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Claire Danes is officially off the market. E! Online reports that the 29-year-old actress is engaged to her British beau, Hugh Dancy. The couple met while filming the 2007 romantic drama, Evening, in Newport, R.I. The engagement was confirmed Friday by a rep for People.

Dancy is returning to the big screen this year with the release of the film, Confessions of a Shopaholic. The timing is ideal — the romantic comedy is set to be released Friday before Valentines Day. Dancy recently starred in the award-winning film, Adam, which was featured in the Sundance festival. E! Online reports that it won the festival’s Alfred P. Sloan Award for a film that features science or technology as a theme.

Dancy told Usmagazine.com that his perfect girl is “intelligent, somebody who makes me laugh. I know people always say a good sense of humor, but they’re usually lying. Somebody who kind of has an independent life and ambition.”

American Danes seems to fit the profile — her ambition has led her to her next venture, starring in the upcoming drama, Me and Orson Welles. The coming-of-age film will be costarring Ben Chaplin.

The couple were recently seen stepping out together at the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild awards. The 61st Annual Awards were held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on Jan. 31 in Los Angeles, California.

Olympian champion Michael Phelps made a public apology on Wednesday after being photographed inhaling from a marijuana bong.

In the picture, 23-year old Phelps is captured engaging in illegal drug activity at a South Carolina party nearly three months after his record-breaking performance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Stephen Marche from the National Post commented online that ‘the real anomaly in Phelps’s life isn’t his marijuana usage, it’s his 12-litre lung capacity and 12,000-calories a day diet’. The editorial included Phelps’s apology.

“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again”.

The consequences of Phelps’s actions are yet to be determined. The Richland County Sheriff released a statement saying that it was going to look into pressing charges, and embarrassed corporate sponsors might be looking into retracting their deal with the swimmer.

As of today, the only sponsor to drop Phelps is Kellogg’s. There was speculation over Phelps’s big deal with Subway, but according to Perez Hilton’s online blog, a publicist for Subway has refuted claims that Phelps will be dropped as a sandwich spokesperson.

Coming soon to andPOP.com is the new celebrity blog channel. andPOP.com has gained access to some of your favorite celebs who are going to be video blogging exclusively for andPOP! Keep checking back for updates as they are coming soon and also learn about how the audience can be involved! In the meantime please visit andPOP’s Celebrity Blog channel for some great clips with our video correspondent Jordan Bortolotti.

Thanks for watching and stay tuned.

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Hollywood awards season continues to chug along. The Screen Actors Guild Awards were held last Monday and all those you should be watching come Oscar night walked away with awards (J.Hud, Helen Mirren and Little Miss Sunshine).

The Grey’s Anatomy cast took home the award for best ensemble in a drama series, but co-star/homophobe Isaiah Washington was noticeably absent. The actor, whose outburst at the Golden Globes soured the night for the TV show, has entered – you guessed it – rehab! Washington entered a treatment facility this week saying he has some anger issues. I don’t think that’s the only issue you have, Isaiah. No word yet on whether ABC will fire the actor, but if they’re gonna, they might want to hop on that before the unemployment train pulls out of the station.

Lindsay Lohan is still rockin’ Wonderland, but apparently the rehab centre’s special treatment of the teen has been leaving other coke-whores a little P.O.ed. LiLo just has to keep up appearances. You can’t hate on the girl for taking calls from reporters, leaving to film a movie and taking special shopping trips to Rodeo Drive while she’s supposedly ducked out of the spotlight for some T.L.C., can you?

Seems her fellow residents aren’t the only ones who have a hate on for our young wreck. Super actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman have reportedly told their agents to flat out reject any project that has Linds’ name attached to it. Booourns.

American Idol might be injecting a little train wreck of their own next season. Apparently producers contacted the mess known as Courtney Love to see if she’d be interested in taking over the crazy slot currently filled by Paula Abdul. All I can say is that in a Simon vs. Courtney fight, my money’s on Ms. Love.

Occasional singer/actress/blow-up doll Paris Hilton has launched a lawsuit against parisexposed.com. The site posted lots of delicious photos, diary entries and videos stolen from the heiress’ personal collection. Paris, we’ve already seen your sex tape, coochie and daily antics. Nothing can surprise us, so ya might as well save your money and buy some panties or love instead of a lawyer.

Remember Ed Speleers? Didn’t think so. Apparently this 19-year-old was the star of the ho-hum holiday dragon flick, Eragon. These days, though, he’s taking on bricks instead of dragons. Photogs caught up with the actor on a building site where he is reportedly earning seven pounds an hour. You gotta give the boy major props for not going the Screech down-and-out route.

And some news on another British boy. Daniel Radcliffe, a.k.a. Harry Potter, is causing quite a stir by posing all grown-up-and-nude in a new stage play, Equus. Buddy’s underage, but looks pretty ripped and hairy in the nudie promo shots. Fangirls everywhere are no doubt drooling. (Head over to mugglenet.com for more scandalous pictures!)

P.S. People are all up on Ms. Tyra, saying she’s had one too many finger lickin’ good meals. I still think the Amercia’s Next Top Model host looks fab and am uber excited for ANTM Cycle 8! Fierce, y’all!

Hollywood awards season is in full swing, what with the Academy Award nominees announced today and all. We can only hope and pray for some Kanye West-eque shenanigans to make it all worth while.

Who should you be watching at the Oscars? The Queen’s Helen Mirren for best actress, Dreamgirls‘ Jennifer Hudson for best supporting actress, Babel for best picture, and Martin Scorsese for his direction of The Departed. How sweet is it that young Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine got a nom for best supporting actress? And how hot that both Leo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling are up for best actor? I would love Canadian boy Ryan to win, but Leo is in dire need of an Oscar.

Even Borat got a nomination. Sacha Baron Cohen’s mockumentary is up for best adapted screenplay. If it wins, I’ll throw two Oscar parties because, to be frank, that would be a sexy time.

So there was lots going on in the second homes of many celebs this past week. I am, of course, referring to rehab centres. Lindsay Lohan checked in to Wonderland Center, though she has been in and out for obligatory trips to AA meetings. LiLo’s mom, who could easily take the craziest Hollywood parent award away from Joe Simpson, has been taking full advantage of Linds’ rehab stint to get her own crusty face more exposure.

Anyway, it’s apparently sexy actor James Franco who drove LiLo to rehab in the first place. Apparently the smokin’ actor rejected the train-wreck teen. Atta boy, Franco. You, I, and the free world knows you can do better.

Even though Lindsay will be MIA from her upcoming Chapter 27 movie premiere, she isn’t letting her shining star fade. She was photographed for a series of ads for fashion house Miu Miu. Rocking her natural red hair (!) and posing like a porcelain doll, Lindsay looked almost unrecognizable in early sneak peeks of the campaign; meaning she didn’t look coked out or like she had dunked herself in a vat of tanning lotion.

My once-upon-a-time country music crush Keith Urban was released from rehab himself this past week. Upon release, Keith was free to return to his husband wife, Nicole Kidman, who he called “extraordinarily strong and loving.” Uh huh. Sorry, Keith, but not even your catchy new single “Stupid Boy” can re-kindle my love for you. Over-exposure ain’t always a good thing. Neither is naming your latest, unpromoted album something craptastically artsy.

I’ve still got my other cowboys, though. Garth Brooks. Tim McGraw. And Dierks Bentley – who recently ruined himself by chopping off his gloriously boyish locks for his latest music video.

One more country music bit. Cutie Carrie Underwood is denying she and Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo are a thing. Woman, if you haven’t hooked up with that quarterback yet, what are you waiting for? This reminds me — apparently New England Patriots hottie Tom Brady is being pursued by super-freakin’-model Gisele Bundchen, of all people. God, it must be nice.

Well, I almost made it through a column without mentioning Britney Spears. Almost.

Britney no doubt thought she was freakin’ hilarious when she tried to trick the ‘razzi into thinking she had broken up with Federline look-alike Isaac Cohen. Alas, the star-crossed luvas are still together.

Britney took her only oldest son, Sean, out shopping with her for some lingerie to wear for Sean and Jayden’s new daddy and her new plaything. That’s effin-class, if you ask me. Britney reportedly told the haggle on scene that she was picking up something extra skankalicious for Isaac and that he wished he could have been there. If you didn’t just shudder, slap yourself.

P.S. Here are some photos of singers John Mayer and Jessica Simpson loving life and each other at Hollywood spot Nobu. They are so boring together that the best part is the J.Simps titty shot.

Celebrity couples TOM CRUISE and KATIE HOLMES, JENNIFER LOPEZ and MARC ANTHONY and DEMI MOORE and ASHTON KUTCHER joined POSH SPICE VICTORIA BECKHAM at the glitzy party PRINCE threw after the Golden Globe Awards on Monday night.

The quirky pop superstar, who claimed the Best Song prize for his HAPPY FEET tune THE SONG OF THE HEART, performed at the Forbes Penthouse inside the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons hotel – and the stars came out to see him.

Even JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, who had mocked the pint-sized singer’s height while accepting the honour on behalf of the absent Prince, was invited, along with ex-girlfriend CAMERON DIAZ.

Other stars spotted at the lavish party included PENELOPE CRUZ, LINDSAY LOHAN, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, CHRIS ROCK, DREW BARRYMORE, SIENNA MILLER and JAMIE FOXX.

The party continued well into the night and Beckham fuelled rumours she’s planning a clothing line with Lopez when she left the glitzy bash with the singer/actress and her husband.

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So Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart is all a-buzz over the Golden Globe Awards, which means I should be too. She is, afterall, the matriarch of entertainment and the puppet I aspire to be.

The winners: Babel, Dreamgirls, Borat. Anyone surprised? Sasha Baron Cohen appeared minus his Borat garb, which must feel a tad strange for him as he hasn’t hit up a public event without the ’stache in awhile.

Is it wrong that a perverse little part of me is screaming with glee that Beyonce isn’t getting half a weave’s worth as much publicity right now as Dreamgirls co-star and Globe winner Jennifer Hudson? I mean, posing like this on the red carpet will just continue to fodder my fire of discontent. Ever since girl released an album essentially named after a pot that cleans your ass, I just haven’t felt the same.

Anyway, J.Hud apparently didn’t even mention Beyonce in her thank-you speech when picking up her Best Supporting Actress award. And who can blame her? Rumours of a Beyonce-initiated feud have been flying since the buzz began about Jennifer’s Dreamgirls performance.

Hollywood’s newest “it” girl is Victoria “Posh” Beckham. Mrs. Becks was in Tinsel Town this week scouting out housing and schools for her young. The Beckham’s will land in America this summer when David Beckham’s $1 million US per week contract begins with soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy. It seems Posh fits right in already. She partied after the Globes with the likes of Eva Longoria and BFF Tom Cruise.

Now back to news in the world of those quasi-celebs who didn’t get a Globes invite (there weren’t many of them — even Paris Hilton had a line bypass to a hot Globes afterparty hosted by Warner Bros).

My little Britney Spears was out in full-force this past weekend, proving that you can, in fact, buy love. She took new boy-toy Isaac Cohen out for a weekend in Las Vegas, springing for $40,000-a-night love nest, complete with rotating bed. I’ll leave that one to your imagination.

Photogs apparently had a hard time capturing Issac in a photo with Brit. He often trailed behind Britters, keeping his distance. Can’t say I blame him.

Here’s a point for Brit’s ex, Kevin Federline. Apparently he’s getting a Superbowl commercial. Britney was snubbed for one.

Actress Scarlett Johansson has been pegged as the reason for Justin Timberlake’s breakup with Cameron Diaz. The two got cozy at a Hollywood nightclub where Justin introduced Scarlett to his mom (who takes their mom clubbing with them?) Nothing has been confirmed or denied, but the relationship watch is at red alert for these two.

And here’s a nugget from a C-Lister who wasn’t anywhere near the Globes. Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart was gettin’ a little P.O.ed on her blog this week. Seems American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry needs to be stopped!

She thinks his craptastic band stole lyrics from her even more craptastic songwriter husband. Why would anyone yoink a song with lyrics like “the good things in life are hard to find” or “can’t let it bring us down”? If you’re gonna steal, Chris Daughtry, at least spring for the Grammy winner.

Remember the days when “celebrity” evoked thoughts of untouchable fame, glamour and charm? Neither do I.

Today’s celebs are equated with nothing more than scandals, eating disorders, divorces and coochie shots. But with gossip this juicy to brighten our mundane days, who needs sophistication anymore anyway? Welcome to Celebrity Noose.

I might as well kick things off with the train-wreck that is my former girl crush Britney Spears. Since dumping Fed-Ex, Britney has been romantically linked with everyone from Paris Hilton to Federline’s producer JR Rotem. Well, it seems Britney is giving true love a go yet again. She was photographed frolicking on a boat last week with a model/aspiring actor. This guy (whom friends call Issac Cohen) looks a little like Federdumped, don’t he? Repeat after me, Britters: step away from the leeches, step back toward the newly single Timberlake. The fangirl in me can dream, can’t I?

Speaking of the Fed-Ex, he’s supposedly planning a big surprise. The dude won’t slink away without a fight and he’s promised a big shocker on his website. Will Kevin attempt another CD? No, he can’t be that much of an idiot. Maybe he’s announcing that Britney sex tape exists afterall?

It seems like Rotmen’s doing OK since Hurricane Brit hit. TMZ caught him leaving a Paris Hilton party with singer Mya. Wonder if she finally proved her love is like woah.

Little Canadian sk8r punk turned serious, yet super fun!, songstress Avril Lavigne has revealed the cover for her third album. I thought you were over the faux, brooding emo look Avs?

And it looks like Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden is finally getting some. He’s been all about celebutante Nicole Richie since his split from perma-teen Hilary Duff. The ‘razzi caught Madden and Richie love-in on a beach this week. And no, not even Richie herself knows what she’s doing with Madden.

Nicole Feenstra checks in weekly with her dose of Celebrity Noose.