Theron's injury could have been worse, boyfriend says

Theron's injury could havebeen worse, boyfriend says
WASHINGTON -- Stuart Townsend, the boyfriend of Charlize Theron, says that her recent injury on the set of "Aeon Flux" was bad, but could have been much worse.
Townsend, a movie actor himself, told AP Radio that Theron was doing a back-flip somersault while wearing platform shoes when she slipped and hurt her neck.
"The slipped disc went almost into the spinal cord," he says. "She's fine, but could've been in a lot of trouble."
The film, which was being shot in Berlin, has halted production for several weeks. When news of the accident was first reported Aug. 31, a publicist for the Paramount movie did not specify the extent of Theron's injury, but said it happened during a wire-hanging action sequence, and that the part was "a very physically demanding role."
Townsend says he expects her to be laid up for six weeks. It is not known if the injury will require script changes, or when shooting will be resumed.
As to why the 29-year-old was performing the stunt, Townsend says, "She's just that kind of girl. She's like, 'Yeah, I'll do anything.' But I said, 'The stunt girl is going to start working ,and not you.'"
With baby on board,Paltrow is taking it easy
NEW YORK -- Now that baby Apple's on board, actress Gwyneth Paltrow is putting the brakes on her film career.
"I can't imagine going back to shoot a movie," Paltrow reveals in the latest Entertainment Weekly, hitting newsstands today.
But that doesn't mean the London-based "Shallow Hal" actress has been off the road since giving birth to her child with husband -- and Coldplay frontman -- Chris Martin. She presented the video of the year award during the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami and appeared on Oprah Winfrey's season opener in Chicago with "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" co-star Jude Law.
But what will Paltrow do with her nonshooting spare time? If her last trimester with Apple is any indication, it might include attending Pilates class or watching reality TV fare like MTV's "Newlyweds," staring Paltrow's personal favorite, singer Jessica Simpson.
Viewers pick winnersof wedding competition
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A Kentucky couple can sit back and let total strangers plan their wedding.
Nikki Hensley and Buddy Butler were picked to receive a "Destination Wedding" by viewers of NBC's Today Show. They beat three other couples in the finals, which garnered more than 200,000 votes.
The couple will have viewers deciding everything from where they'll wed to what they'll wear.
"I am totally excited," Butler, an Army corporal, said moments after Katie Couric and Matt Lauer made the announcement live on national TV Wednesday.
The tale of the soldier and the faithful fianc & eacute;e who sent weekly care packages while he was in Iraq apparently tugged at the nation's heartstrings.
They met at the wedding of Butler's cousin, Joy Bowman, in June of 2003. Initially too shy to admit they were smitten, they started dating after some friends forced them into a telephone conversation.
But soon Butler was shipped off for a six-month tour to Iraq.
Today's birthdays
Movie director Robert Wise is 90. Golfer Arnold Palmer is 75. Country singer Tommy Overstreet is 67. Actor Greg Mullavey is 65. Jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers is 64. Singer Danny Hutton (Three Dog Night) is 62. Singer Jose Feliciano is 59. Actor Tom Ligon is 59. Actress Judy Geeson is 56. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 54. Actress Amy Irving is 51. Country singer Rosie Flores is 48. Actress Kate Burton is 47. Movie director Chris Columbus is 46. Actor Colin Firth is 44. Rock singer-musician David Lowery (Cracker) is 44. Rock musician Robin Goodridge (Bush) is 38. Rock singer-musician Miles Zuniga (Fastball) is 38. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 36. Movie director Guy Ritchie is 36. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 30.