It's been months since Kate Winslet split with her husband, Jim Threapleton, but apparently she's still finding herself compelled to explain how amicable and mutual and third-party-free their separation is.
"In a marriage, you can reach a point where you realize it just isn't right anymore," the actress tells Glamour magazine, adding that she and her ex were particularly concerned for the well-being of their 16-month-old daughter, Mia. "If there is a chance that an atmosphere of bad feeling would alter Mia's personality and day-to-day life, it was time to call it a day."
And don't even think that her relationship with "American Beauty" director Sam Mendes had anything to do with it. That started "long after Jim and I split up," she says. "People want to believe that there was another reason [for the split]. But it was surprisingly amicable."
As for anyone out there who dares to suggest that perhaps Winslet may have sacrificed her family at the alter of her career, she says "that's crap."
She is all about changing diapers, and she's got the know-how to prove it. "Are you kidding? I could talk about consistency, the number of times each day, etcetera!" she says.
Please, don't.
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Lettuce all say, amen
"My biggest dream in the world is for everyone to become vegetarian, so there won't be any more suffering."
-- Alicia Silverstone on how the road to nirvana is paved with broccoli, in the Toronto Sun.
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Blondie wants to fluff you up
Call her ... the fluffer.
Debbie Harry's both proud of playing a part in the indie flick "The Fluffer," which makes much of certain key players in the porn industry, and embarrassed by it. (The film's tagline: "Love Is Hard.")
"A fluffer is a porno film term for the person who keeps the male's equipment at the ready between takes, so to speak," the singer/actress explained to celebrity researcher Baird Jones at the premiere for the film "Storytelling" the other night. "I don't remember when I first heard of a fluffer, but I've known the term for many years."
She realizes, however, that not everyone may be aware of the whole fluffer phenomenon.
"It was always just a film industry term. I'd hate to be the one responsible for bringing the word 'fluffer' into our linguistic mainstream," Harry says.
Why not? Maybe they'll erect a monument.
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Juicy bits
In what can only be called a coup for drape-headed actors everywhere, a production company called Five Mile River Films has bought the screen rights to "Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City," a biography of New York City's former mayor by Andrew Kirtzman. Actors including Robert Duvall and James Woods are said to be under consideration to take the lead role in the TV movie. According to the Associated Press, Five Mile River has backed such TV classics as "Abraham," "Moses," "David" and "Jesus." Maybe they'll call this one "God."
Promises, promises. Janet Jackson says she may give up on touring and devote herself to acting instead. "Touring is very grueling," she told Extra this week. "It's very taxing on the body and living out of your suitcase, going from city to city, night after night. It's a tough job." Sounds nasty.
It was only a matter of time ... Mariah Carey is getting paid millions to stop making records. Or, well, sort of. EMI Records has agreed to fork $28 million the "Glitter" gal's way in order to end the company's five-album deal with the troubled singer. Carey says taking the payout after just one album is the "right decision for me." Even if it wasn't her decision.
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