Actor Michael J. Fox made a trip to Washington, DC, yesterday morning to press on with his campaign to lift Us President George W. Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference in the hopes that a change can be made after his tireless protests. He said, "Embryonic stem cell research holds enormous promise. More federal funding and more lines are needed or progress will stall." Stem cell research on human embryos holds the most promise in the search for cures for a list of diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and some types of cancer. The Senate is considering a House-passed bill to lift Bush's 2001 restrictions on federal funding for such studies, but the measure is facing stiff resistance from conservatives who believe the process is unethical because it destroys embryos. Dana Reeve, widow of Superman star Christopher Reeve, was expected to appear with Fox today but had to cancel for family reasons. Her husband's spinal cord injury is one condition for which embryonic stem cell research holds the promise of a cure.

Doctors rushed tests on sick star Brad Pitt, fearing his condition was worse than influenza. The movie hunk checked himself into an undisclosed hospital on Monday night after feeling unwell following an appearance at a motorcycle speedway event in California last weekend. The Ocean's Twelve star has recently completed an extensive tour that took in Europe and Africa, prompting medics to question if his symptoms were something more serious. His spokeswoman Cindy Guagenti says, "They just want to make sure it wasn't anything else." Pitt is "doing ok" adds Guagenti, who confirms test results indicate "it's not that big of a deal".

Troubled actor Tom Sizemore failed to attend a court hearing held to determine whether he violated the terms of his probation order so he could check into a live-in rehabilitation clinic. The Saving Private Ryan star, 43, allegedly refused to provide urine tests and attend drug counseling sessions with his probation officer, and could face up to three years in prison if found guilty. The Los Angeles Superior Court hearing has been postponed until 22 July, and Sizemore faces arrest should he fail to appear. Sizemore, who was charged with violating his probation order but released on bail in March, denies the charges.

Mischa Barton has split from her wealthy boyfriend Brandon Davis, after months of speculation about the state of their relationship. The British-born star's spokesperson has confirmed the year-long romance has ended - but refused to elaborate. Barton, starring in Fox drama The OC, last month denied reports she planned to end the relationship, but spoke of the pressure she has felt dating the oil heir while in the public eye. The 19-year-old said, "My relationship is the one thing I find the media speculate over too much. I don't deal with it too well. Fame has its pitfalls and plus-points. So not talking about it will hopefully not fuel the fire."

British comedienne Jennifer Saunders is ditching her acting career for good because she is exhausted by the grueling lifestyle. The 47-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star is keen to continue writing and directing, but she refuses to write another series of the cult TV comedy - insisting she is too old to play flamboyant fashionista Edina Monsoon. Saunders says, "The 6am calls to go to make-up and all the promotional work wear you down. I would like to write and direct - that would be my joy."

Murder, She Wrote star Angela Lansbury is preparing to undergo knee replacement surgery today. The British actress, 79, tripped over an electrical cord on Friday night while joining celebrities onstage for Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl. But, according to Lansbury's daughter Deirdre Battarra, the slip has nothing to do with the actress' surgery plans. Battarra explains, "Her knee is so painful from years of dancing. She's pretty at ease about it all." Lansbury is expected to take one to two months to recover.

Stunning actress Jane Seymour has been inundated with offers to appear in her own reality TV show. Seymour, 54, has been contacted by a number of US network bosses hoping to sign her up for her own series - but she's refusing to accept. The British beauty says, "It wouldn't be fair (to name the proposed reality shows) because they're probably gonna make these with other people. I think actors and actresses, they have careers, they act. That's what we do. And reality shows aren't reality anyway. They're scripted. Who are we fooling? They throw ideas in. I'm just hanging in there for some more great roles like Wedding Crashers."

A New York shop accidentally sold a copy of the hotly anticipated Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince prior to Saturday's stringent release date - and have ordered the customer to return it. Mandy Muldoon and her son Sylum Mastropaolo, nine, saw the JK Rowling books for sale at the pharmacy and immediately bought it. But store manager Christine Ekblom is convinced this was the only copy sold, and quickly removed the embargoed publications from public reach. She explains, "They were pulled off an hour after they were put on the shelves. It was a mistake." Sylum's step-father Mike Muldoon says, "We're going to do the right thing. We don't want to ruin it for other kids and take away from the experience of everyone reading it together." Kyle Good, a spokeswoman for Scholastic publishing, promises Sylum his own copy along with a gift pack as a gesture of gratitude. Publishers have attempted to keep the latest release in the fantasy saga top secret - but they were foiled last Thursday when fourteen books were inadvertently sold in Canada. A judge commanded the customers to stay silent about the book, and forbade them to sell it or even look at it before Saturday.

Sean 'P Diddy' Combs has settled a legal dispute with book publisher Random House Inc, who accused the hip-hop mogul of failing to return an advance for an autobiography he did not finish. Random House claimed it paid Combs $300,000 in 1999 as part of an agreement to publish his memoir - but Combs' failure to supply any written material by the agreed deadline breached their contract. Random House began legal proceedings at Manhattan's Supreme Court in February to retrieve the forfeited advance but an out of court settlement was announced on Tuesday - although it remains unclear if multi-millionaire Combs has returned the money. Combs was originally meant to join forces with Rolling Stone magazine contributor Mikal Gilmore to write a manuscript, and Combs took Gilmore to court in 2001 for allegedly ditching the project after accepting $325,000 to ghost write. The case was finally abandoned in 2004 with Gilmour declared bankrupt.

British rocker Marianne Faithfull is shocked by reports she recently suffered a heart attack - she insists she is in good health. American gossip website PageSix.com reported the 58-year-old singer pulled out of new movie The Picture Of Dorian Gray after being rushed to hospital with severe chest pains. But Faithfull is furious no one checked with her before printing the unfounded story, because her loved ones have worried about her for no reason. She fumes, "These horrible rumors are completely untrue. I haven't had a heart attack, not even a slight one. It's upsetting that so many of my friends and family have been forced to worry unnecessarily about my health. I'm currently on tour in Europe and I want to reassure everyone coming to the shows that I'm OK."