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08-05-00 news EXCLUSIVE
ShowbizIreland.com Shorts...

EWEN MCGREGOR
Scottish actor Ewen McGregor has told how he jumped at the chance to play Irish playwright James Joyce in the movie Nora. The star says that after reading the script for Nora the opportunity was just good. "It just blew me away because Joyce's and Nora's relationship as just so honest and open. It's incredible exposing that kind of emotion. This isn't a Hollywood kind of romance. This is a very real relationship with ups and downs." Ewen (29) admits he studied for months for the role but still found it hard to play. "I was working on my instincts. It was very different from playing someone like Nick Leeson who is still alive because their was interviews I could watch and read. But with Joyce all I had was his writing, letters and photographs. I had to make him my character. So he's the way I think he was."

EUROVISION
Ireland's Eurovison hopeful Eamon Toal jetted off on Sunday to Stockholm with the parting words "We're gong to give it our very best shot." If Eamonn wins on Saturday at the Eurovison it could only mean one thing? Another Eurovision headache for RTE who will have to host the event next year. For they have already pledged to host next years concert if Ireland wins.

WESTLIFE
Ireland's Westlife are to make their movie debut this month performing the theme song for a new animated film. The band's track We Are One is to star in the cartoon movie A Monkey's Tale. The song which features on their hit debut album will be played over the credits of the movie. The film also includes voice-overs by Irish based actor John Hurt and Austin Powers actor Michael York. A Monkey's Tale tells the story of two fighting monkey families sort of a Romeo and Juliet for the ape world. The film opens in the UK on May 26 and here in Ireland on July 7.

BOYZONE: RONAN KEATING
Boyzone's Ronan Keating made an appearance in Dublin today for launch of singer/songwriter Paul Brady's new album. Ronan is heading off to Monte Carlo this week and revealed to ShowbizIreland.com that he is to have his first solo Irish concert in November. The star has also just landed another film soundtrack song to follow his hit song from the film Notting Hill "When you Say Nothing At All." He will star on the soundtrack of his first American film Boys and Girls. Keating recorded the song "If I don't tell You" for the movie which is described as a modern day version of When Harry Met Sally. Screen stunner Claire Forlani of Meet Joe Black fame and She's All That star Freddie Prinze Junior play the leads in the movie.

GABRIEL BYRNE
While most of our Irish exports are being good abroad Dublin's Gabriel Byrne has been causing havoc in New York. Last month he caused a stir by walking off the stage in New York when a photographer took his picture too much. Then over the weekend Byrne blew up at another photographer when he caught him having dinner in a restaurant with a pretty girl instead of attending an awards ceremony where he was to get an award. The Irish star lost his temper when he was photographed in the New York restaurant. He then rowed with the photographer-who claimed Byrne only backed off when he threatened him with a can of mace gas. Byrne who is divorced from actress Ellen Barkin was due to accept a Drama League award at New York's Grand Hyatt Hotel as one of the years outstanding artists. But organisers said that Byrne has pulled out at the last minute. Byrne is currently appearing on Broadway in A Moon for the Misbegotton.