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Roberts Struggles As Working Mother

Actress Julia Roberts struggles to bring up her three young children while juggling her movie career - but credits her kids with turning her life around.

The Pretty Woman star has stepped away from the limelight since becoming a mother to four-year-old twins Phinnaeus and Hazel, and younger son Henry, 21 months, by husband Danny Moder.

She began working on spy movie Duplicity last year - and director Tony Gilroy happily accommodated the new mum and her tot on set.

Roberts says, "I think for any working mum it's a struggle and some days are certainly easier than others. You just keep going as best you can.

"I think Henry was six or seven months old when we started (filming Duplicity) so I did have a little a sense of tiny apprehension, but I sat down and had a long talk with Tony about it and he really seemed confident that they would happily accommodate my motherness."

And the actress credits motherhood with opening her eyes to a whole new perspective on life.

She adds, "I love it. I just like these three little people that live in my house now. They're spectacular. They inform me in ways I never could have imagined. They're so creative and open and fantasic and I'm very fortunate. It's blissful chaos."

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Aniston: 'I Dumped Mayer'

Jennifer Aniston has reportedly told friends it was her decision to end her romance with rocker John Mayer.

The singer-guitarist was rumoured to have dumped the former Friends actress last week (ends06Mar09) after she returned from promoting her latest movie Marley & Me in Europe.

But, according to U.K. newspaper The Sun, it was Aniston's decision to end the relationship - after Mayer became distant following an appearance at the Academy Awards last month.

A source tells the publication, "They had a great time at the Oscars, but he seemed to go cold right after. It's humiliating. To say her feelings are hurt is an understatement."

The pair had a tumultuous relationship - they started dating in early 2008 but parted ways during the summer. They rekindled their romance in October, before reportedly splitting again last week.

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Sci Fi Channel to Launch New Name: SyFy

The Sci Fi Channel has set a July 7 blast-off date for a new name — SyFy — citing a need to refresh the brand while securing an identity that's more ownable and less limiting.

The sleeker moniker (chosen from some 300 candidates) will be introduced Monday at the cabler's upfront presentation to advertisers, in tandem with a new slogan: "Imagine Greater."

One big reason behind the switch is that SyFy can be trademarked. "We couldn't own Sci Fi; it's a genre," Bonnie Hammer, president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, tells the New York Times. "But we can own Syfy."

Sci Fi Channel president Dave Howe points out that the current name is also limiting. "If you ask people their default perceptions of Sci Fi, they list space, aliens and the future. That didn't capture the full landscape of fantasy entertainment: the paranormal, the supernatural, action and adventure, superheroes."

The July 7 launch date coincides with launch of Warehouse 13, a new series about a secret government facility in South Dakota.

Tweaking the Sci Fi name is part of a rebranding campaign to distinguish the home of Battlestar Galactica, Ghost Hunters and Eureka from its cable competitors.

Sci Fi Channel had 95.2 million subscriber households last year, compared with 93 million in 2007 and 88.2 million in 2006.

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Jameson Gives Birth To Twin Boys

Former porn superstar Jenna Jameson is a new mum - she gave birth to twin boys at a California hospital on Monday morning.

The 34-year-old retired X-rated actress and her boyfriend Tito Ortiz welcomed their first children at Newport Beach Hospital, according to Adult Video News.

Sources tell the porn news website that Jameson and the baby boys are healthy.

After announcing her pregnancy back in September, Jameson wrote online, "I can’t even express the extreme serenity that came over me once I saw my children inside me. It has been my dream to have children for an extremely long time, and I truly feel like finally, the time is right and God has blessed me. I have never felt more like a woman, or more alive.

"Tito is happier than I have ever seen him, it is so fulfilling to see him so proud. He looked me in the eye today after our doctors appointment and said, 'I'm the luckiest man on earth... thank you for having my babies.' I cried."

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Roberts Nurses Dying Dog

Actor Eric Roberts is preparing for the passing of his beloved pet dog, just a month after the death of his best pal Mickey Rourke's own canine companion.

Roberts, who comforted Rourke at the Oscars as he grieved pet pooch Loki, is nursing 14-year-old Muddy through the final stages of cancer.

And the actor - who starred with Rourke in 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village - expects the half pit bull, half German shorthair to pass away this week (ends20Mar09).

Roberts tells BlogTalkRadio's Spiritual Warriors, "We have his lungs drained about twice a week. And we're keeping him alive because he still wags his tail.

"But I believe this will probably be (Muddy's) last week here, because he's starting now to get unhappy. So when he gets uncomfortable, I'm gonna put him to sleep.

"I'm his best pal. But we're trying to keep him happy. And I'll keep him with me all day long, up until that happens."

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DJ AM sues for $20 million for plane crash

DJ AM (a.k.a. Adam Goldstein) filed suit Friday against Learjet for the crash that injured him and Travis Barker, and killed the jet's pilots and Barker's assistant and bodyguard, People.com reports. The suit seeks $10 million in damages (for injuries and lost earnings) from Learjet and other defendants, and an extra $10 million for pain and suffering. DJ AM and Barker suffered burns in the September 2008 accident, helping each other to escape the wreckage in which they were the only survivors.

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Natasha Richardson critically injured in skiing accident

Actress Natasha Richardson, best known for roles in The Parent Trap (1998), Nell (1994), and Maid in Manhattan (2002), was admitted to a Montreal hospital Monday following a skiing accident. People.com confirms that the actress, wife of actor Liam Neeson and daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, was first admitted to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien following a skiing accident in the Mont Tremblant resort area. At 5 p.m. she was transferred to Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, reportedly having suffered a traumatic brain injury. The accident was first reported by IrishCentral.com, which claimed that their source was an insider at a Montreal hospital.

Neeson's spokesperson, Alan Nierob, said he had not been able to reach the actor and could not confirm the reports. Calls and e-mails to Richardson's talent agency, CAA, were not returned, presumably due to the late hour. The 45-year-old mother of two, who won a Tony Award in 1999 for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, was said to be in talks to costar with her acting legend mother in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical A Little Night Music on Broadway.

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Darth Vader Actor Battling Cancer

Star Wars actor David Prowse has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The 73-year-old, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, revealed he was battling the disease during an interview with U.K. radio host Christian O’Connell.

He said: "I’m undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, would you believe. I’m having my very last treatment this morning. I’ve had two months of radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden (in London), it’s the most fantastic hospital. I feel fantastic, no problems whatsoever.

"The only thing I’ve had is hot flushes. I’ve also lost some of my hair on my legs and the hair on my chest has all got very fine. But other than that I’ve had no after effects."

Although Prowse portrayed Vader in the movies, the legendary baddie's voice was added by American actor James Earl Jones.

The Brit is also well known in the U.K. for being the Green Cross Code Man, a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in 1975.

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Connery Cleared Over Loan Allegations

Veteran actor Sir Sean Connery has been cleared of allegations he made millions of dollars in profit from a loan deal struck with a late friend.

The former James Bond star was accused of loaning businessman Jean-René Canela $4 million (£2.8 million) and then selling off the assets provided as security on the loan for a huge profit, when Canela could not make the repayments.

The businessman died of cancer in 2002, but his son Christian began legal proceedings earlier this month - claiming Connery had sold off a portfolio of shares, property and gems worth $10 million (£7 million), which would now be worth $50 million (£35 million), giving the actor far more than his original investment.

Reports surfaced last week that Connery had been summoned to give evidence at a court in Switzerland as part of the case.

But judges in Geneva, Switzerland ruled on Tuesday that there was no case for Connery to answer.

The star's agent Nancy Seltzer says, "I am pleased to announce the Tribunal of First Instance of the Republique and Canton of Geneva has entirely found in favour of Sir Sean and Lady Connery and has declared the demand the petition of the son of Jean-René Canela totally inadmissible."

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Langella Plans Memoirs

Frost/Nixon Oscar-nominee Frank Langella is forging ahead with plans for an autobiography - 18 months after scrapping it for fear of embarrassing his kids.

Speaking back in November 2007, the 71-year-old insisted he would wait until he was 80 before putting pen to paper, claiming the explosive details of his eventful life would be too much for his two children.

He said, "My biography has been cooking for years. It won't come out until I'm 80 because there's too much in it that would be very revealing and racy. I feel if you're gonna write an autobiography you have to write the truth and I want to be a very old person. I want my kids to be very settled and mature when they read what a dog their dad was."

But in a new interview with film journalist Liz Smith, Langella reveals he "will be writing his memoirs" soon.

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Cage Takes Up Hang Gliding

Nicolas Cage is planning a break from acting to pursue a more extreme pastime - as a licensed hang gliding pilot.

The Leaving Las Vegas star is entranced by the idea of soaring through the air with a pair of his own wings.

And he's looking for a break between films so he can travel to the Swiss Alps, where the actor has learned he can become certified to fly in just two weeks.

He says, "It's probably one of the most beautiful things a man can do. You're just soaring in the sky like an eagle... It's less dangerous now. They say it's not as bad as racing cars and it's probably no more dangerous than riding a bicycle, so I'm ready to get my pilots license."

But Cage insists he won't be taking up any other extreme sports any time soon.

He adds, "Skydiving doesn't interest me at all. There's no muscle in my body that tells me to jump out of an airplane. I just don't get it."

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Richardson 'Still Alive' Despite Online Reports

Natasha Richardson is "still alive" despite online reports she has died following a skiing accident in Canada.

The 45 year old fell on the slopes while taking a ski lesson at Station Mont Tremblant near Montreal, on Monday.

She was taken to Montreal's Centre Hospitalier Laurentien, before being transferred to the nearby Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal with a serious head injury.

The actress' husband, actor Liam Neeson, rushed to her side on Monday from the set of his film, Chloe, currently shooting in Toronto.

On Tuesday Time Out New York broke the news online that Richardson had died, claiming its editors had been tipped off by a close family friend.

The item disappeared from Time Out's website shortly afterwards and editors sent out an apology for reporting her death, but insisted, "We stand by our new statement that she is brain dead and not expected to survive."

Representatives for the star have yet to release any information about her status - but she is believed to have been flown to a second hospital.

Clinic sources tell TMZ.com that Richardson has brain swelling, but is not brain dead.

Meanwhile, a representative for the ski resort has revealed Richardson was not wearing a helmet when she fell, but "did not show any visible sign of injury" shortly afterwards.

Lyne Lortie tells Usmagazine.com, "(She was) accompanied by an experienced ski instructor who immediately called the ski patrol.

"The ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor.

"As an additional precautionary measure, the ski instructor, as well as the ski patrol, accompanied Mrs. Richardson to her hotel. They again recommended she should be seen by a doctor.

"Approximately an hour after the incident Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good. An ambulance was called and Mrs. Richardson was brought to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe and was later transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur."

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Denise Richards Reacts to Charlie Sheen's Twins



ET has Denise Richards' reaction to ex-husband Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller Sheen's new twin baby boys.

Denise spoke with ET following her performance on "Dancing with the Stars," saying her daughters are making pictures for the twins.

"The girls are really excited," Denise says of her daughters' reaction to their new siblings. "They can't wait to see them."

The twins -- named Bob and Max -- were born Saturday night, a rep for the actor told ET.

Sheen already has three daughters -- Sam, 5, and Lola, 3, with Denise -- and 24-year-old Cassandra from a previous relationship with ex-girlfriend Paula Profitt.

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Amy Winehouse Pleads Not Guilty to Hitting Fan

Did Amy Winehouse hit fan Sherene Flash at a society ball last September? The singer says, "no, no, no."

Winehouse's recent assault case took a step forward in a London courthouse this morning, where the oft-troubled songbird pleaded not guilty during the 15-minute hearing.

The "Rehab" singer arrived at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court dressed a little, well, less than innocent in four-inch heels and a saucy, low-cut floral frock that showed off her bra straps and tattoos.

According to the Press Association, she stumbled into the courtroom and continuously fidgeted with her hair, hands and clothing. When asked how she was feeling, Winehouse—who gave her married name, Amy Jade Civil, to the courts—said, "I'm all right, thanks."

Flash alleges that the songstress punched her in the eye after she approached Winehouse for a photo at London's End of Summer Ball Sept. 26, 2008.

Because of the charges, the "Back to Black" crooner has been denied a visa to perform in the United States, and has since scheduled performances in St. Lucia.

The trial date for the common assault charge is set for July 23.

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Baker Takes Over As U.S. TV's Sexiest Man

Aussie hunk Simon Baker has ended Patrick Dempsey's two-year reign as the sexiest man on U.S. TV.

Baker's show The Mentalist became an instant hit when it debuted in America last year and now The Devil Wears Prada star has toppled Grey's Anatomy doctor Dempsey as TV Guide magazine's most desired actor.

Dempsey was the publication's sexiest man on TV two years in row.

Baker's wife isn't convinced she's married to the sexiest guy on TV.

He explains, "My wife said to me this morning, 'I could take a photo of you right now and they might take that title away from you.'"

Also making the new top 10 are David Boreanaz, new dad Matthew Settle and reality TV star Brody Jenner.

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Swayze 'In Good Spirits' And Training For TV Role

Patrick Swayze is in good spirits, training for the second season of his TV show The Beast and "kicking butt", according to close pal Whoopi Goldberg.

Less than a week after a U.S. tabloid printed pictures of the cancer-suffering star looking frail and gaunt, Swayze reached out to his Ghost co-star in a personal call, asking her to dispel rumours he's on death's door.

Speaking on her morning talk show The View on Tuesday, Goldberg revealed, "He's actually quite good. He's in very very good spirits. He's in the middle of writing a book with (his wife) Lisa."

Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, but has vowed to fight the disease and defied doctors' expectations by landing a role in A&E network drama The Beast.

The first season premiered earlier this year - and Swayze is now preparing to shoot season two.

Goldberg adds, "He's working his tail off. He's sick, there's no getting around it, but, like all of us, we all know we're going to die. We don't know when and what's going to take us.

"As it turns out, there's no expiration date on his a**, so he's going forward. He's going back into training for The Beast, because he's running and jumping in it."

Swayze has also denied claims chemotherapy has cost him his hair, prompted by photos appearing to show him wearing a wig; he insists he cut his own locks off for his role in The Beast.

Goldberg adds,"He says he shaved his head. Whatever you're reading, just know he's kicking butt. He's doing one day at a time."

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Cage's Debt To Cher

Nicolas Cage credits Cher with helping him become a Hollywood star - because she fought to land him a role alongside her in Oscar-winning movie Moonstruck.

Studio bosses were reluctant to cast the then-23-year-old Cage as Cher's love interest in the film - but the singer/actress dug her heels in and landed him the part of New York baker Ronny Cammareri.

The movie won Cher a Best Actress Oscar and catapulted Cage onto the Hollywood A-list - and he is eternally grateful.

He says, "She really was a champion for me. At a time when people didn't see me as a romantic actor, she fought for me."

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Richardson's Ambulance Ride Confirms Condition

TMZ has obtained information about Natasha Richardson's ambulance ride in New York to Lenox Hill Hospital -- she was "unconscious," her pupils "non-reactive," her skin was "pale" and she was suffering from "major head trauma."

We're told her husband Liam Neeson held her hand the entire time and caressed her face as he sat in silence.

We're also told when the plane landed in New Jersey, medics on board told members of the ambulance team that Richardson was "brain dead."

Story developing ...

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Jessica Lange Breaks Several Bones in Cabin Fall

Jessica Lange got extremely lucky yesterday after taking a fall at her Minnesota cabin.

Family sources tell TMZ the legendary actress grabbed for a railing that was not secure and fell over -- breaking her shoulder and collar bone and dislocating her arm.

She also suffered lacerations and received stitches at a local hospital. As one family member put it, "She's OK ... but very lucky."

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Kanye West charged with three misdemeanors

Kanye West has been charged with criminal misdemeanor battery, grand theft, and vandalism by Los Angeles city prosecutors for an incident stemming from an altercation with paparazzi last September, the Associated Press reports. West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after allegedly breaking the flash of a photographer's camera inside a terminal. West's manager, Down Crowley, has also been charged with breaking the camera itself and accosting TMZ's videographer. TMZ published video of the alleged incident. West faces two and a half years in prison, if convicted.

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