You don't become a star with the wave of a magic wand. 

Before Hollywood's awards shows climaxing with next week's Oscars, an army of makeup artists and coiffeurs work for weeks to perfect what you see on the red carpet. 

Embattled NBC News anchor Brian Williams is backing out of scheduled appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show" on Thursday.

That news from NBC came Sunday, a day after Williams said he was stepping away from NBC's "Nightly News" as the network looks into the anchor's admission that he had told a false story about being on helicopter hit by a grenade while reporting on the Iraq war.

Bruce Jenner was not texting while driving when he got into a chain-reaction crash in Malibu that left a woman dead, a publicist for the Olympic gold medalist said Sunday.

Jenner will provide his cellphone records if requested by investigators looking into the cause of the four-vehicle crash on Pacific Coast Highway, Alan Nierob said.

From a wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking taking to the stage to an emotional tribute for late director Richard Attenborough, it was a memorable night at the BAFTA awards ceremony on Sunday.

Here are some of the highlights as up-and-coming actors joined Hollywood heavyweights like Tom Cruise for the event at London's Royal Opera House:

Sam Smith, the British soul singer who was virtually unknown a year ago, dominated the Grammys Sunday with four awards, although adventurous rocker Beck unexpectedly took home Album of the Year honors.

Superstar Beyonce and "Happy" creator Pharrell Williams took home three prizes each on the music industry's biggest night, which was marked by displays of artist activism against domestic violence and police brutality.

Brad Pitt will star in a romantic thriller to be directed by Robert Zemeckis for Paramount Pictures.

The studio announced the untitled film on Friday, revealing scant details of the plot but calling it a "sweeping" epic. The screenplay is by Steven Knight, who penned "Eastern Promises" and recently directed the acclaimed indie "Locke."

Brittany Brown wouldn't miss the opening of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie for anything. She has read and re-read all three books, uses the app, follows FSOG role play on Twitter and set her DVR to record trailers for the highly anticipated Valentine's weekend release.

But ditching her boyfriend for her gal gang of superfans was problematic.

Rosie O'Donnell is leaving "The View" for a second time.

Her publicist, Cindi Berger, said Friday that the outspoken co-host of the ABC daytime chat show is exiting next week to focus on her five children after the breakup of her marriage.

Antonio Banderas, 54, is on form. The Spanish star will shortly play Pablo Picasso in "33 Dias," and will be in Terrence Malick's next film, "Knight of Cups."

Relaxed, the actor sat down with a few journalists to discuss playing a pirate in the new "Spongebob Squarepants" movie, as well as hiking to Machu Picchu with his daughter, and why he wants to leave Hollywood.

Bradley Cooper could make it third time lucky at the Oscars this month, after being nominated a rare three consecutive times for Hollywood's highest awards.

The 40-year-old is shortlisted for best actor for his role in the controversial blockbuster "American Sniper" as former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, one of America's most famous warriors in the second Iraq war.