MAMBA GOSSIP

Chris Evans on being a gay sex symbol

Fantastic Four hunk Chris Evans was recently interviewed by US gay mag, The Advocate. The 27-year-old actor says that while he’s more than happy to hang out with his younger gay brother Scott’s friends, he won’t go to gay bars with them: “I said, ‘Look, guys, I’ve got to draw the line there.’ That’s where a photo will get taken, it will run in magazines, and before you know it, I’ll be living down the gay rumour for the rest of my life.” Chris also reveals that he lost out to James Franco for the role of Harvey Milk’s lover in the Oscar nominated film Milk, and has a “man-crush” on Brad Pitt.

Discussing his steamy and much-loved 2004 photo shoot for Flaunt magazine (example on the left), Chris says that his publicist was not amused: “…my publicist says, ‘When you’re promoting yourself, being you, there’s a way to keep it as classy as possible. Greasing yourself up and stripping down may not be the best way to do it.’ To some degree, she may have a point. But at the end of the day, it didn’t bother me then and it doesn’t bother me now.” Here at Mamba Mansions we’re rather keen that Chris gets himself another publicist as soon as possible. Keep the “greased up and stripping” photos flowing!

Ellen and Portia vegan shocker!

Yes folks, the two most famous married lesbians in the world have succumbed to the vegan way. Worries about Ellen looking a little too thin of late have been explained by an apparent change in eating habit. Portia de Rossi spilled the beans (hehe) in an interview and revealed that the couple are no longer eating meat or dairy. “We just made that shift in our lives. The benefit of it is weight loss. For her more than me. Her body responded to it very well. It is amazing,” she said. “We are just both very happy. It feels like such a compassionate choice. We are such animal lovers, why stop short of cows and chickens?” she added. Why indeed. No chance of us going vegan here at Mamba Mansions though; we’re big-time meat lovers. The meatier the better! Yum!

Remembering Heath Ledger

We’re not sure if it’s part publicity stunt or just a co-incidence, but the late Heath Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight one year to the day on which he died. Weird. The actor was one of our favourites when he was alive; few could doubt his dedication to his craft and his adventurous spirit. And who can forget his fantastic turn as the mumbling Ennis Del Mar – desperately hanging on to love in Brokeback Mountain – for which he was also nominated for an Oscar. He is still missed here at The Mansions. Congrats Heath!

Jim and Ewan talk kissing each another

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, stars of the new gay prison romance movie I Love You, Phillip Morris, attended the recent premiere of the film at the Sundance Festival. They were grilled by audience members about what it was like to play gay lovers. “What was it like to kiss Ewan McGregor?” someone asked. “It was a dream come true,” said Jim, “I mean, just look at the guy,” he grinned. When Ewan, who’s played gay before, was asked what it was like to play a gay man, he replied: “Same as playing any other kind of man. It was never awkward to kiss or cuddle.” That’s when Jim stepped in and quipped: “Hard to let go of it, though!” Strange how no one ever asks a male actor what it’s like to play a straight man or kiss a woman. The film also features the stunning Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro (in the picture with Jim Carrey)…

Boy George settles into prison life

The Sun reports that Boy George, the increasingly rotund former pop star, is settling into his new prison home; despite fearing that he will be targeted by other prisoners. George was jailed for 15 months for keeping a rent boy captive in his flat during a cocaine binge (sounds like something out of a movie, doesn’t it?) According to the newspaper he has scored a job in the prison canteen earning £6 a week as a server. This hasn’t gone down well with the other prisoners because inmates usually only get cushy jobs like this after spending some time in the slammer. George also apparently shares his cell with a Rasta man and spends much of his time sleeping. The Sun published a photo, snapped with a mobile phone by an inmate, of the singer/DJ scribbling in a notebook. He’s been described by some as a broken man. Is there a moral to this story? We don’t know…you tell us.

70’s gay icon gets film award

If you haven’t ever looked back on the gay art scene in New York during the 60’s and 70’s you probably won’t have heard of Joe Dallesandro. The then absolutely gorgeous rent-boy-turned-actor was one of the most desired men in the world. He had no qualms about appearing naked in the underground films of artist Andy Warhol and became an icon of gay subculture. His crotch was on the cover of the Rolling Stones album Sticky Fingers and he was even mentioned in the Lou Reed song Walk on the Wild Side as “Little Joe”. Now 60, Joe will be honoured for his work at the 59th Berlin Film Festival next month. The organisers said in a statement that: “Dallesandro was not only the most beautiful man in his media generation, but also put his erotic appeal out to consciously be objectified. He has this physical appearance you never get tired of watching.” We couldn’t agree more…

Ken and Barbie’s dark secrets revealed

A new tell-all book, Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel, has revealed the truth behind one of the world’s biggest toy empires. Jack Ryan, the man who designed the Barbie doll is described as a “full-blown seventies-style swinger” who hosted orgies in his mansion and was known for dating blonde women with large breasts.”When Jack talked about creating Barbie… it was like listening to somebody talk about a sexual episode, almost like listening to a sexual pervert…” says one insider in the book. Barbie’s boyfriend Ken was named after the son of one of the Mattel founders. He was embarrassed throughout his life by the fact that the male doll has no genitals; something people loved to comment on. The book claims that this real life Ken was a closeted gay, despite being married, and died from Aids-related complications. It all gives new meaning to ‘adult toys’ doesn’t it?