People

By Rebecca Winters Sunday, May 16, 2004
    • R2-D2, with Feeling
    Sometimes a robotic performance is a good thing. Like when you're one of the droids playing opposite WILL SMITH in this summer's I, Robot, a futuristic thriller based on Isaac Asimov's stories. Unlike his "recluse technophobe" character, Smith is an avowed technophile. "I need the latest updates, state-of-the-art everything," he says. In the film, his detective, Del Spooner, has reason to be wary — he's pursuing a robot suspected in a homicide. Some of the robots are portrayed by actors whose expressions are then digitally replicated on the faces of computer-created characters, as was done with Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. "There's a real natural human element that I think people are going to be very pleasantly surprised by," says Smith. Maybe it's time for a new Oscar category — Best Supporting Automaton.

    And How About a Kilt?
    Medals are so last month. Secretary of State COLIN POWELL just got a new badge of honor. Scottish heraldic authorities have granted Powell, whose mother had Scottish ancestors, his very own coat of arms. On his crest, our top diplomat will have an eagle to denote the U.S., a lion because he's a military man and four stars for the rank he attained as general. Maybe now he can broker truces between raging British soccer fans.

    Star Seeks Bomb
    Sure, he performs his own stunts in the movies. But even for frequently fractured action hero JACKIE CHAN, a recent trip to Cambodia as a U.N. ambassador took some extra daring. Chan helped clear fields strewn with unexploded bombs — yes, he actually removed the live ordnance — with no stunt double in sight. The actor, who next appears in this summer's Around the World in 80 Days, also visited land-mine victims and HIV/AIDS patients. "For a week, whenever I had a dream, I dreamt about digging land mines," he told reporters in Hong Kong. It must be nice to get back to workaday tasks like dangling from helicopters and single-handedly saving the world.

    Off the Road Again
    Tending to injuries — and one baby — a slew of musicians have suddenly engaged the brakes on their tour buses

    Christina Aguilera
    Blaming strained vocal cords, pop's Dirrty girl hung up the chaps on a three-month tour set to start last week. She said she's "extremely disappointed." Moms of tweens are extremely relieved.

    Celine Dion
    Though she doesn't have to travel to sing at Caesars Palace, Diva Las Vegas has been in pain onstage — so Dion's doctor had her take time off for a neck sprain. This week her show will go back on.

    Willie Nelson
    The country stalwart nixed his May and June dates to cope with carpal-tunnel syndrome in his left hand. It seems playing nearly nightly for six decades finally gave the tireless tourer reason to fret.

    Seal
    "Personal family matters" forced the scarred soul singer to reschedule some shows, his rep says. One theory: Seal is looking after his girlfriend, model Heidi Klum, and her new baby.