Watching New Celebs

Olga Kurylenko, born Olga Konstantinovna Kurylenko in Ukraine last November 14, 1979, is a model and an actress who is no stranger to hardships and poverty. She was raised by her grandparents and lived in a tiny flat with her cousins, as her mother struggled to provide for her future, working as an art teacher. Yet, inspite this, Olga has managed to study piano and ballet at a very young age.

By the time Olga was thirteen, an agent has spotted her with her mother at a Moscow subway station and convinced her to become a model. And after a series of training, Olga was ready to move to Paris and signed on to a modeling agency at the age of 16. At a young age of 18 years old, Olga has, by then already made cover in various magazines like Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire. She went on to be the image model for the Bebe clothing line and cosmetic giants like Clarins and Helena Rubinstein.

In the late 90’s Olga decided to shift from modeling to acting and went to different acting agencies but it wasn’t until in 2005 when her acting career took off via the Diane Bertrand film, L’ Annulaire. As a screen siren, Olga’s beauty and mesmerizing features did not go unnoticed with the male population. She then starred in a few more films like Le Serpent and Paris, Je T’aime with Elijah Wood. Both films were released in 2006. Her first Hollywood break was via the film adaptation of the video game franchise, Hitman with Timothy Olyphant.

But her biggest break would have to be bagging the newest Bond girl tag via the latest James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace with Daniel Craig. The movie will be released in November of this year.

Watch this video of Olga talking about all her role of a lifetime and the stunts she has to do for the film:

I had just finished watching Wanted a couple of days ago. The movie, of course starred Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy… who is fast becoming one familiar celebrity. Although, I didn’t quite enjoy the film contrary to reviews which were mostly positive.  And I couldn’t picture James McAvoy as a real action hero…yet. I just don’t see it in him.

Although, yes the guy’s quite a good actor and I would love to see more of his work. I’m going to be watching his other movie, Penelope, a little later (with Christina Ricci and Reese Weatherspoon) and I think I’d love that better than Wanted.

I first learned of James McAvoy as he was starting out in Hollywood, via Spielberg’s mini-series Band of Brothers. He wasn’t even in the story much and his character even died. But he left a lasting impact on me, one that would prompt me google him up and check on where else I can see him in.

Born in Scotland, James McAvoy, got another break in Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune, and then later in the epic movie, The Chronicles of Narnia. But his celebrity status rose to greater heights in the Atonement, earning him prestigious acting nominations such as the BAFTA, the European Film Award and the Golden Globes.

He will be next seen on the upcoming film, The Last Station, a story about the famous writer Leo Tolstoy. It is a movie he did alongside his wife, Anne Marie Duff. James McAvoy is also rumored to  be playing the role of young Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit.

With these quality projects on hand for him, it’s pretty clear this Scottish lad is very much wanted in Hollywood these days.

Haagh. I really am getting old. Apparently, on of the hit shows of the summer is Disney’s Camp Rock, outdrawing High School Musical, the previous summer’s hit, in the ratings.What is Camp Rock? I have no idea. I had to ask my 10 year old about it and I was told it stars the new Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato with the Jonas Brothers (who I only know from watching them on American Idol last season).

Here’s the gist of the TV Movie based on a review from the New York Times:

Mitchie (Demi Lovato) is desperate to go to a rich-kid rock ’n’ roll camp, but her family can’t afford it until her mother gets hired as the camp cook, entitling Mitchie to a discount. Also at the camp is a vain rock star (played by Joe Jonas) doing some image rehabilitation, as well as that insufferable diva (Meaghan Jette Martin). It’s a sort of glass-ceiling character for these movies and shows; either the writers of such stuff think that young viewers can’t handle anything more than blatantly obvious good-gal/bad-gal dynamics, or they have no idea how complex and varied real high school social life is.

In any case, Mitchie tries to hide her identity; the obligatory romance, food fight and climactic talent show come along on schedule; and some moderately catchy tunes and dance numbers are served up (many of them at the end, in that talent show).

Because of the show’s success, Disney is already working on the sequel, with the script already in development. They’re expecting to bring everyone from the principal cast back and production for it is targeted for spring or summer 2009.

Technorati Tags: Camp Rock,Jonas Brothers,Demi Lovato

For the record, I actually don’t know how Tila Tequila looks like except that now, I have to find a picture of her for this entry (Oh, that’s what she looks like!). Before this, I did not know who she was. I only had an idea she’s a somebody because I always read her name online (always!).

What she’s famous for, I had no clue. Until I read this article from Holy Taco saying….

"Back in 2005, the editor-in-chief of Stuff magazine wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the Internet. He called down to the online department and said, “Hey, tell me who has a lot of Myspace friends,” because he wanted to put someone on the cover of Stuff who had a “lot of Myspace friends.” The brilliant marketing plan behind this was based on the thinking that if someone on the cover had a million Myspace friends, then all those “friends” would buy that magazine and sales would skyrocket. What it showed, instead, was a complete lack of understanding of how the Internet works. When someone has a million Myspace friends, it just means that he/she spends the majority of his/her day clicking “add as a friend” or “accept.” They aren’t pals who sit around and reminisce about the good times they’ve had.

So, the online guy took 10 seconds (honestly, 10 seconds) and found a girl with an assload of MySpace friends. That, girl, of course, was Tila Tequila, and she appeared on the April 2006 cover of Stuff.

The editor’s big plan failed (the cover sold the same as every other one), but Tila Tequila somehow got famous. A girl whose biggest claim to fame up to that point had been a Playboy cyber girl in 2002 (which is basically the sewage drain of wannabe models) and some other crap you never saw. She even attempted to enter Maxim’s Hometown Hotties in 2005, but was too stupid to mail in the proper forms."

I have no idea whether this story is true or not.

Centuries ago, a person became famous for the kind of contribution he or she has brought to the world — Da Vinci, Newton, Grahambell — those kinds of famous people.

In the Internet age, Tila’s story shows how anyone can become "famous" just by simply clicking on some ADD ME button in a social networking site.

Times have changed. A lot.

Mario Lopez is this year’s most sought after bachelor, according to People Magazine.

Mario Lopez may be PEOPLE’s Hottest Bachelor – but the A Chorus Line star and fitness buff has a shocking admission: He was a chubby baby. “I looked like a sumo wrestler,” Lopez says in a new interview. “My mom had to pull the fat folds apart when she bathed me!” But that’s all in his past.

As fans know, Lopez has mined his love of fitness to create his own book, Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness. The exercise guru, who is recently single, says that a full slate of projects has kept him off the dating market but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking about dating completely.

“I like a girl who’s from a modest sort of upbringing, because it’s more relatable,” he says, explaining what he looks for in a potential girlfriend. “I’m a first-generation American. My parents [Elvia and Mario Sr.] emigrated from Mexico and live in the same house I grew up in Chula Vista, Calif. I’d feel weird if the girl was a little too uppity or affluent, because I’m a very down-home kind of guy.”

The list also includes hot men like:

• BRODY & FRANKIE of The Hills
• DAVID COOK the American Idol
• TERRENCE HOWARD from Ironman
• BRYAN SPEARS, Britney and Jamie Lynn’s brother
• GERARD BUTLER of 300
• JAMES BLAKE the tennis star
• BRET MICHAELS of Rock of Love and the band Poison
• ANDY & AKIVA from Saturday Night Live
• HUNTER JOHANSSON the twin brother of Scarlett
• ADAM LEVINE of Maroon5
• THE GOSSIP GUYS

The magazine hits stands June 20th.

People Magazine, Hottest Bachelor 2008, Mario Lopez

Who are the newest powerful celebrities this year?

Forbes Magazine, the other day, unveiled their latest Celebrity Power Rankings and Oprah Winfrey, is once again on Number 1. This despite a drop in her TV program’s viewership as well as subscriptions to her O Magazine.  This is her fifth time in the Top 10 and Oprah is said to have earned $275 million before taxes in the last 12 months.

Following her at the second spot is golf sensation Tiger Woods, with $115 million.

Humanitarian Angelina Jolie comes in as the third most powerful, with measly $14 million in earnings (compared to the other celebrities) and she strings along the father of her children, Brad Pitt, who falls on Top 10.

The complete Top 10 list:

Oprah Winfrey - $275 million
Tiger Woods - $115 million
Angelina Jolie - $14 million
Beyonce Knowles - $80 million
David Beckham - $50 million
Johnny Depp - $72 million
Jay-Z - $82 million
The Police - $115 million
J.K. Rowling - $300 million
Brad Pitt - $20 million

While JK Rowling earned the most last year, with $300 Million, the Power List isn’t just ranked based on earnings but also pull, influence and purchasing power.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, Tina Fey, Rachel Ray and Heidi Klum are also in the list ranking.  Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale and The Jonas Brothers — the latest teen sensations, all made it to Top 100.

Curiously not on the list are Tom Hanks, Jessica Alba and Jessica Simpson. Tom Hanks was prominent in previous rankings.

Source: Forbes Magazine 

Forbes Magazine, Forbes Magazine Top 100 Powerful Celebrities

This is what New York Magazine says of the freshman hit series, Gossip Girl on The CW. I wouldn’t know about how great it is. The last teen drama I got hooked on was 90210 (which the same network is reviving, incidentally! We’ll look into the new cast at another time) and even then, I watched only half of its entire run.

So yes, I am not this show’s target audience nor its regular viewer. Best show ever? I don’t think so. But I am very aware the ensemble cast of Gossip Girl is very much the stars a lot of kids follow today.

Blake Lively, Leighton Meister, Penn Badgely, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick — not since Sex and the City have kids been so obsessed about television stars. And they’re mostly who we read about in entertainment pages. A year ago, I did not even know who Blake Lively is and Leighton to me was just that kid I saw on House.

Why is this show such a hit among the younger set?

From what I’ve seen of a few episodes, it’s a show which projects impeccable style. From the wardrobe down to the props and the location….the attention to detail is commendable and impressive.

From what my young friends have told me about — It’s also a show filled with beautiful but flawed people they really wanna car for. The relationship between the two lead characters is complicated and intriguing. You wonder if are they really friends or are they enemies? The characterizations are nearly accurate, it’s a good depiction of how life is for young troubled teens or the rich and privileged (which sadly I wouldn’t know about). Music plays a big part, too. I’m told they carry great soundtracks in this show.

Last month, the show ran a controversial campaign which the Parents Television Council lost no time to protest over. While I have no qualms about that, it’s partly the reason why this show has failed to hook me in. It just feels like one big marketing machine and I see little substance in it.

But that’s just my take and it doesn’t matter. This show is a hit and the kids are stars.

Gossip Girl, New York Magazine, Blake Lively, Leighton Meister, Penn Badgely, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick

Robert Downey Jr. is this week’s Man of the Hour. His summer action flick, Iron man, holds one of the biggest record for an opening weekend of all time. The critics love it and the critics love him. And it wasn’t so much the case in previous years.

Although I believe Robert Downey Jr. to be one brilliant actor, he once did lose his shine (and a career) when he was heavily into substance abuse. Robert has been in and out of rehab and jail from 1996 to 2001, claiming that his addiction has started even before he hit puberty.

But that is hopefully all in the past now. After 2001 and staying pretty much sober and drug free, Robert tries to revive his career via Elton John’s music video — “I Want To Love”.

Eventually he released his own album, The Futurist and then starred in critically acclaimed movies like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Goodnight and Goodluck. Robert was well on the right track. He also found new love in producer Susan Levin, while working in Gothika. They were married in 2005. I saw them appearing on Oprah in those days and they were a picture of a very happy and very romantic couple.

But his biggest break to date is this movie Iron Man, which frankly, I didn’t think was gonna be a huge hit. I had a difficult time reconciling his persona as a superhero character. I haven’t seen the movie yet but everyone I know who’ve seen it say it’s one helluva ride and that Robert proves once again — he is a great actor. As it is this week’s most celebrated event in Hollywood, I’m looking forward to watching.

Robert Downey Jr is back in a big way now. I do hope he stays awhile and becomes the bigger star he is destined.

Robert Downey Jr, Ironman