Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow had to practically beg to star in the indie film "The Good Night," reports her brother Jake Paltrow — who makes his feature-film directorial debut with the darkly humorous film opening this Friday (Nov. 2) and starring Martin Freeman, Penelope Cruz, Simon Pegg and Danny De Vito.

"She'd read the script early on and said, 'Let me play Dora, this is such a great part.' And artistically I very much wanted her to do it, but I was very hesitant to put her in the movie," explains Paltrow, who also wrote the intriguing tale of a former pop-star-cum-jingle-writer (Freeman) who uses his lucid dreams about a fantasy woman (Cruz) to escape the dull drudgery of his everyday life and relationship with his girlfriend, Dora (Paltrow).

"I was just insecure about it," he admits candidly. "I thought that her involvement would eclipse the movie or it would seem like a vanity project or there would be this kind of nepotistic haze over the thing, and I really didn't want that." Things changed, however, "once I had Penelope and Danny and all these other great actors. … I felt so confident because all these other people had responded to the screenplay, and I thought, 'Well then, we have to do it this way because she's the best actor in the world.'"

As a mousy brunette, Gwyneth is almost unrecognizable in the film. Jake, an already-established TV director on such shows as "NYPD Blue" and "The Jury," notes that his sister "really likes the idea of subverting that film persona that audiences have a relationship with already, and it informs her performance."

HURRAY FOR BOLLYWOOD: "The Sarah Silverman Project" regular Laura Silverman is delighted that "we might be doing a Bollywood episode. I'm really looking forward to it. Me and Jay (Johnston, who plays her love interest) would get to do one of those sort of Bollywood musical numbers. I'm dying to do that even though I'm a terrible dancer, but I will work very hard. I just love that stuff, and they keep promising that it's going to happen."

Odds are good the promise will be kept seeing as how Laura is the boss's older sister and she plays Sarah's older sister on the Comedy Central show. New season episodes are running through mid-November, and the troupe just started shooting 10 more segments that will air in the spring.

Laura says her on-screen persona is a very fictionalized version of the real deal. "It's not a very realistic show," she notes, "and when people meet me, they can see it's not really the same person.

I am the quieter of the two, and I do tend to be the one Sarah comes to for advice. She counts on me to help her like a big sister, but my character is so optimistic. I don't say I'm not optimistic, but I'm not as doe-eyed about it." She adds, "We have a lot of fun with the show, my sister and I. We can play off each other and find ways to make things work where she's not just an a-hole and I'm not just a pathetic simp putting up with it. We found a way to show we both get something from each other."

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: "I feel like I have the best birthday of the year," says "Till Death's" Eddie Kaye Thomas, who turns 27 today (Oct. 31). "If you had a birthday on Christmas, you'd be missing a day of presents, but I get Halloween — with a lot of presents! And I love the holiday. It can be with friends, and it can be with family, kids and adults. It's the kind of holiday everybody can celebrate." The "American Pie" actor says he's never "gotten too wild" with his Halloween costumes. "I usually got whatever was on sale. I did Norman Bates one year, and once I did Santa Claus. That always makes people happy."

HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF: Emmy-nominated "Creative Juice" hosts Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza proudly report the dynamic duo's DIY show — which takes crafting to new levels — is being shown in schools around the country. "'Creative Juice' has aired as part of Cable in the Classroom," says Filian, of the program that utilizes cable TV shows to enhance schools' curriculum. "It's so great because in a lot of these schools, the art programs are being eliminated," adds Piacenza, "but creativity and using your imagination is absolutely important for the growth of kids."

The duo's ingenious ideas for Halloween, which have run all month, will air as an all-day marathon today (Oct. 31) on DIY, and then Filian and Piacenza move into high gear for the upcoming holidays. "Just after Thanksgiving, we have 'Creative Juice for the Holidays,' a special with home-decor ideas and an awesome recipe for infused vodka. It's pretty delicious and perfect for the holidays." And, "we have 'Holiday Giftnanza,'" adds Filian. "We show you all the different projects you can make and give as gifts, like organic beeswax candle and brown sugar body scrub."

CELEB SCENE: Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day looked sexy — and slim — when she turned up to perform at New York's The Plumm club the other night, laying to rest rumors of her being pregnant with Diddy's baby. And it wasn't just her lean look. O'Day was seen cuddling up to Evan Ross (Diana's son) after her performance.

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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