Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit Clueless and rose to stardom in 8 Mile, has died in Los Angeles. She was 32.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Spokeswoman Sally Stewart said Murphy died at 10:04 am yesterday. She would not provide a cause of death, or any other information.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 am Sunday from a home that is listed as belonging to British screenwriter Simon Monjack, who is married to Murphy, spokesman Devon Gale said. Gale said one person was transported to a hospital.

Messages left for Murphy’s manager, agent and publicist by The Associated Press weren’t immediately returned. Born November 10, 1977 in Atlanta, Murphy grew up in New Jersey and later moved with her mother to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Her career started in the early 1990s with small roles in television series, commercials and movies. She is best known for parts in Girl, Interrupted, Clueless and 8 Mile.

Her on-screen roles declined in recent years, but Murphy’s voice gave life to numerous animated characters, including Luanne Platter on more than 200 episodes of Fox’s King of the Hill and Gloria the penguin in Happy Feet.

She is due to appear in Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming film, The Expendables, set for release next year. Her role in 8 Mile led to more recognition, Murphy told The Associated Press in 2003. “That changed a lot,” she said. “That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not.”

Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success.

“When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me,” Murphy told the AP in 2003. “I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn’t stifle any of that. She always believed in me.”

She dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003’s romantic comedy Just Married. Kutcher tweeted Sunday morning about Murphy’s death: “2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine,” Kutcher wrote. “My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon.”

— AP

Lady GaGa goes futuristic and naked, again

(caption) Headline act: Lady GaGa covers what little modesty she has left with newspaper cuttings for a new photo shoot.(caption1) Metropolis: Lady Gaga pays homage to the classic sci-fi film. (caption3) Electrifying: Lady Gaga gets wired up.

No one could ever accuse Lady GaGa of being the shy retiring type. Being something of an attention-seeker has certainly stood the singer in good stead for her meteoric rise to fame this year.

So what better way to wrap up her successful 12 months than by taking her clothes off again — all in the name of art, of course. The singer was snapped by acclaimed photographer David LaChapelle for a series of images that perfectly match her bizarre, sexy and outrageous personality.

And she even managed to persuade good friend Kanye West to take part, although he probably had no complaints.

Completely naked, GaGa lies in his arms with one hand covering her breast, as he stares zombie-like into the distance as a volcano rages behind them. In what could be a subtle nod towards one of cinema’s most iconic film posters, Gaga also goes futuristic Metropolis-style as she stands on crutches over sleeping naked people, dressed in an android-esque two-piece with matching helmet and arms. The shots feature in the super deluxe limited edition of her new album The Fame Monster which contains all the original tracks from her debut CD The Fame, plus eight new ones.

Not only does it come with a booklet containing these amazing pictures, but giving fans a very unusual and very weird treat, she has also included a lock of her hair.

— Daily Mail

Vanessa Hudgens hits the high street

It’s nice to see that celebrities have to fight through the Christmas shoppers just like the rest of us.

With just one week to go, a number of famous faces on both sides of the Atlantic were snapped out buying last minute gifts for friends and family.

But the usual stress and anxiety of pushing through the throngs of crazy shoppers and trying to find the perfect present didn’t seem to have affected any of them, who all looked as though they didn’t have a care in the world.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, in a short black dress and flat sandals, was snapped on Melrose Avenue with an armful of cushions and a large paper bag.

— Daily Mail

Amy Winehouse ‘engaged’ to ex-husband

Amy Winehouse is ‘engaged’ to ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil — just four months after they ended their brief marriage.

Former music video assistant Blake, 31, claimed the couple only got divorced in September because of a pressure from their families and were planning to start a family.

Blake, who is currently receiving treatment for his drug addiction in Sheffield after being released from prison earlier this year, said the 26-year-old singer was ‘the love of my life’. He told The Sun: ‘Amy and I have talked about getting married again and starting a family.

–Daily Mail

Is that Katy’s T-shirt?

Russell Brand has made it clear how much he’s enjoying his relationship with pop star girlfriend Katy Perry.

And as he affectionately kissed her goodbye as they parted at LA hotel Chateau it appeared that he may be taking that affection too far — as the comic stepped out in a tight multi-coloured vest that looked as if it came from her wardrobe.

The multicoloured top certainly looked small enough to fit his award-winning girlfriend.

And clearly, given Brand’s legendary flamboyance, it’s not completely out of the realm of his sartorial boundaries. The comic has in the past admitted to buying women’s trousers, to suit his trademark dandy style, which is characterised by tight jackets, scarves and very skinny jeans.

— Daily Mail