Seven Doesn’t Roll Lucky For Aging Sex Symbol Liz

It all appears civilized from the outside. But there’s stuff going on behind the scenes of the Elizabeth Taylor-Larry Fortensky divorce that makes it clear someone is playing hardball.

Taylor’s one-sentence statement on the breakup with hubby No. 7 was pointedly terse: “We were not able to communicate, and I am very saddened that it didn’t work out.”

But according to insiders, Fortensky has been able to communicate his dissatisfaction over the pre-nuptial agreement that he signed.

Word is, he’s hired divorce lawyer Raoul Felder and is asking for a $5.2 million settlement - which amounts to a $100,000 payment for every months they were married.

“Elizabeth will fight him with every weapon at her disposal,” a Taylor insider says. “It would be a matter of honor to do so.”

Loose talk

Country star Wynonna on having her child before getting married (in Newsweek): “People write to me and say, ‘How could you do this to my 16-year-old daughter?’ And I think, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize I was in charge of your 16-year-old daughter’s sexuality.”’

Her literary luck is still running strong

Alice Walker turns 52 today.

He’ll have a four-cheese omelet and pass the hash browns

In keeping with his reputation for pulling off authentic performances, Sean Penn has decided to gain 40 pounds in preparation for his forthcoming movie, “Bells of Hell.” Following the lead of Robert De Niro, who gained weight for the film “Raging Bull,” Penn is preparing to play the late Irish playwright Brendan Behan. All this comes by way of New York magazine.

Now he’ll be able to sign copies in Poughkeepsie

Looking for the author of the novel “Primary Colors,” which has been on best-seller lists with its tales of presidential campaigns? Vanity Fair columnist Christopher Hitchens is claiming credit. He signed copies in a Washington bookstore on Wednesday, saying he came forward because, “I recognized that if I stayed anonymous I would be deprived of a book tour.”

If he uses the word ‘paroxym,’ we’ll probably puke

Just in time for a little late-summer reading, “Diana: The Lonely Princess,” is set for August publication. Author Nicholas Davies promises that “The depth of her sexuality will be described like never before!”

We see Robert Urich in the lead role of the miniseries

Speaking of book deals, Christopher Reeve is reportedly being paid $3 million by Random House to write about his riding accident, before and after, which has left him a quadraplegic.

Now she wants to call it ‘Budgie the Upstart Gigolo’

Need another Brit-royal fix? John Bryan, the American who sucked one of the Duchess of York’s big toes for all the world’s press to see, is thinking of suing Fergie for a cut of her profits from her “Budgie the Helicopter” books. She’s vowed to fight.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster