News about Ava Gardner

An international fashionista sued by a boutique boss former pal who claimed she ran off with her fortune blew kisses around court as she escaped being jailed following their £1.6m court battle. Ekaterina Barrett (left) was sued by Bridget Hutchcroft, (right) whose Pandora Dress Agency boutique was a favourite of Princess Diana, for failing to repay £1.3m she had borrowed to get through a divorce.

Even now, after more than 60 years and when it seemed every secret had been unearthed and every sordid detail pored over, the Profumo affair remains as murky and intriguing as ever. The Mail on Sunday last weekend revealed that Prince Philip was named in FBI documents about this most enduring of British political sex scandals.

Even in the most bitterly divided of families, death tends to bring people back together. Hostilities are suspended and sorrows shared. When the 8th Marquess of Ailesbury was laid to rest in June, the atmosphere at St Katharine's church, deep in Wiltshire's Forest, the ancient woodland of which his family have been custodians for centuries, crackled with tension. For the holder of such a distinguished aristocratic title, Michael Brudenell-Bruce was a diffident and modest figure. Although naturally proud that he could trace his forebears back to the royalist cause in the English Civil War, in recent years he often liked to style himself simply 'Mr Bruce'. None of his three marriages had brought him lasting happiness and he was estranged from some of his children. But for almost four decades he shared his life with a woman to whom he was devoted. Teresa Marshall de Paoli, a vivacious former fashion model, believed she made him happy and steadfastly looked after him as dementia began erasing his other interests and clouding his memory.

A stylist who owns a boutique favoured by the late Princess Diana and a sprinkling of Hollywood stars wants one of her 'fashionista' customers jailed for not repaying a loan.  Bridget Hutchcroft, 63, says her £1.3 million life savings were swindled by Ekaterina Barrett, who introduced herself as a 'connoisseur of high-end couture' in 2017. With Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ava Gardner amongst her clients, Ms Hutchcroft's Pandora Dress Agency is a cornerstone of international glamour found in Knightsbridge, southwest London. 

There is a new Frank Sinatatra bio film coming to the silver screen. And on Thursday the crooner's daughter told TMZ she approved of the casting of Leonardo DiCaprio as her dad and Jennifer Lawrence as the singer's second wife, actress Ava Gardner. 'Marty and I have been dance partners for a long time and not once has he stepped on my toes!' she shared. 'Always here for Marty.' Tina controls her father's massive estate that includes hit songs as My Way, Fly Me To The Moon and That's Life. Frank also had an impressive movie career that included High Society, The Detective and On The Town. Frank died in Los Angeles in 1998 at the age of 82.

Leonardo DiCaprio is tipped to play Frank Sinatra in a new biopic directed by his longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese . Oscar winner DiCaprio, 49, who last teamed up with Scorsese , 81, for critically-acclaimed 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon, would portray Sinatra alongside Jennifer Lawrence as the singer's second wife, actress Ava Gardner per Variety .

Was art expert Blunt on a mission to protect senior members of the Royal Family from association with the immoral earnings of goodtime girls Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies was gripping the post-war public?Was he attempting to save the reputation of Prince Philip and erase any public sign of a louche, party-going lifestyle more suited to a dissolute bachelor than the prince consort of a Queen? The Palace has long denied any involvement in the events of the weekend, but rumors and mystery persist. Philip had been in touch with Ward on several occasions, and he had even been sketched by the artist at Buckingham Palace. Now, this and other drawings had quickly disappeared due to the mystery purchaser.

With the gazes of many thousands, if not millions, of people when they marry, it's no wonder that royal couples often crave a restful break. Any spare money is worthless. After marrying long-term partner Greg Mallett, Lady Amelia Spencer took a luxurious holiday in the Maldives. This was inspired by her older sister Kitty, who spent more than a month travelling around Europe for her honeymoon. Some have chosen something more private. Balmoral has long been known as a popular destination for those looking to recharge their batteries in the Scottish Highlands. Here are the vibrant first getaways of the royal newlyweds from around the world, from playing Scrabble in the airport lounge to meeting the Pope.

Linda Haynes died in Summerville, South Carolina, at the age of 75, according to Deadline on Friday. Linda Lee Sylvander, the actress' real name, died 'peacefully,' according to her family. The late entertainer's career spanned the 1970s and early 1980s.

At a LuisaVoma and British Vogue 'Runway Icons' function in Florence last night, the Marchioness of Bath, 37, took the runway by storm in a cocktail dress by the Italian fashion house. In a shimmery silver cocktail dress by Italian designer Ermanno Scervino, which hugged every curve of her body, the beauty stole the show. Posted.

Princess Diana (inset), Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Ava Gardner were among her clients in Knightsbridge's high-end fashion boutique over the decades. However, Bridget Hutchcroft (right), the owner of Pandora Dress Agency near Harrods, regrets the day a 'heiress' with a remarkably wealthy and charming 'heiress' waltzed through her door. Ms Hutchcroft, 63, told the Mail how she was tricked by Ekaterina Barrett (left), 67, who befriended her then, and that she urgently needed to borrow money to see her through a costly divorce. The case has echoes of Anna Sorokin, the inspiration behind Netflix's Inventing Anna, who spent her money by posing as a wealthy German heiress to confound New York's high society.

The scheme takes place in a shared garage, which is located in Knightsbridge, west London. A car was seen only partially fitting into the tiny gap, which is only 18 feet long, in photographs of the tiny space. With the mirrors extended, a narrow space could not accommodate larger SUVs like the Jaguar F-Pace, which measures just over seven feet in length. According to documents prepared by the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, the recommended width for a parking space is 7.8 feet wide by 15.7 feet long.

DAME JOAN COLLINS: 'Vanity, thy name is woman!' The oft-misquoted Shakespeare line will continue to be employed. But why not?What's wrong with vanity? I'm living proof, as some might say. And I believe that vanity keeps you healthy, makes you feel better and you get compliments, which is great for your mental health (although maybe not for men, since these days, sadly, telling a woman that she looks beautiful or well-dressed could get them cancelled, or worse!) Perhaps this analogy will benefit those who are still struggling with the 'guilt' of being deemed 'vain': you finally buy the car of your dreams. What do you do? You put the best petrol in the tank, you do regular check-ups, you maintain it, change the oil, and check the tyres. You wash it, wax it, and polish it. If there are any nicks or scratches, you can buff them. Treat it well, it will last a lifetime, become a classic, and be on display at car shows. You should be proud of it.

Frank Sinatra was 'almost married to the crowd,' according to a recent book, despite openly denying that he had any links to organized crime for the bulk of his life and career. In upcoming biography, Frank Sinatra and the Mafia Murders, new information about the legendary mafia bosses, including notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel and Sinatra's role as a mafia courier, is set to be revealed on Thursday, September 8. Sinatra, who was known for championing his working-class Italian roots, had vehemently denied allegations or suspicion that he was also associated with the Italian mafia, slamming the allegations as "vicious lies" during his long career.' Sinatra was actually so enthralled by gangsters that he even wanted to imitate a notorious mobster bug, Bugsy Siegel (bottom left) who chopped up his victims with axes, according to authors Douglas Thompson and Mike Rothmiller. The mafia is also accused of starting Sinatra's career and investing $50,000 on his image as an 'investment' that was then compelled to pay back in favors. Sinatra was also 'central to the scheme' of becoming socialite,' according to the book, who was sleeping with mob boss Sam Giancana close to JFK (right).

In the forthcoming second season of Ryan Murphy's anthology film Feud, Tom Hollander has been cast as Truman Capote. Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange respectively played Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in season one, which aired in 2017. Diane Lane and Calista Flockhart, both from Variety, will be on display in season two as Truman alienated his New York society pals.