Opera House likely to get Heritage nod

 

The Sydney Opera House – World Heritage site and popular movie location

Peter Lewis, ABC News, reports

The Sydney Opera House looks likely to obtain World Heritage listing this week when international delegates meet in Christchurch, New Zealand, to consider adding it to the register of sites.

There has been a sea change in attitudes towards World Heritage listing since the battles in the 1980s over the Tasmanian wilderness and Queensland's wet tropics.

They are now among Australia's 16 sites of natural and cultural significance.

Also on the list - the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, the Blue Mountains and Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building.

UNESCO's director of World Heritage Francesco Bandarin says this week the 21-country committee will hear 45 proposals for listing alongside 830 sites including the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and Mt Everest.

He rates Sydney's Opera House a strong chance, calling it an icon of world architecture.

The Sydney Opera House has appeared in several movies and television shows. 

In the Cheryl Ladd television movie Now and Forever (1983), Ian Clarke (Robert Coleby) is having lunch at a café next to the Sydney Opera House when he is befriended by a woman who buys him a drink. Little does he know about Margaret Burton’s (Christine Amor) past and the trap she is luring him into. 

The iconic building was also featured in Panic at Rock Island (2011), The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Mission Impossible 2 (2000), Looking for Alibrandi (2000), One Night Stand (1984), and Starstruck (1982). More recently, the Opera House forecourt hosted the taping of Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure (2011).

Jackman to play Houdini on Broadway

ABC News reports

Hugh Jackman, who has recently been smashing records on Broadway with his one-man show, will return as escape artist Harry Houdini in the musical Houdini.

The 43-year-old actor, who began his career on stage before landing Hollywood roles in movies such as the X-Men series, will star in the musical expected to debut in the 2013-14 season that will be written by Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin.

"I have been deeply fascinated by the life of Harry Houdini since I was young, and in many ways I've been preparing for this role my whole life," Jackman said in a statement.

"I am thrilled to be collaborating with this collection of artists who are all at the top of their game."

The musical, which producers say is a contemporary look at the life and death of the Hungarian-born American musician and stunt performer, will be composed by Wicked musician Stephen Schwartz and directed by Jack O'Brien.

Sorkin, who will make his Broadway writing debut, says the musical "tells the story of an epic battle that took place between the world's greatest illusionist and a trio of women, known as Spiritualists".

Jackman's latest Broadway show, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, set new records by grossing more than $US14.6 million for its 10-week run that ended earlier this week.

He has long been dubbed one of the most bankable Broadway stars.

The Australian-born actor began his career on stage in Melbourne before earning international acclaim in the lead role of Oklahoma! in London and later as singer Peter Allen in the hit musical, The Boy from Oz and hosting multiple Tony Awards.

Reuters

Baker's hot role on Byron Bay watch

The Herald Sun reports

MENTALIST hottie Simon Baker must have foreseen there was a heatwave coming, cooling down in the surf with fellow Aussie actor Claudia Karvan.

The friends were spied at the beach at celeb hotspot Byron Bay on New Year's Day, with Baker catching plenty of waves as he showed off in the surf.

Baker returned home from the US for the festive season, and was expected to stay until the end of the month to be a guest of honour at the revamped AFIs - renamed the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards - in Sydney.

But organisers ruled the Nine drama star out of either attending or presenting at the ceremony yesterday, with insiders blaming a schedule clash with his US filming.

Byron has been the unofficial playground for the rich and famous this summer.

Tessa James, Elle Macpherson and Cheyenne Tozzi have all been spied sunning themselves at the NSW coastal town in recent weeks.

Kristian Anderson's moving YouTube clip lives on

Oprah Winfrey has reacted to Sydney man Kristian Anderson’s death following an announcement of the young father’s passing.

“Kristian was an inspiration to us all, the way he handled cancer with fierce grace”, said Oprah. “I was so moved after meeting him and seeing how much he appreciated his family, and every precious moment. He taught us how to LIVE with cancer. The Light he left on earth will not be dimmed by his passing.”

Kristian Anderson was made famous by a YouTube video that he produced on finding out about his terminal illness. The touching video was a birthday gift to Kristian’s wife, Rachel, to thank her for her support. It featured cameos by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Aussie star Hugh Jackman.

Anderson’s clip became a hit and was viewed almost 400,000 times. After it caught the eye of Oprah Winfrey, Kristian and Rachel were invited to participate in a taping of Oprah’s show at the Sydney Opera house in December 2010. The talk show host surprised the couple with a $250,000 donation to help them pay for medical bills.

The 36-year-old lost his battle to bowel cancer on Monday 2 January in Sydney’s Manly Hospital after fighting the disease for a little over two years.

Abbie Cornish reveals Madonna asked her to wear her wedding rings from Senn Penn and Guy Richie in W.E.

Wore Madonna's ex-husband's wedding rings during filming .... Actress Abbie Cornish talks about "connecting" with the director in the film, 'WE'. Source: AP

The Daily Telegraph reports

MADONNA'S latest directorial offering, W.E. starring Abbie Cornish, has received awful reviews and a possible answer as to why came across our desks.

Madonna had the Hunter Valley born Cornish wear her old wedding rings to both Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie during the filming.

Talk about an ominous start.

Cornish told In Style magazine: "Every morning she'd bring them in and I'd put them on. It was nice to have that ritual.

"She would bring a box of her own jewellery and handpick stuff for me to wear. Almost every piece I wear in this film was hers. Cartier and Bulgari earrings, necklaces, bracelets. She has an incredible collection."

In the movie Cornish plays a woman obsessed with the love affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

Elle Macpherson signs to US show Fashion Star

Trim and fit ... Elle in Byron Bay. Picture: Nathan Richter Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

SHE continues to flaunt The Body in a shock and awe Christmas-New Year holiday campaign in Byron Bay, but it seems Elle Macpherson's immediate work future will be in the US.

Although widely tipped to replace Sarah Murdoch as host of this year's Australia's Next Top Model, Macpherson has signed to US fashion show Fashion Star.

It involves 12 wannabe designers competing to win a multi-million-dollar contract with leading American department stores - a souped-up version of our Project Runway and a rival to the US show of the same name.

The fact Macpherson is host of Britain's Next Top Model has also made it impossible for her to fit three shows into her timetable.

That leaves the question: Who will host Australia's Next Top Model? Liz Hurley, Alyssa Sutherland and Kristy Hinze are among the names being mentioned.

Elizabeth Debicki on kissing Tobey Maguire and working with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan on The Great Gatsby

Revamp ... Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

SHE'S the little-known Aussie beauty plucked from obscurity by Baz Luhrmann to play a lead role in one of the most anticipated movies of 2012, and now Elizabeth Debicki has lifted the lid on what it was like working on The Great Gatsby.

Having graduated from the Victorian College of Arts only a year ago, the softly spoken 21-year-old has spoken about intimate scenes with Tobey Maguire and her blooming friendship with co-star Carey Mulligan.

Debicki says she took to playing golfer Jordan Baker, the love interest of Maguire's Nick Carraway, with the same precision she did any acting - especially when it came to kissing.

"I think it's best not to think about it too much," she told a West Australian newspaper.

"Kissing in films, it's just another thing you have to do. It's kind of becomes as technical as how to open a door really."

Debicki joked that when it came time to lock lips with Maguire, who famously shared an upside-down kiss with Spider-Man co-star Kirsten Dunst, her preparation was simple. "Brushing my teeth," she said.

While not mentioning headline star Leonardo DiCaprio, the striking brunette said the cast would often "do stuff together as a group".

"I probably spend more time with Carey really than anyone else. She's just the most beautiful girl, she's a lovely, lovely person and I feel so lucky that on my first job I got to work with such a lovely cast," she said.

Before Gatsby, Debicki - the new face of Jan Logan jewellery - had only had a small part in upcoming Aussie comedy A Few Best Men.

"Some days I just can't believe this is happening," she said.

Former Home And Away star Holly Brisley sells Bondi Beach penthouse

On the market ... Inside Holly Brisley's $7 million unit on Campbell Parade, Bondi. Picture: McGrath Real Estate. Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

TIS the season to offload real estate, it seems, with former Home And Away starlet Holly Brisley recently listing her $7 million pad on Bondi's Campbell Parade.

The sprawling, half-floor beachfront penthouse, which Holly Brisley and husband Paul bought off the plan in 2006, is set to make way for a more "family-oriented" house as the couple, who have a two-year-old son Levi, look for more living space.

"We really like the northern beaches and have a lot of friends there but I love Bondi as well - so we're not really sure where we might go next," Brisley told Confidential yesterday.

"But Levi is at the age where he would like a backyard."

The Bondi penthouse, which is listed by Steven Chen at McGrath Real Estate, boasts views from Bondi to Tamarama, has three bedrooms (all with ensuites), state-of-the-art security system, heated limestone flooring and concierge service.

Meanwhile, Brisley can take some heart that a similar unit in her Bondi block, owned by Little Joe designer Gail Elliott and husband Joe Coffey, sold last week after just three weeks on the market.

The 486sq m apartment, which the couple also bought off the plan five years ago for $6.75 million, was listed for $8 million and sold on December 23.

Estate agent Barry Goldman of Raine and Horne Double Bay didn't reveal the sale price yesterday but pointed out the pad was snapped up just a few weeks after its listing date of December 1.

Goldman has also recently offloaded two apartments in Bondi's prestigious Beach House unit complex - for $5 million each.

"It's nice to see that the top end is still moving," he told Confidential.

Selling up ... Holly Brisley has listed her Bondi penthouse for sale, in search of a more family-friendly abode.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Hugh Jackman ends Broadway run

Hugh Jackman on stage performing in Back on Broadway. Picture: Charles Sykes / Source: AP

The Herald Sun reports

HUGH Jackman has left a lot of broken hearts - and records - on Broadway.

The hunky actor's one-man show, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, ended its 10-week run yesterday afternoon at the Broadhurst Theatre having earned $US2,057,354 ($A2.04 million) in its final week.

That's the highest ever weekly gross recorded by the Shubert Organization, which owns the Broadhurst and 16 other Broadway theatres.

The previous record at the Broadhurst was held by the Al Pacino-led The Merchant of Venice, which took in $US1,175,750 earlier this year.

Backed by an 18-piece orchestra and six leggy dancers, Jackman belted out about two dozen musical theatre songs.

It was his third time on Broadway, following The Boy From Oz in 2003 and the play A Steady Rain with Daniel Craig in 2009.

Cool cats enjoy Icebergs bash

The Daily Telegraph reports

TEN years ago restaurateur Maurice Terzini threw a party with his mate Angus McDonald, from Sneaky Sound System, for a few hundred friends on New Years Day at his then-just opened beachside bar, Bondi Icebergs.

A decade later and it's an annual knees-up where celebs and eastern suburbs cool cats dance the afternoon away to the sound of international DJ's and drink through the previous night's largesse.

Yesterday was no different, with a well-heeled, salubrious crowd paying $350 each to sip Veuve Clicquot, eat canapes from the famed noshery and stand aloof from the crowded beach below.

Fresh from hosting Snoop Dogg at one of his Kings Cross party palaces, Icebergs regular John Ibrahim made a rare appearance with his son, Daniel Taylor, 20, who will hopefully have a better year than last, after being charged with assault following an argument over a parking spot.

Seldom seen out and about together, the pair arrived with Ibrahim's on/off girlfriend Chelsea Mitchell and good mate Charlotte Dawson, staying a few hours before heading back to the club king's Dover Heights mansion for a private after-party.

Rumoured to be engaged couple Brian McFadden and Vogue Williams didn't stay long, seen heading out as the party got rowdy about 3pm.

The Irish pair maintained they are not walking down the aisle any time soon.

"Everyone keeps saying 'oh congratulations' to me, it's pretty funny," Williams told Confidential.

Backing up from his headlining slot at the Sydney Resolution concert at Glebe Island, British playboy Jamiroquai looked a little worse for wear (actually, make that a lot), smoking heavily and throwing back vodkas on the south balcony.

Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Dan Single were their requisite PDA selves, she almost unrecognisable in a long blonde wig.

Aussie model Shanina Shaik, who recently walked for Victoria's Secret, arrived with her long-time boyfriend, US model Tyson Beckford, but would not be photographed.

Also there were designers Kirrily Johnston and Peter Morrissey, stylist Pip Edwards and Wallaby boyfriend Adam Ashley-Cooper and MasterChef cutie Hayden Quinn.