newsmakers

newsmakers

Hathaway eyes more musicals

BERLIN

Anne Hathaway says she’d like to do more musicals after the Oscar-nominated “Les Miserables” — but don’t expect her to launch into a singing career.

Director Tom Hooper on Saturday presented his movie, an adaptation of a Broadway musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel, at the Berlin film festival.

Hathaway’s role as an outcast mother reduced to prostitution has won her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

She told reporters she hopes to do more musicals and would like more to be made — “I’m a big fan of them, so that would make me very happy both as an actress and as an audience member.”

But Hathaway says the experience hasn’t made her more comfortable singing in public. She says: “I have no plans for recording an album.”

Mary J. Blige honored by Vibe

LOS ANGELES

Babyface called her an icon; Diddy said she was like a sister; and Anita Baker credited her for helping secure her latest Grammy nomination.

There was no shortage of superlatives bestowed on Mary J. Blige on Friday night as Vibe magazine celebrated the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’s career, which has spanned more than two decades.

Blige was feted during Vibe’s first Impact Awards, which coincided with the magazine’s 20th anniversary. The event included guests such as MC Lyte, Jermaine Dupri and Queen Latifah. Blige appeared to wipe away tears at moments as she was lauded by one guest after another.

When Blige got up to accept her honor, she thanked everyone for embracing her throughout her career, even during her very public missteps.

‘Harry Potter’ star Grint changes pace

BERLIN

Harry Potter star Rupert Grint says he enjoyed a change of scene from the young wizard’s adventures when he starred alongside Shia LaBeouf in “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman,” one of the competitors at this year’s Berlin film festival.

Grint plays a drug-addled traveler in the movie, set in Bucharest, which screened at the festival Saturday. One of 19 competing for the event’s Golden Bear award, it centers on an improbable romance between an American traveler played by LaBeouf and a troubled Romanian musician, played by Evan Rachel Wood.

Grint played Harry’s faithful friend Ron in the Potter films.

Associated Press