Cinema & Movie & celebrity News And Rumors

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24 star Kiefer Sutherland has blasted claims the hit drama promotes right-wing politics through its plotlines.

Critics claim producers of the hit FOX show express their Republican leanings through the use of guns, torture and the portrayal of foreign characters.

But Sutherland insists they could not be more wrong.

He tells Men's Vogue magazine, "We had the first Africa-American as a president in television history. We indicted a right-wing president and had him arrested. Explain to me how the show is right-wing." l

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Gwyneth Paltrow is out to prove she's more than a cooking show guide - she can actually serve up the treats too.

The Oscar-winner, who co-hosts Spanish travel and food show Spain... On The Road Again, is planning a Thanksgiving Day feast in her adopted London.

She tells HollyScoop.com, "I'm going to cook a big meal for all my ex-patriate American friends over there."

But the gathering won't include best pal Madonna: "She's on tour, so she'll be here (in America)." l

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Former James Bond star Sir Sean Connery is delighted he will officially open Donald Trump's $1.5 billion (GBP1 billion) golf course resort in Scotland - because it will boost the country's image around the world.

U.S. real estate tycoon Trump has been given the go ahead by the Scottish government to build 500 new houses, 950 holiday homes, a hotel and a world class golf course at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

And Scottish actor Connery is lined up for the official launch - he will be given the membership number 007 and will be the first person to tee off on the course.

He says, "During tough economic times, this is a major vote of confidence in Scotland's tourist industry and our ability to rise to the challenge.

"I look forward to seeing a new gem in the north-east that is good for Aberdeenshire and good for Scotland."

Trump's proposal faced tough opposition from locals worried about possible damage to the environment, and it was originally rejected by Aberdeenshire Council before being approved by the national government.

And Connery is delighted with the reversal, adding: "It's exactly this kind of swift decision making and focus on boosting the economy and local job opportunities which shows that Scotland is an excellent place to do business." l

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Nicole Kidman is so desperate for more children, she is considering turning her back on Hollywood to expand her family.

The Oscar-winning actress gave birth to daughter Sunday Rose in July by husband Keith Urban and has two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, from her previous marriage to actor Tom Cruise.

And at the premiere of her new epic film Australia, Kidman revealed she is keen to have more babies with her country music star husband - and would be happy to put her movie career on hold in order to extend her family.

She says, "In terms of my future as an actor and stuff, I don't know. I'm in a place in my life where I've... had some great opportunities. And I may just choose to have some more children.

"I have no idea what's in my future but I am very at peace with where I am going to be and there's many things I want to do besides act." l

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Celine Dion has been forced to postpone a string of shows on the North American leg of her world tour due to a persistent respiratory virus.

The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker pulled out of performances in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana earlier this month.

And now she has been ordered by doctors to scrap further concerts in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kansas City and St Louis, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Jose, California; Omaha, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado.

Dion is recuperating from a recurrent infection that has been further complicated by inflamed vocal cords, according to a statement released by concert promoter Aeg Live.

The firm adds: "Her physician has instructed her to refrain from singing in order to completely recover."

The singer, who is currently on her Taking Chances world tour, has already rescheduled the dates for December, January and February. l

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Courtney Love has denied reports she is suicidal - but admits to suffering bouts of depression.

The former Hole singer wrote 60 posts on her personal MySpace page on Sunday, many of which were incoherent - and one that stated the star was feeling suicidal, according to celebrity website PerezHilton.com.

Love has retracted the statement - but reveals she does battle depression.

She writes on her blog, ".No I am not suicidal, occasionally very occasioanly (sic) like all of us I get depressed, and that was over a year ago and I had a mini little depression attack well (a) big one... I dont know quite why it happened but I find that mediciation (sic) is not the answer to this."

And the singer, who recommended yoga, a good diet and Kombucha tea as effective ways to ward off the blues in her posting, is worried about the affect the reports are having on her 16-year-old daughter, Frances Bean Cobain.

She adds, "Please leave my kid out of it, when I make a technical booboo or get a little whacky when she's at a movie, (it's) my problem. Basically I'm off blogging because you've upset my kid and embarrassed her and so have I. So (I've) apoligised (sic) to her I hope you will too." l

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An Arab sheikh who is suing Michael Jackson wanted to resurrect the King of Pop's career by writing songs for him.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa claims he's owed a $7 million (GBP4.6 million) advance on an album and autobiography deal that Jackson never honoured.

He alleges he paid for a recording studio for the Thriller star and sent his own compositions for Jackson to record.

Al Khalifa, the son of the King of Bahrain, also claims he spent $2.2 million (GBP1.5 million) for Jackson to produce a song in aid of the victims of 2005's Hurricane Katrina - but he failed to turn up for the final recording session.

A version of one of the sheikh's songs he wrote for Jackson is expected to be played in court.

The pair became friends when Jackson stayed in Bahrain for six months after he was cleared of child abuse charges in 2005.

Al Khalifa claims he had a deal with the singer to produce an album, autobiography, and a stage play. He also alleges he gave Jackson financial support, paying his living and travel expenses during the visit.

But the Billie Jean hitmaker denies the claims, insisting the agreement was not valid and that Al Khalifa's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence".

The London trial continues. l

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Britney Spears' comeback is bittersweet - because the star feels "no excitement, no passion" for singing after her infamous breakdown.

The star was hospitalised twice earlier this year and lost custody of her sons Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James after a series of public meltdowns, including a headline-grabbing incident when she shaved her head.

Speaking in new MTV documentary, Britney: For The Record, the singer says, "I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail you know there's the time when you're gonna get out.

"But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like Groundhog Day every day."

The star's fortune is being kept under indefinite control by father Jamie as part of a co-conservatorship agreement with the courts - but Spears is wary that those closest to her are stifling her creativity.

She continues, "I think it's too in control. If I wasn't under the restraints I'm under, I'd feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it's like they hear but they're really not listening."

And Spears, who is enjoying success in the U.S. and U.K. with new single Womanizer, is convinced she is still paying for the breakdown she suffered in the public eye.

She adds, "If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I'm having to pay for a long time. I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free."

And even though her "weird" life is all she's known, Spears didn't realise how famous she was until her breakdown.

She adds: "I think I've learnt my lesson now and enough is enough." l

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S*exy star Rosario Dawson was encouraged to s*trip in public at an early age - because her mother hated to see tan lines on her daughter.

The Sin City actress was a regular at one n*ude beach in the New York state area during her summers - and her mother couldn't have been happier.

She tells Play*boy magazine, "My mom took us to a n*ude beach all the time when I was young. She'd say, 'I hate tan lines,' and off our bathing suits would go."

And her mother's extrovert nature made Dawson proud of her body.

She adds, "I mean, why should there be any shame or weirdness about something so beautiful and natural?" l

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Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman's representative has dismissed reports the star was hospitalised with pneumonia last week (ends14Nov08) - insisting she is "totally fine".

The 82-year-old, who saw a recent resurgence in her popularity after appearing on the current season of U.S. reality show Dancing with the Stars, was reportedly struck down by the nasty illness and was under the care of medics.

But Leachman's publicists insists her condition isn't serious - and that the star is at home resting in preparation to film footage for Dancing with the Stars.

A spokesperson for The Last Picture Show actress says, "(Cloris) had a slight cough and wasn't feeling totally herself, so she went and sought medical attention from her doctor. She's totally fine. She was at a family event on Saturday.

"She is currently at her home, and is expected to tape something for Dancing with the Stars later this week." l