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The Fighter
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Alice Ward, Real-Life Mother in The Fighter, Dies
Originally posted 04/28/2011 07:55AM
Alice Ward, the no-nonsense, real-life mom of boxing champ Micky Ward and one of the riveting main characters in this year's Oscar-winning The Fighter, died Tuesday at Boston's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
She was 79 and was taken off life support after having lapsed into a coma, reports the Lowell Sun in Massachusetts.
In January, Ward suffered a heart attack, a stroke and was pronounced dead for 45 minutes – only to regain consciousness and start breathing again on her own, her other son, Dicky Eklund, told the family’s local newspaper.
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Natalie Portman, Colin Firth Are Top Oscar Winners
Originally posted 02/27/2011 11:40PM
The Oscars paid royal tribute to The King's Speech, honoring the drama about King George VI as Best Picture and shining gold upon its Best Actor Colin Firth, Director Tom Hooper and Screenplay writer David Seidler.
"I have a feeling my career's just peaked," Firth said on the stage of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre Sunday night, at the 83rd annual Academy Awards.
The British actor was so excited he admitted to "experiencing stirrings … in the abdominal region that are threatening to turn themselves into dance moves."
Natalie Portman, as the troubled dancer in Black Swan, was named Best Actress. "This is insane," she said in her speech. "I truly, sincerely wish the prize tonight was to work with my fellow nominees. I am in such awe of you."
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Amy Adams's Daughter Makes Oscar Nod More Meaningful
Originally posted 02/22/2011 09:50AM
Millions will be watching Oscar nominee Amy Adams on Sunday. But Adams herself will be focused on one person in particular.
"I'm going to hang out with my little girl this time around," Adams, 36, who's been nominated twice before, tells ET when asked about her plans for the big day.
This nomination – a Best Supporting Actress nod for The Fighter – is more meaningful than the previous ones, Adams says, because of 9-month-old Aviana.
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Drew Barrymore Celebrates the Fighter with Good Food – and Friends!
Originally posted 02/11/2011 03:10PM
What better way to celebrate the knockout (and Oscar-nominated) film The Fighter than with a star-studded party?
Drew Barrymore was on-hand to catch up with friends Eva Mendes and Hilary Swank at a Dewar's Signature-hosted bash at the Brentwood, Calif., home of Fighter producer David Hoberman. Dressed in a sequined skirt, top and blazer, Barrymore was a bundle of energy as she made her way through the party with a male friend. She immediately ran into Terrence Howard, whom she kissed on the cheek.
Apart from all the conversation, there was food – plenty of it – catered by Animal, an L.A. hotspot. Guests enjoyed passed appetizers, including mini-lobster rolls, scallops with warm truffle vinaigrette and blistered tomatoes, lamb meatballs with mint and tomato, and much more.
There were cocktails (see below for a recipe), and plenty of sweets for dessert, including a sticky toffee pudding cake and a mini-bacon chocolate crunch bar.
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Christian Bale Holds Back Tears While Praising His Wife
Originally posted 01/15/2011 02:30PM
The Fighter star Christian Bale has no problem playing the tough guy in many of his films. But when the cameras aren't rolling, the actor has a soft side.
Bale, 36, held back tears while talking about Sibi Blazic, his wife of more than a decade, backstage at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, where he won best supporting actor for his role in the boxing film, which also stars Mark Wahlberg.
"I get choked up about that stuff," Bale told reporters Friday. "It's everything because I truly believe you can't celebrate [success] without having your partner with you."
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Did You Spot Conan O'Brien's Sister in The Fighter?
Originally posted 12/20/2010 11:45AM
In The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale claim the most screen time, but there's no denying their slew of sisters' scene-stealing abilities.
What you might not have realized is that one of the Eklund women has a famous brother in real life, too. Kate O'Brien, sister to late night TV host Conan O'Brien, plays Phyllis "Beaver" Eklund in her acting debut.
"I work at a school and someone said, 'They're casting [The Fighter], you should go down, you look Irish Catholic,' " Kate O'Brien told PEOPLE. "I'm one of six, so it wasn't that hard for me to look like I might have more siblings [in the movie]."
• Reporting by ANNE DRISCOLL
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PHOTO: Mark Wahlberg Graces Sports Illustrated Cover
Originally posted 12/14/2010 07:00AM
Mark Wahlberg not only received glowing reviews for his undertstated performance as the real-life junior welterweight Mickey Ward in The Fighter, but he unexpectedly landed a national magazine cover.
Sports Illustrated features the actor, 39, stripped down to fighter gear, and lauds the film as the "Best Sports Movie of the Decade." This also marks one of the rare times in the 56-year history of the publication (which, like PEOPLE is part of Time Inc.) that a non-athlete has graced the cover.
Wahlberg's Fighter costar, Christian Bale (who plays Mickey's older half-brother and trainer, Dickie Eklund), poses with him.
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