By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES |
Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:50pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A Los Angeles judge on Thursday lifted formal probation for Lindsay Lohan, and told her to grow up and stop nightclubbing as she was released from the official supervision over her life since 2007.

Lohan, 25, who has made multiple trips to jail and rehab in the past four years, got good marks from Los Angeles Superior Court judge Stephanie Sautner for completing months of community service at a Los Angeles morgue and court-ordered psychotherapy sessions.

“She has done everything that this court has asked of her,” Sautner said. “Probation terminates today. Now.”

A smiling Lohan, dressed conservatively in a powder blue pants suit, let out a sigh of relief and hugged her attorney.

Although the “Mean Girls” actress will remain on informal probation until 2014 for a 2011 jewelry theft, she will not have to report regularly to court and will no longer be compelled to live in Los Angeles, as long as she stays out of trouble.

Sautner sent Lohan on her way with a word of warning. “I know it is kind of hard when people are following you all over the place, but that is the life you chose. You need to live your life in a more mature way. Stop the nightclubbing and focus on your work.”

“I don’t expect to see you again,” Sautner added. “Goodbye and good luck.”

Lohan’s once promising movie career was derailed by years of hard partying and personal turmoil after her 2007 arrest for drunk driving and cocaine possession.

But the former “Parent Trap” child star is now on the comeback trail with an upcoming guest part in TV musical “Glee” and a TV movie role as screen legend Elizabeth Taylor.

On Thursday she thanked Sautner for helping her turn her life around. “I just want to say thank you, your honor, for being fair. It has really opened a lot of doors for me.”

Lohan left the Los Angeles courthouse without speaking to hordes of reporters and TV crews.

She told celebrity website TMZ.com on Wednesday that she planned to celebrate by having dinner with her sister.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES |
Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:17pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – With her dark eyes, dark hair and pale skin, actress Lily Collins certainly fits the bill to play ‘the fairest of them all’ in the new retelling of classic Snow White tale in the upcoming film, “Mirror Mirror.”

The movie, which comes out on Friday, sees an exiled Snow White teaming with seven rebel dwarfs and one prince (Armie Hammer) to defeat an evil Queen (Julia Roberts), take back her kingdom and restore it to its former glory before Snow White’s father died.

Yet the 23-year-old Collins, whose previous acting credits include playing Sandra Bullock’s daughter in “The Blind Side” and Taylor Lautner’s love interest in “Abduction,” learned she had a lot more in common with Snow than just looks.

“I feel like Snow and my experience paralleled a lot during the shoot,” Collins told Reuters. “At the beginning of the story, she’s very wide-eyed, innocent and unsure of what’s happening. I started out very wide-eyed and excited, but unsure of what was going on.”

As the “Mirror Mirror” story progresses, Snow White learns to stand up to her evil step-mother and fight for her rights when she becomes part of the dwarves’ army.

Collins said she also became a fighter, both emotionally and physically, during the shoot and pre-production as she learned about the acting craft and studied fencing and sword fighting.

Snow White blossoms into a young woman who embraces life and love and believes in herself, leading to a deeper understanding of the world around her.

“I too became more open to living life to the fullest and believing that you can put your mind to doing anything and really accomplish it. I left a very inspired young woman based on what I learned as Snow,” Collins said.

SINGER, DANCER, JOURNALIST

Not that Collins needed much inspiration — in the performing arts, anyway — because showbiz already runs in her veins. Her father is Grammy and Oscar-winning British musician Phil Collins of Genesis fame. Although the younger Collins was born in the U.K., her parents divorced when she was five, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother, where she grew up.

In at least one way, “Mirror Mirror” proves that Collins is indeed her father’s daughter. A Bollywood-style song and dance sequence during the end credits of the film showcases her singing talents.

“I didn’t tell my dad I was singing in the movie because I wanted to shock him by playing him the song,” said Collins. “He loved it! He made me replay it a couple times because he didn’t believe it was me!”

Although Collins enjoys singing, she is not looking to pursue a career in music, saying that at the moment, “my heart and soul is in acting.”

But that wasn’t always the case. As a teenager, journalism was her passion. She was published in Elle Girl and Seventeen magazines and in 2008, she worked as a journalist for kids network Nickelodeon, covering the U.S. presidential campaign.

She went on to begin studying broadcast journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, but she had to decide between school and acting when she found herself shooting “The Blind Side” in Atlanta and flying back to L.A. for exams. She has since deferred her schooling but plans on returning.

“That was grueling,” said Collins, “but it was worth it because I was able to finish the semester. When I do go back, I want to be there fully and not think about what time I need to be at my next audition.”

No matter what happens with school, Collins said she’ll always be a journalist even as her acting career grows.

“Journalism is something I’ve always loved and continue to use everyday,” she confessed. “I’m a genuinely interested person. I carry a notebook. I ask questions, and I’m social. In learning about character traits for roles, it’s the best way to do research. So I’m still going to be a journalist at heart.”

(Reporting By Zorianna Kit; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES |
Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:17pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – With her dark eyes, dark hair and pale skin, actress Lily Collins certainly fits the bill to play ‘the fairest of them all’ in the new retelling of classic Snow White tale in the upcoming film, “Mirror Mirror.”

The movie, which comes out on Friday, sees an exiled Snow White teaming with seven rebel dwarfs and one prince (Armie Hammer) to defeat an evil Queen (Julia Roberts), take back her kingdom and restore it to its former glory before Snow White’s father died.

Yet the 23-year-old Collins, whose previous acting credits include playing Sandra Bullock’s daughter in “The Blind Side” and Taylor Lautner’s love interest in “Abduction,” learned she had a lot more in common with Snow than just looks.

“I feel like Snow and my experience paralleled a lot during the shoot,” Collins told Reuters. “At the beginning of the story, she’s very wide-eyed, innocent and unsure of what’s happening. I started out very wide-eyed and excited, but unsure of what was going on.”

As the “Mirror Mirror” story progresses, Snow White learns to stand up to her evil step-mother and fight for her rights when she becomes part of the dwarves’ army.

Collins said she also became a fighter, both emotionally and physically, during the shoot and pre-production as she learned about the acting craft and studied fencing and sword fighting.

Snow White blossoms into a young woman who embraces life and love and believes in herself, leading to a deeper understanding of the world around her.

“I too became more open to living life to the fullest and believing that you can put your mind to doing anything and really accomplish it. I left a very inspired young woman based on what I learned as Snow,” Collins said.

SINGER, DANCER, JOURNALIST

Not that Collins needed much inspiration — in the performing arts, anyway — because showbiz already runs in her veins. Her father is Grammy and Oscar-winning British musician Phil Collins of Genesis fame. Although the younger Collins was born in the U.K., her parents divorced when she was five, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother, where she grew up.

In at least one way, “Mirror Mirror” proves that Collins is indeed her father’s daughter. A Bollywood-style song and dance sequence during the end credits of the film showcases her singing talents.

“I didn’t tell my dad I was singing in the movie because I wanted to shock him by playing him the song,” said Collins. “He loved it! He made me replay it a couple times because he didn’t believe it was me!”

Although Collins enjoys singing, she is not looking to pursue a career in music, saying that at the moment, “my heart and soul is in acting.”

But that wasn’t always the case. As a teenager, journalism was her passion. She was published in Elle Girl and Seventeen magazines and in 2008, she worked as a journalist for kids network Nickelodeon, covering the U.S. presidential campaign.

She went on to begin studying broadcast journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, but she had to decide between school and acting when she found herself shooting “The Blind Side” in Atlanta and flying back to L.A. for exams. She has since deferred her schooling but plans on returning.

“That was grueling,” said Collins, “but it was worth it because I was able to finish the semester. When I do go back, I want to be there fully and not think about what time I need to be at my next audition.”

No matter what happens with school, Collins said she’ll always be a journalist even as her acting career grows.

“Journalism is something I’ve always loved and continue to use everyday,” she confessed. “I’m a genuinely interested person. I carry a notebook. I ask questions, and I’m social. In learning about character traits for roles, it’s the best way to do research. So I’m still going to be a journalist at heart.”

(Reporting By Zorianna Kit; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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LONDON |
Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:07am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) – Singer Robin Gibb, who spoke last month of making a “spectacular” recovery from cancer, has had further surgery, according to a statement released to the British media on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old, a founding member of the disco-era hit machine the Bee Gees, has been forced to cancel several commitments due to the operation.

“On Sunday 25 March, Robin Gibb underwent further intestinal surgery,” the statement read.

“He is currently recovering in hospital and therefore, for the time-being, all existing commitments prior to the Titanic Requiem concert, have had to be cancelled.”

His spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

“The Titanic Requiem” is Gibb’s first classical work written with his son Robin-John, and is being released to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner on April 15, 1912.

The world premiere of the work is due to take place at Central Hall, Westminster in London on April 10.

Media speculation about Gibb’s health was sparked in recent months by his gaunt and frail appearance, but the singer said in February that a growth in his colon had “almost gone” and he was feeling “fantastic”.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

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By Edward Baran

LONDON |
Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:26am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) – “Titanic” director James Cameron said the 3D version of his 1997 blockbuster, released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner, “turns up” the experience of the original.

He also denied suggestions that the film, which hits U.S. and British theatres on April 6, was a way of cashing in on the tragedy, which happened on April 15, 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

“I just think it makes it more immersive,” Cameron said of the 3D re-make. “It kind of turns up the experience to 11 instead of 10,” he told reporters late on Tuesday at the red carpet world premiere held at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box office.

Before inflation is taken into account, it is second only to Cameron’s 3D sci-fi adventure “Avatar”, which grossed $2.8 billion, in the all-time ticket sale rankings.

Cameron, who has just returned from a solo dive to the deepest point in the ocean, defended his decision to re-release Titanic in 3D format.

“Look, there’s always going to be people that can piss in the soup of anything good,” he told reporters, when asked if he was capitalizing on the Titanic tragedy and its upcoming anniversary.

“But frankly I think that remembering Titanic, remembering the history — that’s what the film was there for. That’s why I made it, you know.

“I was fascinated by the story, I was fascinated by the history, the people that were heroic, the people that lost their lives. I was genuinely touched by the tragedy when I was there at the wreck.

“I think the film is a good focusing agent for that at this time when we should be remembering the wreck and its message, the disaster and its message for all of us.”

For British actress Winslet, who shot to fame after appearing in the original, the 3D experience was a strange one.

“It’s weird,” she told Reuters. “I mean, it is like being forced to go through a photo album of your former self for three and a half hours solidly. It’s quite strange you know.”

Asked how she felt about watching herself on screen in 3D during the film’s more intimate moments, she replied:

“Oh terrible! Wouldn’t you? I am not going to look. I’ll be in the bar by that point I expect — or on the floor!”

DiCaprio did not attend the premiere as he was shooting new movie “Django Unchained”, directed by Quentin Tarantino, in the United States.

(Writing by Mike Collett-White)

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