Celebrities by The Times

Penelope Cruz stars in “Broken Embraces,” her fourth collaboration with Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. She also stars in the musical “Nine,” based on the Fellini movie “8 1/2.” Cruz is photographed at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Director Quentin Tarantino at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Tarantino’s World War II thriller “ Inglourious Basterds” has taken in more than $300 million worldwide and has landed 10 Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nominations (as well as a Directors Guild of America nod for Tarantino) .  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Katharine McPhee is photographed at a Studio City recording studio. Her second album, “Unbroken,” has been released.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

George Clooney is photographed with “Up in the Air” director Jason Reitman in Beverly Hills.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Legendary poet and musician Patti Smith at the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan, where she lived during its heyday. Smith has written a memoir titled “Just Kids.” The book is also a homage to her longtime friend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Jeff Bridges has become an Oscar contender with the release of his new movie, “Crazy Heart,” in which he plays a washed-up, alcoholic country singer. The four-time Oscar nominee is a lock for a fifth nomination. Bridges is photographed at Malo restaurant on Sunset.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Edie Falco at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. She is nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best comedic actress for her work on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.”  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Woody Harrelson stars in the film “The Messenger,” about a soldier who delivers death notifications to the families of soldiers killed in combat. He’s photographed at the Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Ethan Hawke, who stars in the new sci-fi thriller “Daybreakers,” is photographed at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Portia Doubleday’s latest movie is “Youth in Revolt,” starring opposite Michael Cera.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Dan Zanes wrote the soundtrack for the Matthew Broderick film “Wonderful World,” about a divorced father who tires to ditch his career as a children’s entertainer. Zanes was the lead singer and guitarist in the Boston-based rock band Del Fuegos.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sandra Bullock is having a spectacular year with two successful films: “The Proposal” and “The Blind Side.”

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Celebrities by the Times in 2009  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Lady Gaga is 2009’s breakout pop artist.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman have had a long history together. In Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial effort, Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela in the saga of how a symbolic rugby tournament helped bind post-apartheid South African blacks and whites.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Abbie Cornish stars in “Bright Star,” the film about the doomed love affair between dying poet John Keats and his neighbor Fanny Brawne. Cornish, who has starred in “A Good Year,” “ Stop-Loss” and “Candy,” was photographed in Century City.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Ford, the fashion visionary behind Gucci, now turns his attention to movies, making his directorial debut in “A Single Man,” based on the Christopher Isherwood story about a gay man contemplating suicide after the death of his lover.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Emily Blunt stars as the English queen in “The Young Victoria.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Lead singer Bono of U2 is photographed at the Chateau Marmont. The band produced a song for the movie “Brothers,” starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Saoirse Ronan at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. She stars in Peter Jackson‘s adaptation of the bestseller “The Lovely Bones.”  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Tobey Maguire, photographed at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly HIlls, is starring in the new film “Brothers.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Sonia Vergara of the television series “Modern Family,” in Beverly Hills.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Peter Sarsgaard stars in “An Education,” in which he plays an older, high-living man who sweeps a teenage girl (Carey Mulligan) off her feet but turns out to be a cad. Sarsgaard is photographed at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Taylor Lautner,17, is one of the stars in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” He’s photographed at the Four Seasons Hotel.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Nicolas Cage stars in the Werner Herzog-directed film, “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.” He was photographed in Beverly Hills.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Recording artist Adam Lambert, the 2009 runner-up on “American Idol,” has released his first album, “For Your Entertainment,” and is photographed in the office of 19 Entertainment in West Hollywood.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Vera Farmiga stars as George Clooney‘s soul mate in “Up in the Air.” She is photographed at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Stanley Tucci was photographed on the backlot at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Tucci, who is known for his good guy roles, gives a startling performance as a pedophile/killer in “The Lovely Bones.”  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Cheyenne Jackson will now have a semi-regular role on NBC’s “30 Rock.” He is a well-known Broadway performer.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Christoph Waltz is the European actor who is getting rave reviews for his role in “Inglourious Basterds.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Pop singer Mariah Careyis in the new movie “Precious. “Far from her diva image, she delivers an understated performance as an inner city social worker who helps a young troubled teen. Carey is photographed at the Four Season in Beverly Hills.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kathryn Morris is the star of CBS’ “Cold Case.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Best known for his character roles in films like, “The Firm,” “Magnum Force,” “The Fog,” and “All the President’s Men,” 94 year-old actor Hal Holbrook’s gets his first starring role in the motion picture, “That Evening Sun.” He was photographed in West Hollywood.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Dana Delany, one of the stars of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” is photographed inside the ABC building on Disney Studios lot in Burbank.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Ted Danson is photographed at the Hotel Casa del Mar lobby photo booth in Santa Monica. Danson, a popular comic TV actor, has been extending his reach with his stint on “Damages” and now as the pot-smoking wealthy playboy friend of the main character on the new HBO series, “Bored to Death.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Seth Green appears in the upcoming “Old Dogs” with John Travolta and Robin Williams. Green is also the voice of several TV cartoon characters, including Chris on “The Family Guy,” and multiple characters on “Robot Chicken.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Anna Kendrick has a breakout role in “Up in the Air,” starring opposite George Clooney.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

F. Gary Gray, a former music video director,has released his latest film, “Law Abiding Citizen.”  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Sheen plays Aro in the movie “New Moon,” from the “Twilight” saga.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Marley Shelton stars in “(Untitled)” as a Chelsea art gallerist who falls for a brooding new music composer.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Coming off the latest “ Terminator Salvation,” Sam Worthington now heads the cast of James Cameron‘s “Avatar.”  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Hip-hop star Dam Funk released a new album on Oct. 27.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Natalie Portman is one of an ensemble of actors in the movie “New York I Love You,” a collection of short vignettes.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Jeff Bridges stars in the quirky film “The Men Who Stare at Goats” as a former Army officer who studies psychic abilities in the art of combat. He also stars in the upcoming “Tron” remake.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Ben Foster stars in the war drama “The Messenger.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Guitarist Orianthi was selected to play guitar on Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” tour. In addition to being prominently featured in the new concert film “This Is It,” she’s releasing a new album.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Nelly Furtado, photographed at the W Hotel in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Furtado released her first Spanish-language album on Sept. 29.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Kate Moennig stars on the new CBS drama “Three Rivers.”  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Jesse Weixler stars in the film “Peter and Vandy” about a couple’s experience with falling in and out of love.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

One of the founding members of X and the Knitters, Exene Cervenka expands her career with a new solo outing, recorded near her Missouri home. It’s mostly acoustic, with a folk-country sound, but still with the sharp edge she brought to the punk music of X and its roots-music offshoot, the Knitters.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Carey Mulligan is a burgeoning starlet who’s entranced the Hollywood buzz machine. She stars in “An Education” as a teenager in love with a con man in 1950s England.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

LL Cool J is one of the stars of the new CBS spinoff series NCIS: Los Angeles.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Courteney Cox is starring in a new ABC TV series called “Cougar Town.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

John Fogerty holds his 1945 D’Angelico New Yorker guitar, a love that was fanned in his teens by Chet Atkins’ playing.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Alan Cumming will bring his new solo show, “I Bought a Blue Car Today,” to the Orange County Performing Arts Center. He’s photographed in the East Village in New York.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with the upcoming “Whip It.” She’s photographed at the Andaz Hotel in Hollywood. The movie is a coming-of-age story of a young girl who wants to be a roller derby star.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jeff Combs, who portrays Edgar Allan Poe in the theater production “Nevermore,” is photographed at his home in Ventura County on Aug. 10, 2009.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Willie Nelson before going on stage for the Fun Trio Tour that also featured John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan at the Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium on Aug. 12, 2009.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Anne Heche has seen her share of ups and downs in Hollywood, and is currently on a hot streak. Not long after her “Men in Trees” TV series was canceled, she picked up a much-buzzed about HBO series, “Hung,” and now stars in the similarly themed “Spread,” a film with Ashton Kutcher.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Robin Williams stars in “World’s Greatest Dad,” directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Johnny Depp stars in the new action-thriller “Public Enemies” by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann. Depp plays Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Sigourney Weaver starred in the Lifetime movie “Prayers for Bobby.” She’s photographed in Los Angeles on April 16.  (Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times)

Anna Paquin, photographed in Los Angeles on April 16, stars in the HBO show “True Blood,” which is going into Season Two.  (Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Stephen Colbert‘s late-night faux political talk show has gained momentum with Emmy voters, who gave him the statuette for writing in the last go-round over his one-time boss Jon Stewart.  (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Kevin Bacon stars in HBO’s “Taking Chance,” the moving tale of a Marine escorting a fallen comrade’s casket to his hometown.  (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Chloe Sevigny really came into her own as one of the wives in the central polygamist family on “Big Love,” bringing an unexpected humor, pathos and earthy glamour to a part that might more easily be seen simply as dour and manipulative.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

David Duchovny plays something of a no-good lech in the Showtime series “ Californication.”  (Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times)

After starring as the villain in the highly successful “Star Trek” movie, Eric Bana can be seen in the new film “Funny People” with Adam Sandler. He is photographed at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is the self-designated Queen of All Media whose website is among the most popular on the Web.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

The supermodel host of “Project Runway” Heidi Klum is seen in Manhattan, N.Y. Klum is pregnant with her fourth child with husband Seal.  (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Actress Milla Jovovich, who stars in “A Perfect Getaway,” is seen at the Parker Meridien Hotel in Manhattan, N.Y.  (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Jessica Biel performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a semi-staged production of “Guys and Dolls.” She is photographed on July 23, 2009.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Gerard Butler poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel on July 18, 2009. He starred in “300” and now plays a loutish but lovable news anchor in the romantic comedy, “The Ugly Truth.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Kyra Sedgwick stars in TNT’s “The Closer” and is photographed on the set on July 9, 2009.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Principal Ballet Dancer Roberto Bolle is seen at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan, N.Y. Bolle stars in “Romeo and Juliet.”  (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Rita D’Albert is the co-creator of Lucha VA Voom, the seven-year-old fusion of Lucha Libre wrestling, burlesque and performance art that plays four times a year, in the Los Angeles area, to enthusiastic crowds. Rita is photographed at her downtown loft on July 7, 2009.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Demetri Martin is in a new movie called “Taking Woodstock,” which will be released this summer to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the music festival.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Kate del Castillo, one of Mexico’s popular actresses, will guest star in several episodes of Showtime’s hit series “Weeds.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Cat Deeley poses for a portrait backstage at CBS Studios in Los Angeles after taping Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” on June 30, 2009.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

In his latest film, “The Hurt Locker,” Jeremy Renner plays an ice-cold bomb-dismantling expert with the U.S. military in Iraq.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Director Sam Raimi strikes a spooky pose at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on May 18. His latest film is the horror fest “Drag Me to Hell.”  (Ann Johansson/For The Times)

Mary McCormack, shown at her Los Angeles home on May 14, plays a U.S. marshall in the witness protection program who spends her time relocating federal witnesses on USA Network’s “In Plain Sight.”  (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)

Actress/comedian Amy Poehler, who stars in the new show “Parks and Recreation,” is photographed in Manhattan.  (Jennifer Altman/For The Times)

Jean Smart costars on the now-canceled “Samantha Who?” and last year won an Emmy for her acerbic turn as Christina Applegate’s mom.  (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

Members of the pop group No Doubt from left, Adrian Young, drums; Gwen Stefani, lead singer; Tony Kanal, bass guitar; and Tom Dumont, guitar, are ready to tour.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Ayelet Zurer stars with Tom Hanks in “Angels and Demons,” the prequel to “The Da Vinci Code.” A new face in Hollywood, she is one of the most acclaimed actresses in Israel.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Kara DioGuardi led a glamorous, but relatively normal, life as a songwriter and producer. Then she was tapped to be “American Idol’s” fourth judge and was thrust into one of the harshest spotlights in pop culture.  (Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times)

Chris Pine, who portrays Capt. James T. Kirk in the new “Star Trek” film, is photographed at Smash Box studio in West Hollywood on March 17, 2009.  (Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Emma Stone, photographed in Los Angeles on April 23, 2009. Stone stars with Matthew McConaughey in the romantic comedy “ Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.”  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the rock band Alice in Chains; from left, Mike Inez, bass, Sean Kinney, drummer, William Duvall, vocals and guitar, and Jerry Cantrell, vocals and guitar. Photographed at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood in March, the band is working on their first record in 14 years, with new singer/guitarist Duvall.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Director Alex Rivera goes through a series of sleepy expressions with his latest film, “Sleep Dealer,” set to open in theaters April 17. The movie is a socially conscious sci-fi thriller set in Tijuana in the near future when technology has found a way around Mexico’s closed border, enabling Mexicans to remotely use robots to work in the U.S.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

16-year-old Miley Cyrus, photographed at the Four Seaons in Beverly Hills, stars in the new film “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Tracey Ullman’s Showtime series, “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union,” returns for its second season.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Rock icon Bruce Springsteen, photographed at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, N.J., will be touring in support of his recent album, “Working on a Dream.”  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Emmy Rossum stars in the live-action film version of the Japanese manga, “Dragonball.”  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Andrew Fletcher, Martin Gore and Dave Gahan make up the band Depeche Mode. They have a new album coming out, “Sounds of the Universe.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Virginia Madsen stars in a new horror/thriller “The Haunting in Connecticut”.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Nicolas Cage stars in “Knowing.” In the film, Cage plays a teacher who opens a time capsule that contain chilling predictions.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon is returning to Broadway this season after a 37-year absence. She will be starring in Ionesco’s “Exit The King.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Julia Roberts returns to the screen after a two-year hiatus, and a general slow down of her career to have children. The film is “Duplicity,” the tale of two corporate spies who team up to con their employers. Roberts stars with her old buddy Clive Owen.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)