Stuff.co.nz: KIWI beauties Anna Paquin and Anna Hutchison have united in a celebrity battle against a killer beast – cancer.

True Blood babe Paquin and Underbelly hottie Hutchison are among a galaxy of stars who will appear in The Beauty Book, compiled by Australian celebrity photographer Darren Tieste.

Tragedy struck Tieste in 2008, when one of his best friends, fashion designer Natalie Sattler, lost her fight with brain cancer. Inspired by her courageous struggle, the 35-year-old decided to raise funds for cancer research by doing what he does best – getting behind the camera.

Tieste chased down every major star he could get his hands on and committed them to a photoshoot to appear in the 260-page coffee table book, to go on sale worldwide in August.

Famous Kiwi faces in The Beauty Book include Outrageous Fortune and Ugly Betty hunk Grant Bowler.

Tieste said getting Paquin involved was a real coup. « Anna’s a great girl, we had three hours with her. She was a big one to get, and the sweetest girl, so down to earth and easy in front of the camera. »

All of the proceeds from the book will go to charity including Snog, or Sydney Neuro-Oncology Group, and Abta, the American Brain Tumour Association.

Tieste told Sunday News it took a lot of hard work fitting into the schedule of the celebrities.

« We’re talking about some of the busiest people in the world here, so finding time was really difficult. »

He said his efforts got a boost when Hugh Jackman, his first A-list star to sign up, agreed to be involved in the project.

Tieste got his big break with a cover shot for Dolly Magazine when he was just 20 and has since then travelled the world shooting pictures for clients such as Coca Cola, Samsung, Nokia and Visa. In 2003, the Sydney born-and-bred photographer relocated to Los Angeles, where he has since worked with Christina Hendricks, Rosario Dawson and Sam Worthington.

Pre-order at www.thebeautybook.org