Actresses earn music cred, acclaim
The phenomenon of actors dipping their toes into the pool of rock music isn't exactly a new one, with a long list of largely derided recordings from thesps like Russell Crowe (30 Odd Foot of Grunts) and Keanu Reeves (Dogstar) having fallen by the wayside. Over the past few years, however, Hollywood's women have been getting in on the act, and doing so with a good deal more artistic acclaim -- and even a modicum of commercial success.
• Author gives Fund-raising 101 lesson
• Women increase influence online
LEGENDS & INGENUES:
Meryl Streep & Amy Adams
One is considered the greatest actress of her generation; the other is American cinema's most enchating "It" girl. But any notion...
One is considered the greatest actress of her generation; the other is American cinema's most enchating "It" girl. But any notion...
Patti LuPone
Mama Rose is often cited as the King Lear of roles for musical-theater actresses. At first glance, Patti LuPone, who just won a Tony...
Mama Rose is often cited as the King Lear of roles for musical-theater actresses. At first glance, Patti LuPone, who just won a Tony...
Kelli O'Hara
In the past two Broadway seasons, Kelli O'Hara has stepped away from the ingenue roles that made her a Broadway stalwart in musicals...
In the past two Broadway seasons, Kelli O'Hara has stepped away from the ingenue roles that made her a Broadway stalwart in musicals...
Mariah Carey & Leona Lewis
Organize this year's album sales charts by gender, and Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis will be one and two, as Carey's 11th disc ("E=MC2") has...
Organize this year's album sales charts by gender, and Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis will be one and two, as Carey's 11th disc ("E=MC2") has...
THE MUSE & THE MESSENGER:
Ellen Page & Diablo Cody
Anyone doubting the degree to which the Web can accelerate cultural cycles and trends should be reminded of one sobering fact: "Juno"...
Anyone doubting the degree to which the Web can accelerate cultural cycles and trends should be reminded of one sobering fact: "Juno"...
DEFYING CONVENTION:
Alison Krauss
Even if you already know the music business has changed forever -- with CD sales plummeting, digital downloads booming, so-called...
Even if you already know the music business has changed forever -- with CD sales plummeting, digital downloads booming, so-called...
Erykah Badu
In retrospect, it seems obvious that Erykah Badu was never destined to become a traditional R&B star. It wasn't necessarily...
In retrospect, it seems obvious that Erykah Badu was never destined to become a traditional R&B star. It wasn't necessarily...
Marketa Irglova
It was an instant classic Oscar moment. "Falling Slowly," from the infectious indie romance "Once," won the Oscar for original song...
It was an instant classic Oscar moment. "Falling Slowly," from the infectious indie romance "Once," won the Oscar for original song...
Madonna
After setting the standard for pop multihyphenates 25 years ago, Madonna continues to break the mold as she nears the half-century point...
After setting the standard for pop multihyphenates 25 years ago, Madonna continues to break the mold as she nears the half-century point...
Sarah Jessica Parker
Possibly no one was more surprised at the socko response to the movie "Sex and the City" than its star, producer and single biggest...
Possibly no one was more surprised at the socko response to the movie "Sex and the City" than its star, producer and single biggest...
Kyra Sedgwick
To sit down with Kyra Sedgwick is to face an impressive arsenal of not-so-secret weaponry: her physical beauty, quick intelligence...
To sit down with Kyra Sedgwick is to face an impressive arsenal of not-so-secret weaponry: her physical beauty, quick intelligence...
Tilda Swinton
At an age, 47, when most actresses are idling and struggling to find regular work, Tilda Swinton and her career are hitting turbo-drive...
At an age, 47, when most actresses are idling and struggling to find regular work, Tilda Swinton and her career are hitting turbo-drive...
BRAND-NAME SENSATIONS:
Miley Cyrus
In an era beset by the rudderless, pantyless, drink-drenched shenanigans of latenight good-time girls, 15-year-old Miley Cyrus...
In an era beset by the rudderless, pantyless, drink-drenched shenanigans of latenight good-time girls, 15-year-old Miley Cyrus...
Stephenie Meyer
Time magazine called her the next J.K. Rowling, but Mormon housewife-turned-bestselling novelist Stephenie Meyer quickly defers...
Time magazine called her the next J.K. Rowling, but Mormon housewife-turned-bestselling novelist Stephenie Meyer quickly defers...
Oprah Winfrey
There has been a lot of chatter in TV circles of late about nets reaching out to the female viewer. NBC Universal established iVillage...
There has been a lot of chatter in TV circles of late about nets reaching out to the female viewer. NBC Universal established iVillage...
The Women of 'The View'
In 1997, when producer Bill Geddie asked Barbara Walters if she had any ideas for a daytime program, she happened to have something in...
In 1997, when producer Bill Geddie asked Barbara Walters if she had any ideas for a daytime program, she happened to have something in...
ONE GIANT LEAP:
Sue Naegle & Amy Baer
Two young execs on the rise are taking on major new jobs during challenging economic times. In September, longtime...
Two young execs on the rise are taking on major new jobs during challenging economic times. In September, longtime...
Mary Parent
Mary Parent has finally stepped out on her own. In March, after 11 years working in tandem with Scott Stuber at Universal -- as execs, co-prexies...
Mary Parent has finally stepped out on her own. In March, after 11 years working in tandem with Scott Stuber at Universal -- as execs, co-prexies...
Anna D. Shapiro
The professional and the personal don't always complement each other, but when they do, the combination can be potent. Consider director...
The professional and the personal don't always complement each other, but when they do, the combination can be potent. Consider director...
Phyllida Lloyd
There was a silver cup given at my school for good manners in difficult circumstances, and that expresses how I deal with...
There was a silver cup given at my school for good manners in difficult circumstances, and that expresses how I deal with...
Alyssa Finley
Given that videogames are now challenging comicbooks and graphic novels as the new frontier being mined by the movies...
Given that videogames are now challenging comicbooks and graphic novels as the new frontier being mined by the movies...
Hannah McGill
There's nothing quite like a plan coming together. When Edinburgh Intl. Film Fest director Hannah McGill decided to shift the event...
There's nothing quite like a plan coming together. When Edinburgh Intl. Film Fest director Hannah McGill decided to shift the event...
Alexandra Patsavas
V's hottest music supervisor continues to expand her horizons. Not only does Alexandra Patsavas oversee the song choices...
V's hottest music supervisor continues to expand her horizons. Not only does Alexandra Patsavas oversee the song choices...
EXECUTIVE SUITE:
Dawn Airey
Nobody keeps Dawn Airey quiet for long. But the U.K.'s most quotable TV exec is currently under a strict vow of silence...
Nobody keeps Dawn Airey quiet for long. But the U.K.'s most quotable TV exec is currently under a strict vow of silence...
Daphne Briggs
Warner Bros. wasn't the only one celebrating the success of "The Dark Knight." So was Daphne Briggs. As partner and managing...
Warner Bros. wasn't the only one celebrating the success of "The Dark Knight." So was Daphne Briggs. As partner and managing...
Arianna Bocco
Arianna Bocco, acquisitions topper at IFC Films, is one of the busiest buyers on the circuit, picking up fest prizewinners left and right...
Arianna Bocco, acquisitions topper at IFC Films, is one of the busiest buyers on the circuit, picking up fest prizewinners left and right...
Nancy Dubuc
When Nancy Dubuc became exec VP and g.m. of History Channel in January 2007, one of her first priorities was to make sure History...
When Nancy Dubuc became exec VP and g.m. of History Channel in January 2007, one of her first priorities was to make sure History...
Karin Gilford
A digital exec in transition, Karin Gilford has just left Yahoo after eight years -- an eternity in the Internet biz -- to take a new job...
A digital exec in transition, Karin Gilford has just left Yahoo after eight years -- an eternity in the Internet biz -- to take a new job...
Vanessa Morrison
Vanessa Morrison started her career at Fox as an intern back in 1994. Today, she runs the studio's animation division, overseeing...
Vanessa Morrison started her career at Fox as an intern back in 1994. Today, she runs the studio's animation division, overseeing...
Bonnie Hammer
Three years after Bonnie Hammer rebranded USA Network as a home to character-driven series, the net reps one of NBC Universal's...
Three years after Bonnie Hammer rebranded USA Network as a home to character-driven series, the net reps one of NBC Universal's...
Sheryl Sandberg
For Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook is more than just a place to stay connected. The company's now-24-year-old founder, Mark Zuckerberg...
For Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook is more than just a place to stay connected. The company's now-24-year-old founder, Mark Zuckerberg...
Elisabeth Murdoch
Having a powerful name hasn't hurt Elisabeth Murdoch, but only after she left her father's empire to launch her independent...
Having a powerful name hasn't hurt Elisabeth Murdoch, but only after she left her father's empire to launch her independent...
Lauren Zalaznick
It would be fair to say that few network execs, if any, appreciate the power of women more than Lauren Zalaznick...
It would be fair to say that few network execs, if any, appreciate the power of women more than Lauren Zalaznick...
SPECIALISTS:
Catherine Zuber
It's nice to win a Tony Award. It's even nicer to win a few over a lifetime. It is, however, unprecedented to nab four consecutive Tonys...
It's nice to win a Tony Award. It's even nicer to win a few over a lifetime. It is, however, unprecedented to nab four consecutive Tonys...
Francine Maisler
I've had the great fortune to work with directors who make me look good," says casting director Francine Maisler, uncommonly humble...
I've had the great fortune to work with directors who make me look good," says casting director Francine Maisler, uncommonly humble...
Karen Baker Landers
If anyone was destined to work with movie sound, it was Karen Baker Landers. "I've always loved sound," says the Academy Award winner...
If anyone was destined to work with movie sound, it was Karen Baker Landers. "I've always loved sound," says the Academy Award winner...
THE PRODUCERS:
Charlotte Huggins
If there's a 3-D revolution under way, then Charlotte Huggins just might be its George Washington. Huggins has been pioneering stereoscopic...
If there's a 3-D revolution under way, then Charlotte Huggins just might be its George Washington. Huggins has been pioneering stereoscopic...
Katherine Fugate
I remember walking by the Variety building every day with my dog and my picket sign," reminisces screenwriter Katherine Fugate...
I remember walking by the Variety building every day with my dog and my picket sign," reminisces screenwriter Katherine Fugate...
Kathleen Kennedy
For a filmmaker as established as producer and longtime Steven Spielberg collaborator Kathleen Kennedy, reinvention would seem...
For a filmmaker as established as producer and longtime Steven Spielberg collaborator Kathleen Kennedy, reinvention would seem...
Allison Silverman
For Allison Silverman, childhood was no laughing matter. "Probably the funniest thing about me as a kid was how seriously I took...
For Allison Silverman, childhood was no laughing matter. "Probably the funniest thing about me as a kid was how seriously I took...
Stephanie Savage
When it comes to teenagers' tastes, "Gossip Girl" scribe and exec producer Stephanie Savage doesn't profess to be a sociologist...
When it comes to teenagers' tastes, "Gossip Girl" scribe and exec producer Stephanie Savage doesn't profess to be a sociologist...
AGENTS DU JOUR:
Sharon Sheinwold
When Sharon Sheinwold, Nick Stevens and Lisa Hallerman moved from UTA to Endeavor, the town was shocked. The agents were...
When Sharon Sheinwold, Nick Stevens and Lisa Hallerman moved from UTA to Endeavor, the town was shocked. The agents were...
Rena Ronson
As co-head of William Morris Independent, Rena Ronson sees plenty of indie film projects come across her desk...
As co-head of William Morris Independent, Rena Ronson sees plenty of indie film projects come across her desk...
Hylda Queally
In the two decades since she moved to Los Angeles from her native Ireland, Hylda Queally -- first with Triad Artists, then with William...
In the two decades since she moved to Los Angeles from her native Ireland, Hylda Queally -- first with Triad Artists, then with William...
GRANDE DAMES:
P.D James
It's a bit of a mystery to acclaimed crime novelist P.D. James just how she's managed to keep poetry-loving Scotland Yard...
It's a bit of a mystery to acclaimed crime novelist P.D. James just how she's managed to keep poetry-loving Scotland Yard...
Doris Lessing
Though she rarely grants interviews and has declared her latest novel her last, 88-year-old British author Doris Lessing remains...
Though she rarely grants interviews and has declared her latest novel her last, 88-year-old British author Doris Lessing remains...
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