Sandra Bullock crashes the Oscars

It didn't take last night's Screen Actors Guild win in the ensemble category to prove that "Crash" could be a major player in the Oscar race; nominations from all the major guilds already secured that status for the inflamatory Paul Haggis drama.
And even before receiving any nominations, the film has now made inroads into the Academy Awards show. This morning, producer Gil Cates announced that Sandra Bullock will be presenter on the 78th Oscars.
Bullock has already appeared on several Oscar shows, from the 68th (where she eschewed the red carpet and was accompanied by a bodyguard backstage) to the 74th (where she co-presented with "Two Weeks Notice" co-star and rumored boyfriend Hugh Grant) to the 76th (where she danced across the stage with John Travolta).
The actress has been nominated for and won a variety of Golden Globes, People's Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards, but she's never been nominated for an Oscar.
Once the Oscar nominations are announced tomorrow morning (with Bullock a decided longshot for a supporting actress nomination), look for more members of the "Crash" ensemble to show up on the Oscar telecast.

Late bloomer blossoms

Noblesville contestant Susan Guilkey says being smart is a key to winning Miss America crown

By Abe Aamidor
abe.aamidor@indystar.com
The stereotype for beauty pageant contestants is that they all were pushed into it by stage moms beginning at about age 7.

If so, Noblesville's Susan Guilkey was a late bloomer.
The native Hoosier entered her first major pageant while an undergrad at Huntington College. She did it because the local pageant was offering $250 scholarships to young women just for entering, and she needed the money.
Guilkey, a communications major in college, won, and hasn't looked back. Now, she is Miss Indiana and competes for the title of Miss America in a show broadcast live from Las Vegas on cable channel CMT at 8 p.m. Saturday. As part of her entry, she has chosen to represent Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educational programs for girls.
The Star caught up with Guilkey by phone after she and some of the other pageant contestants made an audience appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" last week.
Question: Many people have seen "Miss Congeniality" and "Miss Congeniality 2," starring Sandra Bullock. Were those movies accurate?
Answer: "I actually saw both of them. There were elements that were accurate. What I shared with Sandra Bullock was that she was a firm believer in wanting to educate others. But as far as the silliness backstage, it's really not like that at all."
Q: So, what is it like backstage at a beauty pageant?
A: "I get questions like, 'Are the girls mean backstage?' Actually, it's like, 'Will you zip me up?' And we do."
Q: OK, how is the Miss America contest not a beauty pageant?
A: "Ooh, we like 'scholarship program' better. That's the main difference between us and the Miss USA system. It's a wonderful system, but all the money we receive is for scholarships."
Q: How do you prepare for a contest like this?
A: "I went through two major mock interviews. Jim Shella (WISH, Channel 8) was on one. The mayor of Noblesville was on another. It's a misconception that many people have, that if you're a beauty queen you don't have to be intelligent. That's so not true. You have to be extremely well-informed, from Samuel Alito to what's happening to the war in Iraq."
Q: What are you eating while in Las Vegas?
A: "Breakfast every morning -- lots of fresh fruit, bagels, yogurt with granola, coffee, orange juice and tomato juice. Lunch we usually have cold cuts, but also have salad options and lots of pasta. Then every night we've been to dinner -- anything from sushi to prime rib to some really amazing dishes."
Q: What will it be like if you win Saturday night?
A: "Wow. Utter shock. That would be one. What it would really mean to me would be an opportunity to be a voice for Girls Inc. I don't see myself as extremely competitive. But when I think what it means to Girls Inc., I want to come with my game face."
Q: What will you do if you lose Saturday night?
A: "The Miss America journey will be completed. It doesn't mean my Miss Indiana duties will be abandoned. And I will probably go back to graduate school at Purdue University in professional communications. It's like corporate communications. Either that, or I'll look for a job."

Sandra Bullock's Husband In Iraq Bombing Horror

SANDRA BULLOCK feared she'd have to spend Christmas (05) as a widow when her hunky new husband was caught up in bombings in Iraq.
Celebrity mechanic JESSE JAMES jetted out to visit US troops stationed in the warzone and film a segment for his hit TV show MONSTER GARAGE.
But just when he was preparing to head home for the holidays, James was caught up in crossfire.
And Bullock recalls, "I just wanted him home for Christmas Eve and they were bombing and he's emailing from a bunker, going, 'We can't leave.We're being bombed.' People around him are being killed."
But the SPEED star admits she knew she'd have to accept her husband's daredevil lifestyle when she married him last year (05).

Sandra Bullock prooves her long lasting popularity in People's Choice Awards 2006

Old flames Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock must have had lots to catch up on when they hooked up on Tuesday night at the People's Choice Awards. The screen favourites, who dated on and off during the Nineties, were both picking up acting gongs at the industry bash.
For starters the Miss Congeniality star no doubt had plenty to divulge on the joys of married life with celebrity mechanic and tattoo enthusiast Jesse James. Then there was the topic of Matthew's own transatlantic romance with his sultry Sahara co-star, Penelope Cruz. Stepping up to collect his accolade for male action star, the rugged actor certainly looked as if he was enjoying his night out.The ceremony got off to a dazzling start with a Jessica Simpson rendition of Nancy Sinatra's classic tune These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. The Dukes Of Hazzard star was on good form despite her recent split from husband Nick Lachey. She'd left her Daisy Duke hotpants at home, though, opting instead for grown-up glamour in a poppy-red gown. Also on hand at the glitzy extravaganza was Lost actor Dominic Monaghan, who had an exuberant red-carpet greeting for American Idol Kelly Clarkson. One of the highlights of the evening came when a beaming Jennifer Garner took time out from nappy duty to accept her award for best female action star during a satellite link up. In December she gave birth to Violet, her first child with husband Ben Affleck.