Sneak Peek Into Celebrities’ Lives

Ben Affleck. Poor old Ben: he thought Jennifer Lopez was the answer to all his dreams, before discovering that dating the world’s most famous bottom has its downsides too. The wedding was cancelled, Gigli bombed, privacy became a thing of the past, and then, to add insult to injury, he recorded an advert for L’Oréal that was so bad they decided it couldn’t be shown in the States. But 2004 promises to be very different. “Jennifer Lopez and I are going to take our life at our own pace,” Affleck promised last month. “I think we made a mistake, Jen and I. Maybe because we were happy and having fun and enjoying our lives, we were too available...” And he says from now on he won’t be talking about whether they’re getting married or not, to anyone. Meanwhile, Affleck told Good Morning America, that things have changed since they first got engaged and that the longer it goes without them getting married, the higher the chance they never will. The revealing comments came after hostess Diane Sawyer asked him whether there was a risk waiting to marry his girlfriend, to which he replied: “Sure. Sure it does. Sure there are risks,” before adding, “It’s a complicated time –– it’s an unexpected time.” Then, when quizzed about whether his relationship with Lopez was “just as before,” he murmured simply “No.”

Victoria Beckham says she is planning on having at least two more children and can’t wait because being pregnant gives her a bigger bottom. Posh revealed her family plans to Jonathan Ross, saying: “I want a big, big family. I want another couple of kids.” Before adding: “David likes me bigger. I’d love a bigger bum.” Posh also took the opportunity to snub rumours that David doesn’t like all the attention US rugby player Jonny Wilkinson is getting. “No, he’s not jealous,” she replied to Ross’ question. “He gets on very well with him.”

Sarah Jessica Parker. Even when Sex and the City isn’t on our screens, we still can’t get enough of her. She snapped her post-pregnancy figure back into shape quick smart, although refused to be congratulated on the fact, saying she was lucky enough to be able to afford people to help her and insisting ordinary women shouldn’t feel pressurised into doing the same. She then followed up her arrival back on the celeb circuit with the best season of SATC so far. The final epis-odes will be on our screens in January.

Gwyneth Paltrow. It was a fairly quiet year for her, until December broke with the news she was expecting Chris Martin’s baby. Then, while we were still reeling from the excitement, the couple pulled off the sneakiest wedding in showbiz. Perhaps learning a valuable lesson from Gwynnie’s ex, Ben Affleck, they didn’t invite a single soul to their ceremony: all the rumours about Madonna being Maid of Honour and Steven Spielberg giving the bride away proved unfounded when the publicity-shy couple tied the knot in a secret, private ceremony at a hotel in California.

Nicole Kidman. The Oscars back in March might have been a subdued affair with war raging in Iraq but no one could begrudge Nicole her Best Actress Academy Award. Looking stunning in a black Jean Paul Gaultier gown, the queen of cool lost it for a second during her emotional speech but was all smiles as she chatted to her beloved son on the phone after. Since then, her star has gone stellar with critically acclaimed performances in Cold Mountain and Dogville to name just a few. And while her relationship with Lenny Kravtiz has been dogged throughout –– first by rumours of an engagement and then that the US rocker was enjoying an affair with another woman –– Nicole remains positive. “I still believe in marriage,” she said recently. And it looks like 2004 could be just as good: Nicole has been nominated for two Golden Globes for her performance in Cold Mountain hinting that a second Oscar might not be too far away.

Beyoncé Knowles. There is simply no denying it: 2003 has been Beyoncé’s year. From show-stopping performances and multiple award nominations to chart-topping hits and red carpet outfits that had us green with envy, the former Destiny’s Child singer has had both press and public falling head-over-heels crazy in love. And while Beyoncé reckons she is sick and tired of the word bootylicious, there is simply no getting away from the fact, Ms Knowles’ rear has given even Kylie and J-Lo a run for their money this year.

Michael Jackson. It was one embarrassment after another for WakoJacko this year: First there was that baby dangling incident, then Martin Bashir’s revealing TV exposé and then, just when it had all gone quiet (bar the endless lawsuits over cancelled gigs and performances) the star was being quizzed by police once again on child abuse claims. The self-professed king of pop had his lawyers negotiate his arrest, all the while, proclaiming his innocence, giving the world the chance to see him in handcuffs. Jacko now faces public trial in 2004 on seven charges of child molestation and two counts of administrating an intoxicating liquor to a child with the intent of committing a felony.

Orlando Bloom. The Lord of the Rings star reckons he is a great boyfriend. “When you’re with me it’s exciting, fun and very full-on,” he revealed recently. His Pirates of the Caribbean co-star Keira Knightley certainly thought so, pronouncing his conduct during their kissing scene as “very professional” and confirmed he has “lovely, very nice snoggable lips”.

Demi Moore. No one likes being labelled a comeback queen, but –– be honest –– how many of you were lusting after Demi’s killer body and designer wardrobe this time last year? Now with sexy toyboy Ashton Kutcher on her arm and rumours of a 2004 wedding being touted by his mother as well as a show-stopping performance in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle under her wing, there is no stopping her.

Britney Spears. It’s been a mixed-up year for Britney. She kept a dignified silence for the first half of 2003 as ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake traded tales of their sexual encounters for rocketing album sales and then, just when we thought she had dropped off radar completely, came that MTV kiss. Since taking the baton from Madonna, as the Material Girl, we have seen a new side of Britney. Disposing once and for all of her coy, virginal image, Britney’s stripped off for the men’s mags, sung about the joys of masturbation and seems a whole lot happier as a result.

Julia Roberts has reportedly begged her husband Danny Moder to attend this year’s Oscars with her. She is determined to prove to the world that their marriage isn’t on the rocks and thinks a public appearance together could do the trick. “It’s been a pretty hard year for Julia and Danny,” revealed a friend. “What with all the press attention on their marriage and their trying for a baby. Julia wants them to appear as a couple and not individuals. She understands he has a problem with the whole movie star thing but she told him: ‘This is what comes with the territory when you’re married to one.”

Colin Firth has topped a poll to see who most women would like to kiss on New Year’s Eve. He garnered 25.8 % of the vote ahead of Hollywood’s Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, while World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson confirmed his status as the new Becks by coming in fourth, one place ahead of Beckham himself who got only 10% of the vote. Meanwhile, on the boys’ list Kylie was most men’s fantasy New Year’s date, followed closely by Halle Berry and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Compiled from NBC.com by
Daudi Ochieng