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Matilda caught in bitter family feud

The Ledger family is at war after claims Matilda will get nothing from her father’s fortune.

Matilda Ledger is caught in the middle of a bitter feud amid disturbing suggestions that she may not receive a cent of Heath’s $20million fortune.

Father gets all

In a shocking development following Heath’s death, it has been revealed that despite being devoted to his two-year-old daughter, he failed to update his Will, leaving his entire estate to his father Kim and his three sisters.

While Kim released a statement claiming that, “Matilda is our absolute priority and [her mother] Michelle is an integral part of our family. They will be taken care of … “, some family members are concerned that the money has not already been passed directly on to Matilda, Heath’s only child.

The controversy has further distressed many friends and fans of the late star, shattering the widespread assumption that Heath’s fortune would automatically go to his only child and heir, despite his lack of an updated Will.

Adding fuel to the fire, Heath’s uncles have spoken publicly about not trusting Kim when it comes to managing family money, after he was made guardian of their grandfather Sir Frank’s estate in 1993.

“When he was guardian in charge of our grandfather’s estate, it went west,” claimed Haydn, Kim’s brother, in an interview published in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. “We had to take him to court to take that off him because a sum of $2million went missing.

“Our battle has been documented through the Supreme Court … the money’s gone. He had reinvested it, or whatever he did with it.

For the full story, see this week’s issue of Woman’s Day (on sale March 17, 2008).

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Tom caught kissing two women

The actor’s wife is furious after he is caught getting close to two mystery ladies.

Katie Holmes has been left mortified after seeing photos of her husband Tom Cruise kissing two mystery women within a matter of weeks.

The intimate pictures couldn’t come at a worse time for Katie, as she struggles with claims about her marriage by a leading former Scientologist, who alleges that Tom “auditioned” her, along with other young actresses, to be his wife.

Disturbing talk

Now the couple are enduring more unwelcome attention since snaps surfaced of Tom with a mystery woman outside a Hollywood studio. In the pictures, a pretty blonde is seen pulling Tom behind some bushes before she plants a kiss on him in front of his bemused son Connor, 13.

The startling shots come weeks after Tom was snapped with his arm around an attractive brunette.

Adding to Katie’s woes, UK newspaper News Of The World, has alleged that she was one of a string of actresses considered for “casting calls” to be Tom’s bride.

The shocking claims were made by former Scientologist Marc Headley, who once made several films to promote the controversial faith. Marc says that Tom’s best friend, Scientology leader David Miscavige, agreed to help the actor find a wife after his relationships with Nicole Kidman and Penélope Cruz failed.

“He started complaining to his best buddy David about his luck with girls. So Miscavige assigned a high-ranking official with the order: ‘Find a wife for Tom Cruise’,” Marc told the paper.

According to Marc, Tom’s Scientology friends put out a casting call to actresses, telling them they’d scored an audition for a non-existent movie with the star.

“They went for Jennifer Garner, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Alba, in that order,” says Marc.

For the full story, see this week’s issue of Woman’s Day (on sale March 17, 2008).

Breaking news: Secret video footage of Tom’s Scientology birthday bash.

Your say: Do you believe that Tom Cruise “auditioned” for a wife? Have your say below…

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Jen and Owen’s hot new romance

Romance is blossoming on the set of Jennifer Aniston’s new film Marley & Me, with on-set insiders confirming the actress has fallen for her sexy co-star Owen Wilson.

The two play husband and wife in the romantic comedy, and sources say they’ve become inseparable since filming started in Miami last week.

“They have a real spark together,” an insider told a UK newspaper. “Jennifer has been a real support to Owen, and there is a real twinkle in their eyes.”

Sources also say the couple have been flirting outrageously in between takes.

“They were very flirty … more than you’d expect,” one crew member tells. “Between takes they were hanging onto each other. They’re very friendly.

“They’ve been enjoying dinners together after work too … following the tough times, everyone is hoping that this could be love.”

For the full story, see this week’s issue of Woman’s Day (on sale March 17, 2008).

Read more about Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

Your say: Do you think Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson make a good couple? Have your say below…

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Record celebrity divorce settlements

Former Beatle Paul McCartney was ordered on Monday, March 17, 2008 to pay his estranged wife Heather Mills $52.3 million (24.3 million pounds) after an acrimonious divorce battle.

Here are some other reported big divorce settlements:

Basketball great Michael Jordan paid an estimated $168 million (84 million pounds) to his wife of nearly 18 years, Chicago bank officer Juanita Vanoy, when they divorced in November 2007.

Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond gave an estimated $150 million to onetime TV production assistant Marcia Murphey, whom he married in 1969 before his breakthrough album, “Touching You, Touching Me,” went gold. They divorced in 1996. Diamond later said Murphey, his second wife, was “worth every penny.”

Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg‘s first marriage, to actress Amy Irving, ended in 1989 with his ex-spouse awarded roughly half of the filmmaker’s fortune, about $100 million.

Actor Harrison Ford paid an estimated $85 million to his second wife, Melissa Mathison.

Screen star Kevin Costner had an estimated $80 million settlement obtained by his first spouse, Cindy Silva, whose 16-year marriage to the actor spanned his peak earning years.

When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman parted in 2001 it was reported that, in dividing up their reputed fortune of $350 million, Kidman got $4.3 million, a five-bedroom mansion in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles and a house in Sydney, Australia. Cruise kept the couple’s $10.5 million estate in Telluride, Colorado, as well as his three planes.

Multi-millionaire British businessman John Charman lost an appeal against his ex-wife’s $97 million (48 million pound) settlement in May 2007. He had offered her 20 million. It was the highest sum ever awarded by a British divorce court.

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I demolished my sister’s wedding cake

I’ve struggled with bulimia for at least seven years now. Before it evolved into acute anorexia and severe weight loss, however, no-one knew of my eating disorder — not my boyfriend, not my parents, not even my older sister who I lived with while we were at uni.

My older sister became engaged during her graduating year. She and her then-fiancé made me bridesmaid and set the wedding date to just after her final exam! Needless to say, stress levels were sky-high and tears always at the ready. There was the usual wedding planning rollercoaster ride, but the end result was wonderful — a bright, bubbly, beautiful day.

My sister and I lived together up until her wedding day, so all her belongings were kept in the house while she was on her honeymoon. Miscellaneous goods from the wedding were tossed into the storage room, flowers were strewn through the house, and the bottom tier of the wedding cake — the one that was being saved for anniversaries to come — was put away in a cupboard.

I have a thing for almond icing. I think probably many people do, it is so tasty! But my bulimia means I can’t control my cravings. When it comes to binging, I abandon all sensibility and morality.

I ate the whole bottom cake (and promptly regurgitated it — sin above sin). I didn’t eat it in one sitting, though, because I thought it would be a lesser crime if I ate the cake over a series of days rather than in one hit.

The cake was actually forgotten about for a while. After her honeymoon, my sister gradually moved her belongings out of our house and into her new marital home. And, in the meantime, a boarder moved in to take my sister’s room. The boarder was a nice girl, a little older than I, but very loud and robust. She also had a rather unfortunate figure.

So when the whereabouts of the cake was finally questioned, I told my family that the boarder had been entertaining one night and, spurred by wine and companionship, found the cake and shared it with her friends. My family believed me and took a dim view of the boarder.

To this day, the secret is mine, and it makes me as guilty now as it did then.

Picture: Getty Images

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Are your shoes killing you?

Victoria Beckham complains of 'granny feet'

We all love a killer pair of shoes … but are your shoes murdering your feet?

Posh Spice totters on sky-high heels, beset by painful bunions and bemoaning her “granny feet”. Sarah Jessica Parker tore tendons in her foot after a sprint in her trademark stilettos. But stilettos shouldn’t cop all the blame — wedges, platforms, thongs and even ballet flats can leave you with unhappy feet.

Alannah Andrews, executive officer of the Australian Podiatry Association (Vic.), loves a sexy stiletto as much as the next gal, but she advises wearing them in moderation.

“Sure, go and buy your good shoes, but wear them on occasion — don’t wear them all the time. An occasional wear won’t cause a problem — constant wear does,” she explains. “Every bit of footwear you have in the cupboard is fine for a purpose, but thongs weren’t ever designed for the workplace, and 12cm stilettos weren’t designed to go walking in.

“Try to wear a variety of shoes every week. You might be wearing a really bad pair today, but if you wear a sensible pair tomorrow, your body is going to thank you for that.”

So just what dangers lurk in that fashionable pair of shoes?

Visit the ninemsn Health website for diet and wellness tips and advice.

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Catherine Zeta Jones hits the Sydney red carpet

Stunning Welsh beauty, Catherine Zeta Jones took to the red carpet in Sydney last night to promote her new film Death Defying Acts, directed by Gillian Armstrong and centred on a story of famous escape artist Harry Houdini.

Spending only three days in Australia, Catherine will be making a flying visit before heading back to the U.S. to join husband Michael Douglas and her two children, Dylan, 8 and Carys, 5.

View Catherine’s picture gallery here.

Catherine rose to fame as the beautiful and fresh-faced Mariette in the successful British TV series The Darling Buds of May, before hitting the big-time in Hollywood with film hits such as The Mask of Zorro, Entrapment and the critically-acclaimed movie, Traffic. It was on the set of this film that the actress met and fell in love with her co-star and now husband Michael Douglas.

In 2003 she went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the musical film, Chicago where she starred as a glamorous jazz stage performer alongside Renée Zellweger.

Her movie career has continued to blossom with hit films such as Ocean’s 12, Intolerable Cruelty and No Reservations, but at 38 years old the busy mother of two is in no hurry to slip into the shadows. Looking radiant and trimmer than ever, Catherine claims that swimming is her favourite way of keeping in shape, and swears by drinking lots of water as her ultimate beauty tip.

Her striking looks and faultless fashion style have lead her to become one of the world’s greatest fashion and beauty icons for women. To view her changing looks over the years, take a look at our slideshow here.

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Jewellery at the Oscars

Anne let the rose detail on her Marchesa gown do the talking, while her ears and hand sparkled with simple Harry Winston diamonds.

‘Our Cate’, seven months pregnant, was glowing in Aztec-inspired jewellery by Lorainne Schwartz. The green adornments drew out the colour of Cate’s eyes.

Heidi wore clover-adorned jewellery that she designed for Mouawad’s The Heidi Klum Collection. “I think it’s beautiful to have a good luck charm that you can keep with you,” she says.

A simple move of her hand showed off Jen’s intricate Van Cleef and Arpels vintage necklace, earrings, bracelet and rings.

In a sea of silver jewellery on the red carpet, Jessica’s selection of Cartier jewels stood out.

Diamonds were Keri’s best friend on the red carpet, with the number of carats in her H. Stern diamond necklace and earrings second only to Nicole Kidman’s.

Tony Award-winning musical theatre star Kristin brought some razzle-dazzle from the Broadway stage with her jewellery from Tiffany.

A young actress with old-world jewellery, Miley swept her hair back to show off her garnet, diamond and gold Neil Lane earrings.

Renee’s Cartier jewels perfectly matched her Carolina Herrera silver hand-embroidered lace gown.

Drenched in diamonds from L’Wren Scott, Aussie Nic was this year’s Oscars queen of bling.

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60 seconds with Zandra Rhodes

Flamboyant fashion and textiles designer Zandra Rhodes was in town for the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival. Check out our feature on Zandra in the March issue but first, Zandra gives us a 60 second insight into her busy life!

What is it that you love so much about Australia?

A: How can you fail to like it! I’ve been spoilt and warmly welcomed ever since I stepped off the plane in 1971!

Recently on our website we have had a contentious issue about whether or not Aussie designers can cut it on the overseas stage…what’s your opinion on this?

A: Australia’s biggest export of talent in every field is talent and entrepreneurship. If there isn’t a great Aussie up there at the moment there will be eventually.

Is there anything that you think differentiates Australian designers from their overseas counterparts?

A: Tough pioneering spirit

Tell us about the inspiration behind your Uluru collection?

A: In 1971 I came to Oz and I kept seeing postcards and pictures of “The Rock”, I was determined to visit it. I went in 73 and drew it at sunrise and sunset. The Spinifex grass has been an inspiration for many of my prints including my latest Top Chop collection.

Who has been your favourite celebrity or royal to dress?

A: Princess Diana was a shy dream and always looked wonderful. Kelly Osbourne is another I enjoy dressing

What impact has designing clothes for Opera had on you as a designer and on your label?

A: It has meant inspiration in 2 different directions. For my latest, AIDA, I was able to go back to my own Egyptian collection of 1987 and use the very same Egyptian prints. The priests wore printed golden leopard skins on their bald heads. Also at the grand opening its such a joy to see my clothes from all period being worn, some vintage as far back as 1975!

What advice would you give to budding young models?

A: Make sure you don’t take it all too seriously and have a back up plan as it’s a fickle industry. But also to believe in yourself and your ability even if others doubt it. That belief can get you a long way, trust me.

How do you reinvent yourself as a fashion designer?

A: Constant rethinking. Going on travel adventures with my close friends and when on holidays drawing in my sketch book everyday

What has been your most memorable career moment to date?

A: Freddie Mercury first debut outfit, Princess Anne’s engagement dress photo and creating dresses with holes and safety pins 8 years before Versace

What are the main things that make Zara Rhodes tick?

A: Friends, designing, cooking, gardening.

Your essential fashion advice would be…

A: Never give up

If you weren’t a designer – what would you be?

A: An artist

You never leave home without…

A: Sketchbook

What’s your motto in life?

A: Good, better, best; never let it rest, till your good is better and your better is best

Favourite thing to do on a lazy Sunday morning (if you ever have them!)?

A: I don’t really have a lazy Sunday morning but I adore my terraces, full of camellia trees and an orange walled long terrace.

What are you reading at the moment?

A: The Kite Runner

What do you wish you had more time to do?

A: Travel to amazing places and spend time with my friends

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