Hollywood legend Al Pacino jumped at the chance to star opposite Robin Williams in new movie Insomnia, because he's the funnyman's biggest fan. Pacino - who plays a police detective in the Christopher Nolan-directed crime thriller - says he was ecstatic to work alongside Williams. He says, "He's my idol. I just love being around him. I'd like to see him personally after the picture and we'd try to get together. He's a very bright, caring guy about the world and everything around him. He's well informed, and just fun to be around because he's also so sensitive. He really treats you well, I can't say enough about him. And as far as funny goes, he's up there."

Pop princess Britney Spears uses her breasts to fight off spoof spy Austin Powers in new Mike Myers comedy flick Goldmember. The sexy singer makes a cameo appearance as herself in the third installment of the movie series. And studio sources have revealed that in one funny scene, Britney attacks secret agent Austin - with her bulging bosom. Austin - played by Myers - wanders onto the set of one of Britney's music video's and discovers she is really a deadly "Femme Bot" robot. In the script, Britney even jokes about real-life rumors she has had a breast enlargement, quipping, "It's true, my breasts have been enhanced." Her nipples then open up to reveal machine guns, which she fires at Myers' character. A movie source told Britain's Daily Star tabloid, "Britney's breasts are the star of the show. The scene is hilarious. She reveals her rude side - and she isn't afraid to make fun of her own boobs." Britney isn't the only star to make cameo appearances in Goldmember - which hits cinema screens next month. Tom Cruise, Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey, Ozzy Osbourne and Gwyneth Paltrow also purportedly make cameo appearances.

French actress-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has been sent thousands of death threats for criticizing the South Korean practice of eating dog meat. Bardot angered some South Koreans last year when she said she planned to distribute protest pictures depicting the torture of dogs before the upcoming 2002 World Cup soccer finals, which begin in Korea and Japan on Friday . She says, "I have received 7,000 death threats...they are furious with me for my criticism and have said, 'This is our traditional culture.'" But Bardot, who was in Vienna, Austria yesterday to receive an award for her animal rights activism, says there is no way she will be silenced. She adds, "Eating dogs is not culture, it's grotesque. Culture is composing music like Mozart or building buildings like you see here in Vienna."

A steamy nude scene featuring sexy star Jennifer Lopez was axed from her new film Enough. The singer-turned-actress reveals all in the raunchy shower scene, but studio bosses cut the romp, with co-star Billy Campbell, changing the storyline so he rejects Lopez's sexual advances. J.LO plays Campbell's battered wife in the thriller - which hit cinemas in the US last week. And the 42-year-old actor says he was shocked producers stopped cinema- goers from seeing the sexy scene. Campbell says, "I was disappointed with the shower scene. I thought, 'Wow I'm gonna do a movie with J.Lo and be her husband.' Next minute I'm turning her down." Billy also admits he found it distracting, working up close and personal with the stunning actress. He adds, "The girl is just so beautiful. She has the most beautiful skin of anyone I've ever met. I couldn't stop staring at her."

Hayden Christensen landed the role of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels, because he didn't laugh at George Lucas' bad jokes. The Canadian actor was invited to meet the Star Wars creator at his Skywalker Ranch home in northern California after an initial audition, and he went along even though he felt sure Leonardo DiCaprio or Ryan Phillippe had already landed the role. Christensen recalls, "Everyone was saying the part was going to Leonardo DiCaprio and that they were just doing tests to convince the public that they were actually looking at other people. But they told me that George liked me because I had talked to him on some kind of real level, that I didn't treat him like the Almighty George Lucas. When you get to the level of success George has gotten to, it's hard not to have people laugh at a joke when it's not funny. I wasn't doing that."

Despite arthritis, crutches and one useless arm, the man who played the original Darth Vader is determined to make his mark on the final Star Wars film. Life-long body builder David Prowse, 66, donned the famous black helmet for George Lucas' first three episodes, and is eager to return for the historic final installment, which begins shooting next year. He says, "I still definitely want the part again. I'm going to have an operation on my hip in September and then I'm planning to go back to the gym. I should be fit and ready by next year. I have such a large following that if George Lucas offered the part to someone else, I'm sure fans would boycott the film." And Prowse is convinced he is in with a chance. Hayden Christensen, who plays Darth's Jedi alter ego Anakin Skywalker, is nearly one foot shorter than Prowse was as Vader.

Helena Bonham Carter eased the tension during a sex scene with co-star Paul Bettany on the set of Heart Of Me - by farting. Bettany admits he was horrified, not by Helena's wind, but by the fact she proudly announced it to everyone on set. He says, "She farted on me, announced the fact to the cast and crew, and of course I was the one who ended up feeling embarrassed." But the farting episode hasn't put Bettany off working with the actress again: "She's barking mad, keen as mustard and funny as f**k."

Willem Dafoe took his role in Spider-Man very seriously - because his character was so real. The intense actor plays The Green Goblin, aka Norman Osborne, opposite Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker in the blockbuster movie, and found some interesting character traits in his role. He says, "Both Norman Osborne and Peter Parker have parallel desires and obstacles, and both have to deal with power. Norman takes the side of greed and ill-will, and Peter of generosity and compassion. But Norman, like Peter, is a bit of a f*** up. He's screwed in his business deals. He's f***ed up his relationship with his son. You see Normans all the time; rich, powerful men who manage to f*** it all up. Look in the paper. Doesn't most of the s*** in the world come down to two damaged men thumping on their chests?"

Living in Drew Barrymore and Tom Green's former home is bringing back bad memories for Ben Affleck. Ben bought the Beverly Hills home - which was partly destroyed by fire last year - after it was renovated. But, now he has settled in, he realizes the home is very similar to the first place he lived in when he arrived in Los Angeles. He says, "It's small just like the first place I lived in when I came to Hollywood. Me and a buddy got this place. It was a heavy crack block. I ended up moving."

British actor Roger Moore arrived in South Korea Monday to promote the soccer World Cup. The former James Bond star is attending the international tournament's opening ceremony as Seoul's goodwill ambassador. Moore, who recently married his fourth wife Christina 'Kiki' Tholstrup, will join children from 50 countries on a boat ride down the Hand River on Thursday. The actor, who is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), joined the opening activities after UNICEF joined forces with FIFA to dedicate this year's World Cup to children.

Jon Favreau is losing touch with his 10-month-old baby Max - because the actor can't speak Spanish. The baby is learning to speak Spanish from Favreau's nanny, who hails from El Salvador, and now John fears he'll miss out on his tot's first words. He says, "The nanny asked if we minded if she spoke to the child in Spanish, and we thought, 'What better gift to give a child.' So she speaks in Spanish and says 'Where's the clock?' and he points at the clock. I'm getting left behind. I guess I'll have to learn Spanish now."