Oscar winner Hilary Swank and her husband Chad Lowe have separated after eight years of marriage. Swank's manager Troy Nankin has offered hope to fans of the couple, suggesting the separation might not lead to divorce, as neither party plans to file official papers. In a statement, he says, "Hilary and Chad have decided to separate, but they are hopeful they'll be able to get through this tough time." The couple reportedly split last year, but they've now made a permanent agreement to separate. Swank and Lowe wed in 1997 after a whirlwind romance. They met and fell in love on the set of movie Quiet Days in Hollywood. The actress picked up her second Best Actress Oscar last spring for her portrayal of a boxer in Million Dollar Baby.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has infuriated U.S. comedienne Kathy Griffin by pressuring her to apologize after she joked his 10-year-old acting protegee Dakota Fanning had been admitted to rehab. Griffin made the joke at last year's Golden Globe Awards, leaving Spielberg fuming. But the 44-year-old insists the maverick director should have been more focused on his War of the Worlds lead Tom Cruise's outrageous declarations of love for Katie Holmes, than her harmless humor. She says, "I think Steven Spielberg has a lot of nerve. I don't care how big you are, you will not trample on my, or anyone else's, First Amendment rights. That makes me furious. "I get a call from the lawyers, and they're, like, 'DreamWorks is furious about the whole Dakota Fanning thing, and they're livid, and Spielberg is personally furious, and DreamWorks is putting you on a list, and they demand an apology.' "As if War of the Worlds didn't have bigger fish to fry. With Tom Cruise losing his (mind) on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today show and everything else, they're all worried about my Fanning joke, right?" A spokesman for Spielberg tells PageSix.com, "I think it was made very obvious that people were very upset and they were looking for some sort of an apology. It was a very upsetting thing for a young child and her family. "Obviously, to Kathy Griffin it was a joke, but why make a joke out of (Fanning)? She's a terrific young lady who was there with her family, and it was very upsetting."

Jennifer Aniston is falling for Vince Vaughn's hometown of Chicago, Illinois, after filming two movies back-to-back there. The former Friends star filmed Derailed and The Break Up in the Windy City last year and found love with Vaughn on the set of the latter. She says, "The people (in Chicago) are just so kind and respectful. They leave you alone. "(During filming on The Break Up) a lot of us went out, the cast and crew. We went to hear music, had great meals - Chicago is quite the food town." Since filming on the two movies ended, Aniston has returned to Chicago on several occasions to spend time with Vaughn and meet his family.

Jessica Simpson's estranged husband Nick Lachey blames his wife's irrational thinking for their marriage breakdown. The former 98 Degrees star, who split from Simpson two months ago, believes women and men have very different thought processes. He says, "Women argue in ways that aren't rational to men." Lachey also found buying clothes a size too big for his beloved scuppered their chances of marital bliss, adding, "They don't take kindly to that."

Malaysia-born Memoirs of a Geisha star Michelle Yeoh has hit out at criticism regarding her casting in a Japanese role, as she insists all that matters is talent. The 43-year-old screen beauty is bemused by critics who have questioned the decision to use Chinese and Malaysian stars in the drama. She says, "The actors were chosen because of their suitability to the characters. "It's the same as an English actor playing a German or an American. "So it seems strange to me when you say, 'Why are you playing Japanese?' "Why? Because I'm an actor!"

TV stuntman Steve-O has landed Paris Hilton in hot water after confessing he "might have given her some mind-altering substances" just minutes before her November car crash. The outrageous former Jackass star appeared on America's Jimmy Kimmel Live show on Thursday night and candidly revealed how he spent a night with the hotel heiress and her boyfriend Stavros Niarchos III. He told chat show host Kimmel, "I walked into this nightclub to go and meet her and her billionaire boyfriend. I was just clinking and clanking with little nitrous (oxide) cartridges and filling up balloons - I probably shouldn't say that, but whoops! It's funny (but) half an hour before Paris Hilton had that car crash I might have given her some mind-altering substances."

British director Sam Mendes has hinted he may quit Hollywood to look after his two kids with Kate Winslet when they start school. The American Beauty moviemaker loves spending time with his children - Joe and Mia - while Winslet is away shooting a movie, but he confesses that life on the road is difficult when they are both working. He says, "Once (my kids) hit school age, it will get tricky. There's no way I'm going to put my kids through years of being gypsies. It's not fair."

Britney Spears is so protective over her baby son Sean Preston, she will only let her own mother Lynne hold him. Lynne joined her daughters, Jamie Lynn, Britney and son-in-law Kevin Federline at the launch of Britney's father Jamie's poker computer program in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend. Lynne, 50, says, "She's really picky. She's doesn't let just anybody hold Sean, but she lets me." The matriarch also lashed out at reports Britney and Federline's marriage was on the rocks, saying, "She's very happy. Kevin does change diapers. I'm very close to him." Britney adds, "He's (Sean) so happy. He laughs all the time."

Troubled movie star Tom Sizemore has been offered a lifeline as he attempts to salvage his career after two years of legal and drug woes - he'll star in a new film about a haunted prison. The actor, who is currently appealing a conviction for violating a drug-use order following a possession charge, has spent the past two years in and out of court in Los Angeles fighting two different cases. Late last year, the Black Hawk Down star confessed he was penniless after spending his fortune paying legal fees. Sizemore, who became the father of twins last year, then appeared in a sex DVD and spent the latter part of the year asking for payment from the venture. In his new film, Furnace, the actor will play a man running from spirits unleashed in the prison where he is serving time. He's also scheduled to star in upcoming indie movie Toxic, opposite Bai Ling and rapper Master P.

TV president Martin Sheen tugged at America's heartstrings on Sunday night when he paid a personal tribute to late The West Wing co-star John Spencer at the beginning of the new season of the political drama. The new season of the show will begin with Spencer's final episodes. The actor died of a heart attack on December 16th. Sheen, who plays President Jeb Bartlett on the hit show, took a moment to remember his pal, stating, "Good evening. On December 16 we lost our good friend and colleague John Spencer. Through our shock and grief, we can think of no more fitting memorial to this wonderful man, this extraordinary actor, than to share with you, beginning tonight, the last few months of his work here on The West Wing. Johnny, it seems we hardly knew you, we love you and we miss you."