Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Debra Messing was put through such physical paces during filming of the May 4 release "Lucky You" with Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana, it almost sounds as if the multi-Emmy-winning actress was doing an action flick. But it was all for laughs, folks.

"I swam with 20,000 fish underwater in a mermaid costume dancing to country and western," says the former "Will & Grace" star, who plays a Las Vegas aquatic showgirl in the romantic comedy directed by Curtis Hanson. "It took 18 hours … I chose not to become too intimate with the fish. We kept a respectful distance from each other." She plays Barrymore's big sister whose sometime lover (Bana) falls for li'l sis, but Messing says her character takes the triangle in stride. "She's world weary, seen everything in a very hedonistic world, so it's 'C'est la vie.'" She adds, "Robert Duvall plays Eric Bana's father. They have a strange contentious relationship between them, and they enter into a World Poker Championship. It's both a funny and dark look at the characters who inhabit that world."

Messing says it wasn't the chance to show off her forte for outrageous slapstick comedy that drew her to the role. "It was the pedigree of the people involved … Robert Duvall, Eric Bana and Drew — it was like a no-brainer to me. Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential," "8 Mile") is one of the greatest American film directors, and I thought having the opportunity to just be in his world and watch him work would be great. I'm a perpetual student. I wanted to be there and learn."

She adds, "A wonderful byproduct of being on the set was that Drew and I really clicked. She's become like a little sister to me now."

FROM OSCAR TO REALITY SHOW: You may remember Three 6 Mafia as the first rap group to score an Academy Award for best song. Now the fellows are trying to take things to new heights with a reality show, MTV's "Adventures in Hollywood," debuting tonight (4/5), about their move to La La Land in pursuit of a movie career. "This is going to be a new 'Three's Company,' 'Good Times,' and 'Sanford and Son' all mixed in one," claims DJ Paul. "There are a lot of people who want to be rappers or get into entertainment, and in the TV show we're chasing all that, so you can see how it is to pitch movies and try to become actors. You can see situations we go through with the label and trying to get our record turned in on time, so there is a lot of seriousness mixed in it as well.

I'm here to teach, too, baby." Adds Juicy J, "We may come across as cool, funny guys, but behind the scenes, we're trying to make music and it's not easy."

CLOSE TO HOME: "Without a Trace" regular Eric Close says this Sunday's (4/8) episode, which marks his directorial debut, was based on a story idea he originated. "I wanted to do a straight-up kidnapping," says Close, who plays a member of an FBI squad specializing in finding missing persons. The actor explains, "I wanted the show to be based on my own fears as a family man with small kids. I think everyone can identify with that moment when you turn around and don't see your kids, even if it's for a second. I tried to capture that experience." Close says the segment is "pretty dynamic … just the story of this family and what they're going through was something I was able to bring some of my own personal experience to because I've got two girls, 6 and 8."

Close says as a result of all he's learned playing his FBI character, "my awareness has definitely been heightened, maybe a little too much — but it's better to err on the side of caution. I find that I'm even more aware of other kids. In a mall, if I see a kid wandering around without a parent, I'll yell out, 'Hey, who's kid is this?'"

HELPING HANDS: With its near proximity to Hollywood, the Children's Assault Treatment Services (C.A.T.S.) unit at Northridge Hospital gets quite a few calls from series like "Strong Medicine" and filmmakers looking for technical guidance on matters involving abused children. Now it's the TV and film community's turn to support the unit, with its Victory for Victims 8K and 5K Walk/Run Event coming up April 15 in Encino, Calif. C.A.T.S. has also garnered the interest of celebrities including Christina Aguilera, a committed supporter of help organizations for those who've suffered domestic violence, as she recalls suffering herself. Christina has been performing her "I'm OK" song before a giant screen reading "Thanks, Mom" during her current concert tour. She's donated some $200,000 to the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, her hometown, and she recently gave the C.A.T.S. unit the green light to set up a showcase at her Staples Center concert in Los Angeles.

Olympic hero Rafer Johnson, who also discussed having been abused as a child in his "The Best That I Can Be" book, is among the notables who'll be at the Walk/Run in support of the unit, where specially trained staff is available 24/7 to provide treatment for victims of sexual assault.

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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