George Clooney has led the tributes to his Michael Clayton co-star Sydney Pollack, branding the actor/director a "class act." Pollack died aged 73 on Monday, after a nine-month battle with cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The Oscar-winning star recently directed and starred alongside Clooney in 2007's Michael Clayton. Clooney says, "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly." And actress Sally Field - who starred in Pollack's 1981 movie Absence Of Malice - has also paid tribute to the star. She says, "Having the opportunity to know Sydney and work with him was a great gift in my life. He was a good friend and a phenomenal director and I will cherish every moment that I ever spent with him." Pollack won two Academy Awards for the 1985 movie Out Of Africa - Best Picture and Best Director.

Tom Cruise has paid tribute to The Firm director Sydney Pollack, admitting he will "miss him dearly." Pollack died aged 73 on Monday, after a nine-month battle with cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. And Cruise, who worked with the director/actor on 1993's The Firm and Eyes Wide Shut in 1998, remembers the star as an "unpretentious" man. He says, "Throughout the years, unpretentious and never condescending, he shared with me what he loved about family, storytelling, food, flying and a great bottle of vino." Cruise also looks back fondly on their first meeting, when Pollack patiently answered an up-and-coming Cruise's eager questions for six-hours, even though he was busy editing his comedy classic Tootsie. He explains, "I first met him while he was in the midst of editing Tootsie. I'd seen every one of his pictures and he generously took the meeting. He was a Renaissance man and a great friend. I will miss him dearly."

Sharon Stone left Chinese journalists stunned at the Cannes Film Festival in France last week when she suggested the country's recent earthquake was "karma." The outspoken actress was talking to a Chinese media outlet on Thursday when she linked the recent disaster, which left more than 67,000 people dead, to China's recent treatment of Tibetans. She said, "All these earthquakes and stuff happened and I thought, 'Is that karma?' When you are not nice, bad things happen to you. I'm not happy about how the Chinese are treating the Tibetans, I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. They're not being very nice to the Dali Lama, who's a good friend of mine." Stone's comments come after Chinese security forces attacked Tibetan monks and other ethnic Tibetans after a peaceful independence rally in March turned violent. The protests marked the annual anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, which has been in place since 1951. The violent incident, which left at least 16 people dead, prompted many countries to boycott part or all of the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics in China later this summer.

Actress Kirsten Dunst has blasted reports she checked into rehab to tackle substance abuse issues, explaining she was depressed. In her first interview since entering a Utah treatment center last year, the Marie Antoinette star insists she spent six months trying to conquer the blues but eventually realized she needed help. She tells E! News, "I didn't go to Cirque Lodge for alcohol abuse or drug abuse. I went there for depression. It was a good six months before I decided to go away. I was struggling, and I had the opportunity to go somewhere and take care of myself. I was fortunate to have the resources to do it. My friends and family thought it was a good idea, too. But I didn't know where to go. My doctor recommended Cirque Lodge." Dunst admits speculation about her health and personal problems haven't helped her in her battle: "Depression is pretty serious and should not be gossiped about. There's been a lot of misrepresentation about what is going on in my life... (That's) very painful for my friends and family. Everyone feels like they have to defend me. They hear the rumors, and it puts them in a defensive position. Now that I'm feeling stronger, I'm prepared to say something."

Welsh actor Rhys Ifans has denied rumors he is set to marry his fiancee Sienna Miller in a summer ceremony this year. The couple was reportedly preparing to wed in August - a year after Miller rejected his first proposal, when the Notting Hill star asked for her hand in marriage by sending her a cryptic message in Welsh, which read: "Marry The Misfit." The Factory Girl star said no for the second time when Ifans asked again at her 26th birthday party in December - but she finally agreed to marry him on his third attempt in March. Reports have since been rife that the couple is planning a low-key celebration in the coming months, but Ifans has dismissed the claims. He tells Britain's Closer magazine, "I'm not marrying Sienna this summer. I'm taking a break at the moment and just want to chill out." And, despite recent speculation of a split, Miller insists they are happier than ever: "I am in love - Rhys and I are the best of mates and life is going great."

Actor Rob Lowe has dropped a lawsuit filed against his former chef - after he reportedly agreed to provide information on two former nannies who have accused the star of sexual harassment. Former child-minders Jessica Gibson and Laura Boyce filed the lawsuits against Lowe in April. Gibson alleged Lowe touched her inappropriately on several occasions between September 2005 and January 2008, while Boyce is also suing for wrongful termination - accusations both the actor and his wife Sheryl have denied. Cook Peter Clements then followed suit with more legal action against the star, claiming he had been unfairly dismissed after being accused of having sex on the Lowes' bed while the family was out of town. He had also reportedly stolen prescription drugs from the family and overcharged them for his services. But, according to website Tmz.com, Lowe has now dismissed the lawsuit they filed against Clements. Legal documents obtained by the website read, "Once Peter Clements provided Rob and Sheryl Lowe with accurate information, the Lowes' willingly dismissed their claims against him without cost to either side." The dismissal request was filed in a Los Angeles court on Friday, and the lawsuit is expected to be formally dropped later this week.

Actor Matthew McConaughey's brother Rooster McConaughey is planning to launch himself into the limelight by starring in an upcoming episode of a U.S. reality TV series. Rooster, real name Michael Patrick, is set to appear in an episode of Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch next month. A pipe supplier for oil rigs in his family's native Texas, the 54-year-old will be followed by a camera crew for the segment on the series, which takes a glimpse into the lives of men with some of the most dangerous jobs in the world. But this won't be the older McConaughey's first foray onscreen - he also appeared alongside his famous brother in 1998 action film The Newton Boys.

Dame Shirley Bassey is recovering in hospital in France after undergoing an emergency stomach operation. The 71-year-old Goldfinger singer was admitted to hospital in Monaco, France - where she now resides - with abdominal pains last week. The star's spokesman Paul Carey says, "Dame Shirley Bassey is recovering well after an emergency operation to relieve stomach complications, after complaining of abdominal pain last week. The Dame was admitted to hospital in Monaco, where she is a resident. Doctors performed an emergency procedure and the Dame is making a good recovery and doctors are happy with her progress." The Welsh star is expected to recover ahead of her scheduled performance at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in London next month.

Actor James Gandolfini is selling off outfits he wore on hit TV drama The Sopranos to raise cash for charity. The TV heavyweight is to auction off 24 complete outfits from the award-winning series to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which offers help and assistance to U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The highlight of the clothing auction is expected to be the short-sleeve, button-down blue shirt Tony Soprano wore in the show's opening credits. Soprano's famous bathrobe is also going under the hammer at the Christie's Pop Culture auction, which takes place in Manhattan, New York on June 25. Gandolfini's wardrobe is expected to fetch up to $36,000.

Michael Jackson made a rare public appearance at an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in Las Vegas on Saturday - wearing his trademark veil. The star - who is rumored to be in talks for a spectacular show in the gambling mecca - appeared at the MGM Grand hotel for the fight wearing a black veil, with only a thin gap for his eyes, which were covered by dark glasses. But Jackson stunned party-goers in the city by turning up to designer Christian Audigier's 50th birthday celebrations the previous night - when he appeared without a headscarf.