Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Don Cheadle puts a sympathetic face on Islam and its followers in the upcoming indie film "Traitor," as a devout Muslim who makes it clear it is against his religious doctrine to kill another.

"I think that's one thing most people don't know," says the esteemed, Oscar-nominated actor, who plays a renegade U.S. Special Operations officer whose political allegiances are in direct odds with his allegiance to his faith in the feature. "Traitor" also stars Guy Pearce and Neal McDonough.

He adds, "Putting people in dangerous situations and having to sacrifice lives is something his superiors may require, but it's something that his faith prohibits him from doing and speaks directly against."

Providing a counterpoint to the stereotypical view of Muslims who claim glory in killing in the name of Allah was what compelled Cheadle to not only star in the Aug. 27-premiering international thriller, written and helmed by first-time director Jeffrey Nachmanoff. Cheadle was passionate enough to take on a producing role as well.

"What I went into this movie with was a hope to be part of a broader discussion — about what is faith, what is allegiance to a country, what is your job as a citizen, and to what lengths would a person go for security?" says Cheadle. "Because I think that's what was put to this country. That's why we have the Patriot Act, that's why we have wiretapping, that's why we have Guantanamo ... all of those things that fly in the face of what this country is professed to be about."

The edge-of-your-seat thriller that takes place all over the world was shot in just 48 days, says Cheadle. "It was crazy, we pushed it all the way through.

"We went to Toronto, Marseilles, Morocco, Chicago and London, so it was a job of trying to manage all the different locations and make sure we were telling the story right."

AND THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T LAST: The eight-times-married-and-seven-times-divorced Mickey Rooney and wife Jan are celebrating their 30th anniversary this week ... or, as he describes it, "the one marriage that took." Maybe a reason for their longevity is that they have spent much of that three decades performing together. They just signed a contract to spend the holidays performing "Cinderella" in the seasonal pantomime productions in England.

NEW ADVENTURES: Kathryn Morris of "Cold Case" proudly reports that her fledgling Hotplate Productions outfit has sold a series pilot based on Harry Hunsicker's popular "Crosshairs" novel "through Warner Bros. It's a male-driven P.I. show. The main character is a heroic stud, a cool guy that I'm sure would live down the street from Lily Rush," she says, referring to her series character.

The beautiful blond leading lady says she's not planning to act in the prospective show — or any of the projects she's developing — "because of my commitment to 'Cold Case.' But I do have a cameo in a little film that's about to come out — 'Assassination of a High School President.' I play a naughty nurse in that. It was fun."

Knowing all too well the vicissitudes of an acting career — particularly for a woman in her late 30s — Morris has been determined to branch out into producing. She tells us, "I basically had a mentor in Jerry Bruckheimer, teaching me a formula of how to make a good television show from the script through crew, the casting — all the elements. That's why Jerry's shows look like no other in television," including "Cold Case," of course.

BACK ON THIN ICE: Legendary figure-skating champion Scott Hamilton reports he has his agents seriously pursuing more acting work for him. "I'm studying and we're out there shaking the trees to make it happen," says Hamilton, who plays himself as a live action and animated character in Nickelodeon's primetime special "The Fairly Odd Parents: Fairly Oddlympics" premiering tomorrow night (Aug.1).

"I love performing, so whatever the vehicle is, I enjoy every moment of it."

Hamilton says his children, a 4-year-old and 6-month-old, were a large part of him agreeing to poke fun at himself as an Olympic figure-skating champion on hand to cover the Fairy World Games to determine "The Best Magical Creature in the Universe" in "The Fairly Oddlympics" special. "Things like this are just so remarkable and enjoyable to do and they open you up to a whole new demographic. I'll show it to my son for sure." He adds that he'd also like to pursue some serious acting, then quips, "but I'm waiting for Brad Pitt to slow down when he's waiting for the seventh or eighth kid. Maybe Clooney will put me on speed dial for 'Oceans 17.'"

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 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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