Hugh Grant: A Non-Murdoch Tabloid Hacked Me In 2007

First Published: November 21, 2011 3:49 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LONDON, U.K. -- Caption The dapper Hugh Grant at a photo call for Did You Hear About The Morgans in Berlin, Germany on December 4, 2009Hugh Grant told a London courtroom Monday about the dark side of celebrity life, describing mysterious break-ins, leaked medical details and hacked voice mails and laying blame on the entire tabloid press, not just the now-shuttered News of the World. Grants testimony to a judge-led media ethics inquiry capped a tough day for Britains beleaguered press. Earlier, the parents of a murdered schoolgirl whose phone was targeted by the tabloid described how the hacking had given them false hope that their daughter was still alive. Grant said he believes his phone was hacked by Britains Mail on Sunday tabloid the first time he has implicated a newspaper not owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the wrongdoing. The actor said a 2007 story about his romantic life in the paper, owned by Murdoch rival Associated Newspapers Ltd., could only have been obtained through eavesdropping on his voice mails. He said he could not think of any other way the newspaper could have obtained the story alleging that his romance with Jemima Khan was on the rocks because of his conversations with a plummy voiced woman the paper identified as a film studio executive. Grant said there was no such woman, but he did receive voice messages from the assistant of a movie producer friend. She would leave charming, joking messages and she had a voice that can only be described as plummy, he said. Grant sued the newspaper for libel and won. Challenged about whether he had hard evidence, Grant acknowledged he was speculating. But Id love to hear what the Daily Mail or the Sunday Mails explanation of what that source was if it wasnt phone hacking, he said. The Mail on Sunday said in a statement said that it utterly refutes Grantssuggestion it had hacked his phone and described his comments as smears. Over two and a half hours of testimony, Grant by turns charming and censorious described years of tabloid pursuit that began after his breakthrough hit, Four Weddings and a Funeral, in 1994. Incidents included a mysterious break-in at his apartment during which nothing was stolen. Descriptions of the apartment later appeared in a tabloid newspaper. He also said an article published earlier this year in The Sun and Daily Express about his visit to a hospital emergency room was a gross intrusion of my privacy. I think no one would expect their medical records to be made public or to be appropriated by newspapers for commercial profit, he said. That is fundamental to our British sense of decency. And he said paparazzi had hounded Tinglan Hong, the mother of Grants baby daughter, despite the actors efforts to keep his paternity secret. He said he did not attend the babys birth in late September, but the next day, I couldnt resist a quick visit. There seems to have been a leak from the hospital, Grant said. They even knew the fake name she had checked into the hospital under. Grant had initially refused to confirm the baby was his, but earlier this month released a statement acknowledging it. He told the inquiry that the statement intended in part to rebuff claims he had jilted Hong, with whom he remains friendly had been composed during a phone call with his publicist while he was on a film set in Germany. It was not ideal circumstances, Grant said. I was dressed as a cannibal at the time. Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry into media ethics in response to an evolving scandal over phone hacking in Britain. Murdoch shut down the discredited News of the World tabloid in July after evidence emerged that it had routinelyeavesdropped on the voice mails of public figures, celebrities and even crime victims in its search for scoops. The inquiry, led by Judge Brian Leveson, plans to issue a report next year and could recommend major changes to the way the media in Britain are regulated. Grant, who has become an outspoken campaigner against press intrusion, called for a media code of ethics and tougher regulation. There has been a section of our press that has been allowed to become toxic over the past 20 or 30 years, he said, urging Britain to find the courage to stand up to tabloid bullies. Grant is one of a string of high-profile witnesses, including actress Sienna Miller and author J.K. Rowling, who will testify about how they were followed, photographed, entrapped and harassed by journalists from Britains tabloids, which collectively sell millions of copies a day. The first witnesses Monday were the parents of murdered teenager Milly Dowler, whose mobile phone voice mails were hacked after she disappeared in 2002. Her mother told the inquiry that she believed her missing 13 year old was still alive once she reached the girls previously full voice mailbox. Sally Dowler said when she could finally leave a message on Millys voice mail weeks after the girl disappeared, she shouted: Shes picked up the voice mails! Shes alive! In fact, messages had been deleted by someone working for the News of the World while the Dowlers and police were still searching for Milly, who was later found dead. The Dowlers said they had been utterly shocked when police told them, much later, that Millys phone had been hacked. Bob Dowler said he recognized immediately that the information was dynamite. News that tabloid journalists had targeted not just celebrities but a murdered girl shocked many Britons and triggered a police investigation and media recriminations that are still unfolding. The Dowlers took the stand together and spoke in quiet, composed voices during their 30 minutes of nationally televised testimony. They described their shock and anger when a private walk to retrace their missing daughters last steps was secretly photographed by the tabloid. It just felt like such an intrusion into a really, really private grief moment, Sally Dowler said. The couple said they later realized that their own phone, as well as their daughters, had been hacked. More than a dozen News of the World journalists and editors have been arrested and several senior Murdoch executives have resigned over the still-evolving scandal. Two top London police officers also lost their jobs, along with Camerons media adviser. Later this week the inquiry will hear from Harry Potter author Rowling, comedian Steve Coogan, actress Miller and former Formula One boss Max Mosley whose taste for sadomasochism was revealed in a widely publicized News of the World sting. Its a courtroom lineup that Britains celebrity-obsessed tabloids would love, if only they werent the ones in the dock. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zoe Saldana & Longtime Fiance Split

First Launched: November 12, 2011 4:47 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Keith Britton and Zoe Saldana arrive for the Dying Inside A Funeral La premiere in Hollywood, California on April 12, 2010 Zoe Saldana and her fiance, entrepreneur Keith Britton, have referred to as it quits. After more than ten years-extended relationship, the Avatar and Star Trek beauty and her former love have amicably separated after 11 years, Saldanas repetition mentioned in the statement to get into Hollywood on Saturday. Furthermore for his or her romantic ties, Saldana, 33, and Britton, 35, may also be partners, getting co-founded My Fashion Date Base (a means website), and can interact because capacity. Saldana and Britton remain committed partners as co-founders of favor resource MyFDB.com. Respect from the privacy is appreciated throughout this time around around, the statement ongoing. Because the Colombiana star has yet to produce a direct statement in regards to the split, on Friday she Tweeted, You, yourself, around anybody within the whole world, deserve your boyfriend or girlfriend and affection. Buddha. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, the first sort couple introduced their engagement in June 2010 after 10 years of dating. In those days, the actress told Access that Britton was very encouraging of her existence inside the Hollywood spotlight, which she felt he was alone who understood the particular Zoe. Hes a very independent soul, she told Access Take advantage of Robinson within the Women In Film 2010 Very + Lucy Honours. They know a few things i do, but this is not what he fell deeply deeply in love with and thats a few things i love. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Contender: 'The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn'

'The Adventures of Tintin' Read the reviewIt's thirty years since Steven Spielberg's Saturday-matinee throwback "Raiders of the Lost Ark" landed eight Oscar nominations, including mentions for Best Picture and Director. Now, Spielberg's eye-popping adaptation of Belgian artist Herg's boy-adventurer comics works a similar retro, gung-ho groove, with the crucial difference that it comes rendered in cutting-edge motion capture technology. No helmer of an animated feature has yet been nominated in the Best Director category. Then again, most helmers of animated features aren't Spielberg.The three-time Oscar winner seems likelier to be recognized in the top races for his live-action WWI epic "War Horse," which hits US screens mere days after "Tintin" in December. Should that film underwhelm, however, it's not inconceivable that Spielberg supporters in the Academy could switch allegiance to the fluffier entertainment - assuming "Tintin" is as well-received by US audiences and critics as it has been in Europe, where the source material is more widely familiar.At present, a Best Animated Feature nod looks to be the film's primary target. Even there, though, it faces the obstacle of the animation branch's occasional resistance to performance capture. With that in mind, nods for composer John Williams and the sound team could be the easiest gets of all.Release date: Dec. 21ParamountRead the Variety review Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Attacking Youthful Boys, Rachelle Lefervre, Jennifer Aniston Among People Choice Nominees

Attacking Youthful Boys, Rachelle Lefervre, Jennifer Aniston Among People Choice Nominees By Sophie Schillaci November 9, 2011 Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Rachelle Lefervre Kaley Cuoco, who'll work as host in the 2012 People Choice Honours, hit The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Slopes on Tuesday, November. 7 to announce the lucky nominees with this particular year's ceremony.Grew to become an associate of by Elisha Cuthbert, Julianne Hough, Joe Jonas, Jennifer Morrison, Sharon Osbourne, Busy Phillips and executive producer Mark Burnett, the announcement marked day one of voting in most 43 groups. Fans can click PeoplesChoice.com to cast their votes until 12 ,. 6, 2011, where registered voters are instantly became a member of to win tickets for the show when they participate. Options for voting can be found via Facebook, Twitter and Android mobile items.The show is slated to air survive CBS from Nokia Theater, L.A. Survive Wednesday, Jan. 11. Now within the 38th year, the People Choice Honours takes note of music, movies, television, and all things in between. The Hollywood Reporter Attacking Youthful Boys, Rachelle Lefervre, Jennifer Aniston Among People Choice Nominees By Sophie Schillaci November 9, 2011 Rachelle Lefervre PHOTO CREDIT Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Kaley Cuoco, who'll work as host in the 2012 People Choice Honours, hit The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Slopes on Tuesday, November. 7 to announce the lucky nominees with this particular year's ceremony.Grew to become an associate of by Elisha Cuthbert, Julianne Hough, Joe Jonas, Jennifer Morrison, Sharon Osbourne, Busy Phillips and executive producer Mark Burnett, the announcement marked day one of voting in many 43 groups. Fans can click PeoplesChoice.com to cast their votes until 12 ,. 6, 2011, where registered voters are instantly became a member of to win tickets for the show when they participate. Options for voting can be found via Facebook, Twitter and Android mobile items.The show is slated to air survive CBS from Nokia Theater, L.A. Survive Wednesday, Jan. 11. Now within the 38th year, the People Choice Honours takes note of music, movies, television, and all things in between. The Hollywood Reporter

BREAKING: Brett Ratner Resigns As Producer in the Academy awards

Never underestimate the power of #RatnerFreeOscars! Just 24 several hours after news of Brett Ratner’s insensitive remarks about rehearsals (they’re “for fags”) and also the sex existence triggered experts to protest his participation in this particular year’s 84th Academy awards telecast, the Tower Heist director has walked lower as producer. “I referred to as [Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences leader] Tom Sherak today and resigned just like a producer in the 84th Academy awards telecast,” Ratner referred to in the extended apology/statement launched in just minutes ago. “Being asked for to help positioned on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful because this can be personally, it may be worse if my link with the show might be a distraction within the Academy as well as the high ideals it signifies.” Even though Sherak shown his support for your Tower Heist director yesterday after his quantity of ill-advised claims, the AMPAS leader grants or loans of his resignation. “He did the very best factor for your Academy too for themselves,” Sherak mentioned in the statement within the AMPAS. “Words have meaning, and they have effects. Brett is a superb person, but his comments were unacceptable. Most of us hope it is really an opportunity to boost awareness in regards to the harm that's triggered by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of intent.” As Sherak looks for a completely new producer with this particular year’s ceremony, Movieline wish to kindly point him for that alternative suggestions created by our dear site visitors yesterday. It isn't known whether Eddie Murphy, whom the Tower Heist director employed as this year’s Oscars host, may even step out of this season’s ceremony. Developing… · Brett Ratner Out as Oscar Show Producer [THR]

Weekend Receipts: Puss in Boots Claws its Way Back to First

Listen closely and you can hear the womp wooommp coming out of Universal HQ from miles away — that’s the refrain of the day as Tower Heist underperformed its way into second place behind the incredibly resilient Shrek spinoff Puss in Boots. Faring as well as could be reasonably expected in both films’ shadows, find the latest Harold & Kumar installment. Your Weekend Receipts are here. 1. Puss in Boots Gross: $33,000,000 ($75,500,000) Screens: 3,963 (PSA $8,927) Weeks: 2 (Change: -2%) First, I need to admit that I was wrong last week when writing about the audience for this film. It’s bigger than my hunch allowed, and I apologize to you, to Jeffrey Katzenberg, to Antonio Banderas and everyone offended by my gross misjudgment. Now that we’ve cleared that up, holy shit, America, a 2 percent drop? I know this nation loves its 3-D animated saber-wielding feline Lotharios and everything, but wow. Anyway, DreamWorks Animation might as well get a Donkey spinoff going, because… 2. Tower Heist Gross: $25,100,000 (new) Screens: 3,367 (PSA $7,454) Weeks: 1 …Eddie Murphy needs a little more muscular image boost ahead of the Oscars. Brett Ratner’s cross-promotional awardscast/blockbuster master plan is looking like a whiff presently; it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, either. Ahem. Ron Meyer holding on line one. 3. A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas Gross: $13,100,000 (new) Screens: 2,875 (PSA $4,556) Weeks: 1 Don’t let the middling per-screen average fool you: As films in the burgeoning “Get the Toddler High” subgenre of stoner flicks go, this is a box-office milestone. Coming soon: Three Men and a Crack Baby. In 3-D! 4. Paranormal Activity 3 Gross: $8,500,000 ($95,300,000) Screens: 3,286 (PSA $2,586) Weeks: 3 (Change: -54%) Whatever. 5. In Time Gross: $7,700,000 ($36,000,000) Screens: 3,127 (PSA $2,462) Weeks: 2 (Change: -36%) Not a bad hold for week two — and it didn’t even need 3-D or a cat with a sword or a number in the title. I guess I owe Justin Timberlake an apology now, too. My bad, JT! You should still make a new album, though. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Announcing 'Harry Potter' And Also The MTV Movies Live-Blog

In recognition of "Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" striking DVD and Blu-ray on Friday, November eleventh, the MTV Movies team wanted to behave special to celebrate the occasion. After much debate, spell-casting and dueling, we made the decision just one factor would truly perform the epic franchise justice: I am likely to watch every second from the entire series, so as, in one day. By my math, the eight movies total just below 20 hrs. We are not quite sure how I am likely to pull this off, but we are certainly likely to. It is going lower live on the web this Sunday, November sixth. Follow along here around the MTV Movies Blog when i have a real-time running diary of each and every magical moment. From "You are a wizard, Harry!" to "That wand's more trouble than it's worth" I am likely to re-watch and revel in (most likely going back time) every moment from the landmark franchise. Hopefully the DVD player will not overheat and catch fire. Hopefully I will not go blind or insane. In either case, it certain to be as epic as "Harry Potter" itself. However with less dragons and a lot more tortilla chips. So re-watch a clip, awaken vibrant-and-in early stages Sunday (I will certainly be) and obtain psyched for your own personel Potter-thon on 11.11.11 when "Deathy Hallows 2" involves home video.

Hollywood Hindu to do

(L-R) Richard Schiff, CCH Pounder attend a Diwali celebration dinner at Tanzore on October 30, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Elevation/PictureGroup) Richard Schiff and Topher Grace explain Diwali to each other. Steven Bochco and Eric Garcetti Chitra and Ashok Amritraj, Chris and Jamie McGurk party at Tanzore. Bridging Mumbai and Los Angeles, Ashok Amritraj hosted a Diwali party Sunday night at Beverly Hills' Tanzore Restaurant that came pretty close to a traditional Indian event (but without the fireworks). The Hyde Park principal has been hosting the fete for several years now and said it had expanded from a small event in his house to include family, friends and colleagues. "It's now become an industry thing," Amritraj said. "To explain Diwali to Hollywood is not easy," he continued, "but I think a lot of them have been coming over the years so they understand that it's a special family and friends festival and the festival of lights and how important it is to Indian culture." Amritraj turned to a couple of white guys to explain the reason for his party. Variety's Tim Gray said the Hindu holiday was "known as the Festival of Light, which I think refers to inner light." And Steven Bochco said he looked up Diwali on the Internet and found that "it is not the title of a Pixar movie," among other things. Contact Shalini Dore at shali.dore@variety.com