Free Britney

In her new movie, that is.

Yes, actress Brittany Snow, who's been in mostly wholesome roles up until now, has been a bad, bad girl in filming her latest movie.

In the upcoming drama Black Water Transit, Brittany breaks out in the complex, racy role of a troubled prostitute.

"Basically, I have sex with everybody in the movie," Brittany Snow says in the new edition of Vegas Magazine, which comes out August 1.

"I wear nothing the entire time."

Gulp. This is quite the revelation for those of us accustomed to seeing a cute Brittany Snow in Hairspray (with hottie Zac Efron), John Tucker Must Die (with train wreck Jesse Metcalfe), TV's American Dreams or the legendary soap opera Guiding Light.

But people grow up, and you know what, everyone has to play a troubled prostitute sometime. Heck, Britney Spears practically is one in real life.

But that's a topic for another time. For more revelations about the 21-year-old actress, check out excerpts from the interview with Brittany Snow below:

On dealing with the critical world of Hollywood:
I'm a messed-up actress. I should be strong and have this thick skin, but I'm a really sensitive girl.

On hitting the Sin City scene on her 21st birthday:
We were up for probably three days straight â€" without any drugs â€" but lots of alcohol and lots of coffee.

On being taken seriously for her craft, not her lifestyle:
I'm really excited to show people that I am an actual actress, not just wanting to be like other celebrities and go to this party and that party.

It's a noble sentiment. Here's hoping we see more of this new Brittany in the coming years and less of the crazy Ms. Spears ... or Brittany Murphy.

If we had our way, we would devote 100 percent of our time to speculating over who Lauren Conrad is dating or to harmlessly mocking train wreck celebrities like Lindsay Lohan.

But occasionally, as we saw with WWE star Chris Benoit, tragedy strikes the world of celebrity news, hammering us with sad stories we never saw coming.

The latest such shock? Cheryl Kosewicz, a contestant on the canceled CBS reality show Pirate Master, was found dead in her home on Friday, KOLO-TV in Reno, Nevada, is reporting.

Officials told the station the death of Cheryl Kosewicz is believed to be a suicide, but is still under investigation.

Just two months earlier, Cheryl Kosewicz's boyfriend also took his own life.

Her death was confirmed by fellow Pirate Master contestant Nessa Nemir, who posted on the show's Facebook page:

"All of the pirates and Cheryl Kosewicz's friends and family are shocked and devastated. It is a tragic loss that we all feel very deeply."

Another contestant, Joycelyn "Joy" McElveen, wrote on her MySpace page:

"I lay in my bed tossing and turning waiting on someone to wake me up from this horrible nightmare. What nightmare you may ask? The nightmare that I thought I would never have to deal with the news that my best friend is dead. I immediately scream out in pain and sorrow."

Kosewicz was the fourth person eliminated on Pirate Master, which was canceled last week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck took time out from waving the U.S. flag and talking about staying the course in Iraq to give a ringing endorsement of her new co-host on The View.

"I loved working with Whoopi Goldberg," said the pregnant Hasselbeck at Super Saturday in Watermill, N.Y., during a fundraiser for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

"She is soulful, has a world of experience to bring to the table, and I don't sense any sort of political agenda. She's so funny, but at the same time, she is one of the most thoughtful people that I've met."

Last week, The Hollywood Gossip learned that Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg would soon be announced as Elisabeth's co-hosts on The View.

Hasselbeck's comments seem to be in direct contrast to her feelings about Rosie O'Donnell, with whom she famously clashed on political issues.

O'Donnell abruptly left the show in May.

Meanwhile, with her latest baby bump clearly visible, Elisabeth Hasselbeck herself will likely take maternity leave from the show in a matter of months.

"The pregnancy is going well," Elisabeth Hasselbeck said.

"Today, with the heat, I'm sweating. But this is the first time I've actually felt pregnant. I feel really great. I pay less attention to the pregnancy the second time around, because I have a daughter, I'm busy with another child."

Asked if Barbara Walters is also a fan of Goldberg, Hasslebeck said, "You'd have to ask Barbara. But I'm sure she is. Who isn't into Whoopi Goldberg? She's an amazing person."

You know who's really into Whoopi? Paris Hilton. Think about it.

Yesterday, we brought you photos of Lauren Conrad and her new mystery man and asked for help in identifying this tall, handsome devil. A couple of you think you have done it.

Rumor has it that Lauren's newest "accessory" is Josh McRoberts, a former Duke basketball standout chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 37th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

So far, photo evidence that Josh McRoberts is the fellow seen with LC is inconclusive. See the pictures below, of him playing Georgia Tech... and playing the field with our girl in L.A...

My, sports and celebrity gossip continue to intertwine. Although we're happy to be writing about a possible young romance for a change, and not the war or words / baby mama drama surrounding Matt Leinart and ex-girlfriend Brynn Cameron.

Or the disgrace to humanity that is Michael Vick.

Anyway. College basketball fans may recall that despite his stature and natural talent, the 6'10" McRoberts was often thought of as a soft player at Duke... Lauren Conrad robably hopes he isn't a soft player when it comes to her. If you know what we mean!

Fans, The Hollywood Gossip needs your help. How do you know for sure that this is Josh McRoberts? We're obviously curious. Leave a comment with the info you've got - and help our eager celebrity news reporters be the first to get The Hills scoop!

Doggone it, Michael Vick is in deep crap.

Bad plays on words aside, the troubled, disturbed Atlanta Falcons quarterback is being called out by his endorsement partners for his alleged role in a dogfighting ring.

The Washington Post reports that Michael Vick has been suspended from endorsement deals with Nike, Reebok and a trading card company, thanks to the federal dogfighting indictment against him.

Gosh, no one has had this much trouble with an animal since Usher and Tameka Foster.

This week, Nike suspended Michael Vick without pay, saying in a statement:

"Nike is concerned by the serious, highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick, and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent."

Perhaps bowing to pressure from groups like PETA, the Nike vowed to stop selling Michael Vick-related products but will not to terminate his contact until his case is filed.

Reebok, meanwhile, opted to stop selling Vick's jersey, as has the NFL, which has suspended sales of Vick's #7 jersey. Donruss trading card company has also yanked Vick's card.

Don't worry, fans. You can still get Matt Leinart trading cards! Brynn Cameron may take issue with his parenting, but you don't see Leinart standing around watching pit bulls get hosed down and strapped into crude electrocution devices, do you?

No, you don't.

We don't know who this dude is with Lauren Conrad.

We also have no idea when or where these pics were taken, or even who sent them to us. But if you want real news, go watch Elisabeth Hasselbeck and pals on The View.

This is a celebrity gossip site, people. That being said, random, anonymous emails containing unauthenticated Lauren Conrad photos are good enough for us.

In any case, here's LC and her mystery man in the back of a taxi cab. LC appears to be upset or confused over something… perhaps the fare was a tad higher than she'd hoped? The cab driver also looks distressed. Maybe he ran over Britney Spears‘ new puppy?

She could just be drunk, of course, and if she is, we applaud her. Why? She is taking a cab! What a concept! One that Paris, Nicole and Lindsay Lohan would never consider. Bitches.

Moving on. Below, here are Lauren and this gentleman again, most likely on their way in or out of one of the hottest Hollywood clubs, such as Hyde or Les Deux.

While Lauren Conrad is clearly trying to hide herself from throngs of celebrity news photographers, her escort seems to soak it in. Looks like a nice fellow.

Any ideas, readers? Who is this guy? Is he the same guy as was seen with our girl when in those LC bikini photos last week? Are you looking forward to The Hills or what!?

Here's an instant classic for the celebrity photo archives.

A picture has been obtained of the scuffle that resulted in the citing of Britney Spears' rough (and aptly-named) bodyguard, JC Camera, by the Las Vegas Police Department after he raged and started beating up a celebrity news photographer from Flynet.

Julio Camera, nicknamed JC, allegedly attacked the photographer from behind after the shutterbug accidentally bumped Britney Spears' older son, Sean Preston.

Reports say J.C. Camera doled out a savage beating while he was on the ground, as hotel personnel rushed to pull the overzealous thug off the photographer.

Wow. Covering celebrity gossip is becoming a more dangerous profession by the day. The photographer was treated for his injuries and charges will likely be filed.

As this was happening, K-Fed demanded that Britney return to L.A. Neither he or Spears are allowed to travel out of state with Sean Preston and Jayden James without permission from the other, as per their temporary custody pact.

Sources say Kevin and his lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, are mulling over how to handle this matter and whether to file a written complaint against Spears. This saga may play second fiddle to Lindsay Lohan this week, but wow, what a wreck Brit is.

Amid concerns from her family about her recent behavior, Britney Spears wanted to move on and enjoy some time away... by, of course, taking the kids to Vegas.

The pop star, joined by her brother Bryan Spears, flew in a private plane to Sin City on Wednesday afternoon with kids Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months.

It didn't take her long to make her presence felt. As a result, Britney Spears and her bodyguard might not be welcome at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel anymore.

Eyewitnesses tell Us Weekly that Spears' bodyguard, Julio Camera, a.k.a. JC, roughed up a photographer outside the Wynn spa after an altercation over the photographer's proximity to - and possible contact with - Sean Preston or Jayden James Federline.

A photographer who was shooting Spears at the resort claims that JC Camera shoved his partner in the chest - and accidentally hit Sean Preston in the process.

The photographer alleges that Britney Spears started yelling while JC Camera tackled his partner to the ground and began punching.

He claims that after Wynn security asked Britney Spears and all parties involved to leave, the Las Vegas police were called to take statements.

Las Vegas Police say JC Camera was issued a citation for misdemeanor battery. Meanwhile, Loretto says that Spears has filed an allegation of battery on behalf of Sean Preston Federline against photographer Kyle Henderson.

Britney Spears' battery allegation remains under investigation, with Las Vegas police issuing the following statement about the JC Camera incident:

"A second Incident Crime Report was also filed by Britney Spears on behalf of her minor child. In that report it was alleged that prior to the above incident a second photographer, identified as Kyle Henderson, battered both Julio Camera and Britney Spears' child, who was at that time being held by the security officer."

As of 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, the big sister of Jamie Lynn Spears had checked out of the Wynn hotel, although it is not certain that her departure was voluntary.

A Wynn spokesperson declined comment on the incident, and the hotel would only say in a statement that "the Wynn does not comment on guests of the hotel."

SIDE NOTE: Where the heck is Daimon Shippen? This guy is EVERYWHERE with her for two weeks and then falls off the face of the Earth? Where did JC Camera come from?

Britney might not be able to skip out on her problems altogether, though. A trip of this nature poses problems for any custody battle with her ex-husband K-Fed.

Under California law, neither parent is allowed to take a child out of state without written permission from the other, or by obtaining a court order.

According to a source close to Kevin Federline, Spears failed to notify her ex or his attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, that she was taking the children to Las Vegas.

We hear that the FedEx - by far the most sane of the two parents - has already filed a complaint. We will have more on this bizarre story as it develops.

We've barely had time to digest the great news of Claudia Schiffer nude photos.

Now, though, we're faced with another super model taking her clothes off in a magazine. It's a tough, celebrity gossip-filled world in which we live.

Arena magazine, the same publication that brought us sexy, nearly naked pics of Keeley Hazell and Avril Lavigne, has now outdone itself: Heidi Klum is posing in the latest issue.

Heidi Klum nude. Yes, this model as given birth to three children. How does she do it and remain so svelt?

Klum, of course, is known for her work on Project Runway, as well as her work as one of the best famous mothers on the planet. She and Seal have three adorable children.

Like Eva Mendes naked, Heidi is obviously proud of her body, as she ought to be. Simply put, this is one of the most beautiful people in the world and she should be showing off what God gave her.

We now pause from our coverage of Lindsay Lohan's insane bender to bring you other breaking celebrity news from the exciting world of celebrity DUIs.

Nicole Richie appeared in court this morning and copped a plea in her DUI case, stemming from her infamous December arrest, and as a result, will do time.

Sources tell TMZ that Nicole Richie either pled either guilty or no contest. Lionel Richie's daughter appeared before the Court Commissioner and was sentenced on the spot.

Given that the "actress" is pregnant, and merely screwed up like a moron, rather than showing complete disregard for the law, we didn't expect her to get a harsh sentence.

Unlike worthless BFF Paris Hilton, Richie did not make a scene and was given a short sentence of 96 hours, or four days in jail. By law, anyone with two DUIs must serve at least five.

She was credited with one day served for the time she spent locked up the night she was arrested. This DUI conviction was Nicole Richie's second, following one a few years prior.

"Wrong way" Richie was arrested on December 11, after she drove the wrong way on a California freeway while high on the weed and Vicodin.

Then again, at least she didn't try to run people over.