March 23, 1999

SECRETIVE CELEBS? NOT BY A
LONG SHOT

By ROGER ANDERSON Scripps Howard News Service

FAMILY PLANNING: We have come to believe that celebrities are unfairly criticized for being privacy-obsessed because judging by what we're seeing lately, famous persons and those who work for them are nothing if not ready at a moment's notice to talk about the most intimate details of their personal lives.

For instance, here's Elizabeth Hurley - famous as the star of "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" and as Hugh Grant's steady girlfriend - talking about her innermost feelings on the topic of children.

"I don't think I'm really ready to be a responsible parent right yet," she recently advised the "Good Morning America" TV audience, adding: "I'm sure the urge will ... overtake me soon. Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure."

FAMILY PLANNING 2: In a similar vein, HBO big shot Michael Fuchs recently had a good deal to tell a New York Daily News reporter about his own familial plans as they pertain to his sweetie, Michelle Charters, with whom he admits he is "discussing marriage."
"We'd love to have children," Mikey says. "I see that as the only reason TO get married."

Michael also is good enough to explain that he and Michelle, if they get hitched, won't waste a lot of time being engaged beforehand.
"I'm 53," Michael explains, "and at my age you don't do the kind of things associated with the normal plans leading up to a marriage."

FAMILY PLANNING 3: Meantime, Parade mag's Walter Scott has gratified another reader by finding out what country warbler Deana Carter is looking to do in the near future. Specifically, Walter asks if children might be in the cards for Deana and her spouse, Chris DiCroce.

"When we feel more settled," Deana says. "I'd like to have two kids by the time I'm 40." (She is currently 33, so that's one child every 3-1/2 years.)

HOUSE-HUNTING: It seems a bit premature for anyone to speculate about what names Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston might give their hypothetical offspring, since they have said nothing about such intentions, but its apparently not too early for People mag to report that a pair of Southern California real-estate agents say they are helping the celebrity duo in a quest for housing.

"They are the salt of the earth," says one agent. Fortunately, the other one goes into more detail about the search itself.

"It didn't suit them," he says of one property, billed here as a "rambling 70-year-old beach house." "They were looking for something a little bit more modern, and they were looking for more privacy, too.” Still, the fellow stipulates that the couple "were delightful, charming and polite."

EXTENDED FAMILY: Speaking of Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow - to whom Brad was once engaged - was seen in the wake of her recent Oscar triumph in the company of an actor named Scott Speedman. Accordingly, speculation abounds.

"Scott has become a very good friend of the whole Paltrow family," claims Steven Huvane, who is employed as Gwyneth's flack. “What you were seeing was a nice, warm feeling of a good friend toward a family. Scott is like a little brother to her." (It seems Gwyneth is three years Scott's senior.)

But an unnamed observer begs to differ with Steve: “They're definitely a couple," this person says.

(Is it worth noting that Scott is playing opposite Gwyneth in "Duets," the movie Gwyneth's dad, Bruce, is producing and in which Brad was originally slated to appear? No? Fine, we'll go on to the next item.)

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE: Not long ago we regaled you with word that Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon, co-stars of the teen movie "Cruel Intentions," are (a) expecting a child and (b) expecting to become married to one another before the due date. Such foreknowledge gives telling context to something Ryan told a reporter about the movie scene in which his character jilts Reese's character.

"The scene I have to break up with Reese in the movie was awful," Ryan recalls. "I actually threw up that day."

WE'RE FEELING A BIT QUEASY, TOO: Finally, it must be worth nothing that John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn have been named the greatest actor and actress, respectively, of this rapidly expiring century - but according to whom? According to a poll by Reuters/Zogby, that's whom. Maybe Reuters doesn't know anything about acting, but everyone knows Zogby wrote the book.

Roger Anderson is arts and entertainment editor at Scripps Howard News Service.

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