Top Celebrities and Sports Talent

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Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989. She is an American country-pop singer-songwriter. In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", which peaked at number six on the Billboard country charts. Later in October 2006, she released her self-titled debut album, which produced five hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and was certified 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The New York Times described Swift as "one of pop’s finest songwriters, country’s foremost pragmatist and more in touch with her inner life than most adults".

Swift became the first solo female artist to score 5 top 10 hits from a debut album since the album chart was first published in 1964. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Fearless and Taylor Swift are among the Top 10 bestselling albums of 2008, which ranked at #3 and #6 respectively. Swift was the bestselling album artist of 2008 in all popular music formats with 4,003,000 copies sold in the United States.

The first single from the second album, "Love Story" eventually reached #4 and became Swift’s highest charted single on Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100 to date, as well as the first country song to reach Number One the Mainstream Top 40 chart. The song has already distinguished itself as the country song with the most paid downloads in history, tops the 3 million mark in paid downloads on the week ending March 15, 2009. The song was also released in several countries, and charted #1 on Australian Singles Chart. It was Swift’s first international single.

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According to Nielsen SoundScan, Swift was the biggest selling artist of 2008 in America with combined sales of more than four million albums. Swift’s Fearless and her self-titled album finished 2008 at number three and number six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. She was the first artist in the history of Nielsen SoundScan to have two different albums in the Top 10 on the year end album chart. Fearless has topped the Billboard 200 in 11 non-consecutive weeks. No album has spent more time at number one since 1999-2000. It also was the first album by a female artist in country music history to log eight weeks at #1 on The Billboard 200. In mid-January 2009, Swift became the first country artist to top the 2 million mark in paid downloads with three different songs. As of the week ending February 8, 2009, Swift’s single "Love Story" became the country song with most paid downloads in history and the first country song to top the Mainstream Top 40 chart. According to the 2009 issue of Forbes, Swift is ranked as the 69th most powerful celebrity with over $18 million dollars in earnings this year.

Taylor Alison Swift was born in the city of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Scott, a stock broker, and Andrea Swift, a stay-at-home mother. She has one younger brother, Austin. When she was in fourth grade, Swift won a national poetry contest with a three-page long poem entitled "Monster In My Closet". At the age of ten, Swift began writing songs and singing at karaoke contests, festivals, and fairs around her hometown. During one summer, Swift devoted herself to writing a 350-page (unpublished) novel. She was a member of Kirk Cremer’s SNL-inspired kid’s sketch comedy group, TheatreKids Live!, where she was a natural comedic talent. After seeing her karaoke performance at one of the cast parties, it was Cremer’s mother who first suggested that Swift seemed more of a natural to pursue a career in country music, rather than theatrical performing. Cremer soon leased space at a local mall and began to showcase his young protégé in weeknight performances of country songs with karaoke backing tracks. Emboldened by her performances and growing audiences, she began to perform in other local open mike and karaoke nights. Her first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair, arranged by local performer Pat Garrett.

In January 2009, Swift announced her first headlining tour. Swift will take her North American Fearless Tour 2009 to 52 cities in 38 states and provinces in the US and Canada over the span of 6 months. Opening acts include Kellie Pickler and Gloriana, a new group in country music. The tour will feature a theatrical presentation of graphics, sets and visual elements designed by Swift. Swift will play guitar as well as piano. Multiple costume changes and a fairy-tale castle are some of the elements of the three-act show.

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The tour kicked off April 23 in Evansville, Indiana. On February 6, 2009, tickets went on sale for the May 22 date at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and sold out in two minutes. Tickets for several dates and venues, including Madison Square Garden, went on sale the following week and sold out quickly.

On April 28, 2009, Swift gave a free, private concert to students at Bishop Ireton High School, a small Catholic school in Alexandria, Virginia after the school won a national "TXT 2 WIN" contest from Verizon Wireless. The students sent over 19,000 text messages to Verizon during a roughly one month long contest. Swift played for about an hour during the school’s field day, an annual day-long recess with games and activities.

Swift has been a cover girl for Blender, for which Swift was one of two country artists during the magazine’s fifteen year run to be a cover subject. Swift was named number fifty-seven on Maxim’s sexiest women of 2008. CosmoGirl voted Swift as the "2008 Girl of the Year". Swift was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of "The RS 100: Agents of Change". She was nominated as a candidate for TIME’s "2009 The Time 100 Finalists" list, which is determined by online voting.

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Sienna Miller was born in New York City, on December 28, 1981. She is a BAFTA nominated American-born English actress, model, and fashion designer, best known for her roles in Alfie, Factory Girl, and The Edge of Love. Miller was moved with her family to London, England when she was a year old. She went to Francis Holland Junior School, from when she was 4 to 11.

She attended Heathfield St Mary’s School, a boarding school in Ascot, Berkshire and later studied for a year at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. Sienna went to a boarding school in Ascot, Surrey and developed a passion for film as well as training as a singer, and doing a bit of modeling. After school she moved back to New York to study acting full time at the Lee Strasberg Institute and appeared in a few NY productions. Sienna secured a top UK agency to hunt down roles for her and she appeared in the BBC series Bedtime. This led on to ‘Keen Eddie’, and she has reportedly signed a seven-year film deal with Paramount Pictures! While in the UK, Sienna lives in Notting Hill.

Prior to her professional acting career, Miller worked as a photographic model. She signed with Tandy Anderson, and modeled for Coca-Cola, Italian Vogue, and posed topless in the 2003 Pirelli Calendar. Miller has also been closely associated with the style of fashion that became known as boho chic, much of which fashion followers noted was strikingly similar to the style of model Kate Moss.

Photo:  www.fashionising.com

Sienna Rose Miller signed a two-year contract with Pepe Jeans London; the jeans ad campaign first appeared in magazines March 2006. In her early career, Miller performed in several amateur New York City plays including The Striker, Independence, and Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella’s Cigarettes & Chocolate.

In 2001, she made her film début with South Kensington, with Rupert Everett and Elle Macpherson. Her next projects were High Speed and The Ride (aka Joy-Rider) in 2002. In 2003, Miller had a recurring role in Simon West’s television action drama series Keen Eddie. Miller had supporting roles in the remake of the 1966 film Alfie starring Jude Law in 2004. In the same year, she made Layer Cake with Daniel Craig. In 2005, she made her professional stage début as Celia in a West End production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It alongside Helen McCrory and Dominic West. She understudied the lead role of Rosalind, which she played for one performance, when McCrory fell ill.

Later that year, Miller played the female lead opposite Heath Ledger in the period drama, Casanova, followed by what is known as her breakthrough role portraying 1960s socialite and Andy Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgwick in the film Factory Girl, which opened December 29, 2006.

In 2007, Miller played a small role opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro in Matthew Vaughn’s fantasy epic Stardust, based on the book by Neil Gaiman of the same name. That same year, she played an American starlet to Steve Buscemi’s reporter in the film Interview, a remake of the Dutch movie with the same name. Later in 2007, she portrayed an undead bride opposite James Franco in the horror comedy Camille which did not receive a wide release and went to DVD shortly thereafter.

In 2008, Miller appeared in the film version of writer Michael Chabon’s novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, also starring Peter Sarsgaard and filmed The Edge of Love, with friend Keira Knightley, a biopic of Dylan Thomas in which she plays his wife Caitlin.

She appears in two upcoming films: Hippie Hippie Shake a new Working Title production directed by Beeban Kidron also stars Cillian Murphy set in the 1960s, and a live-action film adaptation of the comic book and cartoon G.I. Joe. In September 2009 she will play the title role in Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie on Broadway.

Miller was set to play Maid Marian in Ridley Scott’s upcoming film Nottingham, featuring Russell Crowe as the Sheriff of Nottingham, but she dropped out before filming began. In 2009, Miller starred in the Comic Relief spoof of the film Mamma Mia! alongside English comediennes Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, in which she played Sophie.

In 2006, it was announced that Miller would design a fashion capsule for Pepe Jeans; the project was later expanded to become a complete fashion label. Called Twenty8Twelve, it gets its name from Miller’s date of birth and is financially backed by Pepe Jeans. The collection, which Miller designed with her sister Savannah, a professional fashion designer, launched in September 2007.

Miller’s relationship with the Alfie co-star Jude Law, was constantly featured in the entertainment press. On Christmas Day of 2004, they became engaged. On July 8, 2005, Law issued a public apology to Miller for having an affair with the nanny of his children. Despite attempting to salvage their constant on/off relationship, Miller and Law finally separated the following November.

Miller dated Welsh actor Rhys Ifans from August 2007 - June 2008. Miller said of the split, "I really thought I was very ready to settle down, but then I realized I wanted to be selfish for just a little bit longer." After her relationship with Ifans ended, Miller began an relationship with actor and father of four, Balthazar Getty, who was married to designer Rosetta Getty at the time they got together.

Sources: siennafan.net, wikipedia.org, iceposter.com. 

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Lenka was born on 1978. She is an Australian television actress turned ensemble musician with Decoder Ring, turned solo singer-songwriter, most famous worldwide for her song "The Show", which has been used in numerous advertisements, most notably for Old Navy. She is now based in Los Angeles.

Previously best known as an actress in Australia and as a host of a long-running children’s breakfast cartoon program Cheez TV in Australia, she has appeared in numerous Australian television serials and feature films.

Lenka starred in the Australian ABC-TV drama series GP as Vesna Kapek in the 1990’s. She also hosted Cheez TV and has guest starred in other Australian TV series such as Home & Away, Wild Side, Head Start, and Spellbinder. She also starred in Australian feature films The Dish and Lost Things, and numerous theatre productions.

After adopting her first name as her sole artistic name ("Lenka" is a common Slavic girl’s name, and a common diminutive of the Slavic girl’s name "Lena"), Lenka released an eponymous album on 24 September 2008, with "The Show" chosen to be the first single release from the set. The album has thus far peaked at number 142 on the American Billboard 200.

Photo: Nick Leonard

Her vocal stylings offer a juxtaposition of catchy pop and layered, complicated world music influences. This juxtaposing is current in popular music, spreading through the internet.[citation needed] Similar layerings exist in the music of anti-folk Russian-born New York City-based musician Regina Spektor, French/Israeli/Tunisian tri-language singer-songwriter Yael Naim, and eclectic Italian violinist/mandolinist Alessandro Monti.

Lenka has performed on the late-night network television interview shows in America, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Tonight Show singing "The Show" with her full band. On the week of 3 November 2008, "The Show" debuted at number 71 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.

The beginning of 2009 saw Lenka tour extensively throughout America and Canada. On February 2nd 2009 Lenka performed her first sold out show in Toronto, Canada which she played a remix version of "The Show" as her encore.

Summer 2009 will see Lenka’s album released in Europe and Asia, with coinciding tours and festival appearances. In Vietnam, "The Show" was a huge hit and became one of the most played songs in public. In Poland, due to the huge popularity of "The Show" Lenka’s debut album was certificated gold after 10,000 copies sold.

Maria Menounos was born on June 8, 1978 in in Greek. She is an American actress, journalist, and television presenter known at home for her appearances as a correspondent for The Today Show and Access Hollywood, and abroad for co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece.

At age 17, she was an employee of Dunkin’ Donuts with aspirations to be something more. Menounos attended the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. In 1995, Menounos began to compete in beauty pageants. The following year, she won the title of Miss Massachusetts Teen USA and competed at Miss Teen USA where she failed to place in the top 10. Menounos did however place in the top 15, receiving an honorary mention, during the preliminary competition; Menounos placed 13th in preliminaries.

Menounos is a correspondent for The Today Show as well as Access Hollywood in an overall deal with NBC Universal to act in films and television shows. She also has recurring roles on CBS’ Without a Trace and as Jules in the second season of The CW’s One Tree Hill. She also appeared on the Scrubs episode "My Extra Mile", which aired in May 2006 where she is attracted to John Dorian because she likes his hair.

In 2006, Menounos appeared in the music video for "A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson. In April 27, 2007, Maria starred in Kickin’ It Old Skool. In 2007, Menounos continued in her run as international spokesperson doing print and television commercials for Pantene hair products as well as print ads for New York & Company.

In 2008, she became the host of "Hollywood Green" on the "Planet Green" network. "Maria Menounos brings glamour to green living as the hostess of Hollywood Green. Both as the special correspondent for daily entertainment newsmagazine "Access Hollywood," and on Hollywood Green, Maria provides TV viewers with comprehensive coverage of entertainment and news personalities."

In 2008, she also had a very memorable role in the movie Tropic Thunder. She became the first journalist to interview the entire Obama family as a whole. She is represented by Creative Artists Agency.

In May 2008, played in the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open, but was eliminated in the qualifying round. On July 13, 2008, Menounos starred in the celebrity softball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. In November 2008, when Richard Belzer fell ill, she filled in as host for the North Shore Animal League’s Dogcatemy Celebrity Gala, which takes place at NYC’s Capitale.

Menounos founded the charity "Take Action Hollywood!" after her trip to South Africa. Reporting on the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis she was inspired to create TAH!, a charity that utilizes the power of the entertainment industry and the medium of film to affect for positive social change. Maria also created the Cosmo Girl Cup, a national, annual competition and award given to the group of teens who do the most in their communities to affect for positive social change. Find more Maria Menounos Posters.

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Sam Worthington was born on 2 August 1976. He is an award-winning Australian actor. Samuel Worthington was born in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He grew up in Rockingham, Western Australia, and won a scholarship to the John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle, and then studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.

After graduating from NIDA in 1998, Worthington performed in a production of Judas Kiss for Company B at the Belvoir St Theatre.

He went on to act in a series of Australian movies and TV series; including a supporting role in Bootmen (2000) and leading roles in Dirty Deeds (2002), Gettin’ Square (2003), Somersault (2004) and a modern Australian retelling of Macbeth (2006). Worthington won the 2004 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in Somersault. He is well known in Australia for his role as Howard in the acclaimed Australian TV series Love My Way, where he played the main love interest of the female lead.

Worthington’s international film career began with a series of small roles in Hollywood productions such as Hart’s War (2002) and The Great Raid (2005), which was filmed in Australia. He was one of several actors who was under consideration to take over the role of James Bond from Pierce Brosnan for the 2006 film Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell stated that only Worthington and Henry Cavill were in serious contention along with eventual winner Daniel Craig.

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In 2007, James Cameron chose Worthington for a leading role in his science fiction thriller Avatar. On 12 February 2008 it was revealed he was cast, on Cameron’s recommendation, in Terminator Salvation as Marcus Wright.