HATS off to Jodie Foster.

THEY DON’T come much more royal than the acting dynasty that is the Redgrave/Richardson’s, the family which has dominated the English stage and the Hollywood screen for nearly six decades and counting.

Andy Serkis has signed up to appear in 'The Hobbit'.

Tom Hanks is being lined up for one of the main roles in new movie 'Cloud Atlas'.

'Lord of the Rings' star Hugo Weaving insists he hasn't been approached to star in upcoming prequel 'The Hobbit'.

Al Pacino is joining forces with filmmaker Michael Radford for their second shot at Shakespeare - a big screen adaptation of 'King Lear'.

Ian McKellan hates watching his body of acting work - because he only notices mistakes he made in his performances.

Ian McKellan is taking a break from acting - because he is desperate to catch up on new releases at the cinema.

CLARE-BORN broadcaster Des Lynam joined pop princess Kylie Minogue, veteran chat show host Michael Parkinson and actress Julie Walters on Queen Elizabeth’s new year’s honours list published yesterday.

Ian McKellan fought against playing tragic Shakespeare character King Lear onstage - because he feared the role would make him mad.

Actor Ian McKellan is so offended by what he regards as the Bible's anti-gay stance, he makes a point of ripping out the relevant page every time he stays in a hotel room.

THE DA VINCI CODE author Dan Brown sat in Britain’s High Court yesterday accused of taking material for his blockbuster conspiracy thriller from a 1982 book about the Holy Grail.

Coronation Street trounced rival EastEnders at the British Soap Awards.

What have they done to Ermintrude, Dylan, Dougal? Those of us who found the original TV series charming will never forgive the makers of this mish-mash of a big-screen adaptation.

Acting knight Ian McKellen is somewhat bemused by the toy images of himself as Magneto in X-Men and Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings that are on shop shelves.