Lindsay Lohan Ends Probation

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A smiling Lindsay Lohan was released on Thursday from almost five years of formal probation, and told by a Los Angeles judge to grow up and stop clubbing.

Actress Lohan, 25, who has made multiple trips to court, jail and rehab since a 2007 drunk driving and cocaine possession arrest, was praised for completing months of community service at a Los Angeles morgue and court-ordered psychotherapy.

"She has done everything that this court has asked of her," Los Angeles Superior Court judge Stephanie Sautner said. "Probation terminates today. Now."

Lohan, dressed conservatively in a powder blue pants suit and black top, let out a sigh of relief and hugged her attorney.

Although the "Mean Girls" actress will remain on informal probation until 2014 for a 2011 jewelry theft, she will not have to report regularly to court and will no longer be compelled to live in Los Angeles, as long as she stays out of trouble.

Sautner sent Lohan on her way with words of warning. "I know it is kind of hard when people are following you all over the place, but that is the life you chose. You need to live your life in a more mature way. Stop the nightclubbing and focus on your work."

"I don’t expect to see you again," Sautner added. "Goodbye and good luck."

Lohan’s once promising movie career was derailed by the 2007 arrest, years of hard partying, missed court dates and failed drug tests that saw her probation extended repeatedly.

But the former "Parent Trap" child star is now on the comeback trail. She posed for Playboy, hosted TV sketch show "Saturday Night Live," has an upcoming guest part in TV musical "Glee" and a TV movie role as screen legend Elizabeth Taylor.

On Thursday, she thanked Sautner for helping her turn her life around. "I just want to say thank you, your honor, for being fair. It has really opened a lot of doors for me."

Lohan later told celebrity website TMZ.com in a phone call that ending probation "has just been a tremendous weight that has lifted off my shoulders."

The actress, who has said that parties are no longer her thing, told TMZ she wanted to put the focus back on her acting career, adding "I have not been to a club for I can’t tell you how long."

"I am honored to be playing Elizabeth Taylor," she said of her upcoming role as the former child star. "There are a lot of similarities (in her life) that I can relate to."

source: mb.com.ph

Former 'Darna' actress launches charity project

MANILA, Philippines - Former actress Nanette Medved, who became famous in the '90s for her film portrayal of super-heroine “Darna,” is back though not to reprise that role.

Apparently, Medved is more into helping the downtrodden; putting up the “I Drink, I Give” campaign, which aims to raise funds to build classrooms.

“This is about helping our children,” said she at the launch of the campaign recently.

“Alam naman natin na marami pa [sa kanila] ang nag-aaral sa ilalim ng puno,” she added, noting the need for an additional 66,800 classrooms across the country.

“Let’s not always rely on government to do things for us. Let us also try to be proactive and do things ourselves, kaya naman natin.”

She quickly dismissed notions that she is out to create publicity for a planned showbiz comeback.

“This is not about me, please,” said she. “Marami nang magagaling d’yan, hayaan na natin sila. I will just focus on helping [others].”

“What we’re trying to bring to the scene here is ‘Hope in a Bottle,’ nakikitulong lang ako,” she added.

Medved’s showbiz background allowed her to tap some of her colleagues to join the crusade including veteran comedian Dolphy, Boy Abunda, Jericho Rosales and Bea Alonzo.

Medved was born in Hawaii, but she grew up in Angeles City, Philippines.

Some of the movies she did during her heydays included a couple with Fernando Poe Jr. namely “Dito sa Pitong Gatang,” and “Isang Bala Ka Lang.”

She also did films with Robin Padilla (“Sa Diyos Lang Ako Susuko”), Bong Revilla (“Iukit Mo sa Bala”), Rudy Fernandez (“Tumbasan Mo ng Buhay”), and Christopher de Leon (“Hiram Na Mukha”).

She became scarce in the scene after getting embroiled in the so-called Metro Manila Film Festival Scam of 1994.

She went on to pursue her studies, graduating with degrees in Finance and Entrepreneurship (with highest honors) from Babson College, Massachussetts, USA.

Medved is married to Chinese businessman, Chris Po.

source: mb.com.ph