Hollywood Actors and Actresses

Bewitched - trailer

2007-01-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

Nicole Kidman

2007-01-13T20:20:00.000-08:00

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 20, 1967, Kidman moved with her parents to their native Australia several years later, where she grew up in Longueville, a Sydney suburb.

Interested in play-acting as a child, the future Hollywood star was in drama school by age 10, and by 14 appeared in her first professional role in the TV movie Bush Christmas, now a perennial holiday favorite on Australian TV.

From Aussie TV to Hollywood

In a series of other TV movie roles throughout the 80's, the 19-year old Kidman later gained international recognition in the movie thriller, Dead Calm in a critically acclaimed performance alongside Sam Neil and Billy Zane.

Future husband Tom Cruise also took notice and helped to cast her in his next star vehicle, Days of Thunder in 1989. The couple were married in December 1990 and would go on to appear together in Far and Away in 1992 and later in Eyes Wide Shut.

Meanwhile, it wasn't until Kidman's tour-de-force performance in To Die For in 1995 - as an ambitious, homicidal housewife - before she came into her own as a dramatic actress.

Her star continued to rise the following year with roles in Jane Champion's adaptation of The Portrait of a Lady, and opposite George Clooney in The Peacemaker. Then she created an international sensation with a stage performance in The Blue Room with a nude scene that was described as "theatrical Viagra" and the talk of both London and in New York when the actress moved with the show to Broadway.

Award Winner

In 1999, Kidman reteamed with Cruise to mixed reviews in the controversial Eyes Wide Shut directed by Stanley Kubrick. The following year, she was praised by critics for her lead role in Moulin Rouge, which cast her as a 19th century Parisian courtesan.

She followed that role wth a chilling performance in the ghostly The Others, quickly followed by her Oscar win for The Hours in which she appeared almost unrecognizable playing author Virginia Woolfe.

Kidman later starred in the film remake of The Stepford Wives and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her starring role in Birth.

Most recent movie roles have included appearances as Samantha Stephens opposite Will Farrell in the remake of the 60's TV hit, Bewitched and in the title role as The Interpreter opposite Sean Penn.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/nicole-kidman.htm

High School Musical 2 Trailer

2007-01-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

Zac Efron

2007-01-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

Born Zachary David Alexander Efron on October 18, 1987, Zac Efron is one of the hottest young actors around today, due in large part to a starring role in Disney's High School Musical and a previous attention-getting performance in the WB series Summerland.

Growing up in San Luis Obispo, California, Zac Efron's parents recognized their young son's singing talent early on and encouraged him to perform on stage.

At age eleven, he was already appearing in a local production of Gypsy, and went on to appear in other roles in such regional theater productions as Peter Pan, The Music Man, and Mame.

By his early teens, Efron turned his attention to television with guest appearances on various TV shows including ER and The Guardian. Soon after, his breakthrough performance — that began with a guest spot on the WB series Summerland — eventually led to his being assigned a place as a regular cast member in the role of Cameron Bale.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/zac-efron.htm

Tomb Raider Trailer

2007-01-13T20:04:00.001-08:00

Angelina Jolie

2007-01-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

Following a months-long worldwide media frenzy, Angelina Jolie finally gave birth to a baby girl named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt with her husband, actor Brad Pitt at her side.

The birth, which took place in Jolie's much beloved African country of Namibia, was announced on May 27, 2006.

The future Hollywood actress was born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975 to actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand.

Inheriting her parents' striking Hollywood looks, Jolie began a modeling career while still in her teens and later enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and attended New York University where she began acting in school productions.

Her soon-forgotten first film, Cyborg 2, was followed by a more memorable performance as a computer hacker in the 1995 film, Hackers. Jolie finally won real recognition in 1997, and with it a Golden Globe for her performance as George Wallace's wife in the TV movie George Wallace, followed shortly with an Emmy-nominated performance in Gia.

Her star continued to rise when, in 2000, the actress won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Girl, Interrupted and In 2001 Jolie's career skyrocketed with a star turn in the role of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft in the video-game-inspired movie that was an instant hit with audiences. Since then, other notable work include starring roles in Beyond Borders, Sky Captain: The World of Tomorrow and as the voice of the femme fatale Lola in Shark Tale.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/angelina-jolie.htm

Flags of Our Fathers (New US Trailer)

2007-01-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

Clint Eastwood

2007-01-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

Clinton Eastwood, Jr. was born in San Francisco, California, USA on May 31, 1930. The son of a steel worker, Eastwood did a stint in the United States Army before moving to Los Angeles to study at Los Angeles College. He studied business administration primarily, but eventually dropped out to persue an acting career.

At first appearing in a couple of B-films, his first major acting role was in the 1959 TV cowboy series Rawhide followed by three Italian "spagetti Westerns," the so-called Man With No Name trilogy directed by Sergio Leone, and starring the mysterious, cigar chewing Clint Eastwood.

Per un pugno di dollari (1964), Per qualche dollaro in più (1965), and Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966) made Clint Eastwood a motion picture star in their better known English titles... A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). The last is one of the most famous Westerns of all time.

In nearly 50 years of acting, producing and directing, Clint Eastwood has appeared in more than 50 films while directing and producing many of them and directing many others. Some of his better known roles were in Play Misty for Me and Dirty Harry (1971); The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976); Every Which Way But Loose (1978), Bronco Billy (1980); Unforgiven (1993); The Bridges of Madison County (1995) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). A full filmography with all of his acting and directing credits is available at IMDb.

Eastwood's latest appearance on the big screen was in the 2005 Oscar winner, Million Dollar Baby for which he won an award for Best Director and for which Hilary Swank (Best Actress) and Morgan Freeman (Best Supporting Actor) also took Oscar gold. Eastwood was also nominated for Best Actor for his self-directed starrring role in Million Dollar Baby, but Jamie Foxx would ultimately take Best Actor honors for his role in Ray.

Behind the camera in 2006, Eastwood is leading the Oscar buzz for Best Director for his work on the World War II saga "Flags of Our Fathers" and is competing against himself at the Golden Globe Awards with with two directing nominations for "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima".

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/clint-eastwood.htm

Scoop Trailer

2007-01-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Scarlett Johansson

2007-01-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

"You don't become an actress," the blond beauty has been quoted as saying. "You are an actress."

And Scarlett Johannson should know, having begun her acting career at age 8.

Born in New York City on November 22nd, 1984, Scarlett Johansson (sometimes erroneously credited as Scarlett Johansen or Scarlett Johanssen) attended classes in her hometown at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for Young People.

Thereafter, she made her stage debut in 1992 in an off-Broadway production of Sophistry, alongside a young Ethan Hawke.

Two years later, Johansson was starring in her first film role in North, starring Elijah Wood, and with several more minor film appearances to her credit finally made her breakout performance at age 13 in Horse Whisperer alongside acting veteran Robert Redford. Although the film generally received lackluster reviews, it was the young Scarlett Johansson's gifted performance that everyone was talking about.

Her film career stalled out for several years more years - with appearances in such unremarkable films as My Brother the Pig in 1999 - but she would gain a formidable teen following as Rebecca in Ghost World in 2000. In 2001, she turned her talents to a more serious role playing a young refugee fleeing communist Hungary in An American Rhapsody.

2003 resulted in a watershed year for Johansson, who made her mark in Hollywood as a serious adult actress with two critically acclaimed performances - in Lost in Translation opposite Bill Murray, and in the title role of Girl with a Pearl Earring, for which she received a pair of Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress.

Johansson has again received a nod for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes in 2006, for her role opposite Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Woody Allen's Match Point. She currently appears in yet another Woody Allen comedy, Scoop, alongside Hugh Jackman.

Offscreen, Johansson has been romantically linked to actor Jared Leto and is reportedly currently dating actor Josh Hartnett.with whom she will costar in The Black Dahlia by director Brian De Palma.

Despite her growing recognition as a serious Hollywood actress, the sexy star's most head-turning performance to date has been a nude appearance in a Vanity Fair video Vanity Fair photo shoot which hit newstands February 2006.

Shortly thereafter, Johansson was also named the world's sexiest woman in a poll by FHM Magazine, and stands to receive a similar honor from Esquire magazine when they reportedly name her Sexiest Woman Alive in their November 2006 issue.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/scarlett-johansson.htm

Titanic Trailer

2007-01-13T19:27:00.001-08:00

Leonardo DiCaprio

2007-01-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

Born in Hollywood, California on November 11, 1974 of German and Italian descent, DiCaprio's first brush with fame came when as a child he was kicked off the set of Romper Room for unruly behavior.

By 15 the fledgling actor already had his first agent, beginning a classic Hollywood battle against changing his style of clothes, his haircut and his name - to Lenny Williams. DiCaprio forged ahead in his own style and under his own name, eventually winning a notable recurring role on TV's Growing Pains.

His breakthrough film performance in This Boy's Life in 1993 won raves, as did his role a year later playing Johnny Depp's mentally retarded younger brother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, garnering the 19 year-old an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

More notable performances followed, with the actor winning international recognition in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet in 1996 and in the mega-hit, Titanic the following year.

He again dominated the screen in 2002 with starring roles in both The Gangs of New York opposite Cameron Diaz and in Stephen Speilberg's Catch Me If You Can, playing the youngest criminal to ever land on the F.B.I.'s 10-most-wanted list.

The actor's current project earned lots of Oscar buzz in 2005, along with a Golden Globe award to DiCaprio himself for Best Actor for his starring role as eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes in The Aviator directed by Martin Scorcese.

In 2006, DiCaprio leads the nominees for Best Actor at the Critics' Choice Awards with a two nods for his appearances in yet another Scorcese film, The Departed, as well as his lead role in the thriller "Blood Diamonds".

He also competes against himself at this year's Golden Globe Awards in the same categories.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/leonardo-dicaprio.htm

Material girls trailer

2007-01-13T19:02:00.001-08:00

Hilary Duff

2007-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

When once asked in a New York Times interview if she was going to emulate Britney Spears by baring it all for her fans, Hilary Duff made a revolutionary statement (by show-biz standards at any rate) about where her career is headed, and about growing up...

"It means different things to different people," Duff cheerily replied, adding "I don't think it means taking your clothes off ... or having my boobs pushed up to my chin."

Pretty, intelligent, and with talent to spare everyone's favorite girl next door was born in Houston, Texas on September 28, 1987.

In her teens, Duff developed a passion for acting and after minor parts in movies and TV shows, was cast in her first starring role as Ellie in Soul Collector. However, her biggest break came when she was cast in the part of Lizzie in the Disney Channel Series Lizzie McGuire, an instant hit.

Following that success, Duff was cast in the Disney cable movie, Cadet Kelly. Meanwhile, the Lizzie McGuire sitcom continued to attract millions of Hilary Duff fans who also snatched up the show's soundtrack album, along with Duff's special Christmas Album recorded in 2002.

As a natural follow-up to her hit series, Duff was soon drawing summer crowds at movie box offices with the release of The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003.

Its success resulted in Duff' ultimately announcing that she would be leaving TV to persue a career in movies.

True to form, Duff had racked up two successful big screen performances by the end of that year with lead roles in Agent Cody Banks and Cheaper by the Dozen.

Another major hit in 2004 came with Cinderella Story followed by Raise Your Voice which opened later in the year.

In 2005, Hilary Duff returned to the big screen opposite Heather Locklear as daughter and mother in the comedy The Perfect Man - and in 2006 co-stars with sister Haylie in Material Girls.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/hillary-duff.htm

Astronauts Wife Trailer

2007-01-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp

2007-01-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

Originally known for his status as a TV teen heartthrob in his role on 21 Jump Street, Depp later went on to become a serious adult actor respected for his choice of offbeat roles and sensitive, multi-textured performances.

He began his career as a Kentucky-born high school dropout with dreams of making it as a musician, but later fell into acting with a debut performance in the horror shocker, A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984, which later led to his winning the TV role on 21 Jump Street.

With his teen following assured, Depp's breakthrough performance came in 1990 in the title role of Tim Burton's film Edward Scissorhands.

Since then, the actor has varied his roles enormously in such star turns as the cross-dressing director Ed Wood, as an undercover FBI agent in Donnie Brasco, as Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, and as a flamboyant over-the-top pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean.

In 2005, Depp won a Golden Globe nomination for his starring role in Finding Neverland and in early 2005 took home the Favorite Male Movie Star award at the People's Choice Awards (and won yet again in the same category in 2006).

Depp reprised his role as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest which opened in July 2006, and is reportedly set to re-team with director Tim Burton as he takes on the title role in Sweeney Todd set for release in 2007.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/johnny-depp.htm

Charlie's Angels Full Throttle trailer

2007-01-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

Cameron Diaz

2007-01-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

The popular animated voice of Fiona in Shrek and Shrek 2, as well as her hyper-animated performances in the Charlie's Angels films, has catapulted Cameron Diaz into the heights of superstardom and into a monetary position - with few other actresses - who can command a salary in the millions for a single performance.

Born in San Diego, CA, on August 30, 1972, Diaz left high school at the age of 16 to become a model, eventually working her way up to the exclusive Elite modeling agency.

Ambitious to start a film career, at age 21 she was cast in her breakthrough role opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask, followed by a series of smaller films. Critics and audiences alike were eventually hooked with an endearing, underdog performance by Diaz opposite superstar Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding. She then followed that with her highly popular and ditzy role in There's Something About Mary in 1998.

In 2000, Diaz joined Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels big-screen adaptation of the television classic, in which she invited audiences along for a tongue-in-cheek performance that saw all three actresses mixing it up in slapstick comedy scenes and lots of high-speed action.

Diaz eventually was to give an equally famous performance as the voice for Princess Fiona in Shrek, another box office hit, along with a string of performances in Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise, and in Martin Scorses's Gangs of New York opposite Leonard Dicaprio before joining the ranks of mega star Julia Roberts as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

Offscreen, the actress had been romantically linked to pop singer Justin Timberlake — up until a much-reported breakup in early 2007. At the time, rumors pointed to a fling between Timberlake and actress Scarlett Johansson as the reason for the split.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/cameron-diaz.htm

The Bourne Supremacy trailer

2007-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Matt Damon

2007-01-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

Born Matthew Paige Damon on October 8, 1970, the future Oscar winner grew up in a well-to-do household in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he later met a lifelong friend, Ben Affleck, who lived down the street.

Later accepted at Harvard University, Damon eventually dropped out to pursue a career in acting, although he held on to a completed assignment he wrote for a college English class - a screenplay which would eventually become the basis for his first major hit, Good Will Hunting.

Damon's first Hollywood break came with a bit part in Mystic Pizza in 1988 featuring a relatively unknown actress, Julia Roberts.

He continued to struggle for good roles when he contacted Affleck to dust off his old screenplay for a shot at making it into a film. After hawking the idea around Hollywood, the two young actors eventually got a call from Miramax who not only showed interest, but eventually secured Gus Van Sant to direct and Robin Williams to co-star. And the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history.

With an Oscar for both Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay, Damon's acting days in Hollywood were now secure. Next came a starring role in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, and in successive years was featured in lead performances in The Talented Mr. Ripley with Jude Law and reunited with Ben Affleck in the dark comedy hit, Dogma.

Other film credits have also included The Legend of Beggar Vance; All the Pretty Horses; the remake of the 60's classic, Oceans 11; and a hit espionage thriller, The Bourne Identity.

Most recently, Damon starred in the blockbuster sequel, The Bourne Supremacy and has reprised his role in the "Oceans" franchise as Linus Caldwell in the in Ocean's Twelve (2004).

The actor's 2005 screen appearances have included The Brother's Grimm alongside Heath Ledger, and in the political thriller Syriana with George Clooney.

Offscreen, Damon married girlfriend, Luciana Barroso, in 2005. It was Damon's first marriage and Barroso's second. Damon and Barroso exchanged vows in a secret ceremony in New York witnessed by Barroso's daughter, 7-year old Alexa, from a previous marriage.

Barroso gave birth to the couple's first child, Isabella, in June, 2006.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/matt-damon.htm

Miss Conginiality Trailer

2007-01-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

Sandra Bullock

2007-01-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

Fun-loving and charismatic (and voted in high school as the person Most Likely to Brighten Your Day), Sandra Bullock was born in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 1964.

With an opera singer mom, Bullock was exposed to show business at an early age and after briefly attending East Carolina University moved to New York to pursue an acting career. Theater was her first stop, with appearances on Off Broadway leading to television bit parts and small roles in film.

A minor breakthrough role in the early '90's saw her starring opposite Sylvestor Stallone in Demolition Man, leading up to her blockbuster role in the summer mega-hit Speed opposite Keanu Reeves that finally put Bullock's career on an upward projectory.

More success followed in the mid-90's with starring roles in the comedy While You Were Sleeping and in the drama, A Time to Kill, opposite Matthew McConaughey. The actress rounded out the decade with a rollercoaster ride of slumps and successes including forgettable roles in such movies as Two If By Sea in 1996 and in the disastrous Speed 2: Cruise Control a year later, but she later rebounded in the romantic comedy, Practical Magic alongside Nicole Kidman and in Miss Congeniality opposite Benjamin Bratt and Michael Caine.

Bullock's recent performances included starring roles in the comedy Two Weeks Notice with Hugh Grant, and in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Bullock's last screen appearance was in Miss Congeniality 2, reprising her role as undercover beauty queen/FBI agent Gracie Hart.

Offscreen, the actress made headlines when in July 2005 she married reality TV star Jesse James at a ranch near Santa Barbara, California.

Later in 2006 Bullock plays real life author Harper Lee ("To Kill a Mockinbird) and friend to writer Truman Capote in the film Infamous.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/sandra-bullock.htm

Top Gun Trailer

2007-01-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

Tom Cruise

2007-01-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

It was only a short two years later when he appeared in Risky Business in a scene that would forever-after define a teenagers' lust for freedom when - following the departure of his parents - he danced around the living room in his underwear.

The iconic performance put Cruise on the Hollywood map, soon going from success to success with starring roles in Top Gun in 1985, a year later co-starring with Paul Newman in the Color of Money, and opposite Dustin Hoffman in the mega-hit, Rain Man in 1988.

Cruise ended his first decade in acting with a powerhouse performance as a disabled Vietnam vet in the critically-acclaimed Born on the Fourth of July.

In 1987, Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers, who introduced him to the controversial relgious teachings of the Church of Scientology, and for which today Cruise remains one of Hollywood's most outspoken proponents.

Throughout the 90's, Cruise continued to take on a wide variety of roles in such movies as Far and Away co-starring his then-wife, actress Nicole Kidman, opposite Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, alongside Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire, and later scored major hits with remakes of the TV hit, Mission Impossible in which he once again returned to the action-adventure genre.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/tom-cruise.htm

Little Fish Trailer

2007-01-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

Cate Blanchett

2007-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Born Catherine Elise Blanchett in Melbourne, Australia on May 14th, 1969 the future Hollywood actress was ten years old when her Texan father died, leaving her Australian mother to raise her and two other siblings.

In her teens, Blanchett joined a local theater troupe, but lost interest in drama to attend the University of Melbourne to study art history. It was only later - when on a travel adventure in Egypt - when the acting bug bit again after she was cast as an extra in a boxing movie being shot nearby.

Once again back in Sydney, Blanchett enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art where she shone as an ingenue, and upon graduation launched her career in an award-winning stage performance appearing opposite actor Geoffrey Rush in Oleanna.

National recognition soon followed with such appearances in the Australian Broadcasting Commission's production of Heartland, and another award-winning performance in 1997 in Thank God He Met Lizzie.

A year later, Blanchett launched her Hollywood career when she burst upon the world scene in an internationally acclaimed performance in Elizabeth, for which she won a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Since then, Blanchett has established a reputation for fearlessness as she has taken on a variety of roles in such films as Pushing Tin with Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, and alongside Jude Law and Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was a tremendous success for all concerned in 2001, and furthered Blanchett's reputation with Tolkien fans in her brief, powerful performance as Queen Galadriel.

In 2005, the actress was nominated for a Golden Globe, won best supporting actress at the SAG Awards and again for best supporting actress at the 2005 Oscar Awards for her portrayal of legendary actress Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

Most recenlty, she co-starred with actor Brad Pitt in the Golden Globe nominated Babel in 2006.

Cast in yet another chameleon-like role, Blanchett is next set to appear as the young Bob Dylan in the musical biopic I'm Not There scheduled for 2007 release.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/cate-blanchett.htm

Russel Crowe Film 2006 Interview/Clips

2007-01-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

Russel Crowe

2007-01-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

Born Russell Ira Crowe in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 7, 1964, at age four Crowe moved with his family to Australia, There he frequently went to work with his parents catering film shoots - and on the set is where the young Crowe was said to have eventually caught the acting bug.

Today recognized as one of the leading Hollywood actors in such blockbusters as A Beautiful Mind and Gladiator, Crowe began his professional career in such Australian-produced films as The Crossing in 1990, following up with a critically praised performance in Proof in 1991.

The following year, worldwide attention was given to what is now recognized as an early trademark, "Crowe intense" performance as a skinhead in Romper Stomper.

It was actress Sharon Stone who later championed Crowe's move to Hollywood, and who appeared opposite the rising star in The Quick and The Dead in 1995, which eventually lead to his breakthrough performance in L.A. Confidential two years later and, finally, an Oscar nominated performance for The Insider in 1999.

In 2000, Crowe achieved superstar status with a riveting performance in the summer blockbuster, Gladiator - almost single-handedly reviving the once-dead 50's Roman epic genre. He also gained millions of new fans around the world and, in the process, triumphantly won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2001 for his performance.

His multilayered portrayal of a schizophrenic mathematician John Nash in A Beautiful Mind also netted Crowe a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor the following year.

In 2004, Crowe appeared in the epic sea adventure, Master and Commander

The actor was nominated once again for Best Actor at the 2006 Oscar Awards for his performance in Cinderella Man. An unsual foray into romantic comedy in A Good Year in which Crowe plays an investment banker who moves to Provence to manage a vineyard left to him by his late uncle. The film opened to mixed reviews in September previews.

Offscreen, Crowe is married to actress Danielle Spencer. The couple, who married in 2003, have a two sons, 2-year-old Charlie and infant Tennyson, born in July 2006.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/russell-crowe.htm

Jessica Biel

2007-01-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

Jessica Biel

2007-01-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

Born Jessica Claire Biel March 3, 1982 in Ely, Minnesota of Irish, German and American Indian ancestry, Biel was named The Sexiest Woman Alive in 2005 by Esquire Magazine, following the 2004 honoree, Angelina Jolie.

Biel, who is best known for her role as Mary Camden on the television drama, 7th Heaven (1996-2002) was raised in Boulder Colorado where her family moved when she was still an infant.

Singing was an early passion, and lessons followed in the hope that young Jessica would someday sing on Broadway.

Modeling stints as an adolescent later led to her breakthrough role on television when at 14 she landed the part of Mary Camden on 7th Heaven to critical acclaim.

Hollywood soon beckoned as Biel took on supporting roles in Ulee's Gold (1997) alongside Peter Fonda and in I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998) starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Proving she was no angel, two years later at age 17 the young actress changed her good girl image forever after appearing nude in a photo shoot for Gear magazine.

Her subsequent departure from the television series resulted in her being sought after for appearances in Summer Catch (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), and Blade: Trinity (2004).

In 2005, Biel has appeared in supporting roles in both Stealth and Elizabethtown.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/jessica-biel.htm

"Casino Royale" Trailer

2007-01-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Daniel Craig

2007-01-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

He's Bond.

The first blonde Bond.

Daniel Craig, the actor most famous in the U.S. for his role in Lara Croft:Tomb Raider alongside Angelina Jolie, has been offiically chosen to take over the role from Pierce Brosnan as the next James Bond in the remake of Casino Royale.

Born Daniel Wroughton Craig on March 2, 1968 the blue-eyed, blond-haired actor grew up in Liverpool before moving to London to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Craig made his film debut in The Power of One (1992), and has often appeared on British television in miniseries and TV movies including Our Friends in the North, Moll Flanders, The Ice House and Copenhagen.

British movie audiences know him best as the star of such films as Love & Rage, The Trench, Some Voices, and Hotel Splendide. He has also appeared in supporting roles in I Dreamed of Africa, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and with Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition.

Throughout 2005, rumors of Daniel Craig appearing on a short list of actors chosen to star in the James Bond franchise continued unabated. Then, in October, the UK's Daily Mail broke the news that Daniel Craig had all but clinched the role.

Craig now appears set for international stardom having completed filming of the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, also co-starring French hottie Eva Green in the role of vixen Vesper Lynd, and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as the villainous Le Chiffre.

Casino Royale will receive its world premiere in London on November 14, 2006 and opens three days later througout the UK and US. Meanwhile, a number of James Bond fans have vehemently opposed the casting of a "blond Bond" (with objections to the "not suave" Daniel Craig in particular) and call for a worldwide Casino Royale boycott. However, the actor already appears to be attracting female fans worldwide and has taken Esquire magazine's top spot on the 2006 Best Dressed List.

Beyond the Bond 007 franchise, Craig has also wrapped up production on The Visiting, a remake of the horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers in which he co-stars with actress Nicole Kidman. The film is scheduled for 2007 release.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/daniel-craig.htm

Catwoman Trailer

2007-01-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

Halle Berry

2007-01-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 14, 1968, Berry's introduction to show business was as a winner of the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, which lead to a career in modeling.

A TV acting career soon followed including appearances in Living Dolls, and Knots Landing before her debut film role in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever in 1991.

Berry next appeared in a series of films to mixed reviews including Boomerang opposite Eddie Murphy, and Losing Isaiah with Jessica Lange. More favorable reviews came with her appearances in Warren Beatty's Bullworth and in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge for which she won a Golden Globe award.

Her role as Storm in The X-Men, however, ultimately put Berry on the map - which was soon followed by an appearance opposite John Travolta in Swordfish, a major disaster.

Then came Berry's most critically acclaimed work to date, as she appeared in Monster's Ball opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Sean Combs, for which she became the first African-American woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Berry's other notable performances have since included a hot & sexy star turn in Die Another Day as well as a reprise of her role in the encore box office hit, X2- X-Men United.

Despite Berry's universally panned appearance in her starring role as Catwoman, (she attended the 2005 Razzie Awards to accept her award as Worst Actress) millions of her adoring fans continue to cite her proven track record and are betting that her next movie is will result in another Hollywood hit.

Most recently, Berry has received enormous buzz for her small screen starring role in Their Eyes Were Watching God on ABC Television. Her next role on the big screen will be as the voice of Cappy in the animated film, Robots.

Berry reprised her role as Storm in X-Men 3 (opposite Hugh Jackman as Wolverine) in 2006.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/halle-berry.htm

George Clooney Solaris Trailer

2007-01-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

George Clooney

2007-01-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Born May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky, George Clooney spent almost a decade in acting obscurity before landing the role of television's hottest heartthrob in the medical drama ER in 1994.

Early on, Clooney's only dream was to play professional baseball, but following a failed tryout with the Cincinnati Reds he turned to acting with the help of his father, broadcaster Nick Clooney and his aunt, singer and actress Rosemary Clooney.

Beginning in television commercials, Clooney signed on with Warner Bros. in a series of supporting roles, most notably in The Facts of Life, Roseanne and Sisters. His fame and fortune finally assured with his appearance on ER, Clooney left the cast after four years to pursue a career in film.

His more notable movie roles have since included The Perfect Storm with Mark Wahlberg, and the remake of the 1960 "Rat Pack" hit, Ocean's Eleven. and its sequel, Ocean's Twelve, released in late 2004 also starring Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.

In 2005, Clooney produced, written and starred in Good Night, and Good Luck based on the life and career of 50's TV journalist Edward R. Murrow.

He also produced and starred in the political thriller Syriana for which Clooney won for Best Supporting Actor at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards and again at the Academy Awards, where Clooney was also nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Good Night, and Good Luck.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/george-clooney.htm

50 First Dates Trailer

2007-01-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

Drew Barrymore

2007-01-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Born to an acting dynasty in Culver City, California on February 22, 1975, Drew Barrymore was the granddaughter of John Barrymore and grandniece of Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore.

Before she was a year old, Barrymore had already appeared in her first commercial, and at the ripe old age of 4 snagged her first movie role in Alerted States.

Her most famous role come a few years later - as Gertie in Stephen Speilberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, with more star assignments quickly following in Irreconcilable Differences and the film version of Stephen King's Firestarter.

So began a roller coaster career in films that saw the young star experimenting with drugs and alcohol before the age of 12, followed by a bout with rehab, a series of teen sexpot roles in in Poison Ivy (1992), The Amy Fisher Story (1993), and Batman Forever in 1995 - the same year she posed nude for Playboy. She was all of 20 years old.

At 21, Barrymore's career began again - in an upward direction - with critical raves for 'nice girl' roles in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You, followed a few years later with a gentle, endearing performance in The Wedding Singer and finally as a lovelorn young innocent in Never Been Kissed.

Regaining her reputation as a solidly bankable star, Barrymore next appeared in the hugely popular Charlie's Angels with Cameron Diaz, and became the real-life producer of the cult classic, Donnie Darko starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

In 2005, the actress won for "Favorite On-Screen Chemistry" alongside Adam Sandler at the 2005 People's Choice Awards for her performance in Fifty First Dates.

Barrymore's latest silver screen appearance has been in Fever Pitch (movie trailer), opposite comedian Jimmy Fallon.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/drew-barrymore.htm

Golden Eye Trailer

2007-01-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

Pierce Brosnan

2007-01-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

Born on May 16, 1953 in Navan, County Meath in the Republic of Ireland, Pierce Brendan Brosnan moved with his family to London at an early age and later trained at the Drama Centre London, making his West End debut in 1976. He appeared in his first film, The Long Good Friday, four years later.

Brosnan made his Atlantic crossing shortly afterward, where he was a hit with American audiences playing the young hero in the 1981 network miniseries The Manions of America. His popularity garnered him a weekly series the following year as the suave and debonair detective Remington Steele, alongside co-star Stephanie Zimbalist. It wasn't long before Hollywood came knocking to select Brosnan as the new James Bond upon the departure of Roger Moore in 1986. However, Brosnan was contractually obligated to remain with Remington Steele, and the role by default went to Timothy Dalton.

The disappointment didn't stop Brosnan from pursuing a movie career, however, and the actor perservered with plum roles in such hits as Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993 and in Love Affair with Annette Bening and Warren Beatty in 1994. The following year, the chance to play James Bond again presented itself to Brosnan. Now unfettered by contractual obligations, he began filming GoldenEye with an all-star cast which also included Judi Dench as M.

As both the film's producers and legions of his fans predicted, Brosnan was born to play James Bond - leading to three more successful outings as Agent 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, The World is Not Enough in 1999, and alongside Halle Berry in Die Another Day in 2002.

As it turned out, Die Another Day was to be his last and final performance as the debonair British spy after Brosnan announced he would not be returning to the role. A list of actors rumored to replace Brosnan as James Bond include Colin Farrell, Brad Pitt and Hugh Jackman.

However, it was revealed in October 2005 that British actor Daniel Craig would be filling the role as James Bond in an upcoming remake of Casino Royale.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/pierce-brosnan.htm

Jennifer Aniston (You're So Damn Hot)

2007-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Aniston

2007-01-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

Most recently at the center of a swirl of rumors about her engagement to actor Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston is the daughter of Days of Our Lives soap star John Aniston.

Jennifer Aniston was born in California, but spent most of her childhood in New York where she attended the High School of Performing Arts.

Off-Broadway roles were the kickoff of her professional career, moving on to TV with short-lived performances in a variety of doomed comedy-variety shows and sitcoms such as The Ben Stiller Show in 1993.

Aniston's big career break finally came with her role as Rachel Green in a newly planned sitcom, Friends Like These in what would eventually became known as Friends by the time it aired in 1994.

Not only was the show a mega-hit, it scored a huge following for Aniston herself, whose hairstyle on the show became a popular rage among young 20-somethings.

Today, Jennifer Anniston's hair continues to enthrall fans as she sports a straight-down style, obtained with a flat iron and which has brought the "Sedu" iron style into the popular lexicon.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/jennifer-aniston.htm

Pirates of the Carribean

2007-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

Orlando Bloom

2007-01-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

Born in Canterbury, Kent, England on January 13, 1977, Orlando Bloom moved to London at 16 where he received an education in serious drama at the National Youth Theatre, later training at the British American Drama Academy before his final graduate studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Shortly after graduation, Bloom returned to the stage where he was spotted by director Peter Jackson, who offered him the part of Legolas in a Lord of the Rings.

After appearing in the three-part epic blockbuster, Bloom subsequently took on high-profile roles in other major hits. They include Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and an appearance alongside Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Most recently, the actor also co-starred with Brad Pitt in Troy and in the medieval crusade epic, Kingdom of Heaven,

Bloom's co-starred with Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown, and reprised his role in Pirates of the Caribbean 2 in 2006.

http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/orlando-bloom.htm