Kidman settles suit against newspaper

Kidman settles suit
against newspaper

LONDON — Nicole Kidman accepted damages from The Daily Telegraph newspaper Friday for falsely reporting she had breached the terms of her promotional contract for Chanel No. 5 perfume. Details of the settlement weren’t disclosed, and the 40-year-old actress wasn’t in court. Her lawyer, John Kelly, said Kidman suffered considerable embarrassment and distress over the report. The newspaper’s “Spy” column reported last month that Kidman carried a bottle of a competitor’s perfume while she was in London to promote her new film, “The Golden Compass.” Kelly said the newspaper had determined the source of the report had invented the story. He said The Daily Telegraph agreed to pay Kidman’s legal costs and “substantial” damages. Kelly said the actress intended to donate the damages to the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Chris Evert, Greg Norman
become engaged

PAARL, South Africa — Chris Evert and Greg Norman are engaged, less than a year after divorces from longtime spouses. The couple got engaged Sunday night, said Tami Starr, director of Chris Evert Charities in Boca Raton, Fla. “They’re not sure of a wedding date yet,” Starr said. “They’re both extremely happy they’ve found each other.” Evert, who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, wore a large diamond on her ring finger at a news conference Friday to announce a new tennis center at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, which is hosting the South African Open. Norman is playing in the tournament. Evert and former husband Andy Mill, a World Cup and Olympic skier from Colorado, divorced last December after 18 years of marriage. The 52-year-old tennis great previously was married to British tennis player John Lloyd. In September, Norman reached a multimillion-dollar divorce settlement with his wife of 26 years, Laura Andrassy. The 52-year-old Australian won the British Open in 1986 and 1993.

Metal band selects
a new lead singer

NEW YORK — Anthrax has picked an unknown singer to be their new frontman. Dan Nelson, a part-time singer and personal trainer from New York’s Long Island, met Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano a few years ago and recently contacted him through MySpace, according to a statement issued Thursday by the band. “It really is a dream come true,” Nelson, 31, of Levittown, told Newsday. Anthrax had a reunion tour with former singer Joey Belladonna in 2006, but talks fell through after that, according to the statement. Nelson and the band met for a musical workout, and “right from the first second Dan started ‘Room for One More,’ we knew,” guitarist Scott Ian said in the statement, referring to a 1993 staple.

Denzel screens film
in town where it’s set

MARSHALL, Texas — Denzel Washington screened “The Great Debaters,” in the town that is home to the 1930s debate team portrayed in the Golden Globe-nominated film. Walking the red carpet leading to Marshall Cinema, Washington wore a purple baseball hat with the logo of Wiley College, located in this town of 24,000 people about 140 miles east of Dallas. Washington stars in the film as educator and poet Melvin Tolson, who led the all-black college’s elite debate team. “This is where it started,” Washington said at Thursday’s screening. “You can feel it. These are real people. It’s a small-town story. I’ve done a few screenings of this movie, but this is the best one.” Washington also directed the film, which on Thursday was nominated for Golden Globe Award for best drama.

Today’s birthdays

Actor-comedian Tim Conway is 74. Rock musician Dave Clark (The Dave Clark Five) is 65. Rock musician Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) is 61. Actor Don Johnson is 58. Movie director Julie Taymor is 55. Country singer Doug Phelps (Brother Phelps; Kentucky Headhunters) is 47. Actress Molly Price is 42. Actor Adam Brody is 28.