Vanessa Anne Hudgens' representative has confirmed reports that nude photographs circulating on the internet are of the High School Musical 2 star. Last week , American tabloid National Enquirer reported saucy images of the 18-year-old singer/actress had been taken from her possession. After the images began appearing on the internet on this week, Hudgens representative released a statement, confirming their authenticity. The rep says, "It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public. This was a photo which was taken privately." The photo features Hudgens in the nude standing beside a bed in either a bedroom or film set. The pretty Californian is rumored to be dating her High School Musical co-star Zac Efron.

Tributes have poured in for Luciano Pavarotti after he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 71 on Thursday. Fellow tenor, Placido Domingo, conceded he would miss Pavarotti's sense of humor and his voice most. He said, "I always admired the God-given glory of his voice - that unmistakable special timbre from the bottom up to the very top of the tenor range. I also loved his wonderful sense of humor and on several occasions of our concerts with Jose Carreras - the so-called Three Tenors concerts - we had trouble remembering that we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun between ourselves." Opera star Dame Joan Sutherland, who performed many times with Pavarotti, added, "It was incredible to stand next to him and sing along. The quality of the sound was so different. You knew immediately it was Luciano who was singing."

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has confirmed he'll be stripping for theatre audiences in New York after signing on to star in the London transfer of Peter Shaffer's controversial play Equus. The teenager wowed West End audiences and critics with the role earlier this year, and now he'll join co-star Richard Griffiths when the production opens on Broadway. Although dates, details and venues have yet to be announced, Radcliffe admits he hopes to be on Broadway towards the end of 2008. He tells MTV News, "In all probability, if everything goes according to plan, it would definitely be me and Richard Griffiths and however many other cast members the unions will allow." The play, which featured Radcliffe completely naked in one brief scene, played to nearly sold-out audiences at London's Gielgud Theatre from February 24 to June 9.

Director Tim Burton has been honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival for his groundbreaking filmmaking. The Edward Scissorhands moviemaker was hailed by the Italian festival judges on Wednesday as "one of America's bravest, most visionary and innovative filmmakers" and was presented with the coveted Golden Lion accolade by frequent collaborator, Johnny Depp. Speaking at the annual film event, Burton said, "I'm very honored. It means a lot to me. Hopefully it just inspires me to keep going." Wednesday's proceedings at the festival were also dubbed "Tim Burton Day" in the star's honor as audiences were treated to the world premiere of the 3D version of Burton's 1993 hit, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Owen Wilson's recent suicide attempt wasn't the first time the troubled movie star had tried to take his life, according to shocking new U.S. reports. The Wedding Crashers star allegedly slashed his wrists and was found distressed at his Santa Monica, California home by his brother Andrew on August 26. He was taken to a nearby hospital emergency room and then spent a week under supervision at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Official reports confirm Wilson attempted suicide, and now a family friend has told tabloid the National Enquirer that the recent incident wasn't Wilson's first cry for help. The unnamed source tells the publication, "A good portion of his (Wilson's) life has been dedicated to fighting depression and addiction... This is the third time he's tried killing himself." And the source insists Wilson's break-up with girlfriend Kate Hudson wasn't to blame for the suicide attempt, as has been suggested - he was actually distraught after failing to come up with material for a friend's film project. The insider adds, "Owen felt demoralized after letting down his pal."

Oscar-winning actress Miyoshi Umeki has died of cancer. She was 78. The Sayonara star passed away at a nursing home in Licking, Missouri last Tuesday, her son Michael Hood confirmed. The Japanese actress made history in 1958 by becoming the first Asian actress to win an Academy Award when she won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Sayonara. After starting her career in Japan, Umeki moved to the U.S. in the 1950s and married Frederick Winfield Opie in 1958. After divorcing Opie, Umeki married writer/director Randall Hood in 1968 and retired from acting shortly afterwards. Umeki is survived by her son Michael and two grandchildren.

Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley has secretly married wife number four - a Brazilian former waitress half his age. Gandhi star Kingsley, 63, wed 32-year-old actress Daniela Barbosa De Carneiro in front of a handful of guests at a country house in Oxfordshire, England on Monday. The service was followed by a reception at the Gandhi star's $5 million manor house. But Kingsley's busy film schedule prevents the newlyweds from taking a honeymoon. He says, "We're extremely happy. Daniela is like an ancient mythological princess. She has great dignity. She moves like an ocean liner." Kingsley divorced his third wife Alexandra Christmann last year after he saw photos of the German socialite with another man on the internet.

Lindsay Lohan's estranged father has visited the troubled actress in rehab. Michael Lohan reunited with his daughter on Wednesday night in Utah, where the Georgia Rule star is seeking counseling at the Cirque Lodge treatment center. Father and daughter haven't seen each other since Michael went to prison in New York after he was found guilty of driving while intoxicated and other charges two years ago. Since his release earlier this year, Michael, who is now a born-again Christian, has publicly spoken of his wish to reunite with his actress daughter. Reports suggest Lindsay, who checked into Cirque Lodge on August 3, was persuaded to meet up with her father by her mother Dina Lohan and younger brother Michael.

Susan Sarandon's actress daughter Eva Amurri has been named the latest United Nations celebrity Goodwill Ambassador, overseeing fundraising for "vulnerable children" living in HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Africa. Saved star Amurri, 22, recently traveled to Namibia to visit children attending schools funded by the United Nation's HERO initiative. During her visit, the actress volunteered at the Hainyeko Primary School and Onamatadiva Kindergarten in the Ohangwena region of Namibia. There she worked alongside local partners, community members and the United Nations Association's HERO Youth Ambassadors. Amurri helped paint student dorms and participated in an after-school camp, where she taught "arts, crafts and recreational activities." She also hosted a celebration with the San community - considered the world's oldest cultural group. Amurri says, "Being in Namibia this past July and working with the kids has been such an enlightening experience and I'm looking forward to returning in the future."

French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg is "doing fine" and recovering from a brain hemorrhage in a Paris hospital. The 36-year-old was taken to the Clinique Monceau late on Wednesday and was operated on by brain specialist Stephanie Delajoux. Gainsbourg had been suffering from headaches for several weeks following a waterskiing accident in the U.S. last month. The actress' husband actor/director Yvan Attal said his wife was improving as he left the Clinique on Thursday to pick up their two children from school. He said, "She is doing fine. I spoke to her, she replied and I kissed her. She is fine. It's not as bad as the media says it is. She may be able to leave the hospital within the next couple of days."

Britney Spears has been confirmed as the opening act at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. After weeks of speculation, MTV bosses have announced the troubled star will make her live music comeback onstage at the ceremony with a performance of "Gimme More," the first single from her upcoming fifth album. Spears has in recent weeks been planning her VMAs stage show with illusionist Criss Angel.