19th June 2012 Celebrity Trending - Meryl Streep, Mena Suvari, Madonna

Meryl Streep isn’t typically known to speak against the film industry, but the prestigious actress had a few words at this week’s Women in Film Crystal and Lucy gala. It’s no surprise that films like John Carter and Battleship that were primed towards a box office success failed, losing millions of money for studio heads. In the case of Disney John Carter’s bomb lost $200 million for Disney. Streep seems to have a simple fix for the box office bombs as of late, and that’s to listen to the ladies of film. The Oscar-winning actress took to the stage at the gala on Tuesday and said: “In this room, we are very familiar with these dreadful statistics that detail the shocking under-representation of women in our business. Seven to ten percent of directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers [are women] in any given year. This in spite of the fact that in the last five years, five little movies aimed at women have earned over $1.6 billion: The Help, The Iron Lady believe it or not, Bridesmaids, Mamma Mia! and The Devil Wears Prada.” Of course one can note that Streep has starred in three of the five movies she mentioned in her speech, but she does have a point. In 2009, Kathryn Bigelow made history by being the only female director to receive a Best Director Oscar for The Hurt Locker. Three years later the change has been slow with little movement. A report was released in January 2012 that only 5% of Hollywood’s dictators are women. Streep, who was there to give an award to Viola Davis, noted this significant loss of mainstream films, continuing: “Alice Walker said that the most common way people give up their power is by thinking that they don’t have any. That’s like [hearing] that women don’t get raises because they don’t ask for them. It’s incredible.”

Mena Suvari rocked a dress recently at a party for the Beverly Hills Hotel’s 100th anniversary that’s getting a lot of attention. Suvari, who is newly divorced from husband of 18-months Simone Testito, says she never thought she’d be a two-time divorcee at just 33, but is embracing her new life, and that comes complete with baring some skin. The “American Pie” actress has been seen on several red carpets lately in barely-there dresses, prompting some to believe she’s sowing some wild oats now that she’s single again. “I had never really taken time to cultivate who I was… I’ve felt drained by it,” she said after the divorce. “But I feel like I’m really, finally, content at this point in my life. I’m accepting of who I am and how diverse I am and honoring that. All of it.” If “content” equals “booty flashing”, then she’s certainly nailed that part; at a recent screening of “American Reunion” in London, she bent over in a tight black dress and unwittingly flashed the photogs her rump, which immediately became fodder for the interwebs. Her latest “controversial” look is a little black dress that appears to be held up with a dash of hope and some double-stick tape, although if you look closely you can see a small, invisible plastic strap along her ribcage. Sorry to ruin the illusion for you, kids. At any rate, she looks great and is flauntin’ what she’s got while the flauntin’ is good.

London, June 16 (ANI): Madonna, who has been badgering staff with a long list of crazy requests during her sell-out MDNA gigs, has now demanded 20 international phone lines so she can keep in touch with her kids. The 53-year-old singer has been globetrotting for her tour with a 200-strong entourage including 30 bodyguards, personal chefs, a yoga instructor and even an acupuncturist. Besides this, the 'Queen Of Pop' is so obsessed with keeping her pricey tour wardrobe in good nick that she also has a portable dry cleaner, the Daily Star reported. The crooner is reportedly keen for everything to be just like it is at home, which is why even her dressing room has also been trimmed in a special fabric. She also wanted it to be decked with lilies and roses, with their stems trimmed to exactly six inches. The singer's people, who fear a diva-like tantrum from the pop star, have also removed the furniture from the rooms and filled them with the singer's own gear. "Madonna has probably the longest list of requirements of any of the world's music stars. She expects things to be just right or it puts her off her stage show," a source said. (ANI)