WORLDLY UNWISE

Jennifer Hudson: The 2004 American Idol contestant snagged both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her powerful performance as the hard-luck singer Effie White in the 2006 film version of the musical Dreamgirls.

Bette Midler: The multi-talented Miss M started out as a singer-songwriter, but she8217;s possibly better known as a versatile actress whose roles range from the comedic to the dramatic in movies such as The Rose, Get Shorty and Beaches.

Marianne Faithfull: This 1960s scenester and girlfriend of Mick Jagger has had a long singing career, recording the Rolling Stones8217; As Tears Go By before they did and making a comeback in the 8217;80s with the album Broken English. She8217;s also an actress: The 61-year-old recently had a cameo in Sofia Coppola8217;s Marie Antoinette and stars as a granny-turned-hooker in Irina Palm.

Madonna: Over the decades, the pop superstar has tried8212;and tried8212;to establish herself as a serious actress. Her track record includes hits Desperately Seeking Susan, Evita, misses Dick Tracy, Who8217;s That Girl? and resounding disasters Shanghai Surprise, Swept Away.

A stick-up job

Den oever the netherlands: A 15-m-long replica Viking boat made from 15 million ice-cream sticks has set sail from the Netherlands for London. Named after the Norse god 8220;Thor8221;, the boat took captain Robert McDonald, his son and over 5,000 schoolchildren four years to build. A US-born stuntman, McDonald hopes to visit Britain, after which he wants to follow in the wake of the Vikings and cross the Atlantic, sailing to North America via Iceland and Greenland. 8220;If you can dream it, you can do it8230; I want to teach children that anything is possible,8221; McDonald said. He has loaded his ship with cuddly toys and plans to visit children in London hospitals.
8212;LATWP, Reuters