NEWSMAKERS

Q&A: Colin Firth

He's got the girl, but can he keep her? Does he want to? Colin Firth is back as the surly but smoldering Mark Darcy in "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason." He spoke with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin about the perils of being dreamy.

Can you believe you're in a sequel?

We're denying that. There was already a second book, so we're calling it a literary adaptation. We don't know what you're talking about.

You have a few scenes with Hugh Grant where you both sort of fight like girls.

Very disappointing to hear you say that. Years of military training went into what you see there. The truth is, we decided there was more comedy in being utterly real about how two middle-aged men in suits would fight. Very high in hormones, very low in ability.

I thought you were going to say you were accustomed to fighting like a girl.

That is what I'm saying. The last time I actually had a fight, I was 7 years old--and I did fight exactly like that.

What was the fight about?

I believe somebody pulled my ears because I kicked his ball away.

Does the whole cult of Darcy embarrass you? Do girls send you their undies?

No, I'm afraid the feedback I get is depressingly proper. And I've lived with it too long for it to be embarrassing.

How does your wife deal with it?

It hit within weeks of us being together, so I think she felt she got a slightly fraudulent package.

But by then you'd locked her up.

Quite, and made sure bridges were burned.

Hugh Grant seems like he takes the p--s out of everyone. You included?

Relentlessly. It's an occupational hazard of working with him. I gave back a bit, though.

Did you pull his ears?

There was some of that. If you get physical with him, his proclivity for whining is as present as his razor wit.

Harvey's Girls

Matchmaker, matchmaker, what were you thinking? Broadway has long had a taste for zany casting moves--witness Tamyra Gray ("American Idol"), who last week stepped into the role of an Indian film director in "Bombay Dreams." But this may be the most daring stunt yet: Harvey Fierstein, late of "Hairspray," has signed to play Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof." Never mind that Fierstein sings like he has a fiddle stuck in his throat. Has Fierstein played a straight man--not to mention a father of five girls--in his entire career? Then again, if Fierstein can't make a go of it as Broadway's greatest mensch, he'd be a hoot as Tevye's wife, Golde.

Cameron vs. Cameraman

Hot couple Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake got into a big fight last week, but luckily--deep breath, folks--not with each other. After paparazzo Saul Lazo, 21, unwisely jumped out of the dark to snap shots of the two lovebirds leaving Hollywood's Chateau Marmont hotel on Nov. 6, Diaz apparently put her "Charlie's Angels" training to good use. The overmatched photographer learned firsthand that Diaz did at least some of her own stunt work. She allegedly struck Lazo in the neck, then wrestled away his camera and took off with it. Publicists for the couple released a statement insisting that they were "ambushed by two men"--the other one snapped shots of the melee, quickly published by Us magazine--"who jumped out of a concealed hiding place on a dark, deserted street late at night. Any actions by Diaz and Timberlake were merely taken in self-defense." The photographers have now filed a lawsuit against the couple. Good. Now we'll get to see Diaz kick butt again--in court. Maybe she could even play herself on a very special episode of "Judge Judy."

Lifestyles Of the Rich & Litigious

It wouldn't be Newsmakers without a bizarre lawsuit involving Liza Minnelli. But she's not the only one with legal woes. In Hollywood, fading stars don't just get old anymore. They get sued.

Bill Maher

Ex-girlfriend quit her job for him, got dumped, wants $9 mil.

Julie Newmar

Ex-'Catwoman' sued by neighbor Jim Belushi for harassment

Burt Reynolds

A wrinkle: he's suing. Claims his ex is extorting hush money.

Liza Minnelli

Sued by ex-bodyguard for abuse and (gulp) coercing sex