Our very Own Lindsay Lohan

When it came time to find a young actress to assume the role of the twins (originated by Hayley Mills) for the 1998 remake of the film "The Parent Trap," an exhaustive casting search occurred throughout the USA, Canada and even in London. Perhaps because the behind-the-scenes figures opted to avoid the obvious and cast the Olsen twins, thousands of girls were considered. After three callbacks and a screen test with stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, freckle-faced Long Islander, Lindsay Lohan, won the role. Although she was just 11 years old when she was cast, she had an impressive resume. As the lovely redhead grew into adulthood, she continued to impress critics and gain fans of all ages – but most particularly, the ‘tween set who grew up along with her. After making her star-making turn in the hit comedy, “Mean Girls,” and her first adult romance with actor Wilmer Valderrama, Lohan became a favorite of the press. But once the still underage actress began hitting the town, losing drastic weight and getting into numerous fender benders – to say nothing of her numerous trips to the hospital for various reasons – it was then that the tabloids and blog sites began referencing her wild child ways more than her still consistently good work on screen.
Born July 2, 1986 in New York City, NY, Lindsay Morgan Lohan was the oldest child of four born to mother Dina Lohan, a former Radio City Rockette, and Michael Lohan, a long-time Wall Street trader. Their daughter began modeling at age three and was purported to be the first red-haired child signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. TV commercials for various products followed, including a Jell-O spot with pitchman Bill Cosby. Lohan also had recurring roles on two daytime dramas – CBS' "Guiding Light" and as Ali Fowler on NBC's "Another World" – before she landed the first movie role for which she ever auditioned. Playing twins separated at birth – one American and one British – for "The Parent Trap" remake, she turned in a delightful and skilled performance which led to numerous offers for the youngster. The busy youngster also worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids. Lohan continued her relationship with the Mouse Factory, signing on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of the body-swapping comedy "Freaky Friday" (2003) opposite Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother-and-daughter team who wake up one day in each other's bodies. The film was a surprise summer hit, generating over $100 million at the box office and raising Lohan's profile even further. Also helpful was a well reported public feud with fellow teen queen Hilary Duff, after the two briefly shared a boyfriend, singer Aaron Carter. Like Duff, she also incorporated her singing career into her acting gig, with the "Freaky Friday" soundtrack including her debut single, "Ultimate." Lohan returned to the big screen by carrying the chick-flick comedy, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" (2004) on her solo shoulders. In the film, Lohan played Lola, an egocentric teen uprooted from her home town who feels the world revolves around her and finds herself competing for attention in Manhattan, using grander and grander schemes. The actress provided vocals on four songs from the film's soundtrack, including "Drama Queen (That Girl)," "What Are You Waiting For," "A Day in the Life" and a medley that incorporated the original song "Don't Move On" with her take on Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" and David Bowie's "Changes."
Next up was a slightly edgier role – one that would make her an international star and change the course of her life, elevating her to A-list status. Taking on the lead in "Mean Girls" (2004), a funny if familiar comedy penned by Tina Fey, which explored the in-fighting amongst a clique of catty high school girls, Lohan helped lead the film to box office success and watched it firmly cement her star power – this time, even beyond her teen and 'tween core audience. Under the wing of new mentor Tommy Mottola, the famed head of Sony Music, Lohan also released her first full album, Speak, which swiftly achieved platinum status and featured the single "Rumors," in which she decried the gossipy buzz that had begun to surround her every move.
Indeed, the young actress' rapidly maturing body and youthful sex appeal – combined with a burgeoning reputation for enjoying the Hollywood night life, despite being underage – suddenly made her regular fodder for celebrity gossip. These same publications dutifully covered her denials about having received breast implants, her brief 2004 relationship with TV actor Wilmer Valderrama, her alleged hard-partying ways, an aggressive paparazzi pursuit that resulted in a fender bender, and – after her figure had turned voluptuous and her titian hair became her trademark – her eyebrow-raising rapid weight loss (which the actress attributed to a healthier lifestyle) and new look as a bottled blonde. The actress also had to deal with press reports regarding her estranged father Michael Lohan, whose alleged substance abuse and short temper (he reportedly threatened the lives of his ex-wife and children) resulted in several brushes with the law, including a legal restraining order preventing him from contact with his family and jail time for a litany of legal offenses, including assaulting his brother-in-law at his son's first communion party, violating terms of his restraining order and a 2005 drunk driving crash in which his vehicle struck a utility pole in Long Island and caught fire. Further estranging his famous daughter, he also sought to claim a percentage of his offspring's earnings.
Despite all the lurid press, Lohan's popularity continued unabated and Disney cast her in further family fare, this time in the remake of the studio's famous "Love Bug" franchise, "Herbie: Fully Loaded" (2005) as a young girl who inherits the legendary Volkswagen Beetle and takes it to the NASCAR race circuit. The Mouse House did have some concerns about the voluptuous Lohan's image in regards to how their young audience might react, spending considerable sums to digitally decrease her growing bust size after it was deemed distracting.
2005 was shaping up to be a mounting pile of scandalous headlines for the actress. She was rushed to the hospital during filming of “Herbie,” reportedly due to “exhaustion.” This would not be the last time Lohan would be hospitalized for a variety of ailments. She was in her second auto accident of the year, again blaming pursuing paparazzi. Her private life made headlines for the umpteenth time that year when she confessed to Vanity Fair that she had indeed experienced an eating disorder earlier that year – specifically, bulimia – that accounted for her significant weight loss and that she was shocked back to healthier ways after being confronted by "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) producer Lorne Michaels and head writer Tina Fey while hosting the show that year. She also admitted to experimenting with drugs. The cover story was released just as Lohan was hospitalized for a reported asthma attack in Miami after ringing in 2006. Within a week, Lohan denied having made the statements to the magazine, saying her words were "misconstrued." The magazine stood by the story.
After moving on from Disney – and consequently her childhood image – Lohan began taking on more womanly parts in impressive ensembles and holding her own opposite some of Hollywood's most admired talents. She joined the impressive cast of Emilio Estevez's independent film "Bobby" (2006) – which included Anthony Hopkins and Sharon Stone – about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and costarred opposite Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in Robert Altman's last film, "A Prairie Home Companion" – both released in 2006. She costarred with her reported off-screen love interest, Jared Leto, in "Chapter 27" (2007), an indie film about a woman who befriends Mark David Chapman during the weekend that he kills John Lennon in New York City. Although she continued to land roles in impressive films opposite heavyweight actors like Jane Fonda in "Georgia Rule" (2007) – the film she was making when its producers made public a scolding letter to curb her on set tardiness from all the partying – Lohan's increasingly erratic behavior and seemingly non-stop personal drama began shifting the focus from her undeniable onscreen talent to being the punchline of jokes.
For La Lohan, as she was being called on the internet, 2006 was more one long banner tabloid headline than a focus on career. If she was not caught getting out of boats and cars sans panties, she was getting into fights with fellow party girls like Paris Hilton. In fact, Hilton and her fellow trust fund baby, Brandon Davis, coined the term, “firecr*tch” in reference to Lohan, after both were caught on tape by TMZ.com mocking the actress in graphic terms. Celebrity bloggers and tabloids lived for Lohan's every move throughout the year, reporting gleefully on her relationships gone awry – including a summer romance with restaurant heir, Harry Morton – or her numerous trips to the hospital for "exhaustion." It was little wonder, that by year's end, GQ magazine named Lohan their “Obsession of the Year." At the time the magazine threw their annual party to celebrate their year-end issue, Lohan allegedly made a scene after seeing her ex-personal assistant in attendance and forced Al Gore to publicly denounce having spoken at length with her that night. Following only days later, the press reported – and Lohan later confirmed but downplayed – that a doctor was called to the Chateau Marmont for a rumored Lohan overdose. This shocking announcement was followed in quick succession by her mother Dina Lohan admitting on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show that her daughter had begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
Fans hoped that the actress would ease up on her fast track lifestyle and get back to the basics – her undeniable ability to light up the big screen with her luminous beauty and charm. Only weeks into the new year, however, Lohan was back in the news for entering rehabm, reportedly at Wonderland Treatment Center in L.A., and released the statement that ""I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health. I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time."

Oscars

Cate Blanchett arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards Whose Oscar dress was a success, who showed signs of distress and who was just a total mess? There were an unusual amount of fashion risks at this year’s Academy Awards, but how many hit the jackpot and how many crapped out? Hollywood.com hit the red carpet for an up-close encounter with the most stylish—and style-challenged—stars.DRESS SUCCESS! Hollywood.com Couture Champion:

Cate Blanchett Nothing scandalous to take note of here as Cate demonstrated her impeccable fashion sense to become our choice for the best dressed woman on the red carpet, a streamlined Art Deco goddess come to life. “They choose you, these frocks,” she said of her sleek, silver one-shoulder Swarovski crystal-mesh Giorgio Armani Privé gown, topped with a tulle beaded floral overlay with a jet black paillette floral motif. “This dress chose me when I saw it on the runway of the Armani Privé show in Paris.” She completed the look with black-and-white diamond earrings set in blackened metal, a diamond cuff and a blackened diamond right-hand ring from Lorraine Schwartz.
Penélope Cruz arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!

Reese Witherspoon Nina Ricci continues to do right by Reese styling her as a newly single knockout, this time wih a gem of an amethyst strapless, tiered gown, made all the more sleek looking with her straight honey-blonde hair. And though her wedding ring is gone, that doesn’t mean Reese is bling-less, dripping Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, including an 83-carat 1937 diamond bracelet and 12.5-carat diamond earrings.

Jennifer Hudson backstage at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!
Jennifer Hudson Everyone was so certain Jennifer was going to take home the Oscar, we wondered if her choice of a golden beaded gown was intended as a subtle complement to her impending accessory. “Actually, I don't think it's a coincidence,” she admitted after claiming her trophy. “It just turned out to be a fabulous dress and a Roberto Cavalli.” Completing her Dream-y look were platinum and diamond earrings, bracelets and cocktail ring by Neil Lane and a make-up palette by Christian Dior.

Jessica Biel arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!
Jessica Biel Jessica looked sweet and tasty in her strapless raspberry Oscar de la Renta gown, which together with her flirty updo showcased her super-shapely shoulders. But in addition to how it highlighted her buff blades, Jessica told Hollywood.com there was one simple reason she favored the frock: “The color! How could you not love this color?” If she didn’t already look priceless enough, she added several million dollars worth of Neil Lane jewels, including 15-carat diamond flower earrings, a black diamond bracelet and a 10-carat diamond right-hand ring.DRESS SUCCESS!

Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the 79th Annual Academy AwardsDRESS SUCCESS!
Gwyneth PaltrowAfter a few memorable misses on the Oscar runway, Gwyneth proved she was no fashion poser in Zac Posen’s tulle-and-chiffon creation, radiant in its radiating pattern. Apple’s mom and the apricot gown got together in a story straight out of the movies—“I just saw it and I fell in love with it,” she told Hollywood.com. With her stick-straight looks and fashionably crimson lips, she added multiple Fred Leighton diamond bracelets and rose-cut diamond chandelier earrings and platinum and diamond ring, bangle and link bracelet by Neil Lane.
Rachel Weisz arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!

Helen Mirren Helen ruled regally over the red carpet in a floral print Christian Lacroix gown topped with embroidered lace on her way to becoming the night’s reigning monarch. “It was made for me and built for me, and I have to say it's the most comfortable thing I've ever worn,” said Helen backstage. “It's as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, and I really do feel like a queen, princess or fairy godmother. I love it.” It even came with its own crown jewels: Chopard’s jaw-dropping 62-carat oval-shaped cognac and white diamond brooch on the back of her gown, a 55-carat marquise-cut diamond flower bracelet and pear-shaped diamond cluster.
Rinko Kikuchi arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!

Isla Fisher Wawaweewa! On the arm of Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat’s babe Isla proved far preferable to Pam Anderson in a bag in her painted-on emerald green satin corset gown by Monique Lhuillier, Lauren Merkin clutch and drenched in Lorraine Schwartz diamond bracelets and diamond drop earrings. High five!
Michael Buble and Emily Blunt arrive at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!

Cameron Diaz arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards DRESS SUCCESS!
Cameron Diaz Cameron shouldered past the fashion wannabes in her white satin Valentino Couture gown and a whopping $2.9 million worth of Cartier jewelry, including a 9-carat cabochon emerald and 65-carat diamond earrings. “It was sort of glamorous, Hollywood and couture classic, and that’s what I wanted,” she told Hollywood.com. Only her surfer girl ‘do kept this angel from looking totally heavenly.