13th August 2000
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The Goss
'ER' star in collision
Noah Wyle and Tracy Warbin's busy weekend in Los Angeles recently, almost ended in disaster.
Their first stop was the sixth annual Angel Awards, where they joined fellow ER actor Anthony Edwards to honour supporters of the chairty organisation Project Angel Food, which delivers meals to people with HIV/AIDS.
The following day they paid a visit to Noah's mother Marty for lunch. On the way home to their ranch in Santa Ynez Valley they were involved in slight collision with another car. Luckily no one was hurt and Noah's car escaped with just a small dent in its side. But the driver of the other car was taken aback when she realised it was the ER heartthrob who stepped out to swap details with her.
Noah, 28, married Tracy, a make-up artist whom he met four years ago, in a small, romantic ceremony at a California vineyard in May. "We always knew where we were going to end up," he said at the wedding.
Tough to kiss!! She may be teetering on the verge of Hollywood superstardom following a leading role in the second Mission Impossible movie, but Thandie Newton still makes time for family celebrations. The stunning actress and scriptwriter husband Oliver Parker are expecting their first child in September. Thandie, who at 27 already has a string of films to her credit, says she wants to carry on working after the birth of her baby. She is blase about doing any more steamy scenes with Hollywood hearthrobs, though. She recently confessed that her screen kisses with Tom Cruise - her co-star in the Mission Impossible film weren't always easy. Thandie said: "I kept thinking 'Am I squashing Tom's face if I go in at this angle? Does this make it look like I have a double chin?' "
Gwyneth & Ben -on? off?
Gwyneth Paltrow at the premiere of Butterfly, sporting a chic long gown with casual flip-flops. As for her relationship with Ben Affleck - they officially split last year but their on-off relationship looked like it might be back on track as Gwyneth bid Ben farewell at LA airport before catching her flight. Although Ben insists that they are "just good friends," the stars were spotted house hunting together in LA's upmarket Bel Air area recently.
Liam moves out
Liam Gallagher faced up to some of the more practical considerations of a marriage break-up when he organised the removal of his belongings and moved out of the home in London's Primrose Hill that he once shared with his estranged wife of three years, Patsy Kensit. As the sombre-looking Oasis frontman looked on, some of his most valued personal possessions were piled into the van- including a piano reportedly once owned by John Lennon, his beloved Lambretta scooter and a big pot that had obviously been a Father's Day gift from his and Patsy's ten-month-old son Lennon. Matt: comfortable with the way he looks Friends star Matt LeBlanc and his fiancee, model Melissa Knight, arrive at the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of The Perfect Storm. Matt sporting a moustache and beard, said recently: "I hate to shave. I won't shave unless I'm going to be on camera." But Melissa doesn't mind. 'I think it's sexy on him," she says. Not surprisingly, the heart-throb actor can say with all honesty: "I'm comfortable with the way I look."
Robbie 'Rocks' at No:1
Three weeks ago Robbie Williams premiered his new video clip 'Radio DJ' on the "Top of The Pops" show. It portrayed Robbie in tight fitting clothes, and heavly tatooed shoulders. At the same time the single was released as a promo track to radio deejays. Within 2 weeks the song was skinning the radio station airwaves and most teenagers, it appeared in reports, were anxious to get hold of the Robbie's new single.
Last week the single was released into the market and before midweek it was certain the song 'Radio DJ' was to become the UK's No: 1 song. There was also a cheeky issue surrounding the release of 'Radio DJ' which was of course the video clip. The controversial video portrays Robbie strutting about in certain segments in his underpants dancing with the girls on the set in similar state of dress. Naturally it creates more than the interest it would attract. Furthermore on 'Radio DJ', Robbie Williams deviates from the rock star image he projected on his previous songs, adapting a strong dance flavour. It is understood that this too could have been another factor that generated interest from that segment of the market. All of us have our own opinion on songs. For the moment 'Radio DJ' gets my support but lot more air time will let several others decide if it is a classy track. The song itself borrows a riff from Barry White's 1977 phenomenal hit 'It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me'. Having mentioned all that 'Radio DJ', is turning out become one of this year's best selling songs, with sales already exceeding 110,000 copies. The single is the 1st release from his hitherto untitled forthcoming album. For Robbie Williams 'Radio DJ', is his second solo No: 1 song after 'Millennium', (which was his best song to date) to reach the top of the UK chart in September 1998.
Meanwhile there is mounting speculation that Robbie Williams and Geri Halliwell are romantically linked, going by press reports. Both are high profile stars which means we should not get carried away by what could only be a spectacular publicity stunt.
Last week's singles cham pion was Craig David. His '7 Days', lost ground by a notch. The 19-year-old was one of the featured vocalists on the Artful Dodger's 'Woman Trouble', which peaked at No: 6 last month. '7 Days' is a song very much in the mould of the Artful Dodger. The video clip features David using a subway with his unmistakable hair style which is reminiscent of one of the great religious leaders of this part of the world. '7 Days' is Craig's 2nd UK No: 1 after 'Fill Me In' back in April. Craig is due to release his album this month.
Rock music received 2 en tries in this week's Top 20. At No: 19 - Reef set in with 'Set The Record Straight' while Mansun checked in at No: 8. Rock music is finding it rather difficult to get recognition at this time of the year in the UK. It's the heavy Ibiza party time summer season. Nevertheless, Mansun, formed 5 years ago have their fan base rather steadfast as the single 'Doesn't Really Matter', entered the chart at No: 8. Fortunately it is not very hard in that sense of rock. The single is taken from Mansun's album 'Little Kicks.'
Multi - Grammy award winning Santana entered the Top 20 last week at No: 6 with 'Maria, Maria'. It is the 2nd release from the huge album 'Supernatural'. On the single 'Maria, Maria', Carlos Santana has the vocal support of Wyclef Jean. Unlike the previous single 'Smooth' the current song comes in a slightly quiet atmosphere. The vocals of Jean are very low too. This week though 'Maria, Maria' took a tumble to the No: 12 position.
After months of haggling, the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has agreed to pay $ 12 million in taxes due over 10 years ago to the authorities.
As Victoria Beckham tries to get on with her solo career, her husband David Beckham is reported to be fast becoming a gay icon.
Toad & Co. from 'Wendy' students
The Wendy Whatmore Academy commemorates 60 years of commitment and excellence this year with a special anniversary production of Kenneth Grahame's classic tale 'Wind in the Willows'. The play will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from August 25, to 29.
Showcasing the talent of over 50 students of the Wendy Whatmore Academy, this production will be directed by Tracy Holsinger, who incidentally played the role of Snow-White ten years ago, in the school's 50th anniversary production directed by Mrs. Christine Tambimuttu-Fernando.
'Wind in the Willows' is a two-hour romp through the adventures of the particularly precocious Toad (Ishraq Wahab) and his three companions - Badger (Rekha de Silva), Rat (Hashintha Jayasinghe) and Mole (Sean Jesudasan).
When the timid Mr.Mole abandons his underground hole to seek adventure, nothing quite prepares him for the excitement ahead! Upon meeting the gentlemanly Water Rat, Mole discovers a wonderful world of fun with the friendly riverbank animals, such as the madcap Otter, Badger, the nosey rabbits and of course the incorrigible Toad, who is in the middle of his latest craze - caravans!
Toad, Rat and Mole set out for an adventure in the caravan drawn by the long-suffering horse Albert, when they have an accident with a motor car. Unfortunately, this encounter leads Toad to develop an all-consuming obsession with cars, which leads him into more trouble. Rat and Mole, along with their wise old friend Badger, set out to take Toad in hand. The wily Toad escapes them, but after stealing a motor car, ends up in prison.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the Wild Wood (an intimidating bunch of weasels) take over Toad's beautiful Manor House, with the enterprising intention of turning it into apartment. Rat, Mole and Badger can do nothing to stop the ruin of their friend's house, but lie low and make their plans. The courageous Toad escapes from jail and after a series of hilarious adventures including trains, washerwomen, large barge-ladies and gypsies, is eventually reunited with his friends. Together, they form a plot to storm Toad Hall, and win it back from their enemies.
This is an unforgettable adventure story for the whole family, with song and dance. The director is supported by the inimitable Maryanne David who will train the young cast in singing from an original score composed by Kamalini Samarakoon. The choreography will be in the hands of another rising star of entertainment - Shohan Chandiram.
The production will also feature the genius of Michael Holsinger (lighting), Buddhi Galapatti (make-up), Miriam Gunaratne (costumes) and Akhry Ameer (set). Tickets for the show are available at the Lionel Wendt theatre.
The Wendy Whatmore Academy is a household word today thanks to the tireless efforts of Mrs. Wendy Whatmore who together with her staff of teachers, pioneered the concept of Speech and Drama schools in Sri-Lanka. That tradition is carried on today by her daughter Mrs. Wendy Holsinger, principal of the Academy since Mrs. Whatmore's passed away 11 years ago.
The Academy currently has thousands of students and over 100 teachers in branches island wide, including areas such as Trincomalee, Kandy, Bandara-wela, Nuwara Eliya, Matara and Batticoloa
Meg Ryan's baby shocker!
The secret that led Dennis Quaid to file for divorce
A shocking baby secret doomed the marriage of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid and drove her into the arms of 'Gladiator' star Russell Crowe.
While Meg and Dennis proclaimed their love and undying devotion for each other in various interviews over the past few years, they were actually battling bitterly over the issue that sunk their marriage - Meg's refusal to have more children!
After Meg gave birth to their son Jack in 1992, she didn't want any more children. But Dennis longed for several more kids and the battle over more babies drove them apart. Then, when a hurt and angry Dennis learned of Meg's extramarital fling with 'Gladiator' hunk Russell Crowe, he slapped his beautiful wife with divorce papers after 9 1/2 years of marriage.
The affair was the final straw, but it sank a marriage already weakened by the baby standoff. Meg truly adores son Jack - but for her, one child is enough. But Dennis longed for a house full of children.
Behind closed doors, they battled over the issue, but to the the outside world, Meg and Dennis seemed like the perfect couple.
"In private, they were generally supportive of each other. But they repeatedly locked horns over that one subject: more kids," said a family friend.
Years earlier, the two made a pact that only one of them would be on a film location at a time, so young Jack would have a normal family life. At first, Meg feared she'd be the one stuck on child-care duty.
"But Dennis is a natural father, a caregiver who likes every aspect of parenting," disclosed the family friend.
"And increasingly, Meg became the bigger movie star and she was the one away on location."
Dennis still had a successful career as an actor, but he felt his greatest role was as "dad" and felt more children would save their marriage.
The baby drama came to a head last year when Dennis proposed a compromise- adoption - and Meg still shot him down. So, when Meg started cavorting with Russell Crowe, "he couldn't take it any more," added the source. He felt cornered, so he pulled the plug on July 11.
Tragically, a split's the last thing Dennis wanted, "and he's still devastated about it," confided the family friend.
Divulged the close source: "It's sad. Meg really wanted the marriage to work too. But when she realized that Dennis couldn't be happy without more children, she was stuck."
One thing is for sure: Meg never expected Dennis to end it.
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