Sir Ian McKellen, famed British actor extraordinaire, is so good at his craft that he is able to fool pretty much anyone into believing what he wants them to believe … even without trying. Sir Ian, who is currently in Australia doing rehearsals for his play there Waiting for Godot, stepped outside the theater in Melbourne to take a break in between rehearsals while wearing his full costume … and was actually mistaken by a passer-by as a homeless man. Considering how authentically downtrodden he looks in these photos, I can’t say that I wouldn’t be completely and utterly fooled myself:

Whether he’s playing Gandalf, Magneto or King Lear, Sir Ian McKellen is known for his character roles. But his latest performance was perhaps his most impressive yet – he was mistaken for a genuine tramp as he sat outside a theatre. The 70-year-old X-Men star was wearing his threadbare costume during a break from rehearsing for Waiting For Godot in Melbourne, Australia, when a passer-by gave him an Australian dollar. He tweeted:

“During the dress rehearsal of Godot, I crouched by the stage door of the Comedy Theatre, getting some air, my bowler hat at my feet [and] seeing an unkempt old man down on his luck, a passer-by said, ‘Need some help, brother?’ and put a dollar in my hat. I hope the Melbourne audiences will be as generous. The dollar coin is now lodged between two drawing pins on the board above my dressing room mirror. My lucky talisman.”

The actor recreated the moment for publicity shots – perhaps hoping to increase the interest in the play.

LOL!! I LOVE this story. You can tell that Sir Ian took the passerby’s mistake as a huge compliment. He absolutely looks homeless in these photos … a great testament to his costume and make-up people. I have no doubt that McKellen will be fantastic in Waiting for Godot. I love his films, I would love to see him perform live on stage. I’d happily pay him a dollar and everything!

[Source]

TMZ published a report that claims that Britney Spears‘s manager Larry Rudolph (credited with saving her career on more than one occasion) has been approached by Lindsay Lohan‘s camp so that he can be hired to work his magic in order to try and revive her career. When I first heard this, I thought it was a brilliant move on Lindsay‘s part. Larry Rudolph seems to have the magic touch … if anyone could save her career, it’s him. But, Access Hollywood caught up with Rudolph and asked him about the rumor going around that he may be working with L. Lo and he implied that there is no truth to the report. Here is a photo of Larry with his #1 client Britney Spears on the SoCal set of her new commercial for Candie’s (I’ll post other fabulous photos of Britney on set later on today) and the deets from Access Hollywood on this Larry/Lindsay rumor:

Music manager extraordinaire Larry Rudolph was surprised by a recent report that he’s interested in resurrecting Lindsay Lohan’s career. On Tuesday, TMZ reported that Rudolph, who helped bring pop princess Britney Spears back to superstardom after her breakdown, was “working” with LiLo. “He’s not 100 percent in yet,” a source told the Web site. “If Rudolph feels Lindsay is ready, he’s onboard,” another source said. Larry, however, seemed to shoot down the report Tuesday afternoon in a statement to Access Hollywood. When asked about the rumors he told Access, “TMZ has a very vivid imagination.”

It seems to me that Larry‘s comment to Access leaves the door wide open for pretty much anything. Yes, it’s very true that on occasion TMZ has a very vivid imagination about things … of course, this could have absolutely nothing at all do with their report about Larry possibly working with Lindsay. This is why he is so good at his job. As I said above, if anyone could save Lindsay Lohan‘s career, it’s Larry Rudolph. Not only did he make Britney Spears the biggest pop star on the planet but he managed to get her back on top even after she suffered a tragic and very public mental break-down. I’m not necessarily for or against his working with Lindsay but I wouldn’t take his comment to Access Hollywood as any indication that he would not work with her. I guess we shall see … but I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Larry will soon be splitting his professional services between Brit Brit and L. Lo.

[Source]

Amazing news, Buffy fans!! I know fans of the Buffyverse are also big fans of the actors who starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Angel and I’ve got great news about one of our most beloved alums. Nicholas Brendon has finally agreed to enter a rehab program in order to learn how to control his addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills. As you may sadly recall, Brendon was arrested back in March after he went on a felonious vandalism spreed in Venice, CA (the poor guy got tasered before he was apprehended). As a result of that arrest, Nicholas finally realized that he needs help. RadarOnline is reporting that Nicholas Brendon as admitted himself into a rehab facility in Malibu, CA … here are the deets:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon has checked into rehab, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively. The actor says alcohol and the sleeping pill Sonata were to blame for his confrontation with police in March, an incident that ended with Brendon tased and arrested. Nicholas says he was looking for his dog and knocked on his neighbor’s door the evening of March 17, a source close to the actor told RadarOnline.com exclusively. “She (the neighbor) said ‘Go away,’ the source says. But Nicholas kicked her door and she dialed 911. Our source says Nicholas suffered a blackout and doesn’t remember fighting with police. The only thing he remembered was being tased, which he described to our source: “Being tased is like being punched in the side by Rocky Balboa, the pain is so bad it runs up your spine,” he told the source. Brendon, who played Xander on the popular TV vampire series, told our source “They realized who I was, but I didn’t get any special treatment.” He was charged with felony vandalism and released on $20,000 bail. Recognizing he had a problem, the 38-year-old checked himself in the SOBA Recovery Center in Malibu. “I’m feeling lucky because alcoholism effected my money management decisions and they are helping me,” Nicholas told the source, adding that he feels “really grateful.” “I was in treatment in 2005 and unfortunately I had a relapse. In the back of my mind, I always knew I had a problem but it became clear to me when I got arrested,” he told the source. Brendon also told the source about another up side to the recovery program: “they have acting classes that focus on recovery.” Brendon is focusing on his recovery and his work on the hit CBS show Criminal Minds and two animated films.

This is just amazing news. I am such a huge fan of Nicholas Brendon, I’m glad to know that he is getting help for his addictions. Last November, David and I saw Nicholas in the one man play The Santaland Diaries and getting to meet and take a photo with him afterward was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. It pained me to learn of his arrest last March … but this news is very heartening. While I’m not surprised that Malibu rehab centers offer acting classes, it is my sincerest hope that Nicholas truly focuses on his recovery and is able to utilize all of the opportunities afforded to him in this rehab treatment center. Addiction is a terribly powerful disease but with hard word and determination, Nicholas Brendon can get his life back on track … and keep it on track. I know his fans are pulling for his full recovery. We heart you, Nicky!!

[Source]

TMZ has come upon a video shot of Miley Cyrus partying with Adam Shankman, the 44-year old director of her film The Last Song, last Summer at the movie’s wrap party. At a certain point in the festivities, Miley thought it would be fun to sit on Shankman‘s lap and give him a lapdance … and Shankman let her, laughing all the while:

Miley Cyrus felt more than the beat last summer as she got downright nasty on the dance floor with a slightly older gentleman during a wrap party for a movie … and TMZ has obtained the video. Miley — who was 16 at the time — was dancing with 44-year-old Adam Shankman during a wrap party last summer in Georgia for the movie, “The Last Song.” Shankman, who is openly gay, produced the movie as well as “Hairspray” and other flicks and is a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance?” The people who shot the video say they were offended by the dirty dancing — which included a graphic lap dance. We’re told Miley’s parents were not at the wrap party. Miley’s reps had no comment.

It should be made clear that Adam Shankman is a gay man so I highly doubt that any of this was sexual … BUT, that any 44-year old man would let a 16-year old girl grind on his crotch — whether jokingly or not — is just … gross. I’m not surprised at all to learn that the Cyrus parents were not in attendance at this wrap party but, to be honest, I doubt they would’ve stepped in to stop this “playing around” if they were there. I can actually envision mama Tish Cyrus dancing with them and pappa Billy Ray Cyrus clapping along, stomping his feet. After the jump, check out the video and see for yourself how Miley Cyrus and Adam Shankman like to play around …