starsick's Blog

If you're one of the gazillion people who watched the highest rating Disney movie made for TV High School Musical, then you're also one of Zac Efron's gazillion fans. Born in California, this blonde and blue-eyed boy is your classic American Hollywood Heartthrob. As a kid, Zac's singing talent was discovered and harnessed through his participation in several stage productions and musical runs.

In 2002, he entered the world of TV with small guest roles in ER, Firefly and The Guardian. By 2004, he was a regular face of television as Cameron Bale in Summerland and had more guest roles in CSI: Miami and Disney's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. What transformed him from an anonymous guest actor to a paparazzi-flocked hottie was 2006's Disney Channel Original Movie “High School Musical”. His duets with co-star and real life girlfriend Vanessa Anne Hudgens broke Billboard records as it jumped from #86 to #4 in less than two weeks. He's currently filming for High School Musical 3, eagerly awaiting the release of High School Musical 2 as well as the musical film Hairspray, which includes Hollywood hotshots John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah.

Kelly Clarkson is the first American Idol, winning the competition 5 years ago with 52% of the total votes. She is also the most successful one up to this day. Unlike most celebrities who knew what they wanted to do as early as their first peek into the world after getting out of their mothers' wombs, Clarkson originally wanted to become a marine biologist when she grew up. Her fate change when her first-grade teacher Jeanne Rose heard her singing outside the classroom and pushed her to audition for the school's choir. She was hesitant at first because she's never had any formal vocal training. Seeing her undeniable talent, the school made her a regular lead on their yearly musicals.

During high school, Clarkson decided to pursue singing and gave up the dream of becoming a marine biologist. She took classical lessons with hopes of getting a college scholarship as their family struggled financially. Even though she was accepted at several prestigious universities, she decided to put college on hold and become a serious singer. It's a good thing that she did, too, or the world would never have been lucky enough to witness such amazing vocal prowess.

Known to the world as Troy's afrotastic sidekick in the Disney Channel hit High School Musical, Corbin Bleu has won the hearts of many. This 18-year-old half American / quarter Jamaican / quarter Italian started his career as a model for Tommy Hilfiger and Toys R Us when he was a child and proceeded to take 7 years of dance lessons focused mainly on ballet and jazz. With a charming dimpled smile and amazing skills, everyone knew that he was more than just a superstar's sidekick – he was a star.

The Disney Channel producers were among those people, and he was given the lead role in the movie “Jump In!” which tells the story of a high school boxing champion who is faced with the important decision of pursuing his father's dream (boxing) or going after his passion, which was double dutch. He was not only the main star of the movie, he helped choreograph some of the complicated double-dutch sequences. With Ashley Tisdale, he also recorded the movie's hit song “Push It to the Limit”. Currently taping for HSM 3 and recording his own album, Corbin Bleu is one busy boy.

Lindsay Lohan was 3 years old when her career started. While most kids her age were in the playground eating ice cream, Lohan was doing commercials and print ads for dozens of products, including Pizza Hut, Jell-O and the Gap. At the age of twelve, she became an international success with the Disney movie “The Parent Trap”, where she received praise from both her costars and the critics.

And then she grew up. Starring with Jamie Lee Curtis at “Freaky Friday” and as the lead in Tina Fey's “Mean Girls”, she made it clear to the world that her career did not end as a child star. But on 2005, Lohan surprised the world with her massive weight loss, looking excessively thin and later on admitting to bulimia. With her new BFFs Paris and Nicole, she led a wild lifestyle of parties, alcohol abuse and drugs which resulted in her downward spiral. In the span of two years, she's had more than 10 car crashes which she blamed on the paparazzi. Late last year, she was arrested for DUI and finally checked in to an LA rehab center last January. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Heath Andrew Ledger was born in April 4, 1979 at Australia. At the age of 16, he left school to pursue his dream to be an actor. He was able to land several TV and movie roles in Australia during the 90's, but his claim to fame was when he moved to New York and starred opposite Julia Stiles in the teen romance-comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. The movie, released in 1999 was an instant success with great reviews for both Heath and Julia.

After that, his career just took off. He had supporting roles in acclaimed movies such as The Patriot and Monster's Ball, and played the lead roles in A Knight's Tale, Casanova, Ned Kelly, and The Brothers Grimm. However, what made him an established actor was his performance in the controversial movie Brokeback Mountain which told the story of a gay relationship between an aspiring rodeo rider (Jake Gyllenhall) and a Wyoming ranch hand (Ledger). This movie earned him Academy Award nominations and spectacular reviews from critics worldwide. Currently filming for the Dark Knight as Joker, Ledger has nothing but good things to look forward to in the coming years.

Disney Channel's original movie High School Musical, which aired early last year, was the first and only musical I watched from finished to end without the need to suppress a yawn AND whose songs I have memorized by heart. It's no wonder this is Disney Channel's most watched made-for-TV movie, with almost 9 million people tuned in on its premiere airing. The movie has received several awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography and a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack of the year.

The movie revolves around Troy Bolton, a basketball star played by Zac Efron, and Gabriela, a math genius who has won several academic competitions around the country. The two are connected with their passion for singing, which they refuse to accept throughout the movie. With such amazing music and awesome dance numbers, it's one of those movies that's so much fun to watch over and over again. Its sequel, High School Musical 2, is reportedly to be released later this year...I can't wait!

Tyra Banks is a household name. Starting at the tender age of 15, she flew to Paris with nothing but her spirit and her beauty. This was enough to catch the attention of several agents and land her a 25-show contract for the season, the first and only record for a newcomer up to this date. If she's not setting them, Tyra's breaking records left and right – mostly those concerning African-American firsts in the industry. She has done extensive print ads and commercials for over 30 notable companies, including, Chanel, CoverGirl, Oscar dela Renta, Dolce and Gabbana, Christian Dior and Victoria's Secret, where she was arguably the most well-received angel.

After retiring from the modelling industry at 2005, she went on to become a TV host and producer for reality show entitled “America's Next Top Model” which is currently on its 8th Cycle and daytime talkshow called “The Tyra Banks Show” which served to empower women of all ages, shapes, sizes and racial origins. Tyra's one of the few people on TV who are genuinely concerned and involved with the causes that she fights for, and should definitely serve as a role model for young adults.

The TomKat, hollywood-couple name for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, was one of the most shocking celeb pair-ups for me. Aside from the fact that she's almost half his age and twice his height, their personailties don't exactly scream “the most compatible couple in the world”. It was a whirlwind romance that began with Tom jumping up and down Oprah's couch and almost giving the veteran talkshow host a heart attack and ended in a marriage proposal on top of the Eiffel Tower, a cute little baby girl, a Scientology wedding and a formal ceremony in Italy.

It is good to see them still looking every bit as happy as two high-school sweethearts, but it could be a phase for all we know. What isn't a phase for 27-year-old Holmes is her love for the newfound role as a mother to Suri. Paparazzi shots all show her holding her daughter with the tender protectiveness only a loving mom could give. What happens to the TomKat is still uknown to as all, but hopefully this whirlwind romance won't end in a sinful tragedy.

Though most people think that Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe met on the set of Cruel Intentions (1999), they were actually already engaged by then. The separated couple met at Reese's birthday party a couple of years back, where he jokingly introduced himself as her birthday present. A year later, they were engaged and after another year, she was Mrs. Ryan Philippe. I've always seen them as the picture-perfect, all-American couple, so when they announced that their separation was final late last year, I was one of the hundreds of thousands of fans whose heart broke with theirs.

Their divorce has not yet been finalized, and I am still holding on to the hope that they will be able to reconcile those “irreconcilable differences” and fall in love with each other again – for their two children (Ava Elizabeth, 8 and Deacon Reese, 3). Rumors are circulating that the separation was triggered by Academy-Award winner Reese's Rendition co-star Jake Gyllenhall...But just like the divorce, nothing is final yet.

I'm sure you've seen Kim Kardashian and Ray-J's circulated sex video and you've also heard about Mrs. Britney Federline's failed marriage (the couple filed for divorce November of last year) so you know which relationships don't work. Now, it's time to uplift our spirits a bit and read up on this update of relationships that do work.

Star couple and soon-to-be Guinness record holders for most number of kids Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are the picture of a perfect couple as they continue making the world a better place. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are still working out fabulously months after Tom's crazy couch-jumping stint on Oprah- if only Katie would stop wearing heels. Couples Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher as well as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have proven to us that age is just a number, as they stay in wedded bliss years after “I Do”. Bennifer didn't work out so well, but these two show us that there is love after failed relationships- JLo is reportedly happily dating Marc Anthony while Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are looking gorgeous together. There's hope, people!

Before she was known to the world as indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet, 17-year-old Hayden Panettiere was already an established Hollywood actress in the eyes of many. Starting out her modelling career as early as four months old and consistenly doing commercials and print ads from 11 months old until 1994 where she got her first soap opera role on ABC's One Life to Live as Sarah Roberts and later as Lizzie Spaulding at CBS's 1997 soap opera Guiding Light. She's had small roles in more than a dozen full-length feature films, including A Bug's Life, Bring it On: All or Nothing and Raising Helen. She has also made appearances in TV shows including Ally McBeal and Malcolm in the Middle.

Ultimately though, it was the NBC series Heroes which tells the stories of a select group of human beings possessing special abilities, that made Hayden Panettiere a household name. With a role as high school cheerleader Claire Bennet who possessed regenerative healing powers, Panettiere has confirmed rumors of a second season for her main character, leaving us fans in eager anticipation.

Keira Knightley is without a doubt one of Hollywood's most celebrated celebrities (no pun intended). Desipte her success, this 21-year-old actress admits that fame and fortune isn't what she expected, and in fact gets a bit frightened when she hears kids nowadays saying their dream is to become famous. As a child, Knightley had the same dream. She asked her mother for an agent as early as the age of 3, but was only given one when she was 6 years old as a reward for doing exemplary well in school. It was not easy to excel in the academics as she as born with dyslexia, a reading disorder. True to her dream though, Knightley was sucecssful in school thus allowing her to audition and eventually land small roles in several movies.

The movie that made her known internationally was 2003's Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which was the highest-grossing summer movie of that year, securing her place in the A-list. Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End shall be released in a couple of months' time, and everyone is eagerly eyeing this much-awaited sequel.

I was never a fan of 24 so I never really knew him from there. Zachary Quinto has been in the TV business since 2000. He starred in many TV series with different roles ranging from geeky to a total murdering psycho. Quinto is of Italian and Irish descent who grew up in Pennsylvania. In 2000, he landed his first acting job in TV series The Others. He played computer expert Adam Kaufman in 24. He also starred as Sasan who was Tori Spelling's BFF on the VH1 series NoTORIous.

The role that really put him in the limelight was when he played Sylar, the deadly mutant in NBC's hit series Heroes. That was when I became familiar with him. He looked every inch a villain that one would hate and be afraid of. Quinto has done a lot of projects on TV thus it is important that he moves to doing movies. Luck must be on his side since his first film role would be Spock of the upcoming 2009 adaptation of Star Trek. Quinto was chosen because of his striking resemblance to Leonard Nimoy who also used to play Spock.

I remember watching Just My Luck and knowing Chris Pine for the first time. He looked so young and fresh then. Weird because that came out two years after Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement wherein he also starred as Anne Hathaway's love interest. He looked every inch a royal and amazingly hot. To date, he doesn't have a lot of movies but he has done some shows on TV.

This cutie finished an English degree from the University of California, Berkeley and studied acting at the University of Leeds in England. Chris Pine's debut to the screen was in 2003 in an episode of ER. He also landed roles in The Guardian and CSI: Miami. He also appeared in Six Feet Under. He is set to star as James T. Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek film. Critics believe that this move will catapult the young actor into superstardom. Yeah, Hollywood could use more gorgeous guys to follow the footsteps of Clooney and Pitt. Watch out, hottie alert.

Why? Because it's one explosion after another with this pop-star-turned-sex-symbol these past months. From marrying her dancer Kevin Federline, to numerous cases of accidental fanny flashing, to almost dropping her baby in the cobblestones of New York to a spur of the moment head-shaving incident, this girl just keeps making headlines! For someone who is so anti-paparazzi, it's strange how she keeps feeding them with juicy news to write about.

Rumors are circulating that the star, whose career has suffered plenty of injuries from her crazy antics, is allegedly going to perform at this year's VMA or MTV Video Music Awards. This could be Britney's one and only chance to make the grand comeback to salvage her career. She has been seen working out and attending regular dance lessons at the Beverly Hills studio with her choreographer. Let's hope she's finally decided to clean up her act – it's quite heartbreaking to see such a talented star lose her light.

I was young then when Winona Ryder rose to superstardom. I was not yet into movies and didn't pay much attention to celebrities and gossip. Ryder's career fast tracked when she starred in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice in 1988. She appeared in a number of movies and TV shows. Her varied roles have won her a number of awards and nominations. In 2000, she even got her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her career went on a roller coaster ride when she was arrested on December 12, 2001 for shoplifting $5,500 worth of designer clothes and accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly hills. She was convicted of grad theft and vandalism and was sentenced to three years probation, 480 hours of community service, &3,700 in fines and $6,355 in restitution to the store. The incident gained worldwide media attention. Since then, she has done only a few projects. Well, it sure is hard to make a comeback after something like that.

Did you ever wonder how it feels to be in the news? Did you ever feel that everyone is watching your every move? Can you go out shopping without people whispering behind your back? Anyone could answer this but celebrities would most likely have the most interesting answers. The moment they become stars, they subject themselves into the public eye. People want to know what'e the latest from them. Everytime something juicy happens to them, it is quickly reported over the airwaves.

Living under the the scrutiny of the media is like living in a tank. Everybody sees you, stares at you. You lose your sense of privacy because there will be people following your every move. A small dispute could turn into a media circus in a matter of minutes involving a lot of people. You can't function well outside because people would come up to you asking for pictures and photographs. Even the smallest things become a big issue. Some of us want to be star. Tell me, are you ready to give up your privacy? Think again.

Have you ever wondered where those celebs you were drooling over back in high school are? Let's face it, celebs come and go. Some of them do a good job at holding on while others totally vanish as if they never existed. My friends and I used to exchange copies of magazines like Bop to get the latest news on Devon Sawa, Andrew Keegan and all those stars of the 90s. Now, years after, only a few of those stars remain to shine, or barely shine.

Stars come and go and so does fans. There is a point in a celebrity's life wherein he/she is at the peak of his/her career. Some manage to stay in the limelight, while others drop out. Fans also become choosy as more ans more fresh faces and talents emerge. A celebrity must hang on to his career and choose the right projects. But this is not always the case. With fame and money comes all the temptations like drugs and alcohol. Its sad to see some them lose themselves to bad influence which greatly affects their careers. As we fans become more picky with the stars we adore, do we really think about why we make such choices? Is it just because of their looks and talents? Or is there more to them than what meets the eye?

When I was a kid, used to collect X-Men trading cards. I even knew all the names of the mutants, powers and even their make-believe love affairs. Yuh, sick right? I also religiously watched the cartoons and would feel really pissed if I miss it. When the news broke out that Hollywood would bring it to the big screen, I was really excited.

If there's a character in the series that really stuck to me, that would be Wolverine who in the movie was played by Hugh Jackman. The image stuck to my head about Jackman was when he played the prim and proper Leopold opposite Kate played by Meg Ryan. As wolverine, he totally ditched his Princely robes and became a rough-looking hottie. I liked him as Wolverine. He really played the part by sporting a buffed body, rugged appearance and fierce acting (not Fierce Tyra Banks). Hopefully, more X-Men movies will be produced and I think a lot of people will still watch it. It is one of those flicks that would surely do good in the box office.

We could all see those models and celebrities striking a pose in front of the camera. They could just be walking the red carpet or endorsing a product on a print ad. Obviously they get paid for these ad campaigns. In their world, it looks so easy to earn cash. I have always wanted to have a photo shoot. I always watch America's Next Top Model contestants strike a pose and make a great photo. Well, lucky me, my friend who is a budding photographer invited us for a shoot.

The main focus of the shoot was on denims so we all brought with us our jeans and other outfits. We had the shoot in different areas of a university. I love taking pictures of myself but if someone else is taking it, its a lot different. We had simple equipment and used sunlight. We had individual shots and some group shots. When we saw the pictures, we were so happy with them. There were only minor editing which means that they were almost perfect. I heart posing. Maybe I should make modeling as a career whatchathink?