Q: What is that beautiful actress Rachel Weisz (pictured) currently doing? — A.S.

A: The British, Oscar-winning actress stars with Kevin Kline in the upcoming romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe, and is currently filming the romantic draMy Blueberry Nights, with Jude Law and singer Norah Jones, and the comedy Fred Cs<$>, with Kevin Spacey and Vince Vaughn. She has a few others set to begin production: the drama The Brothers om<$>, in which she plays a millionaire targeted by con men, The Lady from Shanghai and the historical ma The Colossus<$>, with Colin Firth and Susan Sarandon. She is also in talks to co-tar in another sequel to The Mummy, The Mummy 3.

Q: Does actor Liam Neeson have any new movies coming out? — P

A:<$> He co-stars with Pierce Brosnan in the new Western Seraphimlls (<$>see review below); is set to star as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, director Steven Spielberg’s planned biographical film about the former president; provides a voice for the upcom film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian<$>; and is set to start filming the drama>Taken <$>in Paris this month.

Q: I read that musician Dave Matthews is going to join a TV series. Is that true? I didn’t know he could act. ̵K.M.

A:<$> You’ll be able to judge whether he can or not in March. He’s set to play a musician suffering from a neurological disorder in an episode of House. But the appearance is a one-off; he’s not joinithe cast.

Q: I just saw a Nasonex commercial, and the voice doing the announcing sounded so familiar. Who is it? — B.G.

A:<$> The romantic, Spanish-inflected voice belongs to actor Antonio Banderas, whose distinctive voice will again be heard behind an animated character when the third Shrek instalment opensis spring.

Q: I’m a big fan oI>The O.C. Why is it ending? — L.B.

A:<$> The usual reasons. The series started strong when it was broadcast following American Idol, but its move to Thursdays put it up against strong shows on other networks, and it began to lose audience share. Critics also thought the quality dropped after the first season and it became less of a “must-see” show. Ultimately, with little left to cover creatively and the ratings dropping, there was nowhere to go but off the air, which it will this month.

Q: I thought actor Rob Lowe was really good on Brers & Sisters. Is there a chancehe’ll stay on full time? — N.T.

A:<$> Indeed there is. The ratings spiked when Lowe made his appearances, which originally were scheduled to be a limited run. So the producers have asked him to stay on for the entire season, and he said yes, so you’ll continue to see him as a professional colleague and possible love interest of Calista Flockhart’s character.

Q: I thinhis season of The Apprentice is obnoxious. Will it stay on the air#8212; D.S.

A:<$> For the moment, yes. But you’re not alone in thinking that this season, with the action set in Los Angeles instead of New York and the humiliation factor turned up, isn’t as satisfying as the show has been in the past. Donald Trump’s public spat with Rosie O’Donnell has also turned off a lot of fans of the show — demonstrated by the lacklustre ratings of the opening episodes.

Q: I just saw A Prairie Home Companion and was so impressed by Meryl Streep’s singing. Will she eve do a movie musical? She shoul— J.G.

A: <$>Streep, apparently, can do anything . . . if you liked her singing, check out Postcards from the Edge, in which she also sang several numbers. And yes, it looks like she is poised to do a full musical. Apparently, she’s set to star in the film version of the Broadway anondon hit musical Mamma Mia! playing a free-spirited innkeeper on a Greek island whose daughter tries to find out the true identity of her father. In the film, Streep will belt out some of the biggest hits of the Swedish group Abba, which provide the soundtrack of the show.

Q: I was really impressed by Nancy Pelosi’s speech when she took over as House Speaker. But is it true that the band the Grateful Dead was part of the festivis? — M.L.

A:<$> Indeed it is. The surviving members of the Dead were part of the Pelosi ascent because they were in DC at her request to appear at a fundraiser. Pelosi represents the San Francisco Bay area, the band’s base, and according to her spokesperson, she’s a huge fan of the group.