Current category: France

Samantha Ronson is reported to be furious after her girlfriend Lindsay Lohan was hit with flour by anti-fur protesters outside the VIP Room Nightclub in Paris at the weekend.

"The girl who threw [the flour] acted like an animal herself," Samantha wrote in her blog yesterday.

Adding afterwards, "I take that back, it's an insult to animals to group her in with them, my dog is FAR more civilized than that person".

Lohan was attacked for wearing a black fur stole (see above); she was helped to clean up by the owner of the nightclub before hitting the red carpet and posing for photographers. 

Lindsay Lohan, 22, and girlfriend Samantha Ronson, 31, are rumoured to be getting engaged in Paris this weekend.

Though if the photos are anything to go by, I wonder if the pair had a falling out?  Ronson looks extremely grumpy and given the allegedly romantic nature of their Parisian break, you'd think they'd be a bit more, well, together?!...

Edith Piaf is greeted by Orson Welles (r) and an unidentified friend after a trip to America, Orly Airport, Paris. France in 1953

Here are some lovely archive photos of screen icon Sophia Loren playing boules (or is it petanque?) with Italian film producer husband-to-be Carlo Ponti on holiday in St Tropez on September 2 1958. 

Originally born Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934, she changed her name to Sofia Lazzaro and then again to Sophia Loren after meeting Carlo Ponti.

It's quite a love story actually...

Ponti and Loren met in 1950 and although Ponti was already married, the pair fell in love and became a couple.  

In 1957 Ponti obtained a Mexican divorce from his wife Giuliana and, in turn, a marriage by proxy to Loren.  However, due to divorce not being recognised in Italy at that time, the marriage was denounced by the Catholic Church and annulled in 1962.

Ponti, Loren and Ponti's wife Giuliana then moved to France (which *did* allow divorce) and became French citizens.  This allowed Giuliana to file for divorce in 1965 which in turn allowed Ponti to marry Loren in a civil wedding in Sevres the following year.

The couple remained together for over 50 years until Ponti's death on 10 January 2007. 

Carlo Ponti had over 140 production credits to his name, the most famous being Federico Fellini's La Strada and David Lean's Doctor Zhivago

• Carlo Ponti's obituary (Independent)

It's been a busy week for superstar Latino singer Jennifer Lopez.

First the 39 year old completed the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in two hours, 23 minutes. 

Quick pause for breath then Lopez swiftly moved on to organising (and keeping secret) hubby Marc Anthony's surprise 40th birthday bash at the Bowery Hotel, New York.

Then, after departing for a supposedly "relaxing" European break (Portofino and St Tropez - there's a surprise), she's jetted out to Athens for two days to perform at the Olympic Stadium for the first leg of her World Tour, promote her latest boutique AND take part in a photo shoot at the Acropolis in Athens.

Oh, and in case you forgot, she gave birth to twins seven months ago!

Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has dipped into her £10m earnings to purchase a £1m holiday home in Meribel.

According to reports, the pretty French-born actress (who lived in Paris until the age of five) will be be spending thousands more on improvements to the ski chalet, located in the French Alps.

Wealthy Watson -  set to replace Keira Knightly as the face of Coco Mademoiselle in a deal reported to be worth £3m -  took control of her earnings when she turned 18 this April

Below: Watson raises a glass to her millions.  Hurah!  

Source

Naomi Campbell is enjoying a relaxing holiday in Saint Tropez  and was spotted dining with friends at the tres chic beach restaurant, Le Club 55.

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Sir Ian McKellan has been spotted in Saint-Tropez "frolicking" on the beach with a tall, dark, handsome and very young companion.

Our chums over at celebuzz have photos of the actor and his friend having a splashing time. 

Keanu Reeves is holidaying on the French Riviera with girlfriend China Chow and our friends over at Popsugar have some photos of the lovebirds having a splashing time.

That's it for this year - Cannes is over and the celebs are packing up to go home.  But in the meantime, here's a roundup from the weekend:

• Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong at Dolce and Gabbana party in Cannes
• Naomi Campbell reveals bald spot at Dolce and Gabbana party in Cannes
• Lindsay Lohan rumoured to be engaged to lesbian best mate, Samantha Ronson;
• Lohan denies rumours and relaxes with Ronson at Eden Roc hotel pool 
• Lily Allen hits back at Cannes criticism on Myspace blog

Newlyweds Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z were spotted in Cannes this weekend with P Diddy in tow.  Unsurprisingly, the rumour mill went into overdrive: 

The Daily Mirror reports that Beyonce was upset with P Diddy for gatecrashing her party at the VIP rooms and leading Jay-Z astray while the Sun reports that Jay-Z was furious with P Diddy for trying to upstage him at the very same party. 

Regardless, Beyonce and Jay-Z were pictured relaxing on P Diddy's yacht.

You may recall that almost a year ago to the day, Jay-Z was reported to have proposed to Beyonce while in Cannes so this year's holiday must have been a romantic trip down memory lane for the lovebirds. 

The lovebirds flew back home to Scarsdale, New York on Sunday after spending the day in Monaco, keeping a tight lip on rumours that the songstress is expecting their first child

Celine Dion was yesterday awarded France's highest civilian honour, the Légion d'Honneur,  in a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Accompanied by husband Rene Angelil and son Rene-Charles, the Canadian singing legend was presented with the Legion of Honour medal - a world-renowned Order and the highest decoration in France - by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The award was established by Napoléon in 1802 to recognize great military and civilian contributions to France.

Image details: Celine Dion Performs At O2 Arena served by picapp.com

It's the week of the  61st annual Cannes Film Festival, the celebrities have descended en masse to the French Riviera and some are having a better time than others....

1. Lily Allen 'talk of Cannes' after stripping off
2. Scarlett Johansson misses Cannes after film studio refuses 'diva' demands 
3. Cate Blanchett is the star of the red carpet at the Indiana Jones premiere in Cannes 
4. Billy Zane and Kelly Brook's latest film bombs at Cannes 
5. Liz Hurley 'tired and emotional' after Chopard party
6. Gwyneth Paltrow: her latest shoes update

Our chums over at ICYDK report that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have relocated to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera to stay in Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s villa during Angelina's pregnancy.

By all accounts, Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat is a favourite with the rich and famous. According to Provenceweb

Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat is an exceptional site and one of the most loveliest places on the Mediterranean coast. The peninsula is situated next to Nice and to Villefranche sur Mer and extends out to Cap Ferrat. Its tranquillity and warm climate make it a favourite holiday destination amongst European aristocracy and international millionnaires (sic).

Did you hear that? International millionaires no less. Fancy!

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and actor boyfriend, Javier Bardem have been spotted in Nice enjoying a romantic Easter getaway. Check out popsugar for some cute pictures