Jennifer Garner has a new alias now -- mommy. Us Weekly has reported that the Emmy-nominated actress, also known as Mrs. Ben Affleck, has given birth to a baby daughter in Los Angeles. According to the magazine, Garner had labor induced on Wednesday night (her official due date was December 8), and at press time it was unclear whether the official birthday was November 30 or December 1. What is known is that Affleck was by his wife's side during the entire procedure, and according to the magazine, the little girl's name will be Violet. The Daredevil co-stars, who didn't start dating until each had ended publicity-friendly previous relationships (his with Jennifer Lopez, hers with Michael Vartan), were married earlier this year on June 29. After an eight-week maternity leave, Garner is expected to go back to work on her TV spy drama Alias, which will be ending its five-year run in May. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Julia Roberts is still Tinseltown's leading Pretty Woman, according to trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter's annual 10 Most Powerful Women list. The actress has sheltered from the limelight following the birth of her twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, but remains the only actress who can command a $20 million salary. The poll marks Roberts' fourth year in first place, but she has Nicole Kidman snapping at her heels and Reese Witherspoon in third place. With Halle Berry slipping off the list, Jennifer Aniston comes in at number 10. The list, based on movie earnings, awards and visibility, is: 1. Julia Roberts, 2. Nicole Kidman, 3. Reese Witherspoon, 4. Drew Barrymore, 5. Renee Zellweger, 6. Angelina Jolie, 7. Cameron Diaz, 8. Jodie Foster, 9. Charlize Theron, 10. Jennifer Aniston.

Actress Wendie Jo Sperber has lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 46. Sperber shot to fame on TV opposite Tom Hanks in hit 1980s sitcom Bosom Buddies and also won critical acclaim for her roles in Private Benjamin and, more recently, Will & Grace. She also starred in movies like Back To The Future and Sorority Boys. Away from Hollywood, Sperber founded the weSpark Cancer Support Center in 2001. Her Bosom Buddies co-star Hanks says, "The memory of Wendie Jo is that of a walking inspiration. She met the challenges of her illness with love, cheer, joy, altruism through weSpark, and an unstoppable supply of goodness. We are going to miss her as surely as we are all better for knowing her." She is survived by her teenage children Preston and Pearl.

Gregory Peck's stolen star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been replaced in a simple ceremony, which took place yesterday. Late actor Peck's original star had been part of the Hollywood Boulevard celebrity shrine for more than four decades until someone with a cement saw cut the bronze and terrazzo marker out of the sidewalk. The crime occurred sometime in late November, and apparently drew no one's attention. While unveiling the replacement yesterday, Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant lifted a covering and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly welcome back to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gregory Peck." Peck, who died in 2003 at age 87, became the fourth celebrity have his star stolen since the Walk of Fame was inaugurated. Stars honoring Jimmy Stewart and Kirk Douglas disappeared some years ago after being removed for construction and were later recovered by police. Gene Autry's star also vanished during a construction project.

Law And Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay is celebrating after discovering she's pregnant with her first child. The 41-year-old actress and her actor husband Peter Hermann, 38, have yet to announce when the bundle of joy will arrive. The Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress's publicist Erwin More says, "I can confirm that she is expecting." Hargitay, daughter of Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield and Hungarian bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, met Hermann on the set of Law & Order. They married in August 2004.

Kevin Costner is suing a film production company for allegedly breaking their contract over a movie he starred in which was never completed. The Dances With Wolves actor claims that Ascendant Pictures owes him $8 million for his work on the romantic comedy Taming Ben Taylor, about an ageing divorcee who refuses to sell his vineyard to make way for a golf course development. The suit states that Costner "duly performed all obligations under the agreement in all material respects, except those obligations plaintiff was prevented or excused from performing." Ascendant Pictures was set up in March 2002 and has produced or financed 16 major films, including this year's comedy The Upside Of Anger which also stars Costner.

Sarah Jessica Parker's film Spinning Into Butter has suffered a "financial glitch" - leaving its cast and crew unpaid and furious. The Sex And The City star, who has given creative input to the project, was horrified to hear of the problem and is desperately trying to sort the situation out. Her spokeswoman says, "(Parker) was made aware of the situation over the holiday and she's very upset." The film's producer Norman Twain adds, "She's using whatever influence she can to get the situation taken care of. There has been a temporary financial glitch, but everything will be taken care of by the end of the week."

Nobel prize-winning playwright and The French Lieutenant Woman's screenwriter Harold Pinter will be unable pick up the prestigious award at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden next Saturday because doctors have given him strict orders not to travel. The literary heavyweight, 75, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in December 2002, will instead make a pre-recorded video of his lecture to be screened at the Swedish Academy in his absence. A spokesperson for the Nobel foundation says, "(Pinter) will unfortunately not attend any of the events during the Nobel week for reasons of health. His doctors have forbidden him to travel at this time." Pinter's publisher Stephen Page will accept the 10 million kronor ($1.3 million) prize money on his behalf.

Jessica Simpson's name is being dragged through the courts as two companies battle over cash earned from her branding rights. The Dukes Of Hazzard actress sold the rights to her name for a staggering $10 million last year to Andrew Kirplani who promised to launch lines in children's clothes, accessories, sportswear and jewelry. But the tycoon set up Jessica Simpson Brand Management, only to pass the rights on for an inflated $15 million. Icon Licensing Group LLC - a company which markets celebrity names - has now filed papers against Kirplani's company claiming it is owed a minimum of $180,000 commission for a deal it set up shortly before the name was sold on. Icon's attorney Robert Schachter says, "My client was responsible for introducing the buyer to the seller."

Calendar Girls star Dame Helen Mirren is pleading with the British government to save the children of Uganda who are caught up in the country's ongoing civil war. The veteran actress is joining forces with charities Oxfam and Christian Aid to put pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair as Britain begins its presidency of the United Nations Security Council today. Mirren hopes to outlaw the use of child soldiers and the kidnapping of young girls for their wives. The two-time Oscar-nominee is also campaigning to donate Britain's $108 million aid money to the war-torn country to negotiate an end to the bloody conflict. She says, "In a year when Africa has been top of the Government's agenda, the war in Uganda should be a priority."

Actors Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper have signed up to join Julia Roberts on the New York stage in the revival of Richard Greenberg's Three Days Of Rain. The play, which will mark Roberts' Broadway debut, will begin previews on March 28 and open on April 19 at New York City's Bernard B Jacobs Theatre. The limited run ends on June 18.