The “99 Problems” rapper – whose spouse took home a record-breaking six gongs at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Jan 31, 2010) – is always confident the “Halo” singer will win whenever she is nominated.

He said: “It’s almost got to a point where you just, you know, you’re almost numb to it because she’s so magnificent every single time.”

Beyonce, 28, also performed at the ceremony covering Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” as well as singing her own song “If I Were A Boy,” and husband Jay-Z admits he never felt so proud of her.

He said: “I’m a fan, you know, I’m a big fan.”

The hip-hop star also spoke about how he believes Usher is in line to fill Michael Jackson’s “huge shoes” as the new “King of Pop.”

Referring to the performance of “Earth Song” in tribute to Michael at the ceremony, Jay-Z told Access Hollywood: “I thought the Michael Jackson tribute was fantastic and I thought Usher was doing a magnificent job.”

“I think he’s one of the guys that’s in line to fill those huge shoes. I don’t wanna put that pressure on him, but I think he’s one of the guy’s that’s in line to do that.”

The tribute – which featured Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson among others – was accompanied by a 3-D mini-film which was created by Michael as part of his planned “This Is It” London residency.

The 23-year-old singer was so happy the pair got to perform a spectacularly extravagant duet – seated either side of a giant piano which sprouted hands – at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (Jan 31, 2010) she was forced to make an emergency visit to her make-up artist shortly before she was due on stage.

She said: “I’m just so happy, I can’t say enough and Elton was so amazing and the performance was really truly magical.”

“I had been fantasizing about this performance piece for a while and we got to do it… and I’m just really truly floored. I ruined all of my make-up right before the show. Crying… I was just so happy.”

The “Bad Romance” hitmaker picked up two awards at the event – Best Electronic/Dance Album for “The Fame” and Best Electronica/Dance Song for “Poker Face” – and dedicated her wins to her legion of fans.

She told “Access Hollywood”: “This is not an award for me, it’s for my fans. And I love my fans so much. And I wanted them to know that they should believe in themselves.”

“And I wanted to be everything that they hoped I would be tonight, and that’s what we got to do.”

The actor, who has played government agent Jason Bourne in the last three movies, admitted the future of the franchise is uncertain but expects the next installment will be a prelude to the original 2002 “Bourne Identity” movie.

He told BANG Showbiz: “I don’t know you know. I think it will be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we do another one.”

“I think we are probably five years away from another one. We gotta get a script. If you have any ideas please call Universal.”

Matt has previously said he hoped to start work on a new Bourne movie in 2011, but later admitted he was unsure if he would sign up again following the departure of director Paul Greengrass.

Instead, the 39-year-old star- who shot to fame after co-writing and starring in “Good Will Hunting” with pal Ben Affleck in 1997 – wants to focus on directing, but only if the right project comes along.

He said: “I want a simple little human story. Something like ‘Good Will Hunting’ or something that’s smaller like that. Nothing too tricky the first time.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be in it. I’d prefer not to be. I’ve heard from other people and Ben told me it’s tough, it’s a lot of hard work.”

The two actors celebrated with a mock kiss as they received the country’s National Order of Arts and Letters in Paris yesterday (Feb 1, 2010).

The award – created by the French government in May 1957 – was given in recognition of the actors’ contributions to the film industry.

As the pair were presented with their honors, French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand told them: “I love you, Jim Carrey! I love you, Ewan McGregor!”

Other actors to have been made knights of the Order of Arts and Letters include Jude Law, George Clooney, Vanessa Paradis, Clint Eastwood and Roger Moore.

Carrey and McGregor – neither of whom are French nationals – are no strangers to kissing each other.

In their latest film, “I Love You Phillip Morris,” Canadian actor Carrey plays an imprisoned con man who falls in love with his cellmate, Philip Morris, played by Scottish star McGregor.

The film has proved controversial in the US as it features an explicit gay sex scene between the two male characters.

The Oscar-winning beauty – who is rumored to have called off her relationship with actor Stuart Townsend over the Christmas period – was seen having a meal at Hollywood’s exclusive Chateau Marmont last week with the handsome male and onlookers says they looked more than friends.

One said: “It looked like a date. They had dinner, then left together.”

Over the weekend, it was claimed Charlize had told friends she split from Stuart after a trip to Mexico over the festive period, and had stopped wearing an antique commitment ring he had given her as a sign of his love.

A friend of the couple said: “Stuart is gutted but Charlize said that she realized during the Mexican holiday the relationship was over. They had become more like brother and sister than lovers. It was she who ended it.”

The 34-year-old actress – who is yet to comment on the reports – is now reportedly living in their main home in the Hollywood Hills, while he has moved his belongings into their beach house.

Stuart has previously spoken about how he considered Charlize to be his wife, even though they’d never married.

He said: “I didn’t do a church wedding or anything but we consider ourselves husband and wife. I don’t need a certificate or the state or the church to say otherwise.”

The usually immaculately dressed singer – who plays dowdy social worker Miss Weiss alongside Lenny Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” – loved stripping off her make-up and quality clothes for the part.

She said: “A lot of people didn’t recognize me, and I was actually happy about that. It wouldn’t have worked if it had been any other way.”

But the singer-and-actress – renowned for her diva-like demands – did find it difficult to adapt to being unglamorous.

She added: “I tried to put a little blusher on and Lee (director Lee Daniels) caught me, and he said, ‘No! You’re not having anything!’”

Mariah, 39, previously revealed her own friends and family barely recognized her in the role because she looked so different.

She said: “It was cool, because a lot of people didn’t recognize me – they don’t notice me – and that to me, was the great gift that Lee gave me.”

The “Umbrella” singer helped find Jasmina Anema – who was diagnosed with NK cell leukemia, a particularly aggressive and rare form of the cancer, 13 months ago – a compatible donor for her bone marrow transplant last year and is “heartbroken” after she lost her fight for life on Wednesday (January 27, 2010).

Rihanna said: “I am incredibly heartbroken that Jasmina has passed away. She was such a brave and special child. She showed more strength and spirit than many adults I have met.”

“I feel blessed that I was able to have her in my life, and know that through her example she has saved many lives. She was truly an angel on earth.”

Jasmina was admitted to NYU Langone Medical Center on Monday (January 25, 2010) after experiencing trouble breathing.

Doctors diagnosed her with having pneumonia in both lungs and her condition quickly deteriorated.

Following her death, Jasmina’s mother posted a message on the twitter page she had set up for her daughter.

She wrote: “At 10:55 on January 27th, after a long battle, Jasmina lost her fight with leukemia. Thanks for all of your support.”

After hearing about Jasmina’s plight last February, Rihanna got involved with charity DKMS Americas to help find a compatible bone-marrow donor for her.

She was joined in her cause by singer Kelly Rowland and New York Governor David Paterson and they soon found a match before Jasmina had the surgery in June.

The actor – who can be seen bare-knuckle boxing in “Sherlock Holmes” and performs many of his own stunts in upcoming superhero movie “Iron-Man 2″ – is enjoying his new reputation as a big screen hero and has no plans to turn his back on the genre.

Downey, 44, said: “If the material is still good and you still like to work with the people – why not? ‘Sherlock Holmes’ was a life-changing experience.”

“That’s due to the extensive research we did and because I could actually realize such a big project. I would still play characters like Sherlock in the future.”

“Although, I will probably have another child and an alcohol free vineyard by then.”

The actor – who is married to producer Susan Levin and has a 16-year-old son Indio with his ex-wife Deborah Falconer – has been enjoying shooting “Iron-Man 2″ but admits it has been hard work getting in and out of his suit.

Downey – who plays the metal-clad Marvel Comics character – revealed to website Film Reporter: “Well the suit was a bit lighter, but not light enough for my liking. I had more self-confidence shooting the second film, but I wouldn’t say we had fun.”

“We wanted to take more time. We extended the cast and our horizon and made the story more complex and subtle, although it’s still easy to follow. We really looked into the storyline thoroughly to make it as good as possible.”

Downey stars in the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow, who reprises her role as his assistant Pepper Potts, Scarlett Johansson – who plays Natasha Romanoff and her sexy alter-ego, Russian spy Black Widow – and Mickey Rourke, who plays super-villain Whiplash.

The “The Devil Wears Prada” actress braved the rain as she rode through a parade in her honor in the back of a convertible red car and clutching a giant bouquet of flowers.

She was then brought on stage at Harvard’s New College theater for a ceremonial roast from the prestigious American university’s Hasty Pudding Theatrical group – America’s oldest undergraduate drama club – where they playfully mocked her.

But the 27-year-old beauty was happy to play along and showed off her wrestling skills, sword-wielding and singing abilities.

Anne finished the ceremony with an acceptance speech composed in rhymed couplets, which included: “I feel warm and gooey inside/My rump is swollen with pride.”

She also joked she expects any future children she has to have no problem getting into Harvard when they apply.

The annual award from the prestigious Massachusetts college is given to entertainers who have made a “lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment.”

Justin Timberlake will receive the men’s honor next month.

The “Braveheart” star – who has spent the last eight years behind the camera directing movies such as the successful yet controversial “The Passion of the Christ” and the action-adventure “Apocalypto” – realized he should go back to being an actor because there was so much more he could do with the “good piece of material” which had suddenly come his way.

He said: “Well, I walked away from it after ‘Signs’ because I just felt I was stale and I needed to maybe… it wasn’t ringing my bells. So I focused on directing and writing and producing and all that kind of stuff, and then it was time to come back.”

“I got the acting bug back because I felt like, all of a sudden, maybe after all these years, I might have something to offer again. That coincided with a very good piece of material. If it wasn’t ‘Edge of Darkness,’ it would have been something else, but this was the best thing that I saw.”

The Hollywood actor – who stars in the new action movie “Edge of Darkness” where he plays a detective investigating the murder of his activist daughter – said being a good director was about listening to those around him.

He told website film.com: “You hang around the hub and watch what’s going on, and ask a bunch of questions. You’re there for the inception of an idea. You’re there to see it executed.”

“You’re there to doubt it. And you’re there to share the fruits of victory or failure. So, it’s like a big science experiment… how can you not pick it up?”

The “Nine” star scooped the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress last year for her performance in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and admits receiving the gold statue was one of the happiest moments in her life.

Penelope is proud to show off her prize at her home and once even took her Oscar to the beach.

She said: “My Oscar lives in my house, but it changes rooms all the time. I’m looking at it in different places to make the final decision. I even took it to the beach one day. It’s like being five when you finally get a toy you’ve been asking for.”

Since winning the prestigious prize, the 35-year-old actress insists she doesn’t feel any extra pressure when making her films, because she has always worked hard.

Penelope – who is believed to be engaged to Javier Bardem – added to Stylist magazine: “I’ve always felt under pressure and had a lot of insecurity, so that doesn’t change and I don’t want that to alter. I don’t want to get to the set and feel too secure.”

“I’ve worked for so many years feeling a lot of respect and healthy fear of the work and I don’t feel I can change that now.”

The “Mamma Mia!” star – who is dating British actor Dominic Cooper – has bought a property in the Big Apple as it’s closer to London than Los Angeles.

She told Britain’s OK! magazine: “I bought an apartment in New York but I can’t move in until April because it needs renovating. I was hoping to move there now. But it’s OK. It’s worth it.”

“And I have my relationship overseas, too. So New York’s just so much easier than Los Angeles as I’m always going to London. It’s nice to be closer – even if it’s still a long flight. 11 hours is different from seven.”

The blonde beauty has previously said she and Dominic – who she met on the set of “Mamma Mia!” – were well suited because they were so similar in both looks and personalities.

She said: “We both look like frogs, with our wide-set eyes, we’re both indecisive and neither of us has a lot of willpower. When we met, I just found him funny. It was like we were the same person – except he’s British and a man!”

The “What Women Want” actor admits he allows three-month-old Lucia’s mother Oksana Grigorieva soothe her when she wakes up in the early hours of the morning because he need his sleep.

He told US talk show host Jay Leno: “There’s shortcuts, I guess. Earplugs, you know! I will be honest, I would say that her mother does the lion’s share of that work, but you know, I support her.”

The Hollywood actor also revealed he has given up smoking, and is finding the loss of his lifetime habit very tough.

He said: “It’s been 18 days. It’s not funny! I mean, serious, you bury some serious anger. Most people do it when they’re five, they get their security blanket taken away. I did at 54 and I’d been smoking 45 years. There’s a lot of anger underneath it.”

Talking about why he was giving up cigarettes now, Mel – who is a father of eight – added: “Well, apart from carrying the garbage up to the top of the driveway and wheezing… I have a three-month-old daughter and someday I want to play tennis with her.”

The “The Devil Wears Prada” star – who was up for the Best Actress Academy Award last year for her role in “Rachel Getting Married” – will join Academy President Tom Sherak to announce the names of those put forward for the acting world’s most prestigious honors.

Sherak and Hathaway will reveal nominations in 10 of the 24 categories at a news conference at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Beverly Hills headquarters on February 2.

While the 27-year-old actress will announce the names of the those who are nominated, the presenting duties of the main ceremony fall to Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

The comedians will be the first people to co-host the event as a pair since the first Oscars show in 1929. Steve joked: “I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin.”

Steve – who has presented the show twice before – earned an Emmy Award nomination for his first turn in 2001, but it will be the first time “30 Rock” star Alec has taken on hosting duties.

Referring to Steve’s musical abilities, Alec joked: “I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Among the actors expected to receive nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards – which take place on March 7 – are Meryl Streep for “Julie and Julia,” Christoph Waltz for “Inglourious Basterds” and George Clooney for “Up In The Air.”

Critically acclaimed drama “Precious…” – which stars Mariah Carey – is being widely tipped to receive the nod for Best Picture.

The “Desperate Housewives” actress insists she and her husband, basketball player Tony Parker, are getting ready to start a family very soon.

She said: “It’s a matter of time.”

Eva, 34, also revealed her relationship with 27-year-old Tony works because they are friends as well as lovers.

She revealed in an interview with new! magazine: “We are just best friends. I love his company and I am married to the person I want to be with.”

“I cannot ask for more. We respect each other as people and as a couple, and we trust each other. The best thing is that he loves to surprise me and I love to be surprised.”

“Our relationship is more solid than ever and we have so much fun together. Tony and I would love to be together forever. But the only way you get to forever is one day at a time.”

Eva also enjoys being betrothed to a younger man because Tony has such a passion for life which also inspires her.

She said: “He has an amazing passion for everything he does, but the best is his innocence about love and relationships. And we love to travel. We love laughter and music and we keep healthy.”

The “Brothers” actress is said to be smitten with Benjamin Millepied – who is a member of the New York City Ballet – after meeting him last year when he choreographed her new movie “Black Swan.”

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “They’ve been dating since the fall, although she told friends that she hasn’t gone public with it because she was waiting to see if things got serious.”

Although she is said to be dating a ballerina, it seems his skills haven’t rubbed off on Natalie.

She recently revealed she was a terrible dancer and was finding her role in “Black Swan” challenging because she hasn’t retained the skills she learned as a child.

She said: “I’m in full ballet mode right now playing a ballerina in ‘Black Swan.’”

“I danced until I was like 13, but I definitely remember being better than I am. I was like, ‘Wow, I was pretty good as a kid.’”

“Then I went into ballet class, and I was like, ‘I’m not good at all. I really suck.’ So it’s been challenging.”

Family counselor Jane Pitt – who is famously close to Brad’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston – is keen for the couple to repair their five-year union for the sake of their six children.

A source told the Daily Mail website: “Brad is trying to cling on to the wreckage of the relationship as he is still very much in love with Angelina and believes they can make it work.”

“Jane wants what is best for her son and grandchildren and Angie has agreed to meet her. She has stuck at her own marriage and worked with families for 30 years trying to keep them together.”

Jane believes her skills as a mediator will come in useful when speaking to Angelina, who she has become close to in recent months thanks to their joint work in setting up a cancer center.

It was recently reported Brad and Angelina – who have three adopted children, Maddox, eight, Pax, six, and Zahara, five, as well as three biological kids, Shiloh, three, and 18-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne – were heading for a split after signing a legal document which equally split their $330 million fortune and custody of their kids.

However, sources close to the couple denied this and insisted “everything was fine” between them.

Friends also say the couple are planning to attend the Oscars together in March and have already started planning their outfits.

One pal said: “Angelina and Brad are still very much together. They’re even in the process of planning out their Oscar outfits.”

“Brad wanted to make sure he didn’t clash with Angelina, who’s putting some serious thought into her choices. They are still a couple.”

Brad and Angelina – who has been married twice before – got together after meeting on the set of “Mr and Mrs Smith” in 2004, while Brad was still married to Jennifer.

The “Heroes” actress – who is in a relationship with actor Dax Shepard – is ambitious and wants to be successful, but not at the expense of her personal happiness.

She is quoted as saying: “I think your significant other should be way more important than your work, personally. I love working. But I don’t know that I’d say I’m a workaholic because I also love maxin’ and relaxin.’”

Although she is committed to always making time for her love life, Kristen realizes she is fortunate to have so many work offers.

She added: “I don’t think I’m a workaholic but at the moment I feel like I’m at a really lovely place and I’m grateful to be where I am so I like working too, but I know what my priorities are.”

Kristen is currently shooting two films, musical movie “Burlesque,” which also stars Christina Aguilera and Cher, and “You Again,” in which she appears alongside Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis.

The actress – who picked up an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “The Reader” and two Golden Globes for her performances in “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road” respectively in 2009 – decided to take some time out so people wouldn’t get tired of her.

She told the Daily Mail newspaper: “I was in hiding a little bit, just doing family stuff and very little work.”

“To be honest, I felt so over-exposed this time last year with the Golden Globes and the Oscar. It was fantastic and everything, but I was sick of me, let alone what other people must have felt.”

However, Kate is ready to get back to work and presented an award at the Golden Globes ceremony last Sunday (Jan 17, 2010) and will do the same at the Academy Awards in March.

Discussing her upcoming projects, Kate is shooting a mini-series for US TV channel HBO based on the James M. Cain novel “Mildred Pierce.”

She revealed: “We’re doing it from the book, not the film version with Joan Crawford. It’s such a deliciously meaty role and we cover a lot of ground, with Mildred raising her two girls during the Depression era. She runs her own business and, of course, there are men.”

“And because it’s a mini-series for HBO we can really explore the characters and go into the kind of things you could only hint at when the film was made in 1945.”

The “Valentines Day” star – who lives in Los Angeles with her film producer husband Cash Warren and 19-month-old daughter Honor Marie – loves scouring the classified advertisements on website Craigslist to find interesting and quirky pieces for her home.

She told Self magazine: “I’ve bought 70 per cent of my house off Craigslist! I’ve found so many things; couches, tables, lamps. I love the idea of recycling furniture and there being a history there.”

The 28-year-old beauty – who married Cash in May 2008 after four years of dating – also admitted her relationship remains as fresh as ever and she still loves the way the producer makes her feel.

She explained: “I love the way I feel after Cash and I wake up. Or talk on the phone. Everything! Every time I see him or talk to him, I fall in love with him all over again.”

Jessica is delighted with the home she and Cash have created but recently admitted her workload was smaller so that she could spend more time there watching Honor grow up.

She said: “Life moves so fast as a new mom. Sometimes I wish time would slow down.”

“Every milestone is memorable, from the numerous wardrobe changes in her first five months due to her explosive diarrhea to the first time she said, ‘Mama.’