holiday gossip filler blues

BECKINSALE HIT BY PICKPOCKETS TWICE IN TWO DAYS

British actress Kate Beckinsale was targetted by pickpockets twice in two days during Christmas shopping trips in London earlier this week.

The beautiful star first fell victim to a sly thief on Monday between the time she left her limousine with husband Len Wiseman and when she went to pay for gifts in plush department store Harrods.

An insider says, "Kate and Lenny spent a few hours browsing. But when they got to the till they realized they had been stung. It was a disaster, they had no way to pay.

"It was a real panic because they had left all their Christmas shopping to the last minute. They borrowed money from friends to make sure there would be presents under the tree on Christmas morning."

Beckinsale was next touched by crime when she returned to the store with her personal assistant, who had her purse stolen at some point during the visit.

The insider adds, "Kate and Lenny can't believe their bad luck. You never expect something like that to happen two days running."

ANDERSON AND DORFF SMOOCH ON A BEACH

Former "Baywatch" beauty Pamela Anderson has been photographed passionately kissing actor Stephen Dorff, quashing reports she's dating a model.

Anderson, 37, had been linked with Christian Monzon but recently surprised onlookers by smooching "Blade" star Dorff on a Malibu, Calif., beach.

One says, "It wasn't long before Pammy stripped off and Dorff couldn't keep his eyes off her body."

A friend of the hunk adds, "They have a lot in common. This could be the start of something special."

WIFE AND MOTHER BATTLE OVER RAMONE ESTATE

Late punk icon Johnny Ramone's estate has become the focus of a battle between his widow Linda Cummings and mother Stella Cummings.

The former Ramones star -- real name John Cummings -- died on September 15 in Los Angeles of prostate cancer. He was 55.

In an interview with American website Page Six, Stella claims her famous son promised her $2,500 a month, but she believes Linda convinced the rocker to leave her out of his will.

Stella laments, "I think she got him to change the will when he was sick, but I don't have any proof.

"It's been one big nightmare for me. Two weeks before my son passed away, he said, 'Linda will send you a check every week.'

"I haven't received a penny from her. And she's used foul language to me. It's disgusting. She said, 'You'll never get a penny of this money.' It's not her money, it's my son's money. She can't give me something to survive on?"

Supermarket cashier Stella was distraught when Linda failed to notify her the date of Johnny's cremation service.

Stella continues, "That's my son! And I was close to my son. I was never told about it."

Linda responds, "Everyone always leaves everything to their wife. Her son made every decision, and everyone who knew Johnny Ramone knows that. No one ever told him anything. She wasn't left anything in the will. That was her son's choice, not mine.

"She has every bit of information from my estate lawyer to her estate lawyer. If she can't accept his decision, that's her problem. It's very sad that she called a newspaper about this. Johnny was such a private person and I know he's looking down at her and saying, 'This is disgraceful.' It is really despicable and disgusting to do this to him. It's my money and Johnny's money."

JOLIE'S SUPERBIKE

Actress Angelina Jolie has bought a new $20,000 superbike.

The British-based "Tomb Raider" star agreed a deal on the handmade Italian 750cc MV Agusta Brutale after giving it a test ride at an airfield in Kent, England.

A source at showroom Red Dog Motorcycles says, "Everyone was shocked when Angelina came in.

"But she was really down to earth and knows what she's talking about with bikes. She was thrilled with it."

TWAIN: 'MY WEALTH IS A BURDEN'

Country star Shania Twain hates the trappings of her success, and wishes she was impoverished instead.

The sexy singer has made millions from an ultra-successful solo career -- reportedly $57 million from concert ticket sales this year alone -- but she sees the money she makes as a burden.

Twain explains, "Money is a burden. All anybody needs is enough to eat and have a roof over their heads.

"Any more than that is a stress. My son is going to have money, and he's going to be stressed."

DRUG COMPANIES WARN EMPLOYEES OF MOORE

Michael Moore's latest plan to expose the inner workings of America's health-care system has prompted at least six drug companies to warn their employees to watch out for the director.

The firms fear that while shooting "Sicko," Moore will attempt to stage ambush interviews, a technique which he has used in the past for his film and television work.

Stephen Lederer, a spokesman for Pfizer Global Research and Development, says, "We ran a story in our online newspaper saying Moore is embarking on a documentary -- and if you see a scruffy guy in a baseball cap, you'll know who it is."

Other companies, such as GlaxoSmithKiline and AstraZeneca have also instructed employees not to answer questions posed by Moore, but to redirect them to each company's communications department.

Rachel Bloom, executive director of corporate communications for AstraZeneca, notes, "Moore's past work has been marked by negativity, so we can only assume ('Sicko') won't be a fair and balanced portrayal. His movies resemble docudramas more than documentaries."

But Moore feels the movie, which is expected to be released in 2006, will strike a common chord with the American public.

He explains, "Being screwed by your (health-care provider) and ill-served by pharmaceutical companies is the shared American experience."

TURLINGTON PLANNING MORE KIDS

Supermodel Christy Turnlington is already planning more babies with actor husband Ed Burns, just two months after giving birth to their first child, daughter Grace.

The catwalk queen is so taken with motherhood, she can't wait to get pregnant again -- and wants another three kids.

Turlington says, "More children are definitely on the agenda.

"I'd like to fit in as many as I can. I always said more than one, less than five. Four would be perfect -- if you have three there would always be one who was left out.

"Being a mom is even better than I hoped it would be. Everyone says this, but it really is a feeling you can't possibly understand until you experience it. It's amazing."

GRANT'S SEXY PRESENT FOR BELLE

Hugh Grant has bought a special Christmas gift for his girlfriend Jemima Khan -- sexy underwear worth $570.

The pair have been dating since Khan divorced ex-husband, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan earlier this year -- and Grant clearly wants to mark their first Christmas together.

He was spotted shopping for the lingerie in a London shop yesterday, by an onlooker who says, "He was trying to hide his face so he couldn't be recognized, but all he did was draw more attention to himself.

"He was very thorough though, and examined every piece of underwear in the shop.

"In the end, he chose a black vest with a matching thong and several pairs of dark blue lacy G-strings."

STEWART FELT 'FOOLED' WHEN HUNTER LEFT HIM

Veteran rocker Rod Stewart was devastated when his ex-wife Rachel Hunter left him after nine years of marriage, but thinks he deserved it.

The singer, a well-known ladies man, felt "fooled" because he believed he would spend the rest of his life with Hunter.

Stewart says, "It hurt because -- and I'm not blaming her -- I was a silly [bleep] and I should have known. I was 45 and she was 21 (when we started dating).

"It hurt because this was the woman I was going to pledge the rest of my life to. I felt like I'd been fooled, but at the same time there was a sneaky feeling that the old man up there's got you back."

Stewart thinks he deserved his heartbreak because he left previous loves Kelly Emberg and Alana Hamilton, both of whom bore him children.

He says, "I sometimes have guilt pangs about being in two relationships where children were involved that I walked out of.

"Then karma got me back because Rachel left me, so all is square now."

MINOGUE TO PLAY EXCLUSIVE RUSSIAN GIG TOMORROW

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue will play a private concert for Russian oil barons on Christmas Day, and she'll receive $950,000 for her trouble.

The singer will travel to Moscow with her band and backing dancers for the festive bash.

A source says, "Although it is Christmas it was just too much money to turn down for one gig. The party is for the cream of Russian society."

STEFANI: 'I'M NO MOVIE STAR'

No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani wants it to be made clear that she isn't a movie star following her debut in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator."

Stefani insists she will remain primarily a singer, although she is keen to continue her recently launched solo career.

And she dislikes all the attention lavished on her for her role as legendary actress Jean Harlow in "The Aviator," because she is only onscreen for a few minutes.

Stefani says, "I'm not a movie star. It's almost embarrassing talking about a movie that I'm only in for a couple of minutes. It's like, don't blink or you'll miss me.

"Leo(nardo DiCaprio) and the rest are the stars and I'm just lucky enough to have a moment in it playing Jean Harlow -- a real Hollywood legend.

"I've been trying to do films for years, but it's hard to find the right roles. I would love to get to a position where I was known for my acting as much as my singing."

JOLIE'S SANTA SILENCE

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie's young son Maddox won't be waiting for Santa Claus tonight -- the actress has banned Father Christmas.

The brunette beauty celebrates Yuletide every year, but refuses to join fellow parents by claiming the fictional festive gift-bearer and his reindeer will climb down Maddox's chimney.

Jolie says, "I don't want to tell him Santa Claus exists when he doesn't. I don't know about the Easter Bunny, either."