Issue Date: August 13,
2006
I
read that Billy Bob Thornton will make a movie about cave explorer
Floyd Collins. I visited Kentucky, and I saw where Collins was
trapped in Sand Cave in 1925. What can you tell me about the upcoming
film?
Dan Federrson Binghamton, N.Y.
It's in
the works, and Thornton, 51, plans to direct and star. Based on the
book "Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins," it's about the dramatic
two weeks when Collins was stuck and eventually died in a cave.
Jennifer Love Hewitt's "Ghost Whisperer" was considered
one of the top new TV shows of last season. You should be doing more
on her.
Jerry Schein, New York, N.Y.
Agreed,
Jerry. So we arranged a chat and learned that Hewitt, who became
famous as a teen on "Party of Five," likes to talk about moving into
grown-up roles "without playing a drug addict or doing a nude scene."
On Ghost, she plays a married woman "with an old soul and a lot of
responsibility." Hewitt, 27, has undergone transitions in her
personal life, too. For one, she "moved out of the nest," her mom's
house. She got her own place more than a year ago. "My whole thing
was to prove to myself that I could run a home."
Why
are there rumors that Daniel Radcliffe doesn't want to play Harry
Potter in the fifth movie? I thought he liked playing the part.
Claire Kamara, Corvallis, Ore.
He does,
but that doesn't mean he wants to forever. Rumors that Radcliffe
might not play Harry in the fifth movie may have started because he
isn't under contract for a sixth Potter film (nor are his co-stars).
But Radcliffe, 17, is now making the fifth film, "Harry Potter and
the Order of Phoenix." The entire cast took a two-month break earlier
this year but is back to work now. The movie comes out next
June.
Jeri
Ryan was always my favorite Borg in "Star Trek: Voyager." Where can I
see the actress next?
James Amato, Streetsboro, Ohio
This
fall, Ryan, 38, plays down to earth. She co-stars in the legal drama
"Shark," a CBS series getting great buzz because James Woods is the
lead character and Spike Lee directed the pilot. Ryan plays Woods'
former foe who's now his boss.
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Winona
Ryder is a good actress but goes too long between movies. Is it
because of her 2001 shoplifting episode?
Matt Henry, Boise
That
incident had some impact on her career. But last month she opened "A
Scanner Darkly," her first commercial movie since "Mr. Deeds," with
Adam Sandler, in 2002. And Ryder, 34, has reteamed with "Heathers"
writer Dan Waters for "Sex and Death 101," a film due next
year.
Why
did Mischa Barton leave "The OC?" The Fox series won't be the same
without the core four young actors.
Crystal Stevens, Martinsville, Ind.
That's
the point. They killed off Barton's character, Marissa Cooper, to
create new drama, says executive producer Stephanie Savage. You have
to give them credit for making a needed bold move to change it up.
Inside scoop: "We're going back to the core idea of the show, Ryan's
relationship with the Cohens," Savage says. "The tragedy brings out
the best and worst in everyone. Ryan, Summer and Julie are most
affected." Autumn Reeser (Taylor) and Willa Holland (Kaitlin) will
become series regulars.
My
family and I love Dennis Haysbert on CBS' "The Unit," particularly
his line, "I fear no man, and only one woman," a reference to his
on-screen wife. Does he fear a special woman off screen? What might I
have seen him in besides insurance ads on TV?
Dolores Lechkun, Shelby Township, Mich.
Haysbert,
52, became a household face when he played President David Palmer on
Fox's "24." Recently, he completed "Goodbye Bafana," playing Nelson
Mandela. The divorced father of two is quite charming off screen but
also guarded. I can't tell you whether he's afraid of anything or
anyone. But I can tell you he'll be fearless again this fall when
"The Unit" returns.
Does
Mel Gibson have any new films in the works?
Fred Kay,
Albuquerque
Yes, but
once again, he's behind the camera. Gibson, 50, is directing the
December action-adventure film "Apocalypto." It stars unknown actors
and has ancient Mayan dialect with subtitles. A tough sell to be
sure, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Gibson. "The Passion of the
Christ," which used an ancient language, made more than $370 million
in the United States alone.
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BIRTHDAYS
August
13: Danny Bonaduce, 47
August
14: Halle Berry, 40; Magic Johnson, 47; Steve Martin, 61
August
15: Ben Affleck, 34; Debra Messing, 38; Princess Anne, 56
August
16: Steve Carell, 43; Madonna, 48; Angela Bassett, 48; James
Cameron, 52; Kathie Lee Gifford, 53
August
17: Sean Penn, 46; Robert De Niro, 63
August
18: Edward Norton, 37; Patrick Swayze, 54; Robert Redford,
70
August
19: Matthew Perry, 37; Kyra Sedgwick, 41; Peter Gallagher, 51;
Bill Clinton 60
Contributing: Lauren Brown, Bridget Byrne, Gayle Jo
Carter, Jon Tollestrup
 Ask
Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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