newsmakers

newsmakers

Judge praises Lohan at probation hearing

LOS ANGELES

A judge offered Lindsay Lohan on Wednesday something that she hadn’t heard from a court in nearly two years: praise.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner said the actress was doing well under strict new terms of her probation and urged her to keep up the good work.

The starlet has completed 12 days at the county morgue and five therapy sessions since Nov. 2, when she was sentenced to a strict routine of community service and counseling after her latest probation violation.

“You’re doing well, and I’d like to see it continue,” Judge Sautner said during a 10-minute status hearing.

She also offered Lohan an incentive to succeed, saying the actress could take leisure trips outside California after she completes a dozen days of morgue work a month.

Paris Jackson tells of acting dreams

LOS ANGELES

Michael Jackson’s daughter says she was inspired to be an actress after seeing her father in the film “Moonwalker.”

Paris Jackson spoke to talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres about her acting aspirations and the lengths that her father took to protect her identity for the episode airing today.

The 13-year-old says her father encouraged her and did improvisation sessions to develop her skills.

The teen has been cast alongside Larry King in a film based on a children’s book that is in early stages of development.

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry fetches $115M

NEW YORK

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry collection fetched a record-setting $115 million — including more than $11.8 million for a pearl necklace and more than $8.8 million for a diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton — at an auction of gems and other memorabilia amassed by the late actress.

The 33.19-carat diamond ring given to Taylor by the actor she married twice sold for $8,818,500.

The pearl, diamond and ruby necklace, known as “La Peregrina,” purchased at auction for $37,000 in 1969 by Burton for Taylor reached the world record price of $11,842,500. It was estimated to sell for $2 million to $3 million. The price surpassed the previous auction record for a pearl, set in 2007 at Christie’s auction house in New York City with the sale of The Baroda Pearls for $7,096,000.

The ring, estimated to sell for $2.5 million to $3.5 million, was included in a collection of Taylor’s necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings and other gems that went on sale Tuesday night at Christie’s in New York. The ring was purchased by a private buyer from Asia, according to a Christie’s spokesman.

‘Law & Order’ vet to join ‘True Blood’

NEW YORK

HBO says “Law and Order” veteran Chris Meloni will be sinking his teeth into a role on vampire drama “True Blood.”

The network confirmed Wednesday that Meloni will be joining the popular series as an ancient, powerful vampire who controls the fate of the show’s major characters.

The series’ fifth season is expected to air next summer. Its stars include Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Meloni recently ended a 12-year run on NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” where he played Detective Elliot Stabler.

Before that, the 50-year-old actor was a regular as a bisexual inmate on HBO’s gritty prison drama, “Oz.”

Vindicator wire services