Posts Tagged ‘Vanessa Williams’

Vanessa Williams Gives Spring Diet Tips

March 30th, 2009

As a mom of four, Vanessa Williams eats and runs. For breakfast, she’ll enjoy half a bagel with cream cheese and half a cup of coffee. She keeps her eyes on her waistline.

“When I’m in training mode, I’ll do no dairy, no sugar, but normally it depends what I’m cooking,” the Ugly Betty star tells me.

After indulging in comfort foods such as macaroni-and-cheese and mashed potatoes during the winter, Vanessa, 46, knows how to shed the pounds in the spring.

“I have a trainer that I go to,” she tells me. “If I’m not seeing my trainer, I’m on the treadmill. If you cut out stuff – I hate to say not eat, but if you eat less – then you’re going to see results. You back off the sweets – try to eliminate those – and eat a lot of proteins and leafy greens. You’ll see results.”

 

SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE VALERIE GALLERY:

 

Today We’re Loving

February 2nd, 2009

Being healthy is important with a busy schedule, something stars like Tina Fey, Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria, Tori Spelling and Vanessa Williams recognize, which is why they’re munching on Kellogg’s FiberPlus Antioxdidants snack bars!

 

The tasty treats contain over 35 percent of the daily recommended value of fiber, plus 20 percent of the daily recommended value for antioxidants vitamin E and zinc. These tasty and convenient bars make it easy to treat yourself to better nutrition.

 

Tina’s camp has already ordered more for the Golden Globe winner!
 

Vanessa Williams Talks Kids, Jobs and Used Cars

December 17th, 2008

Vanessa Williams’ son Devin is gearing up for his first job now that he’s getting ready for his first car.

The mother-son team recently signed Allstate Insurance’s Home For The Holidays teen safe driving contract.

Vanessa, 45, is a single mom to Melanie, 21, Jillian, 19, Devin, 15, and Sasha, 8.

What’s the best thing about having children? “It’s never-ending unconditional love,” the Ugly Betty star tells me.

But just because she’s on a hit show doesn’t mean her kids are on easy street.

“The past two girls, as soon as they got jobs, they got used cars,” Vanessa says. “No one got a brand new car. We’ll see what kind of used car he gets.”

While Melanie worked in a boutique to pay for a “colorful, yellow, used” Volvo S40 and Jillian worked at a children’s day care to fund her ride, Devin may find his future in a shoe store.

“I want something that deals with fashion,” he says. “I’m really into sneakers, clothes and everything.”

And about the big rock he’s sporting in one ear? He got it for eighth-grade graduation.

“It’s faux,” Vanessa says. “It isn’t real, believe me.”

OK! Exclusive: Vanessa’s Parenting Secrets

December 3rd, 2008

Just because Vanessa Williams is on the hit TV show Ugly Betty doesn’t mean her four kids are spoiled.

Her oldest kids–Melanie, 21, Jillian, 19, and Devin, 15–get used, not new cars and only if they get jobs first.

"Getting your own car is a privilege," she tells OK! at Allstate Insurance Company’s Home for the Holidays teen safe driving event in NYC on Dec. 2. "Being able to fill the car up with gas requires money that comes from somewhere. So if they can earn the money to fill their own car up, that makes them motivated to have their own freedom. It’s all part of teaching them responsibility."

During the event, Williams, 45, insisted that her son sign the Allstate contract, in which he promises not to text, drive with friends or drink–in addition to wearing his seatbelt at all times–and if he breaks a rule, he will lose his driving privileges for two weeks.

Sounds pretty hardcore! But Devin says his mom a "mix of both" laidback and strict.

"I certainly have standards and expectations, and if they aren’t met, there are consequences," Vanessa, who gave up her Miss America crown in 1984 after nude photos of her emerged, tells OK!. "But I also allow my kids to have freedom and allow them to explore life. I’m not extremely rigid, but they do know there are consequences with every action."

When it comes to peer pressure, Vanessa says, "Hopefully I’ve established a good sense of self with them, which starts in the very beginning–feeling that you’re comfortable in your own skin. They’re not easily swayed."

Williams says that while she stays pretty busy on the set of Ugly Betty, she would love to do Broadway again. The actress appeared in Into the Woods back in 2002, but says she’d love to give the stage another crack.

"The dream role I always loved was Anita from West Side Story," she tells OK!. "But I’m too old for that now. I would love to originate a role on Broadway. We’ll see if that happens."

Calling Broadway!

By Valerie Nome

 

 

 

Chores Keep Miley Grounded

November 17th, 2008 / Author: matt

It’s not exactly unheard of for a child actor to go a little off the rails as they make the difficult transition from cute, talented kid into full-fledged actor. But at least one friend of Miley Cyrus, who turns 16 this week, is sure that she is one Disney girl who isn’t destined to follow down the errant path paved by Britney Spears and others — and all because of chores and 4×4s!

Vanessa Williams, who just finished shooting Hannah Montana: The Movie with Miley, tells OK! that after spending time on the Cyrus family farm, she thinks that the teen superstar’s down-to-Earth upbringing has set her up for a life on the straight-and-narrow.

"She’s got a foundation," said Vanessa at the Mayor’s Awards ceremony at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. "She grew up in Tennessee on a great farm. They’ve got horses, she drives all the 4×4s, they make the kids do chores."

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Mega Miley Gallery!

The Ugly Betty actress also reveals to OK! that Miley was given a master class in dealing with stardom from the years spent with her country singer dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.

"She’s lived a relatively normal life, watching her dad on the road, so she knows that aspect, but she also knows work," explained Vanessa. "That’s why she’s such a professional."

It makes you think — if only there had been a tractor or two kicking around the Spears’ place!

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Mega Miley Gallery!

By Oliver Coleman

Vanessa Opens Up About Lindsay/America Feud

November 11th, 2008

Since the news broke last month that Lindsay Lohan’s guest-starring role on ABC hit Ugly Betty had been cut back by two episodes amid rumors of on-set tension between the scandal-magnet actress and the show’s star, America Ferrera, the actors on the Betty cast have all been downplaying these reports. But now, in an exclusive OK! interview, co-star Vanessa Williams finally begins to hint at the source of the troubles.

"We’re such a tight cast, and a well-oiled machine, that to jump on and to rise to the occasion is the true test," the actress told OK! at Monday night’s Mayor’s Awards ceremony at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. "We’ve had Patti LuPone, who’s a Broadway legend; Bernadette Peters, who just started with us last week  — So there are people who have been in the industry for years and have had tremendous accolades. And I think Lindsay playing the part that she did, which was Kimmy — kind of a bratty high school nightmare for Betty — I think she did her part."

Vanessa, who still maintains that any problems were "blown out of proportion," seemed to say that the demands the show’s star places on herself might have been a source of tension. "America is the consummate professional," she explained. "She works very hard, and she’s also she’s very invested in her character. So if you don’t come with the same drive and panache… I think that’s were the unbalance was."

However, added the model-turned-actress, "I think by the time Lindsay was finished, she loved us and she wanted to stay longer."

By Oliver Coleman

TV HUNK Discovered: Grant Bowler

November 6th, 2008

On Ugly Betty, Meade Publications has a new employee, CFO Connor Owens. CFO definitely stands for cute financier, oh yeah!
 
Knowing this is a character I could seriously invest in, I called up Grant Bowler, who plays Connor, to find out his statistics. Grant revealed that Connor’s alliance with Daniel is going to go south, fast.
 
"He kind of dumps that agreement with Daniel and lets it be known he’s not going to be a stooge for him," Grant reveals. "Connor’s playing for his own team and pretty much making his own decisions."
 
That includes getting into bed with Wilhelmina, literally.
 
"There’s kind of a budding relationship between them," Grant reveals. "And it gets hotter and hotter. You could say the water’s done, and you can throw the vegetables in.
 
Well, Wilhelmina did say she likes to get her needs met!
 
The Australian transplant is having a blast working with his co-star Vanessa Williams.
 
"She’s been fantastic," he says. "We had full day of shooting scenes in a hotel room and I laughed all day. It’s a great way to spend a day at work."
 
With Ugly Betty now being shot in the Big Apple, Grant is taking full advantage of his surroundings when he’s not working.
 
"New York’s changed so much since last time I was here," he says.  "I’ve visited the Museum of Natural History, the Bronx Zoo, lovely Park Slope and Brooklyn. And Alphabet City is a much nicer place to go for a drink at night."
 
But does Grant miss anything about his native Australian homeland? "At the moment, the temperature," he exclaims. "It’s coming into the summer now. So when I phone home, everybody is telling me about having just coming from the beach."
 
Thank goodness Connor has Wilhelmina to keep him warm.
 
And if she doesn’t work out, I also happen to reside in the Big Apple!
 
Catch Ugly Betty, Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Becki Newton: Conflict All On Screen

October 24th, 2008

Gossip seems to follow Lindsay Lohan wherever she goes, but those in the know on the set of Ugly Betty are rallying to combat the rumors of their guest star’s supposed diva behavior on set.

 

First Vanessa Williams told Entertainment Tonight that Lilo was great to work with, despite whispers that her guest spot was cut from six episodes to four due to on set clashes, saying,  "She was a hard worker. She showed up on time and [in] the scenes I had with her, she was completely prepared. She was great with me."

 

Click here for OK!’s Ultimate Lindsay Lohan gallery!

 

And now co-star Becki Newton is also shooting down the bad buzz about a conflict between Lindsay and America Ferrera.

 

"I think people love drama, and I think when you watch the show you’ll see the drama was between the characters on screen," she told OK! at H&M’s preview of the Commes des Garcons line in NYC on Oct. 23." I think if people actually watch the episodes they’ll see that."

 

As for whether cutting episodes will disrupt the flow of the show, Becki assures us that everything will be just fine plot-wise, and that the only fighting was when the cameras were rolling.

 

"These episodes, we filmed them over a month, maybe two months ago, so it’s amusing that it’s this drama now. The drama is all on screen," she says.

Vanessa on Lindsay: “She’s a Hard Worker”

October 23rd, 2008

Amid rumors that Lindsay Lohan’s six episode stint on Ugly Betty was cut down to just four due to tensions between Lohan and Betty star America Ferrera, another show castmate is stepping forward in defense of the Mean Girls star.

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Lindsay Lohan  Gallery!

Vanessa Williams tells ET that working with Lindsay was "great."  "She was a hard worker. She showed up on time and [in] the scenes I had with her, she was completely prepared," Williams said in an interview airing tonight.  "She was great with me."

 

Earlier today, reports hit the Internet that Lohan’s wild antics – including trashing her dressing room and parading around the set with an entourage of people – were too much for her Ugly Betty castmate America Ferrera.

The NY Post reports that during filming of an episode, titled "Granny Pants,"  America’s character attempts to pull down Linds’ pants in public, but, a source tells the Post, "Lindsay wasn’t wearing any underwear."

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Lindsay Lohan Gallery!

AD FPO