Rampling to open Cannes festival

British actress Charlotte Rampling is to open the Cannes Film Festival and present the awards.

In February the bilingual star received an honorary Cesar, the French equivalent of the Oscars.

She is currently appearing in the film Sous Le Sable - Under the Sand.

The festival opens on 9 May with the screening of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.

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Hanks saves old school theatre

Tom Hanks has donated $125,00 (87,687) to help restore the old school theatre where he had his first experience treading the boards.

The money will go towards upgrading the lighting system at the Skyline High School in Oakland.

A committee had been trying to raise the funds for two years before Hanks stepped in.

The Oscar-winning actor has also promised to attend the grand opening of the theatre in 2002.

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Teen star to host country music awards

Singer LeAnn Rimes is to host this year's Academy of Country Music Awards.

Rimes, 18, will appear at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on 9 May.

The young star made her name as a 13-year-old with the hit Blue.

She has gone on to become a multi-million record selling artist.

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Dido to marry

Singer Dido is to marry her lawyer boyfriend, her spokesman has confirmed.

The 29-year-old's album, No Angel, which has gone triple-platinum, is currently at number four in the British charts.

She accepted lawyer Bob Page's proposal last month, but her spokesman said they have not yet set a date for the ceremony.

The couple currently live together in west London.

Dido, who was brought up in north London, shot to fame in the US last summer. Her fame spread to the UK when her voice was sampled on Eminem's hit Stan.

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Blair congratulates Sir John

The Prime Minister has congratulated veteran actor Sir John Mills on his 60 years of marriage at a charity event in Downing Street.

Tony Blair told Sir John, 93, of his delight on hearing that he and his wife Mary Hayley Bell had renewed their marriage vows in a ceremony earlier this year.

Sir John presented Mr Blair with a signed copy of Moving Memories, an edited collection of home movies of cinema legends he shot himself.

The pair teamed up to launch the Greater London Fund for the Blind's Geranium Day Appeal. Sir John is vice-president of the charity.