusive; I'm a tough Australian, I'm not gonna take any c**p." …

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Cancer Scare For Griffith
17 December 2009 5:31 PM, PST

Actress Melanie Griffith's black eye has been explained - it stems from cancer surgery.

The Working Girl star has been keen to cover up the shiner, wearing dark glasses in public - but one recent shot caught her off guard and led to speculation about how she came by the bruised face.

Now her publicist has told TMZ.com the black eye was the result of a surgical procedure to remove early stages of skin cancer from her face.

It has been a tough year for the star - in August, she checked into a rehab facility in Utah after struggling with a dependency for painkillers.

According to her husband, Antonio Banderas, the actress felt her resolve weaken after three operations on her knee following a skiing accident at the start of 2008 and feared taking the medication she was prescribed to numb the pain would tempt her back onto harder drugs.

Griffith is a recovering addict.

Banderas explained, "In March, she came to me and said, 'I'm feeling a little bit weak in my determination for this (to stay sober)... so I just thought to go to rehabilitation by myself.'" …

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