jeanne.wolf

Winslet Gets Rid of Two Old ''Friends''

New mother Kate Winslet has another reason to celebrate: She has kicked her caffeine and nicotine habits! The two-time Oscar nominee  who gave birth to her first child, daughter Mia, last month  tells TV Guide Online she no longer needs the dual vices now that she's a mum. "I'm much calmer," the Titanic actress admits. "I feel like a different person. When I was in a stressful situation, like doing interviews, I'd be running out for a cigarette and drinking endless cups of black coffee. Now I don't smoke anymore and I'm still totally relaxed." Winslet, who reports that her husband, director Jim Threapleton, also is adapting smoothly to his new role as father, still can't quite get over the miracle that is child birth. "It feels like the most natural thing in the world," she marvels. "It's brilliant. But I still can't quite believe I'm a mommy. "I had 30 hours of labor," she continues, "but if they told me I had to endure 30 more,

Thu, Nov 9, 2000

Sarandon: New Scream Queen?

Susan Sarandon had a nasty role model in mind when she prepared for her villainous turn as Coco La Bouche in the upcoming animated film Rugrats in Paris. "I'm a big admirer of Cruella De Ville," she says of the 101 Dalmations diva, played on the big screen by Glenn Close. "I think Coco's outrageous audacious wardrobe and her fondness for screaming at the Rugrats puts her in the same club. Coco and Cruella are both completely over the top." Sarandon's Rugrats alter ego  who works at an amusement park yet hates children  spends most of her time screaming, a fact that took its toll on the actress. "After about five hours your vocal chords are ripped to shreds," she admits. "But it was also therapeutic because I got rid of all my mean thoughts about little kids who misbehave." Sarandon felt like screaming when the 25th anniversary DVD version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released recently. "I have my lawy

Mon, Nov 6, 2000

Gooding: Money Changes Everything

Four years after wowing audiences as exuberant athlete Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire, Cuba Gooding Jr. is still having trouble distancing himself from his Oscar-winning role. Gooding couldn't even escape Tidwell on the set of Jerry Bruckheimer's upcoming WW II epic, Pearl Harbor. "I was acting my heart out in an intense combat scene in the middle of the harbor," Gooding tells TV Guide Online. "I was surrounded by about 1,200 men, 700 of them playing dead. There were explosions, so much smoke you could barely see, and we were being dive-bombed by Japanese fighter planes. At one point, there was a little lull in the action, and a voice from somewhere cut through all the noise yelling, 'Show me the money!' All the dead and dying extras totally broke up. I'm like, 'Kill that guy!'" It was just one more reminder to Gooding that those words he uttered in the 1996 hit film, and repeated in his Oscar acceptance speech, will haunt him forever. "Othe

Mon, Oct 30, 2000

The Lost Bedazzled Scene

In Bedazzled, Brendan Fraser plays a mind-boggling array of characters, including a Colombian drug lord and a guy so sensitive, he bursts into tears at the sight of a sunset. Unfortunately, audiences won't see the actor's favorite persona  a drugged-out rock star. "I was doing a rocker who was a cross between Oasis and the guy from Supergrass," Fraser tells TV Guide Online, adding that the doomed sequence was very involved. "I went onstage before thousands of extras in a stadium in downtown L.A., ... lip-synching a song written by the guy from Metallica. Forget acting; it was all about rock and roll!" Apparently, Dick and Jane moviegoer weren't dancing in the aisles. As Fraser explains, when his alter ego wasn't performing, he was backstage, scarfing down pills, throwing up and engaging in a fairly explicit sex act on a table. "He was pretty vile," he concedes. "It sort of became our homage to Sid and Nancy, [but] test audienc

Tue, Oct 24, 2000

Hurley Opens Up About Losing Hugh

Elizabeth Hurley says that despite what you may have read in the tabloids, her 13-year relationship with Hugh Grant is definitely kaput. However, the actress  who reportedly has begun dating billionaire financier Ted Forstmann  adds that she and Grant will remain an item in a professional capacity. "We still have our production company together," reveals Hurley, who plays the devil opposite Brendan Fraser in the big-screen remake of Bedazzled, opening today. "We just renewed our deal with Castle Rock and Warner Bros." Hurley admits she isn't sure how their lack of romantic involvement will affect their future as producers. "We haven't done a movie since we split up, but it may be a plus that we're just best friends," she says, adding, "I'm very high on one project, a romantic comedy that Hugh has written, set in the south of France, that is very funny." "We've been each other's confidants for so long that we still are," con

Fri, Oct 20, 2000

Ellen DeGeneres: Life After Anne

Ellen DeGeneres's mom, Betty, was as surprised as anyone by her daughter's sudden breakup with Anne Heche. "It came just like that," she shrugs, snapping her fingers. "I certainly wasn't in on any decision making. I found out when it happened, not before." The elder DeGeneres, who refers to Heche as "my other daughter" in her new book, Just A Mom, tells TV Guide Online, "I haven't talked to Anne since she left, but we were a pretty tight-knit trio, so at least I have some happy memories." Refusing to speculate on what caused the split, Betty says, "Look at Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, for goodness sake; that was so unexpected. These things happen in relationships. "I'm supporting Ellen," she adds. "When one of your children hurts, you hurt. No matter how old they are, you're always their mom." But the celebrity mom also reveals that the dark cloud is lifting for her groundbreaking daughter. "Ellen is doing very well and has so

Wed, Oct 18, 2000

Slater For Clinton!

Christian Slater says it's high time the United States elects a female vice president. And the actor  who currently can be seen in the political drama The Contender, opposite Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges  knows just the lady for the job. "I've met Hillary Clinton, and I find her a great example of a woman who has been able to survive a lot," Slater tells TV Guide Online. "Surviving in the political area, or any public arena, is really difficult. You either sink or swim. I think Hillary is a beautiful example of a woman who has been able to rise to the occasion." Well, Slater is well versed in the pressures of living in a fishbowl. The actor's earlier struggles with drugs and alcohol, not to mention his numerous arrests, made headlines and earned him a reputation as a bona fide Hollywood bad boy. But that was then... "My life has changed in so many ways that it has been kind of miraculous," marvels the 31-year-old, who earlie

Mon, Oct 16, 2000

Rebound Romance for ER Hunk

Don't feel too sorry for ER's handsome Dr. Luka Kovac, whose love life went into cardiac arrest last season. He may have gotten dumped by Julianna Margulies's Nurse Hathaway, but his portrayer, Goran Visnjic, reveals that the Croatian doc will rebound rather quickly. "The writers are getting me a love interest real fast," Visnjic tells TV Guide Online, adding that it may or may not be someone already punching the clock at the hospital. "I said a new love interest, but I didn't say it would be a new cast member. "A little bit of heaven comes into his life," the actor teases, "but it will be one big roller-coaster ride." Visnjic, who became an Eastern European sensation after his portrayal of Hamlet, says doesn't mind the weekly angst he faces on ER, which kicks off its seventh season tonight on NBC (10 pm ET/PT). "Give me Hamlet, give me a drama, and I'm fine," he says. "I find those emotional scenes on ER really easy to do. I do

Thu, Oct 12, 2000

Cook On The Sly

She's All That babe Rachael Leigh Cook reveals that Sylvester Stallone is no Rambo in real life. The actress -- who plays Stallone's rebellious teenage niece in Get Carter, opening today -- admits the Rocky star may play larger-than-life characters on the big screen, but when the camera's aren't rolling, he's just an average Joe. "What's so funny about Sly is that he isn't intimidating, despite who he is," the 21-year-old Cook tells TV Guide Online. "You have this preconceived notion of him as a big, tough guy, but he speaks four languages and he likes to water color. Also, he's very funny." For instance, Cook -- currently in Canada, filming the live-action Josie and the Pussycats -- recalls a scene in Get Carter when Stallone's wacky side surfaced. "We have a scene in a hotel room, and he got it into his head that it would be really cute to dump me off the bed. So, without warning me, he picked up one side of the mattress an

Mon, Oct 9, 2000

Cook On The Sly

She's All That babe Rachael Leigh Cook reveals that Sylvester Stallone is no Rambo in real life. The actress ? who plays Stallone's rebellious teenage niece in Get Carter, opening today ? admits the Rocky star may play larger-than-life characters on the big screen, but when the camera's aren't rolling, he's just an average Joe. "What's so funny about Sly is that he isn't intimidating, despite who he is," the 21-year-old Cook tells TV Guide Online. "You have this preconceived notion of him as a big, tough guy, but he speaks four languages and he likes to water color. Also, he's very funny." For instance, Cook ? currently in Canada, filming the live-action Josie and the Pussycats ? recalls a scene in Get Carter when Stallone's wacky side surfaced. "We have a scene in a hotel room, and he got it into his head that it would be really cute to dump me off the bed. So, without warning me, he picked up one side of the mattress and pr

Fri, Oct 6, 2000

Sly's New Lease on Life

Sylvester Stallone, who's back in action, playing a mob enforcer in Get Carter (opening Friday), swears his three-year break from the movie biz has made him better than ever. "I didn't think I needed the time off, but it probably worked out for the best," admits Stallone, last seen in the critically acclaimed Cop Land. "For a long time, I felt like the character I play in Get Carter  a little bit disenfranchised and wandering. I think I needed to settle down and find out what's really important in life." After two failed marriages (Sasha Czack and Brigitte Nielsen), the Rocky star tied the knot with former model Jennifer Flavin and became the proud father of two daughters, Sophia Rose and Sistine Rose. "I have a home base with two beautiful little kids, and it affects my acting," he tells TV Guide Online. "I have a relaxed, thoughtful kind of emotionality I never had before. I thought I was past t

Thu, Oct 5, 2000

Jada's Declaration of Independence

Jada Pinkett Smith may want to spend the rest of her life with hubby Will Smith, but that doesn't mean she also wants to go to work with him. The 29-year-old actress  who is expecting her second child with the former Fresh Prince  admits that she's in no hurry to get in front of the camera with her honey. "There's a lot of things I still want to do as Jada," she tells TV Guide Online. "Will is my husband and I feel like I want to do my own thing. I think he's ready for us to make a movie together, but I'm not. I'm sure that one day we'll find the right project." As it is, the duo's first collaboration  they co-wrote Love for Hire, a film in development at Imagine  was a rocky affair. "Will and I didn't kill each other writing it, but it was a little difficult," she says of the project, in which they're wooing LL Cool J or Jamie Foxx to star. "We had those late nights sitting up arguing. We'd be in a ro

Thu, Sep 28, 2000

Cruz's Culinary Confession

Spanish superstar Penelope Cruz is becoming as hot in Hollywood as the spicy Brazilian dishes she serves up as a chef in her new romantic comedy Woman on Top, opening today. But in real-life, the next big thing admits that she wouldn't know a blender if she tripped over one. "I'm not much of a cook," she tells TV Guide Online. "I took some courses to prepare for this film. I had such a great time that when I get back home, I want to go back to school. But right now when dealing with food, I seem to do best at calling room service." While Woman on Top may have changed the way Cruz felt about cooking, All the Pretty Horses  the upcoming Billy Bob Thornton-directed film in which she stars opposite rumored beau Matt Damon  had an effect on Cruz's diet. "I [was] a vegetarian for four years but I sort of lapsed before we did the film," she says. "Then when I was working with those magnificent animals everyday, I suddenly becam

Fri, Sep 22, 2000

Not So Minnie Surgery

Talk about art imitating life. Just hours before Minnie Driver underwent an appendectomy in a London hospital late last month, the English actress watched the procedure performed on CBS's medical drama Chicago Hope. "They had a whole scene about an appendectomy, which I had no idea I was about to experience," she tells TV Guide Online. "Later, I was making a cup of tea and suddenly I felt this stabbing pain. My whole stomach was hurting but I just kept telling myself it was indigestion or something. I went to bed with a hot water bottle." After suffering for a few hours, the Oscar-nominated actress  who was in London filming High Heels and Lowlifes  took some action. "I called my mum at four in the morning," she recalls. "I know some people might have called 911 but I said to myself, 'Mum will know what to do.' Well, mum instructed her to proceed directly to the nearest hospital. And like a good daughter, Driver followed orders. Once the

Thu, Sep 21, 2000

Watch Role Reversal

Third Watch fans won over by the heroics of dedicated paramedic Bobby Caffey last season are in for a rude awakening. The character's portrayer, Bobby Cannavale, reveals that this year the perpetual straight arrow turns to the dark side. "Something big and dramatic is going to happen to Bobby," the actor tells TV Guide Online, "and he's going to rethink giving 100 percent of himself for others. He'll be a little tougher." Well, judging by the positive response Cannavale has been getting from viewers, producers of the NBC drama may not want to tamper too much with his popular alter ego. Even in New York City  where the show is based  the New Jersey native is treated like a king. "I have actually been picked up three or four times by ambulance drivers when I'm trying to hail a taxi," he marvels. "They just pull over and give me ride as far as they can without going out of their way. I'm just glad that they all seem to really love the show." Ano

Thu, Sep 21, 2000

Juliette's Family Film

With its outrageous violence and film noir style, The Way of the Gun might not be the family film of the year. But for star Juliette Lewis, making the new pic was definitely a family affair. Lewis, who plays a pregnant woman held hostage by two cute kidnappers (Ryan Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro), tells TV Guide Online she pow-wowed with her sister to prepare for her big-tummy role. "I wanted to represent that reality correctly," she says. "I would be calling my sister in-between takes, because she's had two babies. I just asked her all the details of what it feels like, certain emotional things, and that helped me to represent Robin's struggle and her strength." The newly married Lewis (she tied the knot with professional skateboarder/actor Steve Berra the day after The Way of the Gun wrapped) says that wearing a prosthetic tummy certainly gave her some thoughts. "I think about being a mom pretty much on a monthly basis," she says. "And

Thu, Sep 14, 2000

Cruise Falls Back in Love

Hollywood is eagerly anticipating Tom Cruise's upcoming film Vanilla Sky, which finds the actor reteaming with his Jerry Maguire writer/director, Cameron Crowe. But while the duo struck gold with the acclaimed sports flick, Crowe admits he still was shocked that the Hollywood heavyweight was interested in another partnership. "I'm as surprised as anybody else that he wants to continue the collaboration  and delighted," Crowe tells TV Guide Online. "We had so much fun doing [Jerry Maguire] that we've been trying to figure out a way to get back together. The funny thing is, he is fun to write comedy for. And for some reason the combination of the stuff that I write and the stuff that he brings  it's funny to me." Vanilla Sky, which Crowe describes as "a super contemporary love story," will pair Cruise with Penelope Cruz. Additionally, Cameron Diaz is in talks to take a supporting role in the film, which begin

Wed, Sep 13, 2000

Fatherly Intentions

Ryan Phillippe felt a special bond with his Way of the Gun co-star Juliette Lewis, who plays an expectant mother kidnapped by cold-blooded killers Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro in the just-released film. During the shoot, Phillippe was anticipating the birth of his own baby daughter with actress/wife Reese Witherspoon. "It made sense for me to strike an emotional bond with this character who has a life inside her, since that's where my thoughts were when I wasn't working," says the Cruel Intentions actor, who welcomed Ava Elizabeth into the world nearly one year ago. On the flip side, Phillippe admits it was difficult working while Witherspoon's due date loomed. "I felt like I was being pulled in many different directions," he explains. "But at the same time Reese had people with her, so I knew she wasn't alone." Besides, the couple had a contingency plan in the event the big moment arrived while Dad was busy on the set.

Tue, Sep 12, 2000

Famke Janssen's Chemistry Lesson

Famke Janssen and Jon Favreau worked hard to create the chemistry you see in their new romantic comedy Love and Sex. As Janssen explains, director Valerie Breiman invited the duo out for a get-acquainted dinner prior to the film's shoot, and then suddenly took off. Her parting words? "Why don't you guys get to know each other?" It was a challenge both actors were up for. "[Jon] suggested [we go to] a bar, but I told him I don't really drink," Janssen recalls. "Finally, after driving around Hollywood we decided to go to the Derby, where he filmed Swingers. Jon hadn't been back since. We walked in and he took me right on the floor to swing dance, which was totally new to me. Jon said, 'Just trust me. Hold on and I'll lead.' It was really a lot of fun." Favreau also can take credit for introducing the X-Men beauty to dancing of a dirtier kind. "At the end of Love and Sex, Jon told me he was writing a script for another movie and

Thu, Sep 7, 2000

Peet's Sweet Revenge

Jack & Jill's Amanda Peet relished the opportunity to offer moviegoers an antidote to "guy talk" in her new film, Whipped, opening today. "I thought it was kind of cool to show the female version of locker room talk," Peet tells TV Guide Online of the movie, in which she plays Mia, a woman who captures the hearts of three soulless best friends. "I talk with my girlfriends pretty openly when it doesn't involve someone that we love, or sometimes even when it does. I think there's nothing more treacherous than a bunch of girls sitting around having a glass of wine on somebody's couch after Sex and the City." Even though Whipped is tough on men, it landed Peet a boyfriend, co-star Brian Van Holt. "Ironically, he plays the piggiest pig," she says with a laugh. "It only took me six months to disassociate him from the role, so we didn't get involved right away. Okay, I'm kidding. But I certainly didn't think I'd be living with the guy

Mon, Sep 4, 2000

Peet's Sweet Revenge

Fri, Sep 1, 2000

Buffy Star Slays Box Office Rivals

Eliza Dushku scoffs at rumors that she's being groomed to replace Sarah Michelle Gellar as the star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer should the actress eventually make the full-time leap to films. Dushku, whose own movie career got a major boost over the weekend with the first-place box office finish of Bring It On, tells TV Guide Online that there is only one Chosen One. "Sarah is one of the hardest-working women I know," says the actress, who plays Buffy's arch nemesis, Faith. "It's such a hard job and I could never see myself having the patience to do that kind of a show. I mean, Sarah's there all the time working harder than anybody else. I kind of have ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder]." Still, Dushku is looking forward to what series creator Joss Whedon has planned this season for her backstabbing alter ego, who when last seen had turned herself in to authorities. "I always joke with Joss, 'I've jumped off a building, gone into a coma, bee

Tue, Aug 29, 2000