Chloe Sevigny has been controversial for years, but really for only one reason: her sex scene with writer/director Vincent Gallo in the film Brown Bunny. But despite the buzz surrounding the Big Love actress, she’s maintained a successful career in both television and film. She recently sat down with Playboy Magazine for an interview to be featured in their January issue.

On her sex scene in Brown Bunny:

“What’s happened with that is all very complicated. There are a lot of emotions. I’ll probably have to go to therapy at some point. But I love Vincent. The film is tragic and beautiful, and I’m proud of it and my performance. I’m sad that people think one way of the movie, but what can you do? I’ve done many explicit sex scenes, but I’m not that interested in doing any more. I’m more self-aware now and wouldn’t be able to be as free, so why even do it?”

On doing nude scenes on her show Big Love:

“The first season, my character was aggressive in bed, but that changed by the second and third seasons, and there was no sex on season four. I don’t know why, and I was confused by that. This season, aside from some stuff with the teen characters, sex is still on the back burner. And although I have done nudity on the show, the other girls won’t do topless. I don’t want to be the show’s Samantha, like on Sex and the City—the only woman who’ll do nudity. So I refused to do any more and there was a lot of back-and-forth about it.”

On her ideal place to make love:

“Nature is the best aphrodisiac. I get turned on in the woods or on the shore, like at a beach house, or where you’re isolated. Risky situations don’t excite me at all, though. I feel inhibited. It’s harder for me to get excited and let go if I’m afraid of someone hearing me or if there’s a roommate nearby.”

On the sexual propositions she received after Boys Don’t Cry and If These Walls Could Talk 2:

“By the time of Boys Don’t Cry I had already spoken in interviews about my sexual experimenting as a young person. It sure seems that I have a pretty strong lesbian fan base because when I’m out, everybody responds to those films. I get letters. Last year I got a weird note on my car: “If you’re bored, me too. Let’s meet. Your new neighbor,” signed with the person’s initials. It’s kind of creepy. Does this person see me in my rented backyard, smoking and lonely?”

She is one strange chick. But I’m crazy about Big Love!

[image: Huffington Post]

Hot new redhead Rihanna is gracing the cover of the British GQ this January!

In her interview, Rihanna was really raw and open about her relationship with Chris Brown, and the night that changed everything.

Regarding the domestic violence, Rihanna says:

“I witnessed it happening to my mum and I said I would never let that happen to me – and then it was happening. Now, when I look back, it bugs me out that I couldn’t see it for what it was.”

But, she adds, leaving Chris Brown and not looking back was the best thing she could have done for herself:

“Sometimes when you’re on the inside of a relationship like that, you can’t see it clearly for what it is. I left – it was the best feeling. It was so freeing.”

Chris Brown faced 5 years of probation as well as community service for what he did, but Rihanna has the memories forever — which she says has actually made her stronger:

“Before that, I was just a little girl from the island, singing pop music. It was easy to think I didn’t have a problem in the world. Then all of a sudden, boom! Everybody realises that I do have problems.”

“It made me strong. It’s a moment in my life I wish would disappear. In my head, it’s gone.”

Grab the January issue of the British GQ and check out the whole interview with Rihanna. We’re proud of her, it’s been a big year and she has shown (with 4 huge singles) that there is life after bad relationships. You go girl!

Ke$ha recently teamed up with the It Gets Better campaign to fight bullying, and in a new interview with NY Mag she shared that she, too, has haters.

“Oh absolutely. I have haters. I have so many haters. People assume because you’re in the public eye that we don’t notice or we don’t care about it, but I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of hate.”

“And that’s what doing the It Gets Better Campaign is about, because there will always be haters, there will always be cynical people, and there will always be jealousy. It’s really just learning to ignore the haters and giving them the finger and doing what you know is right for you. That’s what I’ve had to learn how to do, and that’s what hopefully any kids getting bullied would know how to do.”

Even though she has stepped up as a role model in this aspect, Ke$ha says she doesn’t want kids to wake up and brush their teeth with Jack Daniels:

“It wasn’t an instruction manual for 8-year-old little girls to do.”

And what about the ever-so-trendy dollar sign meant to play an S in the middle of her name? Ke$ha says she doesn’t plan to drop it any time soon:

“I don’t know. It’s ironic. Some people have gotten the irony, some people it’s been lost on. It is definitely obnoxious. But I think part of the job of a pop star is to be a little bit obnoxious, so I think I’m doing my job well.”

Read the rest of Ke$ha’s interview with NY Mag here.

Ke$ha is scheduled to perform at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on November 21st.

[images: Adriana M. Barazza/wenn.com]

Liza Minnelli, winner of the four most prestigious awards in show business: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony, recently opened up to PopEater about everything from Lady Gaga to her new album.

On her recent knee surgery:

“I’m running around like a wild woman! You know it’s quite traumatic, having a full knee replacement. But I’m back in dance class every day, plus I go to the trainer. The strength is getting really great, and I’m touring all over the place. My god I’m everywhere!”

On who she likes in contemporary pop music:

“I love Lady Gaga! I haven’t had a chance to see her live yet, but I like that she goes for it. I like somebody who says ‘wait a minute, watch this’ Ha! And that’s what she does.”

Liza’s 11th album, titled “Confessions”, features her favorite songs, many of them covers. She’s even covering Etta James “At Last,” which we all know Etta will have something to say about. Remember her drama with Beyonce over singing the song at President Obama‘s inauguration? Well, Liza isn’t worried about what Etta has to say:

“No! Ha! And she can’t [claim to own the song]. I just have to say, who says? I liked the Beyonce version very much too–that’s the trouble, there’s so many wonderful versions of this song. What I thought of, is this is not a lonesome, wailing song, this is a ‘thank god.’ So I put a smile in the song, and that’s the difference.”

There’s no one I love more than Liza Minnelli. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure the only reason I saw Sex and the City 2 was because I knew she would be in there, bustin’ a move. What would really make me a happy person: a Lady Gaga & Liza duet! Get on it, people.

Click HERE to read the rest of the interview. It’s a gem, really.

[image: WENN]

Let’s have a collective sigh of relief, ladies!

Despite gay roles he takes on as an actor, James Franco puts rumors about his sexuality to rest in a new interview.

James told Advocate magazine:

“Everyone thinks I’m a stoner, and some people think I’m gay because I’ve played these gay roles,”

“That’s what people think, but it’s not true. I don’t smoke pot. I’m not gay. But on another level, there’s something in me that is able to play roles like that in a way that’s convincing.”

It’s weird how acting works, isn’t it? Like it’s his job to pretend he’s something that he’s not, or something…

In addition to a Saturday Night Live skit where he locks lips with Will Forte (who has since left SNL), James played Harvey Milk‘s lover in the 2008 film Milk, and will play gay again in his new movie, Howl, which opens September 24th.

But why does James– who has been with girlfriend Ahna O’Reilly for five years– take on so many gay roles?

“In this history of cinema, there are so many heterosexual love stories,”

“It’s so hammered, so done. It’s just not that interesting to me. It’s more interesting to me to play roles and relationships that haven’t been portrayed as often.”

A great point, really, and a great way to keep things progressive. Can’t blame him for that!

[image: WENN]

Michael Douglas, 65, who was just diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer, sat down earlier this month to discuss his career and family life with Men’s Journal. During the interview, the actor expressed his regret in choosing his career over fatherhood. Earlier this year, his son, Cameron, 31, was sentenced to five years in prison for dealing meth.

Michael Douglas’ Son Cameron Sentenced To 5 Years In Jail (VIDEO)

On his 93-year-old father, Kirk:

“He was a rager early on. He was overworked. He was doing five-plus pictures a year. I just sort of stayed out of his way, but he did the best he could.”

On repeating Kirk’s mistakes as a young father:

“My career was really just getting started and that was my focus, maybe more than it should have been. I was gone more than I should have been.”

On Cameron’s prison sentence:

“I just want to talk to him about what he’s going to accomplish there besides working out and playing on the softball team. What tools is he going to be able to work on?”

Michael Douglas Diagnosed With Throat Cancer

I commend Michael for being honest about his mistakes. He’s recently completed eight weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and is expected to make a full recovery.

[image: NY Daily News]

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Michael Douglas opens up about his battle with throat cancer and how his family is coping.

Michael has been married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones for almost a decade; the couple has two kids– Dylan, 10, and Carys, 7.

Michael is optimistic and says he will defeat the cancer.

“I’ll beat this.”

Michael is scheduled to undergo radiation and chemotherapy for the tumor.

We’ll keep you posted as more is released from the PEOPLE interview, but it’s good to hear that they’re coping in a positive way.

Best wishes to Michael and family!

And congratulations on the new film, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, which opens Sept. 24th.

May he have a swift and full recovery.

[image: WENN]

Big Day debuts November 28th on ABC at 9 PM EST/PT. I had the chance to talk with actress Stephnie Weir who stars as the wedding planner on Big Day.  The comedy also stars Marlo Sokoloff, Josh Cooke, and Wendie Malick.

You grew up in Odessa, Texas which is a huge high school football town. What was that like? Were you a cheerleader in high school?
Pretty normal. I couldn’t live there now. Not as much culture to offer beyond football.  Yes, I was a Broncette, Odessa High Broncos. The Broncette’s are sort of a poor man’s cheerleader. You have to have money to get the uniform.  We baked cookies and stuff to put in the football player’s lockers.

In college you majored in Women’s studies. What exactly is that?
Minored in it. It opened your mind. Feminist literature. Female gothic literature. Lots of feminist classes.

What was the best part of working on MadTv?
People, the writers. A really fun group of people. Everybody is always ready to create the best scene.

And what was the worst part?
Recurring characters can be tough to write for and create fresh for the viewer.

How long have you been married?
5 1/2 years.

Was there a disaster story from your wedding day?
We had a 9am morning wedding. Then a pancake breakfast. We rented out a hall with a jazz band. We had some big drinkers in the family. No one can get that drunk before noon. So we did that purpose. My husband and I got married in Chicago at the Botanical Gardens in 2001.

Describe your character on Big Day?
Her name is Norma. She is a wedding planner.  She is very timid and shy. Not what you would envision a wedding planner to be. A lovable loser.

What movies are comparable to Big Day?
Wedding Crashers. For sure a comedy.

Will the entire season of Big Day be events happening on the same day?
Not as strict to the time code on 24. You are with the characters the entire day. We wear the same clothes for the entire day.

Why should everyone watch Big Day?
Its a very relatable show. It is very funny. Everyone loves a good show. As a cast we got along so well and had a good time. A lot of the characters are likable. 

10 Items or Less Q&A with John Lehr

I had the chance to interview John Lehr (above center with sweater vest) today about his upcoming TV sitcom on TBS called 10 Items or Less.  John is a co-creator, executive producer and actor on the show.  Chris Payne Gilbert, Robert Clindenin, and Roberta Valderrama co-star with Lehr.  10 Items or Less premieres November 27th at 11pm EST on TBS.

Did you research grocery stores for 10 Items or Less?
No, I wanted to do a work place comedy. We wanted a place that was wide open with lots of nooks and crannies and that would be evenly lit.

Is 10 Items or Less shot in a real grocery store? If so, what is that like?
Yes. Pretty great, it keeps everyone’s ego in check. You see people who are really working. So it is hard to be a prima donna in that atmosphere.

Any unusual experiences?
There was a holdup on the other side of the store. We were unaware. We were so caught up in our own trip. You know a TV show being its own world.  I asked the security guard later if he was ‘scared,’ and he said it happens all the time.  He said everybody steals. He had a totally negative take on humanity.  It’s not who you think would be stealing either. Older couples walking out with Ben Gay stuck in their pocket because they don’t want to pay the five bucks for it.

Is the Greens and Grains similar to a Trader Joes or Whole Foods?
It’s a straight up grocery store. More like an IGA. The show takes place in Dayton, Ohio. We really want to get into Midwestern element without making fun of it. It is a funny show because of the dialogue, not because it takes place in the Midwest. However, it does provide some great circumstances for humor to take place.

You created and star in 10 Items or Less. Do you prefer producing or acting?
I love them both. The reason I went into producing was because no one would do my show, so I just did it myself. I like both because they sort of feed on themselves. It takes me out of the insecure acting side. The acting side keeps me from trying to be too perfect and over managing.  Timewise it is exhausting doing both.

What is the most challenging part of producing?
Being a leader is the most challenging part. Being the boss, being in charge of such a large group of people. Our staff is 150 people. It is hard trying to put people In a position to do their best without being a dick. I try to create a friendly environment.

As an actor is it tougher for you improvising or with a script?
Script. Improv comes very natural to me. My default is to improvise.  I go into an improvising mode and that can be a headache for writers.

How much of 10 Items or Less is improvised?
All the show is improvised. We write it similar to Spinal Tap. We write a very detailed script that deals with story but we never show it to the actors. They show up on set and let it fly. If we do it right the script will naturally happen. Funny happens from spontaneity. We are looking for crazy, zany stuff that only comes out of improv.

Is the concept of working in a grocery store similar to being back in high school, where everyone knows everyone’s business and rumors abound?
Exactly! Everyone has dreams outside the job.  People are working but that is not their dream job or where they see themselves being happy.  All the stuff going on around the job is the interesting stuff. Who is sleeping with who, what is the latest gossip, who is mad at who this week….

Why should everyone watch 10 Items or Less?
Because it is funny and the improv is all well and good. We think the show can be funnier because of the improvising. It is funny in a way that is different. It follows the characters and has a good story to it. The characters have a good story. They feel like people you went to high school with or use to make fun of.

Check out the 10 Items or Less MySpace page
Check out the show’s webpage