Oscar-winner Charlize Theron broke down in tears after former South African President Nelson Mandela praised her for putting their country on the map. The actress - who picked up the Best Actress prize for her role as a serial-killing prostitute in Monster at last month's Academy Awards - was guest of honor at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg yesterday. Mandela said of Theron, "She has put South Africa on the map. Even those who were ignorant of this place, having seen her, they must know that there is a country like South Africa." Wiping away her tears, the 28-year-old star told Mandela "I love you so much". Her meeting with Mandela comes just days after current president Thabo Mbeki congratulated Theron on her achievement. The actress left South Africa when she was 16, after a traumatic childhood - she witnessed her mother kill her violent father.

A nasty flu bug has swept through the set of upcoming Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie movie Mr. And Mrs. Smith - leading filming to be halted several times. The romantic thriller is currently in production in New York, but both the Fight Club star and his Oscar-winning co-star have been struck down repeatedly by the virus. According to set insiders, the problem keeps occurring thanks to the number of love scenes between the superstars in the Doug Liman-directed movie. One source tells American website Page Six, "They keep giving each other a nasty flu-like bug. And it's been running rampant all over the set."

The preliminary hearing of child molestation charges against troubled superstar Michael Jackson may be already underway - the prosecution has convened a grand jury in secret. According to a spokesperson for Santa Barbara, California District Attorney Tom Sneddon, a hearing is currently ongoing in the state but whether the case in question is Jackson's cannot be revealed. Spokeswoman Susan Tellem told reporters, "A grand jury has been convened. But I have no information about what case or cases it will hear, because those proceeding are secret by law." Jackson's own attorney Ben Brafman would offer no comment. However, it is thought that Sneddon is keen to avoid the media circus that will inevitably engulf the case, in order to give the Thriller singer a fair trial. Sneddon headed up the team who tried to bring Jackson to court over allegations made by a teenage boy in 1993 - the case was eventually settled out of court.

The woman linked to Ben Affleck following his split from Jennifer Lopez has been revealed as Rolling Stone journalist Jancee Dunn. Dunn was interviewing the movie star when he decided to show her just what his life is like for the article, and so he suggested they act like lovers for the afternoon. The resulting photographs led to a bidding war in America as publications thought they had pictures of Affleck with his new girlfriend. The couple's day of running from the paparazzi is detailed in the new issue of Rolling Stone.

Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson is in talks to make a fifth Lethal Weapon film. The Passion Of The Christ filmmaker is reportedly in talks with director Richard Donner, who is desperate for him to reprise his role as renegade cop Martin Riggs. However, there is no word on weather Gibson's co-star Danny Glover will be required to reprise his supporting role as detective Roger Murtaugh. The last Lethal Weapon film - which starred Rene Russo as Gibson's love interest - was released in 1998.

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore celebrated the festive Jewish holiday Purim together - by partying in baby costumes. Moore, 41, and 26-year-old Kutcher made their way to the Beverly Hills, California Kabbalah Centre on March 7 dressed in pink and blue tots' outfits respectively. A source says, "It was a really wacky party - music, dancing. They were in great spirits. Both were laughing and joking around. It must've been warm inside. Ashton came out, T-shirt covered in sweat, his butt-flap hanging down." The pair partied until 4am, and Moore - who left the party drinking an orange- colored beverage from a baby bottle and carrying a baby gift - drove them back to Kutcher's Beverly Hills home.

Ailing illusionist Roy Horn is recovering from the horrific tiger mauling that left him close to death, with the help of Christopher Reeve's therapist. The star - whose partnership with fellow German Siegfried Fischbacher made them multi-millionaires in Las Vegas - has been recovering in hospital ever since he was attacked onstage by tiger Montecore. However, Horn is eager to let his fans know he is on the mend, saying, "You know, I almost had two feet in the grave, but now I'm doing better."

Oscar nominee Johnny Depp has been deeply moved by the numerous accolades he has received for his performance in Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl. The movie hunk has been propelled back into the spotlight thanks to his portrayal of roguish pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in the swashbuckling adventure. And Johnny - was lives with partner Vanessa Paradis and their two children in France - admits he never expected such attention for the role. He says, "I'm very thankful. I'm very grateful for this past year, and certainly the things that have happened, I had no expectations at all. Certainly not nominations of any sort. So I'm very touched, very moved."

Doting dad Colin Farrell is determined not to allow his own bad habits to impact on baby son James's life - so he has set up a no smoking zone around the youngster. The Alexander star - well known for his chain-smoking habits and his wildman lifestyle - has no intention of putting his six-month-old son's life in danger by exposing him to his vices. The 27-year-old explains, "I've set up a smoke free zone around James. I make a choice to smoke but I'm not going to let what I do affect James. I'm not having smoke getting in his lungs, he's much too young for that. I make sure everyone knows there is no smoking within 50 yards of him or I'll knock them out - no exceptions."

French movie hunk Olivier Martinez has good news for girlfriend Kylie Minogue - he finds young models unattractive. The Unfaithful actor, 38 - who has been dating 35-year-old Kylie for a year - knows that girls who are still in their teens may look like dream lovers but are in reality too inexperienced in life to be interesting. And Olivier would never date a model anyway - because they are not clever enough for him. He explains, "You don't need to be 18 to be beautiful. At 18, most of the time, you are stupid. I used to think, I want girls like that. But beauty is not all about looks. I have never met a model with a brain."