Anna Paquin will be participating in the Rise Up Christchurch global telethon which is raising funds for the New Zealand Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Effort on May 22, 2011. The 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch on February 22, 2011 causing extensive damage and loss of life.

Musicians who have already signed up include: The Feelers, Six60, OpShop, Dane Rumble, Kids of 88, Anika Moa, The Checks and Annabel Fay. More musicians are expected to join the effort before the event.

Ex-pats Rachel Hunter and Martin Henderson have also committed to supporting the telethon.

Rise Up Christchurch is a 12-hour ‘entertainment spectacular’ centered in Christchurch, featuring entertainers from around the world. The Telethon will be broadcast live on Maori Television and streamed globally on the Internet on Sunday, May 22nd (NZ time) from 9am to 9pm – the 3-month anniversary of the earthquake. You can find more details about the broadcast on the event’s website.

Source: Trueblood-News.com

The upcoming family action film William Tell: 3D, will see Brendan Fraser play the title character. Til Schweiger is set to play a feared local dignitary, Hermann Gessler. Anna Paquin is in discussions to play the role of Tell’s wife.

William Tell was a 14th century marksman and folk hero in Switzerland. After refusing to bow to a local ruler, he was then made to publicly shoot an apple from the top of his sons head as punishment. Needless to say, Tell did this successfully and his act of defiance in the face of authority gave way for the formation of modern Switzerland.

The film will be directed by Nick Hurran, produced by Todd Moyer and the script is written by Scott Reynolds. Much of the filming will take place on location in Switzerland itself and at Castel Studios in Romania. Filming is slated to begin on Oct 1.

Producer Todd Moyer said, “There is no other actor who is more perfectly suited to be the patriot and family man that is William Tell,” he added, “Brendan was the driving force behind the movie being shot in 3D. He’s a witty, charming and very likeable action hero, and he really anchors the ensemble cast.”

Peoplepets.com: Though her onscreen experiences with animals have proved less than stellar, True Blood’s Anna Paquin hasn’t let that stop her from getting close to some furry beasts of her own.

« We only have two [dogs], but sometimes they make enough noise to feel like a whole menagerie, » she told PEOPLEPets.com Tuesday of her and husband Stephen Moyer’s 12-year-old springer spaniel border collie and 2-year-old Catahoula mix.

Speaking from the Scream 4 premiere in Hollywood, Paquin added that despite their sometimes raucous behavior, being mom to Banjo and Splash has been a rewarding experience.

« They love you unconditionally, and you have to actually take care of them and it makes you step outside yourself, » she said. « It doesn’t matter how tired you are and if you’ve been up until whenever, they still need to be walked and loved and pet. I think it’s good to put your own self in perspective. »

« True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were spotted having a romantic dinner at BOA Steakhouse Santa Monica enjoying steak and shrimp. »

Hawkesbaytoday.co.nz: World Wildlife Fund NZ has gone creative for its new campaign to protect this country’s waters and is inviting other Kiwis to do the same.

Twelve of the country’s leading creative types – including artists Dick and Otis Frizzell, musicians Hollie Smith and Ladyhawke, actress Anna Paquin and award-winning writer Lloyd Jones – have joined forces for the campaign, sharing stories and producing portraits to illustrate what the sea means to them.

The resulting work, Ocean:Views, can be viewed on www.wwf.org.nz/oceans, which also has information about the competition that asks people to submit a creative work about their personal connection to the sea.

The contest, which closes on April 15, has music, visual art, creative writing and short-film categories. The winning works will be exhibited on World Oceans Day.

Haumoana resident Dick Frizzell loves the sea’s constantly changing landscape and mood, and the sense of space and unlimited freedom that the sea and the sky present. Sometimes the sea literally rumbles up the stony beach and « knocks on that door ».

« A previous inhabitant of the site told me that living there was 99 per cent paradise and 1 per cent sheer terror, and I think he got that pretty much right, » said Frizzell.

Both Frizzells are on the competition’s judging panel, which also includes Jones, renowned filmmakers Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, and Flying Nun label founder Roger Shepherd.

WWF is campaigning for 30 per cent of the waters surrounding New Zealand to be protected in marine reserves.

The area covered now is closer to 0.3 per cent.

« Our seas are in the safest hands when New Zealanders feel an increased sense of ownership. The best means of achieving this is to focus not on what we’ve lost but by celebrating what we have, » said WWF NZ executive director Chris Howe.

Playboy’s April issue celebrates the golden age of Hollywood’s most beautiful babes by announcing its annual Sexiest Celebrities list in the magazine’s Sex and Music issue (on newsstands and online at www.playboydigital.com Friday, March 18).

The honor roll includes 27 actresses, singers, reality TV stars and models including Natalie Portman, Kim Kardashian and Jenni « JWoww » Farley in a sexy 8-page pictorial.

The foxy and famous starlets were chosen because they exude the radiance of experienced women who remain on top of their game.

The following celebrities are included in Playboy’s Sexiest Celebrities list (in order of appearance):

Natalie Portman (actress)
Hope Dworaczyk (model, 2010 Playmate of the Year)
Sophie Monk (singer, actress, model)
Tara Reid (actress)
Brooke Burke (model, author, TV personality)

Anna Paquin (actress)

Kendra Wilkinson (model, reality TV star)
Halle Berry (actress)
Candice Boucher (model)
Arianny Celeste (model, UFC ring girl)
Sasha Grey (model, actress)
Jennifer Lopez (actress, singer)
Kelly Brook (model, actress)
Michelle Williams (actress)
Holly Madison (model, reality TV star)
Beyonce (singer)
Amber Heard (actress)
Kim Kardashian (model, reality TV star)
Pamela Anderson (actress, model)
Jenni « JWoww » Farley (reality TV star)
Angelina Jolie (actress)
Claire Sinclair (model, Miss October 2010)
Crystal Harris (model, Miss December 2009)
Christina Hendricks (actress)
Megan Fox (actress)
Olivia Wilde (actress)
Scarlett Johansson (actress)

Source: Amoremagazine.com

« Phineas and Ferb » is proving to be a draw for star-caliber voice casting for its coming season.

Michael Douglas, Tina Fey, Michael J. Fox and Jane Lynch will headline the guest cast for the third season of the Disney Channel animated hit.

Joan Cusack, Jamie Oliver and Anna Paquin will also supply guest voices for this season’s run, which bows March 4.

Douglas is guesting along with his 10-year-old son Dylan in a haunted house episode, while Fox and Paquin will pay homage to their « Teen Wolf » and « True Blood » roles. Oliver, of ABC’s « Food Revolution, » will be a meatloaf competition judge.

Meanwhile, Lynch will be Phineas and Ferb’s sister’s boyfriend’s mother, and Fey plays an eager buyer for the headquarters of Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc.

« Phineas » has spent three years as the most-watched animated series among kids 9-14 and ranks No. 1 on Disney XD, where it also airs, in total viewers. It airs in about 170 countries and 34 languages.

The season-three premiere will get a preview on Disney Channel’s subscription-based VOD outlet (via Cablevision, Time Warner, Verizon and AT&T).

Vincent Martella, Thomas Sangster, Ashley Tisdale, Mitchel Musso, Caroline Rhea, Richard O’Brien, Dee Bradley Baker, Alyson Stoner and co-creators Jeff « Swampy » Marsh and Dan Povenmire form the series’ regular cast.

Source: Variety.com