Pregnant actress Angelina Jolie has asked the media to leave her alone while she waits to give birth to twins. The Wanted (2008) star is currently at a maternity clinic in Nice, France, and is due to go into labor within days. Following intense press speculation and a high paparazzi presence outside the hospital, her obstetrician called a press conference on Wednesday to urge the media to back off. He also dismissed gossip the actress had already given birth, or was in labor. Dr. Michel Sussmann said, 'She will give birth in the next two weeks. I can't really say more than that. 'It really isn't an emergency. She was booked in well in advance. We are not talking about premature birth. 'We have reserved four rooms for her and her husband and also for her protection teams. 'We believe the security concerns they have raised are legitimate. She is a pregnant woman. 'She is perfectly entitled to protect her privacy. We should let her breathe. 'She will stay in the hospital as long as it takes for her to give birth to her babies and have sufficient rest, and then she will be allowed to go home. 'This clinic was probably chosen because it has a particularly high standard where pediatrics are concerned, and a high level of comfort, which you don't always find. 'Angelina Jolie is very much a patient like any other. I have very high respect for both her and her husband.'

Comedians Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen will star in a forthcoming film about fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Borat funnyman Cohen will play the pipe-smoking sleuth, with Ferrell as his partner Watson in the as-yet-untitled film. Matt Tolmach, co-president of production for Columbia Pictures, tells Variety.com, 'Just the idea of Sacha and Will as Sherlock Holmes and Watson makes us laugh. 'Sacha and Will are two of the funniest and most talented guys on the planet, and having them take on these two iconic characters is frankly hilarious.'

Angelina Jolie has checked into a Nice, France, hospital, where she is expected to give birth to twins. The actress has been living with partner Brad Pitt, their children and assistants in an exclusive wine resort in Provence, France, since the beginning of the summer. Reports suggest Jolie checked into the hospital for surveillance. She is not expected to give birth immediately.The actress already has three adopted children and a natural child with Pitt. News that she was pregnant with twins was confirmed at the Cannes Film Festival in May when Jolie's Kung Fu Panda co-star Jack Black revealed all during a TV interview.

Heath Ledger's state of mind before his death has been defended by his Dark Knight co-stars--who claim he was the perfect father to daughter Matilda. Reports that Ledger had become maniacal after filming the new Batman movie--in which he plays the Joker--have been blasted by those who worked with him shortly before his death. Gary Oldman, who plays Lt. Jim Gordon in the film, reveals that, while filming, Ledger was in high spirits, slamming reports that he had mood swings, sleeping problems and difficult relationships with other cast members. He tells People.com, 'Because he died, people want a dark story (that) he was so obsessed with the character, he was so contaminated by the Joker and he couldn't sleep and all of that stuff. '(But) in between takes he would sit on the curbside and smoke a cigarette and laugh and talk about his daughter Matilda. I thought he was just a beautiful kid. I thought he was just wonderful. I had a real affection for him.' And far from being unbalanced, Ledger would constantly gush about his 2-year-old daughter Matilda, his child with actress Michelle Williams. 'Heath showed me pictures of (Matilda). (He) would come in and say she did this and she did that,' reveals Aaron Eckhart, who plays District Attorney Harvey Dent in the sequel. But Ledger was also passionate about his role in the film--and put all his energy into perfecting the part. Eckhart adds, 'He really created his look. That character--Heath loved so much. He really cared about the Joker.' Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment in January. Toxicology reports released a month later stated he was killed by an accidental overdose of prescribed medication. The Dark Knight is due in cinemas later this month.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have denied plans for an immediate strike against Hollywood studios despite their contract's expiration on Monday. Union bosses have been involved in crucial contract talks with film and TV studio bosses to prevent another strike similar to the Writers Guild of America's walkout, which brought Hollywood to a standstill from November until February. Actors have threatened walkouts at the time of their contract's expiration if talks between the unions and major film studios failed to resolve a dispute over pay and working conditions. But despite the lack of resolution, SAG president and working actor Alan Rosenberg has insisted a strike is not forthcoming in the immediate future. He says, 'We have taken no steps to initiate a strike-authorization vote.' The SAG members dismissed a previously agreed-upon deal between studio bosses and members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)--suggesting it undermines their own contract. Members of the union called upon heavyweights Jack Nicholson and Ben Stiller to urge AFTRA leaders to reject the deal just last week.

A fictional energy drink featured in Ben Stiller's next movie Tropic Thunder is being turned into a real product. Booty Sweat pops up throughout the comedy, which is due to be released on Sept. 19. Now Paramount Pictures wants to cash in by producing it and marketing it alongside the movie. Michael Corcoran, president of consumer products at Paramount Pictures, 'Not to my knowledge has this ever been done before. We're very excited, because it has the potential to live for quite a while, well beyond the film.'

Lindsay Lohan has a secret 13-year-old half-sister she has never met, the actress' father has revealed. Michael Lohan has confessed he fathered a child with another woman while separated from the star's mother, Dina. He claims he only found out about his secret daughter years after she was born, and has been exchanging correspondence with her mother over the past year.Michael tells OK! magazine, 'Years later (the woman) contacted me, convincing me that I was the only person she was with and that she had my child.' OK! claims to have seen letters sent to the girl's mother, in which he compares her to Lindsay. The mother claims Michael has called frequently, but never visited or provided financial support for the girl. And she tells the publication it's time for Michael to take responsibility. Michael and Dina have four children together: Lindsay, 22; Michael Jr., 20; Ali, 14, and Cody, 12. The couple married in 1985 and divorced in 2007.

Uma Thurman is set to marry her longtime boyfriend Arpad Busson. The Pulp Fiction star has been dating the Swiss businessman since last summer and their romance has blossomed, despite living an ocean apart--Thurman is based in New York, while Busson lives in London. But the couple has now decided to take their relationship to the next level after Thurman accepted Busson's proposal, reports People.com. The actress' representative, Stephen Huvane, says, 'I can confirm she is engaged.' Thurman was presented with an eight-plus-carat diamond ring, with the large center stone surrounded by 20 smaller gems. And the sparkler has been given the seal of approval by a pal of the star. The source tells the New York Daily News, 'It's the most beautiful piece I've ever seen. Arki did a wonderful job.' A date for the wedding has yet to be set. It will be Thurman's second marriage--she split from first husband Ethan Hawke, with whom she has two children, in 2003--and a first for Busson. The multi-millionaire also has two kids with his ex, supermodel Elle Macpherson. They parted ways in 2005.

Actor George Clooney has pleaded for two rival Hollywood actors unions to put their bitter difference behind them--urging them to provide a united front for the sake of the industry. The star used his peacemaking skills to call for an end to the bitter wrangling between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Both unions are currently in crucial contract talks with film and TV studios--their contract expires on June 30--to prevent another strike. The writers strike crippled the industry from November until February. Actors are threatening walkouts at the end of June if talks between the unions and major film studios fail to resolve a dispute over pay and conditions. But the two unions are currently at loggerheads, after AFTRA, a smaller union, agreed to a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The SAG dismiss the agreed deal--suggesting it undermines their own contract--and has called upon heavyweights Jack Nicholson and Ben Stiller to urge members of AFTRA to reject the deal. To compete with the actors, AFTRA has recruited Tom Hanks to declare support for the deal. And Clooney has spoken out in a statement issued on Thursday, urging the unions not to pit actors against each other as it would have a devastating impact on the industry as a whole. He says, 'Rather than pitting artist against artist, maybe we could find a way to get what both unions are looking for.'Because the one thing you can be sure of is that stories about Jack Nicholson vs. Tom Hanks only strengthens the negotiating power of the AMPTP.'

Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has sparked rumors she is engaged to British model Paul Sculfor--after she was photographed wearing a diamond band on her wedding finger. The What Happens in Vegas star has reportedly been dating Sculfor--who was recently linked to Jennifer Aniston--for the last few weeks but neither has officially confirmed the relationship. However, the pair stepped up speculation they are romantically involved after they were spotted locked in a passionate embrace following a romantic meal in Santa Monica, California, on Monday night. And now Diaz has been photographed sporting a large diamond ring on her left hand, prompting rumors that her relationship with the former brick-layer could be more serious than previously thought. The 35-year old actress split from pop star Justin Timberlake last year. She was subsequently linked to Aniston's current love interest, rocker John Mayer.