Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman are in Berlin promoting their upcoming film “The Other Boleyn Girl,” a trashy re-interpretation of the court of Henry VIII. Scarlett and Natalie play sisters Mary and Anne Boleyn, who connive and deceive in order to win the heart of the fat king. I read the book for a book club and although it was probably only mildly historically accurate it was a rolicking good read. There were parts where I felt guilty for reading it because it was so trashy, but that doesn’t seem to deter me from devouring the gossip rags every week.

Johansson compared the gossip magazines to the sex and debauchery that were going on in Henry VII’s court and said that she tries to keep her life separate from the “circus” that goes along with being famous:

She told a packed press conference after the premiere of “The Other Boleyn Girl” at the Berlin Film Festival that being hounded by paparazzi and having her personal life splashed across celebrity magazines was a high price to pay to make films.

“That’s very scary to me and invasive and gross. But that kind of intrigue and frenzy, I guess, could be related to the court in some way — and the rumours and the gossip and this frenetic, frantic energy that goes into the celebrity culture,” she said.

“But would I ever leave because I couldn’t take it? I would hope that I would never allow that to affect my professional life. I try not to live in the court, so to speak, and try to separate my private life from this circus.”

[From News.Yahoo.com]

Natalie Portman talked about the film in more intellectual terms saying that “Human emotion doesn’t change and I think that’s one of the hard things for us to imagine is how history might have been sexy and gossipy and scandalous.”

It’s not so hard to imagine history becoming scandalous. That was a trashy romantic gossip novel disguised as historical fiction. I mean, it wasn’t even a mid-brow read.

Eric Bana, who also stars in the film, says that everyone got along on set when he was asked about it, and that “I hate to break it to you but actors generally do really love each other.”

Scarlet Johansson said that “you can’t be selfish as an actor,” and that you’re not working alone.

It’s a bit ironic that these women are playing in a film that sensationalizes history, but are complaining about how we do that now. It probably was incredibly contentious in Henry VII’s court considering how many wives he went through and had beheaded, but you also can’t deny that there’s a lot of intrigue and things going on now in Hollywood to gossip about.

Johansson knows that if she wants to keep her private life to herself she needs to stay out of the hot spots and she seems to do a pretty good job at that. In that way, she’s staying away from “the court,” where a lot of people get gawked at and talked about.

Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Natalie Portman, and Justin Chadwick are shown in a photo call today for “The Other Boleyn Girl,” thanks to WENN. I really like Natalie Portman’s hair. It has grown out to be very soft and natural-looking.

Ryan Reynolds might be known for, actually I have no idea what he is known for. Except dating Alanis Morissette, and now Scarlett Johansson, and being really cute. Really cute. He’s also out promoting a new romantic comedy, and is keen to share his romantic credentials.

Ryan said: “It was a few years ago, but I once flew all the way to London to have lunch with this girl I was dating.

“She lived in the UK and I was in the US obviously. We had just started dating and didn’t really get to see as much of each other as we would have like to because of the distance and work. So I just jumped on a plane to be with her.”

Despite his splashing out on the grand romantic gesture, Ryan refused to pick up the tab for lunch.

He added to Britain’s Heart radio station: “I had to leave the very same day so it was pretty romantic but expensive. I made her buy the sandwich though!”

Sydney Morning Herald

Aw, this is just like in the movies. Which makes me suspect that it might actually just be a clever ploy to get us thinking all lovely and romantic and in the mood to see his latest flick Definitely Maybe. Is this cynical of me? Should we just accept that Ryan Reynolds is an incurable romantic, good, kind and strong, and this is just the kind of thing he’d do? Or should we declare it a shrewd marketing ploy, like how Hollywood is forever creating fictional relationships that ours in reality can’t match?

Ryan indirectly explained how he became such a sensitive guy. He was the youngest of four brothers and empathized with his mother’s plight at dealing with a house full of testosterone:

It didn’t help that Reynolds grew up as the youngest in a family where his father and two of his three brothers are very tall policemen. Maybe they could help out if he ever gets into trouble?

“I doubt that. If I ever get into trouble I’m f—ed. Those guys will see to it. I think their dream is to arrest me. They’re my brothers – it’s their job to some degree to make my life hell. I would never give them that satisfaction.”

How did he live with all that testosterone and turn out to be such a sensitive guy? “I have no idea. I think it was having empathy for my mother, who was dealing with these five horrific ogres in our house all the time. Having that empathy for her has fostered a sensitivity in me.”

Sydney Morning Herald

Under that romantic exterior he’s got some testosterone in his system, and he probably picked up some of his brother’s naughty tricks. And like every good tough guy, he won’t stand a word against his mother.

Ryan must be doing something right. He’s going home at night to Scarlett Johansson.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Here are stills from Definitely, Maybe thanks to Allmoviephoto. Ryan’s costars Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin are also shown. Definitely Maybe is out in US theaters on February 14. Here’s the trailer, it looks cute:

Since celebrities are so notoriously publicity shy, you really can’t blame them for hiding out and refusing to talk about their personal lives. What? They need publicity to have good careers? Holy crap you must be joking. Okay I’m kidding, I get that there’s a delicate balance between privacy and publicity, and Scarlett Johansson seems to know just how to balance the two. Rumors were floating all over the internet this past week that Johansson and boyfriend Ryan Reynolds were engaged. The two have been pretty private about their relationship – it’s nearly impossible to find a photo of them together. So we’re really not expecting any kind of confirmation until someone at the Enquirer gets a hold of their marriage license or something. In a sense it keeps things private for the couple, and in another way it increases the buzz. Crafty. Yesterday Johansson confirmed that she was in fact engaged. To Barack Obama.

Scarlett Johansson returned from the Persian Gulf with a whole lot of soldiers’ trinkets and a delusion of her own engagement — to Barack Obama.

“I am engaged … to Barack Obama,” Johansson joked in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “My heart belongs to Barack, and that is who I am currently, finally, engaged to. Yes.”

Johansson, who showed her support for the Democratic presidential candidate at the Iowa caucus earlier this month, was really just deflecting a question about rumors she might be engaged (to actor-beau Ryan Reynolds).

[From the Associated Press]

Johansson was giving interviews after returning from visiting troops in the Persian Gulf last week. Apparently she had a blast. It always makes me a little curious when celebrities visit the troops and talk about how much fun they had. It’s nice that they go, I just find it a little … unusual to talk about how you brightened their day.

“Everybody that I met there was so incredibly friendly and polite and genuine and generous,” she said. “They were so, so sweet. I mean, I was just amazed.”

Johansson said some people ripped patches off their jackets as gifts and handed her challenge coins from their military units. One Marine offered up his St. Christopher medal. Another starstruck guy gushed: “You made my whole deployment!”

[From the Associated Press]

It’s good that she took some time to do that. In other Scarlett Johansson news, she’s releasing her first CD on May 20th. Titled “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” she’s been working on it for the last year. Actors traditionally have a hard time being accepted as singers, though the reverse isn’t true. I can’t think of any that have made the transition successfully. Hmm… Eddie Murphy… Scott Baio… Danny Bonaduce… Tony Danza… Peter Gallagher… Jared Leto… Lindsay Lohan… Alyssa Milano… hmm, this isn’t looking good for Scarlett. And I’m not under the impression that any of these actors got a lot of credit for at least trying. The only success I can think of would be Jamie Foxx – he was an actor first and then put out an album. Though to be fair, his first attempt, 1994’s “Peep This” wasn’t exactly a commercial success. Hopefully Scarlett Johansson stays away from hip hop tune about TV shows.

While we’ve had nearly a million celebrity pregnancies lately, it’s been a while since we’ve had an engagement. Babies are so hot right now. According to Ben Widdicombe at Gatecrasher, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are set to announce their engagement any day now. Of course their reps deny it, but I think we’ve learned that reps are paid not to give information or to accurately confirm or deny rumors, but to refute absolutely everything that comes their way. You could probably call Scarlett Johansson’s rep and ask if it’s true that Scarlett does indeed have a nose, and he’d say absolutely not, and tell you to go to hell. If you asked Ryan Reynolds’ rep if he is in fact taller than your average shrub, he’d probably tell you that’s completely ridiculous and/or that he has no comment. So I guess we’re left to assume everything is true.

Isn’t it enough that they’re gorgeous and rich and successful – do they have to be happy, too? Her rep is denying it, but a very good source tells me we can soon expect an engagement announcement from actors Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson. Mazel tov, kids!

The couple have been an item for almost a year. Reynolds ended his engagement to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette last February, and by April he was spotted on a date with Johansson at the Odeon in Tribeca, looking very much in love.

Johansson herself had a high-profile relationship with actor Josh Hartnett. By coincidence, a friend of that ex-couple told me last week, “Josh has the funniest picture of Scarlett on his phone. They’re at home having dinner and she’s brandishing a carving knife over a chicken like a slasher, and making a face.”

[From Gatecrasher]

So, what did we learn here? Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are probably getting married, and Scarlett has chicken issues. Probably shouldn’t serve any at the reception. Somehow it seems like the pair have been dating for longer than a year. They’re very cute together. I remember hearing one of the reasons Scarlett’s relationship with Josh Hartnett didn’t work is that she doesn’t believe in monogamy, which could make for an interesting marriage. Probably a pretty non-traditional one, filled with lots of drama, and (hopefully) lots of gossip. If they are indeed engaged, Ryan and Scarlett will have unnaturally beautiful children. Although it’s not officially rep-approved, I’m going to take a leap and go ahead and say congrats to them both!

Picture note by Jaybird: It’s notoriously difficult to find a picture of Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds together. Not sure how that bodes for their relationship. Scarlett is shown on the set of Midnight in Barcelona on 7/9/07. Ryan Reynolds is shown at the Smoking Aces premiere on 1/18/07. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Dolly Parton is one crazy cookie. I remember her in her days when “9 to 5” was hot. She was also in a Christmas special I loved to watch. But she is sporting more plastic than Barbie and going on tirades about hookers and her open marriage. Now she wants to package all that crazy-making into a biopic.

“Dolly wants the very best people in town to work on the project and is naturally very excited. And we hear the blonde legend wants American beauty Scarlett Johansson to play her.”

[Daily Star]

Good choice by Dolly. If Scarlett stuffed a couple of bowling balls into her bra she would be on the money. Parton’s most notable assets have been her best weapons since, I am guessing, birth. After she passes into the great big plantation in the sky she joked that her chest would live on.

“I can just see two big mountains growing up out of my grave, and people going around on mule rides to look at them. Throughout my whole career, I’ve been known for two things – I’m talking about my music and my lyrics!”

Parton is also trying to sell her idea to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. She is desperate to have the TomKat team produce the biopic. She feels that Tom, Katie and Scarjo would be the best-of-the-best to bring her film to life.

My guess is that the hard-core Dolly fans out there will make a yearly pilgrimage to see the temple erected in her honor. Perhaps they could take those donkey rides to the top and find inner piece or a buffet of grits and a shrine made of acrylic fingernails dedicated to her memory.

Note by Celebitchy: I doubt this story is true, but with Dolly talking so much smack lately you never know. I was thinking they already have a sort-of shrine to Dolly Parton. There’s an amusement park in Tennessee called Dollywood, and checking out the website I can say that I would go there with my family if I had any other reason to be be in Tennessee. It looks like it pays homage to Tennessee’s past along with having modern rides and family shows. Have any of you ever been there and was it fun?

Scarlett Johansson is shown on 5/3/2007 at a Louis Vuitton party for Oxfam. Dolly Parton is shown on 6/7/07 at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony. Thanks to PRPhotos.

Update: I am using a Vodaphone connection temporarily, one of those mobile connections that you plug into a USB port, as I just moved and don’t have Internet at home yet. It does this weird thing where it doesn’t download the entire image data, and just shows fuzzy images. I thought it was just happening on my computer and that you guys would see clearer images, but it’s also affecting the images I download from PRPhotos. I found a workaround for newer posts than this, but I just wanted to let you know that there are fuzzy images on this post and on other posts with pictures from PRPhotos for the last week or so, and that I didn’t figure out what was happening until now.

Scarlett Johansson was recently featured in US magazine in one of those articles where they take a before and after picture and speculate on what you’ve had done to your face. Which is always fun in the case of say, Michael Jackson, but less interesting when it’s just a picture of Scarlett’s nose from different angles.

However, it is unusual for someone to feel so strongly about their plastic surgery (or lack of it) that they get the lawyers involved. Remember when Victoria Beckham denied her boob job, before having to admit in court that she had in fact had one? Why don’t people admit they’ve have surgery? If you’re improving your appearance, you want people to notice don’t you? If they don’t notice isn’t it a waste of money?

The statement from Scarlett’s rep and from Scarlett herself is one of the most strongly worded denials I’ve ever heard.

“US Weekly’s cover story regarding Scarlett Johansson and its clear implication that she has had plastic or cosmetic surgery on her nose is an outrageous and defamatory fabrication lacking any conceivable basis or proof, despite vehement denials by Ms. Johansson prior to publication,” reads a statement from her rep, exclusively to OK!. “Not surprisingly, US magazine cannot provide the dates when she supposedly had this surgery, who performed the surgery, or what was supposedly done — all because there simply is no truth to the story. The publication made a pathetic attempt to validate its story by using two cover photos of Scarlett that were taken years apart with obviously different make-up and lighting, and then relying on an “expert’s opinion” (based solely on looking at the two photos) on what “might” have been done. It wasn’t.”

And Scarlett herself has this to say to OK!:

“I have always been straightforward with the press regarding my body image and I am very concerned that my fans (and perhaps even my employers) will feel mislead. Thus, I feel compelled to take immediate legal action against US Weekly.”

OK! Magazine

Did you get that? Scarlett has absolutely not had a nose job. Ever. And she’ll get sue happy with you if you even suggest it.

Interestingly, the statement only addresses a possible nose job, it doesn’t deny that Scarlett has ever had plastic surgery. I wouldn’t dare suggest that it is because she has had any, because I’ll be sued, but it’s probably because US magazine could prove that a chemical peel, or hair colour, or fake nails is in fact cosmetic surgery. When really it’s just what we all do – they’re called beauty secrets for a reason! We all need a little helping hand to enhance our natural assets.

Note by Celebitchy: I looked at a lot of pictures of Scarlett and I don’t think she had a nose job. If she did it’s incredibly subtle. She is shown below on in March, 2003 and in May and October of this year. Her nose looks slimmer from above, but that’s how it has looked for years.

Josh Hartnett gave an interview to InTouch Magazine, in which he seems to suggest that long distance and jealousy were at work in his breakup with gorgeous fellow star Scarlett Johansson. He was pretty candid about the reasons the relationship didn’t work and he pinned it on the other person without mentioning Scarlett by name. Josh also called himself “a normal guy from Minnesota” and says he doesn’t deserve his sex-symbol status. He labels his earlier attitude “arrogant,” and says that now he’s just focusing on his work.

You’ve dated a lot of famous women – do you regret ending any of those relationships?
I try to be careful about walking away for good, but I’ve been in situations where dealing with the long-distance aspect of the relationship has destroyed the other person.

How was it destroyed?
Seeing their significant other in the arms of a beautiful actress is difficult. It’s hard to be life, “Oh, that’s just work.” It is, but you’re on location with this other person for months, so there’s jealousy.

You’ve been acting for a decade. How have you changed?
In the beginning I was arrogant, but now I’m focused on trying to find the most unique material.

Did you enjoy making the vampire movie 30 Days of Night?
We had a great time. You have to have a light mood when you’re shooting such an intense movie.

What was it like shooting the film so far away from home in New Zealand?
New Zealand is beautiful. I actually wanted to buy a plot of land there, but I got outbid!

Why would you rather live abroad or in your home state of Minnesota than in LA?
Because it’s constantly about business in L.A. and I don’t have just Hollywood friends. They’re writers, painters, musicians and teachers, so we talk about different things.

How does it feel to be considered a sex symbol?
I’m just a normal guy from Minnesota who happens to have a pretty cool job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I have fans, but I’ve met other people who deserve to be sex symbols more than I do – or ever will!

[From InTouch, print edition, November 12, 2007]

He’s not overtly harsh about the breakup he’s talking about, but it sounds like he’s saying it had everything to do with the other person’s jealousy instead of a mutual issue they had. Note that he said “dealing with the long-distance aspect of the relationship… destroyed the other person” and he went on to say that “there’s jealousy” and that “Seeing their significant other in the arms of a beautiful actress is difficult.”

If that was my ex I would be annoyed that he was talking so much obvious smack about me, even if he didn’t use my name. At least Hartnett is making progress in saying that he’s not a sex symbol and that he was arrogant when he first started out, but he doesn’t need to take so many digs at Scarlett – or whomever he’s talking about here. Surely he had something to do with the demise of the relationship too.

Hartnett is rumored to be dating singer Rihanna after the two were seen out together, but they seem to be keeping it under wraps as much as possible, or it was just a fling.

Hartnett is shown on 10/23/07 at the 30 Days of Night screening in London, thanks to PRPhotos.

Scarlett Johansson recently gave Ryan Reynolds the ultimate gift – one of her wisdom teeth covered in gold. She had her teeth taken out right before Ryan’s birthday, and JayBird speculates that she must have been pretty high on dental surgery drugs when she came up with the idea to save one and give it to him.

Scarlett met Ryan’s family on a recent trip to Canada, and now there’s news that the genetically blessed couple is going to take their low-profile relationship to the next level by cohabitating. Scarlett is remodeling the new home she just bought in LA and since Ryan has been adding his input to the process, In Touch has a source that says they’re “ready to move in together.”

Scarlett, 22, bought a house in the Los Feliz area of LA and is having it remodeled so it’s just the way she wants it. According to a friend, Ryan, 31, is overseeing the project, giving out orders and adding his personal touches to the decor “He likes her a lot and they are ready to move in together,” says an insider. The couple, who has been together for six months, are “totally smitten and love spending every minute together,” the insider adds

[From In Touch, print edition, November 5, 2007]

I bet all they know is that Ryan went to Scarlett’s home at one ppint, but it could be true. In Touch adds the detail that “‘Ryan was seen going to Scarlett’s new house in Los Feliz on October 10 to supervise construction,’ says a witness” *cough* paparazzo that didn’t get a clear picture *cough* Since Ryan went to Scarlett’s house and it’s getting remodeled that must mean they’re moving in together, right?

Scarlett Johansson is shown on the set of Midnight in Barcelona on 7/9/07. Ryan Reynolds is shown at the Smoking Aces premiere on 1/18/07, thanks to PR Photos.

Oh creepiest of creepy things. Scarlett Johansson, who generally seems classy enough (at least compared to most of her Hollywood peers) gave boyfriend Ryan Reynolds the freakiest gift since Van Gogh’s ear: one of her teeth. Though the pair haven’t been together all that long, Scarlett seemed to think the best present for Ryan was a piece of herself. And what’s easier to get rid of than a tooth? Slicing off the ear has been done, and we all know that a toe is totally played out. But a tooth? Now that’s unique. What an expression of love. Apparently Scarlett had her wisdom teeth taken out a little while before Ryan’s birthday. I’m guessing the idea came to her while she was under the influence of some pretty good dental surgery drugs.

Things are, like, totally heating up between Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson, and we’re not just saying so because the buxom blonde recently hit Canuckland with Ry to meet the parentals. Fraternizing with the fam is one thing, but now. This simply has become a supercreepy canoodling biz. See, Scar’s gone and given Ryan a piece of…herself? We’re not talking nooky, either. Read on…

David BeckhamRyan’s B-day was Tuesday, and last weekend, Scar-doll threw the slinky Smokin’ Aces studster an early bash at Chateau Marmont. How very nice. Can you guess what terribly unique prezzie S.J. picked to gift Ry with? A full-body massage, with each of David Beckham’s bod-guards present (just like Becks does), just to make sure everything gets kneaded properly? A walk-on in Johansson Svengali Woody Allen’s next slobbering outing? Oh, never mind, there’s no way you’ll ever guess, so we’ll just spill: one of her pearly whites. Yep, you read right.

Angelina Jolie, Billy Bob Thornton“She’d just had her wisdom teeth removed, so she had one dipped in gold and strung on a necklace for him,” says Desk Ouch!, who ran to us with the goss, practically hyperventilating with the nitrous-oxide-laced looniness. Nasty. Who do these two think they are, Angelina and Billy Bob or something?

[From The Awful Truth on E!]

Wading through Ted Casablanca’s writing is like swimming through a giant vat of pudding while searching for a pearl: you know it’s in there, but it hurts to keep opening your eyes to try to find it. Anyway. Maybe Scarlett’s just cheap. I mean if you’re already shelling out for the surgery, why not kill two birds with one stone and get a free present out of the deal? Celebrities get so much stuff for free: she probably just thought the tooth was free surgery swag and wanted to re-gift it. They sell gold paint at the craft store for about a dollar, and I doubt Ryan would notice the difference. How closely are you going to inspect the color when someone’s just given you their tooth on a chain? I pretty sure if they get married, he should expect jewel-encrusted toenail clippings.

Picture note by Jaybird: Header image of Scarlett Johansson on set filming, ‘Midnight in Barcelona’ with Woody Allen. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Once upon there was a beautiful girl, who was full lipped and blonde and the face of Louis Vuitton. By the time she was 22, she’d made too many boring Woody Allen films to be interesting, but King Louis didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he replaced her with a man.

Shot by photographer Annie Liebovitz, the ads focus on travel – a “core value” for the company which started in 1854 as a trunk-maker, the statement said.

Gorbachev is featured in a car, a Vuitton bag at his side and the Berlin Wall in the background.

Graf and her husband Agassi are shown snuggling in a hotel room bed.

A vampy Deneuve sits perched on a Vuitton suitcase in a foggy train station – or is it a movie set?

The campaign – which is to run alongside more traditional fashion ads that in past seasons have featured American screen siren Johansson – is to hit magazines in September, the statement said.

Sydney Morning Herald

The choice of Mikhail Gorbachev is amazing! Much more interesting than Scarlet Johansson (who I do like, but she’s no former Soviet Union president!).

Scarlett will continue working with Woody Allen on their third film together, set in Madrid. It is yet to be titled and will be released in 2008.

Header image thanks to Queerty.