The Taking of Pelham 123 may be the first big drama movie to hit Summer 2009, but it’s certainly not John Travolta’s first blockbuster smash! From Grease to Pulp Fiction, he’s played good guys and bad guys, but his latest movie Pelham is his most villainous character yet!

Born February 18, 1954, this dimpled-chin darling made his debut into the world in Englewood, New Jersey, as one of six children. Perhaps it was in his genes (his mother was an actress and singer and eventually a drama teacher), but John moved to New York City after graduating from Dwight Morrow High School and hit the stage in the musical Grease. He also landed a role on Broadway in Over Here!

This taste of the spotlight prompted John to move to Los Angeles to further his career in show biz. His first TV gig was on a soap opera called The Edge of Night, followed by several TV roles, the most famous of which was Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter from 1975-1979. This unforgettable character made John go from actor to superstar.

His first major motion picture role was in the movie Carrie around the same time, and he even had a hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now deemed a movie actor, he appeared in memorable movies such as Saturday Night Fever (for which he became one of the youngest actors to ever be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar) and Grease.

After several negatively received movie roles, John’s career seemed to be on hiatus until his role as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. He’s since chosen movie roles that have brought him both positive and negative reviews, but this actor/singer/licensed pilot’s star has no risk of falling with his newest movie!

Do you feel that the media gave John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston the privacy they requested following the death of their son Jett this past January?

Jennifer Garner has been spotted walking the newest member of the Affleck family, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, ’round Boston recently, which is a refreshing change from some celebs who choose to hide their cute kids away from the public eye! Whether the daughters of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck will shine in the spotlight as child actors or become a pirouetting ballerina like Jennifer was at age three, these cute kids have the potential for talent.

Jennifer was born in Houston, Texas, but eventually moved to Charleston, West Virginia, where she graduated from George Washington High School. Jennifer then began studying chemistry at Denison University, but quickly changed her major to drama when she realized her love for stage acting. After graduating from Denison in 1994, she continued to study drama at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut.

Jennifer’s acting bug soon took her to New York City, where she landed an understudy role in the play A Month in the Country with Roundabout Theatre Company. Her TV debut came quickly after that in a made-for-TV movie called Zoya, which led to several appearances on TV shows such as Spin City and Law & Order.

Her big screen debut came in Dude, Where’s My Car? followed by Pearl Harbor, but she quickly returned to television thanks to a show called Alias. Her role as Sydney Bristow gained her several nominations and awards, yet she still found time for several big screen projects such as Catch Me if You Can, Daredevil, and Juno.

As if TV starlet and big screen actress wasn’t enough success, Jennifer formed a production company called Vandalia Films and went on to make her Broadway debut with Cyrano de Bergerac, adding producer and stage artist to her resume. There’s no stopping this superstar!

Do you think actors and actresses who do their own stunts are more credible?

It seems like all eyes are on this Desperate Housewives star as she recently vacationed through Europe, this time showing off her bikini bod in St. Tropez with husband Tony Parker and another couple.

Eva was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised on a family farm. Times were sometimes tough for this family of Mexican America parents. This aspiring child model sent in photos to a modeling agency, but was declined due to her height. She went on to receive her BS in Kinesiology at Texas A&M University, during which time she won the title of Miss Corpus Christi in 1998. A talent contest shortly after college helped Eva pave her way to Los Angeles, where she was spotted and signed by an agent.

Eva’s first television role was as a guest star on Beverly Hills, 90210, followed by a guest appearance on the soap opera General Hospital. This gig seemed to be the big break she needed, helping her land a role on The Young and the Restless, another soap opera, and a leading star role in Dragnet. Two less successful projects followed her achievements, but did not keep her from landing the biggest role of her career on the TV show Desperate Housewives.

Her jump to the big screen came in 2006 in the film The Sentinel, opening doors to other feature films. She went on to fulfill her dream of becoming a model through contracts with Bebe Sport, L’Oreal, Hanes, and New York & Co. I bet the modeling agency who turned Eva away for her height is kicking itself now!

[photo: Donna Reyes]

Do you think Eva Longoria and hubby Tony Parker will go the distance or fall short like many star romances?

A couple that Twitters together stays together… or at least that seems to be the mantra that Twittering couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher seem to follow. Ashton boasts the title of first Tweeter (Twitterer?) to have more than a million followers, and with them he’s shared his consideration to star in Neil LaBute’s Broadway production of “Fat Pig.” It will be this former model’s first time setting foot on stage, but certainly not his first time in the spotlight.

Ashton was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he grew up and attended Washington High School before moving to Tiffin, Iowa, where he attended the Clear Creek-Amana High School. The move to the new school prompted his involvement in school plays and he also took a place on the football team, although his brother’s heart ailment would motivate him to major in biochemical engineering when he attended the University of Iowa.

While in college, Ashton was approached by a scout in an Iowa City bar called The Airliner. He entered the “Fresh Faces of Iowa” modeling competition, which earned him first place and a trip to New York City for the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention. Although he didn’t win, he still signed with Next modeling agency in New York, which landed him gigs in Calvin Klein ads, jobs modeling in Paris and Milan, and a spot in a Pizza Hut commercial. He headed to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.

Ashton’s first audition secured his role in the TV series That ’70s Show, followed by a series of movie roles such as Dude, Where’s My Car?, Just Married, and The Butterfly Effect. With success on his side, he continued to produce and star in his own series called Punk’d on MTV, as well as executive produce several reality shows, thanks in part to his co-owned production company Katalyst Films.

Ashton continues to dabble in modeling, acting, and as an entrepreneur, but it is his comedic personality and his marriage to Demi that seems to gain him the most attention.

What do you think of Ashton on Broadway? A natural progression or totally out of his element?

Recent pics of Jennifer Lopez on the set of her latest film The Back-Up Plan show no signs of the incessant rumors that she and hubby Marc Anthony are having marital trouble. This cheerful dancer turned actor turned singer has two cute kids of her own, but once was just Jenny from the block.

Born and raised in South Bronx, New York, this Puerto Rican beauty attended Catholic schools, including Preston High School in the Bronx. At age 19, Jennifer financed her own singing and dance lessons while attending Baruch College. After only one semester, her schedule of balancing her job in a legal office, attending dance class, and performing at night clubs left her little time for school.

As she upped her audition schedule focusing on dance roles, J-Lo’s first break was found in various rap music videos. She landed a role as a back-up dancer for New Kids on the Block during their American Music Awards performance in 1991, and her continued persistence landed her a regular job as a Fly Girl on the TV series In Living Color (who didn’t want to be a Fly Girl?!) in 1990 and as a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson soon after.

Opening the door for acting, Jenny from the Block made appearances on several TV series before landing her big-screen debut in the movie My Family in 1995. With a few more films under her belt, her biggest break came with her lead role as Selena in the movie with the same title, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (and the title of highest-paid Hispanic actress in history).

Since then, Jennifer Lopez has managed to juggle life as an actress, singer, producer, and more, keeping her romantic life in the very public eye. It wasn’t until 2007 that she seemed to find her soul mate when she teamed up with her now husband Marc Anthony on the movie El Cantante, proving that a girl from the Bronx really can have it all!

Do you love Jennifer Lopez for her dancing, singing, or acting?

[USCG photo by PA2 Anastasia Burns]

Seems that the innocent impression I had of Jessica Alba may have been wrong! She issued an apology to Oklahoma City and United Way for her bad judgment in getting involved with a campaign that involved vandalizing the city with gigantic posters of sharks. And I thought this Flipper actress was a dolphin fan!

Born in Pomona, California, Jessica’s father’s Air Force career took the family to Mississippi and Texas, during which time she suffered from poor health. Returning to California when Jessica was nine, her health seemed to improve and by age 11 she won the grand prize in an acting competition in Beverly Hills, California… free acting classes. Within nine months, an agent signed her and placed her in the film Camp Nowhere. As a child, Jessica also appeared in a few TV commercials, leading to her roles on The Secret World of Alex Mack and Flipper. She was later featured in several independent films.

Jessica went on to graduate from high school at 16, attended the Atlantic Theater Company, and continued to land several roles on popular TV shows. Her discipline paid off, as she made her big screen debut in Never Been Kissed, but it was her leading role in the TV series Dark Angel that really proved to be her big break.

Now having appeared in several Hollywood films, this cute kid turned Hollywood actress is enjoying her success along with motherhood and marriage. With new projects in the works, Jessica Alba seems to be balancing it all with the grace and beauty of a leading lady.

Critics have criticized Jessica Alba’s acting ability. Do you think Jessica has what it takes to go straight to the top or has she already peaked?

High School Musical star Zac Efron is rumored to be heading to a guest-starring role on the HBO series Entourage. It’s been reported that he has already begun filming for episodes appearing this summer. Whether he’s trying to change his image or just simply taking the road his stardom has paved for him, this former cute kid has definitely hit hot star status at only 21 years old.

Born in San Luis Obispo, California, and raised in Arroyo Grande, California, Zac’s 4.3 grade point average backs his claims that he took academics seriously. Before graduating from Arroyo Grande High School, he appeared in school theatre productions such as Peter Pan and Little Shop of Horrors, worked at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville theater, and took singing lessons. His drama teacher recommended Zac to a Los Angeles agent and he was signed to the Creative Artists Agency.

Although Zac was accepted into the University of Southern California, he deferred enrollment for acting gigs. He did, however, attend Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. His first gigs were in the form of guest roles on TV series such as ER. He eventually starred on the TV series Summerland. He’s appeared on several shows since, including a starring role in a made-for-TV movie on Lifetime, but it was his role in the original Disney Channel movie High School Musical for which he is most well known.

The HSM movies secured Zac’s status as an actor, singer, and teen star, and even landed him on People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People list in 2007. He has since starred in big screen movies Hairspray and 17 Again, but his career shows no sign of stopping there.

Do you think Zac Efron is being labeled as a musical actor/singer, or is there hope for his career to grow?

[photo: Toby Forage]

Will Adam Sandler’s second daughter, Sunny Madeline, have a future as a child actor? Or, perhaps, a cute kid model? At age six months, the youngest Sandler made her public debut on set visiting her actor-father as he films his latest movie Grown-Ups.

Before Adam Sandler was called Daddy, he was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1966. At age five, his family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he grew up and eventually attended Manchester Central High School. While at New York University studying for his BA, he performed in clubs and on campuses as a comedian.

Adam’s first acting gig was a recurring role on the TV hit The Cosby Show, followed by a steady job as a performer on the MTV game show Remote Control. He continued to perform in comedy clubs, where he was soon discovered by comedian Dennis Miller, who referred him to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. After one year as a writer for SNL, Adam became a featured actor on the show.

He made his big-screen debut in the film Going Overboard, but became more widely known for comedies such as Billy Madison and The Wedding Singer. Although he earned kudos for his dramatic acting chops with such films as Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me.

As if being an actor, comedian, screen writer, and musician wasn’t enough, Adam formed his own film production company called Happy Madison Productions in 1999. Now a happily married father of two, he is in production for his 35^th film and continues to find success through acting.

Do you prefer Adam Sandler’s acting in comedic or serious film roles?

[photo: Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería]