The 84th Annual Academy Awards were held in Hollywood at the Kodak Theatre (or as host Billy Crystal quipped – the Chapter 11 Theater) on Sunday night and there were few surprises.

Crystal was his usual affable, likable self; the ratings were up slightly from last year but there were no really big wow moments to the 2012 Oscars.

The biggest winners of the night were Martin Scorsese‘s Hugo and Michel Hazanavicius‘ The Artist – each taking 5 wins, although The Artist won the biggest nods of Best Director, Best Feature and Best Leading Actor among it’s accolades.

The Help star Octavia Spencer had a very sweet moment at the podium when she was genuinely overcome with emotion as she accepted her Best Supporting Actress gold statue.

Chistopher Plummer and Meryl Streep were also very engaging during their thank you speeches and Jean Dujardin shared a moment with Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier of The Artist that has become a fan favorite.

Viola Davis and George Clooney were hot contenders for Best Actress and Actor categories, respectively, but both walked away empty handed.

Among the presenters for the evening: Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, Tom Hanks, Cameron Diaz, Tina Fey, Michael Douglas, Bradley Cooper, Chris Rock, Melissa Leo, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph and Emma Stone.

Below is the full list of winners:  (Read the article)

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Jennifer Aniston‘s still got the goods – at least according to one survey.

The 42 year-old Just Go With It star was named as Hollywood’s Most Desired Body in the Hollywood’s Hottest Looks poll.

The info is compiled by Beverly Hills plastic surgeons Dr. Richard Fleming and Dr. Toby Mayer who report Aniston over-taking the top spot from last year’s winner Gisele Bundchen. Aniston was also the top vote-getter in 2009.

She topped stars like Bar Refaeli, Shakira, Katy Perry, Penelope Cruz and Amanda Seyfried.

For the gents, Chris Hemsworth is the Hollywood guy other men want surgeons to sculpt their bodies like. The Australian hunk was followed by Taylor Lautner and Chris Evans.

Here’s one list that reality stars haven’t invaded.

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It’s always a treat to see the new issue of V, and the latest, Issue 72, does not disappoint. Penelope Cruz is V‘s cover girl, looking for all the world like the star of an old Duran Duran video.   Retro and gorgeous!

Penelope was photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot, who always create amazing images.

More pictures  after the jump.

(Read the article)

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Overcome by emotion during her interview with Vogue magazine, actress Penelope Cruz teared up when talking about becoming a mother.

“This has never happened to me,” she said. “This is really funny,” she said before apologizing. “It’s unexpected.”

Cruz, 37, and her husband, actor Javier Bardem, 42, welcomed their first child, son Leonardo, in January and the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides actress says her focus is entirely different.

“It is a revolutionary experience. That’s the best way I can describe it,” she explained. “It transforms you completely, in a second.”

“Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment – when you see that face, you are transformed forever,” Cruz said.

The actress has been active in charities worldwide with a focus on children, but having a child of her own has intensified that desire to help.

“Even if you were aware of children and felt compassion, when you have your own, it multiplies,” she told the magazine. “It breaks your heart to know that there are so many children in the world suffering so much.”

Now she says, the trick for her and Bardem becomes how to shield Leonardo from the scrutiny of the press.

“I want my son – and my kids if I have more – to grow up in a way that is as anonymous as possible,” Cruz shared. “The fact that his father and I have chosen to do the work that we do doesn’t give anybody the right to invade our privacy.”

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Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz had a very busy international flight plan this week.

Earlier in the week, the stars of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides were in Cannes for the world premiere of their movie, posing on the red carpet in the French Riveria (see photos here and here,) then Moscow for a photo call & premiere (see photo above) and yesterday the duo hopped a plane and attended the London premiere (those pictures are below.)

In Russia, Penelope donned a black velvet embroidered and embellished Emilio Pucci dress with bow at the neck and her hair pulled back.

In London Cruz opted for a lighter look, a white lacy, sleek Givenchy Couture gown with zip front that was streamlined and beautiful on the actress. She left her hair down and straight and it echoed the line of the dress. Perfect.

Depp wore a charcoal gray suit with a blue shirt to the London premiere and told reporters that working with Penelope for this film was great and that she ‘kept him on his toes.’

”I’ve worked with her twice now, and it’s always been a real pleasure,” Depp said.

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Penelope Cruz turned up Saturday night at Disneyland in Anaheim, California for the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides.

The actress opted for an off-the-shoulder custom gown from Marchesa with embroidery, jet crystal beading and feathered embellished trim for a sleek and elegant look.

Cruz told reporters on the red carpet that she had a fabulous time filming.

“It was six amazing months of my life traveling around the world,” said Cruz.

More photos are below. (Read the article)

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Penelope Cruz went all black for the 2011 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City on Monday, May 2nd.

The 2011 Met Gala, as it’s more commonly known, featured an exhibit, the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty retrospective, which honored the late designer’s body of work.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actress played it safe, but beautiful, in Oscar de la Renta. The silk organza banded strapless dress with feathered trim on the skirt was very nice and the new mom looked very pretty.

More photos of Penelope are below. (Read the article)

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Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating today, April 28th, including:

1926 – Harper Lee, author
1941 – Ann-Margret, actress
1948 – Terry Prachett, author
1948 – Marcia Strassman, actress
1950 – Jay Leno, TV talk show host
1952 – Mary McDonnell, actress
1953 – Kim Gordon, musician
1971 – Bridget Moynahan, actress
1973 – Jorge Garcia, actor
1973 – Elizabeth Rohm, actress
1974 – Penelope Cruz, actress
1981 – Jessica Alba, actress
1982 – Harry Shum Jr., actor
1986 – Jenna Ushkowitz, actress

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Penelope Cruz received the 2,436th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today.

The Oscar winning actress attended the ceremony with friend Johnny Depp and husband Javier Bardem.

While Depp and Cruz are in this May’s release Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Depp gave a speech referencing an older film the two did together.

“A relatively long time ago, we did Blow together,” Johnny joked.

Not to be outdone, Cruz got in a little Depp fun in her speech.

Born in Spain, she says came to the United States in 1994 knowing only two phrases: “How are you?” and “I want to work with Johnny Depp.”

Now she says, she knows one more saying: “I want to work with Johnny Depp again.”

More photos are below.  (Read the article)

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Editors, art directors and photographers are sharing one common thread for their April magazines – take a celebrity or model and photograph them with an animal (or two.)

Robert Pattinson had a baby alligator slung over his shoulders for Vanity Fair, Penelope Cruz cradled a little lamb on the cover of Elle Japan and Britney Spears cuddled up with a fluffy kitty for V Magazine.

It’s certainly not new, but it’s particularly prolific this month. Amanda Seyfried’s whole shoot for American Elle paired her with a different pet for each photo, model Ewelina held a cat on the cover of Chaos and model Camille Rowe also got a little alligator love for Jalouse magazine.

Take a look at all the photos below and tell us which one you like best for April 2011.  (Read the article)

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