JOSH LUCAS ENGAGED | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Josh Lucas & Mr. Will-W.

Back in October, I spotted Josh Lucas at Toronto Pearson International Airport after spending Canadian Thanksgiving away with his Girlfriend.  Well, Lucas confirmed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night, that he is now engaged!

The Actor who is now busy in the U.S. with his Castmates promoting NBC's The Firm, which premieres this Sunday at 9:00 PM EST.  He will be returning shortly to Toronto to continue filming the first season of the Series based upon the Josh Grisham Novel.

Watch as he explains to Leno how he knew she was the one:

JULIETTE LEWIS & MOLLY PARKER IN TORONTO FILMING "THE FIRM"

Juliette Lewis & Mr. Will-W.

After spotting her Co-star Josh Lucas earlier, I soon after saw one of my favourite Actresses ever, the charismatic and under-cast Juliette Lewis. I've hoped much to meet her on many a TIFF in the past, but just never had the luck.  The Singer/Actress today was juggling both Press and Acting with  the Media visiting her for NBC Series, The Firm which has had her in the City since late Summer.  

In the Series Lewis plays the role of Tammy, a Secretary who plays a crucial party in assisting Lead Character Mitch (Lucas).  In the 1993 Film version of the John Grisham Novel, that same Role was played by Oscar Winner Holly Hunter.

Although visibly rushed, Lewis who was carrying a metal Thermos, made time for her Fans and instructed us to hurry and snap so that we could our Photos together.  She then rushed into her Production Van with acclaimed Canadian Actress Molly Parker, who plays Mitch's Wife Abigail (see below).

JOSH LUCAS IN TORONTO FOR "THE FIRM"

Josh Lucas & Mr. Will-W.

Heaththrob Josh Lucas always brings a smile to our faces and it was back-to-work for him after a relaxing Canadian Thanksgiving weekend spent in Los Angeles. Lucas stars in NBC's hotly-tipped series The Firm based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. The Legal-Drama series also stars Juliette Lewis and our v. own Molly Parker and Tricia Helfer.  The Series is set to premiere in 2012 and 22 episodes already have been ordered.

This is my second time spotting the Actor - I met him last year during TIFF - and I can say he's 100% pure legit Southern Charm.  The Firm continues to film in and around Toronto though April 2012.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JULIETTE LEWIS IN TORONTO FOR "THE FIRM"

Juliette Lewis at TIFF 2010

Academy Award-nominated Actress and Musician Juliette Lewis currently is in Toronto doing a bit of house hunting as she will be relocating to the City early August.  Lewis has been cast in NBC's Legal Thriller/Drama series The Firm, based upon the same John Grisham Novel as the acclaimed 1993 Sydney Pollack Film.  Lewis has been cast alongside Josh Lucas and both were in Toronto just last September for the Toronto International Film Festival.

While in-town, Lewis was spotted dining on the patio at ONE Restaurant in Yorkville dressed in hot pink. Just this past weekend, she attended the Calgary Stampede and after completing her hunt here, she will be headed back to Los Angeles for a bit of packing.

The Firm is set to begin production early August 2011 and will wrap April 2012.  Check out NBC's official website for the Series here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

INTERVIEW: DEV | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Dev in Toronto - March 2011

Although the name Dev might not yet ring a bell for many of you, the Singer/Rapper is being touted as one of 2011's hottest names. I mean, most of us know her already as the Singer of the Hook on Far East Movement's Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topper Like a G6. "Oh yeah, her!".

The 21 year-old née Devin Star Tailes hails from Los Angeles and like many recent breakthrough Acts, was discovered online.  In her case, Electro-Pop/Hip-Hop Duo The Cataracs (David Benjamin Singer-Vine and Niles Hollowell-Dhar), who are now responsible for hits performed by the likes of Far East Movement and Justin Bieber, discovered her on Myspace where she had posted an unassuming Amy Winehouse Cover.  In her words, "they liked it and then invited me to sing on their tracks.  We found that we were a good fit.".  The rest is history in the making.

Dev and I sat down to chat on a chilly March morning, the sunlight casting a shadow over the upper floor of a popular Queen St. mainstay still not yet open for the day's business.  In need of a pick-me-up after an early morning of Radio interviews, she sipped on her Espresso, to be followed by a glass of White Wine.  Dressed in a Leather Biker Jacket over a blue Mullet Dress, her hair in a flattering Bob, Dev looks edgy.  At the same time though, she exudes a youthful exuberance as she giggles while adjusting her Dress  in place with it seemingly not being cooperative, as she gets comfortable in her Bar Stool.

She confesses to me that although she took Music Classes in School, it wasn't until she connected with her  eventual Producers that she had truly become serious about making Music in what she calls a "structured setting".  

JULIETTE LEWIS INJURED IN HIT-AND-RUN

Juliette Lewis at TIFF 2010

The immensely talented Juliette Lewis was injured sadly Wednesday night after having been involved in a Hit-and-Run after the premiere of Conviction in Beverly Hills at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.  Police are still looking for the Offender, but it is said that the Driver who hit Lewis' vehicle had run a red light. 

To send your well wishes, you can Tweet her here.  Fortunately, a friend updated her Twitter reassuring us that she is fine.

Lewis, who partied hard in Toronto a few weeks ago during TIFF, delivers a phenomenal performance in Conviction as an Alcoholic Perjurer, which you have to see to believe.  I wouldn't be surprised if this bad Karma leads to good fortunes Awards season. 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

INSTYLE MAGAZINE CONVICTION TIFF PARTY

Below are just a few of the faces seen tonight at the InStyle Magazine Party for Tony Goldwyn's Conviction. Just after midnight Betty Ann Waters, whom the movie is based upon, could be seen stumbling onto the street inebriated completely, before she and her friends were loaded onto an SUV to head off to Queen Street hotspot Sweaty Betty's for drinks. How fitting.

Aaron Eckhart

Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt

Justin Long

A separate SUV came prior to load what would be a star-studded ride including Hilary Swank, Justin Long, Juliette Lewis, Sam Rockwell and Tony Goldwyn.  As always, Lewis was out-of-it.  But hey, it's a party!  Hopefully she'll be coherent for her 9 AM Press Conference for the film.  

And of course Aaron Eckhart was a complete surprise as were Mad Men star Jon Hamm and his partner Jennifer Westfeldt.  Hamm is one of those people who I just seem to have no Photo-luck with, first accidentally deleting a perfectly lovely shot of him from Friday at The Town's Press Conference and now after taking a perfect photo together, it turned out that our photo was blurry!  Help!  I need a Photoshop Doctor.  This is an emergency!!  

HILARY SWANK CONVICTION TIFF Q&A VIDEO

As posted yesterday, I had attended the world premiere of Tony Goldwyn's Conviction and here's a clip of the Q&A I recorded where the Director discusses his casting choices.  You can also see how amazing Hilary Swank looked also!

HILARY SWANK AT TIFF PREMIERE OF CONVICTION (REVIEW & PICS)

Hilary Swank & Mr. Will-W.

One of the films I looked forward to seeing most at TIFF 2010 is Tony Goldwyn's Conviction, formerly know as Betty Ann Waters. Let's face it though - its parallels to Erin Brokovich are undeniable: unlikely woman hero defeats the legal system with hard work, love in her heart and undying.... conviction.  The film received its world premiere earlier today at the VISA Screening Room.

The film stars double-Oscar winner Hilary Swank as a single mother with a waitressing job who put herself through Law School to have her innocent older brother Kenneth (Sam Rockwell) released from prison. He was serving a life sentence for a murder he did not commit. It sounds unbelievable, but it really happened.

Although the film doesn't quite soar to the same tearily emotional you-can-do-it heights The Blind Side did, it is a satisfying journey and an eye-opening portrait of how many changes have been made in  the Legal system and the impact DNA identification has had on it.

Swank rarely disappoints despite having taken a few missteps lately like Black Dahlia and Amelia, but she is back in familiar territory again here as a tortured soul with a fighting spirit. She is my co-favourite Actress alongside Kate Winslet and it was an extreme honour to have been one of the few who got to meet her and believe me, many were trying to get to her, a vision of gorgeousness in a back-revealing blue number.

Supporting performances from Clea Duvall, Ari Graynor, Melissa Leo and Juliette Lewis also are stellar across the board, with Lewis somehow managing to steal the show in one scene and a mouth full of rotting teeth.  She plays an ex-girlfriend of Kenneth's who winds up testifying against him in court.  Minnie Driver plays Abra Rice, Betty's best friend who also studies to be a Lawyer and the chemistry between her and Swank is wonderful. Rockwell is endearing in this endless emotional rollercoaster and one cannot help but fall in love with his vulnerability.