Former 'N Sync singer Lance Bass has revealed he is gay and is in a "very stable" relationship with The Amazing Race reality TV star Reichen Lehmkuhl. The 27-year-old was afraid of coming out as a homosexual during his time with the US boy band because he feared his sexuality would damage the group's commercial prospects. He tells People magazine, "I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything. I didn't know. Could that be the end of 'N Sync? So I had that weight on me of like, 'Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did." Since the boy band leaped to fame in 1997, his bandmates Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and Joey Fatone have been romantically linked to a host of female celebrities, but Bass' love life has remained low-key. He adds, "The thing is, I'm not ashamed - that's the one thing I want to say. I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy. The main reason I wanted to speak my mind was that (the rumors) really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God so there's really nothing else that I worry about." Bass is currently developing a TV sitcom with Fatone in which his character will be a homosexual. Fatone was the first 'N Sync member to find out Bass' sexuality. He says, "He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone. I back him up 100 percent."

Lindsay Lohan was hospitalized in Los Angeles yesterday after suffering from heatstroke and exhaustion on the set of her new movie. The 20-year-old actress/singer was filming scenes for Georgia Rule when she was overcome by the intense heat wave that has plagued southern California in recent weeks. She was taken by a private car to a Los Angeles hospital for treatment. According to her representative Leslie Sloane-Zelnick, "She was overheated and dehydrated." Sloane-Zelnick says the star spent two hours in the hospital after being given a Vitamin B shot. She adds, "She was filming in 105-degree Fahrenheit weather for 12 hours." A friend of the actress tells American publication People the night before her hospitalization, Lohan was partying at Hollywood nightclub Guy's. An observer at Guy's confirms to the magazine, "She was definitely partying. She wasn't over the top, but having a great time." Lohan is expected to return to the film set today, when she'll recommence shooting with co-stars Jane Fonda and Felicity Huffman. The redhead started the year off in hospital after a severe asthma attack on January 2 left her gasping for breath and in need of medical attention. Later the same month she needed 10 stitches in her shin after falling on a broken cup at rocker Bryan Adams' home in London. Lohan was also admitted to hospital in Los Angeles last February after suffering chest pains. The Mean Girls star was diagnosed with bronchitis.

Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger may have scored the coveted role of The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel, according to press reports in Australia. The actor was reportedly offered the plum part last week and will star in the next installment of the film set to be released in 2008. Oscar-winner Robin Williams was reportedly desperate to land the role and The Da Vinci Code star Paul Bettany was also rumored to be in talks for the part. According to film website Moviehole.net, filmmakers wanted to cast an actor in the part of Batman's adversary who was roughly the same age as 32-year-old star Christian Bale. Ledger is also working with Bale on I'm Not There, a film in which seven actors embody different aspects of musician Bob Dylan's life and work.

Hollywood beauty Scarlett Johansson turned down the lead role in a forthcoming Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber stage production of The Sound Of Music - after auditioning for the part and gushing it was her dream role. The Lost In Translation star was approached by the musical mogul about starring as Maria in the singing nun story and immediately agreed. She even gave an impromptu rendition of songs from the hit movie in front of a restaurant full of people to prove her singing credentials and obsession with the musical. However, the 21-year-old later snubbed the project and Lloyd Webber blames greedy managers for the sudden U-turn. He says, "We had a hysterical lunch which ended in the early hours of the morning. We were at the top of the Peninsula Hotel and she sang in front of everyone, which was fantastic. She can really sing. I said to her, 'Do you want to do Sound of Music?' She said 'yes'. We started planning things." But he adds, "Her people were not pro the idea. It became clear that it wasn't going to work because the demands became so ridiculous." Lloyd Webber claims managers and publicists for the starlet were dismayed by her low fees in comparison to lucrative movie work, and demanded she be accompanied by two minders backstage at all times. A spokesman for Johansson denies the demands, insisting, "(They) are extremely exaggerated. Her management team was simply asking for terms that an actress of her stature would ask for. The real reason why the negotiations stopped was the run of the play interfered with the production of one of the films she was slated to accomplish." The search for Maria has now turned into a UK reality TV hunt, with unknown actresses vying for role.

Action star Vin Diesel is reportedly dating a sexy TV presenter he once publicly flirted with as she interviewed him for news show Access Hollywood. Maria Menounos chose the xXx star as her date when she cheered on her pal Rita Wilson during a recent performance of stage musical Chicago in New York last week. A source close to Menounos confirms a relationship saying, "They've been friendly for about a year." The 28-year-old Menounos is also an aspiring actress and will star opposite Jamie Kennedy in the upcoming comedy Kickin' It Old Skool. She also appears in Jessica Simpson's new music video "A Public Affair." A Menounos pal says the actress has had a long-standing crush on Diesel and is thrilled with the progression of the relationship. The source adds, "There's always been an attraction there. (Now) they're taking it to the next level."

Janet Jackson has rubbished reports she is planning to marry her long-term boyfriend Jermaine Dupri later this year - but admits he could be planning a surprise. Music producer Dupri was recently telling friends the pair will exchange vows at the end of September, when they attended the Espy Awards in Hollywood earlier this month. But the singer has dismissed the speculation while in Berlin, Germany to promote her new album 20 Years Old. She says, "That was just a joke. At least I don't know anything about it yet. But we are happier than ever." She also told a radio interview in Britain this week, "He said something about September 26 we were getting married. That's the date the album comes out! That's what he said. I don't know. Everyone's been asking me about it. And if it's meant to happen, it'll happen."

Singer/actress Jessica Simpson will appear on the first episode of talk show The View with new co-host Rosie O'Donnell, to repay her for her support when she was starting out. O'Donnell booked the then-unknown singer on her top-rated The Rosie O'Donnell Show, which aired from 1996-2002. A source tells American publication People, "Rosie herself reached out to Jessica. When Jessica was just starting out, none of the big shows were interested in her, but Rosie took a chance on her and Jessica never forgot it. When Jessica was on The Rosie O'Donnell Show years ago Rosie went backstage afterwards and said, 'You're gonna be a star. Jessica will never forget her." Simpson will appear on the show September 5.

David Hasselhoff was barred from boarding a flight to Los Angeles because he showed up too drunk at London's Heathrow airport, according to reports. The former Baywatch star had his travel plans postponed by two hours yesterday after airport officials declared him unfit to fly. Witnesses tell British newspaper The Sun the 54-year-old, who claims to have beaten his battle with booze, was clearly inebriated and his behavior startled them. One source, who saw the actor pick up the boss of the airport's duty free shop, said, "He seemed merry. He's a huge fella and the manageress is tiny. He picked her up then put her down." A British Airways spokesman confirmed, "A male passenger was denied boarding on the BA279 Heathrow to Los Angeles service because he was deemed unfit for travel. He was assessed later and passed fit to fly on BA283." Hasselhoff's publicist could not immediately be reached by Wenn for comment.

Crocodile Dundee actor Paul Hogan is being investigated by Australian authorities for possible tax evasion. Hogan, whose film and television appearances were credited with tripling the number of American visitors heading Down Under in the 1980s, is suspected, along with business partner John Cornell, of concealing millions of dollars in royalties in tax havens abroad. Neither Hogan nor Cornell have commented on the allegations, which link them with Switzerland-based accountant Philip Egglishaw, whose firm specializes in tax haven advice. The pair are believed to have reaped tens of millions of dollars from the Crocodile Dundee movie franchise despite the third film being a flop. According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, three Australian company directors, also clients of Egglishaw, were charged last week as a result of the same investigation, which has targeted celebrities and high-profile businessmen.

The black dress Audrey Hepburn wore in classic film Breakfast At Tiffany's will go under the hammer in December to raise money for India's destitute. Hubert De Givenchy, who was responsible for the American actress' wardrobe for the 1961 movie, designed the outfit for Hepburn's character Holly Golightly. She is seen wearing it in the film's opening scene. The dress is expected to fetch up to $130,000 when it goes on auction at Christie's in London.