Extra claims she was rejected for Hobbit role for looking 'too brown'

British woman of Pakistani origin allegedly refused part in Lord of the Rings prequel for not being light-skinned enough

A British woman of Pakistani origin was allegedly turned away from auditions for Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit in New Zealand on the foundation that she was not white enough.

Naz Humphreys, who is 5ft tall, had travelled to Hamilton from Auckland last Tuesday in the hope of securing an additional role on Peter Jackson's forthcoming two-part adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic fantasy tale. However, according to the Waikato Times, she was told after a three-hour wait that her skin tone made it improbable she would be cast.

It's 2010 and I still can't believe I'm being discriminated next to because I have brown skin, Ms Humphreys told the Waikato Times. The casting manager essentially said they weren't having anybody who wasn't pale-skinned.

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Waltzing Matilda: Dahl's classic dances on to the stage

The RSC join forces with the Australian stand-up Tim Minchin for the first still staging of Roald Dahl's Matilda

It’s the first time you’ve complete this, so walk, don’t try to run,’ the director Matthew Warchus says before sitting back in his chair, tense and ready to watch a practice of the first act of Matilda, a Musical.

This spanking-new show – the newest homage to Roald Dahl – has been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and today, five weeks into the practice period, is its first run-through. 'It’s as though five tailors have been working in five dissimilar rooms and finally the suit they are making is being put jointly, says the actor Paul Kaye, who plays Matilda’s father, Mr. Wormwood.

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Middleburg Heights "Biggest Loser" transforms his life, runs Turkey Trot

On Wednesday, Jerry Skeabeck of Middleburg Heights was featured on NBC’s Where Are They currently, an update on previous contestants from The Biggest Loser reality demonstrate.

This morning, the Highland Hills policeman, 54, will line up beside his daughter Colleen, 25, of North Ridgeville to run the Turkey Trot, a five-mile race through downtown Cleveland. It will be their third time to run the contest.

I’m not a runner, but I have to run to keep the heart fit, he said.

Running was not something he could have done earlier than the pair— both alumni of Midpark High School— were chosen out of 255,000 populace vying for 16 spots on Biggest Loser season six, which featured families. He had never watched the demonstrate before Colleen called from a Detroit try-out to ask if he would link her on the weight-loss quest.

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Me want 'SNL'! Cookie Monster auditions

Cookie Monster has made an audition tape to convince "SNL" that he can host the demonstrate. Sesame Street posted the video Wednesday on YouTube and Facebook.

Introducing the tape, Cookie Monster says he wants to branch out beyond me cookie-eating career. The four-minute video follows with Cookie Monster doing a run-through of an incident of Saturday Night Live.

He performs a concise opening monologue, a MacGruber-like sketch dubbed Macarooner, a few Weekend Update jokes and a musical guest manifestation as Monster Gaga.

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Sarah Palin’s Confusing, Hostile Yet Beneficial Relationship With Reality Television

The reality TV gods have been very sort to Sarah Palin. Her own show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska is a demonstrable hit, breaking ratings records for the usually stolid network TLC. Additionally, the former Governor’s own daughter Bristol Palin is a finalist on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, affording Mama Palin copiousness of invaluable network TV appearances in which the presidential hopeful comes off as a helpful and relatable mother. It seems odd, then, that leaked excerpts of Palins’ latest book are very serious of reality television (specifically American Idol), essentially refudiating the very genre from which she benefits so greatly.

Unless you’ve been living on an Arctic ice floe, you are well conscious of Sarah Palin’s evolving relationship with the mainstream media, and her possess mega-budget, Mark Burnett-produced reality show. Many media critics have openly recommended that the reality show is nothing more than an expensive political campaign ad designed to demonstrate how normal Ms. Palin’s life is, but with exciting family adventures, each coincidentally proving the inborn strength and decisiveness of the former Alaska Governor.

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Paula Abdul - Abdul Launches Casting Website

Singer-turned-reality TV star PAULA ABDUL has launched a fresh website to help up-and-coming stars get discovered in Hollywood.

The Opposites Attract hit maker started up Audition Booth on Monday (22Nov10) in the hope of linking wannabes with casting directors, producers and managers.

Abdul, who helped launch the careers of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood as a former judge on American Idol, has even started her individual blog on the site which features advice and videos on how to succeed at auditions.

Hollywood Walk of Fame star for Christina Aguilera

It's no Mickey Mouse thing. Christina Aguilera has a celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

With some 1,000 fans jamming a Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk to watch, Aguilera gushed with enjoyment Monday as the star was unveiled in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Oh my goodness! How amazing it is to see all of your wonderful faces. This is a huge staple in my life. Thank you all from the bottom of my spirit, said the 29-year-old pop diva, who was dressed in a white halter dress and leopard Loubatin heels.

Aguilera was just a child when she broke into show business almost 20 years ago as a member of The New Mickey Mouse Club, a show that also counted Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake as cast members.

Katy Perry admits that producers insist on X Factor joke acts!

Katy Perry has admitted some ‘X Factor’ contestants are selected for people to laugh at.

The ‘Firework’ singer – who was a guest judge during the audition stages of this year’s competition – insists the panelists would rather just see high-quality singers who have a serious chance of winning the show.

Asked if she thought it was mean when awful contestants are deliberately put through, she said: Yeah. They did that when I was there and it wasn’t us who did it. It was the behind-the-scenes citizens.

All of us were sitting there like; Can we persist with the real show please? We were all looking for talent so that’s obviously kind of a prank.
The brunette beauty also hinted she expects conjecture that she will join the panel of the US version of ‘X Factor’ to become a reality.

Busy Kelly brook has no time to get into relationship

Actress Kelly Brook has no time for affairs as she is preparing for an audition for a top-secret play.

The model, who parted ways with the former England fly-half Danny Cipriani in the summer, has decided to put her career prior to her love life.

I’m still single and not actually looking at the moment as I’m so busy with work, the Telegraph quoted her as saying.

The model, who co-hosted the sight Wearer Of The Year ceremony at the Victoria and Albert musuem, will spend Christmas with her mother.

I’m going home to Kent and look forward to spending time with my family and friends.
I’m also reading for a top-secret play in a little day’s time. It’s going to be an all-women show, but I can’t say more than that or I’ll obtain told off, she said.

Jennifer Lopez Does Not Want Her Songs On Idol

The singer-and-actress ' who joined Randy Jackson on the judging panel along with Aerosmith star Steven Tyler earlier this year ' found it amusing when people at the recent Los Angeles auditions perform their versions of her hits, but has advised hopefuls on the star-search show to try a dissimilar approach.



She said: It was pretty, super entertaining and flattering, but no.
I think everybody tried to be as honest as they can without breaking anyone's spirits. They know we're not out to cut them down or make a joke of them. We're trying to mentor them to the subsequently step.

However while some hopefuls have failed to impress, Jennifer admitted she is excited about the talent so far this season even though the lengthy audition progression is taking its toll.



She said: 'We've put a bunch of people through - possibly more than they have in the past.
We have about 15-20 actual superstars, people who could be recording artists.


Decadent decade of '20s challenges students

Behind the glitter and glamour of the Roaring '20s lurk a seamier side of American society.

A student production at Otterbein University in Westerville will examine the sour notes of the Jazz Age with The Wild festivity, opening tonight in the Campus Center Theatre.

With an orgy, a rape and a slaughter, The Wild Party goes several steps beyond most other Otterbein productions in challenging theatergoers.
The provocative piece - suggested for grown-up audiences because of its language, violence and sexuality - revolves around Prohibition-era conflict and revels at a party in New York.

Belgian actress savors Eastwood's unusual style

LOS ANGELES (Back Stage) - Clint Eastwood's "Hereafter" marks a shift into uncharted territory for the director.

Departing from his usual thrillers, crime dramas, and small-scale human-interest stories, this rambling latest film spans three countries in telling the tales of troubled American factory worker and psychic George Lonegan (Matt Damon); grieving London youngster Marcus (Frankie McLaren), whose twin brother is killed in a car mishap; and high-profile Parisian reporter Marie LeLay (Cecile de France), who starts to question the possibility of an afterlife following she is almost killed in a tsunami. Though the three are worlds not together, their search to understand what happens after death brings them together.