Jim Carrey is to marry his gorgeous girlfriend Renee Zellweger after proposing while on a trip to London. The Dumb & Dumber (1994) star missed Renee so much while she was in Britain filming new flick Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), he jetted over from Hollywood to see her. And once in London the wacky star treated Texan Renee to a romantic candlelit dinner - then got down on one to pop the question. Now Renee, 31, is proudly showing off the sparkling $64, 000 engagement ring the film funnyman gave her. A friend of Renee says, "Renee is absolutely thrilled - she has a constant smile on her face. Jim's proposal came as a real shock, but she wasn't going to wait to be asked twice. " The pair met on the set of controversial flick Me, Myself & Irene (2000) last summer.

Tennis sensation Anna Kournikova has been sent death threats by a man police believe is an obsessed fan of actress Liz Hurley. The deranged fan claimed blonde beauty Anna would be a target because she'd outshone the Austin Powers (1997) star when the two were pictured watching the WIMBLEDON tennis championships. Kournikova was later quoted as saying she thought Hurley, who models for cosmetics company Estee Lauder, was "ugly". The death threat was contained in a letter sent to BBC newsreader Sophie Redworth, by someone claiming to be from extreme right-wing terror group COMBAT 18. A police spokesman in London says, "We can confirm a threatening letter was reported to Hammersmith police and is being investigated."

Sexy actress Halle Berry lost her sense of humour live on television - when comedian Howie Mandel made a crack about her hit and run accident. Mandel, who was standing in for talk show host Regis Philbin, made a quip about Berry just before she came in front of the cameras to be interviewed about her new movie X-Men (2000). He joked, "I just passed her in the hall, and she smashed right into me, then she didn't say anything, she just left the scene." But Berry, who has since spoken out about the accident (see interview) claiming she was disoriented and in shock after the crash, didn't find the joke all that funny. Talking frankly she admitted to Mandell, "I was so shocked to come to what is like a home, and to be disrespected almost to my face." Mandel backtracked immediately, assuring Berry, "I'm so sorry if I hurt your feelings, I didn't mean anything, I'm a huge fan of yours."

Dame Judi Dench has been persuaded to take part in the first cultural performance on London's river Thames since Handel's Water Music in the 18th century. Max Couper, an artist who lives on a houseboat on the river and exhibits installations on barges, convinced the Oscar-winning star to narrate a mixed theatrical/opera/ballet show he's writing. He then won over the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet to take part in the free performance. Oscar-winner Dame Judi says, "Any opportunity to be part of Max Couper's waterborne artwork that brings together opera, ballet, and the spoken word I find irresistible. The last time any such serious artistic statement was created and performed for the river was Handel's Water Music in 1717. I passionately believe the Thames is underused. This draws attention to it in a spirited way." The show, Fleeting Opera, will take place from 9pm on July 26 and 27.

Verne Troyer could have used Dr. Evil's help during a recent run in with a boisterous dog. The Mini-Me star was partying at Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst's Hollywood Hills home when he was knocked flat on his back by the musician pet boxer Bizkit. A fellow guest says, "Verne was holding a cell phone in one hand and a water bottle in his other. With his hands full, he couldn't get up and we had to help him back on his feet."

Friends of heartbroken actor Dennis Quaid fear the stress of his marriage break-up may send him back to drink and drugs. The Frequency (2000) actor's pals have ensured somebody is on call 24 hours a day in case the stress and pain get too much too handle. Quaid's soon to be ex-wife Meg Ryan helped her fiance conquer his addictions prior to their wedding on Valentine's day 1991. One pal says, "You have to take your sobriety one day at a time, one slip under such stressful conditions could be enough to send Dennis hurtling back down the slippery slope to addiction again." Quaid's friends have taken action after he gave them a scare by switching his cell phone off for two days in a row. The pal adds, "People started fearing the worst - that he might have done something crazy."

Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson was not in reality the good pupil he portrays in the hit show. Josh, who plays heart-throb PACY, was thrown out of two schools for his misbehavior. He says, "I was a complete pain in the b*tt. I had a real problem with being told what to do by teachers and I ended up getting kicked out of two schools for being mouthy. The first time was in Vancouver, when I was 14. They told me I just wasn't part of the school spirit." The second time he was thrown out he says, "was because I played truant a lot and I was still very mouthy. One of my teachers called me `stupid' and we got into this massive argument. The principle told me I could either apologise to the class for my behavior and stay, or I'd have to leave. I just wouldn't back down, which maybe wasn't the best attitude to take."

Actor Clint Eastwood has spared a California forest from the bulldozer by halting a golf course development. The Dirty Harry (1971) star caused an uproar when plans for the 500-acre site at Pebble Beach were initially unveiled. The actor's decision could lose him millions of dollars, but ends a year-long campaign by residents who wanted to protect the ecologically fragile site.

Arnold Schwarzenegger desperately wants James Cameron to direct Terminator 3 (2002) - but will have to settle for someone else. Arnie has expressed his wish to work with Cameron several times - but it's not to be. Arnold has said, "My big wish is that I will work with James Cameron again." The Hollywood tough guy's arch-rival in the new movie will be a woman - who is yet to be cast.

Actor Justin Pierce - star of controversial movie Kids (1995) - has been found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room. The 25-year-old had hung himself and was pronounced dead at the scene, the high-class BellagioFriday, July 14, 2000 resort, after being found by security guards Monday. Two suicide notes were found at the scene and the Clark County Coroner Ron Flud confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances - although toxicology tests are pending. He says, "Hanging is the cause of death and the manner of death is suicide." Pierce shot to fame in the 1995 film Kids - which attracted controversy for depicting Pierce as a HIV positive New York teenager having unprotected sex, using drink and drugs. The actor appears in the upcoming film King of the Jungle (2000) with Rosie Perez and John Leguizamo.