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Miss Piggy is the latest star to bring attention to Harris Tweed.

Hand-woven on the Western Isles, clothing made from Harris Tweed fabric has already been worn by Ben Affleck in Argo and Matt Smith as Doctor Who.

Vivienne Westwood designed the tweed outfit and other costumes Miss Piggy wears in the new Muppets movie, Muppets Most Wanted.

Before the movie’s release, Vivienne Westwood posted a picture on the internet showing the Muppet in tweed.

Miss Piggy has emerged as the latest high profile film character to bring attention to Harris Tweed

Miss Piggy has emerged as the latest high profile film character to bring attention to Harris Tweed (photo Vivienne Westwood)

The picture was taken with London Bridge in the background. A wedding dress Miss Piggy wears was also designed by Vivienne Westwood.

The latest film, Muppets Most Wanted, stars British comic Ricky Gervais.

The Harris Tweed Authority welcomed the appearance of Muppets in the fabric.

A spokeswoman said: “This is an most iconic partnership of true Hollywood, classic Westwood design and the very finest cloth in the world.

“Really, we would have expected nothing less of film’s most stylish lady to be dressed in Harris Tweed this season.”

Ben Affleck wore Harris Tweed in the Oscar-winning film Argo.

Following Argo‘s release, the real secret agent Ben Affleck portrays, Tony Mendez, revealed that Harris Tweed jackets were the “uniform” of CIA agents when working overseas.

Sean Connery wore Harris Tweed in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

For filming in Petra, Jordan, a Harris Tweed pattern was screen printed onto cotton for the Scots actor in hot temperatures.

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Iranian Fars News Agency has digitally altered an image of Michelle Obama announcing the Oscar for Best Picture last night, in order to make her dress appear more modest.

The State-controlled Fars News Agency added a high neckline and cap sleeves to the silver Naeem Khan gown worn by Michelle Obama, who from the Diplomatic Room of the White House, remotely presented the award to Ben Affleck for his film Argo.

Michelle Obama’s image was Photoshopped in order that the garment would be in keeping with the country’s Islamic dress codes that require women not to expose too much skin.

Pre-Photoshop, one can see that the dress actually has a low neckline that stops short of exposing any cleavage, though it does show décolletage.

Instead of sleeves are inch-thick straps, exposing those toned shoulders and arms for which Michelle Obama, 49, is so well-known.

Accepting the Best Picture award last night, Ben Affleck said: “I thank you everyone in the movie, on the movie, worked on the movie, did anything with this movie gets thanked.

“I want to thank Canada. I want to thank our friends in Iran living in terrible circumstances right now.”

Iranian Fars News Agency has digitally altered an image of Michelle Obama announcing the Oscar for Best Picture last night, in order to make her dress appear more modest

Iranian Fars News Agency has digitally altered an image of Michelle Obama announcing the Oscar for Best Picture last night, in order to make her dress appear more modest

Argo is a dramatization of the real-life experience of CIA operative Tony Mendez, who led the rescue of six US diplomats from Tehran, during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

The film relates how Tony Mendez used a fake sci-fi movie as a cover to help the diplomats escape the country.

Iranian State television, however, dismissed the star’s Oscar-winning film today as an “advertisement for the CIA”.

The semiofficial Mehr news agency called the Academy Award “politically motivated” because Michelle Obama had joined Jack Nicholson via video link to help present the best picture prize.

And Mohammed Hosseini, Iran’s Culture Minister, said that Argo “distorted history” for propaganda purposes.

Argo has been banned from Iranian cinemas, but on the streets of Tehran there is a healthy trade in bootlegged copies, with DVDs selling for less than a dollar each.

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Daniel Day-Lewis has made history at Oscars 2013 after becoming the first person to win the best actor prize three times.

British-born star Daniel Day-Lewis, who had been the runaway favorite, was rewarded for his role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.

“I really don’t know how any of this happened. I do know I’ve received much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life,” he said.

Ben Affleck’s Iran-set rescue thriller Argo won the prize for best picture.

In a live broadcast from the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Jack Nicholson to help present the best picture prize at the end of the night.

Argo is the first best picture winner not to have a concurrent nomination for best director since 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy.

But despite Ben Affleck’s omission from the best director category, the film had been widely-tipped to take the top prize.

Oscars host Seth MacFarlane joked at the start of the ceremony: “Argo’s story is so top-secret that its director remains unknown to the Academy.”

Accepting his award alongside fellow producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck paid tribute to the “genius” Steven Spielberg who lost out in the same category.

Referring to his previous Oscar success with 1997’s Good Will Hunting, he said: “I never thought I would be back here and I am because of so many of you who are here tonight.”

He added: “It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life, all that matters is that you get up.”

The Oscar victory for Daniel Day-Lewis puts him ahead of Hollywood legends Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks – who all have two best actor wins to their name.

Daniel Day-Lewis, who holds UK-Irish citizenship, previously won for My Left Foot (in 1990) and There Will Be Blood (2008) and has a reputation for immersing himself in his roles.

Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar for best actress for her role as a troubled young widow in Silver Linings Playbook. The 22-year-old actress, who stumbled over her dress on her way to the stage, joked: “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell over and that’s embarrassing.”

Surveying the huge audience in Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, she added: “This is nuts.”

It was the first Oscar win for Jennifer Lawrence, who was previously nominated for best actress in 2011 for her performance in Winter’s Bone.

Anne Hathaway won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as tragic factory worker Fantine in movie musical Les Miserables.

With her cropped hair and gaunt face, Anne Hathaway’s teary version of I Dreamed a Dream had made her an Oscar favorite.

“It came true,” the actress said when she collected her statuette.

Anne Hathaway’s Oscar was her first, the actress having been previously nominated in 2008 for Rachel Getting Married.

The actress said: “Here’s hoping that someday in the not too distant future, the misfortunes of Fantine will only be found in stories and not in real life.”

Daniel Day-Lewis has made history at Oscars 2013 after becoming the first person to win the best actor prize three times

Daniel Day-Lewis has made history at Oscars 2013 after becoming the first person to win the best actor prize three times

British singer Adele won the Oscar for best original song for her Bond theme Skyfall, which she also performed during the show.

She struggled through tears to thank the Bond producers and her co-writer Paul Epworth, who collected the award alongside her.

Ang Lee won his second Oscar for directing Life of Pi, the adaption of Yann Martel’s fantasy novel about a boy stranded in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The film won four Oscars in total, more than any other film.

The Taiwanese-born director, who won previously for Brokeback Mountain (2006), exclaimed: “Thank you, movie god!”

Life of Pi picked up two Oscars in the early stages of the awards for cinematography and visual effects.

Cinematographer Claudio Miranda admitted in an emotional acceptance speech: “This movie was quite a beast to make.”

Later, Mychael Danna picked up the statuette for Life of Pi’s original score.

Christoph Waltz won his second Oscar for best supporting actor in a Quentin Tarantino film, this time as a German bounty hunter in the slave revenge story Django Unchained.

Picking up the first award of the night, Christoph Waltz offered thanks to his character Dr. King Schultz and to “his creator and the creator of his awe-inspiring world, Quentin Tarantino.”

The Austrian actor won his first Oscar as a Nazi colonel in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds in 2010.

Quentin Tarantino won the original screenplay prize for Django Unchained, adding to the Oscar he won for writing Pulp Fiction in 1994.

“I have to cast the right people to make those characters come alive and boy this time did I do it,” he said.

The best adapted screenplay Oscar went to Chris Terrio for Ben Affleck’s Iran-set siege thriller Argo.

The best short animated film category was won by Paperman, while Pixar’s Scottish adventure Brave won best animated feature.

The award for costume design went to Briton Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina. She described the win as “completely overwhelming” and paid tribute to her children who were “fast asleep in England”.

The make-up and hairstyling award went to fellow Brits Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell for Les Miserables. Tom Hooper’s musical also picked up the Oscar for sound mixing.

Unusually, there was a tie in the sound editing category – the Oscar was shared by Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall.

Searching for Sugar Man, which tells the story of musician Rodriguez who disappeared from public view in the early 1970s but developed a cult following in South Africa, won the Oscar for best documentary.

Producer Simon Chinn said: “Rodriguez isn’t here tonight because he didn’t want to take any of the credit himself.”

Austrian drama Amour won the Oscar for best foreign language film.

The French-language film, directed by Michael Haneke, portrays the indignities of an elderly Parisian couple – Anne and Georges – as they cope with Anne’s wish to die after a stroke.

Host Seth MacFarlane kicked off the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with the quip: “I honestly cannot believe I’m here. It’s an honor that everyone else said <<no>>.”

After an exchange with William Shatner, who appeared as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, the Family Guy creator launched into a satirical song about topless appearances by actresses in the movies.

Almost an hour into the three-and-a-half hour show, Halle Berry introduced a tribute to the James Bond franchise, followed by Dame Shirley Bassey who sang her theme song to the 1960s Bond classic Goldfinger.

The show also featured a salute to movie musicals of the past decade, with Chicago Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dreamgirls winner Jennifer Hudson joining Les Miserables cast members that included Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter and Amanda Seyfried.

During the section of the show that pays tribute to those who died in 2012, Barbra Streisand sang the late Marvin Hamlisch’s The Way We Were, from the 1973 romantic drama in which she starred with Robert Redford. It was Barbra Streisand’s first Oscars performance for 36 years.

Life Of Pi – Four awards, including best director for Ang Lee

Argo – Three awards, including best film

Les Miserables – Three awards, including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway

Django Unchained, Lincoln, Skyfall – Two awards apiece

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Argo and Zero Dark Thirty have won the top screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America.

The Adapted Screenplay Award went to Chris Terrio for Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage drama Argo.

Mark Boal took the Original Screenplay prize for Kathryn Bigelow’s film chronicling the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty.

Malik Bendjelloul won the Documentary Award for Searching for Sugar Man, about the 1970s musician Rodriguez.

The guild was the last of Hollywood’s major trade unions to hand out awards before next Sunday’s Oscars.

Argo and Zero Dark Thirty have won the top screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America

Argo and Zero Dark Thirty have won the top screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America

Argo has emerged as the best picture favorite at the Academy Awards, after scooping the top prize at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes, in addition to awards from the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America.

“I’ve never actually won a call-your-name award before,” Chris Terrio said backstage after winning his award.

Prizes for television writing were also handed out, with Breaking Bad winning Best Drama series.

The writers of Louis claimed the prize for comedy series and Lena Dunham’s Girls was named Best New TV series.

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Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage drama Argo has continued its award-winning streak, picking up three BAFTAs including the top prize for best film.

Ben Affleck was named best director for his film about the rescue of American hostages in Iran, following its success at the Golden Globes last month.

Daniel Day-Lewis won the award for best actor for his role in Lincoln, while French actress Emmanuelle Riva was the surprise best actress winner for Amour.

James Bond film Skyfall won the award for outstanding British film.

Argo beat Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty to win the best film award and Ben Affleck triumphed over Kathryn Bigelow, Michael Haneke, Ang Lee and Quentin Tarantino for the director honor.

Accepting his best director award on stage, Ben Affleck made reference to his career of the past decade, when he fell out of favor in Hollywood.

“This is a second act for me – you’ve given me that and I’m so grateful and proud. I want to dedicate this to anyone that’s trying to get their second act because you can do it,” he said.

Ben Affleck added later it was a “wonderful, warm surprise” to win the best film award, while producer George Clooney praised the star, saying “you are remarkable at what you do”.

Argo also picked up the award for best editing.

During his acceptance speech, Daniel Day-Lewis paid tribute to his fellow nominees – who included Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman and Joaquin Phoenix.

“I don’t know if I deserve this, but I do know that every single one of you deserve it at least every bit as I do,” he said.

The actor also poked fun at his reputation for method acting, saying he had “stayed in character as myself for the last 55 years” in case he ever won a BAFTA.

Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage drama Argo has continued its award-winning streak, picking up three BAFTAs including the top prize for best film

Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage drama Argo has continued its award-winning streak, picking up three BAFTAs including the top prize for best film

However, despite going into the awards with 10 nominations, Daniel Day-Lewis’s prize was Lincoln‘s sole success.

Anne Hathaway was named best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables, while Christoph Waltz won best supporting actor for Django Unchained.

An emotional Anne Hathaway said she was “so honored” to receive her award and paid tribute to her fellow cast members and director Tom Hooper.

Backstage, the actress said taking part in the film was “the most sublime experience – I don’t know how I got so lucky”.

Christoph Waltz put his win down to director, Quentin Tarantino – who won an award himself for best original screenplay for Django Unchained – calling him a “silver-penned devil”.

David O. Russell won the award for best adapted screenplay for Silver Linings Playbook, which he also directed.

Accepting the award on stage, David O. Russell said: “This film is about emotions and this is for every family that faces those emotions every day.”

It was the only award the film received though, despite its stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence being nominated for best actor and actress.

Skyfall beat Anna Karenina, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Les Miserables and Seven Psychopaths to win best British film.

“We all had high expectations for this film and this is really the icing on the cake,” director Sam Mendes said.

Backstage, Sam Mendes said the fact Skyfall star Daniel Craig had not been nominated for an award was due to “the curse of Bond”.

“It was an incredible performance but because Bond is the spine of the movie… you take it for granted.”

Tom Hooper’s adaptation of stage musical Les Miserables came away with the most honors on the night, winning four awards.

In addition to Anne Hathaway’s award, the film also picked up prizes for best sound, make-up and hair and production design.

Ang Lee’s 3D epic Life of Pi – which went into the awards with nine nominations – picked up two awards for cinematography and special visual effects.

Amour won best foreign film, although its director, Michael Haneke, and Emanuelle Riva were not at the ceremony to collect their prizes.

Joe Wright’s adaptation of Anna Karenina came away with the award for best costume design, while Disney Pixar film Brave was named best animation.

Searching for Sugar Man – the true story of 1970s rocker Rodriguez – won best documentary.

Director Sir Alan Parker, whose works include The Commitments and Bugsy Malone, was honored with a British Academy Fellowship – the highest accolade the Academy can bestow.

There was also a special prize for Channel 4 film boss Tessa Ross, who received a lifetime achievement award.

BAFTA Awards 2013, held at London’s Royal Opera House, were hosted by Stephen Fry.

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Ben Affleck has won 2013 DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Argo, further sealing its status as best-picture front-runner at this year’s Oscars.

Saturday’s prize also normally would make Ben Affleck a near shoo-in to win best-director at the February 24 Oscars, since the Directors Guild recipient nearly always goes on to claim the same prize at Hollywood’s biggest night.

But Ben Affleck surprisingly missed out on an Oscar directing nomination, along with several other key favorites, including fellow Directors Guild contenders Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty and Tom Hooper for Les Miserables.

Ben Affleck’s Oscar snub has not hurt Argo and may even have earned it some favor among awards voters as an underdog favorite.

Argo has dominated other awards since the Oscar nominations.

Ben Affleck has won 2013 DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Argo

Ben Affleck has won 2013 DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Argo

“I don’t think that this makes me a real director, but I think it means I’m on my way,” said Ben Affleck, who won for just his third film behind the camera.

The Directors Guild honors continued Hollywood’s strange awards season, which could culminate with a big Oscar win for Ben Affleck’s Argo. The guild’s prize for best director typically is a final blessing for the film that goes on to win best-picture and director at the Oscars.

Ben Affleck can go only one-for-two at the Oscars, though. While Argo is up for best picture, the director’s branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overlooked him for a directing slot.

Backstage at the Directors Guild honors, Ben Affleck said he had nothing but respect for the academy and that “you’re not entitled to anything”.

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Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage thriller Argo was a surprise best drama winner at this year Golden Globes, beating out the Civil War epic Lincoln, which had emerged as an awards-season favorite.

 Argo also claimed the directing prize for Ben Affleck, a prize that normally bodes well for an Academy Award win – except he missed out on an Oscar nomination this time.

Best actor in a drama went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in the biopic Lincoln, while Jessica Chastain won best actress in a drama for Zero Dark Thirty.

Earlier, British singer Adele won best song for the theme to the James Bond film Skyfall.

Collecting her trophy, she said: “Honestly, I’ve come out for a night out with my friend Ida – we’re new mums – I have literally come for a night out. I was not expecting this.”

Dame Maggie Smith won best supporting actress in a series for her role in Downton Abbey.

Homeland took best TV drama, with Damian Lewis winning best TV actor for his role in the series.

Quentin Tarantino, accepting the best screenplay award for his film Django Unchained, said: “This is a damn surprise, and I’m happy to be surprised.”

Christoph Waltz took best supporting actor for his role in the film.

Ben Affleck won Best Director and Best Motion Picture Drama at Golden Globes 2013 for Iran hostage thriller Argo

Ben Affleck won Best Director and Best Motion Picture Drama at Golden Globes 2013 for Iran hostage thriller Argo

But the western lost out to Argo in the best drama category along with Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, Life of Pi, Ang Lee’s adaption of the Yann Martel novel, and Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow’s film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

Amour, directed by Austria’s Michael Haneke, won best foreign film.

The Golden Globes gives a separate accolade for best film musical or comedy, which was won by Tom Hooper’s film of stage hit Les Miserables.

Silver Linings Playbook, Moonrise Kingdom, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel were also shortlisted for this prize.

In the drama actor category, Day-Lewis was shortlisted alongside fellow Oscar candidates Denzel Washington and Joaquin Phoenix.

Les Miserables lead Hugh Jackman won best actor in a musical or comedy prize. Silver Linings Playbook star Bradley Cooper was also nominated for the award, with both men also nominated in the best actor category at the Oscars.

The best actress in a musical or comedy category was won by Bradley Cooper’s co-star in Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence.

Comedy actresses Amy Poehler and Tina Fey took over presenter duties from Britain’s Ricky Gervais, who had hosted the ceremony for the last three years.

The pair were both nominated for the best TV comedy actress prize for their work in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation respectively.

“Tina, I just want to say that I very much hope that I win,” said Amy Poehler, as the ceremony began.

However, they were both pipped by Lena Dunham, creator and star of sitcom Girls, which also won best comedy TV series.

Assisting Amy Poehler and Tina Fey on stage were Mr. and Miss Golden Globes, the recipients of honorary titles that are traditionally awarded annually to the children of celebrities with their own ambitions in the industry.

Sam Michael Fox, son of Michael J. Fox, and Clint Eastwood’s daughter Francesca were the two scions selected this year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HPFA), organizers of the awards.

Jodie Foster, a seven-time Globe nominee and two-time Oscar winner, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

The ceremony was shown live in the US on the NBC network.

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Liam Neeson new movie Taken 2 has narrowly beaten Ben Affleck’s thriller Argo to stay top of the North American box office.

Taken 2 took $22.5 million according to early estimates, with Argo making $20.1 million.

Ethan Hawke’s Sinister, a supernatural horror about a crime writer, debuted at number three with $18.3 million.

Taken 2 has not been a big hit with the critics, while Argo is already creating Oscar buzz.

Some critics described Taken 2 as just a replay of the original.

Liam Neeson plays an ex-CIA agent who travels across Europe to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped on a trip to Paris.

“It kind of proves that reviews do not matter,” said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box office tracker Hollywood.com.

“Audiences just continue to eat this up. They just love Liam Neeson in this role.”

Ben Affleck directs and stars in Argo, based on a real-life story about a CIA operative who hatches a plan to rescue six Americans hiding in Tehran after the 1979 US embassy takeover.

Revenues from the film increased by 47% between Friday – its opening day – and Saturday.

“This is a really good indication of how quickly word of mouth can spread,” said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros.

“The critical acclaim in this case is going to translate into commercial success.”

Family comedy Hotel Transylvania and Kevin James comedy Here Comes the Boom rounded out the top five.

NORTH AMERICAN BOX OFFICE

1. Taken 2 – $22.5 million

2. Argo – $20.1 million

3. Sinister – $18.3 million

4. Hotel Transylvania – $17.3 million

5. Here Comes the Boom – $12 million

Source: Hollywood.com

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