Madonna's much-maligned acting career appears to be over - the pop superstar admits she prefers to be behind the camera on movie sets.

The singer made her acting debut in 1979 and won acclaim and accolades for her role in Evita, but most of her more recent onscreen efforts have been mocked and hammered by critics.

Madonna was named the Worst Actress of the Century at the 2000 Golden Raspberry Awards and she has also picked up acting dishonors at the annual event for Body of Evidence, Shanghai Surprise, Swept Away and Die Another Day, among other movies.

And now she's considering turning ...

Ian Fleming based his James Bond character on composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's former father-in-law.

The theatre impresario's TV personality daughter Imogen has revealed the writer drew inspiration for his superspy from her grandfather.

She says, "He's based on my mother's father. He served under Ian Fleming in the war in naval intelligence, and my grandfather is one of the men James Bond is based upon. It's a very cool claim to fame."

Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, and Berenice Marlohe attended the photocall for "Skyfall," the 23rd James Bond movie, in London today. The film's official title was released at the event.

Berenice is a French actress who has starred primarily on TV shows in her native country.

Film execs recently scrapped plans to shoot a high-action train sequence in India. They chose to film the scenes in South Africa after negotiations fell through.

"Skyfall" also stars Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, and Albert Finney. The film is set for release in November 2013.

CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS OF O...

Rosamund Pike attended the 31st Annual London Film Critics' Circle Awards wearing a short white dress that showed off her long, lean legs.

The British actress made her U.S. acting debut in 2002's "Die Another Day" as the mysterious Miranda Frost. She has also starred in "Pride & Prejudice," "Fracture," "An Education," and "Surrogates."

She will appear in the upcoming film "Clash of the Titans 2."

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Bond bosses have been left disappointed after Sean Connery reportedly declined an invitation to take part in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the superspy series next year.

The Scottish veteran was the first ever actor to portray the suave British secret agent in 1962's Dr. No, and went on to play James Bond seven times.

The series is set to return to the big screen with Daniel Craig slipping on his tuxedo for his third outing as the spy next year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

Bosses at MGM - the studio behind the movies - are planning to mark the milestone ...

Judi Dench has confirmed she'll be back as James Bond's boss in the much-anticipated 23rd 007 adventure.

The British thespian has played MI6 boss M in six Bond films and she'll return for her seventh this year.

She says, "I'm looking forward hugely to working with Daniel (Craig) again and with (director) Sam Mendes, who I've only ever worked with in the theater."

The new Bond film is expected to go into production later this year and will hit cinemas in November, 2012.

With Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li arriving in theaters February 27, it’s time to take a look back at the video game movies that brought us to this point.

While video games run the gamut of quality - from very good to very bad - video game movies have typically been on the “poor” side of the critical spectrum. Games are written with interactivity in mind, and thus their storylines don’t always mesh with the film medium.

Still, there are a few titles one could argue are at least passable – even if fans of the video games they are based on do not find them loyal to the ori...

Two-time Oscar® winner Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada) and Pierce Brosnan (Die Another Day) lead an all-star cast in the most infectiously fun movie of the year, Mamma Mia! The Movie, coming to DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def on December 16, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For a limited time only, the worldwide movie phenomenon is available in 2-disc Special Edition widescreen DVD and 2-Disc Blu-ray Hi-Def with digital copy. Both versions are packed with bonus materials including a deleted musical number and a bonus feature which provides onscreen lyrics so that viewers can sing...

Original Bond girl Ursula Andress has beat out competition from Halle Berry and Kim Basinger to be named 007s sexiest siren, according to a new online poll. The Swiss actress entranced audiences as Honey Ryder in James Bond's 1962 debut, Dr. No, opposite Sean Connery.

She also played Vesper Lynd in 1967 Bond spoof Casino Royale, a role later taken on by Eva Green in the 2006 spy movie.

The superspy franchise, which boasts 22 completed films, has seen close to 100 fiesty females take on the coveted part. Sexy star Halle Berry tailed the actress in the second spot, after she played ...

Opinions may vary about which Bond movie has the best villain (From Russia With Love), the best Bond girl (Dr. No) or the worst theme song (The Man With The Golden Gun), but one thing people can agree on is that the opening sequences have only gotten better over the years.

Here's a list of the best opening sequences of Bond films in honor of the 22nd 007 movie opening today:

10) Licence To Kill

The film opens with Bond in a tuxedo ready to get married, or is he? And there's a ruthless bad guy, Sanchez, played by Robert Davi. We know he's ruthless because he orders Benicio De...

This Friday, Sir Ian Fleming's James Bond is back in theaters. Daniel Craig has brought a brute anger to the role that has not quite been seen before. In the very least, as we learned in the 2006 version of Casino Royale, he certainly does not care any longer how his martini is served. Craig is under contract for one more Bond film after Quantum of Solace, but what if he does not return after that twenty-third film? What will his post Bond career look like? Let's take a look at all the actors who have played 007 -- rouge film, or not -- and what their post Bond careers looked like.

...

As 007 fans eagerly await the November 14 U.S. opening of MGM's new James Bond film, Quantum Of Solace, Capitol/EMI announced that an expanded CD, CD/DVD and digital release of 'The Best Of Bond… James Bond' was released on October 28. The CD and digital album both feature 23 musical standouts from the Bond franchise's 46 years plus a previously unreleased bonus track, and the CD/DVD includes five music videos, a filmed concert performance and more.

Sheena Easton "For Your Eyes Only":

Just as James Bond has evolved over time, so have the films' memorable themes. 'Th...

We all know the real reason we go to the movies. It isn't the thrills or the chills, the laughs or the gaffes, the drama or Lorenzo Lamas, no; we all hit the theater to hear the music. That is, we love to hear the one big song associated with any film.

The marriage of music and movies has long been exceptional. Whether it's "Theme From a Summer's Place" or "Blame Canada", nothing raises a film's enjoyment factor quite like a good tune.

Problem is, most songs simply aren't that good. A lot of these film tunes come from a great movie and are thusly mistaken as great music when i...

With the release of Roger Moore's autobiography, My Word Is My Bond, and the upcoming Quantum Of Solace (the 22nd film in the Official James Bond franchise), we couldn't help but ponder: Who is the best 007 EVER? It goes without saying that he has to be an international man of mystery, a bad-ass crime solver, a babe magnet. Slick, suave, and seductive. But we have our own set of criteria for the best Bond. He must also:

1. Be a snazzy dresser.

2. Have a hot Bond girl.

3. Have a bitchin' ride.

4. Have a killer theme song.

5. Have a relaxing off-hours diversion.

...

Each week the editors at Starpulse will be highlighting the best responses and remarks to news stories and celebrity topics that we've come across.

News Highlights = This week's most stirring and humorous annotations were made on the latest stories on Jennifer Aniston’s Publicity, Kelly Osbourne’s Gynecologist Bill, and Victoria Beckham’s “Hotfullness”, as well as a Story about America’s favorite Fish faced Actress.

Topic Highlights = There were some amusing and enjoyable remarks made about a Sarah Palin impersonator and a shameless has-been Comic but there was no affection fo...

In John Grisham's bestselling novel "The Pelican Brief," investigative journalist Gray Grantham and law student Darby Shaw uncover a political conspiracy and in the process, end up between the sheets. In the 1993 film version, Darby Shaw (played by Julia Roberts) and Grantham merely share a chaste hug in the film's conclusion. What happened between page and screen? One theory: In the novel Grantham is white; in the film, he's portrayed by Academy-Award winning - and black - actor Denzel Washington.

The stigma of interracial relationships in cinema can be traced back to the 1934 Motio...

Actress Ursula Andress' iconic beach scene in 007 movie Dr. No has been voted the most inspirational bikini moment in a new poll. The 1962 movie, which starred Sean Connery as the English spy, features the famous scene when Bond girl Andress emerges from the sea in her white two-piece swimsuit.

That moment topped Carrie Fisher's metal bikini look in Return of the Jedi, which came in second place, while another Bond girl, Halle Berry, was third with her take on Andress' scene for 2002's Die Another Day.

Pamela Anderson is at four for her performance in Baywatch, and Raquel Welch is...

Pierce Brosnan has seen off competition from fellow actors Bruce Willis and Richard Gere to land the title of most popular gay icon over 50 years old.

The former James Bond actor took 33 per cent of the vote, compared with Willis and Gere, who took 25 and 14 per cent respectively, while Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford and Lethal Weapon star Mel Gibson scooped fourth and fifth places respectively.

The Queen actress Helen Mirren topped the most popular lesbian icon list with 32 per cent of the poll. Susan Sarandon and Meryl Streep claimed second and third places with 28 and 25 p...

Former Bond girl Rosamund Pike has been dumped by her director fiancé Joe Wright.

The pair met on the set of period drama Pride and Prejudice in 2005 and Wright proposed to the actress at Lake Como in Italy last September.

However, Atonement filmmaker Wright, 36, allegedly called off the nuptials after Pike, 29, sent out hundreds of wedding invitations - featuring a steamy shot of the couple in a bathtub - without his knowledge, according to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.

A source says, "The invitations featured a picture of them together in a hot tub. Joe dumped her for ...

Actress Halle Berry has denied rumors she is secretly engaged to long-term boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

The Die Another Day star sparked reports she is planning to marry the father of her baby daughter Nahla after she was spotted wearing a ring on her wedding finger. The actress was snapped at the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Revlon Run/Walk last weekend wearing the ring - which reportedly belonged to Aubry's grandmother.

However, according to People.com, the jewelry was purchased by Berry, who vehemently denies it is anything more than a fashion accessory. A source tells the...

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has donated over $1 million to help the environment.

The Irish actor, who now lives in Hawaii with his wife Keely and their children, has become a dedicated 'green' campaigner in recent years, receiving an Environmental Leadership Award from the Green Cross organization in 1997. And star has set up a trust with his wife, which donates funds to eco-friendly organizations. Brosnan has so far contributed over $1 million of his money to help the cause, and he is also urging members of the public to donate in their own way.

He says, "People can g...

The Seed, a short film produced and directed by Linkin Park DJ Joseph Hahn and presented by Shorts International will make its debut on iTunes today. Hahn, whose directorial credits include such award-winning videos as Linkin Park's "In The End" (2002's VMA "Video of the Year" winner) and "Somewhere I Belong" (2003's VMA "Best Rock Video" winner), as well as music clips for Xzibit, Story Of The Year and Alkaline Trio, makes his first foray into directing short films with The Seed. Hahn recently directed Linkin Park videos for the smash hits "What I've Done" and "Bleed It Out" off their dou...

Inspired by the infamous 1971 robbery that took place at the Lloyds Bank in Marylebone London, Lionsgate's ® The Bank Job stars Jason Statham (Transporter, Snatch, Crank, The Italian Job) and Saffron Burrows (Klimt, Enigma). The highly-charged heist thriller tautly interweaves high-level corruption, murder and sexual scandal in 1970s England.

A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry (Statham) has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine (Burrows), a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street, Ter...

Paul Oakenfold debuted on two significant charts in electronic/dance music this week with the his Greatest Hits & Remixes album via Perfecto/Ultra Records. A marquee name in the genre that has crossed over into the mainstream, Oakenfold garnered the #1 top spot on Billboard's Electronic Album chart and iTunes Dance Album Sales chart.

Paul Oakenfold's Greatest Hits & Remixes--a 20-selection strong collection of his seminal dance recordings and remixes--celebrates the career of an artist whose combined releases have totaled almost two million in sales in the U.S. alone. Its track listi...

The first-ever retrospective of James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s life is set to open in London next year.

The exhibition, For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming And James Bond, will feature notes by the writer - who penned the original superspy books - on From Russia With Love, prototypes of flick-knife shoes worn by Rosa Klebb in the 1963 movie, and Halle Berry's bikini from 2002's Die Another Day.

The show's organizers explain, "We are looking at the phenomenon that the films became, because they offer another way of looking at Fleming's work. He has a sense of humor, he sleeps with ...

Former Bond girl Rosamund Pike wishes she was in the latest installment of the spy franchise because she has a crush on Daniel Craig. The actress starred in 2002s Die Another Day alongside Pierce Brosnan - but she only has kind words for his successor Craig, who starred in last year's movie Casino Royale.

She says, "Daniel looks good running, swimming, drinking, driving, playing cards - all elements of a fabulous Bond."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

British Airways bosses have insisted a cameo appearance by rival Virgin Atlantic chairman Richard Branson in James Bond film Casino Royale is cut from their in-flight version of the movie.

Branson landed the part as an extra in an airport scene after helping producers with a logistical problem on-set. But the cameo and the Virgin Atlantic logo on a plane in the movie won't appear in BA's entertainment package.

Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles admits he's upset with the decision to cut Branson out of the film on BA flights, reminding his firm's mile-high rivals that Virgin ...

Rapper/actor Ice Cube was more than a little amused when his XXX: State Of The Union director was arrested as part of a transgender prostitution sting last year - because he never liked the guy.

The It Was A Good Day hitmaker admits he and Lee Tamahori constantly "bumped heads" while they made the 2005 action movie, and he found the director's embarrassing arrest a real giggle.

Ice Cube says, "What was cool is after we finished the movie I read in the paper that he got arrested on Santa Monica Boulevard, dressed like a transvestite, so (it was) poetic justice."

Tamahori, w...

Casino Royale is officially the most successful James Bond movie of all time, after passing the $454 million mark at the global box office. "Casino Royale" was released last month and has been screened in 64 countries.

The 21st 007 film, and the first to star Daniel Craig as the suave superspy, has overtaken the previous record of $431 million made by the last Bond movie Die Another Day in 2002.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Casino Royale is already breaking box office records after making $3 million on its first day of release - and is set to be the biggest earning James Bond movie of all time. Fans of the franchise rushed to cinemas in Britain yesterday to check out Daniel Craig's debut as the superspy.

Takings are higher than any of the 20 previous 007 films - more than 50 percent more than the previous record-holder, 2002's Die Another Day. A staggering two-thirds of movie tickets sold in Britain were for "Casino Royale," according to distributor Columbia Tri-Star.

The film hits movie theaters i...