Sometimes a rumor is too good to wait for official confirmation. Our friend Richard Crawford tells me today that Todd Haynes is adapting James M. Cain’s Mildred Pierce as a long-form television mini-series. That much we might have known if we ever read Michael Musto’s blog, because he teased about it last October. Musto suggested that this would make another great Todd Haynes showcase for Julianne Moore. Reasonable assumption, but a bit predictable.

The new development we’re hearing today is that the producers might be looking at Kate Winslet to star as Mildred Pierce with Dakota Fanning as her belligerent and contemptuous daughter, Veda. The 1945 original, of course, was directed by Michael Curtiz and was nominated for six Oscars. Three plume roles garnered noms for Joan Crawford as Mildred, Ann Blyth as Veda, and Eve Arden as the best friend Ida. (The evening of Crawford’s Oscar win was the centerpiece of another smothering mothering movie, Mommie Dearest, 36 years later.)

Mildred, Veda and Ida. Kate Winslet, Dakota Fanning and… Patricia Clarkson? That last name is wishful thinking, but even if the first two turn out to be solid, this project is shaping up to be a terrific TV event. Mmm… Noir Gardens.

Source: Awards Daily

Hollywood actress Kate Winslet has revealed that she still wears the gold band that her Titanic co-actor Leonardo Di Caprio gifted her.

Kate has also revealed that gold band has an engraving inside.

She, however, chose not to divulge what it says, reports the China Daily.

“Yes, Leo’s ring is engraved on the inside, but I’m not going to tell you what it says,” Kate told Flare magazine.

Kate declared that her closeness to Leonardo helped her easily enact the scenes in the flick ‘Revolutionary Road’.

“I would even let Leo physically harm me if it meant making a scene better, and I know he feels the same way. If we didn’t have this rare friendship, I don’t think we would be able to show that chemistry on screen,” she added.

SOURCE:  www.thaindian.com

GALLERY LINKS:
• Titanic: Promotional Stills

After a moving appeal by photographer Don Mullan in the Sunday Independent a number of Hollywood stars have come to the aid of the last survivor of the Titanic.

The director and cast of the 1997 blockbuster film have made a “considerable donation” to secure the financial future of 98-year-old Mullvina Dean who has had to resort to selling her autograph to pay her nursing home bills.

The stars of the film on the 1912 tragedy which grossed over $1bn were deeply touched to hear of the last survivor’s plight.

Millvina Dean, the youngest passenger, who was just nine weeks old when carried onto the Titanic at Southampton, survived and is now living in Southampton, England. She needs money for her care.

After Irish author and photographer, Don Mullan, publicly challenged the Hollywood stars to match him, dollar for dollar, representatives of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio — who was obviously touched by Millvina’s plight — contacted the Sunday Independent and asked to be put in touch with him. (more…)

GALLERY LINKS:
• 2009 Magazines: Kino Park – February – Thanks to no-a
• 2009 Magazines: Grazia – February 3 – Thanks to no-a
• 2009 Magazines: Gloria – February 5 – Thanks to no-a
• 2009 Magazines: TV-Park – February 9-15 – Thanks to no-a
• 2009 Magazines: Rolling Stone – April 2 – Thanks to no-a
• 2009 Magazines: Flaire – April 2 – Thanks to Kelsey Solo

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet is suing the Daily Mail newspaper for £150,000 over an article which claimed she had lied about her fitness regime.

In papers filed at London’s High Court, the film star said she was “distressed and embarrassed” by the feature.

The 33-year-old added the claims injured her personal and professional reputation, and is seeking a ban on them being republished.

The paper has not agreed to a bar on their repetition, documents state.

In the story, headlined “Should Kate Winslet win an Oscar for the world’s most irritating actress?”, it was claimed that the star had underplayed the amount of exercise she needed to stay in shape.

The article disputed a quote given to Elle magazine, in which Winslet said: “I don’t go to the gym because I don’t have time, but I do Pilates workout DVDs for 20 minutes or more every day at home.”

In the court papers, Winslet says she was particularly upset by the very unpleasant and nasty way in which the article was written.

It is understood that the actress took exception because she is often identified as a role model for young women who accept the way they look.

In 2007, Winslet accepted an undisclosed settlement from Grazia magazine over allegations that she had visited a diet doctor.

The publication apologised and accepted that Winslet had visited a medic to be treated for a neck problem.

Earlier this year, the screen star won a host of awards – including the Oscar for best actress – for her role in The Reader.

SOURCE:  www..bbc.co.uk

Kate taking kids to school with Mia, April 16, New York City

Sam Mandes, Kate Winslet with Kate’s kid Mia out in New York City, April 22.

Kate Winslet with kids Joe and Mia taking a stroll in NYC, May 1.

GALLERY LINKS:
• 2009 Candids: Taking kids to school – April 16
• 2009 Candids: Out in NYC – April 22
• 2009 Candids: Taking a stroll in NYC – May 1

Kate Winslet has embraced her artistic side by drawing butterflies for charity.

Ricky Gervais, Sophie Dahl and Stephen Fry are also among the celebrities who have doodled for Leukaemia Research.

The sketches – along with paintings and poems – will be published in the Butterfly Book, which is designed in memory of charity fundraiser Claire Wadley, who was 25 when she died from leukaemia.

Claire dedicated a lot of her time to raising money for the charity and loved butterflies. It was her friend Laura-Jane Foley’s idea to design a book in her memory.

She said: “I decided to write to well-known public figures and invite them to draw, sketch or doodle a picture of a butterfly, enclosing a piece of card with each letter. Claire’s story touched so many people and I was overwhelmed by the response.”

The Butterfly Book includes images, poems and messages from nearly 80 famous names and is available for £25. A limited edition costs £100 and has one piece of original artwork.

All profits from book sales go to the Claire Elizabeth Wadley Forget Me Not Fund for Leukaemia Research.  www.thebutterflybook.co.uk

SOURCE:  uk.news.yahoo.com