Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe Vital Stats
Birth Name: Matthew Ryan Phillippe
Birth Date: September 10, 1974
Birth Place: New Castle, Delaware
Height: 5’9”
Romantic Link: Abbie Cornish


Ryan Phillippe Interesting Facts

Ryan Phillippe has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Ryan Phillippe turned down the role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, due to the age difference between him and Natalie Portman (7 years).


Ryan Phillippe Biography
Matthew Ryan Phillippe (pronounced fill-a-pee) was born on September 10, 1974, to parents Richard and Susan Phillippe in New Castle, Delaware, and was raised alongside his three sisters, Kirsten, Lindsey and Katelyn.

His childhood was a typical one; Ryan attended New Castle Baptist Academy, where he excelled at sports like basketball and soccer, and even earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. But proving that he was more than a jock, Phillippe was the editor of his school yearbook in his senior year of high school.

By age 15, Phillippe knew that he wanted to become an actor and, as luck would have it, an agent spotted him in a barbershop and began sending him to auditions in New York when he was no more than 17 years old.

Ryan Phillippe in One Life to Live

By the time he was 18, Ryan Phillippe landed his first acting gig on the ABC hit daytime soap opera, One Life to Live. The role was a significant one, as Phillippe played the first gay teenager ever on a soap.

By 1993, Phillippe left the soap opera and headed to Los Angeles to star in movies. Although he didn’t hit the big time immediately, Phillippe was landing small role in television and movies.

Ryan Phillippe in 54

Ryan Phillippe’s big break came when he starred alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt in 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer. The horror flick was a surprise hit and Phillippe quickly became a hit with the ladies.

1997 was the same year when Phillippe met Reese Witherspoon, and up and coming actress, and the two had an immediate connection and began a long-distance relationship. By 1998, the two were engaged.

Other movies followed, including 1998’s 54, a movie about the infamous nightclub in New York, in which Phillippe played a naïve but incredibly sexy bartender.

Ryan Phillippe marries Reese

1999 saw Phillippe in Cruel Intentions, again starring with Sarah Michelle Gellar and his fiancé Reese Witherspoon. That summer, Phillippe and Witherspoon were married in a quaint ceremony.

On September 9 1999, Reese gave birth to a baby girl, Ava Elizabeth, and the couple continued to build their careers. In 2003, the couple also had a son, Deacon Phillippe, on October 23.

While Reese’s career began to take off, Phillippe opted for roles in movies that stayed under the radar like The Way of the Gun, Antitrust, and Igby Goes Down. And although Phillippe starred in 2001’s critically acclaimed Gosford Park, most fans never bothered to see it because they just weren’t interested.

Ryan Phillippe in Crash

In 2004, Ryan Phillippe played a significant role as a police office in the Oscar-award winning movie Crash. The movie, which dealt with a variety of situations that center around racism, became a huge hit among fans and critics alike.

In 2006, Phillippe starred alongside Jesse Bradford and Barry Pepper in Flags of Our Fathers, a movie about the six men who raised the American flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Ryan Phillippe gets divorced

Unfortunately, October 30, 2006 also saw Ryan and his wife heading to divorce court with rumors circulating that Phillippe had cheated on his wife with his Flags of Our Fathers co-star Abbie Cornish.

By 2007, Phillippe didn’t allow his personal drawbacks to affect his professional career; he starred in 3 films: Breach, Franklyn and Stop Loss.

Ryan Phillippe runs Lucid Films

When Phillippe is not hanging out with his kids, he’s busy running his own production company, Lucid Films, with his friends Breckin Meyer, Seth Green, and David E. Siegal.

While rumors are circulating that Ryan is dating everyone from Ashlee Simpson to Scarlett Johansson, it seems that Abbie Cornish is the lucky girl who captured Phillippe’s heart – for now.

Look for Phillippe in 2009’s Last Battle Dreamer.

Resource:
IMDb - Ryan Phillippe

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson Vital Stats
Birth Name: Jessica Ann Simpson
Birth Date: July 10, 1980
Birth Place: Abilene, Texas
Height: 5’3”
Romantic Link: Tony Romo

Jessica Simpson Interesting Facts

Jessica Simpson loves Louis Vuitton and was ecstatic to buy new toy dog, Daisy, in 2004, because the brand began making dog carriers.

Jessica is being sued for almost $317 million by U.S. clothing company “Tarrant Apparel Group” for failing to promote its labels - JS by Jessica Simpson and Princy - despite signing a three-year agreement with them in 2004.



Jessica Simpson Biography

Born on July 10, 1980, to parents Joe and Tina in Abilene, Texas, Jessica Ann Simpson began developing her vocal skills as a child at the local Baptist church, where her father was the youth minister.

By the time she was 12 years old, Jessica was ready to take her fame to the next level and auditioned to be part of The Mickey Mouse Club. Although she made it to the finals, Jessica wasn’t selected to become a member.

But that would not deter her; Jessica joined a church camp and was discovered by a small Christian music label who immediately signed Jessica to a record deal in 1995. Jessica would spend the next three years putting the album together but before she could get things off the ground, the label went bust and Jessica was left right back where she started.

Luckily, her grandmother decided that she would fund the album and so Jessica dropped out of J.J. Pearce High School in her senior year to promote her demo album (she later got her GED).

With her father by her side, Jessica joined the Christian Music Circuit, alongside Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans, and would peddle her album after every performance.

Jessica Simpson gives Sweet Kisses

Eventually, bigwig Tommy Mottola got hold of a copy of Jessica’s album and immediately took notice of her marketability as a pop singer and quickly signed her to record deal in 1998.

After signing with Columbia Records, Jessica released Sweet Kisses in November 1999, and the album garnered three huge hit singles: “I Wanna Love You Forever,” “I Think I’m In Love” and “Where You Are.” The album was certified twice platinum and Jessica was slowly becoming a household name.

Jessica Simpson remained a virgin

Proud to be a virgin and very public about it, Jessica began dating 98 Degrees frontman Nick Lachey, in the summer of 1999. The couple would break up in 2001, at the time of Jessica’s second album release, Irresistible.

While her second effort didn’t do nearly as well as her first, it was certified gold and spawned the hits “Irresistible” and “A Little Bit.”

Jessica and Nick in Newlyweds

Jessica and Nick would reunite once again and by October 2002, the two were married and set to star in an MTV reality series that chronicled their first year of marriage entitled Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.

Jessica set her third album’s release to coincide with the start of the series. In This Skin was certified three times platinum and featured a cover of Berlin’s hit “Take My Breath Away.”

Before wrapping up the show in 2005, Jessica and Nick received a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show. But Jessica face would not be gone for long; she was set for movie stardom.

Jessica in Dukes of Hazzard

In the summer of 2005, Jessica showed off her assets as Daisy Duke in the big screen version of Dukes of Hazzard, costarring Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott. The film was No. 1 at the U.S. Box Office in its first week of release, but quickly faded from memory and was heavily panned by critics.

But Jessica managed to make her mark as a singer once again, recording a single for the soundtrack. “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’” a cover of the Nancy Sinatra hit in the late ‘60s, was coupled with a very sexy music video that showed off all of Jessica’s hard work at the gym.

Jessica divorces Nick Lachey

While rumors were running rampant for months that Nick and Jessica’s marriage was in trouble, it wasn’t until November 2005 that the couple announced their separation.

The divorce was final in June 2006, and while Nick began a serious relationship with model Vanessa Minnillo, only rumors would swirl about who Jessica was dating.

Jessica releases A Public Affair

As Jessica prepared to head back to the music studio to put together her fourth album, Columbia shifted her away from its label and onto Epic Records instead. A Public Affair was not well received by the public and debuted at No. 5 in its first week of release.

Meanwhile, Jessica headed back to film and this time starred alongside comedian Dane Cook in Employee of the Month. The film didn’t fare well at the box office and yet another movie starring Jessica Simpson was panned by critics.

Jessica Simpson as Tess McGill

Despite a tumultuous 2006, Jessica was looking ahead to a successful 2007, starring as Tess McGill (a role undertaken by Melanie Griffith in 1988’s Working Girl) in Blonde Ambition alongside Luke Wilson, which only had a limited release, and 2008’s Major Movie Star. Add to that the fact that she decided to go the country music route and released Do You Know, stating that country music was always her calling.

On the personal front, Jessica was dating John Mayer, but is currently in a serious relationship with footballer Tony Romo.

Resource:

IMDb - Jessica Simpson

Daniel Powter

Daniel Powter Vital Stats
Birth Name: Daniel Powter
Birth Date: February 21, 1971
Birth Place: Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Height: Not known
Romantic Link: Not known

Daniel Powter Interesting Facts

Daniel Powter’s favorite author is Raymond Carver.

When Daniel Powter was young, he was in a terrible car accident that left a prominent scar on his head. He wears beanie hats to keep it covered.



Daniel Powter Biography

Born on February 21, 1971, in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, by age 4, Daniel Powter was already playing the violin to accompany his mom, who was a professional pianist.

When he was still quite young, Daniel was in a terrible car accident that left him with a deep scar on his head. It was at this point that Daniel began wearing hats to cover his head (it is now his trademark).

Daniel Powter is dyslexic

But at 12 years of age, when two bullies beat Daniel up because he was carrying a violin case with him after he played at a talent show in grade school, he decided to give up the instrument. But it wasn’t due to this incident alone; Daniel is dyslexic and his music teacher kept pointing out that his music sheets were upside down.

When Daniel turned 15, he opted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and took up the piano, which he enjoyed playing very much because it gave him the ability to play multiple notes at once.

When he was a senior in high school, Daniel put together a band, but unfortunately, performing in front of a live audience terrified him to the extent that he had to sing with his back to the crowd. It wouldn’t take long before Daniel began to enjoy performing, however, and by his second gig, he was feeling more comfortable as a performer.

In 1989, Powter began attending Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, but his dyslexia issues began to surface again and he would receive Fs for his inability to read correctly. So by his sophomore year, Powter dropped out of school and found his own way to make his music career a success.

Powter works with Jeff Dawson

Powter moved back to Vancouver and ended up meeting collaborator Jeff Dawson, and the two worked on writing songs and producing music. After the two put together a demo tape and began sending it off to record executives, Daniel Powter was invited to New York to audition.

Unfortunately for him, Powter was still nervous about performing in front of an audience and choked in front of the record executives, which left him back where he started. So Powter returned to Vancouver and continued to write songs.

Lucky for Powter, music manager Gary Stamler liked his music so much that he sent his demo tape to Tom Whalley, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Records, which landed Powter the chance to meet with him in Los Angeles.

Daniel Powter has a Bad Day

Soon after, Powter chose to have Mitchell Froom produce his debut effort and, in 2005, his self-titled album was released in Europe, because his first single release “Bad Day” was selected for an ad campaign there.

The single did really well in Europe, hitting No. 1 in Germany and France, taking the No. 2 spot in the UK, and hitting up the No. 3 spot in France.

Soon after, the album was released in North America and again, the single reached No. 1 in both the U.S. and Canada, and in April 2006, Powter won a Juno Award (a Canadian Grammy equivalent) for Best New Artist. His single “Bad Day” was even used on American Idol (season 5) whenever contestants got voted off the shoe. Powter performed the song at the end of the season.

Powter releases Under The Radar

After completing his tour throughout Europe in 2006, Powter returned to writing more music to put together his sophomore album, Under The Radar, which was released in 2008.

Pink aka Alecia Moore

PinkVital Stats
Birth Name: Alecia Beth Moore
Birth Date: September 8, 1979
Birth Place: Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Height: 5’4”

Romantic Link: Not known

Pink Interesting Facts

Pink has two dogs named F*cker and Corky.

Pink, sometimes credited as P!nk, claims that she was named after Mr. Pink from Reservoir Dogs.

Pink dated Tommy Lee.


Pink Biography

Alecia Beth Moore was born on September 8, 1979, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to parents Judy and James, and was raised alongside her older brother Jason.

When Alecia was still a child, her parents divorced and decided to alternate custody of Alecia and her brother. When she spent time with her father, she would watch as he played songs on his guitar. It was then that Alecia knew she wanted to become a musician of sorts.

Alecia Moore in Basic Instinct

By age 13, Alecia was already performing songs in Philadelphia dance clubs, as backup for a local rap band called Schools of Thought. Spotted by a record exec, Alecia was recruited by MCA Records to be in a band called Basic Instinct.

After that didn’t work out, it wasn’t long before Alecia would be spotted once again. In 1994, Alecia piqued the interest of LA Reid of LA Face records and was recruited to be part of the R&B band, Choice. Alecia helped write up many of the songs that were to become part of the album for the group.

Alecia Moore becomes Pink

Meanwhile, Reid noticed Alecia’s efforts and instead signed her to a solo deal. Alecia received her GED from high school by then and, although she spent one year attending Moore College of Art & Design, by April 2000, Alecia Moore opted to drop out of school, took the moniker Pink, and released Can’t Take Me Home.

The album had a strong R&B flare and went double platinum, and garnered Pink a Billboard Award for Best New Female Artist. Then, in 2001, Pink teamed up with Lil’ Kim, Mya, Missy Elliott, and Christina Aguilera for the remake of Patti Labelle’s 1975 classic hit, “Lady Maramalade.” Pink and the other ladies won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Pink is Missundaztood

Pink, however, felt like she was being boxed into a “pop singer” life and wanted to unleash her true self to the public. Her next album, Missundaztood, released in November 2001, showed a different side of Pink, but still captured audiences with hits like “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” “Like A Pill,” “Get The Party Started,” and “Family Portrait.”

The beginning of 2003 saw Pink making a small appearance as a dirt bike race promoter in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and releasing a single for the soundtrack entitled “Feel Good Time.”

That same year in November, Pink released her third album, Try This. Although the songs “Trouble” and “God is a DJ” didn’t do as well as her previous efforts in the U.S., Pink won her second Grammy Award for the single “Trouble.” As a result, Pink toured extensively throughout Europe, but didn’t do so in the United States.

Pink marries Carey Hart

On a personal note, although Pink is a self-confessed bisexual, she married her longtime boyfriend and professional motocross driver Carey Hart in January 2006 (whom she met at the 2001 X Games in Las Vegas), and returned from her professional hiatus with a fresh new album entitled I’m Not Dead, which featured the hit single “Stupid Girls.”

The music video for the single caused controversy, as Pink pokes fun at today’s female celebrities including the Olsen twins, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson.

Pink stars in Catacombs

Although Pink's marriage to Carey Hart officially ended in February 2008, Pink had already begun taking on the big screen in a prominent way, and starred in the 2007 big screen film Catacombs, costarring Shannyn Sossamon.

Michael Bergin

Michael Bergin Vital Stats
Birth Name: Michael John Bergin
Birth Date: March 19, 1969
Birth Place: Waterbury, Connecticut
Height: 6’1”
Romantic Link: Joy Tilk

Michael Bergin Interesting Facts

Michael Bergin is an NASM Certified Fitness Trainer and offers people who live in the Los Angeles area training sessions.

Michael Bergin dated Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy before she married John F. Kennedy Jr., but claims they had an affair while she was married in his tell-all book.

Michael Bergin Biography

Born on March 19, 1969, in Waterbury Connecticut, Michael Don Bergin was raised by his hairstylist mom and his policeman dad in a very loving environment. Growing up in nearby Naugatuck, Michael’s life was quite uneventful, but when he became a teenager, all that quickly changed.

After he graduated from high school, Michael attended the University of Connecticut, majoring in Business Marketing. It was during his sophomore year in University that a friend of his urged him to give modeling a shot. Because Michael wanted to lessen the burden of school debt he was accumulating, he decided to give it a shot.

Michael Bergin shows his Calvins

After making the commute to New York, Bergin was quickly signed by the Click Agency, and his face began appearing on runways all over the world.

Bergin was a regular runway model for the likes of Valentino, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, and Donna Karan, among others. But Bergin refused to take up modeling full time, as he wanted to earn his degree first. But getting ahead in school would take Bergin some time as he was traveling for work quite often.

After graduating in 1994, Bergin followed in Mark Wahlberg’s footsteps when he replaced him as the face (among other things) of Calvin Klein.

Bergin dates Carolyn Bessette

It was during his Calvin Klein campaign that Bergin met and began dating Carolyn Bessette. Things didn’t work out due to Bergin’s modeling and his now burgeoning acting career, and the two broke up in 1995. Carolyn married John F. Kennedy Jr. only a year later.

Professionally, even though Bergin would sign on for campaigns with Liz Claiborne, Donna Karan, Valentino, and Hugo Boss throughout1995 and up to 1997, he was certain that acting was what he wanted to do.

Bergin does Baywatch

By 1996, he landed a role in a little-known movie called The Proprietor. David Hasselhoff, who was riding on the success of his worldwide airing TV show Baywatch, spotted Bergin and quickly offered him the role Jack “J.D.” Darius on a spin-off show called Baywatch Hawaii. Bergin accepted the role and in 1997, the world would come to know and love Michael Bergin.

While his role as J.D. kept him quite busy, Michael still found the time to date Joy Tilk, have a son, Jesse, in 1999, and complete two movies: The Broken Hearts Club and Starforce.

After Baywatch Hawaii came to the end of its run in 2001, Bergin went on to star in the film Wolves of Wall Street and then landed a recurring role as Nick Bozman on the daytime soap opera Passions in 2002.

The next year would see Bergin reviving his role as J.D. for Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, the TV movie.

Bergin publishes tell-all book

In April 2004, Bergin published a tell-all book entitled The Other Man: A Love Story, about his alleged affair Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy when she was married to JFK Jr. (the two died in a plane crash in 1999).

That same year, despite his book’s regurgitation of his past relationships, Bergin had a daughter, Alannah Jade, and married the mother of his two children, Joy Tilk in September.

Bergin busted for DUI

By 2005, Bergin had starred in another movie entitled Central Booking, but what he was noticed for was his arrest for driving drunk on the anniversary of the death of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. And what made the arrest so significant was the fact that Bergin was a spokesperson for D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

Despite his personal issues, Bergin spent 2006 starring in Holla and Once In A Lifetime: Just Go For It.

Michael Bergin currently lives between New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii with his family. When he’s not starring in films, Bergin is a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) Certified Fitness Trainer and trains people residing in the Los Angeles area. As well, Bergin recently launched his own line of underwear for men, which he models and sells exclusively at his website MBergin.com.

Resource:
IMDb - Michael Bergin

Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh Vital Stats
Birth Name: Brandon James Routh
Birth Date: October 9, 1979
Birth Place: Des Moines, Iowa
Height: 6’2½”
Romantic Link: Courtney Ford

Brandon Routh Interesting Facts

Rumors abound that Brandon Routh is quite well endowed.

Brandon Routh was an extra in Christina Aguilera’s “What A Girl Wants” video.

Brandon Routh Biography

Born on October 9, 1979, in Des Moines, Iowa, Brandon James Routh (rhymes with mouth) and his three siblings (two sisters and one brother) were raised in Norwalk, Connecticut, by his parents, Ron and Katie.

Growing up, Brandon remembers seeing his first Superman movie when he was barely 8 years old. He was so excited that he spent most of the time jumping around the living room frantically until he ended up making himself sick.

Brandon Routh drops out of school

When he was attending Norwalk Senior High School, Routh, who was then called BJ, played the trumpet and the piano, was in a swing choir, and swam and played soccer. It seemed that Brandon knew that he wanted to act, as he also spent much of his time appearing in stage productions in Iowa.

After he graduated from high school 1996, Routh attended the University of Iowa and majored in English Literature, as he dreamed of one day writing movie scripts.

Within a year, Routh decided that he wanted to become a professional actor, and with that, he dropped out of university and headed to Hollywood so he could catch his big break.

Brandon Routh gets Undressed

After many auditions, Routh landed his first break in 1999, when he landed a major role on the very short-lived ABC sitcom Odd Man Out. After the show went belly up, Brandon landed the role of Wade on the MTV nighttime soap opera Undressed in 2000.

After a one-time role on an episode of Gilmore Girls, Routh landed another soap opera role; this time as Seth Anderson on the very popular One Life To Live.

When his One Life stint came to an end in 2002, Routh found himself with one-time roles on popular nighttime TV shows including Cold Case, Will & Grace and the short-lived Fox show Oliver Beene.

Brandon Routh becomes Superman

Meanwhile, Warner Brothers had already spent nearly a decade planning to revive the Superman franchise, but weren’t sure who would take the lead role. Nicolas Cage, Josh Hartnett, Brendan Fraser, and Smallville’s Tom Welling were all considered for the role, but when director Bryan Singer came aboard, he wanted a fresh new face to take the lead.

After tireless auditions were held in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, when Singer finally met Routh, he knew that he was going to be his Superman.

In October 2004, it was officially announced that Routh would be cast as Superman in the upcoming film, Superman Returns. Although avid comic book readers criticized the choice heavily, after Singer released a five-minute preview at the San Diego Comic-Con, critics were silenced and Routh received a seal of approval.

On June 28, 2006, the movie opened to U.S. audiences and raked in $52.5 million in its first opening weekend, proving that Superman is still the man of steel.

The future looks bright for Brandon Routh: after marrying his long-time girlfriend Courtney Ford on November 24, 2007, whom he met on the set of the 2006 film Denial, he spent most of the year working on films like Lie To Me, Miss Nobody, Stuntmen, and Life Is Hot in Cracktown.

2009 will see Brandon starring in Table for Three with Sophia Bush and Dead of Night.

Resource:
IMDb - Brandon Routh

Beyonce

Beyonce Vital Stats
Birth Name: Beyonce Giselle Knowles
Birth Date: September 4, 1981
Birth Place: Houston, Texas
Height: 5’7”
Romantic Link: Jay-Z

Beyonce Interesting Facts

Beyonce considers herself a very shy person and in order to get over this shyness she created a stage persona named Sasha.

In 2000, Beyonce and her group Destiny’s Child toured as the opening act for Christina Aguilera.

In 2005, Beyonce launched a clothing line called House of Dereon with her mother Tina Knowles.



Beyonce Biography

Born on September 4, 1981 to parents Tina and Matthew Knowles, Beyonce was the eldest of two girls (she has a younger sister named Solange) growing up in Houston, Texas.

It didn’t take long for her parents to notice Beyonce’s huge artistic talents and, by the time she was 7 years old, she was taking dance classes and singing as a soloist in the church choir.

Beyonce’s dance instructor took a personal interest in her and began taking her to various song and dance competitions, of which Beyonce won over 30.

Beyonce on Star Search

By the time she was 9, it was clear to Beyonce what her future held, so she and her three friends, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland and LeToya Tuckett formed a quartet and named themselves Girl’s Tyme.

The girls got their big break when they appeared on the hit talent show Star Search in 1992, but were incredibly disappointed when they lost. By this time, however, Beyonce’s father decided that he wanted to help his daughter and her friends make their dreams come true, so he quit his job with Xerox and began shopping the girls around to various music labels in an attempt to get them a record deal.

This sacrifice took a toll on the Knowles family; it forced them to move into two different apartments, each one smaller than the last. But by 1996, the group was finally signed to Columbia records and it looked like Matthew’s sacrifices would pay off.

Destiny’s Child releases No, No, No

Meanwhile, Beyonce was still attending the High School for Visual and Performing Arts in Houston and eventually moved to Alief Elsik High School, where she graduated.

By 1998, Girl’s Tyme, now renamed Destiny’s Child, released its first self-titled album, and garnered major success, thanks, in part, to producers Wyclef Jean and Jermaine Dupri.

Their debut album went platinum, but unfortunately, things began to change within the group. By this time, however, the girls had quickly assembled a sophomore effort and, by 1999, The Writing’s on the Wall made its appearance on store shelves.

Two of the members, LaTavia and LeToya, felt that Beyonce’s dad was playing favorites and putting Beyonce on the forefront and taking the lion’s share of the profits, so they left the group.

Destiny’s Child - the trio

But when they saw that the group recruited two new members in Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin, the girls decided to sue Beyonce, her dad and the band for breach of contract.

The case went nowhere, and five months later, Farrah Franklin also left the band for personal reasons, making Destiny’s Child a trio, which it would remain. By 2000, The Writing’s on the Wall was certified 11 times platinum and Destiny’s Child was riding high.

Beyonce in Goldmember

By the time 2001 rolled around, the girls were ready to showcase exactly why they were mainstays in the music industry with their third effort, Survivor. Beyonce was also branching out into acting; she costarred alongside Mekhi Pfifer in Carmen: A Hip Hopera and by 2002, she found herself starring alongside Mike Myers in the blockbuster hit Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Beyonce is Dangerously In Love

By 2003, Beyonce released her first solo effort, Dangerously In Love, to the joy of millions of fans. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard and hit singles like “Crazy In Love,” “Baby Boy” and “Me. Myself & I” cemented her place in the music industry.

The next year, Destiny’s Child headed back to the studio to record what would be their last album together. The album, fittingly called Destiny Fulfilled, was certified 3 times platinum and garnered hit singles like “Soldier” and “Lose My Breath.”

And after their 2005 worldwide concert, the girls decided to go their separate ways and venture into new territory.

Beyonce releases B’Day

Beyonce, however, knew what she wanted to do, and got to work on her new album and began taking acting classes.

By 2006, Beyonce had accomplished much; she starred in The Pink Panther opposite Steve Martin, she released B’Day, her sophomore solo effort, and she starred with Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx in the award-winning film Dreamgirls.

B’Day came in at #1 in its first week of release, selling 541,000 copies, and has been certified 2 times platinum. Not one to rest on her laurels, however, Beyonce went on a worldwide tour called The Beyonce Experience.

On the personal front, Beyonce was dating rapper Jay-Z since 2002, and, although the couple remains mum about their personal lives, they were married in a hush-hush wedding ceremony on April 4, 2008. Rumor has it that the two are expecting their first child together.

Resource:
IMDb - Beyonce

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Vital Stats
Birth Name: Kobe Bean Bryant
Birth Date: August 23 1978
Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Height: 6’6”
Romantic Link: Vanessa Laine Bryant

Kobe Bryant Interesting Facts

Kobe Bryant speaks fluent Italian and is in the midst of the doing the same with Spanish.

Kobe Bryant performs a rap sequence on Brian McKnight’s remix of “Hold Me.”

Kobe Bryant Biography

Born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to former Philadelphia 76ers ball player dad Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and mom Pam, Kobe and his two older sisters, Shaya and Sharia, moved to Italy when he was just 6 years old, because his father was playing basketball in Italy.

While growing up there, Kobe learned fluent Italian and became easily accustomed to the lifestyle in Europe. In 1994, however, the Bryants moved back to Lower Merion in Philly, and Kobe attended Lower Merion High School.

Already standing at 6’6”, Kobe had a fantastic basketball career throughout high school and after graduating in 1996, he scrapped his original plans to head to a prominent college, and opted instead to head straight to the NBA.

Kobe Bryant joins LA Lakers

Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, but was traded that same year to the Los Angeles Lakers. Selecting Bryant was a strategic move by the Lakers because they wanted to free up money in order to land Shaquille O’Neal on their roster.

During his early NBA career, Bryant made quite an impression professionally, but he had a very difficult time making friends, partly due to his upbringing in Italy.

His first two years with the team saw Bryant spending a lot of time on the bench, as he was used mainly to cover other players. But once then-coach Del Harris was replaced by Phil Jackson in 1999, everything changed for Bryant.

Bryant became one of the best shooting guards on the LA Lakers roster, and he and teammate Shaquille O’Neal led the team to three consecutive NBA Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Kobe Bryant marries Vanessa Laine

In 2000, Bryant met and began dating Vanessa Laine when he spotted the then 16-year-old on the set of a music video. After dating for only six months, the two became engaged and were married on April 18, 2001, in California. Bryant’s parents were opposed to the marriage and this led to their being estranged for two years.

Meanwhile, due to his excellent play on the court, Bryant became incredibly marketable and began doing spots for Adidas, McDonald’s, Nutella, Ferrero SpA, Spalding, and Coca-Cola.

Kobe accused of raping Katelyn Faber

Unfortunately for Bryant, he was accused of rape in 2003, and his whole world seemed to come crashing down on him. While he was staying at the The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera resort in Edwards, Colorado, awaiting knee surgery, he was accused of having sexually assaulted Katelyn Faber, and was arrested and formally charged.

That same year, his wife Vanessa gave birth to their daughter, Natalia Diamante, in January 2003.

Although Bryant immediately held a press conference in which he admitted that he had committed adultery, he vehemently denied having sexually assaulted the alleged victim.

After Katelyn finally dropped the case in 2004, she filed a civil suit, which was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Amid this whole fiasco, Bryant continued to play and he played well, although his reputation had been tarnished and his sponsorship deals with McDonald’s, Nutella and Ferrero SpA were dropped.

Kobe signs $136 million deal

At the end of the 2003-’04 season, when the Lakers failed to win the NBA Championship, Phil Jackson was not invited back to coach the team (rumors abound that that’s what Bryant wanted).

With the hardships of the trial behind him, Bryant faced another challenge: Shaquille O’Neal parted ways with the Lakers (once again, rumors abound that Bryant made it known that he did not want him to return) and it was up to Bryant to prove that he could carry the team.

Going into the next season, Bryant decided to sign a 7-year contract with the Lakers for a whopping $136 million US, rather than head to the Clippers, as was rumored for awhile.

Bryant went into the 2004-2005 season as the unquestionable leader of the pack, but although he was the league’s 2nd highest scorer, the Lakers ended up not making it to the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years.

Kobe signs with Nike

The 2005-2006 season saw the return of Phil Jackson as coach of the Lakers, a decision that seemed to bode well with Bryant. In December of 2005, Bryant managed to score 62 points during his 33 minutes of play; a record-high for him.

He then broke that record in January 2006, when he scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. In February of 2006, Nike decided to launch a new signature shoe in Bryant’s name called Zoom Kobe I, paying him a whopping $45 million.

Bryant and his wife welcomed a second daughter into the world in May 2006, and life looks like it’s on the up and up for him and his family.

In 2007, Bryant managed to score more than 50 points in 4 consecutive games and his jersey became the top-selling one in North America and China. In December 2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player ever to reach 20,000 points in the NBA (he was almost 30).

Kobe and his two daughters

Nowadays, Kobe spends most of his off time with his wife and two daughters, Natalia Diamante Bryant and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (born 2006), and has since reconciled with his parents.

Alison Goldfrapp

Alison Goldfrapp Vital Stats
Birth Name: Alison Goldfrapp
Birth Date: May 13, 1966
Birth Place: Enfield, Middlesex, England
Height: 5’2”
Romantic Link: None

Alison Goldfrapp Interesting Facts

When Alison Goldfrapp was a child, she attended convent school, from which she was expelled.

Alison Goldfrapp is a great knitter and once knitted Coldplay’s Chris Martin a sweater when they were touring together.

Alison Goldfrapp Biography

Born on May 13, 1966, in Enfield, Middlesex, England, Alison Goldfrapp knew that she wanted to be a singer from a very young age. Raised by her father, who worked for the Arts Council and Spastics Society, and her mother, who was a nurse, Alison was the youngest of six siblings.

Growing up, Alison Goldfrapp was raised in Hampshire and admits to being a troublesome child who skipped school and got bored very easily, which usually led to trouble. She attended a convent school, which she enjoyed because she “thought [she] was in a film,” she says.

Alison Goldfrapp goes to Middlesex

But because the school deemed her unfit to study at the school, Alison was devastated when she was forced to leave the school and attend a “normal” school, where everyone dubbed her the “snotty girl from the convent.”

Growing restless at this school, Alison took the “alternative” route and began sniffing glue and stealing cars, among other things. So at 16, she decided to leave town for the London squats, much to her parents’ dismay.

After spending a few years in telesales and spiraling out of control, Alison decided to strap herself down and study art at the Middlesex College.

Goldfrapp works with Orbital

Soon after she finished college, Goldfrapp accepted a job singing in Antwerp, Belgium, but she began feeling claustrophobic and confined to a specific genre of music.

In 1989, Goldfrapp dumped her long-time boyfriend and her singing gig, and lost her father to a fatal heart attack, which marred her immensely because “he only got to see the rebellion bit,” as she puts it.

One day in 1994, when she was performing at a party, Orbital, a well-known music group, spotted her talent and got her to contribute on their Snivilisation album released that same year.

Goldfrapp gives Felt Mountain

Then, in 1995, Goldfrapp hooked up with Tricky. She sang on his album Maxinquaye, and then spent the next two years touring with him, which, she admits, was daunting.

After spending some time working with Bryan Ferry, and his constant indecisiveness, she met film score composer Will Gregory, and the two formed Goldfrapp, the group, in 1998.

After constantly getting turned down by record labels, a label called Mute finally signed the duo in August 1999. Alison and Gregory spent the next few months recording music and, by 2000, their first album, Felt Mountain, was released.

Goldfrapp’s Black Cherry

The album impressed music critics and created comparisons to trip-hop group Portishead. Goldfrapp had garnered a cult following and their success was not confined to the UK; the group had gained notoriety in other parts of Europe, as well as in North America.

Goldfrapp spent the rest of 2000 and all of 2001 touring in and about Europe, the U.S., and Canada, gaining more and more popularity at every venue.

Alison and Gregory spent most of 2002 putting together their next album and, in April 2003, fans saw the release of Black Cherry, although it only managed to peak at No. 19 on the UK charts.

But that didn’t stop the band from spending all of 2004 touring with Duran Duran, this time making their live shows more sexually explicit in order to represent their musical direction.

Goldfrapp releases Supernature

In August 2005, Goldfrapp released its third album entitled Supernature, and although music critics gave it mixed reviews, it faired quite well in the UK, reaching No. 2 on album charts, and platinum status.

Even when the album was released in the United States in March 2006, the album sold twice the amount of albums their sophomore effort had.

Alison and her bandmate spent the rest of 2006 touring throughout Europe, first with Coldplay and then with Depeche Mode.

On September 4, 2006, Goldfrapp released a limited edition picture disc entitled Satin Boys, Flaming Chic, which features cover songs and remixes.

Goldfrapp releases Seventh Tree

In 2008, Goldfrapp released its fourth album, Seventh Tree, which threw fans for a loop considering it wasn’t the typical Godlfrapp fans were accustomed to hearing. The music was much quieter and subdued, and is best described by critics as “psychedelic folk music.”

Always one to keep the public on its toes, you can bet that Goldfrapp will be a mainstay in the music industry for years to come.

Resource:
IMDb - Alison Goldfrapp

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby Vital Stats
Birth Name: Sidney Crosby
Birth Date: August 7, 1987
Birth Place: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height: 5’11”
Romantic Link: Not known

Sidney Crosby Interesting Facts
Sidney Crosby counts Patrice Bergeron, whom he met with Team Canada juniors, Eric Neilson, who was his driver when he was with Rimouski, and Jack Johnson, whom he met during his stay at Shattuck St. Mary’s school, as his best friends.

Sidney Crosby has two favorite golfers: Tiger Woods for his excellence and Sergio Garcia for his cool.

Sidney Crosby Biography

Born to parents Troy and Trina Crosby in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on August 7, 1987, it was obvious that Sidney Crosby was destined to become a great hockey player.

Growing up in the small town of Cole Harbour with his sister Taylor, Sidney began playing hockey in the basement of his home with his father at the very young age of 2½.

By 3 years old, Sidney put on some ice skates and began playing ice hockey; although he was limited due to his immaturity, it was obvious that he loved the sport.

Sidney Crosby joins Rimouski Oceanic

When Sidney turned 7, the sports press got wind of his talent and word was out that Nova Scotia had a potential hockey great on its hands. As he got older, the press was keeping its eye on Sidney, and in 2001, he was featured on Hockey Day in Canada on the CBC network (a major network in Canada).

In 2002, Sidney’s sophomore year in high school was spent at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault, Minnesota, where Crosby blew everyone away with his hockey skills as he managed to score 72 goals in only 52 games - a major feat.

To no one’s surprise, Crosby was selected first overall by the Rimouski Oceanic at the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) on June 9, 2003, further proving that he was destined for greatness.

Wayne Gretzky praises Crosby

If that weren’t enough, when Wayne Gretzky, who is arguably one of the best hockey players in the history of the game, was asked if he thought any hockey player would ever break his records, he answered that he believed that Sidney Crosby would.

During the 2003 season, Crosby was the only player under 18 years of age who was invited to play on the Canadian Junior Hockey Team and on December 23rd, Crosby became the first 16-year-old to score for the World Junior Hockey Championship. His goal-scoring puck can be seen at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Continuing his hockey play with Rimouski throughout 2004 and 2005, it was on July 30, 2005, eight days before his 18th birthday, that Crosby was chosen as the first draft pick overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL (National Hockey League).

Crosby named Rookie of the Month

That October, Crosby was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month, and by April 2006, he had become the youngest player in NHL history to score 90 points with a four-point effort.

So far in the 2006-2007 season, Crosby is showing what the hype is all about by scoring in almost every game he plays and setting up his teammates in some awesome goal-scoring plays.

In January 2008, Crosby suffered a sprained ankle and missed the next 21 games his team played. He finally returned in March 2008, but then sat out another 7 games because he felt his ankle wasn’t completely healed.

This is just the beginning for Sidney Crosby; as he continues to hone his play with the NHL, there’s no doubt that his name will be alongside the other greats of hockey.

Amy Sedaris

Amy Sedaris Vital Stats
Birth Name: Amy Sedaris
Birth Date: March 29, 1961
Birth Place: Endicott, New York
Height: 5’1½”
Romantic Link: None

Amy Sedaris Interesting Facts

When Amy Sedaris is not acting, she runs a cupcake and cheeseball business out of her home in Greenwich Village (Amy's Cupcakes).

Growing up, Amy Sedaris failed the first grade.

Amy Sedaris Biography

Amy Sedaris was born on March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York to parents Lou and Sharon Sedaris and was raised with her older siblings Lisa, David and Gretchen and younger sister Tiffany and younger brother Paul.

When Amy was quite young, however, before her youngest brother was even born, the family relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, because her dad was transferred there by the company he worked for at the time (IBM).

Sedaris joins Second City Troupe

Amy grew up idolizing her older brother David Sedaris and wanted to emulate her own life after his, so when she graduated from Jesse O. Sanderson High School in 1980, it didn’t take long before her brother managed to lure her away from Raleigh and to Chicago.

With David’s help, Amy found herself enjoying comedy immensely and before she knew it, she had joined comedy’s Second City Troupe and became a mainstay on their stage.

While she performed there regularly, Amy did stints alongside Tim Meadows, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Dinello, among others. She and her brother eventually developed their own regular piece of sketch comedy called “Talent Family,” which was quite popular among audiences.

Sedaris in Strangers With Candy

By the time the ‘90s rolled around, Amy found herself walking away from Chicago and heading toward New York, where she created her first TV show called Exit 57 with colleagues Colbert, Dinello and Mitch Rouse.

The show lasted for two seasons on Comedy Central and by 1997, Amy took a step onto the big screen, when she starred as a scholar on the film Commandments.

In 1998, Amy once again teamed up with the boys and created Strangers With Candy, another Comedy Central show that ended up with a cult following and garnered Amy tons of attention in her starring role as Geraldine “Jerri” Blank, an ex-con and ex-junkie.

Amy Sedaris writes Wigfield

Throughout her rising fame, though, Amy continued to work as a waitress between writing and starring on the show, and continuing to do a semi-annual Talent Family show alongside her brother.

Amy continued to get bit parts in movies like Six Days Seven Nights (1998), Jump Tomorrow (2001), Maid in Manhattan (2002), The School of Rock, Elf (both in 2003), Neurotica, and My Baby’s Daddy (both in 2004),

In between her movie roles in 2003, Amy also had some time to put together a book called Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not with Dinello and Colbert. The trio turned the book into a play that same year, to much critical acclaim.

Sedaris in Dedication

By 2004, Entertainment Weekly placed Amy and her brother at No. 8 on the list of the 25 Funniest People in America.

Amy kept busy throughout 2005 starring in Bewitched, Stay, Chicken Little (as Foxy Loxy), and I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With.

In 2006, Amy brought her Jerri Blank character to the big screen in the Strangers With Candy: The Movie, although the movie may only be seen in a limited amount of theaters. But she can be seen in three other movies: Dedication, Snow Angels and Full Grown Men.

And in August 2006, Amy’s book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, was available on bookstore shelves, and received stellar reviews from Publishers Weekly.

In October 2006, Amy guest-starred on NBC’s My Name Is Earl, and was featured in Dolly Parton’s 2007 video for “Better Get to Livin’.”

Amy Sedaris bakes cheeseballs

Currently, Amy lives with her pet rabbit Dusty in her Greenwich Village apartment, and when she’s not busy writing or starring in a film, play or short, or making audio versions of her brother’s books, you can find Amy baking cheeseballs and cupcakes, and living happily single.

Resource:
IMDb - Amy Sedaris

Keith Urban

Keith Urban Vital Stats
Birth Name: Keith Lionel Urban
Birth Date: October 26, 1967
Birth Place: Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand
Height: 5’10”
Romantic Link: Nicole Kidman

Keith Urban Interesting Facts

In the mid-1990s, Keith Urban was part of a country band called The Ranch.

Keith Urban posed in the April 2001 edition of Playgirl magazine.

Keith Urban Biography

Born on October 26, 1967, to parents Bob and Marienne, Keith Lionel Urbahn and his brother Shane grew up in Whangerei, North Island, New Zealand.

The family soon moved to Australia and by the age of 6, Keith began learning to play the guitar. By 7, Keith already knew that he wanted to become a country singer and was planning on moving to Nashville, Tennessee, when he got older.

Keith Urban, country singer

At 8 years old, Keith was already walking away with prizes from talent contests and when he was all of 12, he was booking his band in local clubs in Australia.

By the time he was 15, Keith had no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be a country music singer and he dropped out of school to pursue his dream full time.

The next few years would prove difficult for Urban, as he was unable to get signed by a major record label and did not want to make the move to Nashville until he was certain that he could make it in the United States.

Urban signs with EMI Australia

In 1990, Urban’s prayers were answered and he got a record deal with EMI Australia. The following year, his self-titled debut hit the airwaves and music store shelves, and Urban charted at No. 1 with four singles from the album. It was time.

By 1992, Urban picked himself up and made the move to his dream locale - Nashville. Although he started out as the singer in a band called The Ranch, and the trio released an album in 1997, Urban soon opted to go it alone.

But by the end of 1997, Urban had become severely addicted to cocaine and his career took a backseat to his habit. It took him a year to realize that he had hit bottom and in 1998, Urban finally checked himself into the rehabilitation clinic, Cumberland Heights.

Keith Urban quits cocaine

By 2000, Urban was clean and sober, and released his self-titled U.S. debut album and was welcomed with open arms, as three of his single reached the Top 5 on the U.S. Country Music Charts and the album garnered him a Country Music Award for Top New Male Vocalist.

Taking no time to rest on his success, Urban released another album in 2002 entitled Golden Road, and the album went triple platinum in the United Stated, thanks mainly to the success of his hit single “Somebody Like You.”

Keith Urban marries Nicole Kidman

By the time 2004 rolled around, Urban was set to go again, and he released his third solo U.S. effort, Be Here. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Album, and although Urban didn’t walk away with the prize, he did end up meeting Nicole Kidman, whom he married on June 25, 2006. Only four months later, Urban checked into a rehabilitation center to overcome another addiction to cocaine. Now the two are expecting their first child in July 2008 and are definitely working things out.

After spending 2005 touring and performing at the Live 8 Philadelphia concert, Urban released the album Days Go By, a greatest hits album, in the UK only.

Chosen as the Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards in 2006, Urban release his new album, Love, Pain, & the whole crazy thing, in late 2006, to the delight of his fans. The album reached the Top 10 on U.S. Billboard’s Top 200.

In 2007, Keith Urban released a greatest hits collection,Greatest Hits: 18 Kids, in November 2007. The CD contained all of his top 10 hits, along with two new songs, “Romeo's Tune" and "Got It Right This Time (The Celebration)."

In 2008, Keith headed off on tour with Carrie Underwood.

Resource:
IMDb - Keith Urban

Andrea Jung

Andrea Jung Vital Stats
Birth Name: Andrea Jung (pinyin: Zhōng Bīnxián)
Birth Date: 1959
Birth Place: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Romantic Link: Michael Gould
Claim To Fame: President & CEO of Avon

Andrea Jung Interesting Facts

Andrea Jung graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in English Literature in 1979.

Andrea Jung is fluent in Mandarin and English, and can carry on a conversation in Cantonese and French.

Andrea Jung named a line of Avon products after her younger brother, Mark Jung.

Andrea Jung Biography

Andrea Jung, born in 1959 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was raised by a chemical engineer and pianist mother who immigrated from Shanghai and an architect father who emigrated from Hong Kong. Andrea and her younger brother Mark seemed to be destined for greatness because they came from highly educated and go-getting parents who settled for nothing less than greatness.

When Andrea was only 2 years old, the family relocated to Wellesley, Massachusetts, because her father got a job teaching at MIT.

Andrea Jung attends Princeton

As she got older, Andrea was speaking Mandarin and English fluently and began to pick up French and Cantonese as well. By the time she was 17 years old, Andrea was already attending Princeton University.

When she was all of 20, Andrea received her Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude (with great honor) in English Literature. Without missing a beat, Andrea joined the management trainee program at Bloomingdale’s.

Andrea Jung joins Bloomingdale’s

Her family, who expected more from Andrea at the time, was somewhat disappointed at her decision to go into retail when there were so many other opportunities of grandeur awaiting their daughter, but it seemed Andrea trusted her own judgment instead.

By 1985, Andrea had already become the Vice President of Sales and Merchandising Manager at Bloomingdale’s, and was beginning to get noticed in her industry. That same year, Andrea was lured away by J.W. Robinson’s, and spent two years as a General Merchandising Manager there.

By 1987, Andrea was looking for another challenge, as she felt that she had done all she could for J.W., and ended up at I. Magnin, in the position of Senior Vice President and General Merchandising Manager.

Andrea Jung marries Micheal Gould

By 1991, Jung once again hopped off her current position, this time to join Neiman Marcus as its Executive Vice President. In her three years with the company, Andrea made some key connections with many household fashion names including Donna Karan and Anne Sutherland Fuchs, who was, at the time, the publisher of Vogue.

During her time at Neiman Marcus, Andrea married Bloomingdale’s CEO Michael Gould in 1993, and moved to Manhattan, New York, from San Francisco. It was during this time that Andrea began to capitalize on her image as a successful woman and, as a result, began appearing in local newspapers on the society pages.

It was in 1994 that Andrea Jung, an already established success, made the move that has garnered her the most attention to date: she joined Avon Cosmetics Company as the President of Product Marketing. Andrea quickly got to work by giving Avon products a complete redesign, and her keen eye for what works was quickly noticed by then CEO James E. Preston.

Andrea takes Avon worldwide

By 1996, Andrea was promoted to President of Global Marketing and only a year later, she became the Executive Vice President/President of Global Marketing and New Business.

Andrea, however, was initially passed up for Preston’s position of CEO in 1997, due to her lack of experience with all operations of the business. Instead Duracell CEO Charles Perrin, was hired to run Avon. Only one year later, after Perrin didn’t achieve the desired results, Andrea was finally named CEO of the company.

At age 40, in her first full year as CEO, Andrea visited 20 different countries and has since taken Avon across borders and all over the world. Most recently, she managed to recruit Patrick Dempsey as the face of Avon's male line. In 2007, Andrea came in at number 30 on Forbes’ list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World and number 9 on Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women of 2007.

Currently, Andrea lives in New York with her husband and two children, one son (adopted) and one daughter. She is, in essence, doing it all.

Fredrik Ljungberg

Fredrik Ljungberg Vital Stats
Birth Name: Karl Fredrik Ljungberg
Birth Date: April 16, 1977
Birth Place: Vittsjo, Sweden
Height: 5’9”
Romantic Link: Anara Atanes

Fredrik Ljungberg Interesting Facts

In 2002, Fredrik Ljungberg was voted best-dressed man in Sweden.

Fredrik Ljungberg managed to score over 65 goals for Arsenal between September 1998 and May 2005.

Fredrik Ljungberg is the first Calvin Klein underwear model to sign a 2-year contract; he got the deal because when he first began modeling the brand in 2003, sales of Calvin’s underwear shot up by 25%. Fredrik continued to model for the brand well into 2007.

Fredrik Ljungberg refuses to have sex before a soccer match because “I want to keep the feeling in my feet. It sort of disappears if you have sex before a match. I've tried it and my feet felt like concrete when I was supposed to kick the ball.”

Fredrik Ljungberg Biography

Although he was born in Vittsjo, Sweden on April 16, 1977, Fredrik Ljungberg and his brother Flip moved to Halmstad with his parents when he was just a toddler.

With a clear understanding of what he wanted to do with his life at an early age, Fredrik had already found his calling and began playing soccer for a local youth club by the time he was 5 years old.

Fredrik Ljungberg plays for Halmstad

After studying social and natural sciences in high school in Halmstad, Fredrik joined Halmstad Bollklubb (BK) team in 1994; when he was still 16 years old.

Although he attended university to study information technology and economics, he soon dropped out, as it proved difficult to juggle both an education and professional soccer career.

The next 4 seasons with Halmstad BK proved to be fruitful; not only was Fredrik a versatile player, he also helped the club win the Swedish Cup in 1995, and then win the Allsvenskan title in 1997.

Fredrik Ljungberg plays for Arsenal

By 1998, Fredrik Ljungberg was ready for the big time; he joined England’s Arsenal to the tune of $6 million US. Gung ho about showing off his skill as a midfielder, Fredrik immediately managed to score a crucial goal against arch rival Manchester United after entering the game as a substitute, winning the hearts and minds of fans everywhere.

But Ljungberg shone best in 2001-2002 season by scoring in most of Arsenal’s games after another player, Robert Pires, was out with a knee injury. Fredrik’s team won their second Premiership and FA Cup Double. And to show his loyalty to Arsenal fans, Fredrik put a bright red stripe in his hair.

Fredrik Ljungberg models Calvin Klein

By 2003, Fredrik Ljungberg’s good looks caught the eye of Calvin Klein reps, who hired the soccer player to model their underwear. Sales of the male underwear line shot up by 25% almost immediately and Fredrik was signed to a 2-year contract.

In his soccer career during the 2003-2004 season, Fredrik managed to play 30 times as Arsenal won the Premiership title without losing a game.

Unfortunately, during the 2004-2005 season, Fredrik was plagued by terrible migraines and a hip injury (rumors ran rampant that Fredrik suffered from blood poisoning caused by large tattoos he had put on his body) that kept him from playing as often as he would’ve liked.

Fredrik Ljungberg is Sweden’s captain

Fredrik did, however, manage to overcome his hip injury long enough to return to the field as a substitute and managed to help take his team to its final victory against Manchester United FC, when he scored during the penalty shoot-out.

Still loyal to his native Sweden, Fredrik Ljungberg represented his country at Euro 2000 and 2004, and the World Cup 2002 and 2006.

In August 2006, Ljungberg was named captain of the Swedish national football team, taking over for Olof Mellberg, even though he endured a persistent ankle injury that hindered him from shining professionally throughout the season.

Sporting a shaved head and a body that men would die for and women would do anything for, Fredrik Ljungberg currently lives in Hampstead, London with his brother Flip, where he will playing for West Ham until 2010 (his contract with Arsenal ended in the summer of 2007). A very stylish man with picky taste when it comes to women, Fredrik is currently rumored to be dating Anara Atanes.

Resource:

IMDb - Fredrik Ljungberg

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie Vital Stats
Birth Name: Angelina Jolie Voight
Birth Date: June 4, 1975
Birth Place: Los Angeles, California
Height: 5’8”
Romantic Link: Brad Pitt



Angelina Jolie Interesting Facts
As a child, Angelina Jolie dreamed of becoming a funeral director.

Angelina Jolie performed all of her own stunts in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.



Angelina Jolie Biography
Angelina Jolie Voight was born on June 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, to parents Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Before she was even 2, however, her parents split up and her mom moved to New York with her and her brother, James Haven.

Growing up, Angelina’s mom would take her to see many movies, which is why Angelina decided that she wanted to become an actress when she was all of 7. It was in 1982 that she got her first role in a movie co-written by and starring her father Jon.

Angelina experiments in S&M

Although it’s hard to believe today, growing up was not easy for Angelina. At 11, her mother decided to move the family back to Los Angeles. Angelina enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Institute because she wanted to become a serious actress.

But because of her braces, glasses and extreme thinness, she was constantly taunted. If that weren’t bad enough, Angelina’s mother wasn’t rich, so she often had to wear clothes from thrift shops.

With her confidence slipping into nothingness, Angelina began to cut herself in order to feel better and, by the time she was 14, she began dating a punk rocker and the two would engage in some serious S&M, to the extent that she even asked him to use a blade along her jaw line.

Angelina dropped out of acting school, began donning black all the time and even dyed her hair purple.

At 16, the relationship came to an end and Angelina decided that she needed to get her life back on track. She enrolled in acting school once again and made her stage debut in 1991 playing, oddly enough, a dominatrix in the play “Room Service.”

Angelina Jolie stars in Hackers

Angelina’s first real foray into legitimate film was a starring role in 1993’s Cyborg 2, in which she played a seductive robot who had to make her way into the headquarters of her creator’s rival and blow herself up.

Next came Hackers, a 1995 movie in which Jolie would meet and marry her first husband Jonny Lee Miller. In 1996, Jolie wore black leather pants and a white top with Jonny’s name scrawled along the back in her own blood to say her wedding vows. Only three years later, the two divorced.

Angelina is Girl, Interrupted

Starring roles in films came pouring in and between 1996 and 1999, Jolie starred in nine films, one of which was Girl, Interrupted, the movie that won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

But that wasn’t the only award Angelina won; she starred in three TV movies, two of which she won Golden Globe Awards for. First, she played Cornelia Wallace in 1997’s George Wallace, the biopic of the segregationist Governor of Alabama who was shot and paralyzed during his run for President.

Then came 1998’s Gia, another biopic about a lesbian, drug addicted supermodel from the ‘70s, who eventually succumbed to AIDS. Jolie received incredible praise for her portrayal of the model.

Angelina marries Billy Bob

By the time 2000 rolled around, Jolie was already a mainstay in tabloids due to her openness about sex and her love of knives. If that weren’t enough, she married Billy Bob Thornton one year after her divorce to Jonny Lee.

The couple was very open about their sexual habits and frequency, and the media and fans ate up every word they said and move they made. Considering their 20-year age difference, however, most people were betting that it wouldn’t last.

Angelina adopts Maddox, gets divorced

Professionally, 2000 was a good year for Jolie; she had already starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Gone in Sixty Seconds, and was set to star as the video game goddess Lara Croft in the 2001 release Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

By 2001, Angelina’s personal life began to crumble. During the making of the film Beyond Borders (2003) with costar Clive Owen, Angelina noticed that there was so much pain and suffering in the world and wanted to make a difference.

While her happiness grew because she adopted a Cambodian boy named Maddox in 2001, and became a Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations, her husband couldn’t deal with the changes that Jolie was undergoing and the two divorced in 2002.

Angelina Jolie in Alexander

While Angelina was trying to make the world a better place and finalizing her divorce in 2003, her father Jon was giving TV interviews, saying that his daughter had serious mental problems and needed help. This, needless to say, created serious tension between them and Angelina cut him out of her life.

2004 was another busy year for Jolie, as she starred in Taking Lives with Ethan Hawke, whose unfortunate affair with Montreal model Jen Perzow left him in divorce court with his then-wife Uma Thurman, and overshadowed the film.

After that came the animated comedy, A Shark Tale, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Alexander, a movie in which Angelina played Colin Farrell’s mother – perhaps the worst casting in the history of film.

Angelina becomes Brangelina

It was in 2005, however, that Angelina would become an everyday news story for the tabloids. While filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith with co-star Brad Pitt, rumors ran rampant that the two were having an affair (Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time).

The couple neither confirmed nor denied the rumors, but after Brad and Jen filed for divorce, things were clear. Soon the couple was heading to Africa together, where they adopted Zahara in 2005.

After Pitt’s divorce was finalized late in 2005, Jolie and Pitt finally came clean about their relationship and even had their own child, Shiloh Nouvel, on May 27, 2006. The two continue to pursue humanitarian causes together. In 2007, they adopted a 3-year-old Vietnamese boy named Pax.

In 2006, Angelina filmed A Mighty Heart, the story about the wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl.

Angelina Jolie is currently carrying twins (a boy and a girl) and reportedly wants to give birth in 2008 in France. It is also rumored that she and the Pitt brood want to reside there permanently.

Keep an eye out for Angelina in 2008, as you can spot her looking quite sexy in Wanted, Changeling and Atlas Shrugged.

Resource:
IMDb - Angelina Jolie