Zach Braff: Still a Tortured Soul

Friday August 20, 2004 06:00 AM EDT

Zach Braff

Patrick Rideaux/PicturePerfect

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Scrubs star Zach Braff had some real-life lows to draw from when writing, directing and starring in the offbeat comedy Garden State, in which his character experiences some seriously crushing unhappiness. "I've been in some really depressed periods of my life," says Braff, 29, adding that his flourishing career doesn't make him immune to the blues. "I was a waiter three years ago. But financial and career success doesn't necessarily kill a good malaise. That's one of the hard things about becoming successful – you can't tell people you're depressed. You've got to keep it to your parents – they're the only ones who'll listen."

Destiny's Cousin?
Looks like Beyonce's dad and manager (and Destiny's Child founder), Mathew Knowles, is at it again. Last weekend he launched Project Popstar in Houston, inviting 500 local girls ages 16-21 to audition for five slots in the yet-to-be-named group. Judges listened to contenders sing "Dangerously in Love," "I Will Always Love You" "Amazing Grace," "Take My Breath Away" and "My Immortal," and eight hours later had narrowed the group down to 70. That hopefuls returned the next day to face Knowles in a personal interview, learn dance steps and sing again, and 20 were chosen to go to Knowles's weeklong musical boot camp, held at the offices of his company, Music World/Sanctuary Urban Group. "The boot camp idea came when Destiny's Child was young," Knowles tells us. "I structured a program that included physical training; we would jog along the bayou and sing at the same time. We also had vocal lessons, choreography and team-building exercises." The final five will be announced Aug. 31. Stay tuned ...

Flying, Not High
Jack Osbourne has kicked drugs and is now experimenting with other recreational activities. For instance: Sky diving, which the Osbournes star tried recently – though it may have been a one-time deal. "I don't think I'll ever do it again," says the 18-year-old. "I got a really bad headache." A group of buddies joined Ozzy's son, who was already rethinking his decision when he jumped at 15,500 ft. "I wasn't scared until I jumped out of the plane. Then I was like, 'Ahh, I want to go home!' " Next up for Osbourne: He leaves for a mountain-climbing adventure in Slovenia on Aug. 23.

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Caught in the Act
Spotted Recently:
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• Mark Wahlberg, Entourage star Jeremy Piven and friends, at L.A. hotspot Koi. At one point Wahlberg, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt, ran across the street with Piven to talk one-on-one.

• Drew Barrymore, shopping solo in New York's SoHo. Spies tell us she stopped into the Levi's store, dropping $500 on three pairs of the company's new premium line of jeans and a belt.

• Tony Danza, Elizabeth Berkley, Sarah Wynter, Chris Heinz and actor Ben Chaplin, at David Copperfield's New York penthouse for a book party celebrating Fete Accompli!, a new guide to entertaining by fashion publicists Elizabeth Harrison and Lara Shriftman and writer Karen Robinovitz.

• By CAROLINE HOWARD, HEATHER STAIBLE, NICK WHITE, ERIC FRANCIS and SANDY POSNAK