CELEBRITIES

Madonna has persuaded hot actress Abbie Cornish to be in her film, based on the Edward VIII Abdication crisis.

The movie, W.E., tells parallel tales about Wallis Simpson in the 1930s and a contemporary woman called Wally Winthrop, who has romantic problems of her own - in addition to the fact that she's obsessed with the Duchess of Windsor's life.

Abbie, who starred opposite Ben Whishaw in Jane Campion's film Bright Star, will play the part of Wally once negotiations have been finalised.Vera Farmiga will portray the Duchess (as revealed here first).

She spends millions on her stage shows, even putting herself in the red.

And it seems Lady Gaga has no plans on cutting back on her extravagant performances.

Last night on stage in Liverpool she unveiled yet another new outfit - a revealing sequinned purple leotard with matching glasses and her favoured fishnets.

The clash of dates prevented her from another extravagant outing at the NME awards where she won two more awards to add to her Brits.

Her outrageous performance style and out-there dress sense has transformed the music industry, influencing everyone from Lily Allen to Christina Aguilera.

So it should be no surprise that Elton John has jumped on the Lady Gaga bandwagon.

The veteran performer joined pop's hottest newcomer onstage at the Grammys last night.
And, although at 62 he could be forgiven for looking for taking the low-key route, Elton embraced Lady Gaga's performance style in an action packed duet.

Lady Gaga began the segment alone, performing her hit Poker Face astride a pedestal.

Posing in her bra and sexy hold-up stockings, it is easy to see why Rachel Weisz has been voted the woman that men would most like to marry.

The Oscar-winning actress, who is a mother of one, was snapped with tousled hair and skimpy outfits for Esquire magazine, whose readers voted in the poll.

The 39-year-old star of The Mummy and The Lovely Bones said she was flattered by the attention.She said: 'Oh my God!... To marry? That’s interesting. That’s so funny. I’m marriable. But I’m not married.

'I was getting worried that the men didn’t like me any more.'

The 23-year-old actress believes British attitudes to attractive, accomplished women need a serious overhaul.
According to her, we simply don't like pretty girls who do well.

'For some reason, if you're successful in Britain, people tend not to like you,' she declared.

'But if you are a successful woman, and beautiful, in Britain, you are even more disliked.'
Miss Arterton, who made her name as agent Strawberry Fields in the James Bond film Quantum Of Solace, has strong opinions on the way young actresses are regarded in Britain.