Jeff Bridges to receive prestigious Life Achievement Award
Jeff Bridges is busier than ever. He’s set to receive the prestigious Donestia Life Achievement Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, along with Annette Bening and Woody Allen, then he stars with Jennifer Tilly in “Tideland,” about a girl who creates a fantasy world to escape the pain of her father’s death. AND, he is also busily visiting bookstores autographing his latest book, “Pictures.”
Paul Newman will do just about anything to help a child. We all know the proceeds from his food products go to charity, and now I learn that when he was in London, he went to Zippo’s Circus, donned a green bowler hat, stuck on a big red nose and jumped into a great cream pie as thousands of sick and disabled kids screamed with joy. And you know what? Ole Blue Eyes had the best time of all.
Pete Sampras was missed at the U.S. Open, but Pete Sampras didn’t miss the U.S. Open. He’s busily being a true Hollywoodite, living in Beverly Hills with his actress-wife Bridgette Wilson and his small “bambino.” He’s also now an investment consultant and a consultant for Tennis magazine. Sir Sampras’ Beverly Hills manse was purchased for $8 million.
I find this difficult to digest, but I read it in a Hollywood trade paper. “There are more than two dozen active auctions on eBay for pieces of Britney Spears’ chewing gum. Each seller claiming the item had been spit out by the pop singer. Prices go as high as $14,000.” Can you believe? UGH!
Did you know that Cary Grant demanded top billing in MGM’s 1940 “The Philadelphia Story” starring Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart? He received $125,000 for his performance and donated the entire sum to the British War Relief Fund. And, didya know there’s yet another Cary Grant bio to hit the bookstores? Titled “Cary Grant: A Biography,” it’s by Marc Elliot (Harmony Books).
Bits ‘N’ Pieces
•Rumor running round that Demi and Ashton want to wed. Maybe by the time you read this it could be legal.
•Little Lourdes and her brother Rocco already know how to pose for the cameras. Seems everywhere Madonna’s progeny appear there’s a photographer not far behind.
•Aside to Benita G. of Yazoo City, Miss. As far as I know, Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has not as yet signed any kind of a movie contract. P.S. Neither has Serena Williams, but she sure could have played “Wonder Woman” in some of her recent tournament outfits.
•And to Bertha B. of Laguna Beach, Calif. Yes. That is all Reese Witherspoon in “Vanity Fair.” She didn’t need bustline lifts because she was pregnant with her second child. And on that subject, Miss Julia loves the way her figure is filling out in that department.
•Was that Cameron Diaz jogging through one of the canyons in the Hollywood Hills? It sure was, and she really worked up a sweat on a 90-degree day.
•Before the winds blew, the island of Grand Cayman hosted its first jazz festival, with Roberta Flack, Freddie Jackson, David Sanborn and a pack of others staying at the Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa.
•Didya know Jada Pinkett Smith is just 5 feet tall and weights 100 pounds? She buys most of her clothes in children’s departments.