Oprah Winfrey hasn’t taken it easy for her first major screen appearance since 1998’s The Beloved. The chat show host has landed a leading role in Lee Daniel’s eagerly awaited epic The Butler, playing a woman who ages from 22 to 90 years old throughout the movie. It’s not clear whether another actress will play the character in her younger years or if Daniel will use special effects, but the 59-year-old will certainly play her as an aging lady. The iconic TV star was seen being transformed into a glitzed-up grandmother for the part of Gloria Gaines, the wife of White House butler Cecil — played by Forest Whitaker. She was seen heading into make-up on the set of the new movie in New Orleans, wearing glasses and a yellow top. Wearing sunglasses, Winfrey was almost unrecognisable as she stepped onto the set with the wig and sparkly dress. Winfrey let her fans know of the gruelling process required for the part in July, tweeting them as make up artists applied a silicone cast of her face for the role. She wrote: “Feeling a little claustrophobic in here. Fun day. Make-up artists doing a silicone cast for my face for new movie The Butler.”

— Daily Mail

Connery leads celebs cheering Murray’s historic US Open triumph

Doctors usually advise octogenarians to steer clear of stress. So no doubt Sir Sean Connery’s physicians would have been sweating as they watched their client get dragged through the ringer during Andy Murray’s epic US Open triumph in New York last Tuesday. The James Bond legend would certainly have been left shaken and stirred by the final after watching the British number one blow a two-set lead to finally prevail after five sets. The 82-year-old led the way as a host of big names turned out to cheer the Scottish player to victory. A strong British contingent of Sir Patrick Stewart, Andrew Garfield, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jack Huston were seen urging the Dunblane native on. Meanwhile, Americans Jon Hamm and Kevin Spacey would have simply been marvelling at the amazing rallies fought between the Scot and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew, who bears a striking resemblance to the Scots ace, looked concerned as he watched his namesake throw away a commanding two-set lead, with a fifth major capitulation suddenly looking likely.

— Daily Mail

Omarosa wipes away tears at Duncan’s funeral

Wiping away her tears, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, joined a host of celebrities Monday at the funeral of her fiancé Michael Clarke Duncan. Amongst the high-profile mourners for the big-hearted actor was his Green Mile co-star Tom Hanks and talkshow host Jay Leno. Despite her attempts, Manigault-Stallworth couldn’t hide her distress, sobbing as she arrived holding the hands of two family members for the ceremony at the Hall of Liberty in Hollywood. Omarosa told CNN as she arrived for the service: “Doctors said he wouldn’t survive after the heart attack for one or two days.”

She then began crying, but struggled to continue talking. When asked if she revived him after the heart attack, she said: “Let’s just focus on today and not go back to that day.” At the time of Michael’s death, Manigault-Stallworth had been planning their wedding, with the two planning on marrying in December. Hanks told reporters: “Mike was in charge of love. He just had a zest and joy.”

— Daily Mail