Actress Teresa Wright, who was the only performer to receive Oscar nominations for her first three films, died Sunday in New Haven, CT of a heart attack; she was 86. Initially a stage actress, Wright was discovered by Samuel Goldwyn in the Broadway hit Life with Father, and the studio head immediately cast her opposite Bette Davis in the 1941 film adaptation of The Little Foxes. The screen newcomer more than held her own among the impressive cast and her demure ingénue looks belied a steely center that gave her performance a fierce emotional strength, and she received her first Academy Award nomination for the film. The next year, Wright became the second actress to receive Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the same year, for her roles as the wife of Lou Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees (opposite Gary Cooper) and as a young bride in the World War II drama Mrs. Miniver; she won a Supporting Actress Oscar for the latter film. Wright also starred in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Shadow of a Doubt, for which she received top billing (the film was also reportedly Hitchcock's personal favorite), and the Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives. As the 40s came to a close, Wright famously clashed with Sam Goldwyn over her image and the promotion of her films. Resisting the glamorous, pin-up image the studio wanted to thrust upon her and eschewing most promotion for her films, the independent-minded Wright was fired by Goldwyn in 1948, and her fame never again reached the heights of her early film career. Undaunted, Wright continued to act both onstage and onscreen, appearing opposite Marlon Brando in The Men (his first film) and in a number of character roles through the 80s and 90s, including her last film role in The Rainmaker; she also had an extensive Broadway career, appearing with George C. Scott in a 1975 revival of Death of a Salesman. Wright was married to screenwriter and novelist Niven Busch, whom she divorced in 1952, and then to playwright Robert Anderson, whom she also divorced. She is survived by a son, daughter, and two grandchildren. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Sir Sean Connery has filed a countersuit against his New York neighbor, after the townhouse resident sued the acting legend for being a "rude, foul-mouthed, fat old man". Last month ophthalmologist Dr. Burton Sultan filed a $30 million lawsuit against the former James Bond star, claiming renovations Connery and his wife Marilyn are carrying out on the top two floors on the building, which began in September 2001, are a source of constant noise, foul fumes, water leaks and a rat infestation. Sultan and his family claim the Connerys also owe $15,747 in maintenance and utility payments - another ploy "to harass the Sultans" out of their home. In a countersuit filed by Connery, he accuses Sultan "has embarked on a campaign of harassing" the Scots star and his family. The suit says, "It's clear that the condominium cannot function if it is run by defendant, Burton Sultan, out of his office... in Old Westbury as a tyrant." Connery's spokesperson has dismissed the allegations, claiming the actor spends most of his time in the Bahamas.

Hollywood beauty Shannon Elizabeth and husband Joseph Reitman have split after nearly three years of marriage. American magazine People reported Monday the American Pie actress, 31, and fellow actor Reitman, 36, had an amicable split and will continue to share their Los Angeles home. Spokeswoman Nicole King says, "The couple will remain friends." The pair wed in Mexico in June 2002. The couple had been at the centre of reports for months their marriage is in trouble, with friends claiming Elizabeth was furious when Reitman participated in a prank on her for Ashton Kutcher's TV show Punk'd.

Sandra Bullock is upset by reports she turned down the chance to star in Oscar-winning movie Million Dollar Baby - because she tried to get the film made for years. The actress calls rumors she snubbed Clint Eastwood "total rubbish," insisting instead that gossips have got their facts wrong. She explains, "We had Million Dollar Baby with someone else for a while, trying to get it made. I couldn't get it made. We tried and tried and tried. (They were like) Female boxing movies don't sell. I was like, 'This is the most incredible piece.' I then started doing Miss Congeniality 2 and they got Hilary Swank and they got Clint." But Bullock insists she's not bitter about the fact the film went on to net Swank a Best Actress Oscar - in the role she wanted to play: "When things like that happen, that's the way they're supposed to be."

US chat show legend Johnny Carson's beloved sidekick Ed McMahon spent his 82nd birthday in a hospital over the weekend. The TV personality was admitted to hospital in Beverly Hills, California, with mild concussion after falling at his home. Insiders claim he required stitches for a lesion on his head but is otherwise fine and was kept in hospital over the weekend for tests. He is expected to be released from the hospital later this week.

American lifestyle queen Martha Stewart returned to the headquarters of her New York company Martha Stewart Living yesterday morning to thank staff for supporting her while she served a five-month prison term. Stewart was released two days early on Friday and spent the weekend filming image-improving home videos at her upstate New York home surrounded by family and friends. After receiving a standing ovation from her employees at her return to work, Stewart said, "I've read, I've reflected upon the past; on my own life, and to consider what's really and truly important to me." Stewart was set to visit her probation officer later Tuesday, when she'll be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet. She'll then begin a five month house arrest spell. As part of this, Stewart's movement will be monitored and she'll only be able to leave her estate to collect groceries and visit the doctor and dentist, unless otherwise agreed with her probation officer.

Nicole Kidman is on the verge of severing ties from her stalled Australian movie Eucalyptus after entering into negotiations to play tragic photographer Diane Arbus. The Aussie actress was awaiting a reworked schedule for Eucalyptus, which was halted due to apparent script problems last month, but now it looks like the film, which was also set to star Russell Crowe, may take longer than expected to restart. And so Kidman is looking at the Arbus biopic, Fur, in which she's likely to star with Robert Downey, Jr. Arbus was known for her disturbing photographs. She committed suicide in 1971. British actress Samantha Morton was originally attached to the project.

A Broadway musical boss has slammed Kelly Osbourne's claims she is to star in his New York production of Hairspray - because she hasn't even auditioned. The MTV star recently revealed she had been cast as Tracy Turnblad in an adaptation of John Waters' movie - news her mother confirmed in an interview with newspaper the New York Post. But Tony award-winning composer Marc Shaiman is confused - because the 20-year-old has never been approached about the role, and he doubts she possesses the necessary talent. Shaiman writes on internet message board All That Chat, "Ms. O just got a tad carried away with her words in front of a reporter. If (she) wants to audition for Hairspray, we can't wait to see what she can do! I know she has a strong set of pipes on her, but whether she can act the part, lose her accent and not break character and tell someone in the front row to 'Get your f**king feet off the stage, ya f**king a**hole!!' remains to be seen." If Osbourne did make it onto the Broadway stage - Shaiman wants to cast the rest of her family. He adds, "The more I think about it, it should be an Osbourne family affair. Sharon could play Velma, and Ozzy would be a great Edna."

Fans of cult movie Trainspotting will have to wait another decade for director Danny Boyle's follow-up - because the original cast aren't old enough yet. Despite Moulin Rouge star Ewan McGregor's reported reluctance to reprise his role in a sequel to the 1995 junkie movie that launched his career - Boyle is convinced he can assemble the original cast, which also includes Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle. But Boyle wants his leads to be "middle-aged casualties of the pleasure culture" and they are still too young - the movie-maker tells the New York Post. So he will wait until McGregor, Miller, Carlyle and castmate Ewan Bremner are suitably scarred by "the ravages of time". He complains, "Actors like to put out the PR that they're living a wild life in night clubs, but really they're tucked up in bed early with their moisturizer on," Boyle said.

Britney Spears is set for a sexy return to the limelight by stripping off for a new magazine photo spread. The newly-married pop superstar will appear topless, wearing just a just a necklace gift from husband Kevin Federline on the upcoming cover of US fashion magazine Allure. And, it isn't just the photos that are revealing - the singer is also confessing that her six-month marriage has been a real challenge at times. Spears explains, "We hit a little bit of reality, hardcore, after the first three weeks. But we handled it fine, and now things are starting to go really smooth." The pop star admits the daily routine of being a wife was, at times, tough for her after years spent living it up on tour and partying with pals. She adds, "Before we got married we were on tour, and we were just like kids, ordering room service, saying, 'Let's go out tonight.' Then, all of a sudden, you have this home, you have the kids (Kaleb and Kori), you have to get the diapers, get the dog to the vet. It's this reality."

Nick Carter insists doctor-prescribed drugs are to blame for his run-in with the law on Saturday night. The Backstreet Boys star was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday night - but he insists he was caught out by medication he was on. In a statement released yesterday, the pop hunk said, "Nick Carter deeply regrets the current situation. He is on doctor-prescribed medication and was unaware of its interaction possibilities."