I’ll celebrate the Jubilee by trying to pull Helen Mirren

- says Russell Brand

Cheeky ... Russell Brand

RUSSELL BRAND is renowned for being a ladies’ man – but now he’s been wooed by two BLOKES. 

 

The Brit was bowled over by Hollywood legends Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin after working with them on his latest film, Rock Of Ages.
And he sealed his bromance with 54-year-old Alec with a saucy on-screen kiss.
Russell, 36, said: “He’s a good kisser. It’s a sexy kiss, right on the mouth. Alec is a sexy man.
“Having done it, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again if there was a sequel — or even if there wasn’t. I really loved him.”
Russell — who plays club boss Lonnie in the upcoming blockbuster, which is set in 1980s Los Angeles — also got close to Tom Cruise on set. The 49-year-old megastar even cooked Russ a special birthday dinner.
He said: “Tom is lovely. He’s like a big charismatic hurricane smashing through your life.
“It’s lovely to get attention from him, it’s lovely to hang out with him. He’s a beautiful, genuine, kind man.

Sneaky snog ... Russell Brand and Helen Mirren

Rex Features

“You’d think if someone was the biggest movie star in the world, you wouldn’t be so interested in other people. But he’s very caring. He’s serious but sweet, a joy to be around.
“Tom bought me a really nice birthday present, with all of my favourite things. He gave me a nice new yoga mat and cooked me nice food.
“He bought me all of my favourite foods. I thought, ‘How does he know all of this stuff?’ He was like Father Christmas.”
Russ — who split from pop star Katy Perry in December after one year of marriage — has starred in a number of hit movies, including Get Him To The Greek and Arthur.

Flashing some flesh ... Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages

But his rise to Hollywood A-lister means he has had to move to LA, leaving behind his beloved home country. And the star will be particularly gutted to be missing out on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London this weekend.
However, patriotic Russ has a plan to mark the occasion with his celeb movie chums.
He said: “It hurts my heart. It’s a great time in our country and I’m devastated not to be there. I love the Queen and have never been so in love with her since I came to America. But we will be honouring the Queen in our own special way.

'He's a good kisser' ... Russell on Alec Baldwin

“I might celebrate by trying to get off with Helen Mirren.” Brit Helen — who starred with Russell in movies Arthur and The Tempest, as well as playing Her Majesty in the 2006 film The Queen, — and Russ have already had a couple of smooches: once at the UK premiere of Arthur and again at a do in LA.
But she isn’t the only leading lady to catch Russell’s eye.
He will host the MTV Movie Awards in LA tomorrow — which will be screened on MTV at 9pm on Monday — and is hoping to work his magic on South African actress Charlize Theron after his first attempt to charm her went wrong.
He said: “She’s amazing, isn’t she? I met her and it was embarrassing. I messed it up bad.
“I met her and didn’t recognise her. I was at a party and I was looking at birds. She came over and said something untoward. And I showed off, like an idiot, not recognising her.
“I thought, ‘Oh no! I didn’t use any of my moves!’ But it’s a new day, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new life. Is she single?”
Russell is also hoping to catch up with Hollywood man-of-the-moment Michael Fassbender and wildman Charlie Sheen at the star-studded event. Russell and Prometheus star Michael attended the same acting college, the Drama Centre London.

'I met her and didn't know it was her and showed off. I messed up' ... Russell on Charlize

P\Pathe

Russell said: “I’m looking forward to seeing Michael. He was in the year below me. And Charlie Sheen, that will be a laugh. I like Charlie. He’s a warlock on a mission.”
Russ will spend today frantically preparing for the hosting gig. When he caught up with The Sun yesterday, he still hadn’t written his script.
He revealed: “I’m not well prepared. I think that spoils it.
“I told them that because I’m very busy I can only do this awards show if I have to do no preparation or rehearsal. They said OK.
“Later on they realised that I meant it when there were rehearsals that I didn’t go to.”
As well as his acting, Russ is working on his new chat show, Brand X, which will launch on US channel FX later this month.

Helen Mirren ... as the Queen

Despite setting up home in the States, football-mad Russell still keeps up to date with the all the UK footie action. He tuned in from his LA home to watch his beloved West Ham win promotion to the Premier League last month. He said: “It was really good to watch it on my own, just with the cat. It’s more intense and serious.”
And he is looking forward to cheering on England during Euro 2012 — even if new boss Roy Hodgson doesn’t excite him in quite the same way as former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Russ said: “I don’t know about Hodgson. He’s sort of smart but the only manager who I would be genuinely excited about would be Mourinho.
“That’s the only person who would really give me a h***-on. Hodgson doesn’t do that.”
Rock Of Ages, which is out on June 15, follows the antics of Sunset Strip’s debauched rock clubs in the 1980s.
But reformed junkie Russ admitted he couldn’t call on any of his own drug-fuelled LA experiences for the role.

Rock and roles ... Russell in his new movie Rock of Ages

He said: “When I was a drug addict I couldn’t afford to come to Los Angeles because I needed that money for drugs. For me, all my junkiness was in Camden and Edinburgh. It’s a shame, really, because it looks like people were having a laugh here.
“I didn’t come to LA until I was clean so I haven’t experienced that side of it.”
The comic — famously sacked as a presenter by MTV at the height of his addiction for turning up to work dressed as terror leader Osama Bin Laden the day after 9/11 — has now replaced booze and drugs with meditation and yoga.
But he claims these healthy new addictions still give him a rush. Russell said: “I do meditation and yoga. These two things together provide me with daily access to unseen realms of power.
“You realise your identity, everything you believe about yourself and the material world is a temporary illusion.
“You think this stuff is just a made-up load of old nuts, then you suddenly have access to all these new superpowers.
“It’s like when you first take acid.”

Travel through the rock of ages

ROCK Of Ages began life as a musical in 2006.
The show was adapted from Chris D’Arienzo’s book, which was built around classic rock hits from the 1980s.
The show premiered at Los Angeles club King King before moving to Broadway in 2009.
The UK production kicked off in London’s West End Shaftesbury Theatre in September 2011.
The show stars comedian Justin Lee Collins and X Factor winner Shayne Ward.
The cameras started rolling on the movie version after the rights were sold to Warner Bros and New Line Cinema in May 2011.
The main roles are played by country singer Julianne Hough and Mexican actor Diego Boneta. The rest of the cast includes Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mary J. Blige.
During the film, the stars perform rock tracks by Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Foreigner and Journey.
The film is directed by Adam Shankman, who has also worked on the 2007 remake of Hairspray and 2002’s Catch Me If You Can.
The Rock Of Ages film cost around £45million to make.

Abbey and glorious

Flying the flag ... Abbey Clancy gets into the spirit

LEGGY Abbey Clancy poses naked except for the Union flag — and becomes our standard barer for the Jubilee celebrations. 

The 26-year-old model is as patriotic as ever despite 6ft 7ins hubby Peter Crouch being left out of the England team for Euro 2012.
For your unwavering loyalty, for your majestic beauty and for being prepared to marry a flag pole... Abbey, we salute you.

Wed ... Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch

 

Who’s Clara?

New ... Jenna-Louise Coleman

 

DOCTOR Who’s new companion could be called Clara, say fans who have watched filming in Wales.

Actress Jenna-Louise Coleman, who was unveiled as the Time Lord’s latest assistant this year, has been in action near Port Talbot.
And fans claim they overheard the Doctor (Matt Smith) calling her Clara.
They also say the middle name of former assistant Elisabeth Sladen, who died in April last year, was Clara and bosses could want to honour her.
But show chiefs are notoriously secretive and often use code names. A source said: “There is so much interest bosses are really guarded to keep fans guessing.”

CORRIE star Natalie Gumede has been taken by surprise by fans’ pity for aggro character Kirsty Soames. She says: “It has been really interesting.”

Clash of the tight buns

Kylie's Jubilee challenge to Pippa

Sizzling buns ... Pippa Middleton and Kylie Minogue

CHEEKY Kylie Minogue has challenged Pippa Middleton to a sizzling battle of the buns at the Diamond Jubilee.

 he 44-year-old Aussie pop princess — who famously flaunted her shapely rear in tiny gold hot pants — will be singing at the concert celebrating the Queen’s 60 years on the throne on Monday.

Also on the guest list is Pippa, 28, whose pert behind stole headlines when she was bridesmaid at sister Kate’s wedding to Prince William last April.
Kylie will be seen revealing her saucy challenge to TV chat host Alan Carr tonight.
Asked by the comic whether she would have a “bum-off” with young pretender Pippa, she said: “I’m going to have to.
“I’ll definitely have to (bend over and) pick something up off the ground.”
Kylie, wearing a hot pink mini-dress, then leaned over and gave a wink to show the Channel 4 audience she is still in excellent shape.
And to help in her battle with Pippa, joker Alan, 35, even gave Kylie a vibrating bottom-toning machine as a gift for her birthday, which fell last Monday.

Rear phew ... Kylie Minogue leans over on show

Ellis OBrien/Open Mike

Yet while she is prepared to tackle the bum challenge, Kylie admits she is nervous about singing in front of the Royal Family.
She said: “I can’t tell you too much about the performance, but what I can say is I’m doing a medley.”

Toning ... Kylie with machine from Alan Carr

Ellis OBrien/Open Mike

Last week Kylie performed her latest hit Timebomb on The Voice in a cobweb-style dress, which she confides in the chat came from a Soho SEX STORE.
Kylie also speaks on the show about sister Dannii’s embarrassment when Simon Cowell’s affair with her was revealed in Tom Bower’s biography Sweet Revenge — serialised in The Sun.

Rear rivals ... Pippa Middleton and Kylie Minogue

Flynet/Getty

She said: “My sister has been through a lot worse — but she’s busy with my nephew Ethan who’s adorable.”
Kylie admitted she’d been in talks to be a judge on The Voice but said she’d never join The X Factor panel.
She said: “It’s a million per cent no.”

So sweet Georgia

Sizzling ... Georgia Salpa

TASTY Georgia Salpa shows the cool figure that left her new millionaire lover melting. 

The Celebrity Big Brother 2012 star, 27, dazzled in a bikini in Puerto Banus, Spain, with hedge fund boss Joe Penna.
Dubliner Georgia then went along with Joe for an ice cream. He clearly feels she’s worth hundreds and thousands.

Model pose ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Love tub ... ice cream trip with boyfriend Joe Penna

Splash News

Rear view ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Looking her breast ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Sexy ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Dazzling ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Relaxing ... Georgia Salpa

Flynet

Tasty ... Georgia Salpa

 

‘Teletubbies were not gay’

'Not gay' ... Teletubbies

THE Teletubbies were NOT gay, insists actress Nikky Smedley, who played Laa-Laa in the hit BBC kids’ show. 

 

After years of claims from viewers and even religious leaders that the show was laced with homosexual innuendo, Nikky said: “I think it’s embarrassing for the people who said it.
“What kind of person can take the obvious innocence and turn it into something else?
“We were hardly sexual beings.”

LOCATION, Location, Location’s Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer will kick off the new series of The Million Pound Drop Live. The show, hosted by Davina McCall, returns to Channel 4 on Friday, June 15.
The celeb duo will be hoping to bag some serious cash for their chosen charities.
They won’t be the only famous faces taking part in this series – and one celeb is on the look-out for a viewer to join them.
The star in question will be announced during the first show, so tune in for the chance of playing with them.

'Pressure of playing Catwoman made me sick'

Hollywood beauty Anne Hathaway
on her 'badass' role in Batman

Cat fight ... Anne Hathaway stars as Catwoman in new flick The Dark Knight Rises

THE Devil Wears Latex – as Anne Hathaway prepares to prowl across our cinema screens as Catwoman in this summer’s The Dark Knight Rises. 

 

But the actress — best known for playing Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s assistant Andrea in 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada — says the pressure of playing the feline femme fatale makes her feel SICK.
Anne is the first woman villain in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, which has featured such memorable baddies as Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow and Heath Ledger’s Joker.
She tells The Sun: “I didn’t realise I was the first — and I feel a little nauseous. That’s a lot of pressure.”
But not as much pressure as she is under to keep the film’s secrets safely locked away until it opens in the UK on July 20.
Notoriously tight-lipped director Christopher insisted that no one be given the opportunity to leak details of the film’s storyline, requiring Anne to come in and read the script on site, without being given a copy to take home and study.
So far we know that the film, whose principal villain is Tom Hardy’s masked Bane, includes such set pieces as a skyjacking, an exploding football field and the sacking of Gotham City by rioters.

Bad mews ... Anne Hathaway as evil Catwoman in new film

Anne says: “I had to read the script in a locked room — OK, maybe the room wasn’t locked, I could be adding that for dramatic effect. But you know what I mean. “I read it through once really fast and I went back and read over all of my scenes and tried to memorise them as much as I could instantly.
“It was cool. You could call Chris and ask, ‘What is this scene about again?’”
Even when Anne was doing screen tests for the role, she was given only “sides” — the pages of the script where her character appears.
And these were as closely tracked as if Gary Oldman’s Commissioner Gordon were personally supervising their safety.
She says: “When I screen-tested I took the sides home and it was really awkward, because the producer had to hunt me down to get them back so they could be destroyed.”
Even so, the 29-year-old star thinks Christopher’s MI6-level stealth is the right approach. She says: “This should be treated with a certain amount of secrecy, which is great, because I think it is so much more fun to discover it in the movie theatre when there is so much anticipation about the movie.”

Purr-fect ... Anne Hathaway

Anne is frequently photographed holding hands with her fiancé, little-known actor Adam Shulman, 31.
Her notorious ex-boyfriend, con man Raffaello Follieri, was this month deported from the United States after serving 4½ years in jail in Pennsylvania for wire fraud, conspiracy and money-laundering.
He had falsely posed as the Vatican’s chief financial officer to try to mislead investors.
Anne became one of Hollywood’s hottest new actresses overnight in 2001 when she co-starred with Julie Andrews in the Disney hit The Princess Diaries. Then she went on to don a tiara again in 2004’s Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Ella Enchanted.
But the role she really wanted was always the sexy, slinky Catwoman, previously played by such screen legends as Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry.
She says: “The first thing you have to say is, what an honour. And it was funny for me, because I got my big break with The Princess Diaries. And during the Press rounds for that, everyone was asking me, ‘Did you always want to be a princess, growing up?’
“No, not really. The truth was no, I wanted to be Catwoman. And I think a lot of women feel that way. And the fact that I am actually her is such a dream come true.
“So it’s such a pinch-me moment. And the fact that I am Catwoman in Chris Nolan’s Gotham to Christian Bale’s Batman is unbelievably cool. You know, she’s totally independent. And let’s face it, she’s badass.”

Biker girl ... Anne Hathaway in clip from the new film

scope features

Anne had little idea of the physical demands of her Catwoman performance, which will highlight her own kick-boxing and mixed martial arts skills.
She says: “I’d always thought I was pretty healthy and I always thought I had worked hard in the gym.
“It turns out that what I thought was hard, in Catwoman’s world is actually light to moderate.
“So I’ve had to ratchet everything up. But I have the most incredible stuntwoman in the world and she’s got me and the character to another level. I do all sorts of kicks. I do a roundhouse kick, and I think it’s all mixed martial arts. And I’ve been doing it in heels!”
The intense physical demands of the role came with an irritating distraction — Christopher filmed The Dark Knight Rises using special IMAX cameras which produce images of extraordinary clarity and vividness.
But unlike ordinary cameras, the IMAX versions are not quiet.
Anne says: “I did notice the noise because it sounds like a cappuccino being made constantly. But for the fight sequences I actually love it because it keeps you out of your head and it adds to the adrenalin, somehow. But I assume that our sound guy who just won an Oscar knows what he’s doing.”
Anne, who was a 2009 Oscar nominee for Rachel Getting Married, will be in cinemas again at Christmas, this time directed by The King’s Speech Oscar-winner Tom Hooper in the big-screen version of West End show Les Miserables.
But for now she promises her latest creation will bring lots of surprises when The Dark Knight Rises finally arrives on screen next month.
She says: “I love how sly she is. I love how, to use a cat metaphor, she walks the fence and you don’t know which side she’s going to come down on.”

The killer kitties

SINCE she first appeared in the Batman No1 comic book in 1940, Catwoman – initially known simply as the Cat – has been both a love interest and a potentially lethal foe to Batman. In her skin-tight catsuits, she has provided a sexy presence you just don’t get from the Penguin.
Here The Sun rates the actresses whose every flick of the tail has made men in the audience purr.

Halle Berry

(Catwoman film, 2004)

Paw effort ... Halle Berry in Catwoman

Halle’s golden career turned to kitty litter after this notorious flop in which she was Berry dull throughout.
RATING: ONE MEOW

Julie Newmar

(Batman TV series, 1966)

Pick of the litter ... Julie Newmar was the first Catwoman

20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Features

The first actress to play Catwoman in front of a mass audience, Julie pioneered so much of the classic Catwoman look – she even made the tight black Lurex costume herself.
RATING: FIVE MEOWS

Lee Meriwether

(Batman film, 1966)

Sleek ... Lee Meriwether

20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Features

We hate to be catty but for the first big-screen Batman feature Lee really didn’t improve on Julie’s look or add much personality to the overly-campy movie.
RATING: TWO MEOWS

Michelle Pfeiffer

(Batman Returns film, 1992)

Feline good ... Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman

scope features

Making Catwoman’s sexiness even more prominent, Michelle was the best thing about Tim Burton’s misbegotten sequel to 1989’s Batman – cracking a whip and letting birds fly out of her mouth while making the line “Meow” hilarious.