Madonna's erotic encounter with Brazilian 'toyboy lover'

LONDON, Feb 11: This is the no-holds-barred photoshoot where Madonna is said to have met Brazilian model Jesus Luz, who she is now rumoured to be romancing. And judging by the pictures, it's clear to see the newly single singer hit it off straight away with the 22-year-old.

In one shot the 50-year-old is seen locked in a passionate embrace with a topless Luz, while in another the model is pictured naked as Madonna looks on.

Other images reveal that Luz has his full name tattooed across the top of his back and in another the pair romp together on a hotel bed.

Madonna is featured in a 46-page spread in the March edition of American magazine W, clad in a Victoria Beckham black dress with white-trimmed sleeves and neckline.

She was photographed in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro in December by celebrated photographer Steven Klein.

Oddly enough, given his name Jesus, the pair were first linked before Christmas and she was apparently so enamoured with the handsome Latino, she asked him to accompany her for the remainder of the South America leg of her Sticky & Sweet Tour.

Quite what his devoutly religious family make of it all is unclear especially as his mother is four years younger than Madonna.

Earlier this month the couple were spotted dining out together in New York, which has fuelled speculation they are an item.

An eyewitness at the restaurant told Grazia: 'During their brunch here, Madonna and Jesus held hands across the table. At one point, Jesus had his hand on her bottom.'

The encounter came, according to the magazine, hours after Guy and Madonna had been to a Kabbalah meeting.

'Guy doesn't think highly of Jesus since he is convinced this is a casual fling and is not thrilled this is happening so soon after the divorce,' a friend is quoted as saying.

'He's definitely got reservations about the fact Jesus has already met the children.'

Guy is currently in New York working on his latest film, Sherlock Holmes.

How long the relationship will last is open to question as a former girlfriend of Jesus is quoted as saying: 'I think it will be difficult for (Jesus) to romance anyone for more than a year. He tires easily of girlfriends and has childish tastes.'

However, since being linked to Madonna, it's perhaps no surprise Luz's modelling career has been given a huge boost.

His new agent Paula Marina told Grazia: 'Everybody in New York loves Jesus. He is going to have an international career.'

His former agent Sergios Mattos, who runs 40 Graus Models, told the New York Post recently that Luz stopped taking his calls after meeting Madonna and has now signed to the more high-profile Ford Models.

Mattos told Brazilian website Glamurama.com.br: 'He stopped answering his phone... But I wish him the best.

'And now I have a new Jesus [Spanish model Jesus Perez]. This is a much better Jesus, and he's not a fan of Madonna's.' A source close to model also told Glamurama Jesus had raised his modelling rates since meeting Madonna.

The source said: 'He was asking for some $135,000 a show. He did the same job last year for a mere $225.

'A lot of people are contacting him but because he keeps raising his rates, they are changing their minds.'

Luz is the second man to be linked to Madonna since she split from her now ex-husband Guy Ritchie in October.

Madonna denied reports last year she was involved with New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez, who divorced his wife Cynthia last summer. The baseball player made headllines of his own today after he admitted he used steroids.

In an interview with the cable television network ESPN, he admitted and apologised for using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003, when he was a member of the Texas Rangers.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ sweeps Baftas

LONDON, Feb 9: Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s plucky take on Mumbai’s slum-children, on Sunday glided over the last hump on its unstoppable march to the Oscars after it swept the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, or Baftas. Here it won seven major awards including for best film, best direction and A.R. Rahman’s music. The Baftas are regarded as a dress-rehearsal for the big Hollywood event.

“Unbelievable again!” quipped Rahman, who won a Golden Globe for his score barely a few weeks ago.

The film, which was nominated in 11 categories, also won the Baftas for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and sound. This brought its tally of international awards to nearly 50.

The only other Indian, apart from Rahman, to receive a Bafta was Resul Pookutty for sound along with Glenn Freemantle, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp. However, neither Dev Patel, the teenage “hero” of the film who was nominated for best actor, nor Freida Pinto, the “heroine” tipped for best supporting actress, made it. Both had their moments, though, when they were called to the stage to present the award for best costume.

Earlier, young Patel joked about having been nominated at all saying he was surprised. “I can’t believe it. Please someone slap me,” he said.

Born and brought up in Britain, he seemed happy to be simply back on his “home turf” and appeared to revel in being at the centre of so much attention.

The most important event in Britain’s movie calendar was so dominated by Slumdog Millionaire that some of Hollywood’s biggest offerings were almost reduced to the also-ran category.

Critics reckoned the film won an award every 20 minutes, and punters reportedly lost some £I million, having put money on SDM’s rivals.

One of the biggest surprises of the evening was SDM beating its strong Hollywood contender, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt. For films like The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Doubt losing to SDM appeared unfair to some, who attributed its success to “media hype.”

Boyle called it a triumph for the spirit of the people of Mumbai. He regretted that some people in India had objected to the term “slumdog.” He added: “I’m disappointed. It was meant in an aspirational way.”

Gisele Bundchen strips off for Aids charity appeal

LONDON, Feb 11: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has posed in just tiny pants in a photo shoot for Elle magazine to support Aids charity appeal (Red).

In another snap, the 28-year-old Brazilian paints a very pretty picture as she poses in an art-inspired shoot.

Bundchen is keen to emphasise that she is not involved in this campaign just for her image but as it is one close to her heart after growing up in poor conditions.

"I grew up in a country strongly affected by poverty. On street corners you see kids doing things on the wrong side of the law,” the Sun quoted Bundchen, as saying.

“The face of suffering isn't an abstract thing for me, and I''ve always said to myself that if I could do something to help, I would.

"Follow your instincts and your heart: if you are able to buy and help others at the same time, why deny yourself the pleasure?" she added.

Money is generated through the charity's partners, who design and sell specific products and contribute a share of the profits to invest in African Aids programmes.

Britney flaunts her figure in skimpy clothes

LONDON, Feb 3: Troubled pop star Britney Spears is back in shape and her outfits are getting skimpier and skimpier.

The singer, who is rehearsing for The Circus world tour, gave fans a glimpse of her new figure by posting her bikini-clad shots. In the pictures, Spears is seen working with choreographer Jaquel Knight, the man behind Beyonce Knowles' moves in her Single Ladies video, and her body looks in great shape, reports thesun.co.uk.

It is difficult to think it was just a year ago that Spears was stretchered out of her home for a psychiatric evaluation. Her tour will feature three spectacular acts, from her messy meltdown to her recovery.

It kicks off in her home state of Louisiana on March 3 and runs for four months, covers the rest of the US, Canada and London, with plans to expand to the rest of Europe.

Spears will perform six gigs in London's O2 arena between June 3-14.

'Slumdog Millionaire' bags 10 Oscar nominations; A R Rahman notches up 3 nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, Jan 22: Continuing his spectacular run, A R Rahman on Thursday became the first Indian to get three Oscar nominations for his score in British-Indian movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which was also was nominated for seven other categories including best film and best director.

Rahman was nominated for Best Original Score and the numbers 'Jai Ho' and 'O Saya' were shortlisted for the Best Original Song.

Close on the heels of the dual-language film winning four Golden Globes, including one for Rahman, earlier this month, Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy were shortlisted for best director and best adapted screenplay categories.

The nominations were announced at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker. The awards will be announced on February 22 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. This is the first time that an Indian has won more than one nomination in Oscar history.

Reacting to the nominations, Rahman said: "I did not think it will get there. God has been really kind. And I have to really thank the prayers of all the people and their good wishes.

"Something good is happening and I am really happy about it," he said, adding there is a kind of optimism in the film and so much of positive vibes as you leave the movie hall."

Co-director Loveelyn Tandon said "We have proved everyone wrong. It's a crazy feeling beyond words. Ten nominations is something unbelievable."

She said all Rahman's work has been awarded and the "world has finally woken up to his talent". In the original score category, Rahman will compete with Alexandre Desplat ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), James Newton Howard ("Defiance"), Danny Elfman ("Milk") and Thomas Newman ("WALL-E").

Rahman will compete with Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman ("Down to earth" from "WALL-E") in the original song category. Gulzar has penned the lyrics of "Jai Ho" and Maya Arulpragasam "O Saya".

The romantic periodical "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", starring Brad Pitt, topped this years Oscar race with a whopping 13 nominations.

The films for the best picture race are "Milk", "Frost/Nixon", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "The Reader".

Those nominated in the best director category along with Boyle are David Fincher ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Stephen Daldry ("The Reader"), Gus Van Sant ("Milk") and Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon").

The film also won nominations in cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and film editing.

List of 81st annual Oscar nominations

1. Best Picture: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``Frost/Nixon,'' ``Milk,'' ``The Reader,'' ``Slumdog Millionaire.''

2. Actor: Richard Jenkins, ``The Visitor''; Frank Langella, ``Frost/Nixon''; Sean Penn, ``Milk''; Brad Pitt, ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''; Mickey Rourke, ``The Wrestler.''

3. Actress: Anne Hathaway, ``Rachel Getting Married''; Angelina Jolie, ``Changeling''; Melissa Leo, ``Frozen River''; Meryl Streep, ``Doubt''; Kate Winslet, ``The Reader.''

4. Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, ``Milk''; Robert Downey Jr., ``Tropic Thunder''; Philip Seymour Hoffman, ``Doubt''; Heath Ledger, ``The Dark Knight''; Michael Shannon, ``Revolutionary Road.''

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, ``Doubt''; Penelope Cruz, ``Vicky Cristina Barcelona''; Viola Davis, ``Doubt''; Taraji P. Henson, ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''; Marisa Tomei, ``The Wrestler.''

6. Director: David Fincher, ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''; Ron Howard, ``Frost/Nixon''; Gus Van Sant, ``Milk''; Stephen Daldry, ``The Reader''; Danny Boyle, ``Slumdog Millionaire.''

7. Foreign Film: ``The Baader Meinhof Complex,'' Germany; ``The Class,'' France; ``Departures,'' Japan; ``Revanche,'' Austria; ``Waltz With Bashir,'' Israel.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''; John Patrick Shanley, ``Doubt''; Peter Morgan, ``Frost/Nixon''; David Hare, ``The Reader''; Simon Beaufoy, ``Slumdog Millionaire.''

9. Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, ``Frozen River''; Mike Leigh, ``Happy-Go-Lucky''; Martin McDonagh, ``In Bruges''; Dustin Lance Black, ``Milk''; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, ``WALL-E.''

10. Animated Feature Film: ``Bolt''; ``Kung Fu Panda''; ``WALL-E.''

11. Art Direction: ``Changeling,'' ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``The Duchess,'' ``Revolutionary Road.''

12. Cinematography: ``Changeling,'' ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``The Reader,'' ``Slumdog Millionaire.''

13. Sound Mixing: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``Slumdog Millionaire,'' ``WALL-E,'' ``Wanted.''

14. Sound Editing: ``The Dark Knight,'' ``Iron Man,'' ``Slumdog Millionaire,'' ``WALL-E,'' ``Wanted.''

15. Original Score: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' Alexandre Desplat; ``Defiance,'' James Newton Howard; ``Milk,'' Danny Elfman; ``Slumdog Millionaire,'' A.R. Rahman; ``WALL-E,'' Thomas Newman.

16. Original Song: ``Down to Earth'' from ``WALL-E,'' Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; ``Jai Ho'' from ``Slumdog Millionaire,'' A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; ``O Saya'' from ``Slumdog Millionaire,'' A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

17. Costume: ``Australia,'' ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Duchess,'' ``Milk,'' ``Revolutionary Road.''

18. Documentary Feature: ``The Betrayal (Nerakhoon),'' ``Encounters at the End of the World,'' ``The Garden,'' ``Man on Wire,'' ``Trouble the Water.''

19. Documentary (short subject): ``The Conscience of Nhem En,'' ``The Final Inch,'' ``Smile Pinki,'' ``The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306.''

20. Film Editing: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``Frost/Nixon,'' ``Milk,'' ``Slumdog Millionaire.''

21. Makeup: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``Hellboy II: The Golden Army.''

22. Animated Short Film: ``La Maison en Petits Cubes,'' ``Lavatory _ Lovestory,'' ``Oktapodi,'' ``Presto,'' ``This Way Up.''

23. Live Action Short Film: ``Auf der Strecke (On the Line),'' ``Manon on the Asphalt,'' ``New Boy,'' ``The Pig,'' ``Spielzeugland (Toyland).''

24. Visual Effects: ``The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,'' ``The Dark Knight,'' ``Iron Man.''

I'll keep stripping: Kate Hudson

LONDON, Jan 19: Hollywood actress Kate Hudson has said she won't stop stripping as she loves shedding her clothes for the camera. The You, Me and Dupree beauty, is one of Hollywood's sexiest stars to have graced many magazine covers in the buff and she insists she'll carry on baring all in the name of art, reports thesun.co.uk.

"I love doing them (stripping scenes/shoots) and I will do more. It's fun. Also, I've come to appreciate the skill of the photographer. It's a real art. I'm very interested in that side of it," she said.

Madonna strips for Louis Vuitton ad

LONDON, Jan 8: American pop singer Madonna has stripped down to her knickers for an advertisement of the international brand Louis Vuitton.

The 50-year-old is seen reclining on a leather seat wearing fishnet tights, Louis Vuitton pants and jacket, with one leg lifted in the air, reports mirror.co.uk.

Just last month she posed in fishnet tights, holding her leg in the air for the Louis Vuitton's spring/summer collection.

Paris Hilton wants to name first daughter London

LONDON, Jan 8: Socialite heiress Paris Hilton has announced to name first daughter after a city just like her name.

Mirror.co.uk reports that the singer-actress would be naming her first girl London, as she plans to shift base to Britain after giving birth to children.

“I'd love to have children in the next two years (and) I'd like (to have) three or four children.

I want a boy first, to watch over my girls, and I'll name my first girl London. I love that name,” she said.

“I would like to move here one day and raise my kids in the UK so that they have British accents and manners,” she added.

'I was hesitant about nude Vanity Fair shoot'

LONDON, Dec 9: Kate Winslet says she was hesitant about the nude Vanity Fair magazine shoot until she was told that photographer Steven Meisel was going to click the pictures.

Contactmusic.com reports her saying: "I didn't go into that shoot knowing the concept... but when you're asked to be on the cover of Vanity Fair and photographed by Steven Meisel, it's a wonderful thing to experience. It is a fantastic opportunity just to be able to have that memory in your lifetime. I absolutely had a moment of thinking, 'I don't believe I'm gonna take my clothes off here,' and the next moment I thought, 'Yeah, dammit, I'm, I'm 43, I've had two kids, Steven Meisel is taking pictures of me naked. This is never gonna happen again!'

"I transported myself 30 years on and I wanted to be able to say, 'Yeah, I did that.' That was one of those crazy, wonderful things and I'm really happy to have that memory. I have the prints from the shoot that Steven gave me at the end of the day that were taken out of the camera and were blown up."

She also clarified the controversy of the supposed "touch-up" of the pictures.

"I will tell you the only thing they re-touched was my skin tone," she said.

Britney went behind my back and filed divorce

LONDON, Dec 5: Kevin Federline, the ex-husband of pop star Britney Spears recently revealed that he did not want to divorce her and that she did it behind his back.

Mirror.co.uk reports that he said: "I was trying to work stuff out with her. She didn't talk to me... and went behind my back and filed for divorce."

Speaking to a magazine, Spears said: "This whole year has been a hell of a year for me. In five years I'd like to be married and have a father figure for my kids - someone who's a provider and can be stable. It's hard doing it on your own."

Spears is now working on a comeback with her new album Circus.

Paris Hilton parties after split

LONDON, Nov 23: Socialite heiress Paris Hilton is trying to move on after her split with Benji Madden.

According to thesun.co.uk, Hilton went partying, looked happy and wore a crinkled dress for the occasion. This comes just days after her split from rocker Madden.

She was joined by her sister Nicky for dinner at the Los Angeles restaurant Mr. Chow. The fellow diners all seemed impressed with her dress.

Winehouse goes on bizarre night walk

LONDON, Nov 16: Troubled British singer Amy Winehouse reportedly went on a bizarre walk late in the night, wearing rather skimpy clothes.

According to thesun.co.uk, Winehouse walked through the streets erratically. Sometime during the walk, she collected a bottle of vodka and when she signed an autograph for a fan, she signed his name instead of her own.

She was dressed in a stringy vest, a thin top and denim shorts.

A witness said: “She looked a mess and found it hard to avoid stumbling. It was desperately sad.”

Ronson performs sexy lap dance for Lohan

LONDON, Nov 16: Samantha Ronson performed a sexy lap dance for Lindsay Lohan. The DJ – who was playing a set at exclusive London night spot Chinawhite on Wednesday (12.11.08) – treated her ‘Mean Girls’ star girlfriend to the saucy routine as Katy Perry hit ‘I Kissed a Girl’ was played.

Samantha – who is the sister of music producer Mark Ronson – gave the impromptu erotic dance after becoming jealous of other girls flirting with Lindsay.

A source said: “They went into a full kiss, their hands all over each other. Nobody knew where to look.”

Earlier in the evening, 22-year-old Lindsay had ordered several girls away from Samantha’s DJ booth after she spotted them handing over their phone numbers written on the back of drinks receipts.

The source added: “Lindsay crawled on all fours under the bar and nestled up to Sam on the decks, hugging her as if to say she was her girl.”

Lindsay’s ex-boyfriend Calum Best – the son of late soccer legend George Best - was also at the event, but kept his distance from his former lover. As the stars left at 4am, a fight broke out outside, prompting Lindsay’s minders to desperately fend off fawning fans.

Lindsay said: “I’m OK, I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.”

She added of the chaos: “I just wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. I’m so, so sorry.”

Lindsay and Samantha are reportedly set to fly out to Paris today to have two engagement rings made based on their own designs.

They are expected to return to the UK to make an official announcement.

Bruni is world’s coolest celebrity

LONDON, Nov 5: For France’s flamboyant President Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni might be the sexiest woman, but Britons have voted her as the coolest celebrity in the world.

The 40-year-old former Italian supermodel-turned singer rocketed to the top of the ‘Alternative Cool List’ with almost a quarter of those questioned in the nationwide survey naming her as their favourite celebrity.

Titanic pair locks lips again

LONDON, Oct 3: After 11 year, Titanic stars Kate Winslet And Leonardo DiCaprio locked lips again in Revolutionary Road.

Thesun.co.uk reports that Winslet was the envy of millions of girls after being cast as leading lady Rose to Leo's Jack in the 1997 blockbuster. Now they have reunited on screen to play lovers in Oscar-tipped film Revolutionary Road. The film is directed by Winslet's husband Sam Mendes.

Their first kiss in Titanic was voted the best-ever movie embrace, so a sloppy kiss on the cheek was never going to do this time round.