Meryl Streep walks down memory lane with Hathaway, De Niro, Kline

Meryl Streep has a few thank-you notes to write, as the acting legend was toasted by a roster of her peers for the Tuesday telecast of "The 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors."

Streep, whose body of work includes "The Deer Hunter," "Postcards From the Edge" and "The Iron Lady," sat wearing the coveted awards' striped regalia with husband Don Gummer beside President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

At Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center opera house, former costars Stanley Tucci, Kevin Kline and Emily Blunt praised the actress for her "superhuman" gifts, versatility and, quite sweetly, her friendship.

Anne Hathaway, who played Streep's terrified magazine assistant in "The Devil Wears Prada," stole the show with a musical number that showcased her singing talent and even some gymnastics — Hathaway busted out a split at one point (see it below).

Robert De Niro introduced Streep, mentioning that she'd had been nominated for an Oscar 16 times and joking, "You know what that means? She's sat through the Academy Awards 16 times." 

We have a feeling she didn't mind sitting through this honor, which also saw salutes to singers Neil Diamond and Barbara Cook, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins. The awards were presented Dec. 4.

 

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Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher: First look at her in 'The Iron Lady'

— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Meryl Streep gazes at the Kennedy Center opera house stage during her tribute. Credit: John Paul Filo / CBS.

Stanley Tucci engaged to Emily Blunt's sister Felicity

Stanley Tucci costarred with Emily Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada," and now he'll costar in life with Emily's sister: Tucci is engaged to marry Felicity Blunt.

Older sib Felicity was set up on a blind date with Tucci by her sis, and clearly things went well.

"Stanley is very happy with her," a source close to the couple observed.

Tucci's previous wife, Kate, died in 2009 after a battle with cancer. Stanley has three children from that marriage -- twins Isabella and Nicolo and daughter Camilla. 

Dates are unsure, but when the "I do's" are all done, Tucci will land Emily's husband, John Krasinski of "The Office," as a brother-in-law. 

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Emily Blunt and John Krasinski get married in Italy

Paul McCartney, Nancy Shevell are now married -- let it be!

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Felicity Blunt and Stanley Tucci are shown at Wimbledon in June. Credit: Ian Gavan / Getty Images

Elton John, Emily Blunt premiere 'Gnomeo & Juliet' in Hollywood

Emily Blunt, Disney's latest leading lady, might sum up her new flick "Gnomeo & Juliet" best: "I thought, 'This story's definitely not been done before, garden gnomes doing Shakespeare.'"

Indeed the kitschy lawn characters bring the classic "Romeo and Juliet" to life in the new animated film, which was given its world premiere Sunday at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

Elton John gave fans a thrill with an appearance (he and partner David Furnish served as executive producers on the film) and even surprised lucky ticket holders after the 3-D screening with numbers such as "Crocodile Rock."

Elton collaborates with Lady Gaga on a duet for the soundtrack, a cutesy pop track called "Hello Hello." The ditty plays when Blunt's Juliet first meets her Gnomeo -- voiced by James McAvoy.

On the red carpet, McAvoy discussed having the legendary singer as a boss.

"It's quite intimidating," he said. "I'm trying not to look at him right now because I'd probably melt."

Following the performance and screening, a sweet dessert reception was held across the street for cast and crew. Click the pic of Gavin Rossdale, above left, to see more photos from the "Gnomeo and Juliet" red carpet.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Top photo: David Furnish, left, Emily Blunt, Elton John and James McAvoy arrive at the premiere of "Gnomeo & Juliet" in Hollywood on Jan. 23. 2011. Credit: Jason Redmond / Reuters

Left photo: Musician Gavin Rossdale arrives with his son Zuma at the El Capitan Theatre on Jan. 23, 2011. Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images

'Gulliver's Travels' premiere: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel brave the rain

The "Gulliver's Travels" premiere in Hollywood on Saturday was proof that it never rains in California — or at least proof that it never rains on a red carpet in California, thanks to those big ol' tents they put up in a pinch.

Star Jack Black was joined by cast members Emily Blunt, Jason Segel and T.J. Miller outside Grauman's Chinese Theater to launch the comedy, in which Black plays a travel writer bound for Bermuda who winds up on the island of Lilliput instead.

Black, accompanied by wife Tanya Haden, fittingly showed up in a T-shirt reading, "I see small people." Click the photo of him at right for more pictures from the red carpet.

Speaking of small people, the red carpet was loaded with younger actors, including Ryan Ochoa, Tucker Albrizzi, Jimmy Bennett, Zach Callison, Parker Contreras, Jordan Monaghan, Jadin Gould, Madison Leisle, Saige Ryan Campbell, Rachel Fox and Bella Thorne.

Also spotted: Elena Diaz, Corbin Bernsen, Sonia Rockwell, Gabriel Jarret, Tommy Davidson, Carla Ortiz, Romany Malco, Justin Price and socialite Barbara Davis, who was just seen at the after-party for the final "Larry King Live" broadcast Thursday night.

"Gulliver's Travels," directed by Rob Letterman, opens Christmas Day.

RELATED:

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— Christie D'Zurilla

Top photo: Jack Black, left, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt under the tent on the red carpet outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the "Gulliver's Travels" premiere on Dec. 18. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters.

Right photo: Jack Black flexes his star power. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

 

Emily Blunt, 'Glee' cast light up 2010 Hollywood Style Awards

With critics circles around the country compiling their favorite arty fare for the year, bless the Hollywood Style Awards for applauding one of the Ministry's favorite virtues: looking flawless.

The 2010 Hollywood Style Awards were held Sunday at the UCLA Hammer Museum in Westwood, kicking trophies to the film and television world's top stylemakers across categories such as styling, hair and makeup, and red carpet strutting.

Angelina Jolie's "The Tourist" corset maven Colleen Atwood scooped the year's best in costume design, presented by Zooey Deschanel. Makeup artist Jenn Streicher was honored for her editorial and red carpet work, with the award presented by Emily Blunt, a longtime client along with husband John Krasinski. 

In the television corner, the kids of "Glee" were on hand to support a few of their own. Cory Monteith, he of the GQ scandal, was awarded the male Future Style Icon prize, presented by teen popster Selena Gomez.

Head "Glee" outfitter Lou Eyrich scored best achievement in costume design for television, presented by stars Chris Colfer and Jayma Mays, while hairstylist of the year Mark Townsend was saluted by Lea Michele. 

Additional loveliness at the bash, sponsored by the Palazzo Las Vegas, Klipsch and FRS Heathy Energy, was provided by Mena Suvari, Camilla Belle, Jessica Lowndes, Odette Yustman and the female Future Style Icon winner, Katie Cassidy. 

Click the pic of Blunt and Streicher, above, to see more photos from the awards. Tell us your thoughts on the big winners in the comments section below.

[For the record, 8:12 p.m.: An earlier version of this post identified John Krasinski as Emily Blunt's fiance. Thanks to commenter @Em for so passionately reminding us they are married. We clearly have yet to accept that John is no longer single.]

RELATED:

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— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Right photo: Lea Michele and Chris Colfer at the 2010 Hollywood Style Awards. Credit: WireImage.

Left photo: Actress Emily Blunt, left, and makeup artist Jenn Streicher sit backstage. Credit: WireImage.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski get married in Italy

Emily Blunt got married to John Krasinski on Saturday, tying the knot in a private outdoor ceremony at Villa d'Este in Como, Italy.

George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis, the newlywed actors' host and hostess since the Fourth of July weekend at Clooney's Lake Como villa, were among the guests, US Magazine reports. 

The two, who confirmed their engagement in August 2009, have been dating since November 2008.

Wonder if "The Office" star is aware he'll be waking up daily across the sheets from the jawline of Americans' dreams?

Also on Saturday night: singer Carrie Underwood and NHL player Mike Fisher tied the knot in Georgia, and TV personality LaLa Vazquez and NBA star Carmelo Anthony said "I do" in New York.

Zoe Saldana comes out of the closet at Women in Film's Crystal + Lucy Awards

At Women in Film's 2010 Crystal + Lucy Awards Tuesday night, Zoe Saldana finally announced that she was coming out of the closet.

As a straight woman, that is.

Accepting the MaxMara "Face of the Future" Award, the 31-year-old "Avatar" and "Star Trek" star said, "I have to thank that one special person who always gets buried and overlooked. I've lived a very private life, and I've been with a partner for 10 years who has allowed me to age ..."

(Insert your own gasp here.)

"... which is absolutely awesome and he's super bright, and he's here tonight and I'm just going to come out of the closet right now. I'm going to say, 'Thank you.' I tend to confuse privacy with not saying thank you, so I love you."

And then the screens on either side of the stage flashed on her squeeze, former actor and chief executive of MyFDB.com Keith Britton

Now the Ministry is just as romantic as the next blogger, but we suspect that the lovely Saldana didn't just wake up and discover she was living with a cutie pie. We're placing our bets on the long arm of Siempre Mujer magazine, for Latinas living in the U.S., which put her on the cover of its April/May issue. English translations of the cover story, which ricocheted as far away as the Hindustan Times, had Saldana saying she wasn't surprised by rumors she was a lesbian: "People have sometimes told my grandmother, 'Your granddaughter has a bit of lesbianism in her.'"

Oops.

Couples Update: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski score their wedding bands

As a yin to the Larry King divorce yang, we at the Ministry want to update you on thriving Hollywood couples -- such as lovebirds Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. 

The two are in the home stretch of nuptial planning, having nabbed their wedding bands for a ceremony reportedly going down in the next month, according to E! Online.

"She is planning the wedding right now and is down to the last-minute details," a Blunt insider told the site.

Fashion darling Blunt is said to be in the finals of choosing a wedding gown as well. It's between a vanguard Vera Wang or a Monique Lhuillier confection. 

Meanwhile, last weekend, already-married pair Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale enjoyed a night out away from their brood. 

Rossdale performed at Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List party Saturday at Haze nightclub in Las Vegas. The musical couple were joined by actress Kate Beckinsale and her director husband, Len Wiseman. 

The following Sunday, the first "Bachelor" couple ever to make it down the aisle, Jason and Molly Mesnick, were spotted at Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas. The duo played in a celebrity golf tournament hosted by "Access Hollywood" and Maria Menounos. 

The 18-hole championship tourney was followed by a dessert buffet and mucho lounging. 

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Happy couple Blunt and Krasinski at the 2010 Golden Globes. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times 

Get all the latest on Celebrity Dating, and we've got headlines galore on Twitter and Facebook.

Nicole Kidman, Emily Blunt celebrate Costume Designers Guild Awards

"What would Tarzan be without his loincloth?" Emily Blunt said on stage at Thursday's Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Sadly she was not pondering a potential movie role for her fiance, John Krasinski. The Brit was accepting the Swarovski Award from the CDG for the sartorial side of her acting career.

At the Beverly Hilton, style makers and world famous costume designers like Colleen Atwood, Janie Bryant and Sandy Powell showed for their kudos.

Parker Posey hosted guests and presenters including Nicole Kidman, Anna Kendrick, Minka Kelly, Kristen Bell and funnyman Eddie Izzard. 

Sandy Powell, whose works include "Gangs of New York," "Shutter Island" and "Shakespeare in Love," took the Lacoste Career Achievement Award and complimented Blunt on "working the corset" in their recent collaboration "The Young Victoria."

Representing television, "Glee" gals Jayma Mays and Jessalyn Glisig turned out as well, in support of their winning designer, Lou Eyrich.

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Emily Blunt, left, with Nadja Swarovski, of the Swarovski company. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for CDG  

Check out our sister blog All The Rage's thread assessment from the CDGAs. Get more party scoopage at our Division of Fabulous Parties. It's always a party with the Ministry on Twitter and Facebook.

PREACH IT! Ladies, please! No crowding. Only one of you will fill Helen Mirren's shoes in the new 'Prime Suspect.'

Oh, yay. The TV people are producing a brand-new cop show, and they’re letting a woman play the lead.

Prepare yourself for at least one or two triumphant posts from naive bloggers who will inevitably mistake NBC’s announced production of “Prime Suspect” as some sort of hooray moment for the female audience.

It isn’t really.

“Prime Suspect” is a remake, albeit a remake of an extraordinarily fabulous British cop drama starring Helen Mirren as the dogged DCI Jane Tennison. The character was unmarried, alcoholic, middle-aged, underestimated by her bosses, and very sexy. She occasionally jumped in the sack with a guy for some good times. Sometimes she even bedded the same dude twice.

The re-imagining will involve a bang-on good role for exactly one crackerjack actress. NBC first floated its  intentions for this show in September, but they confirmed it this week during the Winter Press Tour.

We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to amazing actresses -- which means, of course, we will have a poll.