May 30th, 2007

Forget about those headline-grabbing reports that all is not well with Brangelina. We have it on impeccable authority that the two are more in love than ever. Jolie was in town at Hollywood Studios doing photo shoots [by Camilla Akrans] for Shiseido, the Japanese cosmetics firm. The photographs are for Japanese fashion magazines and billboards only. You won 't see ads using the photos anywhere in the U.S. (Brad Pitt has also promoted products in the Land of the Rising Sun that were unseen in the U.S.) But on this particular day, he arrived on the set with a big bouquet of peonies and a lot of passion to support his lady, whispering sweet nothings between set-ups and giving her much attention. As our snitch on the scene said to us, "There is no doubt that their love is sincere and deep." If you're wondering, as we are, if the money earned will go into Angelina's foundation to support her many charity causes, we were unable to find out.

As it happened, we ran into Olivier Martinez, who costarred with Angelina in the 2004 thriller, Taking Lives, and participated in the Jolie-directed documentary, A Place in Time, which screened for a select audience at the recent Tribeca Film Festival. Perhaps you read in the tabloids that Olivier received a lap dance from Angelina at the after-party at the eatery, Gin Lane. The story read, in part, "[Angelina] was grinding her butt into his crotch. It was very, very flirty, very affectionate. " Of the stories, attributed to the always suspect "secret source," Olivier called them "rubbish," telling us, "We're just friends. She's committed to Brad [Pitt] and their children." We met the great-looking, 41-year-old actor at Rita Floria on La Brea buying flowers for his new digs in the neighborhood. He shopped at A Little Paris for furnishings (French antiques and some Jansen pieces) to give his new pad a homey touch. Although Olivier said he is currently single, that was not always the case. He recently broke up with Aussie hottie Kylie Minogue after four years of togetherness. He previously lived with French femme fatale Juliette Binoche and had a relationship with Oscar-winner, Mira Sorvino. Following a pivotal role in 2002 in Unfaithful, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, he grabbed the attention of American audiences in 2003, playing the character in the TV movie created by Warren Beatty in the feature film, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, as a sexy, Italian gigolo. On a promotional tour of the U.S, he was touted, perhaps ironically, as "the French Brad Pitt." Olivier Martinez is not the only celeb who's drawn to A Little Paris for home furnishings. Victoria Beckham's camera crews from her reality show filmed her at A Little Paris and a few other antique shops along La Brea. The NBC television program documents the Beckham family 's move from London to Los Angeles and the footage presumably is to be inserted in the series since the Beckhams ' relocation occupies so much of Victoria's time and energy. She's determined to make their $30 million Beverly Hills mansion their own "Beckingham Palace," having hired, we hear, several well-known decorators here, in NYC, Paris, and London, all of whom will be paid with a chunk of David's $250 million earnings from his Galaxy soccer contract. Apparently, it takes a lot of furniture to fill a house as large as the Beckhams ' B.H. residence. To that end, we're hearing that Victoria and her good friend Katie Holmes are taking a trip to Brimfield, Massachusetts, where antique dealers from around the country gather and fill up acres and acres, thought to measure 100 soccer fields, selling their wares to the highest bidder. Naturally, this will also be captured on film and included in the Beckhams ' reality TV show, which our sources tell us will be the subject of a big, coffee-table book, a kind of how-to book on re-modeling and decorating your home, including the grounds and gardens. Is it really true that the couple has spoken to a horticulturist specializing in breeding roses about coming up with a new rose which will be called "The Beckham?" That's the word we're getting, and presumably it will be ready to plant in your own garden next year.

You can appreciate our delight when we ran into one of our all-time favorite movie stars, Jane Fonda, in the Gardens and Terrace Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel. We remembered our great disappointment upon hearing in 1992 after she married media mogul Ted Turner and announced her retirement from filmmaking. We applauded her return to the movies when she co-starred last year with Jennifer Lopez in the romantic comedy, Monster-in-Law. Although her newest picture, Georgia Rule, with Fonda in the title role as Lindsay Lohan's grandmother, has not performed particularly well in cineplexes across the country, both Jane and Lindsay have been promoting the movie and Jane professes to be proud of it, saying, "What I love about my character is that she's spunky and has a lot of humor. What I like about the film as a whole is that it 's a story about a dysfunctional family that heals itself in the face of crisis, because that 's often when healing comes in if we allow it.

Although Jane has spared no criticism of her young co-star's personal behavior, she is unstinting in her praise of and support for Lindsay's talent, calling her "brilliant." She continues: "We tend to forget that [Lindsay] is a mere 20 years old--just a kid. And she never had the benefit of a family structure, like most of us had, that provided nurture or support or taught her values. She 's just never had that. And if you lay on top of that, the fact that she's been a celebrity since she was 12. It was at a time very different from when I was coming up. I just think we need to have a lot of empathy for her. I pray for her all the time. "

Jane shared with us a wide-ranging series of topics, some of which she also shared with Larry King on his CNN interview show, perhaps one of her best hours on the tube as she went from program to program promoting Georgia Rule. In addition to her cogent comments about Ms. Lohan, she spoke of how her motherly advice to her daughter from her marriage to French director Roger Vadim, Vanessa Vadim, now almost 40, was rejected, sending their relationship into a downward spiral. (Never fear, Jane gets mutual friends to pass on her advice to Vanessa, and says, "She'll take it from them, but not from me!) Her opinions about cosmetic surgery were discussed: Admitting to some procedures herself, she is "disturbed" when she sees how many young movie stars opt for the knife. And finally, there's her mystery man. No hint as to who he might be, but she pretty much sent up a flare to the tabloids in a tacit challenge to them to reveal his name. "Finally, I am with someone who is not famous. He's really just a good guy who knows how to cherish me," Jane says. "Someday, I want to make a film that shows people over 70 having a really hot erotic relationship. " All we can say is, "If you make it [a film], we'll pay to see it, provided your new beau is also your leading man."

Lindsay Lohan, who seems to be everywhere at once, showed up at the Chateau Marmont on an evening we were out with the Olsen twins. She couldn't wait to tell us all about her acquisitions at the Lighthouse International Posh sale in New York, buying some 15 vintage designer gowns that once belonged to social lioness and style icon, the late Nan Kempner--couture originals from Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Mary-Kate and Ashley were practically salivating as Lindsay spoke about the terrific wardrobe additions, clearly upset that they knew nothing about the sale. We were quick to inform them that they didn 't have to go to Gotham to find designer creations, and asked them if they are aware of the Colleagues where they can find some fabulous frocks that once belonged to the likes of Nancy Reagan, Betsy Bloomingdale, and Connie Wald. Lindsay already knew about the Colleagues and chimed in, "Let's all go together."

The twins replied that that'll have to wait until they get back from New York, where the will co-host the warm-up dinner for this year 's C.F.D.A. Fashion Awards. Joining them in their hosting duties is Nadja Swarovski and the threesome will raise a toast to the nominees and honorees on the eve of the awards which will be held at the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. Someone reminded them that last year it was Salma Hayek who played host to the event. One of them said, "Oh, yes, I remember. We were there." Their recollection prompted reminiscences and compliments, with M-K telling Lindsay how fabulous she looked in her Saint Laurent gown. Lindsay launched into her own enthusiastic remembrances: "I loved Cameron Diaz's Dior by John Galliano fuchsia gown." Ashley: And I thought Jennifer [Garner] was just beautiful in that red Valentino." Others mentioned were Jennifer Lopez's Marchesa, Kate Moss in something from her Top Shop collection, Renee Zelweger in Carolina Herrera, and Gisele Bundchen in Saint Laurent.

At the gala, press raves for Scarlett Johansson included comparisons to the iconic cartoon temptress of the 20's, Betty Boop, with the blonde beauty in a Stella McCartney replica of the flapper 's signature fishnet tights, looking for all the world as if she should be selling cigarettes from a tray. While Betty Boop pre-dates another Betty, Betty Grable by nearly two decades, we were told that Scarlett opted the "look" because she is determined to bring to the screen the story of the World War II blonde pin-up girl who you 'll recall reminded millions of American servicemen what they were fighting for. Not only is she developing the script for the project, but Scarlett will be producing as well. Auditions are said to be underway for a suave, trumpet-playing actor for the part of Grable 's second husband, Harry James. "And no faking it," Scarlett is reported to have said. "I am looking for a real trumpet player. One that can act."

We spied Paul Rudd, one of the busiest actors around, dining at the Chateau Marmont, and in our TVQ book (which measures likeability and recognizability), he 's up there with the best. He's currently featured in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, his second for the director, the earlier being The 40-Year-Old Virgin, a huge hit, which starred Steven Carell. Early word on Knocked Up is very optimistic, with some critics vowing it will be the summer's biggest comedy. "A lot of married people will see aspects of themselves in this," said Paul. "I've been with my wife for 12 years. We saw the rough cut and it was incredibly awkward watching it together. I 'd look over at her and she'd look at me and it was clear that I had borrowed from our life. There it was on screen. " The 38-year-old Rudd also has an impressive TV-ography, guest starring in such popular programs as Sisters, Friends, Veronica Mars, and Reno 911. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he calls theatre the "most enriching and rewarding" pursuits an actor can have. He appeared in the Big Apple with Julia Roberts about this time last year in Three Days of Rain. But film is his focus now with the recently released box office hit, Night at the Museum, the current Knocked Up, and three projects in the pipeline.

As we were leaving the Chateau, Adam Levine, 28, the hottie Maroon 5 lead singer who's dated both Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson, was also on his way out, saying he didn't have time to talk to us. Too bad! We really wanted to ask him about the report in the gay men 's magazine, The Advocate, in which he reveals he wants to have sex with Brad Pitt. The publication quotes Levine: "I'm not the only one [who wants to have sex with Pitt]. I mean every male secretly wants to have sex with Brad Pitt. That 's a given." We're waiting to see if Angelina Jolie's lover will respond to Adam's public lusting after her man. We'll still be waiting a year from now, no doubt.

Karl Lagerfeld is not really fickle; he just wants to spread his talent around covering all bases. On his radar screen is British rowdy rocker Lily Allen, 22, who has a hit CD with Smile and has been bitten by the fashion bug. Lily attended the Chanel show in Paris and was recently in Southern C alifornia to attend Lagerfeld's Chanel resort collection at Hanger Number 8 in Santa Monica. Karl is considering the popster as the face of an upcoming ad campaign for Chanel. We saw Lily at the Tower Bar, the celebrity saloon in Jeff Klein's Sunset Tower Hotel. We frankly don't understand how she'll find time to hook up with Karl Lagerfeld, what with her singing career and the launch of her own clothing line, Lily Loves. The collection debuted in NYC. the same week that Kate Moss introduced her new line, Top Shop. She dismissed comparisons with Moss 's line, saying, "Please! We're two completely different people." She maintains she is completely hands on in designing her collection. "First, I looked at all the catwalk trends from the past year and chose shapes that I liked, the cut, lengths, neckline, sleeves. " Her cocktail collection consists of a dozen eye-catching dresses with classic Lily styling. She said she only hopes her frocks will be as big a hit as her irreverent songs are, now that she 's part of a growing trend that lends her name to a clothing line [like Moss and Madonna]. This summer, Lily will join an impressive list of musical headliners at the sell-out charity gig, Concert for Diana, which Prince William and Prince Harry are putting on to memorialize their mother, the late Princess of Wales. The July 1 event will bring out the biggest rock stars of the world, with the likes of Elton John and Rod Stewart.

When we wrote earlier about Knocked Up and Paul Rudd, we purposely didn't mention Katherine Heigl, the picture's distaff star. If you remember she earned a place in the hearts of the gay world when she came to the defense of T.J. Knight, her Grey's Anatomy cast member, when Isaiah Washington cruelly outed him, calling him "a little faggot," forcing Knight to admit his homosexuality, a very chancy choice in Hollywood, and one that Knight was not ready to make. Her gutsy dressing down of Washington after he repeated the slur at the Golden Globes received as much media attention as the remark itself. "T.J. is my best friend and I'll do everything in my power to take you down if you hurt his feelings," she said, referring to Washington's insensitive revelation about Knight. "I think Isaiah is paying a huge price for what he did, but that's life. I think he's humiliated. I think he's embarrassed. We had a nice conversation with the outspoken Katherine, who was with her fianc e, singer Josh Kelly, at the Tower Bar. She is a revelation in Knocked Up and many claim that it'll do for her what There's Something About Mary did for Cameron Diaz. She said about the film: "It's amazing when a movie is not only fun, but comes out well. I was a huge fan of Judd [Apatow, the film's director]. I saw The 40-Year-Old Virgin three times," Katherine told us.

We've already had a Broadway musical, Coco, about the legendary designer and creator of Chanel No. 5. It starred a 61-year-old Katharine Hepburn in 1969 and ran for less than a year at Broadway's Mark Hellinger Theatre. The musical was a collaboration between Andre Previn [music], Alan Jay Lerner [lyrics and book], Michael Bennett [choreography], and Cecil Beaton who won a Tony for his costume designs. Despite this noble failure, the fascination with Chanel as a woman and not so much as a couturier continues apace. William Friedkin is preparing a picture about Chanel's affair with Igor Stravinski and French actress Marina Hands has said yes to star as Gabrielle Chanel. Now there's buzz about another Chanel biopic, this one by director Daniel Thompson with Audrey Tatou's name being floated about as the star. Don't start ordering your tickets yet. There will be no films about Coco Chanel without the permission of the House of Chanel. And a Chanel insider told us that none has been sought or granted.

While Giorgio Armani was attending Beyonce Knowles's concert in Milan, we got word here that the Dreamgirl would be the face and voice of Armani's new fragrance, Emporio Armani's Diamonds. A source close to the designer told us, "They have been friends for seven years and Armani feels Beyonce represents the glamour and glitz of the fragrance." It is targeted to hit stores in September, with Beyonce belting out an "old American song" in the TV ads. We're pretty sure it won't be "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends."

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