Avon calling for Reese

She doesn’t conjure up images of the average suburban housewife, but the actress Reese Witherspoon, 31, has become an Avon Lady nonetheless.

The Oscar winner has been named as the first-ever global ambassador for the cosmetics company. “Avon is more than an iconic world-class beauty leader,” says Witherspoon. “It is a company known the world over as a crusader for women’s causes.”

As honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation, she will also focus on breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief initiatives. But while Witherspoon will appear in Avon advertising globally, she is unlikely to come knocking on our doors. Shame.

— When it comes to journalism, The Bourne Ultimatum (Matt Damon’s new outing) oozes authenticity. Much of it is filmed in and around The Guardian. Even the editor looks familiar, down to his Harry Potter glasses. Odd, then, that the “security correspondent” is played by the young, dashing Paddy Considine. Friends of the paper’s own Richard Norton-Taylor have marvelled at how many similarities there aren’t.

— Sir Menzies Campbell will be heartened by the news that the University of St Andrews, of which he is Chancellor, has been rated top for “student satisfaction” in the Good Universities Guide. Sir Ming will have been particularly pleased that, although St Andrews is Scotland’s oldest university, age was not considered an impediment.

— Melanie Brown, Scary Spice to most, has become Absolutely Terrifying Spice to Eddie Murphy with the news that she is seeking to establish through the courts that he fathered her daughter, Angel Iris. Mel B is hoping for “reasonable child support” payments. Given Murphy’s earning power of $20 million a film, Angel Iris should be a golden child.

— The comedian Dom Joly shares his own Heathrow security woes in The Spectator, writing that, at Pearson airport, Toronto, officials were even happy to stamp the passport his wife had made for their daughter’s toy panda. Regarding Heathrow, he writes: “I thought for one terrible moment that Pandy might be headed straight to Guantanamo.”

— Brave of Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, to agree to field calls on Victoria Derbyshire’s Five Live breakfast show yesterday. Perhaps he realised this. After the show began, with irate calls from junior doctors, the Department of Health pulled him out, offering his deputy, Martin Marshall, instead. “Although,” the department added, “he won’t speak to callers.” Not much use on a phone-in show, said producers. So the DoH agreed to a few. And then it called back to say that, by unhappy chance, it turned out that he was busy, too. Fancy.

— Still going strong in our attempt to run a Harry Potter story every day, we bring you the hot news that the Chinese Potter industry is determined that the books continue, J.K. Rowling or not. Thus, Harry Potter and the Porcelain Doll is already on shelves, and future titles include Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Harry Potter and Harry Potter and the Big Funnel.

— The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has signed a deal for a reported £3.5 million to write his autobiography, a tome that will trace his trek from cherubic choirboy to rock ’n’ roll legend. Let’s hope he manages better than Mick Jagger, who abandoned his autobiographical quest saying that his life and times had been too boring.

Postscript

Lee Strasberg’s acting institute in New York is the most prestigious theatre school in the world. Students are encouraged to employ their “intellectual talents”, which is probably why the intellectual Jade Goody has enrolled as a pupil. She told this to Closer magazine. Which is how we know it’s not a joke.

— Finally, People would like to pay tribute to a gossip legend and habitual resident of Popbitch.com, who died this week. The name Goatboy will mean little to most, but plenty to many. Suddenly, there is less in this world that makes us go “arf”.

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