Julia Roberts Is Too Old ? Find out Five Reasons.......

On the occasion of the Friday release of Duplicity, Roberts' first true star vehicle since before 9/11, we ran the numbers, and, well, it sorta turned out Newsweek's "Hollywood ancient" assessment was spot-on.

The 41-year-old Julia Roberts, the stats say, is past Julia Roberts box-office prime. Unless she's not. Which the stats also say, provided you listen carefully.

First things first—the reasons why Roberts' career should be fitted for support hose:

1. If You're a Woman in Hollywood, You're Toast Even Before the First Botox Treatment: Using Box Office Mojo stats, we looked at the career box-office performances of 10 lead actresses and 10 lead actors who, like Roberts, turned 40 this past decade. The women enjoyed the biggest hits of their careers, on average, at 33.7. The men reached their peak nearly three years later. Did we mention Roberts is now 41?

2. Make That, Really, Really Burned Toast: Since hitting the age that shall not be mentioned, the films of Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Meg Ryan, Naomi Watts and Roberts have cumulatively averaged $38 million—about 17 percent below their overall combined career marks.

Jim Carrey, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Eddie Murphy, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, Adam Sandler, Will Smith and Ben Stiller, on the other hand, cashed in after their 40th birthdays, thanks to animated films and blockbuster franchises, averaging $106.1 million per film after the middle-aged milestone versus $82.5 million for their entire careers. That's an increase—an increase—of nearly 30 percent.

3. Seriously, Like the Kind of Toast That's Only Good for Bread Crumbs. Or Pigeons: Of the surveyed women, only two have grossed above their career averages after hitting 40: Aniston and Parker. The exact opposite is true for the men, where only two haven't gotten bigger, post-40: Reeves and Smith. 

Given all this then, Julia Roberts' new movie is going to tank, no? No, not necessarily—because of the two reasons why Roberts' career will continue to thrive minus the assistance of a Rascal scooter: 

4. She Is Julia Roberts: "The thing about Julia," says Women & Hollywood blogger Melissa Silverstein, "is Julia Robert's an anomaly." Domestically, Roberts' movies have grossed $2.3 billion, more than any other actress, and more than all but 11 actors. If you moved Julia Roberts stats over to the male side of the ledger, where they actually match up better, you would reasonably expect her career to grow over the next few years.

 

5. Julia Roberts Is Not About to Get Buried by a Bromance. (Probably.): Exhibitor Relations box-office analyst Jeff Bock says Duplicity is expected to open with a respectable $15-20 million and find itself in a tight, three-way race for No. 1 against I Love You, Man and Knowing, the thriller starring the fortysomething Nicolas Cage. Bock gives the edge to the guy comedy I Love You, Man. But he doesn't discount Roberts.

Natasha Richardson comes from legendary acting family

Natasha Richardson, who is hospitalized in New York following a Quebec ski accident Monday, comes from an illustrious British acting family -- one whose name she's often found a challenge.

Natasha Richardson comes from a family of well-known British actors, including mother Vanessa Redgrave.

Natasha Richardson, the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson ("Look Back in Anger," "Tom Jones"), has said, more than once, that Natasha Richardson found it difficult to live up to the family reputation.

"The names Richardson or Redgrave didn't help," Natasha Richardson told About.com's Rebecca Murray in 2007. "But the last thing you want is to ride any coattails, because you don't want people to be accusing you of nepotism. You want to be able to learn and practice, and not to be thrown into a spotlight before you're ready for it."

Natasha Richardson, 45, was practically born to the stage. Besides her mother and father, several members of Natasha Richardson family are performers: Natasha Richardson grandparents were Sir Michael Redgrave, a famed British actor, and actress Rachel Kempson; uncle Corin Redgrave, aunt Lynn Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson also are noted actors.

Vanessa Minnillo and former Nick Lachey have proven their romance.

After more than a year together, former MTV VJ and Entertainment Tonight correspondent Vanessa Minnillo and former Newlywed Nick Lachey have proven their romance. 

At 17, the South Carolina cheerleader was crowned Miss Teen USA, and eventually landed a spot on MTV's countdown show, TRL. Minnillo has since opted out of Vanessa Minnillo contract with MTV and has promoted fashion brand Bongo and spearheaded 

Vanessa Minnillo own makeup line. The brunette babe, who dated New York Yankees stud Derek Jeter for two years, has since returned to TV, hosting the ABC reality show, True Beauty.

Jessica is worried about her boyfriend

Jessica Simpson is worried her boyfriend will never propose.




The singer-and-actress has been dating American football quarterback Tony Romo for around 16 months, and is becoming increasingly frustrated at his unwillingness to commit. A source claims Simpson said: "I know Tony loves me, but I don't know if he'll ever propose." Simpson (28) was convinced Romo, also 28, would pop the question on Valentine's Day and was left devastated when he failed to do so. A source said: "Jessica was really hoping she was going to get an engagement ring.



She wanted one for Christmas, then she thought maybe New Year's Eve. Her last hope was that Tony would propose on Valentine's Day — but he didn't." The star was also said to be furious after Romo took her for a meal at exclusive New York restaurant The Waverly Inn but spent much of the evening texting on his phone.



A witness said: "Jessica was not happy. He just wasn't picking up on the fact that she was starting to lose her patience." Simpson has been discussing her relationship woes with her 24-year-old sister Ashlee — who has three-month-old son Bronx Mowgli with her husband Pete Wentz — and her friends, who are also concerned Romo will never make her his wife. A source told America's OK! magazine: "Ashlee has always been the more realistic, the more practical of the two sisters. And Ashlee knows how much her sister wants to be married and have a baby of her own. But as wonderful as Tony is, he is not the marrying kind — probably not for years."





Photos of Tony Romo