Liz Hurley would seem to be the last woman in need of a cleavage-plumping jelly bra. But, in times like these, when no supermodel’s job is safe, a girl has to brace for the worst.
Hurley just heard that execs at Revlon were kissing off Cindy Crawford as that cosmetic company’s face. So can anybody blame Liz for listening when a Scottish lingerie firm offered her around $4.2 million to push a ‘revolutionary gel-filled bra’ known as the Ultimo?
Yesterday, Hurley’s spokeswoman, Carin Smith, told us that she couldn’t ‘disclose’ whether talks are afoot between the ‘Bedazzled’ star and Ultimo-maker MJM International.
‘She hasn’t signed on the dotted line as of today,’ said Smith. ‘She’s still working for Estee Lauder.’
Lauder has had an exclusive contract with Hurley for the past six years. But, lately there’s been talk that the company is courting golden girl Gwyneth Paltrow, an actress less inclined than Hurley to show up at movie premieres flashing unladylike leopard-print panties. (Though Gwyneth does sometimes show up braless, leaving little doubt that she might make a more appropriate model for the Ultimo.)
Hurley’s rep says that ‘she’s very happy. She adores Leonard Lauder and his family and is looking forward to continuing to work with them.’ The rep also says that a few months ago, Hurley renewed her Lauder contract.
A source close to the Lauders says, ‘I know they’re not happy with her. I don’t think she’s living up to their image.’
Nonsense, says a Lauder rep: ‘She’s definitely still with us. She has a shoot on Thursday and Friday.’
But it seems clear that Hurley is sending Lauder a message that she’s desirable. ‘She has received a lot of offers recently,’ says her rep.
HAPPY SCIENTOL-IDAYS!
Just because you’re a Scientologist doesn’t mean you can’t get into Christmas.
Jenna Elfman, Anne Archer and other members of the controversial sect will perform Yuletide-themed sketches in Los Angeles Friday and Saturday at the church’s annual fund-raiser for the city’s Police Activities League.
Last Christmas, Kirstie Alley brought down the house with her spoof ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Lobster Claws.’ This year, the perennially caftanned actress is due to play a car that gets into an accident with another car. (Maybe the church’s Celebrity Center has a garage that will leave both vehicles ‘clear,’ as true believers say.)
Scientology spokeswoman Cheryl Duncan tells us, ‘a lot of our members come from traditional Christian backgrounds and we tend to participate in the season of giving. We’re a non-denominational church.’
CRISIS: BOY OR HUSBAND?
Brian Litrell must be taking his marriage vows seriously. At a shoot for Rolling Stone, the Backstreet Boy broke away from his fellow group members when they were posed with a harem of half-naked models because he believed the layout would be demeaning.
‘I know the body is a work of art, but I’d rather not open myself up to criticism,’ Litrell says. ‘I understand we’re a group, and we normally stand together, but there are going to be cases where I just can’t disrespect myself and stoop to that level.’
Meanwhile, Litrell and the gang disappointed organizers of last week’s Life Beat World AIDS Day 2000 concert. The Boys were supposed to be surprise guests at the fund raiser at New York City’s Beacon Theater, but stood up fans when they headed instead for their ‘Black ‘ Blue’ album-release party.
ITEMIZING
Geena Davis is giving Liz Taylor a run for her money when it comes to marriage. The ‘Thelma and Louise’ star is planning a fourth trip to the altar. Dr. Reza Jarrahy, 29, proposed to Davis, 43, over the weekend. The actress, a Jeff Goldblum ex last married to director Renny Harlin, has been dating the surgeon for the past two years. They make a handsome couple (as you may remember from those topless beach pictures that ended up in Penthouse).
Is it any coincidence that embattled presidential candidate Al Gore granted New York Times reporter Adam Clymer an exclusive interview last weekend? You may recall Clymer was the scribe George W. Bush famously scourged as ‘a major league a——.’ Gore spokesman Chris Lahane scoffs at any suggestion that the Veep would get friendlier coverage. Clymer ‘is a consummate professional,’ says Lahane. ‘He was someone who had put in an interview request, and it was a good opportunity for us.’
Count Roffredo Gaetani, sports car dealer and beau of Ivana Trump, will put a Modena 360 Ferrari on the block at tonight’s Cipriani 42nd Street auction to benefit neuropsychiatric research at Rockefeller University. Bidding for the all-aluminum car, which has a two-year waiting list, starts at $150,000. Co-host Loro Piana is donating a $60,000 chinchilla blanket and a $15,000 custom-made suit to the gala.
