Sienna Miller

British actress Sienna Miller’s life has been made intolerable because of a “campaign of harassment” by photographers, her lawyer told London’s High Court on Thursday.

Miller, 26, star of movies such as “Alfie” and “Layer Cake,” is taking legal action against photographic agency Big Pictures (UK) Limited and its founder, Darryn Lyons, claiming they are guilty of harassment and invasion of privacy.

At a preliminary hearing, her lawyer David Sherborne said the actress had been caused “substantial alarm, fear and enormous distress” by their conduct, the Press Association reported. The agency and Lyons are contesting the claims.

Miller’s private life and particularly her romantic liaisons have been a staple fodder for the tabloid press, with barely a day going by without her picture appearing in newspaper show business gossip columns.

Zara Phillips injured in cross-country fall

PAU, France (AFP) – Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, fell from her horse and injured her shoulder at an international event here on Saturday, the organisers said.

The 27-year-old Phillips, the eventing world champion in 2006, fell from her mount Tsunami II as it approached a fence in the cross-country portion of the competition.

The 10-year-old horse suffered a fractured vertebra and could be put down.

Mr. Blackwell Dies at 86

Mr. Blackwell, the acerbic designer whose annual worst-dressed list skewered the fashion felonies of celebrities from Zsa Zsa Gabor to Britney Spears, has died. He was 86. He died Sunday of complications from an intestinal infection, publicist Harlan Boll said.

Mr. Blackwell, whose first name was Richard, was a little-known dress designer when he issued his first tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hollywood fashion disasters for 1960 — long before Joan Rivers and others turned such ridicule into a daily affair.

Year after year, he would take Hollywood’s reigning stars and other celebrities to task for failing to dress in what he thought was the way they should.

Ryan O’Neal

Ryan O’Neal and his son, Redmond, were charged Wednesday with possession of methamphetamine. Both face felony drug possession charges, deputy district attorney James Garrison said. Redmond O’Neal, 23, also faces misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of pepper spray.

He and his 67-year-old actor father are scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 13.

The father and son were arrested Sept. 17 after deputies searched their Malibu home, part of Redmond’s probation. Police said drugs were found on Redmond and in Ryan O’Neal’s living area.

Le Clezio

Le Clezio — who’s he? This year’s Nobel laureate for literature is little-known in the States. Perhaps this is evidence of our bias. Or maybe it’s a product of the Swedish Academy’s willful dismissal of U.S. writers.

If the selection of French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio as the 2008 Nobel literature laureate has anything to tell us, it’s that Horace Engdahl means what he says.

Last week, Engdahl, the Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary, called American literary culture “too isolated, too insular. They don’t translate enough and don’t really participate in the big dialogue of literature” — comments widely seen in the United States as evidence of the insularity of the Nobel itself and proof that American writers would be shut out again.

The last American to win the prize was Toni Morrison in 1993; since then, recipients have included Poland’s Wislawa Szymborska, Italy’s Dario Fo, Chinese-born Gao Xingjian and Austria’s Elfriede Jelinek. That such authors are not household names has led to charges that the Nobel committee is willfully obscure, or worse, motivated by political considerations.

Sarah Palin’s Problem

Sarah Palin’s SNL ProblemWith the TV world waiting to see if the Alaskan governor pops up on tonight’s Saturday Night Live special, one new study says that when Tina Fey does Palin, the Alaskan governor’s favorability rating drops.

The poll, conducted yesterday by a research company and a college-based public-opinion institute, asked 314 people how they felt about Palin after watching an SNL sketch spoofing the consonant-dropping vice presidential hopeful.

Nicky Hilton

Nicky Hilton prefers a simpler life. While Paris Hilton for President is looking for her new BFF on MTV’s new reality show, younger sister Nicky recently was out on the town in Miami, hosting the second night of the re-launch of nightclub Karu & Y in downtown Miami.

How did you get involved in this event?

“I was invited to come down and host it, and I’m a big fan of Miami. Haven’t been here in a while so it was the perfect opportunity.”

What do you like to do when you’re in Miami?

“I love the restaurants. The nightlife’s great. Shopping’s great, the beaches and the hotels. I love it all.”

Any favorite restaurants?

Famous Nick Nolte’s home

The “Tropic Thunder” star suffered smoke inhalation and minor abrasions in the fire, which was caused by an electrical problem, Inspector Sam Padilla, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said.

The fire caused $3 million in damage to the structure and contents of the house but the home was not destroyed, Inspector James Barnes of the fire department said. The flames were confined to the living room.

“Nick Nolte was there apparently with a water hose trying to extinguish the fire himself and of course we came to help him out,” Barnes said.

Nolte’s spokesman, Arnold Robinson, said in a statement the actor was “grateful” to firefighters and police “for their quick response and assistance.”

Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick returns to Broadway next spring, The Roundabout Theatre Company production,

directed by David Grindley, will open April 26, 2009, at the American Airlines Theatre,

Todd Haimes, the Roundabout’s artistic director, announced Monday. It will begin preview performances April 10.

Broderick, in his first Broadway appearance since the 2005 revival of “The Odd Couple,” portrays Philip, an insular college professor.

Other casting will be announced.

“The Philanthropist” had a 64-performance run on Broadway in 1971 in a production that featured Alec McCowen, Jane Asher and Victor Spinetti.

Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir PutinRussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine on Thursday of sending weapons and military personnel to help Georgia during its war with Russia.

The accusation came as Russia announced a memorandum of understanding for handling natural gas sales to Ukraine after Putin met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is locked in a political fight with her nation’s pro-Western president, Viktor Yushchenko.

The timing of Russia’s statements underlined Moscow’s drive to increase its leverage in the neighboring former Soviet republic of Ukraine.

Without referring to Ukraine’s president by name, Putin suggested Yushchenko authorized weapons supplies to Georgia before and during Russia’s war there in August. He also alleged that Ukrainian military personnel fought on Georgia’s side during the conflict.