SHOWBLZ gossip

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Jan 31, 2008

LA: She is the Queen of Pop, and it's a title that MADONNA deserves, as she is named the top female earner in music. The 49-year-old beat rivals such as BARBRA STREISAND, CELINE DION, SHAKIRA and BEYONCE to be the highest earning superstar in the past year, in a list published by Forbes.com According to Forbes, Madonna banked US EUR72m (pounds 36m) between June 2006 and July 2007 - earnings combined from her Confessions world tour, record sales and her fashion collection with H&M.

UK: Brit actor JONNY LEE MILLER is set to make waves on American TV. He is, starring in new drama series, Eli Stone. The 35-year-old Surrey lad plays Eli Stone, an ethically challenged lawyer who begins to have visions after being told he has a brain aneurysm.

"He's kind of a reluctant hero," says Jonny. "He ends up doing good things, but that's not what he sets out to do."

NY: BENICIO DEL TORO has revealed the learning process never stops for him. "In my job I'm always learning," he says. The Oscar-winning actor took time out from filming to promote his latest film, Things We Lost In The Fire, in New York, in which he stars alongside HALLE BERRY, DAVID DUCHOVNY and ALISON LOHMAN.

LA: MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY has revealed that he is thrilled about becoming a dad.

"It's not a science, but I think I've got the instincts for it. I'm looking forward to the big adventure," he said on US TV show, Entertainment Tonight.

The 38-year-old, who starred in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and The Wedding Planner, is expecting a child with girlfriend, Brazilian model CAMILA ALVES.