LONDON: Mischa Barton has opened up about her battle with nightmares and insomnia. The former OC star told the Daily Mirror that she has suffered from sleep issues for years and that it led to anxiety and has affected her work. She said: “I was in Lawn Dogs, my first movie, aged 10 in 1997, followed by an appearance in Notting Hill as a 12-year-old in 1999. When I was working on films at that age, I’d use a huge amount of energy and I’d be exhausted by the time I was done. so it would take me days to catch up on sleep.”–BN

Lana song targeted in Oscar ‘smear’

LOS ANGELES: Lana Del Rey has apparently been targeted by a smear campaign aimed at diminishing her chances of Oscar success, according to reports. The star’s song Young And Beautiful, from The Great Gatsby, is hotly tipped for Academy Award success in the Best Original Song category.  But Deadline reported that an anonymous envelope was sent to members of the Academy music selection committee, containing a printout of an apparent online article that said the song was disqualified over a technicality.  The word Variety appeared on the printout, but Warner Bros discovered the piece was never published by them.–BT

Julia Roberts is getting fat!

LOS ANGLES: Julia Roberts isn’t pregnant - she’s just fat, fat, fat! The actress - who recently sparked speculation she’s expecting another child - has allegedly been packing on the pounds. The 46-year-old turned to food to deal with the stress of caring for her elderly mom, Betty Lou Motes, who was hospitalized three times for an excruciating back problem, reports the National Enquirer. “Julia’s not pregnant,” confirmed a source. “But she’s sick about her mom and she’s been trying to eat her worries away. “The discs in Betty’s back have degenerated, and it got so bad she had to have an artificial disc implanted.–EX

Rowling planning Potter play

LONDON: Harry Potter is heading for the stage, with JK Rowling working on a play about the boy wizard’s life before he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The author said in a statement that the play will “explore the previously untold story of Harry’s early years as an orphan and outcast”.  Rowling will be a co-producer on the show, along with veteran theatre producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender. The statement said Rowling will collaborate with a writer but will not write the script herself.–EX

Ali Larter is in The Diabolical

LOS ANGLESE: Ali Larter has been cast in horror movie The Diabolical. The Heroes actress has landed the lead role in the film, reported Deadline. Ali, 37 - whose previous movies include Legally Blonde and Resident Evil: Afterlife - will play a single mum who is awoken by a strange presence in her home. Her boyfriend is a scientist and decides to try and destroy the spirit haunting the family. The movie is set to start shooting early next year and will be directed by Alistair Legrand. Ali larter’s other upcoming films include comedy Lovesick and drama You’re Not You.–BF