Last word on Will Smith

As Whispers scooped the entire world when we declared on April 1st (it was no joke) that actor Will Smith would resign (be booted) from the Academy Awards committee the folowing day, comedian Ricky Gervais has a word to say about hair loss. We couldn't possibly endorse this:

Whispers Scoops The World

Yesterday we scooped the entire world with our story that Will Smith would be removed from the Academy Award's institute- he chose to resign by mutual agreement. # Several readers emailed us questioning our tale. A few picked up on our April Fool's joke about Jada Pinckett's alopecia which wasn't true.

Breaking News: Will Smith kicked out of Academy

Exclusive: I can reveal that the Academy Awards committee will remove actor Will Smith as a member of the Academy Awards tomorrow and demand he hands back his Oscar. Smith's wife Jada Pinckett has narrowly avoided being removed from the Academy but she is expected to make an apology to comedian Chris Rock after it was revealed she laughed when her husband assaulted Rock. There are now questions about 2 projects lined up with Will Smith to star in with several investors withdrawing funding on the belief Smith may now be Box Office Poison. Furthermore the reason The Academy will remove Smith is that in fact Jada Pincket is not suffering from alopecia as claimed but had shaved her head to audition for the role of a remake of the movie GI Jane.

Red Carpet arrivals at the Oscars

You know who they are..we don't need to explain..all fab celebs !

Turning Water into Gold !

More on model Kelleth Cuthbert the gal who photo bombed the Golden Globes with her tray of Fiji Water. Kelly has landed a guest-starring role on CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” the show announced on Instagram.

 Cuthbert is set to appear in the show’s Feb. 6 episode. It really doesn't get much bigger than this and you have to admire Kelleth for seizing the opportunity. Publicity is everything and the one place that appreciates it is the USA !

I mean if Jack The Ripper was still around today he would score a contract for a Reality TV show and have at least one Kardashian on as a special guest.

But how about Fiji Water who I'm reliably informed only spent around $30,000 for a promotional campaign that went viral around the world and garnered $Millions in free publicity.
Alas one of our correspondents sends us a link and it's not the most positive on the this product: click on the link.
# one thing is for sure- you haven't heard the last of Kelleth.

Fiji Water Girl would be a great meme if bottled water were something to celebrate

    *************************************

Weight Watchers News:

A photo lands on our desk of Man About Town and financial wiz Big Jim Byrnes. Jim is about 6'6" and is a larger than life (Sydney) character who is usually spotted tootling around the ritzy Eastern Suburbs in his red Bentley but who is also known for his pretty hefty frame.

But no longer- Jim has been working out and has slimmed down and is looking pretty good. Word is he's moved into movies and film production. Perhaps it's from hanging out in Hollywood - he was last last seen on the Red Carpet at the 2018 Academy Awards - where looks are everything that matters. Jim is obviously pretty proud of his effort and who can blame him !.

Gum Leaf Mafia invasion

WE JUST HAD the local ACCTA Awards in Sydney but this week it was also time for the International ACCTA Awards. Here are a few snaps from the event in Los Angeles. The Big Talk of the evening was the film Lion starring Nicole Kidman and David Wenham and based on the real life tale & book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley with Larry Buttrose.

The film stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Nicole Kidman, Abhishek Bharate, Divian Ladwa, Priyanka Bose, Deepti Naval, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sunny Pawar.
In our top snap is pictured Nicole  with Dev Patel and Sunny Pawar.
 Below is a trailer for the film which is tipped at least for a Golden Globe and maybe an Oscar or two.

And any day now it will be time for G'Day Australia where all those slebs will turn up again for another star-studded bash in LA.



Top row : Sunny Pawar,Dev Patel & Nicole Kidman

Middle row: Zoe Ventiura, Mel Gibson, Kim Wilson and Isla Fisher

Bottom row : Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban 

Mel's bad rap

And still the media keep asking questions of Mel Gibson about his meltdown years ago when he was in the grip of the grape in LA. It's as though no hack or hackette has ever had a drink and said unwise things.

Mel is a nice guy and his relationship with the media has always been a good one despite their attempts to whip up controversy.
Whispers first met Mel over dinner many moons ago in London at the Portobello Hotel in Notting Hill Gate. He was with a good friend, film producer Richard Brennan and the pair were promoting a film that had been a huge success in Europe but went largely unnoticed in the UK. It was called Mad Max.
As far as we can see, Mel hasn't changed over the years - well apart from becoming mega successful and growing an amazing beard-and is as pleasant as he was right back when he was an unknown Aussie actor.

Last night Gibson attended the world premiere at the State Theatre of his new film Hacksaw Ridge with partner Teresa Palmer who announced she is pregnant. And Mel's new flick has the Oscar crowd very excited.
Spotted in the audience (left), top legal eagle Chris Murphy with Mel's brother Chris Gibson on the right. Doesn't really look like Mel does he?

B/W Moment: The Unsung Aussie Orry-Kelly

 The Sydney Film Festival is now in full swing and there is one movie that should not be missed. Produced and directed by Academy Award winner Gillian Armstrong, it is the story of one of Hollywood's most celebrated artistes Orry-Kelly who died in 1964.

Gillian Armstrong

The chances are you have watched a movie where Orry George Kelly-his birth name, designed unforgettable costumes for the most famous legends of the day from Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot to Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca.  Kelly is also Australia's most prolific Oscar winner having won three for costume design and nominated numerous times.

  Kelly (left) was born in Kiama NSW in 1897 before he embarked for New York in 1923 where he shared an apartment with Cary Grant and then to LA and a Hollywood career. In many ways he is similar to Aussie legends Sir Robert Helpmann and Peter Allen, both born in rural communities but with fathers who actively encouraged them in their pursuit of the arts.

Armstrong's film is titled Women I've Undressed after an unpublished manuscript Kelly wrote which reputedly detailed his affair with movie legend and his former flat mate Cary Grant. 

When Aussie Stars Arrive

Have you ever been to Cannes. Whispers has several times. During Summer the lovely town is the ideal French resort. Meanwhile the Cannes Film Festival is an experience everyone should have at least once. The whole town is in a party mood and every day is an adventure.

The Cannes Festival may not have invented publicity stunts but producers and publicists sure refined the art at this movie festival where just about anything no matter how outrageous will garner precious column inches throughout the world and in the hundreds of European glossy gossip mags. Here are a selection of two Aussie stars Miranda Kerr and Naomi Watts snapped at several events and this is just the beginning!. On the right is former Oz soapie star Simon Baker arriving at Cannes Airport.
(pics :AgenceFrancaisTele)

Masked Man

When Whispers first encountered the amiable make-up supremo Napoleon Perdis many moons ago it was at the opening of his Parramatta salon on a Thursday afternoon. A small coterie of locals had gathered by the red carpet to watch the celebrations including 2 senior citizens who politely inquired of us whether the 2 tall elegant ladies ascending the salon stairs were "soapie stars". Alas we didn't have the heart to inform them that were actually drag queens, albeit fairly glamorous ones.

Napoleon has risen to giddy heights of stardom with salons all over the world including Beverley Hills (California!) where he is in huge demand especially by movie stars on the night of the Academy Awards but now he has turned his back on "high maintenance celebrities " according to this article.
Fortunately our home grown celebrities are still in favour as evidenced by society favourite, hair dresser Joh Bailey who wore what was acclaimed as the most superb mask of the evening created by Napoleon for the Silver Ball last week at John Symonds' Point Piper house.

A Tale of Two Cities:

Our favourite, sometimes loathed (it's really the very best & worst of the tabloids in the world) the UK Daily Mail and Mail Online has differing thoughts for each country where it appears. Thus the terrible aeroplane accident involving superstar Harrison Ford was reported somewhat differently in the UK and Australia. Perhaps they perceive us colonials are made of sterner stuff  when they described Ford's injuries as "moderate" in the UK but "serious" in Oz!

A couple of very nice snaps of Academy Award winners Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne on winning #Oscars for #bestactress and #bestactor. From New York's Patrick McMullan.
Photos by David Crotty for Patrick McMullan (c) www.patrickmcmullan.com

An Evening with Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett’s triumphs are extraordinary: two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, three BAFTAs, three SAG Awards and four AFI Awards for her film work, and many other honours for her stage work. She was awarded the Centenary Medal for Service to Australian Society through Acting, named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in 2007, and in 2012 was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des arts et des lettres by the French Minister for Culture. Cate and Anne Summers will talk candidly about her life, her acting accomplishments and her views on everything from raising sons as a feminist in today’s world, to her fears about climate change, to why it is that women are still not treated equally.

Book now for what will be a unique and engaging evening with renowned actor Cate Blanchett.

Last Word on The Oscars

And the Academy Award for the Biggest Faux Pas of the evening goes to Rupert Murdoch's beloved The Australian newspaper for the following :

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Oscar Talk for Les Misérables

 

Les Misérables has premiered in London and there is already talk of Oscars for the stars - Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.
Jackman and Hathaway have both sung together at previous Academy Award ceremonies and Jackman also recommended Anne for the part of Fantine in the current production.



                 

Tom Hooper, Amanda Seyfried,Hugh Jackman

Seems like such a long time ago when the Shuttle drank with Hugh at the Erskineville Pub after premier party for his 1999 movie Erskineville Kings. Asked if he had ambitions for a Hollywood career, Jackman responded with these memorable words:"would be so nice but the competition is pretty tough". As for the numerous drinking sessions we shared with Russell Crowe during his rise to fame in his Sydney days, the less said about the better !

Le Mis opens in Sydney on Boxing Day. Below is the trailer:

Aussie Picks Up Oscar

Sydney born film editor Kirk Baxter has picked up his second Academy Award along with partner Alan Wall for their work on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

It's the second Oscar for the pair who won in 2010 for The Social Network.



left : Alan Wall & Kirk Baxter

Dark Side of The Beauty Business

Grant Dwyer with Jennifer Hawkins (centre)

GRANT DWYER is well spoken young entrepreneur who often does business the old gentlemanly way-on a handshake.

Running a medium sized model and promotional agency from chic premises in Double Bay, he has had countless successes. Dwyer has a unique eye for spotting talent amongst the dozens of young aspiring models who walk through his door.

Jamie Foxx

In just the past few years, many of the careers launched by Dwyer have become household  names.

Model Ashlea Talbot,  teenage water skiing champion Lauryn Eagle, Celebrity Apprentice winner Jesinta Campbell, TV presenter Rachael Finch and the most successful Miss Universe ever Jennifer Hawkins.

Donald Trump's Miss Universe contest was languishing in the doldrums until Dwyer spotted the young Newcastle demonstration model Hawkins and persuaded her to enter the quest. A panel of judges that included fashion photographers, journalists and the Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx all concurred with Dwyer's choice and sent Hawkins off to the 2004 quest in Ecuador.    

Lauryn Eagle

When Hawkins took the Miss Universe crown the contest became a major media event that astonished even the jaded Trump who couldn't believe his luck. Dwyer organised a home coming tour that would have been the envy of any chart topping pop group. Hundreds of fans rushed Hawkins. TV and newspaper cameras followed her every move over a two week tour of Australia culminating in the famous fashion slip in Sydney that catapulted Hawkins back onto front pages and TV screens around the world .

Rachael Finch

Now a legal stoush has broken out over one of Dwyer's top discoveries Rachael Finch

On Wednesday in the Downing Street Local Court Finch's current manager Deborah Miller was ordered to pay Dwyer $9406 after  Dwyer said he brokered a deal for Finch to appear as a celebrity ambassador for the McHappy Day fundraiser, which raises money for Ronald McDonald House Charities, after learning the beauty once worked for the fast food chain.

The rewards enjoyed by Dwyer's discoveries can be considerable. Even though Finch only came fourth in the 2009 Miss Universe contest in the Bahamas, Dwyer was already negotiating deals before she had returned to Sydney including a $45,000 make-up deal and a Disney promotion for $36,000.

As for Jennifer Hawkins, as the face of Myer department stores and with her own range of swimwear, Hawkins is estimated to earn up to $5M a year.

The Vanity Fair Academy Award's Party



Selena Gomez & Justin Beiber



It's the most sought after invite at the Academy Awards ceremony. The Vanity Fair Oscar's party hosted by editor Graydon Carter.

Most of those attending the awards either rush off first to the Governor's Ball and then, if invited to the Vanity Fair bash or Elton John's Aid's benefit. The big plus at the Vanity Fair do is that they invite all the older Hollywood legends so it becomes a mix of ageing and newer starlets, sporting stars, new and old music identities and the real Hollywood power brokers like Summer Redstone  and director Oliver Stone.



Joan Collins in that dress that sent her to hospital





Sandra Bullock



Rupert & Wendi Murdoch

Tom Ford



Chris Hemsworth




New York's top society snapper (and the most famous in the USA) Patrick McMullan as an associate editor at Vanity Fair has exclusive access to the party.

 Here are some of his snaps. There is much more at David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary

all photographs copyright : Patrick McMullan Inc.


Serena Williams



Mick Jagger







Jackie's Star Rises

Getty

Jackie Weaver is planning to re-locate to Los Angeles to take advantage of the numerous offers of work that have flowed in since she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the tough matriarch of a crime family in the film Animal Kingdom.

Despite not winning, Jackie says the experience has been a life changing force just at a time-she is 64, when she thought she would be retiring.

"All the best roles really are here in the States and I've always loved American films" said Jackie who is still in the US with her husband Sean Taylor.

"I've been offered several projects , three film roles, three TV series and one mini-series and my agent says he has a pile of credible scripts for me to read".

Jackie attended the Awards on Monday wearing a especially made Collette Dinnigan gown and $800,000 worth of diamonds which she reluctantly handed back the following day.

"I was amazed by the offers of outfits to wear to the awards  but I wanted to wear something uniquely Australian" she said. " I would have loved to have kept some of the jewels but I've got by to date without them."

Meanwhile Jackie's former husband broadcaster Derryn Hinch revealed today on ABC Radio 702 that he has been diagnosed again with liver cancer. Hinch said he had was given 12 months to live after the first bout which he successfully fought off but will now be once again be receiving chemotherapy.

Hinch said he had no regrets about a lifetime of boozing :"I enjoyed it at the time. I've had a wonderful life-no matter what happens in the future."