Simon Cowell wants X Factor to be more successful than American Idol

Simon Cowell wants the US X Factor to be more successful American Idol.

The music mogul—who quit as a judge on American Idol to kick start the new version of the pop star search show—will "die trying" to be the most watched program, and he is confident The X Factor will become the best series of its kind.

He told TMZ.com: "You don't compete for the silver or the bronze, you may not get the gold, but you die trying. It's definitely going to be better than the other shows."

Simon's departure from American Idol led to a revamp of the judges with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson on the panel, and he claims he isn't impressed by them.

He added: "It's not my cup of tea."

Nicole Scherzinger was initially named as a host of the U.S. show alongside Steve Jones, but she eventually replaced British pop star Cheryl Cole on the judges panel after just four auditions, something the Pussycat Dolls member recently admitted she cried about.

She said: "It's an honor. I'm not going to lie, I cried when Simon told me."

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Minka Kelly

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

We first fell in love with Minka Kelly when she was shaking her pompons with Panther pride as head cheerleader Lyla Garrity on the epically underrated series Friday Night Lights. Kelly’s character has since graduated, but unfortunately her career has not. With all the tools of a leading lady (charisma, sex appeal and acting chops), Kelly has been stuck in Hollywood’s version of purgatory; a string of guest roles on mediocre shows, and an inability to transition to the big screen. With the 30-year-old’s window of opportunity dwindling fast, Esquire magazine decided to name Kelly its coveted “Sexiest Woman Alive,” a title that was previously awarded to more established actresses like Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie. Could this be the career CPR Kelly has been looking for, or was it just an excuse for the folks at Esquire to get Derek Jeter’s girlfriend in her underwear? Either way, we win.

Minka Kelly Quote
" It blows my mind that anyone could be unkind to anyone. The guy clearing our plates is a person. I don't care if you're sweeping the floor. I don't care if you're cleaning my toilet."
90 SEX APPEAL

There’s no denying that Minka Kelly is sexy. She’s like, five-alarm sexy. Minka Kelly is so sexy she’s zexy. From her days as quarterback-kissing Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights, to her brief appearance as a light at the end of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s tunnel in the indie smash (500) Days of Summer, Kelly has been igniting school boy crushes in men of all ages (go on, ask your dad). But much like her character in FNL, Kelly only goes for star athletes, in this case Derek Jeter, who she’s been dating since 2008. We wonder how the notoriously private Yankee feels about his girlfriend appearing on the cover of Esquire -- bare midriff and all -- as their most recent “Sexiest Woman Alive.” Tell you what, Derek: Give us one of your World Series rings and we promise not to look. Maybe.
65 SUCCESS

Minka Kelly’s career got off to a promising start when she landed a lead role in Peter Berg’s small screen adaptation of his big screen hit Friday Night Lights. The aspiring nurse and struggling actress suddenly found herself part of a young, talented, smoldering ensemble on a critically acclaimed show that no one watched.

After she left the show, Kelly’s career never picked up the steam that many had predicted, and save for bit parts in films like The Kingdom, (500) Days of Summer and the NBC series Parenthood, Kelly was almost as well known for being Derek Jeter’s girlfriend as she was for her acting career. Then, like an angel sent from heaven, Esquire magazine decided to name Kelly its “Sexiest Woman Alive” providing the actress with a flurry of press and name recognition along the way. With past cover girls that include Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and Kate Beckinsale, as well as her first big screen leading role in the thriller The Roommate, Minka Kelly’s road to superstardom just got a bit shorter. Did we mention she's also playing Eve French in the upcoming TV series Charlie's Angels?

MINKA KELLY BIOGRAPHY

As Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights, Minka Kelly was a picture of perfection: head cheerleader, dating the high school quarterback, born again Christian, and eventual college student. It was hard to believe that Kelly’s own upbringing didn’t somehow mirror her coming of age on the show. Well, not quite.

Kelly was born out of wedlock; her mother was an exotic dancer in Vegas and her father a sometime guitarist for Aerosmith. Kelly was raised by her mother in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her childhood was, in her own words, “pretty rough” (Stinka Smelly rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?). But with the support of her mother -- with whom she was close -- Kelly graduated high school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business.
Minka Kelly Says No To A Career In Modeling
During a model casting, Minka Kelly was approached by a former Playmate, who offered to manage the young ingenue. The plan was to have Kelly work as a receptionist at a plastic surgeon’s office until she earned herself a pair of fake breasts, making her a shoo-in for Playboy’s Playmate of the Year honors. The only problem was that Kelly liked the way she looked, and canceled the surgery days before it was scheduled. Instead, she decided to pursue a career in nursing, and save for a few small roles on some bargain-bin television shows, Kelly seemed destined for a life of changing diapers and bedsheets.
Minka Kelly Stars On Friday Night Lights
In an industry that fetishizes youth, a 26-year-old Minka Kelly was already over-the-hill when she was cast as head cheerleader Lyla Garrity in NBC’s football drama Friday Night Lights, especially since she was charged with the task of playing a high school student. But play her she did, with as much conviction, poise and heart as some of Hollywood’s most seasoned actresses. Even The New York Times called the young actress’ performance “heartbreaking.”

When Kelly left the show after four seasons, she had all the momentum of most young actresses coming off hit shows, except that she was already pushing 30, and the offers weren’t coming in. Bit parts opposite Jamie Foxx in The Kingdom and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer proved that Kelly was equipped with the tools to command the big screen, but the offers just weren’t coming.
Minka Kelly Is Named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive
Past winners of Esquire’s “Sexiest Woman Alive” have starred in films like Match Point, Monster’s Ball and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They’ve worked with directors like Woody Allen, Oliver Stone and Paul Haggis. They’ve been nominated for and won Oscars. This year’s winner has appeared in episodes of American Dreams, What I Like About You and Parenthood. Her current claim to fame is her relationship with one of the winningest baseball players of all time, Derek Jeter. OK, so maybe we’re being a little hard on Minka Kelly. Her figure is near perfect and her face is liable to start wars, but isn’t she just a more syrupy version of another brunette whose name rhymes with Fegan Mox?

Perhaps her selection was Esquire’s way of “thinking outside the box” or maybe no A-list actress was willing to appear on the cover, for fear that it might forever relegate them to that dreaded “sexpot” category, vanquishing all aspirations of a serious acting career (even Angelina Jolie has trouble playing anything other than a seductress). Whatever the case may be, we’re sure Minka Kelly isn’t complaining.
Minka Kelly On Charlie's Angels
The best reason to look forward to fall TV? Minka Kelly will star as Eve French on Charlie's Angels.

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Maria Shriver files for divorce from Arnold Schwarzengger

Maria Shriver has filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The 55-year-old writer cited irreconcilable differences in papers filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday (July 1), two months after he admitted to fathering a boy named Joseph with housekeeper Mildred Baena 13 years ago while he was still married to Maria. She is seeking shared custody of their children Patrick, 17 and Christopher, 13, as well as seeking spousal support from the former Governor of California and asking him to pay her lawyer fees.

The couple also have grown up children 21-year-old Katherine and Christina, 19, from their 25 year marriage.

Maria is said to not be angry at Mildred because of the affair, and confronted her after she saw the similarity between Joseph and Arnold.

A source said: "While Maria may not have been as angry as Mildred as she was at Arnold, her instinct would be to protect her family.

"Whatever she did in the aftermath was taking care of her kids, trying to shield them."

Arnold, 63, is reportedly already handing out a "significant" amount of child support to Maria.

A source said: "Arnold is paying a significant amount of child support. Arnold is also paying for his sons, Patrick and Christopher's private school bills."

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Jason Statham

WHY IS HE FAMOUS

Jason Statham can kick your ass. A no-frills, all-muscle English action star who is best-known for starring in over-the-top escapist film franchises like The Transporter and Crank and ensemble hits like The Italian Job and Snatch. He's a tough guy who delivers exactly as advertised when the menu calls for big physical stunts and loads of ass kicking.

An Oscar-winning actor he is not. An unapologetic tough guy and engaging screen presence, he most certainly is. As one of the few British action stars to make it big in America in movies like Cellular and Death Race, Jason Statham looks to continue his reign of kicking ass and taking names as one of the all-star action heroes in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables.

Jason Statham Quote

" A lot of action movies today seem to have scenes that just lead up to the action."

85 MAGNETISM

Like the iconic action god Chuck Norris and his Expendables co-star Sylvester Stallone before him, Jason Statham has a lean muscular frame and an overall expression that screams "badass" with every glance. Throw in a sweet ride (his prized Audi S4) and an English accent that's only growing in pop culture coolness and Jason Statham is a ruggedly handsome babe magnet of the highest order. He's an unpredictable man's man who we imagine would take his woman out for a steak dinner and a speedy evening drive before crashing a trendy nightspot and duking it out with any dude who would dare to cut in on his action.

If we've established that Jason Statham is a target of female attention, the question remains: What kinds of women does he like? To put it simply, he likes beautiful ones, as per his seven-year relationship with the lovely Kelly Brook and his current tryst with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, a Victoria's Secret Angel. Statham has also had experience in the company of Playboy models, given his 2008 invite to Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion for the Midnight Summer Dream Party. Humorously enough, he was asked to leave when he refused to be in pictures with the models. One might assume that he was too distracted in the observing of the scenery around him.

80 SUCCESS

Jason Statham is not an action star who operates at the level of Arnold, Sly or Willis. That's not to say that he isn't getting there. With age on his side, seasoned martial arts skills to put into play, and an effortlessly cool accent to boot, Jason Statham's unique brand of action and charisma have given him a loyal audience that has followed his most popular characters, Frank Martin and Chev Chelios, through multiple entries in the Transporter and Crank movies, respectively. To date, Statham's films have collectively grossed in excess of $1 billion in box office, but his most financially successful and most notable projects have been ensemble movies like The Italian Job, Snatch. and The Expendables, showing that he's most visible when he's part of the right team.

Staying true to his action star idols Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Jason Statham shuns the use of stunt doubles. Preferring to do the vast majority of his own driving stunts, fight scenes and aerial stunts -- which have included hanging from a helicopter in Crank -- he feels confident when he's in control of his own destiny. He just doesn't mention it to his family ahead of time if he's planning on putting his life in danger that day. To some, it sounds dangerous, but to him, it comes with the territory.

JASON STATHAM BIOGRAPHY

Jason Statham grew up in England, where his interest in sports superseded any desire to follow in the paths of his artistically inclined parents, who were involved in music and performance. Football, gymnastics and martial arts became Statham's athletic hobbies of choice until his teenage years when he became obsessed with diving. The obsession led to a place on Britain's National Diving Squad and a series of international diving competitions, culminating in a respectable 12th place ranking as part of the 1992 World Championships.

The love of sports that Jason Statham possessed was physically fulfilling, but financially unrewarding, and he soon turned to other money-making measures to make ends meet. One of these was hawking imitation (and sometimes stolen) jewelry in briefcases on London street corners. The experienced proved to be an education in acting as much as it was an education in hustling. He wouldn't have to keep conning for long though: Things changed significantly for Statham when, during a workout at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, he was approached by an agent who suggested that he could find work as a model. After accepting the offer to pursue modeling, Statham earned early modeling gigs for Tommy Hilfiger, Levi Strauss & Co. and French Connection.

Jason Statham Stars In The Transporter And Crank

Through his work with French Connection, Jason Statham was introduced to an upstart director named Guy Ritchie. The director, aware of his past work as a street con, asked him to audition to play a similar hustler named Bacon in the film, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

After trying to sell the director fake jewelry as part of the audition, Jason Statham secured the role in the well-received 1998 crime drama, as well as Guy Ritchie's next film, Snatch., alongside Benicio del Toro and Brad Pitt. Statham's work for Guy Ritchie allowed him to enter the American film market soon after, with his role in 2001's The One as a futuristic agent being particularly enjoyable as it gave him the opportunity to share the screen with one of his martial arts idols, Jet Li.

A year later, Jason Statham came into his own as an international action star by playing Frank Martin, the titular tough guy delivery man in The Transporter. Jason Statham top-lined the action-adventure film and pressed the studio to allow him to perform his own stunts. After a turn in the Mark Wahlberg-Charlize Theron-Edward Norton heist drama, The Italian Job and a role as the chief villain in the Kim Basinger-Chris Evans suspense, Cellular, Statham returned to the shoes of Frank Martin for the successful 2004 sequel, The Transporter 2.

A 2005 reteaming with Guy Ritchie called Revolver went nowhere, but in 2006, Jason Statham embodied another memorable character, Chev Chelios, in the film Crank. Though the ludicrous plot had his hit man character seeking adrenaline from hospital paddles and brazen public sex with his girlfriend (Amy Smart) to ward off the effects of poison, the film and Statham embraced the film's camp value and made it into another hit as well.

Jason Statham Stars In The Bank Job And The Expendables

The Bank Job, a 2008 caper film that dramatized a 1971 robbery in London, dialed down on the action of Jason Statham's previous films and ultimately gave the actor some of the most positive reviews of his career. He followed it up with the futuristic remake, Death Race, which cast him as a driver racing for his life inside a corrupt prison. Statham closed out the year with Transporter 3, the third entry in the action series that carried the added twist of seeing him perform his usual stunts and fight scenes with an explosive device strapped to his wrist for the majority of the film's running time.

In 2009, Jason Statham returned to play Chev Chelios one more time in Crank: High Voltage. Instead of serving off poison, he was faced with seeking out electric shocks to try to maintain an unreliable artificial heart -- a task that found him getting juiced from jumper cables, catching fire and having even more public sex.

In the summer of 2010, Jason Statham substituted the electricity of Crank for massive amounts of testosterone by joining the cast of the highest-profile ensemble film yet -- The Expendables, with Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Following The Expendables, he went straight back to work on The Mechanic, The Killer Elite (with Robert De Niro and Clive Owen) and 13 (with Mickey Rourke, Emmanuelle Chriqui and 50 Cent).

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Charlize Theron

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

After appearing in The Devil's Advocate, Reindeer Games, The Cider House Rules, and Sweet November, Charlize Theron starred in the stylish remake The Italian Job and struck Oscar gold with her gritty performance as a serial killer in Monster. Theron appeared in the 2008 drama Sleepwalking and Hancock. She followed up with 2009's The Road and also lent her voice to Astro Boy. Although she has no films set for release in 2010, look for her in 2011's Fury Road, Atlas Shrugged and The Brazilian Job.

Charlize Theron Quote

" I've always been very proud to be a South African and I've always been very honest to people about that. And whatever I can do in my power I promise you I will do."

92 SEX APPEAL

Everything about Charlize Theron is sexy, from her amazing green eyes to her statuesque 5'10" body.

However, her sex appeal has a lot to do with her feminine grace and class, which she has in spades. She always carries herself like a lady, and is never caught partying it up in the L.A. or New York club scene. Whether she's on the red carpet, in an interview or accepting an award, Charlize Theron always acts like a real woman.

83 SUCCESS

Charlize Theron was barely beaten out by Elizabeth Berkley for the lead role in Showgirls, which probably salvaged her chances of having a career. But many soon took notice of Charlize Theron after her sexy role in 2 Days in the Valley, and it was all uphill from then on.

After small roles in The Devil's Advocate and The Astronaut's Wife, she appeared in the 1999 Oscar-winning film, The Cider House Rules, which gave her more street cred among critics. Although Reindeer Games, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Sweet November all flopped, audiences were still willing to give her another chance.

Charlize Theron finally seems to be on the right track with her roles. She was in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job, in which she starred alongside Edward Norton and Mark Wahlberg. Charlize Theron proved that she's more than a beautiful face when she took home the Best Actress Golden Globe (in a Drama) and Oscar for her portrayal of real-life man killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 biopic Monster. Not only was she impeccable in the role, she was literally unrecognizable.

In 2004, Charlize Theron had roles in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers and Head In The Clouds, which were both met with mixed reviews. However, she received a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for her lead performance in the drama North Country the following year, while also performing in the film Aeon that same year.

Charlize Theron was out of the limelight for a year, but in '06, Maxim magazine named her No. 25 in its annual Hot 100 issue. In 2007, she appeared in In The Valley Of Elah and Battle in Seattle, and in October of that year, Esquiremagazinenamed Charlize Theron The Sexiest Woman Alive. Not only that; AskMen.coms readers also put Charlize Therron on its annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women of '07.

2008 had Charlize Theron in some big-name movies including Sleepwalking with Dennis Hopper and Woody Harrelson, as well as Hancock. Although she currently has no films set for release in 2010, look for her in 2011's Fury Road, Atlas Shrugged and The Brazilian Job.

CHARLIZE THERON BIOGRAPHY

Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa, on August 7, 1975. Her father Charles worked on the family's road construction business, which mother Gerda took over after Charles' death in 1991. Charlize Theron experienced tragedy early on in her life when her mother shot her father in self-defense after he threatened to kill her and Charlize in a drunken state.

Since the farm they lived on had no means of entertainment (no television or movies), Charlize Theron used her passion for dancing (specifically ballet) and her imagination to stay entertained. After dancing in Johannesburg, she began modeling in Milan, Italy by the time she was 16.

Charlize Theron Works As Model

But modeling was not fulfilling enough for Charlize Theron, who wanted to return to her original passion -- dance -- after only a year as a model. While modeling gave her the opportunity to travel, she decided to stay in New York after a modeling shoot in order to study ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School in the Big Apple.

Unfortunately, Charlize Theron suffered a knee injury that ended her ballet career. Jobless and broke, she headed for the West Coast with her mother's support. In 1994, her luck changed when she made a scene at a Los Angeles bank after a teller refused to cash her check and a talent scout noticed her.

Charlize Theron In The Devil's Advocate

John Crosby (who also discovered model-turned-actress Rene Russo) encouraged Charlize Theron to try her hand at acting. It didn't take much convincing, since she was currently unemployed. With no money to pay for a coach to perfect her English accent, Charlize Theron set out to lose her South African accent (her mother tongue is Afrikaans) by singing along to popular music and watching American television shows.

Unfortunately for us -- but fortunately for her career -- Charlize Theron was not cast as the lead stripper in the disastrous movie Showgirls. But she finally landed her first "real" role, as Helga Svelgen in 1996's 2 Days in The Valley. She also appeared in 1996's That Thing You Do!, directed by Tom Hanks, and still voices her appreciation to Tom Hanks for giving her that break. Charlize Theron then appeared in 1997's Trial and Error costarring Michael Richards, and had a supporting role in The Devil's Advocate starring Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino.

Charlize Theron In Cider House Rules

After a role in Woody Allen's Celebrity as a supermodel, the long-legged beauty starred in the Disney film Mighty Joe Young (both in 1998). 1999 was a big year for Charlize Theron, with a string of heftier roles; she costarred with Johnny Depp in The Astronaut's Wife and had a supporting role in the Academy Award-winning film, The Cider House Rules. She even made time to pose for Playboy's May 1999 issue.

Reindeer Games with Ben Affleck was next, followed by The Yards and Men of Honor (all in 2000). She was also seen in the golf flick The Legend of Bagger Vance, with Matt Damon and Will Smith.

Charlize Theron's Italian Job

In 2001, Charlize Theron reunited with Keanu Reeves for the schmaltzy Sweet November (she apparently turned down the lead female role in Pearl Harbor for the role), and had a small part as a madam in 15 Minutes. After a role in Woody Allen's The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) and the thriller Trapped (2002), Charlize Theron showed off her driving skills in the summer 2003 hit The Italian Job, with Mark Wahlberg and Edward Norton.

Charlize Theron Wins Oscar For Monster And Makes Top 99

With a Best Actress Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Oscar for her role in the biopic Monster (portraying serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003) in which she was forced to flex her acting muscles and completely alter her appearance, Charlize Theron is clearly one of the most talented and beautiful actresses of her generation... what else would you expect from AskMen.com's Most Desirable Woman in 2003's Top 99 list?

In 2004, Charlize Theron added Head in the Clouds (costarring Penelope Cruz) and the HBO movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers to her resume. She also starred as the title role in Aeon Flux and in Class Action, both of which were released in 2005.

Charlize Theron Makes Askmen.Com's Top 99

After a brief hiatus, Charlize Theron had roles in two flicks in 2007: In The Valley Of Elah and Battle in Seattle. She also received huge recognition for something beyond Charlize Theron's control... her stunning beauty. In October 2007, Esquire magazine named her The Sexiest Woman Alive in its annual issue. She also ranked No. 24 on AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2007.

Charlize Theron In Sleepwalking

Charlize Theron appeared in the 2008 drama Sleepwalking and Hancock. She followed up with 2009's The Road and also lent her voice to Astro Boy. Although she has no films set for release in 2010, look for her in 2011's Fury Road, Atlas Shrugged and The Brazilian Job.

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Winona Ryder

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

Even though it might be hard to believe if you're an avid reader of supermarket tabloids, Winona is known for her impressive movie career and not just for shoplifting. She was in Beetle Juice (1988), Heathers (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Reality Bites (1994), Alien: Resurrection (1997), and Mr. Deeds (2002).

Winona Ryder Quote

" For a long time I was almost ashamed of being an actress. I felt like it was a shallow occupation. People would be watching my every move."

78 SEX APPEAL

Winona's sexiness is very discreet. It's obvious that being sultry isn't one of her priorities in life and that's why we find her so hot.

It is also the reason why periodicals like FHM, Empire and Stuff have often ranked her among the sexiest women in the world. We also like the fact that she claims to not be attracted to older men like Richard Gere. Hey, it's one less guy for us to beat up to get to her.

81 SUCCESS

Winona's career began in her teenage years when she appeared in the coming-of-age story Lucas (1986) alongside Corey Haim, Charlie Sheen, and Courtney Thorne-Smith. Two other small movies soon followed: Square Dance (1987) and 1969 (1988) with Kiefer Sutherland.

From that moment on, she no longer lived in Hollywood obscurity. After the successful Beetlejuice (1988), she was in the cult classic Heathers and the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire!, both released in 1989.

She continued to make offbeat films the next year with Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. Following the independent film Night on Earth (1991), she snatched the lead role in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1993, she was in two period films: Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence and The House of the Spirits with Antonio Banderas and Maria Conchita Alonso.

Ben Stiller's Reality Bites (1994) came next and Little Women was released the same year. After the chick flick How to Make an American Quilt(1995), she was in Boys (1996), The Crucible (1996) and Alien: Resurrection (1997).

Woody Allen next signed her up for Celebrity (1998), after which she appeared in and executive produced the Angelina Jolie vehicle Girl, Interrupted (1999). In 2000, she appeared in Autumn in New York and the supernatural thriller Lost Souls.

She was the love interest in Adam Sandler's Mr. Deeds and a difficult actress in S1m0ne, both 2002 features. Her next moves were to produce and narrate the documentary The Day My God Died (2003) and to play a psychologist in The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004).

Twice nominated for an Oscar, she has also guest-starred on TV shows such as The Simpsons, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, The Larry Sanders Show, Strangers with Candy, and a popular episode of Friends in which she shared a kiss with Jennifer Aniston.

WINONA RYDER BIOGRAPHY

This talented actress has graced the screen and entertainment news for the past two decades, thanks to her roles in more than 25 films and her comprehensive dating history, which is probably just as long as her movie credits.

Winona Laura Horowitz was born October 29, 1971, in Winona, Minnesota (hence her first name). The daughter of Michael and Cindy Horowitz, hippy, free-spirited parents to say the least, Winona's surroundings and childhood were far from normal. 

The Horowitz family relocated to an electricity-free commune in Northern California, where Winona and her siblings (Sunyata, Jubal and Uri) did not have the luxury of television. Young Winona instead watched films at a movie theatre that her mother ran in a barn, and delved into literature. Watching classic films piqued her interest in becoming an actress, while her fascination with Holden Caulfield, the alienated hero from The Catcher in the Rye, apparently influenced her choice of childhood and alternative film roles.

When Winona was eight, her parents decided to move back to city life in Petaluma, California. Thin and tomboyish, Winona was bullied by thugs during her first week of school because they mistook her for an effeminate, scrawny boy. This incident led to Winona being home-schooled and eventually studying at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

winona takes on the big screen

While performing on the American Conservatory Theater stage, Winona was spotted by talent scouts who wanted her to audition for a role in Desert Bloom, starring legendary actor Jon Voight. She did not get the part, but her tape made its way to Triad Artists.

Thanks to the agency, Winona was cast in the 1986 film Lucas. Though it was not a very successful film, it was a stepping-stone in Winona's career. At her request, she was credited as Winona Ryder, after a Mitch Ryder album her father owned.

Several forgettable films followed, but Winona finally became recognized after her role in the 1988 Tim Burton comedy Beetlejuice. Her role as the ghost-friendly, dark teen marked the beginning of a string of dark roles for Winona, all of which she portrayed to a tee. Heathers (1989), in which Winona played an equally dark role in an even darker movie, is often considered by her fans to be her best film.

After her performance in Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Winona teamed up with Tim Burton again in what can be considered one of her most memorable parts as the love interest of the freak in the off-beat Edward Scissorhands (1990). That same year, she starred as Cher's daughter in Mermaids.

winona gets serious

Winona was then on to the next chapter of her life, including more mature roles and period films. After her part in the independent film Night on Earth (1991), Winona was cast as what could have been another career-defining role -- Michael Corleone's daughter in The Godfather: Part III. Unfortunately for Winona and the film, the actress had to withdraw from the project due to a respiratory infection.

Winona signed with Creative Artists Agency and got her hands on the script for the Francis Ford Coppola vehicle Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). She approached the legendary director and was cast in the film as the love interest of the bloodsucking count. Winona was all grown up and her career was on the fly. 

Donning corsets once again, Winona next starred in The Age of Innocence (1993), co-starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Her work garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Next, Winona juggled the modern times as a Gen-Xer in Reality Bites (1994) with period films, such as the adaptations of The House of the Spirits (1993) and Little Women (1994), which garnered her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. She dedicated Little Women to Polly Klass, a girl from her hometown who was kidnapped and killed.

winona produces her first movie

After roles in the female-bonding flick How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Boys (1996), the adaptation of The Crucible (1996), a visit in space with Alien: Resurrection (1997), and Woody Allen's star-studded Celebrity (1998), co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Famke Janssen and Charlize Theron, Winona starred and acted as executive producer in 1999's film adaptation of Girl, Interrupted, co-starring Angelina Jolie.

Although Winona has been in the Hollywood scene since the mid-'80s, she only made her first talk show appearance in December 1999 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, to promote Girl, Interrupted. Subsequently, she was seen in the tearjerker romance Autumn in New York (2000), co-starring the much older Richard Gere, and appeared soon after in the thriller Lost Souls (2000).

winona is arrested

As she was taking a break from acting, she got herself into trouble. In December 2001, she was shopping at a Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue when she was caught with shoplifted merchandise and illegal pharmaceutical drugs.

At the ensuing much-publicized trial, she was found guilty of vandalism and grand theft and sentenced to $3,700 in fines, 480 hours of community service, three years' probation, and $6,355 in restitution fees.

winona in mr. deeds

After a two-year hiatus, she returned to the big screen in the Adam Sandler comedy Mr. Deeds (2002) and the fantasy S1m0ne (2002). Then, she produced and narrated the child sex slave trade documentary The Day My God Died (2003) before returning to fiction in a small part in Asia Argento's The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004).

Named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1997, it's safe to say that not only People finds Winona beautiful, considering the long list of boyfriends and flames she has had. The actress had a three-year engagement to Johnny Depp, a long courtship with David Pirner, and has dated Christian Slater, Daniel Day-Lewis, David Duchovny, Chris Noth, Matt Damon, and Beck... to name a few. 

There is more to be said about Winona than her beauty; her wide variety of movie roles, off-screen charm and talent explain her long-term appeal.

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Ben Stiller

WHY IS HE FAMOUS

To start with, his parents are accomplished comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, but to attribute his fame to mere favoritism would be wrong. Ben Stiller shot to major stardom with his performances in the hit films There's Something About Mary (1998) and Meet the Parents (2000), and continued his reign as Hollywood's funny man in Meet The Fockers (2004) and Tropic Thunder (2008).

Ben Stiller Quote

" I've never really felt like a funny, funny guy. I've never really felt like Mr. Life of the Party... I've realized in the last few years that my state of mind affects how I live my life."

80 MAGNETISM

Ben Stiller may even deserve a higher score, although, for now, we'll remain conservative. We love the man because he's a testament to the fact that you do not have to be an Adonis in order to have sex appeal. Sure, Ben Stiller is a far cry from George Clooney, Antonio Sabato, Jr. or even senior citizen Sean Connery in the beefcake department, but we would wager our beer money that he's more popular with the fairer sex than he's given credit for.

After all, what sustains the attention of a female more than a sense of humor and humble self-deprecation? Hey, Ben Stiller has it all and truth be told, he's not completely unattractive. His ears may stick out more than Will Smith's but all in all, he presents a decent package. He was linked at one time with screen beauty Jeanne Tripplehorn of The Firm and Waterworld, so Ben Stiller must be doing something right. Not to mention that he's presently married to Brady Bunch movie hottie Christine Taylor.

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It's astonishing how diverse a performer Ben Stiller is. Many of his fans forget, or would like to, that he directed The Cable Guy with Jim Carrey -- we loved the dark humor he infused in the film -- or the cult classic Flirting with Disaster, featuring a stellar ensemble cast that included Tea Leoni, Alan Alda and Mary Tyler Moore.

Ben Stiller made his screen-acting debut in the maligned Steven Spielberg epic Empire of the Sun, of all projects. In addition, he was a cast member for one season of Saturday Night Live, in 1989.

His sketch comedy show that was launched on FOX in 1992 was to be a vehicle for MTV, but was dropped -- a decision that would come back to haunt the cable network later. The show featured then unknown but talented performers Andy Dick and Janeane Garofalo. Many would be surprised to hear that Ben Stiller won an Emmy for the show, for writing no less, although it was canceled after one season.

All of this to illustrate that before his turn opposite Cameron Diaz in There's Something About Mary, his hilarious portrayal of the underdog boyfriend in Meet the Parents with Robert De Niro, or his role as White Goodman opposite Vince Vaughn in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Ben Stiller has crafted an impressive Hollywood resume.

In December of 2004, he proved that audiences couldn't get enough of Gaylord "Greg" Focker in the comedy sequel Meet the Fockers, which was a box-office hit.

Ben Stiller lent his voice to "Alex the Lion" in 2005's animated feature Madagascar and 2008's Madagascar 2: The Crate Escape. He also appeared in Night at the Museum (2006), The Heartbreak Kid (2007) and Tropic Thunder (2008).

BEN STILLER BIOGRAPHY

Born November 30, 1965, in New York City to comedic performers Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Ben Stiller was destined for a career in entertainment. His parents were staples on The Ed Sullivan Show and Ben Stiller grew up in the glare of the Hollywood spotlight.

As a child, he reveled in putting on small productions and even made short films with a Super 8 camera. In 1983, the budding director entered film school at UCLA but soon grew tired of the college scene and flew back to the Big Apple after a mere nine months on campus.

Ben Stiller Mocks Tom Cruise On The Ben Stiller Show

After hustling for jobs following leads supplied to him by his father, Ben Stiller landed a role in an acclaimed Broadway play that featured John Mahoney (Martin Crane on Frasier). A short film shot by Ben Stiller parodying the Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money, with John Mahoney as the Paul Newman character and Ben Stiller as Tom Cruise, was a monster hit with the cast and was handed to a producer on Saturday Night Live.

Ben Stiller was given the opportunity to be a member of the cast as a result and although the union lasted one season, it thrust him into a national spotlight. Now seen as a master of sketch comedy, Ben Stiller was recruited by MTV to produce and star in a variety show. The result, The Ben Stiller Show, was not picked up by the cable network but found a home with FOX in 1992. One episode in particular that poked fun at Beverly Hills, 90210, raised the ire of producer Aaron Spelling and after one year, the show was cut.

Frustrated with television, Ben Stiller turned his attention to film and scored a major sleeper hit with 1994's Reality Bites, in which he portrayed a shameless yuppie working for an obnoxious MTV-like network. The movie, starring Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke, did well enough at the box office to turn heads in Hollywood.

Ben Stiller's A Star In Meet The Parents

The generated buzz led to a shot at directing Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy, a film that was blasted by critics after being released but has since garnered praise for being a bold departure from standard comedy films.

1996's Flirting with Disaster, a small independent film that saw Ben Stiller directing and starring in a twisted family caper, followed and has since become an underground classic. Although Ben Stiller has the uncanny ability to spoof others, his turn in the 1998 film Permanent Midnight proved he could also be a dramatic actor.

Yet Ben Stiller is best known for the films that he made since then, namely 1998's There's Something About Mary. And although he starred in the more serious Permanent Midnight alongside Elizabeth Hurley that same year, it was the comedy that garnered him the most praise.

After a handful of forgettable movies in 1999, including The Suburbans, Mystery Men and Black and White, Ben Stiller starred with Edward Norton in Keeping The Faith (2000), in which he played a rabbi. Then, Ben Stiller made another comedic mark in movies alongside Robert De Niro in 2000's Meet the Parents, a blockbuster box-office hit.

Ben Stiller In Dodgeball

2001 was another awesome year for Ben Stiller; after he cowrote and starred in Zoolander with his wife Christine Taylor, he went on to star in the Golden Globe nominated The Royal Tenenbaums.

In April 2002, Ben and his wife welcomed their daughter, Ella Olivia, into the world.

After a year away from film, Ben Stiller returned in 2003 with Duplex. After the film received reviews that were anything but stellar, he did his comedic duty in 2004 by starring in five more comedies: Along Came Polly with Jennifer Aniston, Starsky & Hutch with Owen Wilson, Envy with Jack Black, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, with his wife and Vince Vaughn, and of course, the sequel to Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, with Robert De Niro.

In 2005, Ben Stiller lent his voice to the animated film Madagascar, in which he played the lion.

Ben Stiller In Tropic Thunder And Madagascar 2

In 2006, Ben Stiller starred in Night at the Museum and In Search of Ted Demme and he had two cameos: one in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny and School for Scoundrels.

In 2007, Ben Stiller worked on one main project, The Heartbreak Kid, costarring Malin Akerman and his dad, Jerry Stiller.

Then, in '08, Ben Stiller got involved with another handful of movies. His voice was used in Madagascar 2: The Crate Escape. He also had roles in Tropic Thunder, for which he was also the director, and The Marc Pease Experience. He was nominated for AM's Top 49 of 2008 too, so vote for Ben Stiller here.

His 2009 projects included Hardy Men and Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian.

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Kate Beckinsale

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

Most people with a pulse know who Kate Beckinsale is and those who do are probably struggling to control it on a regular basis, given that she is among the most beautiful women in the world. While she reigns supreme as one of the planet's most perfect creations, Kate Beckinsale is an actress by trade who is well-known for her roles in summer blockbusters like Pearl Harbor, action-horror flicks like Underworld and Van Helsing and Oscar fare like The Aviator. Lately she's chased crazed killers across Antarctica in the crime-minded Whiteout and played daughter to Robert De Niro in the sappy drama, Everybody's Fine.

Kate Beckinsale Quote

" "I'm so fascinated by breasts because my mother didn't have them either. If I had them, I'd run up and down flights of stairs!" -Kate Beckinsale" 

91 SEX APPEAL

If there are any men who don't find Kate Beckinsale attractive, we have yet to meet them. The Sexiest Woman of 2009 according to Esquire and a regular on AskMen.com's Top 99 Women lists -- she was No. 3 in 2010 and made regular appearances in 2009 and 2008 -- this British bombshell is the dream date for many men and the envy of many other women. Her long, flowing dark hair is complemented by striking hazel eyes and full lips, and her figure is a mix of legs you could get lost in and very athletic curves. Clearly, Ms. Beckinsale realizes she is something special and isn't afraid to tease audiences with near-revealing shower scenes (Whiteout) and tight-fitting garments (the Underworld movies). So what does this near-perfect woman think she's missing? Well, her ideal body-switch partner is apparently Queen Latifah, because the crowned one has the bust that Kate Beckinsale believes she's missing. Somehow we've been too busy noticing how much is right about her than to spot any problem areas.

On the dating front, Kate Beckinsale was previously linked to actor Edmund Moriarty before famously coupling up with another actor, Michael Sheen, from 1995 until 2003. Their relationship ended when -- wouldn't you know it -- she left him for filmmaker Len Wiseman, who had been busy directing the couple on the set of Underworld. Now married, Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman are solid as a rock with a daughter and incredibly, Michael Sheen can talk to and work with both of them without sobbing. 

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When Charlize Theron dropped out of a planned role in 2001's Pearl Harbor, Kate Beckinsale stepped in and her star was born. Having sharpened up her acting chops in British films like Shooting Fish and lesser-known American fare such as Brokedown Palace and The Last Days of Disco, it was her role as a nurse that made her a familiar face and had most of the male population wanting a taste of her bedside manner. Since that time, Kate Beckinsale's signature role has been the vampire Selene in a pair of Underworld movies with a rumored 3-D installment waiting in the wings.

Kate Beckinsale's incredible good looks have made her easy fodder for playing romantic love interests (Serendipity) and classic damsels (Van Helsing), but her athleticism and tough demeanor have made her an action hero of late -- both in the Underworld films and recent efforts like Whiteout. An actress who tries to seek out roles that emphasize the human qualities of women rather than the sexual ones, Kate Beckinsale has had a chance to stretch her acting talents in more dramatic directions for challenging fare like The Aviator and the recent family drama, Everybody's Fine. 

KATE BECKINSALE BIOGRAPHY

Kate Beckinsale had acting in the blood, given that she was the offspring of the late British comedian Richard Beckinsale and his actress wife Judy Loe. As a teenager, she was enrolled at London's all-female Godolphin and Latymer School and won a pair of writing contests for her astute skills in poetry and short story writing. Nevertheless, she had a rebellious streak that came out in funny ways -- like a first-place finish at the Youth's Burp for Fame contest -- and in more serious ways like regular smoking and a bout with anorexia.

Once she gained control of her demons, Kate Beckinsale decided to move forward with acting while in the midst of her Russian and French literature studies at Oxford University. Small roles in a string of television movies, starting with One Against the Wind in 1991, eventually led to her feature film debut as Hero in Kenneth Branagh's 1993 Shakespearean effort, Much Ado About Nothing. Kate Beckinsale would follow it up with a role opposite a young Christian Bale in Prince of Jutland a year later and the lead role of Emma Woodhouse in the Emmy-winning Emma in 1996. Following a turn as the socialite partner in crime to Chloe Sevigny in 1998's The Last Days of Disco, Kate Beckinsale landed a lead role opposite Claire Danes in the intense Thailand tourist drama, Brokedown Palace. The film was a box-office disappointment, but it marked a smooth transition for Kate Beckinsale from small-scale independent films and British dramas into full-blown Hollywood fare.

Kate Beckinsale In Pearl Harbor And Underworld

In 2001, Kate Beckinsale broke into the ranks of blockbusters with the lead female role of Evelyn Johnson in Michael Bay's action tearjerker (who knew there was such a thing?), Pearl Harbor. As a heroic nurse, she got to romance both Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck while recreating one of the darkest moments of American history. Though Kate Beckinsale and her two male costars had a shared Razzie Award nomination for Worst On-Screen Couple, the film was one of the year's biggest hits and the actress did earn an MTV Movie Awards nomination for Best Female Performance.

After reteaming with Christian Bale to play his beautiful but cold companion in the L.A. drama, Laurel Canyon, Kate Beckinsale embodied the most memorable role of her young career in Underworld -- playing Selene, a vampire with a penchant for tight leather outfits and a forbidden attraction to a werewolf. The film was a cult favorite and led its leading lady straight into the arms of Hugh Jackman for another mix of action and chills in 2004's summer extravaganza, Van Helsing. Just when audiences and critics had her pegged as a purely mainstream actress, Kate Beckinsale surprised many with her sharp turn as screen legend Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese's look at Howard Hughes (via Leonardo DiCaprio) in the Oscar contender, The Aviator.

Kate Beckinsale In Whiteout And Everybody's Fine

2006 marked Kate Beckinsale's next adventure as Selene for the inevitable sequel, Underworld: Evolution, which was a hot ticket at the box office and a solid career move. Next up was Click, a comedy that had the beauty playing the confused wife of Adam Sandler as he uses a remote control to skip through the key events of his adult life. Kate Beckinsale ventured back to the horror realm as a wife trapped in a seedy hotel room with her equally afraid husband, Luke Wilson, in 2007's Vacancy.

Having grown accustomed to action-heavy (and not always acting-heavy) films in recent years, Kate Beckinsale took a step toward developing her talents with a pair of smaller-scale efforts in 2008. The first was Winged Creatures featuring Sam Rockwell and the second was Nothing But the Truth, which cast Kate Beckinsale as a journalist threatened with jail time after leaking the identity of a CIA agent. The story was inspired by the real-life Valerie Plame scandal. In 2009, Kate Beckinsale returned to the studio system to play a U.S. Marshal chasing a killer in Antarctica in Whiteout and the daughter of recent widower Robert De Niro in Everybody's Fine. After being named the Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire that same year, Kate Beckinsale was rumored to be appearing in 2011's Underworld 3-D, which is set to be directed by her husband, Len Wiseman.

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Jennifer Connelly

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

Jennifer Connelly appeared on Fox's The Street for a season, and has appeared in over 20 movies, most notably Labyrinth, Requiem for a Dream, and A Beautiful Mind.

Jennifer Connelly Quote

" I try to stay focused on my life and do try not to be brought into the Hollywood fantasy."

81 SEX APPEAL

At 5'8", she strikes quite a pose. Her gorgeous figure hasn't hurt her popularity with the pimple crowd either. In fact, in the first days of the World Wide Web, a long, long time ago in 1994, Jennifer was, along with Pamela Anderson, the most searched woman on the Net.

Before A Beautiful Mind, Jennifer's sex appeal wasn't evident to everyone, as she veered toward roles that emphasized her acting abilities rather than the usual sexpot roles. 

55 SUCCESS

Her first movie role was with Robert De Niro in Once Upon a Time in America. It was a great start, but unfortunately with the exception of The Rocketeer, most of her early movies didn't receive too much press. Considering she has done more than 20 movies, her starmaking role was yet to come.

JENNIFER CONNELLY BIOGRAPHY

Jennifer Connelly was born December 12, 1970, in Catskill Mountains, New York, to parents Gerard, a clothing manufacturer, and Eileen, an antique dealer.

Although she claims she was tiny and mousy as a child, she was certainly pretty enough to appear in magazines such as Seventeen at the age of 10, after a friend of her father's recommended that she model.

Signed with Ford models, Jennifer did her share of print and television before appearing in front of cameras as an actress. While a student at St. Ann's School, she landed a role as a young Elisabeth McGovern for a flashback sequence in the mobster film, Once Upon a Time in America, starring Robert De Niro.

a-maze-ing breakthrough

With only an appearance on the television show, Tales of the Unexpected on her acting resume, she was soon on her way, but her next outings, Creepers (aka Phenomena and Seven Minutes in Heaven) weren't the answers to her breaking through.

What did help her find her way out of obscurity was the lead role opposite David Bowie in Jim Henson and George Lucas' 1986 film, Labyrinth. Her role placed her into the spotlight, so much so that she is even recognized by children today.

By the time she had graduated high school, Jennifer had appeared in a video for Roy Orbison's "I Drove All Night" with Jason Priestly; appeared in television commercials in Japan; and even released a single in Japan entitled, "Monologue of Love," in which she sings in Japanese (her agent claimed that she was semi-fluent in the language).

But Jennifer's career choice left her in a maze of disappointment after disappointment, with roles in 1990's The Hot Spot and Career Opportunities. The latter did not live up to its name, as it was not much more than another film credit.

skyrocketing with the rocketeer

Balancing work and school, Jennifer attended Yale and then transferred to Stanford, but decided to make acting her number one priority when she was cast in the lead of Disney's The Rocketeer. The movie not only skyrocketed Jennifer to new heights, but it also led to a long-term romance with her co-star, Billy Campbell.

In 1995, Jennifer was cast as a lesbian in Higher Learning, co-starring Tyra Banks, and the following year she appeared in Mulholland Falls and starred in Far Harbor.

The green-eyed beauty then had a streak, with 1997's Inventing the Abbotts, as Liv Tyler's sister, and less commercial films like Dark City, Waking the Dead, the critically-acclaimed Requiem for a Dream, in a convincing turn as a heroine addict, and Pollock.

Jennifer tried her hand at television, with a starring role in the poorly rated The $treet, and although it was canceled, Jennifer became a star with her supporting role in A Beautiful Mind, opposite Russell Crowe. She is also busy raising her son, Kai (the fruit of her relationship with photographer Dave Dougan), as a single mother.

Her acting talents were finally recognized as she was nominated for a Best Supporting Female Independent Spirit Award for her role in Requiem for a Dream. Jennifer finally received her much-deserved recognition with Best Supporting Actress trophies at the 2002 Golden Globe and Oscar award shows.

Jennifer will next appear in the Ang Lee directed film adaptation, The Hulk.

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sharon stone

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

She is one of Hollywood's most famous and powerful actresses. She has appeared in Basic Instinct, The Specialist, Total Recall, Casino, and Sphere.

Sharon Stone Quote

" Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake whole relationships."

86 SEX APPEAL

Sexiness? Sharon Stone is sexiness. She is synonymous with the word and for good reason. There isn't much more we can add to that.

86 SUCCESS

Sharon Stone has managed to perform alongside virtually all of Hollywood's leading men. In fact, if someone would be able to ascertain who the best kisser in Hollywood was, she can give a very subjective opinion.

Among her movies with some of Hollywood's top men are: Quick & The Dead with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, Casino with Robert DeNiro, Basic Instinct with Michael Douglas, Sphere with Dustin Hoffman and Samuel L. Jackson, Intersection with Richard Gere, The Specialist with Sylvester Stallone, and Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

SHARON STONE BIOGRAPHY

Sharon Stone was born on the March 10, 1958, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The second child of four (she has an older Michael, younger sister Kelly and younger brother Patrick) to parents Joseph and Dorothy Stone.

Sharon's mother wanted her brilliant child (Sharon is said to have an IQ of 154) to rise beyond the small-town, blue-collar fate of her and her husband, who were respectively a homemaker and Avon employee, and a factory worker.

sharon stone as sex symbol

Sharon did rise well above to the status of one of Hollywood's most sought-after actresses and sex symbols, but not without some flops along the way.

Initially a creative writing student at Edinboro State University in Pennsylvania, Sharon entered on scholarship and graduated with a fine arts degree. In addition to her passion for literature, she also loved classic film.

Her foray into acting went the beauty pageant route, after beauty pageant promoters discovered her. Sharon didn't succeed as a beauty queen, so she tried modeling instead. She became a Ford model, which raised her recognition factor and gave her experience in front of the camera, but was not stimulating enough for the future MENSA member.

Sharon made her film debut as the pretty girl on a train in Woody Allen's Stardust Memories (1980), and starred in movies not even worth mentioning, such as 1981's Deadly Blessing, 1985's King Solomon's Mines and 1987's Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. She did, however, make audiences take notice with a bit part in Irreconcilable Differences, in 1984.

TV audiences may remember Sharon from several '80s shows in which she appeared, such as Remington Steele, Magnum P.I. and T.J. Hooker. After more roles in Made-for-TV movies, Sharon was cast as Arnold Schwarzenegger's "wife" in 1990's Total Recall, which helped word of a new, sexy blonde actress get around Hollywood. Posing for Play.boy in the early '90s didn't hurt her cause either.

sharon stone in basic instinct

It was her role as bisexual author Catherine Tramell opposite Michael Douglas in the 1992 film Basic Instinct that not only made ice picks and going commando famous, but also made Sharon Stone a sex symbol and Hollywood's newest "it" girl.

The MTV Movie Awards named Sharon the Most Desirable Female and gave her the award for Best Female Performance in 1993, but despite the slew of films that Sharon starred in, maintaining her reputation in Hollywood was difficult.

With bombs such as 1993's Sliver, 1994's Intersection, and 1995's The Quick and the Dead (which was made by her production company, Chaos), skeptics of Sharon's talent had more ammunition.

But she bounced back in 1995, with her memorable role as Ginger the hustler in Casino, co-starring Robert De Niro. The Academy Awards honored Sharon with a Best Actress Nomination, and she won the Golden Globe and the Women in Film Crystal Award that same year.

With highs come the lows, marked by ill-advised choices such as 1996's Diabolique and Last Dance, 1998's Sphere and The Mighty, 1999's The Muse, Gloria, and Simpatico, and 2004's Catwoman. Sharon's ability to choose movies has been questioned -- while her ability to deliver good performances remains intact.

Despite commercial highs and dips, Sharon has made a name for herself as a supporter of breast cancer research and is a gay-rights activist -- she received a humanitarian award from the Human Rights Campaign, for her role in 2000's If These Walls Could Talk 2, in which she played Ellen DeGeneres' lesbian lover.

Sharon Stone reprised the role that made everyone take notice of her way back in 1992. She returned as Catherine Tramell in 2006's Basic Instinct 2, proving that at she's still got what it takes to maintain her sex symbol status.

sharon stone and phil bronstein

In real life, Sharon wakes up to husband Phil Bronstein, a newspaper editor who wed Sharon on Valentine's Day 1998. The couple adopted a baby boy together in 2000, named Roan Joseph Bronstein. This is the second marriage for Sharon, who was previously married to associate producer Michael Greenburg from 1984 to 1987.

Sharon has already been romantically linked to singer Dwight Yoakam and actor/comedian Garry Shandling.

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Lindsay Lohan sentenced on misdemeanor theft

Lindsay Lohan "supports" the sentence imposed on her after pleading no contest to misdemeanor theft. The troubled actress has been ordered to undertake three years probation, serve 120 days in jail, complete 40 hours of community service, undergo psychological counselling, pay fines of $180, and attend a shoplifters alternative scheme for taking a necklace from an upmarket boutique and breaching the terms of her 2007 probation but says she is now ready to move on with her life after Judge Sautner made a ruling today (May 11).

She said in a statement: "I am glad to be able to put this past me and move on with my life and my career. I support the judge's decision and hold myself accountable for being in this situation. I have already started my community service at the Downtown Women's Center and thank everyone there for their warm welcome.

"I hope to be able to fulfil my obligation without any press attention. I think the media spotlight should be on issues such as homelessness and domestic violence instead of on me."

Lindsay has asked to serve her prison term under electronically-monitored house arrest, and though her request is expected to be granted, her lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, insists her client is not receiving special treatment.

She said: "As they would with any other defendant with a similar sentence and minimal criminal history, the Sheriff's Department and Probation Department will determine if Lindsay is eligible for electronic monitoring and early release. She is neither requesting nor receiving 'special treatment.' Lindsay and I would both like to thank Judge Sautner and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for their fair handling of this case."

Last month, the actress was deemed to have breached the terms of her 2007 probation—which was set following a driving under the influence conviction—because of the theft charges.

She was sentenced to 480 hours of community service and 120 days jail, for which she must turn herself in on June 17.

Lindsay recently admitted she has "made a lot of poor decisions" and has feared her numerous arrests and rehab stints would ruin her career.

She said: "I've made a lot of poor decisions in the past and I'm dealing with the consequences of those decisions so there were times when I was concerned but I'm a fighter and I know that I have a lot of work to do to gain the respect back and I'm willing to do the work that I have to do to be an actress."

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Leonardo DiCaprio splits from supermodel girlfriend

Leonardo DiCaprio and Bar Refaeli have reportedly split. The Inception star and the Israeli-born supermodel—who have been dating for over five years—ended their relationship last week.

They reportedly did so after realizing that neither of them is ready to settle down.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "It was amicable, they're still friends, and they are still talking.

"They just grew apart and went their separate ways.

"Neither one is ready to settle down, and both have busy careers that have been taking them in different directions."

This is not the first time that the 36-year-old Leonardo and the 25-year-old Bar have called time on their relationship.

They split for six months in 2009 after dating for four years, before reuniting last year.

Leonardo has previously admitted he is unsure if he will ever marry because seeing other people's failed unions has put him off tying the knot.

He explained: "I don't know whether I'll ever get married.

"I've seen too many supposedly happy marriages go down.

"I've been as shocked as anyone.

"No one can look at the marriages of other people and make a judgement.

"I don't know the private lives of the actors I work with.

"I just know if they are good actors or good directors."

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Philippines catches ‘Bieber Fever’

International pop star Justin Bieber didn't only make one less lonely girl, but definitely made tens of thousands of fans happy and ecstatic as he performed live in Manila for his "My World Tour" concert at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) grounds on Tuesday, May 10.
With this much anticipated event, hordes of Filipino 'Beliebers' caught the fever as the blockbuster gig stalled traffic around MOA straight to Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City. Fans even camped out at the venue the day before the concert just to see Justin perform. And the teen sensation definitely didn't let his eager fans down as he gave an amazing performance, giving his all in his singing, dancing, and playing some instruments, notably the drums and guitar, despite being sick.

15 songs
Justin performed a total of 15 songs such as "Baby," "Never Let You Go," "Somebody to Love," "U Smile," and "One Less Lonely Girl," from his albums ""My World," My World 2.0" and "Never Say Never: The Remixes."
"America's Best Dance Crew" Season 5 winner Poreotics opened the show with their eye-popping and robotic dance routines to the tunes of Katy Perry's "Firework," Eve's "Let Me Blow Your Mind," and Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Poreotics also appeared in Justin's music video "Somebody to Love." Justin Valles, one of the three Filipinos from the group, also taught members of the audience some of their signature dance routines, "dougie" and "catdaddy."
Justin enters
After the Poreotics number, fans became excited and with screams filling the venue as a 15-minute countdown was shown on screen with Justin's official DJ telling the crowd to jump and dance along to welcome Justin before he gets on stage. Then came Justin, dressed in white jacket, white pants and dark shades, and opened the main show with his song, "Love Me." His fans from the VIP section all the way to the general admission screamed their lungs out the moment Justin went up on stage.
Justin followed it up with his song "Bigger," danced and moved around the stage with his upbeat songs "Somebody to Love," "One Time," "Eenie Meenie," and "Never Say Never." The screams were really deafening and the crowd sang along. Justin connected well with the audience and worked the crowd whether singing a slow or upbeat song. "I have the best fans in the world and I wanna make them smile," Justin said before singing "U Smile."
Justin also had a couple of wardrobe changes, an ensemble of white outfit from top to bottom, jacket and pants; black leather jacket, black shirt and pants; and also his favorite purple shirt. Every time his face is shown upclose on screen, fans would cheer more. Actually, whatever little thing Justin makes on stage, he would earn loud applause and screams, may it be him kneeling down while singing, removing his shades, going around the stage and even when making pauses at the middle of a song. Before each song, Justin would normally talk about the song to introduce it. "Never give up on your dreams," Justin said to his fans before singing "Never Say Never," a song which he collaborated with Jaden Smith.
Acoustic set
While everyone was jumping and dancing along to his songs, Justin later on took things slow as he performed an acoustic set playing his guitar, which showcased his vocal talent and guitar expertise. He impressed the fans with his slow tempo, acoustic versions of "Never Let You Go," "Favorite Girl," and Edwin McCain's "I'll Be," making all the girls swoon with his sweet voice and awesome strums.
One of the most anticipated parts of the concert was Justin's performance of "One Less Lonely Girl (OLLG)" where a girl gets up on stage and be serenaded by Justin. One lucky Filipino girl wearing purple went on stage and received a bouquet of flowers and a cap from Justin himself. "That Should Be Me" was probably ringing on every girl's mind during the performance as Justin sings "OLLG" for her. His "OLLG" performance went abuzz with fans trying to know the identity of the lucky girl. Various girls' names have come up on Facebook and Twitter about the "OLLG." Concert organizers did not divulge the girl's name.
His Filipino back-up singers, the Legaci, who were also a YouTube sensation just like him, also performed a sample of songs during the intermission. "We are proud to say that we are Filipinos," the group said.
'So hot in here'
It has been rainy the past few days in Manila but the weather cooperated with the Beliebers as it did not rain in the actual concert on Tuesday. In fact, it was quite hot and the high energy of people around made it even hotter. "It's so hot in here. It must be the beautiful girls in the audience," Justin said which made every girl scream. There were also celebrities who watched the concert Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, Elmo and Saab Magalona, Isabel Granada, and Tim Yap.
Despite being sick, Justin didn't disappoint as he exuded endless energy all throughout the show. In his performance of "Baby," Justin even outpaced his young audience, urging his fans to step up and dance along and "go crazy" since it's the final song in his set. "It's either you guys go crazy or I'll go," Justin said, to which the fans said no. Justin definitely ended the concert on a high note with his last performance of "Baby," leaving fans screaming for more. "Thank you Manila. God bless you all," Justin said.

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17 Things You Need To Know About Justin Bieber

With only a few hours left before Justin Bieber's "My World" tour hits the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds, Manila is catching the Bieber fever.
Because of this, it is quite fitting that we should know more about Justin Bieber and the sensation that continues to rip the pop music world.
Justin may only be 17 years old, but he has achieved milestones fellow artists take a lifetime to accomplish, not to mention his incredible talent and gorgeous looks that have captivated his fans around the world. To keep up with the world's "Beliebers," here's a list of 17 trivia you may find helpful in knowing more about the young singer-performer and how they add up to his phenomenal rise as a pop star.

1 Number 1 albums. Proving the Bieber fever, Justin's two albums, "My World 2.0" and "Never Say Never: The Remixes" have reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. "Never Say Never: The Remixes" has sold 165,000 copies in its first week
2 Drummer boy at 2. Justin began drumming at the tender age of 2. Other than drums, music lover Justin also plays piano, guitar and trumpet.
3 3D movie: Never Say Never. Get a glimpse of Justin's life on his first 3D movie, documenting the pop star's life ten days before his concert in Madison Square Garden in August 2010, which sold out tickets in 22 minutes.
4 Four awards in 2010 American Music Awards. Justin knows how to sweep awards, he won "Artist of the Year," Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist," "T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist," "Favorite Pop/Rock Album."
5 5'4" in height. According to IMDB in 2010, Justin's height is 5'4. Justin even joked about his height in USA Today, "Thanks to the music industry, I'm going to be really short."
6 Favorite number. Justin's favorite number is 6. His other favorites are color purple, Supra shoes and Ne-yo's "So Sick" song.
7 "The Seven." Justin guested in MTV's "The Seven" show to promote his movie, "Never Say Never." His guesting created much pandemonium having his fan girls camped outside the building in tents for hours.
8 8th in Twitter Top Trends. Having over 9 million followers in Twitter, Justin placed 8th in the 2010 Overall Top Trends in Twitter. For the people category, Justin placed first.
9 Nine million followers. If Twitter is a country, Justin could have been voted as the president. In April 2011, Justin made the 9 million mark on Twitter, making him the second celebrity to reach that mark, having Lady Gaga as the first celebrity to gain 9 million followers.
10 Justin's "Top Ten" on the "David Letterman Show." David Letterman's usual audiences might not be the Beliebers, but their parents instead; however, Justin's guesting on the show charmed both young and adult audiences. The category is "Top 10 Reasons It's Fun to be Justin Bieber," which includes this reason ""When I'm sick, my doctor makes hilarious jokes about 'Bieber Fever.'"
11 11 Billboard nominations. With eleven Billboard nominations, including "Top Artist," "Top Billboard 200 Album," "Top Male Artist" and "Top Artist," we wonder how many Justin can snag. The Billboard Music Awards will be broadcasted in May 22, 2011.
12 YouTube sensation at 12. Justin's mother, Malette, uploaded Justin's video of him singing Ne-yo's "So Sick" when he was twelve.
13 Recording artist at 13. Teen sensation Justin signed contract with Island Records and RBMG when he was thirteen. He also first met Ludacris, his featuring artist in "Baby," when he was thireteen.
14 14 eye-candy colors. Wonder how to have one less lonely girl? Justin collaborated with Nicole by OPI for the "One Less Lonely Girl" collection with 14 colors, named after his hits! Paint your nails with "Baby Blue," "Step 2 the Beat of my ♥, OMB!," "Me + Blue," and "Give Me the First Dance."
15 "Somebody to Love" reached number fifteen in the US chart. Justin's second single, "Somebody to Love" from his album "My World 2.0" which was released in April 10, 2010, reached number ten in Canada, fifteen in the US and the top twenty in other countries.
16 Released a memoir at 16. Justin was 16 years old when he released "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story."
17 17th birthday. Justin celebrated his 17th birthday with his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, at Los Angeles Italian restaurant Maggiano's Little Italy for a candlelit dinner. On his 17th birthday, Justin asked his fans to donate $17 to Charitywater to help make a change, instead of giving him gifts.

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Sandra Bullock

WHY IS SHE FAMOUS

The moment that she took over the steering wheel in Speed (1994) to help a busload of people deal with a mad bomber, Sandra Bullock sent her career into overdrive and became America's Next Big Thing. The "new" Julia Roberts when Julia Roberts hit a temporary career roadblock, Sandra Bullock reached significant fame through movies like While You Were Sleeping (1995) and Miss Congeniality (2000).

One of Hollywood's old reliable go-to girls for romantic comedies, Sandra Bullock has remained a popular cinematic option for both sexes at the multiplex. Following a brief dry spell, she's coming off her most successful year to date -- no doubt due to the combined smashes, The Proposal (2009) and The Blind Side (2009), taking home the Oscar for Best Actress for the latter.

Just when life for the 45-year-old actress seemed like it couldn't get any better, Sandra Bullock was "blindsided" by Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, a tattoo model who went to In Touch magazine with a story of her alleged affair with Bullock's husband Jesse James -- an affair that apparently took place while Bullock was filming The Blind Side. Bullock since moved out of her home with James and filed for divorce. 

Sandra Bullock Quote

" I love humor. I always will fall back on humor. That's something that I think you can't ever get enough of and, if it's done well, it's great. When it's bad, it's horrible."

81 SEX APPEAL

Sandra Bullock got an early taste of heartbreak and rejection when she was given the boot by her boyfriend in the sixth grade for having a small chest, but in the years since her high school classmates chose her as "Most Likely to Brighten Up Your Day," she has become Hollywood's classic girl next door -- even if she is 45. In her case, age doesn't matter, because a lot of men would still love to give her the attention that her sixth grade boyfriend wouldn't. A three-time member of the Most Beautiful People club in People, Sandra Bullock maintains a youthful physique to go along with her easy charisma through the joys of acupuncture.

Having made the choice long ago to keep her private life private, Sandra Bullock doesn't like to discuss her romantic relationships where prying eyes can see them. Once engaged to fellow actor Tate Donovan and previously linked to Ryan Gosling and Matthew McConaughey, she eventually settled down when she married Jesse James -- the host of Monster Garage and ex-husband of porn star Janine -- in 2005. These days, Sandra Bullock spends her rare downtime being a wife and stepmom, munching on raw cookie dough (a guilty pleasure), and dodging the occasional obsessed fan. The last one was a particularly unstable woman who showed up at her doorstep and tried multiple times to run over her husband.

83 SUCCESS

Sandra Bullock is a performer who discovered her niche -- romantic comedies -- and learned how to make the most of it. Following the buzz generated by her breakthrough hit, Speed, Sandra Bullock's baked her career bread and butter through successful chick flicks that ranged from Miss Congeniality with Benjamin Bratt to Two Weeks Notice (2002) with Hugh Grant. While her efforts to occasionally break free of cute comedy typecasting haven't always gone her way -- see Murder by Numbers (2002), Gun Shy (2000) and 28 Days (2000) for more information there -- she has used her roles in Crash (2004) and, most recently, The Blind Side, to show off a strong, dramatic and Oscar-worthy side that has put her back in the top ranks of Hollywood's most successful modern actresses.

Through her lucrative acting jobs and her business decisions in other areas of show business, Sandra Bullock stands tall among the wealthiest actresses in Hollywood. Her fortune, which stands in excess of $85 million, has been significantly boosted by her success as a producer on money-making projects like Hope Floats (1998), Two Weeks Notice and The Proposal on film and George Lopez on television.

Not one to keep all her money to herself, Sandra Bullock has kept her charity side nourished by making separate $1 million donations to the American Red Cross to aid the relief efforts for 9/11, the tsunami of 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti. 

SANDRA BULLOCK BIOGRAPHY

Sandra Bullock knew that she was destined for greatness the moment that she first started hearing voices -- singing voices. As the daughter of an opera singer and a vocal coach, she was surrounded by voices and spent the greater part of her childhood in Germany watching her mother regularly belt out operatic tones on stage. Sandra Bullock joined her mother's operas occasionally and got her first taste for the arts through dual training in ballet and choir practice. Upon returning to her home state of Virginia, she acted in school plays at Washington-Lee High School and -- like every future Hollywood girl next door -- she danced on the cheerleading squad.

East Carolina University was the next stop for Sandra Bullock. She studied drama all the way until her graduating year, but dropped out early, finding the lure of New York City and its many young, starving actors to be too strong to resist. She joined them as a part-time bartender and coat-check girl while she brushed up on her acting technique at the city's prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse. After earning a spot in an off-Broadway stage production, she got her first major screen role in the 1989 TV movie, Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman -- placing her alongside 1970s pop culture heroes, Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner.

Sandra Bullock In Speed And Crash

Sandra Bullock remained active in television in the early 1990s and even won the lead of her own TV series, Working Girl, which was based on the earlier Harrison Ford/Melanie Griffith movie of the same name. The show was a non-factor in prime-time TV, but in 1993, Sandra Bullock caught a major break when she was chosen to play the no-nonsense futuristic cop, Lt. Lenina Huxley in the testosterone-laced Sylvester Stallone/Wesley Snipes collaboration, Demolition Man. An effective supporting player in the action genre already, she became the coolest woman to ever drive a bus in 1994 when she teamed up with Keanu Reeves for the action blockbuster, Speed. Besides having displaying an amazing ability to help Keanu Reeves act better, she effortlessly exuded charisma and became an instant front-page name.

Building on her charm and likability, Sandra Bullock shifted to the romantic comedy genre for films like While You Were Sleeping, Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice, showing the entertainment world that there could be life without Julia Roberts. While a few of her other efforts like Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) and attempts at more serious fare like Murder By Numbers and 28 Days didn't attract audiences, they did little to hurt Sandra Bullock's overall career trajectory as it seemed like her next comedy hit was never that far away.

By 2004, though, Sandra Bullock was pushing 40 and there was some debate as to whether she might be growing a bit long in the tooth for her genre of choice. She fired back in the Oscar-winning Crash by playing completely against type as a yuppie whose racial hostilities boil to the surface after a carjacking incident. The performance won over the critics who previously thought she couldn't be credible in a serious film and breathed new life into her career. 

Sandra Bullock In The Proposal And The Blind Side

An on-screen reunion with Keanu Reeves in The Lake House was the high point for Sandra Bullock in 2006. Her other film that year, Infamous, in which she played Harper Lee, was quickly overshadowed by the similarly themed Oscar favorite, Capote. Rather than retreat to the romantic comedy genre, Sandra Bullock went the way of supernatural suspense opposite Julian McMahon for 2007's Premonition. The film cast her as a woman living her days out of order and trying to change the fate of her husbands imminent death.

Following a two-year break from the movie world, Sandra Bullock returned to the big screen with a vengeance in 2009 and had what was arguably one of the most successful year of any modern American actress. Showing that she was older, wiser and not quite done yet, she played cougar to Hollywood's It Boy, Ryan Reynolds, for the marriage comedy, The Proposal. It proved to be one of highest-grossing films of her career and a few months later, it was deja vu all over again. Her next film, the fact-based drama The Blind Side became the first film top-lined by an actress to gross over $200 million in North America. For her efforts as a woman who adopts a struggling football hopeful, Sandra Bullock would further reap the benefits of her comeback with her first-ever Oscar (as well as nomination) for Best Actress.

Sandra Bullock, Jesse James And Michelle Mcgee

After winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, it seemed like life for 45-year-old Sandra Bullock couldn't get any better, but the actress was blindsided by Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, a tattoo model who went to In Touch magazine with a story of her alleged affair with Bullock's husband Jesse James -- an affair that took place while Bullock was filming The Blind Side. Bullock has since out of her home with James and filed for divorce.

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