Alesha Makim, daughter of Jane Ferguson and niece of the Duchess of York has established a new career as a model during the Rosemount Fashion shows at the Sydney Town Hall this week.
Jane Ferguson & daughter Heidi
Alesha Makim-William's cousin
At a special parade at the Paddington Inn as part of the Paddington Alive Festival, Alesha strutted the catwalk to show off some of Camilla Frank's wondrous caftans. Camilla has just opened in Paddington a few doors from the hotel and is one of Australia's low key fashion success stories with her caftan creations now available in 500 outlets throughout the world.
Particular hot-spots : the South of France, the Mediterranean and the Greek Islands where hardly a luxury yacht or gin palace cruises by without a Camilla designer gown being sported by one of the well heeled ladies aboard. And she is opening her own boutique on The World, the ginormous luxury ocean liner.
******************** Hot news : As Paul Hogan's lawyers negotiate a deal with the Australian Tax Office that would allow him to return to LA, various reports have surfaced about the bill the ATO has presented the Aussie larrikan-between $31 to $110 million dollars!
The UK Independent newspaper's music critic Edward Seckersonhas ripped into the Sydney SymphonyOrchestra's appearance at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday night with the opening 2 paragraphs :
"The prospect of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra getting down under and dirty
with Strauss and Scriabin got off to a frenetic start with Vladimir
Ashkenazy’s body language perhaps telling us more than we needed to know
about the heated carnality at the start of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier
prelude. And what you saw was what you heard: all sex, not much love-making.
But this was the dreadful “stitch-up” of a suite often attributed to Artur
Rodzinsky, though who was the perpetrator and who should want to perform it
says more about their indifference to the opera than it does about the
suite. Ashkenazy was somewhat twitchy and short-winded with it – too many
accents, not enough legato – drawing attention to its bad edits and the
shrieking lack of opulence in the Sydney Symphony string sound."
The SSO was established in 1945 and has had numerous noted conductors like Edo de Waart and Sir Charles MacKerras who passed away in June this year.Controversy has often courted the acclaimed orchestra.
The first international conductor was Sir Eugene Ghoosens who took over in 1947 but was caught up in a tawdry scandal with the Kings Cross witch and artist Rosaleen Norton. The pair had a love affair and were into bondage sex.
A newspaper reporter stole saucy letters the pair had exchanged. Those letters came to the attention of the then notorious Sydney Vice Squad who had custom's officers stop Ghoosens when he returned to Sydney after a visit to London in 1956. They found a number of porno books, tame by today's standards, a rubber mask and (gulp) incense sticks in his luggage.
The resulting publicity, conducted with that extraordinary co-operation law enforcement and tabloids are so good at, destroyed Ghoosen's career after he was fined £100. He died a broken man in the UK in 1962 .
In happier days:The Whitlams & the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with 'No Aphrodisiac'
5 days after he attended the funeral of his 101 yer old mother, actor Paul Hogan has been refused permission to leave the country and return to his wife Linda and 12 year old son Chance in Los Angeles.
John Cornell, Linda Kozlowski, Paul Hogan and Delvene Delaney at a Sydney charity party in 2006 (c)
The Australian Taxation Office has served notice on Hogan to remain in Australia while it continues investigations into his tax affairs. Earlier this year the actor lost a court battle to keep tax documents secret.
Two media organisations, News Ltd and Fairfax Media had fought a 6 year legal battle to obtain the documents.
In 2002 Hogan and wife Linda Kozlowski purchased a $3.5M house on Sydney Harbour before selling up in 2006 and moving back to LA..During that time the ATO has claimed that Hogan had declared himself stateless for a
number of years whilst travelling between Australia and the USA
Although later films received poor reviews, Hogan and his partner in the Crocodile Dundee films, John Cornell made millions of dollars from the 3 successful movies after financing the series themselves. Investing heavily in real estate in Northern NSW, the pair have made a further fortune. Cornell has just recovered from a bout of cancer and is recuperating in the resort of Byron Bay where he and wife Delvene Delaney live.
Here is one of the finalists in the Moran Art Prize for portraiture (the richest of it's kind in the world).
Looking like something spooky out of the Portrait of Dorian Grey, it's artist Adam James K's interpretation of Rupert Murdoch.
As the artist puts it-
"my goal was to show a side of Mr Murdoch that we don't normally see-vulnerability mixed with a small dose of fear ".
He's right-we've never actually witnessed the vulnerable side of Mr Murdoch in all our sightings of the great media baron. Plenty have felt a good dose of fear from him though.
Nicky Hilton wears Charlie Brown
Mr James K says " Mr Murdoch gave me ten minutes to prepare some preliminary sketches and photos then said "very efficient Adam " before walking out the door.
A shiver runs up your spine just reading that.! You can see the rest of the Moran Prizes 2010 here.
#You can also see fashion entrepreneur Danny Avidan and designer Charlie Brown interviewed about the winning portrait.
The pair hosted a party for Nicky Hilton at Star City's Astral Bar tonight after she appeared earlier on the catwalk for Charlie's show at the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival at the Town Hall..
Nicky's very nice but what does she do ?. We forgot to ask
*******************
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin will be in town soon on an assignment (secret at this stage). He was on the first Moon mission in 1969 and the second to walk on the Moon (or a film set if you believe the conspiracy theories). We'll be lunching with Buzz and we're dying to ask him about the UFOs he said he saw on the Moon trip !
Most social facilities in Kamchatka will get a gas connection in four years. This programme is crucial for the region.about 1 hour ago
via web (and you thought you had it bad !)
Don Spencer & daughter Danielle aka Mrs Russell Crowe
With the ABC 702 Radio riding to the top of the ratings charts, mainly to the efforts of morning host AdamSpencer, perhaps that is why his wife and a good pal have splashed out and opened a new wine bar in the boom inner-west suburb of Enmore.
Mel Spencer has bought an old betting shop and tarted it up as the Green Room, conveniently located just a short walk from the Enmore Theatre which is now one of the last inner city live venues and which is packed most nights with it's line-up of international acts.
About 30 of us trotted a long for the opening night, mainly a clutch of Adam and Mel's show-biz pals like TV hosts Kylie Gillies and Tracey Spicer, top rating Gruen Transfer'sWil Anderson, actor Russell Crowe and wife Danielle Spencer (no relation) who brought her dad Don and our favourite crooner Kamahl.
Wil Anderson & Deborah Hutton
Kamahl & Adam Spencer
Never forget: Kamahl was the Queen Mum's favourite singer and she had all his albums. Which is just as well as few other people do. But he's actually a great singer and once headlined at the Carnegie Hall in New York City so he can't be that bad !.
Tracey Spicer & husband Jason
And Russell was able to put to bed the recent rumour that he and the family had visited the home of the late Lady Sonia McMahon which is up for sale with a view to buy.
"Not for us" said Russell." Not even interested". Asked if the $42M palace Altona was more his style, Crowe replied:
Tony & Kylie Gillies
"Altona would be wonderful for the kids but it's a bit open and accessible. I need something more private but I am looking. You can't bring up kids, especially 2 rowdy boys, on a wharf ".
He was referring to his $12M penthouse at Wolloomooloo Wharf where he has lived for the past 8 years.
Co-incidently the Shuttle lunched at Ottos on the Wharf today after the General Election shambles the night before. At adjoining tables, PI Frank Monte and guest.
At another- retired radio host John Laws and wife Caroline who lunched with guests former Liberal Party leader Andrew Peacock and his wife Penne ( who was a former Texas beauty queen and is Laura Bush's best pal ).
See why HRH Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was enraptured with Kamahl !
3 years ago I was on the side of
the street busking in Stratford for anyone who would listen....2nite we
sold out the ACC!! NEVER SAY NEVER! ( busking at 12 ??)
Our favourite satirical magazine, and probably the best of it's kind in the world Private Eye which has been in print for nearly 50 years has been "a prominent critic of public figures deemed incompetent, inefficient or corrupt, and has become a self-styled "thorn in the side" of the British establishment,
though it also receives much criticism and ire, both for its style and
for its willingness to print defamatory and controversial stories "(all according to Wikipedia).
We agree entirely and are pleased they are as on the ball as the Social Shuttle is. At the right is a tale in their current issue dated 6 August to 19 August and below our story from July 28th.
Should be viewed immediately-the Australian band Axis of Awesome and their '4 chords' rendition of numerous famous songs. They're about to embark on a tour of Edinburgh and Montreal and their YouTube channel has had over 6 million hits !
He was described by top US talk showhost Larry King as "the best in the business",
Monte on 'Good Morning America'
Frank Monte the private investigator who has now been linked with the David Jone's case involving former CEO Mark McInnes, who recently resigned from his $8M job and former DJ's publicist Kirsty Fraser-Kirk who has alleged she was sexually harassed by McInnes and is asking for a whopping $37 million in damages.
In the lawsuit filed in the Federal Court there are 11 defendants including McInnes. Earlier this week the Daily Telegraph broke the story that Monte had been hired and paid a substantial sum to investigate the back ground of Fraser-Kirk.
McInnes & Megan Gale
He then gave a raft of radio interviews confirming the story whilst saying at the time that he would neither confirm or deny who his client was. As of yesterday Monte was taking no more media requests for interviews and has turned down several TV station requests.
One daily newspaper speculated about Monte's involvement in the case and published a story that both David Jones and McInnes had denied hiring Monte but as the gumshoe pointed out to us this morning, he had specifically stated that he would not say who his client was.
The Shuttle spoke to a well know solicitor on Wednesday ( he asked not to be named) who has worked on several harassment cases and he pointed out that there could be any number of prospective clients who could become involved in the case and use the services of a private eye.
Kirsty Fraser-Kirk
" Firstly there is the obvious- 11 defendants who would most likely be represented by one firm of solicitors and a barrister but each individual, particularly as they are high profile directors of the department store chain would have their own counsel as well. They may not even know who is hired on their behalf "
" Then there any number of insurance companies, large shareholders in the listed company, individual shareholders and clients of David Jones including those with a vested interest in the financial well being of the department store chain.
Such as a supplier who may have millions of dollars in stock supplies involved and are anxious that there are no boats rocked by the scandal. They in turn could have their own insurance companies "
" It's like a pebble thrown into the pond of lawsuits and the vested interests radiates outwards. Even on a normal case this happens but this looks set to a very special matter with the claim of $37M in damages . The fallout will be immense, whether the case is proved or not, for there not to be covert investigations of every person involved. And there is the share price of the chain store to consider" said our legal source.
On 2 radio interviews with Sydney's 2GB's Money News with Ross Greenwood, a noted financial journalist and on 1377AM with Steve Vizard in Melbourne both announcers voiced similar sentiments as the solicitor. ( Vizard's interview can be heard here)
One matter we brought up with the solicitor was the fact that, why would there would be a leaking to the media of the fact that a high profile private eye like Monte was on the case ?.
"Surely this would be counter productive ?" we asked " particularly as it is meant to be a 'covert'" surveillance"
" Not in the least" said the legal eagle. '"In fact it could have been quite deliberate to either rattle the other side or be like a clarion call to any interested party to supply information-and that Monte is the repository starting point. Monte's probably not actually doing the foot work himself, most likely overseeing the matter".
At Mid-day today Monte said he would show us some documents as long as we signed a confidentially agreement to never disclose the name involved.
At a city coffee shop he produced several emails from a high profile business group commissioning Monte for the job with a host of details and suggestions. of required information And bank documents that verify that indeed, a 'substantial sum' had been paid into his business bank account by wire transfer from that firm.
But even more interesting were a host of emails that Monte had received in the days following the media clamor about his involvement-from former family members and associates of the Fraser-Kirk familyin Zimbabwe and the UK offering information. Some of it. to put it mildly is sensational!
As they say, the plot thickens.
_____________________________
We have unearthed an interview with Frank Monte on Kerri-Anne-Kennerley's showtalking about the paranormal !.
Mary Donaldson from Tasmania, now known as Crown Princess Mary of Denmark slipped into Australia today and took the media by surprise. She's on a visit to see her family members in Hobart and is pregnant with twins.
By all accounts, Mary has become a hugely popular figure in Denmark amongst it's 5.5 million subjects and has revived the Royal Families fortunes. Amazingly she is able to wander Hobart at ease and without the pomp and ceremony that goes with a Royal in her newly adopted country Denmark.
Having been fairly below the radar as far as European Royalty goes, Princess Mary has quietly crept up to become one of the world's most stylish women. In the September edition of Vanity Fair that has just hit the stands , she is named as one of the world's top ten dressed women. High praise indeed.
Mary Donaldson, working in a King Cross real estate agency swept Crown Prince Frederick off his feet when the two met in a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics. From that moment, the relationship was sealed and the 2 wed in a wonderfully toy town style wedding in Copenhagen in 2004 , attended by the the crowned heads of Europe.
She is said to be adored by her mother-in-law Queen Margerite 11 who gave her son instant approval upon meeting Mary formally in 2001.
The wedding, broadcast live throughout Europe and Australia was not without it's memorable moments, including when Mary's Scot's borne father apparently lunged for a sausage roll at the reception and sent the King Carl XV1 Gustaf of Sweden flying. Ever the gentleman, the Swedish King dusted himself off and fetched the kilted dad a drink..
Princess Mary has come a long way since we first met her at a promotional real estate party in her then office digs. A few weeks later when she was trying to assist us find accommodation in the area and the Shuttle spied a gorgeous apartment in Macleay Street Potts Point, Ms Donaldson's words still remain in our memory : "a bit out of your price range I think my dear "!
we spoke too soon : Hobart police have issued a warning to the huge contingent of media who have congregated outside Princess Mary's Hobart sister's house, to keep their distance.
____________________________ Tweet Of The Day prize goes again to Yoko Ono : yokoono
"My mind was taking in the shimmering leaves of the trees outside the window."
The words 'high camp' could have been invented for her and she's been a Hollywood stalwart for decades with her 'Hello Darlink" greeting in her Hungarian accent. Sadly the wonderful Zsa Zsa Gabor is quietly slipping away according to her ninth husband Frederick Prinz von Anhal.
At 93 years of age, 2 days ago Zsa Zsa was admitted to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a fall following hip surgery. Today she summonsed a priest to perform the last rites.
Born Sári Prinzessin von Anhalt in Hungary in 1917 into a Jewish family with 2 famous sisters, Eva and Magda, Zsa Zsa began her show business career as an opera singer in Vienna before Hollywood beckoned and along the way, a string of husbands. She had one child to her 2nd husband, the hotel baron Conrad Hilton (great grandfather of Paris Hilton) which she claimed was the result of a rape by Hilton.
Always tongue in cheek, Gabor has never taken herself seriously and is famous for some of her quips. Once asked during a TV interview about the high number of marriages she responded "I was always a good housekeeper-every time I divorced I kept the house ".
In 1989 she famously slapped the face of a Beverley Hills cop who Zsa Zsa said had been exceptionally rude to her whilst writing out a speeding ticket. Sentenced to 3 days in jail, she proved so popular with fellow inmates they launched a petition for Zsa Zsa to spend more time in a cell.
The Shuttle was privileged to meet Gabor once at a dinner party at London's Embassy Club in honour of the British actor Richard Johnston given by Zsa Zsa's good friend, the London society maven Lady Edith Foxwell. At the time Lady Edith-then in her 60s was dating a 22 year old Caribbean boy.
"You won't be able to bring him to Beverley Hills " said Zsa Zsa to Edith loudly across the table of 20 guests. Lady Edith responded by hurling a bread roll at Zsa Zsa and a (literal ) bun fight began with Zsa Zsa eventually storming out.
Lady Edith said Gabor later relented and invited her and her black boyfriend to stay in LA for 6 weeks. One day whilst admiring the beautiful gardens in Zsa Zsa's mansion Edith asked which husband she got the house from.
Zsa Zsa responded " I can't quite remember- 5th or 6th ?.. but I know he was immensely rich"
They don't make them like the Gabor sisters anymore. Send your prayers to Zsa Zsa as she ails in hospital.
Zsa Zsa in 'Queens From Outer Space" followed by husband Freddie naked in his car !
____________________________________________________________ Tweet of the day :yokoono
I woke up in a room in my parents’ summer house It was in Japan. I was seventeen. about 1 hour ago.
The same day that Mark McInnes-ex David Jones store CEO has flown back into town to face a $37million lawsuit, the Social Shuttle can reveal that private eye Frank Monte is on the case and is investigating Kirsty Fraser-Kirk, the former DJ's publicist at the center of the scandal.
Monte with Donald Trump
The Shuttle has always maintained a fairly good on-going relationship with the international private investigator but he wasn't revealing any details when we managed to get through to him tonight.
"I would never either confirm or deny who my clients are " said Monte. "In fact I'm rather surprised you would ask me to".
He did however confirm that someone had hired him to look into the background of the girl at the centre of a scandal that has rocked Australia's top department store chain and forced Mark McInnes to resign from his job that is said to have carried a yearly salary of $8 million.
A little over 2 weeks ago we called into Lotus Restaurant in Potts Point where Monte was celebrating his 60th birthday with family and friends and ended up chatting via a mobile phone to top US TV interviewer Larry King who had rung to wish the gumshoe all the best.
Monte has appeared on numerous US TV shows including Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern and is a regular name in the US newspapers. He seems to pop up in all sorts of intriguing cases-from the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller Jr in New Guinea to the mysterious John F. Kennedy Jr plane crash. He was also head of security for the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis and once led a team of mercenaries into a Middle East country to rout some insurgents on behalf of the Sheik of Dubai.
And now that our memory of a conversation with the urbane Frank at his birthday bash returns, he did mention that he was working on "something big" without revealing details.
Monte, who has offices in Beverly Hills, New York and Dallas and had recently returned from the US did say on the night that he had been meeting with a former top FBI agent who was an expert profiler.
" We are doing some business together and it involves an upcoming case" said Monte over a glass of Bollinger.And not the everyday stuff-vintage Bolly.
Kirsty Fraser-Kirk
" I've just received a handsome retainer " said Monte. "I'm letting my hair down for the night before I get stuck into a very complex job on the books".
McInnes has said that many of the sexual harassment claims against him are untrue and that he will be "vigorously defending himself"
Monte dines with Anthony Hayden Guest in New York
On the 2nd of August Ms Fraser-Kirk's legal representatives revealed details of her lawsuit against David Jones and McInnes with the staggering claim they were suing for an unprecedented $37 million.
The following day David Jones held their Spring & Summer parades with all media mentions consumed by the pending court case.
Many experts and commentators have speculated that the release of Fraser-Kirk's legal case that day was obviously carefully planed to over shadow the fashion parades (which normally would have starred DJ's star model Miranda Kerr who was still holidaying with her new husband Orlando Bloom).was a strategic mistake and could backfire.
Whilst Frank Monte is keeping his lips sealed on just who his client is, it's an indication that this story is going to get bigger...much bigger and very very sticky !
Dear Sir, I am producer and director of exciting movie project andoffer you chance for investment to make blockbuster :
Unique thrilling movie script is the basis, movie Producer and Company need to make a breathtaking production.
Roger
is a hard working husband and father but is addicted to alcoholism.
What becomes of Douglas, Rogers’s second son who took to his brevity but
a singular learnt habit of alcoholism has done him worst in life.
Rogers’s companion billy his dog is more than a pet to him, not even his
family can come in between him and billy. How many animals must die by
barrel? billy saved the life of Rogers’ at the hunting expedition by
maneuvering whisky, Rogers’s horse. billy was brilliant to have
manipulated Ashley to drive Rogers home and thwarted Trevor’s pilfering
plan on Rogers who is drunk to stupor.
Georgiana’s manhandle by Rogers.
Rogers’ scolded by Douglas at the birthday party of Mabel. Morris
manipulated Douglas his friend to play hanky panky love game with Mabel.
Trevor make comic of Douglas’s dad as Douglas reply lead to bloody
fight at the night club. Ahmed chase of Douglas and Patton over an
escaped accident.
Roman, Douglas, Mabel and Patton mimic Roger’s their
dad who is drunk as Georgiana got provoked. Roman shot. Douglas and
Morris hunt the perpetrator to a death. Beer please let Rogers alone!
Thank you for finding time to read through. This is opportunity to invest. For just $200,000 you can become associate producer.
Mr. Onyema Emmanuel. Abuja, Capital City of Nigeria
+234-7065790284 ***************************************** The Shuttle is a bit stint at the moment. We thought we would pass on this exciting opportunity to our readers. It's a winning script.
It was on August 1st- American rap singer T-Pain arrived at Sydney airport with an entourage of 23.
2 lone paparazzi photographers were there and by all accounts, well away from the celebrity group when suddenly a man, believed to be a bodyguard from T-Pain's party hurled himself onto a hapless snapper named Kirk Bolt, a regular on the Sydney red carpet scene.
T-Pain
Here is the tale as featured in the Daily Telegraph the following day.
Bolt and man crashed to the floor and were soon pulled apart by police. (now more on the ball since a Hell's Angel was beaten to death at the same airport less than a year ago by a rival biker gang)
What we want to know is-who owns the gorgeous pair of Louis Vuittonsuitcases being wielded by the burly bodyguard. T-Pain or the menacing minder ?
This brat takes precociousness to a new level. If you haven't heard of
Lights-Camera-Jackson here he is.
Watch and suffer :
(even more annoying-he is pretty spot on with his reviews )
We know there are still Rocky Horror Picture Show virgins out there. This is a chance to see this amazing film on the big screen and join the fun with all the dedicated Rocky Horror fans who attend dressed as their favourite character.
Everyone should do it at least once.
Nell & Matilda Rose at Myer
(the Social Shuttlecrew are so ancient we actually attended the opening night of the original stage version in Kings Road, London. Fortunately we'll be able to get to the cinema via our free pensioner bus pass)
.We also present our picture of one of the stars of the film-Little Nell (Nell Campbell) who played Columbia.in the film. Nell went on to run one of New York's most popular nightclubs for many years before returning to Oz.
Nell attended the Myer fashion show last week with her charming daughter Matilda Rose.
A Shuttle reader emails us with a fascinating piece of trivia after spotting our mention of the Melbourne born actor Frank Thring who died in 1994.
Not only did Thring have a name that almost forces one to lisp when pronouncing it, he had the most wonderful mellifluous lisp himself.
Thring was a gifted stage actor who appeared with Laurence Olivier in Royal Shakespeare Theatre productions and in numerous Hollywood classics like BenHur, King of Kings,The Vikings the British flick Doctor in The House and in his later years one of the Mad Max films.
Born into a theatrical family in the 1920's, his father Frank W, Thring owned a small film production studio in the burgeoning Aussie film industry. ( It is little known that the very first feature film ever made was an Australian movie The Story of the Kelly Gang in 1906)
The Thring family has a very special claim to fame that should endear their name in movie industry history.
Frank Senior was the inventor of that most necessary piece of equipment in the making of every film production- the clapper board !
Fast on the heels of our tale (below at the end of "Cate Blanchett Snubbed") a UK tabloid the Daily Star has published a tale about our pal Russell Crowe titled :
Music-loving RUSSELL CROWE abandoned plans to sing at a children's charity show on Monday (09Aug10) - and spent the evening reading stories to his sons instead.
The Gladiator actor had volunteered to perform a song at a show for the Australian Children's Music Foundation at the State Theatre in Sydney on Monday evening.
But after travelling to the venue, Crowe's slot was cancelled - and he took advantage of his night off by spending quality time with his kids.
*************************************************
Errr..not quite folks. The event to which the Shuttle was invited was the Dueting For Kids concert to raise funds for the Australian Children's Music Foundation which was founded by children's TV host Don Spencer OAM who is the father of Danielle Spencer who is married to Crowe.
Although Russell is an Ambassador for the foundation along with a host of music identities like Dame Joan Sutherland,Andrew Farriss from INXS,The Wiggles honorary Oz resident Leo Sayer, Rolf Harris and Andre Rieu, Russell Crowe had never intended to either attend the function or perform at it.
Naturally Crowe and his wife Danielle are great supporters of Don who is a tireless charity worker and the pair nearly always turn up at events to aid his works but Crowe is always mindful that being one the world's current top box office movie stars, he is bound to be the center of attention.
If the Daily Star had read the Shuttle as at least 4 other British tabloids do on a regular basis (reproducing stories from here,) they would get these things right.
Russell & Danielle at a Don Spencer event in 2008
Fortunately one daily London newspaper has now come to an arrangement with the Social Shuttle to have first access to our exclusives. That's one to us and nil to the Daily Star
As we noted yesterday Crowe would not be at the event (with organisers confirming to us today that he was never going to be). He twittered that night that he felt he was coming down with the flu.
Which didn't stop him taking his usual morning walk with his kids today around Wooloomoolloo and through the Botanic Gardens where he gave the Shuttle a cheery wave. Crowe has told us in the past that one of the reasons he loves being back home in Sydney is because of the relative freedom he has to wander about unbothered by paparazzi.
2 Years ago he devised a scheme perfect in it's simple brilliance to maintain that privacy. Every time he leaves his home now for his daily constitutional he wears exactly the same clothes, thereby devaluing possible sales of snaps of him out in public.
Update :after a polite slap across the wrists from the awards committee we must point out that 'Streetcar' and Paul Charlier has been nominated in the Sound Event section. ********************************* In a puzzling move actress Cate Blanchett has been completely overlooked in the nominations for the most prestigious Australian theatre awards, the Helpmann Awards.
Liv Ullmann, Cate & Joel Edgerton
The awards are named after one of the world's greatest ballet stars, Sir Robert Helpmann who was born in a remote country town in South Australia in 1909. When his mother noticed his tendency to dress in her clothes and dance about with great agility, his parents actively encouraged his artistic talents. Eventually he became one of the most renowned dancers appearing in and choreographing ballets from London and New York to Moscow.
Sir Robert Helpmann
At the announcement for the award nominations which will be presented at the Sydney Opera House on September 6th, Cate's "A Streetcar Named Desire" didn't receive a mention. Streetcar was not only an artistic success in Sydney, Blanchett's production which was directed by Liv Ullmann and starred Cate and Joel Edgerton in the main roles was hailed throughout the USA when it toured there as one of the all time great productions of Tennessee Williams' play, earning the Sydney Theatre Company a much needed $3.5M in profit.
As Artistic Director since 2008 Blanchett, along with her husband Andrew Upton has been guiding the fortunes of the Sydney Theatre Company ( STC) and has revived the company with a number of noted talents for it's 12 productions each year including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Steven Soderbergh and William Hurt.Cate was also responsible for attracting designer Giorgio Armani as the theatre companies major sponsor.
The Helpmann Awards , one motto being "ensuring the Awards are the most prestigious awards in the industry and the highlight of each Season." ironically has nominated a host of artists who trained at the STC including Neil Armfield and Robin Nevin.
# trivia moment : In 2007 the Social Shuttle attended the premiere of the film 'I'm Not There' at the then new Sydney Theatre Company Theatre in which Blanchett gives a stunning performance as Bob Dylan.
After introducing the movie with a small speech stating she had not yet seen the film, Cate Blanchett left the stage and took a seat next to the Shuttle with Upton and proceeded to narrate various anecdotes to her husband as the film ran. A woman sitting behind reached over and tapped her on the shoulder and said "could you please keep the noise down-I'm watching Cate Blanchett on screen and can't hear a word she is saying !"
## Channeling Mystic Meg earlier tonight we advised 4 paparazzi not to bother attending a function at the State Theatre which would feature Don Spencer, father-in-law of Russell Crowe who was expected to attend. "Our crystal ball says he won't be there", we said. Russell and wife Danielle can always be relied on to support Don in his ventures. And so it came to pass as the following tweet says:
Got that flu coming on feeling?Both our boys were sick last week, so bound to happen.Need an early night,not a late one on the giggle juice.3 hours ago ******************** At tonight's Young Chef Awards (not to be missed-buckets of Bollinger and fine food) the Shuttle happily informed Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson MP that despite the doom and gloom mainly emanating from the Murdoch media in their campaign to bury Prime Minister Julia Gillard, that Labor will be returned or govern with a 3 seat majority but that could be made up of independents/Greens.. I think we made his night. And that too will come to pass. Trust me.
