-Actress Nicole Kidman speaking to the U.S. House of Representatives Sub-Committee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight.  Kidman is the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador and has dedicated much time and effort to the advancement of women’s rights.

Human rights, environmental rights and animal rights: they’re all connected.

Sydney-based actor Oliver Ackland, 29, was on Thursday named the inaugural recipient of the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship. The award, which includes $10,000 and flights between Australia and Los Angeles, will be given annually to a rising Australian actor in need of that extra push to (hopefully) make it in film. The scholarship was created by such stars as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Michele Williams, and Naomi Watts to honor the late Ledger, who passed away last year at the age of 28.

“[Ackland is] a great actor and he’s really likeable,” Ledger’s good friend and Ned Kelly director Gregor Jordan, a judge on the panel, told PEOPLE at the Australians in Film Academy Award Celebration in Los Angeles. “He’s got [a sort of] Jude Law look. Maybe he’s an Aussie Jude Law, who knows?”

Congrats to Ackland on the scholarship — and good luck!

During the telethon, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban appeared via satellite to announce their donation of $500,000 to the communities of Victoria. 

“As Australians, I think the biggest thing is that no matter where you are in the world we support each other,” Kidman said on camera. “We’re Aussies, and we support each other and we rally. We would like to donate a half a million dollars on behalf of our family to the families that need it now.”

“For us it’s been gut wrenching as Aussies watching this and in particular to be so far away at the moment,” said Urban. “Our hearts go out tonight to all the families that are dealing with the loss of loved ones and having to rebuild their lives again too, which is really what this whole telethon has been about.”

Other Australian stars like Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe also made generous donations to the telethon that ended up raising over $19 million. 

If you’d like to help out, visit RedCross.org.au and get involved! 

via: looktothestars.org
photo credit: prphotos.com

Reps for Berlin’s Cinema for Peace — a high-profile gala taking place during the Berlin International Film Festival — have confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio will be attending. The actor plans on using the black-tie event as a platform to promote awareness of environmental issues. From the Hollywood Reporter,

Now in its eighth year, the Cinema for Peace gala has always been a forum for celebrity proselytizing. Nicole Kidman attended the event under the auspices of a United Nations campaign protesting violence against women. Richard Gere used Cinema for Peace to raise his favorite political issue: the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule.

DiCaprio’s environmental passions have been receiving a bit more press lately; especially in light of a new partnership with watchmaker TAG Heuer to benefit green initiatives. He recently commented on the political changes in the United States and what they mean for the environment saying, “I was in Rome when Obama won the election. He represents a whole new era. Obama gets it that green technology and the economy go hand in hand, that we can build an industry that will create new jobs and economic growth and make us less reliant on foreign oil.”

Look for the Berlin International Film Festival to kick off from Feb. 5-15.

Photo: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet at the “Revolutionary Road” London Premiere | Credit: PR Photos

Stars like Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Michele Williams, and Naomi Watts have come together to create a $10,000 acting scholarship in Heath Ledger’s name. The award will be given annually to a rising young Australian actor or actress looking to pursue a career in the United States. The scholarship award will be run by the L.A.-based non profit, Australians in Film.[Read more...]

Donald Trump’s The Apprentice continues to have a heartbeat on television with its 2009 celebrity edition. Last year’s first incarnation brought millions to charity, with Piers Morgan eventually winning and securing $250,000 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This year, the celebrity participants are much-more recognizable — with Clint Black, Andrew Dice Clay, Annie Duke, Tom Green, Natalie Gulbis, Scott Hamilton, Jesse James, Claudia Jordan, Khloe Kardashian, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick, Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker and Tionne Watkins all competing for charity. [Read more...]

How does Cloris Leachman, the former Dancing With The Stars contestant, manage to keep all that bubbly energy flowing at 82 years of age? One might chalk it up to the fact that she’s been a vegetarian for more than 50 years. [Read more...]

Lindsay Lohan would love to do more for charity, but the paparazzi just makes it too difficult. She tells Interview magazine, “You know what’s hard? I want to give back. I want to do all the things that will make me feel fulfilled. But whenever I do those things, people think it’s a press stunt or something. Because they (paparazzi) do find me, and there’s really no way of hiding from that.” That’s what’s stopping you from “giving back”? Cry me a river — the paps are a bitch, but if you really want to help, just get out there. [Read more...]

Photo credit: PR photos

UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman brought with her some very groovy news when she visited the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Kidman was proud to announce that five million people have signed an internet-based petition for the “Say No to Violence Against Women” campaign. 

The campaign is part of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) — a women’s fund at the United Nations providing financial and technical assistance to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality in over 100 countries! I’ll take it! 

“We thought that the more names we collected, the stronger our case to make ending violence against women a top priority for governments everywhere,” the actress said. “Well, the results are in. We’ve tallied the numbers from Bangkok and Tanzania, from Ecuador to Fiji, from Jordan to India. I am so delighted to announce that they have far, far, surpassed our goal.”

To learn more about this very important organization and add your John Hancock to  the petition, visit UNIFEM.org! 

photo credit: prphotos.com

Much like many other celebrities that have taken to the farm life — like Elizabeth Hurley, Hayden Christensen, Daryl Hannah, Vera Farmiga, and Nicole Kidman — Dunst is eager to follow suit. “I can’t wait to have kids one day. I want to have kids and a farm with lots of animals, and a lake,” she said.

Actress Uma Thurman is beating the busy London streets with a new Vespa scooter. “The neighbors call her Vrooma Uma because she is always scooting around the area,” the source said. Thurman recently moved to London after becoming engaged to millionaire Arki Busson. [Read more...]

Nicole Kidman is feeling a bit more “home on the range” after purchasing a cattle farm down in Australia. The actress had to learn how to become a cowgirl and heard cattle for her upcoming epic with Hugh Jackman, Australia. For those worried that Kidman has gone into the meat business, rest assured. “They [the cattle] are basically on the property to keep the grass short.” Good on ya, mate. [Read more...]

More Kidman/Urban news! Real estate buffs down under are confirming that the couple are matching their Tennessee ranch stateside with a 110-acre, $6.5 million version outside Sydney, Australia. Called “Bunya Hill”, the property was originally built in 1878 and features 10 fireplaces, 5 bedrooms, and 5 ensuites. Whoa.

Even better for Kidman, the Georgian Colonial estate is flanked by massive gardens — so she should have no problems putting her new green thumb to work. As this place is naturally setup as a cattle ranch, it requires its fair share of water. We’re not sure if Kidman and Urban are keen to carry on that tradition, but based on specs, this residence is thirsty. According to the listing, Bunya Hill has a high-capacity irrigation system connected to the house gardens, lake, and five dams. In addition, it’s also hooked into the town water system as a backup for the grounds and gardens.

We’re not saying that Kidman will experience any of the water backlash recently splashed onto Celine Dion and Tommy Lee Jones — after all, this is a ranch and not just a residence; but water consumption is going to continue to be a problem in the future for everyone — especially if climate change predictions come to pass and populations rise.

Check out additional photos of Nicole and Keith’s new Australian retreat here.

We suspect Sunday will have a childhood filled with plenty of exposure to nature — especially growing up on Kidman and Ubran’s Tennessee farm. In a recent issue of Vogue, Nicole expressed her love for organic gardening and a great appreciation of the wild environment around her. “There’s a softness to the Tennessee landscape that I just love,” she said. “It’s very beautiful out there. We have deer and wild turkeys.”

Keith Urban’s green habits are also worth noting. The country singer is taking steps to reduce the footprint of his tours — particularly with running all of his buses on biodiesel — and also debuted a new line of tees partially made from recycled plastic bottles.

So congrats to Keith and Nicole on their new daughter! We hope her green surroundings influence her throughout life.