Articles by
Helen Whitaker
Website: http://www.helencwhitaker.com/
Helen Whitaker is a Los Angeles-based journalist who writes about celebrity, entertainment, fashion and lifestyle. Helen began her career at the BBC, on the launch of teen magazine, Dare, before joining UK In Style in 2004. As features writer, she organised photo shoots, edited her own entertainment section and interviewed stars ranging from Hollywood A-listers to top musicians to catwalk models and designers. In 2007, Helen moved to Los Angeles and went freelance, which has taken her from red carpet premieres to testing out the latest Hollywood exercise fads. Her areas of expertise include celebrity interviewing, diet, fitness and lifestyle trends, and 'only in America' real-life features. She also writes a regular blog, Going La La, for marieclaire.co.uk.
Final Twilight Film Split in Two!
Posted on June 12th, 2010 at 2:31 pm by Helen Whitaker
A fortnight before The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will hit theaters, distributor Summit Entertainment has officially announced that the final Twilight story, Breaking Dawn, will in fact be divided into two separate films.
This brings the total installment count to five Twilight films in all. The first half of the two-parter is scheduled to be released in November, while the release date of the final, final film remains unannounced. Both halves of Breaking Dawn will be filmed back-to-back.
This announcement does not come as a shock considering the extensive length (900 pages!) of the book by Stephanie Meyer on which the films are based; however, Summit had to finalize contract negotiations with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and the rest of the cast before the decision could be made public.
It is no secret to fans of the Twilight series that Breaking Dawn follows Edward and Bella down the wedding aisle as they continue to struggle with their vampire-human differences.
Hmmm… one can’t help but wonder if life will imitate art… eh RPatz?
LiLo Goes Blonde After Getting SCRAMED!
Posted on May 26th, 2010 at 9:30 am by Helen Whitaker
A newly blonde Lindsay Lohan is sporting more than just her blonde locks these days… she’s also flashing a very special bracelet. No, not a diamond bracelet from Tiffany’s… but an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet!
LiLo was expected to appear at a progress review court hearing in Los Angeles last week regarding her probation stemming from her 2007 DUI (which is her second); however, the so-called actress missed the hearing because she was at The Cannes Film Festival. The judge assigned to the case issued an arrest warrant for Lohan, setting the bail at $100,000.
At the re-scheduled hearing, the judge ordered Lohan to attend weekly alcohol education classes, wear a SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring) bracelet, refrain from drinking alcohol, and undergo random drug testing. (Sooo glamorous Lindsay!)
The falling starlet is reportedly in talks to be in an upcoming comedic film called The Dry Gulch Kid alongside actor Johnny Knoxeville. If LiLo is cast in the movie she will have to wear the monitoring bracelet during filming in Texas and make herself available for random drug tests in order to comply with the rules of her probation.
Honestly, I’m shocked that anyone is still interested in working with the girl. Blonde or brunette, she’s obviously very unreliable and troubled. Let’s see if LiLo’s newfound blonde ambition allows her to appear at her next in-person court hearing on July 6th… I wouldn’t bet on it…
Style Network Gets Scary… (Spice)!
Posted on May 21st, 2010 at 4:18 pm by Helen Whitaker
Brit reality show fever strikes again!
Mel B (aka Scary Spice) will be the focus of what is being described as a “docu-comedy” reality series developed for the US cable channel Style Network. The skein will follow the so-called “hilarious” lives of Mel, hubby Stephen Belafonte (a movie producer), and her two daughters as the family co-exists in Los Angeles.
The show is scheduled to be shown in the US this September and across the pond at a later date. President of the Style Network Salaam Coleman Smith said: “Mel B is confident, hilarious, and outrageously entertaining.”
She added: “We love that Mel has evolved her image and sought new challenges throughout her career while also taking on the ups, downs that come with motherhood and marriage.”
Mel recently attendedthe premiere of Shrek Forever After with former partner and baby-daddy Eddie Murphy, after their very messy split in 2007. Footage of that premiere is expected to feature in an episode of the as of yet untitled show.
Uhmmm… does Mel’s new affiliation with the Style Network mean that someone thinks she has style? (Rude!) At least no one can deny the girl is entertaining, but I wonder if she has what it takes to carry an entire reality show…
Well, given the stiff competition from other upcoming reality shows like fellow Brit – former wild-child Emma Ridley’s (pictured) outrageous new show Spoiled Rotten, the former Spice Girl will have to prove she’s something worth watching on the telly…
Newcomer Atwell Lands Female Lead in Captain America
Posted on April 14th, 2010 at 7:54 pm by Helen Whitaker
Another British starlet is born… Actress Hayley Atwell has landed the lead role of Peggy Carter, the love interest of Captain America opposite actor, Chris Evans.
The news comes after Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures conducted an extensive casting search to fill the role.
Atwell, somewhat of an unknown is rumored to have clinched the coveted part over fellow Brit actresses Keira Knightley and Emily Blunt after a recent screen test in London.
While she might not be a household name (yet!), Atwell has been showing off her acting chops in various BBC productions for years. Atwell even worked alongside Knightley in BBC Films’ The Duchess.
Captain America is scheduled to film in England this summer.
Congratulations Hayley, Tinseltown welcomes you!
Leona and J-Hud Join Forces for SATC 2 Soundtrack!
Posted on April 12th, 2010 at 2:29 pm by Helen Whitaker
One of the lates
t Tinseltown-tales is that singers Leona Lewis, winner of Britain’s The X Factor, and Jennifer Hudson, American Idol finalist, will be hitting the recording studio together for the upcoming Sex and the City movie sequel.
Whether or not Hudson will reprise her role of Louise in addition to her vocal contribution has yet to be confirmed, but this news certainly can’t hurt chances.
Other female singers rumored to appear in the sexy sequel include: Vic-Bore-ia Beckham, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Bette Midler, and Liza Minnelli. Perhaps some of these divas will contribute to the soundtrack alongside Leona and J-Hud.
The idea of a Lewis-Hudson duet is literally music to my ears, especially when compared to Snoop Dogg’s recently planned collaboration with Susan Boyle, which is more like, I’m sorry to say, finger nails on a chalkboard to my ears.
SuBo and Snoop Dogg Plan Duet! AKA SnooBo?
Posted on April 12th, 2010 at 12:15 pm by Helen Whitaker
SuBo with gold teeth and gold chains!?!? Well, she might not go that far, but a duet featuring Scottish singer Susan Boyle and American rapper Snoop Dogg is reportedly in the works.
On working with SuBo, Snoop said: “She’s a great artist. I’m looking forward to going into the studio with her. Why not? We’re going to get our minds together and figure out what we’re going to sing about. I’m down with that. There isn’t much I can’t do.”
Snoop also appears to be eyeing Simon Cowell’s job on American Idol. On replacing Simon, the Doggystyle rapper and father of three said: “I think I would be perfect. I understand the dynamics of music and see stars before they are made.”
Forgive me for being skeptical Snoop, but we’ll have to wait and see just how well you understand the dynamics of music, as a SuBo/SnoDo combo isn’t exactly the best duet idea I’ve ever heard.
Winehouse Gleefully Bangs in Big Bucks!
Posted on April 1st, 2010 at 3:28 pm by Helen Whitaker
Can you believe it’s been nearly three years since Amy Winehouse had a hit song and we all know she hasn’t had an easy time in her personal life over the last few of years either, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still bringing in the bacon.
Winehouse was reportedly paid $85,000 recently for the use of her signature (and autobiographical) song Rehab in an episode of the American TV show Gleeon Fox, the same network that is home to mega-hit singing contest show American Idol.
The troubled Brit singer is rumored to have been paid more dosh than any other musical act that’s had their music featured on the hit show, including the group Journey for their song Don’t Stop Believing, probably the most well known ditty to have been covered by the cast of Glee.
Furthermore, the show’s use of Rehab is probably what pushed the song back into the top 100 in America.
Not a bad paycheck Amy! Considering you didn’t have to perform or actively attend to this business deal and to top it off you get your music heard by an expanded ‘Gleek’ audience of millions and that can’t be bad!
Now, maybe you can use some of that cash to get and stay sober, get your on-again off-again marriage sorted out, and finally finish and release your next album!
It’s about time, it’s been three years already girl!
Former Wild Child Emma Ridley: Still In Pole Position!
Posted on December 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm by Helen Whitaker
There’s nothing like a bit of California living for us Brits, we can’t get enough of it and every year the numbers of us emigrating to Los Angeles just seems to go up.
At a guess, I reckon it’s mainly for the sunshine, but a certain word springs to mind when I think about some of the ’showbizzy’ ex-pats who have upped sticks seeking fame and fortune on these shiny shores… and that is – Reinvention! Basically they can’t get arrested back home in the UK so they come over here in search of a new dream.
Something former 1980’s Wild Child, Emma Ridley knows a thing or two about, I’d say. Remember her? Emma was that sassy sexy girl who found fame dancing topless on table tops in trendy London nightclubs at the tender age of 14 then shocked the nation by eloping to Las Vegas at the age of 15 to marry party boy Robert Pereno – 15 years her senior.
