GUARDIAN – SHORTCUTS BLOG: The director has become a Shiite Muslim. And Julia Roberts announced her conversion to Hinduism in 2010. Are stars more prone to religious conversions than the rest of us?
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Showing posts with label Hollywood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hollywood. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
GUARDIAN – SHORTCUTS BLOG: The director has become a Shiite Muslim. And Julia Roberts announced her conversion to Hinduism in 2010. Are stars more prone to religious conversions than the rest of us?
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Sean Stone, 27, became a Muslim last week in a ceremony in the Iranian city of Isfahan and has adopted the Islamic name Ali.
In the past, the documentary maker has spoken of his support for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's nuclear programme.
Following Mr Stone's conversion, he told a news conference: "It's a mistake to believe that Islam is antagonistic towards Judaism and Christianity.
"What we need is to understand each other's beliefs and to establish dialogue."
Asked how his conversion would be reported in America, Mr Stone said he was not famous and it would have little effect on his life back home.
"The most important thing is I hope I can help Americans to understand the true nature of Islam," he said.
"I feel good when I enter a mosque. I believe there is only one God and with this view it is not important whether you are Muslim, Christian or Jewish."
Iranian media has widely covered Mr Stone's conversion and his Iran-friendly comments. » | Monday, February 20, 2012
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REUTERS.COM: Sean Stone, the son of Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone son and a defender of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, converted to Islam on Tuesday while filming a documentary in Iran, he told Agence France Presse.
"The conversion to Islam is not abandoning Christianity or Judaism, which I was born with. It means I have accepted Mohammad and other prophets," Stone, whose famous father is Jewish and mother is Christian, told AFP. He underwent the ceremony in the city of Isfahan.
The 27-year-old did not say why he converted. Iran's Fars news agency said he had become a Shiite and taken the Muslim first name Ali.
In an interview with TheWrap at the Toronto Film Festival in September, he supported Iran’s right to a nuclear program as a defense against threats from Israel. He said criticizing the Iranian government is “like someone coming to your house and saying the father shouldn’t hit the kids,” he said. “Who are we to tell them how to rule their country?” » | Timothy Molloy at The Wrap | Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Whitney Houston's golden hearse arrives in her home state of New Jersey: Fans gather outside a Newark funeral home to welcome the singer's hearse back to her birth place ahead of a funeral expected later this week. » | Tuesday, February 14, 2012
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
In his most ferocious attack to date, the Hollywood star vented his anger at the President's failure to bring about change in America.
He said: "I've talked to a lot of people who worked for Obama at the grassroots level. One of them said to me, 'Never again. I will never be fooled again by a politician,'".
"You know, a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done would have been, in the long run of the country, much better."
His latest attack was made in an interview for Elle magazine to promote his new film "We Bought a Zoo."
Damon, 41, was one of the biggest Hollywood stars to stump for Obama during his 2008 election campaign. » | Paul Thompson | Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Surrounded by celebrities and movie power players like Cindy Crawford, Will Smith and Halle Berry, he was the political darling of the entertainment industry's liberal elite.
But Mr Obama's return to the West Coast today is much less glamorous, reflecting how much his star has waned.
Instead of Miss Winfrey's house, he will be at the less glamorous "House of Blues" nightclub on Hollywood's Sunset Strip with the rap singer B.O.B, a DJ called Adam 12, and The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. Tickets for the event, hosted by a sitcom actor, have been available for just $250 (£160).
Hollywood is traditionally seen as a cash machine for campaigning Democratic candidates. In his first presidential campaign he found nothing but generous friends and open chequebooks.
But some of those wealthy supporters now feel frustrated by what they see as lack of progress on issues including the environment, gay rights, withdrawal from Afghanistan and closing Guantánamo Bay.
While few are openly criticising the president, much less supporting any of his possible Republican opponents, the word "disappointment" is surfacing regularly.
A string of other big name backers from four years ago have yet to donate at all. They include Matt Damon, who has been perhaps the most critical of Mr Obama's A-list friends. » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Politics being showbusiness for ugly people, Joan Collins has no interest in getting involved in it. As we learn in her new book, a manifesto entitled The World According to Joan, at 18 she was voted “Most Beautiful Girl in England” (page 46), while at the age of 21 she was signed up to a film in which she had to play “the most beautiful girl in New York” (page 49) [printed edition].
Dear Joanie tells me that she did once get involved with UKIP, “but I wasn’t sure it was the kind of thing I wanted to do. I’m not Glenda Jackson.” No, heaven forbid. So where does La Collins fall on the political spectrum? “I’d say I was Conservative party, 1940s.” She laughs huskily; it’s ever so naughty. “And I was a very big supporter of Thatcher.”
What does she think of David Cameron? “I like David, but I think he’s hog-tied by what’s-his-name.” Nick Clegg? “Yes. I’m not a big fan.” And what does she think of Ed Miliband. “Not a lot,” she says simply.
Even though La Collins insists that a life in Westminster holds no thrall for her – she is, after all, 78, and goodness knows what the electorate would make of her second and third homes in Los Angeles and St Tropez – she doesn’t hesitate when I ask her what she would do if, in a parallel universe, Joan Collins were Prime Minister.
“First, education. I think it is shocking that 15- and 16-year-olds leave school unable to add up and with the reading ability of a four-year-old. When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting, of course.” She does a self-mocking “Of course I was” shrug of her shoulders, which are currently minus Dynasty-style pads. Continue reading and comment » | Bryony Gordon | Monday, September 12, 2011
THE DAILY EXPRESS: Joan Collins: Why I Despair of Britain Today » | John Chapman | Monday, September 12, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
After seven years as governor of California the former action star had been planning to return to the big screen in several movies, including the planned blockbuster "Terminator 5."
On Thursday night, he put all projects on indefinite hold so he could deal with the scandal. Patrick Knapp, his entertainment lawyer, said: "Governor Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides."
The 63-year-old star had been expected to appear next in "Cry Macho," a drama in which he was to play a horse trainer who bonds with a Mexican boy. An animated television series called "The Governator," in which he was to voice the main character, has also been postponed.
Mr Schwarzenegger is facing a potentially bitter divorce battle after his wife Maria Shriver hired a high profile lawyer known as the "Disso Queen" in a step toward ending their 25-year marriage.
Laura Wasser, 42, a glamorous single mother-of-two, earned her nickname handling dissolutions on behalf of some of the entertainment industry's biggest names. Her other clients include Robyn Moore, the wife of troubled "Braveheart" star Mel Gibson, who filed for divorce in 2009. » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
BBC: Catherine Zeta Jones has received treatment for bipolar disorder after dealing with the stress of her husband's battle with throat cancer.
Zeta Jones, 41, made a decision to check into a "mental health facility" for a brief stay, said her publicist.
Michael Douglas, who was diagnosed last year, said in January his tumour had gone and he was beating the disease.
Last September, Zeta Jones said she was "furious" that doctors failed to detect the cancer earlier.
Bipolar, also known as manic depression, causes severe mood swings, that usually last several weeks or months.
Zeta Jones's publicist Cece Yorke said the actress sought treatment for the condition following the stress of her husband's cancer fight.
"After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her Bipolar II disorder," said Yorke.
"She's feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films."
It is unclear when Zeta Jones, who is from Swansea, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder or where she received treatment. (+ video) » | Thursday, April 14, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Zeta Jones spoke of being enveloped by a 'dark cloud': Catherine Zeta Jones gave a nod towards her struggles with depression when she spoke of being enveloped by a "dark cloud" months before she checked into a rehabilitation clinic for treatment. » | Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor | Friday, April 15, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
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Friday, March 25, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The start of Elizabeth Taylor's funeral was delayed after the film star left instructions requesting that her coffin should arrive 15 minutes late.Taylor was buried at a family funeral in a California cemetery famous for being the final resting place of Hollywood celebrities, including her good friend Michael Jackson.
Barricades blocked access to the funeral at the Forest Lawn Cemetery, where about 50 family members mourned the actress during a service that lasted about an hour, said a police spokesman. Five black stretch limousines transported Taylor's family to and from the funeral, but no procession was held.
The service began 15 minutes after its announced start time in observance of Taylor's parting wish that her funeral start late, her publicist Sally Morrison said.
Taylor had left instructions asking for the tardy start and had requested that someone announce, "She even wanted to be late for her own funeral," Morrison said.
Taylor died early on Wednesday of congestive heart failure while surrounded by her four children at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks. » | Friday, March 25, 2011
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HAARETZ: Taylor may be remembered most for her award winning film roles and long list of husbands, but the star was also a Jewish convert who took her chosen religion very seriously.Judaism, unlike some other religions, discourages conversions, but there has always been a certain amount of giddy excitement when a star, from Marilyn Monroe to Sammy Davis Jr., converts to the Jewish faith.
Few celebrity conversions, however, have garnered the lasting impact that the ceremony at Hollywood’s Temple Israel on March 27, 1959 did, at which a 27-year old Elizabeth Taylor took on the Hebrew name Elisheva Rachel and converted to Judaism. » | The Forward | Thursday, March 24, 2011
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
THE TIMES: Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 » | Rhys Blakely, Los Angeles | Wednesday, March 23, 2011 [£]
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH – OBITUARY: Dame Elizabeth Taylor: Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who died on March 23 aged 79, made more than 50 films, won two Oscars, was a grandmother at 39 and was married eight times to seven men. » | Wednesday, March 23, 2011
BBC: In Pictures: Elizabeth Taylor »
REUTERS: La France pleure Elizabeth Taylor, "la dernière star" : PARIS - Le monde de la politique et du cinéma français a rendu mercredi un vibrant hommage à Elizabeth Taylor, star américaine disparue à l'âge de 79 ans.Du ministre de la Culture, Frédéric Mitterrand, au président du festival de Cannes, Gilles Jacob, en passant par le Premier ministre, François Fillon, tous ont rendu hommage à sa beauté, à son talent et à son action dans la lutte contre le sida. » | Elizabeth Pineau, avec Thierry Chiarello | Mercredi 23 Mars 2011
WELT ONLINE: Königin und Schlampe – Elizabeth Taylor war beides: Über alle Affären und Eskapaden Liz Taylors darf nicht vergessen werden: Es gab nicht viele, die dieser Schauspielerin gewachsen waren. » | Uwe Schmitt | Mittwoch 23 März 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
THE OBSERVER: British director Paul Greengrass will portray the serpent of the Nile as political strategist and warrior in a new blockbuster film
Dio Cassius, the Greek historian, said Cleopatra "was a woman of surpassing beauty… and a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to everyone". So it stands to reason that the greatest Hollywood beauties of succeeding eras have been cast as the Egyptian queen: from Claudette Colbert and Vivien Leigh, to Elizabeth Taylor and, now, Angelina Jolie. But, judging by the creative team being lined up by Sony Pictures, Jolie's 3D outing in the royal barge of beaten gold is set to rip up all our other assumptions about the fabled temptress.
The screenplay of the forthcoming blockbuster is risking a budget that rivals the studio-busting Taylor epic of 1963 on a fresh, revisionist interpretation of Cleopatra and, it seems, the vision of a maverick British director: Paul Greengrass. >>> Vanessa Thorpe, Arts and media correspondent | Sunday, January 09, 2011
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