Penélope Cruz vies to become first Spanish actress to win an Oscar

Penélope Cruz is nominated again for an Oscar — this time for best supporting actress for her work in the acclaimed Woody Allen film “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

If she does win on Sunday, Cruz should be thrilled to receive the statuette from Javier Bardem, her compatriot and partner in Allen’s romantic comedy, who gets the honor for winning best supporting actor last year for “No Country for Old Men.”

Cruz, the only Spanish actress ever nominated for an Oscar, has now done it twice. In 2007, she got a best actress nod for her work in Pedro Almodóvar’s “Volver.”

She is also one of few Hispanics among this year's Oscar nominees, quite the change since two years ago when she was one of more than a dozen Spaniards and Latin Americans nominated.

Paz Vega becomes sexy femme fatale in ‘The Spirit’

Actress Paz Vega has played a waitress, a mother, a grocery clerk, and even a feminist mystic over the course of her 10 year career. In her most recent film, “The Spirit,” based on Will Eisner’s comics, the 32-year-old actress from Seville, Spain transforms into comic-book character Plaster of Paris, a murderous French nightclub dancer and ex-girlfriend of the title character.

Halle Berry is Sexiest Woman Alive

The actress said she was pleased to receive the accolade seven months after giving birth to daughter Nuala.

"I don't know exactly what it means, but being 42 and having just had a baby, I think I'll take it," the actress said.

Berry, who thrilled James Bond fans when she emerged from the waves wearing an orange bikini in Die Another Day, joked: "I've been in the business for more than 20 years, and you decide now, at this particular time, that I'm the sexiest woman alive? Come on. I mean, you couldn't go with the Bond girl year?"

Eva Herzigová shares George's first word, plans birthday party

Revealing that she is missing son George while in Cannes this week, Eva Herzigová plans to make up for her absence next Sunday, June 1st, when her son celebrates his first birthday. Although she initially had been considering larger-scale plans, Eva explained that her fellow mom friends talked her out of it.

I have lots of friends who have one-year-olds so I've been asking them all: Should I get animals or clowns or what? They're like, 'Well, don't do too much because he's still not old enough to really enjoy it.' So probably some friends and some balloons. Definitely balloons.

Hollywood celebrities urge human rights in Myanmar

Dozens of Hollywood celebrities have joined together to call attention to the repressive military regime in Myanmar and the plight of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent more than a decade under house arrest.

In more than 30 public-service spots that are being released online daily this month, actors and artists including Will Ferrell, Sarah Silverman, Ellen Page and Sylvester Stallone call for Suu Kyi's release and the establishment of democracy in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Drew Barrymore: Brave and beautiful!

Actress Drew Barrymore was involved in a hit-and-run car accident, but managed to chase the other vehicle to get its licence plate number. The 33-year-old actress was not injured in the accident that happened on May 12 in West Hollywood. Instead of staying put, Drew followed the offending vehicle and snagged its licence plate number.

Zara Phillips named in British Olympic eventing team

Zara Phillips, a grand-daughter of Queen Elizabeth, has been named in the British three-day eventing squad for the Beijing Olympics in August.

Phillips, 27 later this month, was world champion in 2006 and European champion in 2005. She will ride Toytown at her first Olympics where she will be part of a five-strong British squad.

"I am lucky in that Toytown has been to championship events before, so he knows about big occasions and has been consistent, but an Olympic Games really is special," Phillips said in a statement. "I am delighted for Toytown as he really deserves it."

Kim Cattrall: all work, lust and foreplay

Kim Cattrall is the woman who put the sex into Sex and the City. But how close to reality is three-times married Kim Cattrall to the man-eating Samantha? Garth Pearce takes his chances.

Vanessa Hudgens Goes Gucci Glamour

Vanessa Hudgens models six of the season’s most adorable party looks in the latest issue of Glamour. On her favorite style-setters: “Mary-Kate Olsen, Victoria Beckham and Nicole Richie. [They] have fun with fashion.” On how a great dress makes her feel: “Feminine and sexy–just how a girl should!”

Tarantino touch fails to work for Bollywood

As I left the cinema, my senses reeling from an inces- sant assault by what can only be described as an overblown attempt to try to Tarantino-ise Bollywood, I bumped into a regular cinemagoer who put it all into perspective. “Thank goodness for bad films,” she said. “At least it makes us appreciate the good ones.”

“Bad” is what this wannabe cult classic wants to be — “bad” in a rap, hip-hop sense — and while there are moments when it’s on the button by being surreal, bold and even quite brilliant, overall the package is let down by gross over-indulgence by first-time director Vijay Krishna Acharya.

Cutting-edge cinema is a simple medium. By all means, push the envelope as far as you possibly can, but don’t throw the whole post office at the audience, as Acharya has done, to the extent that one has to duck to avoid the postman’s flying bicycle!

He loses grip of the reins, as everything is overplayed in every scene.

Is Roxanne Pallett the sexiest?

TONIGHT'S British Soap Awards are set for a photo-finish, and not just because of these sizzling snaps.

Insiders say so many votes have been cast this year that it’s too close to call a winner.

But as the nation’s sauciest stars prepared to try to outdo each other on the red carpet, gorgeous Emmerdale babe Roxanne Pallett, 25, was hoping it’s her year to do the double.

She has been nominated for Best Actress and Sexiest Female.