Julia Takes the Hill
Ms. Roberts goes to Washington and lobbies in memory of a friend
When Julia Roberts met Abigail Brodsky, the daughter of family friends, in 1997, the little girl could not talk, walk or use her hands. A victim of Rett Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that primarily afflicts an estimated 200,000 young girls worldwide, Abigail died suddenly last June at age 10. "Abigail was my pal," a choked-up Roberts, 34, told members of Congress on May 9 as she lobbied for more research funding for the disease. "We connected with our eyes, with her squeals of delight and her incredibly wicked sense of humor." The adoration was mutual. "Abigail loved spending time with Julia," the girl's father, David Brodsky, 43, a New York City attorney, tells PEOPLE. "She treated her like a regular kid."
After testifying, the star, who narrates a documentary about the illness, which airs on the Discovery Health Channel June 1, visited with Rett Syndrome children and their families. "Here is the biggest movie star in the world cuddling and cooing with these girls and taking pictures," says Brodsky. "It meant everything in the world to us." And her impact reached far beyond Capitol Hill, says International Rett Syndrome Association president Kathy Hunter: "We've had hundreds of calls and e-mails."
Roberts's involvement, says Brodsky, should lead to "increased public awareness of Rett Syndrome, and on a personal level, honoring the memory of our precious little girl."
Rap flap: Lynne Cheney & Eminem
"We need a little controversy," raps Eminem in "Without Me," the first release from his upcoming CD, The Eminem Show. The rapper—just maybe perhaps with an eye toward marketing—also delivers an obscenity-laden attack on Lynne Cheney, the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, in a song called "White America." (In 2000, Mrs. Cheney told a Senate committee that Eminem's work was "filled with hate.") Sources close to Cheney said she did not want to help publicize the CD with a response. She did release a statement, however, condemning the rapper's "repeated glorification of violence against women and gay people."
William the Second
In winning the title role of Prince William in ABC's coming-of-age TV movie (slated to air in October), London actor Jordan Frieda, 24, had one advantage: a distinctly English pedigree. "Acting runs in his blood," says his mother, British pop star Lulu, 53, who starred in 1967's To Sir with Love and sang the film's hit theme song. "I'm just glad he is a working actor and not an out-of-work actor." (Jordan's father, hair-product magnate John Frieda, 50, and Lulu split in 1992 after 16 years together.)
Frieda says he isn't hunting for an introduction to William, 19. "He's a young kid, younger than I," says Frieda. "There are a few others further up the list I'd like to meet first." Perhaps with a little help from Mom? "She's always going to great parties."
Big Man Scrams
Proving that the noun "diva" isn't gender-specific, Luciano Pavarotti drew 7,000 loyal fans on May 11 to a Metropolitan Opera concert—rumored to be his New York City swan song—and stood them up. Pavarotti, 66, canceled less than an hour before the performance, blaming the flu. Fans, who paid up to $1,500 a ticket to hear the famed tenor sing Puccini's Tosca, were incensed. Many left. Those who remained, however, cheered on the pinch hitter, Salvatore Licitra, 33, with thunderous ovations. "It was a great honor," says Licitra, who called his mother during the intermission to tell her "how wonderfully the Metropolitan Opera audience was receiving me." As for Pavarotti, the opera's general manager Joseph Volpe said he told him, "This is a hell of a way to end this beautiful career of yours."
Moolah for Minnelli
Start spreading the news: Liza Minnelli's May 31 opening-night party—invitation only, up to $2,500 a ticket, including dinner and show—for her concert series at New York City's Beacon Theatre may surpass her March 16 wedding for eclectic guest lists. Mia Farrow and dancer Chita Rivera will host, while everyone from Sheryl Crow to film legend Ann Miller will perform. Liza's husband, David Gest, 49, defends the price, noting, "This is America, where we have free enterprise." More good news: Liza's stepmother, Lee Anderson Minnelli, 94, dropped her suit charging Minnelli, 56, with neglect after Liza phoned. Recalls Lee: "She said, 'Hello, Mummy. Be out there in two weeks, and we'll have dinner at Spago.' "
The Spin on Spider-Man
Okay, it's a box office smash. But scientifically speaking, does Spider-Man have eight legs to stand on? Scoop asked Brian Brown, an entomology expert at Los Angeles's Natural History Museum, to assess the film's arachni-accuracy.
For starters, he's bugged by the notion that Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker could have acquired superpowers from a bite. "Spiders don't inject their DNA," notes Brown. And, uh, to be anatomically correct, "they should put the spinnerets [where spiders secrete their webs] closer to Tobey's butt." Otherwise, the movie makes perfect spider sense. Being "stronger than steel of the same diameter," Brown notes, spider silk is great for swinging from skyscrapers.
Even Maguire's reluctance to court Mary Jane pans out. "Female spiders are extremely aggressive," Brown says. "After mating, some will eat the male."
Baby, One More Time?
Was that an earthquake? Or just a collective sinking of lovesick teen hearts, despairing at the possibility that Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears may be back together—and off the dating market. Gossip columnist Liz Smith wrote on May 13 that pop's hottest couple had made up. Timberlake's spokesman denies the report, however, while Spears's camp has no comment. Romance aside, the two have been busy. Spears, 20, spent part of April and May in Australia and Japan, filmed another Pepsi commercial and will resume touring May 24 in Las Vegas. Timberlake, 21, wrapped up his 'N Sync concert dates on April 28. If love's going to bloom again, the hard part may be synching their datebooks.
POP QUIZ
with Samuel L. Jackson
For all the glories of computer animation, the latest Star Wars episode, Attack of the Clones, would be missing something without the flesh-and-blood and very human presence of Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Jedi master Mace Windu. Scoop spoke with Jackson, 53, about his role in one of America's favorite film epics.
How did you learn to fight like a Jedi?
We started out with basic kendo and fencing training. And we were encouraged to create our own light-saber style.
How would you describe your style?
Efficient. I dispatch with people pretty quickly and with a modicum of flair.
So many of your film costars were created by computer. How did you pull off those dramatic one-on-one scenes with a digital Yoda?
I was pretty much working with my favorite actor: me.
You must have a fertile imagination.
It's like a big kids' game for me. I did all the things I'd done when I was a kid, when I fought imaginary things and bounced around in my room and jumped out of closets. So it was like coming full circle.
This Star Wars prequel-sequel stuff is confusing to us. How about you?
I'm like most of the Star Wars geeks: I'm a fan, so I kind of know all that stuff.
Are you a Luke guy, a Han Solo guy or a Darth Vader guy?
A Han Solo guy. You always want to be the smart-talking, devil-may-care one.
How does it feel to have an action figure in your likeness?
It's kind of cool to know that kids are taking me out and playing with me the way I used to play with my little plastic Army guys and cowboys and Indians. It's cool to know they can take me out and I can beat up Ken and Barbie.
Is the figure anatomically correct?
I haven't actually taken mine out and undressed it!
What can you tell us about the next Star Wars installment?
I know that I'm going to die. That's about it.
Who might take you out?
I don't wanna get shot in the back by some droid! I plan to go out in a blaze of glory.
ON THE BLOCK
LETTERMAN'S LAIR
There may be 10 top reasons why David Letterman decided to sell the 202-year-old converted barn (left) in New Canaan, Conn., he bought for $400,000 in 1983, but we can think of just two. An intruder found it easy to enter, leading to public incidents. And the sale price was $1.1 million, a nice profit on the three-bedroom house with a four-car garage and a pool. Letterman, 55, lives on an 88-acre estate he bought in 1994 in Westchester County, N.Y., where, town highway chief Drew Outhouse notes, he's grumpy in the morning. "We'll all wave at him," says Outhouse, "and he doesn't wave back."
- Contributors:
- Ting Yu,
- Liza Hamm,
- KC Baker,
- Theresa Crapanzano,
- Alexis Chiu,
- Lauren Crowley,
- Mary Finnegan,
- Mike Fleeman,
- Susan Mandel,
- Bob Meadows,
- Valerie O'Barr,
- Simon Perry,
- Omoronke Idowu-Reeves.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
