Friday, April 17, 2009

Cameron Diaz shaves her head in solidarity with cancer-stricken daughter in film adaptation of My Sister's Keeper

Famed for her quirky performances in romantic comedies, Cameron Diaz is set to surprise film fans as she takes a drastically different direction in her new movie.

The actress appears as you have never seen before, playing the mother of three in a moving story about a family living with cancer.

In My Sister's Keeper, adapted from Jodi Picault's best-selling book, Cameron's character Sara shaves off her famous blonde locks in a show of solidarity with her eldest daughter Kate, who is suffering from leukaemia.


The film tells the story of the Fitzgerald family, who conceived their youngest child Anna (Abigail Breslin) as a genetic match for Kate (Sofia Vassilieva).

Since the moment she was born, Anna has donated blood, bone marrow and her umbilical cord to help prolong her sister's life.

In the introduction to the trailer, Abigail provides the voiceover introducing viewers to her character's plight.

She said: 'Most babies are accidents. Not me. I was engineered. Born to save my sister's life...'


After initial surprise that a 13-year-old wants to sue her parents, Campbell comes to understand her predicament and agrees to represent her for free.

The lawsuit threatens to destroy the family and Sara's marriage to husband Brian (Jason Patric) as they fight over how to deal with Kate's illness.

Meanwhile, the couple's son Jesse (Evan Ellingson) is feeling ignored amongst all the focus on his sisters and turns into a pyromaniac.

While Anna and Kate have a strong sisterly bond, the 13-year-old is exasperated when her parents want to to donate her kidney to her sibling when she suffers renal failure.

In a shocking twist which raises questions about the ethics of genetically-engineered 'donor babies', Anna decides to sue her parents to become medically emancipated from her parents so she can take charge of her body.

Anna hires hot shot lawyer Campbell Alexander, played by 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin, to fight her case.




The moving film is expected to become the biggest movie tearjerker this year when it is released this summer.

Author Jodi recently admitted fans of her book may be surprised because film producers had changed the ending for the big screen.

She said: 'Having the ending changed would certainly not have been my choice. I wrote the ending very intentionally because I wanted to leave the reader with a certain message. And changing that ending changes that message.

'However, I am excited to see the movie and to judge it on its strengths.'

The film also stars Thomas Dekker, 21, as Kate's first love and fellow cancer patient, and Joan Cusack as the judge who oversees the trial.

The film is set for release in the UK on June 26.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Amy Winehouse shows off her equestrian skills in St Lucia

Amy Winehouse has been showing off her horsemanship while on holiday in St Lucia.

Amy was riding on the beach with unidentified friends and family.

The singer showed off her flexibility by pulling her legs up underneath her and leaning off the side of the brown mare she was on.

Wearing just a pair of blue shorts and a skimpy white sports bra-top, Amy showed off her slim figure and naturally curly hair as she guided the horse along.
Amy recently returned to St Lucia after spending two months on the island at the beginning of the year.

She is expected to record her latest album there, far away from the busy, paparazzi-filled atmosphere of London.



This news comes in the wake of reports that her record company were unhappy with the reggae influence on her new tunes.

However, Amy is said to be looking to put down roots on the island.

She is reportedly in the process of viewing properties there.