NEWSMAKERS: Portman to wed ‘Swan’ choreographer

NEWSMAKERS

Portman to wed ‘Swan’ choreographer

NEW YORK

Natalie Portman is pregnant with her first child and is engaged to Benjamin Millepied, the choreographer of “Black Swan.”

A publicist for Portman confirmed Monday that the couple are engaged and expecting but declined to give further details. People magazine first reported the news.

The 29-year-old actress and Millepied, a well-regarded ballet dancer and choreographer, met during the making of “Black Swan,” Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller that stars Portman as a ballet dancer. She’s been nominated for best actress by the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild.

Millepied played a small on-screen role in the film as a dancer.

Portman also stars in Ivan Reitman’s upcoming romantic comedy, “No Strings Attached.”

Wikileaks founder gets book deal

LONDON

Publisher Alfred A. Knopf Inc. has confirmed striking a book deal with Julian Assange that the WikiLeaks founder says could be worth more than $1 million.

A spokesman for the New York publishing house says that “a principle agreement is in place” and that Assange is due to hand in a manuscript sometime in 2011. The book’s publication date is yet to be determined.

Assange told The Sunday Times newspaper that he was forced into writing the book by financial pressures largely linked to his legal fight to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex-crimes allegations.

Assange told the paper he would receive $800,000 from Knopf, with an additional $500,000 from U.K. publisher Canongate.

Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards declined to comment on the specific figures.

Morissette gives birth to baby boy

NEW YORK

It’s a boy for Alanis Morissette and Mario “Souleye” Treadway.

A representative for the 36-year-old singer said in an e-mail Monday that Ever Imre Morissette-Treadway was born Dec. 25. The e-mail says “all are healthy and happy.”

No other details were available.

Morissette, whose songs include “Ironic” and “You Oughta Know,” has won several Grammys, including album of the year for 1995’s “Jagged Little Pill.”

She also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best original motion-picture song for “Wunderkind” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and appeared as God in Kevin Smith’s 1999 film “Dogma.”

She previously had been engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds.

Xtranormal to charge for cartoon tools

SAN FRANCISCO

Animation website Xtranormal — whose cartoon-making tools have spawned viral videos of cuddly puppies debating such topics as quantitative easing in stilted monotones — is no longer offering free, unlimited use of its tools.

The change went into effect late last week. It is meant to help reduce the costs for running Xtranormal, which have jumped this year along with the site’s popularity.

Xtranormal previously charged for special characters and sets. Now it charges for all characters and sets and for publishing video for sharing.

The minimum purchase is now $10 for 1,200 points, though new users get 300 for free. Characters and sets cost 37 to 150 points, and publishing costs 100. A previously free movie using two puppies standing in a field now costs 325 points.

Vindicator wire services