MAMBA GOSSIP

Hugh Jackman is the sexiest man alive

X-Men’s Hugh Jackman has been named as 2008’s Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. Interviewed by the mag, Hugh addressed the oh-so-annoying rumours about his sexuality, which his wife is apparently not too pleased about. The actor explained that,”When I played [gay Australian entertainer] Peter Allen [on Broadway in The Boy from Oz], Deb saw the show about 50 times. She said the most infuriating times would be in the bathroom because all she’d hear is, ‘Is he or isn’t he gay?’ And she used to call out from the stall, ‘He’s not gay! I’m telling you he’s not!’ And there would be silence until someone said, ‘I think that’s his wife!’” To be honest, here at Mamba Mansions we feel that with the hunky Hugh in her bed every night she should just shut the hell up. Here’s a recent picture of Hugh frolicking on the beach in Sydney. We love us some well-toned Aussie bear in the morning… Growl!

Madonna set to keep her cash

It been reported by London’s Evening Standard that the Ritchies have reached a divorce settlement. According to the newspaper, Guy does not want any of Madonna’s $500 million fortune (idiot!), even though he is entitled by law to a large portion of it. He has however insisted on shared custody of the brats with Madge; with the kids expected to spend equal time with mom and dad. Thankfully the two can afford the massive cost of the many trans-continental flights that this will entail. The first stage of the divorce is expected to be granted by the courts on Friday, with the final decree issued about six weeks later. Then again, take this with a grain of salt…It all sounds much too easy to be true.

Britney’s life like a prison

A new documentary about Britney Spears, shown on MTV to co-coincide with the release of her new album Circus, has the singer speaking openly about her life and recent experiences. In Britney: For The Record she reveals that she sometimes sees her life as a kind of prison.”There’s no excitement, there’s no passion. I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail, y’know, there’s the time when you’re gonna get out. But in this situation, it’s never ending. It’s just like Groundhog Day every day.” She goes on to say: “I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free. I think I’ve learnt my lesson now and enough is enough.” Usually we get annoyed by whinging celebs, but with Britney we can’t help but think “agg, shame.”

Miley’s boyfriend gets more modelling work

Miley Cyrus’s 19-year-old boyfriend Justin Gaston (right), also known for his sterling underwear modelling, is adding to his résumé by taking on a job for the new Just Cavalli Spring 2009 worldwide campaign. He apparently appears in the campaign, shot by photographers Mert & Marcus, along with Kate Moss. This is not really gripping gossip, but it’s an excellent, if admittedly shallow, excuse to show you a picture of this fine American specimen.

Michael Jackson’s lawsuit woes

Michael Jackson just can’t seem to get his life in order. The poor dear is beset by never-ending troubles. First, his notorious Neverland Ranch has finally been sold, it was revealed last week, and now he is embroiled in another lawsuit. Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain is suing Michael for $7 million for apparently reneging on a contract to produce an autobiography, an album, and a musical. The Thriller singer insists that the $7 million was a gift ($7 million – a gift???) and does not need to be repaid. Despite initial claims that he would not be able to attend the trial in London because he was sick, Michael has now apparently been given the green light by doctors to fly to England to testify. Still no sign of his eagerly-anticipated and much-discussed new album. Yawn…

Charlize to star in transsexual drama

Our very own Charlize Theron is set to star in the film The Danish Girl with Nicole Kidman. The movie tells the true story of Danish artists Einar and Greta Wegener. Kidman will play Einar, who went on to undergo gender reassignment surgery in 1931 (ooh, sounds pretty dodgy in those days) and became a woman. Charlize will take on the role of Greta, her wife. You may remember that the progressive Benoni girl has shown no fear of sexual politics; she played a lesbian serial killer in Monster and famously said that she would not marry boyfriend Stuart Townsend until gays were given the right to marry in the US. With Charlize and Nicole in the same movie, we can already smell the sweet scent of Oscars galore.

The most over-exposed celebrities revealed

Forbes magazine has released a list of Hollywood’s Most Overexposed Celebrities in the US. The list was compiled via a poll of the public’s ranking of 4,500 celebrities – and the results are hardly surprising. Paris Hilton reigns supreme at the top of the list, with 65% of Americans believing that she is ‘overexposed’, followed in second place by Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan is in third place, trailed by her spotlight-obsessed mother Dina and Pamela Anderson in fifth place. Disney slut, Miley Cyrus, comes in at number eight.

Boyzone’s gay-friendly music video

Boyzone, the reformed Irish group, have made boy-band history by releasing a music video that includes a same-sex couple. In the video for the romantic ballad Better, the members of the band are shown with their respective partners – including openly gay Stephen Gately with his boyfriend. Stephen came out in 1999 to The Sun newspaper. He was introduced to internet businessman Andrew Cowles by Elton John and David Furnish and the two entered into a civil partnership in London in 2006. One small step for man, one giant leap for boy-band-kind…