Heath Ledger's closest Hollywood pals, including ex-partners Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts, have spoken out for the first time since his death in January. The pair joined forces with director Todd Haynes - who made Ledger's movie I'm Not There - actors Sean Penn, Philip Seymour Hoffman, his agent Steve Alexander, and pal Ellen DeGeneres, to talk to Interview magazine about their relationship with the star. Williams, the mother of his daughter Matilda, describes Ledger's energy and talent, saying, "He had an uncontrollable energy. He buzzed. He would jump out of bed. For as long as I'd known him, he had bouts with insomnia. He just had too much energy. His mind was turning, turning, turning - always turning. He had a talent for everything that he put his mind to. He didn't know limits. I think that the interesting thing about Heath, which maybe people have only really fully discovered in his death, his how vulnerable he was. You can pick up on it in his performances, but it's easy to overlook because he was so physical and beautiful and strong and masculine. But there was always that underlying sensitivity. That's who he was." Watts, who dated Ledger for two years, adds, "His acting was just so touching, so connected in truth. I think he was just getting started." Seymour Hoffman, who met Ledger when they were both nominated for the Best Actor Oscar in 2006, describes the actor's "childlike enthusiasm," adding, "His body was always in motion." And his agent Alexander paints the picture of a Ledger as a "rolling stone." Ledger suffered a fatal accidental overdose of prescription drugs in his New York apartment on January 22, 2008. He was 28.

Gilligan's Island star Dawn Wells' lawyers have hit out at the media coverage of her recent arrest, branding the reports "extremely inaccurate and erroneous". The 69-year-old was alleged to have been sentenced to five days in jail, placed on six months' probation and fined $410.50 at a hearing in Driggs, Idaho on February 29 after pleading guilty to reckless driving following a recent arrest on suspicion of possessing marijuana. She was stopped by cops on October 18 as she was driving home from a surprise birthday party held for her, after officers spotted her vehicle swerving across a road. Wells allegedly agreed to plead guilty under the terms of an agreement that saw three other charges - driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia - dropped. However, her attorney Ron Swafford insists Wells did not serve a jail term - and was only issued with a fine and "informal" probation. He also claims there was no "plea deal", reports ETonline.com. The star had marijuana in her car as it had been borrowed by a "third party" earlier in the day, and swerved only because she was "reaching for her heater controls in an unfamiliar new car." The "third party" appeared in court and admitted responsibility for the drug possession. Swafford adds any Dui charges were dropped due to "insufficient proof of excessive alcohol consumption," as none of the tests administered to Wells were carried out correctly. The officer who stopped the actress has since been suspended from his duties. Swafford goes on to claim the offence will not appear on Wells' driving record due to her "cooperation, integrity and complete lack of criminal record." In a statement by Swafford, he adds, "This is a very humiliating and embarrassing event for Ms. Wells. She wishes to apologize to her friends and supporters for any embarrassment or disappointment this occurrence may have caused."

TV show Saturday Night Live has swapped one R&B superstar for another - Mariah Carey will replace Janet Jackson on the program this weekend. Jackson called in sick after coming down with a bout of influenza at the beginning of the week. Her illness was so severe she checked into a Los Angeles hospital, suffering from shortness of breath. But SNL bosses have now confirmed Carey will serve as the musical guest on Saturday's show, which will be guest hosted by Jonah Hill. Ironically, it's not the first time Carey has replaced Jackson - the Glitter star took a waitress role in new film Tennessee when reported work commitments and film delays prompted Jackson to quit. Despite her illness, representatives for Jackson insist the singer will be "fine."

George Clooney is stepping into the fight over 2008 Olympic host country China's trade links with Sudan - because of his sponsorship deal with Games sponsors Omega. Clooney endorses the luxury watch brand, which has been an Olympic partner since 1932. According to the New York Daily News, the star - a United Nations Messenger of Peace - is asking the firm to use its position to pressure China over its trade links with the African nation, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and more than two million turned into refugees by famine and war, since civil war broke out in 2003. The move comes a month after director Steven Spielberg withdrew from the role of Olympic Artistic Director for the same reason.

The man who made a hoax emergency call claiming Heather Locklear was a suicide risk told authorities he was a doctor concerned for her safety. Ventura County Fire Department sent two paramedic units to the actress' Thousand Oaks, California home after receiving a 911 call on Saturday night. The phone call didn't originate from Locklear's property and the paramedics quickly realized there was no suicide risk. On Wednesday, officials released a tape recording of the emergency call, in which a man, whose name has not been released, can be heard telling a 911 operator: "I have a patient and I have a feeling she's suicidal. And I would want someone to go (check up on her)." Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Locklear said, "I spoke with Heather and she is fine. She never requested medical assistance and did not place a 911 call. Nor did anyone from her house call 911 or place a call requesting medical assistance."

The New York trial of a man accused of stalking Uma Thurman has been delayed until next week. Jackson Jordan, 36, stands accused of attempting to gain entry to Thurman's trailer on a New York movie shoot, and sending her letters and drawings, including a sketch of the actress digging his grave. One letter allegedly read, "I feel afraid that if I see you out again with another man, I will want to kill myself." Jordan has turned down the offer of enrolment in a mental health program - which would have shortened any custodial sentence he is given - because he wanted to see her in court. The defendant's lawyer George Vomvolakis has revealed he intends to argue in court that "he was just a romantic pursuing the woman that he loved." If convicted, Jordan faces a minimum sentence of one year in a mental health institution. Jury selection will now begin on March 17.

Batman & Robin star Alicia Silverstone is laughing off reports she pulled out of a role in U.S. sitcom How I Met Your Mother after learning she'd be appearing opposite Britney Spears. Spears plays a receptionist/secretary in an upcoming episode of the show, and insiders claim her boss was supposed to be the big screen's one-time Batgirl. But Silverstone's publicist Elizabeth Much insists the actress' links to the TV show ended long before Spears' name was even mentioned. She explains, "Alicia was in discussions to do the show but the deal never went through. This happens all of the time in Hollywood. It had nothing to do with Britney." Spears will play a secretary to actor Josh Radnor's character Ted when the episode airs in America later this year.

Madonna's new Africa awareness documentary was directed and filmed by her personal gardener. The pop superstar rewarded green-fingered multi-tasker Nathan Rissman by asking him to take charge of her new movie I Am Because We Are. She explains, "He used to be my gardener... He's a brilliant, lovely guy - one of those guys who came into my life and did every job. He was a runner, an intern, a gardener. He took care of my kids. He did everything and he did it with humility. And everyone just grew to love him. And then he started doing these little movies of my children and sending them to me, and making films out of photographs and just being really creative. One day I said, 'I need somebody to document this,' and then looked at him and said, 'And that person is you.' He really stepped up to the plate." Rissman took off to Malawi, Africa to document Madonna's film, which she wanted to release to show that famine, poverty and AIDS in the developing world are problems that can be solved. The singer adds, "He spent a lot of time in Malawi, literally sleeping on the floors of people's huts and waking up with chickens on his head. He really lived it and approached it with an open heart and so much gratitude. People opened their hearts to him. I couldn't have done that."

Country star Dolly Parton has been forced to pull out of an upcoming appearance at the SXSW festival in Texas after suffering continuing back problems caused by her large breasts. The legendary singer, who is famous for her impressive bust, was ordered to rest for six to eight weeks after canceling her U.S. tour at the beginning of February as a result of her painful back injury. That tour was due to have started in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 28 February. Now SXSW festival organizers, who had hoped Parton would have a speedy recovery in time for Friday's scheduled gig, have confirmed she will not be appearing at the event because of her ongoing health problems. SXSW kicked off in Austin, Texas on Wednesday with performances from artists including R.E.M. and Van Morrison.

American actress Melissa Joan Hart has given birth to a boy in Los Angeles. The former Sabrina The Teenage Witch star and her rocker husband Mark Wilkerson welcomed Braydon Hart Wilkerson into the world at 3pm on Wednesday. Braydon weighed in at seven pounds and three ounces. Hart and Wilkerson, who married in 2003, already have a two-year-old son, called Mason. Hart tells website People.com, "This has been a long but exciting pregnancy, and we, along with Mason, are excited to add to the Wilkerson clan."