Rapper 50 Cent may have a tough image, but it couldn't be further from the truth, claims his "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" co-star Viola Davis. 'There's nothing about his persona that you see and who he actually is that match," explains Davis, who plays 50's young grandmother. "I have a bad impression of gangsta' rappers, but this is someone who has never drunk a drop of alcohol, done any kind of drug or smoked a cigarette in his life. This is someone who is totally respectful to elders. There was a scene where he has to scream at the actor playing his grandpa, and he had a tough time doing it."
On top of that, Davis lets us know, his acting prevailed. 'I really like him as an actor because it was not an affected performance. He's very soft spoken. He's not loud or boastful, so what you see on the screen is who he is."
Though some find it odd that 50 teamed with Irish director Jim Sheridan for the flick, Davis says it's a perfect match. 'When Jim was younger, he was a part of the Irish Republican Army, so he was kind of a gangsta' himself. There was a part of him that really related to the part of 50 Cent that said, 'I don't want to be poor in the ghetto. I want to be someone. I don't care how I do it. I'm going to pack a gun. I'm going to sell crack. I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get out.' That's the story he wanted to tell."
THE INSIDE TRACK:
Gene Simmons informs it could be two years before KISS plays to the public again, but that doesn't mean he's going anywhere. 'We've been touring for 32 years. It's a time for all of us to take some time off, maybe two years," he claims. "Paul Stanley is doing a solo record, and I think he's going to want to go do some solo dates, and I want to do a lot of other stuff, too," adds the rock star. Simmons certainly has plenty on his plate already. "We're starting a cable network and a boxing venture, getting involved in Indy car racing, Warner Brothers is starting work on the 'KISS Babies' cartoon show, and the KISS Broadway musical is commencing production."
Simmons' most recent venture has him turning some of England's most disciplined 13-year-old boarding school students into a band worthy of opening up for Motorhead. "Even though the students could play two or three instruments, like cellos and oboes, and could read and write music, I had to teach them that everything they knew meant nothing in rock n' roll," explains Simmons of the VH1 series "Gene Simmons' Rock School," premiering Friday (8/19). "Almost without exception, popular music is made up of people who are pretty much unqualified to do anything except ask you if you want fries with that. None of us read or write music; we just sort of get by. The really great musicians are playing at Holiday Inns doing cover versions."
UP-SPIRAL:
"You get so inspired by others. Look at Angelina Jolie and all she does. I'm so excited about this project of hers," says Sean Astin. He's referring to "A Moment in the World," with 36 celebrities "stationed in different places, turning our cameras on what we were seeing during the same three minutes." That happened Jan. 11, and Astin and a film team were outside the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. Jolie herself was in Niger. Ryan Gosling, who talked about 'A Moment in the World' backstage at this week's Teen Choice Awards, was in Darfur at Jolie's suggestion -- and has since become passionate about raising awareness of the genocide in that Sudanese region. Other celebrities were in locales as diverse as Kosovo and an American Indian reservation for the film, which is being edited now.
Meanwhile, in-between movie roles and family time, Sean manages to make appearances and lend his hands to a bunch of other civic and environmental causes. As a member of President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, he also strives to motivate folks to get involved. He points out, "When you open up the newspaper and read about all the atrocities, you feel like you're battling back."
SHOP TIL YOU DROP IN:
Where does a stylish star refresh after a long day of shopping on the trendy Robertson Blvd.? For Kirsten Dunst, it was girls' night out this past weekend at West Hollywood's hot spot the Abbey, without beau Jake Gyllenhaal, who was nowhere to be seen. The sprawling 15,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor complex has become quite a hangout for Hollywood hotties.
(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)
The Beck/Smith syndicated newspaper column includes exclusive in-depth, behind-the-scenes reports on the stars, on the business of television and movie-making, and on the recording, publishing and media beats.
©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
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