Stunning film star Nicole Kidman remains modest about her prospects for Best Actress at this year's Oscars. The actress has been nominated for the award for her role as the courtesan Satine in hit movie musical Moulin Rouge, which puts her in competition with Judi Dench for her role in Iris. Nicole says, "I am up against Dame Judi Dench for Iris, so who do you think is going to win? If I was going to give it to anyone, I would give it to her."

Screen legend Warren Beatty is hoping his Bulworth co-star Halle Berry will pick up an Oscar next month. Halle has been nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role as widow Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball, and Beatty is standing staunchly behind her. Warren enthuses, "Have you seen her in Bulworth? Have you seen her in the Dorothy Dandridge film? I don't like to show partiality to one film over another. But I want to come out in support of Halle. I'm terribly fond of her. She's an incredible actress. Halle is such a beautiful woman and, at the same time, has such a sense of humility that people have trouble adjusting to it."

Christopher Walken is amazed that so many people do imitations of him. Famous actors such as Kevin Spacey at the Oscars, as well as his old friends enjoy speaking in the screen legend's well known tones. Walken says, "I remember a few years ago I was sitting at home with my wife watching the Oscars. I was sitting on the couch and suddenly heard my voice. It's thrilling. It's interesting that a lot of guys do me. I have a friend who does me on his answering machine so when I call him I talk to myself. I don't really know what that comes from. It doesn't seem to me that I speak in a strange way. My wife says Kevin's the best."

Sylvester Stallone rescued actress Mira Sorvino and his wife Jennifer Flavin from an elevator. Stallone, 55, showed off his legendary muscles when he manually pulled up an elevator which was stuck between floors in Hollywood's new Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards are being held next month. Sorvino and pregnant Flavin were among a group of people trapped in the backstage elevator at the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Love Rocks gig last Thursday. Stallone pulled off his Armani jacket and was able to lift the heavy load, before prying the doors open to release the elevator's captives. One passenger asked expectant Flavin, "Is he always like this?" to which a proud Flavin replied, "Yes, he is."

Actress Liza Minelli's wedding is gearing up to be the event of the year - she's having 17 bridesmaids. Liza is having two maids of honor - Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson - at her nuptials next month. Among her attendants will be R&B babe Mya, singer Petula Clark, soul legend Chaka Khan, actresses Mia Farrow and Janet Leigh and New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, all wearing black gowns of their choosing. Liza's fiance David Gest is aiming to be as extravagant as his wife-to-be with 15 groomsmen and two best men - Michael and Tito Jackson. Among the performers at the reception will be Whitney Houston, Tony Bennett and the Doobie Brothers.

Kirk Douglas has invited his first wife to join himself, son Michael and grandson Cameron in clan movie Family Jewels. Diana Darrid Douglas, who is Michael's birth mother, will play the movie veteran's wife in the film, which is set to start filming next month in New York. The last time she appeared with Kirk on the big screen was in 1955's The Indian Fighter. Douglas' wife of 48 years, Anne, has no qualms about her husband teaming up with his ex. She insists they've all stayed great friends. Anne says, "It will give me more than the usual three days in New York to shop."

Comedian Jamie Foxx has been given the all-clear to poke fun at his pal Mike Tyson, as long as he tells him what he'll be saying before shows. Foxx, who'll be making fun of the troubled boxer during his new HBO cable stand-up show I Might Need Security on Saturday night, claims he has been given the OK by Tyson himself. Foxx says, "I know Mike and he's OK, but I have to ring him and let him know what I'm saying about him. You don't want that in your backyard." The comic admits filming Ali with Will Smith in the wilds of Africa gave him a lot of material for his new special. He adds, "We were filming one day and there was this whole pride of lions right next to us. The guides tell you not to be nervous, but these beasts are looking at you like, `Any time, I can have you. One of the guides was hitting the horn and trying to make you jump, saying the lions won't hurt you. The lions are looking at you like, `Don't believe that'."

Stunning Australian Cate Blanchett is more than willing to hide her natural beauty if a role requires it. The attractive actress is known for her chameleon-like screen presence, and admits she has no qualms about looking less than perfect when she's in character. Blanchett donned a series of unattractive outfits and a bad hairdo for supernatural thriller The Gift, and even shaved off her lustrous hair to star in Heaven. She explains, "I think you've just got to embrace it. You have to be prepared to shed your natural vanity, and if the part requires it, shed parts of yourself that perhaps make you feel more secure."

Reese Witherspoon has struck gold on the set of her new movie Sweet Home Alabama - in the shape of actress Candice Bergen. Bergen overheard Witherspoon fretting about which school to send her baby daughter Ava to and offered to help. Reese says, "She's giving me all this great advice. Her daughter went to school in California, so she knows all the best places."

Josh Hartnett tried to give up sex for his new movie - but it "made him crazy". Hartnett stars in 40 Days And 40 Nights, which is about a man who gives up sex for Lent - and while he tried to take a vow of chastity for the duration of filming, Josh admits it was a nightmare. He says, "I wasn't gonna go 40 days and 40 nights. It made me a little bit crazy. It made me understand some of the feelings, just the deprivation. You're depriving yourself of this one thing, and it becomes all you can think about."