Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock awoke one night to find an intruder in her home. Details of her ordeal were revealed during a preliminary court hearing on Thursday at which a judge ruled that Joshua Corbett should stand trial on stalking, burglary and other charges. He had lurked outside her gates for several days, writing in a notebook about his obsession with the Oscar-winning star. He jumped a fence and rang her doorbell for 10 to 15 minutes before entering her home through a sunroom door on June 8 last year. Bullock spotted him as he walked past her bedroom and toward her attic, and she locked herself behind a security door and hid in a closet before calling police. A recording of the 15-minute call was played in court, in which the 50-year-old actress sounded scared and close to tears at points. Corbett’s attorneys said he did not want to hurt Bullock and that they hope to get him mental-health treatment. When he was arrested, police found a two-page letter professing his love for Bullock that was apparently written the day before the incident. It was signed, “Always and forever, Love, your husband.” – AP
Empire star Henson to publish her life story
Oscar-winner Taraji P Henson is planning to publish her memoir. The actress, who plays Cookie Lyon in the hit Fox TV series Empire, has agreed a deal with the Simon & Schuster imprint 37 Ink. The publisher said that the as-yet untitled book has a planned mid-2016 release date. Henson, 44, will write about her childhood in a rough Washington, DC neighbourhood, being a single parent and her film and TV roles. - AP
Mad Men star’s hazing conviction is revealed
Mad Men star Jon Hamm took part in a violent college hazing in 1990 at the University of Texas that led to criminal charges and a fraternity chapter permanently disbanding, according to court and school records that emerged at the weekend. The lawsuit was filed by a Sigma Nu pledge who said he was severely beaten, dragged by a hammer and had his trousers lit on fire. In the 1991 lawsuit, the pledge said Hamm participated "till the very end". Criminal records show Hamm, now 44, was charged with hazing and received deferred adjudication, which meant he had to complete probation but was never convicted. A separate charge of assault was dismissed. Representatives for Hamm did not comment. Hamm's connection to the case was unknown until Star magazine reported on it last week. The victim, Mark Allen Sanders, said he needed medical attention and withdrew from the school. Four other fraternity members pleaded no contest to misdemeanour hazing charges. University records show Hamm left the university after the term in which the hazing took place. – AP
Justin Bieber arrest warrant in Argentina
A judge in Argentina has asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for the arrest of pop star Justin Bieber over the alleged assault of a photographer outside a nightclub in 2013, during a stop in Buenos Aires on the Canadian heartthrob’s Believe tour. Bieber ignored a November court order to appear before the judge in the case. Interpol, the international police body, does not issue arrest warrants but can send out a Red Notice informing its 190 member states that a suspect is wanted. The request was made on April 8, after Bieber failed to turn up in court within 60 days of his summons. According to the complaint, a bodyguard, following Bieber’s orders, forcefully seized photographer Diego Pesoa’s camera and mobile phone outside a nightclub in the Palermo neighbourhood in November 2013. – AFP
Rossellini to head Cannes jury
Italian-US actress Isabella Rossellini will head the jury for the sideline Un Certain Regard competition at the Cannes Film Festival next month. The section, separate from the main competition line-up, recognises up-and-coming filmmakers. The daughter of Swedish-born screen legend Ingrid Bergman and Italian director Roberto Rossellini, the 62-year-old actress will also launch at Cannes a stage show that pays tribute to her mother. Cannes runs from May 13 to 24. – AFP
LA Law star Richard Dysart dies at 86
Richard Dysart, a veteran stage and screen actor who played senior partner Leland McKenzie in the long-running courtroom drama L.A. Law has died after a long illness. He was 86. Dysart died Sunday at his home in Santa Monica, California, according to publicist Jeannine Jacobi. Dysart's handsome, commanding presence proved ideal for his casting as head man in the firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak in the series, which was produced by Steven Bochco and ran from 1986- to 1994. He won an Emmy for the role. He also created the Broadway role of the Coach in That Championship Season, for which he won a Drama Desk Award in 1972, and his many film appearances included Hal Ashby's Being There, Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider and John Carpenter's The Thing. – AP
