Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Emma Watson felt claustrophobic in UK

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Emma Watson opted to go to university in America because she felt “claustrophobic”.

The ‘Harry Potter’ actress had been expected to enrol in prestigious Cambridge University but felt it was important to leave the UK so she could be “normal” for a while.

She explained: “I suddenly felt very claustrophobic. I thought, ‘I can’t stay here, I won’t be able to concentrate, I won’t be left alone.’

“I don’t want to put a negative light on it, as if I was escaping or anything like that. I think I wanted to meet people my own age and just be normal for a bit.”

While she enrolled in a liberal arts degree at Brown University, Emma put her studies on hold after two years so she could focus on promoting the final movies in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise – ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2’ – and is expected to resume her education in Oxford in September.

Speaking about her decision to put her studies on hold, she said: “I was commuting back and forth between the US and the UK trying to fulfil my commitment to this enormous ‘Harry Potter’ franchise and it just wasn’t feasible. I’m only human.

“I wasn’t getting the best out of either my studies or the filming, so I decided to give a proper goodbye to 10 years of work and resume my studies later.”

Enrique Iglesias not a popular teen

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Enrique Iglesias was unpopular with girls when he was a teenager.

The heartthrob pop star – who has been in a relationship with former tennis player Anna Kournikova for almost 10 years – didn’t have much luck with the opposite sex when he was growing up, but as soon as got famous lots of ladies were interested in dating him.

He said: “I was the king of heartbroken as a teenager. I was never the heartbreaker. I just couldn’t get laid. Years later, lots of the girls that rejected me came back just because I was famous. It is actually kind of sad.”

Enrique admits it isn’t difficult to attract women when you become a celebrity, and thinks lots of girls are interested in having “fun” with a famous guy.

He added: “If you become a famous singer or actor, or just famous, period, that helps a lot. Girls don’t necessarily want to marry a famous person but I think they like the thought of having fun with them.”

Ricky Martin prefers staying in

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Ricky Martin has to “force” himself to go out and have fun now he is a father.

The gay singer – who became a dad to twins Matteo and Valentino through a surrogate mother in August 2008 – is much more content staying at home with his sons and partner Carlos Gonzalez than going out partying these days.

He said: “Everything used to be about me and now everything is about my boys.

“I used to be a night owl but now I hardly go out. I have to force myself to go out because it is too easy to stay at home as a family on the couch.

“I love reading them stories and being there to put them to bed.”

Ricky has previously used his time in London to go out socialising, but this time he wants to use his visit to educate the boys.

He explained: “This time on tour, it isn’t about me going out clubbing, it’s about the boys.

“I want to take them to London Zoo and to the Natural History Museum, but I think they will be scared of the dinosaurs.”

Ricky wants his sons to have as many diverse experiences as possible so they can pursue their own interests, and says they are already fascinated by different things.

He told Hello! magazine: “I just want them to be happy. I am going to expose them to as many things as possible – sports. Arts, music – and let them find their own way.

“Matteo is very musical – he loves dancing – but Valentino loves nature and animals. He’s not afraid of picking up worms.”

Daniel Radcliffe loves free Potter rides

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Daniel Radcliffe loves the ‘Harry Potter’ theme park – because he doesn’t have to pay.

The 21-year-old actor – who has played the titular boy wizard in all eight of the movies in the franchise – was thrilled to be asked to open the attraction in Florida, which is based on the films and original books by J. K. Rowling, because he got to enjoy the rides afterwards.

He said: “It’s brilliant going round your own theme park. You don’t have to queue, you don’t have to pay.

“I went on the Dragon Challenge roller coaster five times.”

Despite having amassed an estimated £48 million fortune, Daniel admits he “doesn’t know” what to do with his cash, but is pleased he never has to worry about his finances.

He said: “I don’t know what to do with it. I’m very fortunate to have it, and it gives you room to manoeuvre.

“But the main thing about having money is it means you don’t have to worry about it. And that for me is a lovely thing. It’s not for fast cars and hookers.”

Brooke Mueller in plane row

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Brooke Mueller had a row with a flight attendant on Tuesday, culminating in her leaving her plane before it departed Los Angeles.

The former wife of Charlie Sheen – who has reportedly reconciled with the troubled actor and father of her two-year-old twin sons Bob and Max – was on a United Airlines flight to Cancun in Mexico when she was prevented from using the restroom on board because the plane was about to depart.

Although Brooke claims the flight attendant was rude and replied “tough” when she explained she had to vomit, a witness told gossip website TMZ that the 33-year-old reality TV star was “belligerent and cussing out” the staff member.

The real estate agent is said to have gone “ballistic” and demanded to leave the plane, which she was allowed to do, though it is not known if she was ejected from the flight or allowed to dismount of her own accord.

Brooke – who has endured a long battle with drug and alcohol abuse – recently completed a 45 day treatment programme at an unnamed rehab facility and is said to be doing “amazing”.

A source revealed: “Brooke is just taking it a day at a time. She has been down this road before and she knows what she has to do.

“Brooke needs to continue to play an active role in her sobriety. When she goes to her AA meetings everyday and talks regularly with her sponsor, she does amazing.”

The actress has completed an outpatient programme which allowed her to spend eight hours a day with her sons and now she will be spending every day with them, and every other weekend.

Kourtney Kardashian's brother blasts Scott

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Kourtney Kardashian’s brother refuses to visit her because of Scott Disick.

The socialite moved into a new home with her partner and their 18-month-old son Mason five months ago, but her sibling Rob Kardashian has only just been to the property for the first time, admitting “negative” Scott is the reason why he has stayed away.

In a forthcoming episode of ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’, Rob tells Kourtney: “The reason I don’t come over here is because of Scott. He’s an alcoholic. He’s a negative person in my life.

“Like, he has a kid. Show me that you’re mature and show me you’re mature enough to have a kid with my sister.”

Last year, Scott sought therapy for his addictions and vowed to fight his problems for the sake of Kourtney and Mason.

He said: “Kourtney doesn’t really always 100 per cent understand that it’s a real disease that I have, and it’s not just something that I can turn off and on.

“But now that I have a little baby, I don’t really want to play any of these games. I just want to be with her and see my son grow.”

Scott famously has a difficult relationship with Kourtney’s family, though her mother Kris Jenner has revised her opinion of him and recently urged the couple to marry and have more children.

She said: “I would love for them to get married. I mean, they have a baby and it’s time to make that, you know, a full-on legitimate family.

“They’re being a little stingy with the grandchildren. I need some more!”

Ewan McGregor had no ideal woman

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Ewan McGregor didn’t have an ideal woman “checklist”.

The ‘Beginners’ actor – who is due to celebrate his 16-year anniversary with wife Eve Mavrakis next week – explained while he doesn’t know what the secret to their lasting romance is, he “fell in love” with her instantly.

He said: “I don’t know what keeps us together. I hit 40 this year and I’ve got friends of the same age who haven’t found a partner yet.

“I didn’t have a checklist for my ideal woman. I was very young when we met, and I just fell in love with her and knew I wanted to be with her, and I still want to be with her.”

The 39-year-old star – who raises four daughters with Eve, biological children Clara, 15, and Esther, 10, as well as adopted kids Jamiyan, nine, and a baby girl whose name has not yet been revealed – explained the couple are raising their brood with traditional Scottish values passed down from his own parents.

Ewan added to the Daily Mail newspaper: “We go back to visit my mum and dad in Crieff every summer and the kids love it. My knowledge of parenting comes directly from the way I was raised by my parents – I think that politeness and manners are very important.”

Michael Caine shared jokes with Queen

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Sir Michael Caine once shared a joke-telling session with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

The 78-year-old actor portrays a 1966 Aston Martin in forthcoming movie ‘Cars 2’, which also features a vehicle in the likeness of the queen, and he thinks the monarch would love it because she has such a good sense of humour.

He said: “I think she’d react very well. She’s good fun.

“I sat next to her at a dinner once, and she suddenly turned to me and said, ‘Do you know any jokes?’ And I said, ‘Yes, but not many I could tell you, Your Majesty.’

“I said, ‘You tell me one while I think of one to tell you.’ ”

However, the veteran actor – who has appeared in more than 150 movies throughout his career -can’t remember the humorous retort she told him in response.

He added in an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I can’t remember the joke she told me, but it was very funny. The Queen has an incredible sense of humour, a tremendous sense of fun.”