People in the news

Victoria Beckham was positively beaming as she watched her first collection for denim label… Victoria Beckham was positively beaming as she watched her first collection for denim label Rock ‘ Republic make its debut during Los Angeles Fashion Week, reports Hellomagazine.com.

The former Posh Spice was all smiles as she took to the catwalk Friday with fellow members of the R’R team. And the grin was still firmly in place as she took time out from her busy schedule for a little retail therapy in some of the city’s trendiest outlets.

Meanwhile, back at home in Madrid, husband David Beckham was on Halloween duty. The proud father accompanied 5-year-old Brooklyn – at his wizardly best in a black cape and matching black hat – to school early Friday.

DEPP DRAWS RAVES

Johnny Depp found himself in Neverland Saturday night.

With his Nov. 12 release, “Finding Neverland,” already igniting Oscar buzz, Depp kicked off the fall awards season by picking up an artistic achievement accolade from the Actors’ Fund of America at a Waldorf-Astoria gala in New York, reports USA Today.

“I’m flattered, dumbfounded and amazed,” said Depp, dapper in a tux.

Angela Lansbury, known to younger fans for her sleuthing TV series “Murder, She Wrote,” also snagged a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony, co-hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.

“If you have enough work under your belt, the years add up pretty fast,” joked Lansbury, 79, who starred in the 1944 thriller “Gaslight.”

But the night was all about Depp, 41, who was recognized for his body of work by the nonprofit group, which provides social services to entertainers.

“What an actor he is!” raved Broadway star Bernadette Peters. “I just love everything he does. I loved `Sleepy Hollow’.”

Depp flew in for the gala from England, where’s he’s shooting “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and spent a fairly ordinary day getting gussied up.

“I took a shower. Shaved. Brushed my teeth,” he said. “But you can never be prepared. You’ve got to walk around in confusion, not understanding why someone wants to give you something as prestigious as this.”

SHE’S THE ONE

Kerry wins in a landslide! Alexandra Kerry, that is.

John Kerry’s filmmaker daughter – who famously wore a sheer dress on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival – has won heavy.com’s “Political Ho Down” contest, where Web-surfers cast their ballots for the sexiest political daughter, reports The New York Post.

Alexandra won with 172,824 votes, beating out Barbara Bush (124,712), Jenna Bush (64,295) and Cate Edwards (24,567).

“Overwhelmingly, Americans want to rock the vote with Alexandra over the other political daughters,” proclaims poll director David Carson.

IS MADONNA NEW FACE OF VERSACE?

Madonna is close to signing “a mega-bucks deal” to star in ads for Versace’s 2005 Spring line, reports MSNBC.com.

A well-placed insider says that the plan is for the ad campaign to be photographed by Mario Testino, who also took the pictures when the Material Girl starred in ads for Versace in 1995.

“Madonna might be known more for wearing a red string these days than she is for wearing cutting-edge fashion,” says the source. “But she’s still a style icon.”

Madonna’s spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, confirmed the story, but downplayed the immediacy of it, saying, “This is in the conversation stage. Donatella Versace is talking to Madonna about it, but Madonna hasn’t made a decision yet.”

THOU SHALT BLING?

According to Ma$e, God doesn’t mind when people adorn themselves with flashy jewelry.

“He don’t have no problem with you blinging,” the rapper said in an interview with The Associated Press, during which he wore a jeweled necklace and bracelet.

God’s heavenly abode proves that he’s the real king of bling, Ma$e added.

“His gates are pearly, his house is about 10 stadiums big, the streets are gold – you do the budget on that kind of place,” said Ma$e, 26.

Ma$e retired from rap in 1999 to follow a religious calling, but returned to hip-hop this summer with the album “Welcome Back,” which is free of the cursing, drug references and womanizing that peppered his earlier work. Ma$e continues to preach in the Atlanta area.

Although Jesus preached about the difficulties of a rich man getting into heaven, Ma$e said wealth isn’t a bad thing.

“God don’t have no problem with you being rich, as long as he can get a dime off a dollar. Any dude you get rich and he can’t get you a dime off a dollar, that’s a stingy dude,” said Ma$e. “If I get you rich, and you can’t give me a dime off the dollar I gave you, I wouldn’t fool with you.”

TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Commentator Patrick J. Buchanan is 66. Actress Stefanie Powers is 62. Rocker Keith Emerson is 60. Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is 43. Actor David Schwimmer is 38. Rapper Nelly is 30.

(Compiled by Michael Hamersly from staff and wire reports.)

(c) 2004, The Miami Herald.

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