Celebrity Gossip
Knightley attracts a crowd
Last weekend, I just happened to watch the Jerry Bruckheimerproduced version of “King Arthur.” What emerged from this blood-and- guts version was Keira Knightley as a sword-wielding Guinevere. She was, and is, spectacular.
Miss Knightley has been in all the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies— also, in “Atonement,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Love Actually” and a dozen others.
But nothing she has done in films compares with what she accomplished in her homeland, England, in just three days. After an announcement that Keira would make her London stage debut in Moliere’s 17th century comedy of manners, “The Misanthrope,” the box office took in a whopping $2 million advance.
These figures are rare for a straight play. Previews begin Dec. 7 at the Comedy Theater. Miss Knightley is certainly cementing herself as a much-needed show biz supernova.
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The PR queen Peggy Siegal, a youngster who runs movie and social happenings in Manhattan, appeared at lunch this week in the Monkey Bar wearing a smart summer cocktail dress. “It’s my costume. I am just here to say hello,” said the breezy one. “I am in the movie ‘Wall Street 2: The Money Never Sleeps.’ ”
Peggy said she was filming in Baby Jane Holzer’s townhouse at 42 East 65th along with other New Yorkers, i. e.: Julia Koch, Amy Fine Collins, Hamish Bowles, Josh Brolin, Shia LaBeouf, Monique van Vooren, Chuck Pfeiffer and director Oliver Stone’s mother Jacqueline, plus “the famous masseur to the stars” Michael Silverwise.
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Chicago lost the Olympics, but what does the Windy City care? It still has Armand Assante and Gurkha Cigars!
Next Friday actor Assante, the Emmy-winning star of many a romantic drama, will host an intimate evening at La Vita Cigars—a place that resembles a huge walk-in humidor. Armand will be introducing the new 20th anniversary cigar called The Archive.
Mayor Bloomberg of NYC would not approve, but Chicagoans are still smoking cigars and here’s their chance to live dangerously among the celebratory fumes, chat with Mr. Assante and go home with an autographed photo.
So who needs pole vaulting and the shot put?
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On Nov. 2 in NYC, Rolex presents what they call a dazzling evening, “America Dances! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage—Broadway, TV and Film.”
This takes place at City Center and every fabulous dancer they can corral will do his/her stuff. A film montage will pay tribute to the evolution of American dance and its various manifestations.
The late beloved Patrick Swayze will be honored with the 2009 Rolex Dance Award. Go to www.nycitycenter.org for ticket information. •••
Everybody’s favorite villainess in the soaps—one Susan Lucci— will be celebrated Monday and yours truly will hand her an award. Susan and TV tycoon Andrea Jung are both being honored by the N. Y. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
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