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James Bond's Aston Martin accidentally crashes into Italian Lake

April 22nd 2008 14:07

The $AU282,000 Aston Martin that was to be James Bond's car in the latest film about the secret agent spectacularly crashed into Italy's Lake Garda. Amazingly, Fraser Dunn, the technician who was transporting the vehicle when he lost control, went through an iron guard rail and into the lake, suffered only minor injuries. Not so lucky for the car. According to producers, the driver lost control in heavy rain on a narrow bend. Mr Dunn was driving one of five DBSs to the set of the movie which had just begun shooting at this location.

Photo The Daily Mail

The latest film in the Bond series starring Daniel Craig, Quantum of Solace, is due for release later this year. The movie has so far been filmed on location in England, Panama, Chile and Mexico, with a further trip to Spain still coming up. Onlookers might have been forgiven for thinking it was all part of the filming of the movie,

Ironically, the car was due to take part in a scene where Daniel Craig roars away from the scene of a fireball crash with a truck ending up in the water.

Quantum Of Solace's opening sequence is set five minutes after the end of Craig's first Bond outing in Casino Royale.

The girlfriend of the driver, Rachel Andrews was quoted as saying, "He is OK. But he is certainly not a stuntman – he is an engineer". I think he is one lucky man and can I just say ouch!

Photo The Daily Mail

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Posted By: Cheryl J - Category: Movies, Actors / Celebs

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Change your name, change your fame? What are their real names?

April 17th 2008 01:54

In true celebrity spirit, Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton have chosen an unusual baby name. Ignatius is in fact a very old name of Latin origin but I was very amused to find on a baby name origin site it was rated under saints and pirate names! Now I knew about Saint Ignatius but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Ignatius the Pirate. But while we often raise our eyebrows at the names celebrities inflict upon their children as I poked fun at in my previous post, do we know the real names of many celebrities?

Many stars have dropped part of their name when climbing their way to fame but seems to be a music thing rather than the acting profession like Madonna (Ciccone), Beyonce (Knowles), Prince (Nelson) – who also changed his name to a ridiculous symbol and then became The Artist formerly Known as Prince but is now just Prince again (?!), Bjork (Guðmundsdóttir) and Shakira (Ripoll).

Others have changed their names to ‘street’ names, like Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Snoop Dog (Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr) and Ludacris (Christopher Bridges). Although some of these people also act, this style of name is usually the domain of rappers.

Some have more than one incarnation of name change, such as the above-mentioned Prince. Singer songwriter Steven Georgiou went by the stage name Cat Stevens and then became Yusuf Islam when he converted to the Islamic faith.

River Phoenix was born of hippie parents who changed their surname from Bottom after leaving the Children of God sect to represent their rebirth into a new life. But not before they named all of their children what could be seen as unusual names: Joaquin – who was known for a while as Leaf, Liberty, Rain, Summer and Jodene who was born of a different mother and changed her name to Trust.

Plain old David Jones became David Bowie and then became a superstar. He named his son Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones who for many years was known as Zowie Bowie. At 12 years of age, probably after endless taunting, ‘Zowie’ changed his name to Joey Bowie and at 15 he reclaimed his real name Duncan Jones. I’m sure on some level he has never forgiven his father for the ridiculous moniker.

This is not a new trend, celebrities have been changing their own names since entertainment began.

Some change their names because their original name wouldn’t even fit on a billboard. Audrey Hepburn would have had to have her name scroll across the screen as Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston would have been completely unworkable. And TV’s Without a Trace sleuth Poppy Montgomery was born Poppy Petal Emma Elizabeth Deveraux Donahue, obviously her parents had a hard time choosing a name. And she of the lovely voice and unusual name of Dido has the even more unusual and lengthy name Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong

Then there are the boring names. Would Leslie Flynn have been able to become the swashbuckling matinee idol that Errol Flynn became? And I doubt people would have embraced Frances Gumm in the way they embraced Judy Garland although with her extraordinary talent she would have become a star anyway, albeit one with a terrible name. And there is nothing sexy about Archibald Leech although as Cary Grant he had women all over the world swooning. Natalie Hershlag also does not sound as elegant as Natalie Portman.

Many have ‘Anglicised’ their names perhaps to make it easier to pronounce, perhaps because they thought an ethnic sounding name may hurt their careers but I think this is far more infrequent today than with stars of yesteryear as multiculturalism is far more acceptable now. Hit Me With Your Best shot by Patricia Andrzejewski? Pat Benatar is far more of a rock chick name and infinitely more pronounceable. British born Krishna Banji became Sir Ben Kingsley, a far more English name, yet he is known best for playing one of India’s most famous figures, Ghandi. Alan Alda who was Mash’s famous Hawkeye Pierce started life as Alphonse d'Abruzzo, Andy Garcia, who at least kept a name with Latino roots was born Andres Arturo Garcia Menendez.

Some change their names because their own real name is already in use by another famous person such as Michael Keaton who was actually born Michael Douglas. Whereas Michael J Fox and Vanessa L Williams just added a middle initial as actors were already registered under their names. Funnily, Michael J Fox’s middle name is actually Andrew but according to his autobiography, because he is Canadian, he didn’t want to be known as Michael ‘eh’ Fox.

Even the coolest of cool Christopher Walken is actually an uncool sounding Ronald Walken and tough guy Chuck Norris is really Carlos.

Gary Glitter was a seventies glam rock star but Paul Gadd was a secret paedophile and is currently serving a prison sentence for child sexual abuse. Truly scary.

Marvin Aday didn’t carry quite the weight that Meatloaf did, and who would you rather have your clothes designed by, Ralph Lifschitz or Ralph Lauren.

But some defy belief. Arnold Dorsey is a far better name than Engelbert Humperdinck but for some unimaginable reason the latter was a name he chose himself and became a huge singing star in the sixties and seventies with it. Go figure.

Do you think the name influenced the fame? Do you think they would have become famous on sheer talent or would have become another unknown in the shadows?

Photo by Kevin Rosseel

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Posted By: Cheryl J - Category: Actors / Celebs

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They named the baby what? Stupid celebrity children's names.

April 15th 2008 01:26

Why oh why is it that celebrities think it is cool to saddle their children with the most ridiculous names? Do they think being the child of a star is enough to stop the taunts? Do they send their children to school with bodyguards? Not to mention the thought that all of these kids must have had at some stage – that their parents must really hate them.

These, in my opinion, are among the silliest and are in no particular order. Now you may disagree and think they are cool and at least they aren’t boring. Give me boring any old day.

Rob Morrow – star of TV’s Numb3rs and former star of Northern Exposure. Dude, you are so funny, I’m sure your daughter Tu will love you for saddling her with that one. Get it? Tu Morrow. You bastard.

Michael Jackson just couldn’t think of enough names and called his two boys Prince Michael and Prince Michael II. Imagine how poor little II must feel. Not quite as bad as famous former heavyweight champion George Foreman’s sons, George Junior, George III, George IV, George V, George VI and George Travis Walls. One of his daughters is even called Georgetta. Narcissistic much?

But it seems Michael isn’t the only whacko in the Jackson family, his brother Jermaine called his son Jermajesty. This kid must wear armour to school.

Jason Lee is obviously as dumb as his My Name is Earl character, he named his son Pilot Inspektor. Now I actually like Jason Lee as an actor but as a father he is obviously a dumbarse.

All of the Yates / Geldof / Hutchence children. First there was Fifi Trixibelle, then came Peaches Honeyblossom, Pixie and Heavely Hiraani Tiger Lily. Oh good grief.

I’m sure Shannon Sossamon thought it was very cool to name her child Audio Science. I think it’s tantamount to child abuse. Maybe Audio can become friends with Penn Jillette’s children Moxie Crimefighter and Zolten and they can join the same therapy group.

How about Kal-El Cage. He will need to be a Superman to withstand the playground beatings he is in for. Nicholas, why? I suppose there are worse comic book characters.

Helena Christensen and Norman Reedus named their son Mingus. The poor child sounds like some dreaded disease that makes things drop off or at the very least needs a shot of penicillin.

Pneumatic model Jordan and singer (I use that term loosely) Peter Andre called their daughter Princess Tiaami. Maybe she could marry one of the Prince Michaels and they could start their own royal family.

But next time you think how bad life must be for Apple Martin or Daisy Boo Oliver spare a thought for the ultimate victims of parents without a clue or a conscience, Dweezil, Moon Unit, Ahmet Emuukha Rodin and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen Zappa. Oh my.

But it’s not only celebrities that have a sense of humour. In Singapore, English is the most widely used language and all names are translated or converted to English when their Birth Certificate is issued.

Meet Batman Bin Suparman.