Phil Collins Overjoyed by New Baby
LONDON (Reuters) – British rocker Phil Collins and his
third wife, Swiss-born Orianne, have had their first child, the
star's publicist said Tuesday.
Orianne gave birth to Nicholas Grev Austin Saturday in
Geneva, Switzerland, where the couple now live.
“It is difficult to express just how happy Orianne and I
are with the arrival of little Nicholas,” the 50-year-old rock
legend said in a statement.
He married Orianne, 22 years his junior, just under two
years ago.
Collins has three other children, Simon, Joley and Lily, by
his first two marriages.
The stocky drummer who became frontman for the hugely
successful band Genesis has a personal fortune estimated at
$173 million and has sold an estimated 80 million albums
worldwide since going solo.
Collins also won an Oscar last year for the song “You'll be
in my Heart” from the animated movie Tarzan. His spokeswoman
said Collins was currently working on a studio album and a new
animated feature for Disney .
The singer hinted that Nicholas may follow in his
footsteps.
“He's got a huge voice and a strong temperament,” Collins
said. “He's wonderful.”
© Reuters 2001. All rights reserved.
LONDON (Reuters) – Pop star Robbie Williams is unlikely to
fulfil his much-publicized dream of playing British spy 007,
according to the James Bond films casting director.
Williams, who has had a string of top 10 hits, has made no
secret of his desire to play the suave secret service agent
when current star Pierce Brosnan steps down from the role. But
it seems the films' makers don't share his ambition.
“Robbie Williams, bless him, I don't think is quite what we
are looking for,” the Daily Mail on Tuesday quoted Bond casting
director Debbie McWilliams as saying.
Instead, “Gladiator” star Russell Crowe, who won the best
actor Oscar for his role in the Roman swords and sandals epic,
is the first choice.
“I see the Bond movies going on for the next 20 years and I
can't think of anyone better than Russell to fill his shoes.
For my money, at the moment, he is the only man for the job,”
director John Glen, the man behind five of the Bond classics,
was quoted as saying.
A spokesman for Robbie Williams said: “Rob has great
respect for James Bond but feels the only Bond was Sean Connery
and it would be impossible for him to ever top that.”
