People: Esquire names Cruz sexiest woman alive
Penelope Cruz is Esquire’s “sexiest woman alive.”
Cruz is the 11th woman to be given the title by the magazine. Previous honorees include Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Rihanna, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson.
The “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Vanilla Sky” actress tells Esquire that she had “an attraction to drama” in her teens and 20s but “could not be less interested now.”
Cruz is keeping quiet about her personal life. She declined to comment to the magazine about her actor-husband, Javier Bardem, as well as their two children. She says, “That is for us.”
The actress will next be seen in the Spanish-language film “Ma Ma” and in “Grimsby” with Sacha Baron Cohen.
The November issue of Esquire will be on newsstands Oct. 21.
Holmes to play Jackie O. again
Katie Holmes will once again play Jackie Kennedy Onassis in a TV miniseries.
The actress has signed on to star in “The Kennedys - After Camelot,” a follow-up to “The Kennedys” miniseries for ReelzChannel.
The four-hour miniseries will begin production next year and is slated to air in 2016.
Thirty-five-year-old Holmes will executive produce and also direct one episode.
John Cassar, who directed “The Kennedys,” will direct the other three episodes.
“The Kennedys” was originally made to air on History, but was dropped because the network said it didn’t fit its brand. The miniseries was later picked up by ReelzChannel and scored record ratings for the network when it aired in 2011.
It starred Greg Kinnear as John F. Kennedy and Holmes as the first lady. Kinnear was nominated for an Emmy and SAG Award for his portrayal. Barry Pepper, who played Bobby Kennedy, won the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie.
Brown tops Soul Train nominees
Chris Brown is the top nominee for the Soul Train Awards.
The R&B singer racked up seven nominations, including best R&B/soul male artist and song of the year for “Loyal.” Beyonce earned six nominations and Pharrell Williams followed with five.
Williams and Beyonce will be competing against each other for album of the year, along with John Legend, Drake, Janelle Monae and Michael Jackson.
Hosted by Wendy Williams, the Soul Train Awards will be presented on Nov. 7 in Las Vegas. The awards will air on Nov. 30 on Centric and BET.
The birthday bunch
Actor Roger Moore is 87. Singer Cliff Richard is 74. Singer Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) is 68. Singer Thomas Dolby is 56. Country singer Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) is 40. Singer Usher is 36. Comedian Jay Pharoah (“Saturday Night Live”) is 27.