After years of questions over her face, Nicole Kidman admits: I HAVE used Botox

Botox? Not me! That, at least, used to be Nicole Kidman’s response to questions about how she kept her complexion so porcelain perfect.

Now, however, she has performed something of an about-face.

The Oscar-winning actress, 43, has finally admitted to having Botox injections.

But she insisted she no longer uses it, because she did not like the results.

She wasn’t the only one.

In 2008, one cosmetic surgery expert told a medical conference that Miss Kidman was so ‘over-Botoxed’ she was giving the industry a bad name.

Miss Kidman, 43, made her confession to a German magazine interviewer who asked her about keeping wrinkles at bay.

‘I’ve tried a lot of things but apart from working out and a good diet most things don’t help,’ she replied.

‘I even tried Botox but I didn’t like how my face looked afterwards. Now I don’t use it anymore - and I can move my forehead again.’

Her previous declarations on the subject included: ‘I am completely natural. I have nothing in my face or anything.’

Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1346309/Nicole-Kidman-admits-having-used-Botox-years-questions.html

Jackson's kids watched father slip away

MICHAEL Jackson's head of security testified that two of the singer's children watched as his physician Conrad Murray tried to revive the star when he stopped breathing in the bedroom of his Los Angeles mansion.

Bodyguard Faheem Muhammad was summoned to the witness stand at Tuesday's (local time) preliminary hearing at the Los Angeles County Superior Court to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to try Murray for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Muhammad said Jackson's children Prince and Paris were near the entrance of the bedroom of the rented Holmby Hills house as their father's life began to slip away after taking a powerful cocktail of sedatives, including Propofol.

The singer's daughter, Paris, was on "the ground on her hands and knees and she was crying," Muhammad recalled.

He said he and another guard looked at each other in disbelief when Murray asked if anyone in the room knew CPR.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren also told the court how Murray tried to conceal the fact he had administered Propofol to Jackson by waiting up to 21 minutes before calling 911 and hiding evidence of his medical treatment.

Walgren said based on phone records and witness accounts Murray left a frantic message on the cellphone of Jackson's personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, before calling paramedics.

Williams testified that the physician told him that Jackson "had a bad reaction" and that he should "get someone" to the house immediately.

Williams sent Muhammad to the bedroom where the guard said he saw the singer sprawled out on the floor next to his bed with his eyes and mouth open as Murray knelt over him.

The personal assistant said that Murray then tried to hide evidence the star had taken the sedatives by asking another security guard, Alberto Alvarez, to help him collect pill bottles and medical paraphernalia in a bag.

Walgren said when paramedics arrived Murrary did not mention Jackson had taken Propofol and instead told them that the performer was "exhausted from rehearsals."

Murray again failed to mention he had administered the anesthetic when doctors at the emergency room of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center questioned him, Walgren said.

Muhammad said after Jackson had been pronounced dead at the center, Murray told him he was hungry and left to get something to eat.

Renowned choreographer Kenny Ortega, producer and director of the Jackson concert film "This Is It," also testified at the hearing.

He said the singer showed up for a rehearsal at Staples Center six days before his death looking too weak to perform for his planned comeback concerts.

Ortega said the next day he met at Jackson's mansion with the singer, his manager, the concert promoter and Murray who insisted the star was emotionally and physically strong enough to perform.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled in August 2009 that Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication.

Propofol is used in hospitals to sedate and anesthetize patients. It is not approved for home use or to treat sleep disorders.

California authorities ruled Jackson's death a homicide by the mixture of drugs in his body and Murray was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Murray has admitted he gave Jackson sedatives. However the doctor's attorney claimed in court documents that when Murray was out of the room Jackson woke up and gave himself more, TMZ reported.

His attorney, Ed Chernoff, declined to make an opening statement at Tuesday's preliminary hearing which is expected to last up to eight days as prosecutors plan to call as many as 30 witnesses.

Some court experts say the evidence against Murray could be so overwhelming he may agree to a plea bargain and some prison time less than five years.

Source http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/jacksons-kids-watched-father-slip-away/story-e6frf7jx-1225982562297

Brisbane to host an historic music event of epic scale

Imagine trying to direct 500 musicians and singers in a two-hour, supposedly cursed symphony.

That's what veteran Queensland maestro conductor John Curro will be doing on Wednesday night at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane.

A sold-out Concert Hall will witness the first performance in 30 years of The Gothic: Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1.

The Guiness Book of Records recognises the symphony as the longest, largest and most technically difficult ever composed. This is the first time it has been performed outside England.

Concert-goers can thank Brisbane community radio manager Gary Thorpe for bringing it to QPAC.

He was at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1980, and since then his dream has been to bring the logistical nightmare to his home town.

"Brian wrote it really without any thought of performance limitations," Thorpe says.

"He just let his imagination run riot. He didn't really think about the fact it was going to be slightly impractical to perform."

The performance is dedicated to the late Sir Charles Mackerras, an Australian conductor recognised as a national treasure, who died in July this year.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2010/12/22/3099102.htm?site=brisbane

Trip of a lifetime for Oprah's fans

HUNDREDS of die-hard Oprah fans arrived in Sydney from the United States today ahead of the talkshow host's much anticipated tour of Australia.

Arriving on two Qantas flights between 8 and 9am this morning, the 300-strong audience couldn't hide their excitement as they were quickly ushered through the airport terminal and packed into buses headed for the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney's CBD.

For many this is their first time travelling out of the United States and for some it was their first time on a plane.

The mixed bunch of fans includes 242 woman and 60 men ranging from 18 to 75 years old who come from all over the United States, as well as from Canada.

For Patty Turkess from the southern state of Virginia, who is a "massive" Oprah fan, this is a trip of a lifetime.

Leaving behind her husband, three children and four grandchildren she said she'll miss her family but can't wait for the adventure to begin.

“I want to see the Australian country, experience the culture and all the beautiful people here... everyone is so friendly,'' Ms Turkess said.

“Oprah has made such an impact on my life especially through her 'Best Life' series for woman who have struggled with weight and self-esteem,'' she said.

The fans stepped out onto a red carpet at the Sydney hotel and were greeted at by the Indigenous dance troupe Thullii Dreaming, performing a traditional Aboriginal welcome ceremony.

The guests are unaware of their itinerary and information about their travel plans have been kept top secret by the Oprah crew.

Viewed by Tourism Australia as a great opportunity to showcase Australia to the world, Oprah is set to film everything from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Blue Mountains, Byron Bay and the Hunter Valley.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/trip-of-a-lifetime-for-oprahs-fans/story-e6frg6n6-1225967008031

Look out Australia, here comes the Oprah circus

Roll out the red carpet - the Queen is coming.

Oprah Winfrey is set to be afforded foreign dignitary status - something usually reserved for high-ranking politicians - when she visits Australia next week.

Winfrey, according to media reports, will be provided with a police escort and a government security detail when she touches down in Sydney.

Not content with mere celebrity status, the federal government has afforded Winfrey the honour of being a "formal guest of government", which comes complete with bodyguards and police escort vehicles, News Limited reported.

Security will be tight in Sydney's CBD with the prospect of road closures as Winfrey tapes her shows at the Opera House on December 14.

A spokeswoman for NSW Premier Kristina Keneally told News Limited the details of the cost to taxpayers for the trip was "yet to be finalised".

Winfrey will reportedly stay at the Intercontinental Hotel or the Shangri-La - the two highest-security hotels in Sydney.

But she's also looking for an "ordinary" Aussie family to stay with while she's here.

Her producers are said to be scouring the country to find one.

Winfrey will travel with an entourage of around 450 - including a group of specially picked loyal fans and production crew members.

Some audience members will also be taking interstate visits, including shopping in Melbourne.

The Winfrey extravaganza has an estimated price tag of $3 million, but it is likely to cost more.

Tourism NSW has contributed "between $1 million and $2 million" and Tourism Victoria is believed to have contributed in excess of $500,000. The other states have also contributed.

Ten will air the two Australian episodes - likely to be worth millions in promotion for Tourism Australia - in January.

Source http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/look-out-australia-here-comes-the-oprah-circus-20101130-18ej2.html

ITV loses Australia's Next Top Model contract over final gaffe

Sarah Murdoch making her slip-up in the Australia's Next Top Model final.

Two months ago Sarah Murdoch's embarrassment at naming the wrong winner of Australia's Next Top Model live on air became a viral hit. Now ITV's Australian production subsidiary has paid the price for the cock-up, losing the Australia's Next Top Model contract, according to a local media report.

The incident, which Murdoch – the show's presenter – said resulted from the wrong name being fed to her via an earpiece, has gone down as one of the biggest screw-ups in reality TV history.

Murdoch is the wife of Rupert Murdoch's eldest son, Lachlan. The Murdoch family part owns the show's broadcaster, Foxtel, through News Corporation.

ITV subsidiary Granada Media Australia has made the past six series of the reality TV show, but Murdoch confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald earlier today that a change in production company was being made.

"Granada produced Australia's Top Model for six years. I worked with them for two years," she said in a statement. "They are a very talented and hard-working crew. But after what happened this year I thought very hard about it and decided it was probably time for a change.''

It is not yet known which production company will take over for the seventh series, but the Sydney Morning Herald suggests that Shine, which is owned by Murdoch's sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch, is the favourite.

Source http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/24/foxtel-loses-australias-next-top-model

Free kick for Foxtel's Xbox 360 service

FOXTEL has created an exclusive sports channel, Fox Sports Play, for its new internet-delivered pay-TV service Foxtel on Xbox 360.

The service, which was developed with Microsoft and is exclusive to Xbox customers who have a subscription to the gaming console's Live online entertainment network, goes live in all Foxtel coverage areas tonight.

The starter pack of 11 channels costs $19.50 a month, on top of the monthly Live Gold subscription fee and the cost of a broadband subscription. Additional packages will offer entertainment, sports and two tiers of movie content at a cost of an extra $10 a month per package.

Foxtel product chief Patrick Delaney said the service would not be available to customers in regional areas as Foxtel's program rights did not allow it.

But the sports channel, which was created specifically for Foxtel on Xbox 360, would include most of the sports for which Foxtel has the internet rights.

"The English Premier League and the A-League (soccer) will be on there,'' Mr Delaney said. "We have paid extra to negotiate those rights. Other than the NRL and the AFL, I think Fox Sports has cleared almost all its sport to be on there.''

Telstra currently holds the internet rights rights for the NRL and AFL, which are set to be negotiated in the next year.

Xbox chief David McLean said the majority of Xbox Live's 500,000-strong customer base would be able to receive the service, which is delivered over the internet via the connection on the Xbox console.

"I estimate 85 per cent or thereabouts of our subscribers will be able to get acess from day one,'' Mr McLean said.

Mr Delaney said discussions were underway to see if the service could be rolled out, via Austar, in regional areas.

To date, no internet service providers have agreed to exempt Foxtel on Xbox 360 from counting towards a subscriber's broadband download cap, which means users may incur extra charges if they go over their limit.

Mr Delaney estimated one standard definition movie would use about 1.3Gb of data.

Subscribers can sign up for the service using their credit card on a month-by-month basis and there is no contract.

Xbox Live customers who don't sign up will still be able to pay to access the company's Foxtel On Demand pay-per-view movie and TV download service.

The service will compete with FetchTV's internet TV service, which will is expected to be available via a number of smaller ISPs for just under $30 a month after an initial establishment cost for the FetchTV box, and Telstra's T-box, which costs $299.

FetchTV's partner ISPs and Telstra's Big Pond will exempt their respective IPTV services from download charges.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/free-kick-for-foxtels-xbox-360-service/story-e6frg996-1225951340929