Who doesn't love Kate Winslet? I love Kate Winslet. The 33-year-old British actress is the very epitome of the modern woman. She looks great in a gown, but prefers to dress casually. Her hair's not that shade of Hollywood blonde. She's not always leaving the kids with the nanny. She loves the ‘f' word. She's refreshingly frank. Although slim and gorgeous, she's not ludicrously thin. It sounds corny, but she really does seem normal. Doesn't she? You don't see her holidaying on yachts with Donatella Versace. She likes a pint and a fag.

At 31, Kate was the youngest actress ever to rack up five Oscar nominations. She hasn't taken one home yet, but industry talk is buzzing over her two new flicks - Revolutionary Road, where she teams up once more with Titanic co-star Leo DiCaprio; and Stephen Daldry's The Reader. Could nomination number six be the lucky one for Ms Winslet?

Maybe, if her fans have anything to do with it. Says friend and co-star Leo, "Kate is the most talented actress of her generation."

Unlike some actresses, who believe that fame, respect and universal adoration are their God-given right, Kate has remained grateful for her good fortune, after she started acting in movies at the age of 16.

Kate opens up about work, family life and combining the two (husband Sam Mendes directed Revolutionary Road) in the December issue of Vanity Fair. Despite telling the mag that she grew up ‘fat' and ‘once a fat kid, always a fat kid', Kate looks smoking hot in a photo shoot paying tribute to the Catherine Deneuve film Belle Du Jour from the sixties. I really wouldn't mind being ‘fat' like that.

See the pics and read the story here.

"This wasn't supposed to happen to somebody like me," she tells the mag. "I'm not the pedigree kid. I'm not classically trained. I didn't come from the fancy home, no...I mean, I seriously struggled through, and so for me to be in this position, having had these nominations, it doesn't happen that way, you know? It doesn't."

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but the first person who sprung to mind when I read the quote above about fancy homes and pedigrees was another blonde, thirty-something actress working in Kate's peer group - one Ms Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth's got the Oscar, but Kate's generally considered the better actress. Could there be some bad blood between the two beauties? They're both far too dignified to acknowledge publicly, but I hope so. You know how I love a celebrity scrap.

Feeding the monster

I know I shouldn't write about Paris Hilton. I know it. Typing letter by letter into the keyboard in her name is doing nothing but feeding the blonde-topped, publicity hungry beast which has vowed to take over the modern entertainment industry with nothing more than a vacant, wonky-eyed stare and a couple of stupid catchphrases.

I used to hope that if the media ignored her, she'd just go away. But they didn't, and she didn't. So while I type this gossip update, believe me, I do feel shame. But then hey, it's gossip. We're not talking global warming or the atrocities in Darfur here.

So, Paris Hilton's been in London for the past few weeks making a reality show where people clamour to be her ‘British' best friend. Like she wouldn't leave them for dust the minute the cameras stopped rolling, but I digress.

The British have a special relationship with those who love publicity, but have no discernable talent. They'll put them in the tabloid papers and the weekly rags, but they will also take the mick out of them. They don't fawn all over people like Paris as a number of American publications do.

Her recent interview with Sunday rag News of the World definitely elicited a couple of snorts and guffaws from my corner of the office when I read it. In it, amongst mentions of a lot of ‘cooing' and ‘eye-fluttering,' Paris told the paper's reporter that "Every other guy (bar current beau, Benji Madden) I've been out with has used me for money or sex - but in most cases they just want fame."

If anyone actually believes Paris Hilton is a victim of her own self-made, determinedly chased fame, do let me know in the comments below. I'd be astounded to hear from you. She says she "didn't do anything wrong" with regards to her sex tape starring ex Rick Salomon. No, Paris. Nothing at all. Except for letting a guy tape you doing the business and then taking a cut of the profits after he released it to the public. Then claiming to be mortified.

She also claims Prince William did all the running in their recent nightclub meeting, and, traumatically, that she made a ‘real connection' with my girl Chelsy ‘Absolut' Davy. Chelsy, noooooooo!

I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed.

Criss' way with the ladies

Astoundingly, greasy, necklace-loving magician Criss Angel continues to score with a number of lovely Hollywood ladies. He dated Minnie Driver and Cameron Diaz, and the latest bird to fall under his ‘spell' (ha! See what I did there?) is Hugh Hefner's very recent ex, Holly Madison.

There have been rumours for months about the pair hooking up, prompted by not so discreet make-out sessions and dates in Las Vegas, where he's recently released a new magic show to a not-so rapturous reception.

Anyways, Criss and Holly showed up all over each other at the opening of Criss' show, titled ‘Criss Angel: Believe,' in their first official outing as a couple. Personally, I can't see what Holly sees in him - mind you, anything must be a refreshing change from thinning hair and a saggy old man ass.

Criss wasn't keeping anything under his hat when it came to his feelings for the Playboy model. "I cannot think of a more beautiful person, a more special person inside and out," he announced to the press.

Holly stayed silent on the match up. Which isn't surprising. God love her, she seems sweet, but I don't think two thoughts would ever happen to cross paths in that brain of hers - there's a lot of empty space.

He was equally gushy when dating Diaz 18 months ago, shortly after her split from Justin Timberlake. After a stunt in New York, Angel turned to the gathered crowd and declared "I'd like to dedicate this escape to my girl ‘Trouble,' a.k.a. Cameron. I love you baby. Have a safe trip to Europe for your Shrek tour."

Criss and Cameron lasted a mere couple of weeks. Will make it any longer with Holly?

Things that go bump in the night

Celebs, by nature, love any reason to go over the top and Halloween is certainly no exception. Heidi Klum, the German supermodel who's the reigning queen of this very American holiday, dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction. Hugh Hefner's ex Holly Madison was Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, complete with red swimsuit.

Sean and Jayden Federline were cute bumblebees. Kingston Rossdale was an elephant. Mariah Carey, always keen to flash the flesh, was some kind of ‘sexy' firefighter. Cindy Crawford was Amy Winehouse. Brad Pitt and daughter Zahara were leprechauns on the streets of LA. Pink was a clown, and gossipmonger Perez Hilton was a matador.

Spotted

Paris Hilton, clad in white, at JFK airport to catch a departing flight out of New York City...Sarah Jessica Parker wearing an Obama t-shirt in Washington DC...Jessica Alba out strolling with daughter Honor in New York City...Katie Price flying into Heathrow from Los Angeles, wearing what looked like a pair of blue pyjamas...Geri Halliwell walking through London with a big bunch of flowers...New Bond girl Gemma Arterton poolside in a skimpy bikini on the set of her new movie in Morocco...Gwen Stefani and a festively dressed baby Zuma at the park in LA...Ewan McGregor shopping in Venice, California...