Before They Were Famous: Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

In just days, the highly anticipated first part of the final “The Twilight Saga” journey begins, when “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” opens in theaters on November 18.

While Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are superstars now, there was a time when they were green youngsters in Hollywood and Access Hollywood was there.

Back in 2002, a school-aged Kristen was promoting her first big break – playing Jodie Foster’s daughter in “Panic Room,” and the role only happened because she was willing to take a chance.

“I asked my parents if I could like, try it out and they’re like, ‘You know, there’s a lot of disappointment, you know, there’s a lot of let downs.’ I’m like, ‘I know, but it’s worth a try,’” a baby-faced Kristen told Access at the time. “They said, ‘OK. We were all so surprised when I even got '[The] Safety of Objects,’ and then when ‘Panic Room’ came along, it’s such a huge movie, I’m like, ‘Woah!’”

Robert got his career in Hollywood started a little later than Kristen’s, but his director in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” Mike Newell, pegged him for big things, telling Entertainment Weekly at the time, the young man would likely have a big career ahead of him.

“Hopefully,” Robert smiled, when Access read him the quote.

What the young man was more interested in back then – in 2005 – was the wounds he received while working on the film.

“I’d just be covered in cuts and bruises every single day, and you’d be covered in all this fake blood as well so you didn’t know when you were actually bleeding,” he laughed. “It was quite grueling.”

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Posted in: Before They Were Famous,Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine,Sex Scene,The Duggars Expecting 20th Child,US Pledges New Funding

Matt Lauer Officially Retires ‘Where In The World’ Segment… For Now

“Today” show co-host Matt Lauer is officially retiring the NBC show’s popular “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” segment after 10 seasons of globetrotting… for now.

On Friday’s Access Hollywood Live, Billy Bush asked Matt – live via satellite from Barbados – if he was ready to hang up his traveling hat.

“Are you done with ‘Where in the World’ for sure?” Billy asked Matt.

“You know, 10 sounds like a better number to end on than nine did, so I think so,” Matt said. “I think we’ve had a great time. We’ve been to 51 places… around the world.”

However, the veteran journalist left the door open for the segment to return in the future.

“It gets tougher and tougher to find extraordinary places,” he said. “So, if we’re not completely done with it, we’re certainly going to rest it for a good long while and maybe revisit it with a twist at some future date.”

In addition to Barbados, the 10th and (possibly) final “Where in the World…?” trip saw the 53-year-old traipsing through Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland and Namibia. It was the latter locale where Matt impressed “Today” viewers – and his co-workers – with his extreme sports skills as he gracefully skied down the sand dunes along the country’s Skeleton Coast.

“I think the most fun I had was the sand-skiing,” he told Billy. “It was a good way to start the week.”

As for the most memorable moment of this trip, Matt said Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, won him over.

“That reveal on Thursday from the top of Europe – 11,745 feet up – just the trip up there was ridiculous,” he said. “But to stand at that spot and look out over the glaciers and the Swiss Alps – that, I think, was my favorite moment of the week.”

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Posted in: Access Hollywood Live,Leo Talks Taking,Matt Lauer Officially Retires,Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine,Where In The World

James Earl Jones Accepts Honorary Oscar From Afar

James Earl Jones is about to receive an honorary Oscar for his nearly five decades in film, but the 80-year-old thespian says he shouldn’t even be an actor.

“One, because I’m a stutterer,” the deep-voiced star said by phone from London, where he is starring with Vanessa Redgrave in the stage production of “Driving Miss Daisy.”

“And two,” he continued, “my introduction to motion pictures was sitting on a bench in Mississippi watching a movie on a makeshift screen, a sheet stretched between two stores, and when a fistfight broke out on screen on that sheet, I freaked out. I couldn’t handle the violence, so I hid under the bench and begged people to make them stop, and they didn’t. They just watched.

“I guess I said if I can’t stop them, I better join them.”

Join them he did, making his big-screen debut in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic, “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”

Jones was nominated for the best actor Oscar for 1970’s “The Great White Hope,” the same role that won him a Tony two years prior. He has appeared in scores of movies, plays and TV shows, and gave voice to two of film’s most memorable fathers: Mustafa in “The Lion King” and Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” trilogy.

“When Darth Vader first spoke on film,I denied it was me,” Jones said. “I had good reason: I thought it was special effects.”

Asked to compare stage, screen and voice acting, Jones said, “I love it all. I even love commercials.”

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences called in August to say they were honoring him with an Oscar at the third annual Governors Awards, Jones thought it was a joke.

“The caller convinced my son, who screens everything, convinced him that it wasn’t a prank,” he said. “Once we accepted it as not a prank, we started laughing and haven’t stopped laughing since.”

The actor said he is deeply grateful for the honor and his long tenure as an entertainer.

“I have been very content with my career and very happy, even though I am not primarily a film actor, and that makes it even more astonishing that I would get this award,” he said.

He said he still has more to do on screen: “I’ve done some beauties, but I don’t think I’ve done that movie that can say I’ll leave as my legacy. I’m still waiting for that one.”

And what kind of character might that be?

“An older guy, of course,” he said with a laugh. “That’s the main requirement.”

Jones will be lauded at Saturday’s Governors Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, along with makeup artist Dick Smith and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, who will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

The actor won’t be at the ceremony, though, opting to avoid the long flight to continue “Daisy’s” run uninterrupted. But he’ll be celebrating across the pond and plans to participate via video.

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Posted in: Honorary Oscar From Afar,James Earl Jones,Lindsay Lohan’s Playboy Sprea,Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine,Wanting A Family

Heavy D Dies At 44

Hip Hop has lost another great. Heavy D has died at the age of 44.

On Tuesday, a rep for the rap star confirmed the news to Access Hollywood.

While his death investigation is in the preliminary stages, a rep for the Coroner’s Office told NBC News that the rap star’s passing appears to be of natural causes.

Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Meyers, was best known for his song, “Now That We Found Love,” which was released in 1991 with his group, Heavy D & The Boyz.

He was also behind the theme song for the FOX sketch comedy “In Living Color.”

Earlier this month, the star performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards. He was also featured in Eddie Murphy’s “Tower Heist.”

Heavy D’s last Tweet before his death, written on Monday night, was, “BE INSPIRED!”

Just before that he Tweeted about the loss of boxing legend Joe Frazier, who passed away on Monday following a bout with cancer.

“SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER..RIP.. truly one of the best heavyweight champs that ever lived.. GODS SPEED,MR FRAZIER!”

After news broke of the hip-hop star’s death, a host of stars hit Twitter to share their condolence.

Missy Elliott: “U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we’ve shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever Love u Heav[y].”

Marlon Wayans: “I didn’t cry this much when my own grandma passed #smh *wipes teArs, giggles, snot bubble, giggles.”

John Legend: “I’m so sad about Hev. He really was a wonderful person.”

Alyssa Milano: “@heavyd Sending thoughts and prayers to your family and friends.”

Shawne Merriman: “People enjoy your life don’t worry or complain about what you don’t have be thankful R.I.P . @heavyd.”

Nick Cannon: “*Tears* for my man @heavyd #noshame I love that dude!”

Nicki Minaj: “We’ll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD.”

Wendy Williams: “RIP Heavy D…..love you like cooked food!”

Keyshia Cole: “When I met Heavy D.. He said ‘believe U have a good soul, Sing with always having Something to say’. This was 1 year Be4 the 1st album RIP.”

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Posted in: Family,Heavy D Dies At 44,Jessica Simpson,Kris Jenner Dishes On Kim’s Split,Loses Another Celeb,Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine,Sugarland Singer,Wanting A Family

Jessica Simpson: ‘Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Jessica Simpson’s first pregnancy has been a breeze — so far.

“I feel great, I honestly do,” the 31-year-old star told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush on Tuesday.

“Pregnancy is a friend of mine, so everything has been running smoothly,” Jessica, who was promoting her new Beauty Mint skincare line, continued. “So far, so good – no morning sickness. I feel great. I’m tired, but you know, I’m making a baby here!”

The mom-to-be did reveal a few changes that have happened to her body, saying she’s had “swelling in the belly and boob area.”

Jessica – who announced her pregnancy last month after much speculation – revealed that she decided to take the test without first telling fiance Eric Johnson.

“I did the pregnancy test. I was feeling a little off,” she recalled. “[I first told] Eric, of course. He was in the house. He didn’t know that I was taking a pregnancy test, so I kind of shocked him. I came in shaking like, ‘Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This is happening!’ We both cried. We were in shock and kind of just sat there and stared at each other.”

Jessica and the former NFL player, 32, will welcome their new addition to the family in 2012.

“I am having a spring baby,” she told Billy.

The happy couple announced their engagement in November 2010. Previously, they said they hope to wed by Christmas 2011, but Jessica told Billy they now plan to push their nuptials back.

“We were going to throw something together, but I’d rather put more time in it and be able to really enjoy the day,” she continued. “When you’re pregnant, your hormones go crazy. I don’t want to be super stressed out and end up being a bridezilla! So, I’ll wait until after.”

The singer/fashion mogul and upcoming star of NBC’s “Fashion Star,” said her days of being in front of a camera 24 hours a day appear to be behind her.

“Letting everybody in on every detail of your life, that’s a hard thing to do,” the singer explained. “I feel like, for me, those days are over, but I can always be who I am on camera… I’ll always be myself.”

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Posted in: Access Hollywood Live,ad Injury,Boosting Smoothie Recipe,Character,Europe Awards,Jessica Simpson,Pregnancy Is A Friend Of Mine,US Pledges New Funding