Uma Thurman must be getting pretty sick of courtrooms. After testifying in the trial of her stalker last week, you’d think she’d want to keep away from anything having to do with the legal system for as long as possible. Unfortunately for Uma, she’s being countersued by French cosmetics company Lancome, and will probably spend a good deal of time continuing to deal with lawyers for the foreseeable future.

Uma sued Lancome for continuing to use her name and image after her contract with them expired. Instead of just saying “Oops, our bad,” Lancome said they didn’t knowingly use it. Which would still make you think the error is theirs. But instead of just owning up to it, they’re countersuing Thurman.

You don’t use Uma Thurman’s face without paying for it, as cosmetics giant Lancôme is discovering. Uma was the former face of the beauty company and reportedly wants $1 million for the alleged use of her picture in foreign ads after her contract expired in 2005. Lancôme is hitting back with a lawsuit, maintaining that it never “knowingly or intentionally” continued to use her pictures and looking to have a judge preemptively rule that the company didn’t wrongfully use her image.

However, Uma’s attorney, Burt Fields, counters, “Look at the huge free benefit Lancôme gets from using her. The French want to accept that benefit without paying for it. Obviously, the French have decided they won’t even try to resolve this amicably. So they have filed this sneak attack.” Lancôme’s lawyers do say they’re open to a settlement.

[From In Touch]

I think wherever Burt Fields says “the French” he really means Lancome. I’m assuming the guy isn’t actually accusing an entire nation of “sneak attacks” and not paying for stuff. I find the lawsuit a little confusing. It sounds like Lancome is admitting that Thurman’s image was used, they’re just saying they didn’t do it on purpose. So… they’re suing her WHY?

People reports that Uma’s picture was used on websites in Asia and some Canadian billboards. Lancome is arguing that third parties did it, so it’s not their fault. To me, that sounds like a nice defense in Uma Thurman’s lawsuit… but it still doesn’t explain the need to countersue her.

Here’s Uma with Arpad Busson at the 2008 Wings Worldquest Women of Discovery Awards Gala in New York City on March 5th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Uma Thurman now gets to have a little peace of mind. After a weeklong trial, her stalker Jack Jordan has been convicted of one count of stalking and one count of aggravated harassment. Jordan was acquitted on two additional stalking counts.

A lovesick former mental patient was convicted Tuesday of stalking and harassing Uma Thurman for more than two years, showing up on her front doorstep and movie set and sending the actress a series of creepy love letters.

Jack Jordan, a 37-year-old out-of-work lifeguard and pool cleaner, faces up to a year in jail. He was convicted of stalking and one count of aggravated harassment, and acquitted of two other harassment counts.

The verdict comes after a weeklong trial that featured riveting testimony from the Academy award-nominated actress, who told the jury she was “completely freaked out” by Jordan’s behavior.

Prosecutors say he had stalked her since 2005, when his crush on Thurman become so intense that he just had to be with the “Kill Bill” and “Pulp Fiction” star.

He showed up at her doorstep and the SoHo set of her movie “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and sent a series of bizarre cards and letters to Thurman, including 20 of them while he was locked up at a mental institution.

[From the Huffington Post]

Jordan was involuntarily committed specifically for his obsession with Thurman, so I was surprised that he was still allowed to send her mail from the mental institution. Obviously his time there didn’t do any good, as he upped his efforts once he was released. In one of his letters, Jordan said that Uma’s two kids didn’t exist and that they were “an illusion.” Freakishly bizarre stuff, to say the least.

A friend of mine sat in on the trial for several days, and said that when he testified, he didn’t seem crazy, just way too intense. It sounds like he either got a lot of coaching from his lawyers, or is on some medication that’s straightening him out a bit.

Jordan testified in his own defense, saying Friday he now understands how Thurman could have been frightened by his attempts to see her… “In a misguided way I was trying to give her an opportunity to meet me and give myself an opportunity to meet her,” Jordan testified. “I was feeling distressed,” said Jordan. “I had this feeling of longing for Ms. Thurman and I was trying to explain it. I was not trying to scare her in any way.”

[Explaining his intent behind a card on which Jordan had drawn a picture of an open grave, a headstone and a man standing on the edge of a razor blade]: “I felt I was walking on the razor’s edge,” Jordan said. “I felt that it reflected this relationship that I unfortunately imagined that we had. … This cartoon was meant to amuse her, to endear me to her.”

The defendant also admitted that he told Thurman and her family he would kill himself if he couldn’t meet her. He said it “was a clumsy and poor way of expressing my emotions for her. I wasn’t feeling suicidal, but I was expressing a depth of feeling that was very distressing.”

[From the Huffington Post]

It seems like a good idea for Mr. Jordan to spend a bit of time in a hospital, at least for his own mental health. It’s hard to tell to what extent he was a danger to Uma Thurman, but clearly he broke the law, and knew what he was doing. Hopefully Uma and her kids will get some peace now, and be able to move on with their lives.

Here’s Jack Jordan arriving to Manhattan State Supreme Court for his stalking trial on May 2nd. Header of Uma Thurman arriving on May 2nd. Images thanks to Splash.

Uma Thurman’s parents and employees have been testifying this week in Manhattan State Supreme Court in the case against her stalker, Jack Jordan. Jordan is a diagnosed as schizophrenic with bipolar disorder who stalked and harassed Thurman and her family members from early 2005 – September 2007. He was arrested this past October. Both Thurman’s housekeeper Dorota Janas and former personal assistant Samara Koffler testified that Jordan would hang out on the stoop her Greenwich Village home, ring the doorbell multiple times a day, and leave creepy letters.

Thurman’s housekeeper Dorota Janas testified on the second day of Jack Jordan’s trial that he rang the bell at the actress’ Greenwich Village town house at least twice a day for at least 10 days last summer…Janas, testifying through a Polish interpreter, said she saw Jordan sitting on the front stoop a few days before another employee called police. Some time later, she retrieved a letter Jordan had left for Thurman on the stoop.

Samara Koffler, a film producer who was Thurman’s former personal assistant, testified that she returned from the Bahamas in August 2007 and saw the letter Janas had found. She read part of it in court. “Dear Uma,” Koffler read, “I love you completely. Unless rousted, I’ll spend the night in front of (Thurman’s address).” At another point, she read: “Ask your assistant to let me wait inside until you return. I feel afraid that if I see you with another man I’ll kill myself.”

Koffler said she told Thurman about the letter and called 911 and told police “an unstable man” was hanging around the house.

[From the Huffington Post]

Thurman’s parents Birgitte and Robert Thurman testified as well. They received multiple emails and phone calls from Jordan at their Woodstock, New York home – further indication of just how far Jordan was willing to go to be with Thurman.

Her father, Robert Thurman, said his reaction after reading e-mails from Jordan was to try to remember the FBI’s telephone number. He said in court Tuesday he was seeing Jordan for the first time.

Her mother, Birgitte “Nena” Thurman, testified that she believed Jordan “was someone who would benefit from medical attention.” She said the first time she spoke to the defendant was in 2005 when he called her home in Woodstock, N.Y., and told her that he “and my daughter had a predestination to be together.” She said he asked her to relay that message.

“I tried to assure him in no uncertain terms that this was just a fantasy and he was projecting,” Thurman said, and that her daughter had no interest in him.

[From the Huffington Post]

One of my friends works for the Manhattan D.A.’s office and sat in on the trial for a few hours on Monday morning. She said Jack Jordan wasn’t one of those visibly crazy people that gives you the chills just looking at him. He looks normal, like a guy you could pass on the street. No odd behaviors or anything in court. She also said that he carries a large backpack with him wherever he goes in the courthouse and the courtroom, which is unusual.

The defense’s arguments so far are just that Jordan is a guy in love. With a side of crazy. But apparently they’re focusing on the love, and saying he needs mental help but not jail time.

Here’s Uma before her taping of The Late Show with David Letterman on April 16. Images thanks to PR Photos.

The stars were out to support Meryl Street at the Film Society’s Tribute to the two-time Oscar-winning actress at Avery Fisher Hall in NY last night. The Film Society’s website says that the evening honored Streep’s “remarkable career with selected film highlights, onstage salutes by friends and colleagues and personal remarks by Meryl Streep.”

The night featured a “Cocktail Buffet” and “Supper Dance” along with the tribute to Streep. Proceeds went to the Film Society.

I love Amy Adams and think she looks gorgeous here. She really was lovely at the Oscars and her look is both classy and playful.

Other luminaries at the event included Uma Thurman in a black wrap dress with a subtle silver chain belt, and Glenn Close in a floor length navy gown with an elegant button down jacket. I’m not too fond of Streep’s dress and think the cut is not flattering for her, but the night was all about her so she gets a pass.

Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

Ethan Hawke was one of the musicians to take the stage entertaining theater guests between performances of the “24 Hour Plays,” which are six one act plays performed back to back that were written, rehearsed and set up entirely in just 24 hours. A journalist from NY Magazine was there, and she noted that the music act that was on before Ethan wasn’t so good, but that once the scruffy ex-husband of Uma Thurman came on stage the crowd was mesmerized - by his lyrics:

Out of nowhere, actor Ethan Hawke hopped up onstage, strapped on an acoustic guitar and bared his soul to the audience. “Someone I know wrote this song while shooting a movie in Paris during his divorce,” he said. We, along with the rest of the audience, gasped. He was totally talking about himself, and more important, Uma Thurman…

He proceeded to sing a ditty that included lyrics about “not caring if [he] ever saw New York again,” “the lawyers,” and — most telling — “my wife.” Uma! “My wife hates me,” he sang, adding something about how she would call him a prick, how he longed to send for his children, tralalala singing stuff. We were intoxicated, both with beverages and with memories of Dead Poets Society. And then! “My wife is a big fat beast,” he sang. We gasped, along with the rest of the audience. He called Uma fat! In public! Sheepishly, Hawke broke his musicianly stride: “Yeah, I was very upset at the time.” And still is, we suspect.

[From NY Magazine]

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman broke up in 2003 and were divorced in 2004. They have two children, a daughter, Maya, 9, and a son, Levon, 6.

Although Ethan’s cheating is thought to have ended their relationship, Uma took the high road when describing what happened, and told Oprah that “Blaming anybody doesn’t make you feel better and when you have two children, I think, that’s such a priority to protect them and to never lose sight of the fact that, even if you’re in a fight or even if things are going badly, it’s in their best interests that everybody comes out OK, so there’s no winning.” [from Softpedia]

Ethan kept talking about their relationship though, calling it “unfair” that Uma was so much more successful than him. Although he didn’t specifically name her, it’s obvious who he’s talking about.

“It’s unfair when one person’s career is taking off and the other is really suffering,” he says. “What happens — it’s not that they’re jealous of each other; it’s that the person you share your life with isn’t in the mood to support. You want to have a pity party for yourself, but they’re off to the Golden Globes and you don’t want to go because everyone is going to think you are jealous.”

[AMC’s Shootout from Evil Beet]

Now Ethan, 37, is dating his family’s former nanny, 27, and his rep has confirmed that she’s pregnant with his baby. Ethan and the nanny supposedly didn’t have anything going on when she was employed by his family and are said to have hooked up afterwards. I wonder how she feels about the fact that he’s singing songs about his ex wife.

Ethan and Uma were photographed together outside their children’s school on March 13, presumably going to a parent teacher conference. The 24 Hour plays were on March 17, so I guess we can assume that Ethan and Uma didn’t entirely get along during that rare get together.

Ethan Hawke is shown filming scenes for “NY, I Love You” on 3/20/08, thanks to Splash News.

Ethan Hawke is about to become a father for the third time. The “Training Day” star has two children with ex-wife Uma Thurman, and he is expecting a third with Ryan Shawhughes, 27, whom he met when she worked as a nanny for his family back when he was with Uma. It is unclear whether the two are living together or engaged at this point, but Ethan’s camp says the actor is pleased at the news of his impending fatherhood:

“I can confirm and they are thrilled,” says Hawke’s rep Mara Buxbaum. “No further details will be made available.”

[From People]

In the fallout after Uma and Ethan’s split, there were rumors that Hawke was unfaithful, but neither spoke about it publicly. Ethan only had this to say on the couple’s split in a 2006 interview:

“To be honest, [fame] was an undue pressure on my marriage. I didn’t like being famous when I was single, and what it did to my celebrity status to be married to another famous person was a huge pressure — one I didn’t enjoy. And it had nothing to do with her. Nothing to do with her,” Hawke says.

[From Showbuzz]

Uma has been linked to a handful of rich suitors since then, but Ethan’s love life has remained very private. In fact, there is only one photo of Ethan and Ryan together, and it was taken in December 2007 as they dined in a restaurant in Manhattan. Ryan bears more than a passing resemblance to Uma. The NY Daily News’ Gatecrasher column says keeping the relationship secret for so long was a ploy to protect Ethan’s image.

“They seem to be trying to rewrite history by saying they waited a whole year, so they could look innocent when word that they were together finally got out,” an “insider” tells the mag.

“He [Ethan] was terrified, because he knew if Uma found out he was with their nanny, she’d blow up and the divorce would get nasty when it had been going relatively well.”

[From Gatecrasher]

While I don’t agree with cheating on a spouse—especially with a nanny—it seems as though both Ethan and Uma have moved on with their lives and manage to co-parent their kids quite nicely these days. They even schedule movie shoots around their children’s needs, and try to accommodate each other’s careers. My guess is that Uma’s fans and sympathizers will be a lot more offended and upset by this news than she will. Uma seems to be doing quite well without Ethan.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Ethan Hawke is shown at the Tisch School of The Arts Gala on 11/12/07, thanks to PRPhotos. Inset photo of Ethan and his girlfriend thanks to the Daily News.

Uma Thurman is already a mother of two from her previous marriage to Ethan Hawke, and her boyfriend of a few months Arki Busson has two children with model Elle Macpherson, but are they planning on expanding their brood together?

Entertainment Wise points out that an otherwise fabulously toned Uma was sporting a little pot belly at the annual Nobel Concert in Norweay, which she hosted.

The dress kind of looks like it’s bunched up around the middle, like maybe when it was first purchased it fit better?

Uma recently admitted that her ex-husband was right, she couldn’t commit to both her career and motherhood.

“(Hawke) claimed I couldn’t be a full-time mother and actress. I insisted I could. But I couldn’t. I really try to give all of myself,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

“I wouldn’t even read a script that wasn’t shooting in New York because I needed to be home.

“It’s a very difficult balance. I’ve thought about quitting but I love it too much, and now I’m a single mother so I can’t quit,” she added.

WebIndia

Uma and Arki were rumoured to be engaged in October, but her rep denied the reports.

Is Uma Thurman pregnant? I hope so, becasue there’s nothing worse then being told you look like you’ve got a pot belly.

Note by Celebitchy: It does look like a pregnancy bump to me. Uma is 37 and her boyfriend Arpad Busson is 44. Thanks to WENN for these pictures, also featuring Kevin Spacey at the The Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway on 12/11/07.

Who has the most enviable figure in the celebrity world?

A UK poll by fitness firm Premier Training International has come up with some less than predictable answers in a hot body poll.

Enviable Women

Myleene Klass - Big Brother contestant
Halle Berry - actress
Jessica Simpson - singer
Madonna - singer
Sophia Loren - actress
Angelina Jolie - actress
Uma Thurman - actress
Jennifer Aniston - actress
Gabby Logan - Strictly Come Dancing contestant

Enviable Men

Daniel Craig - actor
Jonny Wilkinson - rugby player
Brad Pitt - actor
Hugh Grant - actor
David Beckham - soccer player
Orlando Bloom - actor
Johnny Depp - actor
Lee Mead - Any Dream Will Do winner
Colin Firth - actor
Sir Sean Connery - actor

New Zealand Herald

It seems that being over 70 isn’t going to stop you from having an enviable body – Sophia Loren is 73 and Sir Sean Connery is 77. Checking out the pictures on IMDB I can only hope I look that good when I’m that sort of age, although I passed my mirror this morning and turned it to face the wall – but maybe by the time I’m old I’ll look better than I do now. Do you have to be good looking in your youth (I use the term loosely) to look good in your old age?

Also, it’s amazing that three of the celebrities are from reality TV shows. Myleene Klass was on last year’s Big Brother UK edition and she gained notoriety for her physique in a bikini. I’m amazed anyone can remember Big Brother from last year? Who can remember even last night’s reality TV?

Picture note by Celebitchy: Myleene Klass pregnant bikini picture from The Daily Mail. Die another Day, Dukes of Hazzard, and Troy movie stills from allmoviephoto. Brad Pitt Premiere cover from members.fortunecity.com/mattdamon. Shirtless Becks from PRPhotos.

Uma Thurman, 37, is rumored to be engaged to her new boyfriend, Swiss millionaire investment banker Arpad Busson, 44. He was said to have proposed in early October after just a few months of dating, but if that’s true he either didn’t give her a ring or she’s not wearing it out. She has been seen out since, including her infamous appearance at Fashion Rocks in a see-through dress, and she isn’t wearing an engagement ring.

Now Star reports that Uma has asked Arpad to move in with her in NY. He is said to have a home base out of London, so maybe it would be more convenient for her if he’s staying with her while he’s in NY:

After just three months of dating, Uma Thurman has asked multimillionaire financier Arpad Busson to move into her swanky NYC apartment! “Uma likes having Arpad at her side,” explains a friend, noting that Uma and hotelier Andre Balazs broke up “because he always had to work. She doesn’t like being by herself” But Arpad, the father of supermodel Elle Macpherson’s two children, “makes time for her.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 29, 2007]

That’s the entire story, so maybe Star is just making it up because there aren’t a lot of details there.

One recent story about Uma that might be true is the claim that she insists on doing her own hair and makeup when she’s on a movie set and refuses professional help. Whitney Bears does that too, but they make it sound like Uma is less stubborn about it and just doesn’t want people fussing over her:

An insider tells Star that whenever Uma works on a movie, she insists on doing her own makeup and styling. In fact, when she starred in the 2005 film Prime, she wore clothes from her own closet. “Uma doesn’t like a lot of fuss,” says the insider, especially when it comes to makeup. “The stylists would try to sneak in touch-ups, and she’d shoo them away.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 29, 2007]

Whatever Uma is doing lately, it’s working. She looked positively gorgeous at Fashion Rocks in that gauzy dress that left little to the imagination. Maybe her new romance is giving her a natural glow too.

Uma and Arpad are shown at Petra Nemcova’s Happy Hearts Fund Heart of Gold Ball on 10/11/07. Thanks to Splash News.

Uma Thurman’s breast were on full display last night in a gauzy draped black Valentino dress that did little more than shield her from the wind. She chose the daring outfit for the Swarovski Fashion Rocks event, which she co-hosted. When you’re 37 and the roles aren’t coming in you’ve got to kick it up a notch and I think she pulled it off.

Also on the red carpet were Kate Moss in a a Swarovski studded flapper dress she designed herself for Top Shop. It is estimated to be worth $80k and will be auctioned off on eBay for The Princes Trust if Courtney Love didn’t manage to ruin it.

Lily Allen wore a questionable navy blue Chanel gown with an empire waist that didn’t flatter her newly slender figure, but she looked presentable.

Donatella Versace and Iggy Pop personified rock and rock meets fashion with their weathered faces and kick ass style.

Claudia Schiffer was matronly in a gold pencil skirt and poofy black top accented by a big gold belt.

Naomi Watts showed off her amazing post-baby physique in a gorgeous baby blue strapless gown.

Joss Stone shows the self-determination that has ruined her music career by pairing a plain bright pink Calvin Klein dress with white ankle heels.

Heather Graham was lovely but looked like she was trying too hard in a white sleeveless dress that was just a little too low cut. She should have used Uma’s strategy and picked something see through instead.

Thanks to WENN for these photos and The Daily Mail for some help figuring out the dress designers. I included a blow up of Kate Moss’ face because she just looks so trashy to me. Uma may be showing nip but she does it with grace.