Showing posts with label Halle Berry. Show all posts

Thursday, 30 January 2014

The secrets behind Hollywood's Oscar-winning bodies of Halle, Reese, Sandra and Julia

Reese Witherspoon's intense yoga and Julia Roberts' underwater workouts: The secrets behind Hollywood's Oscar-winning bodies

Halle Berry only worked out for five minutes a day to achieve toned abs
Reese Witherspoon was worried about going sleeveless at Oscars
Women's Health magazine quizzed personal trainers behind the stars

PUBLISHED: 18:40, 28 January 2014 | UPDATED: 19:12, 28 January 2014

As one of the biggest red carpet moments of an A-lister's career, getting it right at the Oscars is enough to make anyone break out in a sweat.

So it's no surprise those celestial, designer-dress-adorned bodies are the product of intense and gruelling workouts in the months running up to the star-studded event.

Ever wondered how they do it? Women's Health magazine quizzed the personal trainers behind previous Oscar winners' honed physiques.

REESE WITHERSPOON, 2006, BEST ACTRESS FOR WALK THE LINE

Reese found her 1955 vintage Dior dress in a Paris boutique, but even she worried about going sleeveless, so her trainer Matthew Reyes helped her target her shoulders, upper arms and obliques.

'The one body part women fear is a flabby underarm. A dress like Reese's required focus on the triceps, biceps, shoulders and waist,' her trainer Matthew Reyes told the magazine.

Reese got red carpet-ready with a 5km jog three times a week, and by heading to Matthew's YogaHop class.

'It's a 60-minute class that combines yoga moves with cardio and body-weight strength training,' he explains. 'It works all your major muscle groups.'

Her secret's out! Reese, pictured in 2006 with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, got red carpet-ready with a 5km jog three times a week, and by heading to Matthew's YogaHop class

SANDRA BULLOCK, 2010, BEST ACTRESS FOR THE BLIND SIDE

Sandra's dazzling lace and satin Marchesa number left no margin for error.

It was all about the side profile, so her trainer Simone De La Rue helped her work on her arms and hips.

'The best moves for achieving a sleek silhouette are a combination of strength training and cardio,' said Simone, who uses a fusion of Pilates, strength training and cardio dance moves to get her clients into shape.

'The strength training tones and sculpts the muscles, while cardio strips the outer layer of fat.

'Just 10 minutes of interval training elevates your metabolism. To maximise muscle gain, eat some carbs and protein an hour before you work out,' she advises.

Dazzling: It was all about the side profile with Sandra Bullock's dress so her trainer Simone De La Rue helped her work on her arms and hips

JULIA ROBERTS, 2001 BEST ACTRESS FOR ERIN BROCKOVICH

Smouldering in her Valentino gown, Julia had to work hard to ensure she was honed for the smaller vintage sizes.

She called on Kathy Kaehler - who she's trained with for 20 years - to help her work on her shoulders, arms and hips.

'In the lead-up to that day, we did a lot of push-ups and planks,' reveals Kaehler, working her shoulders, chest and upper arms.

'They're the best moves for upper body conditioning if you don't want to bulk up. We also worked out in her pool to mix it up a bit,' says Kathy.

Water baby: Smouldering in her Valentino gown, Julia had to work hard to ensure she was honed for the smaller vintage sizes by doing water work-outs

HALLE BERRY, 2002 BEST ACTRESS FOR MONSTER'S BALL

Halle's Burgundy Elie Saab gown with sheer bodice was a daring move, one which required focus on abs, back and shoulders.

But, of course, she pulled it off with aplomb - and it only took five minutes a day, according to her long-time trainer, Harley Pasternak.

'She was my inspiration for the five-factor training method. We worked out five times a week for 25 minutes, each day working a different part of the core.

'At home, spend one day working the upper abs, then the lower abs the next day, then the obliques, then the lower back.

'Stability exercises strengthen the major parts of our core and improve the way we look by creating a longer, leaner silhouette.'

Daring: It only took Halle Berry five minutes a day to get in shape, according to her long-time trainer, Harley Pasternak

Read the full secrets behind the most covetable Oscar physiques of all time in the March issue of Women's Health, on sale Wednesday 29 January. Also available as a digital edition.

Women's Health

Saturday, 4 January 2014

Meagan Good reveals she would 'absolutely' love to play Whitney Houston in upcoming biopic as does Halle

The greatest role of all! Meagan Good reveals she would 'absolutely' love to play Whitney Houston in upcoming biopic

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 22:57, 3 January 2014 | UPDATED: 22:58, 3 January 2014

Actress Meagan Good has revealed that she would like to play Whitney Houston in an upcoming biopic of the star.

The 32-year-old actress who currently stars as Linda Jackson in Anchorman 2, has claimed the role would be a 'blessing'.

Talking about the potential project, she said: 'Oh, well that's a blessing. I don't know if the story is happening.'

Scroll down for video...

Got what it takes? Actress Meagan Good has revealed she would 'absolutely' play the role of Whitney Houston in an upcoming biopic if the role was offered

Asked if she would accept the role, Meagan replied: 'Absolutely.'

Adding: 'Yeah because it's not about singing like her. You'd have to use her voice, you'd have to use her essence.'

Fellow actresses Jennifer Hudson and Halle Berry are also said to be in the running and Meagan commented: 'I can believe it'.

Meagan Good reveals she'd like role of Whitney Houston in biopic

Legendary: Whitney - seen here in 1989 at the American Music Awards - was 48 when she died on 11 February in 2012

Role of a lifetime: Meagan has revealed that the role of Whitney Houston would be a 'blessing'

Meagan also noted that she, Halle, and the late Whitney are all Leo star signs.

The Wrap recently reported that record executive Clive Davis is leading the movie project.

Director Tyler Perry has also expressed interest in directing, although the project is a long way off according to reports.

Role rivalry? Jennifer Hudson and Halle Berry are also said to be in the running to play Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston died on 11 February at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2012.

It isn't the first time that Meagan has spoken about Whitney.

Late last month, Meagan revealed: 'I think she was a very misunderstood spirit... I did know her,'

Explaining: 'Not super, super well but my husband was the executive on Sparkle and I got to spend a little bit of time with her there.'

'She was an amazing person and I think very misunderstood. I just feel like I get her and I would tell her story, I feel like, the way she would want it to be told.'

Icon: Clive Davis is said to be leading the movie project on the late Whitney Houston

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Stephen Merchant and Halle Berry don't hold back in 'Movie 43'

Daring duo: Comic Stephen Merchant says he, co-star Halle Berry don't hold back in 'Movie 43' - Knoxville.com

Stephen Merchant, Charles Wessler and Halle Berry, from left, work on set of "Movie 43."

Movie 43

A feature film comprised of 17 sketch-comedy shorts.
Rating: R for strong pervasive crude and sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, language, some violence and drug use
Length: 97 minutes
Released: January 25, 2013 Nationwide
Cast: Emma Stone, Seann William Scott, Kristen Bell, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director: Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne
Writer: Greg Pritikin, Patrik Forsberg, Matt Portenoy
More info and showtimes »

HOLLYWOOD — Stephen Merchant is best known as Ricky Gervais' writing partner and frequent onscreen comedy foil. The two conceived the original acclaimed U.K. TV series "The Office," and subsequently co-executive produced the award-winning American version that starred Steve Carell and John Krasinski.
While the extremely tall (6-foot-7), bespectacled blond stayed pretty much behind the scenes on the original "Office" (with the exception of a single guest appearance), he turned up alongside Gervais in their next hit comedy "Extras," in which Merchant played the somewhat incompetent talent agent Darren Lamb to Gervais' struggling actor Andy Millman.
The British duo has continued to work on other TV shows as well as in other mediums (movies, including "The Invention of Lying," and podcasts). Indeed, they are working on an upcoming "Life's Too Short" special (based on their 2011 TV series "Life's Too Short"), due out later this year.
The 38-year-old Merchant takes on a decidedly prettier scene partner — Oscar winner Halle Berry — in Peter Farrelly's star-studded ensemble comedy "Movie 43." Judging by its red band trailer, the oddly titled project is a saucy R-rated comedy along the lines of the Zucker/Abrams/Zucker production "Kentucky Fried Movie." Like "KFM," "Movie 43" is composed of several stand-alone comedy sketches starring big name Hollywood actors, including Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Kate Winslet, Halle Berry, and, of course, Merchant. The segments also boast various directors and writers.
Merchant and Berry's segment is directed by Farrelly ("Dumb & Dumber," "There's Something About Mary") himself. "Movie 43" billed as "the most outrageous comedy ever made."
While movie trailers have hinted at the hijinks of "Movie 43," the comedy was not screened for critics prior to its release.
We pried what we could from Merchant, who recently called early one morning from London, to get the scoop on "Movie 43" and what else he's got cooking.

Q: "Movie 43 is shrouded in mystery. When you got involved in the project, was it mysterious to you? Did you just receive your segment of the script?
Merchant: Peter Farrelly said to me "Do you want to be on a blind date with Halle Berry?" and I was like "Yep. Yep." I'd have paid them to let me do that, so there was no discussion. I didn't care what the rest of the film was going to be. I didn't even ask to see what the rest of the script was. I just jumped in for selfish reasons. I just wanted the photograph to put on my wall with me and Halle Berry. They mentioned there were these other sketches with other people, but I wasn't listening. I was too busy thinking about Halle Berry.

Q: Had you met Halle before?
Merchant: This was the first time. We showed up on the first day and off we went, really. I'm always concerned that big stars are going to be diva-ish or difficult but she was nothing like that. She was ready to jump straight in and happy to make a fool of herself. She was happy to humiliate herself in the sketch, which is something I'm always concerned about because a lot of actors are sort of precious and they don't like losing their dignity or their cool onscreen, but she was gung-ho, she didn't care.

Q: If you're going to be in a Farrelly movie, you've got to be game for anything, right?
Merchant: Yes. I guess she know what was going to be asked of her. She didn't queer anything. She just got on with it.

Q: The gist of you're sketch is that you're on a blind date and your date is going sour and you decide to play truth or dare, right?
Merchant: Right. I'm on a date with Halle Berry. There's nothing funny about that. Everyone accepts that. And from there she suggests a game of truth or dare. It's fairly tame at first and then it ramps up from there.

Q: Do you get a chance to steal a kiss or make out with Halle?
Merchant: That would be telling you. I don't want to ruin it.

Q: You do some sort of stripper dance?
Merchant: There's some stripping at some point in front of a bachelorette party. I don't how Peter got me to do that because that is really weird. I don't recall that being part of the deal. And then as I was doing this dance and sort of manhandling the female extras, because I'm supposed to be a stripper, he kept shouting other suggestions, and I remember thinking, are these girls aware of what they came in for today — seeing a half-naked, six-foot-seven pasty white English dude groping them, but everyone seemed up for it so there we are.

Q: You also have another guest star in the segment: Snooki (Nicole Polizzi), right?
Merchant: (He chuckles.) Right, yes.

Q: Were you familiar with her previous body of work, and what was it like working with her?
Merchant: I was aware of her oeuvre, only from reputation, I hadn't seen any of it. She just showed up and we did it, and I don't know if she knew who I was or what exactly was going on but again, she jumped in and was game for a laugh. We had to work so fast because we did it all in a couple of days. It was breakneck speed, really. There wasn't much getting to know you time between me and Snooki.

Q: Have you seen the final cut of your segment?
Merchant: Yes.

Q: Is it tamer than you expected or did Peter include everything?
Merchant: It seems like everything's in there. If they cut anything out, it's pretty subtle because it seems like it's all in there. The film, as a whole, is pretty outrageous, and ours is relatively tame compared to some of the other more naughty sketches.

Q: You've seen the entire movie?
Merchant: Yeah. There's some pretty crazy stuff in there.

Q: You're just in one segment, right? You don't come back in another segment?
Merchant: No. They're all individual skits.

Q: When and where did you shoot this?
Merchant: We shot it in L.A. I did a movie with Peter Farrelly called "Hall Pass," so I feel like it was sometime after then that we did it. There are so many stars in this that they've been piecing it together when those people are available for quite some time.

Q: The inspiration for this was "Kentucky Fried Movie." Were you a fan of that film?
Merchant: I never saw "Kentucky Fried Movie" but I saw (1987's ensemble comedy) "Amazon Women on the Moon," which is similar compendium of sketches. It's quite rare. They don't do it very often because people find it unusual to watch. I think it's a refreshing thing to do because in the age of the Internet where things are in three- or four-minute segments, people watch things in bite-size chunks. The question is: are they ready to watch something similar on the big screen? I don't know.

Q:How long did it take to shoot your segment?
Merchant: We shot the whole thing in a couple of days.

Q: Are you working on something now?
Merchant: I kind of am. I've got various things that are on the boil. I'm doing a "Life's Too Short" special with Ricky (Gervais). I'm also doing a TV thing later in the year for HBO.

Q: Is "Life's Too Short" a full season?
Merchant: No. It's a one-off special.

Q: You have a TV series called "Hello Ladies" in the works?
Merchant: That's going to be on HBO later in the year and we're writing that at the moment. That's a show that sprung from my stand up act, which also was called "Hello Ladies." It's about my various misfortunes and failings on the dating scene. This is a sitcom jump off from there, and it's me as a lonely English nerd in Los Angeles trying to date women out of my league and failing and kind of embarrassing myself. That's what that show will be.

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Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Halle Berry is hot to trot in tiny denim shorts as little Nahla goes riding with her father

Horsing around: Halle Berry is hot to trot in tiny denim shorts as little Nahla goes riding with her father

By Amelia Proud
PUBLISHED:01:08, 30 October 2012| UPDATED:04:35, 30 October 2012

She admitted that she loves her four-year-old so much that she's prepared to dress up like a giant cupcake to take her trick or treating on Halloween night.
So it's perhaps understandable that Halle Berry, 46, looked a little downcast in Beverly Hills today as she spent time alone while daughter Nahla saw her father.

California Dreaming: Halle Berry enjoyed the warm Beverly Hills weather while her daughter spent time with her father on Monday

The pixie-haired beauty – who is engaged to actor Olivier Martinez - is locked in a bitter custody battle with ex-partner Gabriel Aubry.
Halle is believed to be waiting to discover if she can get her little one to live with her in France along with Martinez.
But for now, she must allow her youngster to spend time with the French Canadian model.

Lost in thought: Halle is still desperate to move to France with Olivier Martinez, but Nahla's father is battling her

Weight: The Monster's Ball actress looked effortlessly chic

On Sunday, Nahla was spotted riding a horse at the farmers’ market in Studio City, California.
Halle has attempted, so far unsuccessfully, to pack up her daughter and move to Europe citing supposed safety concerns.
Those close to 36-year-old Aubry are up in arms about the request.

Hold on tight: Little Nahla looked a little wary to be enjoying her horse ride

Feeling more confident: The youngster gets into her stride as the ride gets underway

Just adorable: The beautiful youngster at the heart of a custody battle between her parents, but they're doing a good job of keeping her out of their problems in day to day life

According to TMZ, the judge in the star's custody case is ready to rule on her request to take her daughter Nahla to Paris permanently.
Sources tell the website that both Halle and Gabriel's lawyers have closed their cases and are waiting for the judge's decision.
The former couple may also appear in court as the judge has apparently said that he doesn't want to send a written decision to the pair's respective lawyers.

Monday, 29 October 2012

Halle Berry, Michelle Yeoh and Carey Lowell look back with fondness and pride on their 007 roles

'It's movie history, and to be a part of that is amazing,' says 'Die Another Day's' Berry

By Ethan Sacks AND Marshall Fine / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published: Sunday, October 28, 2012, 6:00 AM

Updated: Sunday, October 28, 2012, 6:00 AM

TOMORROW NEVER DIES, Pierce Brosnan, Michelle Yeoh, 1997, (c) United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection

Action star Michelle Yeoh is in her element in 1997's 'Tomorrow Never Dies,' with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

DIE ANOTHER DAY, Halle Berry, 2002, (c) MGM/courtesy Everett Collection

Halle Berry in 2002's 'Die Another Day'

LICENCE TO KILL, Carey Lowell, 1989, (c) United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection

United Artists/Everett Collection

Carey Lowell of 1989's 'Licence to Kill'

They loved working with the spy who loved them.
As past Bond girls Halle Berry, Michelle Yeoh and Carey Lowell reminisced to the Daily News about their 007 duties, one thing was clear: Each considered it a highlight, in one way or another.
“It was something I can honestly tell you I’m proud I was a part of,” Berry says about her memorable turn as Jinx Johnson in 2002’s “Die Another Day.”
“It’s movie history, and to be a part of that [is] amazing.
“That franchise lives on and on, so there’s something they’re doing right.”

One of the things they did right was introduce Jinx — who comes out of the ocean in a bikini, with a knife strapped to her waist — in an homage to Ursula Andress’ introduction in 1962’s “Dr. No.”
While being a Bond girl doesn’t trump her Best Actress Oscar, Berry, 46, does say she feels blessed to be part of a pantheon that includes some of the most beautiful actresses that have worked in movies.
“I’m in pretty good company,” Berry says. “It’s definitely something that I’m really proud of.”
Carey Lowell also finds her turn in a Bond film a thing of pride. Lowell was a 27-year-old model with a handful of small acting roles to her credit when she auditioned to play Pam Bouvier, an ex-CIA agent and pilot who teams up with Bond (Timothy Dalton, in his second and final appearance as 007) in 1989’s “Licence to Kill.”
“I didn’t fall into the category of the ‘classic Bond girl,’” Lowell, 51, says. “I had short hair — and no Bond girl before me ever had. They put me in a wig at the beginning of the film and then had my character cut her hair to pretend to be someone else. That was to explain why my hair was short.
“I think the Bond movies were going through a transition then,” Lowell continues. “But it was still a Bond movie. I was really flattered to be chosen.
“Hey, once a Bond girl, always a Bond girl. It will always be a big deal — it’s an exclusive club.”
That club got an esteemed member when martial arts-movie superstar Michelle Yeoh came aboard for 1997’s “Tomorrow Never Dies.”
In the course of the franchise, there had never been a Bond girl quite like Yeoh’s Wai Lin, who served notice that she was more than a match for 007 when she’s introduced scaling the wall of a villain’s base using only a wire.
“As that was my first English-language film, it was important to me to play an action hero — and not just be a notch on Bond’s bedpost,” Yeoh, 49, says.
Fifteen years later, she still has fond memories of working with the Bond team and especially Pierce Brosnan, in his sophomore 007 film.
“Remembering how I fought for control of a [moving] motorbike with Pierce always makes me smile,” Yeoh says.
esacks@nydailynews.com

Thursday, 11 October 2012

Halle Berry, LL Cool J to participate in Grammy salute to Whitney Houston

Halle Berry

Halle Berry and LL Cool J will be on hand to honor the late Whitney Houston during a forthcoming special slated to air on CBS.

Announced as presenters Wednesday, Berry and LL Cool J (Todd Smith) will be joined by Taraji Henson and Britney Spears, who will also present special tributes to the legendary talent.

As previously reported, "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston," will be taped this Thursday and will air in November on CBS.

Performances from Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion, Yolanda Adams, and CeCe Winans have been announced with the possibility of others being confirmed at a later time.

The tribute was pieced together by Grammy organizers and is the latest in a series of tributes to take place since she passed just hours before the Grammy Awards in February.

"We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston" is due to air November 13 on CBS.

Friday, 20 July 2012

Ursula Andress voted best Bond beach body of all time (and Halle comes second)

Licence to thrill: Ursula Andress voted best Bond beach body of all time (and Daniel Craig comes in third!)

By DEBORAH ARTHURS

PUBLISHED: 14:49, 20 July 2012 | UPDATED: 17:43, 20 July 2012

Actress Ursula Andress has been voted Britain’s all-time favourite Bond beach babe.

She topped the poll thanks to the unforgettable moment when her character Honey Ryder - emerged from the ocean in the 1962 film Dr No that starred Sean Connery as agent James Bond.

The Swiss actress’s sex appeal was undeniable - all blonde hair, bronzed body and that belted white bikini - complete with knife holster - makes her the number one choice for Bond fans, according to department store Debenhams.

Best in show: Ursula Andress, Honey Ryder in the 1962 film Dr No, has been voted the number one Bond beach babe of all time

Berry nice: Halle Berry came second in the Bond beach bodies poll for her performance a Jinx Johnson in Die Another Day

It was the first ever James Bond movie made - and won Andress, who is now 76, a Golden Globe for her performance - and its award-winning aesthetic has more than stood the test of time.

Halle Berry, 45, who played Jinx Johnson in Die Another Day, followed by a surprise entry for 44-year-old Bond actor Daniel Craig - who is clearly considered an extremely popular 'Beach Babe' among women voters.

Debenhams, who carried out the survey, noted that the winning Bond girls had one thing in common - their curvy figures.

Debenhams spokeswoman Sasha Nagalingam said: 'The voluptuous look is still coveted by women - and enjoyed by men - all over the country.

'A fuller figure is still considered to be a mark of true beauty - and no one should be worried about showing it off to good effect on the beach this summer.'

Daniel Craig sent sales of 'budgie-smugglers' soaring when he stepped out of the sea in his GrigioPerla shorts in the 2006 Bond film Casino Royale

The department store says that demand for gel-filled, cleavage-boosting bikini tops have already increased by 132 per cent since last year - a sighat n twomen are looking for a curvier look on the beach this season.

Trends for men's swimwear have changed too - in large part thanks to the Bond effect.

After Daniel Craig stepped out of the sea in his short blue GrigioPerla trunks in the 2006 film Casino Royale (and set the female of the species' collective heart a-fluttering), sales of tight trunks soared, while sales of baggy surf shorts plummeted.

In response, Debenhams say this year they are stocking 24 per cent more retro-style slim fit trunks than they were last year.

But now, the influential actor is set to have the a similar effect - as he emerges from the ocean in the new Bond film Skyfall out in October wearing a different pair of baby blue shorts.

This time round Daniel Craig will be wearing a pair of Setter shorts by luxury British swimwear designer Orlebar Brown (www.orlebarbrown.co.uk).

The £125 swim shorts are already a firm favourite with celebrities including Hugh Jackman and Jamie Redknapp - and the looser style is likely to send swimwear sales on yet another tangent.

That, readers, is the power of the Bond beach babe.

BOND'S BEACH BABES: THE TOP 15

Surprise entry at number three: Daniel Craig in Casino Royale

Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) - Dr No

Jinx Johnson (Halle Berry) - Die Another Day

James Bond (Daniel Craig) - Casino Royale

Solange (Caterina Murano) - Casino Royale

Dominique Derval (Claudine Auger) -Thunderball

Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger) - Never Say Never Again

Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) - The Spy Who Loved Me

Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) - Goldfinger

Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) - The Man With The Golden Gun

Mary Goodnight (Britt Ekland) - The Man With The Golden Gun

Lupe Lamora (Talisa Soto) - Licence To Kill

Rosie Carver (Gloria Hendry) - Live And Let Die

Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) - Diamonds Are Forever

Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hamma) - You Only Live Twice

May day (Grace Jones) - A View To A Kill

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige and More at Jenesse Center’s Silver Rose Gala

Photos: Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige and More at Jenesse Center’s Silver Rose Gala - EURWEB .com

April 28, 2012

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Bryce Wilson (host), Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige

*The Jenesse Center’s annual Silver Rose Gala & Auction was held recently at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The event raised funds and saluted important community figures who advance Jenesse Center’s mission to protect families from the ravages of domestic violence.
Hosted by two-time Grammy award winning music producer Bryce Wilson, special celebrity participants for the Silver Rose Gala & Auction included Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Leon, Vanessa Williams, Jazz Smollett, Journee Smollett and more.
Photographer Steven Williams was also on the scene and we’ve got some of the snaps to took, above and below.

Halle Berry congratulates Mary after a standing ovation for singing 'No More Drama'

Silver Gala honoree Ingrid Roberts receives award from Mary J. Blige

Jazz Smollett, Vanessa Williams, Bryce Wilson, Robi Reed, Journee Smollett

See more of Steven Williams’ work at: www.StevesImage.com.

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

The A-list love it - but is 'anti-ageing drink' kombucha actually doing more harm than good?

By Victoria Wellman

Last updated at 6:11 PM on 28th February 2012

Celebrities will try just about anything to stay young and keep healthy even if it means drinking a fermented tea that tastes like sweet and sour vinegar.

Kombucha, a fermented beverage that has been hailed as the elixir of youth and a cure for all imaginable ailments, is a favourite among stars like Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Halle Berry.

But some nutrition experts and scientists warn that the full extent of the effects of the fizzy tea are still unknown and fans should be aware of the potential health risks before indulging too over-zealously in the drink.

Fad? Celebrities are often the leaders of health and beauty trends and Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Madonna (right) are powerful endorsements for kombucha

Cell-based studies and those conducted on animals have shown that kombucha helps protect the liver, combats yeast infections and fights the free-radicals that are associated with the ageing process.

Elixir: The fermented tea that has been used medicinally for centuries

With results like these, it's no small wonder that kombucha companies are doing so well. Celebrities, cancer patients, expectant mothers and people with digestion issues are just a handful of the groups of people to whom the lightly effervescent concoction appeals.

But these studies are inconclusive, warn experts, and the alleged benefits should not overshadow the potential health risks when it comes to human consumption.

Dietitian and author of The Plant-Powered Diet, Sharon Palmer, told the Daily Beast: 'It’s important to note the safety concerns of kombucha.There have been side effects reported - like stomach upsets, infections, and even deaths.'

The incident to which the dietician refers is most likely the 1995 death of a middle aged woman who suffered a heart attack after drinking home-made kombucha for two months.

Grocery and health food giant Whole Foods had its own concerns about the alcohol content in 2010 and promptly to took the product off its shelves only to restock it months later.

Actress Halle Berry is a fan of kombucha

Pros and cons: Reese Witherspoon (left) and Halle Berry (right) are fans of the fizzy tea that some experts worry may cause as yet unknown side effects

A mixture of acetic acid, malic acid, butyric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, and a minimal amount of alcohol, kombucha's provenance is something of a mystery.

What is known is that it partly takes its name from the Chinese word, 'cha' meaning tea and has been consumed as a remedial drink for centuries in both Asia and Eastern Europe.

Tangy: With roots in Asia and Eastern Europe is hailed by many to keep drinkers youthful and protected against yeast infections among other ailments

Friday, 16 December 2011

Halle Berry's New Year's Eve Body Makeover Workout

By Kristen Aldridge

There is little doubt that Halle Berry has one of the best bods in Hollywood. No matter what role she’s playing or what outfit she’s sporting, one thing’s for sure…it’s impossible not to notice her phenomenal figure (heck, she even makes scrubs look good in her new flick New Years Eve, in theatres now).
If the New Year has you adding a “lean, mean, sexy body of my dreams” to your list of resolutions, then Ramona Braganza just might be your answer.
The celebrity trainer, who also boasts celeb clients like Jessica Alba and Anne Hathaway, trained Berry for three years, five days a week. As a heavily sought-after nutritional and fitness expert, Braganza was responsible for keeping Berry’s bodacious body in tip-top shape both before and after her pregnancy with daughter Nahla.
“Halle is a sweet, caring, genuine person who loves to give her focused attention to whatever she is doing,” Braganza says. “She is hands on and not afraid to get dirty – we once hiked around a lake that required us to do some bouldering and she didn’t mind one bit!"
The first step towards building a Halle Berry body is nutrition and hydration, which according to Braganza, is 50 percent of the equation.
“Eat as frequently as you can so your blood sugar level will not drop,” Braganza advises. “This will keep you from over-eating later."
As for hydration, Braganza recommends VitaminWater Zero Squeezed. “It has the added benefit of eight key nutrients from vitamin a to zinc, and at zero calories per serving it keeps weight-loss goals on track,” she says. “The hydration factor will also keep your metabolism revved up.”
In addition to her expert nutrition advice, all of Braganza’s clients train with her 321 Training Method, a workout that combines intervals of cardio training with intervals of circuit strength and core work.
“Even if you only have a half hour, this workout will not only be a fat burning one, but it will also increase your lean muscle tissue,” Braganza says. “And building muscle allows your body to become more efficient at utilizing the extra calories that you may have stored over the holidays.”
That’s why we were thrilled when Braganza revealed Berry’s workout so we can officially check that “lean, mean, sexy body of our dreams” off our resolution list – like, pronto. Read on for more!

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Halle Berry, Tom Hanks & Hugh Grant star in Cloud Atlas (Dir. Tykwer/Wachowski) | Film News

December 10, 2011 by Cheyenne Davis

A a star-filled cast including Oscar winning actress Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Keith David and Jim Sturgess, have been enlisted by German director Tom Tyker [Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, The International] and The Wachowskis [best known for The Matrix] to work on new film Cloud Atlas, due to hit screens late next year.

Based on the British Book Awards Literary Fiction Award winning, Booker Prize nominated novel written by David Mitchell the film synopsis describes Cloud Atlas as, “An epic story of humankind in which the actions and consequences of our lives impact one another throughout the past, present and future as one soul is shaped from a murderer into a savior and a single act of kindness ripples out for centuries to inspire a revolution.”
The multi-storylined film has the actors playing multiple roles. “The biggest change for me as an actor is to have two different film units and two different film crews and to go between the two from one day to the next,” Halle Berry told NYTimes.

She described playing “a Jewish woman in the 1930s” for the third director, Tom Tykwer, then becoming “an old tribal woman” for the Wachowski siblings the next day, and losing track of fellow cast members amid the layers of makeup and costumes.
“Some days I go into the trailer, I’ll be having a conversation — I won’t even know it’s with Hugh Grant until five minutes in,” Ms. Berry said.

Not much has been revealed about whether or not the film will replicate the book in depth or what the film will look like. Having already created a screenplay on the novel, The Wachowskis will surely create a director’s twist to it.
“It looks phantasmagorical,” said Victor Loewy, a seasoned international film distributor who bid on the United Kingdom rights after watching a six-minute clip at the American Film Market in Santa Monica last month. “It’s so unlike anything I’ve seen in 40 years in this business.”
Cloud Atlas expected to hit cinemas in late 2012 will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Looks like a good one.