BRITNEY'S BACK: Though only two months into her self-imposed six-month sabbatical, Britney Spears intends to return to the recording studio after first taking a brief break in Italy with hostess Donatella Versace, the pop princess told Reuters. "I think I may just go to Los Angeles and record a little bit. But other than that I just plan to hang out," Spears, 20, revealed before taking her front-row seat at Versace's spring-summer 2003 fashion show in Milan. "It's like a dream come true being here right now," said Spears.

TASTY HANNIBAL: New York held a movie premiere worthy of a nice Chianti. "Red Dragon," which brings Anthony Hopkins back to the screen as Hannibal the Cannibal, unspooled at the Ziegfeld Theater, with guests partying in a roped-off section of Grand Central Station afterwards, PEOPLE.com reported. Costar Ed Norton, 33, who arrived with Salma Hayek, said the box-office appeal of the man-eating protagonist has to do with the fact that "people secretly wish they were more like Hannibal -- he cuts through the b.s. and gets to the heart of things." Hopkins, 64, skirted the same question, however, saying only: "You'll have to ask a psychologist."

ANISTON AWARD: Even though 2002 is only three-quarters over, and the major Christmas releases have yet to be screened, there are already movie awards being handed out for the year's best. Topping the list: "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston, 33, who was named actress of the year for her seriocomic turn in "The Good Girl," organizers of the sixth annual Hollywood Film Festival announced. The awards, which were decided by members of the public who logged onto the Hollywood Awards Web site, will be dispersed at a black-tie ceremony Oct. 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

DIDDY WAVERS: Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs vowed at a London press conference to toss "a big ol' party" in Barcelona as up to 1 billion fans select this year's MTV Europe Music Award winners, to be presented Nov. 14. But when asked his choice for Best Female Award winner -- given that his ex, Jennifer Lopez, is up the prize -- he tactfully told a reporter that he'd "get back to you on that one ... I am going to think about it and make sure I don't say the wrong thing."

PALTROW MOURNED: Bruce Paltrow, 58, the producer-director whose credits included the '80s NBC series "St. Elsewhere" but whose best known production is probably Gwyneth Paltrow, died suddenly from complications resulting from pneumonia in Rome on Thursday, his daughter's publicist confirmed. Paltrow had suffered from throat cancer for the past few years. He had been in Italy to celebrate Gwyneth's 30th birthday over the weekend. His wife, actress Blythe Danner, 59, flew from Los Angeles to Italy to be with her daughter, the publicist said.