Top Story: Catherine Zeta-Jones Has Baby Girl
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has given birth to a daughter, her second child with husband Michael Douglas, Reuters reports. Carys (pronounced KEHR’-is) Zeta Douglas was born early Sunday morning at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, publicists for the couple said on Monday. The couple also has a 2-year-old son, Dylan Michael Douglas. At last month’s Oscar ceremony, the very pregnant Zeta-Jones performed the duet “I Move On,” from Chicago with co-star Queen Latifah. Zeta-Jones went on to win a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as a homicidal entertainer in the hit musical.
Zellweger Eats Up Big Apple
In other Chicago news, Oscar nominee Renee Zellweger is leaving her digs in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles for the East Coast, where she will split her time between an apartment in New York City and a house in the Hamptons, The Associated Press reports. “Los Angeles has been really, really good to me. It’s just not necessarily good for me now,” the actress told InStyle magazine in its May issue. “I want to be in a place that’s truly diversified. I want to go to a literary party. I want to be able to go for a run without having to get in my car.”
Russian Film Fest Honors DiCaprio
The Russian International Film Festival has awarded actor Leonardo DiCaprio its Tower Award for his contribution to world cinema, the AP reports. DiCaprio, who recently starred in Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York, accepted the award Sunday before an small gathering including his grandmother, Yelena Smirnova, who emigrated from Russia 40 years ago, and his father, George DiCaprio. The festival began Friday in Los Angeles at the ArcLight theater in Hollywood and continues until Thursday.
Brody Busy After Oscars
Actor Adrien Brody had to decline director Roman Polanski‘s invitation to join him at the Moscow premiere of The Pianist on May 6 because he’s booked to host Saturday Night Live on May 10, Variety reports. Brody, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman in that war drama, said although he has had film offers since his win he is holding out for a contemporary romance.
Gwen Stefani Going Solo?
No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani is contemplating some solo projects. “I have been collaborating on some tracks on my own with different people,” she wrote on the band’s Web site. “I am not quite sure if it will become a full-blown solo project, singles for a soundtrack, or just songs.” The singer also said she has “looked at some scripts and, although I really haven’t made a decision yet, if the right part were to come along I think I would try working in film.”
Luther Vandross Critical but Stable
Grammy-winning singer Luther Vandross, who suffered a stroke April 16, was listed in critical but stable condition on Monday at the Weill Cornell Medical Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the hospital said in a statement, but would release no further details on the 52-year-old singer, Reuters reports.
Dixie Chicks Tix Go Quick
Despite the recent hubbub over singer Natalie Maines’ comments in London that she was ashamed to come from the same state (Texas) as President Bush, the Dixie Chicks aren’t having any problems selling tickets for their upcoming tour. Rob Light, the Dixie Chick’s manager, told Billboard that of the 59 shows scheduled, only six have seats left, and even those are 85-95 percent sold and expected to sell out. The tour kicks off May 1 in Greenville, S.C., and concludes Aug. 4 in Nashville, Tenn.
A Funny Business for Comedy Central
AOL Time Warner Inc. is near a deal to sell its 50 percent stake in cable network Comedy Central for about $1.2 billion to joint venture partner Viacom Inc., a source familiar with the deal told Reuters Monday night. The deal, which could be announced as early as Tuesday when Viacom is scheduled to report its earnings, would be the first asset sale by AOL Time Warner as executives try to restore investor credibility by cutting its approximate $29 billion in total debt.
Role Call: “Getaway” Game Coming to Big Screen; Costner, Allen Are “Anger”ed
Sony Pictures’ mid-budget Screen Gems banner is in final negotiations to acquire all feature film rights to the popular video game “The Getaway”. The game centers on two men on opposite sides of the law who are both out to bring down a legendary London crime boss. The release date next year will coincide with the next edition of the video game… Joan Allen and Kevin Costner are in talks to star in the indie project Upside of Anger. The family drama revolves around a mother (Allen) and her four daughters who must suddenly deal with life without a husband/father. Costner would play a former baseball player who is a friend of the family.
