Beauty News

Grey’s Anatomy star Brooke Smith, aka Dr. Erica Hahn, has been abruptly pulled from the hit medical drama, reports EW.

In fact, this Thursday is her final episode. Does it have anything to do with her character being involved with Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez), Grey’s first-ever significant gay couple?

But of course. The mag reports ABC “had issues with both the explicit direction Callica (Callie and Erica) was taking and, more importantly, with the Hahn character in general.”

Read the exclusive interview with Brooke at EW.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK of ABC pulling the plug on Callica???

Sen. Barack Obama’s grandmother died of cancer at age 86 in Honolulu, his campaign said this afternoon.

The 47-year-old Democratic presidential nominee and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, 38, released this joint statement about Madelyn Dunham (their maternal grandmother): “It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

“Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.”

RIP.

Heidi Klum dons her second milk mustache in almost two weeks in her latest got milk? ad, which debuts in Shape on November 10th. (Last month, the German supermodel was a milk maid).

The ad copy reads, “Model Mom. From the runway to my driveway, there’s one look that’s always in style. Studies suggest the nutrients in 3 glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day can help you maintain a healthy weight. And the protein helps build muscle for a lean body. Which makes it a perfect fit for you and your family.”

Check out both of Heidi Klum’s ads and learn more about milk at WhyMilk.com.

Enjoy some behind-the-scenes shots from Heidi’s photo shoot below!

Sen. Barack Obama’s grandmother died of cancer at age 86 in Honolulu, his campaign said this afternoon.

The 47-year-old Democratic presidential nominee and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, 38, released this joint statement about Madelyn Dunham (their maternal grandmother): “It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

“Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.”

RIP.

Britney Spears dresses up as a witch and takes her two sons — Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2 — for a round of trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Just posted on her official website, the 26-year-old pop princess posted pics of her boys, gal pals Courtney and Laura Lynn, her assistant Brett and dad Jamie. Looks like they all had a blast dressing up together!

Brit also revealed she attended Drew Barrymore’s Halloween party. Looks like she’s back to having a good time!

Country superstar Carrie Underwood gets perky for the December 2008 cover of Elle. The complete article will be going live tomorrow along with a behind-the-scenes video from the cover shoot. In the meantime, this is what the 25-year-old former American Idol champ had to say about fame, her voice and that other blond:

On the rumor she was dating Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps: “I swear on everything, on my job, on my house, my dog…That’s how serious I am. It’s all just a lie. Anytime any [media source] ever says ‘a friend said,’ or ‘a close’ whatever – no, they didn’t! It’s just made up. None of my friends would say anything. Ever. About anything!”

On her comment that a taken Tony Romo still calls her: “It was just something that was said in passing, and I would never mean to say anything to hurt anybody or to stir up anything, because I’m just not about drama. At all. I might be mad too if somebody said my boyfriend was calling some other girl. So I can definitely see where she [Jessica Simpson] would be coming from. But I haven’t talked to him since, like, May.”

On whether or not she’s dating someone: “If I say I am or I’m not, as soon as this magazine comes out, it might be the opposite of what I tell you now. In three months, it’ll be ‘Carrie said she’s not dating anybody,’ yet last night, I was out on the town with some guy. He’s going to get mad at me. Everybody’s going to think I’m a liar. It’s just best not to go there.”

On life on the road: “I don’t know how people do it. It’s tiring. It’s hard. Right now I do a lot because I have no reason not to. I don’t have a husband or kids. If I go home, I’m home by myself. I have no reason not to be on the road, no reason not to just get out there and do everything right now, while I’m young enough to, while I can enjoy it. But I think when I get a little older, I definitely want to slow down, just because it’s very stressful. It’s hard on your body, hard on your mind, hard on your emotions.”

On dealing with celebrity: “I knew what I was signing up for, and I’m not complaining at all. I’ve learned how to deal with it, and my life is great, I’m a happy person. What are you going to do? Give it all up? No!”

MOOOOOO

Sienna Miller and a mystery male enjoy a smoke break outside the Cow Pub in London on Monday.

The 26-year-old British actress is reportedly having relationship issues with oil heir Balthazar Getty.

A source reveals, “The couple have also had a series of rows about how much time Sienna spends socializing. While she enjoys drinking and partying, Balthazar, a former addict who stars in the TV show Brothers And Sisters, More Here! »
prefers a quieter life.”

Helena Bonham Carter enjoys a beautiful Sunday out in Malibu with son Billy Ray, 4, and daughter Nell, 11 months.

The 42-year-old actress was recently cast in her husband Tim Burton’s film Alice in Wonderland. (The couple also worked together on Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish and Planet of the Apes.)

Carter will play the Red Queen, who has an affinity for crying out, “Off with their heads!” Anne Hathaway is set to play White Queen, Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.

Kate Winslet bares it all for the December 2008 issue of Vanity Fair, which hits shelves November 11. Here’s what the 33-year-old British actress says in the mag:

On her fashion sense: “I often look at women who wear great jeans and high heels and nice little T-shirts wandering around the city and I think, I should make more of an effort. … But then I think, they can’t be happy in those heels.”

On her body: “This is going to sound really weird, but I never had a desire to be famous. I never had huge ambitions - never. I was fat. I didn’t know any fat famous actresses. I just did not see myself in that world at all, and I’m being very sincere. You know, once a fat kid, always a fat kid. Because you always think that you just look a little bit wrong or a little bit different from everyone else.”

Read the full feature at VanityFair.com.

Milk is tells the story of slain gay rights icon Harvey Milk from Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant. Early reviews for the film and especially Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk are very strong.

The Hollywood Reporter: “Yes, it’s a biopic, a love story, a civil rights movie and sharp political and social commentary. But it transcends any single genre as a very human document that touches first and foremost on the need to give people hope.”

Variety: “The quality of the writing, acting and directing generally invests them with the feel of real life and credible personal interchange, rather than of scripted stops along the way from aspiration to triumph to tragedy. And on a project whose greatest danger lay in its potential to come across as agenda-driven agitprop, the filmmakers have crucially infused the story with qualities in very short supply today — gentleness and a humane embrace of all its characters, even of the entirely vilifiable gunman, Dan White.”

Milk opens on November 26 in limited release and December 5 wide. For more info, visit MilkTheMovie.com.

Pictured below: Diego Luna, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber and Alison Pill.

Gwen Stefani takes her two sons — Kingston, 2, and Zuma, 2 months — for a play date at Echo Park in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.

How slick does Kingston look in his leather motorcycle jacket?!?

The 39-year-old No Doubt frontwoman, who was accompanied by her brother Todd and sister in-law Jen, even took Kingston to play Ring Around the Rosie! Gwen’s mother and father were also at the party.

Earlier in the day, Gwen stopped off at Toys R’ Us and a local neighborhood Mexican restaurant El Conquistador located on Sunset Blvd.

Adam Levine had his Halloween party catered by Eco Raw Food Chef Ani Phyo (pictured here).

Enjoy this first picture of the 29-year-old Maroon 5 frontman dressed up as Scottish knight William Wallace from Braveheart.

Also pictured: Kirsten Dunst as Amelia Earhart and Adrian Grenier as Oliver Twist. Also check out some of the awesome desserts that were Adam and the gang ate!

For recipes of the raw vegan desserts from the Maroon 5 Halloween party, visit More Here! »
AniPhyo.com

Kate Beckinsale is the hottest little red riding hood.ever.
Justin and Jessica skip Halloween to eat at Jerry’s.
David Beckham is proud to be UK’s gayest straight man.
Britney Spears has Farrah Fawcett hair.
Criss Angel lays a wet one on Holly Madison.
Jennifer Hudson’s family was memorialized.
Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham do dinner.
Jessica Biel taunts us with her bare hands.
Jessica Biel sparkles on the red carpet.
Adrien Brody will star in The Courier, an independent action film to be directed by Russell Mulcahy. The story centers on a daredevil courier… Shooting is scheduled to start in January in Louisiana and Las Vegas.
Early estimates show that 12 million people tuned into Saturday Night Live this weekend. The show, which featured a cameo appearance by presidential hopeful John McCain, had 3 million fewer viewers than an episode two weeks ago that had Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a guest.
Usher performs at the Hammerstein Ballroom tonight as part of his “One Night Stand” tour.
iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove will read to children at the Scholastic Store in Soho on Wednesday afternoon.

Heidi Klum goes all out with her costume during her annual Halloween party at 1 Oak in New York City on Friday.

The 35-year-old Project Runway host explained her costume to reporters, saying, “It was actually my assistant’s idea. My husband [Seal] and I were in India last year, so she said, ‘Why don’t you do an Indian goddess? Like a scary Indian goddess?’ And I said ‘OK!’ So then she Googled around and she found Kali and showed me a picture, and I loved it. I loved it because she’s so mean and killed all these different people and [had] fingers hanging off [her] and little shrunken heads everywhere.”

Heidi also talked about her kids’ costumes: “Leni is a bumblebee and the boys [Henry and Johan] are Spiderman. But they’re always Spiderman, so I don’t think for them there’s a difference between Halloween or any other day. They always dress up.”

A motorcycle-riding Cate Blanchett holds onto costar Brad Pitt in this new still from their upcoming movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. (They both look so gorgeous in the rehearsal shot below!)

Benjamin Button, out Christmas Day, is about a man who ages in reverse. As he grows younger, his love (Blanchett) grows older. Here’s a snippet from the NYT article:

Benjamin, as he says in his voice-over narration, “was born under unusual circumstances” on Nov. 11, 1918, the last day of World War I. As the doctor attending him describes the strange little creature, “He has all the deterioration, the infirmities, not of a newborn, but of a man well in his 80s on the way to his grave.”

Read the full article at NYTimes.com.

Sacha Baron Cohen holds up a sign during a Yes on Prop. 8 rally, on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 in Los Angeles.

The 37-year-old British comedian was at the rally shooting his not-yet-titled movie as his alter ego Bruno, gay Austrian fashion reporter. Proposition 8 would overturn the California Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year to legalize same-sex marriage.

When photographers and reporters realized who he was, his film crew shielded him and he was whisked away in a van.

The Bruno movie has a release date of May 15, 2009.

Hayden Panettiere shows off a silver shoulder at the 2008 Alfred Mann Foundation Gala Honoring Placido Domingo in Los Angeles on Sunday.

On Saturday night, the Heroes hottie glittered in gold at the Hollywood Legacy Awards XI honoring the cast of her hit show.

For those of you in the U.S., follow Hayden’s message and vote!

Katie Holmes shows off another pair of gladiator sandals as she leaves her apartment to head to the theater for another performance of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons New York City on Saturday.

The 29-year-old actress has been getting mixed reviews for her performances with Variety (Dave Rooney) saying, “Pairing Arthur Miller’s probing social realism with Brit director Simon McBurney’s multidisciplinary experimental approach was a gamble, but the payoff in All My Sons is considerable. Holmes, he says,”handles her role as death’s messenger with neither distinction nor embarrassment.”

Mischa Barton works out her hippie headband complete with white flowers while walking her dog after lunch at Joan’s on 3rd in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 22-year-old former O.C. actress has enjoyed her recent time being single (after splitting with Taylor Locke) saying, “I’m not used to being single, but it’s really nice. It’s great, actually. Just embrace it. It’s important to breathe for a minute!”

Mischa enjoyed the Halloween party thrown by Adam Levine on Friday night, dressing up as a Christmas tree!

Hilary Duff and hockey player boyfriend Mike Comrie dressed up as Brangelina for Halloween.

DO YOU THINK Hilary and Mike look like a good Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — YAY or NAY?

Recently, the 21-year-old singer/actress released her “Reach Out” music video, which received a lot of buzz for for her thumb-sucking. It’s the first single off Hilary’s compilation album titled Best of Hilary Duff, due out November 11.

Ashlee Simpson and husband Pete Wentz had a Winnie the Pooh-themed baby shower at Bel-Air Hotel’s Palm Room on Saturday afternoon, reports Star.

Ashlee’s older sister, Jessica, and mom, Tina, hosted the co-ed party, which was had 40 guests.

On the menu was crabcakes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, jicama salad with grapefruit and a bumble bee-shaped cake.

“The room was decorated with yellow and orange roses, and guests were given jars of honey with custom-made labels that said ‘Baby Wentz’ and ‘Thank You For Celebrating My Life’ on them,” says a party guest. “The girls were also given bracelets that had a big bumble bee on them.

The baby is due any day now!

For Halloween, Adam Levine dressed up as Scottish knight William Wallace from Braveheart (originally played by Mel Gibson in the 1995 historical action-drama).

The 29-year-old Maroon 5 frontman hosted a private Halloween bash sponsored by EFFEN Vodka Friday night at his home for close family and friends in the Hollywood Hills from 9PM-2AM.

At the party, Kirsten Dunst, dressed as Amelia Earhart, chatted it up with Adrian Grenier, who was dressed as Oliver Twist. All night, former O.C. star Mischa Barton was seen struggling and adjusting with her huge cardboard Christmas tree cut-out costume with glowing green lights draped around her entire body.

If you’ve got pictures from the party, send them in!

Looks like Al Roker has got the goods down there!

The 54-year-old NBC Today show weatherman dressed up as The Gingerbread Man for Halloween this past Friday and had his crotch sniffed out by a dog, leashed by correspondent Jill Rappaport as Alfalfa (from the 1994 comedy film Little Rascals)

Today Show co-host costumes; Matt Lauer was Humpty Dumpty, Meredith Viera was Pinocchio and Ann Curry was a self-described “ethnic J-Lo Cinderella.”

Angelina Jolie gets up close and personal on the December 2008 cover of UK’s Harper’s Bazaar. Pure glamour.

As for Halloween, the Jolie-Pitt clan went trick-or-treating.

Maddox dressed as a marine with a helmet, Zahara chose a Jolly Green Giant outfit and Shiloh dressed as a sheriff.

According to Star, Shiloh saying to Angie, “I want more candy, mom.”

Angelina told her, “You’ll get more, there are more houses.” Shiloh was tired by the end of their trick-or-treating, good dad Brad Pitt carried her.

Bigger cover picture of Angie here.

DIGITAL DUTCHESS

Fergie talks about her designs and provides a glimpse into her world in the latest HP commercial.

“My computer is like a virtual autobiography… I love finding new dance moves online… Totally reminds me of my first tour with the Peas… Check it out, my new shoe line. Working on an eco-friendly style next. Green is the new black, baby… My computer holds my past but there’s plenty of room in there for my future.”

Kudos to the Hewlett-Packard team for another fun and creative commercial. (Gwen Stefani made a similar one last year.) For more information, visit HP.com/fergie.

Pictured below: Fergie, who voices the Hippo Girlfriend, at the premiere of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at the Village Theatre on last weekend in L.A.

Natalie Portman and Rashida Jones are back with another PSA, urging everybody to vote this Tuesday, November 4th. (It’s very much in the same vein as their puppies one.)

Here’s what the actresses and Harvard graduates had to say:

“On Tuesday, November 4th, we’ll be making the most important decision of our generation. This election is not just about choosing between the candidates, it’s about deciding the future for children and our children’s children. The choice is clear… So do the right thing, America. Kitties.”

Republican vice-presidential Sarah Palin found herself the butt of another joke Saturday afternoon during a phone call prank.

The “Masked Avengers”, Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel from the Montreal radio station CKOI, managed to get through to Palin posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“I just love killing those animals. Hmm-hmm. Take away a life, that is so fun. I’d really like to go, as long as we don’t bring Vice-President Cheney,” Audette said, referring to an incident in which Dick Cheney shot a fellow hunter by accident.

“No, I’ll be a careful shot,” Palin responded with a laugh.

The prankster ends with: “If one voice can change the world for Obama, one Viagra can change the world for McCain.”

Listen below!

Check out these first pictures of newlywed Ryan Reynolds settin the fast pace at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2nd.

The 31-year-old husband of Scarlett Johansson recently dismissed his athleticism by insisting: “I am not a runner - I’m a running joke.”

Ryan finished the 26.2mile race at a very respectable 3:50:22 with his wife there to cheer him on.

Mr. Reynolds, runner number 14778, ran for Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, inspired by his own father Jim Reynolds’ struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Other pictures include Ryan yesterday (Halloween) at a press conference for the ING New York City Marathon at the Tavern on the Green.

Miley Cyrus’s little sister, Noah, poses with her two sisters’ boyfriends on Friday, Halloween in Toluca Lake, Calif.

Noah, 8, was joined by Miley’s boyfriend, Justin Gaston (”Vote” star scarf by Karen Zambos), and Brandi’s boyfriend, Sam Hancock (polka dot scarf).

Justin and Sam were supposedly dressed as two of the Jonas Brothers. Is Justin dressed as Miley’s ex-boyfriend Nick??

The pair put on an “impromptu concert” in the driveway of the Cyrus family home and gave out candy and posed for photos with passing trick-or-treaters.

More Here! »
Two weeks ago, Justin, Sam and Noah went on a bike ride together

Blake Lively does her best Queen of the Nile, dressing up as Cleopatra, for a special Halloween edition of The Martha Stewart Show telecast on Halloween, October 31, 2008.

Martha dressed up as the Greek goddess Medusa with her intertwining snake hair. Together, the twosome were in the kitchen preparing pumpkin-chocolate marble cake.

For the recipe, visit MarthaStewart.com.

Watch the video of Blake’s appearance on the the talk show below!
Blake Lively does her best Queen of the Nile, dressing up as Cleopatra, for a special Halloween edition of The Martha Stewart Show telecast on Halloween, October 31, 2008.

Martha dressed up as the Greek goddess Medusa with her intertwining snake hair. Together, the twosome were in the kitchen preparing pumpkin-chocolate marble cake.

For the recipe, visit MarthaStewart.com.

Watch the video of Blake’s appearance on the the talk show below!