Wading through the murk so you don’t have to …
Jodie stands by Kristen
She offered public support to Mel Gibson when he melted down, now Jodie Foster has come out swinging for Kristen Stewart at The Daily Beast.
Jodie has written a thoughtful feature about the interest in celebrities’ private lives: “There’s no guilt in acknowledging the human interest in public linens. It’s as old as the hills. Lift up beautiful young people like gods and then pull them down to earth to gaze at their seams. See, they’re just like us.”
She recalls working with Kristen: “In 2001 I spent 5 months with Kristen Stewart on the set of Panic Room mostly holed up in a space the size of a Manhattan closet. We talked and laughed for hours, sharing spontaneous mysteries and venting our boredom. I grew to love that kid. She turned 11 during our shoot and on her birthday I organized a mariachi band to serenade her at the taco bar while she blew out her candles.”
But she’s pretty negative about young people becoming actors: “I’ve said it before and I will say it again: if I were a young actor today I would quit before I started. If I had to grow up in this media culture, I don’t think I could survive it emotionally. I would only hope that someone who loved me, really loved me, would put their arm around me and lead me away to safety.”
And she insists: “Just to set the record straight, a salary for a given on-screen performance does not include the right to invade anyone’s privacy, to destroy someone’s sense of self.”
Dlisted says: “And some of you probably didn’t even read any of the words above, because you’re still getting over the fact that it was Kristen Stewart in The Panic Room and not one of the Culkin boys.”
Jen’s got it covered
As predicted, the US weekly magazines are all over Jennifer Aniston‘s engagement to Justin Theroux. Both People and US Weekly have cover stories.
“After the actor and screenwriter presented her with the ring, “Jen cried,” a confidante tells the new Us Weekly, adding that Justin’s proposal was “simple.”
Meanwhile, ex-boyfriend Bradley Cooper was asked about Jen’s engagement at the premiere of his new movie Hit and Run and told US Weekly: “That’s awesome!”
Shia says he had a finger up his ass
Never one to shy away from controversy, Shia LaBeouf reckons he’s giving up on big-budget movies because the producers “stick a finger up your ass”.
Says The Hollywood Reporter: “Transformers star Shia LaBeouf isn’t just walking away from the Hollywood studio system that raised him — he’s bolting. “I’m done,” says the 26-year-old actor, who is devoting his career to indie film and soon starts shooting Lars von Trier‘sNymphomaniac. “There’s no room for being a visionary in the studio system. It literally cannot exist,” he says. “You giveTerrence Malick a movie likeTransformers, and he’s f–ed. There’s no way for him to exist in that world.”
Shia is full of praise for his two new movies, The Company You Keep, directed by Robert Redford, and The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, both financed by independent company Voltage Pictures. “These dudes are a miracle,” he says. “They give you the money, and they trust you — [unlike the studios, which] give you the money, then get on a plane and come to the set and stick a finger up your ass and chase you around for five months.”
Nicole’s a princess
Variety reports that Tim Roth and Nicole Kidman will star in Grace of Monaco as Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.
The film will tell the story of the Hollywood actress-turned-princess’ influence on the Principality of Monaco, as well as how the couple addressed a national tax crisis together.
They had me until I heard the words “tax crisis” … zzzzzzz …
Jessica’s dad might go to jail
Jessica Simpson‘s dad Joe Simpson has been charged with two counts of DUI after his August 4th arrest according to TMZ: “Now, we’ve learned … the L.A. City Attorney has filed 2 misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence against Papa Joe … which carry a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail. If convicted on both counts, Joe COULD face up to 36 months probation and a $1,000 fine — but as a first-time offender, it’s highly unlikely he’ll end up behind bars. He’ll probably end up with a fine and probation.”
Joe’s case is scheduled to go before the judge later this month.
Michael J. Fox lured back to TV
Vulture is reporting that Michael J. Fox, the iconic star of Family Ties and the Back to the Future trilogy (and renowned Parkinson’s disease sufferer and campaigner) has teamed with director Will Gluck (Easy A) and writer Sam Laybourne (Cougar Town, Arrested Development) on comedy series.
“We’re still trying to track down plot details, but our sources tell us the show will be inspired by Fox’s own life. All four major network chiefs have heard the pitch, and two industry sources — using phrases such as “feeding frenzy” and “bidding war” — tell us it’s now just a matter of which network will offer the most attractive deal to Fox, Gluck, and Sony.”
Gaga loves fur
TMZ reports: “Lady Gaga is firing back at fur critics … claiming militant animal rights activists are “childish” and “abusive” … and need to respect her right to wear whatever the hell she wants … even if it’s from a dead animal.
Said Gaga: “I am choosing not to comment on whether or not the furs I purchase are faux fur-pile or real because I would think it hypercritical not to acknowledge the python, ostrich, cow hide, leather, lamb, alligator, ‘kermit’ and not to mention meat, that I have already worn.”
She adds, “You see a carcass, I see a museum pièce de résistance.”
Ah, well that should shut Peta up. Not.
HOT PICS & CLICKS
* “From FOX: Kate Hudson in action. GLEE S4 premieres Thurs., Sept. 13 at 9p!” the show’s creator Ryan Murphy tweeted about the 33-year-old actress making her debut on the show.
* Miley Cyrus‘s fiance, Liam Hemsworth, has given her new ‘do the thumbs up. “He loves [my haircut],” she tweeted to one of her fans Tuesday. “Last night he said I look the happiest he’s seen me in a while 🙂 he likes seeing my eyes more.”
* Ellen DeGeneres debuted her own Miley cut on Facebook today … relax, it’s just a wig. “I love Miley Cyrus’ new haircut so much that I copied it,” she joked.
* “My 8000th tweet is a smile to @hilariabaldwin,” Alec Baldwin has tweeted, along with this intimate photo from his recent wedding.
* See a Downton Abbey season 3 teaser clip here.
housegoeshome 
Nooo. NBC has blocked the Downton Abbey preview clip 😦
Oh blah! Sorry