Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is the new face of Martini & Rossi drinks - even though she hates alcohol. The Oscar-winner follows a strict macrobiotic diet and avoids liquor, but she has agreed to star in the advertisements for the vermouth beverages. An advertising executive says, "Hollywood stars often appear in ads that won't be broadcast in America because they want the money but don't want to look like sellouts in their home country. That's sort of common. But what is shocking is that Gwyneth is promoting something that she thinks is so unhealthy that the she won't use it herself. That's a new one on me. That's hypocritical even by celebrities' standards." A spokesman for drinks giant Bacardi confirmed Gwyneth is in the ads, but the actress' representative made no comment.

Outspoken actress Angela Bassett has joined American preacher Jesse Jackson in branding the Academy Awards racially lopsided. Angela has launched her attack on the Oscars in the first year to see two black men - Will Smith for Ali and Denzel Washington for Training Day - simultaneously nominated for best actor. Bassett says, "There's just not a great deal of diversity in the voting ranks for the Academy Awards, and that has a great deal to do with who wins. If 80 per cent of those who vote are male and white and over 60 years old, that's not a lot of diversity." Academy communications director John Pavlik has responded angrily to the allegations, insisting Academy members are not required to reveal their race for official purposes. Pavlik fumes, "Anybody who comes up with a figure like that is guessing, because something like that can't be determined."

Mel Gibson has set the record straight about his family's emigration from America when he was still a child. Popular legend has it that Gibson's family moved from his hometown of Peeskill, New York, in the mid 1960s because his father Hutton wanted to ensure his sons avoiding being drafted for the Vietnam war. But Gibson, who stars in upcoming Vietnam movie We Were Soldiers, says the story has been twisted over the years. He says, "That's not totally true. My Dad is a sane man who fought for this country during World War II. Maybe because of that fact, my father was never a fan of war. However, our family moving to Australia when I was a boy wasn't to avoid Vietnam. The truth was my father had hurt himself and we had friends and family in Australia who could make it easier for us to live while he recovered." And Gibson insists that living in Australia did not mean he could escape the draft when he got older. He adds, "You could still be drafted in Australia. In fact, I remember the day my brother got called up, but he flunked the preliminary tests and didn't have to go. That was a relief in a way. But there was still a lot to fear. In Australia, you could still be drafted by America or be drafted by the Australian forces because we were allies. I would hate to send my children off and I don't care if it's a just war or not. I'm not a big fan of conflict especially when there is usually a lot more going on behind the scenes than we think." We Were Soldiers, based on the acclaimed book We Were Soldiers Once, And Young by Hal Moore is released in America in March.

Rocker Sheryl Crow was on the verge of checking into rehab last summer but was put off by Mariah Carey's breakdown. Crow, who has a history of depression, admits she was so low she sought professional help last year, but when Carey's exhaustion led her to hospital and the whole thing blew up in the press, Sheryl knew therapy sessions weren't for her. Instead she turned to pals Stevie Nicks and Kid Rock, insisting their combined efforts helped get her well again. Crow says, "There's no handbook on becoming famous and successful and I'm a person who had this overwhelming need to be right with the world and make sure everyone is happy with me. I became totally sick of myself, I got tired of seeing myself. I got tired of feeling that if I wasn't in a magazine that interest in me was waning. Fame is a weird trip. It was really a mindblower. It took a few trips to Mount Sinai for some psychiatric help. I'm not joking. Had Mariah not had the incident that she had I would have fully checked myself in but I just didn't want the press. In a funny way, visiting Kid Rock was an important turnaround for me. I went to Detroit and it was so much fun. It totally reminded of what it was like growing up - it was all about Lynyrd Skynyrd and trucks and Budweiser and hanging out with your friends and it was like, 'I remember now who I am.' Stevie was also instrumental. She has been an awesome friend and influence on my life. There's nobody like her. I feel really blessed."

Brad Pitt splashed out on a $21,000 birthday party for his beloved wife Jennifer Aniston. Jen turned 33 on Monday and wept with joy when she arrived at the surprise bash in to Hollywood Japanese restaurant Katana. Brad organised the guest list, including her co-star David Schwimmer and had bakers make a miniature replica of the couple's wedding cake. After friends sang Happy Birthday to the actress, Brad toasted his wife, saying, "Happy birthday Jen. You're my best friend, my soulmate and the one I'll spend eternity with. I don't know what I did to deserve you. But I thank God every day that you came into my life. I love you, now and forever." Brad went on to present her with a platinum bracelet with two charms including a antique diamond encrusted locket that contained a photo of the pair on one of their first dates and a charm engraved with the date of her birth and "I love you Brad."

Movie veteran Robert Duvall has started spending his spare time in Buenos Aires because everyone is always tangoing. Duvall regularly takes off to the Argentinean capital after movies and appearances because he can dance all night - in the street. He says, "I love New York but I actually think Buenos Aires is the most exciting city in the world. At 3 o'clock in the morning the streets are packed as people flood the coffee shops. There's tango everywhere and the men dance with the men."

Sissy Spacek has a musical secret - she's the backing singer in the shadows for her daughter Schuyler Fisk's band. Spacek, who started her career as a country singer called Rainbo in 1969, can often be seen playing low-key shows with her daughter. Fisk says, "I've played a couple of times in Los Angeles and I play at home in Virginia at all the open mike nights, art shows, and stuff like that. My mom sings harmony with me. She's my backup singer and she loves it."

Handsome Hollywood legend Cary Grant is to be honored by America's postal service. The late great actor is to be featured on a new first class stamp, to be issued later this year.

Friends fans' joy following the news the show will be back for a ninth season will be short-lived when they hear it will end next year. Bosses at NBC hammered out a deal with Friends bosses and castmembers on Monday - making the show the most expensive 30-minute series in history. But NBC head Jeff Zucker is sure the ninth season will be Friends' last. He says, "This was the easiest deal we have ever made. Everyone wanted it to work out, because everyone wanted to be able to send the series out appropriately, and in style. The creators will tie things up and send our characters off into the world."

Friends star Matthew Perry is taking a sideways step and guest-starring on legal drama Ally McBeal. Perry, who plays Chandler Bing on Friends, will play a "cocky, successful and opinionated attorney" in the Calista Flockhart-led series. Actress Christina Ricci is making a guest appearance in the show, which will be aired in April, at the same time. Executive producer Alice West says, "Matthew Perry displays a strong presence and natural comedic ability on his other TV project, which makes him a natural choice for Ally McBeal."