Morrissette's dotcom million

Singer Alanis Morrissette is planning to sell around $1m of shares in controversial internet company MP3.com.

The Canadian performer is looking to sell 100,000 shares in the company, part of just under 330,000 she acquired in April 1999.

MP3.com sponsored a tour by Morrissette and Tori Amos in the summer of 1999, granting her management company - with which it has a consulting arrangement - the right to buy shares in the company for 33 cents each.

But the price of the company's shares has fallen dramatically since a court ruled the site - which allows internet users to access their record collections online - broke US copyright laws.

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Government's 'Fame' game

A new round of Fame-style scholarships for budding dance and drama students has been announced by the UK government.

The total number of students supported by the scheme is to increase from 835 to 1,560, Education Minister Baroness Blackstone said.

Actress Prunella Scales was at the ceremony at London's Almeida Theatre to announce the extension of the scheme.

"I am delighted that a government has at last realised the importance of investing in this heritage," she said.

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Canadian actor gets Star Wars role

Nineteen-year-old Canadian actor Hayden Christensen has won the part of Anakin Skywalker in the next two Star Wars movies.

Star Wars boss George Lucas confirmed the decision - rumoured last week - on the official Star Wars website.

He said Christensen was "very talented" and would be able to play Anakin at "the most complex stage of his life".

Lucas said he was impressed by his "great screen test" with co-star Natalie Portman.

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Madonna 'set for Greenaway film'

Superstar Madonna may be in line to star as a femme fatale in a new multi-media movie project by Peter Greenaway.

The singer is said to be in talks to appear as Trixie in the controversial director's The Tulse Luper Trilogy, according to Moving Pictures magazine.

Other stars set to sign up are British actor David Thewlis, Vincent Gallo, Kathy Bates and Isabella Rossellini.

Filming is expected to start in the Utah desert this autumn.

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Carrey wanted for Playboy film

Producer Brian Grazer says he is keen for comic star Jim Carrey to portray Hugh Hefner in his forthcoming film about the Playboy millionaire.

"Hef has made it clear he wants someone with humour and Carrey would be great," said Grazer, who worked with the actor on How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Carrey is believed to have a gap in his film schedule since he decided not to go ahead with plans to star in a remake of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

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Cancer inspired Carly Simon

Singer Carly Simon has revealed that being diagnosed with breast cancer helped her to beat the writer's block that threatened her songwriting career.

"I had to latch on to something in myself that was strong and it was my music," she said in an interview with Billboard magazine.

The result was her new album The Bedroom Tapes, her first collection of original pop songs in five years, which she recorded in her daughter's bedroom.