LA Guardian lured home to Sydney

From:The Daily Telegraph
Date:November 12, 2005

The actor formerly known as Simon Denny, or Simon Baker Denny, and now just Simon Baker, this week packed up his life in LA and is bringing wife Rebecca Rigg and their three kids home after 10 years in Hollywood.

Better known as legal hotshot Nick Fallin to Guardian fans, Baker has had success in the film world with roles in Land of the Dead and The Ring 2 since Guardian was given the chop.

But it appears he'll be coming home to face the employment section of the local papers, with his Australian agent this week saying he'll be looking for work.

Baker flies into town this weekend and is expected to split his time between Sydney and Byron Bay, where he owns a beachside home and spends his spare time surfing.

Their 13-year-old daughter Stella pitched in and helped as removalists got to work hauling boxes from the family home this week - one box was clearly marked "surf".

The couple's other two children, Claude, 7, and Harry, 4, will now call Australia home, with Harry leaving his godmother Nicole Kidman behind in LA.

From The Daily Telegraph .

Simon on AFI Awards Dinner!

From:Melbourne Herald Sun
Date:13nov05
By FIONA BYRNE

HOLLYWOOD heavyweight Russell Crowe is likely to sing at the AFI awards in Melbourne this month.

Crowe, who will host both the AFI Craft Awards for behind-the-scenes artists on November 25 and the AFI Awards Dinner the following night, is expected to use the events to kick off his corporate gig tour in December.
But the gruff star won't have centre stage all to himself. Sources tip Marcia Hines to perform with him at the awards.

Crowe will also co-produce the awards with Peter Wynne, one of the country's busiest big event producers.

An all-star cast is heading to Melbourne for the AFI Awards Dinner, which will be held at Central City Studios, Docklands.

Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, Golden Globe winner Rachel Griffiths and Oscar-nominated Toni Collette will be presenting film and television awards on November 26.

Martin Henderson, who has a best supporting actor nomination for his work on the gritty Little Fish, will attend and present, as will The Guardian star, Simon Baker.

Vince Colosimo, Claudia Karvan and Saskia Burmeister have also been confirmed as presenters.

Other awards performers include Delta Goodrem, who will also present one of the awards, and Nick Cave.

With Paul Dainty as executive producer, the AFIs have undergone a total revamp.

The night, inspired by the glamour of the Golden Globes, is shaping up as one of the most spectacular on the Melbourne event calendar.

The cream of Australia's acting industry has been invited to attend.

AFI Awards guests will walk along a 100m red carpet and attend an elegant cocktail party at the Waterfront City Pavilion at Docklands before the awards dinner.

The AFIs will be televised on Channel 9.




Melbourne Herald Sun