Three-bedroom Bali-style house in Los Angeles is listed at $3,695,000.
Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz has listed a Sunset Strip-area home at $3,695,000 that is as intriguing as she is.
The Balinese modern one-story has intricately carved entry doors that open to a courtyard with a fountain. Another set of double doors lead to the open-plan interior, which has bamboo floors, skylights and French doors along the back. A living room, a dining area, a breakfast area, an office, three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms lie in more than 3,300 square feet. An expansive patio with heaters and seating areas surrounds the pool. An outdoor bed sits on the lawn.
Cruz, 36, won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (2008). She starred in the films “Volver” (2006) and “Sahara” (2005) and will play opposite Johnny Depp in the 2011 film “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Public records show Cruz bought the property in 2005 for $3,138,030.

Brett Lawyer of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Sunset office has the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Her entourage is moving on

Actress Debi Mazar has sold her home in the Beverly Center area of Los Angeles for $1,162,515.

The Spanish-style house, built in 1933, sits on a tree-lined street. The gated hacienda opens to a central courtyard with pavers and a fountain. An entry vestibule has a wood inlaid floor, and beyond that lie a large living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Mazur, 45, has been a regular on “Entourage” (2004-09) and “That’s Life” (2000-02). She was on “Dancing With the Stars” last year partnered with Latin ballroom champion Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They came in 12th place.

She purchased the property for $750,000 in 2002 shortly before marrying musician Gabriele Corcos.

Barry Sloane of Sotheby’s International Realty, Beverly Hills, had the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

Oscar-winning producer Jim Wilson has listed his 190-acre ranch in Calabasas for $25 million.

Called Avalon Ranch, the gated equestrian center and farm has a 7,500-square-foot house, custom built in 1999 with massive stone fireplaces, beamed ceilings, slate floors, French doors, built-in bookcases and wraparound porches. Among the rooms are a center hall, a country-style kitchen, six bedrooms and four bathrooms.

There are two guesthouses, a 16-stall horse barn, a tennis court with viewing pavilion and a swimming pool with spa and pavilion. The grounds include a duck pond, corrals, pastures, a rose garden and citrus and apple orchards.

Wilson shared the best picture Academy Award with Kevin Costner for “Dances With Wolves” (1990). He has produced more than a dozen films, including “Wyatt Earp” (1994) and “Swing Vote” (2008).

Jim Pascucci of Rodeo Realty, Calabasas, has the listing.

AA plot twist in Pacific Palisades

Romance and thriller writer Tami Hoag has listed her Pacific Palisades house at $2,995,000.

The updated and remodeled Mediterranean, built in 1989, sits on a cul-de-sac. The formal dining and living rooms have French doors leading to a covered patio. The kitchen features a breakfast area, a walk-in pantry, a bar and wine storage. There are also three bedrooms, a family room, a gym, an office and 3 1/2 bathrooms in the house’s 5,325 square feet.

A beach-entry swimming pool and spa and a built-in barbecue center are set amid tropical landscaping.

Hoag, 51, has had more than a dozen books on national bestsellers lists. Among her titles are “Kill the Messenger,” “Dark Horse” and “Guilty as Sin.”

She is moving to the West Palm Beach, Fla., area to pursue her other passion. The International Grand Prix dressage rider is in training to compete for the U.S. Equestrian Olympic team for 2012.

Public records show she purchased the house in 2006 for $3.25 million.

The listing agent is Luzette Vidal, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Westlake Village.

Rocker breaks Venice addiction

Update: Frontman Perry Farrell of the band Jane’s Addiction has sold his longtime Venice home for $1,425,000.

Designed by local architect Steven Ehrlich, the Asian-influenced house has a two-story barrel-vault ceiling above the open living-dining-media room and its Korean barbecue, which is built into a raised Japanese table. With a loft, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the home has 2,203 square feet of living space.

There is a rooftop terrace, a lap pool and a three-car garage that can double as space for a studio.

Farrell, 51, also has led alt-rock groups including Porno for Pyros and Satellite Party. He co-created the Lollapalooza festival tour in 1991.

He sold because he wants a bigger place to raise his family.

The listing agents were Allyson Carter of Rodeo Realty, Sherman Oaks, and Rose Ware of Prudential California Realty’s Pacific Design Center office. Ware also represented the buyer.

source: latimes.com

Penelope Cruz unveiled a new tattoo on her hand yesterday – a crucifix.
The 36-year-old actress even matched her T-shirt to her new inking as she left a cafe in Hollywood after having a drink with friends.
Wearing skinny jeans, a loose top and a panama hat, Penelope was dressed for the hot Los Angeles weather, with the new tattoo acting as an interesting accessory to her outfit.
But the meaning behind the new inking is not clear.
The actress is no stranger to tattoos, and has the number ‘883′ etched on to her ankle.
However, Penelope has always kept quiet on the reasons behind the tattoo choice, dismissing rumours that it has links to Scientology or Numerology.
She said: ‘It’s not a Harley Davidson. It’s not the different things that have been said. I don’t think anyone cares. It’s my own tattoo.’
Penelope previously revealed that her lucky numbers are the numbers 8 and 3, but has not explained why she chose to have the second 8 added.
Meanwhile, Penelope’s relationship with fellow actor Javier Bardem, 41, is going from strength to strength.
Despite the couple preferring to keep details of their relationship private, Javier made a public declaration of his love for Penelope last month as he collected his Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.
After accepting the trophy, Javier told the audience: ‘I share this joy with my friend, my companion, my love: Penelope: I owe you a lot and I love you so much.’
And it seems the dedication was entirely unplanned, as Penelope looked as surprised as the rest of the crowd – her eyes filling up with tears as she heard Javier’s words.
Javier’s dedication has sparked rumours the couple, who have been dating since 2007, are planning to marry in the near future.

source: dailymail.co.uk

The casting is very atypical of the franchise which has thrived on a wealth of talented British character actors (to name a few… Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McNally, MacKenzie Crook and David Schofield). Though according to IMDB, only Kevin McNally (Gibbs) of the above mentioned are set to return for the next film.
Opening on May 20th 2011, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides revolves around Jack Sparrow’s attempts to find the mythical fountain of youth. Ian McShane is the main atagnois – the villainous Blackbeard, Penelope Cruz is his daughter and the new love interest of Sparrow.
So far – only Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbosa, alongside McNally are due to return alongside Depp from the original series. Shooting begins this month in Hawaii with Chicago director Rob Marshall helming from the script by franchise writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott.

source: http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com

The actor got to work with the Hollywood beauty when she shot her role as a sultry banker who gets in the way of his character Big’s marriage with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker).

“I thought it was far too short!” laughed Noth. “But it was a lot of fun. She’s very warm and down-to-earth and it was a really pleasant flirtation.”

The actor went on: “It’s also a fun tease for the audience who thinks, ‘Oh, he’s going back to his old ways! I know he is!’ It’s been a long ride – Big has gone from a man with a cool head to a warm heart. But people like the big wolf part of him.”

SJP added: “Penelope’s so important in this movie, not just because she’s a massive movie star and a delight to stare at, but she makes Carrie Bradshaw say something very, very important – she makes Carrie introduce herself as Carrie Preston. It’s not about Carrie being threatened by another woman, it’s about Carrie and Big and there couldn’t be a better person to step in and provoke that conversation than Penelope Cruz.”

:: Sex And The City 2 is in cinemas now.

French actress Catherine Deneuve, 67, was fifth in the list, which was based on the amount of media coverage given to a select group of celebrities.

Dame Helen Mirren, 65, came sixth and 76-year-old Sophia Loren, a grandmother of two, was in 10th place.

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, 36, took top spot in the list which was compiled for clothing firm Wizard Jeans.

Sally Allen, from the firm, said all the women in the list possessed natural beauty.

She said: “As someone once said, the difference between pretty and beautiful is that pretty is temporal, whereas beautiful is eternal.”

The full list of the 10 most beautiful women in the world is: 1 Penelope Cruz, 2 Claudia Schiffer, 3 Kristin Scott Thomas, 4 Queen Rania of Jordan, 5 Catherine Deneuve, 6 Dame Helen Mirren, 7 Charlize Theron, 8 Kate Beckinsale, 9 Natascha McElhone and 10 Sophia Loren.

Described as “Balinese modern,” the one-story house has intricately carved entry doors that open to a courtyard with a fountain. Another set of double doors lead to the open-plan interior, which has bamboo floors, skylights and French doors along the back. A living room, a dining area, a breakfast area, an office, three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms lie in more than 3,300 square feet of living space. An expansive patio with heaters and seating areas surrounds the pool. An outdoor bed sits on the lawn.

Cruz, 36, won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (2008). She starred in the films “Volver” (2006) and “Sahara” (2005) and will play opposite Johnny Depp in the 2011 film “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

Public records show Cruz bought the property in 2005 for $3,138,030.

Brett Lawyer of Sotheby’s International Realty’s Sunset office has the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service.