She’s renowned for her colourful image and single covers — but Katy Perry is trying something altogether different for her latest release.

In the artwork for her new single ET, the 26-year-old singer has adopted a Cleopatra-inspired image, with dark bobbed hair and striking eye make-up.

The black and white image also sees her wearing an unusual frilled top and large rings on her hand. It’s a look which appears to have been inspired by the doomed Egyptian queen, who was famously played in the 1963 film epic by Elizabeth Taylor. Perry revealed the artwork for the single on her Facebook page on Wednesday, saying, “Here’s a sneak peek of the next single off Teenage Dream! Stay tuned for a new music video and remixes coming soon.” The singer, who married comedian Russell Brand in October, has a busy few months ahead. She is due to perform at the Grammy Awards on February 13, she has been nominated for four prizes including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year. And she has also filmed a guest appearance on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, where she plays the character of Honey, the cousin of Zoey Van Smoot, a mischievous architecture geek portrayed by Jennifer Morrison.

The episode, which is due to air on February 7, will see the show’s character Barney Stinson — played by Neil Patrick Harris — make a pass at her.

— Daily Mail

Kim Cattrall Wants More ‘Sex’

Despite a barrage of bad reviews and pair of Razzie nominations, Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall is hopeful for another instalment in the TV and film franchise.

The 54-year-old actress says she’s glad the Razzies exist because “it keeps you honest”. She hasn’t been approached for a third film yet, but she says she believes the fan following is still strong. Cattrall and her co-stars — Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — share a Razzie nod for worst actress for Sex and the City 2. The film is also up for worst picture.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Last Airbender lead the nominations with nine each.

— AP

Sinead O’Connor says: ‘I’m finding it hard to cope as a mum’

Troubled singer Sinéad O’Connor is having so much difficulty coping with one of her children that if social services called, she would welcome them in.

Sinéad made the admission in a frank and emotional interview following a series of comments she made on Twitter claiming she wanted to die — comments which caused unsurprising concern for the welfare of her children. But the singer told the Irish Mail on Sunday that, while she was having huge trouble coping as a mother, she was only using Twitter as an “emotional safety valve”. “I would never act on those feelings,” she said. “A lot of people have suicidal thoughts and you should never be ashamed to say that is how you are feeling.”

— Daily Mail