Battle of the red carpet baby bumps

It is difficult enough to get a plus-one ticket to the most prestigious showbusiness awards ceremony of the year.

But three of Hollywood's biggest stars managed to sneak in an extra guest or two.

Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman were both carrying little stowaways at the biggest event on the movie calendar last night.
Looking swell: Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett, who is expecting her third child in April, wore a brilliant aqua marine gown by Dres Van Noten to last night's event

Miss Blanchett won the baby bump stakes on the red carpet. The best actress nominee, who is expecting her third child in April, wore a brilliant aqua marine gown created for her by Dres Van Noten.

Miss Kidman, 40, who is almost four months pregnant with her first baby, also dazzled in her custom Balenciaga gown and Bottega Veneta clutch, and a glittering diamond necklace designed by L'Wren Scott.
Proud mother-to-be: Nicole Kidman dazzled on last night's Oscars red carpet in her custom Balenciaga gown and a 1,399-carat diamond necklace designed by L'Wren Scott

The sparkling necklace included a total of 7645 rough, faceted and polished diamonds totalling 1,399 carats.

A spokesman for designer L'Wren Scott yesterday confirmed that Nicole Kidman's stunning diamond necklace had been custom made for the actress but would not comment on how much the piece was worth.

However, an expert from Hatton Garden - London's jewellery quarter - said that the necklace would have a retail value of around £3million pounds.

Actress Jessica Alba, who is pregnant with her first child, wore a strapless empire line Markesa dress with Cartier jewellery.
So proud: Nicole's husband Keith Urban accompanied her to last night's event and kept a protective arm around her

Two nights earlier, Angelina Jolie had shown her bump for the first time on Friday evening at the Independent Spirit Awards.

She beamed as her partner Brad Pitt, 43, wrapped an arm around her waist. "I do not want people bumping into me so Brad is my protector," she joked.

The couple have yet to confirm the pregnancy, which will be her second, but speculation is rife that the 32-year-old is expecting twins. Judging by the size of her bump at this early stage, the rumours could be well founded.
Bumps ahead: Pregnant stars Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman both dazzled on the red carpet at last night's Oscars
Purple reign: blooming Jessica Alba wore a strapless Markesa dress with Cartier jewellery

Baby bumps weren't the only stunning accessories on the red carpet. Actress Rosamund Pike sparkled in diamond jewellery created by H Stern.

The star of screen and stage led the beauty stakes for Britain on the Oscar red carpet last night wearing a stunning canary yellow off the shoulder dress designed by Roland Lauret.

The London-based actress was with fiance the director Joe Wright who made the film Atonement which was up for seven academy awards including best picture.
Angelina Jolie with partner Brad Pitt: The actress's growing bump fuelled speculation she is expecting twins at a pre-Oscars event

Rosamund said that she and Joe started their morning with a French toast for breakfast and a three-hour drive to get the ceremony at the Kodak theatre in time because of heavy traffic.

Actor James McAvoy, leading man in Atonement, arrived at the ceremony with wife British actress Ann-Marie Duff wearing a blue gown created by Mosquino and matching saphire and diamond earrrings and ring.

The 28 year-old British actor said it was "incredible" to be at the Oscars.

He added: "What a great night for really intelligent film-making."

He said Americans found Atonement "depressing and humorous" while most Britons laughed less at the film.

Best actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis arrived with his wife Rebecca. Day-Lewis said he was feeling "like a British rail sandwich, a little curled up at the edges."

He added: "It's been a great ride but you do set yourself up for unknown surprises at the Oscars."

Angelina Jolie , Brad Pitt , Jessica Alba , Nicole Kidman

The moment a crazed fan attacked Brad Pitt in Venice

This is the moment when Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt was attacked by a crazed female fan

Pitt, in Italy for the Venice Film Festival, was surrounded by his security team when the unnamed fan barged her way through the crowd and attempted to embrace the actor.


Everything seems normal as Brad meets his adoring public at the Venice Film Festival

As Brad passes, the crazed fan sees a chance to get close to her idol

"It was a scary moment. The security team must have been embarrassed that she was able to get that close to him. She could have been anyone," said one onlooker.

"Brad didn't look very happy about it all."

Fortunately for Pitt, the fan simply wanted to hug her favourite Hollywood star rather than do anything more serious.

Pitt is in Venice for the premiere of his film The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford which takes place on Sunday.

Before Brad knows whats happening, the girl has stretched out her arms and grabs him around the neck

The fan attempts to drag Brad closer for a hug, while his security are very slow to react

He stars and produces the film which is a strong contender for the Golden Lion award.

Brad has already angered photographers after refusing to remove his sunglasses during a photo call for the movie.

Pitt, wearing what was described as 'an indifferent smile', rejected repeated requests by the photo corps to remove the glasses, then passed them to his co-star Casey Affleck, who put them on.

The photographers then left the shoot en masse in protest.

The Italian press have nicknamed Brad the 'Pitt Bullo' as a result. 'Bullo' means bully in Italian.

The unnamed girl was unrepentant about what she had just done

Pitt Bullo: Brad rejected repeated requests to remove his sunglasses

In Venice with Brad is Angelina Jolie, their 15-month-old daughter Shiloh and her three adopted children - Maddox, from Cambodia, Zahara, an Ethiopian girl, and Pax Thien, from Vietnam.

Asked what it was like being father to four young children, Pitt, 43, told reporters at the festival: "It's the most fun I have ever had and also the biggest pain in the a***.

"And I love it and I can't recommend it any more highly." But he added: "Sleep is non-existent!"

That same day, Angelina joined Brad on the red carpet for a screening of The Assassination of Jesse James in France

Brad Pitt

The secrets behind Angelina's tattoos

She is one of the most photographed women in the world - and now one of the most tattooed.

After attending the world premiere of her latest movie, Angelina Jolie revealed her latest set of body art - geographical map coordinates accurately detailing the countries of birth of each member of her "rainbow family".

Walking down the red carpet in Cannes to promote her movie, A Mighty Heart, the 31-year-old actress kept the new tattoos hidden, using her boyfriend, Brad Pitt, as a human shield.

The tattoo on Angelina Jolie's left arm show's the map coordinates for the birthplaces of her children. The actress also appeared to be bruised - a common side effect of tattooing.

But as the couple made their way down the festival's famous Croisette in a chauffeur-driven car afterwards, the four-part scribing on her left shoulder was plainly visible.

Each line, it has emerged, represents the very international map coordinates detailing where their four children, three of which were adopted, were born.

From the top down, and from left to right, is the longitudinal and latitudinal location of Cambodia, where the Oscar-winning actress' eldest son, Maddox, five, was born.

Next are the coordinates pertaining to Ethiopia, the country from which Miss Jolie plucked two-year-old Zahara.

Angelina's tattoos have special meaning for her

Third on the list is Namibia, where the Tomb Raider star gave birth to her ten-month-old biological daughter, Shiloh, whose name in Hebrew means "the peaceful one".

Last but not least is a reference to the latest addition to the couple's rainbow family - Pax Thien, who is Vietnamese by origin.

The three-year-old boy was taken from an orphanage in March, amid claims that the Hollywood couple had unfairly fast-tracked the adoption process.

Interestingly, beneath her latest ink inscriptions, Miss Jolie appeared to be sporting some heavy bruising - a common side effect of tattooing.

"Most of Angelina's tattoos are pretty discreet but these map coordinates really stand out," said a festival onlooker. "When she made her way up the red carpet, she kept her arm hidden behind Brad, and looked really elegant in a demure black dress and peep toe heels.

On the red carpet: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the world premiere of 'A Mighty Heart' in Cannes

"But when she unearthed them later in the night, she really did look like a bit of a bruiser. While the significance of these tattoos is undoubtedly poignant, this probably wasn't the look she had in mind when she got the coordinates done."

The latest tattoo is understood to be Miss Jolie's 13th to date.

She already has a discreet M on the palm of her hand - a tribute to her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died earlier this year.

On top of this, she has a Buddhist Pali prayer written in the Khmer script for Maddox as well as a Tennessee Williams quote, "A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages".

Angelina Jolie's new tattoos have been inscribed in the same spot where a tribute to her ex-husband Billy Bob Thronton once lay.

His name was tattooed onto her left arm along with a Chinese dragon - the remnants of which are still faintly visible even after laser removal surgery.

She said at the time of the laser treatment: "I'll never be stupid enough to have a man's name tattooed on me again."

Angelina Jolie , Brad Pitt

David hits the peroxide bottle for a copycat Posh look

He's been accused by tough guy ex-footballer Vinnie Jones of moving to the US to hold his wife Posh's handbags - and now David Beckham has decided to copy his wife's blonde crop for a startling blonde look of his own.

The couple, who once famously wore matching Gucci leather suits on a night out, seem to have a habit of copying each other's looks.

Blonde it like Beckham: David Beckham's new peroxide look is very similar to wife Victoria's hairstyle.

Victoria went for a blonder look in anticipation of the Beckham's impending move to California, and now husband David has followed suit

Beckham, who is 32 next week, and wife Victoria have returned to their popular blonde look of 2000.

According to The Mirror, his new look has not gone down too well with his teammates at the world famous Spanish club, who teased him throughout training and tried to rip the woolly hat he was wearing from his head.


Brazilian Robinho almost got a hold of the hat, but Beckham managed to get away. A source said his teammates had nicknamed him 'Marilyn' after movie-star Marilyn Monroe.

Beckham's peroxide locks have long been a favourite with rock stars such as Robbie Williams and Billy Idol.

The footballer, who is set to move to Los Angeles for a multi-million pound transfer to U.S football team LA Galaxy, is said to have gone for the look as he and Victoria are scheduled to complete a photo session with top photographer Stephen Klein for America's fashion bible W.

Beckham's teammate Robinho tries to sneak a peek at his new blonde hairdo

Blondes have more fun: Brad Pitt, Billy Idol and Robbie Williams have all succumbed to the lure of the peroxide bottle, each with varying success.

Brad Pitt , David Beckham , Victoria Beckham

A kiss and tears for Angelina's new orphan son

VIDEO: This is Angelina Jolie's latest adopted child.

Pax Thien Jolie, the latest addition to the Tomb Raider star's multinational family, appeared to be shy with his mother-to-be when she came to collect the three-year-old from the Vietnamese orphanage where he has spent much of his life.

Video...Angelina collects her new son from the orphanage

Windows Media Player

Insert the first picture of Angelina's adopted son Pax Thien Jolie; and Jolie with her eldest son Maddox, after arriving at the Ho Chi Minh City International Airport

Dressed in yellow t-shirt and shorts, Pax Thien Jolie

Jolie arrived with five-year-old son Maddox, whom she adopted in neighbouring Cambodia in 2002.

Jolie greeted Pax Thien, meaning Peace Heaven, with a kiss and held him.

Nguyen Van Trung, director of the Tam Binh orphanage on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "They tried to make friends with the Vietnamese boy, who cried when he saw them because for him, they are strangers. Jolie was very moved. Both of them tried to comfort the little boy."

Angelina Jolie pictured holding her adopted daughter Zahara, while partner Brad Pitt carries her eldest son Maddox

Van Trung said the boy was healthy and liked to play soccer. The child had been abandoned at a local hospital and was admitted to the orphanage in 2003, Trung added.

Jolie and Pitt visited Ho Chi Minh City last November and met children at the orphanage. They have one biological child, Shiloh Nouvel who was born last year, and two adopted children - son Maddox from Cambodia and daughter Zahara from Ethiopia.

Jolie and Pitt, who starred in the 2005 movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", have said they have no plans to marry but are committed to raising their children together. They are also working together on the film "A Mighty Heart" about the killing of a U.S. journalist by Pakistani militants.

Jolie won an Oscar in 1999 for best supporting actress in "Girl, Interrupted". She starred in the 2001 movie "Tomb Raider" which was filmed in Cambodia, neighbouring Vietnam.

Angelina Jolie , Brad Pitt