Actress defends no-nudity rule

Glynis Barber has defended her decision not to strip for a theatre production of The Graduate and called audiences "puerile" for wanting to see her naked.

The 47-year-old actress said she was "staggered and bemused" by the publicity surrounding her role as the middle-aged Mrs Robinson.

Her refusal to strip appeared to have dented audiences for the touring production - only 200 out of 1,600 seats were sold for the first night in Southend earlier this month.

But Barber told London's Evening Standard: "Saying me keeping my clothes on has been responsible for dwindling numbers is ridiculous."

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Clooney rules out political career

Actor George Clooney has ruled himself out of a political career, saying Americans are too prudish.

Speaking after the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California, he told Germany's Woman magazine that the race had highlighted that hopefuls had to bury their past to succeed.

"You read in the media that (Schwarzenegger) was already gushing about wanting to become governor of California 25 years ago - today he denies that," said Clooney.

"I always say you have to stand by what you've done. Yes, I smoked grass. Yes, I had sex with more than one person. In the US, they make a big deal out of everything as soon as you run for higher office. It's time we did away with this bigotry in America."

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Entertainers honoured in Germany

Las Vegas entertainer Siegfried Fischbacher collected an entertainer of the year award in his native Germany and dedicated it to his partner Roy Horn, who is recovering from being mauled by a tiger.

The magician was in Hamburg for the World Awards, honouring men who have helped improve the world.

Other entertainers receiving awards included Superman star Christopher Reeve for his services to the disabled and Michael Douglas for his film and humanitarian work.

The Bee Gees received a lifetime achievement award from the international jury of 300 members.

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Sitcom star Berry dies

Sitcom actor Fred Berry, famous for donning a red beret as the character Redrun in 70s show What's Happening, has died at the age of 52 of natural causes.

Berry was one of the three stars of What's Happening, about the lives of three teenagers, which ran between 1976 and 1979.

Berry said that during the show's run he spent more than $1m (600,000) on drugs, cars and an airplane.

Berry, who eventually became a minister, signed for the updated sitcom What's Happening Now in 1985 but quit after one series over a contract dispute.

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Photographer Newton donates archive to Berlin

Celebrated photographer Helmut Newton, who fled Nazi Germany at the age of 18, has signed over his archive of work to the city of Berlin, where he was born in 1920.

"I'm very proud that my photos are returning to the city where I was born," he said.

"Not just the nudes, but also the portraits, landscapes and snapshots I love to take," said Newton, who made his home in Australia.

The collection of more than 1,000 works will be put on display in 2004 in a former art gallery in western Berlin. Newton said although he did not miss Germany he did miss its capital.

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Disney 'ditches' Affleck movie

A comedy starring Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has been shelved just four weeks before filming was due to start, according to reports.

Disney pulled the plug on Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, in which Affleck was to play the lead role of a bachelor haunted at his brother's wedding, Hollywood Reporter said.

The film studio has declined to comment on their decision, but it is thought high costs may have been one factor.

Affleck also co-starred with fiancée Jennifer Lopez in Gigli, which proved a disaster at the box office.